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booktalkwithkarla's reviews
1337 reviews
The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.5
I love Veuve Cliquot champagne so when a dear friend alerted me to the book (and the movie) I was immediately sold. Life intervened and it took me some time to listen/read and then watch (with 14 friends, drinking Veuve, of course). My interest has only grown. Barbe-Nicole was a fascinating woman and the history of the champagne region of Reims is compelling. Tilar Mazzeo writes the account of both the woman and the beverage well. I can see why this is a bestseller. If you like narrative nonfiction and/or champagne, may I suggest this be your next read.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In All the Colors of the Dark, Chris Whitaker gives us a fascinating thriller and tale. The darkness of missing people and serial killers alongside the hope of love and friendship make this a true page turner and a novel I won’t soon forget. Patch, Saint, and Missy have my whole heart. All of the cast are well drawn and memorable. Read this novel as soon as you can for its literary significance and the experience offered, plus the realities it calls to mind. It’s fiction. Yet it’s real. And it’s a plea for us to do better for our children, our communities.
Some favorite quotes:
“Friendship was a difficult art to master.”
“Saint knew there was not always an exact moment when children turned to adults. For the lucky ones it was a long, hard-earned acceptance of responsibility and opportunity. But for her, and for Misty, the divide had been curt and fatal.”
“I just wanted to show you that sometimes things survive despite the harshest of odds.”
“Saint wanted to ask what it was like, to lose the thing that defined you. But perhaps she knew: it left you someone else. A stranger you had no choice but to tolerate, and see each day and feel and fear.”
“I want everything to mean something, to lead somewhere.”
The Good News about Estrogen: The Truth Behind a Powerhouse Hormone by Billie Fitzpatrick, Uzzi Reiss
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Great information about hormones and the role they play in women’s health. Dr. Reiss also includes information on diet, exercise, supplements and other habits that can help women. My favorite part is the hope that is offered by the author. Women need not suffer the dire effects of hormone deficiencies. We have agency and options.
I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I am at an age where reading about aging and all of its aspects is interesting. Nora Ephron is known to me from her movies so that also played into my choice to pick up this book of essays. Ephron’s writing is delightful, funny, and real. I loved her take. Some of it made me nostalgic for New York and another generation (one I know little about but that fascinates me). The way she writes about journalism, marriage, parenting, acceptance, and energy make me smile (sometimes while teary). Mostly I laughed as I read. If pressed to pick a favorite from this collection, I choose The Story of My Life in 3,500 Words or Less (runner up: Parenting in Three Stages). In truth I enjoyed all of them. Read this for a laugh and especially if you too are of a certain age.
“I can’t get over this aspect of journalism. I can’t believe how real life never lets you down. I can’t understand why anyone would write fiction when what actually happens is so amazing.”
“I’ve just surfaced from spending several days in the state of rapture – with a book.“
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Hearing snippets about Elon Musk throughout the years, I was curious to know more. Then I listened to an interview with Walter Isaacson, which moved me to buy his biography of Musk. Mostly I was interested to see how he was able to write about a man he appeared to dislike.
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson is a great book. Well written. Organized. Clear. Honest. Inclusive of many points of view. Isaacson is masterful at telling the complex and complete story of Musk’s life. His “summary” at the end was unbiased and felt true to my take based on what was written.
I ended up with a cautious respect for Musk and his accomplishments and a burden for the cost to him personally. It’s difficult to be mad at him on behalf of others he has been hard on, rude to, or verbally abusive to, when they themselves admire him and speak to those incidences as being a small percentage of their encounters with him. His way of thinking is foreign to me, yet his brain (affected by nature and nurture) and his motivations enable him to make progress. Do I wish he was missional in other ways? Yes. Am I grateful people like Musk exist to do work I will never do? Yes. I’m glad Isaacson delivered this narrative to the world and I had the opportunity to read it.
Once upon a time by Elizabeth Beller
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Like so many I am fascinated by the Kennedy family. When JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (along with her sister Lauren) disappeared in a plane crash, I waited and prayed hoping for good news. The news was not good.
This is a book purported to tell the story from Carolyn’s point of view instead of the media’s. Since I didn’t know the media’s side this felt like an attack on Carolyn too. Elizabeth. Beller, the author, talks about Carolyn’s complaints, Carolyn’s anger and anxiety, and other’s concerns to such an extent that it appears much of what the media said was true. The author more than once talks about Carolyn as coming “unhinged” and mentions “she began to unravel”. Was Beller building a case against Carolyn’s instability or building a case for her being misunderstood? I lost the thread, which is sad. Beller may be right about Carolyn receiving unfair and harassing treatment, but not sure her book illustrates her premise. Beller’s research and commitment to the book are also evident.
The book (and true story) has a heart wrenching ending that took me back to the emotions I felt when it happened. It’s crazy the connection you feel for celebrities you don’t know. I could cry right now.
I genuinely love encouraging and supporting women, but dislike the feminist tone of this book. Frigid, depressed, and volatile are all words Beller says Carolyn was accused of… and so much damage was done when she was accused. Yet these accusations and more are repeated over and over in this book. Carolyn’s craving for privacy comes through and makes me sad I read this book. Feels disrespectful.
How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
How to Stay Married deals with a topic I usually avoid in my books. But I kept hearing about it and so reluctantly I added it to my long TBR. Then book serendipity took over and a book subscription I am a part of sent me the title. Surprise. Guess I’ll read it now instead of years down the road. I listened to the invitation and moved the book to my nightstand. I’m so glad I did. Although a hard book to read, I loved it.
Harrison Scott Key honestly lays out the details of his marriage and his wife’s affair. Then just when you can’t take the heartbreak anymore he says something relatable and funny, breaking the tension. This is a true story about marriage, faith, mercy, and forgiveness.
I found this story inspiring, real, and beautiful. I loved the elements of faith plus the reckoning of seeing our own flaws, pursuing those we love, and accepting responsibility in our relationships. Have I mentioned I loved this book. Read it especially if you’re married.
Cryoshift by Nicole Frens
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
CryoShift is about Joseph who died in 2010 and was reanimated over a hundred years later. As Joseph figures out his new world, he encounters tragedy, risks, and opposing forces. I enjoyed turning the pages to see what Joseph would encounter and choose.
Nicole Frens is the author and created this story to connect with her father who chose cryonics for himself when he passed. This is her debut and it’s so good. 😊 Frens writes fabulously, with much humor and creativity. She clearly did her research and imagination. She also considered many details, offering a picture of life and work for future generations.
The story has elements that are familiar and very interesting elements in the future that I’d love to experience. Like the characters, I found myself wrestling with the questions of what is good technology and what should we leave alone. I also considered what relationships matter most.
Ultimately this book is about second chances and about connection. I don’t usually read sci-fi yet I really enjoyed this story. And yes, Frens is on to something… with the wild tech of the future. I personally wouldn’t choose cryonics but loved stepping into the future with Joseph to see what the future holds. Definitely recommend this book and will read anything else Frens writes.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Real Americans starts with Lily and Matthew, two people with vastly different lives and histories. Later we meet Nick who lives on an island where he has never felt like he belongs. The story unfolds connecting Lily, Matthew, and Nick. This is a fascinating story. Rachel Khong explores destiny, the role of parenting, genetics, belonging, and more. The writing alone makes this worth your time. The questions posed, woven in the story make you think. I wish my book club had read this because I know the conversation would be so rich. Highly recommend Real Americans.
“Both of us had been lonely; we weren’t anymore. If our bodies disappeared—if they vanished—and what remained was only our souls, I was certain they would share a resemblance. Both of us had been formed like stones in a river, washed over by our parents’ expectations—the forceful currents of them. No wonder we were drawn to each other.”
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Evie and Ryan are in love and also have secrets they are keeping from one another. First Lie Wins focuses on each of their careers, stories, and lives, both past and present. I loved the mystery from beginning to end. Ashley Elston lets us in on the lies, secrets, and truth at the perfect pace, keeping us guessing until the end. This was engaging and fun, worth the hype. I like novels about cons - at least this one. I read (on audio) the novel quickly, while traveling.