Audiobook Review of Fairer Sex Collection by Michelle Miller (part 2)

Stumbled upon this short story series while I was prepping to get my butt outside to start staining our deck. I downloaded all 8 of these short stories from Audible. What is fun about these is that you can read or listen to them all out of order. They don't tie into each other. These are about 8 different women. 

Narrator: Samara Naeymi

Title: Clara

Genre: Chick Lit, Short Stories, & Humor

Published: February 14th 2019 

Summary: 

A young novelist trapped in a bad relationship takes the first step toward true pleasure and tenderness…but does she have the courage to be swept off her feet?

It doesn’t matter how many people read and like her new book, there’s only one man’s opinion that matters to Clara…or at least that’s what she thinks. But when a chance encounter at a film premiere introduces her to someone new—someone who understands her in a way the first man can’t—Clara finally discovers the validation she really wants and needs.

Review:

We now have Clara. She is a young novelist trapped in a bad relationship. She has a chance to get away and stand on her own...will she find the courage to do so?

I had NO idea what was going on with Clara. Every two seconds something crazy was happening and a new reveal happening. The smexy scene in the back of the theater threw me for a loop. This was all so unrealistic though. 

And then that ending. Woah. Good for you Clara. I'm glad you got the courage. I was hoping she would. 

I'll give this 4 stars. 

Narrator: Samara Naeymi

Title: Lauren

Genre: Chick Lit, Short Stories, & Humor

Published: February 14th 2019

Summary: 

The dysfunctional relationship between a rising Manhattan gallery owner and her mother spirals out of control in a harrowing and unflinchingly honest short story of inheritance, sabotage, and the pressure to excel.

Lauren is angry enough that her mother couldn’t find time to show up to the opening of her new art gallery. But when she gets home and discovers the gift her mother has sent instead, Lauren comes undone in the face of a temptation that will push her to the edge, closer to her demons and the bitter taste of a mother’s love.

Review:

Lauren is a rising Manhattan gallery owner who has a very dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Her mother couldn't be bothered to show up the opening and sends her a gift instead. Lauren comes undone and goes toe-to-toe with her inner demons

This was sad. Horribly sad. I hated how it ended. Lauren deserves to lover herself, but we were left with Lauren harming herself and then just hiding behind her mask again. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe she is done with her mother now???? I hope so. 

2 stars from me. 

 

Narrator: Samara Naeymi

Title: Eleanor

Genre: Chick Lit, Short Stories, & Humor

Published: February 14th 2019 

Summary: 

Dinner is served—with a little something on the side. A Brooklyn wife is too sharp to allow her husband’s wandering eye to get the best of her in this witty short story of a dinner party with a delicious comeuppance.

Eleanor and Jonathan have joined a few of their most irritating best friends for an intimate catered gathering. Through all the intellectual chatter, Eleanor’s on watch. Jonathan has already confessed to wanting an open marriage, and tonight, Eleanor has decided to accommodate him. Just not quite the way he expects.

Review:

Next is Eleanor. She is a Brooklyn wife who's husband wants to have an open marriage because of his success in life. The two go to an intimate gathering with some of their "best friends" for dinner and conversation. Something happens and Eleanor is about to accommodate him....but not in the way he expects. 

This was great. Probably my favorite of the collection. 

You GO GIRL! I hope she divorces him and takes all his money. What an asshat....he only wants an open marriage because others in his field are all single and they are getting all the ladies. HOW on FAIR that he is STUCK with his wife. Grrr. 

Sighs. One has to love a good revenge tale ;) 

5 stars of course. 

Narrator: Samara Naeymi

Title: Keridee

Genre: Chick Lit, Short Stories, & Humor

Published: February 14th 2019

Summary: 

A small-town waitress, awestruck by dreams of a bigger world, looks forward to the biggest break of a budding career in this darkly comic short tale of what happens when innocence collides with cynicism.

Eighteen-year-old Keridee is done with high school, her cheating boyfriend, her jealous friends, and Nowhere, Florida. She’s determined to do something with her life, and her small-time modeling agent has already scored her a gig. She’s working an event for a billionaire real estate mogul who happens to own a huge modeling agency. What if he’s dazzled by her smile and makes her a star? What if the impossible actually happens?

Review:

This is the last one! Last, but not least, is Keridee. She has just finished High school. Everything seems to be falling apart until she gets a really good modeling gig. She's working an event for a billionaire real estate mogul who happens to also own a huge modeling agency. What if she can dazzle him and make a name for herself?

I had high hopes for this one. I really wanted Keridee to succeed and thumb her nose at her lame ex and shitty friends...but alas...this did not end great. I won't spoil it, but I was bummed. I needed more story. What did she do next? What happened? Too open-ended. 

I'll give this 2 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #56, 57, 58, & 59 for Audiobook challenge

 

Childhood Wednesday Part II

Happy Wednesday everyone! Welcome to the second part of my new posting series 'Childhood Wednesday'! Here's a quick summary of what this series is about:

 ~Instead of posting Wildcard Wednesday posts I want to try a new series of postings. Don't worry Wildcard Wednesday won't be gone forever, but I want to try this. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my childhood. My childhood was far from perfect, but without what I experienced I would not be the person I am today. That's the same with all of us. Without our experiences as kids, we wouldn't be who we are today.

With this new posting series, I want to explore what highly influenced me as a kid. I sort of base this from 'Top Ten Tuesday' and the '30 Day Picture Challenge' from Facebook~


To see part 1 click HERE. Last week I discussed the three top shows that influenced me as a child. For this week I want to share with you all my top 10 favorite books of my youth! I loved to read as a child, so it was hard to narrow it down to only 10:

Starting at #10 is...'A Northern Light' by Jennifer Donnelly! I read this when I was about 13 years old.

Next is #9....'Papillon' by Henri Charriere. It was a little deep for a child of 11, but for some reason my mother encouraged me to read this.:

Then there was #8 which is....'Dear America: A Picture of Freedom' by Patricia G. McKissack. I read this over and over starting from age 8 (oddly enough).:

Next is #7 which is....'Bunnicula' by James Howe and Deborah Howe. I first read this when I was in 3rd grade. Everyone in class was required to read along with the teacher, but by the second day I was already done. ^.^:

#6 is next with.....'My Name is America: The Journal of James Edmond Pease, A Civil War Union Soldier Virgina' by Jim Murphy. I read this when I was 13. My first attempt at reading this was a fail. I returned it and didn't re-try for a couple weeks. I then went back to the library and decided to force myself to read it. At the end I was in love with it! I had a little crush on James (just being honest). ^.^:

#5 is here with.....'Royal Diaries: Eleanor, Crown Jewel of Aquitaine' by  Kristiana Gregory. This was the third of the Royal Diaries that I read; I believe I had been about 11 or 12? I still wouldn't mind reading this again!:

Next is #4.....'The Devil's Arithmetic' by Jane Yolen. In 8th grade we watched the movie starring Kristen Dunst and read the book. Too be honest I fell asleep when my boring teacher read it to us, however, I was speechless after seeing the movie! That summer I decided to give the book another chance. Afterwards, I was speechless!:

Next is 3# which is.......

'Esperanza Rising' by Pam Ryan. We had to listen to the teacher read this to us when I was about 12 or 13, but I decided to read ahead. I didn't have patience as a kid; well I still don't:

#2 is.....'Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow' by Kristiana Gregory. This was the first Dear America book I read, so I was about 6 or 7 when I picked it up. I fell in love with it.:

And my number 1 book is......'Royal Diaries: Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles' by Kathryn Lasky. Oddly enough, this was the first of the Royal Diary series I read. I was about 10 when it came to our school library and our city library. I've read this a million times. I even got my own copy. It's sitting on my bookshelf as we speak!:

I hope you enjoyed my top 10 favorite books as a child. What was your favorite book of all time as a kid? What about your top 5 or 10? 

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<3CaroleRae