CharLena Pearson

A Stroll to Self-Knowledge

Reviewed: 10-18-24

Lucy is befriended by someone who seems on first meeting too good to be true but... Ahh there's the rub there are so many coincidences that it all seems am impossibility for their many commonalities. It's amazing that they have so much in common. It feels beautiful. Scary to my mind as the preample to a narcisstic relationship, but Lucy is a divorcee with friends in similar situation saying the their former husbands are narsicissts. Lucy believes that to be a catchall phrase rather than reality, but is it?
The writing is filled with foreshadowing dispensed like breadcrumbs which kept me glued to the pathed road to end. Told from the heroine's point of view as seen through a third person lens, it's a charming standoffishness account with lots of feels.

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Bittersweet Love

Reviewed: 02-06-23

It starts so sorrowful that it can only scale up. What a lovely story that towards the end pulls out the tears. The interaction between the aunt and niece is so special. That is the start of the thaw, and it takes on a bittersweet revival of feelings.
This is a lovely story. Read well. Ms. Araya's cold and distant voice for Isabelle and Violet is pitch perfect. And the retailing of the estrangement of the sisters is so moving. Their relationship is drenched in a bittersweet love, which almost can't be seen. When it blossomed forth bit-by-bit, it had an evocative feeling of being dug out of a very deep hole.

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Bittersweet Existence Wins with Love

Reviewed: 01-20-23

It was nice to hear Prince Harry's words read by him. Initially, I wasn't sure if I'd like him as the narrator, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Grief is a real emotion that the royal family seems incapable of understanding that there is no time limit. A stiff upper lip does not and can not fix everything. It seems to me Harry has the right idea of breaking the cycle of withholding love in exchange for duty. Both of those can inhabit within the same space. And in fact, duty with love comes across more genuine anyway.

The short chapters kept the narrative compelling, along with bittersweet moments in Harry's life, along with his contrarian humor, and then he found love. Love for and from an outlier. A person neither the palace nor the English newspapers wanted the world to like or respect, but they miscalculated what love does and can do. Love triumphs all.

I am glad I listened to this book. it was enlightening and enthralling to the last word about the modern-day inner workings of the royal life. what it means to be relegated as the spare, to be dealt with as a convenient scapegoat. something no one should have to put up with. never having a real life to call their own. At best, it is an unfortunate
existence that can never be an autonomous life.

I have in the past read and watched many biographies and bio-pics about UK, French, & Roman rulers, but never truly from the outside in. Well-done, Harry, well done.

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3 people found this helpful

Fun, Funny and Whimsical

Reviewed: 01-28-22

I love a book that's intelligent, and talks about cars. This is that and more. Ms. Blakely makes science fun. If I'd read (or listened to) this in the summer, it would have been a great book for the beach, or poolside even. As it's snowy today-that too made it perfect.
With the writing, reading, and 'rithmatic thrown in, it was quite good. Thank you, Ms. Blakely. I had an errand to run, complete with chuckling on the subway, lunch to make, and eat. In a word, it was perfect afternoon diversion.
This was possible because of the car AND stargazing, mistaken identities, pranks, WITH witty, and romantic dialogue. What could be better? Almost nothing.

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Well Researched, With Nuance

Reviewed: 01-11-22

Just as with her first book The Warmth of Other Suns, Ms. Wilkerson had delved deeply into the history of humankind's look at a system of division. Not just in the United States but in India and Germany so that various peoples can understand. I think she went the correct route for full understanding of what is at stake here in the U.S. since we haven't been able to see each individual tree as we look into the forest as a whole.
As she traversed the world from India to England to Germany and back to America during her research looking at the vestiges of the old world of the caste system that has gotten stronger and stronger here in the United States because we're more inclined to forgive the inhumanity of former slave owners, confederate soldiers, and generals than to former slaves and their future families.
No, the caste system is rife with hidden wrongs given out toward the released from slavery (& their families) and the champions of the Civil War. Even now with Anniversary of the Insurrection of 2021, the losing party wants to sweep that event under the rug. It cannot be swept under a rug. It will always be a bump or lump to be tripped on in the future.
It is time to stop making heros out of the people in the wrong. It is time to stop worshipping the defeated. Germany did not do that to Hitler and the world including the United States would have none of that. It is time to really talk like South Africa did during Mandela's life to get the vitriol and misunderstandings out in the open.
Ms. Wilkerson's book ends with some hope for our future. It is my hope that the U.S. can see the olive branch being offered rather than going around it by doing what it always has done in the past.
This is a very good book and I believe should be offered as required reading in high schools and college not just here in the U.S., but around the world, too. It may improve just humanity as a whole quicker.

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Delightfully Funny

Reviewed: 11-23-21

I'm not sure why I thought it was to be Keke Palmer's biography when I acquired it, but I had. I wondered why she'd write one already. She's so young, but hey!

I was presently surprised that it was fiction. And that it was SO delightfully funny and fun. I loved her voice and the telling of this story. I'd like more. I haven't looked ahead to see if there are more. If so, I can't wait to listen and if not, why not?

Terrific story and wonderful voiceover. Thank you, to the author and to Keke Palmer, too.

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Golden-Theresa Edwards Is

Reviewed: 09-05-21

Hard work persistence, with great work ethic gets a woman self-congratulations not accolades or $$.

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2 people found this helpful

Writing and Voice-Actors Redeemed Writer

Reviewed: 09-03-21

It really matters who narrates your story. Thanks to great writing & voice -over actors.
This book, I liked. This story's pithy conversations with lots of exposition coupled with great conversation, action, and climax, plus a misdirection of obstacles were perfect.
I'm back on the Helen Hunting train again. You have been redeemed.

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Disjointed & Too Narrative

Reviewed: 08-31-21

I think if I read the print verson I probably wouldn't have finished it.

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Cute and Worth It.

Reviewed: 07-07-21

G. S. Carr's novella is worth the listen, especially on a day you're avoiding the rain before going home. Or if you're on a beach and need some mind candy. This 2.1-hour book is the perfect length. The characters are fleshed out and likable. And spring a HEA works well, too.

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