Tag Archive: nonfiction


Review: Don’t Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness by Keira D’Amato

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July 6, 2025

Don't Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing HappinessDon’t Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness by Keira D’Amato
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At 75, with bad knees, I find myself pulled to read books about running and jogging. Go figure. But no matter what condition you find yourself in, stories like Keira D’Amato’s are uplifting and help you discover your healthier self.

Listening to Ms. D’Amato recount her wins and trials while pursuing her passion was not only inspiring, but she also has a great sense of humor, which will have you laughing out loud. That’s not ideal if you’re reading this as a bedtime book, as the giggling may wake your partner. It might be more fun to listen to this book while riding the stationary bike. At least, that doesn’t hurt my knees. Who knows, maybe the peddling will make me strong enough to jog?

I was very happy to receive this book from NetGalley.

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Review: Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America by Barbara McQuade

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July 4, 2025

Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging AmericaAttack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America by Barbara McQuade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you, Libby, for having this audiobook to listen to. I might not have read this otherwise. I’m not into reading political books. I do. I try to stay current, but a good sci-fi book will always take precedence. More than anything, I hate a preachy book that leans heavily toward one party or the other. I want things to be neutral. I’ll suss out what I want to know. I’ll form my own conclusions.

That said, I feel Barbara McQuade provided valuable information and offered ideas on how to address issues we’ve all encountered recently. Ms. McQuade narrates her book with an exciting voice. Despite my reluctance to listen to yet another nonfiction, I found it intriguing.

Do I believe all her ideas are the best? No. But there were some I think I’d like to see tried. I believe everyone’s voice and vote should count, but finding the truth should be something we all wish were more accessible.

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Review: The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora by Elena Sheppard

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July 3, 2025

The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban DiasporaThe Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora by Elena Sheppard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Living under a dictatorship and miserable conditions, the author’s family must leave their beloved home in Cuba, many friends, and relatives. Elena Sheppard takes us through her family history, and we see how difficult it is for her to separate herself from her genealogy.

The story takes us back and forth in time, inner feelings and memories pitted against global occurrences. A little poetic while trying to be accurate.

I found reading or listening to this on Kindle’s text-to-speech feature less than ideal, even though I felt I followed the author’s tale well. I would have loved it more with a narrator, preferably the author. One thing TTS does horribly is other languages. Even though Ms. Sheppard translates her few statements and poems gracefully, I would rather hear the language of Elena’s life. Then again, I am not fluent in Spanish. I’d still need the translation.

I was lucky to get this copy from NetGalley.

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Review: Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates

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June 16, 2025

Source Code: My BeginningsSource Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read as it took me through my family’s history of computer ownership, from the Commodore 64 through the Tandy Sensation, and so on. My kids will tell me of another pre-computer, gaming thingie, but I always forget what it was called. I remember my first Bulletin Board note to my friend, both of us mothers of future computer geeks.

Another enjoyable aspect of the book was the geeky, nerdy tone that Wil Wheaton’s voice brings to Bill Gates’s life story. Many of my friends were not part of the “in” crowd, but rather the smarter, more interesting people. We tried to be trendy, but we were more into science, and the ones I envied, math.

I thought Bill Gates’s life was far different than mine, making it a very interesting read.

You can find this audiobook on Libby.

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Review: My Grape Escape by Laura Bradbury

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June 8, 2025

My Grape Escape (The Grape Series, #6)My Grape Escape by Laura Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series so much! It is the only series I am reading without text-to-speech or narration. On my old phone, on the Kindle app. Each book is just the right size for me, and by being Kindle, I can adjust the font and background. And when French words appear that I don’t know, I can highlight them, and the app will translate them for me.

This book was enjoyable to read as Laura and her husband, Franck, fix up an old home in hopes of making it a profitable vacation getaway. Somehow, my review is falling short. But this book is anything but. I always feel that I am not only traveling to France, but also learning a bit of history and enjoying French vocabulary.

Each of these books is enjoyable and personable. I’ve already moved on to the next book. I think I’ll try to read these again, but I’ll also look for the audiobooks. I want the sound of the French to help my education.

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Review: A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings by Peggy Noonan

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May 18, 2025

A Certain Idea of America: Selected WritingsA Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings by Peggy Noonan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a daytime read. I find it hard to read politics at bedtime. So I listened to the audiobook borrowed from Libby while doing my diamond paintings. I thought the author read this, but Hillary Huber is listed as the narrator. Either way, these are interesting essays.

I have to admit that I didn’t agree with everything, but even when I didn’t, I found something interesting to learn in each one. I do like how Peggy Noonan writes these essays. I felt engaged in the topic, pro or con.

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Review: Citizen: My Life After the White House by Bill Clinton

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April 29, 2025

Citizen: My Life After the White HouseCitizen: My Life After the White House by Bill Clinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was fortunate to borrow this audiobook from Libby. And unfortunately, I didn’t quite finish before it was due back. And people were waiting to read it, so I had to let it go back. I put it on hold to finish the read. But I think I have read enough to review the book.

Surprised. I was surprised that I liked the book as much as I did. I felt I learned new things in many different areas of Mr. Clinton’s life, and how history played a part in our story. He wrote about his family life in ways that were remarkable, loving, and full of pride. I expected a lot of political jargon and boring, dry subject matter. I look forward to finishing the book later.

I nearly forgot that Steven Weber (narrator) easily and naturally lent his voice to President Clinton. I think this was a good choice. I’m sure the president’s voice would have been acceptable, but it might not have held up to the constant reading.

As I said from the beginning, I was surprised at how I liked this book. I thought I would be bored or lost, but I felt educated by the time I returned the book.

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Review: I Sleep Around: The Humorous Memoir of a Nomadic Writer by Sue Ann Jaffarian

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April 15, 2025

I Sleep Around: The Humorous Memoir of a Nomadic WriterI Sleep Around: The Humorous Memoir of a Nomadic Writer by Sue Ann Jaffarian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was refreshing and fun. Sue Ann Jaffarian has a wit that keeps the writing about traveling light and wistful.

I have to admit that I often feel I would love to travel by RV and sleep wherever the road leads me. But the lack of money and courage keep me housebound.

With Text-to-Speech on Kindle, this was a fast read. And vicariously, we get to hit the road!

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Review: Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts

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April 7, 2025

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About MenopauseDare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you are a female from young to old, this book will have something for you. Even though I am 75 and a few years beyond menopause, I found things that I might be able to help my physical and mental health even now.

Naomi Watts (Author, Narrator), Mary Claire Haver MD (Author), and Allyson Ryan (Narrator) helped the reader stay involved with the topic that could otherwise get heavy in medical jargon.
Naomi Watts keeps the book personal enough for the average woman to find common ground, even if they don’t follow the same path through the hormonal jungle. Having personal stories with medical backups helps the reader decide about her health.

I was fortunate to listen to the Libby audiobook. I need to get the paper version to research the lists of products or clinics. By the way, this would be a great book for family and friends to have a starting point for discussions. Take notes to share with your medical team.

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Review: Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher

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March 30, 2025

Burn Book: A Tech Love StoryBurn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the 80s, we had a Commodore 64 (my friend and I visited on a Bulletin Board!), a Tandy Sensation, and bits and pieces of others. The internet went from the exciting screaming of connecting modems to what we have today. Remember AOL, NetZero, PeoplePC, Prodigy, and everything in between. This cyberworld has been an adventure and sometimes scary place to visit.

It was fun to think about that history and see it from Kara Swisher’s point of view. She is a techie and journalist.

I found this edition in Libby and found it had to be read while alert. Not a bedtime story. You have to think while listening. I hope everyone gets a chance to listen to this book. Ms. Swisher is intelligent and can help us see how the industry has changed and progressed. She has some cautions for us as we proceed.

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