Showing posts with label autobiographies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autobiographies. Show all posts

Monday, November 20, 2023

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.     

Welcome back to Monday! Hope you had a great week. I'm gearing up to host Thanksgiving on Thursday, plus NaNoWriMo is still ongoing, so not a lot of reading happening in my world. I passed 30,000 words on Sunday, so I'm on target to finish on time if I keep up the right pace. Here are some photos from this last week: 


Sweata weatha


Theo's new jacket


Made banana bread for the Lil' Princess who came home on Saturday


Rick's Place's first art show


More interesting wallpaper
 found showing houses

This review will go live later today.


This review will appear on Tuesday.



Need to get back to these in December once NaNoWriMo is done. 









Upcoming virtual book tours:
  • Resparking Creativity by Fatemah Mirza & Sumayyah Rafiq - November 20 (review)
  • The 12 Months of Christmas by Sheila Roberts - November 21 (review)
  • The King Who Lost His Colors by Glen Liset - November 27 (review at TC&TBC)
  • Scrapper's Christmas Story by Maria J. Andrade - December 4 (review at TC&TBC)
  • The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy - January 31 (interview)  

At Christmas Year Round last week:
I will be running a giveaway of my books there after Thanksgiving. 



Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Nothing last week because I truly want to finish NaNoWriMo. I did, however, pre-order the latest biography from a cast member of Little House on the Prairie. Dean Butler, who played Almanzo Wilder, has a book coming out in June 2024.


An illuminating, insider’s journey through the world of Little House on the Prairie and beyond, from Dean Butler, who starred as Almanzo Wilder, the man Laura “Half Pint” Ingalls married—on the iconic show still beloved by millions of fans as it reaches its 50th anniversary.

With a foreword from Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie)!


Cast just before his twenty-third birthday, Dean Butler joined 
Little House on the Prairie halfway through its run, gaining instant celebrity and fans’ enduring affection. Ironically, when the late, great Michael Landon remarked that Little House would outlive everyone involved in making it, Butler deemed it unlikely. Yet for four decades and counting, Butler has been defined in the public eye as Almanzo Wilder—a role he views as the great gift of his life.

Butler had been cast as a romantic lead before, notably in the made-for-TV movie of Judy Blume’s 
Forever, opposite Stephanie Zimbalist. But Little House was, and remains, one of the most treasured shows in television history. As the eventual husband of Laura “Half-pint” Ingalls—and the man who would share actress Melissa Gilbert’s first real-life romantic kiss—Butler landed as a central figure for the show’s devoted fans.

Now, with wit and candor, Butler recounts his passage through the 
Prairie, sharing stories and anecdotes of the remarkable cast who were his on-screen family. But that was merely the beginning of a diverse career that includes Broadway runs and roles on two other classic shows—Moondoggie in The New Gidget and Buffy’s ne’er-do-well father, Hank, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Coming of age during a golden era of entertainment, Butler has evolved along with it, and today enjoys success and fulfillment as a director and producer—notably of NBC Golf’s Feherty—while remaining deeply loyal to Little House.

The warmth, heart, and decency that fans of Laura and Almanzo fell in love with on 
Little House echo through this uplifting memoir, a story, in Butler’s words, about “good luck, good television, and the very good—if gloriously imperfect—people who made it so.”

You can pre-order the book here

That's it from me this week. Hope everyone who celebrates it has a blessed Thanksgiving!

Monday, July 13, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - July 13



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

It is Monday again. My, that last week went by quickly. We made it home on Saturday, and yesterday was my birthday. So, we had a busy weekend. Today, I am back to work.

The nice thing is that I managed to read a few books.











I am reading these two now. 




I plan to review this one at my children's book blog soon.


I also have this one to review.


I definitely want to squeeze these two in somewhere soon.





Are you ready for Christmas titles? What is one of your favorite seasonal reads? 

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Book Review: Ketty Lester by Revoyda F. Buckley

For fans of Little House on the Prairie, she is known as Hester-Sue Terhune. To her family, she is Re-V or Vorda--a unique name given to a talented woman who had careers as a pop/R&B singer and an actress in movies and television.

Ketty Lester: From The Cotton Fields To Grammy Nominated "Love Letters" to Little House on the Prairie brings you through Buckley's beginnings as the fifteenth child to a farming family, to leaving home and attending college for nursing, to her performing in clubs as Ketty Lester and recording records, to her acting career which spanned decades.

Told in a style as if you were sitting across the table with Buckley asking her about her life, you discover she has loved and lost, she has known the challenges of having a career in a competitive industry, she dealt with discrimination and unequal pay, and she has met and worked with other amazing industry professionals.

This is a story told in chronological order which includes several pictures, her filmography, and discography.  This autobiography held nothing back. It will make you admire and feel compassion for Buckley. Though she is now retired, her mark on music and film remains.

As a fan of Little House on the Prairie, I am glad I read this story. I learned more about this talented woman than I knew before. Though the editor in me wanted a more polished version of the story, I totally believe that there is a lot to be said for being true to yourself and telling an authentic story in your own way, which is just what Buckley did.

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher:  Elite Publishing House (April 20, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0578662337
ISBN-13: 978-0578662336

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I was not compensated for in any way.

Monday, July 6, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - July 6



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. It is our second week on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The weather has been good--a bit cooler than home--and the food amazing. Some restaurants and businesses haven't survived the pandemic, which is sad. More than 1,000 international workers aren't here for their planned summer jobs. No organized fireworks either. We still feel blessed to be able to go away, but it's very different this year.

I'm not reading as much as I usually do, but I am working my way through the books I've brought.

My review of this one appears here.



I started reading these two.





These two are next. 



We haven't made it to the bookstore yet, so I don't have any new books to add to the list. 

What's on your list this week? Are you reading more this summer? 

Monday, June 22, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - June 22



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. I hope you had a nice weekend. We celebrated Father's Day with all three kids. The weather was beautiful, and we were able to have a nice outdoor dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

I've been trucking along with my reading. It is easier when you are reading what you want instead of sticking to a schedule.


I finished the fourth book in Karen White's Tradd Street series. My review appears here.



I am currently reading the next book and hope to finish it before we leave for vacation.



Here is the updated list of what is traveling with me to the Outer Banks.









I am bringing my Kindle Fire, but not sure how much I'll use it. I cut back on the number of books I am bringing because last year I hauled too many. On the off chance I get through all of these, I can pick one off my device or study for my real estate broker's exam. 

What kinds of books to you put in your beach bag? Are they light reads or intense reads? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you pack a variety?

Monday, April 27, 2020

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Apr 27



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

We are back to Monday again. The days should linger now that we are all home, but they don't. It seems we fill them up with other happenings instead. I hope you're safe and healthy while isolating yourselves at home. If you're an essential worker, thank you for all you do.

Reading slowed up a bit this past week due to something unexpected, but I'm back to reading as of yesterday.


A review of this book will be posted today at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection.



My review of this book will be posted here on Thursday.




Here are some others I plan to read. 








What are you reading right now? Should I be adding one of your books to my wish list?

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

W...W...W...Wednesdays - September 3


This meme was created by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?


What are you currently reading?

I broke away to start something else this weekend, so I am still reading this one:




One October morning, high school junior Bryan Dennison wakes up a different person-helpful, generous, and chivalrous-a person whose new admirable qualities he doesn't recognize. Stranger still is the urge to tie a red sheet around his neck like a cape.

Bryan soon realizes this compulsion to wear a red cape is accompanied by more unusual behavior. He can't hold back from retrieving kittens from tall trees, helping little old ladies cross busy streets, and defending innocence anywhere he finds it.

Shockingly, at school, he realizes he used to be a bully. He's attracted to the former victim of his bullying, Scott Beckett, though he has no memory of Scott from before "the change." Where he'd been lazy in academics, overly aggressive in sports, and socially insecure, he's a new person. And although he can recall behaving egotistically, he cannot remember his motivations.

Everyone, from his mother to his teachers to his "superjock" former pals, is shocked by his dramatic transformation. However, Scott Beckett is not impressed by Bryan's newfound virtue. And convincing Scott he's genuinely changed and improved, hopefully gaining Scott's trust and maybe even his love, becomes Bryan's obsession.

I'm also slowly making my way through this book. It's very interesting, but I had some books due for review coming up.



A publishing industry in constant change, authors find themselves trying to make decisions about whether or not to self-publish or traditionally publish. Now you have a book that explains the Hybrid Author path.
• What it is.
• What the options are.
• How to decide.
Including interviews with C. J. Lyons, Joanna Penn, J. A. Konrath, Hugh C. Howey, Barbara Freethy, Marie Force, Barbara Morgenroth and Jennifer Archer. The Hybrid Author is "a treasure house of useful suggestions and resources for any writer."

What did you recently finish reading?





Known for her heartwarming observations of family life, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer showcases her beloved Nantucket’s snowy off-season in this emotionally gratifying and utterly entertaining story.

Holidays on this Massachusetts island are nothing short of magical, from the jolly decorations on the Brant Point lighthouse to the much anticipated Christmas Stroll, in which merrymakers promenade through quaint streets adorned with Yuletide cheer. The season’s wonderful traditions are much loved by Nicole Somerset, new to Nantucket and recently married to a handsome former attorney. Their home is already full of enticing scents of pine, baking spices, and homemade pie.

But the warm, festive mood is soon tempered by Nicole’s chilly stepdaughter, Kennedy, who arrives without a hint of holiday spirit. Determined to keep her stepmother at arms’ length—or, better yet, out of the picture altogether—Kennedy schemes to sabotage Nicole’s holiday preparations. Nicole, however, is not about to let anyone or anything tarnish her first Christmas with her new husband.

Nancy Thayer’s wonderful tale reminds us that this is the season of miracles. Before the gifts are unwrapped, surprise visitors appear, and holiday joy comes to all, both naughty and nice.

You can read my review of this one at http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3K6FXL68M7IED/

What do you think you’ll read next?

I'm still hoping it's this one, but it could be something else.





Many girls in elementary and middle school fall in love with the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. What they don’t always realize is that Wilder’s books are autobiographical. This narrative biography describes more of the details of the young Laura’s real life as a young pioneer homesteading with her family on many adventurous journeys. This biography, complete with charming illustrations, points out the differences between the fictional series as well as the many similarities. It’s a fascinating story of a much-celebrated writer.

What is on your list this week?