Courtney Nichole Thompson

Enchanting Lady MacBethad: A Captivating Journey

Revisado: 07-29-23

Oh, I absolutely adored this book! It has undoubtedly become my favorite read of the year so far. Let me start by saying that even though I wasn't familiar with Shakespeare's MacBeth, diving into Lady MacBethad's world through fresh eyes made the experience truly captivating. This novel stands tall on its own and is a thrilling journey from start to finish.

The novel was well written, and the pacing was just right. It flowed smoothly, striking a perfect balance between moving at a reasonable pace without feeling rushed or dragging on. The characters are wonderfully crafted, though I must admit, they aren't the most likable bunch. But that's precisely what adds depth to the story - Gruoch, also known as Lady MacBethad, is an enigmatic and narcissistic character like no other. Her relentless pursuit of becoming Queen, fueled by delusions of grandeur, keeps you engrossed.

In this era, it's easy to forget that these characters were much younger than we perceive them to be. Gruoch's youthfulness is a reminder of how young they truly were, and it brings a unique perspective to the narrative. She might have been a grown woman on paper, but her actions betray her young age, making her both obnoxious and intriguing.

What I love most about this novel is the absence of clear heroes or villains. It delves into the complexities of ambition, where everyone seems to have their own agenda. The rise of a capitalistic culture, woven into the story's fabric, adds layers of depth and intrigue. And Gruoch's short-sighted shenanigans, while entertaining, left me wondering what mischief she'd come up with next. I found myself secretly wishing I could offer some advice from the sidelines.

One thing to note is that the ending felt surprisingly abrupt. But after pondering it for a while, I've made my peace with it, and I'm eagerly hoping for a part two to continue this tale.

If there's one tiny tweak I'd make, it would be to give Gruoch a darker, more sinister voice, akin to Verity. I can't help but imagine how that might have propelled the novel to even greater heights.

In summary, the quality of writing is top-notch. The characters, while not the most likable, are undeniably captivating, and the entertainment factor wins out. There's a depth of insightfulness that keeps you pondering the story's nuances long after you've turned the final page, particularly about ambition. Furthermore, the ease of reading makes it an inviting and delightful experience for any reader.

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For those having sound quality issues....

Revisado: 07-02-23

I listened to the audio in a slightly lower volume than I usually do and that seemed to work.

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Union's Contribution to "Do Something"

Revisado: 04-27-22

This is Union's follow-up memoir where she picks her life back up where she left off. If you are a Being Mary Jane fan, you realize that Union is indeed Mary Jane. lol. Union is very passionate about social issues...from race, feminism, infertility, LGBTQ+.... she uses her memoir as her personal contribution to "do something". I dig it. I appreciate it.

There were a few laugh-out-loud moments due to Union's personality. Although she is a little too image-conscious and clout chasing for my taste (that's Hollywood, I guess), I get her. I found her relatable and entertaining, with a few profound thoughts here and there.

The writing quality is not all that great and her tone seemed a little exaggerated but, I still enjoyed this read.

I do feel Union runs too much on the "victim" side. By that I mean, she really focuses on trials and tribulations. Girl...what about the blessings!? I wish there was a little bit more positivity thrown in there. She mentioned she wanted to state the "facts" about some social issues. I wish she presented some resolutions....only because she seems like someone who could come up with some good ones. I'd be interested in what she'd have to say.

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Best Audiobook - Quite the Production!

Revisado: 01-01-22

"East coast recognizes East coast"

Heeey, Mr. Smith. I see you! I was shocked to learn that Will Smith had a memoir coming out and even more intrigued that it was picked up by BOTM. I have to say that this is hands down my 2nd favorite celebrity memoir (Sorry Will but Trevor Noah is the undefeated champ at the moment). The audiobook was lit! I think it's the best audiobook I've listened to. It was certainly a production - including the closing rap at the end.

I have heard readers talk about life-changing books and although I have found many, many stories inspirational or thought-provoking, I have to say that I have never connected with a book as much as I did with this one.

I can relate to Will's attachment issues. I had a similar father growing up. I even call my dad, Daddio. There are word of intent bracelets and like Will, my word of intent is "Surrender". I have had trouble with perfectionism and also trying to fulfill roles based on expectations. Generally, I really felt that Will is very emotionally similar to me (but definitely a lot of differences). I never have run into that from any of the many books that I've read. And it caught me totally off guard.

I really loved the passion he put into everything he does. Even with his comedic bragging (a few reviewers called it humble bragging - but to me, it felt intentional for comedic effect), I got the impression that he still struggles with attachment issues even by the end of the book. Was his passion truly about needing applause? Or was it simply that - passion. Some people need goals to reach in order to feel alive. He never once mentioned doing anything underhanded to achieve his aims.

He described the knuckleheadedness of himself as a 20-something-year-old in a way that was very real. I feel some readers may read this part of his life and pin it to the man he is today. But to me, it was real. "East coast recognizes East coast".

I keep up with Jada (his wife) on Red Table Talk and I am a fan of the Smith's - what a unique family. It would be interesting if Jada had a book and we could hear her side of the story. She has shared much of her perspective on her talkshow. Often Gammy (her mother) insinuates that Jada has been ungrateful towards her husband and I have to say...from what was shared in this story, I'd have to agree. Sounds like she kind of vilified everything - very critical.

I really like hearing about a black family and seeing a black man win. Yes - shout out all the accolades. This brother did/is doing well. The only question I had while reading was - who exactly was "the competition"?

I have taken so many profound quotes from this, I am sure I will revisit the quotes again and again.


P.S. No....that prank played on Jada was NOT funny.

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Boo to the Narration! Bad Accents

Revisado: 09-30-21

They should have used native narrators. The accents were HORRIBLE and distracting. It would have been better if she read the whole book in her accent.

The writing was really great but I think the story would have benefited from a more seamless plot. It was also pretty dense for what is set out to accomplish. I don't mind dense reads, but a dense read with so many characters that moves from past to present, is a difficult one to enjoy.

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Thrilling Story, Robotic Narrator

Revisado: 12-23-20

This was definitely a great thriller. However, listening to it on audiobook, I will have to say the narrators were very robotic sounding.

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Engaging but Confusing Thesis

Revisado: 06-24-20

A very engaging read. I liked it! Nice job, Gladwell. I thought he had a great thesis and offered many interesting stories from the rise of Hitler, to Sandra Bland, to discussing the acting on Friends, and to examine the outcomes of a lot of different studies.

The thesis was that we are bad at assessing the emotions and demeanor of others to determine their character and assess whether they are guilty or innocent.

Although each story assessed was interesting, I am not quite sure if he quite tied them all into his thesis in a very clear manner. His argument was slightly circular. For instance, he spends the majority of the book describing how we as humans have a natural tendency to default to believing people are innocent but ends the book stating that police brutality is a symptom of cops default into believing everyone is guilty. So, if that was the punchline, I am not sure how the middle met with the end ???

I think this was well worth the read cause it was thought-provoking and made me want to exercise more thoughtfulness in my interactions with others. I had to read this as a book club selection and I think it promoted some great discussion.

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Enlightening

Revisado: 06-24-20

A beautifully written cultural novel set in India about the miscarriage of justice against a young woman based on her Facebook post. This novel is nothing like The Female of the Species but somehow this novel kept crossing my mind as I read A Burning.

Perhaps it is because both were stories I did not expect with strong female leads with a guttural ending. Neither are very dense reads but tackles a social issue and although light reads, are darkish.

Unlike The Female of the Species, the ending was swift so it did not pack the same punch to the chest. A Burning wasn't nearly as brutal...although I think if it had of been, it would make a 5 star read. Majumdar was right there...she just needed to get in there with a little more emotion to get that home run for me. Maybe let us get to the know the characters a little more before the drama started - just a few added pages was all that this story needed.

I would not suggest this book for the immature reader.

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Better than Kiss Quotient and Rosie Project

Revisado: 06-24-20

So I was fighting against reading Beach Read cause contemporary romance is not my thing (I was indifferent toward Rosie and Kiss Quotient). I decided to give it ago cause a diversity of readers raved about it. Glad I did!

I don't think it's the best book I've read this year, but considering how much I thought I would loathe it, lol, I enjoyed it more than I suspected.

I liked the witty banter; I thought it was funny.

I felt that the main character was so relatable. The characters are more like real people than say Don, Rosie or Stella.

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A Decent Read that is Worth Your Time

Revisado: 06-24-20

I think A Good Marriage was a decent read. I liked it and was entertained. I think there was a little too much fluff at the beginning but I'd say about 1/3 of the way in the story picks up - and really ramps up 75% of the way in. I think this was a great whodunit - because it really could have been anybody and I enjoyed all the twists that helped me check people off. I will say that even though I did not guess the correct person, I did guess the circumstances in which caused the murder to take place.

I just started reading more mystery/thrillers and there seems to be a formula to how many of these stories play out.

I know a 3 rating is typically considered low. But I definitely think this is a read worth your time. I couldn't give it above a 3 because I liked it - but I can't say I thought it was amazing. A mystery/thriller lover may think differently. I mainly love historical ficiton.

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