Billye Kay

Love is Friendship That Caught Fire — Ann Landers

Revisado: 04-24-25

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson is a wild tale grounded in genuine love. The absurd situations are made to seem plausible through very apt descriptions of real human interactions. The quality of the writing is very good. I felt like I was in the story. I was also very impressed that an author who is a man could write from a woman’s point of view in such a sensitive and convincing way. This book is a light, very funny read as well as a statement on many of the challenges within the human condition. The top notch narration performance by Marin Ireland expands and deepens the impact and quality of the material. She not only interprets the material very well, she changes her voice in a consistent way throughout the piece so that it is always clear who is speaking. I would recommend this to anyone who is curious to explore emotions in a safe, absurd way. This is definitely a writer’s book and it is also entertaining in a way that makes it very accessible to a wider audience. It would make a nice beach read.

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Mixed Bag

Revisado: 04-13-25

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo contains some moments of brilliance. The stories for the most part are captivating. The narration performance by Lauren Fortgang definitely elevates the material. As with most short story collections, the quality of the writing varies and so the end result is a mixed bag.

I began this book very excited to become immersed in a new world, but by the end, I just wanted it to be over. I would recommend this book to fans of the author.

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Purrfect for Dedicated Feline Enthusiasts

Revisado: 04-01-25

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, Translated by E. Madison Shimoda is a short and fascinating book. The book presents a series of stories that seem unrelated at first and then are developed to interconnect later.

There are elements of magical realism and suggestions of darkness, even horror. I liked this book and I wish some of the characters and ideas had been given more, time, care, and development. This work could translate very well as a film, if the details could be fleshed out a bit more.

The narration performances by Naruto Komatsu and Natsumi Kuroda are very good and support and enhance the material on a high level.

Dedicated feline enthusiasts and fans of magical realism will enjoy this book. It is a wonderful break from everyday life and reality in general.

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Limitless Possibilities

Revisado: 03-26-25

What You are Looking for is in The Library by Michiko Aoyama is a delightful and surprising book. The stories unfold and interlink in very creative ways and the entire book is inspiring. As with all good books, it was too short. I did not want it to end. The narration performances by Hanako Footman, Susan Momoko Hingley, Kenichiro Thompson, Winstin Ting, and Shiro Kawai support and expand the material. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs to be uplifted and reassured, which I think is almost everyone.

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This is NOT the TEA!

Revisado: 03-26-25

Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll is NOT the Tea! It is a History book. The writing is solid and journalistic. The style was not my favorite for two reasons. First, I chose this book because of its spicy title. I was expecting some secrets and some back stories regarding chefs that I did not know about. What I got was a history book explaining periods of time and events in the United States. This book has an almost sociological approach to chefs, cooking, and fame. Not exactly an exciting angle. Second, the narration jumps around through time periods and chefs, moving forward then backward then sideways through relationships and events. The narration by Roger Wayne supports the material very well. I would recommend this book to students who would like to learn about the cultural climate and current events that served as the backdrop of the rise of celebrity chefs in America.

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If You’re Afraid of Butter…

Revisado: 03-03-25

Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder far exceeded my expectations. I found the story and characters to be very well drawn and engaging. The writing style was excellent throughout especially in terms of the characters and their arcs. Toward the end, the story did lose some focus but it did not really damage the impact of the work for me. The author did a great job of presenting these themes and events in a thought provoking manner that invites the audience to ponder many issues.

The underlying themes of misogyny, culture, food, and feminism to name a few are woven into the narrative in clever ways. The descriptions of the foods themselves are very vivid and engaging.

This is not an action packed novel. So, readers who prefer a lot of excitement may not like it. The interactions rang very true for the most part and I found many surprises in the storyline along the way.

The narration performance by Hanako Footman was impressive throughout most of the work. However, there were times when it was confusing as to which character was speaking. Overall, the narration effectively and positively enhanced and supported the material.

I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in the actual case, Japanese culture, feminism, exploring the patriarchy and its power and influence throughout the world, the role of misogyny and how to address it. Foodies might be interested in this, if they are also partial to stories inspired by true crime.

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The Heat, the Heart, and the Land

Revisado: 02-27-25

The Color of Air: A Novel by Gail Tsukiyama exceeded my expectations. I most appreciated the overall atmosphere of the book and the carefully drawn characters. The book is set against the backdrop of an important era of Hawaii’s history and culture. The author successfully weaves together the actual events with the lives of the fictional characters. I truly cared about the characters and I wanted to know what happened next. However, at the same time, the book probably could have been even better with a little more tightening. At times, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of storylines.

The narration performances by Brian Nishi and Natalie Naudus were very compelling and strongly supported the material, which made all of the various threads easier to follow. I am grateful to one of the other reviewers here who pointed out that in his solid performance, Mr. Nishi mispronounced Kamehameha. I am relieved to know that the way I learned to pronounce that name is the Hawaiian pronunciation. I have since learned; however, that the Japanese pronunciation is in reference to a signature energy attack in Dragon Ball Z and not the Hawaiian King. Perhaps Mr. Nishi chose the Japanese Dragon Ball Z pronunciation as a deliberate choice?

This received a four star rating from me because of the novel’s overall impact and the solid narration performances. The story lost focus at times but the writing was always compelling in terms of character throughout.

I would recommend this book to fans of Hawaiian culture and history, people who would like to learn more about the Japanese American experience, and readers who enjoy expansive novels.

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Just and Unjust Forms of Persuasion

Revisado: 02-10-25

Excellent production and performance...even the original music was great! The story itself explores familiar territory of societal constraints and the strange situations and consequences that arise from them. I would recommend this to fans of the author and to anyone who would like to be transported back in time.

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An Invaluable Tool..Genuine Hope & Support

Revisado: 01-20-25

The Energy of Prayer (How to Deepen Your Spiritual Practice) is an amazing, comforting book. Thich Nhat Hanh is at his very best here. This book transcends lines of faith and beliefs. It is a valuable tool for any person of faith, regardless of their religion or their place on the spiritual path. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who is dedicated to finding a way to be in service to spirit and to others. In his quiet, loving way, the author encourages us to deepen our understanding of the practice of prayer. He shows us concrete ways to challenge and expand our spiritual practice and beliefs. The narration performance by Edoardo Ballerini is outstanding and greatly supports and enhances the wonderful, insightful material.

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Motherhood Can Be a Lonely Journey...

Revisado: 01-20-25

One Little Mistake: a Novella by Lucinda Berry is an engaging and exciting story. The writing is solid and the narration performance by Brittany Pressley supports and enhances the material very well. I especially liked the realism and plausibility of this story. Many mothers feel isolated and that may set them up for hard challenges. I would recommend this book as a great short book to read in between major selections.

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