PChapmanAuthor

I love Bernie, not a fan of this reader

Revisado: 11-08-23

First of all, I adore Bernie Taupin. He's one of my idols and has been since 1975. I like how he intertwines events in his life in this narrative. There is not enough about him out there, as he was overshadowed by the front man, Elton John. So I'm always yearning to hear and learn more about BT. The voice and word choice in this memoir are excellent and a true testament to Bernie's intellect and sense of humor. I enjoyed the chapter about how "blurred," (my word) sexuality was back in the day. That is a theme in one of my novels. I would have loved to hear more about his personal relationship with Elton and his friends/wives. But I get this is a memoir, a slice of his life. He has other bios out there. I purchased the hard copy to read after struggling with the voice of the narrator, so that's unfortunate but of course just my opinion. Great book!

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Such an engaging story that illustrates life

Revisado: 03-28-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This book held my interest from start to finish. Julia's journey is one we can empathize with, whether we are terminally ill or not. Her feelings, thoughts, and dilemma are common to us all, and Jennifer very poetically articulates the arc this character experienced. From coming to terms about how she led her life to going full circle, to making amends with her past and accepting her future, Julia's character is believable and identifiable. In the beginning, she may seem like an unreliable narrator, but once the reader realizes she was just hiding, the compassion for Julia comes through.

This is a hard subject to tackle. I've experienced a similar health issue though luckily not fatal. But I can corroborate all the emotions one feels going through such an arduous time. You shove your feelings into the ground, and the next day you feel you can conquer the world. And then you have this nagging doubt that you could have done something to prevent your situation. And the worst: Believing it's all just a dream and that you'll be fine. But without people, we can't come to terms with this grieving. Julia expresses all this.

I'm sorry another reader rated this book low because the subject hit home for her. For me, that's a reason to rate it a 5. Jennifer did an excellent job of writing about a difficult topic, based completely on a made-up character. And yet, it's so believable because she adeptly went into all the possible scenarios, in such a gripping tale. The story flows well, and the character development is second to none. Please read this book! You won't regret it.

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Really enjoyable story

Revisado: 02-02-22

I read this because someone recommended it to me as a "comp" for a book I'm writing. I'm glad I stuck it through. The beginning dragged a little IMO but when I returned to it, around Ch 3, it gets moving. Nicely paced, great m/m story without the overindulging sex that is common in many homosexual-themed romances. Really enjoyable story, well written, and you can tell the author did her research about politics. That was a sub-plot that was well connected to the main plot and made the book even more intriguing.

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Hard to follow the different POVs

Revisado: 12-28-21

Someone recommended this title for me as the descriptions are well done, and they are. The author sprinkles in attractive phrasings that show vs tell. However, I feel the story was a bit hard to follow. It might have been better if it didn't jump around from POV to POV each chapter, and if it weren't written in three POVs. I think I might have preferred a single or dual-POV, with Adele and Ann. I am unsure why the author included Carol as a third POV. I also was unsure when this took place. Those descriptions were underdone. I'm the type who likes and needs to know when something takes place. The author mentioned the year just twice in the whole book. And there, too, the story seemed to jump around. It took me too long to listen to this because of these factors. Otherwise, I always enjoy a good story about a family or mother-daughter. This could have been that, but, sadly for me, it did not deliver in this way.

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Really nice story, well written

Revisado: 11-20-21

I was surprised at first by the number of chapters...76, but they are very short chapters, and that works. A page for a chapter? I like how the story progresses, where the MC collects (and I will purposely say that because she doesn't "meet" as much as collects) people and friends, just drifting in life. She is like that because of her upbringing and background. She is likable, however. You don't get that she's a user at all. She's just surviving. That was shown well. I like how the end comes back full circle in many ways. The story is believable and the characters, down to earth. Glad to see this type of story sells. My book has commonalities. That's why someone recommended I read this. Glad I did and I recommend it to others, too, especially if you like "lost people" and musicians and friendships, as well as families that have gone awry or lost and were found again in some way.

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Very good read, nice story, realistic

Revisado: 10-15-21

I am the narrator's (MC's) age, so I really felt a connection, plus I, too, always let music run my life...and music is all around me, always. My father died when I was 7. My brother was Danny's age. So this book hit home, but in a nice way. Well characterized, not just the people but the era and the beliefs. Pace is great, and I adored the humor. The descriptions of the kid interactions and school were sort of Capt Underpants for young adults/adults in a good way. Really sweet message.

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Fantastic story that is worth anyone's time

Revisado: 10-06-21

Whether you like Patti Smith, even know who she is, or don't care, you need to read this well-written and well-read book. It was recommended to me because a novel I'm writing is similar in nature. This is a memoir, however, to be clear. I love how it's laid out and structured and is not just about her life. It's about her connection to her lifelong best friend and love, Robert Mapplethorpe, and the friends and associates they made along the way as they came into their own in a world that wasn't always friendly to unique creatives. It's a loving story with realism captured in the essence of the artistic environment and NYC settings of the 70s. An excellent read, one that I couldn't put down and was sad when it was over.

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Good story, easy to follow

Revisado: 07-29-21

This book started out a little dry and "telly," but it needed to be that way to set the stage for what was to come. I like the timestamps; they enabled the writer to jump back into time and back again without confusing the reader. I love stories about siblings and families. This was good, captured personalities well; good descriptions. Interesting MC, Nina. Not a "bimbo," but a woman who somehow did not dodge her past, and instead, repeated the pattern her philandering rock star father set by pairing with a player man. He's literally a player...tennis. But with all that, she's a strong, independent woman. So this story had all the elements I love on top of the sibling thing: music (somewhat), sports, and romance/cheating. The story moves well and held my interest. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Taylor Jenkins Reid and novels about the difficulties families endure for the sake of love and being with their beloved siblings.

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Good if it had been split up into at least two

Revisado: 05-20-21

This book started out pretty good. It was interesting and I liked the story, being a music aficionado myself. I also have worked with people with disabilities, so reading about someone obviously on the spectrum who also performed music and had a decent life (with very believable job and personality), was fun. SPOILER ALERT...But I believe another reader also said that the story went downhill when he died. I couldn't get into the other characters after that, as believable as they also were. I guess Joe held the other characters together. I love seeing when a kid in a story grows up, but I think that whole part would have been better served in a part two in a series perhaps. This was well written and usually interesting, but I couldn't continue at the point when the daughter grew up. Also, there were too many whole political and news mentions, considering it was more a contemporary fiction/women's fiction. I tried and almost got through the whole thing but did not finish it. Maybe I will return to it when I'm able.

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Unique storyline, excellently written

Revisado: 03-17-21

While I was pleased that this book was well written, containing words beyond those a fourth-grader uses, as in many titles, I thought some of the scenes were too long and drawn out. The story was not as much about the baby they were going to collaboratively raise, and more about the "trans" lifestyle and issues surrounding that. I would have had no issues with this topic, had it been billed as the plot. There were too many "transient" characters as well. I like to invest in the characters I read about. The way the chapters were named was interesting and ok to follow, but I would have preferred "name" chapters.

I loved the chapter where they explore fostering/adopting, as an adoptive parent myself. I enjoyed Ch. 6/Three Years Before Conception, the best.

As the story neared the end, it felt rushed, and the very ending was a bit confusing to me. I had to listen to it again to figure out what happens. It fell flat, in my opinion. The ending could have been so much more vivid, satisfying.

Overall I'd say, give it a shot, for the difference in content vs what's out there. Oh, it does have a lot of adult language, okay for me, but if you're listening on Audible on speaker, be sure your kids aren't around.

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