Rosepoint Publishing

The Rector’s Daughter by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

The Dunmara Series – Book 2

in Historical Irish Fiction

Book Blurb:

Yorkshire, England / County Clare, Ireland, 1918

Billy DeVere has spent his boyhood in the shadow of expectation — the heir his aristocratic father needs him to be. Then the Great War claims his father and both his brothers, and the life mapped out for him simply vanishes. In its place comes something unexpected: freedom. As Billy comes of age, he dares to imagine his own future — and the path he chooses will leave its mark on Dunmara for generations to come.

Dunmara, County Clare, Ireland

Orla Daly is still finding her footing. Her marriage is over, her children’s lives are unsettled, and the career she’s building feels as precarious as it is exciting. But Dunmara — the house that was the backdrop to her whole life — has revealed a connection she never expected, and she can’t turn away from it now. When she discovers an extraordinary painting hidden within its walls, Orla is pulled into a mystery a century old, and begins to understand that saving this house may be bound up with finding herself.

Two lives, a century apart, held together by one enduring house. As Orla follows the trail the painting has left her, Dunmara slowly gives up another of its secrets.

The Rector’s Daughter is the second novel in the Dunmara Story.

My Review:

The saga includes Orla, a champion of the historic Dunmara House, ring fort and tower in Ireland, as well as several of the characters introduced in installment #1, If Walls Could Talk. There is Safira and Professor O’Reilly also heavily involved in the fight for the preservation of the historic grounds and Jeannie who has personal history with the Dunmara House and her grandson, Chase, among the main characters.

Characteristic of the author’s complex storytelling, there is a solid litany of characters from both this and the split timeline that reverts to the time of the War of Irish Independence, including local British individuals watching the unfolding of the escalating tension sure to lead to an all-out conflict.

There are individuals whose alliances appear questionable as the plot begins a tight weave into conflict politics and the escalating brutality perpetrated on both sides. There is mounting suspicion throughout by unreliable perspectives. Fighting and skirmishes are not wholly inflicted on the military and everyone lives on eggshells waiting for the next shoe to drop.

The main characters are fully fleshed as are many of the support characters whose development heaps additional tension on the present-day plot involving the preservation of the historic building and grounds. I greatly enjoyed the detailed description of the application of historical paints on the paintings, techniques, color origins, and hidden messages within the art. Also, as always, I greatly enjoy the basis of words we use today and are familiar with as well as Celtic lore.

The pace begins rather fast then slows well into half of the narrative which left me easily distracted by continued contemporary arguments. There are times when I have to remind myself of the context of a specific (support) character. Otherwise, the plot gently leads the reader into a hook for the next installment.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Irish Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
Publication Date: June 30, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

I appreciate you!

Captain Hope and The Battle of Attu by Neil Perry Gordon – #BookReview #MilitaryHistoricalFiction #NetGalley

The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope

Book Blurb:

At the edge of the world, where the North Pacific collides with the Aleutian Islands, one of the least remembered—and most brutal—battles of the Second World War unfolded.

Captain Hope & The Battle of Attu, the fifth installment in The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope series, brings readers into the frozen fog of the Aleutian campaign through the eyes of a father and son drawn into the same war.

When Percy Hope, a seasoned journalist and Alaskan pioneer, receives a telegram informing him that his son Walter has been deployed to the remote island of Attu, he refuses to remain a distant observer. Securing a place as a war correspondent, Percy travels west into the harshest battlefield imaginable—where wind, ice, and volcanic rock are as deadly as the enemy.

Captain Walter Hope, now leading American soldiers in one of the most unforgiving environments on earth, must guide his men through terrain designed for ambush and survival measured in seconds. On Attu, there are no clear front lines—only fog-covered ridges, frozen ground, and an enemy determined to fight to the last man.

As Percy witnesses the invasion firsthand, father and son move through the same battlefield from different directions—one documenting history, the other shaping it. Between them lies a legacy carried through generations: resilience, leadership, and the quiet weight of hope itself.

Blending meticulously researched history with vivid storytelling, this novel captures the human experience of war in a place where nature and combat merge into a single relentless force.

Captain Hope & The Battle of Attu is a story of endurance, sacrifice, and the bond between father and son—set against one of the most overlooked battles of World War II, where courage was measured not by glory, but by the simple act of continuing forward into the storm.

His Review:

The Aleutian Island chain stretches across the north Pacific Ocean to within sight of the Russian Coastline. The Japanese figured out that the islands’ remote location and nearly zero population made it a perfect location for covert listening posts. The Japanese army took extensive measures to insure that their base was well fortified and entrenched.

Attu Island is a jagged island of volcanic rock and ash often shrouded in fog and icy mist. Retaking this position was not going to be easy. At times men walking on this forbidding landscape could not see someone five feet in front of them. The surface was ash and sand with sharp edges of solid magma poised to destroy the equipment utilized by the unwary.

The Japanese are a proud people with the attitude of the offspring of the proud Samari warriors. They were not going to be removed easily. However, the United States could simply not have that listening post on U.S. territory. Author Neil Perry Gordon paints a horrible picture of the sacrifice and courage it took to wrestle this island back from Japanese hands. The unforgiving landscape and conditions are abysmal and creates an extreme atmospheric picture.

C E Williams The author recreates the dynamic and nail-biting struggle fought in deplorable and often times blinding conditions. Perfect for fans of US military war fiction. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Military Historical Fiction, War Fiction, US Historical Fiction
Publication Date: April 14, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Neil Perry Gordon approaches storytelling as more than a craft—it is both his passion and his calling, a way to explore the extraordinary and render it vividly real. Through his work, he seamlessly intertwines history, metaphysics, and speculative inquiry, creating immersive narratives that reveal hidden truths and resonate deeply on a human level.

The author of eighteen novels, Neil is best known for his acclaimed The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope series, including The Wizard of Hope and his latest installment, Captain Hope and The Battle of Attu. In that powerful work, he brings readers into the stark, unforgiving landscape of World War II’s Aleutian campaign, where courage, sacrifice, and destiny converge at the edge of the known world.

With his newest novel, The Lemurians: A New Testament for the Soul, Neil expands his literary reach into bold new territory—exploring the origins of consciousness, the continuity of the soul, and humanity’s forgotten past. Blending narrative storytelling with philosophical depth, the novel challenges conventional ideas of identity, memory, and creation, inviting readers into a story that feels as much remembered as it is imagined.

Neil’s writing bridges historical fiction and metaphysical exploration, grounded in meticulous research yet elevated by a visionary imagination. His stories do more than recount events—they reawaken them, drawing readers into moments where history and mystery converge.

At the heart of his work is a deep belief in the power of narrative to connect, transform, and illuminate. His novels unfold as rich tapestries where myth, memory, and “what if” possibilities intertwine, opening doors to alternate realities and deeper dimensions of human existence.

For Neil, writing is an act of discovery. Each book becomes a living canvas where the seen and unseen, the temporal and the eternal, meet. His prose carries both intellectual depth and emotional clarity, offering stories that are as thought-provoking as they are deeply felt.

Whether exploring the nature of consciousness, uncovering hidden forces shaping history, or tracing the invisible threads that bind past and present, Neil’s work invites readers to see the world—and themselves—with fresh eyes.

Relax, it's Sunday

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick #AudiobookReview #bookclub #TBT

Bookclub at the YMCA

Another book I’d have never picked up, but a book club read that turned enjoyable. An author from the UK, this debut now among her six novels, but the most successful. I was told it was turned into a movie, but have not found evidence of such on the internet. She generally writes “uplifting, life-affirming fiction.”

My Thoughts

It’s a simple book. Sweet plot.

Arthur Pepper is a widower who has settled into a deep depression following the death of his wife of forty-plus years. At sixty-nine years of age, he has developed a routine that varies little from minute to minute—none of which has to do with his children, his neighbors, or the simple act of shopping for groceries. He has little interest in anything outside of his fern and garden.

So it is upon facing the first anniversary of her death that he has decided to clear some of her belongings and it is in this project that he discovers a gold charm bracelet that he has never seen before, well hidden.

Finding a telephone number on one of the charms, he can’t resist calling it, as he can’t imagine how or why Miriam would have a charm with an Indian telephone number on it. It begins the odyssey to find out more about her life before himself.

I loved how each of the charms left a tiny hint as to what the next charm might have represented and the amazing story behind each. The stories were touching, hilarious, tragic, simple, and powerful. Each a testament to the woman he married who had never shared her life (and that was an early difficult part to understand).

The characters are well developed, each conveying the story of their experience with his wife. Each of the adventures in which Arthur was led opened a new door to the woman he thought he knew. It was inspirational, compulsive, and emotional, a book you’ll enjoy if you love light, fast, and fun reading.

Many thanks to our local well-stocked library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own as well as my interpretation of the consensus of the book club participants.

Book Club Thoughts

The publisher provides questions for discussion at the book club, aided this time by questions additionally posed by the library.

A few of the items specifically examined were:

►How was Arthur Pepper changed? Obviously from a grieving and depressive widower to one who discovered there was still life out there that confirmed the love from Miriam for him was genuine.

►Was the book really an adventure, mystery, or family life fiction? All three, although Amazon has it classed as Later in Life Romance, Contemporary British & Irish Literature, and Travel and Vacation Fiction.

►Can intergenerational friendships work? Extended discussion appeared to agree that it could.

►The question was posed as to the favorite character. There were a number of lively and completely diverse characters. This led to an extensive discussion on all the adventures and the character each introduced as the reason for the charm. Most were…charming. Many, including myself, noted Mike as being particularly interesting and generous, while some also noted Bernadette as being a bit too much or as the busy-body opposite to the positive characters.

Book Details:

Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Narrator: James Langton
Publication Date: May 3, 2016

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Phaedra Patrick - author — Phaedra Patrick – author

The Author: Hello and welcome to my author page! If you click the yellow ‘Follow’ button, Amazon will send you an email when I have a new release, or if there’s a special deal you might be interested in.

I’ve always wanted to write books but came to it the long way around. I originally studied art and marketing and then worked as a stained glass artist, film festival organiser and communications manager. I won several awards for my short stories and have now written six novels, four of which became USA Today bestsellers. I live with my family in Saddleworth, UK, where I write full time.

My debut novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, was translated into twenty five languages worldwide and was optioned by a major Hollywood film studio.

My second novel, Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone (named Wishes Under the Willow Tree in the UK), was made into a Hallmark movie in 2021.

My third novel, inspired by my love of stories, is The Library of Lost and Found. It was selected as ’The Great North West Read,’ to be read across 300 libraries in the UK in 2019.

My fourth is titled The Secrets of Love Story Bridge (The Secrets of Sunshine in the UK) and my fifth, The Messy Lives of Book People (titled The Book Share in the UK) was the Barnes & Noble fiction pick for June 2022 in the USA.

I hope you enjoy my sixth novel, The Little Italian Hotel, a warm, uplifting escape about the power of love, friendship and following your dreams.

Please visit my website at http://www.phaedra-patrick.com for more info, writing tips and to sign up to my newsletter. You can also get in touch with me via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The YMCA Bookclub

Rosepoint Reviews – June Recap – July Heat and Firecrackers

June first ushered in a whole new lifestyle and schedule around here with the sudden emergency we experienced with the CE.

Notified that his Loop (cardiac implant) went off, he was sent to Emergency at our nearby hospital where he ended up with a whole new device. Unfortunately, he proved to be allergic to the wound adhesive and round two occurred one week later. He got his staples out two days before his birthday. Needless to say, I’ve taken a blog sabbatical. His estimated full recovery is expected to be eight weeks.

Now with the heat dome and temps at the century mark, the water garden isn’t looking too healthy and my mosquito fish (the Rosy Red Minnows) agreed it was too much for them. The Mystery snails are quite happy with each other, but it’s a struggle to keep that water temperature below 85^o F and that won’t work for them either, sad to say. We don’t usually experience these temps, so the whole thing must obviously be my fault.

The veggie garden doesn’t need a whole lot of attention except for some water. Going to the YMCA is out for the CE, although I might try to do one or two days a week, including book club next week and Bingo the next. One of our Navy buddies has passed away, a friendship of almost sixty years, so our son will be driving us to Texas. Yes, Texas in July. From the frying pan to the fire.

The CE and I did have six books we struggled to finish and I to post. The links on the titles are to our reviews that also include purchase information.

Rosepoint Reviews - June Recap

eBooks

Abigail Trench by Randy Overbeck (buddy read with the CE)
Mayhem in the Mountains by Jane Loeb Rubin

Audiobooks

Ironwood by Michael Connelly
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (book club)
The Divorce by Freida McFadden
Lorne by Susan Morrison

Favorite Book of the Month

The CE loved Randy Overbeck’s book. It was unique and very timely as well as thought-provoking. I greatly enjoyed it as well and can recommend for our America250 celebration. The favorite book for June:

Favorite for June – Abigail Trench

My Reading Challenges page…I’ve been lucky to turn on the computer. My Goodreads count won’t be accurate anyway but opening page shows 75 books (eleven behind schedule). I think it’s obvious I’ll have to edit the goal. Also, I have several audiobooks finished but not posted.

To my readers and fellow bloggers, I appreciate every open and like, and thank you so much for taking the time to check out my posts and leave your comments.

A little light summer reading.

Abigail Trench: A Novel of Washington’s Spy Ring #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Abigail Trench by Randy Overbeck

A buddy read with the CE. His review below.

Book Blurb:

A vivid, propulsive Revolutionary-era thriller with the spy-craft verve of the streaming hit TURN: Washington’s Spies and the electricity of 1776’s New York that Hamilton lovers will recognize, this story is inspired by the lone female operative in Washington’s spy ring.
In occupied New York, a schoolteacher with everything to lose turns information into a weapon, threading between Redcoats and rebels as plots against Washington gather steam.
After rogue Redcoats assault her and strip her family’s Long Island farm, Abigail Trench fights to survive in New York City—tutoring in a high-ranking British officer’s Water Street household by day, navigating taverns, informants, and soldiers by night. Through Abigail’s keen eyes—and a counter-narrative following a principled British major—the novel renders the moral gray zones of occupation with gritty intimacy. As rumors swirl of a strike at General Washington, Abigail’s vantage inside upper-crust parlors and rough waterfront rooms makes her an ideal courier—and a target.
This historical thriller delivers high tension, textured world-building, and a captivating heroine who put it all on the line for freedom.

My Review:

I always enjoy reading historical fiction, especially those stories using real events and persons. This book is very timely and focuses on the historical Culper Ring and Robert Townsend, one of the main support characters, aka Samuel Culper Jr., or Agent 723.

The protagonist is a young teacher from London seeking employment in New York after she and her father moved there from Long Island. Serendipity had a hand in introducing her to a British officer’s family with two small children seeking a tutor. She meets Molly and Jamie at a hanging. Molly is the antithesis to the Major’s wife and provides great street credibility along with descriptive scenes of 1776 New York City.

Abigail has ample reason to dislike the British but manages to plaster on her “teacher’s smile” when around the officers, conferring with the Major while she is tutoring the children in another room of his mansion. It’s the perfect setup to overhear British plans for war. It’s difficult to play the cloying female around the arrogant British officers, but in the role she accepts—nay—forces upon Robert Townsend, she steps into the treacherous world of espionage as Agent 355.

I love the way Abigail faces the fear, forces herself to calm, then dissolves when it’s safe. This is not a role to be taken lightly and is fraught with danger, intrigue, and suspense.

While Molly and Jamie school her on keeping arms’ length from the soldiers, Robert is heavy on spy craft instruction, and their closeness fosters a romance. He is brilliant in his work, creating a perfect cover while setting up a system of codes and a network of carefully curated contacts.

Depiction of the cruelty and the terror of the people quietly builds throughout the novel, manifesting a quiet tension. Townsend was never caught and, indeed so careful in his position that his name was only linked to the spy ring in 1930. That he might have had a lover who passed him major sources of information is neatly woven into the narrative as the tutor who may have shared vital information. She is portrayed very believably as an eighteenth-century teacher/tutor, strong, principled, but with proper feminine frailty.

I enjoyed the storyline and the recognizable events, familiar and historical facts, and that Agent 355 was a woman—this could have been her—why not? Still, I had a little problem with the romance and the epilogue.

I read Crimson at Cape May, Book 2 of the Haunted Shores Mysteries in September 2020 and greatly enjoyed that ghost mystery. This historical fiction is somewhat of a departure from those books.

My Rating: Four point Five Stars

His Review:

Before the Revolutionary War, the people in “The Colonies” were simply subjects of the King of England. Many had come from London to escape the cold, rainy weather and the diseases that were a constant part of life in England. They had come to escape poverty and fulfill the dream of a better life. The “Red Coats” were their own countrymen working to maintain order.

Their entire life changed after the “Declaration of Independence.” Didn’t the colonials understand that they enjoyed all of the benefits of British rule including the “Red Coats” to protect them? The climate changed as George Washington trained an army that chose to fight those British soldiers and the Red Coats were very angry that they were not shown the respect that they felt was due them.

Revolutionaries were gathered and hanged including Nathan Hale. He exclaimed as they put the rope around his neck on the gallows, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” Abigale watched in angry silence as he died thrashing at the end of that rope and her first love was gone. The crowd was disbursed.

Most of the people were first-generation Americans or recently arrived people looking for a better living in the “New World.” General Washington had the army of revolutionaries who felt that all of the taxes required of them were going to England without any benefit provided to improve this country. The revolution, which began as a protest, devolved into a fight for freedom from the soldiers who abused them, burned their homes, and conscripted many to military service.

Reading this book will enlighten the reader as to why the war was necessary. Similar to the French Revolution, the people required recognition for their struggle and the thankless taxes sent to the King. A new perspective of the Revolutionary War! 5 stars – CE Williams

Last year, I read Red Shadows at Saugatuck, Book 4 of the Haunted Shores Mystery (a paranormal fantasy), and greatly enjoyed it as well.

His Rating: Five Stars

Many thanks to the author for providing us with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is our own.

Book Details:

Genre: Espionage Thrillers, Historical Thrillers
ASIN: B0G95HW2PN
Print Length: 374 pages
Publication Date: June 9, 2026
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, bestselling author, popular podcaster and speaker in much demand. After serving children for almost four decades as teacher, college prof and school leader, he used those experiences and skills to craft captivating mysteries, thrillers and historical suspense. His novels have earned more than a dozen national awards including Thriller of the Year, Best Book Award, the Gold Award and Mystery of the Year. His titles also have garnered hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and BookBub.

His newest novel, ABIGAIL TRENCH, a historical suspense about the Revolutionary War, is released June, 2026 by Diversion Books and distributed by Simon and Schuster.

Dr. Overbeck is also the host of the popular podcast, Great Stories about Great Storytellers, which reveals the little known backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and ranks among the top 50% of all podcasts in the US. When he is not writing or podcasting, he is in much demand as a speaker, sharing informative and entertaining programs to more than 300 groups all over the country.

Five Stars!

Just a little overwhelmed right now and see a blog break in my future

Time for a sabbatical!

This time of year can be overwhelming with spring cleaning, gardens, and projects, but now the CE is needing some special attention. Hopefully, he’ll be on the mend soon, but in the meantime, I must step away from the blog for a while except for a few planned posts. I hope to be back in July and look forward to resuming my schedule then.*

Stay cool and safe!

*Graphic courtesy ChatCPT

Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

Best Biographies and Memoirs

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers’ Favorite History & Biography (2025)

Book Blurb:

Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him. He’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Tracy Morgan), the “great and powerful Oz” (Kate McKinnon), “some kind of very distant, strange comedy god” (Bob Odenkirk).

Lorne will introduce you to him, in full, for the first time. With unprecedented access to Michaels and the entire SNL apparatus, Susan Morrison takes readers behind the curtain for the lively, up-and-down, definitive story of how Michaels created and maintained the institution that changed comedy forever.

Drawn from hundreds of interviews—with Michaels, his friends, and SNL’s iconic stars and writers, from Will Ferrell to Tina Fey to John Mulaney to Chris Rock to Dan Aykroyd—Lorne is a deeply reported, wildly entertaining account of a man singularly obsessed with the show that would define his life and have a profound impact on American culture.

My Review:

Can I count you among those, including myself, who mourn the “old days” of Saturday Night Live when it was still topical, satirical, and politically incorrect? The edginess poked fun at just about anyone before it dissolved in crotch shots and fart jokes.

To say that it’s “the definitive biography of Lorne Michaels, the man behind America’s most beloved comedy show” (NYTimes) might be a misnomer in that it appears to me more like an intro to the man but a blow-by-blow of the “warts-and-all week in the life of SNL.” (Variety)

Whether Michaels actually “invented” SNL or that it more likely evolved cooperatively with his acquiescence might produce an argument. As I read it, it was more a collaboration and he took it from there. There was a hiatus from 1980 to 1985 (seasons 6 through 10) where Michaels was absent and looking for other opportunities. So to say he has helmed SNL for fifty years also might be a stretch to the truth since he started with the show in 1975 but found other sources of creativity for those five years.

And, for my money, the Not Ready for Prime Time Players were the best—my favorite being Gilda Radnor and Jane Curtin. Not that I haven’t greatly enjoyed a number of cast members since, including Eddy Murphy (“It’s Mista Landlord, children.”) and Tina Fey. Then you might argue Bill Murray, Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, and Kenan Thompson, and I’d counter Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey, and Amy Poehler.

Go ahead, name your own favorites! There’s been a solidly rotating door since the early days and, I’m sorry to say, few that bring the magic or have the power to duplicate strong interest outside of SNL.

From Michaels at an early age to his first tentative step into show business, the author has done a fine job of research, coaxing out all the nuances that would become a Lorne hallmark. Whether his standard for comedic sketches has waned or not, one of the standard talents in Lorne is his considerable ability to see and acquire star talent.

Lorne is viewed later as a father figure to many of his cast members and shown often struggling with how much into their private lives he should have been projecting his wisdom. If you ever considered the culture, looking at many of the cast members that might have been living an over-the-top food, sex, and drugs existence, you’d be right. Witness those whose connection with the show has ended in their early deaths.

Does the quality of the show all come down to good actors interpreting lousy scripts? No. I don’t think so. If they are presenting these mind-numbing skits and Lorne thinks them funny and approves of them, then the buck stops on his desk. His demographic is young adults.

It’s just not the same, do you think? Not the same show. Not the level of writers. Not the level of the good-natured absurdity poking fun at topical events. I must admit that there are Saturday nights when we’ll hang on after news to watch the “cold open.” Unfortunately, that also tells us whether or not we’ll watch further or go to bed.

In a 655 page book and almost 23 hour audiobook, I think it could be said that the deep dissection of myriad weeks of SNL show structure from choice of guest stars to discussion of skits and the tediousness of timing could be cut from decades to samples of weeks that include some of the most notables mentioned.

If you enjoy an occasional, very long, biographical account of an American TV institution and its producer, you may find this of interest, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Television Comedy, Comedian Biographies & Memoirs, Celebrity & Popular Culture Humor
Publisher: Random House Audio
Narrators: Kristen DiMercurio, Susan Morrison
Release Date: February 18, 2025

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Susan Morrison is the Articles Editor of “The New Yorker.” She is the former editor-in-chief of the “New York Observer,” an original editor of “SPY” magazine, and the one-time features director of “Vogue.” She lives in New York City.

#ThrowbackThursday

Seven Audiobooks – Stories to Hear Anywhere – #BookHaul – #TuesdayBookBlog

Impossible to Pause

Catching recommendations from Goodreads and good buddies, thought it might be time to share some of the wealth. Do you like historical fiction, literary fiction, police procedurals, or perhaps a memoir? Here are audiobooks in the queue from my library with an eye of what might look good to you also. (Book links are to Amazon-US.)

On My Audiobook Shelf

Just Finished:

Lorne by Susan Morrison (scheduled for my review on June 18 – Editors’ pick Best Biographies and Memoirs)

Currently listening to:

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (I also listed this in February then ran out of time. Editors’ pick Best Books of 2025)

Up Next:

The Keeper by Tana French (Editors’ pick Best Books of the Year So Far 2026)

Currently on library hold:

Wait time on these holds is anywhere from 2 weeks to 16 weeks and they represent a few different genres, including two of my favorites, historical and crime fiction.

Four audiobooks

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Editors’ pick Best Books of the Year 2025 and a Reese’s Book Club pick.) 1^st in line
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – 4 weeks (second try on this one, too)
Whistler by Ann Patchett – 6 weeks
The Final Target by Nora Roberts – 8 weeks

I’d be willing to bet you’ve read at least one of these! I can’t vouch for those on my hold list, but a wait of two months is down from four and I can’t wait to get into them. Which one have you already read or listened to? Did one of these catch your attention? So what did you think?