Book Review: Avidly Reads Screen Time by Phillip Maciak

 

Avidly Reads Screen Time

Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this 

advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.  

When I read the description of what this book was about I was intrigued by the subject matter and the timetable the book covers. 

In the early 1980's my father worked for AT&T and I remember him telling my sisters and I that in the near future you'd be able to to see the person you are talking to on the phone on a screen!  It was such an exciting concept to me and as a middle-schooler I was hoping this technology would hurry up already!  (It wasn't fast enough for me!)

Phillip Maciak does a great job of covering all the bases of what screen time was way back when and the meaning of screen time in present day.  The memories of what it was like to have to sit in front of a screen at the exact time a program was being broadcast to VCR's, DVR's present day streaming services and everything thereafter; the internet, personal computers, tablets, smartphones and apps

I sometimes felt really nostalgic reading this book, remembering simpler days.  Maciak adds his personal touch to the book with stories of his family and screen time experiences.   When you think about it technology really has come a long way in quite a short time. This book presented a coherent timeline of various forms of screen time and gave information and research I hadn't thought about. 

If you're interested in the advances in technology over the past 30+ years and how it has changed how we communicate and entertain ourselves you will find this book interesting. 

Purchase on Amazon @

Avidly Reads Screen Time

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Posted at 11:28 PM  |  by Elle

Book Review - Pink Raise Your Glass by Annie Zaleski

P!NK Raise Your Glass

Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this 

advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.  

I've always loved Pink's music and knew a bit about her

personally because she grew up about an hour away from my hometown. I remember seeing a lot on the news as she was starting out in the music industry and thought this would be an interesting read to get the full story on her life thus far. 

This book is a wonderful compilation of Pink's beginnings, struggles, triumphs, accomplishments and everything in-between. 

There are beautiful photos throughout the book that correlate 

with the timeline being presented in each chapter.  The author has added quotes from Pink taken from various interviews throughout her career.  The book is extremely reader-friendly with a comfortable storyteller approach.  

 I enjoyed reading about how some of the songs came about and now want to go back and listen to each of her albums and pay closer attention to the lyrics as I listen!  

If you're a fan of Pink's music this is a must read!! 

Purchase on Amazon @

P!NK Raise Your Glass

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Posted at 10:26 PM  |  by Elle

Book Review: Late, Late At Night (A Memoir) by Rick Springfield

Late At Night by Rick Springfield

Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Stars

Let me start out by saying I was in elementary school (4th grade to be exact) at the height of the General Hospital frenzy and Working Class Dog album. I was not watching the soap, but some older neighbor girls were. And of course the music was all over the radio.  The movie, Hard To Hold was released in theaters in 1984 and I'm pretty sure I saw that a year or so after its release.  Throughout the 80's Rick Springfield had many other hits that if I heard them now I would recognize many of the songs. This was pretty much the extent of my knowledge about Rick Springfield. 

The very first thing that shocked (and I mean SHOCKED) me is that Mr. Springfield is only two years younger than my mother!!!  As I write this my my Mom is 75, Spring field 73!!!!

This factoid totally threw me for a loop!  I was very interested in his writings about his early years in Australia, his relationship with his parents, love of writing music, guitars and dogs.  The parts I could've done without were all the intimate partners he had throughout his life.  ( Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive about the rock star lifestyle, but I think Rick's 'adventures' were much more than the norm.)  He's described it as a 'habit' rather than sex addiction.  

I was unaware that he had some popularity in the early 70's in the United States and how editor-in-chief of 16 magazine, Gloria Stavers, was set on making Rick a teen idol just like David Cassidy. I also had no idea he dated Linda Blair from the movie Exorcist fame when she was only 15 years old!! 

 (Springfield was 25.)  

Rick will be married to his wife Barbara Porter, for 39 years on October 27, 2023.  This woman is a saint in my eyes. She endured Rick's infidelity for many, many, many years and it is beyond a miracle that the two of them are still together. 

Happy for them that they are, but a lot of turmoil in this marriage to say the least.  And he wrote the song "Don't Talk To Strangers" while he and Barbara were dating because HE was worried SHE was going to get involved with other people while they were apart!  He has said, "Back then, I was scared that she was f**king around because I was doing the same thing."  HA!!

The last thing I will leave you with in this book review is that Rick tried to commit suicide when he was 17 years old and has struggled with depression since puberty.  He references his depression as "Mr. D" throughout the book; I never in a million years would've thought that he struggled with depression.  

The insight to all he has dealt with throughout his life with depression is very sad, but extremely real. 

I commend Rick Springfield for laying out the nooks and crannies of his life in this book.  Although the writing style at the beginning of the book was a little choppy, he finds his voice throughout the book (with some flash forwards & flashbacks at spots) and he truly is an excellent writer.  Don't underestimate this guy, he is talented and I believe he has a great heart.

Purchase on Amazon @

Late At Night by Rick Springfield

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Posted at 8:41 PM  |  by Elle

Book Review: Out Of The Corner by Jennifer Grey

                                                    

Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

When I heard about this book being published I was intrigued. 

Dirty Dancing was one of the soundtracks to my senior year of high school.

Prom's theme was "The Time Of Our Life."

It was a very iconic movie and pretty much came out of nowhere. 

I also had watched Jennifer Grey on Dancing With The Stars.

So of course I wanted to read this book. 

I will try not to give too much away in this review.

I wasn't aware Jennifer Grey's parents were famous. 
(Think 'old Hollywood' here.)   That pretty much set up for

me that she didn't 'just happen' to get into show business. 

She went to private schools, spoke fluent French and her parents

were friends with a lot of famous people and she met many other

actors that would become famous in the future. 

 (Lots of name-dropping in this book!)

What I didn't know was the difficulty she had in getting acting jobs. 

It was not easy street for her.  And then of course the whole

'nose job' thing happened.  

I had also heard that she and Patrick Swayze did not get along, 

so I wanted to read her take on that as well.  The chapter on Dirty Dancing

was very interesting.  The small amount of time they filmed it in and it

wasn't even summer!!!  

Another shocker for me (which it I guess it shouldn't have been because

 I was alive during this time of course...probably just not paying attention)

was that Jennifer was in a serious relationship with her co-star, 

Matthew Broderick from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' in which she played his 

sister in the movie.   I also did not know about their horrific car accident

while they were on vacation in Ireland.  

It was very interesting to read about Jennifer from a young age until present time.

I was a little shocked at the end of the book.  She has a very nice epilogue and 

(poem?) at the very end called 'The Ride Home' which I want to print out because it really sums up how fast time moves.  It is spot on. 

I gave the book a 3 out of 5 just because I thought I would like her more than I did.

Maybe it was because of the time period she grew up in, (she's 12 years older than myself) the drugs, drinking, jumping into relationships and neediness?  

I give her a lot of credit for putting her life story out there and being very in-depth!

(There are some things that I'm how on earth did you know this happened on such & such a day and the vivid memory of it?!?!)

Purchase on Amazon @

Out Of The Corner

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Posted at 6:34 PM  |  by Elle

Book Review: 28 Summers

My Rating: 5 Stars

This book starts with the reader already knowing the ending. Some reviews I've seen state that it would've been better to save what Mallory's fate is until the end of the book, but I feel that the reason Elin disclosed her illness was so you could appreciate what a full life she led, although bittersweet.

This book is based on the play and movie, Same Time Next Year.
Mallory Blessing and Jake McCloud come into one another's life via her brother Cooper Blessing and connect romantically almost instantly in 1993.  Although they have chemistry from the beginning, Jake is in a relationship with his childhood sweetheart and Mallory is starting her life over on Nantucket. They agree to spend Labor Day weekend together every year, no matter what is happening in their lives.  are not to contact one another throughout the year unless there's a marriage, pregnancy or death, which they abide by.

I loved how each chapter began with real life highlights of events that were happening in the specific year.  Another highlight was the mouth-watering details in the meals they prepared and ate!!! I need some recipes for these dishes Elin!!!  She also peppers characters and businesses from her other books throughout the story, which is very comforting; makes you feel like you've been here before (and if you've read any of her books before, you kind of have been!)


Dislikes:

- I did not enjoy the politics within the book. (Beach Read...trying to escape reality here!!)
- At times I felt sad for both Mallory and Jake because their situation could've been different if they were just honest with themselves and others in their lives. 

They could've had more time together during their lifetime (life is short!) 
- Infidelity. It is bothersome that both characters so easily could drift back to one another for one weekend a year and then just return to the rest of their lives for the remainder of the year.  ( they did find it difficult to separate and thought of one another when not together...torturing themselves.)

If this is your very first Elin Hilderbrand read, please don't totally judge her on this book alone.  It was a bit more 'serious' and depressing than some of her other books.
Checkout 'The Blue Bistro' to experience just one of my favorites of hers!

Click here to purchase your copy!  

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Posted at 7:01 PM  |  by Elle

Book Review: The Menopause Diet Plan

I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of The Menopause Diet Plan by Hillary Wright, M.Ed., RDN and Elizabeth M. Ward M.S., R.D. from NetGalley.

I was looking for new information on this topic, but really did not learn anything new from this book.  However, if you're looking for more information on healthier eating habits and learning more about health concerns as you age, this book is for you!  Topics covered are heart health, lowering your risks for diabetes and cancer, healthy bones, being cognizant of what you're drinking, physical activity and dietary supplements.  All of these topics are covered in relation to menopause.  The last two chapters are dedicated to the Menopause Diet Plan and provide eating tips and recipes.

Both authors are registered dieticians and present the topics with ease and in a way you can understand the subjects at hand.  There are many studies and facts that are cited throughout the book, as well as a helpful resource list at the back of the book.

This is definitely a good book to have on your shelf for reference to look back on.  I found myself highlighting things that I want to remember about specific vitamins and dietary supplements.  I would definitely want my daughters to read this book when they are a bit older to understand the importance of all the topics discussed in this book!

Get Your Copy Here!

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Posted at 1:07 AM  |  by Elle