Doubleday brings us Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

This bestseller, written by Patrick Radden Keefe, covers the Sackler family who is to blame for the opioid epidemic that swept America like an ominous force that we weren’t alerted the perils of. This is a long book that covers a span of twentieth and twenty-first century business practices that the Sackler family exploited–for generations–to build their billion dollar fortune.

Empire of Pain takes you on a journey through the lives and generations of one of the most affluent, private, and privileged family dynasties in America. You will be annoyed, angered, but always entertained and enthralled.

I did read both the physical and audiobook and I would recommend a mixed media read: it can be a chore at times. The author does a great job of telling the story. The last few chapters read like a telenovella or trending hashtag on Twitter.

I rarely reread nonfiction, but this was so good; I definitely see myself reading it again whenever I need a reminder that everyone gets what they deserve!

This is a great book to read, in addition to Dopesick by Beth Macy, if you are looking to extend your knowledge of the opioid crisis, after watching the limited series Dopesick.

I should warn you, the ending is not as satisfying. This is not the fault of the author, but because of the Sackler’s continued manipulation to control the end results. They should have gotten worse but the government did give in for the greater good of the American people.

Audiobooks on Spotify

With the recent acquisition of Findaway, Spotify is gradually building a platform to attract readers as well as cater to their longtime base–music listeners. Audiobooks have been available on Spotify for a few years now however, you have to do some work to find them.

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Fantasy and Sci-fi Book Club for older readers who love classics. They also have excerpts from new releases as well. If you are someone who hasn’t picked up a book since high school, this is the perfect place to start. All of their episodes are under an hour with some of them as short as three minutes long.

Awesome Audiobooks is another great choice for classic lovers. They have familiar ones like The Great Gatsby and the Sherlock Homes series. They even have A Christmas Carol which is appropriate for this time of year.

Audiobook Reviews in Five Minutes with Janna is exactly what the title says. The host reviews audiobooks, in minutes. Janna reviews fiction and nonfiction but doesn’t give away all the details to take the fun and suspense out of reading the book yourself.

Tales To Terrify is another short fiction podcast with episodes that are under an hour. These are from less known authors but the stories are entertaining.

You also can type in different search words such as: audiobooks, fiction, classic literature, etc. to find audiobooks. Keep in mind, it is not like going to an audiobook site so finding what you are looking for will take time. Spotify has not made the experience easy just yet. I’m sure with the new acquisition and authors seeing this as another option to get their fiction out to readers, there will be improvements to come.

If you haven’t noticed from this list, Spotify could use some work when it comes to diverse voices and stories. This is a growing category that will take time to build, like anything else. However, if you see a genre that is missing, why not start a podcast of your own to be available on Spotify. This is not a sponsorship, but they do offer free podcasting through Anchor (owned by Spotify). You can try it out and see if it is something you want to do long-term before you start spending your own money on expensive equipment.

Skin of the Sea: Little Mermaid Retelling

A YA Fantasy about a Black mermaid; I was not asking for it but I’m glad Natasha Bowen thought to write it. This is a fast-paced, cinematic Little Mermaid retelling with rich descriptions of the sea and African mythology woven throughout.

Natasha Bowen is of Nigerian and Welsh descent and lives in England. I say this to say, she deals with prejudice and oppression of African people in a way that doesn’t victimize them even in their survival. With the stories I have been reading by Black American authors lately, it is disappointing how obsessed we are with race and the heavy-handed way WE Americans tend to force it into stories.

Bowen uses African mythology from the mid 1400s. There is a narrative with enslaved African people [influenced by the Portuguese who brought Africans to Europe and colonized islands] and violence around the slave trade but it is not explicit. The forbidden love storyline was great.

Fractals (repeated patterns) in hairstyles is used in a clever way. Bowen did her research. I had never heard of this but I appreciate learning while being entertained. The author’s note about fractals and how it was used by Africans is interesting as well.

I like that the flashback scenes are separated in another font. I read the physical book so I’m not sure how it looks in the ebook. I will say some words were repetitive and the African riddles, I just skipped over. For that reason, this might be one of those that is best as an audiobook read.

From the beginning, you learn that Simi [who was once a human and can revert back to one] is a mermaid who collects souls then prays to the gods for them to have a safe journey back home. She is told adamantly not to do anything else.

Then Simi comes across what she thinks is a soul but it turns out the boy, Kola is semi-conscious. Instead of leaving him alone she helps him convalesce before sending him back to the mainland.
It turns out this boy knows too much. This mistake might cost them both.

This is a great YA fantasy and age appropriate. The twist was original and unexpected. The ending makes me think the second book will explore the forbidden romance more. I’m so glad this is a duology. Can’t wait for the next book!

Hulu Is Becoming A True Competitor For Original Programming

If you find yourself bored on a Sunday afternoon and Netflix is behaving like a boyfriend who you have been dating for several years then he suddenly buys you a gift that shows you he just doesn’t know you, switch over to Hulu for surprisingly refreshing and original series.

Two series, currently showing on Hulu are Only Murders In The Building starring legends Steve Martin and Martin Short and pop singer and actress, Selena Gomez and Dopesick starring Michael Keaton and Rosario Dawson.

Only Murders In The Building follows a group of people, living in the same condominium building in New York City, trying to solve the murder of one of the tenants. This series comes from the genius minds of Steve Martin (who created and executive produced it) and Martin Short (who was also apart of the creative process). The series incorporates 21st century storytelling by adding a podcast narrative to keep the mystery going. The season finale aired on October 19.

Dopesick, a limited series, based on the true story about the Sackler Dynasty. It follows the links in the medical chain of opioid addiction and how it escalated to a drug epidemic, causing addiction and crime to skyrocket in America. This series has a documentary style which may be because it was adapted from a nonfiction bestseller book, of the same name, written by Beth Macy.

Hulu is not as experienced as Netflix and Amazon Prime when it comes to original programming however, there is one method they use that makes their content have a lasting impression on viewers: weekly releases. This formula is different from the standard binge-watching formula that streaming servers use to build their subscriber base. As a viewer, I do like the old school method.

Looking back on shows that aired on Netflix this year, Clickbait for example, social media was enamored with the show for three days before moving on to the next one. If it were mentioned in a tweet today, audiences would need a refresher for context.

With Hulu and many other less popular streamers creating original programming to build their libraries, I see Netflix becoming less dominant in the television and movie streaming game.

Hulu’s weekly releases of episodes does keep its original programs relevant and have more staying power. However, I don’t see the other streamers adopting this method now that their viewers are accustom to binging content at their leisure.

JaQuel Knight could start a trend with copyrighting choreography

This became an issue when White social media influencers became famous enough that they are getting lucrative deals because of the choreography they have in their videos. However, they are not giving credit to the original choreographer [original choreographer is a term I use loosely] causing those choreographers to be left out of the money being made for these trendy dance moves that influencers are profiting off of.

Famed choreographer JaQuel Knight thinks the answer is to copyright choreography as we do in all other forms of storytelling. It is astounding that in the 21st century, and with the advancements made in technology, that choreography hasn’t been an art form with copyright protection.

Some people have mixed feelings about the move and think that capitalist mindsets could have adverse effects on the industry.

Sources are: https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/beyonce-choreographer-jaquel-knight-copyright-dance-moves-1234957578/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/tiktok-strike-1234988427/

The Wife Upstairs: A Puzzle You Want To Get

If I could describe this story in one word, it would be the letter Z. This book had so many twists and turns. I kept trying to guess what they would be; I was wrong most of the time. Rachel Hawkins kept me guessing.
The characters are relatable (or at least understandable), smart and funny. How Jane and Eddie met is cute. Their chemistry is electric. She has secrets, and so does he. There is a hint of what is to come at the midpoint.

Jane is a dog walker escaping her past while trying to class climb the old-fashioned–a rich single man.

Eddie is an affluent and alleged widower with a past of his own that on the surface seems innocuous.

And John Rivers is an annoying opportunist who preys on single women in a bind.

These three characters together make for a great thriller, that is–if Rachel Hawkins is writing it. The pace of this book was perfect; I was never bored. The way the characters conversed with each other and the plot, kept me engaged. The short length of this story made me hesitant that it could be interesting. Boy was I wrong.
I love the small town trope. How everyone knows everyone, and is always in each others’ business served well. I don’t know much about Alabama, but for it to be the setting, gave the story a different feel. It’s not the typical book setting and it worked.

I have never read the classic novel, Jane Erye by Charlotte Bronte. This story was inspired by it and updated with an Alabama setting and 21st century themes to fit in the Southern Gothic subgenre. I highly recommend this story.

Queenpins Set for a September 2021 Release

When I think of queen pins, I think of the rapper, Lil Kim or the female head of an illegal organization–that’s just me. Of course they wouldn’t spell it that way. The new movie starring Kristin Bell and Vince Vaughn was given this title for good reason. Queenpins is based on a true story; about two women, a homemaker and blogger, with few good ideas and even fewer zeros in their bank accounts, concoct a $40 million counterfeit coupon scam. It is rated R for mature language throughout according to IMDB.

Kristin Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste also starred together in The Good Place (2016). The last time we saw Vince Vaughn on the big screen was in Freaky last year. But the best surprise is that we get to see a bevy of comedic actors in one place on the big screen which we haven’t done in quite some time.

This screenplay is brought to us by the writing duo, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly who are also husband and wife since 2009. They also directed this feature. Click the link below, if you’re curious.

Black Panther Sequel Update and How Ryan Coogler Will Fill The void Of Chadwick Boseman

There have been some delays with the sequel to the billion dollar Black Panther release. Part of the blame is due to Covid, then there is the unfortunate passing of lead star Chadwick Boseman. The most recent update comes from franchise director, Ryan Coogler, who says the upcoming release will be July of 2022.

Judging from social media, the fans anticipation of this film has not waned in the least bit. When news got out that filming started on the sequel last week, fans voiced their excitement all over the various platforms.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever News Twitter account posted an excerpt from the production team revealing some plot details. Here is an excerpt from their Twitter post:

ATLANTIS FEARED THAT SURFACE DWELLERS WOULD COME AND DESECRATE THE MYTHICAL CITY JUST AS THEY DID SO MANY YEARS AGO. AND YET THEIR FEARS ESCALATE FURTHER WHEN THESE TWO ONCE HIDDEN NATIONS CLASH WITH EACH OTHER. WAKANDA AND ATLANTIS HAVE A SHOCKINGLY INTERTWINED HISTORY. WAKANDA IS THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE WORLD WITH ACCESS TO VIBRANIUM.

According to https://comicbook.com the new cinematographer, Autumn Durald will continue where Rachel Morrison left off. Durald is known for her music credits with popular music artists like Travis Scott and The Weeknd. It will be interesting to see her vision for Black Panther.

All major cinema news outlets, list this movie coming out July of next year, fingers crossed that it does.

Jeanette Escudero’s The Apology Project is a Fresh Update to Romcom Fiction

Author Jeanette Escudero is new to women’s fiction readers. She has written romance novels under the pen name Sidney Halston. Her women’s fiction debut is nothing short of a stellar introduction into her style of storytelling. 

She writes funny, smart, career-oriented women who are relatable. They are not the virgin heroines that every man wants. They are not chasing after men to make their life complete. Even though there is a romance in The Apology Project, it still gives the female protagonist agency and not make her a typical woman in a romcom. 

It’s no wonder this was an Amazon First Reads pick for July. Amazon has been on a winning streak with recent successes such as: The Mixtape and Have We Met. Lake Union senior editor Chris Werner–who used to work at Montlake perfecting romance novels for release–gave this story his attention, so you know readers are in good hands.

I read The Apology Project in one sitting. Here is my review: 

Forgive the cover and buy this romcom for the humor, romance, and real-life current events influences.

Amelia Montgomery quits her job, as a lawyer, after a disagreement with her boss over a case. This incident is a stretch of real-life behavior, especially since she has a good job and is almost forty, but it’s fiction, so we’ll go along. She is such a lawyer, she cross-examines everyone, even in casual everyday conversations. 

The romance is pleasantly the right level of spicy. Amelia has been career-obsessed ever since high school; it sounds like. After she quits the firm, and with encouragement, she decides to have some fun. All it takes is wine and a good-looking stranger, John Ellis to get her in enough trouble to hold your interest for the rest of the book. 

She treats her one-night stand like a mechanic who just restored an engine then fondled a Gucci bag without washing his hands first. John is the perfect gentleman. After following their romance, you’ll have sexlife fomo.

The Apology project Amelia embarks on reads like a 12-step program for cancel culture victims. She goes through a list of people from her past. Some go swimmingly, and others not so much. 

The ending is not at all what I expected, but in a good way. And sounds like there might be a sequel. This is a surprisingly fun and quick read. Not a single page bored me.

For more on this author, go to her website www.jeanetteescudero.com

If this review piques your interest, head over to Amazon to purchase the book right now on presale https://www.amazon.com/Apology-Project-Novel-Jeanette-Escudero-ebook/dp/B08TWV388T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3ATIXMHQ54O6E&dchild=1&keywords=the+apology+project&qid=1625405491&sprefix=the+apology%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-2

Scream reading app

I learned about this new app from LaceyBookLovers on Youtube. This is a growing trend to produce these apps that charge you for stories in short increments. My main issue with this one is that they are offering chapters of books on this site that has the entire book for sale at $4.99 on book retailer websites.

Hopefully, the gullible public sees this scam for what it is and rejects this money grab. However, the bigger issue is the growing trend to deliver short length stories for a price. Short stories have been around since the beginning of storytelling. The difference is, we used to read them in magazines or newspapers, etc. where we were paying for more than just the short story.

With the rise of self publishing, this creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, looking to capitalize off of the booming industry, to overcharge unfastidious customers, leaving them paying four times the price for a book they could have purchased–in its entirety–on one of the book retailer sites.

The emergence of virtual coins for stories concept, has become popular online. It’s seemingly innocuous idea gives the impression that this pay to read option is cheap. The Scream app has coins that can be purchased in bundles:

60 coins $2.99, 100 coins $4.99, 300 coins $14.99. There are more purchase options for you to buy. I’m not sure how much each chapter cost in coins but, for example, there are a lot of self published books on here. Most of the self published are sold on retailer sites such as Google and Amazon for 4.99. That’s the whole book. I imagine–since you would be reading a few chapters at a time–it will cost you more than five dollars in the end, if you purchased the whole book, in chapters, on this app.

Scream reading app is currently offered to I-phone users. It is owned by Crazy Maple Studio. The app came out this month and has eleven reviews in the Apple store so far. On Linkedin.com Joey Jia is listed as the CEO of Crazy Maple Studio. This is the same company that owns Chapters: Interactive Stories.