2021 Recap

Wow.  2021’s book total may be the lowest number of books I've read in a long time.  From anecdotes I've seen and articles I've read, I don't seem to be the only one reading less.  Besides the mental overload I've felt, leading me to spend more time zoning out on short videos and mindless phone games, I also think the constant uncertainty of what was happening around me made me less likely to enjoy the feeling of reading and watching plots unfold without knowing what was going to happen.

I'm going to be gentler with myself in 2022.  Even though I generally read at random, I'm going to seek out more books that fit in my current wheelhouse (which currently appears to be short stories, poetry, and biographies).  Even though I always finish the books I start, I may set ones aside to revisit at a later point.  

One thing I can't change is my reading goal...it always has been and always will be 100 books (and I don't stress if I don't meet it).

Basically, I've missed the joy of getting lost in a book and I always feel more centered when I take the time to read so getting back to feeling like my best self is a goal this year.  Happy Reading! 

Five Days in November

 Book 55 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Five Days in November

by Clint Hill

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2013

On November 22, 1963, three shots were fired in Dallas, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and the world stopped for four days. For an entire generation, it was the end of an age of innocence.
That evening, a photo ran on the front pages of newspapers across the world, showing a Secret Service agent jumping on the back of the presidential limousine in a desperate attempt to protect the President and Mrs. Kennedy. That agent was Clint Hill.
Now Secret Service Agent Clint Hill commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the tragedy with this stunning book containing more than 150 photos, each accompanied by Hill’s incomparable insider account of those terrible days. With poignant narration accompanying rarely seen images, we witness three-year-old John Kennedy Jr.’s pleas to come to Texas with his parents and the rapturous crowds of mixed ages and races that greeted the Kennedys at every stop in Texas. We stand beside a shaken Lyndon Johnson as he is hurriedly sworn in as the new president. We experience the first lady’s steely courage when she insists on walking through the streets of Washington, D.C., in her husband’s funeral procession.
A story that has taken Clint Hill fifty years to tell, this is a work of personal and historical scope. Besides the unbearable grief of a nation and the monumental consequences of the event, the death of JFK was a personal blow to a man sworn to protect the first family, and who knew, from the moment the shots rang out in Dallas, that nothing would ever be the same. 

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I've had this book on my 'to-read' list since 2014 and I'm reading it now because my library had a copy and my mental bandwidth seems only up to shorter stories at the moment.  This book being photo-heavy on a topic I know will hold my interest made it a pretty quick grab for me.

The book is oversized horizontally but not vertically which make the pictures large and clear but the book itself not overly cumbersome to hold and read.  Having the book written 50 years later by someone incredibly involved in the moments means I'll probably learn something too.

My Opinion

5 stars

This was an excellent book.  Clint Hill shared his personal knowledge and details without exploiting the situation or making himself the main character.  He humanized the people involved in a way many others that have talked about it haven't.  The respect he felt for the job and the family came through even when writing about it fifty years later.

The photos were excellent too.

A Few Quotes from the Book

"As [Lyndon B. Johnson] takes the oath of office, the reality of what has happened begins to sink in. Three hours earlier, we arrived in Dallas on Air Force One with a vibrant, charismatic president, whom I greatly admired and respected, and now we are returning to Washington with his body in a casket, his widow, and a new president.

 It is a historic moment, but crushingly sad for all of us who witness it."

"At midnight, I realize November 22, 1963, has finally ended. It is a day that is seared into my mind and soul, a day I will relive a million times over.

 What could I have done differently?

 Could I have reacted faster?

 Run faster?

 For the rest of my life I will live with the overwhelming guilt that I was unable to get there in time."

Life is Not a Stage

 Book 54 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond

by Florence Henderson

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2011

For millions of people around the world, Carol Brady is synonymous with motherhood, but growing up as the youngest of ten children in rural Indiana in the aftermath of the Great Depression, Florence Henderson lived a life quite different from that of the quintessential TV mom she later played on television.

Florence's father was a dirt-poor tobacco tenant farmer who was nearly fifty years old when he married Florence's twenty-five-year-old mother, and was nearly seventy when Florence was born. Florence's childhood was full of depravation and abandonment. Her father was an alcoholic at a time when there was no rehab or help for the disease. Their home rarely had electricity or running water. When she was twelve, Florence's mother left the family to work in Cleveland and never returned.

Florence opens up about her childhood, as well as the challenges she's faced as an adult, including stage fright, postpartum depression, her extramarital affairs, divorce, her hearing loss, and heart problems. She writes with honesty and wisdom of how her faith and ability to survive has brought her through rough times to a life of profound joy and purpose.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

This book is the 32nd book on my 'to-read' list on Goodreads so it was one of the first books I added when I joined back in 2012.  I'm reading it now for a few reasons.  I'm still using curbside pickup for the library so it's a good opportunity to actually take some things off of my 'to-read' list since I'm not browsing for unexpected items.  I've been in a reading slump so a biography, especially one I expect to be lighthearted and fun, is an easy choice.  

As for the book itself, I have a passing familiarity with Florence Henderson, mainly through "The Brady Bunch" and "Dancing with the Stars".  I know there is more to her than those roles so I'm sure I'll learn but I'm expecting a base awareness of most of the people she would talk about.

I always mention if a biography/memoir includes photos and I'm happy to say there are multiple color photos included in this book.

My Opinion

3 stars

She began by saying she avoided writing a biography prior to this because her life was difficult and she didn't want to revisit it.  After reading this book she definitely opened some wounds but I think waiting helped because hindsight helps shape things when writing a biography/memoir.  If you're taking the time to write a memoir you do want to include as much as you're comfortable with and by waiting, she was able to provide more depth and honesty.  

The downside of reading this 10 years after it came out is reading the optimism at the end of how she hopes to still be working when she's 90; to quote her, "maybe the sequel to this book will tell you how and if I make it."  Although she didn't make it to 90 (passing away in 2016 at the age of 82), hopefully she was still satisfied with the full life she lived. 

Choose Me

 Book 53 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Choose Me by Tess Gerritsen

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2021

Taryn Moore is young, beautiful and brilliant...so why would she kill herself? When Detective Frankie Loomis arrives on the scene to investigate the girl's fatal plunge from her apartment balcony, she knows in her gut there's more to the story, especially after the autopsy reveals that the college senior was pregnant. It could be reason enough for suicide-or a motive for murder.

To English professor Jack Dorian, Taryn was the ultimate fantasy: intelligent, adoring, and completely off limits. But there was also a dark side to Taryn, a dangerous streak that threatened those she turned her affections to--including Jack. And now that she's dead, his problems are just beginning.

After Frankie uncovers a trove of sordid secrets, it becomes clear that Jack may know the truth. He is guilty of deception, but is he capable of cold-blooded murder?

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I chose this book from the "Amazon First Reads" free monthly options.  The cover caught my eye and I have a little author recognition as a solid suspense writer.

I'm reading this electronically and I've discovered I really liking reading mysteries that way.  It helps me fight my temptation to skip to the end, and I turn off the "percentage" so I don't know how much is left of the story as I read.

My Opinion

4 stars

I picked a good time to start this book because I had time to read it quickly.  It started off with a clear introduction of characters but I probably would've been confused if I'd taken a long time to read it.

I like reading mysteries electronically because not knowing how much more of the book there is adds to the suspense.  This one was paced really well and wrapped after at a good length.  

I immediately recommended it to my daughter.

West with Giraffes

 Book 52 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

West with Giraffes

by Lynda Rutledge

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2021

An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.
“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…”

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.

It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.

Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I picked this book from the selection on Amazon First Reads because historical fiction is my favorite genre and the subject is such an unusual premise I can guarantee I haven't read anything like this before.  Also, giraffes are my mom's favorite animal so it will be a bonus if this book has tidbits I can pass along to her.

Since it's an electronic copy I don't have much to say about the look of the book itself.  The color and sparseness of the cover fits has a sepia, dust-covered feel which fits the Depression-era time period.

My Opinion

4 stars

This is the kind of book to get lost in.  I know it was marked as "currently reading" for awhile but the time spent actually reading it went by very quickly.  I would definitely read this author again.

This would make a good family movie.

I liked the historical notes at the end that gave a little more explanation on some of the references and inspirations for the story.

American Shoes

 Book 51 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

American Shoes by Rosemarie Lengsfeld Turke

Summary (via Goodreads)

expected publication date: February 2022

Set against a backdrop of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, the reign of Nazi Germany, and the entire course of World War II in Europe, American Shoes recounts the tumultuous childhood of a young American girl and her family trapped within a country that turned against itself, where human decency eroded and then vaporized. Forced to grow up in the midst of endemic fear stoked by a ravenous madman, American Shoes portrays the breakdown of a society from a child’s point of view, deep inside a land where millions of law-abiding citizens were targeted as threats, and then removed for extermination.

This is the story of a brave girl who, despite not being Jewish, was perceived to be one of those threats and was compelled to keep her American identity secret for fear of her family’s arrest, concentration camp placement, or worse. Fighting to see through a relentless barrage of Nazi lies and propaganda, caught within a nation where resistance or opposition meant incarceration if not certain death, American Shoes illuminates one family’s struggle to survive against impossible odds as a cataclysmic world war marched closer and closer until it was upon them.

Vividly told for the first time after seven decades of a family’s collective silence, American Shoes reveals the story of a brave and spirited young girl named Rosel who refused to accept the new order of a world gone mad, inside a society that became more sinister and macabre than any childhood nightmare could ever be. Driven by the faint memories of the land where she was born—a hazy beacon that guided her toward freedom and a new life—this is the story of Rosemarie Lengsfeld Turke.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I chose this book while browsing on NetGalley (full disclaimer below).  The cover and title intrigued me enough to look at the description.  Based on the description, it appears to be a perspective I haven't heard much about - an American family living in Germany at the time of WWII and how they had to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

It's listed as a biography geared to middle grades so I'm not sure how detailed it will be.  I'm anticipating this would be one my daughter would be interested in reading as well.

My Opinion

4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**

Since this book is marketed to younger readers it starts with "precautions for parents and teachers" about the contents of the book.  In my opinion, this book is an accurate representation of her memories.  She didn't sugarcoat the tough stuff but also didn't use graphic descriptions in an exploitative way.  While each child's sensitivities are different, if a child is interested in reading about the Holocaust and the adult feels they can handle the information, this book would generate interesting discussions.

The book is digestible for a young reader but reading between the lines as an adult and especially a parent, my heart was in my throat the whole time.  The text was simple and emotional.  It made my heart hurt that she was so stoic since it was probably a form of protection.  She made a good point about the difficulties for children to find any sort of consistency to rely on; their development would be stunted if they survived because of all the unpredictable changes and breakdown of society.

It was a viewpoint I hadn't read before.  As a young child, she was an American citizen who ended up stuck in Germany for years with her parents (who had immigrated to America but were still German citizens) when the borders closed while they were visiting family.  Her father ended up getting drafted and another child was born in Germany so when the war ended, she had to travel home to the US by herself as a teenager; as the only American citizen in her family, she was the only one who qualified for the evacuations.  

I'm not clear if these are her sketches or not but I assume they are and they add a nice touch.

Killing Patton

Book 50 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Killing Patton by Bill O'Reilly

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2014

General George S. Patton, Jr. died under mysterious circumstances in the months following the end of World War II. For almost seventy years, there has been suspicion that his death was not an accident—and may very well have been an act of assassination.

Killing Patton takes readers inside the final year of the war and recounts the events surrounding Patton’s tragic demise, naming names of the many powerful individuals who wanted him silenced.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I found the other "Killing..." books interesting so it was an easy choice to read this one too.  Although they've all seemed well-researched, my interest varied depending on the subject and Patton is probably the one I know the least about.  I'm going into this pretty blind - I didn't even know there was anything unusual about the way he died to generate this book.

The cover is stark and has that black/white, WWII feel.  Of the 5 people on the cover, I recognize 3 of them (and Patton is not one I would've recognized without the context clues of him being larger and in the center).

Part of the reason I continued reading the "Killing..." books even though I don't want to listen to Bill O'Reilly is because there isn't a lot of opinion in the books; I wouldn't know he was the author if I read it without looking at the cover first.  I hope that trend continues with this book as well.

My Opinion

2 stars

Side note: I bought this book used and the receipt of the original purchase was still inside.  It was purchased at a Menard's in 2014 along with laundry detergent and sports drinks.

When this book first came out and I told my dad there was a new addition to the 'Killing...' books, he said, "There were many interesting things about Patton.  How he died wasn't one of them."  Unfortunately, that quote held up as I read this book.

The book wasn't even about his death at all, really, because the official word is he died in a car accident and even though they mentioned a conspiracy theory, they (rightfully) didn't want to speculate or go too far down the rabbit hole.  But putting his death aside, Patton himself didn't even seem like the main character as they followed tangents of other WWII figures.  

I can't overstate how the book didn't match the title, description, or style of the other 'Killing' books at all.  If I ignored that and looked at the book as a WWII history/strategy book, I would say it was a little dry but could interest those who want to read about the tactics and maneuvers of war.

I'm giving it 2 stars since it wasn't a book I enjoyed but I can see how someone else would like it.

The Final Girl Support Group

 Book 49 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

The Final Girl Support Group

by Grady Hendrix

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2021

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who's left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied and victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moved on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she's not alone. For more than a decade she's been meeting with five other actual finals girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette's worst fears are realized - someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and now matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up. 

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I added this book to my 'to-read' list after reading about it in our local newspaper.  I'm reading it now because my husband heard me talking about it to my mom, was interested by the premise, and put it on hold at the library.  He picked it up thinking it might be a book we could read together (we used to read aloud a lot to each other when we were dating) but after looking at the book and the inserts of articles, photos, and such, this will be one I will read myself.

The premise is what grabbed my attention but the cover probably would've caught my interest if I'd been browsing.  The metal folding chair definitely invokes "support group" and the blood drips aren't too overdone.

My Opinion

4 stars

This is the kind of book that I'd love to talk about with someone who read it but can't really write a review for since I never want to spoil anyone's experience.  I am passing it on to my mom immediately for her to read.

This first-person book reads incredibly quickly.  The writing style adds to the frenetic pace because she talks like she's expelling all of her thoughts in one breath.  The dialogue, both internal and external, reads like people would actually talk if they're genuinely shocked, excited, frightened, etc.  This is good for the story but also takes a lot of concentration to keep up with.

I had a new theory every few pages.  Even though I didn't read it aloud with my husband (which was a good choice), he was still involved because of my random "wait WHAT???",  "uh oh is it her?",  "oh no I don't think that's true", "what is happening right now?!?!" reactions as I was reading.  He was also involved when I read right before bed and woke up after a nightmare and made him talk to me to get over it.

This was almost a 5 star read because it was incredibly readable with a good length and decent wrap-up.  However, after a little reflection, I decided on 4 stars because there were just a few too many moments of what I call it the "Dan Brown effect" (when a character is seemingly backed into an impossible situation and then you turn the page and a brand-new person randomly comes in with no explanation, has the perfect piece of info/ability to help, and then disappears from the plot).

Don't Make Me Pull Over!

 Book 48 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Don't Make Me Pull Over!: An Informal History of the Family Road Trip

by Richard Ratay

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2018

In the days before cheap air travel, families didn't so much take vacations as survive them. Between home and destination lay thousands of miles and dozens of annoyances, and with his family Richard Ratay experienced all of them - from being crowded in the backseat with loogie-happy older brothers, to picking out a souvenir only to find that a better one might have been had at the next stop, to dealing with a dad who didn't believe in bathroom breaks. Now, decades later, Ratay offers a paean to what was lost, showing how family togetherness was eventually sacrificed to electronic distractions and the urge to "get there now." He reminds us of what once made the Great American Family Road Trip so great.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I picked up this book from Wall Drug while on vacation with my family.  The cover was engaging with the paneled station wagon driving down the road and it looks like a fun, nostalgic read.

My Opinion

3 stars

The title evokes a feeling right from the start.  Everyone in a certain age bracket knows the exact tone that phrase is delivered in!  I'm not from the seventies (born in 1979) but I still understood the references and feelings.

This was a good combination of personal narrative and historical information.  Fun fact: the person who invented cruise control was blind; as a passenger he would get queasy from the starts and stops of his driver so he found a way to keep things steady.  And as I mentioned, I bought this book on vacation at Wall Drug so it was fun to read Wall Drug's shoutout as a tourist stop.

My dad was definitely a "leave early to make good time and don't stop to pee" kind of guy.  Even as adults, my brother and I would fight with each other to decide who would be the one to ask Dad to stop (we took a few road trips together as adults for family events).  I usually had to suck it up and ask, both as the oldest and as the one who could pull the "I've had 4 kids and my bladder isn't what it used to be" card.  On our family road trips my husband doesn't fare as well...our kids make requests for multiple stops so we're always adding time to the GPS.  He still talks about the time we hadn't even made it 20 miles away from our house before we had to stop, haha!

Quote from the Book

"When you're just six years old, a twenty-hour road trip represents a significant portion of your lifetime...And as any parent knows, if time begins to feel long to a young kid, that kid will make time feel longer for everyone around them."

The Betrayal

Book 47 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

The Betrayal by R.L. Stine

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 1993

Why do so many horrifying things happen on Fear Street? Nora knows.

She knows how the terror began. She knows about the young girl who burned at the stake - and the blood feud between two families that caused the unspeakable horror that has lasted 300 years!

She knows, and she wants to tell.

Are you sure you want to hear it?

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I spent many hours reading these paperback teen thrillers (R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, etc.) when I was younger.  I've been in a reading slump lately so I decided to pull some off of my bookshelves and revisit them.  This book has double duty; it's the first book of the "Fear Street Saga" so it's a good place to start and it also has a title starting with 'B' which is one I still need for my extra challenge (read titles this year starting with each letter of the alphabet).

As for this paperback itself, even just holding it brings back memories.  I'm not sure if this was one of mine or if I picked it up at a used book sale but either way, it's well-worn and lightweight.  The cover art is bright and the oversized face on the cover makes the eyes stand out even more, like one of those paintings that follow you around the room.

My Opinion

4 stars

It's been a long time since I've stayed up for "just one more page...just one more page" before finishing the book in one sitting so that added to the nostalgic feeling reading this little paperback.

It definitely held up as a 'younger' thriller.  It's not too gory and there's suspense and action on every page to maintain interest.

I guess it's a trilogy and it went right into the next book by ending with a "to be continued..."  I don't own the second or third books but I would've read them right away in a row if I did.

The Widow of the South

 Book 46 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

The Widow of the South

by Robert Hicks

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2005

Tennessee, 1864. On a late autumn day, near a little town called Franklin, 10,000 men will soon lie dead or dying in a battle that will change many lives for ever. None will be more changed than Carrie McGavock, who finds her home taken over by the Confederate army and turned into a field hospital. Taking charge, she finds the courage to face up to the horrors around her and, in doing so, finds a cause.
Out on the battlefield, a tired young Southern soldier drops his guns and charges forward into Yankee territory, holding only the flag of his company's colours. He survives and is brought to the hospital. Carrie recognizes something in him - a willingness to die - and decides on that day, in her house, she will not let him.
In the pain-filled days and weeks that follow, both find a form of mutual healing that neither thinks possible.
In this extraordinary debut novel based on a true story, Robert Hicks has written an epic novel of love and heroism set against the madness of the American Civil War. 

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I bought this book at a consignment shop.  Historical fiction is my favorite genre and the Civil War time period, like WWII, is one with many different stories and viewpoints to pull from.

The cover art is deliberately worn along the edges which adds to the "old" feel of the book, especially since I bought it as a used paperback.  Although the woman herself takes up the majority of the cover, her face is cut off at the top so we only see her from the nose down.

My Opinion

3 stars

I don't have sympathy for the cause but reading individual stories of Confederate soldiers, especially those who don't feel strongly about fighting, makes me think.  When the book was using first-person to show their thoughts, the Confederate and Union soldiers sounded the same in their priorities of getting through to get back home safely.

Something about the rhythm of the writing makes it seem older than it is.  There isn't a lot of "old-timey" or outdated vernacular so I can't really put my finger on why.  That probably shows the amount of research the author did because there were lots of little details and nothing felt out of place for the setting.

I read this really slowly because I'm in a bit of a reading slump and never had any trouble picking back up where I left off, even if it had been a few days since I read it.

The author's note at the end that included photos of the real McGavocks was a nice touch.

Quote From the Book

"I don't really know how long I was asleep. Days, a year maybe. Hard to tell. Made me wonder whether putting names to time made much of a difference anyway. What did it measure? Not how much life passes. Hello no. Your whole life can pas and be changed in a second or in a century. Don't matter."

Run, Brother, Run

 Book 45 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Run, Brother, Run: A Memoir of a Murder in My Family

by David Berg

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2013

As William Faulkner said, "The past is not dead, it's not even past." This observation seems especially true in matters of family, when the fury between generations is often never resolved and instead secretly carried, a wound that cannot heal. For David Berg, this is truer than for most, and once you read the story of his family, you will understand why he held it privately for son long and why the betrayals between parent and child can be the most wrenching of all.

In 1968 David Berg's brother, Alan, was murdered by Charles Harrelson, a notorious hit man and father of actor Woody Harrelson. Alan was only thirty-one when he disappeared; six months later his remains were found in a ditch in Texas.

Run, Brother, Run is Berg's story of the murder. But is is also the account of the psychic destruction of the Berg family by the author's father, who allowed a grievous blunder at the age of twenty-three to define his life. The event changed the fate of a clan and fell most heavily on Alan, the firstborn son, who tried to both redeem and escape his father yet could not.

This achingly painful family history is also a portrait of an iconic American place, playing out in the shady bars of Houston, in small-town law offices and courtrooms, and in remote ranch lands where bad things happen - a true-crime murder drama, all perfectly calibrated. Writing with cold-eyed grief and a wild, lacerating humor, Berg tells us first about the striving Jewish family that created Alan Berg and set him on a course for self-destruction and then about the gross miscarriage of justice that followed.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

This book has been on my Goodreads 'to-read' list since 2013 and I'm reading it now because it came up through random selection and my library had a copy.  Based on the description, I can see why I was interested back then and it is still something I would've picked up today while browsing.

I don't knock the book for this but I do note when reading memoirs/biographies that there are no pictures included (other than the cover photo which I assume is of the author and his brother).

My Opinion

3 stars

I'm sure part of why I feel so blah after finishing it is because it's hard to read about all the unfairness in the courts, especially in the "good ole boy" times (I have to hope it's better now with the technology and not solely relying on circumstantial evidence).  I do think it's interesting that he's profited from it (admittedly getting clients off which is his job) yet judged this defense attorney so heavily...I'm not defending the defense attorney by any means but it is something I noted.  It was also interesting to read how he would've tried the case.

The author has a natural storytelling and rhythm.  He gives details but doesn't over-explain and  trusts the reader to understand the times and doesn't make excuses or pass judgement.  What's funny is that after reading the acknowledgments, maybe I should give more credit to the editors than the author about that; he said his first draft was over 100 pages longer than the final product! 

Quote from the Book

"Alan's suffering was done, but not that of those who loved him: we were collateral damage."

September 11, 2001

 Book 44 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

September 11, 2001: The Day the World Changed Forever

by Baptiste Bouthier

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2021

What do younger generations know about the terrible tragedy that shook America and the world on September 11, 2001? In this gripping documentary work by journalist Baptiste Bouthier and illustrator Heloïse Chochois, we first learn about the historic day from several inside perspectives. In the second half, the authors take stock of 9/11 in the days, weeks, and years that followed, from traumatized America to George W. Bush's crusade against the "axis of evil."

A not-be-missed piece of graphic non-fiction, published 20 years after the events in question.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I chose this book while browsing on NetGalley (full disclaimer below).  Using a graphic novel format to share nonfiction stories is something relatively new to me so it catches my eye every time I see it.  When combined with the subject of 9/11 and the inclusion of not just the day's events but also the aftermath/reflection, I didn't have any hesitation downloading it.

Illustrations on an e-reader can be dicey sometimes so I hope everything comes through clearly.

My Opinion

3 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**

My first note is that my concerns prior to reading about illustrations on an e-reader did not apply. I feel I got the full experience of the book even though it was an electronic version on my computer.

Beginning with the viewpoint of a student in France and how 9/11 and the aftermath of the wars and the Patriot Act were viewed internationally was an unique perspective (it included how the student learned about it in real time and then what they felt years later traveling to New York for themselves).

I was a college student and remember everyone gathered together to huddle around the tv.  This book made a good point about how the Internet and cell phones would shape the tragedy now...there would be more connection because it would become known more quickly but there would also be less connection because the act of gathering together in person to process things is no longer as common.

The following is not a critique even though it will read that way - let me explain!  

I may be overstepping in my interpretation but to me, the illustrations felt intentionally unpolished.  It added to the feeling of how it felt experiencing everything at the time.  There was no time to analyze or "pretty things up", things were just presented as they happened and we were all learning at the same time.

Again, I'm not knocking the illustrations at all.  They were really good!  Maybe "stark" is a better word?  I don't know...they accomplished what they were trying to convey but weren't overly produced or edited.  It felt like someone was standing on the scene with a sketchbook and these are the moments they captured.

I learned statistics I didn't know and the real photos at the end were a nice touch.

Fools in Love

 Book 43 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales

Summary (via Goodreads)

Expected publication date: December 2021 (I read an ARC)

Join fifteen bestselling, award-winning, and up-and-coming authors as they reimagine some of the most popular tropes in the romance genre. 
Fake relationships. Enemies to lovers. Love triangles and best friends, mistaken identities and missed connections. This collection of genre-bending and original stories celebrates how love always finds a way, featuring powerful flora, a superhero and his nemesis, a fantastical sled race through snow-capped mountains, a golf tournament, the wrong ride-share, and even the end of the world. 

With stories written by Rebecca Barrow, Ashley Herring Blake, Gloria Chao, Mason Deaver, Sara Farizan, Claire Kann, Malinda Lo, Hannah Moskowitz, Natasha Ngan, Rebecca Podos, Lilliam Rivera, Laura Silverman, Amy Spalding, Rebecca Kim Wells, and Julian Winters this collection is sure to sweep you off your feet.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I selected this book while browsing on NetGalley (full disclaimer below).  The cover, along with the tagline "Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales", attracted my attention and the description kept my interest after I clicked through.

I've been especially drawn lately to books of short stories, especially by multiple authors, because that's about what my attention span can handle at the moment.  There really isn't a downside - I hope to enjoy it but it's not a huge commitment if I don't (I'm one of those that HAS to finish a book I've started).

My Opinion

4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**

I read this book in August and it was a perfect light vacation read.  It embraces the tropes in a "wink-wink-nudge-nudge" way but also doesn't make fun of them; they became tropes or formulas for a reason and that's because there are readers that respond to them.  Each story also listed the trope they were leaning into and that was fun - there were some I hadn't thought of as tropes before.

I also think short stories worked well because part of the reason I get frustrated with certain tropes is because if people JUST TALKED there wouldn't be so much miscommunication and unnecessary drama but with the entire story only lasting a few pages, things are condensed and cleared up quickly.  After looking at my notes and seeing how many times I noted "good length", this format definitely worked for me.

As always with collections with multiple authors, I liked some stories more than others but looking at the book as a whole, I liked or loved all of them.  I took a few notes on each story individually so I might as well include them.

"Silver and Gold" by Natasha Ngan: 

I really liked this one.  It had an unique concept and went deep enough to care without being overly gushy.  

"Five Stars" by Amy Spalding: 

First crushes and butterflies is exactly what my jaded heart needed to read at this moment.  There was a meet-cute that was still semi-plausible.

"Unfortunately, Blobs Do Not Eat Snacks" by Rebecca Kim Wells:  

I would read a longer version of this for the plot and the adventures, not even just the romance.  I also loved the line, "Davina kissed her and it was like the answer to a question she'd only recently realized she'd wanted to ask."

"Edges" by Ashley Herring Blake:

This was deeper than I expected for a short story.  The author packed a lot in but it felt natural.  It was cute.

"What Makes Us Heroes" by Julian Winters:

Light and fun.

"And" by Hannah Moskowitz:

Having a poly type relationship at a young age wasn't something I'd read before, especially to have it handled so maturely with clear and open communication.

"My Best Friend's Girl" by Sara Farizan:

Everyone is just chill.  It's nice to read a story with queer relationships where the act of coming out isn't the whole plotline.  

"(Fairy)Like Attracts Like" by Claire Kann:

I felt the characters' relief at being seen.

"These Strings" by Lilliam Rivera:

This is the kind of story that I liked for the reasons above...having it in a short story format kept the time before the confession of feelings manageable so I was still invested and not screaming at the book like a maniac.

"The Passover Date" by Laura Silverman:

The kind of ending that made me sigh.  New love.

"Bloom" by Rebecca Barrow:

This story was good but since most of the story had them apart from each other, there weren't as many 'romance' aspects as in other stories.

"Teed Up" by Gloria Chao:

Cute.  I know exactly what the author means when they describe someone as "tasting like sunshine" when they kiss.

"Boys Noise" by Mason Deaver:

Long but cute.

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Malinda Lo:

This one was fine.  Again, it's something that would have driven me crazy as a longer book but as a short story, it was a whirlwind and fun.

"Disaster" by Rebecca Podos:

Not plausible but what end-of-the-world scenarios are?  It was fine.

Lie, Lie Again

 Book 42 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Lie, Lie Again by Stacy Wise

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2021

All three women who live at 1054 Mockingbird Lane have secrets…and with a body at the bottom of their apartment building’s staircase, those secrets need to stay buried.

Sylvia Webb has a plan. And a potential Mr. Right. He’s sweet, simple, and dependably clueless about what she’s up to. The only thing unpredictable about him is his needy ex-girlfriend, who is this close to shattering Sylvia’s dreams. But Sylvia’s not going to let that happen.

Riki McFarlan has a good career and an amazing boyfriend who wants to settle down. If only she didn’t have feelings for her neighbor—who happens to be her close friend’s husband. With everything going so right, why is Riki flirting with something so wrong, so…dangerous?

Embry Taylor is as devoted to her children as she is to her husband, who’s a bartender by night, an aspiring actor by day. She is his biggest fan. But with his career not taking off and tensions high, even sweet Embry has something she’s desperate to keep hidden.

Lies, secrets, and revenge. For three neighbors with stakes so high, someone is headed for a downfall.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I chose this book from the Free Reads monthly options on Amazon Prime.  I don't remember being super drawn to it but of the options that month, it looked the most interesting to me.

The cover art is interesting and I've discovered reading mysteries electronically adds a layer of surprise for me since I don't have my page count listed at the bottom, meaning most of the time I'm reading with no idea how much is left.

My Opinion

4 stars

The pages passed very quickly and it could've easily been a book I tore through in one or two sittings if I'd had the time.  The pacing was really good in the beginning.  I started to feel a little restless about two days before the incident (it started with the reveal of the body and then went back in time to have everything leading up to it unfold in real time) but luckily, some of the smaller storylines started wrapping up and things kept moving forward.

The first few chapters did a good job setting up the distinct characters and giving multiple options for the victim and perpetrator.  The characters all felt human with likable and unlikable characteristics.

Since there were lots of things going on I could not predict which storyline would be the "big one" leading to the dead body.  Some of the secrets felt unnecessary for the characters to keep but all the details worked together to move the story along.  

It definitely didn't end the way I expected.  Everything was plausible looking back but just barely. It required a little stretch in the way most mysteries do (such as discovering things at just the right moment or people opening up in a way they typically wouldn't) but all in all, this book was a fun read.

Screenshot

 Book 41 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Screenshot by Donna Cooner

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2018

Skye's social media game is always on point. Until her best friend, Asha, posts an embarrassing video of Skye at a sleepover. But Asha deletes the post, so everything's okay. Right?

Then someone texts Skye a screenshot from the video. This person threatens to share the shocking photo everywhere...unless Skye does whatever they say. Suddenly, Skye's perfect image - and privacy - are in jeopardy. What will Skye do to keep the screenshot under wraps? And who is trying to ruin her life?

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I'm reading this book at the recommendation of my daughter.  She's 15 now but she read it a few years ago and when we came across it while cleaning our bookshelves, she pulled it and said I should read it.

The cover is a grid of Instagram-esque photos.  Looking at the description, I'm not sure of the age range so I don't know how "embarrassing" the post will be but this could definitely be a starting point for conversations about social media.

My Opinion

4 stars

First off, that was horrifying for Asha to a) record a video without Skye's knowledge and b) post it.  That's a bitchy thing to do and I do not miss the dynamics of teen girl "friendship" at all.  

As mentioned above, I was concerned that what was posted would be really high-stakes which would take enjoyment away from me.  That is not the case...it's a big deal (especially without consent) but what she was doing in the video was not illegal or life-changing.  

I can see why my teen daughter liked it and it held my interest too.  I read the book in one sitting and it was a good length - it wasn't entirely predictable as she worked through who was blackmailing her (the anonymity added a layer since it cast doubt on everyone) but it also didn't drag on too long.  

Only in New York 2

 Book 40 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Only in New York 2

by M.G. Crisci

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2021

Among these 37 unforgettable short stories, you will learn how a school's Mascot Ram was accidentially murdered and Why Chiquita Bananas CEO jumped out a 44th Floor window on Park Avenue, .
You'll also discover how a stoned Neil Young perfomed in Milkwuakee, Joan Rivers sent up her husband at the Four Seasons Restaurant, and a group of mulit-millionaires consumed a prodigious amount of high fat Jewish comfort food at a landmark restaurant in a Bowery basement.
These are poignant, entertaining, and powerful stories about a Manhattan that is almost gone. Chronicled by a native New Yorker, with 37 original illustrations, Only in New York Vol 1 and 2, are must reads.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I saw this book while browsing on NetGalley (full disclaimer below).  I'd read the first volume, giving it 3 stars, so I decided to read this one too.

I'm expecting similar things to the first volume - the author was a natural storyteller and I was entertained even if I didn't think every story was completely true.  I did note multiple typos and grammatical errors in the first volume so hopefully that has been improved.  

Since it's an electronic book I don't have much to say about it.  The title is clear in big block letters which drew my attention, jogging my memory about reading the first volume, so it was effective at grabbing my interest.

My Opinion

4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**

He seemed to take feedback about his previous books to heart.  This kept the folksy chatty style of the first volume but was more polished and concise. I enjoyed this book even more than the first one.  I think since most of the top-shelf outlandish stories were used in the first volume, this volume had stories with a more personal feel.  It's still a life I know nothing about (the money earned, spent, lost, etc. is more than I can imagine) but it felt more grounded.  It's like a fisherman - maybe not everything is completely accurate but any embellishments are harmless.

I laughed at his description of hitting a ball "three manhole covers down the street" - that's true street ball! 

As I noted with the first volume, these books will be an absolute treasure to his family for historical purposes, especially this volume that focused more on family stories.  The illustrations were fun too.

I mentioned above in my first impressions that I was concerned about typos and I'm happy to say that was not an issue.  As an editing note since I read an ARC, the author added dates to help place the world around him but there was one that felt very out of place so I'm assuming it was either a typo of the date or of the anniversary.  "50th Anniversary Celebration" was listed as August 1994 which doesn't match their ages or any of the other stories.

I didn't realize how many books he's written and I'd read him again if I saw them.

Second Grave on the Left

 Book 39 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

Second Grave on the Left

by Darynda Jones

Summary (via Goodreads)

Book 2 of the Charley Davidson series

published 2011

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans.

 When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she cant help but wonder what Cookies up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a womans name. Mimis husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message. 

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. Hes left his body because hes being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes cant let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heavenwell, lets just say it wouldnt be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

This is a re-read.  I gave it 5 stars the first time around but that was years ago.  I'm interested to see if it holds up as an absolute love but I do think it will definitely fit my reading needs at the moment - something light and entertaining.

My Opinion

4 stars

Nothing to do with the book but the summary on Goodreads is a jumbled mess.  Most of the time I use the book jacket unless Goodreads has the same info but I've already returned the book to the library (behind on reviews always!) so what's above is what I have access to.

On to the book...

The side cases specific to this book weren't my favorite (it was a lot of extra people and hard to keep track of) but the overall stuff moving the story along as it goes through the series was interesting and cohesive.  I'm glad she's finding people she can trust.  I mentioned it in my review of the first book but something different that I like about this series is that her powers aren't new to her.  There are still new situations as she navigates living with them, especially as it relates to those around her, but she has a clear foundation of who she is and how she's different.

It ended on a cliffhanger that makes me want to immediately continue.  That's a bonus of waiting to start a series - I can jump right into the next book instead of waiting for them to come out.

Original Review (December 2012)

Even better than the first book in the series. Tense action while also making me laugh out loud. Can't wait to read the next one.