I'd seen a number of great reviews for this book when I got a copy of the audio from Penguin, which was great timing! Penguin Audio is the bomb! I'm always curious and excited when I hear of a strong debut mystery thriller novel.
The eerie thing about the release of this novel is that its premise...about a group of women held hostage in a basement by a madman...coincided with the real life story that broke at the same time about the three women in Cleveland who escaped after ten years of a similar fate. Koethi Zan must have been shaking her head at the coincidence, and served to strike a chord with anyone who reads this book.
Synopsis: Sarah and her best friend Jennifer, scarred after being involved in a tragic childhood auto accident, have since constructed a extensive list of things to avoid for the sake of their safety. In a weak moment, however, they accept a cab ride home from a party in college, and are kidnapped and held captive in a basement with two other girls for over three years.
A decade later, Sarah (who has since changed her name) lives the life of an agoraphobic, and has no contact with the other girls who escaped all those years ago. Sarah is still haunted by the fact that Jennifer never made it out, but her body was never recovered. When Sarah learns that her captor is up for parole, she decides to take action and try to find Jennifer's body to provide proof of murder, and put the man away forever.
With the assistance of the other two girls, who harbor deep grudges against Sarah, they set off on a quest that forces them to confront their past, a sub-culture of BDSM, torture experimentation, and the truth behind what happened to Jennifer.
My thoughts: On the surface, I found this audio to be very fast-paced and spine-tingling based on the general plot. As I said before, there have been enough real-life cases of this nature to make this story all too believable. The descriptions of what these girls experienced were cringe-worthy. I don't want to minimize that.
But I had some issues that just didn't sit well with me. The idea that someone who is scared of people, who is a serious agoraphobe, and doesn't even leave her apartment to get groceries...suddenly decides it was time for action and proceeds to fly all over the country, sneak into warehouses, interview people and chase suspicious characters...really?
And for her to partner up with two other girls that previously HATED her, and cleverly solve mysteries as a team?
It seemed too easy and contrived. I liked the idea that these women could shake off their past in this way for the greater good, like a damaged version of Charlie's Angels, but I didn't buy it. Also, in an effort to spin a healthy number of red herrings, there were a number of plot threads dangled in our path, but were never resolved. The story just felt incomplete. The author definitely has potential though, and I'm anxious to see what she comes up with next.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator Kristin Sieh, appears to be a new voice on the scene (she did also narrate Bristol House, which is on my list), but did a great job here. She has a great tone...tough sounding, with a hint of vulnerability underneath. She was a great pick for this book.
Listening length: 8 hours and 39 minutes (320 pages)
3 out of 5 stars
It's really no great shocker that in wrapping up my reviews before I take leave, this one would be the last one that I'd have to write. I've been allowing the story to brew and stew in my mind, and I'm still a bit tormented about what to say. I'd seen the reviews for this, but it was Melissa at Avid Reader's Musings that finally convinced me.
Synopsis: June Elbus is not your average fourteen year-old. She is socially awkward and shy, is in love with the medieval ages, and is pudgy. Her older sister is smarter, prettier, is popular and is destined for Broadway. The only one who understands Junie is her maternal uncle and godfather, artist Finn Weiss. When Finn dies of AIDS, Junie is left adrift, confused about her family's attitude towards Finn and Finn's "special friend", and confused at why her sister is so hateful towards her. She is all alone.
But then she strikes up a tentative relationship with Finn's partner Toby, and realizes that there is someone else out there that misses Finn as much as she does. Although her family believes that Toby was the one who killed Finn, Junie finds comfort and kinship with him.
With this intense debut novel, Brunt adeptly tells a coming-of-age story filled with friendship, loss, jealousy and healing.
My thoughts: It is very hard to sum up all the feelings that this story conjured. The whole coming-of-age thing is complicated and emotionally-loaded all by itself. Fourteen is a tough age when you are trying to figure out who you are, where you fit in, and what love is. My heart physically hurt for Janie.
But then you combine the whole stigma of AIDS in the 80's, with everyone trying to figure out the why and the how, and not being comfortable talking about it. I can't imagine navigating through that as a teenager.
For spice, we then throw in the hurt and anger and jealousy between Finn and his sister (Junie's mother), the hurt and anger and jealousy between Junie and her sister, the resentment of Junie and Finn's relationship, the anger and blame at Finn's partner? The frustration at being perfect, the frustration at being labeled weird, and the need for human connection?
This book? It's SAD, people, so much that it will break your heart. But it is also so tender, and the characters are so delicately drawn. And at the end, you can sit back and feel a sense of peace for where the author leaves us. So my advice is, don't let the dire subject matter drive you away from this one. It is a beautiful story.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator for this audio was Amy Rubinate, who was a new voice for me. Apparently she has a full career in voiceovers for animation, video games, commercials, as well as a career on-stage. She has a very youthful sound, and is perfect to read for young protagonists.
Listening length: 11 hours and 46 minutes (368 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
For some reason, when I received this audio in the mail from Penguin Audio, it didn't initially pique my interest, despite the fact that I do love true stories. But then I heard that some friends were reading it for a book club, and Kathy told me SHE had listened to it and been blown away. I pulled the discs off the shelf, loaded them on the iPod, and then waited until I was in a non-fiction mood.
Synopsis: This is an amazing story about a team of nine boys from the University of Washington...a rag-tag group of farmers and blue-collar workers with a special bond...who trained and competed during their years in college and in their senior year went on to the 1936 Olympics and captured the gold.
The heart of the story is focused on Joe Rantz, one of the rowers who grew up without any support of family. His mother died when he was young, his step-mother had no use for him so he was kicked out of the house as a teenager to fend for himself. He scrapped for work to pay for college, and refused to accept defeat in any part of his life. We also get to know the charismatic yet nonverbal coach, the eccentric British genius who designed the team's boats, as well as their other boys.
This inspirational story recounts obstacle after obstacle that these boys encountered...everything from the overwhelming competition of the money and tradition of the Ivy League crew teams, sickness, lack of funding from the university, the Great Depression, and the heavily favored German team on their home turf. It is a true testament to the tenacity of the human spirit.
My thoughts: I am so glad I was persuaded to listen to this...what a heartwarming story. It just doesn't hit any closer to home than this, and makes you stand up a little straighter knowing what can be accomplished if the will is strong.
There is much to be learned here. The author educates us in the basics of the sport of crew. I had no idea it was so intense and physically rigorous. We learn about the engineering of the perfect boat. We learn about the rumblings of trouble in Berlin, the efforts made to elevate Nazi Germany to world class status, and the documentation of these efforts made by Leni Riefenstahl.
The human perspective was equally as compelling. The average boy would have admitted defeat had they battled against the odds thrown at Joe Rantz. One particular story I will never forget...that at the Olympics, one of the rowers was deathly ill - nearly comatose - but the team refused to compete without him. So they put him in the boat, though he could barely sit up, and everyone compensated for him. And they still won gold.
This is the type of book that I would compare to "Unbroken" or "Devil in the White City"...pieces of history that everyone should read and appreciate.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator for this book was Edward Herrmann, who actually did read "Unbroken" as well as many other non-fiction audios. His voice doesn't vary much, and does take some time to get used to. Eventually, however, you get accustomed to his style and is actually pleasant to listen to.
Listening length: 14 hours and 25 minutes (416 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
If done well, there is nothing quite like a book that gives cooking and the healing powers of food a leading role in its plot. The perfect example that comes to my mind first is "The School of Essential Ingredients"...wow, what a magical book that was. I truly believe that flavors and textures and smells can be combined to heal and soothe the most tired soul. Obviously Ms. Erica Bauermeister gets it too, because I'll never forget that story.
So when reviews started popping up for this book, my ears perked up when I learned that one of the central themes was food. I was lucky enough to nab it on audio from my local library.
Synopsis: This story focuses on three people who are struggling to find themselves and a place where they belong. Bobby is a young gay man who grew up in rural Georgia as a Baptist preacher's son, and was ostracized from his family because of his sexual orientation. He escapes to New York City and lands a job as a sous chef in a well-regarded boutique restaurant. Alice, the owner of the restaurant, is an African American woman who is a bit of a legend in the culinary world, but has kept her family and her history from North Carolina a secret from everyone, even her closest friends. Amelia is a Connecticut housewife whose life is upended when she discovers not only her husband's secret life but a few secrets from her background as well.
These three individuals are adrift, lost in a confusing world that they thought they knew. They converge in an 80's New York City, amidst the AIDS epidemic, and find a communion and comfort in each other's company, as well as friendship that acts as a reinforcement in their darkest hours.
My thoughts: This is just one of those books that warms the heart. The paths that these three characters take are not pleasant...they have all had the rug pulled out from underneath them. White makes you FEEL their pain - all different kinds of pain but all very alienating. We've got serious issues of racism (against skin color and sexual orientation), AIDS, grief, infidelity and standing strong for who you are. Heavy stuff.
But when these three find each other, in the presence of Alice and Bobby's Southern comfort food brought to the table of a chic, NYC cafe, it becomes somehow lighter, hopeful and magical. When Bobby adapts his Meemaw's pound cake (which she sold to her neighbors for years and from which the proceeds funded Bobby's escape to New York in the first place) into a famous dessert at the cafe, I think I gained 5 pounds just from reading about it!
If you are in the mood for a thoughtful, serious but heartwarming read, you really need to pick this one up.
A few words about the audio production: Each character had their own narrator, which worked really well here. Robin Miles, George Newbern, and Katherine Powell all did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of each of these characters. I don't think I've ever heard any of them before, but they made this a very satisfying and entertaining listening experience.
Listening length: 9 hours and 1 minute (336 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
This is not the kind of book I immediately grab. It has a flower, a butterfly and a teacup on the cover! Ugh! Really??? But a couple of trusted souls told me it was good for what ailed me. And up to the point I cranked this one up on the iPod, I'd listened to TWO Mo Hayder books back-to-back and my heart was feeling black and murky. (Honestly, Hayder is AMAZING but you don't really feel jubilant after you are done with her books.) So did this book fix me up? It sure did.
Synopsis: Cecelia Ross is a middle-aged, unmarried motivational speaker who does not always follow her own advice. She has recently lost her best friend to cancer, and is at odds with what comes next. One day she gets a postcard from "the one that got away", saying he still thinks of her. Hmmm. Who doesn't have a fantasy of the old boyfriend that was just in your life at the wrong time? Using this as a catalyst, Cecelia puts her career on hold, volunteers at a hospice facility, sells her house and rents a room in a house with three other women (a sous-chef, a doctor, and a lesbian advice columnist).
Cecelia has a certain way about her...she is warm, she is likable, she is a friend. Because of this, she bonds with a very sick young man at hospice and brings him out of his shell of depression. She is instantly friends with her roommates, and soon they are all planning a road trip that is intended to reinvent or resolve an issue that each of them have. This includes tracking down that love from long ago.
My thoughts: While I was reading this book, I kept thinking about that commercial where there is an "Easy" button you push when you need thinks to resolve with little fuss. I think it is Staples? Anyway, while the characters in this book each have their own struggles - a messy divorce, an angry daughter, a crappy job, a long-ago child given up for adoption, etc. - ultimately things work out perfectly. As in, a fantasy kind of perfect.
Not that I minded. I kept asking myself "what if Joni had gotten run over by a car?" or "what if Lise was sued by a patient and lost the house?". It wouldn't have worked. This was a book to soothe your ragged heart.
Cecelia was a wonderful main character, and there was chemistry with everyone that came into her life. Not every author can pull that off. Each player had so much personality and charisma, I wanted to be a part of their lives. In that way, this story so reminded me of a Marisa de los Santos or Erica Bauermeister book. It was precious. By the end, I didn't really care if things were too good to be true.
A few words about the audio production: Barbara Caruso was the narrator for this book, and while she was new to me, she has been around the block a time or two in this field (including the narrator for "Anne of Green Gables"). She had the perfect voice for Cecelia. She was obviously the right age, and she mirrored the warmth and easy nature of Cecelia's character. Wonderful performance.
Listening length: 7 hours and 5 minutes (240 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
After reading "Poppet", the 6th installment of Mo Hayder's Jack Caffrey series, on my vacation this summer, I decided that I was missing out and went back to book #1 to get caught up. I was thrilled to be able to get both "Birdman" (review here) and "The Treatment" on audio, and I blasted through both of them quickly. The first book was really dark, and really horrific. Yet. It has been weeks since I finished this one, and I'm having a hard time writing down my thoughts. I'll bide my time a bit with the synopsis, then we will see if I can verbalize my feelings...
Synopsis: A young boy has been kidnapped after experiencing a horrific few days of being held captive in his home with his mother and father. The parents are hospitalized and are catatonic, and search teams are desperately trying to find the child presumed to be in the nearby wooded area. While Detective Jack Caffrey is technically a member of the murder squad, he is called in to assist because after several days of searching, there is not much hope the child will be found alive.
Unfortunately, this case very closely resembles the long-ago disappearance of Jack's little brother, who was never found. Jack is obsessed with solving this case, seemingly to compensate for the demons and the guilt that haunt him to this day. Unsurprisingly, the case brings him face-to-face with his past, as well as a horrific, unspeakable evil in the form of a nest of sadistic pedophiles.
My thoughts: Well, here we go. If you know me at all, you know I DIG murder mysteries...body parts and psychopaths are my brain candy. I love horror films, and I was raised on Stephen King. I'm jaded as hell when it comes to this genre. But this? It stopped me in my tracks. "Birdman" and "Poppet" were dark and oily and menacing. This took it ten steps further to the grotesque and highly disturbing.
Now I have to backtrack. I love the characters in this series. They are MINE. They are in my heart, and I love them with all their frailties. The writing and plotting are smart, and there are always layers. (I talked about this in my review of "Birdman".) The evil is not one-dimensional - it is spread out in all corners of the novel. It isn't easy to figure out who the Bad Guy is, because often there is more than one. Some are well-hidden and some are right out there in front of your face. This is good, solid stuff here.
But I can't say that I was ready to dive into another Hayder book at the end of this one. Will I read more? Absolutely. For the reasons I just named above, and also because I really cannot imagine her writing another book THIS horrific. The ending made me want to crawl in bed for a week, and I just needed a break. I needed love and warmth and happiness for awhile.
So for that reason, I'll just warn you. If you are jaded and love your murder mysteries bordering on horror...if you don't mind needing to shower after it is all over...then I would HIGHLY recommend this book. If you fall anywhere less than this on the spectrum, then I'd steer clear.
A few words about the audio production: We have a return narrator in Damien Goodwin, who also narrated "Birdman". As I previously stated, he has a wonderful British accent but also hops around to other dialects and accents as well, and does a simply amazing job. I'm sad to say that it appears he does not return in later books in the series. Hmmm...maybe this one smoked him out? I wonder.
Listening length: 13 hours and 44 minutes
4.5 out of 5 stars
I'm not sure how it all started, but somewhere along the line I began getting K. B. Dixon's books for review. They are all short novellas, are quirky and different, and I've enjoyed this little reading detour every time a new one arrives. So far, I've read the following:A Painter's LifeThe Ingram InterviewThe Photo AlbumDixon's books all tend to be written in short musings, making them very easy to read. While the thoughts come in little bursts, they are full of personality, dry sarcasm, and snark. I've never met the author but I have a feeling his books may be a window into his own disposition. I get a big kick out of it.In "Novel Ideas", our narrator is a struggling author, writing notes to a friend of his. His thoughts range from his current project (true crime? an essay? a story about a cheating musician?) to his wife, his in-laws, his friend who just published a memoir, or just simple observations. Interest levels wax and wane, apathy and distraction are constantly a battle. "Why is it always considered a good thing to have a positive attitude. There are times - many of them - when having such an attitude is nothing more than an expression of delusional mentation.""Dinner at Oboe's with the Motts - which brings me to a sensitive subject, a recurring issue in this charmed circle: dessert. No one but me ever wants to order one, so I am given carte blanche. Unfortunately, whatever I order will not, in the end, be mine. When it arrives everyone will remark on how good it looks and eventually jump in for a bite or two. I come up three-quarters or a dessert short. This has happened often enough for me to develop a defensive strategy: I have changed what I order. Now it is not necessarily what I want or what sounds best to me, but what seems likely to be the largest." Inevitably, I ended up chuckling through much of his books. At the same time, the reader gets a very intimate view into the mind of a frustrated writer, who is surrounded by other writers and the noise of life that drags his mind everywhere but on the task at hand.
For an entertaining couple of hours (in my case, in a doctor's waiting room) you cannot beat it!
3 out of 5 stars
Not long ago, I reviewed Mo Hayder's book "Poppet", which I found out after the fact was installment #6 in the Jack Caffrey murder mystery series. The novel was so rich and dark and complex that I felt I was seriously missing out if I didn't go back and read the five installments that preceded it. As I am print-challenged, I luckily was able to get the first two books on audio. Enter "Birdman".
Synopsis: An informal burial ground has been discovered in an abandoned area in Greenwich, England, where lie the bodies of five prostitutes in varied states of decomposition. This news is disturbing enough, but when it is learned that the bodies have been surgically altered, and once-live birds had been sewn inside their chests, the police know this is no standard investigation.
Enter one Detective Inspector Jack Caffrey, a young up-and-coming investigator with great potential, but suppressed demons (as all great investigators have). When Jack was a boy, his little brother disappeared and was never found. Although everyone suspected the pedophile neighbor, no evidence was found. Jack's parents ultimately alienated themselves from their only son, leaving him to live out his adult life in the cursed home that overlooks the suspected killer. The obsession to find his little brother, after all these years, is what drives Jack as a murder squad investigator, has imploded every personal relationship he has ever had, and threatens to pull him under completely.
Hayder unflinchingly travels deep into the psychological muck of the mind of a serial killer and the mind of tormented Caffrey, exploring the dark world of mental illness in its most taboo form.
My thoughts: Hey, I knew Hayder was dark. And I read murder mysteries as a form of brain candy, and have grown a little inured to crazies, body parts, and damaged investigators. But this was something else. Hayder doesn't hold back, and possibly she has cojones the size of Texas.
I always go into a murder mystery series asking myself the question "what makes this different from the hundreds of others vying for my attention?". In this case, there are two answers. First, it is the depth of the murk to which Hayder dives. It isn't pleasant, and is cringe-worthy. Most authors just won't go there, but Hayder does, without hesitation. Second, I'm starting to see a trend with Hayder's writing. There is always...more. More than meets the eye. More than one mystery. The mysteries at hand are not one-dimensional, there are layers and more than one right answer.
Another thing that I liked in this particular novel is the fact that we are allowed inside the mind of the psycho. You don't necessary know WHO the psycho is, but you hear their thoughts. Which makes it all the more disturbing.
This deal with Caffrey's missing brother. It is raw, and is an issue that you know will HAVE to be resolved in future installments. Otherwise Caffrey will crash and burn. This as well will keep me coming back for more.
To a lover of this genre, what more can you ask for?
A few words about the audio production: The narrator for this powerful listen is Damien Goodwin (who also appears to have narrated the second installment as well). Not only does he employ a wonderful British accent for the voice of Jack, but throws in Irish, Cockney and other fun derivations as well. I almost feel sorry for the guy, who has to pull off everything from a busybody old lady to a depraved killer and sexual predator. But he does it, and he does it well. Listening to him was a pleasure.
Listening length: 11 hours and 23 minutes (336 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
The happy surprises just keep coming from She Reads...this month they have selected the latest from Jojo Moyes, "The Girl You Left Behind". As everyone is probably aware, this is the same author that brought us the incredible (and probably one my favorite reads of the year) "Me Before You". Once I finished that book, I immediately knew I wanted to read everything she touched. So this was perfect timing.
Synopsis: In the midst of WWI in France, Edouard Lefevre, an up-and-coming artist, leaves his young wife Sophie to fight against the Germans. In the hotel that Sophie and her sister run hangs Sophie's portrait that Edouard has painted. When a German troop occupies their small town, its Kommandant becomes obsessed with Sophie and the painting. While it is never a safe bet to be on any German's radar, Sophie decides to risk everything in order to see her husband again.
Fast forward to modern day London. Liv Halston's talented young architect husband gives her a wedding gift...the painting of Sophie, a bargain obtained from a woman clearing out her late mother's apartment. Not long after, Liv's husband suddenly dies, and the painting is the anchor that keeps Liv from losing all touch with reality. But when the painting falls under scrutiny, and is declared to be a piece of artwork looted by the Germans during the war, Liv must put everything on the line to defend herself in court, and keep it from being taken from her. Together with the charismatic young American ex-cop that she has just met, she must explore the history of the painting, tracing back exactly how it got from Sophie's possession to hers. She finds herself wondering if she will have anything left after the fight. Will she have any friends? A house? Her painting and last memento from her husband? Any chance for love again?
My thoughts: I'll be honest. For the first hundred pages or so, when we are learning about Sophie, I could barely drag myself through. It took me two weeks to read those hundred pages. It was strange, because I love wartime stories. But I just could not engage. But suddenly, when the narrative switched to Liv, my interest and reading pace sprung to life. Now THAT was the Jojo Moyes I remembered!
Liv's life, her personality, her chemistry with the handsome American, and her friendship with the goth girl that crashes at her house...it was charming and alluring. Once Liv began researching the painting and Sophie's history, that part of the story became much more interesting. (Just so you know, it seems in some reviews, readers had the opposite reaction. I think the most important point here is that the two stories were so completely different, they could have been written by two separate people.)
By the end of the story, I had nearly forgotten my frustration and lack of interest earlier, and was completely drawn into the story. The ending was pretty predictable, but it was heart-warming, and I didn't mind.
Definitely, this was not "Me Before You", but a worthy read.
4 out of 5 stars
I was tipped off to this YA trilogy by Rhapsody Jill. She didn't necessarily deem it high brow or at the level of John Green or anything, but said it was fun and got smuttier with each installment. I like to be in-the-know on what my teenage daughter could possibly want to read, so I figured I'd better see what it was about.
Synopsis: Lucy Larson's family has suffered several devastating setbacks, one of which was when her father lost his job. Supported only by her mother, they had to move out of their posh home and into their lake cottage, away from Lucy's private school and into a public one. In the summer before her senior year, she meets Jude, a devastatingly handsome bad boy with a troubled past. Sparks fly. There is an instant attraction, and after some posturing, flirting, passes and rebuffs, the two hook up.
As the story progresses, the two encounter multiple obstacles. Jude is constantly being arrested or chased by the police. He is elusive about his past. The rich quarterback has set his sights on Lucy, and every time Jude is waylaid he tries to move in. There are snap judgements made, and there is poor communication and misunderstandings. As teenagers are wont to do. As the story approaches its denouement, we learn that Jude and Lucy's lives are more closely intertwined than they ever imagined. Their happiness seems thwarted at every turn, like a modern day Romeo and Juliet.
My thoughts: Honestly this plot, and the writing, is ridiculous. It is predictable to the point where I had to laugh. You have heard all of this before! Dangerous bad boy that is unattainable suddenly dedicates his heart to the damaged girl that saves shelter animals and is a ballerina. Can she trust him? No! Yes! No! He is bad for her but she cannot resist him 'cause he is so hot! He tells her that he is a cancer and she should find someone more worthy of her goodness! Oh for Pete's sake. I set a world record for eye rolls.
It is worthy to note that in this first book, there is no sex. I hear that it is coming in the next book...
But it was brain candy, and I blew through this audio faster than anything else I'd listened to in a long time. It was completely reminiscent of Twilight, except that Jude is much less of a creeper than Edward and Lucy is stronger-willed than Bella the moper. It was a total throwback to those hormone, drama-infested teenage years. And while you will hear me spew disdain for the Twilight series, I sure read them quickly at the time. And for the same reason why I will probably be ordering installment #2 (Clash) and installment #3 (Crush).
Update: Since I wrote this review, I ordered Clash on audio, and listened to about a half hour of it. In that time, Jude almost beats up a guy for helping Lucy with her dance costume, they fight about it, then they make up, participate in some heavy petting while driving really fast in Jude's truck, and fight about when they will actually have sex. I just couldn't do it. Silly overload. Maybe later!
A few words about the audio production: I only have one name to tell you...Cassandra Campbell. This is exactly WHY this audio was so easy to listen to. The woman is a pro, no matter what character she is portraying, even a 17 year-old girl. She makes audio books a pleasure.
Listening length: 9 hours and 20 minutes (384 pages)
3 out of 5 stars
The pitch for this book from TLC Book Tours was something along the lines of "if Jaws, Survivor and Stephen King had a baby, this book would be it". (I can't find the e-mail so I apologize if I am misquoting!) Anyway, that was the spirit of the e-mail, and combine that with the fact the story takes place in the Florida Keys? It was like dangling a bloody steak in front of a dog...or a shark for that matter. I was in.
Synopsis: Six strangers wake up on an uninhabited island in the Florida Keys, clueless on how they got there. Soon however, it becomes very clear what they all have in common...they are all heroin addicts and they soon begin to have violent withdrawal symptoms. They also discover a chest filled with food, water and a message. Swim a mile, it says, through shark-infested water, to the nearest island for additional food and your next heroin fix, or die. Just off the shore, a yacht's mysterious inhabitants observe what happens next.
What follows is a brutal and deadly game of survivor, played by crazed junkies...two woman and four men. Not only do they have to battle each other and their own demons and agendas, but their unknown adversaries who seem to be bent on proving a point.
My thoughts: One thing I can say about this book, and that is it is a rip-roaring fast read. The author doesn't waste any time. He immediately plunges you into the nightmare and drags you through to the last page. The plot is gritty, grisly and unflinching.
But as fun as it is to read something like this, I felt there were some missed opportunities in really developing these six characters. You get a small amount of background, but I didn't get nearly enough. These were all real, sympathetic folks that had fallen on bad times. I could have easily invested in them, but I wasn't given much time to do that. With what I was given, I placed by bets on the guy with the most fight in him.
I also felt the reader got the barest of explanations on the motive of the game players. I sort of got it, but thought it was a stretch that these people would go to such extremes and expense to prove their point. In a conversation I had with Ti, we agreed that it might have been better to have no explanation at all versus one that just skimmed the surface.
Be that as it may, this would be a perfect book for the beach or for a readathon. Your attention won't stray. In fact, don't be surprised if you finish in one sitting.
I do have a copy to give away, so leave me a comment if you are interested in reading this, and I'll randomly select a winner by September 30.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Back when this book first came out, there was a huge stir, at least on TV. Part of our morning routine is to watch MSNBC's Squawk Box, which is primarily a business news show, but the anchors go off on random tangents as well. And they were all practically VIBRATING over this book, their eyes all buggy and big silly grins on their faces. Then I started hearing other news programs talking about it, and the author started showing up on the night talk shows. When Penguin Audio sent a special e-mail to all of us audiophiles, announcing that THEY HAD THIS AUDIO FOR DOWNLOAD, I grabbed it. It sounded like this would be book that everyone would be buzzing about, and maybe for once I won't be the last to read it.
Synopsis: Mark Leibovich has been a reporter all his adult life, most recently employed as a New York Times chief national political correspondent. Using the Tim Russert's funeral in 2008 (the social event of the season) as a starting point, and running through the reelection of Obama, Leibovich unleashes a snarky and fairly bi-partisan skewing of anyone and everyone involved in the machinations of "This Town", Washington D.C.. Even Obama, who started out clean and pure and above all the typical fray of the game-playing, has been called out on the carpet for sliding into the muddy, lobbyist-filled trenches with the rest of the veterans of This Town.
Very few walk away unscathed (even himself), but the author rests his attention on a number of players in the game as case studies for the egocentric self-promotion rat race that permeates our capital. As Leibovich so eloquently states "Washington may not serve our country well, but it has in fact worked splendidly for Washington itself." He offers example after example, in the words of someone has seen and heard it all, of the pettiness, ambition, greed, social-climbing, and obscene wealth run amuck. For nowadays, this is "a town where there are no longer Democrats and Republicans anymore in the nation's capital - just millionaires."
At times laugh-out-loud funny, other times heartbreaking, and the next minute maddening, you'll see This Town and its dirty little secrets like you never have before.
My thoughts: Well I can now certainly understand why all the talking heads on TV were going crazy over this book. For anyone who knows the players and the names, this is some jaw-dropping material. Snark! Intrigue! Bad behavior! I expected that it would be skewed towards one side or the other, but as the author explains, there aren't really sides any more. The opposing factions would like you to THINK there are sides, but really everyone is in it for themselves and they understand that fighting is good for business.
There is a whole helluva lot of dirt here, but it didn't seem like a tabloid. The prose is witty and snappy and is grounded in facts and quotes and interviews with hundreds of players. This guy is speaking from experience. Now, does he have anyone left speaking to him at this point? I wonder.
I loved the insight on Obama. I loved the insight on the Clintons. I was amazed at the insight on some of the politicians that I thought were good, wholesome folk but are detested on Capital Hill. I loved the swirling, chaotic, amoeba-like mass of personalities. And now I know I would NEVER EVER want to be a part of that mess.
But I honestly feel that much of this book was lost on me. Like I said, I watch MSNBC every single morning, but I guess I'm not familiar with the names of the movers and the shakers. It's like listening in on a funny story but you have no idea who the story is about, so it loses a bit of its punch. After listening to 3/4 of the book, I got a little tired of being out of the loop.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator for this joyride was Joe Barrett, who has a huge resume in the field and whom I've heard several times. He has a pleasant voice, if not necessarily theatrical. He has the perfect sound for a book like this, with enough timing and tongue-in-cheek to keep it interesting.
Listening length: 12 hours and 15 minutes (400 pages)
3.5 out of 5 stars
So here we are, round #3 of the Delirium Trilogy. I'm not a huge fan of trilogies, especially YA ones, but I got sucked in from the get-go with this one. Once that happened, I had to see things through to the end. I will do my best to highlight the general plot without spoiling.Synopsis: In a world where love has been deemed humanity's downfall, everyone has this evil emotion surgically removed at the age of 16 and are matched up with a mate. Some like this idea and some don't. Lena is in the latter category, and finds love with Alex right before her surgery. In the first installment "Delirium", Lena escapes into "the Wilds" but Alex is left behind, presumed incarcerated or dead. In "Pandemonium", Lena becomes a hardened survivalist and joins the revolution against the government, picking up a love interest along the way. It ends with a doozy of a cliffhanger that is guaranteed to bring back the most cynical reader to the third act.Which brings us to "Requiem". This time, we alternate between the narration of Lena and her best friend from high school, Hana. Hana has had her operation, and has been matched with the next Mayor of Portland. Hana feels despondent from the loveless life she is facing and wonders if she is as "healed" as she is supposed to be. Lena has found herself in the center of the revolution, and the battles have risen to a fever pitch. She also is consumed by her emotions and a confusing love triangle. Passion is the name of the game, forever present is the mantra:"We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it."My thoughts: After the cliffhanger in "Pandemonium" that smacked me right between the eyes, I had really high hopes for a bang-up ending. I didn't really get it though. The love triangle, in my estimation, should have been HOT. I mean, they are fighting and killing for this stuff, right? So why did it feel subdued, confused and wishy-washy? Everyone's pants should have been on fire, epic revolutionary battles or not!
In terms of a denouement, we got some action, but the ending was left pretty wide open. My immediate reaction was "Huh? Is that it?". I tried to construct a better, more satisfying ending but didn't have much luck. Most alternatives would have felt contrived. As Jill put it in her review, life as Lena knows it is about NOT knowing and trusting what will come, so to her this all made sense. I just felt a little deflated.
Ultimately I kept waiting for something to happen that never did. That doesn't mean that I'm sorry I read these three books. The first was my favorite, and it had enough power to carry me through them all.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I heard absolutely nothing about this book until Ti came along and did her thing...she sold me. When Ti loves a book, it is kinda hard to ignore her. So, as usual, I checked to see if my library had the audio (the only way I will EVER get to a book) and I struck gold. So what is this little charming story about?
Synopsis: At the opening of the book, we learn that Oppen Porter, the story's narrator, has had some kind of terrible accident, is in the hospital, and expects that the end is near. So he is recording his life's story and his words of wisdom on tape to his unborn child.
Oppen used to live a simple life, on the farm with his father. Every day, he rode his bicycle into town to look for work while his father stayed home, writing a never-ending letter to the local editor. When Oppen's father unexpectedly dies, Oppen buries him in the backyard according to his wishes. The authorities immediately exhume dad's body and bury him to code, and send Oppen off to live with his Aunt in Panorama City.
It becomes quickly apparent that Oppen is not a usual young man. He is not able to drive. He is illiterate. He deems himself a "thinker" but is not particularly adept at doing so quickly (he calls himself a "slow absorber"). He is insightful and brutally honest, yet gullible to those that might try to take advantage of his good nature. In Panorama City, he decides it is time to become "a man of the world", and throws himself into any adventure that presents itself...a job at a fast food restaurant, a friendship with a sketchy "entrepreneur" that he meets on the bus, discovering God at a local Christian fellowship, or smoking pot with a neighbor. It is a journey that lasts 40 days and 40 nights, after which the reader will view life with a new perspective.
My thoughts: Ti was right, this book was utterly charming. She compared the character of Oppen to Forrest Gump, which was spot on. The presence of Oppen takes an ordinary story and makes it special and precious, and it was impossible not to fall in love with him.
Oppen shares with his unborn son many pearls of wisdom that he has learned over the years, and often they were so simple but so true. Because I was listening to the audio, I couldn't write them down, but I loved each and every one of them. I would do well to follow his advice in my life. At its heart, this book is hilarious...I laughed the whole way through. But I did have moments when I found myself getting upset. Even if Oppen thinks everyone is a friend, to the reader we know that he is being bullied and taunted. In his innocence and his childish determination though, Oppen always seems to rebound.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator and voice of Oppen was Paul Michael Garcia, a new name for me. Not just anyone could have pulled off the performance of Oppen, but Garcia did it with grace.
Listening length: 8 hours and 6 minutes (304 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
Nothing could have tickled me more when I found out that the She Reads September book club selection was none other than the next release from Liane Moriarty. You might remember me going a little bit crazy over her novel "What Alice Forgot", which I read a couple of summers ago. More recently I reviewed "The Hypnotist's Love Story" which didn't quite hit the mark with me, but nevertheless, this author has so much to offer. While her books appear to be fluffy fun reading for women, there is way more to her, and I'm always left with a swirl of thoughts in my head long after I finish. She just seems to understand middle-aged women, more than most women understand themselves. She is like the BFF who knows what's bothering you before you even utter a word.
So let me tell you a little about Moriarty's next work of art.
Synopsis: Cecilia Fitzpatrick is a busy woman. She has three daughters under the age of 12, is President of her parent/school association, she runs a successful Tupperware business, is highly organized and efficient, and has been happily married for 15 years. Then one day when she was digging through the attic looking for something, she comes across a sealed envelope that is labeled "For my wife Cecelia Fitzpatrick, to be opened only in the event of my death". Hmmm. An irresistible temptation, no? Especially since her husband has been acting a little strange...turning his back on sex, crying in the shower, etc. But Cecelia could never predict the demons unleashed once she reads this letter.
Tess has just been informed by her husband and her cousin/best friend/business partner that they are in love. They haven't slept together! No, no. But they are meant for each other. Horrified and deeply hurt, Tess takes her 6 year-old son and runs to stay at her mother's to try to figure out what to do.
Rachel lives for her grandson, Jacob, who is two. He is the only shining light in a life that has been filled with anger and grief, ever since her daughter Janie was murdered over twenty years ago, and her husband died soon after of a broken heart. Sure, Rachel still has her son, and but she can't quite move on since Janie's killer was never found.
In alternating narratives, these three troubled women are slowly drawn into each other's orbit, tackling a laundry list of problems ranging from menopause to murder.
My thoughts: With many authors, after you've read a few of their books, you begin to see common themes and styles emerge, with just a change in names and locale. So I find it curious and a little delightful that Moriarty does not succumb to this pitfall. Each of her three books I've read are so different. The only common denominator is women in distress.
For those that expect a fun beach read, they are going to be shocked at the depth and gravity of some of the issues here. Sure, there is plenty of humor because let's face it, some of the crap women suffer through has to be laughed at, just so we don't fall apart. But the underlying issues, in this case infidelity and all its forms, grief, middle age, deceit, forgiveness...are heavy burdens. I was enthralled by the storytelling here, but will admit that there were times when I heaved a big sigh.
I don't want to sound like the book was a huge downer, but it does make one think. Moriarty always is good for a few days of self-evaluation, and is a book club's dream. Ultimately the author always pulls you back up from your navel-gazing and offers a delicious, warm ray of sun to let you know that not all is lost. Life may not be perfect but is worth the effort to try your hardest.
A few words about the audio production: I almost squealed like a kid when I heard the first words of this audio play into my ears...Caroline Lee! She is THE VOICE for all of Kate Morton's books and I've fallen in love with her girlish, accented little performances. They delight me, and she was perfect for this book. She makes listening such a pleasure. Also a big thanks goes out to Penguin audio for providing my digital download!
Listening length: 13 hours and 44 minutes (416 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
There is nothing better than a summer reading book by Marybeth Whalen. I find her to be a precious human being and a role model, so I'll just admit that I might be slightly swayed in my opinions of her books, but there you go. Her books are gentle and good, with some conflict, and a little bit of God, but always make an impact. Her latest, "The Wishing Tree", is no different.
Synopsis: Ivy Marshall had a bad day. In 24 hours, she discovers that her husband Elliott has been cheating on her (something that seems to have been building after months of a growing distance between them) AND her estranged sister receives a proposal on national TV. When Ivy receives an invitation from her mother to visit the family cottage on Sunset Beach, NC to help plan THE BIG WEDDING, Ivy balks. While it would probably be a good idea to get away from the offending husband, Ivy has not really been on proper speaking terms with her family since she impulsively broke it off with a childhood sweetheart and family friend and married Elliott. Plus, with her failing marriage, why would she want to think about marital wedded bliss? Ultimately, though, she decides she'll give it a shot.
When she arrives in Sunset Beach, she finds that she has got her work cut out for her. She works on mending fences with her sister and mother, but her mother is acting secretive and her sister goes hot and cold. Elliott has launched a Twitter campaign to get her back, and that ditched ex-fiance? He is looking better than ever, but wants nothing to do with her.
Ivy is put in charge of making "The Wishing Tree" for her sister's wedding, a tradition where invitees mail in their wish for the new couple, and it is artfully hung from branches in a display. Perhaps the answer to Ivy's confusion lies within these messages of hope?
My thoughts: One thing I always know about Marybeth, and that is she will take care of me. My main character won't die, the whole story won't be a dream, and no virus is going to end the world as we know it. Things work out in Marybethland. It may not always be the way you want, but there is no need for fear. Resolutions are satisfying and realistic.
That didn't stop me from feeling some frustration with the storyline. I thought that Ivy needed to grow up a little. She didn't really know what she wanted and therefore was stringing people along, and seemed clueless to other's feelings. There was also horrid communication between all of them, to the point where you really just wanted to lock them all in a room, shake them, and tell them to FIGURE IT OUT. The important thing, and probably Marybeth's point, is that Ivy and her family do figure it out.
Marybeth's last novel "The Guest Book" also took place in Sunset Beach (a favorite vacation spot for the author and a place I fell in love with years ago), so it was really nice to come back. I wouldn't be too upset if we kept returning...if I can't visit there, this is the next best thing!
3.5 out of 5 stars
It's been a long time since I've been compelled to write a review within hours of finishing a book. But I'm just afraid all the juicy goodness...the atmospheric awesomeness...is going to melt away over time, so I've got to get it out now.
This book has gotten so much hype. Everywhere from Entertainment Weekly to Barnes and Noble to the blogs to Amazon...people are talking about "Night Film". Sometime in mid-July the buzz became so unbearable that I was worked up into a frenzy because I had to wait until mid-August for its release. Rhapsody Jill came to my rescue by mailing her ARC copy to me in Indiana. Just driving the point home was the fact that my sister (a movie critic, NOT a book critic) also had an ARC copy and was reading it in Indiana as well. We laughed at that one. So let me tell you a little about this wonderful thing.
Synopsis: Scott McGrath has a love/hate relationship with Stanislas Cordova, mythical film director of a series of disturbing, unrated underground horror films. While doing an investigative piece on Cordova a few years ago, McGrath received an anonymous tip that Cordova was up to something bad...really bad. While McGrath was a huge fan of the reclusive director, he publicly accused him of wrongdoing and ruined his career and marriage in the process. It remains a sore spot to this day.
Then Cordova's 24 year-old piano prodigy daughter Ashley is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in Manhattan, apparently of a suicide. McGrath decides to resume his investigation of Cordova, because he has a feeling that Ashley's death was not an accident. There has to be more to it, and this could be a way to redeem himself. In his digging, he picks up two assistants in the form of an innocent wannabe actress and a grungy stoner, and they are launched on a wild ride into the murky world of Cordova. Lines become blurred as they encounter stories of madness, black magic, and strange disappearances. Soon the trio is questioning not only the depravity of Cordova, but their own sanity and grip on reality.
My thoughts: OK prepare for some gushing. Loved this book...LOVED. Let me count the ways I loved this book.
Loved the noir feel to it. You have this mythical director, who hasn't been seen for decades, with a cultish fan base. His movies were once Oscar-caliber but have gone underground with its continued descent into the dark depths of the human condition. People have been known to pass out or go insane after watching his movies, which is totally over-the-top and fun in an urban legend way. There are secrets and rumors and even a highly-guarded fan website with sightings and artifacts and tidbits. This is just rich stuff.
Loved the pictures. There are webpage snapshots, police reports, photographs, newspaper clippings...which just add to the mystery and authenticity of the story. For this very reason I would highly recommend this book in print. But the author took it even further. She even developed movie posters for Cordova's movies! It just makes the whole thing full-immersion.
Loved the characters. Scott and his sidekicks have a palpable chemistry between them. If any of you have read Melina Marchetta's "Jellicoe Road", I would compare the camaraderie in that story to this one. It is precious. Also, the supporting cast in this mystery is vivid, each and every one of them.
Loved the wild ride. The digging up of witnesses and clues and mysteries was positively delicious. And it leads up to sort of a manic, Stephen King-like drug trip where you have no idea what is real and what is not. For anyone who loves a puzzle, this is going to make your brain buzz. And the twists and turns keep going to the very end. (For those of you who like things wrapped up neatly, you won't find it here. I am seriously hoping for a sequel.)
About halfway through the book, I started slowing down my reading. First, I didn't want it to end. Second, I was scared to death that the author was going to screw me over. (If you have ever been on the receiving end of a literary screwing, then you know what I mean). I am happy to report that I came out the other side of this one with my honor and faith in literature intact.
This book isn't for everyone. You really need to be a fan of "the murk". I'm not talking horror here. Cordova made horror films, granted, but there is nothing here all that terrifying. It is more of a brain-bending mystery that is so much fun to explore, but it is dark and oily. If you like a good mystery, then without a doubt, this must be your next read.
5 out of 5 stars
A thousand apologies for being so late to the party with the most recent She Reads selection, "The Perfume Collector". The book arrived while I was in Indiana on vacation, at which time I was obsessed and immersed with "Night Film" (review coming soon). But better late than never.
I knew nothing about the premise of the book, but the word "perfume" was a huge flashing neon light. I have had friends call me "Olafactory Sandy", you see. I am a nutcase when it comes to candles, incense, plug-ins, as well as perfumes. I visited Grasse once in France, where they are famous for making perfumes. After getting the tour, I swore that I was destined to be a "nose", or a person who can distinguish between thousands of scents and use them to blend fragrances. I'm putting that on my list of things to do once the kids go to college (haha). So I digress. The book.
Synopsis: Is it the mid-1950's, and we are introduced to Grace Munroe, a young London socialite who feels a bit out of place in her role as wife and coordinator of her husband's social schedule. Her world is turned upside-down when she learns that a Parisian woman named Eva d'Orsey, a complete stranger, has left her entire sizable estate to Grace. Mystified, Grace travels to France and with the help of Eva's attorney, begins digging into Eva's past and try to discover the connection.
In alternating chapters, we also travel back in time to 1927, and Eva's meager beginnings as a maid in a New York City hotel. With her intelligence and ambition, Eva leverages her connections with hotel clients to catapult her to London, Monte Carlo and Paris. Most fateful of these relationships is one made with a legendary perfumer and her talented apprentice, who finds a muse in Eva.
This is a story of discovery, of sacrifice, and the powerful art of scent.
My thoughts: Overall, I found this book to be entertaining, primarily because, like I said before, I am enamored with the olafactory sense. The descriptions of what goes into making a scent, and the discussions of how scent can trigger an emotion or memory...I get this. I find the whole topic to be hypnotic.
But the plot itself was very soft and predictable. There weren't any surprises - it was if the story was laid out in front of me from the beginning. Which is not a fatal flaw necessarily! Following the life of Eva and Grace's journey of self-discovery was pleasant, the storytelling kept me turning the pages.
I did feel that the character development felt one-dimensional however. Eva and Grace both underwent major changes in their lives, ones that were pivotal. We know WHY they happened but we didn't get to see much of the process. With the turn of a page, their personalities were just different. So I guess at the end of the story, I felt there were some missed opportunities to get a better look inside these two remarkable women.
Nevertheless, this was a quick and enjoyable read, and one that reminded me that I need to brush up my resume for my future career in Grasse.
3 out of 5 stars
I've not read all of Lionel Shriver's work, but both "The Post-Birthday World" and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" blew me away with the clever prose and insightful commentary on the human condition. I have learned that Shriver doesn't make her characters warm and fuzzy, she doesn't do happily ever after, and she loves controversial subjects. I'm OK with that. I just like that she makes my brain buzz.
Her newest book "Big Brother" has definitely gotten some chatter on the blogs, so I thought it would be a good choice for vacation reading.
Synopsis: Pandora has run a successful catering business, then stumbled upon the invention of a fad product that has made her extremely wealthy. This allows her to support her husband in his unprofitable custom furniture business, and spend time with her teenage step-children. Food has always been a thing of pleasure for her (explaining the extra few pounds that she has put on the last few years), and finds it highly annoying that her husband has gone on a fitness kick that denies any pleasure-eating. Pandora resists almost on principle.
Then she discovers that her brother, Edison, a jazz musician in NYC, has fallen on hard times, and needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet. Nothing can prepare Pandora for the sight of her brother when he steps off the plane...over the last four years since she has seen him, he has gained 300 pounds. Pandora feels some responsibility to help Edison, but after a couple of months of living with his sloppiness and binging on junk food, Pandora's husband makes it very clear that she must choose between him and her brother.
Shriver doesn't mince words as she addresses one of the most controversial and sensitive subjects right now in the US - obesity. Also in this highly-discussable and prickly book we are forced to consider exactly what we would sacrifice to try to save a family member from their self-destruction, and if that is even really possible.
My thoughts: Let's talk about what I liked first. This is classic Shriver. She has such a wonderful way of making you uncomfortable, of making you squirm, with her insights. Reading her books reminds me of that scene in A Clockwork Orange where Alex has his eyes pried open and is forced to watch scenes of violence. I say all of this with love in my heart. I like an author will balls like that.
While Edison had a serious obesity problem, to the point where he was offending others on his flight, Pandora had gained some extra "layers of love" (my term) and needed to drop a few pounds on her end. Shriver mines this huge spectrum of weight issues that we can all relate to, regardless of our size. The emotional aspect of eating, being overweight because we are depressed, being depressed because we are overweight, the stereotype of someone thin versus someone heavy and how they are treated in reality.
She also probes the balance of loyalty to blood relatives and your spouse. She touches on the fine line between giving your kids the confidence that they are wonderful and special at everything when they are not, and raining on their parade and squelching their ambitions. There are landmines of little gems within the text. What I am saying is that this is the perfect book club book. I predict the discussion at that meeting would be spirited.
But at the end of the day, I cannot love this book. And I can't tell you why, or at least I can't give you specifics, because that would spoil it for you. But suffice it to say that I think Shriver screws the reader. This novel is built on a house of cards, and at the end I felt cheated and slightly pissed off. Not everyone will feel that way. In fact, someone told me that one blogger didn't even catch the fact that they had been screwed. I don't like to be manipulated, and in the future, I'm not sure I will ever really trust her with my time.
3 out of 5 stars
One of the bigger controversies in recent history has been the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan. As Americans and human beings, we were all horrified at the reports from Abu Ghraib...rape, torture, psychological and physical abuses, committed by military personnel in the US Army and the CIA, that no person should endure. It begged the question...what is the most effective way to extract information out of terrorists? Can you really beat and humiliate it out of them? Is there a better way?
My BFF's husband works in the FBI. Knowing how much I love non-fiction relating to 9/11 and the war against terrorism, he loaned me this book and told me it was an incredible read. I agree...I read it in less than a day.
Synopsis: One of the top priorities for the military in the war on terrorism has always been to find Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda. The full force of interrogation by intimidation was unleashed in order to uncover his associates to get to him, but it yielded little. But after Abu Ghraib, newer and more humane techniques were employed as policy...the use of trust and dialogue, and determining what really motivated these individuals. Enter Matthew Alexander, the leader of the first new wave of interrogators.
In a highly conversational and readable tone, Matthew walks us through exactly how he approached detainees...learning about their families, and about why, exactly, they joined Al Qaeda. The answers were surprising. While some of the prisoners were blood-thirsty fanatics, many were involved for reasons other than a hatred for "the enemy". Often it was simply for money to support their families. Once Matthew was able to uncover what was in their hearts, he could use that to get their cooperation. These methods ultimately met with a resounding success that led to the death of al Zarqawi.
My thoughts: This was SUCH a compelling read! Although it was non-fiction, it played out like a fast-paced thriller, with twists and turns and snapping up clues in order to chase down the next Al Qaeda meeting place. It was also a fascinating study in psychological cunning and manipulation of some of the most hardened terrorists in the world.
I also loved the personal insights from the author, who believed in his tactics and battled, on a daily basis, those old-school interrogators who would rather put on a show of force. Despite his successes, Matthew still internally struggled through conflicting thoughts. Why do these madmen deserve my trust and mutual respect? Even if the author felt nothing but repulsion, there was always something that made them tick, and he made it his mission to figure it out, like a dog with a bone. Throughout, he maintains an air of humility and lack of agenda besides telling his story.
I found it interesting that there were portions of the text that were blacked out and censured by the DoD, which just added to the authenticity of the story.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you are in a slump and need something relevant, exciting and a fast read, this book is exactly what you need.
5 out of 5 stars
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