Review: Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain

Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I really liked the first two books in this series ... they were solid 4 star books for me. This one, however, was not quite as good as the first two in the series. Something about it felt off and maybe even recycled somehow. It feels as if there is a formula to this series and this one just went back and did what was done before with a few details changed. I didn't find the Archie/Gretchen pieces nearly as compelling as they were in the first two books. The sub plot around the media and public fascination with serial killers was much more compelling for me. I wish that has been expanded upon even more in the novel. Susan is really becoming one of my favorite characters in the series ... I hope that there are plans to further expand on her in future books. She's fascinating to me!


This one is as gory and disturbing as the entire series has been! It's not for the faint of heart. There were numerous times that I cringed as something was described. I read this one via audiobook as I have for the entire series. I think the narrator is incredible and I enjoy this type of book via audiobook!


If you liked the first two books in the series, you will probably like this one. But, I warn you, this one felt more gory to me than the first two books. It's definitely NOT a book for everyone!!


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Review: NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

 









NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've had this book sitting on my bedside table since I won it in 2009 in a blog giveaway. It sounded interesting since I have two five year olds but I just don't typically read a lot of parenting non-fiction. I just rarely find it to be useful to me as a parent. I'm almost always bored half to death and come away with less than I'd hoped. I am almost constantly disappointed when I try the genre.


This one is a solid 3 star for me. It didn't blow me away but it was interesting and not a difficult read. There was some interesting information that has me re-thinking how I parent our children. It was a fairly interesting read ... I wasn't bored to tears as I usually am but I wasn't so compelled that I couldn't stop reading. In fact, I was pretty much ready for it to be over by the last chapter.


I think this is a better than average parenting book. But, frankly, nothing in it revolutionized the way that I parent our children.


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Review: My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

 










My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I should preface my review by saying that Pat Conroy is one of my all-time favorite authors. From the moment that I read his novel Beach Music, I was in love. That particular novel is probably my favorite of all time, closely competing with Little Women. I think he's fantastic, I love his writing style, his way with words. He's one of those writers that I just adore and spend the years between books wishing for a new one!


So .... when I heard that Pat Conroy was releasing a book about books and reading, I was over the moon! Two of my favorite things in one package! And he did not disappoint with this collection of essays! I didn't learn a lot about Conroy that I didn't already know because of my pretty obsessive love of him and his novels BUT I loved getting to read, in his words, why books and reading are such an integral part of who he is ... I could relate to quite a bit of it.


I found that this book really reminded me of what I love about books and reading. It re-inspired me and helped me to remember exactly what it is that I love about story. But, best of all, it also confirmed for me why I love Pat Conroy and his stories. His commitment to story and to the power of the novel really comes through in his writing and its what attracts me to his work.

I really recommend this book if you're a fan of Pat Conroy and/or a fan of books and reading. It's a really good collection that will appeal to a variety of readers!


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Review: Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

 











Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a very intense, very dark novel that takes place in Vietnam. I have to admit that I very rarely read war books, particularly Vietnam books after a childhood experience that scared me. A family member was a Marine in Vietnam and came home with quite a few photographs of some very ugly, brutal scenes. My cousin and I came across them one day and it was the most frightening thing I've EVER seen. I was very disturbed and pretty much avoid things related to the Vietnam experience to the best of my ability. And, so, I really only decided to read this book after months of rave reviews by bookish friends who said it was a book to not be missed.


First and foremost, this book is intense and difficult to read and very long. It seemed to take a long time to read for me. It certainly wasn't a quick read. It's dark. It's twisty. It's frightening. It's sad. It's raw. And, frankly, it's brilliant. It's well written. Marlantes is a wonderful writer who knows exactly how to compel a reader to keep with a story even when its difficult subject matter to read. He did not pull any punches. I truly felt as if I was there with the characters on their journey. His writing truly brought to life the sounds, smells and horrific experiences of war. Perhaps it is his own time in Vietnam that allowed him to write about it in a way that brought it alive for me. And the stories he told were new ... it wasn't a rehash of all the other Vietnam novels and movies that we've all read/seen. It gave me an entirely new perspective on the Vietnam war and reiterated how horrific it really was. This novel just tore my heart out.


I'm having a difficult time saying that I liked this book or enjoyed it as its material makes it difficult to 'like.' But I do appreciate its value and am amazed at what a compelling novel this is. It's a difficult book to get out of your head both while reading it and after reading it. The characters in the novel will stay with me for some time. This is a phenomenal novel. It isn't for everyone but for those who can handle the difficult material, it is a novel to consider.


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Review: Cost by Roxana Robinson

 









Cost: A Novel by Roxana Robinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been wanting to read this one for a long time. It is not a book that I think is for everyone. It's a fascinating look a family that is dealing with a family member with heroin addiction. Although that is the primary focus of the novel, it's so much more ... it's about the complicated relationships that exist in most families to some degree or another. It's not for the faint of heart ... emotionally speaking. It's not gory or violent in any way but it is emotionally impactful and hits the reader in the gut!

The characters that Robinson presents in Cost are outstanding. They come alive for the reader. The author's beautiful writing and excellent character development really shine in this novel!

The narrative shifting device employed by Robinson was difficult for me to follow initially - throughout the narrative, the perspectives change randomly, making the narrative feel occasionally disjointed. I got used to it eventually but it was jarring in the beginning. In the end, I appreciate the shifting voices and how it contributed to the overall feel of the novel.

I really thought that the voice of the character with heroin addiction was done so well and it really helped me to better understand addiction and its hold on someone in a new way. I thought the novel really did a great job of showing the wide reaching impact of addiction on the entire family unit. And it really made me think about my own family and how the personalities within a family combine to create a unique, interesting, messy, crazy thing unique to that very family.

Although I enjoyed the novel, I did feel that the novel ended fairly abruptly. Robinson built up the story so well, only to end the story so abruptly as to be frustrating to me!

I enjoy Robinson's writing style but can definitely understand that it wouldn't be for everyone. It's a bit of stream of consciousness but with structure. It's almost clinical at times. Yet, I like it and find it interesting. At times it feels as if I am listening in to someone's inner voice. It's an ever-changing emotional dialogue of sorts - raw, uncomfortable, funny, sad, interesting, frustrating, and more.

In the end, this isn't a novel for everyone but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I left the novel having felt as if I learned something and felt something that I hadn't learned/felt before!

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