Nine Minutes

Nine Minutes by Beth Flynn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Holy Stockholm Syndrome, Batman! My mind is reeling. I have never read a book like this. I still don't know what to think. I'm conflicted on my rating, so for now it's getting 3 stars.

Fifteen-year-old Ginny is abducted by a motorcycle gang member and "given" to the leader, Grizz. What follows is a twisted, dark story of violence, love, betrayal, and loyalty. I don't want to give too much away because what happens is interesting. It's written from Ginny's point of view, but you get some other perspectives as well as the book unfolds. I've seriously not ever read anything like this book. I'm sure there are other books out there like this, but since it's not my typical genre my head is spinning a little.

The writing was decent but not perfect and I had to suspend disbelief quite a few times--seriously, if someone kidnapped me I would do anything to escape rather than just shrug my shoulders and give up--but the story was interesting. 3 stars for now.



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Storming the Castle (Fairy Tales #1.5)

Storming the Castle by Eloisa James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


"And they all lived happily ever after." Just like I like my romances. I'm a sap. Don't judge.

Cute follow up to A Kiss at Midnight--this time starring Wick. We have a slightly modern woman in Phillipa Damson, running from a marriage looming in her future to make her own way. She runs right into the nearby castle to assist the princess with her ailing infant. Luckily for everyone, Phillipa's uncle is a skilled, if unconventional, physician, and she uses what she's learned from him to save the baby. Wick, like everyone, is impressed by this undercover lady posing as a nanny. Misunderstandings and flirtations abound, and we come to the conclusion we knew was coming and hoped for. Like all fairy tales, they all seem to live happily ever after.



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The Perfume Collector

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


After a slow start, I found myself captivated by this book.

It's a story about the power of life's choices. It's a story of love, of sacrifice, and of family. But at it's core it is the story of how two women's lives are intertwined, and how the past catches up with the future.

I also found myself intrigued about the process of capturing scents to make perfume. I have never been a big perfume person but after reading this book I want to run out and find a scent that really speaks to me. Or, better yet, have someone create a scent especially for me. An extravagance, to be sure, but the book made it seem so special.

Overall, an interesting piece of historical fiction. 4 stars.




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The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Reading my way through the classics and thought I would dive into my first Hemingway. I can't say I was disappointed.

We journey to Cuba to fish with Santiago, the old man of said title, and go with him out to the sea. Santiago has had a bit of a dry spell, not catching anything for 84 days. 84 days! What is this poor old man living on? Well, nothing but the kindness of Manolin, his sometimes apprentice. Determined to turn his luck, Santiago heads far out to search for a big catch.

Part man vs.nature, part reflections from an old man on a long life, this final book by Hemingway has many layers. I liked it. 3 stars.



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Play Dead (Allie Babcock Mystery #1)

Play Dead by Leslie O'Kane

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I really wanted to like this book because the idea of a mystery series with a dog psychologist / amateur sleuth sounded fun, but it just didn't deliver for me.

A couple of things: The mystery was way over complicated and a bit ridiculous. I felt the main character was annoying, yet she had men tripping over themselves to get to her. Her office partner was in all kinds of insta-love for her, her blind date was crazy about her after 5 minutes, etc. I think she was supposed to be smart and plucky, but it did not come across in the writing. And her roommate was written to be a sniveling, needy psycho--basically the world's worst person who no one in their right mind would tolerate. Pretty much every male character was written to be a total jerk. I would never talk to any of these people in real life, ever, except the mom and the cooking class instructor (but only if she promised not to make me eat vegan food).

The depiction of Boulder was pretty spot on, though. Well done, author, for capturing the hippie-uniqueness that is Boulder.



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The Anatomist's Apprentice (Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mystery #1)

The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I wish I had judged this book by its cover and left it at that. The cover was nice, but the mystery wasn't very good. I was expecting a cool historical mystery with interesting forensics happening to solve the crime. I was let down. Some nits to pick:

First of all, the title. Who is the anatomist and who the apprentice? Is Thomas the anatomist in the title? Because he seems to be, but then I don't know who his apprentice is supposed to be. If Thomas is the apprentice, who is the anatomist? One of the old anatomists? Because he's fully graduated into his profession. I kept waiting for the apprentice to appear. This did not happen.

Insta-romance abounds, starring Lydia. She was at the center of everything, and every man loved her, but we are never shown why she would cause such a reaction. She was boring. Not a good character in any way. The romance was unnecessary and the dialogue was eye-rollingly bad.

The ending was just short of ridiculous--completely disappointing and over the top. Not going to read another book in the series. There are so many good historical mysteries out there and this is not one of them.



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Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2)

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


More fun and mayhem with Harry and friends!

Werewolves. In Chicago. And it's up to Harry to solve the mystery and save the town. As usual, he rises to the occasion while taking an ass-whipping. Harry, seriously, take those martial arts classes with Murphy. I have never seen a man get beaten up as much as you.

There were twists and turns in this one, and a sad part in the police station that shocked me. But it all worked out in the end, natch, and now Harry has a new set of friends to call upon when Chicago is in peril. Because you know it will be, because that's how it all works.



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The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nature vs. nurture. It's a long-standing debate. I personally think nurture has a more to do with how you turn out as a person, but Jeannette Walls might have just proved me wrong.

This is the story of growing up with two parents who, to put it nicely, both have issues. My armchair psychiatrist degree says they both just might be mentally ill. Definitely co-dependent. And really bad parents. Jeannette and her siblings grow up roaming from place to place as her parents run from people of the real and imaginary sort. They are poor, and hungry, and really don't seem to realize how crazy their upbringing truly is. I can't believe no one stepped in and helped these kids, but I'm sure there are families right now who have it just as bad or worse and are under the radar like them.

This book made me mad. And sad. I realize it could have been worse for the Walls children. But what was there was bad enough. Now get off the computer, go hug a loved one, and be grateful for all that you have. It's a miracle Jeannette Walls grew up to make something of herself, so her nature won out over the terrible nurture she received. 4 stars for Jeannette and a virtual high five from me.



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Eat Move Sleep

Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes by Tom Rath

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I read this book because now that I'm in my 40's I want to take better care of myself. I have been remarkably healthy throughout my life, and I don't want that to change as I enter middle age. I have never been a healthy eater (no orange or green foods for me, thanks!) so I am making baby steps into adulthood. Enter "Eat, Move, Sleep". Tom Rath has suffered from rare health problems his whole life so he has gone to extremes in being healthy to prolong his life. There are great suggestions for anyone in this book to make small changes to be healthier, especially in the lists at the end of the book. However, the book is preachy and extremist. No one who is on a quest to be healthier and take better care of themselves is going to read this book and implement all of the extreme changes he recommends, often without citing a source. How much of this is based on real science, vs. articles he has read in Men's Health? It's unrealistic and discouraging for me, someone who has never touched peas or carrots since being forced in her youth, to make the extreme changes he says you need to make for a long, healthy life.

What would have worked much better is for him to be more encouraging in the small changes people can make to lead a healthier life. Step off the soap box, Tom, remove your white wig, and start cheering people on! You just come across as a huge jerk right now, and I don't want to hang out with you. Buzzkill.

For those of you who want to be healthier but don't want to read this book, here is your TL:DR:
EAT - be mindful of what you eat, and how much. Try to eat real foods in moderation, not chemically processed, artificial crap.
MOVE - get exercise every day. This helps your body last longer. Don't be lazy. Take the stairs, park at the back of the lot, and get those lungs filled with good, clean air.
SLEEP - rest and let your body regenerate. Sleep enough and get your circadian rhythms in line with nature.

There you go. You're welcome.



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M is for Malice (Kinsey Millhone #13)

M is for Malice by Sue Grafton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Oh, Kinsey. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Dietz is back, Henry is still awesome, Kinsey's cousins are still trying to build a relationship with her while she snarls and snaps like a scared, wounded animal, and she solves the mystery through sheer tenacity and stubbornness. Because she's Kinsey, and she's awesome.

Imagine a world where you have to solve crimes through legwork instead of computers. Where you can miss important calls because cell phones aren't a thing. Where you have to send off a form, in the mail, with a real stamp and everything, to get a copy of a DMV report. Grafton's choice to freeze Kinsey in the late 80s makes the mystery more interesting in a lot of ways. Crime fighters today have it so easy! A google search on your iPhone, and bam, the bad guys go to jail!

This one is about the prodigal son, an inheritance, and redemption. I would have never guessed the culprit--in fact, she kept me guessing right up until the reveal, but it all made sense in the end. Dietz might be back, or not, and I'm as conflicted as Kinsey on whether or not he should be. And the beat goes on.

This is the first one that I've noticed didn't end with Kinsey's case notes. I missed the "Respectfully Submitted, Kinsey Millhone" ending. Not sure why she chose to end this one differently, but it made the ending seem less tied up for me. All in all, classic Kinsey. 3 solid stars.



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