Review: Tiny But Mighty: Kitten Lady's Guide to Saving the Most Vulnerable Felines

Tiny But Mighty: Kitten Lady's Guide to Saving the Most Vulnerable Felines by Hannah Shaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

I heard Hannah Shaw talking about this book on the podcast, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, shortly after helping foster some kittens myself. Just from her story, I knew I needed this book in my life. It was serendipity that the publisher selected me to read it because I now get to spread Hannah's message about the importance of fostering and adopting.

Over 800,000 shelter cats are euthanized every year because they weren't adopted. What you might not know is the majority of euthanized shelter animals are kittens under 8 weeks old because shelters don't have the capacity to deal with unweaned animals. If they don't have foster parents lined up to assist, the kittens are often euthanized immediately after surrender. It all comes down to resources, something all shelters struggle with.

Like Hannah, I want to live in a world where no animal has to die because a shelter lacks resources. That's why her book is so important. She talks about the issues surrounding "unadoptable" cats and kittens in a very accessible way and provides practical suggestions that anyone can undertake. Whether you are interested in Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR), fostering, or just wondering what to do with that kitten you found outside on its own, Hannah has all the details. I really appreciated the checklists of what you need and the detailed descriptions of the various stages of kittenhood. You don't need to create a full-blown neonatal kitten unit in your home to foster kittens. Hannah makes the process much less intimidating.

While the book is very comprehensive, there are also true stories of her adventures with kittens and cats and the most adorable pictures. It is very uplifting and inspiring. If you like cats, get this book and think about how you can help create a world where no cat or kitten has to be euthanized.

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Review: The Cat Who Turned On and Off

The Cat Who Turned On and Off by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Cat Who series. You don't really have to read the previous books to understand what's going on, but there are references to previous books.

This book was first published in 1968 so there are going to be some things that feel a little dated. That aside, it is an easy, fast read with quirky characters. I appreciate that the author doesn't shy away from using less common vocabulary. It adds flair to the writing. I also enjoy the two cats that are main characters in the book.

This book is centered around antiquing culture. If you like shows like American Pickers or Antiques Roadshow or like to collect antiques, this will be a fun read for you. It really highlights the eccentricities of antique collectors.

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Review: Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie

Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie by Harold Schechter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another short true crime story in the Amazon Original Stories, Bloodlands Collection.

The crime had a tenuous connection to to Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. For some reason, I couldn't stop picturing Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight while reading it. If you like true crime and just want a quick fix, this is good for that.

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Review: Crucible

Crucible by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 14th book in the Sigma Force series. You could read this book as a standalone, but I would recommend starting with book one. I love the Sigma Force series, but this just might be my favorite so far. It took me two days to read this 637 page whopper, and yet I could have kept right on reading.

This book brought back many of my favorite characters. It was so nice to see them again. What I didn't expect was how much crying I would do. The book (as all books in the series) is a thriller. It is usually a lot of action with some interesting science and history. This book had that too but included a good hard tug on the heartstrings.

This book includes witches, artificial intelligence, a U.S. Ambassador, secret societies, explosions, kickass women, and a race against the clock. All the things a thriller should have.

Luddites repent now while you still have a chance.

Bonus points for including a dog.

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Review: Primates of Park Avenue

Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book peaked my interest after I read The Swans of Fifth Avenue. What a strange and otherworldly life the New York elite lead! I have never been to this place called Manhattan. I thought it would be fascinating to get a glimpse of that life from the perspective of someone who wasn't born into it. And it was. To a point.

I liked that this wasn't just another memoir. Wednesday Martin approaches this as if she were an anthropologist doing a field study. Those parts of the book were my favorite, especially the bits where she contrasts Upper East Side (UES) society against primates. So interesting! Don't believe in evolution? This book will give you some food for thought. Primates are just like us or vice versa. But that's not the point of the book. It is more about the culture of the UES, in particular, the mothers that inhabit that area. There was a part at the end of the book that brought me to tears. It was quite moving, and I'm not going to spoil it. It was a reminder that sometimes in your darkest hours people will surprise you...in a good way.

This part I will not refrain from spoiling. I got so sick of reading about the Birkin bag. The author did her best to explain why I should care about this very special purse. However, I do not. I get that she was obsessed with it much like other UES natives. For all I know, it may really be the very best purse ever invented in the history of purses. It could be the answer to life, the universe, and everything. But, it's made from leather. Ergo, not perfect and not for me.

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Review: The Brick Slayer

The Brick Slayer by Harold Schechter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This true crime short story is part of the Bloodlands collection created for Amazon. This book recounts the case that would eventually inspire Richard Wright to write Native Son. The length of the book doesn't leave room for much analysis. It is more a recap of the events but enough to give the reader a flavor of the racial tensions that impacted the outcome.



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Review: Treasure of the Jaguar Warrior - Mystery of the Mayan Calender

Treasure of the Jaguar Warrior - Mystery of the Mayan Calender by Barbara Ivie Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Paranormally Yours series. You can read this as a standalone as the story wraps up in this book.

Based on the title, I thought the book would be more adventure than romance. And I was looking forward to some Mayan cultural. I don't read much romance anymore mostly because it requires me to suspend too much disbelief. I start to pick apart the relationship which gets in the way of my enjoyment of the story. Sadly, this book fell victim to that. Two of the characters fall in love in the span of maybe 24 hours and for no real discernible reason other than being in the same location. I never got over that. Yes, I realize it is probably hypocritical to have no problem with the ghost in the story but to get hung up on love at first sight. If you have been reading my reviews, this is a recurring theme with me. If that doesn't bother you and you like PG romance with ghosts, humor, and a little treasure hunting thrown in, you should give this book a try. If you are unsure, it is available for free through the Amazon Kindle Lending Library.

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Review: Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis

Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis by Ada Calhoun
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for potentially providing a review. That said, this book was written for me. The author, Ada Calhoun, is clear from the start that her target audience is middle class women from Generation X. She gives a well-reasoned explanation for why she doesn't include other groups in this book. That doesn't mean other people can't read it. In fact, if you are trying to understand a middle class Gen-X woman, read this book.

I related on a very deep level to the stories of the women Ada interviewed. Spoiler alert: they are not all happy. However, there is comfort in knowing you are not the only person facing a particular dilemma. And in this case, knowing that the existential crisis that often overwhelms your thoughts might be affecting many women in your generation. Lucky us! The author also does a good job of showing how mid-life is different for Gen Xers than it was for Boomers and will be for Millennials.

So if you are on the verge of melting down over life stress, pop a couple of Tylenol for the existential dread and read this book. It won't solve your problems, but it might give you some insight into why life sucks right now.

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Review: The 18th Abduction

The 18th Abduction by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 18th book in the Women's Murder Club series. You could probably read this as a standalone. Some people seem to have an issue about the timing of this book in the series. It is not a direct continuation of book 17. It does reference some early material, but you don't need to have read all 17 books to understand what's going on. I didn't find the timing of the book distracting as some other's have. Like the other books, this book is fast-paced, and I finished it very quickly.

Unlike the previous books, this one crosses international borders to remind us of the horrors of war. In particular, we are introduced to Anna, who survived terrible atrocities at the hands of a Serbian war criminal that may now be living down the street from her. It does make you think about how well you know your neighbors. At the same time, three teachers go missing without a trace after an evening out. My main takeaway is we need to pay our teachers a living wage.

Looking forward to book 19!

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Review: The Witch Elm

The Witch Elm by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I only have myself to blame for not loving this book. This is the third (?) book by Tana French that I have read, and I always only partially like them. Her writing is really beautiful and yet leaves me feeling like the story is too long. The synopsis of the story always draws me in, and I think it will keep me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the mystery. And then, I'm not. I just have to stop getting sucked in. That doesn't mean you shouldn't. Plenty of people love this book. You might be one of them.

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