Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is told from the perspective of Christopher, a 15 year old boy who loves math and is socially awkward. Although it is never outright stated, those who have family or friends on the autism spectrum may recognize commonalities.  

Christopher is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes.  When he encounters a mystery in his very own neighborhood, he sets out to solve it and document the story in the book you are reading.  I love that he includes drawings, diagrams, and explanations of what he is seeing and especially the math he is doing in his head.  I'm not good at math, but I feel like I have a better understanding now! More importantly, it reminds us that we need to have compassion and understanding for the people we encounter everyday.  You don't know what someone is going through.  They might be trying to navigate the world in the best way they know how.  Sometimes that is going to look different from how you would.    

Bonus points for Toby, the rat.  Rats are great and don't get enough respect.  Also, justice for Wellington!  That's a story I can always get behind.

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Review: A Head Full of Ghosts

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay is billed as horror, but it is much more than that.  It's almost more a psychological thriller or mystery.  So if you think you aren't into horror, you may still want to pick this book up.  Also, fans of the Exorcist or possession stories should enjoy this book.

There are a couple of different narrative perspectives, including a horror blog, which I always like in my reading.  But essentially, you are puzzling together whether or not a teenage girl is possessed or just faking it.  If you've read the science behind teenagers and poltergeist activity, it really is a legit question.  

If that's not enough for you, there is also a whole bunch about the predatory nature of reality TV and people looking to get rich and/or famous off of other people's suffering.  That's not great, but the book is!

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Review: The Kaiser's Web

The Kaiser's Web by Steve Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Kaiser's Web is the 16th book in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry.  There are some references to previous books, but you could start here or read this as a stand alone without a problem.  If you like your thrillers with an historical basis, you'll enjoy this series.  

I always look forward to Steve Berry's books because I can't wait to see what historical twist he's going to address.  In this case, we get NAZIS!  I am not normally excited by WWII, and other than making sure we don't repeat history, don't want to give Nazis anymore air.  It's scary to think there are still people who support anything they stood for.  That said, some of the conspiracy theories around the last days in the bunker are pretty intriguing, as well as, the connections to South America.  This book explores that more and also how close we could be to another Hitler.  It might be more horror than thriller.  

Bonus points for taking us back to Chile.  I always like reading about places I've lived.  

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Review: The Lola Quartet

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel turned out to be nothing like I expected.  Admittedly, I try to know as little as possible going into a book.  I mean, I honestly just read this because it was written by Emily.  When you know an author is good, you just have faith in a book.  So, I guess I really didn't know what to expect.  Maybe I thought it would be a bit more sci-fi?  It's not at all.  I'm not complaining.  Instead it has a bit of a noir-ish feel.  Jazz and fedoras.  Little thriller/mystery.  A little bit Missed Connections.  It sort of defies categorization.  I liked the different perspectives.  I liked that I wasn't 100% sure where it was going.  And even though there aren't any really lovable characters, it was compelling.  If you've ever went to a dark and dingy bar to hear a musician or band that nobody else has ever heard of but felt like the music changed your life, read this book. 

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Review: The Night Visitors

The Night Visitors by Jenn Ashworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Night Visitors is a novella written by Jenn Ashworth and Richard V. Hirst.  I make no secret that I love epistolary books.  The Night Visitors is told via emails between two women.  They have books, writing, and a mysterious ancestor in common.  As they start to delve more into the mystery of their (in)famous relative, things start to devolve.  If you like your stories a bit spooky and unhinged, pick this one up!    

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Review: Unrestricted Access: New and Classic Short Fiction

Unrestricted Access: New and Classic Short Fiction by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unrestricted Access is a collection of short stories written by James Rollins, sometimes in collaboration with others.  Most of the stories relate to one of the other series he has worked on.  I had read most of them already as I read everything Sigma Force, Tucker Wayne, and Order of the Sanguine.  I mainly read this for the new novella, Sun Dogs.  I like it when James Rollins writes from an alternate perspective drawing upon his veterinary roots.  I try not to give anything away in these reviews.  So how to say I almost couldn't finish Sun Dogs because my heart was breaking and my eyes were so blurred from tears, and yet I'm so glad I did finish it because I needed that ending?  I guess I'll leave it there.  If you like anything by James Rollins, treat yourself to this.  It might open a new series for you.  

Bonus points for Kane and Abel.  I love them good boys.

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Review: Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life

Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life is a memoir by Sutton Foster.  I went to see Sutton Foster's book launch in New York where she was interviewed by Amy Sherman-Palladino.  It was like a dream come true.  Bunheads was my introduction to Sutton.  Insta-fan!  I know, I know.  I was way behind the curve on this one.   Younger was a show that spoke to me (Gen-X) and my sister (elder millennial) in a way that most shows can't.  I also might be the only person to buy a ticket to The Music Man to see Sutton Foster on Broadway with a side of Hugh Jackman.  

Anyway, I was delighted that she decided to write a book.  Even though my crafting is terrible, I can appreciate how important it is, especially, as a coping mechanism.  And while I loved learning more about her life, I really enjoyed that she included recipes and crafting instructions so you can recreate things that are so special to her.  

Bonus points for adoption.  Coming from a family where we were all adopted, I can't thank Sutton enough for sharing her story of how she came to be Emily's mom.  

Extra bonus points for Linus.  It is a gift to know that kind of love.  

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Review: Feral Creatures

Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Feral Creatures is the second Hollow Kingdom book by Kira Jane Buxton.  You will definitely want to read both books in order.  I found they went by almost too fast because I wanted them to last forever!  I would also say the Hollow Kingdom is definitively in my top five favorite series of all times.  Maybe top three?  Maybe tied for first?  It's really hard to pick book favorites.  However, I could read an endless number of Hollow Kingdom books and never tire.  So many animals, so many different perspectives!  I am very emotionally invested in this bunch of characters.  Even Dee is a crow worth rooting for.  The hardest part is when you love all the animals, and there is a natural animosity between predator and prey animals leaving you very conflicted.  Also, the book stresses a point which I always make, don't f*** with crows!  

Bonus points for everything!

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