Review: Lexicon

Lexicon by Max Barry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lexicon by Max Barry was a trippy read.  You're flashing between character storylines and timelines.  It started out very much an action thriller which wasn't what I was expecting for a book about words.  I almost put it down thinking I wasn't really in the mood for a high octane story.  But I stuck with it long enough to get to what I was looking for and ride it out to the end.  Words have power, and it is scary to think there might be a set of words out there that render you completely under someone else's control.  Not everything was as it seemed either which keeps you guessing throughout.  I like that in a book.

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Review: Heartbreaker: A Novel

Heartbreaker: A Novel by Claudia Dey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heartbreaker: A Novel by Claudia Dey imagines a world stuck in the 80s, 1985 specifically.  For some of us, maybe that sounds pretty ideal.  But paradise doesn't come without a cost.  This society, one might even say cult, has some funky and dark social customs.  They regularly collect the blood of the young. Gender roles are very defined.  Clothing choices are regulated.  So when an outsider, Billie Jean, shows up one day out of nowhere, you know things are going to get interesting.      

What's really different is you don't learn Billie Jean's story from her.  You learn it from three different narrators, her daughter, her dog, and a neighborhood boy.  And because you see her story from these different perspectives, her mysteries are revealed slowly, and it takes time to connect all the dots.  A few things I was able to anticipate early but much of it left me thinking, "I didn't see that coming!" 

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Review: Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts

Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts by Robert Rosenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts by Robert Rosenberg from Harper Collins Leadership via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

If you are Dunkin Donuts aficionado and/or an entrepreneur, this book has something for you.  I'm not much of a business person, but I do work in a field that requires strong leaderships skills, and I love Dunkin Donuts, so I thought I would give this book a try. This could have been the type of book that makes your eyes glaze over, but I found the story of the company and the development of the donuts and coffee really interesting.  There's a really good reason why "America runs on Dunkin."

What surprised me most was how much I learned about franchising.  If I ever have a lot of extra money lying around, I just might try it!  I also appreciated that Robert Rosenberg doesn't sugar-coat his bad decisions.  We all make them, and it is an important part of development.  He also gives plenty of credit and praise to the people who helped make Dunkin a success.  

Fair warning:  You will want to eat donuts while you read this book.  I was craving Dunkin throughout and treated myself when I finished.

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Review: Inside 10 Rillington Place: The untold horror of my life with a serial killer

Inside 10 Rillington Place: The untold horror of my life with a serial killer by Peter Thorley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of Inside 10 Rillington Place by Peter Thorley from Mirror Books via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.  

Part memoir, part true crime novel, Inside 10 Rillington Place is an attempt by the author to try and set the record straight about the horrific murder of his sister and niece.  Because Peter Thorley has first-hand experience with the people involved, his account carries  weight, and he is able to make reasoned arguments for who he believes really killed his sister and niece.  At the same time, you realize he is not completely unbiased.  There is a twist in the story that I won't give away here.  This is a good book for true crime buffs.

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Review: The Complete Bee Handbook: History, Recipes, Beekeeping Basics, and More

The Complete Bee Handbook: History, Recipes, Beekeeping Basics, and More by Dr Dewey M Caron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advance copy of The Complete Bee Handbook: History, Recipes, Beekeeping Basics, and More by Dr. Dewey M. Caron from Callisto Media via Net Galley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

You don't have to be a beekeeper or prospective beekeeper (I'm not) to enjoy this book.  I love bees.  If you don't already, you can learn to love them too.  Without them, we couldn't survive.  So I look for every opportunity to educate myself on how to help bees survive for their sake and ours.  This was a really great resource for doing just that.  I not only learned a lot just about bees in general but also many easy ways that I can help bees without having hives.  If you are crafty, there were even recipes for how to use bee products to make things like candles.  I liked that everything was very clearly written and explained so even a bee novice could understand.  If you want to learn more about bees and/or how you can help them, this is an excellent starting point.  

For the vegetarians and vegans who wrestle with the ethics of honey and beekeeping, I think you will find this book makes a case for why we should support local beekeepers.  Without their help, bees would be even worse off than they already are.

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Review: The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd

The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd by Amber Bradshaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advance copy of The Beginner's Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd by Amber Bradshaw from Callisto Media via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

My sister expressed an interest in goats, so when I saw this book, I thought I would read it and give her an idea of what she would be in for if she one day acquired some.  I would never recommend a person take on caretaking any animals after reading just one book.  However, if you are thinking about taking on goats, this book will give you a very good idea of what to expect.  I liked that this book is not super technical.  It truly is for beginners.  She provides lots of practical information, including an idea of how much things cost and step-by-step instructions on how to do things like build a goat manger.  It is a tremendous resource for a new goat parent.  

Bonus points for the cute goat photos.  

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Review: How Should One Read a Book?

How Should One Read a Book? by Virginia Woolf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of How Should One Read a Book? by Virginia Woolf from Laurence King Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

This is a standalone printing of Virginia Woolf's essay, How Should One Read a Book. This is an ode to books and the joy that reading brings. I've always enjoyed Virginia Woolf's writing, so it is not a surprise I would love her celebration of reading, one of my favorite things. If you like reading too (and if you are reading this, I'm guessing you do), pick this up and take a moment to revel in great writing.

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