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Books and Sensibility

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Non-YA

How It Happened by Michael Koryta

December 31, 2018      Leave a Comment

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

 10 hrs. 39 min. | Hachette Audio | Release Date: 5/15/18

I love a good mystery thriller and I picked this one up because I saw Christine Lakin was the narrator. Lakin only performs the first chapter of this book and her performance of Kimmy Crepeaux, a guilt-ridden down on her luck, small town twenty-something opioid addict confessing her role in a double murder, was a stand out and chilling performance. Robert Petkoff takes the lead for the rest of the book and captures the anguish and heartbreak that follows the gruesome confession. They both commit to the distinct New England accent without overdoing it.

In most crime stories getting the confession is the end of the story, but for FBI agent Rob Barrett it’s just the beginning as he scours the small town of Port Hope, Maine to prove nothing about this crime is what it seems. Koryta makes excellent use of the setting and current events about class, false confessions, and opioid addiction to weave a mystery that forces Barrett to come to terms with what the truth really means.

I’ve never heard of Michael Koryta and based on what I’ve read online and seen in bookstores, at just 36 years old, he seems to be part of the new generation of authors behind the so-called “Dad Books” a la Dean Koontz, Lee Childs, and David Baldacci.

I also see on his website that Kroyta is an award-winning journalist, which is probably why Barrett’s journalist love interest was portrayed realistically, HOWEVER this means the book fails the Audie Cornishtest where the female journalist sleeps with a source.

Next time I need a page-turning read I know exactly where I’ll turn.

 

10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse by JJ Smith (Kat’s Experience)

March 7, 2017      Leave a Comment


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Audiobook Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

July 8, 2016      Leave a Comment

You’d think after reading seven In Death books about the surly and biting New York City detective Eve Dallas that reading about Hannah Swenson, a sleuthy cookie shop owner in a small Midwest town, would be a cake–er–cookie walk

And it is.

 But the more I thought about it the more I realized that Hannah Swenson is pretty scary. Cause when the local milkman is found shot in an alley Hannah (because her brother-in-law is investigating)  gets swept up in the case as she finds clues, makes  connections and solves the murder !

…

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Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

June 8, 2016      Leave a Comment

I don’t usually read buzzy commercially successful  authors–but when I do I read them at least 2-5 years after the buzz has died down and nobody cares. I’m looking at you Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Fifty Shades of Grey and Girl on The Train. I’ll get to you. . . eventually.

Instead of picking up  Gone Girl (Which I have NOT read. No spoilers) I picked up Sharp Objects cause it was on a nifty library display.

…

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The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

December 15, 2015      Leave a Comment

Since I’ve started blogging and paying attention to the adult lit world I have heard a lot about Margaret Atwood. She’s mostly known for her feminist writing and disturbing dystopic features. And while this book feature some of this, it’ just so ….bizarre. I really had to do some research to see what others were saying to make sure I understood it. The book editor of the Washington Post called it a “silly mess”… and it kind of was this for me. I have no idea how to really review this, since I don’t have much to compare it to, but here goes.

 

In an economic collapse in the Northeast, married couple Stan and Charmaine have lost everything. They live in their car, fearful of looters and the next day to come. When they have the opportunity to be apart of an economic experiment that requires them to move into the town of Consilience , an idyllic 50’s style town where everyone is given housing and work.. The only catch is they have to alternate a month being prisoners inside Positron prison and a month being a citizen in Consilience, leaving their home for their Alternates.


As you may suspect all is not what it seems and Stan and Charmiane get involved in a bizarre plot that include sex robots, a house of Elvis impersonators  and adultery. So much adultery. The thriller-esque plot they get involved in just didn’t make sense. I’m not sure if this novel is satire or something. I feel like if I didn’t know who wrote this I’d be like, this is kind of misogynstic but because it’s Atwood it’s maybe satire. It just seemed like all these strong capable women had this plan and then they leave it to a bumbling man as their linchpin.

 …

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Mini Reviews : Life Hacks

November 30, 2015      Leave a Comment

These mini reviews feature my informal thoughts on two non-fiction books I’ve been reading and pulling tips and advice from all year long.

Skinny Taste by Gina Homolka

In 2015  I wanted to start eating healthier, so I picked up Gina Homolka’s Skinny Taste after seeing the beautiful cover in Target. Plus this Target edition had extra recipes.

I loved the recipes in this book so much that I actually gave it to my brother, BC, as a birthday gift. It features colorful and flavorful recipes that are so good you won’t believe they are healthy. Even in my tiny kitchen they bring out my inner Top Chef.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup !

One of the first recipes I made was the chicken pot pe soup. I also highly suggest her beef and broccoli plus I’ve made her chicken marsala on multiple occasions.

If you’re not sure if Gina’s recipes are for you check out her blog SkinnyTaste.com it’s how I first discovered her !  I co-sign on her Skinny Chicken Enchiladas!

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Mari Kondo

This is  the little book that was everywhere this year. This book outlines the KonMari method for tidying. I grabbed it on audio performed by Emily Woo Zeller. It’s a shortie at around four hours and  I listened to this audiobook while doing the KonMari method. I really embraced her philosophy on discarding and organization.

As a book blogger I couldn’t quite commit to her ideas behind book organization. Just no. I can’t say I’ve kept up with tidying but I do find myself folding stuff into rectangles and throwing out things that don’t have that spark.

Kondo seems to realize her ideas and thoughts on organization may be a bit radical and I couldn’t help but to side-eye some of the lengths she goes to in the name of order.

One of my criticism of this book is that Kondo’s book doesn’t fully take into account individuals who might have non-familial roommates or who share a house. Her book is very focused on homeowners or those who live with parents. I enjoyed the audio but if you’re not sure if it’s for you this is a book I’d grab it from the library.

 

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