Bobbi
I am convinced I had already read this book and Goodreads was right-it's been 4 years. It's always nice to spend time with Inspector Pekkala.
Pekkala and Kirov, his assistant, are hot on the trail of a found painting , The Shepard, and who might have initially stolen it. There's a chemist specializing in nerve agents and his brother who's part of cult known as the Skoptsy. Throw in Rasputin, the Romanovs, and Stalin and you have a thrilling ride through history.
I usually don't like alternating time lines but this one works really well. You have to know how the painting ended up out of the hands of the Tsar and into a crypt in Germany. And I liked the back and forth aspect-learn a little past and then learn how Pekkala is going to move forward with his investigation.
Overall, I love this series and found that even though this was probably a reread, I really enjoyed the journey.
Bryan Stevenson's battle for those on death row and those with life-long sentences are eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Several of the cases highlighted really showcase the need for judicial reform in the US. Tough read that challenges you to see the judicial system as is and not as how it works on TV.
Definitely recommended reading for everyone, not just those interested in racial equality or criminal justice.
I have never read anything by Steinbeck before-shame I know. This collection has given me a great introduction to his work. I can't wait to delve into more of Steinbeck's work.
I really enjoyed “The Flight” and “The Red Pony” from this collection. “The Flight” reminded me of why I love Westerns-the sense of place and the fight for survival.
I usually read with an intent to give away the book once I'm done. I'm hanging on to this one for a rare reread.
Nothing quite like love that burns crazy.
True crime novel based around arsonist and specifically how little we know about arsonists. Also wrapped up in this story is the dying and decaying small America life.
While good, it wasn't excellent and I had picked it up because it was on one of the best true crime lists that are floating around on the web.
Overall, it's solid and good, just not standout, recommend type of true crime.
Erotica is hard to review-what works for one may not work with someone else. On one hand I found this book to be well-written and a quick read. I may (but probably not) read something non-kinky by this author.
However, I had huge issues with the idea of the book. Jessie is not submissive and yet her happy ever after was a dom. There was bad BDSM etiquette-even though there were three in a scene if one of them wanted out they should have safeworded, not run out of the room. Silas' lack of communication skills is a huge red flag-a guy that can't/won't communicate is a huge red flag.
Overall not my cup of tea and not something I would recommend.
I have no idea why or how I ended up putting this one on hold. One of those random librarian moments I guess. Considering it was small, I hung on to it thinking I would get to it eventually. When Bout of Books came up, I knew it was a perfect time.
I haven't read much fairy tales but even I could see this was full of fairy tale tropes. The prince in disguise, the impossible task, the evil uncle...all these plus more made this like a giant “find the trope” read. A quick read by an author I haven't read and a book that I want to give to my nephew to enjoy in a few years.
This book is equal parts of jaw-dropping and heartbreaking.
I was born in the late 70s, was a child of the 80s, and a teen of the 90s. I read “Helter Skelter,” “In Cold Blood,” and “Stranger Beside Me” in high school. My childhood and teen years were marked by true crime books, Waco, OJ, Murrah building bombing, Andrew Cunanan, and numerous child abductions and abuse. In many ways, I was aware of the dark side of humanity by the time I became an adult and as a woman, I've learned how to keep myself as safe as possible.
So this book really nailed home that idea of how innocent and naive were people in the 60s. How drop-ins, mass concerts, and communes weren't bad things full of potential predators but rather a way of rejecting the establishment.
So many times in reading this I wanted to yell at her parents. I wanted to demand why they didn't protect their daughter, why they didn't see the potential darkness in their irresponsibility. But that's looking at historical events with current eyes. They didn't see anything wrong because they were not as aware of the evil lurking in the shadows as we are today.
The recollection of Dianne and her time in the sixties-in communes and with Charlie Manson was equal parts triggering, painful, and hurtful. This book really nailed down for me what happens when naivete and evil intersect.
If you've read “Helter Skelter,” if you're interested in cults or the 60's this is a must-read book.
Overall, a basic understanding of math, geometry, and physics would be helpful. It's billed as a layman's book but I found my eyes glaze at all the technical aspects of buildings. Not what I expected.
I'm a Supernatural fan...and SPN canon bleeds into other things.
Like books where teenager takes home a bone by accident and then keeps it.
The rest of the book I was like, duh-ghosts are not our friends!
But then I kicked my SPN brain to the curb and focus on the story. The angst of teenage years I could connect with but add with that angst is the being an immigrant. Of how cruel kids can be, even without aiming to be sometimes.
This was a melancholy look at friendships and fitting in and yes, ghosts. It was a great Halloween read and something I would recommend.