Book Review, Comedy, Non-Fiction

Stiff by M.R.

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4.3 stars. Have you ever wondered what happens when you die? Aside from decaying and being trapped in coffin/crypt for the rest of eternity? Join Mary Roach in a euphemistically exciting journey to learn what happens during organ transplants, dissections in anatomy labs, and criminal investigations on human decomposition behind some Tennessee University. Roach pulls back the curtain of mystery about death and lays out exactly what happens when you donate your body or if you don’t, but in a way that won’t completely give you the heebie-jeebies…or will. Most of the stuff is/may be outdated since it was written in 2003. But I was enthralled the whole time. It was nice to read about Roach’s fascinations with death like it was something normal and not at all something you want to get out of the room as soon as possible during while your daughter is trying to explain to you the premise of the book she’s reading. (Looking at you mom.) Side note: I really need to stop talking to my mom about true-crime–not that this book is true crime related, though you do learn about the history of burking. This book was pleasantly informative; not something, I assume, you would expect from a book about cadavers.

Book Review, Horror/Thriller/Suspense, Mystery

The Pale Horse by A.C.

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5 stars. This was the last of my “Large Print Haul” from my most recent library trip (RIP, and until after the quarantine. I miss you). Ahem. Anyway. It turns out that every (3) book I wanted to check out that day was out on loan already and I would have to resort to the large print section if I sincerely wanted to take the things home. Well, after reading 3 books in a row with large type everything seems minuscule in comparison! My phone font is on the largest it could be and I thought something had malfunctioned and checked to see if it had been altered in some way. It hadn’t. And then reading Kindred (the next book after the Large Print Scandal of 2020), I absolutely felt the need for a magnifying glass. So this isn’t a critique of the book, just a fun fact that happened to me in recent weeks. On to the review!

The Pale Horse was exceptional. I, obviously, tried to figure out who the culprit was from page one. And though I did guess some obscure character that had the least reason to be suspected I was still completely and utterly wrong.
Most out of character, I decided to read this book, not out of my interest in Christie’s canon of work. I added this to my TBR a year or so ago because I had heard that upon reading this book a nurse was able to save someone (probably a child, since we’re going off of rumor anyway) from certain death based on the accurate descriptions of symptoms caused by a certain kind of poison. Whether or not this is true, I was so involved in the unfolding of the story I had completely forgot about poison one way or the other since I had just read Crooked House which involved a great deal of poison reference and thought that maybe I had confused the two. And then at the end, tah-dah! with a reveal à la Christie I knew it had been The Pale Horse after all.
My fascination with Christie is really mind boggling, but I can’t get enough. Mark and Ginger really make a great team and I only wish we could have seen more of Ginger, really. All of it really makes me want to see if the Amazon series is as wonderful and captivating, but my guess is that it isn’t. And I’m afraid to try after my disappointment with the 2017 Crooked House.

Book Review, Horror/Thriller/Suspense, Mystery

Crooked House by A.C.

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5 stars! The twists, the turns! I guessed who the culprit was early on but the queen of mystery still made me doubt myself several times (tho not as many as when I read And Then There Were None). And I think that merits at least 4 of those stars. I think the other one came from 2 days after finishing this book and attempting to explain it to my mom during which we ended up impulse watching the 2017 Glenn Close version on Amazon Prime (can I get paid for the mention???) and it was so utterly horrible compared to the book that I may have impulse rated an extra star. *shrug*
Anyway, maybe that’s just my ruthlessness.
I can’t imagine a messier way to do police work than the way it was executed in this book, but where would the romance and excitement be otherwise, eh?
And what an ending!! Wow! I think after seeing it happen in real time with dearest Glenn, I was happy the book hadn’t ended in a giant fireball of drama but was subtle and sad even if somewhat satisfying. Much like the ending of Murder on the Orient Express.
And now I’m quite certain that after this my mom will never ask me for a book recommendation ever again. Turns out mysteries aren’t her thing.

Book Review, Fiction, Horror/Thriller/Suspense

My Sister the Serial Killer by O.B.

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4 stars. What did I just read?! This was so unexpected in so many ways. I really liked it though, it was refreshing. The conclusion threw me for a loop! I don’t know if I would’ve done the same thing, but Korede was a very relatable character. I mean what would any of us do for a helpless younger sister? I have three little sisters and I’m not sure I’d be dedicated to them like Korede is to Ayoola in a similar situation, but I can still see why she does it. I think I’m a little too true crime obsessed to help out. I would definitely call the police!

Book Review, Children's Fiction, Series, YA Fantasy

Series: Tristan Strong by K.M.

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Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

4 stars. A great freshman novel! I absolutely loved the rhythm and pacing, it was intentional, pleasant, and engaging. It held countless morals and it was refreshing to see a message of hard work and perseverance along side an in depth review of how to cope with heartache and trials that seem too hard to overcome. So intense for a children’s book, but just the right amount. Despite a cast of relatively weak characters, it was insightful and beautifully written. And though I would have appreciated more insight into characters I haven’t heard of since childhood, I hope to see much more of that in the following books. I can’t wait to read more!