March 21, 2011

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

E-Book, Library Book
Pub. Date: November 1999
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Fiction
3 stars

Synopsis
On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly’s lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence. Clive is Britain’s most successful modern composer; Vernon is editor of the quality broadsheet The Judge. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister. In the days that follow Molly’s funeral, Clive and Vernon will make a pact with consequences neither has foreseen. Each will make a disastrous moral decision, their friendship will be tested to its limits, and Julian Garmony will be fighting for his political life.

A contemporary morality tale that is as profound as it is witty, this short novel is perhaps the most purely enjoyable fiction Ian McEwan has ever written. And why Amsterdam? What happens there to Clive and Vernon is the most delicious shock in a novel brimming with surprises.

It is ridiculous how enamored I have become of borrowing e-books. Going online to pick out a book, then you get an e-mail, and going back online to download the book. Then it is in my e-reader for 21 days, that’s if I get it from the eNYPL. This book was on my list of books to read and so when I saw it on the eNYPL website I requested it.

Ian McEwan has a way of creating characters that makes them live in my head, whether I love them hate them or feel indifferent about them. He also throws out tidbits of thought and ideas that at the time seem insignificant but later on you have an ‘AHA’ moment. All the little threads are drawn together. When I realized what was going to happen in Amsterdam, it was a laugh out loud moment.

Listed as a morality tale the dilemma is presented, and the characters actions are shown good, bad or otherwise with no judging, just a here it is, make your own judgments. This is the third Ian McEwan book I have read, so you can guess I am a fan of his work and would recommend this book.

Posted by on March 21, 2011 in 2011, Novel and tagged , , , , , , .

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March 14, 2011

By Their Father’s Hand ~ Monte Francis

E-book, Kindle
Pub. Date: May 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Non-fiction

The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre

Marcus Wesson had complete control over his household, he controlled how his daughters dressed, what they ate, where they worked and who they talked to. When he started to lose that control, when two of his daughters realized what he was doing to them was wrong and tried to leave, taking their children with them he took drastic action.

He was the father of the nine children killed that day, the mothers were his wife, his daughters and his nieces. Although it is possible he didn’t pull the trigger, prosecutors believed that he was ultimately responsible for the deaths.

This book takes us through the events of the day, the history of the family and the trial. It is horrifying and detailed, you can tell that there was extensive research done. Something that I also appreciate is Mr. Francis tells us how he arrived at conversations reported in the book. Whether through interviews he conducted or testimony from the trail about what was said. The book in detailed about what happened, but not sensationalized, it reads more like a newspaper account then a novel. The author did not inject himself into the account by including what he felt or thought, he does report interviews he did with family members and his attempts to keep in touch, to let them know that somebody cared about what happened.

I gave this book 3 stars and recommend it to True Crime fans.

Posted by on March 14, 2011 in 2011, Non-Fiction, True Crime, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , .

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March 10, 2011

Ten Days in a Mad-House – Under Cover by Nellie Bly

E-book, Kindle
1887
Non-fiction

Ten Days in a Mad-House is a book written by newspaper reporter Nellie Bly in 1887. The book comprised Bly’s reportage for the New York World while on an undercover assignment in which she feigned insanity to investigate reports of brutality and neglect at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island. The book’s graphic depiction of conditions at the asylum caused a sensation, brought Bly lasting fame and prompted a grand jury to launch its own investigation, with Bly assisting. The jury’s report resulted in an $850,000 increase in the budget of the Department of Public Charities and Corrections.

This book was very easy to read. Nellie Bly has a very conversational way of writing, she also does not get bogged down in needless detail. In this book she tells how she got the assignment and how she prepared for it. After she is committed, which was a rather quick and easy process, she details how her first day went. She then states that all her days were like that and proceeds onto the treatment, mis-treatment, abuse, conditions at the asylum. Her belief that there were women there that were not insane substantiated by her reports of their actions and conversations.

After the section on the asylum, there is another short article on the working conditions of women, she refers to it as ‘white slavery’. Also very well written. I recommend this book.

Posted by on March 10, 2011 in 2011, History, Non-Fiction and tagged , , , , , , .

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March 1, 2011

New books I have bought

The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science by Douglas Starr ~ E-Book, Kobo Books

Posted by on March 1, 2011 in Acquisitions, Historical True Crime, Non-Fiction and tagged , , , , , .

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March 1, 2011

Plain White T’s with Miggs, Parachute ~ Highline BallRoom

Highline BallRoom
Located at 431 W 16th St
New York, NY 10011
between 9th and 10th Ave
(212) 414-5994
Click here

2011 WONDERS OF THE YOUNGER TOUR Plain White T’s with Miggs, Parachute

2011/02/22 Highline BallRoom
When I went online, I couldn’t find out any information about the history of the Highline BallRoom. I can tell you it is located in the Meatpacking District across from the Chelsea Market and next to Western Beef. It is similar to the Roseland BallRoom where we saw Lifehouse. Except here the balcony was open and they have a restaurant and fully stocked bar. See? Makers Mark. There was a $10 dollar cover per person to sit in the balcony or to the side of the ‘dance floor’, but if you don’t want to stand all evening it is worth it. The food was good, not great, we got mainly appetizers, spring rolls, fried cheese, mini meatballs, the boys got fish and chips. Kasey and the boys got this white chocolate mousse dessert with blueberries and raspberry.

The two opening bands, Miggs and Parachute were new to me, but believe me when I tell you some of their music will be appearing soon on my iPod Touch. The stage backdrop was like the tent on the album cover and Tom had broad stripes on his guitar to match. The Plain White T’s played some new and some old, including two of my favorites, “Radios in Heaven” and “Hey There Delilah”. Early in the concert he mentioned that the band had just played in Boston and he thought they were louder then us. Then he said, “What, there isn’t a New York Boston rivalry is there?” He then said he was going to be paying attention the rest of the night. The last song he played was “Hey There Delilah”, during the song he stopped and said, “Boston who?”

He really knows how to play to the crowd. All in all, an enjoyable evening.

Posted by on March 1, 2011 in Manhattan and tagged , , , , , , , .

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February 25, 2011

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Library Book, E-Book
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

(Pretty Little Liars Series #1)

Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors spencer, aria, emily, and hanna.

Spencer covets her sister’s boyfriend. Aria’s fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily’s crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.

But they’ve all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they’ve kept. And guess what? I’m telling.

Alison, Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna were the IT girls at Rosewood Day School. They all had secrets, Alison seemed to know all their secrets while they didn’t know hers or each others. Then Alison disappeared and the rest of the girls drifted apart. Three years later they all start to receive messages, text and e-mails from “A”. Is it Alison, back to torment them? And if so, how does she know about their current secrets? Aria having an affair with her new AP English teacher, Emily likes kissing girls better then boys, Spencer steals her sister’s boyfriend and Hanna is battling bulimia (she is obsessed with being perfect). But if it’s not Alison, who is it?

This is classic Y.A. fiction revolving around privileged teen-age girls. Petty rivalries and jealousies, pressure to excel (from parents), to fit in (from peers). Plus the added angst of having a secret that could destroy their lives and someone who knows the secret and threatens to tell. The four girls have no idea who knows and who they can trust, they don’t even trust each other.

This is a typical Y.A. book, easy to read and follow, the plot was predictable at times but the storyline is good enough to carry you through to the end. I can’t wait for book #2.

Posted by on February 25, 2011 in 2011, YA Fiction and tagged , , , , , .

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February 20, 2011

Now Listening To… (via This Space For Rent Call 1-800-Bite Me)

I love this blog, I love the way she takes a song, or writes a poem and it just works. So easy, she says it’s not, that it’s hard, I wonder if she just says that to make me feel better. No I don’t think she says anything to make people feel better. I think she always speaks her mind.

How Much More by The Go-Go's Every night I see you walk Walking by, walking by You hold your head so close to hers I could cry, yeah, I could cry I want to be that girl tonite Girl tonite, girl tonite How much more can I take Before I go crazy, oh yeah How much more heartache Before I go crazy, oh yeah Love's in your eyes Making me cry Why isn't it me? She's looking good Just like I would If it could be me It's so funny, I used to think I could r … Read More

via This Space For Rent Call 1-800-Bite Me

Posted by on February 20, 2011 in Uncategorized.

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February 17, 2011

Room by Emma Donoghue

Library Book
Pub. Date: September 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

This is the story of Jack and his ma. For all of his life he has known only Room. It is his world, what is in the room is real, everything else is just ‘on TV’ and outside the room is outer space. At night he is shut up in Wardrobe in case Old Nick visits. Room is his home, but to Ma it is a prison. She’s been a prisoner there for 7 years and although she has made a life for Jack and protected him, she knows they must escape in order to survive.

This is not just a story about abduction and imprisonment. It is about family relationships, personal strength, survival and adjustment. Written as if Jack were telling the tale, how he went from where he knew everything to where everything was new. There were surprises every day and it is interesting seeing them as a five year old would.

At first I was very enthused and read through about the first half rather quickly, and then it seemed to get bogged down. The middle part seemed rather contrived and predictable. Despite this the book does not drag on I was wondering how it was going to end, seeing as how Jack and Ma were in a new home, the ending was very nicely done.

I gave this book 3 stars because although I didn’t love it, it was a rather enjoyable read, just not a great read.

Posted by on February 17, 2011 in 2011, Novel and tagged , , , .

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February 16, 2011

Perfect Poison by M. William Phelps

E-Book
Pub. Date: June 2003
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Kristen Gilbert was known as a hardworking, dedicated nurse, however, there were so many emergencies and sudden deaths during her shift on Ward C that colleagues jokingly called her the “Angel of Death”. They had no idea how close they were to the truth. Gilbert was a scheming, manipulative liar and homicidal, narcissistic sociopath, a serial killer.

Her victims were her patients, people who trusted her to care for them, her weapon was a syringe filled with lifesaving medicine that used incorrectly can cause fatal heart attacks. Investigators believe she may be responsible for as many as 40 deaths before three of her fellow nurses came forward, unable to ignore the number of deaths on Gilbert’s watch. In March 2001, she was found guilty of four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

When I hear someone recommend a true crime (TC) book because “it reads like a novel” my standard response is, “If I wanted to read something that “reads like a novel, I’ll read a novel”. I believe this is the first TC book by M. William Phelps that I have read but it will not be my last. He may have just moved into my “favorite TC author slot”. Shh don’t tell Kathryn.

This book has an incredible amount of detail and while not reading like a novel it is not a dry recitation of facts. But there are a lot of things happening, he details the deaths and her actions while working, then her behavior during the investigation, harassing witnesses, stalking and even phoning in a bomb threat to the hospital. Mr. Phelps has brought out the facts you need to know to understand what happened, there is not a lot of skipping about and he gives you the details of the trail, along with the testimony without the dry court transcript feel. I definitely recommend this book to true crime fans.

Posted by on February 16, 2011 in 2011, Non-Fiction, True Crime and tagged , , , , .

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February 16, 2011

New books I have bought

Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris
Kill For Me by M. William Phelps
Ten Days in a Mad-House~Under Cover by Nellie Bly
Death Trap by M. William Phelps
Because You Loved Me by M. William Phelps
Every Move You Make by M. William Phelps

Posted by on February 16, 2011 in Acquisitions, Non-Fiction, Novel, Suspense, True Crime and tagged .

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