Carla
3.5 stars: This is an interesting collection of not-well-known cases, as always smoothly and respectfully narrated by Kevin Pierce (my most recommended true crime audiobook narrator), and is written by talented authors (two of which are friends of mine—disclaimer.) I only rate this down because this is really a bits-and-bites true crime collection: this is what happened, and that's it. No insight into why, no delving deep. There was a shockingly short case study about a mother who killed some of her children rather violently: it described the day it occurred, and then ended. I felt more like a voyeur reading this than the student of psychology I am.no really, BA psy and MEd counseling. I reread this review and saw that last part read as really flippant. Sorry about that. I intensely want to know all the whys all the time. It's a curse.
I have read this brilliant and chilling short story before, but having known him, I had to hear the author read it to me. And it was marvelous. And the multi-layered last line still packs a punch.
Creepy and delightful deep dive into both the world of Faerie and psychology. Eerie letters and journal entries reminiscent of House of Leaves. I am both enchanted and spooked.
Re-read: just as delightful the second time ‘round. Highly recommended as a refreshing antidote to perfect-mommy books and blogs, for Jackson admits to mistakes, fears, annoyances, anger, and the desire, to paraphrase my grandmother, to throw up her hands and run out the back door.
Grandma's full saying bears documentation in this context, for Jackson could have said it herself. When the family would have her at wits' end, Grandma would threaten to throw up her hands and run out the back door, and not stop until she reached Dix Hill.
Dix Hill was local slang for the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital.
I was pleasantly surprised by this library book, since I'm have uneven experiences with XRX's knitting books. While the patterns are enjoyable, the photography is often...odd.
Alexis Xenakis likes to use the same models repeatedly in the same book, so that nearly every pattern might be worn by That One Blonde Lady. He also tends to go for artsy, fashion shots, instead of simple, clean photos that show the knits. Some of his models, therefore, often looks angry or pouty, which works sometimes in high fashion, but not in a knitting book. Not for me, anyway.
The photography, with a few exceptions, was not what I'm come to expect from XRX, and rather just showed each design in one, clean, face forward shot. Much more enjoyable to browse for possible patterns. I definitely will be working some of these.
I love this book. Episode 52 of There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast will be an interview with the author, [a:Mike Bockoven 14907086 Mike Bockoven https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and we'll be sharing some cool stuff about this novel. Mike acknowledges there are some editing issues with this novel, and that's the only reason I removed a star. It caused an error at one point that is a little jarring, but I know it will get fixed, because I know the things. ;) Werewolves are my favorite horror creature, and this novel is a fun, scary, gory ride. Have a scratch.
This is a novella/short story about a selfish, obsessive woman who does not know herself. It also has several continuity errors (it's spring, frangipani blossoms everywhere, then it's Christmas break the next day; she's writing this from the future “I'm happily married now”, then she's writing it from her art school bed in real time.). Its only saving grace is the always-enchanting narrating by Mamie Gummer—the only reason I finished it.
Also, a frangipani is an American tree, and she's in Italy. That stuff really bugs me, especially when the tree is harped upon.
Strangely uneven, with a couple of small continuity errors. Also, there's the feminism thing I noted: Diana is always being hovered over or scooped up in someone's arms or watched over or protected or ordered about...
It's five stars in some places, for I love a historical mystery, set at a prestigious university for bonus points! But then it's three or even two stars in some places, for the above strange misogyny and the peculiar coy attitude towards sex.
Will I read the sequel? Yeah, probably. Eventually.
The case is so incredibly convoluted, and so many details were included (it's more than 600 pages long), that it almost wasn't enjoyable at all.
Loose ends, abrupt ending
Introductions of important places and rituals were dropped without explanation. I cannot honestly say I understand the use of the word “Killing” in the title.
This book feels like one author started it, and another finished it. The first half is a lovely, charming story about a genius mind in a child's body (with one glaringly out-of-place scene of unprofessional and unbelievable hostility. The second half is a scattershot collection of repartee explaining away the flaws of a young adult who uses his intelligence like a club.
This book messed with my head in the best way. I say in my profile that I love books that overturn my apple cart. Apples everywhere on my path. I am actually a little creeped out, to be honest.
1. There was no kidnapping. I won't spoil it for you, but that poor baby was not kidnapped.
2. Lindbergh was this strange figure who could just approach anyone and tell them he was now working for/with them...and it was so. We should never give anyone that much power again. No education or qualifications, and he would be working on scientific or government projects because he wanted to. Insane.
3. Charles Lindbergh was not a good person at all. He was a controlling narcissist and a Nazi sympathizer.
4. Everything you have heard about this case–how the board from Bruno Hauptmann's attic perfectly matched the missing rung of the ladder, for instance–is wrong.
Trust me, this book is the definitive work on the case, written from all available case documents, including some that were private until given to the author, and it took eight years to research and write.
Excellent character development, bizarre story (alien origin? That takes away from the charm of her being a Muslim kid from Jersey City.)
The phrase I coined for houses that just Aren't Right is “demented domiciles”. In Kevin Lucia's series about Clifton Heights, the demented domicile is the entire town. Is it the soil itself that is haunted? Perhaps. In this series of stories, October curses this small American town further by lessening the veil between the living and the dead and by welcoming pranks and costumes on Halloween. Anything can happen...and does. Demented Americana, indeed, whether the generic Woolworth's-style corner store might help...or hurt.
Minus one star for the misleading (and arguably offensive) title and subtitle. The only way “Ladies' Man” applies is if you are looking at the “Charmer” as an incel pickup artist. Which may be the point–I don't know. He's a scam artist, a profligate user of young women, and a rapist/murderer. So perhaps the title and subtitle are in supremely bad taste, or just ironic. I know that if the man in question had raped or used me, or murdered someone I love, I would not be pleased with such irony. This guy is a fast-talking charmer in the fact that he got his own ways for so long–but still. As the victim of sexual and domestic violence myself, it just sticks in my craw. I'm usually not so sensitive to such things, so when something like this really does bother me, I pay attention.
Looks down on cryptozoology in the introduction as “not real”—then what's the point of his book? Second DNF of his work.
Unable to read: missing pages
Pages and sections of pages, impossible to tell how many, are missing. In the first two chapters, the missing pages are marked by one blank page. I really would like to read this book, but this Kindle edition is not readable.
A little too jokey for my taste, but this was balanced out by some excellent ghost stories.
I want to watch.
This s p oily novel would make a cracking good horror movie. Amazing visuals, all not as it seems, complex characterizations...
“He took my special away.”
—one of his many, many victims
I know what that feels like, I was near her age, 19, when I was violently sexually assaulted by my ex-boyfriend. Sister, I am 49 now, and I have it back, I promise. ♥️
This book is a must-read. Period. Nicole's reporting is incredibly professional and in-depth, and her reading is top-notch.
Got it from the library—I am going to buy it. It creates gluten-free and lactose-free recipes without including difficult ingredients like xanthum or exotic flours that require trips to fancy grocery stores. Just simple, healthy substitutions.