Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Judy Melinek and T. J. Mitchell

 "Don’t jaywalk. Wear your seat belt when you drive. Better yet, stay out of the car, and get some exercise. Watch your weight. If you’re a smoker stop right now. If you aren’t, don’t start. Guns put holes in people. Drugs are bad. You know that yellow line on the subway platform? It's there for a reason. Staying alive, as it turns out, is mostly common sense. Working Stiff - Judy Melinek

 Working Stiff is well written and full of interesting statistics. You will learn about how and why death certificates are filled out. How deaths are filled: accident, homicide, suicide, medical misadventure, etc. You will squirm at times over the gruesome details of death or be morbidly curious like me!

The majority of this memoir deals with "typical" deaths in NYC. The last 25% of , Working Stiff, details Milinek, works on victims of 9/11. This was one of the most difficult parts to read, it easily brings you back to that tragic day over and over again especially when you learn about the victims and what they endured.

I only had one issue with this book and it was her view of suicide. She thinks it's selfish and I won't go on a disquisition about  my thoughts on it but I will say this --- Suicide is a desperate act by someone who wants the pain to stop. It is not selfish or cowardly. Suicide is tragic and everyone becomes a victim, including the deceased. 

Grade: A-


If you are feeling suicidal click SUICIDE PREVENTION for help or call  1-800-273-TALK (8255).

After Auschwitz: A Story of Heartbreak and Survival by the Stepsister of Anne Frank by Eva Schloss

     None of us could imagine what was to come".
  - Eva Schloss, After Auschwitz: A Story of Heartbreak and Survival

A profoundly moving and emotional read.

Eva Schloss chronicles her life, before, during and after, Auschwitz.

Before the, Nazi's captured and arrested, Eva and her family on her 15th birthday, she lived in, Amsterdam. She was a casual acquaintance of, Anne Frank. They lived in the same development and knew of one another but tragically their lives were about to change. One young girl would perish and the other would survive and eventually become the step-daughter of, Otto Frank. Anne Franks, father.

Both families would be sent to Auschwitz but only three members would survive. After liberation, Eva and her mother move to, London. Eva meets a young man and they get married. Eva's mother forms a friendship with, Frank Otto. They fall in love and together work on preserving and passing along, Anne Franks legacy.

Eva, eventually finds the courage to share her accounts of her life in, Auschwitz. This is her story, her life, one that should be shared and remembered so that this will never happen again.

Be prepared for an emotional journey. You will weep with sadness and cry with joy.

Saving Grace by Jane Green

Saving Grace is, Jane Green's newest novel. 

Ted and Grace Chapman have been married for over twenty years. They have their own system of making things work. Ted is a writer, well known in the literary circle, however his writing isn't what it use to be. Their long time assistant has given notice and things are about to change in the, Chapman home.

Beth, the new assistant enters the picture, at first she  appears to be the perfect assistant but looks can be deceiving. Beth has some tricks up her sleeves. Sweet, plain looking, Beth is changing her looks and metamorphosing into a beautiful butterfly.  Grace is forgetting simple things, which is wrecking havoc in her personal life and making her question her own sanity.

Beth has wiggled her want into every aspect of the, Chapman's life and it might prove to be their undoing.

A fast, entertaining read. I could have done without all the recipes but I'm sure someone else will appreciate them.

Grade: A-

Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes

"she wanted to be a victor and not the victim." 
  - Steena Holmes, Stillwater Rising 


A school shooting has left twelve children and two adults dead. The foundation of a small town has been shaken and Mayor Charlotte Stone is trying to put her town back together.

Jordan Stone, principal of the school is being touting a hero but he is reluctant to accept that title. Jen lost her son and is using anger and alcohol as a means to suppress her guilt. Julia the mother of the shooter is holed up in her home, shutting herself out from her community and friends. Select members of the community are doing everything they can to make, Julia's life miserable.

The entire community is at odds about what should and shouldn't be done with the school. Charlotte needs to put her community back together but she can't do it alone. Friendships and marriages are falling apart and a long ago buried secret, might just be the straw the broke the camels back.

School shootings are a tragic part of life, something we see more often then we should in the news. Stillwater Rising is about the aftermath of the shooting and how people handle grief differently. The story is told in multiple points of view. This can cause confusion until you get the characters names and stories straight in your head. The premise is great but I felt as though something was missing, as though I open up a book in the middle and started reading. It missed the mark and didn't pull me in.

I did a bit of research because the book felt really off and I learned that it is actually the second book in a series. I strongly suggest you read, "Before the Storm" first.  I think if I had, my interpretation would have been quite different.

Grade: C

Captive (The Blackcoat Rebellion #2) by Aimée Carter

“If you had something to tie you back to your old life, would you keep it or destroy it?” 
― Aimee Carter, Captive

Captive is the second installment in, The Black Coat Rebellion and it does NOT suffer from the dreaded second book syndrome. One might even say it surpasses, Prawn.  It is action packed and many new characters are introduced. Elsewhere is revealed and it's nothing like I imagined. Expect a darker more violent read.

Captive picks up, where Pawn left off.  August is dead, Daxton knows, Kitty's secret and Knox continues to secretly help with the rebellion. Kitty is still living as Lila Hart and as you may or may not remember, Lila Hart is the niece of the Prime Minster and is in hiding.  The world thinks Kitty is Lila and she has no choice but to continue her life as her. The other choice is death.

A series of events has landed, Kitty in, Elsewhere. Elsewhere is bleak and dangerous but it has hidden secrets. For nearly every person who has lost hope there is one who is ready to fight for freedom, even if it means their own death. Kitty makes enemies and allies in Elsewhere and together they must determine to fight of flight. 

It starts off a bit slow but once it picks up you won't want to put the book down! You must read, Pawn, this book does not stand on its own.

Grade: A

Read my review of Pawn here.

Rooms by Lauren Oliver

“It all boils down to the same thing: are you going to play the cards you got, or are you going to fold?” 
― Lauren Oliver,  Rooms


Rooms is Lauren Olivers first novel geared for adults and it doesn't disappoint. Reality and paranormal mix together to weave an entertaining and multi-layered story. It is told in seven different voices, three dead, four alive. Each character has their own obstacles to overcome. 

Richard Walkers is dead. His estranged family has come together in their old family home to plan a funeral and read the will. The family home is inhabited by 3 ghosts, each with their own unique and interesting issues, problems don't cease to exist just because your dead. The living breathing characters are, Connie, Minna and Trenton. 

Connie is the alcoholic ex-wife and the mother of Minna and Trenton. Minna is addicted to sex and pills. Trenton is a suicidal teen. Secrets are slowly unveiled and everyone has something to hide, some much more tragic then others. The life stories of the ghosts are the most interesting of all. 

The build up is slow and there is some level of predictability. This is not a ghost story in the sense of haunting but one about the  horror of humanity.

Grade: A-

Happy 2015!

Dear Readers,

            This year I am going to do things a teeny tiny bit differently. Most of you won't even notice a difference but a few of you might. The following is an example of what to expect:

1. I will be re-reading books, some that I have blogged about before, some that I haven't. It has been over 6 years since I've  re-read any novel. Life experiences and age can changed your perspective of things, so I'm going to make it my goal to re-read at least 20 books or more this year!

2. Not all the books, I am re-reading will be blogged about, so expect fewer posts (hopefully not too many).

3.  Don't fret, I will continue to read and review Advanced Readers Copies (ARC).

4.  I will be making a list at the end of each month of the books I was unable to finish reading. This happens more than you think, for a variety of reasons but it usually comes down to me not liking the book and not wanting to waste my time finishing it. I read about 20-50 pages of any book before I give up on it. I do give it a fighting chance however maybe one of you can push me into picking it back up and giving it another opportunity! I just might be missing out on some great books, simply because I have no patience to trudge through mud without expectations of relief.

5. I tend to just focus on books, after all it is a book blog but expect a bit more personal insight.

6. I will be leaving the comment section open. In the past, I closed it off due to spam, negativity and not having time to moderate it. I will be leaving it open for the time being, however this is subject to change at any time. I encourage you to engage in conversations about books with me and other bibliophiles.

7. In the past 7 years, I have averaged 129 books per year. There has been a steady decline in this and I anticipate that this year, I will not hit triple digits. Over a year and a half ago, I left my job at the library and now work at a  higher paced, much more demanding job. I work more hours then ever before and as a result of this I have less time to read. This year I will be adding some classes to the mix and suspect that my reading will decline further. Please be patient, there will be less posts but hopefully they will be better quality ones!

The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant

It's not often that one can wrap up the end of the reading year with an excellent book, much less the best book one has read all year.

Boston Girl is an unforgettable story of a Jewish women growing up in Boston during the early twentieth century. Addie Baum shares this coming of age story with her granddaughter taking her back in time to the year she was born, 1900.

Addie's family immigrated from, Russia seeking a different life, one free of poverty and violence but sometimes the things you think you left behind come with you. Addie's parents are strict, suspicious of the American culture and old school but Addie is spunky and her rebellious nature makes her life an interesting one.

It all started rather innocently. Addie joins a reading club for Jewish Girls and these young girls show Addie a different world, lifestyle and class of people. She is also introduced to a variety of things such as, vacations, hiking and tennis! This is where Addie discovers how to be her own person.

Boston Girl also details the lives of her other family members. Her soft spoken passive older sister, her wild for the times older sister and her strong willed parents. This is a multi- generational story that reveals secrets from the past. A variety of topic are covered ranging from WWI to sweatshops. Most importantly this is a story of life. Be prepared to be engaged and fall in love with, Addie.

I am neither a  Bostonian or Jewish but I felt like Addie Baum was my grandmother! Diamant knows how to create characters. This is the first book of hers I've read and I feel as thought I've been missing out on some great stories. I can hardly wait to see what she had in store for me with her other books

 Don't let the cover sway your judgment. I almost skipped this book purely based on not liking the cover.

Grade: A+++

Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie is the first novel published by Stephen King and it is a harrowing read. Most of use know the story of, Carrie, we've watched the movie(s) and been entertained by it but if you want to get down to the  true horror of it, you must read the book. I'm not going to give a synopsis of this novel because it's a huge in pop culture and it doesn't need one.

King pieces, Carrie's story together though a variety of outlets, such as the court case, articles, reports and first hand accounts. Carrie's story is so much more than a story of horror but one of tragedy and abuse.

You get so much more from the book than the
movie(s). You learn that, Carrie White didn't go "crazy", she feel victim to a power she couldn't control, a power she knew nothing about, a power hidden in her ancestral history.

I don't know how, King does it but he captures the fear that many young women experience. The fear of the first menses, the fear of being undressed in front of others and completely vulnerable. He gets what it is like to be disgusted and annoyed with another female and he hits all of it spot on with the opening of this book. The shower scene is iconic and captures adolescence at its worst.

 Carrie isn't, King's best written novel nor my favorite of his but it captures the essence of the great writer he would become. It shows his ability to get people, to write characters and to create a story that will keep you fully entertaining and wondering, how the hell does he come up with all these ideas. You get an appreciation for the writer he was and is. This is a book you should take the time to read. It a short, fast read that will change how your view the story of a teen girl named, Carrie White.

Grade:B+

Every Ugly Word by Aimee L. Salter

 Seventeen year old, Ashley is a victim of bullying. The bullying is relentless and painful and she really has no safe haven because her mom is guilty of making her life just as miserable as her peers.

Her only friend, Matt is her confident but when Matt starts to date one of her tourmenters, her life becomes more complicated and painful especially when her secrets are made public.

Her biggest secret isn't that she is in love with Matt but that she can look in the mirror and speak with her 23 year old self.  Future, Ashley isn't very forthcoming and as a result of this, Ashley may continue to make the same choices that have her future self in a bit of a pickle.

Ashley reveals her life story to her therapist in hopes for release but she needs to confront a variety of things in order to heal herself.

Salter has done an excellent job are portraying the pain that comes along with being a victim of bullying. The pain of not having a place in the world and feeling hopeless however I think it could be a more realistic, stronger read without the future self in the mirror. Expect a somewhat cliched ending.

Grade: B-

Project Paper Doll : The Rules by Stacey Kade

This book sat on my nightstand for 9 weeks! That's right, 9 weeks! I don't know what took me so long to actually read it. I just kept putting it off in favor of other books and I'm glad I finally got around to it because it turned out to be much better than I anticipated.

Ariane Tucker is a human/alien hybrid. She was created in secret, inside of a genetics lab. She escaped and in order to survive she must follow five simple rules set forth by her adoptive father.
The rules are:

            1. Never trust anyone.

            2. Remember they are always searching.

            3. Don't get involved.

            4. Keep your head down.

            5. Don't fall in love.

Ariane is hiding in plain sight, just miles away from where she was tested, tortured and created. For, years everything has been smooth sailing until she starts to break the rules. One broken rule after another leads to a cataclysmic events and not everyone will make it out alive.

Kade has written "Project Paper Doll" from the alternating points. The transitions are smooth and each character has their own voice. The book starts slow and builds up. There are some predictable elements but it doesn't necessarily take away from the story.  The last quarter of the book left me hooked and I look forward to reading the next installment, "The Hunt".

I have only one issue with this book and I can't quite put my finger on it. I feel as though I have read this book before (I haven't) or that I have read something very similar to it. Perhaps it is just an accumulation of novels, I've read. Did anyone else feel this way or is it just me?


Grade: B+