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The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation by Melissa Rivers

5/8/2015

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Genre: Biography/Humor
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Joan Rivers made everyone laugh, even when they didn't want to admit that she was funny. Her humor was a bit raunchy and didn't spare the feelings of others, but there was a genuineness about her that was captivating.  She was having fun!  She loved making people laugh, and she loved her daughter Melissa...not always in that order.  According to Melissa, Joan believed that making an audience laugh was the reason she was put on earth.
Maybe that is why she was spared the horror of a long and drawn out death.  Death is always unexpected and tragic, but this might have been the way she wanted to leave...quickly and having work done.  Melissa Rivers, who shared a part of Joan's career, decided to come to terms with this tragedy through writing this book.  It is obviously written with love and gives us snippets of information about Joan that we might not have known. For example, I never knew that she had a degree in English Literature from Barnard College, or that her first real job was at Bond Clothes in Manhattan. 

The book strings together little bits of information and lots of Joan's humorous wisdom.  Melissa shares stories about her mother's love of flying first class...especially the food and chocolates.  She talks about Joan's support of those she loved.  The book definitely gives us a look at Joan through the eyes of the person who knew her best.  I still have a few chapters to read, but I am saving it until tomorrow.  I read most of it in one sitting.

It is not an epic, not a deep read, and certainly not  an unforgettable piece of literature.  What it is, in my opinion, is a memoir from a daughter to a mother who she will always love and deeply miss.  I am glad Joan had that in her life and glad Melissa shared a bit with us.

- Beverly


Publisher - Crown Archetype 
Date of Publication - May 5, 2015
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The Fall: A Novel by John Lescroart

5/8/2015

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Genre: Legal Thriller
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John Lescroart has written quite a few books featuring those that work to keep San Francisco safe and the system honest, and I have loved them all.  I particularly enjoy watching all of his characters grow from novel to novel.  They age, they change jobs, and they are always there to support each other and the system. He features a different one (detective, prosecutor, defense attorney and police) in each book, but most of his characters end up making an appearance in them all.

Dismas Hardy, my favorite defense attorney, seems to be a favorite of Lescroart too.  We have watched him for years as he tries to get over the sudden death of his infant daughter, marry Frannie and raise Rebecca.  He has worked as a policeman, A D.A., and defense attorney while he dabbled in bartending and now has part ownership in The Shamrock - everyone's favorite bar and meeting place.  

This book features Rebecca, who has recently become an attorney and works in her dad's firm. Luckily for her (and us) Dismas is there to back her up in her first big case. Greg Treadway, a teacher and seemingly good guy, stops in for a drink at the Shamrock.  Rebecca is behind the bar helping her dad when a news report mentions the death of Anlya Grace Paulson , a young African American. She apparently fell to her death from an overpass, but witnesses say someone was with her.  Anlya was the sister of the young man that Greg has been mentoring, and he admits to Rebecca that he and Anlya shared a meal earlier in the day.
 
Rebecca suggests that he immediately tells the police of his connection with the dead woman and then represents him when he is arrested for the murder.  As in all Lescroart novels, all of the characters are multifaceted, and we never know who is innocent or guilty. There are a number of characters, including Greg, who had motive and opportunity to end Anlya's life.  This author always makes the hunt for the "bad guy" personal and exciting.
The long time Lescroart reader looks forward to Abe Glitsky being the cop who will do anything to find justice and help his best friend Dismis.  The reader will also find that PI Hunt is on the job, and D.A. Wes Farrell is working on his end.  Since we have pulled for Farrell in previous books that feature him as protagonist, the reader knows that he is fair and honest.  How fair can he be though in a town ready to explode over another black victim and white defendant. There have been no arrests in the last eight murders of African Americans, and the city is on edge.

I don't want to give away any "spoilers" in this review, but I will say that things are not what they seem.  Lescroart's ability to show  the weaknesses in his "good guys" lead the reader in many directions while trying to figure out who, if anyone, is guilty of pushing Tanya to her death.

Thanks John Lescroart, for a couple of days being immersed in the lives of these wonderful characters.  Although Rebecca is the weakest at this point, I look forward to watching her strengthen in the books to follow.

- Beverly


Publisher - Atria Books 
Date of Publication - May 5, 2015
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Thru My Looking Glass

5/1/2015

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Books were my pass to personal freedom. – Oprah Winfrey

Last week I mentioned the "National Enquire" in my blog, and it started me thinking.  Arthur and I had a little competition going on for many years.  Who could find the most outlandish headline in a tabloid while standing in the supermarket line. This went on until I found one that he said he could never beat. MAN KILLS SIAMESE TWIN BROTHER---COULDN'T LIVE WITH HIS BAD BREATH.  I guess I understand why people read these things for entertainment, I just don't understand why they believe them.  Politicians and performers are fair game, and their lives are often destroyed...or worse.  Princess Di lost her life while fleeing from French paparazzi. I decided to check one out  to see who they are attacking this week.

I find that Mel Gibson has a "twisted double life." Hmmm...I believe his regular life is pretty twisted.  I also see that 91 year old Doris Day is recalling her love affairs. Okay...I am hoping that I can recall Arthur at 91!   How sad that poor pregnant Jen Anniston and Justin Theroux  may be kaput.  Is it because according to one source Jen has $150 million and Justin's net worth is a mere $20 million. How about Sinatra's "twisted love" for Marilyn.  Did anyone NOT have a twisted love for Marilyn?

Of course politically, the Queen is fading fast, Obama is insane and poor Hillary's campaign is being rocked by a "bombshell" about the death of her secret lover.  All of these little snippets from two or three of the leading tabloids entertained me during today's milk and cheese run.

Politicians today have to have thick skin and a belief that the public is smart enough to know better.  Maybe that is why this is the first time we have a really viable woman candidate.  Most woman simply don't want to deal with the lies.

In fact, since the days of George Washington, the words madam and President were not heard together when referring to the leader of our country. Many other advanced countries around the world have been led by women, but Americans have not felt ready to take that step. Hopefully this voting cycle will prove different.  I would love to see an election where both nominees are female, but I will settle for one this time...baby steps.

One of this week's reviews is on the book Madam President by Nicolle Wallace. Interestingly enough, the female President in this novel invites a news team to follow her for a day, and what a day it is.  Five terrorist acts on American soil and many secrets that need to be hidden.  It is an interesting look at life in the White House by a former White House Communications Director.  I wonder if her memory served her well in the telling of this story.

Speaking of memory, David Baldacci's newest book, Memory Man is a tightly written thriller reminiscent of some of his earliest (and my favorite) works.  The protagonist is a former NFL player and a former policeman with a heartbreaking back story.  He now works as an off again, on again P.I. with the ability to remember everything that happens around him.

Definitely worth remembering to order, Memory Man will keep you reading well into the night.

Happy reading,

Beverly
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Memory Man by David Baldacci

5/1/2015

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Genre: Thriller
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In 1996 I was browsing through a book store and came upon a new author...David Baldacci.  The book was titled Absolute Power, and I started reading the first page.  Several chapters later I purchased the book, went home and started reading.  What an amazing book it was, as was the following few he wrote. Honestly speaking, Baldacci is one of the few authors whose stand alone books captivate me more than his series.  He has written several series after those first few books, and none have given me the pure joy of a great thriller the way those first few did.

I believe Memory Man is close.  Ex-football star Amos Decker is an interesting character with an even more interesting back story. An accident when he was 22, ended his promising NFL career, and the murder of his wife, daughter and brother-in-law twenty years later took away most of his interest in life. He loses his job (policeman), and his home and becomes an on again, off again private investigator. A year later a man turns himself in and confesses to the murder.  The end?  Nope, this is Baldacci, so this is the beginning.

We learn to really care about Decker who is burdened with a side effect of the accident over twenty years ago...he can never forget anything.  That can be a burden that no one man should have to carry.  At the same time, Decker is called in to help investigate a terrible happening in his home town.  He begins working with his former partner Mary Lancaster, and she is as much fun to get to know as Amos.  The book is typical Baldacci, with twists and turns and his easy style of capturing us on page one and never letting go.  I still have several chapters to go, and nothing will ever grab me quite like Absolute Power, but I can say that this is a good read.  Enjoy and then go read the first few books he wrote!

- Beverly


Publisher - Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication - April 21, 2015
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Madam President: A Novel by Nicolle Wallace

5/1/2015

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 Genre: Political Thriller 
Americans seem fascinated with politics and the running of our country.  We are also very interested in as much gossip as we can be privy to when it comes to the occupants of the White House. Who better than former White House Communications Director Nicolle Wallace to share some tidbits with us.  She does so remarkably well in her newest novel, Madam President.

In this book, Charlotte Kramer is the forty-fifth President of the United States.  She decides to do something that no President has done before her, and allows a news team to follow her and her top staff for a day. Of course this is a novel so this day will turn out to be like no other. Unbelievably, five major attacks  occur on US soil. A cruise ship, two airports and the National Mall, home to the Smithsonian Institute in D. C. are all besieged. Her Secretary of Defense  and Press Secretary support the President while reassuring the country, but somehow personal issues get in the way.

This story is well written and certainly keeps the reader involved.  There is a great deal of focus on personal issues surrounding the women, and it reads more like a woman's novel than a true political thriller.  It is certainly character driven, and I love an author who makes characters come to life for me.  I also enjoyed watching how things developed in the White House and found myself wondering how much of this is truly accurate.

As a political thriller junky, at times I found Madam President almost too personalized, but it was a fun read that Sandra Brown readers are sure to enjoy.

- Beverly


Publisher - Atria/ Emily Bestler Books
Date of Publication - April 28,2015
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