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| 9781250843302
| 1250843308
| 4.31
| 1,388
| Oct 17, 2023
| Oct 17, 2023
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really liked it
| In this 14th book in the 'Chet and Bernie' series, the detective team investigates the disappearance of a reindeer. In the Chet and Bernie stories, Be In this 14th book in the 'Chet and Bernie' series, the detective team investigates the disappearance of a reindeer. In the Chet and Bernie stories, Bernie Little and his hundred-plus pound dog Chet run the Little Detective Agency in a region of Arizona called The Valley. [image] The books are narrated by Chet, whose somewhat limited vocabulary, unfamiliarity with idioms, doggie logic, craving for treats, tendency to get distracted, and affection for Bernie (whom Chet considers the smartest, strongest, toughest, best-looking fellow around), set the stage for plenty of smiles. [image] Bernie is a West Point graduate, military veteran, former police lieutenant, and talented private detective. Chet is Bernie's invaluable partner, always ready to clamp his jaw on perps and drag them off by the pants. ***** As the story opens, it's Christmas season, and Chet and Bernie accompany their elderly neighbor to a bookstore, where suspense novelist Dame Ariadne Carlisle is promoting her new Christmas mystery 'Bad or Good.' This is book #99 in Dame Ariadne's 'Trudi Tremaine' series and the writer is said to be working on book #100. [image] During Dame Ariadne's book signing, Chet rescues her gold pen from the jaws of his doggie pal Iggy, which is much appreciated by the author. Afterward, Bernie and Chet are hired to find Dame Ariadne's missing reindeer Rudy, who disappeared from her Colorado estate, called Kringle Ranch. Rudy is Dame Ariadne's muse, and his absence is causing writer's block, and stalling book #100. [image] The Little Detective Agency is always in financial straits due to two bad business ventures. Bernie - who's very fond of Hawaiian shirts - invested in Hawaiian pants, which now sit in a storage facility .....not one pair sold. Afterwards, Bernie bought into a tin mine, which immediately went belly up. [image] Finding Rudy the reindeer would net Bernie and Chet more than $50,000. So they take the case, and drive to Colorado in their latest used Porsche, called the Beast. [image] Shortly after Bernie and Chet arrive at Kringle Ranch, they make a startling discovery. The detectives find Dame Ariadne's personal assistant, Chaz LeWitte - badly injured and unconscious - at the bottom of a gorge called Devil's Purse. Chaz is taken to the hospital, where he's in a coma, and the prognosis isn't good. [image] Chaz's fall is called an accident, but it 'smells off' to Bernie, who determines that Chaz was pushed. Moreover, this occurrence seems to mirror a decades old tragedy in which Dame Ariadne's boyfriend (at the time), Teddy, was found dead at the bottom of Devil's Purse. The case was never solved and remains on the books. The Little Detective Agency's job now becomes a twofer: to find Rudy and to discover who targeted Teddy and Chaz. The local sheriff doesn't appreciate Bernie and Chet's interfering on his territory, and makes noises about Bernie not having a Colorado PI license, but the detective partners - backed by Dame Ariadne - carry on. [image] There's plenty of skullduggery and danger in the novel, and Bernie and Chet demonstrate previously unknown skills, like navigating a double black diamond ski run, which has vertical drops, narrow passages between rocks and trees, and winding paths with sharp turns. [image] Chet also demonstrates his support dog skills when he bonds with with a non-verbal, disabled child. This convinces the child's mother, a deputy sheriff, to help Bernie and Chet with their investigation. The book's climax is heart-stopping and dramatic, though the Porsche comes through okay (which doesn't always happen.) All the Bernie and Chet books contain a lot of humor, but this one is especially fun, with Chet at the top of his game. Here are some examples of Chet's humorous narration: ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jul 27, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0062435787
| 9780062435781
| 0062435787
| 3.95
| 3,577
| Oct 18, 2021
| Oct 26, 2021
|
really liked it
| [image] Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (b. 1965) is a Scottish actor who's dabbled in every show business genre during his long and successful career. Cummi [image] Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (b. 1965) is a Scottish actor who's dabbled in every show business genre during his long and successful career. Cumming has worked in movies, theatre, and television; narrated audiobooks; hosted reality competitions; launched a podcast; and more. Along the way Alan won a BAFTA Award, an Emmy Award, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. Cumming had to move past a horrible childhood to achieve success, and he describes his early life in the memoir, 'Not My Father's Son' (2015). [image] Alan Cumming hosting the reality game show 'The Traitors' Cumming begins this memoir by speculating about memory. He writes, "It makes sense that what we have experienced in the past, and how we have analyzed and grown from it enables, or at least helps us, to have better judgment. Right?" Apparently not always, because Cumming goes on to say, "I know I have, on several occasions throughout my life, repeated the exact same patterns of behavior that made me unhappy to the point of despair. [image] Alan Cumming Alan has had ups and downs over the years, and he notes, "In the chapters that follow I will share with you the shape my life has taken as I've learned to live with my baggage. This is a book about my career, my struggles with mental health, my many forays into love and sexuality and everything in between." Cumming starts his story in 1994, when he's twenty-nine, starring in several theatre productions in Scotland, and married to Scottish actress Hilary Lyon. [image] Alan Cumming and Hilary Lyon For some time, Cumming had been 'desperate, empty, anorexic, depressed, exhausted, and on the verge of a nervous breakdown', and he needed a change. Cumming was saved by a call from Hollywood, which offered new opportunities, such as being the voice of the horse in 'Black Beauty' (1994). [image] Movie poster for 'Black Beauty' (1994) Soon afterward, Cumming got divorced, came out as bisexual, and subsequently lived as an openly gay man....sometimes a rather louche one. [image] Young Alan Cumming During a career lull in 1997, Cumming describes his activities as follows: " I slept late, met friends for lunches and drinks and dinners, kissed strangers, stayed out late, fell in love, went on vacations, had massages and acupuncture, saw my family, got stoned....went to parties, tried things once, saw concerts and plays and films, read books, played games, took pills, kissed more strangers....lay in the bath for very long periods of time....took spontaneous trips, danced and danced and danced and had lots of sex." Alan was an amiable fellow, and many people he met, including former lovers, became lifelong friends. [image] Alan Cumming starred with Mira Sorvino (top) and Lisa Kudrow in the movie 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997) Cumming's biggest break was probably the role of the Emcee in the Broadway musical 'Cabaret' - about a dingy, lewd nightclub in Berlin during the Nazi era. Alan describes the show in detail, and notes, "I had to be poured into my costume and have the pale body makeup applied along with the requisite bruises, track marks, and red glitter to my nipples." [image] [image] Alan Cumming as the Emcee in the Broadway show 'Cabaret' Once Cumming's career went into high gear, he flitted between Scotland, Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin, Rome, Australia, Vancouver, and more. Cumming writes a good bit about his movies, television shows, and plays, and mentions many people he met or worked with, such as Judi Dench, Oliver Reed, Toni Colette, Stanley Kubrick, Monica Lewinsky, Kenneth Branagh, Liza Minelli, Joel Grey, Walter Cronkite, and a cornucopia of others. As a reality check, Cumming admits that promotional junkets, which appear exciting and glamorous from the outside, are profoundly dull experiences with interviews that "tend to be inherently superficial and banal in tone and worse, utterly repetitive." [image] Alan Cumming with the chimp Tonka in the movie 'Buddy' (1997) [image] Alan Cumming in the movie 'Josie and the Pussycats' (2001) [image] Alan Cumming and Robert Patrick in the movie 'Spy Kids' (2001) Scotsman Cumming is amusing about his impressions of Los Angeles, 'where everyone works in the same industry.' He observes, "It is more than just a cliché that every Uber driver in LA has written a screenplay....or that every bartender is a budding actor." Cumming relates an anecdote about a waiter learning Alan's lunch companion is a director, and the waiter responding, "You're a director? That's amazing! Our busboy is a director." [image] Cumming is honest about his use of ecstasy, saying "I used it to rebuff stress....Ecstasy was my self-prescribed anti-anxiety medication. And it worked." Alan also confesses to thoughtless sexual dalliances, some of which ended very badly. For instance, Alan met a beautiful man, whom he calls Adonis, in a Manhattan club, and it was love at first sight. Alan goes on describe the car crash of the next few months with Adonis as follows: "It was like I was the victim of a chemical weapons attack....I was powerless, completely intoxicated, and without any filter or ability to see how insane my behavior, and indeed this relationship, was....For example, after two weeks we had each other's names tattooed on our bodies. Just above the groin." After four months there was a hideous and messy breakup, followed by a broken heart and a painful tattoo removal. Cumming doesn't use the book to settle scores, but he does have telling stories about a couple of people. For example, after 9/11 Alan wanted to get out of New York, and he and his boyfriend visited Gore Vidal at the writer's villa in Italy. That evening, Gore was drunk, behaved like an insulting braggart, and had a big fight with his partner Howard. When Alan and his boyfriend crept downstairs the next morning, a hungover Gore asked, "Wasn't that a fantastic evening?" [image] Writer Gore Vidal Cumming has a more serious story about Bryan Singer, director of 'X2: X-Men United' (2003), in which Cumming plays Nightcrawler. [image] Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in 'X2: X-Men United' (2003) [image] Movie poster for 'X2: X-Men United' (2003) Bryan Singer was using painkillers during the filming, and he showed corresponding behavior like mood swings, tantrums, paranoia, and poor treatment of the actors. Alan observes, "I would have been in the makeup trailer for up to five hours being transformed into a blue, teleporting mutant, only to be told I would not be shooting that day after all. Bryan had changed his mind." [image] Director Bryan Singer In another incident during the X2 filming, Alan was in a harness hanging from wires in a corner of an Oval Office set, assuming that any minute they would go for a take. But Bryan wasn't on set, and wouldn't come out of his trailer. Bryan's ongoing bad behavior led to the cast - including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, and Famke Janssen - confronting Bryan and informing the studio. A huge hubbub among lawyers, agents, managers, producers, publicists, and the studio followed, but "ultimately the message that came down to cast and crew on the ground was just to keep our heads down and muddle through." Bryan went on to direct two more X-Men films. (Alan doesn't mention this, but Bryan Singer's career later foundered when he was accused of sexually assaulting minors.) [image] Cast of X2: X-Men United (2003) [image] Alan Cumming and Margo Martindale in the television series 'The Good Wife' Cumming intersperses tales about his adult life and career with flashbacks to his early years, such as his job as a 16-year-old journalist; his studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; and his initial forays into the entertainment business. [image] The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Alan has a good sense of humor, and his story is infused with fun anecdotes, like his desperate hope for pubic hair, and the eruption of his first pube....which promptly fell out. Alan also writes about his supportive and loving mother, and the time he and his brother went to Scotland to confront their abusive father (who apparently didn't have much to say). Neverthless, the face-off was a catharsis that helped Alan deal with the bad memories of his dad. Cumming eventually forged a fulfilling career that included high paying jobs as well as passion projects. Alan writes, "In short, I made my career fun! I became the eclectic version of myself that I now know and love." [image] Alan Cumming in 'Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical' (2005) [image] Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth at the Tony Awards (2015) Along the way, Alan also met a kind, funny, sexy American artist named Grant Shaffer, who's now his husband. [image] Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer [image] Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer got married in 2007 Unlike some celebrity memoirs, this isn't a primer on how to succeed in show business. Instead, it's the story of a talented man who overcame difficulties and succeeded.....and made a lot of friends along the way. I had both the written book and the audiobook, narrated by Alan Cumming in his charming Scottish accent. I enjoyed the story and recommend it to fans of celebrity memoirs. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
Notes are private!
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not set
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Jul 24, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1496745353
| 9781496745354
| 1496745353
| 4.20
| 128
| Jul 23, 2024
| Jul 23, 2024
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liked it
| I liked Ellen Byron's 'Cajun Country Mystery Series', set in Louisiana, so I decided to try this debut novel in the author's 'Golden Motel' series, se I liked Ellen Byron's 'Cajun Country Mystery Series', set in Louisiana, so I decided to try this debut novel in the author's 'Golden Motel' series, set in California. ***** Dee Stern was a Hollywood sitcom writer for fifteen years, but her latest job on the kids' show 'Duh!' - about tween superheroes in middle school - was the last straw. Dee admits, 'The job was hard, the pay was bad, the staff hated being there, and the writing was terrible, even my own.' [image] Taking a drive to get out of Los Angeles, Dee is meandering through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains when she sees an abandoned hostelry, called the Golden Motel, for sale. [image] [image] On the spot, Dee decides to become a hotelier..... [image] ......and she and her best friend (and former husband) Jeff Cornetta pool their money to buy the motel. [image] To get the venue going, Dee and Jeff must clean, decorate, and refurnish all the rooms and cabins; [image] fix the welcome sign, which currently only illuminates the letters 'OLD MOTEL'; and repair the pool. [image] Jeff, who's a freelance website designer, will also create a webpage to advertise the venue and describe things to do in the area. The local attractions include the nearby Majestic National Park and two quaint towns called Foundgold and Goldsgone. These odd names hark back to the gold rush days of the mid-1800s, when would-be miners flocked to the area. Foundgold, with a population of 68 and one general store/diner, doesn't attract many visitors. [image] However, Goldsgone - a historic recreation town that looks almost exactly like it did 150 years ago - is a popular tourist attraction. The Goldsgondians dress in period costumes; speak in Old West lingo; and maintain old timey facades for their stores and businesses. [image] Dee and Jeff hope to add additional activities, like a historic trail, and a sluice where families can pan for (fake) gold nuggets. [image] When Dee learns that the first guest of the Golden Motel will be Michael Adam Baker, she gets a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Baker is a sitcom writer Dee worked with on her first Hollywood gig, and he's the most devious, backstabbing person Dee ever worked with. [image] Baker claims he wants a quiet venue to pen his script for a new pilot, and Dee and Jeff are cautiously optimistic, thinking the hostelry might become a writer's retreat. It turns out Baker has an ulterior motive for staying at the Golden Motel, and when Dee learns about it, she angrily tells Baker to leave. [image] Soon afterward, Baker is found dead in the woods near the motel, and Dee and Jeff become the prime suspects for his murder. [image] [image] Two rival law enforcement officers investigate the homicide, which results in some fun hijinks. The two men are Deputy Sheriff Raul Aguilar, from Goldsgone.... [image] ......and Park Ranger Tom O'Bryant, from Majestic National Park. [image] In the meantime, Dee and Jeff, whose 'murder motel' is losing business, decide to find the killer themselves. The would-be sleuths learn that the victim, Michael Adam Baker, grew up in Goldsgone, where some people consider him a golden boy, and others think he got what he deserved. The hoteliers consider just about everyone Baker knew to be a suspect, including the victim's erstwhile agent; the agent's wife; the agent's assistant; a real estate broker; a restauranteur; a contractor; various sitcom writers; and more. [image] Dee and Jeff, being newly minted amateur detectives, fumble and bumble as they go around questioning people, who resent being considered suspects. Thus the sleuths are snubbed and threatened, and things escalate further when there's a drugging, a fire, a bear looking for food, and another death. Dee and Jeff keep on going, though, and carry on to success! Ellen Byron has a deft hand with cozy mysteries, and there's lots of jollity in this one, which has a lovely setting and an entertaining group of characters. One of my favorites is Dee's father, Sam Stern, a voice actor who usually converses in the voice of a cartoon character he's acted, like Tweety Sweety, or Super String Man, or Colonel Cluck. [image] I look forward to Dee and Jeff's further adventures, which will (hopefully) include smoother sleuthing techniques. Thanks to Netgalley, Ellen Byron, and Kensington Cozies for a copy of the manuscript. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jul 24, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0593331354
| 9780593331354
| B0C6HJV15J
| 4.36
| 17,067
| Feb 27, 2024
| Feb 27, 2024
|
really liked it
| In this 24th book in the 'Joe Pickett' series, the game warden has problems with a killer grizzly bear and an ex-convict. The book can be read as a st In this 24th book in the 'Joe Pickett' series, the game warden has problems with a killer grizzly bear and an ex-convict. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a bonus. ***** Joe Pickett is a Wyoming Game Warden who's encountered all kinds of trouble in his district, Twelve Sleep County, a sprawling region of forests, mountains, rivers, flora, and fauna. [image] Twelve Sleep County once had big problems with the Cates family, all of whom were violent sociopaths. Now, the entire Cates clan is deceased except for Dallas Cates, a former rodeo star who's been in the Wyoming State Penitentiary for the last five years. Not for much longer though, since Dallas is scheduled for release. [image] Right around the time of Dallas's re-entry into society, a deranged grizzly bear goes on a rampage in Twelve Sleep Country. The bear kills a man who's fishing, and a Predator Attack Team is assembled to take down the grizzly. [image] Conversely, animal rights activists, who call themselves the 'Mama Bears', campaign to save the bear, whom they call Tisiphone. [image] Skip to Dallas Cates, who's just been released from the penitentiary. Dallas sees a news story about the bear attack in his old stomping grounds, and he gets an idea. [image] Dallas has a 'kill list' of people he blames for ruining his life, including a prosecutor, a judge, his lawyer, a prison guard, Joe Pickett, and Joe's friend Nate Romanowski - a tough outdoorsman who helped capture Dallas. [image] Dallas, who's psychotic but clever, plans to use the grizzly bear attack as a cover for his revenge plan. Dallas breaks into a small rural museum and saws off the head and paws of a huge stuffed bear, then burns down the building. [image] Dallas then assembles a group of ex-convicts, including his former cell-mate, who's good with mechanical devices. The criminals assemble a gizmo that can simulate a bear attack, and Dallas sets out to murder the people he hates. Joe Pickett and the Predator Attack Team are puzzled by the bear attacks all over northern Wyoming, some of which are hundreds of miles apart. They can't figure out how Tisiphone is ranging so far and wide. In the meantime, Dallas Cates is getting closer and closer to the homes of Joe and Nate, whom he considers his #1 enemies. [image] As all this happening, we catch up with the characters' personal lives. Joe Pickett and his wife Marybeth are thrilled for Nate Romanowski, who's now married with a baby daughter. [image] This once would have been unimaginable for the 'mountain man', but Nate seems to be settling into family life and his falconry business. (FYI: Falcons are used to scare off birds that are damaging property, etc.) [image] As it happens, Joe and Marybeth's oldest daughter Sheridan, who learned falconry from Nate, now works for him as a Master Falconer. Sheridan goes on a job in Colorado, which has unusual repercussions. [image] Meanwhile, elections are coming up in Twelve Sleep Country and several candidates are running for sheriff. Politics in the region has often been rife with corruption, which has affected Joe's job, and Joe hopes that era is over.....but is it? [image] [image] There are twists and surprises as the book reaches it's climax, which is edge-of-the-seat exciting. C.J. Box always devises clever plots for the Joe Pickett books, and this novel is no exception. Highly recommended to fans of thrillers. You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jul 22, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1408718502
| 9781408718506
| 1408718502
| 3.95
| 2,835
| Sep 19, 2023
| Oct 12, 2023
|
liked it
| In this 34th book in the 'Agatha Raisin' series, the private detective investigates a murder at the local fete. The book can be read as a standalone. In this 34th book in the 'Agatha Raisin' series, the private detective investigates a murder at the local fete. The book can be read as a standalone. ***** Private detective Agatha Raisin - a fiftyish Englishwoman with small bear-like eyes and shiny brown hair - lives in Carsley, a pretty village in the Cotswolds. [image] Agatha is VERY attentive to her clothing and make-up, and various mishaps in those areas add some amusement to this story. [image] As the book opens, Carsley is having its annual fund-raising fete, which features homemade baked goods, homegrown fruits and vegetables, children's toys, flowering plants, second-hand tools, used bric-a-brac, a beer tent, and morris dancers. [image] Agatha Raisin is strolling around the fete when she bumps into her long-time friend (and onetime lover) Sir Charles Fraith, and his neighbor Sir Godfrey Pride. Pride is an estate owner who's land rich and cash poor, as indicated by his slightly frayed clothes and dilapidated manor house. Pride mentions he'd like to discuss a problem with Agatha, and they arrange to speak on the following Monday. [image] As Agatha continues to enjoy the festivities at the fund raiser, she gets drawn into an archery exhibition by the Ancombe Archers, and Agatha fumbles at first, but then gets a bullseye. [image] Later, Agatha finds the dead body of Sir Godfrey Pride, who appears to have been killed with an arrow. [image] Before long, Agatha's nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes - who's been tussling with Agatha for years - decides Agatha is the prime suspect for Sir Godfrey's murder. [image] There's no way Agatha is going to sit still for that, and she launches her own investigation, using the sleuths in her detective agency. Agatha's primary assistant is Toni, a pretty young woman who's good at computer searches and surveillance. [image] There are plenty of suspects for Sir Godfrey's homicide, since the lord of the manor has been arguing with his son Gerald about selling the estate; is at odds with his daughter Elizabeth, who's dating a loser; has a reputation as a nasty, lecherous coot who paws his female staff; and is generally disliked in Carsley. Agatha makes it her business to interview all the 'suspects', and receives multiple threats for her troubles. Luckily for Agatha, she's been dining and dancing with Detective Inspector John Glass, who helps Agatha with her investigation.... [image] .......and Agatha also gets assistance from her longtime friend, Officer Bill Wong. [image] The usual recurring characters make an appearance in the story. Agatha's flamboyant friend Roy Silver, who'd been brokering a deal between Sir Godfrey Pride and a London gangster, comes to Carsley; [image] Agatha's next door neighbor (and former husband) James Lacey is in the hospital for cancer treatment; [image] and Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar's wife, is friendly and supportive as usual. [image] For laughs, here's part of a conversation between DCI Wilkes and Agatha: Wilkes: "Ah, Mrs. Raisin! I'd like to say what a pleasure it is to see you again....but it's not." Agatha: "I bet you've been practicing that line all day! It's sad that you've had three days to come up with something clever to say, and that's the best you could do. You're pathetic, Wilkes." Wilkes: "There are several things that I would like to hear you explain to me." Agatha: "Several things? That sounds like a lot for you to take in, but I'll do my best." And so on. Luckily Wilkes isn't too bright, or he might find a way to clap Agatha in jail. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Jul 19, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0143036610
| 9780143036616
| 0143036610
| 3.94
| 45,524
| Apr 04, 2005
| Mar 28, 2006
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really liked it
| Ruth Reichl (b. 1948) is an American chef, restaurant critic, editor, and writer. Reichl has penned numerous cookbooks and memoirs, and this book cove Ruth Reichl (b. 1948) is an American chef, restaurant critic, editor, and writer. Reichl has penned numerous cookbooks and memoirs, and this book covers Ruth's stint as food critic for the New York Times (NYT) from 1993 to 1999. [image] Author Ruth Reichl Reichl was a long-time restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times when she was lured away by the NYT. Reichl moved across the country with her husband and son, and New York restaurants pinned up her picture, to make sure Ruth got A+ service when she came in. [image] Ruth Reichl dining out Reichl knew she had to be anonymous to ensure 'customary' treatment, and she came up with a solution. Ruth decided to don disguises, so she could dine out incognito. Ruth got acting coach Claudia Banks to assist with creating new personas, which included new names, new outfits, wigs, different kinds of make-up, and novel personalities. Reichl explains that her demeanor and behavior morphed to coincide with the costume she donned. [image] [image] [image] Some of Ruth Reichl's disguises Reichl's first portrayal was Molly Hollis - a humdrum, stocky, mid-western high school English teacher. To disguise herself as Molly, Ruth bought a dowdy Armani suit that was too big, and a brown bob wig. Masquerading as Molly, Ruth and a companion dined at Le Cirque, where they got terrible service. Ruth recalls, "I felt frumpy and powerless, and I did not like paying to be humiliated." Though Le Cirque's food was good, Ruth's restaurant review was uncomplimentary, and she took away Le Cirques's fourth star. [image] Le Cirque Restaurant In another instance, Reichl dressed up as her mother, Miriam Brudno Reichl. For this impersonation, Reichl donned a blue silk dress, pearls, and Miriam's distinctive eye makeup. Wearing this outfit, Ruth 'became her mother' as a restaurant customer at the 21 Club. Miriam always sent everything back and insulted the waiter, so Ruth did exactly that. She writes, 'I was not a fan of the oysters or the soup, and I sent them back. The Caesar salad was too fishy for me. The onion rings were cold, so I sent them back.' In fact Ruth was so unpleasant that her dinner companion scolded her for going overboard. [image] 21 Club Restaurant Reichl describes other impersonations as well, such as a blonde bombshell; a bohemian aging hippie; a tweed woman; and so on. [image] Ruth's food review philosophy differed from her predecessor at the NYT, Bryan Miller. [image] Bryan Miller - former food critic for the New York Times Bryan Miller critiqued only toney high end restaurants while Ruth also wrote up more ethnic eateries, like Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Asian, and Indian restaurants, as well as sushi bars. For example, Ruth reviewed the Japanese Honmura An restaurant in Soho, which had delicious soba. [image] Honmura An Restaurant in Soho Soba are fine noodles, best eaten cold. They're served on a square lacquered tray with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, rice wine, kelp, dried bonito flakes and sugar. Reichl observes, 'The Japanese love soba noodles, made of buckwheat. They say it takes a year to learn to mix the dough and another year to learn to roll it.' [image] Soba noodles with dipping sauces Though Bryan Miller had chosen to give up the NYT restaurant critic job, he resented no longer being 'the Prince of New York', and stopped speaking to Reichl. Bryan also wrote nasty letters about Ruth to the NYT editorial board - criticizing her choice of restaurants to review and suggesting she was ruining his previous hard work. Bryan's laments showed up on the Page Six gossip column, but Ruth had no comment. In the course of her narrative, Reichl describes a treasure trove of restaurants she ate in and/or reviewed, such as: The Four Seasons, Sparks, Lespinasse, Tavern on the Green, Caravelle, Michael's, Windows on the World, The Box Tree, etc. It's fun to vicariously join Ruth on these dining expeditions, and to read about the food and wines she sampled. [image] The Four Seasons Restaurant [image] Tavern on the Green Restaurant [image] Windows on the World Restaurant For example, Reichl writes about restaurant Daniel: "I remember the nine-herb ravioli, the wild hare stew, and the pumpkin soup. I also remember the lobster consommé, the skate, and the quail salad. I was served a wonderful bottle of Chassagne-Montrachet followed by a wonderfully plummy Bon Pasteur. [image] Nine-Herb Ravioli [image] Pumpkin Soup [image] Skate [image] Quail Salad [image] Bon Pasteur And speaking about restaurant Union Pacific, Reichl notes, 'The restaurant's desserts are as interesting as its main courses. The strawberry charlotte with pistachio ice cream is deeply flavored. Raspberries are set onto a tart with lavender, and the crème brûlée is laced with passion fruit essence. [image] Strawberry Charlotte [image] Raspberry Tart [image] Crème Brûlée Reichl's job at the NYT had its ups and downs, and Ruth writes about her interactions (good and bad) with co-workers, editors, publishers, and diners who won a meal with her in an auction. (This chapter is pretty entertaining. LOL) In time, Reichl decided she needed a change. She notes, "I had begun to wonder if I was pretending to be other people because I no longer liked the person I had become. I had started my career at the Times by insisting there was no right or wrong in matters of taste, but had turned into a fatuous food snob." In addition, Reichl's son Nicky lamented his mom's absence at meals, and wished his mom could be home to cook dinner in the evenings. Perhaps spurred on by this, Reichl left the NYT in 1999, and became editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine. That's the subject of another memoir. [image] Ruth Reichl in the test kitchen at Gourmet magazine Reichl includes some of her restaurant reviews in the book, which make interesting reading. Reichl also provides a smattering of recipes, such as: cheesecake, risotto, mussels, hash browns, gougères, roasted chicken, matzo brie, scallion dumplings, leg of lamb, and more. [image] Mussels [image] Gougères (French cheese puffs) [image] Scallion Dumplings I liked the book, but some of Reichl's tales are clearly embellished and novelistic, to the point they approach fiction. That said, I'd recommend the book to anyone interested in the subject of food and restaurants. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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| 1250848091
| 9781250848093
| 1250848091
| 4.37
| 390
| Jul 16, 2024
| Jul 16, 2024
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really liked it
| In this second book in the 'Porter Beck' series, the Nevada sheriff deals with espionage and smuggling on his patch. The book works fine as a standalo In this second book in the 'Porter Beck' series, the Nevada sheriff deals with espionage and smuggling on his patch. The book works fine as a standalone. ***** Sheriff Porter Beck and his twelve officers uphold the law in Lincoln County, Nevada. [image] It's a difficult job for the small force, especially with 32,000 acres of woodland and high desert vegetation currently burning out of control. [image] Several Lincoln County cops, including brawny twins called 'The Jolly Greens', are dedicated to assisting the firefighters, leaving a small core of officers for local calls. [image] Sheriff Beck is further hampered by a degenerative eye disease that affects his vision. Beck can see in daylight, but his night vision is limited to a pinpoint, making it difficult to see and impossible to drive. [image] To prepare for his ultimate loss of sight, Beck now has a canine named Columbo (Bo), who's being trained as a seeing-eye dog. [image] As the story opens, two serious incidents require Sheriff Beck's attention. First, a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) belonging to the military is hacked..... [image] .......and its missile is shot into the Double J Ranch, where a $100,000 breeding bull is killed. [image] The ranch belongs to widower Jesse Roy, who's raising his spirited 17-year-old daughter Shiloah Roy alone. [image] [image] In the second incident, a man called Cash Conrad dies from a drug overdose. Cash was a high school football player headed for college when a helmet hit broke his back. The lingering pain lasted for decades, leading to alcoholism and drug use. The pills that killed Cash are Mexican Blues, VERY powerful fentanyl tablets that are entering Lincoln County from Mexico. [image] As it happens, Beck knows both ranch owner Jesse and drug user Cash. The three men had been to elementary, middle, and high school together, and were inseparable until they embarked on different paths after graduation. The day after the missile attack on the Double J Ranch, Special Agent Ed Maddox, from the Office of Special Investigations, shows up at Beck's house. [image] Maddox relates a story about a fuel tank falling off an aircraft, and recruits the sheriff to accompany him to the Double J Ranch. There Maddox (literally) pays Jesse Roy for the dead bull. Beck takes the opportunity to tell Jesse about the death of their old friend Cash Conrad, and Jesse is concerned and sympathetic. While at the Double J Ranch, Beck seizes the chance to look around, and is surprised by the changes since Jesse inherited the property from his father. The ranch now sports a locked security gate with a guard; a huge mansion; a major cattle operation; a private plane; an airstrip; and other new amenities. In addition, Jesse's right-hand man César seems like a shady character. [image] When it comes to the dead bull, Beck doesn't buy Agent Maddox's story about a fallen fuel tank. Beck was an intelligence specialist in the Army, and he KNOWS someone hacked the RPA. Beck hones in on a 16-year-old girl named Mercy Vaughn, a green-eyed blonde who appears to have Chinese ancestry. [image] Mercy is in juvie for hacking a government site and stealing millions of dollars, so taking control of an RPA would be right up her alley. Moreover, Mercy is friends with Jesse Roy's daughter Shiloah, who has a rebellious streak. From this point on, the story follows three threads. ► A Chinese sleeper agent named Dal Cho is planning to kidnap Mercy, for the benefit of the Chinese government; [image] ► a Mexican cartel is smuggling weapons and drugs between Nevada and Mexico; [image] ► and thousands of UFO enthusiasts are planning to break into Area 51, to expose the truth. [image] Sheriff Beck has to deal with all of the above, and he and his deputies receive help from a number of people, including: ► Beck's adopted sister Brinley, who's a weapons expert; [image] ► Detective Charlotte (Charlie) Blue Horse, from the Department of Public Safety, who's in charge of Mercy's welfare; [image] ► and District Manager Esther Ellingboe, from the Bureau of Land Management, who's helping deal with Nevada's wildfires. [image] All the story lines merge as the novel unfolds, and the tale is a page turner, full of death and destruction. I especially appreciate author Bruce Borgos's attention to the female characters, all of whom are fleshed out and integral to the story. This is a well-written novel, recommended to fans of thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley, Bruce Borgos, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the manuscript. You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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| 0671016997
| 9780671016999
| 0671016997
| 4.10
| 26,198
| May 01, 1999
| Jul 01, 2000
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liked it
| 3.5 stars In this second novel in the 'Cork O'Connor mystery series' the former sheriff helps search for a country singer. The book works fine as a sta 3.5 stars In this second novel in the 'Cork O'Connor mystery series' the former sheriff helps search for a country singer. The book works fine as a standalone, though knowledge of previous events is helpful. ***** Corcoran (Cork) O'Connor, whose ancestry is Irish and Anishinaabe Indian, has been living separately from his wife Jo and their children since the couple had some troubles a couple of years ago. (You can read about it in book one, Iron Lake). [image] Cork is now living in the rear part of - and running - a hamburger shack, where his daughters work part time. [image] Cork was once the sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota, where he lives, and many people still value Cork's investigative skills. [image] Thus it's not a surprise when country singer/record producer Willie Raye approaches Cork for assistance. [image] Willie Raye's daughter Shiloh, who's also a country singer, has isolated herself in the Boundary Waters between Minnesota and Canada, and winter is approaching. [image] The Boundary Waters are a vast scenic wilderness navigated by canoe and hiking, and since Cork knows his way around the region, he might be able to locate Shiloh before the frigid weather sets in. [image] Shiloh, who's also part Anishinaabe Indian, has had a rough life. Shiloh' mother was killed 15 years ago, when Shiloh was six years old. Little Shiloh saw what happened, but had amnesia about the incident. Now, regression therapy has restored Shiloh's memory, and she's in isolation, seemingly writing about the murder. [image] An elderly Anishinaabe man, Wendell Two Knives, has been helping Shiloh. Wendell loaned Shiloh his isolated cabin in the Boundary Waters, and he's been bringing her food and batteries for her tape recorder. Wendell has now disappeared, and this means big trouble all around. [image] There seem to be many people looking for Shiloh, besides Willie Raye. These are: • The person(s) who killed Shiloh's mother, who don't want Shiloh to identify them. • FBI agents who want to arrest the murderer(s). • Miscellaneous people whose motives are unclear. As things turn out Cork goes into the Boundary Waters with Willie Raye; two FBI agents; and an ex-convict named Stormy Two Knives and his 10-year-old son Louis Two Knives. The FBI agents coerced Stormy and Louis to come along, because Louis knows the location of his uncle Wendell's cabin and how to get there. [image] Meanwhile, Shiloh realizes Wendell Two Knives isn't coming back to the cabin, and she decides to make her way back to 'civilization' by herself. Shiloh has access to a canoe and some supplies, but it's a rigorous and dangerous journey that takes days. [image] The book is largely an adventure story as Cork and his group make their way into the rugged Boundary Waters, to find Shiloh, as people try to kill them; and Shiloh attempts to make her way out of the rugged Boundary Waters, to get to town, as people try to kill her. As you can imagine, the body count in this book is very high. [image] Meanwhile, back in Aurora, Cork's wife Jo, a successful lawyer, also gets involved with the hullaballoo surrounding Shiloh when she discovers that not everything to do with Shiloh is as it seems. [image] All this leads to an exciting hair-raising finale, and maybe a slight warming of the relations between Cork and Jo. Some of the highlights of the book are the snippets of Anishinaabe culture and mythology, a mysterious wolf, and the descriptions of the panoramic (if dangerous) Boundary Waters. [image] I enjoyed the book, but I'll admit I got a bit confused by all the men chasing after each other and trying to kill each other, and all the people who claim to have a connection with Shiloh and her deceased mother. I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep them straight. Still, I'd recommend the book to mystery lovers. You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 17, 2024
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 1737781816
| 9781737781813
| B09H8CWDX8
| 4.86
| 1,163
| unknown
| Oct 09, 2021
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really liked it
| David Alton Hedges was a SWAT officer in the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) before he became a K-9 handler with a 100-pound German Shepherd pa David Alton Hedges was a SWAT officer in the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) before he became a K-9 handler with a 100-pound German Shepherd partner named Brag (aka Werewolf). [image] Author David Alton Hedges In this book Hedges writes about his work with Brag, a brave, smart, loyal police canine who did his job diligently and with enthusiasm. I marveled and smiled as I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael Puttonen, and I shed a few tears as well. [image] Brag wasn't always destined to be a police dog. As a puppy, Brag lived with a family, whom he dearly loved. A tragic death resulted in Brag being given to the SBPD, where he became a police canine. Brag was paired with Officer David Hedges, and a long and grueling period of training followed. Hedges describes the training in detail, and the procedures are interesting to read about. K-9 dogs are expected to train with their handlers to build agility, stamina, strength, and obedience. [image] Brag with his handler, Officer David Hedges of the SBPD (right), and Officer Tyler Larson The K-9 trainer, Ted, looked like a surfer, but was sturdy enough to withstand the simulated attacks of police dogs as they learned the ropes. Commands for police dogs are given in German, for instance, 'packen' (bite). After an extended period of training, Hedges and Brag became a formidable duo who worked well together. [image] Police dog training session [image] Police dog being taught to attack At first, Officer Hedges was determined to view Brag simply as a partner, not a dog he felt affection for. Of course that didn't last, and Hedges soon came to love Brag and vice versa. When Hedges was injured during a police action, and Brag was driven home by another officer, Brag was beside himself about leaving his partner behind. Brag didn't relax until he saw Hedges return safe and sound (more or less). [image] During their shifts, Hedges and Brag were called out all the time, for things like tracking, evidence recovery, and felony apprehension. Hedges and Brag were assigned a dedicated K-9 vehicle, kitted out for their needs, with a cage in the back, and Brag's name on both sides. [image] Example of a K-9 Vehicle K-9 teams deal with fights, stabbings, shootings, burglaries, robberies, rapes, drunks, domestics, suicides, and more. During call-outs, Brag was completely fearless, and always eager to get 'the bad guy'. [image] Hedges relates tale after tale of Brag's exploits, where Brag might grab a perp by the leg and drag him out, screaming in fear and pain. Brag's 'apprehensions' were especially dangerous if the perp had a gun or knife, and Hedges was often on tenterhooks, worrying that Brag would be injured. Hedges writes, “The longer I work with Brag, the less I see him the way I used to see a dog. He doesn’t feel like a dog at all, more like some creature that possesses entirely unique behaviors and motivations; a werewolf, I suppose. I trust him, some of the time. When I release him to do his job and I’ve done my job to try to limit the possible outcomes (biting another police officer, biting an innocent civilian, biting anyone he’s not supposed to bite, whether they are innocent or not), I’m confident he won’t fail.” [image] Gango, a Santa Barbara police dog In addition to writing about police work, Hedges includes anecdotes about his home life, with his wife Rachel and son Striker - both of whom loved Brag as well. Eventually, when Brag had to retire from police work (I'll admit I cried), the pooch became 'Uncle Brag' to puppies bred by Rachel. [image] Werewolf is an inspiring book about a wonderful dog. Hedges is a good writer (he's written other books and screenplays as well) and Michael Puttonen is an excellent narrator for the audiobook (I could feel tears in his voice at the sad parts). I think all dog lovers would enjoy Werewolf. Thanks to Netgalley, David Alton Hedges, and Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 16, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798200920235
| B0CP6DX73L
| 4.34
| 5,990
| May 07, 2024
| May 07, 2024
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it was amazing
| Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Johnson in 1955, is an American actress, comedian, author, and talk show host. Whoopi is one of a small cadre of entertain Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Johnson in 1955, is an American actress, comedian, author, and talk show host. Whoopi is one of a small cadre of entertainers who've won the complete EGOT series of awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. [image] Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi wrote this memoir to remember and celebrate her mother, Emma Johnson and her brother, Clyde Johnson, both sadly deceased, who had almost everything to do with the person Whoopi is today. [image] Whoopi Goldberg's mother Emma Johnson [image] Whoopi Goldberg's brother Clyde Johnson Caryn, Emma, and Clyde lived in the Chelsea projects in New York City, in a neighborhood that contained, "lots of folks of every color, religion, language, and culture, all packed into a couple of city blocks." [image] Caryn Johnson (Whoopi Goldberg) as a child [image] Whoopi Goldberg grew up in the Chelsea projects in New York City Caryn's mother was enormously supportive, and made Caryn believe she could do anything. When Caryn struggled with reading because of her undiagnosed dyslexia, her mother - who didn't understand the problem - just said, 'Well, do your best.' [image] Whoopi Goldberg with her mother Emma Johnson Later, when Caryn said she wanted to go into acting, Emma backed her up. Whoopi writes, "Because of my mom, I was able to go from being Caryn Johnson, the weird little kid from the projects who no one ever expected to achieve all that much, to being me, Whoopi Goldberg." Though the Johnson family struggled financially, Emma - who was a nursery school teacher and practical nurse - exposed her children to art galleries and museums; took them to a Beatles concert at Shea Stadium; brought Caryn and Clyde to Radio City Music Hall, the World's Fair, the Ice Capades, Coney Island, and Rockaway Playland; and more. The threesome would laugh and have fun and make memories to last forever. [image] Ice Capades [image] Rockaway Playland [image] Coney Island Whoopi notes, "It wasn't until I was older that I really understood what my mother had to go through to keep a roof over our heads." Caryn's mother and father had separated, Caryn's dad didn't pay child support, and Emma refused to apply for welfare. Young Caryn never understood that they were always one paycheck away from the worst case scenario, and Emma never let on, just doing the best she could. Caryn was lucky to have a wonderful older brother, Clyde. Whenever, she could, Caryn would hang out with Clyde for the day, though he was six years older. Clyde would tell his friends, "I like taking Caryn. If you don't want to go, then that's okay. But I'm taking Caryn." And Clyde would take his sister everywhere. [image] Whoopi Goldberg and her brother Clyde Johnson Caryn cheered for Clyde at his softball games, and with money they got from returning empty bottles, the siblings would buy penny candy - like Bonomo Turkish Taffy. When it snowed, Clyde would carry his Flexible Flyer outside, put Caryn on the front, jump on the back, and they'd slide down the street, laughing and hollering. [image] Bonomo Turkish Taffy Unfortunately, Emma Johnson suffered a nervous breakdown when Caryn was in elementary school, and was hospitalized, with electroshock therapy, for two years. Whoopi recalls, "Having my mom taken away and hospitalized was like having a Band-Aid ripped off and facing the real world all of a sudden." Relatives came to stay with the children, and Caryn had the same thought every day: "Don't ask anyone for anything. Be good. Don't cause any trouble. Stay to yourself. As long as your brother is here, you'll be okay." And when mom finally came home, and didn't remember her family, the children helped Emma take care of things as she recovered. Emma believed in perseverance and moving forward, and she took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves to get a college degree and a master's degree in early education. Whoopi writes that her mother was a great teacher who's still remembered by some of her pupils. [image] Whoopi Goldberg's mother, Emma Johnson, taught in the early education 'Head Start Program' As a child in a multicultural neighborhood, Caryn didn't experience racism. Later, Whoopi was surprised when people asked her 'Why do you sound so White?' and remarked that her mother didn't sound Black. Whoopi's mother told her, "Be forgiving. They don't know any better....They don't know anybody like you. They can't imagine that you know about art, music, world history....anything. This is not your problem." Whoopi took this advice to heart, and worked on enlightening people rather than chastising them. Whoopi tells many stories about growing up in New York, and shares the wisdom she absorbed from her mother, both by what Emma said (and didn't say) and by what Emma did (and didn't do). Of course, like anybody, Whoopi experienced ups and downs as she established a career. [image] Whoopi Goldberg with her mother Emma Johnson Caryn became interested in performing at a young age, when she saw street shows like Joseph Papps's ensemble. [image] Joseph Papp put on street shows Later, Caryn tried out for the Hudson Guild Theatre in Chelsea, which presented adult and children's shows. After doing a few plays with the Hudson Guild, Caryn auditioned for other things and began to have some success. [image] The Hudson Guild Theatre presented adult and children's shows [image] Young Whoopi Goldberg Along the way, Whoopi had some trouble with drugs, got married, and had a daughter, Alexandrea (Alex). Whoopi has been married several times, but glosses over these relationships. She acknowledges that she concentrated on her career, and that Alex was raised largely by her mother. [image] Whoopi Goldberg and her daughter Alex Whoopi writes a good bit about breaking into show business, and the big boost she got from director Mike Nichols, who produced her sketch show in New York. Steven Spielberg then cast Whoopi as Celie in 'The Color Purple', for which Whoopi got an Academy Award nomination. [image] Mike Nichols and Whoopi Goldberg [image] Whoopi Goldberg as Celie in 'The Color Purple' Step by step, Whoopi ascended the show business ladder, and she writes about this in some detail, mentioning many people she met along the way, including Patrick Swayze - who was instrumental in Whoopi getting the role of Oda Mae Brown in 'Ghost'; [image] Whoopi Goldberg (as Oda Mae Brown) with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in 'Ghost' Elizabeth Taylor - who advised Whoopi to always get a nice gift from the studio; [image] Whoopi Goldberg with Elizabeth Taylor Gene Roddenberry - who gave Whoopi the part of Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation; [image] Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Marlon Brando - who popped over to Whoopi's house to play the piano and chat. [image] Marlon Brando Whoopi also writes about partying and getting into, and out of, drug and cocaine use, which is ubiquitous in Hollywood. As Whoopi became successful, she included her mother Emma in her life as much as possible. Emma loved going to Whoopi's shows; joining Whoopi and her celebrity acquaintances for lunches and dinners; and meeting people like Sidney Poitier and President Clinton. [image] Whoopi Goldberg with her daughter, mother, and granddaughter Whoopi also brought her brother Clyde to California, to be her driver. Clyde loved the job, and enjoyed meeting the actors and performers he admired. And Clyde, being very handsome, cut a wide swathe through the ladies he met. [image] Whoopi Goldberg with her brother Clyde Johnson and her daughter Alex Whoopi's mother Emma died from a stroke in 2010, and her brother Clyde passed in 2015, from a brain aneurysm. They were Whoopi's tethers, and she feels lonely and lost without them. At the end of the book, Whoopi writes a long chapter about death and mourning, and she advises everyone to engage with your family as much as possible, and prepare in advance for the end. I enjoyed the memoir, and felt the book was honest and authentic. I've watched Whoopi on The View for many years, and she seems to be a straight talker on TV and in her book. I'd have liked to learn more about Whoopi's husbands, which is the kind of thing usually covered in memoirs, but Whoopi apparently considers that too private. Still, fans of celebrity autobiographies would probably like the book. [image] Whoopi Goldberg on 'The View' You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 12, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1250781116
| 9781250781116
| 1250781116
| 4.44
| 2,975
| Jul 09, 2024
| Jul 09, 2024
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really liked it
| In this 16th book in the Kate Burkholder series, the Police Chief investigates the brutal murder of an Amish man who'd been excommunicated. The novel In this 16th book in the Kate Burkholder series, the Police Chief investigates the brutal murder of an Amish man who'd been excommunicated. The novel provides enough background information to be read as a standalone. ***** Police Chief Kate Burkholder grew up in an Amish community in Painter's Mill, Ohio but left as a teenager. [image] After Kate became a law enforcement officer, Painter's Mill offered her a job and she returned to head the police department. Kate's Amish background is advantageous because she speaks Pennsylvania Dutch and is familiar with Amish culture. Kate is now married to John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The couple's dual law enforcement careers are advantageous, because, when it's appropriate, Tomasetti can provide support for Kate's investigations. [image] Author Linda Castillo 'kills off' the victims in her books in the most gruesome fashions, and this story is no exception. As the story opens, Milan Swanz is drunk, and walking home from a bar in ankle deep snow. [image] When Milan is offered a ride in a passing car, he accepts with alacrity. Big mistake!! Before long, Milan is tied to a stake in the woods and burned alive. [image] Police Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of the crime, which is soon crawling with law enforcement personnel. Kate looks at the blackened corpse with peeling skin and feels sick to her stomach. She thinks, "Milan Swanz was a troubled man who made plenty of mistakes in the thirty-six years he'd been on this earth. But he was a human being with a wife and children and parents who'd loved him despite his flaws." Or maybe not so much! As Kate begins her investigation, she learns that Milan had been excommunicated from the church for repeated wrongdoing. Moreover, Milan and his wife Bertha were divorced (an unimaginable no-no in the Amish culture), and Bertha doesn't seem too shocked about Milan's death. [image] Bertha is reluctant to speak about her ex-husband because the Amish are extremely insular, and never air their dirty laundry to 'Englischers'. For that reason, Kate finds it hard to find out about Milan's transgressions. Nevertheless, Kate eventually learns that unfortunate things happened to people who angered Milan. For instance, after Milan was fired from his job in a cabinet shop, the shop 'accidently' burned to the ground; and the Diener (church officials) who excommunicated Milan..... [image] .....suffered personal injuries or damage to their crops. [image] Kate even learns that her own brother, an Amish farmer named Jacob, had a run-in with Milan....but Jacob refuses to discuss the matter with Kate. [image] As Kate pursues her inquiries, she hears about an old sect called the Schwertler Anabaptists, who 'dealt with' wrongdoers in Amish sects. [image] When Kate tries to determine if Schwertler Anabaptists are still active, she's warned off and told, "If you cross them, they will come for you. They will find you. They will devour you. The pieces of you will never be found." Fateful words, since Kate is repeatedly attacked by a stranger dressed in black. [image] There's more drama in the book when a BCI agent named Neil Chambers insists Kate recuse herself from the investigation because her brother Jacob is a possible suspect. You can't keep a good police chief down though, and Kate keeps looking into Milan's death. All this leads to an exciting and heart-stopping climax, which readers familiar with the series know to expect. On a more personal note, newlyweds Kate and Tomasetti enjoy a romantic evening with a charcuterie board, wine, and a lit candle. [image] [image] I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers who enjoy thrillers, especially Kate Burkholder fans. Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Castillo, and Minotaur books for a copy of the manuscript. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 07, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1439157073
| 9781439157077
| 1439157073
| 4.07
| 7,750
| Sep 2010
| Sep 28, 2010
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Jul 07, 2024
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| 1338091344
| 9781338091342
| 1338091344
| 4.16
| 719
| May 30, 2017
| May 30, 2017
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| 1804950971
| 9781804950975
| B0CM5QYM19
| 4.09
| 1,528
| unknown
| Jul 18, 2024
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liked it
| 3.5 stars In this 33rd book in the 'Commissario Guido Brunetti' series, the Italian policeman investigates a local man who was deployed during the Iraq 3.5 stars In this 33rd book in the 'Commissario Guido Brunetti' series, the Italian policeman investigates a local man who was deployed during the Iraq war. [image] One of my favorite things about this book, set in Venice, is the slow pace. Unlike detectives on American television shows, who are always running around and chasing suspects, the detectives in this story amble around Venice on foot, taking time to enjoy the beauty of the city. The story can be read as a standalone, but readers familiar with the characters will enjoy it more. ***** As the story opens, teenage gangs in Venice are using Instagram to arrange a 'rumble', and when two groups of boys meet at the Piazzetta del Leoncini after midnight, surveillance cameras catch them tussling, throwing punches, smashing windows, thieving, etc. [image] The delinquents are rounded up by the Carabinieri, taken to the Questura, and mothers and fathers are called. [image] All the boys are picked up by their parents except for fifteen-year-old Orlando Monforte, who explains that he lives in Castello with his father Dario Monforte, who turns off his phone at 11:00 PM. [image] Commissario Claudia Griffoni, on duty that night, decides to act 'in loco parentis' and walk Orlando home. [image] Along the way, Orlando confides that he can come home any time he wants, and he wishes his father paid more attention to him. Griffoni feels bad for the boy, and they stop for coffee and brioche, and - since it's cold out - Griffoni lends Orlando her red scarf. The next day, Commissario Griffoni consults with Commissario Guido Brunetti about the teen gangs, which the cops call 'baby gangs'. In fact, pressure from influential parents ensures that the police and newspapers write up the 'rumble' as an argument about soccer, that ended with name-calling. Later, Brunetti's boss, Vice-Questore Patta - who never saw a job he couldn't evade doing - passes a task to Brunetti. [image] A wealthy American woman is buying a house in Venice, and needs someone to get permits and take care of administrative procedures. She's considering hiring Dario Monforte, and she wants him vetted. Brunetti recognizes Dario as the father of baby gang member Orlando Monforte. [image] The name Dario Monforte strikes a chord with Brunetti, and a computer search reveals that Dario was 'The Hero of Nasiriyah.' Over twenty years ago, a suicide bombing at the Italian embassy in the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah claimed nineteen victims. Dario Monforte was widely lauded for saving two comrades while being badly burned himself. [image] Something about the Dario Monforte story doesn't sit right with Brunetti, and further research, aided by Signorina Elettra - who's a whiz at data mining - reveal that there's MUCH MORE to the tale, including illegal activities. [image] Dario Monforte doesn't appreciate being under the Questura's microscope, and to halt the inquiries, he gets a shady lawyer to allege that Commissario Claudia Griffoni acted inappropriately when she walked Orlando Monforte home after the baby gang clash. It's clear that Dario Monforte has something to hide, and a good part of the novel involves Brunetti trying to figure out what was going on with the Italians in Nasiriyah during the Iraq war. As this is going on, Brunetti's colleague, forensic lab technician Enzo Bocchese is very upset, and he tells Guido that his teenage neighbor is harassing him. [image] The neighbor boy, Gianpaolo Porpora, who's tall and built like a bull, trips Enzo on the stairs, bumps into him, and has threatened Enzo's treasured statuettes, which the technician collects. All this has dire consequences, including another, much more dangerous, clash of the baby gangs. [image] For me, the part of the story that concerns Dario Monforte's schemes in Nasiriyah was especially compelling. I also enjoyed the domestic vignettes in the novel, like Guido and his wife Paola meandering around Venice, looking at the lovely sights. [image] There are also homey domestic scenes in the book, when Guido is at home with his wife and children. In one of of the best family scenes, Guido, Paola, their teenage children Raffi and Chiara, and Paula's parents (the Conte and Contessa), enjoy a delicious meal while discussing literature, history, education, influencers, and more. This is a family it would be a pleasure to know. [image] My minor quibble with the novel would be a thread left hanging at the end, which I wish had been tied up. Thanks to Netgalley, Donna Leon, and Atlantic Monthly Press for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 03, 2024
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| 0062195344
| 9780062195340
| 0062195344
| 3.72
| 2,296
| Jan 21, 2014
| Jan 21, 2014
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really liked it
| This historical novel is set in 1860s Oregon, when it's just become a state. [image] A young attorney named Matthew Penny is trying to establish a law p This historical novel is set in 1860s Oregon, when it's just become a state. [image] A young attorney named Matthew Penny is trying to establish a law practice in Portland..... [image] ......and he agrees to represent a freed Black man named Worthy Brown. [image] Worthy's daughter Roxanne (15) is being kept as a slave by attorney Caleb Barbour, who treats her badly. [image] Barbour brought Roxanne from Georgia to Oregon when he moved across the country. [image] Oregon doesn't allow slavery, but Barbour won't free Roxanne, and attorney Matthew Penny takes Barbour to court. [image] Meanwhile, Sharon Hill, a beautiful prostitute from San Francisco, is 'masquerading' as a respectable woman in Portland. [image] Sharon enchants Benjamin Gillette, the richest man in town, and schemes to get all his money. In the end, Sharon's nefarious plan requires that she go to court to try to get Gillette's worldly goods. [image] To add another layer of intrigue, Judge Jed Tyler, who's in charge of all the trials in Portland, has been entranced by cunning Sharon Hill, who takes full advantage of Tyler's crush. [image] In the meantime, there's a tragic death, and Worthy Brown - though completely innocent - is accused of the crime. [image] Matthew Penny takes on Worthy's defense, though everyone in Portland is convinced of Worthy's guilt, and wouldn't flinch at convicting a Black man even if he's innocent. Worthy's daughter Roxanne is upset about her father's plight, and comforts him as best she can. [image] There's plenty of courtroom drama in the novel, as well as an interesting dissection of Black-White issues in Oregon just before the Civil War. This book is a departure for Phillip Margolin, who usually writes modern legal thrillers. I'd recommend the book to fans of historical fiction and courtroom dramas. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 03, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1250345073
| 9781250345073
| 1250345073
| unknown
| 4.50
| 1,091
| Jul 02, 2024
| Jul 02, 2024
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liked it
| 3.5 stars In this 29th book in the Andy Carpenter series, the Paterson, New Jersey attorney represents a man accused of mass murder. [image] ***** Ever s 3.5 stars In this 29th book in the Andy Carpenter series, the Paterson, New Jersey attorney represents a man accused of mass murder. [image] ***** Ever since he inherited a large fortune, defense lawyer Andy Carpenter takes very few cases. [image] Instead, Andy prefers to hang out with his wife Laurie, son Ricky, and dogs Tara (a golden retriever), Hunter (a pug), and Sebastian (a basset hound). Andy also likes to watch sports; help run a canine rescue operation called 'The Tara Foundation'; schmooze with his friends at Charlie's Sports Bar; and so on. [image] On the rare occasions Andy takes a case, he assembles his team, one of whom is private investigator Marcus Clark. Marcus is known for two traits: he's the toughest guy on the planet; and he doesn't talk much, usually just grunting and nodding. [image] Marcus has had Andy's back on innumerable occasions, so when Marcus speaks up and asks Andy to take a case, Andy agrees. It seems Marcus mentors young men who've gotten into trouble, and one of his 'wards', Nick Williams, is being accused of mass murder. [image] Nick, a handyman/cleaner, has been employed at a personal injury law firm called Moore Law. One day, when Nick is absent from work, a masked man walks into Moore Law and shoots six people. [image] Two survivors, a lawyer called Sally Montrose and a paralegal named Laura Schauble, say the killer resembled Nick, with a hook tattoo on his arm and distinctive striped sneakers. [image] When the murder weapon is found in a dumpster near Nick's home, with Nick's print on the gun, the police figure 'case closed.' Nick's story is that he was abducted on the morning of the murder, and held in a room somewhere. Later, when the kidnappers released him, Nick was told to turn himself in to the police. Andy knows the district attorney has a very strong case, and he'll have to hustle to prepare a compelling defense. So Andy assembles his squad. This consists of lawyer Eddie Dowd - who's great with paperwork and filings; [image] accountant Sam Willis - a computer hacker extraordinaire; [image] office manager Edna - who goofs off more than she works; [image] and The K-Team, a private detective firm consisting of Marcus Clark as well as other PIs, including: Andy's wife Laurie, an ex-cop; [image] Corey Douglas, also an ex-cop, and Corey's police dog, Simon Garfunkel. [image]. This time, Sam Willis also recruits reinforcements for computer searches, an elderly couple called Eli and Hilda Mandelbaum. This is a real bonus because Hilda makes unbelievably great rugelach. [image] As Andy prepares Nick's case for court, he interviews the survivors at Moore Law; relatives of the victims; clients who got big personal injury settlements; and more. [image] Andy comes to suspect that Moore Law was a party to fraudulent claims, and it seems he might be right, because people start trying to kill him. Of course Andy eventually figures out what's going on.....but is it soon enough to save Nick? The Andy Carpenter books are formulaic, but fun. Andy is a sarcastic quipster whose frequent wisecracks make him unpopular with cops, prosecutors, and judges, but VERY popular with fans of the series. [image] In one amusing passage, Andy - who's in the habit of discussing the case with his dog Tara - records this exchange: " 'Tara, what do you think I should do?' She turns towards me and gives her cute head tilt; no one tilts their head as cute as Tara. But she's giving me a message, she's saying, 'What are you asking me for? I told you not to take the case.' I can't say I'm thrilled with her attitude, but Tara doesn't beat around the bush." [image] I always enjoy these cozy mysteries, and I'll keep reading them as long as David Rosenfelt keeps writing them. Thanks to Netgalley, David Rosenfelt, and Minotaur books for a copy of the manuscript. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jul 02, 2024
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Audio CD
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| 9798989923403
| B0CW9L836F
| 4.29
| 34
| unknown
| Mar 20, 2024
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liked it
| 3.5 stars Petite, pretty, blond Abigail (Abby) Barnes looks like a college co-ed, but she's really a debt collector for bookies. loan sharks, and other 3.5 stars Petite, pretty, blond Abigail (Abby) Barnes looks like a college co-ed, but she's really a debt collector for bookies. loan sharks, and other people who want to get paid what they're owed. [image] The tools of Abigail's trade include custom made brass knuckles with a blade and spike on either side; a 357 Magnum with a 6-inch barrel; and expertise in Krav Maga. [image] [image] [image] Running from trouble in Baltimore, Abby arrives in New Jersey looking for work. [image] Abby happens to meet an amiable drunk named Hector, who's just robbed a six pack of beer from a liquor store, and they take a casual liking to each other. [image] When Hector learns about Abby's profession, he introduces her to his cousin Raffie. Hector explains "Raffie done time, two years in Northern State. He runs with some guys, heads a crew does work for the Italians. You meet him, he seems nice enough. But....he's a hard case." Raffie usually hangs out with his pal Vincent, who does collections for mobsters. [image] Raffie is a criminal in his own right, but he also helps out mob boss Ronnie Slacks, a ruthless gangster who extorts money every which way he can. [image] Once Abby demonstrates her combat skills to Raffie - by beating up his right hand man Vincent - Raffie sends Abby to bookie Benny Friedman, who needs some collecting done. Benny is skeptical about hiring a Barbie doll lookalike to do collections, so Abby gives him a demonstration. [image] Looking innocent, Abby says, "What do you see, Mr. Friedman? A cute girl standing here, maybe someone you would like to buy an ice cream cone?" Then Abby leans in and points her 357 Magnum in Benny's face and says, "No, Mr. Friedman, I don't think so. I think all you can see is the black hole at the end of this barrel...and right now you would anything, and I mean anything just to get rid of me." [image] Benny sends Abby to collect fifty grand from a spoiled rich stockbroker who drives around in a beautiful Porsche 911, but won't pay his debts. [image] Abby persuades the stockbroker to pay up by putting him in a choke hold, squeezing his head between her thighs, taping his hands together, pulling out clumps of his hair with a pliers, and threatening to hurt his mother. Abby gets the fifty grand the stockbroker owes Benny, takes her cut, and delivers the rest of the cash to the bookie. The next day, Benny the bookie is found dead in his office, his head on the desk in a dark pool of blood, and his safe open and empty. [image] The New Jersey cops are pressured to find the killer fast, because New York business mogul Alexander Bayne is planning to move his offices to New Jersey, and the mayor doesn't want him to be put off. [image] This sets off a cascade of events, as the mayor leans on Police Detective Dennis Eagen; [image] who pressures mobster Ronnie Slacks; [image] who puts the screws to Raffie. [image] They collectively decide to pin Benny's murder on Abby, who was known to be in the bookie's office on the day he was killed. So Raffie calls his cousin Hector - who's friendly with Abby - to discover the collector's whereabouts. [image] The thing is, Hector is QUITE chummy with Abby, and Abby is VERY clever. As the cops, gangbangers, and mobsters pursue Abby, she takes evasive and aggressive action, with Hector's help as needed. [image] There's plenty of death and destruction in the novel, which is an action packed thriller, lightened with a big dose of humor. One ongoing gag is Abby's name; Hector thinks she's called Gabby; and the criminals think her name is Sally. I like Abby, who's essentially a nice gal who has to make a living.....and doesn't feel bad about making people pay what they owe. Hector is a fun character as well, being a small time criminal who longs to work in lawn maintenance. [image] The novel's finale leaves room for a sequel, which could be another action filled adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and Steven Max Russo for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jun 22, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0802163076
| 9780802163073
| 0802163076
| 4.12
| 2,714
| Jun 11, 2024
| Jun 11, 2024
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really liked it
| Most books in the 'Dave Robicheaux' series are told from the POV of Detective Robicheaux. [image] This 24th novel in the series is a slight departure, Most books in the 'Dave Robicheaux' series are told from the POV of Detective Robicheaux. [image] This 24th novel in the series is a slight departure, and Dave's best friend Clete Purcell takes the lead. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus. [image] Both Dave and Clete are Vietnam vets, and both suffer from PTSD because of their terrible experiences in Southeast Asia. Following Vietnam, Dave and Clete were partners in the New Orleans Police Department, where they called themselves the 'Bobbsey Twins from Homicide'. [image] In New Orleans, Dave and Clete dealt with mobsters, gambling, prostitution, drugs, loan sharks, money laundering, extortion, murder, and the inherent corruption in Louisiana. [image] Clete's inability to follow rules got him kicked off the New Orleans police force, and he's now a private investigator/bail bondsman in New Orleans and New Iberia. Clete works for gangsters and lowlifes; eats to excess; drinks too much; falls for the wrong women; and uses violence (and worse) against his enemies. Clete loves Dave like a brother, and would give his life for him. [image] Dave is now a recovering alcoholic who drinks Dr. Pepper and works as a sheriff's investigator for the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office. Dave is a widower with a grown adopted daughter, Alafair, who he rescued from a downed plane when she was five. Dave sometimes has blackouts, during which he does violent things he can't remember. Dave considers Clete his best friend, and rues his pal's self-destructive behavior. [image] ***** As the story opens in the 1990s, Clete Purcell leaves his vintage, lavender pink Cadillac Eldorado convertible, with a stereo that plays his jazz and R&B and rock and roll tapes, at Eddy's Car Wash. [image] A couple of days after Clete picks up his car, he wakes up to find three roughnecks ripping his Cadillac apart. One vandal is covered in tattoos and holding a crowbar; one is wearing dirty cargo pants, and one sports a Neo-Nazi T-shirt. Clete, who carries a picture of a Jewish mother and her children going to the gas chamber in a Nazi concentration camp, ESPECIALLY hates Neo-Nazis and racists. [image] It seems Clete's car got mixed up with another Cadillac at the car wash, and the lowlifes are looking for their 'goods' hidden in the car. A vicious fight ensues, Clete gets knocked out, and the vandals skedaddle. When Clete recovers, he confronts the owner of the car wash, Eddy Durbin, who's very cagy. When pressed, Eddy admits his shady, brain-damaged brother Andy was involved with whatever was hidden in the Cadillac, but Eddy insists he doesn't know what it is. [image] Clete calls his friend Dave Robicheaux, who agrees to hang out at Clete's New Orleans house for a few days, in case the creeps come back. Clete and Dave do some nosing around, and learn that the Neo-Nazi who ripped up Clete's car belongs to a racist group called the New Rising. [image] Afterwards, circumstances lead Clete to harbor three women in his house: a night club dancer called Gracie Lamar, who got into trouble for kicking an aggressive customer in the mouth, and damaging his teeth; [image] a young Chinese drug addict called Chen, who was rescued from a human trafficker; [image] and a cleaning lady named Miss Dorothy, who's looking after Chen, and helping her kick the habit. [image] Meanwhile, all sorts of people seem desperate to find 'the goods' (supposedly) hidden in Clete's Cadillac. Some of them are murdered in horribly gruesome ways, which brings in a New Orleans vice cop and an FBI agent. [image] [image] As this is happening, Clete meets a pretty filmmaker named Clara Bow, who hires him to investigate her crooked husband. [image] It's clear Clara has an agenda, and Clete has a habit of falling for pretty young women, but this time Clete is 'rescued' by 15th century Joan of Arc. Joan has begun appearing to Clete when he needs help, or requires a nudge in the right direction, and Clete is convinced she's real. [image] Clete and Dave eventually learn the 'lost goods' the Neo-Nazis and their cohorts are looking for is a deadly substance called Leprechaun, that could do immeasurable harm. The conspirators don't care, as long as they make money from selling it. Clete and Dave make it their mission to stop the 'dealers', which leads to hazardous situations, violence, and death. The Bobbsey Twins from Homicide have a hard time dealing with all this horror, and Clete drinks too much, and tries to prevent Dave from blacking out and killing people. [image] [image] As always in the Dave Robicheaux books, James Lee Burke does a superb job of capturing the ambiance of southern Louisiana. with its mixed population of Acadians, Whites, Blacks, and others; the swamps and bayous; the spicy Cajun food, the jazz music; recreational fishing, etc. The reader almost feels like a visitor. [image] This is an engaging thriller, and I enjoyed the adventure scenes as well as the delectable scenes where Clete and Dave enjoy great local food, such as: porkchops; biscuits with butter and milk gravy; deep-fried fish and shrimp and oysters; fried chicken and dirty rice; ham and onion sandwiches with tomatoes, mayonnaise, and sauce piquante; beignets and coffee; and more. [image] Pork Chops [image] Biscuits with Butter and Milk Gravy [image] Deep-fried Fish and Shrimp and Oysters [image] Ham and Onion Sandwich with Tomatoes, Mayonnaise, and Sauce Piquante [image] Beignets and Coffee Thanks to Netgalley, James Lee Burke, and Atlantic Monthly Press for a copy of the book. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jun 21, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0063320681
| 9780063320680
| 0063320681
| 3.63
| 9,426
| Oct 17, 2023
| Oct 17, 2023
|
really liked it
| Jada Pinkett Smith (born 1971) is an American actress, singer, and talk show host. [image] Jada Pinkett Smith I'd seen Jada in several movies and televis Jada Pinkett Smith (born 1971) is an American actress, singer, and talk show host. [image] Jada Pinkett Smith I'd seen Jada in several movies and television shows, but knew little about her, other than the fact that she was married to actor Will Smith; had an 'entanglement' with a friend of her son Jaden; and was at the Oscars when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. When I saw Jada promoting her memoir on a talk show, I got curious, and decided to read her book. [image] Jada Pinkett Smith on the television series 'Gotham' One often thinks celebrities, being rich and famous, have easy lives, but reading their memoirs shows that's not always true. Jada begins her book by describing her despair at the age of forty: "For two decades, I'd been putting on a good face, going with the flow, telling everyone I was okay. Yet underneath, bouts of depression and overwhelming hopelessness had smoldered until they turned into raging hellfire in my broken heart." Jada was suicidal, but therapy and ayahuasca sessions (hallucinogens) with a medicine woman helped her heal. After this revelation about her mental health, Jada goes back to the beginning, when she grew up on the mean streets of inner city Baltimore. As a child Jada lived with her mother Adrienne - a nurse who was addicted to heroin; and her grandmother Marion - a refined woman who taught Jada the importance of gardening, being well-rounded, and spirituality. [image] Young Jada Pinkett Jada was something of a wild child, and as a young teen Jada was always sneaking out at night, navigating the dangerous Baltimore streets to see her boyfriend at the 7-Eleven. Jada had little use for school, and wanting to earn her own money, she became a drug dealer while also working part-time at a record store, or Merry-Go-Round (a clothing retailer), or the Gap. At one point, Jada even envisioned herself as a drug kingpin. During this time, Jada was robbed of her drug stash and money, and had a gun pointed at her, but was spared because she was 'too pretty.' [image] Inner City Baltimore [image] Teenage Jada Pinkett Jada's acting/singing/dancing talent showed up early, and by the time Jada started ninth grade at Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA), she'd been in the TWIGS program (To Work In Gaining Skills) for a year - a course for students who were interested in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and other creative disciplines. At BSA, Jada met fellow students Josh Charles (the actor) and Tupac Shakur (the rapper). [image] Jada Pinkett in high school [image] Tupac Shakur in High School Jada and Tupac became best friends, and remained close until the rapper was killed in 1996. Jada writes a great deal about her relationship with Tupac, whom she even visited in prison when he was accused of sexual assault. [image] Jada Pinkett and Tupac Shakur After performing in many local productions, and a year at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, nineteen-year-old Jada made her way to Hollywood. Jada details her early days in the movie capital, which included auditioning, acquiring an agent, and experiencing racism in the form of the question: "What are you mixed with? Is your mother White?" Jada observes, "This [implied] that to look as I did, I couldn't be of full African American heritage." (Which she is.) In a way, Jada was lucky, because from the late 1980s to the late 1990s, MANY doors began to open for Black actors and filmmakers, with TV shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Family Matters, and In Living Color; and movies from directors Spike Lee, John Singleton, Julie Dash, and others. [image] After a relatively short time, Jada was cast as Hillman College student Lena James in the television series, A Different World, and she was on her way! Though Jada was becoming a show business success, she remained loyal to her homegirls and homeboys in Baltimore, who lived in a completely different world - one that often involved guns, drugs, and prison. [image] Jada Pinkett as Lena James on 'A Different World' In the early days, Jada was something of a party girl in Tinseltown. She writes, "Play hard was my real-deal mantra. And it wasn't just drinking and getting f__ up, it was also men.....There were all flavors and varieties....Sex, for me, was a distraction from having to look at my genuine need to be held, have connection, and feel loved. It fed the appetite of the little girl who hadn't had enough parental affection and attention." [image] Jada Pinkett and Bumper Robinson on the television series 'A Different World' Jada's first big movie was 'Menace II Society' (1993), in which she played a young single mother. [image] [image] Jada Pinkett as a young single mother in 'Menace II Society' Eventually, Jada had a multifaceted career in television, movies, and music - with her nu metal band 'Wicked Wisdom', which she started in 2002. Jada details her climb up the show business ladder, which required ambition, hard work, luck, and talent. [image] Nu Metal band 'Wicked Wisdom' [image] Jada Pinkett Smith singing with her 'Wicked Wisdom' band In addition to the high points in her life, Jada highlights the inner turmoil she experienced. On an otherwise ordinary day, Jada was driving, felt hot and shakey, and turned into a side street to park. She notes, "I tried to to pull myself together through torrential tears and an avalanche of emotions. I felt incredibly anxious, my heart was beating out of my chest, my breath was short, and I couldn't fight off a tidal wave of sadness....It felt like fear and relentless sorrow had sucka-punched me." Jada called her mom to come to Hollywood, took steps to deal with the anxiety, and decades later, turned to ayahuasca and the medicine woman. Jada and actor Will Smith knew each other casually for years before their relationship heated up around 1995. Jada writes about Will, "He was a gifted conversationalist, highly intelligent, well read, and contagiously passionate about a wide range of interests....He had an expansive vision, not just for his career, although he made no apologies about his drive one day to be the biggest movie star in the world." [image] Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith [image] Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith got married on New Year's Eve Jada writes about the couple's courtship, their marriage in 1997, their children Jaden and Willow, and 'bonus son' Trey, from Will's first marriage. Jada and Will's union had ups and downs, and (what many people would consider) a curious 'open marriage' arrangement. Jada home-schooled Jaden and Willow using a controversial learning method from Scientology, and Jaden moved out at the age of fifteen. All this is well-detailed in the memoir, in case you're curious. In any case, both Jaden and Willow now have successful entertainment careers. [image] Jaden Smith (left) and Willow Smith [image] Trey, Willow, Jaden, Jada, and Will Smith (from left to right) In 2018, Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris began a talk show called the Red Table. The program, shown on Facebook from 2018 to 2022, was a "non-traditional talk show with topics explored from different, unfiltered perspectives." The show had a variety of high-profile guests, including Jessica Alba, Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Tiffany Haddish, Leah Remini and many more. [image] The Red Table hosts, (from left to right) Willow Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris [image] The actual red table, with (from left to right) Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Willow Smith Many people might read Jada's book to learn more about her alopecia, her entanglement' with musician August Alsina, and 'the slap' at the Academy Awards. Jada talks about losing her hair, on and off over the years, until now she's almost bald. Jada mentions her relationship with Alsina (she doesn't write his name, calling him the entanglee), which occurred after Jada and Will agreed to live separate lives, but remain married. Jada also writes about being at the 2022 Academy Awards when Chris Rock made a joke about her alopecia, and Will strode up to the stage and hit him. So you can learn more about those incidents, if you're interested. [image] August Alsina and Jada Pinkett Smith [image] Jada Pinkett Smith at the 2022 Academy Awards [image] Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards Jada includes much more in the book, writing a good deal about her extended family and friends, and expressing gratitude to the many people who provided career advice, guidance, and opportunities, such as Keenen Ivory Wayans, Debbie Allen, and others. I found the book interesting, and have a new respect for Jada Pinkett Smith, who - despite lots of wild shenanigans - is a successful entertainer, loving mother, resolute activist, caring person, and dog lover. [image] Jada Pinkett Smith with her dog Bandit Jada has gone on a long spiritual and self-education journey during her life, and she inserts advice, self-help tips, and philosophical ramblings at the ends of chapters. This is meant to be helpful, but I found much of it too airy-fairy. Overall, I recommend the book to readers who enjoy memoirs. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jun 21, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0316565083
| 9780316565080
| B0CK8CJM5D
| 3.94
| 20,671
| Jun 03, 2024
| Jun 03, 2024
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liked it
| 3.5 stars This book, about a VERY dangerous volcano, is a collaboration between Michael Crichton and James Patterson. In the backstory, Michael's wife 3.5 stars This book, about a VERY dangerous volcano, is a collaboration between Michael Crichton and James Patterson. In the backstory, Michael's wife Sherri explains that Michael was interested in volcanoes, and had begun a book, whose working title was 'The Black Zone', before he died. Sherri found the partial manuscript in Michael's archives, and felt the book should be completed. Sherri considered various collaborators, and when she met James Patterson, she knew she'd found the right guy. The result is 'Eruption.' ***** As the story opens, the Mauna Loa volcano - one of the five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii - is heating up, causing earth tremors, and getting ready to erupt. [image] Volcanologist Dr. John MacGregor (Mac), head of the Hawaiian Volcano Institute, determines the volcano will explode in about five days. [image] A volcano eruption is dangerous enough, but Mauna Loa is especially treacherous. Mac learns this when he's summoned to a meeting with some military brass, one of whom is Colonel James Briggs. [image] Briggs takes Mac to a huge lava tube (like a cave) in Mauna Loa, which is filled with storage receptacles containing radioactive herbicides. [image] The herbicides are SO souped up they can kill an entire tree in minutes. The bottom line is this: Should the herbicides get into the environment, they'll enter the atmosphere, contaminate the whole world, kill all the plants....and everyone will die. So, if the lava from Mauna Loa's eruption reaches the lava tube, it's all over. [image] One might ask, why did the military leave these SUPER dangerous storage receptacles in Mauna Loa? The answer is the army couldn't get funding from Congress to move the containers, and couldn't make a public fuss because the receptacles were filled with classified hush-hush pesticides. For the rest of the book, Mac - along with his crew and the army - maneuver to divert Mauna Loa's red hot lava so it doesn't reach the receptacles. This involves things like blowing holes in the volcano; building walls; building dykes; and so on. All this must be done in five days, and in secret, so the public doesn't panic. [image] Of course the secret does leak, and a pair of volcano chasers and a narcissistic billionaire businessman descend on Hawaii. This trio thinks THEY should direct the 'rescue operation', and things get complicated and dangerous. There are some striking scenarios, like people taking helicopters into Mauna Loa (before it erupts) so they can get pictures. The heat and ashes compromise the helicopter's rotors.....and you'll have to read the book to find out what happens next. Of course there's plenty of death and destruction in the book....can you imagine falling into a lava flow? [image] The book is formulaic, but it's exciting, with engaging (if somewhat two-dimensional) characters. A movie is in the works already, which will probably be a popular action thriller. You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com ...more |
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Jun 19, 2024
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| 4.31
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really liked it
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Jul 27, 2024
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| 3.95
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really liked it
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Jul 24, 2024
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| 4.20
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Jul 24, 2024
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| 4.36
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really liked it
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Jul 22, 2024
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| 3.95
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liked it
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Jul 19, 2024
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| 3.94
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really liked it
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Jul 19, 2024
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| 4.37
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really liked it
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Jul 17, 2024
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| 4.10
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liked it
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Jul 17, 2024
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| 4.86
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really liked it
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Jul 16, 2024
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| 4.34
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it was amazing
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Jul 12, 2024
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| 4.44
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really liked it
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Jul 07, 2024
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| 4.07
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Jul 07, 2024
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| 4.16
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liked it
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Jul 07, 2024
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| 4.09
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Jul 03, 2024
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| 3.72
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really liked it
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Jul 03, 2024
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| 4.50
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liked it
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Jul 02, 2024
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| 4.29
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liked it
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Jun 22, 2024
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| 4.12
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really liked it
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Jun 21, 2024
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| 3.63
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really liked it
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Jun 21, 2024
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| 3.94
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liked it
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Jun 19, 2024
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