Review: Brave by Rose McGowan

★★★★

It doesn’t feel right “rating” an autobiography, especially one as intense and personal as this one, so consider my stars more of a decoration than a judgement.

Rose McGowan is an actress that had a significant presence in my formative years. (Favourite movie of all time: Scream. One of my favourite TV shows of all time: Charmed.) So, going into reading this, after the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, I felt a little bit of a connection to her. In some ways I grew up with her. Perhaps that affects my opinion of this book, as opposed to someone that saw Death Proof once or remembers her from that time she walked the red carpet at the MTV VMAs essentially naked.

I know this is not the typical book review you might expect to find on a blog dedicated to mysteries and thrillers, but I believe this is an important one to read. For me personally, as a feminist and as a woman, but also just in general. All people should be reading this book. End of.

Whether you agree with her opinions or not, there is so much in this novel that will make you think, make you reconsider an opinion or give you a new perspective you might not have considered.

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Booknerd Wednesday: WWW Edition…Plus the “YOU” trailer!

Hey Booknerds! It’s halfway through my work week, so it’s time to celebrate…

And in fact, I do have a treat for you! Hands up if you read 2014’s You by Caroline Kepnes…

*Raises hand*

I read the sequel, too. And I’m going to be all over the third instalment if there ever is one. The series has it’s ups and downs for me in terms of pop culture diatribe, canon characterization and plot points, but Joe is a character that has left an indelible mark on my bookworm soul and I just can’t not be involved with him. Yay for double negatives!

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Review: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

★★★★★

I went into this reading experience with full blown anxiety triggered by a library return date breathing down my neck.

I assumed there was not enough time for me to get through this because my weekend included my in-laws staying over and a front hall closet renovation. I decided to try anyway, because I ain’t no quitter. I opened this Saturday night, so completely aware that I had a Monday morning deadline that I got a little high first to set my nerves.

And guess what bitches!? I blew through this baby so hard I gave myself TMJ.

(My TMJ is a true story, but it’s not the book I blew through that gave it to me.)

Look, the truth is that this is not a groundbreaking novel, or even particularly original in it’s overall concept. I see a lot of middle-of-the-road reviews from my friends who just didn’t get into it, who thought it was overhyped and underwhelming and I understand. I think those reviews had a “Lowered Expectations” effect on me, because I FUCKING LOVED THIS BOOK.

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Review: The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen

★★★

This novel reads like the author really likes to watch the Hallmark Channel or Lifetime movies. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you’re into that.

Lort knows, I’ve binged all of the Aurora Teagarden movies like a fucking champ.

The Vanishing Season ticks off a lot of boxes on the “Cozy Lifetime Mystery Checklist.”

That’s a thing. Let’s go through it…

In a small town (✔️), Abigail Hathaway, who now goes by Ellery and escaped a serial killer as a teenager, (✔️) is now a cop herself (✔️). But no one knows about her dark past (✔️) and she intends to keep it that way. Ellery, with knowledge no one else has (✔️) connects three seemingly unrelated missing persons’ cases that she’s never worked on (✔️) and decides there must be a copycat killer in her tiny town (✔️), but no one believes her (✔️) and won’t, unless she outs her true identity (✔️). What this killer really wants is her (✔️)! The killer starts to leave her notes and packages to let her know he knows who she is, and is watching her (✔️).

Ellery calls for backup in the form of a disgraced FBI agent (✔️), who also happens to be the same agent that saved her from certain death all those years ago (✔️).

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Review: Her Last Day (Jessie Cole, #1) by T.R. Ragan

★★★

I hate writing reviews for novels that didn’t get me fired up one way or the other.

Gushing reviews are easy. Angry reviews are fun.

But a blah review?

I mean, it’s well, blah, and it doesn’t give me the creative spark to live up to my potential as a sassy reviewer ’round these parts.

Sooooo yeaahhhhh….I’m having a hard time deciding how I feel about this offering by T.R. Ragan.

You’ve got all the makings of success in my eyes, typically: A female P.I., a personal mystery, an interesting sub-plot and a serial killer on the loose.

Those are some big plot lines that have half the magic built right into them, all the author needs to do is throw in a little glitter and fire. Somehow this novel manages to be just okay – it’s missing the glitter and fire.

I see a lot of reviews calling it a fast-paced thriller and um…

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Book Tag: Twenty Questions!

Hey Nerds! I’ve got a review I should be writing, but this seemed like more fun because goddamnit I read another Patterson novel and I don’t know why I do that to myself!

I knowwwww so many people like him, but I think he’s truly shit and we are now arch nemeses.

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So, let’s do this first before I unleash my reader-anger onto that overproducing book machine. (These questions came from somewhere floating around on Goodreads.)

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Book Tag: One Lovely Blog Award

My Australian book buddy Greyson Reads tagged me for this one. She said I was “lovely and hilarious”, and obviously flattery works really well on me! Thanks, G!

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There are some rules…

Thank the person who nominated you for the award (well, duh.)
Display the banner/sticker/logo on your blog. (sure!)
Share 7 facts or things about yourself. (are there 7 facts about me? *thinks hard*)
Nominate up to 15 bloggers that you admire and inform the nominees (absolutely not.)

Ok, here we go. Don’t get weirded out and leave me once you know me better.

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Booknerd Wednesday: Valentine’s Day Edition

giphy (1) Hey, friends and lovers! Are you excited for Valentine’s Day? Have big plans with the one you love?

Or are there a million other things you care about besides this and it’s a pretty pointless, over-commercialized Hallmark holiday? I fall somewhere in the middle.

I’m married, so it’s not like I have anything romantic going on.

LOL @ sexless marriages.

Kidding.

*clears throat*

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Review: White Bodies by Jane Robins

★★★½

If you’ve ever wanted to eat your sister’s hair, this book is for you.

Or if you just like reading twisty novels about obsession, with a dose of weirdness, then definitely try this. I will in no way assume it’s because you also eat your sister’s hair.

This novel has a decidedly bleak and gloomy, unsettled atmosphere hanging over it, with a noir quality that is subtle, but evident. Combine that with twins and the “murder exchange” trope and you’ve got yourself something that can only fail in its cliches.

Callie is the ugly twin. Tilda is the beautiful one. I’m going to be honest, they both have serious mental health issues even if Tilda wants to play like only Callie does. Callie is a quiet, meek follower. Tilda is a leader, controlling and determined.

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Book Nook Sunday: Feb. 11, 2018

Sunday is here again!

I have to say it’s been a hell of a couple of days.

I’ve had the flu since Wednesday night, then had a pretty intense couple’s therapy session – while I was still sick – where my self-care was focused on. I guess it’s important I do things for myself so that I can be happier in a relationship blahblahblah.

Basically I need a creative outlet, something that is just mine that I’m CREATING, that I can put some of my energy into. This blog is so fun, but I’m just reading and writing – there’s a big part of spirit that needs a little bit more.

So, yesterday I hit up my favourite craft store and invested a few dollars in starting up my own #bookstagram to accompany this blog. You can find me by searching @thefuckingtwist!

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