REVIEW: Spare

 Spare
Author: Prince Harry

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I knew I wanted to read it. And I'm glad I did. 

Yes, Harry grew up incredibly privileged...the best schools, the best opportunities, world travel, etc. But it would be very difficult knowing your entire life that you were The Spare. The contingency. The one less-than. And, to have the press hounding you, everyone gawking at every aspect of your life, and being on public display at your best and worst. Somehow the money doesn't seem a good enough trade for all the bullshit. 

I understand why Harry walked away. I have a much clearer perspective of what life was like. 

This book covers Harry's early life, the loss of his mother, his military career and his marriage. He's pretty candid about his issues - drug use, rebellion, mental health concerns, depression. This book is pretty heavy reading in spots. 

My takeaway? Let Harry live his life. The press need to leave him alone. He really isn't a story anymore. Let him raise his kids, be with Meghan in the US, go about his charitable pursuits.....leave him alone. You all have done enough. Shit stirrers supreme. You killed his mother by constantly chasing her everywhere she went. You published lies upon lies. It's time to FO and move on.  I can't imagine having photographers jumping out of the bushes every time a member of the family leaves their home. Cutting fences? Using drones. Threatening to print lies unless photos and a story, or an interview are allowed. FFS -- ridiculous!!!!! 

And I believe every word Harry has to say about the press and how he was hounded every moment of his life. 

This has to stop. 

The portions of the book about squabbles inside the royal family really don't interest me. Not my circus, not my monkeys. And Harry doesn't really say anything all that bad about his family members. But I did notice that most of the problems are caused by the press -- appeasing the press, trying to get good press, what to do about lies printed, how to cover up problems or deal with things that make the family look bad....   It all comes down to shitty journalists. 

I know a couple journalists that I would LOVE to tell to their face to just shut up. One in particular that spouts hate about Harry and Meghan every chance he gets. Oh please do just fuck off, you ranting old man. Go off somewhere and scream at kids to get off your lawn. And every time someone challenges your opinions, you storm off in a huff (temper tantrum)....Kindly storm off and stay off. Your opinion doesn't matter anywhere near as much as you think it does, you blow hard. (Ahhhh it felt SO GOOD to say that!)

As for Harry -- I hope he moves on from this and is able to do good in the world, raise his family and be happy. He finally got his chance to have his say.

Glad I read it. Now I'm returning it to the library as there is a massive wait list for this book! 

Good read -- I recommend going into it with an open mind and hear what he has to say without letting your opinion either way blind you to the obvious truths that are in his story. For me, the family stuff was secondary to the horrible actions of the press when it comes to the royal family and celebrities. Completely ridiculous behavior!

REVIEW: Better Call Saul and Philosophy

 Better Call Saul and Philosophy
Editors: Joshua Heter & Brett Coppenger

My son tried literally for years to get me to watch Breaking Bad. I refused, stating that I just couldn't watch a show where the main characters were horrible and where the main topic was meth dealers. Then he showed me a clip of the spin-off show, Better Call Saul. 

It sucked me right in. I wanted to know more about Jimmy McGill....and after watching every season, of course, I had to watch Breaking Bad as well.  We have now watched every episode of both. I liked Better Call Saul better than Breaking Bad because my son and I had some long discussions about character motivation, events, whose behavior was the worst, etc. Then I saw this book online, and just had to read it. Many of the essays in this book mirrored discussions my son and I had while watching the show. Questions like: when was Chuck's ending inevitable? Whose behavior was worse - Chuck or Jimmy? Why did Kim and Jimmy do what they did to Howard? Is it worse to trick someone for fun, or as a means to an end? When had Jimmy gone too far to the Saul side to come back? Did Jimmy redeem himself in the end?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And, in discussing the essays with my son, we had even more moral discussions about the show and the characters. 

 Great book! It's part of the Pop Culture and Philosophy series. There are multiple books in this series ranging from Pokemon to Dave Chapelle and even Punk Rock. I plan to read more! 

REVIEW: A Perfect Bind

 A Perfect Bind
Author: Dorothy St James

Librarian Tru Beckett is still trying to keep a secret. After her library became all digital, Tru stashed a collection of physical books and documents in the library's basement. She checks the books out to patrons who promise not to breathe a word about the secret book room....but it's really tough to keep it secret when she keeps getting sucked into amateur sleuthing!

A Perfect Bind is the second book in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series This time Tru is investigating vandalism in the secret bookroom and a dead body left behind the library. Who committed the latest murder in Cypress, SC and why?? And, is the bookroom vandal a legendary poltergeist, or a local resident causing trouble? Tru definitely has her hands full!

I enjoy this series. The characters are enjoyable, the premise is entertaining and there is plenty of investigation, suspects and unexpected twists. Plus, Dewey the cat!

I listened to the audio book version of this story. The audio is just short of 9.5 hours long, so a nice listening length. The narrator is Allyson Ryan. She has a pleasant voice, reads at a nice, even pace, and does a good job of voice acting. I've listened to several cozy mysteries she has narrated and enjoy her performance each time.

This is definitely a cozy series I will continue reading. It's a nice mix of humor, sleuthing and light-hearted library drama.

I am so thankful for my local library's offerings on Hoopla! I get to enjoy so many audio books! Love, love, love my local library!

REVIEW: The Cabinet of Dr Leng

 The Cabinet of Dr Leng
Authors: Douglas Preston & Lee Child

I love this series. I will read every single Pendergast novel until the very last one...and any spin off series...and really, just anything these guys write. I'm hooked.

The Cabinet of Dr Leng is the 21st Pendergast novel. And sometimes a dark, creepy-cool series can start to get a bit dusty and repetitive after so many books. But Preston & Child keep finding ways to interject excitement, new directions and different plot twists into this series that it just keeps getting better and better! I make a point to never read blurbs, early reviews, or commentary on new books in this series. I start reading with no preconceived notions. Some of the action in this book caught me totally by surprise! I was glued to the page from start to finish.

Loved it! I'm definitely on board for the next book in this series, as always!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Stranded

 The Stranded
Author: Sarah Daniels

Wow! This book was so interesting! I found myself binge reading this one because I wanted to know what happened next! I've read a lot of dystopian stories....and sometimes they feel a bit cookie-cutter when it comes to plot. The premise of this book was different enough that I really got into the story!

The Arcadia used to be a luxury cruise ship. But for 40 years it's been the home of refugees who aren't allowed to step onto the mainland. The POV alternates in this story between a girl struggling for the life she dreams of, a rebel and the villainous captain of the ship. Normally I really don't like POV changes, but for this story it works well. It adds dimension to the plot and expands the characters, rather than creating confusion.

I'm not going to say much about the plot past the basics as I don't want to spoil anything. This story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. I kept finding myself contemplating what living on a ship for years and years would actually be like. I don't think I would like it! And I could definitely see the problems depicted in the book actually happening to people forced to live like that as refugees. Very interesting premise! This is the start of a series. I will definitely be reading more!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Fire. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Snuffed Out

 Snuffed Out
Author: Valona Jones

I have to admit that the cover art for this book is what drew me to the story at first. Very engaging and enchanting cover! Once I started reading, the cover took a back seat to the characters, the story and the premise of twin sisters running a candle shop.

The Basics: Sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow have completely different personalities, but together they do a great job running their business, The Book and Candle Shop. Things are going along magically until a problematic customer is found dead. When a clerk at the shop becomes the number one suspect, the twins find themselves doing some amateur sleuthing to save their business. Can they discover the killer's identity before their candle shop business goes up in smoke?

I enjoyed this story. The characters are quirky and the plot kept my interest. I liked the candle/bookstore subplot. It's been done before by others, but still entertaining.

I will definitely read the next book in this series! Can't wait to find out what happens next for the twins!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: The Villa

 The Villa
Author: Rachel Hawkins

Two friends have grown apart. Things always seem to magically align for Chess. And, Emily seems to struggle to find her path. Best friends. Or, at least they used to be. Things are a bit strained. They don't see each other much these days. Things have grown a bit distant due to schedules, jealousies, changes. When Chess suggests a girls get-away to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect and rekindle their friendship. The villa where they are staying has a history....an excitingly dark one. A famous horror novel written there. Stunning music composed there. A murder.....   As Emily gets pulled into investigating the events from 1974, it seems her relationship with Chess is disintegrating like those 3 friends from decades before.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Julia Whelan, Kimberly Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio, the audio is just under 8 hours long. The narrators are wonderful!

The story is a slow burn, and while I did enjoy it, I expected a bit more actual darkness, mystery, thrilling aspects, but the plot fell a bit short for me. No real gothic feel for me. Not all stories are for all readers, and this one just wasn't for me. I didn't mind the shifting time lines. The 1974 plot held more interest for me, and really carried any thriller/creepy vibes this book had for me. The modern day characters fell flat for me. I just never felt connected to that portion of the plot.

Definitely up for anything else by this author as I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls, but this newest story just isn't my thing.

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**