Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach was quite interesting.  I had never really thought before about what it truly entails when you donate your body to science.  Organ donation is always the first thing people think of, I think.  There is so much more to consider.  Cadavers can be used for people learning to become a doctor to practice surgeries on.  They can be used to improve safety in vehicles.  They can even be "plasticized" and used in science classes to help budding scientists and doctors learn about the human body in a classroom setting.  Some of them have even been used to try to confirm the Shroud of Turin.  I definitely found this book quite fascinating.  If you are ok with the morbid topic and find yourself interested in the topic in even the slightest amount, then I recommend this book.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson wasn't quite what I expected.  I love listening to Neil deGrasse Tyson talk about the universe.  Therefore, I assumed I would enjoy this book.  It's not that I didn't enjoy it, but I didn't love it either.  I found my mind wandering a lot while listening to the audiobook.  I guess I was expecting it to be "dumbed down" so to speak based on the title.  The technical stuff caused me to tune out.  It's easier to pay attention when you can see Neil talking about it on a tv or computer screen than it is to listen to him read his book to you.  I will say that if you have trouble sleeping, then get this audiobook.  Neil has the perfect voice for putting someone to sleep.  It's very calming and soothing, but that makes it hard to pay attention a little.  So basically, if you are super interested in the universe and don't mind all of the technical wording, then definitely get this book.  If you're only mildly interested, then you may just want to watch Neil on television or the internet instead.  I give this 3 out of 5 stars.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley was a book that I heard about on a podcast.  The woman mentioned that the ending was a shock and made her cry.  She said it was an amazing book.  Therefore, I thought I'd give it a try.  She mentioned that it was about a survivor of a private plane crash, but that was all I new.  I would describe it as basically a mystery.  The entire book is focused around solving why the plane crashed.  There are intrigued, scandal, and well-developed characters in this book.  The main character is a recovering alcoholic painter who appears to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  However, the book takes you through the last days of all of the passengers' lives while trying to come to the truth about the accident.  I liked this book.  The mystery was opaque enough to keep me interested.  The characters were interesting.  The plot was pretty good.  Despite being a very common conclusion as far as who and why, I didn't feel as though I'd read this story a thousand times.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day

The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day was a decent book.  The main character is a woman who escaped an abusive relationship after her boyfriend almost killed her.  She spends 13 years "running" from him with their son that he does not know exists.  Having never been in  a situation like hers, I don't really relate to her.  Some of her decisions didn't make sense to me.  She's kind of likeable as a character.  I spent the duration of the book wanting her to get things together in her life and make decisions that make more sense for her son.  She spent so much time running that she just lost sight of what was in front of her.  I can't really say that I would recommend this book.  I give it 2 out of 5 stars.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a book of Norse mythology written basically in novel format.  If you enjoy Norse mythology but don't enjoy the dry way the stories are usually told, then this book is for you.  I've never read a mythology book where it read like a novel.  It was quite enjoyable.  If you are a huge fan of Thor as a character in the recent Marvel movies, you may want to pass on this book.  He is portrayed as being a bit unintelligent, which the author claims is how he was truly portrayed in the stories passed down through the decades.  It was a little annoying, but I didn't mind it enough to not read the book.  I really liked it... the story of Thor's hammer, how Odin lost his eye, how Loki deceives the gods.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah is a story of his life growing up.  I don't think you have to be a fan of the television show that he hosts to enjoy the book.  The book paints a picture of what it was like for him growing up as a biracial kid in South Africa during apartheid.  His mother is quite the character and incredibly resilient.  Noah jumps around throughout time making some of his material a little confusing.  One minute he's in middle school, the next he's six years old, then he's graduating high school.  His transitions were not always smooth enough, in my opinion.  I would need a minute to place the puzzle piece into the timeline that I was trying to keep in my head.  Overall, I did enjoy it.  It was eye-opening about what apartheid was like for him.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I Let You Go by Clare Macintosh

I'm going to give away a little of the story in I Let You Go by Clare Macintosh.  If you don't like stories about domestic violence, then this book is not for you.  I, personally, can handle those sorts of stories.  I really liked this book.  It was well written.  There was a mystery that you knew was there, but it wasn't the complete center of the story.  The main aspect of the story was intriguing in and of itself.  It was hard to understand why the main character was making certain decisions, but she was a likeable character.  I was on her side, so to speak.  There were twists and turns in the story that weren't always expected.  However, the ending was a little obvious, but still good.  There was one main part of the plot that I totally didn't see coming.  So, that was nice.  Overall, I liked this book.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

American War by Omar El Akkad

What can I say about American War by Omar El Akkad?  It's set in the future around 2075.  There is an American civil war going on.  Global warming has submerged a large portion of our country.  The concept intrigued me.  I felt as though the author could have done so much with the story.  However, he didn't really.  It was basically just a story of revenge.  Revenge that begets revenge to be more specific.  The ending was especially disappointing to me.  I just really saw no purpose to the book other than the revenge angle.  It was annoying for me, but if you like a good revenge story, then maybe give this one a try.  For me, it was a 2 out of 5 stars.

The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

I did not like The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy at all.  I added it to my "to read" list because it was someone's #1 must read for the summer.  I skimmed over the synopsis, and it seemed like it could be decent.  I was mistaken.  It's a true story of the author's life.  I get that life can stink sometimes.  I just didn't like her attitude toward things.  When a gay, married woman gets angry with people because they call her female spouse her wife, that just makes no sense to me.  I get that she sees herself as the wife and not her spouse.  However, getting angry at people about this is just absurd in my opinion.  I say cut people some slack just like you'd wish they'd cut you some slack about certain things.  It just really summed her up as a person it seems.  She did not seem like someone with whom I would be friends.  I feel for her because she went through some very horrible experiences, but to always look on the dark side doesn't help anyone in the end.  I give this book 1 out of 5 stars.

Gone Without A Trace by Mary Torjussen

Gone Without A Trace by Mary Torjussen is a psychological thriller.  I spent the entire book thinking that I knew one particular aspect about it.  I was wrong.  I spent a lot of the time trying to figure something else out, I kind of did but didn't at the same time and was completely off base as to the why of it.    It was definitely a good story.  The main character and her best friend were annoying, but they basically needed to be in order to make the story work.  The ending was a bit of an "oh my gosh, is she really going to do that" moment for me.  I think I could have done without that specific part, but overall I enjoyed it.  I would definitely recommend it if you enjoyed The Girl On The Train and similar books.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

I don't remember how Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez made it onto my "to read" list of books, but it was a mistake.  I think I happened to see it on a high school reading list and was not familiar with it.  I didn't know it to be "one of the classics."  So, I thought I'd check it out.  I just didn't get it.  It's about a guy who gets murdered, and everyone in the town knew he was going to be murdered.  However, no one did anything to stop it for various reasons.  It's not told in a gripping way despite the subject matter.  The characters are not developed in a way for the reader to feel any connection to them.  I was mostly bored reading this book.  I didn't even have any desire to delve into any kind of deeper meaning to the book.  It just felt pointless and boring.  Unless you are given this book as an assignment by someone, I wouldn't recommend it.  Maybe there's someone out there that could enlighten me as to it's purpose, but at this point, I give it 1 out of 5 stars.

How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life by Lilly Singh

How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life by Lilly Sing was a different type of "self-help" book.  I'm not sure if she truly intended it to be a self-help book, but that's the only way I can categorize it.  It's basically advice for life and for being a happier you.  She has a degree in psychology, but this book is not like the typical books written by psychologists.  It's a bit juvenile, and I would have never guessed she has a degree in psychology based on her YouTube channel.  That is not intended to be a complaint or an insult.  She's fun and uplifting in the way she gives advice.  She seems to be a very positive person.  However, there are a few weird parts of the book when she just jumps to down points in her life when she had to deal with depression.  It doesn't really fit, but I felt like she did it to show the readers that even people who seem to be happy all the time and uplifting can deal with the same types of down moments in life.  If you're a fan of her and her YouTube channel, Superwoman, then I think you would enjoy this book.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher is the first book in The Cinder Spires series.  It's a science fiction novel, but there aren't any aliens or anything like that.  There are some weapons that are sci-fi and the space crafts are as well.  Honestly, I did not pick this book for myself and would not have if I had just been browsing and saw it.  My husband picked it for him to read.  The minute he reached the chapter being told from the cat's perspective he had to suggest it to me being the cat lady that I am.  For me, that cat made this book worth the read.  The story wasn't bad either.  It was a little confusing to me in the beginning, but that didn't last long.  The story has some mystery, definite adversaries, a war, even a hint at possible romance and one cool cat.  It wasn't amazing or anything, but if you are a fan of sci-fi, I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy this book.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall

The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall wasn't really for me.  I got it because the description made it sound funny and maybe a little whimsical with a mystery thrown in there for good measure.  No, not really... not any of those really.  Sure, there was a bit of a mystery surrounding Polly's past but it wasn't incredibly intriguing.  There was no real humor in it at all.  It's just simply about a girl coming of age with an older-than-normal mother.  That's it.  If you can relate to that, then you might enjoy this book.  It IS well written.  I will give it that.  That was really it's only saving grace, so to speak.  Becuase it was well written, I give it 3 out of 5 stars.  Otherwise, it would have been no more than a 2.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough is a thriller novel.  It's kind of along the lines of Girl on the Train or Gone Girl.  They're all psychological thrillers.  This one was good, but mostly because of the ending.  The ending was a "no way!" moment.  Certain things about one of the characters were annoying, but they kind of had to be in order to get to the ending.  I was a little annoyed by that character throughout the book until the very end.  There's a crazy love triangle between a man, his wife and his employee.  The man and the employee have an affair.  The employee and the wife become best friends.  It's one of those books that makes you question the sanity of humanity.  If you enjoyed either of the two books I mentioned above, then I do recommend this book for you.  This one is at the same level as Girl on the Train.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Fix by David Baldacci

The Fix by David Baldacci is book #3 in the Amos Decker series.  Amos Decker has both synesthesia and hyperthymesia as the result of an old football injury.  He can't forget anything even if he tries.  He works for the FBI and uses these odd talents to solve cases.  This book has a story of espionage.  There were many times while I was listening to this book that I felt as though the book was almost finished.  However, it was just a turn in the road and the story would amp up again.  I definitely enjoyed this book even though I did figure out whom the "culprit" was pretty early.  I really like the character of Amos Decker and his quirkiness.  I'm also a fan of David Baldacci as a writer.  If you like him, too, then definitely pick up this book.  You really don't even have to read the other 2 before this one in the series.  They don't need each other at all.  I would recommend the other 2 as well, though.  All three of them have been good books if you like mystery/who-done-it stuff.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

The Camel Club by David Baldacci

I stumbled upon The Camel Club by David Baldacci.  I'm glad I did.  It's the first in a series, and I enjoy most of David Baldacci's work.  This one started off a little iffy.  It has several characters that are all separate in the beginning, but come together several chapters into the book.  I spent a lot of time in the first chapters trying to figure out how the people all came together.  It's a mystery situation with a murder and an even bigger plot that led to the murder.  It involves terrorism and secret service.  I think if you're a fan of David Baldacci you'll enjoy this book.  I think if you like murder mystery/espionage type stories, then you're likely to enjoy this book.  If you are not a fan of this sort of story, then just move on.  Pick a different book.  I give this book a 3 out of 5... nothing special but definitely enjoyable.

Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisom from the World's Greatest Investor by Janet Lowe

I actually got Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World's Greatest Investor by Janet Lowe for my husband to read.  He wanted some investing books.  After he didn't touch it for several days, I just picked it up myself.  It's not what my husband was looking for.  So, if you're looking for investing advice, don't bother with this one.  Don't get me wrong.  It was interesting learning about Warren Buffett.  He is quite fascinating.  I mean, he bought his first shares of stock at age 11.  However, there really isn't any real investing advice in this book.  There are generalized statements that Buffett has made such as "don't invest in something you don't understand" and "look for a company with good managers."  On the side of real investing advice, this book has nothing.  So, if you want to learn about Buffett and his philosophies in general, go for it.  If you want a book about investment strategies, keep looking.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein

I have no idea why You'll Grow Out of It by Jessie Klein made it into my "to read" queue.  I don't know who she is, but I do enjoy a good autobiography.  However, this one did not impress me much.  She's a stand up comedian but it really wasn't that funny.  She spent most of the book telling about all the stupid things she has done in her life.  I'm not sure she considered all of them stupid though.  She often prefaced something with "I'm embarrassed to say."  I just don't relate to people like her.  She's a woman who doesn't have a lot of self-esteem and just does things that I consider dumb because of it.  I will say that the end kind of saved her a little.  The parts where she talked about her problems getting pregnant made me feel like maybe she had matured and learned her lessons from all the stupid stuff and hopefully improved her feelings of self worth.  She felt more like someone I could ALMOST hang out with.  I still don't relate to the self pity banana pudding, but the fertility issues I relate to.  Overall, the book was just.... meh.  I give it a 2 out of 5 stars.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay ASher

I've read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher before and liked it.  I read it again this time after watching the Netflix television series just to see if there was anything different between the two.  There were several things different, but none of them were different enough to affect the story really.  So, if you've seen the series, then you've basically read the book.  I really liked this book.  My husband did not.  He is too logical for it.  He didn't understand why the main character, Hannah, did the things she did and reacted to things the way she did.  She was illogical in his mind.  The story is basically Hannah's explanation (or 13 reasons, a.k.a. 13 people) as to why she committed suicide.  So, it's not a lighthearted book at all.  However,  I think it's a good book for open-minded parents to read, especially if you have a teenager or an almost teenager, and realize how impressionable teenagers are.  I'm not sure where Jay Asher got his information for writing this book, but it felt very realistic to me.  There wasn't anything in the book that made me think, "There's no way that would ever happen in real life."  It's a tale of 13 people, more really, not realizing what their words and actions were doing to an already vulnerable young woman trying to find her place in the world.  I would definitely recommend this book.  I would love for every teenager to read it... not under 14 or 15 though.  Some subject matters are on the adult side of life.  Just go into it with the mindset that each person is an individual and just because you see things one way doesn't mean everyone sees it that way.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain is a somewhat of an interesting book.  I'm an introvert so I relate to most of what the author said.  However, about half of the book, or maybe more, felt as though the author was just really writing the book to justify who she is instead of to inform people about introverts.  What she said about introverts was definitely interesting, especially with respect to relationships introverts have with extroverts.  Relationships where introverts and extroverts are married to each other and how they cope with the difference.  The other most interesting part of the book were the studies about the productivity of extroverts and introverts in the work place or the studies done on babies to try to predict if they would become introverts.  This is another one of those books where if you're interested in the subject matter, then sure, give it a go.  If not, just keep looking.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

The Secret Life of Fat: The Science Behind the Body's Least Understood Organ and What It Means for You by Sylvia Tara

I read The Secret Life of Fat: The Science Behind the Body's Least Understood Organ and What It Means for You by Sylvia Tara at the recommendation of my husband.  He participates in triathlons and has become interested in losing 15 pounds.  He read this book when he happened to stumble upon it.  He found it interesting, I only mildly so.  Sure, it's interesting to me that there is a possibility of someone becoming fat from being scratched by a chicken.  It's crazy, right?  Apparently, maybe not.  Other than that, the only thing that really resonated with me from this book is that we're all different.  We all have to find what works for each of us to maintain/lose weight.  No ONE program is going to work for every person.  Yes, it's a fascinating concept, but maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a book like this.  Or, maybe the way the information was put forth just didn't excite me.  I mean, the 3 types of fat... meh, just bored me.  There are informative parts of the book that were just that, information... almost like a textbook feel.  I'm not sure a person could make that stuff exciting though.  With all that being said, I'm one of the lucky ones.  I don't try hard, yet I'm thin.  So, if you're not one of the thin ones and you struggle with weight and feel like you've tried everything out there, then I WOULD recommend that you pick up this book.  There are topics and ideas in it that I would have NEVER thought about with regards to weight.  It's not your typical "eat right and exercise" propaganda.  Not to say that you won't have to actually eat right and exercise.  You probably will.  But, this book could help you find the way to go about it that will actually work for you.  You may not like what works for your body, but it's a choice you can make.  So, I would only recommend this book if you are looking to find a way to lose weight or if you are just simply fascinated by the craziness that is fat.  I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower

The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower was an o.k. book, nothing super special.  There were some interesting tidbits throughout the book like the details of LBJ's shower, Hillary Clinton during her husband's famous affair, and Nancy Reagan's crazy request for a state dinner dessert just 2 days prior to the dinner.  It's a book that is told from the perspective of the massive staff that runs everything behind the scenes at the white house... the chefs, the butlers, the maids, the nannies, etc.  Most people probably don't think about the white house in the eyes of these people.  These are people that stay at the white house for decades sometimes, from administration to administration.  There are no REAL juicy details of gossip sort of information.  It's just not that kind of book, and I feel as though these staff members aren't really the type to spread that type of information.  They seem very loyal.  Like I said though, there are several interesting stories.  I'd say if you have any interest in the white house and what it's like behind the scenes, then you might want to check this book out.  It wasn't great, but interesting, nothing life-changing.  I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.

A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back

A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back by Kevin Hazzard was an interesting read.  I wouldn't recommend it if you're squeamish with possible gory medical emergencies.  There really weren't that many gross ones but the ones that were could be a pretty disgusting image in your head.  I did "enjoy" reading the stories though.  I put that word in quotes because it's weird to say that I enjoyed reading stories about medical emergencies.  It was hard to consider some of them as they didn't all end well.  However, I've always been curious about the odd and interesting things EMTs must see and do all day.  This book was the answer to that curiosity.  For example, one story was about a man that nailed his elbow to a wall... on purpose.  I'll let you read the book to find out why.  It's a book that shows a different side to life and was well written.  If you are considering going into the field, I would definitely recommend you read this.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

I really enjoyed Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth.  It's about gritty people and how their grit helps them succeed and that talent is not always an indicator in success.  The author pulls from research in West Point, the Seattle Seahawks and JP Morgan among others.  The research was really interesting.  I wouldn't say that the information coming out of the research was surprising, it's just interesting to have it come together in so many different, unrelated corners of life.  The part concerning the National Spelling Bee candidates probably surprised me the most.  The book definitely made me want to "pick a hard thing" (read the book to find out what that means).  I'm even planning to have my 11-year-old son read it.  I hope he understands it and draws something from it that will help him understand why I am always holding him to such high standards.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson

The Subtle Are of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson was not a good choice for me.  I get his message, I think, but he has a horrible way of telling it.  If you don't like reading the F word A LOT, then don't bother reading this.  He can't seem to stop using it.  Apparently, he has few words in his vocabulary.  He's trying to tell you not to care about the things in life that don't really matter, but he goes about it in a way that made me feel like I was in front of my doctor and she was telling me I have cancer and only 6 weeks to live while blowing cigarette smoke in my face and texting on her cell phone.  Maybe I felt that way because I listened to the audiobook and the author was not the reader.  It could be that the reader didn't read it the way the author intended.  It's hard to say that though with the number of F bombs that were dropped.  If you're thinking of reading this book, just tell yourself that it doesn't matter how much money everyone else has.  It doesn't matter what car everyone else drives.  Material things don't really matter.  What matters are the things and activities that make me happy in life.  Then, you'll save yourself the trouble of being cursed at for an entire book.  I give this book a 1 out of 5 stars... not sure I even want to give it that, but the message is there if you sort through it all.

My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

I'm not sure how "short and sweet" I can be with My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman.  I REALLY enjoyed this book.  I haven't read a touching book in quite some time.  I'm a sap and cry way too easily.  This book had a good balance of sappy to funny so that I barely shed a tear but my heart strings were tugged quite often.  Elsa's grandmother dies of cancer and leaves a trail of apology letters for Elsa to deliver.  Elsa is only 7, but very bright and takes on the challenge with gusto.  She loves her grandmother immensely.  They shared a fairy tale world that she thought was only theirs and theirs alone.  She discovers that she is mistaken.  She learns where all of those fairy tales came from that her granny told her.  It really is such a touching book.  I loved the characters.  I loved the way it's written.  It's a novel that might make you think about what you might wish you would have done differently at death's door... to whom you might apologize in the end.  However, it doesn't do it in a bad way, if that makes sense.  It doesn't focus on the apology letters really, so the concept is not in your face.  It's very subtle.  The reader gets so focused on Elsa that some may even miss it.  Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, touching story.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Drafter by Kim Harrison

Hmmmmm, what to say about The Drafter (the first in The Peri Reed Chronicles) by Kim Harrison...  It's not my typical choice of book.  I don't read a lot of sci-fi.  They tend  to be a little mundane in getting to the point of the plot.  This one, however, wasn't like that.  It's sci-fi, but it doesn't really feel like it.  It ALMOST feels like a romance but not quite.  You can tell that Silas is in love with Peri.  The problem is Peri doesn't know him, at least not exactly.  She did once, but doesn't remember him.  She is what is known as a drafter, someone who can slip back in time a little, usually less than a minute, to change something.  Peri is apparently one of the best.  The concept is really quite interesting.  The drafter drafts and that person's anchor gives the drafter the memories back because the drafter forgets things while s/he drafts.  So, yes, I found that VERY interesting.  However, there are parts of the story that I feel are there simply to have the "right" kind of plot.  There's the Alliance and Opti, two different groups or companies or whatever they are, and they are adversaries.  The book never really explains why, just that Opti is corrupt.  So, there was a lot of back story that is just brushed over.  It makes it feel as though the author had a checklist for her plot process and just checked them off as she went.  It wasn't annoying enough to stop reading the book though.  I got over it.  I would say that the book is definitely worth a read simply for the concept of the drafters and anchors.  I did not like the ending, but it IS supposed to be a trilogy.  So, technically, it didn't end.  I think I will read the next one.  It's worth it to see what happens to Peri but I can't tell you why without giving away the ending.  I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars mostly for the concept of the drafters.

The Last Mile by David Baldacci

The Last Mile by David Baldacci is the second book in the Amos Decker series.  Amos Decker is a man who has hyperthymesia as the result of a head injury during a football game.  Hyperthymesia is a condition where the person has a near perfect memory.  Amos couldn't forget something even if he tried.  He has signed on with the FBI to a new task force to study old, cold cases.  Amos never makes it to any of those cases in this book because he hears the story of a man being released from death row, who was there for the murder of his parents, because someone else came forward and confessed.  Decker is compelled to study this case instead.  The book is well written.  I typically like David Baldacci and his work.  This one did not disappoint.  I would recommend reading the first one before this one though.  Some of the main characters carry over, so you miss their introductions and getting to know them if you don't read the first one before this one.  The mystery in this story is good.  It has several twists and turns, some of which I didn't see coming.  I like Decker's methods for solving things.  His hyperthymesia makes it more interesting.  Overall, it's a good book.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good murder mystery.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

If you're looking for a happy, fun book, then The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is NOT it.  It's going to be hard not to give away certain things, but I'll try not to.  There is a lot of excessive drinking and drug use with drug lingo with which I'm unfamiliar.  When Theo (the main character) loses his mother, there is a scene that is so weird, and I felt it never fully got explained.  The main character is supposed to be this smart, gifted kid, but he just makes such stupid decisions.  I guess you're supposed to just brush that off as a kid who lost his mother and his father is a deadbeat.  It just annoyed me.  I wanted to like Theo, but he annoyed me.  There were many characters that annoyed me.  I spent more time thinking, "why am I reading this book" than enjoying it.  In the end, it all ends up being a moment of catharsis, but that was totally expected.  The whole time I was reading it I felt as though the author was going for some sort of deep, thought-provoking book, but it was missing the mark for me.  I just didn't relate to it.  I'm sure there are people out there who do though... people who feel as though nothing ever goes their way.  Part of it even felt very juvenile, as though this were a young adult novel.  It's not.  I don't know.  I just felt as though this book was reaching for something meaningful and deep, but it fell way short.  Even the love story tangled within the mess annoyed me.  I just found it all very annoying.  I give it 2 out of 5 stars because I thought it was pretty well written style-wise.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

I decided to read Gilead by Marilynne Robinson because it was on a reading list for the magnet high school I'm hoping my child can attend in a few years.  I hope they take it off the list before he gets there.  It was incredibly boring.  One synopsis of the book mentions the "unbearable beauty of an ordinary life."  That's exactly what this book is.  It's told from a father's point of view as he writes letters to his son because he is old and dying.  I got so bored my mind wandered MANY times.  I'm not even sure I could give you a good enough account of the book if I wanted to.  However, there is a twist at the end (I think, as I said my mind wandered) that made me wish I had paid more attention to certain parts of the story.  However, I didn't care enough to go back and decipher if what I thought it was saying was accurate.  So, if your touched by mundane, daily life stories with characters that you don't grow to feel anything for all told from one perspective, then go for it.  Read this book.  I think the ending was trying to be profound, but if your mind wanders too often, you'll miss it.  I give this book 1 out of 5 stars.

The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan

The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan is simply a book that I came across and thought it sounded interesting.  It was never on a must read list of mine.  I was simply intrigued by it's subject matter.  That being said, it wasn't a life-changing read or anything.  It was interesting for the most part though.  I like thinking about positive things.  I even write down things for which I am grateful sometimes although not every day.  I think it's a good habit to have, looking on the bright side of life.  I like the comment in the book when she says that one cockroach can ruin a bowl of cherries, but one cherry does nothing to improve a bowl of cockroaches.  If you ponder that thought for a minute, you'll see that it's a really good example of what she's trying to get across.  Don't let that one bad thing make you forget about all those good things in that are still in the background.  Don't focus on the cockroach so much.  Smash it, throw it out and move on.  If you're one of those people who always has something to complain about and want to change that, then pick up a copy of this book.  There could be something in it that helps you turn yourself around.  If nothing else, it will help you see what positivity can do for a person.  I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich

Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich is the 23rd installment in the Stephanie Plum series.  Now, I know that number seems high, but for those of us who are a fan of the series, it doesn't feel high.  I've read all of the 22 previous books, and I'll say this... if you get bored of a concept really easily, then this series is not for you.  It's about a woman who became a bounty hunter for her cousin.  There is always a mystery to solve, usually involving a murder.  Stephanie is the main character/bounty hunter.  She has no training or special skills to be in this line of work.  So, she always gets herself into a jam.  It's a little annoying at this point because you think she would have learned from her mistakes.  However, the humor that Evanovich includes throughout the books makes up for that.  I find myself laughing out loud with a lot of her books in this series.  The first one is still my favorite.  This one... it was a little lacking for me.  It was still good, and I feel like I'm keeping up with Stephanie and her crazy love life with 2 men in the picture.  Her sidekick is a woman who used to be a prostitute named Lula, and she is always good for a laugh.  Overall, I'm glad I didn't skip it.  I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.