Book Review- Gillian McAllister's Wrong Place Wrong Time

Jen witnesses her eighteen-year-old son murder a stranger outside of their house. Shocked and terrified, Jen and her husband must return to their home, while their son is arrested. The next morning, Jen wakes up and realizes that she has returned to the previous day, the morning before the murder. Each time she goes to bed, Jen jumps to a different day in the past, sometimes years in the past, each day holding a piece of the puzzle to solve the murder. Jen works to crack the case, but struggles as each time she travels further into the past, she must decide who she can trust with the news of both her time travel abilities and the impending murder.

I like a good mystery and I was excited when my neighborhood bookclub selected Gillian McAllister’s Wrong Place Wrong Time. I had been eyeing this book and was intrigued by the premise. I liked the intensity of the opening chapter, which starts with the murder. I was compelled to keep reading and finished half the book in a single sitting. The story has some solid surprises and I was kept guessing until the last forth of the book, when I anticipated the twist- still a very good twist!

The overall concept is strong and unique. The time travel component adds a level of intrigue. How Jen is able to time travel is never explained, however, I like the idea that whatever entity is making this possible, is taking her to the points in time that are key to solving the mystery. It’s a clever idea. It also gives Jen the problem of figuring out who she can trust with this information and who might think she is crazy. The flip-side to this time travel element is it started to feel tedious during the second half of the book. I think the framing of the chapters starting with a time jump bogged down the pacing. I also found the epilogue to be unnecessary and wish the book had ended with Jen.

On a whole, I enjoyed Wrong Place Wrong Time. I don’t believe that I have read McAllister’s other books, but I will seek them out and look forward to her future works. Her character development is fantastic and I liked her twists.

Book Review- Ben Coates' Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands

On my fall trip to Europe, I spotted Ben Coates’ Why the Dutch are Different at a Waterstones Bookshop in London. Just a few days later, I would be traveling with my husband via Eurostar to Amsterdam, so I thought this would be the perfect book for the second half of my trip. I even started reading it on our train journey.

If you are traveling to the Netherlands or interested in the Netherlands, Coates’ book is a fantastic dive into the history and culture of the country. I think many people know about the tulip craze in the Netherlands, but I had no idea that the Netherlands was the world’s first financial center and had the world’s first stock market. I even visited the financial area on my recent trip.

I suspect that many people have the notion that the Netherlands, specifically the city of Amsterdam, is just one big hedonistic party, but Coates explains how this image is not accurate. He shares the Dutch view of the concept of tolerance, which should not be confused for acceptance or even mean that certain behaviors are legal. For example, many tourists mistakenly believe that marijuana is legal in Amsterdam, but it is not. It is tolerated. Meaning, you can buy it at certain coffee shops and consume it specific areas, and generally, the police will turn a blind-eye to the situation, even though, technically, it is illegal. Historically, this has also been the case for prostitution, however, recent legal changes have been made to legitimize sex workers.

In the past, the concept of tolerance has also been used for religion, for example, when protestants were the dominate religious group. and it was illegal to practice catholicism. I went on a walking tour of Amsterdam, where a hidden catholic church was pointed out and we were told that in the 1600’s, catholics would attend mass here. There was a pretense of secrecy, although the hidden church was well-known amongst local protestants and tolerated, as long as the pretense of secrecy was maintained.

Coates explains the Netherland’s unique geographical position and the use of windmills to pump water and reclaim land. He explores the diverse cultures and religions that coexist in the country, including the influence of the Netherland’s former colonies. On my first trip to the Netherlands, I learned that Surinam was a former colony. People from former colony were given the choice to immigrate to the Netherlands, so today, there is a vibrant Surinamese community. On my first trip to Amsterdam, I went on a food tour and we visited a Surinamese sandwich shop. The flavors were nothing like I had ever tasted and absolutely delicious.

These are just a few of the topics that Coates explores in Why the Dutch are Different. The Netherlands is a unique country that has made a big impact on the larger world. It’s fascinating to see how the Dutch have handled changes within their culture and with their landscape, both through the centuries and in the present day.

Book Review- James Reginato's Growing Up Getty: The Story of America's Most Unconventional Dynasty

Thank you to LibroFM and Simon and Schuster Audio for a copy of James Reginato’s Growing Up Getty: The Story of America’s Most Unconventional Dynasty.

Growing up in Southern California, the Getty name was part of my landscape. I went from visiting their incredible namesake museums to having a huge preteen crush on Balthazar Getty, who is just a few years older than me. I couldn’t help but be drawn to Reginato’s Growing up Getty, and I was not disappointed.

Reginato explores the humble beginnings of the Getty dynasty, which really came to fruition through the shrewd oil investments of J. Paul Getty in the early 1900’s. His father, who was also very financially successful, gave J. Paul Getty money for his initial investments, which he in turn, grew substantially. As much as J. Paul is known for his wealth, he is also known for his five marriages. J. Paul had five sons. Reginato explores these children and their off-spring, showing how each member of the Getty family has contributed to the Getty legacy.

I learned that many members of the Getty family are quite reserved and although they have contributed money, time, and ideas to better society, they have kept out of the limelight. Of those who have been in the public eye, Balthazar is famous for his acting career and youthful bad-boy behavior, and John Paul Getty III, is famous for having been kidnapped and held for ransom. The story of the kidnapping was made into a recent film starring Michelle Williams called, All the Money in the World. Reginato’s discussion of the kidnapping attempts to refute the popular mythology that J.Paul Getty was so miserly, that he coldly refused to pay the ransom. Reginato pitches an alternative scenario, where Getty is hampered by his money, power, and fame, making it a difficult decision to cave to the kidnapper’s demands.

Reginato paints a picture of a complex family tree, with diverse interests and desires. Some are using their money to work on environmental issues, some have been sidelined by addiction problems, and some are trying to strike out on their own. Its begs the question of what would the reader do if their problems were more about how to handle a legacy, than how to financially survive? I found much to admire in many of the Gettys. I was fascinated by their family rituals and deep connections in the United Kingdoms. They live in a world that is so exclusive and elusive, that I enjoyed the glimpse that Reginato provided. A fun and utterly enthralling read.