Book Review- Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus' So Close

Thank You to Sparkpress for providing me with an advanced copy of Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’ latest novel, So Close, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Amanda Beth Luker was raised in an impoverished Florida town, by a wild-child teen mom. Now in her twenties and looking to escape her upbringing, Amanda falls in love and runs away to live in Miami. Unfortunately, love is a fickle thing and she is struggling to make ends meet working at a high-end resort hotel. Amanda is nearly defeated, when she meets a few rich and powerful people who might be able to help her improve her circumstances, including a congressman mounting a presidential campaign and a handsome playboy who seems to be her polar opposite. Will Amanda be defined by her past or will she be able to change her circumstances?

LIKE- I’m a fan of the writing collaborations between McLaughlin and Kraus, so I was very excited to be approved for an advanced copy of So Close. As with their previous novels, So Close, has a strong protagonist and is a good mix of comedy and heartfelt drama. It was easy for me to get swept up in Amanda’s story and her desperation to change her life. I also enjoyed the glamour as Amanda gets introduced to how the other-half lives, extreme wealth that creates a strong contrast to her own family circumstances. So Close has an overriding moral message, of the “grass isn’t always greener on the other side” and on not rushing to judgement with regard to other people’s lives.

DISLIKE- From the first time that he is introduced, I did understand the romantic connection between rich playboy, Pax and Amanda. The chemistry wasn’t there and it felt awkward. I felt like he was somewhat unnecessary to the story or at least his role should have been minimized. The romance storyline, was far less engaging, that the story of Amanda climbing up the ladder as a political aide. When she is working, Amanda is shown as competent and plucky, but with Pax, she seems to lack confidence. On one hand, this is showing different sides to a character and allowing her insecurities to show, but as a reader it was off-putting. I never felt that Pax was likeable, so I never rooted for their relationship to succeed. I wanted to root for them.

RECOMMEND- Maybe. So Close is a summer, beach-read type of story. In this election year, its theming is timely. I enjoyed So Close, but I’m doubtful that it will stick in my memory for very long.

Book Review- Dr. Vincent DiMaio and Ron Franscell's Morgue: A Life in Death

Thank You to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of Dr. Vincent DiMaio and Ron Franscell's Morgue: A Life in Death, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In Morgue: A Life in Death, veteran crime writer, Ron Franscell, teams up with pathologist, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, to explore DiMaio's long career and most important cases. 

LIKE- Even though DiMaio is quick to point out that much of what we see on shows like CSI, are overdramatized and inaccurate, I can't help but mention that in recalling his most famous cases, I think that DiMaio captures the spirit of what makes those fictional crime stories, or even the way our society obsesses of real criminal trials, so intriguing: the idea of an unsolved puzzle and piecing together the clues from small details. There isn't a dull moment in any of the cases that are mentioned in Morgue: A Life in Death. 

Speaking of not-dull, nothing is left to the imagination. The horrendous and disturbing details of death take up many pages. I found this surprising and fascinating, but it's certainly going to be upsetting for many readers. My father committed suicide by gunshot and I have to admit that I found the extreme details of Lana Clarkson's death by gunshot through the mouth, to provide images that I can now apply to my father, that had not previously been in my frame of reference. Did I need to know these things? Probably not. If you're squeamish or easily upset; proceed with caution. That said, these details were completely engaging and kept me glued to the book.

Many of the cases will be familiar to readers, such as Lana Clarkson/Phil Spector or the Trayvon Martin murder. Not every case is current, such as exhuming Lee Harvey Oswald's body to determine if it really was him that was buried, rather than a Russian spy or taking a closer look at Vincent Van Gogh's death. Was Van Gogh really a suicide?

I was shocked to learn that there is a great need for medical examiners. This low-paid profession ( when compared with other medical field careers) is overwhelmed with case-loads, often meaning that criminals are not being prosecuted like they should. Also, in some parts of the country, people can run for coroner as an elected official, even if they don't have medical qualifications. Crazy!

DISLIKE- Although it was interesting to learn about DiMaio's background and family life, it could have been shortened. Those sections of the book ran long and were less interesting than the case studies.

RECOMMEND- True crime fans, you need to get your hands on Morgue: A Life in Death. Grizzly, fascinating, and important. 

Book Review - F.G. Paci's Talk About God & Other Stories

Thank you to Guernica Editions for providing me with an advanced copy of F.G. Paci's collection, Talk About God & Other Stories, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - F.G. Paci's Talk About God & Other Stories, contains eight stories, including the title piece. Often humorous, Paci's stories range in theme from a reality show chef with family problem, to a story about a group of odd-balls connecting over their deep passion for cinema. 

LIKE- I have to admit that the stories were hit or miss. I felt like the stories fell into two categories: 1. Those that were thematic rants, and 2. those with strong character development. I gravitated towards those with the strong character development.

 I enjoyed Chef of all Reasons for its melancholy tone and the way that it showed the double-life of a reality show persona; the sunny on air personality and the man trying to keep it together behind the scenes. Paci has a knack for dialogue writing and this is particularly memorable in, Talk About God, a story with a very awkward dinner party. I liked the quirky cinema loving characters in Last Movie in Kinmount. Not only does the story have strong characters, but it has this wonderful tonality.

I like Paci's sparse style of writing. It's clean and direct. He also has a wicked, dry sense of humor that I find appealing. 

DISLIKE - I didn't connect with half of the stories, those that seemed to be more of a rant or monologue. I felt that Paci was choosing a theme, over story or character, and they didn't resonate. These stories included The Wager, Reading Boot Camp, and Philosophy for Idiots. In each of these, there were passages or moments that I enjoyed, but on a whole, I found the stories lacking.

RECOMMEND- I'd recommend some of Paci's stories, but I would not recommend Talk About God & Other Stories as a collection.