143. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

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L’Engle, Madeleine. AWrinkle in Time. New York, NY: Square Fish, 1962, Print.

232 pages

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

A Wrinkle in Time is a classic in young adult/children’s science fiction. It tells the story of Meg, her younger brother, and a friend as they travel through space and time to try and locate their missing father. The book is heavy handed on Christian themes, and quite obscure and abstract in certain parts. I’m glad I read this as an adult and not a child. Had I read it as a child, it would have all been muddy and confusing to me.

I am generally not a big sci-fi fan but something about how l’Engle crafted this story made it feel cozy rather than technical. The characters were lovable and I especially loved Charles Wallace, Meg’s younger brother. The world building was difficult to process. I am not well-versed in quantum physics and this book is thick in it. In order to really enjoy the book I had to just let go of my wish to actually understand how things were happening and just experience the story as a story.

All in all, I enjoyed reading the book and found the ending touching but I don’t foresee reading this again in the future.   

Would I read it again? 

No

Recommended for

I’m not entirely sure, honestly. It doesn’t read like “true” sci-fi but it also isn’t really a fairy tale.

Not Recommended for

Readers who need clarity or are uncomfortable swimming in abstractions.

3.5 stars out of 5

Madeleine l’Engle’s website: https://www.madeleinelengle.com/

Madeleine l’Engle on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/106.Madeleine_L_Engle

 

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141. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

 

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Ramsey, Dave. TheTotal Money Makeover. New York, NY: Nelson Books, 2007, Kindle eBook.

229 pages

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

I picked up The Total Money makeover because it has been pushed on me and pushed hard. Any mention of finances in any of my social circles and I was suddenly being in-boxed adamant suggestions that I read this book and adhere to Ramsey’s advice. I finally caved and bought a copy for my Kindle. I now regret spending my hard-earned dollar on this book rather than checking out from the library.

Ramsey uses the metaphor of “fatness” to describe when a person is lacking financial freedom. He calls lacking financial freedom being “financially flabby.” He describes fat bodies in ways that make them seem undesirable, disgusting, and unworthy of existing. This fat-phobic theme arches through the entire book and set me on the path to greatly disliking not only the book, but Ramsey himself.

Ramsey in the very first chapter tells you that what he wrote in this book are a collection of unoriginal ideas. He admits that he not adding anything new to the field of finance but repeating financial “truths” and debunking some financial myths. You can so easily find this information literally anywhere else. It is not Ramsey specific and he doesn’t provide a unique or original strategies to the field. I’m not making that up. He flat out states that in the first chapter. So why write a book and then market it to a bunch of people struggling financially, desperate for answers? Money, duh. Ramsey’s ultimate goal is to be super rich and I guess exploiting readers is one way he meets that goal.

The chapters are made up of a recipe of thirds. One third of the chapter is actual, practical advice (that you can find anywhere else online), the second third is Ramsey shaming people for being financially “flabby,” and the final third of the chapter is “testimony” (AHEM: marketing) from “real life couples (usually white couples) who have used Ramsey’s strategies (that are not really his original strategies) for financial freedom so you should buy ALL OF RAMSEY’S PRODUCTS. :: insert cheerleader split jump here ::

My ultimate takeaway is that there are good principles in this book, but they aren’t Ramsey’s. He is a wordsmith who knows how to grind into people’s emotional vulnerabilities around money, so I’m not surprised that there is what I am calling a “cult of personality” around this guy and his work. Because his work isn’t really that good, but his personality is what he’s selling.

1 star out of 5

Would I read it again? 

No, and I won’t be reading or investing in any of his other products either.

Recommended for

Nobody. Don’t. waste. Your. Money. On. This. Rubbish. You can find this information online. FOR FREE.

Not Recommended for

People who are trying to save money or who are looking for financial advice that isn’t deeply rooted in shame.

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140. The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

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Gerritsen, Tess. The Sinner. New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group, 2003. Print.

355 pages

This is the third installment in the Rizzoli and Isles series. Tess Gerritsen continues her exploration of evil in a story about two nuns who were murdered in their convent. The story spans across continents with a connection to a chemical plant in India. 

At this point in the series, Gerritsens’ characters have started to materialize in a more personal way. The depth of character has deepened and readers can start to feel attached to them. We’ve spent enough time with them at this point to feel like old friends. This makes the tension and suspense in the novel all the greater.

Not without scandalous affairs, The Sinner addresses evil from a number of angles. Much like The Surgeon, it explores how evil can be just around the corner. An otherwise average human can have an alternative life that we know nothing about.

In addition, this novel explores the concept of corporate greed as a source of evil in the world. Corporate greed is not only found in large corporations but in charitable organizations and smaller businesses as well. It can be the source of atrocities, including what unfolds in this story.

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

Would I read it again? 

Yep

Recommended for

Rizzoli and Isles fans

Not Recommended for

Not for kids of those sensitive to violence.

 

3 stars out of 5

 

Tess Gerritsen’s website: https://www.tessgerritsen.com/

Tess Gerritsen on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18149.Tess_Gerritsen

 

Reviews of previous novels in the series:

The Surgeon

The Apprentice

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136. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

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Briggs, Patricia. MoonCalled. New York, NY: Ace, 2006. Print.

288 pages

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

Mercy Thompson is a shape shifter who can shift into coyote form. She lives next door to a pack of werewolves and makes a living as an auto mechanic for vampires. When her local pack is invaded by  rogue bunch of vampires and the pack leader, Adam’s, daughter is kidnapped, Mercy starts the process of solving the mystery and tracking down the kidnapped girl.

This book is whimsical, sexy, and well paced. I know a lot of my Christian readers have an issue with any kind of book that represents magic or the fantastical but interestingly, Mercy is portrayed as a Christian character. The werewolves, fae and other magical creates are seen as evolutionary more than anything. I found that an interesting world-building choice that may appeal to a Christian audience more readily than other fantasy novels.

There weren’t a lot of big questions asked or much exploration of major themes. Briggs is more interested in entertaining the reader than teaching them. If you want to read a book that doesn’t make you think to hard about life but still provides enough context to be good escapism, this is a great book for you.

Would I read it again? 

Yes. This was actually the second time I read the book as I’d like to re-read the series this year.

Recommended for

Readers who want some decent escapism.

Not Recommended for

Readers who desire a book with heavier themes.

Word Bank

Harridan p.6

Reticent p. 7

Sufference p. 10

Desultory p. 12

Limpid p. 49

Canted p. 55

Gracile p. 62

Quelling p. 96

Cozen p. 127

Anathema p. 129

Obstreperous p. 186

Vassalage p. 189

3 stars out of 5

Patricia Briggs' website: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/

Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40563.Patricia_Briggs

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134. The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

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Gerritsen, Tess. The Apprentice. New York, NY: The Ballantine Publishing Group, 2002. Print.

344 pages

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

The Apprentice is the second book in Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series. It picks up from The Surgeon with a killer that has eerie similarities in his calling cards to the Surgeon that Jane threw in jail a year ago. Jane Rizzoli is back while Thomas Moore has retired. New on the scene is Maura Isles and this is the first-time readers meet Maura. This book, like the first book, is told from third person limited primarily from Jane Rizzoli’s point of view.

As mentioned in my review of The Surgeon, I am re-reading the entire series this year, paying close attention to how Gerritsen explores the concept of evil. In The Apprentice the theme of evil focuses on how everyone has dark secrets. It also explores the question of whether people are born evil or if they are made evil through a combination of biology and environment—the age old “nature versus nurture” question. The book does not take a firm stand on either side of the debate but rather finds a grey area in between. It seems that, while some people may be born evil, others are turned that way as a result of their life experiences, part of which includes brain trauma to the frontal lobe. Gerritsen’s background as a doctor really shines in this novel.

Another story I wanted to track into the second novel was that of, Karl Pachecko, the unarmed man Rizzoli murders in The Surgeon. This event is one that I don’t think would simply be brushed aside as it would have lasting effects on Jane’s psychology as well as her standing as a police officer. It took a while for The Apprentice to get there, but there is mention of this situation. Rizzoli expresses regret and a sense of being haunted by the incident that I felt was in line with what may happen in reality. Jane is also closely monitored and often thought unstable throughout the book. She is threatened multiple times to be sent to mandatory counseling and to be taken off her current case due to mental health concerns which I think would also line up accurately following the events in The Surgeon.

Overall, this is a solid second novel and provides readers with an exciting glimpse into a character that will soon play a huge role in the series (Maura Isles).

Would I read it again? 

Yes

Recommended for

Fans of murder mysteries, crime dramas, and thrillers.

Not Recommended for

Anyone who has experienced violence. This gets pretty graphic.

Word Bank

Sylvan (77)

Introitus (86)

Punchy (91)

Tony (93)

Pugilist (151)

3 stars out of 5

Tess Gerritsen’s website: https://www.tessgerritsen.com/

Tess Gerritsen on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18149.Tess_Gerritsen

Other books in the Rizzoli and Isles series reviewed
The Surgeon

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133. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

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Mead, Richelle. Shadow Kiss. New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2008. Print.

443 pages

Reviewed by Jessica Love

This is the third book in the Vampire Academy series. In this installment, Rose is dealing with an inner battle through most of the book. She is seeing ghosts and working through unexplained rage and blood lust. Without giving away spoilers, I can't say much more than that. 

In my review of the previous book, Frostbite, I mentioned that if there was anything int he series that would make me stop reading, it was Rose herself. I didn't like the way the protagonist was emotionally abusive and irrational. This book helped to further elucidate that issue. I like the way the majority of the book was Rose turning inward, trying to figure out why she behaved the way she did and resolve her inner conflicts. She frames mental health, personal growth, and psychotherapy in a positive and somewhat realistic way which I think is so good for teens to read! 

Mead wraps up the story with some actual physical battle which keeps the book exciting. If I had to pick out strengths and weaknesses of the series so far, I would say Mead's weakness is world building, and strength is character development. The world building is still pretty flimsy. I feel like there are so many blanks to be filled in before this will feel like a fully formed "world." The characters though, are excellent. She is skilled at giving each character a voice that is their own. 

My final verdict is that this book is (and series) is pure entertainment and was decent enough to send me on to the next in the series. 

Would I read it again? 
Maybe. 

Recommended for
Fans of the vampire genre.

Not Recommended for
Readers expecting complex, thorough world-building. Readers younger than 13. 

Word Bank

None

3 stars out of 5

Richelle Mead's website: http://richellemead.com/

Richelle Mead on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/137902.Richelle_Mead

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8035862-j-d-artagnan
Read to Grow Book Club: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1058875-read-to-grow-lovestead-book-club

Other Vampire Academy Books Reviewed
Frostbite

132. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

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Gerritsen, Tess. The Surgeon. New York: NY: Ballentine Books, 2001. Print.

350 pages

Reviewed by Jessica d'Artagnan Love

This is the first installment of the Rizzoli and Isles series which later become a major network television series. In The Surgeon, a serial killer is murdering women in the city of Boston. Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli are on the case. I have read almost this entire series and this was a re-read of the first book. Having read the rest of the series, I have a hunch that Gerritsen did not intend this to be a series. I think she planned for The Surgeon to be a stand alone novel. One of the main reasons I think this is because Maura Isles is not in the first book and in the later books, Thomas Moore is absent. I bet, and I could be wrong, but I bet that her publisher urged her to start a series since they sell well, so she branched off from The Surgeon and I’m so glad she did! I love the Rizzoli and Isles series so much.

In an interview with Tess Gerritsen, she discussed how one of the concepts she tries to explore in her Rizzoli and Isles series is the origin and nature of evil. As I re-read these books, I’m working to track how she covers the topic. In The Surgeon, the theme of evil is being hidden in plain sight. The average person next door who seems entirely normal, may in fact have fantasies about torturing and murdering women. It points to the sinister, hidden forms of evil that are hard to identify and predict.

In a conversation between Thomas Moore and Catherine Cordell, Gerritsen writes,

“ ‘In Savannah, when those other women were murdered, I just assumed I didn’t know the killer. I assumed that if I ever did meet him, I’d know it. I’d feel it. Andrew Capra taught me how wrong I was.’

‘The banality of evil.’

‘That’s exactly what I learned. That evil can be so ordinary. That a man I see every day, say hello to every day, could smile right back at me. . . . And be thinking of all the different ways he’d like to kill me.’ “ (78).

This little excerpt sums up her exploration of evil in The Surgeon.

One other plot point I’m interested in following more closely in the next few installments in the series is what happened between Jane Rizzoli and Karl Pachecko. I feel like this incident is something that could (and should) haunt her future work and psychology as a law enforcement officer. I’m interested to review how Gerritsen handles this.

If you are just starting the Rizzoli and Isles series and start with The Surgeon, please keep this in mind: they get better. Keep reading at least through the first three books in the series before giving up on it. I think Gerritsen was working to establish her series in the first two books and doesn’t really get settled until the third book. So, hang in there.

Would I read it again? 

Yes

Recommended for

Adults who like thrillers and murder mysteries. People who like the Rizzoli and Isles TV show might also like this but keep in mind the books are darker than the show.

Not Recommended for

Those who have suffered trauma from sexual assault. DO NOT read if you fall into this category. Skip straight ahead to the third book in the series.

Word Bank

·         Picquerist (p. 54)

3 stars out of 5

Tess Gerritsen’s website: https://www.tessgerritsen.com/

Tess Gerritsen on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18149.Tess_Gerritsen

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131. Frostbite by Richelle Mead

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Mead, Richelle. Frostbite. New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2008. Print.

327 pages

Reviewed by Jessica d'Artagnan Love

I don't know what it is about Thanksgiving but it seems that I am always drawn to reading vampire lore around this time of year. It is actually Thanksgiving day as I sit and write this review. It seems every year there is a different series I read about vampires in late fall. 

Mysterious timing aside, Frostbite is the second book in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. The first chapter or so of the book was a recap of the first book, Vampire Academy, which I appreciated. It has been nearly a year since I read the first book and was a bit fuzzy on characters and story line. The quick recap easily jogged my memory and made it easy to dive back into the story.

In this installment, Rose is still battling feelings for her teacher, Dimitri, as she trains to be a guardian for royal vampires. There is a string of murders targeting royal vampires that shakes up her community and makes her training even more important. 

As far as vampire fiction goes, this isn't the best I've ever read, but it also isn't the worst. The world building is a bit flimsy, but there is at least enough structure that it wasn't distracting and the story could still be entertaining. The prose is pretty simplistic but Mead does do a nice job of painting a character. The first seen with Adrian Ivashkov was so vivid he felt like someone who could actually exist. Honestly, I've met my fair share of human men like him and she did a good job distilling the essence of this kind of guy.

If there is anything that would make me stop reading this series, it's the protagonist, Rose. Rose is immature and psychologically abusive of the people who care about her. This isn't someone I want to be represented as a heroine. Interestingly, by the end of the book, there was a hint of explanation as to why she behaves this way, so I will continue forth with the next book in the series.  

Would I read it again? 

I don't know. I think it will depend on how the rest of the series turns out. If future books suddenly turn amazing, then I probably would re-read the first two books again. If the rest of them are duds, then no, I wouldn't.

Recommended for

Vampire fiction fans who don't want to think too hard about what they're reading.

Not Recommended for

Vampire fiction fans who want complex world building. 

Word Bank

• None. The language is pretty simplistic.

3 stars out of 5

Richelle Mead's website: http://www.richellemead.com/

Richelle Mead on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/137902.Richelle_Mead

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130. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Word Bank

• natatorium 

3 stars out of 5

Sarah Shepard's website: http://www.saracshepard.com/

Sarah Shepard on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/93970.Sara_Shepard

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