This book flows along the same vein as Gone Girl. Some couples simply deserve each other, until death do them part. The couple in this book is Matt & Marie Evans. They have been married for 20+ years and have two daughters that are in college. They seem much more obsessed with each other however than their daughters. Neither one seems to have a relationship with their children - and their daughters seem to have moved on with their lives without much thought to their parents. I think this is odd, even after we get an inside glimpse of what their lives were like growing up. Their parents had shockingly disturbing "banter" between the two of them at the dinner table. "Family time". Ha! I think if there is a sequel to this story, it should be about the daughters because there is no way they could be well adjusted young adults. No way.
So, Marie "falls" off a cliff in a deserted area of Rocky Mountain National Park, presumably falling into the fast flowing Three Forks River to her death. Matt is brought in for questioning since they suspect that Matt murdered Marie by pushing her off the cliff. The police also discover that Matt's first wife died under suspicious circumstances over 20 years earlier. This is the foundation of the story. Imagine that the story builds like a roller coaster cart making it's way slowly up to the peak of the biggest drop - and then we are on our way: dropping and turning and twisting as the rest of the story unfolds.
As a side story, one of the detectives assigned to the investigation, Loren, is being re-investigated for the past murder of his former partner - and potentially the former partner's wife and baby who disappeared at the time of the murder. Loren is a crude, ugly man, but is partnered up with the new detective in the department, a woman named Spengler. It's an odd partnership, but it works. They each bring something key to the table as they try to unravel what's going on with the Evans.
It's an entertaining read and the end is as it should be. Or is it?
Wendy's Rating: ****
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Monday, February 17, 2020
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
It's been awhile since I have read historical fiction. Now I remember why I love it so much! This is an intensely readable story about the life of Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. This book provoked some strong feelings for me: admiration for Eliza for her strength, intelligence and loyalty; disgust for Aaron Burr; a strong distaste for Thomas Jefferson; intense disappointment in James Monroe; gratitude for George Washington & James Madison; and, deservedly, mixed feelings for Alexander Hamilton.
Now of course this was written from Eliza & Alexander's point of view as Federalists - and Jefferson and his "lackeys" were Republican - so obviously there were very strong, opposing feelings between the two parties. This book is also an excellent reminder that our nation's founders certainly had their issues, not unlike what our current political parties demonstrate on a daily basis. One positive difference today is that the opposing parties don't call each other out for duels of honor.
There were three "comments" I flagged as I was reading. It's so like present day that it reminds me that things really don't ever change!!
1) In 1784, James Monroe commented, "We never accomplish anything in Congress. We couldn't pass Mr. Jefferson's Land Ordinance for admitting new states to the Union, because it bans slavery after the year 1800. We couldn't pass Mr. Jefferson's proposal to make the dollar a national currency. We can't agree on a site for our nation's capital - or even if we are a nation, or a collection of states." This sounds like every Board or Leadership meeting that I have ever been involved with!!
2) In 1799, Eliza ruminated how "....our political parties seemed often now on the verge of civil war; just last year, two congressmen had come to blows with cane and fire-iron tongs on the floor of the House of Representatives." Ha! Now they just fight each other on social media!
3) In 1801, after the Presidential election, Eliza commented, "For Jefferson was the president. And there was nothing to do but survive the outcome." and "I could only hope his gamble paid off - especially since Martha Washington called Jefferson's election 'the greatest misfortune our nation has ever experienced.' Oh, if she only knew what was in store for our nation in the future!
My heart broke for Eliza again and again for her losses and the betrayals she suffered. She outlived them all though! She lived to the age of 97, dying 50 years after Alexander! Her strength despite her numerous hardships was impressive. And while she suffered herself, she helped those around her in even more need.
I really loved this book!
Wendy's Rating: *****
Now of course this was written from Eliza & Alexander's point of view as Federalists - and Jefferson and his "lackeys" were Republican - so obviously there were very strong, opposing feelings between the two parties. This book is also an excellent reminder that our nation's founders certainly had their issues, not unlike what our current political parties demonstrate on a daily basis. One positive difference today is that the opposing parties don't call each other out for duels of honor.
There were three "comments" I flagged as I was reading. It's so like present day that it reminds me that things really don't ever change!!
1) In 1784, James Monroe commented, "We never accomplish anything in Congress. We couldn't pass Mr. Jefferson's Land Ordinance for admitting new states to the Union, because it bans slavery after the year 1800. We couldn't pass Mr. Jefferson's proposal to make the dollar a national currency. We can't agree on a site for our nation's capital - or even if we are a nation, or a collection of states." This sounds like every Board or Leadership meeting that I have ever been involved with!!
2) In 1799, Eliza ruminated how "....our political parties seemed often now on the verge of civil war; just last year, two congressmen had come to blows with cane and fire-iron tongs on the floor of the House of Representatives." Ha! Now they just fight each other on social media!
3) In 1801, after the Presidential election, Eliza commented, "For Jefferson was the president. And there was nothing to do but survive the outcome." and "I could only hope his gamble paid off - especially since Martha Washington called Jefferson's election 'the greatest misfortune our nation has ever experienced.' Oh, if she only knew what was in store for our nation in the future!
My heart broke for Eliza again and again for her losses and the betrayals she suffered. She outlived them all though! She lived to the age of 97, dying 50 years after Alexander! Her strength despite her numerous hardships was impressive. And while she suffered herself, she helped those around her in even more need.
I really loved this book!
Wendy's Rating: *****
Sunday, February 9, 2020
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Psychological thrillers are some of my favorite reads. The more books I read like this, the more I think I know what's really going on. I am pleasantly surprised whenever the story reveals something I wasn't expecting. I guess that's what makes them "thrillers". Ha!
The main characters in this story are Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, and his patient, Alicia Berenson, an accomplished artist who was married to an accomplished photographer (Gabriel), before he was brutally murdered. As the story unfolds, the reader gets a glimpse into the childhoods of each of the main characters. There is significant abuse, accidental deaths, suicides, mental illnesses. Theo comments that the reason why he decided to become a psychotherapist is so that he can begin to understand his own issues.
Theo is intrigued by Alicia's loss of speech since her husband's murder. She is charged with his murder, but declared incompetent to stand trial and ends up in a locked psych ward. Theo finds a way to get a job at the facility where Alicia is living, and finagles his way into becoming her therapist.
Alicia doesn't speak a word, but we get to hear her voice - and about her life leading up to the murder - through her journal entries. Through her journal entries, we get some insight into other significant people in her life, that appear to have a negative impact on her life: Jean-Felix, who owns the gallery that shows Alicia's paintings; Paul, her cousin who comes to Alicia for money when he can't pay his substantial gambling debts; and Max, Gabriel's less than attractive brother who has strong feelings for Alicia himself. Before the murder, Alicia is absolutely convinced that she is being followed by a man - who also watches her house. No one believes this though, except Alicia.
So, there are twists and turns in the story as it moves toward the final revelation, which I am not going to reveal here. I will say that it's well worth the read!
Wendy's Rating: *****
The main characters in this story are Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, and his patient, Alicia Berenson, an accomplished artist who was married to an accomplished photographer (Gabriel), before he was brutally murdered. As the story unfolds, the reader gets a glimpse into the childhoods of each of the main characters. There is significant abuse, accidental deaths, suicides, mental illnesses. Theo comments that the reason why he decided to become a psychotherapist is so that he can begin to understand his own issues.
Theo is intrigued by Alicia's loss of speech since her husband's murder. She is charged with his murder, but declared incompetent to stand trial and ends up in a locked psych ward. Theo finds a way to get a job at the facility where Alicia is living, and finagles his way into becoming her therapist.
Alicia doesn't speak a word, but we get to hear her voice - and about her life leading up to the murder - through her journal entries. Through her journal entries, we get some insight into other significant people in her life, that appear to have a negative impact on her life: Jean-Felix, who owns the gallery that shows Alicia's paintings; Paul, her cousin who comes to Alicia for money when he can't pay his substantial gambling debts; and Max, Gabriel's less than attractive brother who has strong feelings for Alicia himself. Before the murder, Alicia is absolutely convinced that she is being followed by a man - who also watches her house. No one believes this though, except Alicia.
So, there are twists and turns in the story as it moves toward the final revelation, which I am not going to reveal here. I will say that it's well worth the read!
Wendy's Rating: *****
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