Twice by Mitch Albom

This is a book you can read in one sitting. It's fast-paced and an entertaining read. I'm not always a fan of the magical realism genre as a whole, but I like books that make you think. Alfie has the ability to re-do a moment lived and make a different decision. He can only do this once for each specific situation and if he chooses to do it again a different way, he has to live with that. He can't re-live any moment more than twice. So, if you think of all those embarrassing moments in your life that you wished you could erase, Alfie could do that. I'm not sure I would have used this "talent" as often as Alfie did however. It's one thing to go back and make a different decision than you did a few minutes ago, but it's another thing to go back days, weeks, months, or years. Honestly, it's only in the most dire circumstances that I would want to re-live months or years of my life! One thing Alfie could never change however, is someone's death. If someone was fated to die at any given moment, than that would happen no matter what Alfie did. 

One key element with this ability concerns love. Alfie is told by his mother, who also had this gift, that he can't go back and recreate the same love if he chooses to do it again. She had learned this the hard way, losing forever her one true love, which wasn't Alfie's father. Of course Alfie does it anyway and is deeply saddened by the loss of his one true love. When is comes to his marriage to Gianna, Alfie comes across as very selfish. This bothered me. Gianna had wanted to be a photographer her entire life. Gianna & Alfie had first met in Africa when they were children. Alfie and his parents were living in Africa as missionaries. Alfie & Gianna connected over their love of an elephant. When Alfie's mother died, he and his father left Africa. Alfie & Gianna met again years later as adults and fell in love. Gianna pretty much gave up her dreams in life, such as being an international photographer of wildlife and having children, for Alfie. Alfie wanted what Alfie wanted. When their marriage starts to suffer (go figure!), Alfie lusts after an actress and decides to go for it instead of trying to make his marriage work with Gianna. Since Alfie had to re-do his original decision not to sleep with the actress, he loses his life with Gianna and her love for him. Lesson learned.

Some key lessons in the book: 

Lesson 1: "...what we yearn for, deep down, is a heart that will embrace us after we make a fool of ourselves." Alfie needed to understand that unconditional love is demonstrated when the people we love still love us despite our faults and failures. True love is not about being perfect and never making mistakes.

Lesson 2: Life should be lived in the present tense. If you live in the present tense, "You pay closer attention to things. You're more appreciative. More accepting."

Lesson 3: "'Would you do anything differently if you had the chance?'" Mitch Albom responds, "I can think of twenty things right now. But ask me if I'd trade how I'd changed as a result of my mistakes, and my answer would be different."  "If you keep getting second chances, you won't learn a damn thing. I've learned a lot. The older I get, the more precious those lessons become." True story.

I'm ambiguous about the ending. I am more of a "learn from my mistakes and move on" kind of gal, rather than rehashing what's already happened. To each their own.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The 100 by Kass Morgan

I am a huge fan of dystopian fiction and this series keeps coming up on must-read dystopian lists, so I thought I would give it a try. I listened to this on audiotape and I'm wondering if I would enjoy it more by reading it. It switches from present day to the past without any warning on the audiotape. This was initially very confusing, especially when we are just getting to know the characters. Although I adjusted to this as I was listening, I think I will read the second book in print form. I do like the story. 

Earth was destroyed by a nuclear war a long time ago and people are living above Earth in a spaceship because of the dangers of Earth's radioactivity. The spaceship divides people by their social status (just like in every real society worldwide). The problem is that they are running out of oxygen on the spaceship and they know they need to do something about it. They decide to send 100 children (under 18), who are considered juvenile delinquents because of some infraction, down to Earth to see if it's safe to live there. Their society demands that all children in detention be reassessed when they turn 18. The reassessment results in two possibilities: death or reintroduction into society. Most of the 18-year-olds are sentenced to death. They can't afford to have too many living people. That's why no one is allowed to have more than one child and you have to be given permission to even have one.

Anyway, the main characters are Clarke, who works in the medical field because her parents were scientists; Wells, who is actually the chancellor's son but he couldn't bear to be apart from Clarke, who he loves, so he finagled his way onto the "Drop Ship" with Clarke; Bellamy, who is a guard, but also finds his way onto the Drop Ship because he wants to protect his younger sister (these two are the only sibling pair on the spaceship); Glass, who was actually in detention and was part of the 100 to be dropped to Earth but managed to stay on board the spaceship with the boy she loves; and Luke, the boy that Glass loves who is from a lower class than she is.

In this first book of the series, the 100 are taken to earth with few supplies. They each have a monitoring bracelet on their wrist to track their health, radiation exposure, etc. They are all considered delinquents, but not all of them did something to actually earn that label. They need to all work together to survive on Earth, which isn't easy of course. There are unexpected dangers as well, which affects them all. I like the story so far and I'm looking forward to reading the second book.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

I usually love Jodi Picoult's novels because she forces the reader to look at hot topics from different perspectives. She shows us that we don't always know everything that might be going on in any situation and that we shouldn't categorize people and events as either black or white. (No pun intended!) With that being said, I didn't care for this book. I certainly think the subject of racial prejudice is important and worth talking about. I believe that our society is steeped in systemic racism. I believe that people of color living in America have been treated unfairly, especially in our justice system. I believe that white Americans have an automatic advantage and that most white Americans have inner biases about people of color. So, why didn't I love this book? I really disliked the majority of the characters, especially two of the three main characters. When I'm reading a book, no matter the subject matter or genre, I have to be able to identify with, or relate to on some level, or admire something, about a character in order to enjoy the book. The only character I really liked is Kennedy, the public defender. I liked her not because she was white, but because she was constantly trying to do the right thing for everyone involved.

So, Ruth is a L&D nurse and she has been working at the same hospital for 20 years. She is good at what she does and everyone values her and her commitment to the job. She has been involved in many, many deliveries. She is kind & caring. One day, she is assigned to check in on a newborn to do the initial assessment. The newborn, Davis, happens to be the son of two white supremacists. She doesn't really know what's going on as she's checking out the baby, but she knows something isn't right. She finds out soon enough when her boss talks to her and says the parents have requested that she be replaced as Davis' nurse because they don't want a Black nurse touching their baby. Her boss actually puts a post-it on the baby's file saying that no one who is Black can touch the baby. Since Ruth is the only Black nurse in L&D, it's really all about Ruth.

Turk & Brittany are Davis' parents. Brittany's father, Francis, is also a white supremacist. Turk has swastikas tattooed on his body, including his head, which he keeps shaved. They are unlikeable people, but Turk truly loves Brittany and they both love their newborn son. As the story unfolds we find out each of their histories and how they ended up being white supremacists.

Unfortunately, Ruth is unexpectedly left to care for Davis in the nursery when the attending nurse, Ruth's friend, is called away suddenly to attend an emergency c-section. Davis can't be left alone because he was just circumcised. She notices when he starts turning blue but hesitates to act because she has been told to not touch the baby and she fears for her job if she touches him. She does touch him, but then lies about it when asked. When her boss enters the room and see Davis not breathing, she orders Ruth to start CPR. Davis ends up dying. Ruth is charged with murder by Turk & Brittany.

So, it's a complicated, multi-layered story, like Jodi's books usually are, but I really didn't like Ruth at all. I also didn't like her sister, Adisa, or Turk, Brittany, Francis, or even Ruth's son, Edison. While I admit to systemic racism, Ruth pretty much accused every single white person she encountered as being prejudiced - every word uttered had an "ulterior motive" or "underlying meaning" against Black people. Racism can go the other way too, so why wasn't that mentioned? I'm glad I finished it because the ending has some redeeming events, but I would never re-read it.

Wendy's Rating: ***1/4

Live Wire by Harlan Coben

It's been a few years since I read the first nine books in the Myron Bolitar series. I have always liked Coben's writing style though and his books are entertaining and easy to read. This installment is more about his personal life. One of the key characters in this book is Myron's sister-in-law, Kitty, who resurfaces after 16 years traveling the world with Myron's brother, Brad, and his nephew, Mickey. The estrangement between brothers is a result of several mistruths, resentments, and manipulations. Myron spies Kitty accidently when he is looking for someone else. He tries to catch her to talk to her, but he is waylaid by a rougher element associated with his other mission. What he discovers quickly however, is that Kitty, a former addict, is using again and providing sexual favors for heroin. Myron has no idea where his brother is. When Kitty was a teenager, she was a tennis prodigy and Myron was her agent. Reportedly, she could have gone far in the tennis world but she unexpectantly got pregnant and married Brad and they left town.

Myron is asked by another former tennis player, Suzze, that he was also the agent for, to find her husband, Lex Ryder, who had disappeared after a concerning comment came up on their social media page questioning the paternity of Suzze's unborn child. Suzze was 8 months pregnant. Lex is a musician and half of a popular band called HorsePower. The other half, Gabriel Wire, was handsome & charismatic. Lex was a good musician but troubled. Gabriel was the "front man" of their band. Gabriel had become a recluse in a mansion on an island after he was involved in an accident. People speculated that his beautiful face was damaged, but no one had seen him for years. Lex always went to Gabriel to work on new music. Myron actually finds and talks to Lex in a club he liked to hang out in (which is where he sees Kitty), but then Lex flees to the house on the island. Gabriel's home is very well protected and even though Myron follows Lex, he's not allowed on the property.

So, these two story lines are connected because Kitty & Suzze were friends back in the day and Myron becomes aware that the two have spoken recently. So Myron is looking for Kitty, trying to figure out what's going on with Lex; meeting his nephew Mickey for the first time in an unlikely way; dealing with his dad's health issues; and dodging former mobsters. I will say that there are two unexpected twists that I didn't see coming. One of them comes at the end and I'm still wondering why Coben decided to make such a significant move - and so suddenly - with his main character. There are only two more books in this series and they were written years apart. Maybe Coben is ready to move on from Myron? Trying to track down book #11 now to see what's next for Myron.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

This journal begins in March 1883 in London, England. Emma M. Lion returns to her hometown of St. Crispian's and to her home, Lapis Lazuli House. Unfortunately, upon her return, she is relegated to the top floor of the home (the 5th floor) instead of the 3rd floor which is where her former bedroom suite was located. Since Emma's father died when she was still a minor, he left his estate in the hands of Cousin Archibald, who was supposed to manage it until Emma turned 21 years old. Not a good idea. Cousin Archibald despises Emma and does not welcome her home. Emma has spent the last three years taking care of an ailing woman and hasn't been paid for her service yet. When she asks for her earned wages - and her allowance that her father left her - Archibald says no. He accuses her of stealing the woman's silver and said she won't get her wages until she returns the silver, which of course she didn't steal.

Emma finds herself in an impossible situation. She is also told that she will be a companion to Arabella during the upcoming Season. Arabella needs to find a husband and Emma will accompany her to every single ball. I guess Emma will be her "wing-woman". Ha! After a trip to the bank, Emma finds out that Archibald has misused all of her money and she will be left penniless in one year unless she sells her home. This she will not do.

I had a difficult time getting into the rhythm of this book. In fact, I took a break to look at some reviews to see why it is so highly rated. A lot of people mentioned that Vol 1 simply sets the scene and that Emma and her story start to really suck you in somewhere between Vol 2 - Vol 5, depending on the reviewer. I guess I will read at least Vol 2 and decide whether to continue or not after that. It did get more interesting and funnier the more I read, and it's a very short book. So, I will keep an open mind for now.

Wendy's Rating: ***

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben

I am a huge fan of Harlan Coben as an author and Reese Witherspoon as an actress, but this was a strange partnership for me. I definitely wonder how these two came together to write a book. I have to believe that it was Reese's concept put into Harlan's words because I recognized some of the same ideas, words, phrases that Harlan uses in other books. Anyway, I did enjoy the ride.

Maggie McCabe is an Army surgeon, specializing in reconstructive and trauma surgery (think cleft palate surgeries on children in war-torn countries) but also trained in cardiothoracic surgery like her husband, Marc, and their partner and best friend, Trace Parker. They are all incredibly intelligent and talented - and beautiful of course. While Maggie loves performing surgeries, Trace focuses on product development of medical equipment (like the THUMPR7) that can be used to save more lives. Marc loves the surgery side as well, but works closely with Trace on the medical equipment. The three of them create WorldCures Alliance, a charity specializing in providing medical services for the most impoverished. 

One of their missions goes wrong when Marc is murdered while performing a surgery that he refuses to stop even though he knows his life is in danger. Maggie's life falls into a tailspin (she loses her medical license), Trace goes missing, and Marc's dad, "Porkchop", becomes the only person in Maggie's life that she trusts besides her sister Sharon. Porkchop is a biker with substantial connections to all sorts of people. Her sister works in AI and creates a very sophisticated griefbot for Maggie, trying to bring her comfort after her loss of Marc.

So, with her life in shambles, Maggie is offered a lucrative but top secret job. If she accepts the job, she will be paid a ton of money and her sister's debts will also be paid off. Maggie accepts the job. The assignment is to perform surgery on a very, very wealthy Russian, Oleg Ragoravich. After Maggie completes a facial reconstruction surgery on Oleg, and puts breast implants in his young, beautiful companion, Nadia, things go crazy. She sincerely doesn't know who to trust. She has to escape the Russian mansion after she completes the surgeries because she is told that she will be killed. While fleeing, she gets caught by Oleg's men, but then is rescued by a man named Charles Lockwood.

Soon she is flying off to Dubai to perform another surgery (set up by Charles Lockwood) so that she can try to find out what happened to Trace. Trace was last known to be in Dubai. There are suggestions presented to her that Trace is alive; that Marc could be alive; that both are running because of getting caught up in illegal activities associated with their WorldCures Alliance. Porkchop and his connections definitely help Maggie out of some tight situations, but everyone is keeping secrets. It's an adventure with a few twists thrown in along the way.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Devout by David Archuleta

I watched Season 7 of American Idol and even went to their American Idol tour when they came to Minneapolis. I don't actually remember who I voted for between David Archuleta and David Cook but I remember I loved them both, despite the differences in their voices and song choices. Now that I have read David's story, I am even more impressed with his success - and his inherent kindness toward others. It's remarkable that he could make it to the Top 2 despite what he was going through internally and what was happening behind the scenes. His father was such an awful "stage dad" that he was kicked out. David was the only contestant who needed a parent on site due to his age. (He auditioned at 16 and he was 17 during the live shows.) David was emotionally abused by his father before, during, and after the show. On top of all that, David was struggling with his faith, being a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his growing unease with, and confusion about, his own sexuality.

David's struggle with his father's treatment of him; the abuse of his older sister by a trusted family friend; the false accusation by a family member of his dad abusing David's sisters; his parents' struggling marriage; his search for a wife despite having feelings for men; his endless battle against his own sexuality; his deep disappointment with the Mormon church leaders who consistently refused to talk to David or acknowledge that people are born differently; the internal rage he eventually experiences; and his refusal to succumb to thoughts of suicide show how truly strong he is. His trauma history is so significant and yet he is slowly working through it all and coming out the other side of it. He is truly a wonderful human being. I have a whole new respect for him.

After I finished the audiobook - and listened to the three songs included at the end of the book - I decided to go back and watch his performances on American Idol. It's awesome that YouTube has David Archuleta's entire season connected so that it just moves from one video to the next, from his audition to the Season 7 finale. Of course he had so many performances that it took me several hours to watch them all! I enjoyed doing this so much. He has an amazing voice and he was so incredibly kind to everyone. More than anything, I want him to find lasting happiness. I am so glad I decided to take this stroll down memory lane. It's just more proof that we don't know the life that other people are living, so we need to treat others with kindness and grace.

Wendy's Rating: ****