6/20/21 American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson
Genre: Non-Fiction
Three descriptions: interesting, educational, thoughtful
Summary/Review: I did Sharon McMahon’s Governerd summer fun pass (judge away, it was worth it) and this was the book club part of the summer fun pass. Also, side note, if you do not know who Sharon McMahon is, look her up on instagram (Sharonsaysso) - she is a former government teacher and has taken off on instagram with her “fact revolution” ideas. She gives information to you straight and really aims to foster positivity and educated discourse in a non-biased way. LOVE. Anyways, this book was about the beginnings of forensic science in the United States. The title, however, is a bit misleading because it doesn’t delve very deeply into CSI per say. Instead, it focuses on Edward Oscar Heinrich, his life, his research and the big cases he helped to solve by using, gasp, science! I found it enjoyable and really educational. It was fascinating to learn about the roots of so many things we take for granted in today’s scientifically advanced world, especially when it comes to crime. I would definitely recommend this if you are into crime documentaries, podcasts or shows like I am!
7/20/21 The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Fiction/Thriller
Three descriptions: mysterious, tragic, complex
Review: I am sold when it comes to anything set in Ireland, Scotland or the UK in general, so I was not disappointed with the setting of this thriller. It was described beautifully and I did feel transported to the island in which the characters spend no more than 24 hours on. Aside from the imagery, Foley managed to create a “who-done-it” sort of vibe even though the official “who-done-it” part is at the very end! I found all of the characters to have redeeming yet repulsive qualities, and I continuously teetered between rooting them on and wishing ill on them (I get pretty invested in the books I read, I will admit). At times the book felt like a mystery, a thriller, and a ghost story while simultaneously providing valid commentary on public versus private personas. You do have to read carefully, as the characters are complex and the story is intricately woven- small things turn out to be big clues! Even if you don't want to put in the effort to read carefully, it is still a worthwhile read.
Summary: Jules lives a life of glamour, self made success and meticulously planned indulgence. She is about to marry Will, a “man’s man” with a privileged upbringing and charm most women would die for. Their wedding is on a remote island off the coast of Ireland which is hosted by Aoife who has offered deep discounts for the couple to use her newly renovated facilities in hopes the publicity of having a famous couple marry there will bring in business. Most guests are confused by the couple's choice to marry in such a harsh, remote area while also finding it over the top and thrilling, just like the couple intended. Best friends attend, including obnoxious drunken groomsmen and an awkward best-man. Family attends, including estranged parents and a fragile sister. And, the collision of all of these people with very human qualities takes several interesting and surprising turns. Just prior to and during the wedding itself, several points of view come into focus, and an unforgettable story unfolds that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
8/30/21 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fiction
Three descriptions: playful, alluring, provocative
Review: In the first few pages of this book, I decided I wouldn’t like it solely based on the formatting/layout. I was dead-wrong. I loved it. It was not just beautifully written, but the story was wonderful. This was not an urgent read for me, like I HAD to get to the next part, even skimming certain areas just so I could see what happened next. Rather, I thoroughly enjoyed not only the writing, but the complexity of each character, the brutal honesty of the narrator(s) and the odd relatability of the story in general (as much of it takes place in decades before my time, I was almost surprised at how much I could relate and see myself in the position of all the main characters). I highly recommend this book as a wonderful story and a guilty pleasure!
Summary: When Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood icon, chooses Monique Grant, a journalistic-nobody working her way up at a fashion magazine, no one is more perplexed than Monique. Evelyn begins to bestow her secrets in a subdued fashion, until Monique gains her trust. Then, just like that, an intricate story of love, strength, lust, glamour, heartbreak, Hollywood, and more takes shape. Like clay in her hands, Monique, who is struggling with setbacks in her own personal life, wonders how she will mold the end product of Evelyn’s story when she doesn’t know why it was given to her in the first place. Ultimately I do not want to spoil a thing, so I will leave this review as is and let you find out for yourself.
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