Book Review: Ravens by George Dawes Green

Here is the book description from the Hachette Book Group website:

"The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers."

I found "Ravens" to be a very unique novel and enjoyed Green's writing style. The book moves along at a great pace and is very entertaining. If you love psychological thrillers then I definitely recommend this book! This is the first of Green's books that I have read and it won't be the last.

Book Review- Undress Me In the Temple of Heaven

Before I begin this review I just have to say that I absolutely LOVED this book!

To get started, here is a summary of UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN from the Hachette Book Group website:

"They were young, brilliant, and bold. They set out to conquer the world. But the world had other plans for them.

Bestselling author Susan Jane Gilman's new memoir is a hilarious and harrowing journey, a modern heart of darkness filled with Communist operatives, backpackers, and pancakes.

In 1986, fresh out of college, Gilman and her friend Claire yearned to do something daring and original that did not involve getting a job. Inspired by a place mat at the International House of Pancakes, they decided to embark on an ambitious trip around the globe, starting in the People's Republic of China. At that point, China had been open to independent travelers for roughly ten minutes.

Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche, an astrological love guide, and an arsenal of bravado, the two friends plunged into the dusty streets of Shanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads. As they ventured off the map deep into Chinese territory, they were stripped of everything familiar and forced to confront their limitations amid culture shock and government surveillance. What began as a journey full of humor, eroticism, and enlightenment grew increasingly sinister-becoming a real-life international thriller that transformed them forever.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is a flat-out page-turner, an astonishing true story of hubris and redemption told with Gilman's trademark compassion, lyricism, and wit."

I am a big fan of memoirs. I just enjoy reading about other people's lives, especially those who live very interesting ones! Susan Jane Gilman's memoir is very funny and one of the most engaging that I have read.

Her adventures traveling the world with her friend were extremly entertaining and expertly described. I could completely picture everything that was happening, even images that I would rather not see!

UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN is a very memorable book and I wish that there were more out there like it!

Book Review- The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

“The Little Giant of Aberdeen County” by Tiffany Baker focuses on the life of Truly Plaice who lives in the town of Aberdeen. When Truly’s mother was pregnant with her they knew that the baby was going to be on the rather large side. Bets were made as to just how large this boy was going to be. Unfortunately, Truly’s mother died during childbirth. While Truly was gigantic just as predicted, she was a girl, and not a boy, much to the town’s surprise.

As a young child there were no clothes to fit Truly so her father used one of his old shirts. Truly and her older sister, Serena Jane, could not have been more different. Serena Jane was dainty, blonde, and just seen as the ideal little girl. Once their father died, the sisters were placed into different homes, which further perpetuated the stereotypes that they had been cast as.

I enjoyed reading about Truly’s life in Aberdeen County and found the book to be very well written, especially considering that it is the author’s first novel. The only thing that was missing for me was an adequate description of just how huge she was. For instance, there were all of the bets as to how big she would be when born, but the actual weight was never revealed. Also, when she was sent to the doctor as a child, the same thing, the doctor said she was large, but once again, there was no number given. Towards the end there is a weight mentioned, but I found myself wanting to know at various stages throughout the book as well.

As I was reading the book I kept thinking that this book reminds of the type of book that would be named as an Oprah’s Book Club selection. All of the characters in the book are very well developed and most of all, they are interesting. You will find yourself really wanting to read more to find out further details about them. Truly’s life is anything but easy and definitely made for a good read. I really enjoyed “The Little Giant of Aberdeen County” and look forward to reading more novels from Tiffany Baker in the future.