Carries Book Reviews

Faith by Carré White
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After 16 year old Faith Hardwood’s mother passes away her father sells his business and packs her up to head out to Denver for a fresh start. Unfortunately things do not go as planned when robbers board the train and steal the Hardwood’s life savings. A stranger aboard the train, Owen Birch gives Faith fifty dollars to help get her and her father a start at their new life.

Two years later Faith is working as a saloon girl to help support her and her father who has taken to gambling and drinking. One night while working Owen enters the saloon to gamble. Faith is still very attracted to Owen as she had been on the train.

There is actually nothing wrong with the writing of this book to make my rating so low. My problem came with the fact that Owen was twice Faith’s age. That just really didn’t work for me at all so it really didn’t matter how the relationship went in the book.

Overall, it is well written and the historical parts seemed accurate. Just not a relationship I cared about.

Brain Droppings by George Carlin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely hilarious!! I was a big fan of George Carlin and his somewhat sarcastic humor for years so when I saw this book I couldn’t resist picking it up. Definitely the George I remember and made me miss him all the more. I just couldn’t stop laughing for a lot of this. My favorite part was probably the rant about “stuff”, so so true. I have too much stuff, I continue to collect stuff, I’ve wished I had a bigger house for my stuff, I’ve gone on vacation bringing too much stuff and then buying even more stuff… Talk about rolling on the floor laughing, of course it’s done so much better from George himself though. Highly recommend picking this one up for a good laugh but if you are unfamiliar with his comedy be warned he can be a bit vulgar if that would offend you.

The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.

A rhyme that I’m sure a lot are familiar with along with the cover of this novel let’s the reader know that this is another recount of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden which took place on August 4, 1892. Lizzie Bordon, Andrew’s youngest daughter was the prime suspect in the murders with the story following from the time they occurred to all the following events and investigation.

What is different about this particular recount is that is marketed for a younger audience. I won’t debate on whether that’s a particularly good idea or not to target a younger age group with a book about gruesome murders but what I will say is I think they did a good job in writing for a younger reader with the book.

The book is set up to read like a fiction story with a bit simpler writing than you would find in an adult version. As you are reading the story there are little boxes of actual facts and details to gain more perspective into the events. For example it mentions Lizzie wearing black to the funeral but not the right attire. The box then explains what the customs and traditions of the time were.

There’s also little bits added that would seem to help a younger audience understand such as when money is mentioned it gives what the amount would be equivalent to in today’s economy. Details such as these make the story a bit of an educational read for the younger audience as well.

Personally I reviewed a Kindle copy of this book and while it was readable and the pictures could be seen I’d almost suggest if really interested to pick up a physical copy. I think some of the images and diagrams etc included would probably be better seen in an actual book and would also make it easier if you for instance wanted to flip back to the blueprints of the home while reading about it in the story it would be easier to do so in a physical copy.

Overall, great job by the author in achieving the goal of making a readable account of the events for the younger age group. Also, an interesting read for any age really if you haven’t read before.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cinderella Has Cellulite: And Other Musings from A Last Wife by Donna Arp Weitzman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cinderella Has Cellulite is really the author’s take on everything revolving around dating and relationships. A really quick read that I found to be sometimes a bit humorous and sometimes seem a tad jaded or bitter. I think really it would depend upon the reader whether they really enjoyed this or just completely hated it. There were certainly a few good chuckles for me during the read but nothing really made me laugh out loud to any major extent. There would probably be some content that would relate to just about anyone who picked it up. For me, I’m just calling this an average, fun read and giving it 3 stars.

The Bones of You by Debbie Howells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rosie Anderson has gone missing. Her mother, Joanna quickly calls her neighbor Kate to see if she has seen her. Kate who has a daughter the same age as Rosie can’t help but feel for Joanna and the rest of the Anderson’s especially when it’s found that Rosie has been murdered. Kate takes it upon herself to befriend Joanna and help her through this trying time. As the investigation goes on things are shown to not be quite what they seem in what was thought of as the perfect Anderson family.

The Bones of You is one of those books you just do not want to put down until the end. Calling this gripping and suspenseful is really an understatement. The writing was beautiful, each chapter has a flashback of Rosie telling her own story in her own words which at times almost seemed poetic. She helps guide the reader on her journey to help find her killer. Absolutely loved the way the story was set up with Kate in the present time and Rosie giving a look into her life and her family as the story went on.

The story is a slow build until the end taking place over several months time but is full of twists and turns that is sure to take any reader on one heck of a ride. I would most definitely recommend this book to any fan of a good psychological thriller/suspense novel, a definite page turner.