[Review] Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes

Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Publishing Date: Aug. 4, 2015
Format: library, hardcover
272 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Goodreads Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis 

Fearless, candid, and incredibly funny, Lauren Holmes is a newcomer who writes like a master. She tackles eros and intimacy with a deceptively light touch, a keen awareness of how their nervous systems tangle and sometimes short-circuit, and a genius for revealing our most vulnerable, spirited selves.

In “Desert Hearts,” a woman takes a job selling sex toys in San Francisco rather than embark on the law career she pursued only for the sake of her father. In “Pearl and the Swiss Guy Fall in Love,” a woman realizes she much prefers the company of her pit bull—and herself—to the neurotic foreign fling who won’t decamp from her apartment. In “How Am I Supposed to Talk to You?” a daughter hauls a suitcase of lingerie to Mexico for her flighty, estranged mother to resell there, wondering whether her personal mission—to come out—is worth the same effort. And in “Barbara the Slut,” a young woman with an autistic brother, a Princeton acceptance letter, and a love of sex navigates her high school’s toxic, slut-shaming culture with open eyes.

With heart, sass, and pitch-perfect characters, Barbara the Slut is a head-turning debut from a writer with a limitless career before her.

My Review

I'm generally not one to read short stories; I've never been too interested in them. But I heard about this book and wanted to give it a chance because people were raving about it. It's a very interesting collection of stories from Holmes and I enjoyed most of them. I wasn't entirely impressed with the first few short stories because they didn't capture my attention. However, that being said, they were still full of honesty and humor. 

The last half of the book was much better for me. I really liked the stories and couldn't wait to keep reading more. I really think the one story told from the perspective of a dog was one of my favorites! Crazy, right?! I wasn't sure if I'd actually like that one because I've never read anything from an animal's perspective, but it was a lot of fun. The namesake of this book, Barbara the Slut, was another great story that I wish I had more of. I really liked her character and wish I knew how her life turned out! She's a fun girl! And the story about the law school graduate working at a sex toy store? So much fun. 

Even though the first few stories weren't my favorite, I really enjoyed this book. It makes me want to pick up some more short stories and start reading The Art of Racing in the Rain (a book from a dog's perspective that has been on my shelf for too long). 

[Review] Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult

Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publishing Date: Mar. 19, 2014
Format: ebook, purchased
40 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she’s an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage—to both her reputation and her show—Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.

My Review 

I first downloaded this book because it was free on Kindle and because its written by Jodi Picoult. I'm a huge fan of hers and have read almost everything she's written. I didn't know what it was about at first, but when I found out it the main character, Serenity, appears in her next book, I knew I had to read it. 

This is a short story, and while I don't often read them, I find that I enjoy them. I still think they're way too short (though I suppose that fits the name!).  I'm not sure what I believe about psychics or mediums, but I found Serenity's story fascinating. I want to read more about her and her 'gift' and how she comes into play in Picoult's new novel, Leaving Time. While I certainly don't think this is Picoult's greatest work, I think it has a lot of potential to develop into something great in Leaving Time! 

[Review] Leaving Home: Short Pieces by Jodi Picoult

Leaving Home: Short Pieces by Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publishing Date: Oct 1, 2011
Format: audio, library
2 CDs
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis 

Leaving Home brings together three, previously published short pieces, each dealing with a variation on the theme of leaving home. The first, “Weights and Measures,” deals with the tragic loss of a child; the second is a non-fiction letter Picoult wrote to her eldest son as he left for college; and, “Ritz” tells the story of a mother who takes the vacation all mothers need sometime.

My Review

I found this Audio CD at the local library and couldn't pass it up! I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan and have read almost everything she's written (I just bought Lone Wolf, so after that, it will be everything :)). The first short piece in this set was a letter she wrote to her son when he left for college. I really liked this letter; it was so real. I don't know whether her son appreciated it as much when he first got it, but I think as time goes on, he'll treasure that letter. The great thing about it being published is that he'll always have a copy of it.

The second story was Weight and Measures, which deals with the loss of a child. The couple in this story is struggling so much to continue on with day-to-day living. Both parents are dealing with the loss in different ways, and don't completely understand or relate to how the other parent is coping. I wish this story had been longer because I felt like it was just cut off. I also wish I knew more about what happened to the daughter, because it was a little vague. But overall, I still liked it.

The third story, Ritz, was probably my favorite of these three. Its about a mom who takes a vacation from her family. When she does this, her family has to learn to cope without their rock that's holding the family together and keeps everything moving. I didn't like how she went about taking this vacation, but I think she got her point across to her family. She needed to remember who she was as a person, other than a mom and a wife.

[Review] Hawthorne by Sarah Ballance

Hawthorne by Sarah Ballance 
Publisher: Sarah Ballance
Publishing Date: February 2014
Format: free ebook
40 Pages
Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Synopsis 

After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it takes ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home. She seeks peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she finds is an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she can right. 

Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett has never forgotten about Emma Grace. In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents reveals a truth that can cost him everything. What he finds gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?

My Review 

I found this short story on Amazon when the Kindle edition was free, so I just downloaded it on a whim. I finally read it today on my Kindle - it's a quick read, so it didn't take too much time from my other books. This is a short story about ghosts, old mansions and romance. I can't say I've ever really read a ghost story before, but I liked this one! This book didn't suck me in immediately, but once I was about halfway through, I was hooked. And the ending?! All I can say is "wow." I wasn't expecting that at all. It really makes me want to go back and reread the story since I'm sure I'll pick up on a few other things now! It also really makes me want to visit (or live in!) an old house like the one described so beautifully in this book. 

[Review] Second Nature by Krista Ames

Second Nature by Krista Ames
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Publishing Date: Jan. 25, 2014
46 Pages
Format: ebook

Synopsis

When the love of her life leaves without a word, moving on is the last thing Dana Stevenson wants to do. Despite loving him, she believes she will never see him again and builds a life without him. While Nicholas is present in her dreams, she runs when reality brings him face to face. 

Navy man, Nicholas Prescott, did what he thought was best to protect the woman he loved. Driven by a family secret, he walked away from Dana without any explanation. When she arrives in town for her best friend's wedding, he sets a plan in action. With this one chance, will he be able to make things right, or is he just too late?

My Review

I downloaded a copy of this book because the synopsis sounded pretty good, but I didn't realize it was such a short story. Nevertheless, the book had a lot of potential. I'm a sucker for romance stories and thankfully this one was. I really wish it would have been longer because they story and the characters weren't developed enough. We needed more background and story; the characters apparently dated a short time in college and Nick disappeared without a word to Dana. Then five years later, they see each other again, jump into bed and are talking about marriage less than a week later. It all seemed super fast to me, and it could have been developed a little better if it were longer. Like I said, good story and had a lot of potential, just needs to be worked out more.