The Falls by J.C. Oates

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates

If you were a fan of We Were the Mulvaneys, then this is a book that you will also like. To be honest, I am not a big fan of Oates' prose style and have a hard time connecting with her characters.  Although this book borders on a Meal for the Mind, it was more just a Light Snack for the Brain.   

The setting of her book is an interesting historical element.  Based in the Niagara Falls area, it delves into the Love Canal crisis before it actually made front page news in the 70's.  This story line element is what almost pushed it into a meal for the mind, but alas that part was never a focus or fully developed question for the reader so it fell short.

What she does develop is a lost and guarded woman who in fact remains guarded even to the reader, who has a life of tragedy in some ways and extreme happiness that she can never seem to be content with.  This is a waiting for the other shoe to drop kind of female lead.  Throughout the book there are a host of loose story lines that never seem to go anywhere; as well as story lines that are developed but don't seem to tie into the main story.  

This maybe what some readers connect with however.  Oates seems to create these family dynamics and characters that are like people we know with flaws and issues.  Like those friends, neighbors, co-workers, we seem to only get to know some aspects of the characters and never really feel fully tied to them.  The story lines too are like life, messy and complicated, and she never pretends to tie everything up in neat bow at the end of the books.  

It was an okay read. I was compelled to finish the book even though I never felt fully vested in the characters or the outcome.  However, if you are a fan of her particular writing style (which is very unique) then this is a book you might want to pick up at your local library.

• Series: P.S.
• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (August 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060722290
• ASIN: B005DIAE9G

Tell No One by H. Coben

Tell No One by Harlan Coben

This little mystery paperback was a random read from the collection of paperbacks in my parent's house.  It is a quick read and it took me a minute to adjust to the male voice (because I really wasn't paying attention  to the gender clues when I started reading- ah assumption leads to the mistaken playground).   Coben presents a nice little mystery novel about love and loss.   The hero of the book has lost the love of his life and remembers little abut the details of the incident.  Though time moved forward, letting go was not so easy. This is a nice light snack for the brain.

Then an unexpected message, new developments, betrayal, intrigue, and of course- Danger in pursuing the truth.  This novel hits all the key ingredients of a good mystery/suspense book.  Granted, this book is not earth shattering, it does not make you pause and think, it is simply a quick and enjoyable read.  Brain candy- that is what I call them.  Every brain needs a bit of a break once and a while, this novel is perfect for that.   

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Dell (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440236703
• ISBN-13: 978-0440236702

Vanish by T. Gerritsen

Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

So let me start by saying that I love the characters of Rizzoli and Isles but I first encountered them through the T.V. series alter egos and not through the books; and boy if that doesn't tick me off.   I am a firm believer of books being better than any Hollywood version that could be created.  I love the portrayal of strong, funny, confident, capable women characters; which Rizzoli and Isles fit the two sides of that female archetype.  However, I met the Holywood versions first and so when I picked up this book, I had to readjust the parameters of how I viewed these characters (probably should have started with one of the earlier books in the series).

Vanish is I believe the fifth book in the Rizzoli and Isles series.   This book fits into my Light Snack for the Brain category of reading; though a quick and easy read, it did tackle an issue that, while aware of, I don't really know much about.  The book is formulaic but is written with a sense of wit that I enjoy.  The characters are brassy giving them the feel of people you wish you could hang out with.    The overall theme of the book tackles the realities of human trafficking in the United States and quite blatantly states that it is often happening right in front of us, but we refuse to see,  "People see what they expect to see. It never occurs to them that terrible things can look pretty" (pg 136).

As I said, I had to adjust my concept of the main characters because in the book world, Jane is married and about to be a mom.   Other than that, I will let you enjoy this quick read that is just fun if you are into the mystery/ crime genre of current popular fiction. Enjoy the fun of getting to know the book version of these two classy gals!

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• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; a edition (August 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345476980
• ISBN-13: 978-0345476982