Review: All Gone

Summary: A daughter’s longing love letter to a mother who has slipped beyond reach.

Just past seventy, Alex Witchel’s smart, adoring, ultracapable mother began to exhibit undeniable signs of dementia. Her smart, adoring, ultracapable daughter reacted as she’d been raised: If something was broken, they would fix it. But as medical reality undid that hope, and her mother continued the torturous process of disappearing in plain sight, Witchel retreated to the kitchen, trying to reclaim her mother at the stove by cooking the comforting foods of her childhood: “Is there any contract tighter than a family recipe?” 

Reproducing the perfect meat loaf was no panacea, but it helped Witchel come to terms with her predicament, the growing phenomenon of “ambiguous loss ”— loss of a beloved one who lives on. Gradually she developed a deeper appreciation for all the ways the parent she was losing lived on in her, starting with the daily commandment “Tell me everything that happened today” that started a future reporter and writer on her way. And she was inspired to turn her experience into this frank, bittersweet, and surprisingly funny account that offers true balm for an increasingly familiar form of heartbreak. -- Riverhead

I had very personal reasons for picking up ALL GONE: A MEMOIR OF MY MOTHER'S DEMENTIA, WITH REFRESHMENTS by Alex Witchel. Mainly, I was interested in reading more about how a daughter coped with taking care of her aging mother since it's a subject that more and more of my friends are facing as their parents (and grandparents) get older. I wasn't exactly sure it was the "right" read for this time of year when I tend to read "lighter" fare; however, I had read enough reviews to know that this book did have it's funny moments. So I figured , "what the heck!"

As odd as it sounds, this memoir which chronicles Ms. Witchel's mother's struggle with dementia wasn't all doom and gloom, although it easily could have been. Naturally, there were some very sad (and even uncomfortable) scenes in this story about her mother's disappearance from reality; however, overall, I felt as if this story were a positive one. (And there were a ton of hilarious scenes!)

First, I felt as if Ms. Witchel wrote a beautiful tribute to her mother. She demonstrated how special her mother was as a mother, wife, and teacher in a time when women weren't able to "do it all". In addition, she showed the ups and downs of a mother-daughter relationship, as well as the many ways her mother's words and advice came to fruition throughout her life -- even in her adult years. I found many of her sayings to be inspirational and touching.

Next, I thought Ms. Witchel did a nice job of incorporating her mother's recipes into ALL GONE. As her mother progressively got worse, Ms. Witchel was able to find comfort in cooking her mother's old recipes. It was a form of therapy for her, and she even included a few of them in the book. I didn't find any of these recipes to be particularly mouth-watering -- most were pretty basic and used a lot of prepackaged foods; however, I did appreciate how these meals brought back fond memories of her mother and her childhood. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the recipes: Frankfurther Goulash, Chicken with Prunes and the more normal Roast Chicken.

Finally, I liked how Ms. Witchel provided so much honestly in ALL GONE about herself and how she coped (and didn't cope) with her mother's illness. I think Ms. Witchel's emotions and reactions to her mother's descending spiral into memory loss were probably very realistic and ones that many adults experience in one form or another. I also adored how she showed that as she was "losing" her mother, she was also gaining an appreciation of her. As a daughter and granddaughter, I found it to be beautiful and touching.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there was something I found a little strange about this book. For the most part I enjoyed ALL GONE and thought it was very good; however, I did think that Ms. Witchel provided too much information about herself and her life that wasn't pertinent to her relationship with her mother. There were many personal stories about Ms. Witchel's childhood, her relationship with her husband Frank Rich, and her stepson. I realize that ALL GONE is ultimately Ms. Witchel's memoir, but I definitely appreciated the parts that were more geared towards her mother and how they handled her illness.

I hope that many people will find some comfort in this book and Ms. Witchel's words. It's a special tribute to mothers and daughters, the healing power of food, and anyone who has ever taken care of someone who is sick.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Kid Konnection: Nutcracker

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a gorgeous version of a classic Christmas story. 

Summary: The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share.

Maurice Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Christmas production of Nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. He joined with the eminent translator Ralph Manheim to produce this illustrated edition of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all ages.

The world of Nutcracker is a world of pleasures. Maurice Sendak's art illuminates the delights of Hoffmann's story in this rich and tantalizing treasure. -- Crown

According to the New York Times, NUTCRACKER by E.T.A. Hoffman and pictures by Maurice Sendak
is one of the ten best illustrated children's books of the year. I can certainly see why. This illustrated version of the classic tale is stunning and deserves a prominent place on coffee tables during the holiday season.

Like many of you, I was familiar with the story of the Nutcracker from seeing the ballet version. However, until I read the Introduction of this book (written by Maurice Sendak), I didn't realize that E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1918 short story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which was the basis for the ballet, differed drastically from the story that was eventually told on stage. I actually found the Sendak's Introduction to be incredibly interesting, and I appreciated reading his thoughts about the Nutcracker. Furthermore, I enjoyed seeing how he worked with the Pacific Northwest Ballet to do a more current (and true) rendition of the story in 1981.

Another thing I found intriguing about the original Nutcracker story is that there are quite a few parts of the story that didn't make it into the ballet. I guess you can't have a five hour production! It's nice to know that they are included in this book, and that Mr. Sendak chose to fully illustrate these scenes in addition to the more familiar ones.

And that brings me to what I loved the most about NUTCRACKER -- the incredible illustrations drawn by Mr. Sendak. He is just a spectacular artist and I became quickly caught up in his interpretations of the characters and places. They were definitely my favorite parts of the book.

It's not that I didn't enjoy the rest of the story in NUTCRACKER, but I would be remiss is I didn't mention that the story of the Nutcracker is quite a long one. The entire book with illustrations is around 100 pages. For some reason, I expected it to be much shorter and more like a children's picture book. At times, NUTCRACKER felt dated to me and I found myself losing interest, but I'm not exactly the biggest fan of fantasy. I actually think that the book isn't "kid-friendly." Family-friendly, maybe? But it's not a story that either one of my kids would chose to read on their own.

Overall, I do think NUTCRACKER is a terrific addition to your holiday-themed books. You'd be hard pressed to find a more beautifully illustrated story. 

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Unbored

Summary: Unbored is the guide and activity book every modern kid needs. Vibrantly designed, lavishly illustrated, brilliantly walking the line between cool and constructive, it's crammed with activities that are not only fun and doable but also designed to get kids engaged with the wider world.

With contributions from a diverse crowd of experts, the book provides kids with information to round out their world view and inspire them to learn more. From how-tos on using the library or writing your representative to a graphic history of video games, the book isn't shy about teaching. Yet the bulk of the 350-page mega-resource presents hands-on activities that further the mission in a fun way, featuring the best of the old as well as the best of the new: classic science experiments, crafts and upcycling, board game hacking, code-cracking, geocaching, skateboard repair, yarn-bombing, stop-action movie-making-plus tons of sidebars and extras, including trivia, best-of lists, and Q&As with leading thinkers whose culture-changing ideas are made accessible to kids for the first time.
 
Just as kids begin to disappear into their screens, here is a book that encourages them to use those tech skills to be creative, try new things, and change the world. And it encourages parents to participate. Unbored is exciting to read, easy to use, and appealing to young and old, girl and boy. Parents will be comforted by its anti-perfectionist spirit and humor. Kids will just think it's awesome.

Contributors include Mark Frauenfelder of MAKE magazine; Colin Beavan, the No Impact Man; Douglas Rushkoff, renowned media theorist; Geoff Manaugh, author of BLDGBLOG; John Edgar Park, a CG supervisor at DisneyToon Studios; and Jean Railla, founder of GetCrafty.com and Etsy consultant. -- Bloomsbury

If you're like me, then it's always a challenge to find unique gifts for kids. It seems like my kids have everything, and Christmas shopping can be a challenge. So when I learned about the new book UNBORED: THE ESSENTIAL FIELD GUIDE TO SERIOUS FUN by Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen, I immediately knew I wanted to check it out. This BIG book of activities is just perfect for kids ages 8 to 14 (and fortunately both my kids fall within this age range!), and I definitely think it would make a fantastic gift this holiday season. 

UNBORED is such a fun book! I wasn't kidding when I said it was big. This hardcover book has over 350 color pages, and it's chock full of ideas to conquer boredom. And these ideas aren't just busy work -- they are meant to encourage kids to use their creativity and even teach them a thing or two. But never fear, these activities are loads of fun and not the slightest bit boring. In fact, I love the author's advice in the Introduction, "Use the world, or let the world use you." (He was actually given this advice by a famous writer/illustrator when he was young.)

It's obvious that UNBORED is totally geared towards kids. Even the layout of the book just looks like something my kids would want to read. It's set up by chapters according to the type of activity. For example, there are chapters for You, Home, Society, and Adventure. Each chapter is further broken down into subcategories. For example, the You chapter is divided into Goof Off, Do It Yourself, Your Body, Your Mind, Tell Your Story, and Rock Out.

But the format of these activities are what really makes this book stand apart from other activity books. The pages of this book are just loaded with information on a wide variety of topics and use colorful and unique fonts. In addition, there are many illustrations and photos so readers can visualize each activity. For example, part of the "Experimenting in the Kitchen" activity takes kids through a quest to find the perfect cookie. There is a section on the debate Chewy vs. Crispy cookies that provides some helpful cooking hints along the lines of whether it's better to use softened or melted butter. Then the authors state a theory that crispy cookies need melted butter and outline the experiment to test it. Kids are asked to make a control batch of cookies and an experimental batch, and compare the results.

I still don't feel as if I've capture just how fun UNBORED is, so I'd like to give you some examples of the types of activities included. There are traditional activities like how to short-sheet a bed as well as new ideas for science experiments and crafts. Some of the activities are just giggle-worthy like any of the Train Your Grownup ideas. But there are also other very useful ones like Conserving Water, Stop Worrying Exercise, and Eliminate Bullying. Furthermore, there are some terrific lists of Best Ever Musical Movies, Weird Facts about Condiments, and Best Every DIY Fiction. UNBORED really does cover a huge variety of things to discover!

If you'd like to learn more about UNBORED, then check out the book's website and watch the video below: 


I absolutely adored UNBORED and I'll be adding it to my Christmas shopping list this year. I can't wait to hand it to my kids the next time one of them whines, "I'm so bored!"

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Guest Review: The Liberator

Summary: The true story of the bloodiest and most dramatic march to victory of the Second World War: the battlefield odyssey of a maverick U.S. Army officer and his infantry unit as they fought for over five hundred days to liberate Europe - from the invasion of Italy to the gates of Dachau.

 From July 10, 1943, the date of the Allied landing in Sicily, to May 8, 1945, when victory in Europe was declared – the entire time it took to liberate Europe – no regiment saw more action, and no single platoon, company, or battalion endured worse, than the ones commanded by Felix Sparks, who had entered the war as a greenhorn second lieutenant of the 157th “Eager for Duty” Infantry Regiment of the 45th “Thunderbird” Division.  Sparks and his fellow Thunderbirds fought longest and hardest to defeat Hitler, often against his most fanatical troops, when the odds on the battlefield were even and the fortunes of the Allies hung in the balance – and when the difference between defeat and victory was a matter of character, not tactics or armor.
 
Drawing on extensive interviews with Sparks and dozens of his men, as well as over five years of research in Europe and in archives across the US, historian Alex Kershaw masterfully recounts one of the most inspiring and heroic journeys in military history.  Over the course of four amphibious invasions, Sparks rose from captain to colonel as he battled from the beaches of Sicily through the mountains of Italy and France, ultimately enduring bitter and desperate winter combat against the diehard SS on the Fatherland’s borders.  Though he lost all of his company to save the Allied beach-head at Anzio and an entire battalion in the dark forests of the Vosges, Sparks miraculously survived the long bloody march across Europe and was selected to lead a final charge to Bavaria to hunt down Adolf Hitler.
 
In the dying days of the Third Reich, Sparks and his men crossed the last great barrier in the West, the Rhine, only to experience some of the most intense street fighting and close combat suffered by Americans in WWII.  When they finally arrived at the gates of Dachau, Hitler’s first and most notorious concentration camp, the Thunderbirds confronted scenes that robbed the mind of reason.  With victory within grasp, Sparks confronted the ultimate test of his humanity: after all he had faced, could he resist the urge to wreak vengeance on the men who had caused untold suffering and misery?
 
Written with the narrative drive and vivid immediacy of Kershaw’s previous bestselling books about American infantrymen in WWII, The Liberator is a story for the ages, an intensely human and dramatic account of one of history’s greatest warriors and his unheralded role in America’s finest achievement – the defeat of Nazi Germany. -- Crown

Being the history buff that he is, I thought Booking Pap Pap might enjoy the new book THE LIBERATOR: ONE WORLD WAR II SOLDIER'S 500-DAY ODYSSEY FROM THE BEACHES OF SICILY TO THE GATES OF DACHAU by Alex Kershaw. He is always up for discovering new books about WWII, and I think it's safe to say that this book was enlightening for a number of reasons. Here are his thoughts:

THE LIBERATOR by Alex Kershaw is a powerful novel about one man’s journey as a soldier in World War II. It details the encounters of Felix Sparks and his 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Thunderbird Division from the Allied landing in Sicily on July 10, 1943 through VE Day on May 8, 1945.

Sparks enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1936 after failing to find work during the Great Depression. After his enlistment was up, he enrolled in college to become an attorney. His studies were interrupted by a year call-up to active duty in 1941where he served as a second lieutenant in the Thunderbird Division. Before the year was up, Sparks, like many young men, found that he would stay in the Army to fight Adolf Hitler. The military command found Sparks to be a natural leader and he advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel before the end of the war. Sparks miraculously survives World War II, finishes his law degree, faces a family tragedy and makes several significant contributions to society before his death in 2007.

Author Alex Kershaw traces the 500 days of combat that thrust Sparks and the Thunderbirds in some of the fiercest fighting in World War II as the unit fought its way through Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. Kershaw’s graphic descriptions give the reader a grim reminder of the physical and emotional toll that the war placed on the U.S. infantrymen. Several hundred had been killed under Spark’s command, something that would haunt him the rest of his life.

One of the most unnerving chapters of the book deals with the Thunderbirds’ march into Dachau, a main Nazi concentration camp. Kershaw follows the story from Spark’s initial receipt of an order to divert from his pursuit of Hitler and instead secure a concentration camp near the city of Dachau. Sparks had no idea what a concentration camp was. Kershaw’s description of the initial reaction of the troops upon entering Dachau and seeing the death and destruction will leave an impression on any reader. The assault on Nazi SS Troops by both U.S. soldiers and camp survivors gives the reader a stark reminder of what war can do to humans.

Kershaw interjects people like Churchill, Eisenhower, Patton and Montgomery into the novel showing their roles in the war and the sharp contrast with roles of soldiers like Sparks. He doesn’t hesitate to remind the reader that petty jealousy and politics by these leaders and others prolonged the war and caused a significantly higher death toll.

THE LIBERATOR is a fast paced, easy to read dramatic non-fiction novel that reminds the reader just how horrific war can be. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in World War II or simply likes to read about national heroes.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Review: Train Like a Mother

Summary: Since the publication of their first book, Run Like a Mother, the authors have built up an engaged, vibrant tribe of women runners—more than 10,000 fans on Facebook and an average of 2,500 daily visitors to anothermotherrunner.com — who are clamoring for another book. At its core, Train Like a Mother will comprehensively cover how to train for a race, including training plans for four race distances (5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon) for both beginner and more experienced runners; the importance of recovery; pre- and post-race nutrition; strength training; injury prevention (and rehab); and everything busy women need to know to add racing to their multitasking schedules. It is all presented with the same wit, empathy, and tone the avid fans connect and identify with.

The book is divided into 13.1 chapters—the distance of a half-marathon, the sweet spot for many mother runners—narrated by both Sarah and Dimity. Like the first book, Train Like a Mother chapters have plenty of sidebars, including Practical Motherly Advice (helpful information about training- and race-related advice), Take It from a Mother (advice and answers from the growing tribe of running moms), and Racy Talk (entertaining, race-related stories from the authors and other moms). The .1 sections are entertaining "commercial breaks" celebrating the sport of running and the added thrill of racing. -- Andrews McMeel

I don't think I've mentioned this on my blog before, but I'm in training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. My sister and I are heading down to Orlando in late February for a girls' weekend. We will both be running the Royal Family 5K on Saturday, and then I plan on running the half marathon on Sunday. Two other book blogging friends, Sandy and Dawn, had already committed to run the half marathon; and I figured what the heck? If I'm ever going to run a half marathon, then Disney is where I would want it to be. Plus, dressing up like a Disney princess for a day is just about the best motivation I could have.

I have already started a training program (there's an app for that!), but I thought I'd check out TRAIN LIKE A MOTHER: HOW TO GET ACROSS ANY FINISH LINE -- AND NOT LOSE YOUR FAMILY, JOB, OR SANITY by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. Dawn recently brought the authors' site anothermotherrunner.com to my attention when she introduced me to one of the authors on twitter, and I have since enjoyed reading their daily posts. I thought this book might not only help with my training, but provide a little "inspiration" to go with all the perspiration!

I have to say that TRAIN LIKE A MOTHER is a lot of fun, but it's also extremely helpful to amateur mother runners like me. The authors provided just the right blend of humor to make the book very readable, but there are also some serious training plans for races at every level. I have run a few 5Ks over the past few months so I was interested to learn what they recommended for these races; however, I admit my focus was on their advice for preparing for and running the 13.1 miles in a half marathon.

While I am doing much of what they suggest, in all honesty, I am a little worried that I'm not doing enough. I started with another plan that I felt was too easy and then switched to one that seemed more in keeping with my running patterns and goals. The half marathon training plan in this book is probably much better than either of the ones I've looked at. It encompasses some cross training (which I know I need to do), and it would without a doubt get me in better shape for the race.

In addition to the training plans, there are lots of fun features in this book. It truly is geared towards mother runners at all levels -- from the ones who can barely run to the end of the street (that was me!) to ones who seriously train for marathons. The book is set up in thirteen chapters (just like a half!) with .1 sections for each chapter which celebrate running. In addition, there are a variety of fun features that incorporate quotations from "real" mother runners as well as some pretty edgy parts that debate sex and drinking before races along with how to prevent chafing!

As someone who runs about four times a week, I count running as a priority in my life; however, I don't really have any other friends who run. And as a result, I don't have anyone to talk to about my accomplishments, fears, gripes, etc. That's one of the reasons that I enjoyed TRAIN LIKE A MOTHER so much. It allowed me to see that there are tons of mother runners out there to whom I can relate. I found many of their personal stories and quotations to be spot on, and it was just nice to realize that I'm not alone!

I loved TRAIN LIKE A MOTHER and I'm certain that I need to check out the authors' first book RUN LIKE A MOTHER! Highly recommend for all you mother runners out there and for those of you who want to be a mother runner!

Mother Daughter Book Club Fun

Last Sunday, our Mother-Daughter Book Club (aka The M&Ms) had a very memorable meeting! It was Booking Daughter's and my turn to host, and we chose VIOLA IN REEL LIFE by best-selling author Adriana Trigiani. We had both read the book awhile ago and thought it would be perfect for our group of girls and moms. To make things even better, Adriana agreed to do a Skype chat with us!!!!!

Adriana just happens to be one of my favorite people in the whole wide world... and I think Booking Daughter now agrees! For those of you who have had the opportunity to meet her, you already know what I mean when I say that she is just incredible. She can light up a room (or in this case, an iPad screen and our big screen television) and has the power to truly make every person she talks to feel special. It's a beautiful skill and I am so grateful to her for touching each member of our book club's hearts.

Because we were having Adriana "join" us, I wanted to do something special for the girls. Booking Daughter wanted me to make and decorate yellow ballet flat cookies, but I thought that might be taking on a little too much. Instead, I had our local grocery story make a Viola cake that looked just like the cover of the book. It turned out to be adorable and the girls were thrilled! I almost hated to cut it!

The moms and girls spent about a half hour discussing the book before we called Adriana. I can't recommend VIOLA IN REEL LIFE enough for mother/daughter book clubs. All of the girls and moms loved the book, but we also appreciated the many wonderful messages that were part of the story. (You can read my review here.) This novel gave us the opportunity to really talk about some important (and relevant) issues with our girls including self-confidence, crushes, friendship, parent/child relationships, and many more.

And then for the highlight of our meeting... Adriana! I have had the pleasure to talk with Adriana a few times so I knew the girls would be in for a treat. To be honest, that was an understatement! Booking Daughter had prepared a list of questions for Adriana because she knew she'd get nervous; and each of the girls took turns asking them. Adriana graciously answered all of their questions, but it was how she answered them that made this discussion so wonderful.

Adriana is incredibly wise. She has said many things to me, both in her writing and in person, that have stuck with me. Adriana and I are close in age, so it didn't surprise me that we have bonded over books, faith, motherhood, and our relationships with our grandmothers. What stuck me as so amazing was how well she bonded with these thirteen year old girls. As Booking Daughter said to me later, "She is just so cool. She really understands us!"

Adriana gave the girls an unbelievable amount of personal attention and advice. She made each one of them feel important and (hopefully) realize that they all have something special to offer the world -- whether it be a talent like writing or being a wonderful friend. She voice so eloquently the many things I want to say to my daughter every single day, but for some reason am unable to convey. Of course, I think hearing this advice from Adriana is a lot more effective that hearing it from me anyway!

I've known for a long time that Adriana is truly a gift, and I'm so glad that these seven girls had the chance to see it with their own eyes. What a special day!

Review: The Racketeer (Audio)

Summary: Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.

Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller. -- Random House Audio

Prior to my blogging days, I used to read a lot of books written by John Grisham. I admit that I didn't always love them, but I appreciated the plots and the twists. I haven't actually gone out of my way to read any of Mr. Grisham's thrillers lately. That is until I read a few positive reviews for THE RACKETEER.This novel had the potential to be very entertaining, and it sounded kind of different from the typical Grisham legal thriller. Plus, it sounded perfect to listen to during my morning runs.

THE RACKETEER tells the story of Malcolm Bannister, an ex-lawyer who is serving ten years in a Federal Prison Camp for money laundering -- a crime he swears he didn't commit. When a federal judge is found murdered, Malcolm knows who committed the crime and why; and he's willing to tell the FBI if he is guaranteed to be released from prison and given a new identity. Once Malcolm is set free and starts his new life, things become very interesting for Malcolm (and the reader) as he carries out his carefully plotted revenge moves.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed THE RACKETEER a great deal. I might even say that I was surprised by what a great job Mr. Grisham did with this novel. It was so darn clever! Malcolm's character was fantastic and I absolutely loved how twisted and convoluted the story became. In addition, I was kept guessing for most of the novel; and suffice it to say that I was pretty surprised by how things eventually came together. There is no doubt that THE RACKETEER is one entertaining read!

I especially appreciated the character of Malcolm. Much of the story was told in his voice, and I immediately knew that I liked him. In many ways, he represented the "little guy" battling an unjust system; and I don't know about you, but I can't help but root for the underdog. As the story progressed, I loved the direction that Malcolm's character took. He is definitely a character that will remain in my thoughts for a very long time because of his resourcefulness and his ingenuity!

And as far as surprises go, this book has more than I could even count. There were twists and turns throughout, and I wasn't quite sure who or what to believe. I admit that the revenge moves that were created by Malcolm were a bit farfetched, but they were so intriguing too! I would love to ask Mr. Grisham how he created and executed this very complex storyline.

The audio version of THE RACKETEER was read by J.D. Jackson, and I thought he did a stellar job. He is a new-to-me narrator, but that's not surprising since I'm still a relatively audio listener. His rich voice was perfect for Malcolm, but I also liked how he narrated the other parts of this novel. I really had no issues with his performance, and I look forward to listening to other books that he's narrated.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed THE RACKETEER. It's a departure from the traditional Grisham legal thrillers; however, it's a positive change. Highly recommend to fans of thrillers and stories heavy on revenge!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this audio book.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.