Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Review: The Killing of Mindi Quintana by Jeffrey A. Cohen

She giggled.
He hated her. [ excerpt from The Killing of Mindi Quintana]

The Killing of Mindi Quintana by Jeffrey A. Cohen
Welcome Rain Publisher, 2010
Crime Fiction; 256 pgs

Not everyone likes to read the synopsis of a book before reading the book; you know, the one that falls on the back cover or inside flap of a book. I am not among those. I often base my decision to read a book on the synopsis, determining whether it sounds like something I might be interested in reading or not. Favorite authors, of course, are an exception sometimes. Occasionally I read a synopsis and it turns out to be misleading, but that isn't often. I can only remember one occasion when the synopsis on the inside flap of the cover gave too much away. The reason I bring this up now is because I am undecided about the synopsis provided for The Killing of Mindi Quintana. It isn't misleading, not really, but it does border on giving too much away. And yet, I can also see why offering so much of the plot to perspective readers might be necessary too.

As a result, I am having a difficult time settling on how to summarize this book without spoiling anything. It is about a man, Freddy Builder, the manager of the China department at a department store. His life is rather dull, or so he believes. He dreams of being a writer and being famous. He is just biding his time, making spectacular China displays until opportunity comes knocking at his door. The novel is also about a young beautiful woman, Mindi Quintana, with a big heart and gentle manner who is editor for a literary magazine and once dated Freddy. Freddy's world changes when she walks back into his life. There is Mindi's best friend, the painter, and a defense attorney whose just going through the motions of life, feeling numb. And there is an ambitious prosecutor and a corporate manager who is a bit full of himself. They all are set on a collision course the day Mindi and Freddy meet again. Then there is a murder.

The Killing of Mindi Quintana is an experience all of its own. It is not your usual crime fiction novel. Author Jeffrey A. Cohen's characters seem more like caricatures than fully realized people (except perhaps defense attorney Philip), which, I believe, is the effect he was aiming for. The story itself was satirical. And it worked.

The novel takes a hard look at the notoriety and sensationalism of our society's criminals and their crimes, about how the justice system plays into that and where the victims stand as a result. Freddy seems like your every day sort of man. Stuck in a job he doesn't like, dreaming of bigger things, a man in love, a man done wrong. Freddy, however, is not quite what he seems. He is the epitome of a psychopath.

I liked the way the author wove art into his novel: Freddy's China displays, Mindi's appreciation of words and Lisa's paintings. It seemed a fitting juxtaposition to the crime itself, or, rather, more directly to the aftermath. It also tied into the abstract feel of the novel.

I enjoyed the book overall, finding it both entertaining and thought provoking, and I appreciate what the author set out to accomplish. However, at times I was not completely satisfied with the approach. I think that was more a me issue than the author's. I found the ending quite satisfying and fitting with the rest of the tale. It wasn't an ending I expected, and yet I can't see it ending any other way.

Rating:

(Good)

You can learn more about Jeffrey A. Cohen and his book on the author's website. Be sure and check the TLC Book Tours website as well.

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. Book for review provided by the author.

Be sure and stop by the other Tour Stops for The Killing of Mindi Quintana:

Monday, May 3rd: Jen’s Book Thoughts
Tuesday, May 4th: Life of a Busy Wife
Wednesday, May 5th: Rundpinne
Monday, May 10th: Rough Edges
Wednesday, May 12th: Luxury Reading
Thursday, May 13th: Novel Whore
Friday, May 14th: Beth Fish Reads
Monday, May 17th: Book Dilettante
Tuesday, May 18th: My Two Blessings
Wednesday, May 19th: Dan’s Journal
Thursday, May 20th: The Book Faery Reviews
Monday, May 24th: Starting Fresh
Wednesday, May 26th: Book Junkie
Monday, June 7th: The Betty and Boo Chronicles

© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

In Which I Have a Change of Heart . . . About Fish (at least the live kind)

I was about seven or eight when my brother brought home a small goldfish in a plastic bag full of water. He would be the first of three, the last one living quite a long time, swimming forever in his round bowl.

Our home would soon become the home of other fish, from Betta to Neon to kinds I can't remember. My younger brother and I named every single one. We took turns feeding them and spent hours watching them. They were beautiful and graceful. Oh, to be a fish! It was quite an event in our house when it came time to clean the tank. Then they died.

We tried again. Only, my heart wasn't in it quite as much. I hesitated at naming them. It was hard not to be drawn to them, however. They all died quite suddenly one day, and I was devastated. I swore off fish forever. Eventually my feelings turned to a strong dislike of fish, both alive or dead (whales and dolphins being the exception). Unfair to the live fish, I know, but true.

I have never developed a taste for fish or seafood. Every week when my parents forced me to eat it, I drenched it in ketch-up so I couldn't taste it. I have tried a variety of different fish and other seafood over the years to no avail. My taste buds reject it every time.

Getting back to where I was going with all of this, I came across an article in Bookmarks Magazine the other day about Rebecca Skloot and her father. I saw mention of an article she'd written called "Fixing Nemo", about veterinary care and fish. I am not sure what compelled me to look up the story, but look it up I did. The article is funny and touching. Not to mention fascinating. Imagine being the doctor who operates on a fish! Go ahead. Read it.

While I am not any more eager to rush out the pet store and buy a fish tank and fish than I was before reading the article, I have more of an appreciation for the little (or big) guys.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Review: Beautiful Assassin by Michael C. White

Imagine, a woman in a tree, a silly, foolish young woman holding a gun and preparing to kill a man she does not even know. [excerpt from Beautiful Assassin]

Beautiful Assassin by Michael C. White
William Morrow, 2010
Fiction; 464 pgs

For all the books I have read over the years set around or during World War II, I have yet to explore every facet of it. The Soviet Union's involvement is one such area I am still relatively new to. And so, when the opportunity arose to read and review Michael C. White's novel, Beautiful Assassin, I was quick to volunteer. The novel opens with an American journalist on her way to meet who she believes is the namesake of the novel, a woman she has long been searching for. The two women talk long into the night as Tat'yana tells the story of her life all those years ago.

Tat'yana was once a Soviet Hero, having killed over 300 soldiers. She had come to the United States as a guest of Eleanor Roosevelt, but under the watchful eye of the Soviets who dictated just about every word she spoke and every move she made. She had been told her purpose was to draw support from the Americans and to encourage the U.S. to become more active in the war, to fight the Germans alongside the Soviets. Only, she soon learned that she was to also glean as much information as she could from her new friends. Tat'yana did not want to be a spy as it went against her very nature. She was loyal to her country, but she also knew the faults of her government. She was put in a difficult situation, having to choose between her country and a new one.

Tat'yana is not someone anyone would expect to become a soldier. She was an academic, a poet. When tragedy befell her family, however, she was desperate and full of rage. The only thing she wanted to do wass strike out at the enemy. Her skills in marksmanship proved an asset in the war.

Although women fought alongside men in the Soviet Union, Tat'yana and other female soldiers did not have it easy. There were those who did not believe a woman's place should be on the battlefield and they made life difficult. As Tat'yana tried to prove herself in a man's world, she quickly learned that it would be an ongoing battle. While others sought to keep her in her place, Eleanor Roosevelt had other ideas. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt instantly takes a liking to Tat'yana, a capable, strong woman, as does Tat'yana to Mrs. Roosevelt.

There was so much I liked about this book. Tat'yana is an interesting character who evolves as a person over the course of the novel. Because Tat'yana is telling her story in hindsight, she has insight into the events that took place all those years ago, and so she comes at it from a place of maturity we might not have seen from her younger self. Tat'yana is by no means perfect. She is strong and yet vulnerable. She did not always make the best or even the most heroic choices.

At 464 pages, this novel has a lot packed into it; it is at once a war story, a political thriller, and a historical novel with a touch of romance. Although I enjoyed nearly every aspect of the novel, my favorite time was spent when Tat'yana was in the Soviet Union. I felt like I got to know Tat'yana best during that time as well as her family, including her husband and her relationship with him.

Once Tat'yana arrived in the United States, I felt as if the plot began to overshadow the characters. I found the later romance portion of the novel difficult to buy into if only because Captain Taylor was not as well-developed a character as I would have liked. He is charming and mysterious, and while I could understand the attraction between Tat'yana and him, I never felt like I got to know him as well as I did her character. I never lost my fascination and interest in the story and of Tat'yana, however, and I was anxious to see how it all turned out in the end.

Beautiful Assassin was a satisfying read overall. I enjoyed the time I spent with Tat'yana and look forward to exploring the author's other novels.

Rating:

(Good +)

For more information about the author and his books, visit his website.

Source: Received book through BookBrowse First Impressions Program.

Monday, May 03, 2010

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, 2010

Like its name, spring has many positive connotations to it. It is a time of rebirth after the long winter; people tend to their gardens; flowers and plants are in full bloom. It is also a time when my allergies and sinuses kick into gear, which is not such a pleasant experience; but, aside from that, spring is a season that shouts sunshine, hope and life. It is also the season for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, one of my favorite events of the year.

Unlike previous years, my husband and I were only able to attend one day this year. We'd splurged on tickets to the local Broadway season last summer and it just so happened that one of the show dates fell right on the weekend of the book festival. So, while many of my fellow bloggers were enjoying a Saturday at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Anjin and I were bouncing in our seats to the tunes from Hairspray. It was a fun show, another reminder of why I love attending the theater so much. While I entertained the idea of jumping in the car and meeting the book blogger gang at Jerry's Deli for dinner that evening, it really wasn't a possibility. Oh well.

Sunday, April 25th, couldn't get here soon enough. Anjin and I made the long drive into Los Angeles, arriving too late to attend our first panel by mere minutes. I wasn't too heartbroken, although just a little disappointed. In years past, I had a habit of arranging a very tight schedule for us, panel-wise, and this year I wanted to take a more relaxed approach and spend more time outdoors, browsing the booths. So, when I chose to attend the discussion panel between John Green and David Levithan, it was more because I figured it would be funny--and I was in the mood for funny. Plus, I had just finished reading a book by John Green after having finally succumbed to the peer pressure of fellow book bloggers. It wasn't meant to be, however. Instead, Anjin and I wandered around a few of the booths and were first in line for the John Green and David Levithan book signing, me armed with my copy of Will Greyson, Will Greyson. It's a good thing we were too because the line began growing even before the panel let out. As we were leaving, the end of the line wasn't anywhere in sight.

Anjin and I didn't have much time, but we raced over to our next venue, our other panel for the day. This one was one my husband had been most looking forward to. Writer Ed Brubaker (author of the graphic novels Scene of the Crime, Captain America, Dare Devil, Incognito, and Criminal) along with Oliver Simon (author of the graphic novels The Exterminators and Gen13) and Mike Mignola (author of the graphic novels Hellboy and BPRD) made up the panel. Geoff Boucher was the moderator. It was quite an entertaining panel, both funny and interesting. They discussed the differences in writing for indies versus the major publishers, their take on writing about superheroes, and the influence of Hollywood on comics and vice versa, among other topics. Even though this area is more my husband's than mine, I have read a short story and one graphic novel by Ed Brubaker, which I really liked, and so I was eager to see him as well. After the panel, we had the opportunity to meet Simon Oliver and Ed Brubaker and have them sign a couple of books for us.

The rest of the afternoon was wide open. Or so my husband thought. I actually had highlighted a couple of author signings in the schedule that I wanted to try and get to. Along the way we were able to grab a bite to eat and then visited the booths, sometimes doubling back to see who new might have showed up at the booths featuring author signings. I got to shake Kwei Quartey's hand and tell him how much I loved his book Wife of the Gods, hobnob with authors Juliet Blackwell, author of Secondhand Spirits, and Sophie Littlefield, author of A Bad Day for Sorry. I also introduced myself to crime fiction authors Denise Hamilton and Elizabeth George. One of my must see authors that day was Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians, who was gracious and humble when faced with a crazed book lover.

Overall, it was a terrific day. The weather was sunny and perfect, and I remembered to put on sunscreen. At the end of the day, my feet were sore and my shoulder ached a bit from my bag full of books, but it was well worth it.

Books I Couldn't Resist Buying at the Festival:
Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell
This Body of Death by Elizabeth George
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Last Embrace by Denise Hamilton
A Bad Day for Sorry by Sophie Littlefield
Bahamarama by Bob Morris (The Mysterious Galaxy was giving away one paperback for every hardback sold at their booth--and this was the complimentary book I was given)
Chas: The Knowledge (Hellblazer) by Simon Oliver & Goran Sudžuka

Anjin's Loot (which is also going on my TBR pile to read):
Hexed: The Devil I Know by Michael Alan Nelson, Emma Rios, Cris Peter, & Marshall Dillon
The Unknown by Mark Waid, Minck Oosterveer & Marshall Dillon

Other book blogger's recaps of the Festival:
Anjin from Bullet Points
Amy from My Friend Amy
Florinda from the 3 R's Blog
Leah from Amused By Books
Mark from Random Ramblings From Sunny Southern CA
Softdrink from Fizzy Thoughts
Thea from the Book Smugglers
Ti from Book Chatter
Trish from Hey Lady! Watcha Readin'?
Did I miss your LATFOB recap? Let me know and I'll add your link!

What new books made it into your home recently?

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Sunday Salon: Fighting Temptation

I currently have four books sitting in my shopping cart over at Amazon. Don't tell my husband. It would be so easy to push that check out button. The books could be here, sitting at my desk in just a few days. This week even. Each of the books sounds too good to pass up. The reality is, I know I will not get to them right away even if I do buy them. I would log them into LibraryThing and then they would join the other TBR books waiting their turn. It's so tempting though . . .

In the Land of Believers: An Outsider's Extraordinary Journey into the Heart of the Evangelical Church by Gina Welch ~ Books that explore religion have always intrigued me. In this book, the author, a secular Jew, goes undercover to learn about the Evangelical Church. If Rebecca's review hadn't convinced me that I must read the book, Amy's and Florinda's did. It also goes along with that themed month I've been planning for about a year now--the one that has yet to come to fruition, where I read the religious based memoirs in my TBR collection.

I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith through an Atheist's Eyes by Hemant Mehta ~ This one popped up as a book people bought who bought In the Land of Believers, and it caught my eye. The author held an auction on E-Bay, agreeing to go to the church of the highest bidder's choice. The winning bidder requested that Mehta visit a variety of different churches, and the book is a written account of the author's experiences visiting those churches. Another one of those books that would be perfect for my religious based memoir themed-month. If I ever actually get around to it.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - I had read a blogger review of this book not too long ago (I wish I could remember where) and then came across it in the most recent Bookmarks issue. Henrietta Lacks died of cancer during the early 1950's. Unknown to her or her family, doctors took a sample of her tissue for research, tissue that became the first viable cells which would go on to aid scientists and doctors in making important and life-changing medical discoveries. The book touches on the science as well as the more personal story of Henrietta and her family, then and today.

Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women Are Transforming the Middle East by Isobel Coleman ~ I came across this title quite by accident. One day last week I was reading the headlines and followed a link over to a NPR podcast featuring the author Isobel Coleman. She, along with Sakeena Yacoobi, the founder and director of the Afghan Institute for Learning, were being interviewed on Talk of the Nation. Paradise Beneath Her Feet is a book that focuses on how a few women are using Islam to change the role of women in Islamic societies, using faith to support and empower women in becoming educated and taking a more active role in improving those societies.

Now you can understand why it's so hard to resist hitting that check out button.

What books are tempting you these days? Are there any you are trying hard to resist for the time being?

As for what I am reading now, I currently am enjoying my first John Sanford crime fiction novel, Mortal Prey. I have been saying for years I wanted to read one of his books. Sometimes it takes a nudge from a friend and a book tour to do it.

The unthinkable happened one day last week. I left my book at work. I went back and forth about how to handle the situation. I have been meaning to get to Valley of Death: The Tragedy at Dien Bien Phu That Led America into the Vietnam War by Ted Morgan and considered picking that one up to start on. The size was a bit off-putting though, at least right now. I thought about my stack of magazines I'd fallen behind in reading, as well as those short story collections I want to read, in particular A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris. Finally, though, I decided to read Scalped by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guéra, a graphic crime fiction novel set on an Indian Reservation.

I was reading the introduction of Scalped and saw mention of another of Jason Aaron's books listed, The Other Side, set in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Hmm. Wouldn't that make a good reading choice for the Vietnam War Challenge? A graphic novel would be a perfect fit in between a couple of the other rather long books I have on my stack for the challenge. I commented as much to my husband that night and then he surprised me later in the week when he pulled a copy of The Other Side out of his bag. He's so thoughtful! I look forward to reading it for the challenge.

What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?

I can hardly believe it is already May! As you can tell from this post I've got nonfiction and reading challenges on my mind. The Sookie Stackhouse Challenge will be wrapping up the end of next month and I already have my order in for the latest book in the series. I should be able to fit it in before the deadline. And while my reading choices for the Vietnam War Challenge seem to be diverging from the list of books I was considering reading for the challenge, I am still aiming to complete the challenge by the end of the year.

I hope you will join me later this week! I will be highlighting my day at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, reviewing The Killing of Mindi Quintana by Jeffrey Cohen and Beautiful Assassin by Michael C. White, and confessing my true feelings about fish.

Enjoy the week and happy reading!