Review: Unmask Alice by Rick Emerson

Author: Rick Emerson
Publisher: BenBella Books
Publication Date: July 2022

In 1971, Go Ask Alice reinvented the young adult genre with a blistering portrayal of sex, psychosis, and teenage self-destruction. The supposed diary of a middle-class addict, Go Ask Alice terrified adults and cemented LSD's fearsome reputation, fueling support for the War on Drugs. Five million copies later, Go Ask Alice remains a divisive bestseller, outraging censors and earning new fans, all of them drawn by the book's mythic premise: A Real Diary, by Anonymous.

But Alice was only the beginning.

In 1979, another diary rattled the culture, setting the stage for a national meltdown. The posthumous memoir of an alleged teenage Satanist, Jay's Journal merged with a frightening new crisis—adolescent suicide—to create a literal witch hunt, shattering countless lives and poisoning whole communities.

In reality, Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal came from the same dark place: Beatrice Sparks, a serial con artist who betrayed a grieving family, stole a dead boy's memory, and lied her way to the National Book Awards.

Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries is a true story of contagious deception. It stretches from Hollywood to Quantico, and passes through a tiny patch of Utah nicknamed "the fraud capital of America." It's the story of a doomed romance and a vengeful celebrity. Of a lazy press and a public mob. Of two suicidal teenagers, and their exploitation by a literary vampire.

Unmask Alice . . . where truth is stranger than nonfiction.

Unmask Alice is a look into the real story behind the books, Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal.  I know these books were a really big when they came out and have always been on the summer reading lists.  Both books are supposed to be real life diaries of a couple of teenagers.  One deals with dug addiction and the other teen suicide and depression.

I will admit, I never read either of these books.  I just never had the desire as neither of the subject matters interested me enough when I was in high school.  I did enjoy this book though.  I hadn't realized until I picked it up that there was even a controversy.  What Beatrice Sparks did, especially to the parents of the real "Jay" is just wrong and I'm glad this has been exposed.  I also had a bit of nostalgia because I lived through the Satanic Panic era and did read books like "Michelle Remembers".  What a crazy and sad time that was.  I definitely would recommend this one.  It was engaging and I learned a lot.

Blog Tour: Review of Rookie Mistakes by Kelly Bandas

 

Author: Kelly Bandas
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 19, 2022)
Paperback: 288 pages

In her highly anticipated nonfiction debut, comedian Kelly Bandas uses her trademark humor to recount stories of growing up and becoming a semifunctional adult in a dysfunctional world.

Raised in a devoutly Catholic home, Kelly Bandas spent her entire childhood trying hard not to tick off “the man” or the Lord. And for the most part, she crushed it. But as she got older and began to navigate what it looked like to truly live in a world where gender roles, race, and politics weren’t always so black and white, Kelly realized that her former worldview was beginning to feel like that pair of Forever 21 jeans that used to glide effortlessly over her hips but now required a lot of stretching and acrobatic maneuvering to shimmy into place. And she’s not alone.

In Rookie Mistakes, Kelly shares stories of growing up in a church-centered, male-dominated society and how those experiences shaped and primed her for a new chapter of life. In this debut collection of essays, Kelly shares:

• Funny, fast-paced, and uplifting stories 

• Encouragement for women who are tired of feeling like they will never measure up—and kind of don’t want to anyway

• Inspiration to find your voice, your power, and your people

Kelly shares everything from laugh-out-loud accounts of Oregon Trail-themed first kisses to heartfelt insights gleaned from navigating life as a Christian feminist doing her best not to screw up being a parent of a child with a disability, in a trans-racial family.

Rookie Mistakes is the call-to-action millennial women everywhere have been waiting for.

My thoughts:

I'm not sure that I am the target audience for this book.  I read a few of the essays and they were fine.  I am not a millennial (Gen-X here), so maybe that is why I didn't connect with the stories.  I'm also not Catholic, so those essays didn't mean much to me.  Having said that, I do think that for the right audience, this book will be a hit.  I encourage you to check it out.  

About Kelly Bandas

Kelly Bandas is a writer and comedian best known for her popular Instagram and TikTok videos satirizing everything from millennial motherhood to social media culture. Her work can be found literally anywhere you have an internet signal (if your internet isn’t working, try turning off the wifi and then turning it back on again . . . or honestly, it could be your router.) Whether she’s hosting her not-at-all dorky Outlander support group or speaking up about things that really matter, Kelly’s mission is to always empower and lift up other women through community, inclusivity, and laughter.

Features:
Sunday, July 17th: @nurse_bookie
Monday, July 18th: @the.caffeinated.reader
Tuesday, July 19th: @megsbookclub
Wednesday, July 20th: @msanniecathryn
Thursday, July 21st: @amysbooknook8
Monday, July 25th: @shobizreads
Wednesday, July 27th: @girlsinbooks
Thursday, July 28th: @books_with_bethany
Friday, July 29th: @that.bookmom
Tuesday, August 10th: @booksandcoffeemx
TBD: Friday, July 22nd: @mommaleighellensbooknook
TBD: Sunday, July 24th: @cozy.coffee.reads

Reviews:
Saturday, July 16th: @just_another_mother_with_books
Tuesday, July 19th: Cats in the Cradle Blog
Friday, July 22nd: @jenniaahava
Monday, July 25th: @bookshelfmomma
Wednesday, July 27th: From the TBR Pile
Thursday, July 28th: @kristens.reading.nook
Friday, July 29th: @everything.is.words
Friday, July 29th: @beckys_bookshelves
Monday, August 1st: @lyon.brit.andthebookshelf
Tuesday, August 2nd: Write Read Life
Wednesday, August 3rd: @thecalicobooks
Thursday, August 4th: @kristinandthebooks
Friday, August 5th: @abduliacoffeebookaddict23
Friday, August 5th: The Bookish Dilettante
Saturday, August 6th: Stranded in Chaos and @sarastrand9438
Monday, August 8th: Seaside Book Nook
 

Blog Tour: Review of Lost Child: The True Story of a Girl Who Couldn't Ask for Help by Torey Hayden

Author: Torey Hayden

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Publication Date: September 2019

In a forgotten corner of Wales, a young girl languishes in a home for troubled children. Abandoned by her parents because of her violent streak, Jessie—at the age of ten—is at risk of becoming just another lost soul in the foster system.

Precocious and bold, Jessie is convinced she is possessed by the devil and utterly unprepared for the arrival of therapist Torey Hayden. Armed with patience, compassion, and unconditional love, Hayden begins working with Jessie once a week. But when Jessie makes a stunning accusation against one of Hayden’s colleagues – a man Hayden implicitly trusts – Hayden’s work doubles: now she must not only get to the root of Jessie’s troubles, but also find out if what the girl alleges is true.

A moving, compelling, and inspiring account, Lost Child is a powerful testament once again of Torey Hayden’s extraordinary ability to reach children who many have given up on—and a reminder of how patience and love can ultimately prevail.

I'll start by saying that I have not read any of Torey Hayden's other books about her time as a special education teacher.  I am also not a psychologist.  I know that this is a recounting of her own experience and keeping that in mind, I thought this was an interesting read.  The story of Jesse was so heartbreaking and I was definitely riveted by her story. It was so sad to see that this child was neglected for so long. 

However, I'm not sure that I agreed with the way the investigation or therapy was handled.  I could see where mistakes were made by multiple people.  Hindsight being what it is, I wonder if this child could have had help a lot sooner that she did.  Repeatedly, we are told by the author that she was not experienced in sexual abuse cases, but she was allowed to continue to hold sessions with Jesse after her accusation.  She also pointed out that she was not supposed to bring up Joseph, but she repeatedly brought up his name and asked what I felt were leading questions. I mean, it ultimately did help the truth to come out.  I wish we could have seen more of the outside investigation and the perspectives of the social worker and police.  It might have given me a more rounded view of how everything went down.

I should warn that there is very explicit language and descriptions of abuse in this book.  So, that may steer some people away.  I think ti's worth picking up.  If only to gain insight into how neglect and abuse can shape a child's behavior.  I was glad she included an epilogue.  It was nice closure for the reader.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Torey Hayden

Born in Montana, USA, Torey Hayden has spent most of her adult life working with children in distress. Now living in Great Britain, she divides her time between writing and volunteer work with several British charities. Torey is author of numerous internationally best-selling books about her experiences as a special education teacher and therapist. She has also written two novels and two children’s books.

Find her at www.torey-hayden.com and connect with her on Facebook.

Tour Stops

Thursday, October 3rd: The Book Diva’s Reads

Friday, October 4th: Openly Bookish

Monday, October 7th: Girl Who Reads

Thursday, October 10th: Helen’s Book Blog

Friday, October 11th: Jennifer ~ Tar Heel Reader

Monday, October 14th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Thursday, October 17th: Instagram: @crystals_library

Tuesday, October 22nd: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, October 23rd: Instagram: @simplykelina

Friday, October 25th: Literary Quicksand

TBD: Monday, September 30th: Read Till Dawn

TBD: Friday, October 18th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Blog Tour: Review of Apollo to the Moon by Teasel Muir-Harmony

Author: Teasel Muir-Harmony
Publisher: National Geographic
Date of publication: October 2018

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo missions to the moon, this narrative uses 50 key artifacts from the Smithsonian archives to tell the story of the groundbreaking space exploration program.

Bold photographs, fascinating graphics, and engaging stories commemorate the 20th century’s most important space endeavor: NASA’s Apollo program to reach the moon. From the lunar rover and an emergency oxygen mask to space food and moon rocks, it’s a carefully curated array of objects–complete with intriguing back stories and profiles of key participants.

This book showcases the historic space exploration program that landed humans on the moon, advanced the world’s capabilities for space travel, and revolutionized our sense of humanity’s place in the universe. Each historic accomplishment is symbolized by a different object, from a Russian stamp honoring Yuri Gagarin and plastic astronaut action figures to the Apollo 11 command module, piloted by Michael Collins as Armstrong and Aldrin made the first moonwalk, together with the monumental art inspired by these moon missions. Throughout, Apollo to the Moon also tells the story of people who made the journey possible: the heroic astronauts as well as their supporters, including President John F. Kennedy, newsman Walter Cronkite, and NASA scientists such as Margaret Hamilton.

Apollo to the Moon is a unique look at the history of the NASA Apollo missions that ultimately led to The United States sending the first man to the moon.  I will admit to not reading this book cover to cover.  However, it's not really a book that is meant to be read like that.  It's more of a book to be browsed and savored.  There is a lot to take in, so on my first pass through the book, I browsed the pictures and stopped to read the corresponding passages of the objects that looked interesting to me.  

This book is filled with beautiful photos related to 50 artifacts left over from  NASA's Apollo program.  The author's hope is that by seeing the artifacts, the reader will be able to get more of a sense of what it was like to be there.  One of the most interesting objects that I found was the Data Acquisition Camera from Apollo 11.  It recorded the descent onto the moon as well as the key moments outside of the Eagle. What I loved about this is that it was meant to stay on the moon.  Only the film from the camera was supposed to make the trip back home.  Instead, Neil Armstrong smuggled it back to earth in a bag he nicknamed the "McDivitt purse".  It was found in a closet by Armstrong's wife after he died.  How cool is that?  That is just one of the little tidbits you will find among the pages of this volume. I definitely recommend this one to anyone really, but especially those who are into anything NASA.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

Author: John Carreyrou
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Date of publication: May 2018

The full inside story of the breathtaking rise and shocking collapse of Theranos, the multibillion-dollar biotech startup, by the prize-winning journalist who first broke the story and pursued it to the end, despite pressure from its charismatic CEO and threats by her lawyers. 

In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the female Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup "unicorn" promised to revolutionize the medical industry with a machine that would make blood testing significantly faster and easier. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes's worth at an estimated $4.7 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn't work.

A riveting story of the biggest corporate fraud since Enron, a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley.

I worked for many years in the biotech industry, so I was immediately drawn to the synopsis of this book.  Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup  is the true story behind the rise and fall of the biotech company, Theranos.  Headed by Stanford dropout, Elizabeth Holmes, the company made big claims that they could revolutionize the blood testing industry.  The only problem was they never were able to get the technology to work.

I really enjoyed this accounting.  The author is an investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal.  He did a great job of describing who Holmes is and how she was able to facilitate this huge fraud.  The timeline was easy to follow and I was sucked right into the book.   It was hard to believe how many people were duped by this woman and her company.  I was also astonished at the number of influential people who invested millions in this company without looking at the science or making sure they could deliver what they promised.

 Because the investigation is still ongoing, there isn't really a lot of closure on the story.  I know lawsuits are ongoing and criminal charges may be coming.  The website for the company is still up and running. (I checked).  Just be warned, if you see anything in a blood draw lab with Theraos on it, run away! I will be keeping my eye out for updates to the story.  I highly recommend this book.  

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Author: Kate Moore
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Date of publication: May 2017

The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark danger.

The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive - until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives... 

I'll start right off and say that this book is really hard to read.  Not intellectually, but emotionally.  If you haven't heard of the radium girls, I urge you to read up on them or read this book.  They are an important part of history.  What those women went through changed so much about how safe we are in the workplace today.  They are truly heroes who fought for what was right.  Because of what they went through, we have OSHA, better labor laws and safer industrial working conditions.  Society owes them a real debt

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book.  I was expecting a dry account much like you would get on Wikipedia.  Instead, the author brought these women to life.  It became more than just a moment in history for me.  I felt like I got to know these women.  It became their story.  Using interviews, letters and diary entries, Ms Moore was able to tell the story in their own words.  I highly recommend this book.  It's one that shouldn't be missed.

Blog Tour: I’ll Have What She’s Having by Erin Carlson

Author: Erin Carlson

Publisher: Hachette Books

Date of publication: August 2017

A backstage look at the making of Nora Ephron’s revered trilogy–When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle–which brought romantic comedies back to the fore, and an intimate portrait of the beloved writer/director who inspired a generation of Hollywood women, from Mindy Kaling to Lena Dunham.

In I’ll Have What She’s Having entertainment journalist Erin Carlson tells the story of the real Nora Ephron and how she reinvented the romcom through her trio of instant classics. With a cast of famous faces including Reiner, Hanks, Ryan, and Crystal, Carlson takes readers on a rollicking, revelatory trip to Ephron’s New York City, where reality took a backseat to romance and Ephron–who always knew what she wanted and how she wanted it–ruled the set with an attention to detail that made her actors feel safe but sometimes exasperated crew members.

Along the way, Carlson examines how Ephron explored in the cinema answers to the questions that plagued her own romantic life and how she regained faith in love after one broken engagement and two failed marriages. Carlson also explores countless other questions Ephron’s fans have wondered about: What sparked Reiner to snap out of his bachelor blues during the making of When Harry Met Sally? Why was Ryan, a gifted comedian trapped in the body of a fairytale princess, not the first choice for the role? After she and Hanks each separately balked at playing Mail’s Kathleen Kelly and Sleepless‘ Sam Baldwin, what changed their minds? And perhaps most importantly: What was Dave Chappelle doing … in a turtleneck? An intimate portrait of a one of America’s most iconic filmmakers and a look behind the scenes of her crowning achievements, I’ll Have What She’s Having is a vivid account of the days and nights when Ephron, along with assorted cynical collaborators, learned to show her heart on the screen.

“[Erin Carlson] offers a breezy, detailed rehearsal of three successful romantic comedies from the 1980s and ’90s…. A large bag of buttery popcorn that goes down oh so pleasantly.”—Kirkus Reviews

I am a huge fan of When Harry met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle.  Both are fun and really romantic movies.  So, I was really interested in reading this book.  I'll Have What She's Having is a look at the iconic writer behind the screenplays of both movies, Nora Ephron.  She was a great writer during her life and produced a trilogy of classic movies that will stand the test of time.  Unfortunately ,this is one fan who didn't completely love the book.

The book is filled with interesting information about the movies and has behind the scenes anecdotes. So, I did like that.  I guess I was hoping for something a little more entertaining.  To me, the book was a bit long-winded and dry.  It took me forever to get through just the first chapter. In that one, there is a huge information dump about Nora, her early life, and what led to her writing the movies. We are also given what felt like random information about all of the actors and actresses who were in the movies. It made the book seemed unfocused and not as entertaining as I would like.  So, I did find myself skimming at times.

I think fans of non-fiction and Nora Ephron will enjoy this book.  I wouldn't say it's one to read in one sitting.  Maybe one section at a time?

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Erin Carlson

Erin Carlson has covered the entertainment industry for The Hollywood Reporter and AP. Her work has appeared in Glamour, Fortune, and the LA Times. She compiled and wrote an oral history of You’ve Got Mail for Vanity Fair. She holds a masters in magazine journalism from Northwestern, and has been profiled in the New York Times.

Follow Erin on Twitter.

Erin Carlson’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS

Monday, August 21st: Ms. Nose in a Book

Thursday, August 24th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Friday, August 25th: Reading is My SuperPower

Monday, August 28th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Tuesday, August 29th: Books a la Mode– author guest post

Tuesday, August 29th: Kahakai Kitchen

Wednesday, August 30th: A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, August 31st: From the TBR Pile

Friday, September 1st: A Splendid Messy Life

Friday, September 1st: 5 Minutes for Books

Tuesday, September 5th: Becky on Books

Wednesday, September 6th: I Brought A Book

Thursday, September 7th: Reviews from the Heart

Friday, September 8th: Books on the Table

Monday, September 11th: Joyfully Retired

Tuesday, September 12th: Jathan & Heather

Blog Tour: View From the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman

Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; 
Date of publication: May 2016; Reprint edition (May 16, 2017)

The New York Times bestselling non-fiction collection, now in paperback, from the author of American Gods, now a STARZ Original Series.

An enthralling collection of nonfiction essays on a myriad of topics—from art and artists to dreams, myths, and memories—observed in #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman’s probing, amusing, and distinctive style.

An inquisitive observer, thoughtful commentator, and assiduous craftsman, Neil Gaiman has long been celebrated for the sharp intellect and startling imagination that informs his bestselling fiction. Now, The View from the Cheap Seats brings together for the first time ever more than sixty pieces of his outstanding nonfiction. Analytical yet playful, erudite yet accessible, this cornucopia explores a broad range of interests and topics, including (but not limited to): authors past and present; music; storytelling; comics; bookshops; travel; fairy tales; America; inspiration; libraries; ghosts; and the title piece, at turns touching and self-deprecating, which recounts the author’s experiences at the 2010 Academy Awards in Hollywood.

Insightful, incisive, witty, and wise, The View from the Cheap Seats explores the issues and subjects that matter most to Neil Gaiman—offering a glimpse into the head and heart of one of the most acclaimed, beloved, and influential artists of our time.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

View From the Cheap Seats was recently re-issued by the publisher.  It's a collection of essays and speeches written by Neil Gaiman over the years.  He wrote one of my favorite books of all time, Neverwhere. I am a fan in general.  So I was looking forward to reading this collection.

Now this really isn't a book I would say you can really read in one go.  I feel like it's a book best savored a little at a time.  I found that after a while of reading straight though, the writings began to blend together as some of his anecdotes were reused.  That is not to say I didn't enjoy this book.  I always love to hear what author's have to say about books, writing and the world in general.  It makes the more human to me.  I enjoyed this collection and found I liked better as I read it a little at a time.

I have to say that my favorite works were the ones toward the beginning.  I love that he lead off with his lecture,  "Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and Daydreaming".  I loved every thing he had to say in this lecture as I firmly agree with his sentiment that all children should be encouraged to read what they like, even if we as adults don't like what they are reading.  I also loved his lecture, "What the [Very Bad Swear Word} is a Children's Book Anyway?".  That one really made me think.  His insights into his fellow authors were enlightening in the section: Some People I have Known. I could go on...

I believe there is something here for everyone.  I definitely recommend this for anyone's bookshelf. It's a great collection to get lost in.

 

About Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains; the Sandman series of graphic novels; and the story collections Smoke and Mirrors, Fragile Things, and Trigger Warning. He is the winner of numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy awards, and the Newbery and Carnegie Medals. Originally from England, he now lives in the United States. He is Professor in the Arts at Bard College.

Find out more about Neil at his website, find all his books at his online bookstore, and follow him on Facebook, tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, and his blog.

Tour Dates:

Tuesday, May 16th: G. Jacks Writes

Wednesday, May 17th: Vox Libris

Thursday, May 18th: Based on a True Story

Friday, May 19th: A Splendidly Messy Life

Monday, May 22nd: 100 Pages a Day…Stephanie’s Book Reviews

Tuesday, May 23rd: Sapphire Ng

Wednesday, May 24th: Book Snob

Wednesday, May 24th: Man of La Book

Thursday, May 25th: guiltless reading

Friday, May 26th: Lit and Life

Tuesday, May 30th: In Bed with Books

Wednesday, May 31st: Real Life Reading

Thursday, June 1st: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, June 1st: Bibliotica

Friday, June 2nd: Bibliophiliac

Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day by Joel Selvin

Author: Joel Selvin
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Date of publication: August 2016

In this breathtaking cultural history filled with exclusive, never-before-revealed details, celebrated rock journalist Joel Selvin tells the definitive story of the Rolling Stones’ infamous Altamont concert in San Francisco, the disastrous historic event that marked the end of the idealistic 1960s.

In the annals of rock history, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival on December 6, 1969, has long been seen as the distorted twin of Woodstock—the day that shattered the Sixties’ promise of peace and love when a concertgoer was killed by a member of the Hells Angels, the notorious biker club acting as security. While most people know of the events from the film Gimme Shelter, the whole story has remained buried in varied accounts, rumor, and myth—until now.

The product of twenty years of exhaustive research and dozens of interviews with many key players, including medical staff, Hells Angels members, the stage crew, and the musicians who were there, and featuring sixteen pages of color photos, Altamont is the ultimate account of the final event in rock’s formative and most turbulent decade.

I was born a couple of years after this concert took place.  But, I had always heard about it and my curiosity won out when I saw the audiobook was available.  I was really hoping for something more extensive than Wikipedia that would give me insight into what happened that day.  Essentially, it comes down to a perfect storm of events that included, but was not limited to, poor planning, an inadequate stage, greed, drugs and $500 worth of beer.  What a clusterf*ck.

I found this book to be very well researched.  It was pretty unbiased until right toward the end.  I could tell that the author really thought that the Rolling Stones should take a lot of the blame.  One of the things that he points out at the end was the movie Gimmie Shelter, which chronicles the Stones' tour leading up to and including the events at Altamont, does not give a full accounting of the events. In fact, the timing of some of the events were changed in the film. The film also skates over the massive drug use both at the concert as well as during the previous tour dates. 

I definitely learned some new information.  For instance, I had no idea that the Grateful Dead was the group that initially came up with the idea of the free concert that would finish with the Stones.  Nor did I know that they ended up not playing that day due to the increased violence that had been witnessed while other bands played. Three other people died that day, yet neither the press nor the police really gave them a second thought.  The LSD that was being passed around was not the "clean" drug of the San Francisco area.  It was a dirtier and stronger than anyone had seen or used previously.  

I found the ending to be really interesting when the author talked about the effect the concert had on all of the bands involved, especially the Stones.  It really changed the way they wrote and performed their music.  I definitely recommend this book. It was a real eye opener and will make me look at the Rolling Stones in a whole new light.

Blog Tour: Spot 12 by Jenny Jaeckel

Author: Jenny Jaeckel

Publisher: Raincloud Press

Date of publication: October 2016

Spot 12 delivers the gritty details of a new mother and her newborn daughter, Asa, during a five-month stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in this visually gripping graphic memoir by Jenny Jaeckel. A routine prenatal exam reveals a dangerous problem, and Jaeckel and her husband find themselves thrust into a world of close calls, sleepless nights, and psychological crises. Surrounded by disagreements and family tensions, death, and questions of faith, Jaeckel struggles to maintain a positive frame of mind.

Against the antiseptic, mechanical reality of the NICU, the dedicated doctors and nurses are drawn as sympathetic and wry animal characters. Doctor Eyes and Nurse Gentlehands are two of the caring individuals who do all they can to save Baby Asa. At times Jaeckel and her husband battle feelings of helplessness and despair, but their determination, hope, insight, bravery, and connection ultimately helps keep their little girl alive.

 Spot 12 is an account of the author's experience with the five months she spent with her daughter in the NICU.  The book is unique as it is presented in a graphic novel-like format with the text and drawings created by the author. I haven't myself had any experience with my own child in the NICU, but I have had friends and family members who have spent time there with their newborns. Everyone's experience is different, but I can guess that some of the fears and feelings that all parents have while their child is in the NICU are the same.

For the most part, I liked the format  The story flowed very quickly and the author was able to get the emotion and fear that she felt across to the reader very well.  I think that it would be a good account for other parents going through the same thing to read.  Maybe it would help them to know they aren't alone in their feelings.  I liked how she gave the nurses, doctors and techs names that matched their personality and job.  It made me feel more connected to them.  I did feel like some of the cartoons didn't fit what was going on in the panel, but those were very few and far between.  There is an epilogue in the end that catches you up on Asa's progress into 2015.   I do recommend giving this one a try.  I think a lot of people would benefit from reading it.

Praise

“A memorable and beautifully executed memoir of a newborn’s difficult first months.” —Kirkus Reviews

“It’s a sad, lovely, tragic story. It reminds us how close we are to tragedy at any moment in our lives…” —Tom Hart, author of Rosalie Lightning

“Spot 12, the novel, a unique combination of text and remarkable drawings, was able to completely hold my interest. The topic of parenting a critically ill newborn in the NICU is not a new one…But Spot 12 was matchless in its comic book format associating pictures with feelings….It is very impressive.” —Anita Catlin, for Advances in Neonatal Care

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Jenny Jaeckel

Jenny Jaeckel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and a Master of Arts in Hispanic Literatures from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a certified interpreter and translator (Spanish) and teaches illustration. She lives in Victoria, Vancouver Island in British Columbia with her husband and daughter.

Jaeckel is the author and illustrator of three graphic memoirs: Spot 12: Five Months in the Neonatal ICU, which won a 2008 Xeric Grant (printed in Canada, to be released in the US in 2016 in both English and Spanish), Siberiak: My Cold War Adventure on the River Ob (published in 2014), and Odd Pieces: Memoir of a Childhood (to be published in 2017). For the Love of Meat: Nine Illustrated Stories is her first collected fiction (2016).

Find out more about Jaeckel at her website, and connect with her on Twitter.

Tour Stops

Monday, October 10th: Ms. Nose in a Book

Tuesday, October 11th: Wall-to-Wall Books

Wednesday, October 12th: 5 Minutes For Books

Thursday, October 13th: Readaholic Zone

Monday, October 17th: Tina Says…

Tuesday, October 18th: Helen’s Book Blog

Wednesday, October 19th: nomadreader

Thursday, October 20th: Real Life Reading

Monday, October 24th: A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall

Wednesday, October 26th: Show This Book Some Love

Thursday, October 27th: Dreaming Big

Monday, October 31st: Rebecca Radish

Tuesday, November 1st: Musings of a Marfan Mom

Wednesday, November 2nd: From the TBR Pile

TBD: Book Hooked Blog

Throwback Thursday: Black Mass:The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

Authors: Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill
First published in 2000 by Harper Perennial

John Connolly and James "Whitey" Bulger grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the mid-1970s, they would meet again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. What happened next -- a dirty deal to bring down the Italian mob in exchange for protection for Bulger -- would spiral out of control, leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments and, ultimately, the biggest informant scandal in the history of the FBI.Compellingly told by two Boston Globe reporters who were on the case from the beginning, Black Mass is at once a riveting crime story, a cautionary tale about the abuse of power, and a penetrating look at Boston and its Irish population.

With the release of the movie Black Mass late last year, I thought I would give this book a try.  I have watched and read a lot of things about Whitey Bulger in the past.  Living in Massachusetts, one cannot avoid the hearing the name of the infamous gangster.  But, I had never really followed how the FBI was involved in this whole shebang.

Black Mass is the telling of how a corrupt FBI agent who actually grew up with Whitey, gave him carte blanche to the criminal world in return for being an "Informant".  I use the term loosely, because I'm not convinced much of what Whitey gave the FBI as information actually did any good.  I am amazed and equally disgusted at how much Bulger and his fellow mobster, Stephen Flemy got away with.  People died because the FBI failed to inform them they were being targeted.  The corruption within the Boston branch of the federal agency is astounding.

I do recommend reading this one. While it is slow in parts, I felt like the writers gave us a through accounting of what happened.  The audio version that I listened to has an updated epilogue and notes from the authors that tells of Whitey's capture and subsequent conviction.

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean

by:  Sam Kean
published by:  Little Brown and Co
publish date:  May 6, 2014

Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike-strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents-and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes. 

I was as interested in reading this book as I was The Disappearing Spoon.  I'm glad I finally got around to it.  Neurology is one of my favorite topics.  

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons goes through the history of brain surgery and everything we know about how the brain works.  It was a really fascinating book filled with lots of little stories.  This book is very readable with layman language and anecdotes that everyone can understand.

Fans of TedTalks, people in the medical field, anybody even interested in medicine would love this book.  I highly recommend Sam Kean's books.

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Keen

by:  Sam Keen
published by:  Little, Brown and Co.
publish date:   July 12, 2010

The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. THE DISAPPEARING SPOON masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery--from the Big Bang through the end of time.

I have been wanting to read this book ever since it came out.  I can't believe it took me like 5 years to finally get around to it.  That's crazy.  Bottom line, I found this to be a very interesting book.  

The Disappearing Spoon tells the entire history of the Periodic Table.  I didn't realize that it took so long for the Periodic Table to be built into the modern configuration.  The book also breaks down the table into groups of elements and tells some of the history of each element and interesting anecdotal tidbits about the various elements.   There are a lot of stories about the scientists that had a hand in putting together the Periodic Table and discovering different elements.  There were fascinating stories in this book.  

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in science.  It doesn't matter if you're interested in chemistry or not.  All your favorite scientific figures make an appearance in this book.

Blog Tour: Stolen Years: Stories of the Wrongfully Accused by Reuven Fenton

Author: Reuven Fenton
Publisher: Tantor Media
Date of publication: November 10, 2015

There is a horrible murder in your neighborhood. You stand outside with your neighbors and watch, or maybe you peek out of your curtains. Hours pass, then days, maybe even years. Until one day there is a knock at your door, and the police take you in for questioning. Do you remember what happened? Do you have an alibi? Can you take countless hours of interrogation without breaking? Can this happen to you?

It can happen, and it happens more than you think.

From The Fixer to The Shawshank Redemption to Orange Is the New Black, books, films, and TV shows have, for decades, fed the public’s endless hunger for nitty-gritty details about prison life. Stolen Years will not deny listeners those details, but it will also offer something more satisfying: the stories of ten former inmates who fended off the blackest kind of despair so they could keep fighting for freedom; the years they spent waiting for an appeal; and their struggles to get back to living after losing so many years behind bars.

Intense, startling, and utterly compelling, Stolen Years will take readers into the stories of the ones who didn’t do it.

Stolen Years: Stories of the Wrongfully Accused was a step outside of my usual type of reading genre.  I used to read a lot of true crime anthologies, but not in a long time.  This book is a twist on that genre.  They are stories of crimes, but the people convicted and imprisoned were actually innocent.  Each of them have been given a voice in this book to tell their side of the story, their ordeal in prison, and the aftermath of their exoneration.  

This isn't really a book that I would recommend reading all the way through in one sitting.  I felt that after two or three stories, I had to take a break.  While each of the wrongfully accused was ultimately set free, I felt such a huge disappointment at the end of their tales.  Each of them had lost so much and would probably never get it back.  They  had no place to go, no job skills, and no family or friends.  I especially felt for the mother who went in as a good single mom and came out with strained relationships with her children.  One of them still believes she is guilty of murder.  That just broke my heart.

The author does a nice job of wrapping up the book in the end with tips and ideas of how the system could improve to help prevent this from happening.  One of the things that I noticed was that none of them asked for a lawyer when they were taken in for questioning.  Innocent or not, never talk to the police without a lawyer! It might have saved a lot of them from making false confessions. The other thing that I didn't realize is that just because you are exonerated doesn't mean in the eyes of everyone else that you are innocent.  Often these people had to go to court to get that in writing in order to get a job.  

I thought this book was well written.  I do recommend giving it a look.  It's definitely a book that will make you think!

About Reuven Fenton

Reuven Fenton has been covering murder and scandal for the New York Post since 2007. He has earned national recognition for his exclusive reporting on national stories, such as the resignations of political powerhouses Eliot Spitzer and Anthony Weiner; Hurricane Sandy and the devastation
it brought on New York and New Jersey; the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School; and the Boston Marathon bombing. Mr. Fenton was inspired to write Stolen Years after covering an unforgettable court hearing in 2013 in which a Brooklyn judge freed David Ranta, a man who’d been wrongfully convicted twenty-two years earlier of murdering a rabbi. The sensational story sparked an investigation into misconduct by both the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the lead detective in the case. Mr. Fenton is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and lives in New York City with his wife and two sons. 

Follow him on Twitter at reuvenfen.

Reuven Fenton’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, November 2nd: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, November 3rd: Dwell in Possibility

Wednesday, November 4th: Dreaming Big

Thursday, November 5th: Bookchickdi

Monday, November 9th: Wildmoo Books

Tuesday, November 10th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Wednesday, November 11th: Julz Reads

Thursday, November 12th: Raven Haired Girl

Monday, November 16th: The Things We Read

Monday, November 16th: A Book A Week

Tuesday, November 17th: Diary of a Stay At Home Mom

Wednesday, November 18th: Good Girl Gone Redneck

Thursday, November 19th: WV Stitcher

Monday, November 23rd: Run Wright

Tuesday, November 24th: Broken Teepee – author guest post

Tuesday, November 24th: Life is Story