"My Mother, the Psychopath: Growing Up In The Shadow Of A Monster" by Olivia Rayne is a powerful and eye-opening memoir that takes readers into the he"My Mother, the Psychopath: Growing Up In The Shadow Of A Monster" by Olivia Rayne is a powerful and eye-opening memoir that takes readers into the heart of a deeply troubling childhood. Rayne bravely shares her true story of growing up with a psychopathic mother, making for a gripping, tense, and often painful read.
From the beginning, it's clear that this memoir is not for the faint of heart. The book contains graphic and frequent descriptions of emotional and physical abuse, including domestic and animal abuse. Each chapter begins with a description of a specific psychopathic trait, which Rayne then illustrates with examples from her own life. This structure not only engages the reader but also helps to provide a clearer understanding of her mother's disturbing behavior.
Rayne’s writing is both brilliant and straightforward, making it easy to follow yet hard to digest due to the shocking nature of her experiences. It’s almost unfathomable that this is a true story; if it were fiction, it would likely be considered too unbelievable. The raw and brutal honesty with which Rayne recounts her childhood is both horrifying and compelling.
One of the most striking aspects of the memoir is Olivia's resilience. Despite enduring unimaginable pain and manipulation, she emerges as a strong-willed and resilient woman. Her journey through the darkness of her upbringing to a place of strength and independence is truly inspiring.
Reading "My Mother, the Psychopath" was an intense experience. It wasn’t what I initially expected, but it surpassed my expectations in its depth and honesty. The book tackles incredibly difficult topics but does so in a way that keeps you engaged and invested in Olivia's story. This memoir is a testament to the incredible strength of the human spirit and a powerful reminder of the impact of resilience and courage....more
"The Final Girl Support Group" by Grady Hendrix introduces a captivating concept that holds significant promise, presenting a fun story that revolves "The Final Girl Support Group" by Grady Hendrix introduces a captivating concept that holds significant promise, presenting a fun story that revolves around characters inspired by iconic cinematic scream queens. Despite this intriguing premise, the novel falls short of establishing a strong emotional connection with the characters, hindering the reader's ability to fully invest in the unfolding narrative.
One notable challenge lies in the complexity of the characters and their intertwined backstories, making it difficult for readers to keep track of and engage with the plot seamlessly. The abundance of violence, murder, and gore contributes to the novel's atmosphere, essentially transforming it into a slasher movie on paper.
The narrative propels readers into a race to the finish line, resembling a mousetrap roller coaster that jerks them in different directions at varying speeds. While this element adds a sense of thrill and excitement to the reading experience, it also induces a feeling of being somewhat lost and reeling. The journey often takes on a silly and unrealistic tone, contributing to an overall sense of disorientation.
"The Final Girl Support Group" hovers in a gray area between horror and thriller, failing to firmly establish itself within either genre. This ambiguity may leave readers searching for a more defined tone, as the novel tends to oscillate between elements of horror and thriller without fully committing to either. Despite its shortcomings, the book manages to offer an entertaining and unique experience for those seeking a blend of suspense and horror, although it may not fully satisfy aficionados of either genre. Your mileage may vary as some really liked it given its recognition as the GoodReads Choice Award for Horror in 2021....more
I greatly enjoyed Endurance (the story of Ernest Shackleton's exploration and heroic escape from the Antarctic) so was very drawn to this book as I waI greatly enjoyed Endurance (the story of Ernest Shackleton's exploration and heroic escape from the Antarctic) so was very drawn to this book as I wasn't even aware that the Belgica was stranded in the Antarctic Ice long before Shackleton's ship was even built.
If you like real-life artic adventures--this is a good book for you. If you like well-researched historical accounts of amazing events--this is a good book for you. If you like psychological exploration of people under stressors that most can't even imagine--this is a good book for you. If you like well-rounded stories, detailing events leading up to the main focus and then following up on what happens after--this is a good book for you.
This was not a quick read for me....but it was enjoyable and educational.
Taste: My Life through Food was written by Stanley Tucci. It is 291 pages and was published on October 5th, 2021 by Gallery Books. Tucci has directed five films and appeared in over seventy. He has won 5 Emmy Awards (including two for a six-part food and travel documentary series titled Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy in 2021 and 2022). He, also, apparently makes a really good Martini.
Summary
Tucci shares his personal story, from very young childhood with his parents to heartbreak over the loss of a wife, to traveling the world as an actor, to his own bout with a life-threatening illness—all through the lens of food and his (and our) connection to it. He also shares some recipes along the way for meals he has described in the book.
My Thoughts
Loved it. This was not a quick read for me. Not that it was difficult or uninteresting, but I think I savored the book like one would a meal. I didn’t want to gorge on it and finish right away but rather “chew” on each part and really enjoy it.
Tucci’s writing is very familial and unpretentious. It’s easy to read. You feel like a friend is telling you a story or you are engaged in good conversation. His ability to transport you to various locations is wonderful. And, his descriptions of food and the role he believes it plays in all of our lives are extremely well done. As I said at the top of this review, I am not really a fish fan. I can eat it, but I don’t really enjoy it. It will never be the thing I order at a restaurant, often even in one dedicated to seafood. But I found myself eager to buy the necessary ingredients (recipe provided in the book) to make fish stew he and his wife eat regularly. Anyone that can make me want to not only try but assemble and cook a fish stew solely through their writing is a talented writer indeed.
Recommendation
If you like cooking, food, travel, biographies, celebrities, or insights into the things that make us all the people we are---Taste is for you. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
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