Baby Teeth

The long-awaited Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage was released on 7/17 by St. Martin's press. As I'd posted on my facebook and twitter accounts, I'd heard the book buzz and was anxious to read it months before it's release. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get an ARC but, I was able to read the first ten chapters on Amazon Kindle (for free, I might add) thank you, Amazon! That week between reading the first ten chapters and getting the call the day of its release, to pick up a copy from the library was just straight up nerve-wracking. Prior to reading the first ten chapters, I was not wanting to wait for this book you guys. I had searched and requested all over for an ARC, most people wanted upwards of over $30 for these rare copies. Me being the frugal lady I am, I waited on pins and needles. I was first on the list to receive Baby Teeth and I picked it up that day and I hated having to put it down to do mom-things. Grrr.

Ok, on to the review...

Baby Teeth is Zoje Stage's first novel, and I pray it won't be her last.
Zoje Stage has an awesome writing skill, gripping you from page one. I have read books by many authors who pump out the same drivel, each book providing similar twists and turns so there's no real excitement. With this book, you get it all. Excitement, drama, suspense, horror. It's a story told between two narratives, a mother named Suzette, and her child Hanna.

Hanna doesn't like Mommy. Hanna tests Mommy's love for her and Hanna has a plight, to make Mommy go away forever.

You question motives both of mother and daughter, you question yourself (especially if you're a parent, I myself am), and the innocence of its characters. Do these behaviors warrant the reactions they get? What would I do in this situation? Is this behavior reason enough to firmly discipline a child? Not to sound conceited, but I did think a lot of this book personally. As a parent, Baby Teeth has that ability. To make you feel for Hanna, and to question Suzette's capability as a nurturer. Hanna is a child so it would make sense that we would feel for her in her moments of innocence. Then Stage turns the tables on you, makes you think the opposite is true. Baby Teeth also caters to the mother's intuitive side, because no parent wants to think their child could be evil. Furthermore, no one wants to believe their child could detest them so much that the child would do anything to rid themselves of you.

It is a deeply twisted and heartbreaking story. As a mom, I felt it sat with me a lot more than if I were a twenty-something, single, childless woman. So I felt Baby Teeth was directed at a certain audience. It plays on your emotions, you don't know if its right to feel the way you towards a particular character. It instills guilt in you for the reactions you get to the story, either good or bad. I felt the writing was done very well, there weren't many typos, which I cannot stand. And the story itself is immensely thought-provoking and gut-wrenchingly intense. I'm hoping for a continuation of Hanna and Suzette's story. I enjoyed Baby Teeth so much, it lived up to all the hype, and with books, it's either hit or miss. Definitely worth reading if you like your stories on the more disturbing side. Think The Omen meets We Need to Talk About Kevin. It stayed with me long after I'd closed the book for the final time.

 

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie is a YA novel written by Courtney Summers. It is set to e released in September of this year. This review was written after reading an ARC sent to me by Macmillan Publishers.

When Sadie’s sister Maddie is found dead, it sets off a series of events: A road trip, uncovering secrets, but also, asking more questions than it answers. I really enjoyed this book, slowly the adrenaline just kicks you into gear and you’re rushing through the book to finish. It’s a murder-mystery, tangled with lies, family dysfunction, and vengeance. Told between podcasts and the perspective of its main character, it’s a different style of writing, written especially for this generation’s teens. You feel so deeply for Sadie, and the people she meets along the way. The story is fast-paced and keeps you thoroughly engaged. (I didn’t want to put it down!) Sadie is a well written, real character you root for through the entirety of the book. It’s such a sad chain of events, you don’t really know what to expect, but you hope against all hope that Sadie makes it out alive.

Hangman By Jack Heath A Review

Hangman is a June 2018 novel by Jack Heath. It has been described as "Dexter meets Hannibal", so immediately it caught my attention. I first heard of Hangman online, as I usually do. I am always on the lookout for outside-the-box-stories. I ate up this book! It was never boring, it kept me engaged, and left me wanting more.

The book was called "gruesome". I only found one scene in particular cringe-worthy, and it was towards the end of the book. Each chapter begins with, for me, an almost always unsolvable riddle that has a direct correlation to the story. It was infuriating not knowing the answers to the riddles. I'll have to look it up on Heath's webpage, Jackheath.com.au. From such a young author, I was pleased with how much research went into writing this book. Overall, the book was enjoyable and kept you literally guessing as to what would happen next.

The story follows Timothy Blake, a cannibal with a photographic memory, called in by the FBI to be an informant on unsolvable cases. In this case, it is the kidnapping of a 14-year-old boy. The book keeps you guessing, as you're not sure if the kidnappings are related. Blake is not your average run-of-the-mill pseudo detective. He's smart. He can read people. Because of his cannibalistic tendencies, he can think like a perp, which only makes him more of an asset. As a non-typical cannibal, he valiantly attempts to suppress his urges, only cannibalizing death row victims. This occupation earns him the nickname Hangman, hence the title. A gift of a meal for cases solved.

I found it hard not to have sympathy for Blake's character, as flawed as he is. A cannibal, a thief, and a killer. The word sociopath never entered my mind, he's a victim of circumstance. Heath did a wonderful job of humanizing a character we as readers are supposed to be repulsed by. I just wanted things to turn out well, as I'm sure most people do when they hear of someone being dealt a rough hand in life. Blake is simply just a survivor.

 The supporting characters in the book were well developed too. They were easy to distinguish and most were given pretty thorough development, enough to make you care about what happens to them. I hope some of them make a return!

 Yes, there's going to be a sequel! I was thrilled when I read that in the acknowledgments. I greatly enjoyed this book. This was my first Jack Heath book, and I was pleasantly surprised. Heath has so much talent for someone so young, he's definitely an author to follow. I'm very excited to see what Heath dishes up next for Timothy Blake.

HBO's Sharp Objects: Episode 1 (spoiler alert)

*Spoilers Ahead*

A Note of Caution,
Please be aware that the show HBO's Sharp Objects contains sensitive subject matter dealing with substance abuse and self-injury. It could be potentially triggering to people dealing with these issues or those in recovery. Please read this review only if you are comfortable.

Thank You,
April M.


Last night was the premiere of the cable television adaptation of Sharp Objects. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, Emmy-winner for Big Little Lies, another HBO widely praised success from Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name.

Sharp Objects was the debut novel written by Gillian Flynn in 2006. Flynn's other recognized works that were adapted for the big screen, were the widely known Gone Girl and Dark Places.

Sharp Objects follows Camille Preaker brought to life by the talented Amy Adams, a reporter who reluctantly returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri in search of answers surrounding the disappearance and murders of two local girls. The director paints a gritty image of life in a small town and gives glimpses of the lives of its patrons during a horrible tragedy. The first episode is a slow burn (very reminiscent of True Detective), laced with disturbing, emotionally heart-wrenching flashbacks. It is a deep-rooted story driven by its flashbacks and the downward spiral of its main character. The audience is given glimpses of Camille's past, presently she is obviously suffering some sort of post-traumatic event so you're wondering "Ok, what happened between then and now?"

The episode tackles the issues of alcoholism, self-injury, familial dysfunction, and personal loss. Camille is a friendly but also a very isolated character, haunted in appearance, and suffering from severe alcoholism. It is later shown that Camille is also a self-injurer by way of cutting, although the act is not yet shown. She is covered in an abundance of scars, almost all of which are words. We as an audience have yet to learn why this is. I felt the visual depiction of the scarring was done mildly, contrasting the book's imagery a bit. I felt it was done purposefully, as to reduce the shock value, but visible enough to make it an alarming revelation. On her car, on the walls, carved into a desk, and into her skin-- words are strategically placed throughout the episode. All of the words are seemingly self-deprecating so you're left wondering, "What trauma did she suffer in her adolescence?" Her mother is a Stepford-type, she shrouds herself from the outside world by avoiding it. She suffers from trichotillomania, a compulsive behavior where the person pulls out their hair. This is done during times of stress. Camille's half-sister, Amma, is a rebellious teen. We see she's estranged from Camille having not grown up with her, but seems to find kismet with Camille because of her rebellious nature. Another character of note is the big city Detective Richard Willis played by The Mindy Project alum Chris Messina. First meeting during the missing persons search,  he tries to get to know the guarded Camille. Later on, her (and some other townspeople's) discovery of the dead girl drives their investigation forward from missing girl to potentially serial homicide and they are at odds when they try to gather information from each other's separate investigations.

All in all, while the story is slow paced, it is very well acted. The flashbacks are really what drives the story forward and keeps you emotionally invested. The whodunit aspect and Camille's personal story are enough to give the series a watch. Anxious to see how the past and present collide in what will be a dark and twisted journey. I'm curious to see how the series measures up to the book. Having read the book maybe 6 years ago, I'm not as refreshed to the book's content as if I had recently read it. From what I can remember, the characters in the show seem well rehearsed to their book counterparts. The director's view of Wind Gap and its townspeople is pretty accurate. The overall sense of foreboding is evident. Adams brings Camille's character to life with great skill, really driving forward the emotional turmoil of her character. There's so much depth to her character, without there being much dialogue and there's still so much more of her story to tell. I'm curious to see where the story and its characters evolve from its pilot.

*On a sub note, I'd like to thank HBO for including post-credits, the hotline for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  Respectably, HBO is also working with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the country's leading mental health advocacy organization, and Shatterproof, a non-profit working with families affected by substance abuse. This was a very respectable card to add to the end of a potentially triggering show to those who have suffered (and are currently suffering) with substance abuse and self-harm. I felt that the show depicted the self-abuse struggles of its main characters in an honest way. Still, to some, it could be triggering so I recommend to watch it with someone and please be aware, it may not be suitable for everyone.