Kill the Silence

Monika Kørra: Norwegian cross-country and track star, previously studied at Southern Methodist University, currently a rape survivor. In Kill the Silence, Monika tells the story of a night out gone wrong. She was kidnapped at gunpoint and raped by three men in a black SUV. How exactly does someone get kidnaped when everyone is watching? Monika tells us the horrors she spent with The Worst One, The Weak One, and The Boss driving around Dallas as she's being raped, held at gunpoint, and wondering what's going to happen to her. This story is her way of bringing rape culture to the eyes of society. She does not want to be known as a victim, but as a survivor. We spend almost three years in Monika's daily life; her struggles with school, her friendships, her relationships, and her time as Jessica December Watkins. She takes us behind the scenes of the court room walls, her therapy sessions, and even how she gets her life back on track. This tell all memoir took courage to bring rape out into the open. Monika Kørra is now an advocate for rape victims through Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center's volunteer program and has also started the Monika Korra Foundation

A special thank you to NetGalley for providing me with yet another brilliant read!

Mark your calendars, Kill the Silence comes out August 25th 2015!

Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

Nic Sheff has struggled with addiction since he was a teenager. He's experimented with everything from marijuana, ecstasy, crack, cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth. In Tweak, Nic tells his story of battling addiction and the endless cycle of drug usage. Told in a diary like form, we learn first hand the effects his insane drug usage has on himself and his family. Drugs give him a high that he "needs" to deal with his every day life. He's fresh out of rehab in the beginning of the book until he meets back up with Lauren and starts the cycle all over again. The entire novel Nic ruining his life, cleaning up, ruining his life, and getting help again and again and again. I was so excited to read Tweak, but it took me much too long to even place myself in Nic's shoes. The drugs made him sound so pitiful and empty. But the time he spends in rehab doesn't sound much better. I will say Nic's story definitely depicts what it is like to have an addiction, but the underlying issues of his life make it harder to understand exactly why he wrote Tweak for us.

 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, get help.

To keep up with Nic Sheff, follow his blog The Fix.   

A Different Kind of Same

Once again, Netgalley was gracious enough to allow me an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of Kelley Clink's memoir, A Different Kind of Same, in exchange for an honest review.

Memoirs are always hard for me to review because it's someone's life story. But I can say that I'm not 100% sure why this memoir was written... Kelley's  brother Matt committed suicide two weeks before his college graduation and threw Kelley's life into chaos. For years, the two of them had been inseparable through the move from Michigan to Alabama, through Kelley being diagnosed with depression and suicide attempt, through Matt being diagnosed as bipolar, to the end when Matt actually took his own life. When Kelley tells the story of what happened throughout their lives, you can only feel for them. She gave a very impressive insight of what suicide is like and what it feels like to attempt it. Overall I felt like this book will be an eye-open for many people, those who know these struggles and those who don't.

 

Mark your calendars, A Different Kind of Same comes out June 9th!

You're Making Me Hate You

I was lucky enough to receive another Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! You're Making Me Hate You is the latest and greatest book by Slipknot's front man Corey Taylor. Not being a major fan of Slipknot, I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but Corey Taylor definitely blew me away. This man took the time to write an ENTIRE book on the ignorant things people in today's society do. He goes in detail to the little things that really make him tick. We find the sarcastic remarks towards twerking, technology, and even spoiled little children. What makes this book so enjoyable is that everyone can relate to what is being said. I couldn't help but wonder "Am I contributing to this terrible behavior?!" Obviously we all are and Corey Taylor hates every one of us.

 

Get ready for the hatred to unfold, You're Making Me Hate You comes out July 7th!

The Truth and Other Lies

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of The Truth and Other Lies to read before it is released and voice my honest opinion of the novel! I must say, Sascha Arango's first novel was definitely a hit with me. Henry Hayden is an author, well at least his name is on the books his wife writes for him. Martha Hayden is everything Henry could ever ask for, she minds her own business, makes them money, and loves Henry for who he is without really knowing him. Yet Henry still wants something else, someone else. He finds this person in his publisher, Betty, whom he eventually impregnates. So what is Henry to do? Break things off with Martha or do away with Betty? Well the answer is simple, go to the meeting place with Betty and an "accident" is sure to happen. From here, the novel unfolds Henry's dark past, complete with enemies from his childhood orphanage to his life at home. This is a novel that is bound to keep you on your toes and wonder how everything will play out.

 

Mark your calendars, The Truth and Other Lies comes out June 23rd!   

Normal

Normal is anything but this book. In Graeme Cameron's first novel Normal, he walks us through the life of an average everyday guy; the guy you walk past on the street or bump into in the supermarket and never even realize he might have girls locked in his basement. We never learn the name of our main point of view, but we learn all about him; we learn what makes him tick. When we witness Sarah, his first killing, we also witness the kidnapping of her best friend Erica. He and Erica obviously don't have the best relationship, considering he just kidnapped her and all... But eventually, they begin to grow together until Rachel enters the picture. He is absolutely head over heels for Rachel and loves everything about her. Yet he continuously forgets about Erica starving in his basement. He has to decide what he truly wants to do. Continue battling with Erica or start living for Rachel?

Honestly, this book was not everything I hoped it would be. But I really enjoyed reading from a serial killer/kidnapper perspective. I know everyone who reads this says the same thing, "You honestly find yourself rooting for the killer without even realizing it." It's true though! He has a dark side that could leave you feeling chilled at some points. Yet, everything about him is absolutely average, plain, pleasant even.  He's just Normal. 

JonBenét: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation

I'm sure you all remember the murder that shocked America in 1996. The killing of 6 year old pageant queen, JonBenét Ramsey in her own house on Christmas Day. 18 years later and the killer still has not be found... Many details about this case have left me wondering for years, why would someone leave a ransom note if the child was already killed? Why were there so many specifics in the note if it wasn't the family or someone close to them writing it? Why did the father make a beeline for the basement when asked to search the house? Why, why why.... One of the only people who truly know this case is Steve Thomas, the leading detective on the case, as well as the author of this tell-all novel. This novel contains all of the problems of the case. It shows the corrupt justice system in Boulder, Colorado. It shows a couple of parents who did NOTHING to help find the killer of their child. But the only question I want answered is, why weren't the parents questioned? The parents weren't even allowed to be called suspects until the very end... This case will leave you so heartbroken for this little girl and so angry at the justice system. This tell-all includes everything that happened between Boulder Police, Boulder DA's office, and the infamous Ramsey Family. If you followed this case at all, grab a copy of JonBenét and learn what really happened that sad, sad Christmas Day.

Rest in Peace

JonBenét Ramsey

December 1996