Two Stars

Best for:
Fans of the actress who don’t mind a lot of unnecessary name dropping.

In a nutshell:
Actor Rebel Wilson shares her story, from her upbringing in Australia, through her time as an actress and welcoming her first child.

Worth quoting:
N/A

Why I chose it:
I do love the Pitch Perfect films, and I love a good memoir read by the author. I’ve hesitated reading it because I don’t know much about Wilson, and I kind of wish I’d trusted that instinct.

Review:
First off – the good. Wilson shares the story of fighting the Australia tabloid press and winning her defamation suit against them. That is a super bold move, and I remember the stories themselves, saying Wilson was basically a liar, so good on her for proving them wrong and showing that actions have consequences.

What I took away from reading this book is that Wilson is probably a kind human, which we need more of in this world, but that I would be exhausted spending time with her (if her actual persona is similar to what was shared in the book). She shares a lot of stories that involve famous people, but the people she chooses to highlight – Ellen Degeneres, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, James Corden, Matt Lucas – none of them are individuals who I’d want to praise in print forever. Yes, this book came out a couple of years ago, but information about the actions of most of these folks has been out there for years.

She also chooses to share all the free and fancy shit she’s gotten over the years, which could serve as an ‘oh my gosh how absurd is it that rich famous people get this stuff’ but instead comes across more as oblivious. And this is a minor complaint, but she uses brand names / restaurant names when its not necessary. She’s always talking about her ‘G Wagon’ instead of just saying she got in her car. It just rubs me the wrong way.

She doesn’t shy away from bringing up some controversial things – because I have the UK version of the book, large parts of the section where she has accused Sacha Baron Cohen of some despicable things things was literally bleeped out, though I read up on it and good for her for raising the issue – but she leaves out one controversy that I recall pretty clearly. When she was cast as the romantic lead in a rom com, she kept saying she was the first heavy actress in that role, even though Queen Latifah, Melissa McCarthy, and others have been in a few rom coms as the lead. It strikes me as odd that she left that whole thing out, as it would have shown that she too can make errors.

That said, she obviously had to work hard in her life to build a career, and was fairly old (by Hollywood standards) before she had her success in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect. She talks a lot about her size, and I think she probably did a lot of Gwyneth Paltrow-style b.s. ‘wellness’ stuff, and I found those parts hard to listen to because it felt like she was trying to justify her weight loss when I don’t think she owes that to herself or anyone else.

Three Stars

Best for:
Those who enjoy a little bit of wry humor with their cozy mystery.

In a nutshell:
Inspector Grasby has been sent to a village to help investigate some thefts, but while there, at least one body is discovered.

Worth quoting:
(Shows the style of humor in the book) “Let me tell you, being assailed at gunpoint is by no means my favourite way to spend time.”

Why I chose it:
I got sucked in by the display at Waterstones.

Review:
This was a fairly fun read. Not my favorite mystery, but it definitely kept me guessing.

Grasby narrates the story from his perspective, though we are told in the beginning that this has been pieced together based on journals his distant cousin has discovered. And it is clearly set up to be the first in a series, as Grasby hints at other stories to tell ‘at another time.’

Grasby is a bit of a screw up, though he hints that he did some brave things during his time as a soldier in WWII. This book is set seven years after the war, and while I found it interesting how often the war was referenced, it eventually does make sense. The town is full of interesting characters, as you’d expect. When Grasby arrives to investigate thefts (a bit of a punishment for messing up a case in his larger city office), it becomes clear that something else is going on. Some of the townsfolk are quite helpful, others are standoffish and rude.

About partway through the book we learn there’s another level to what is going on in the town, but like Grasby, we aren’t entirely sure what should be believed and who should be trusted. As is always the case with a good mystery, eh?

I’ll probably read the follow-up book (I bought that one too), but maybe not until next Christmas.

Four Stars

Best for:
Those interested in a compelling history of pyramid schemes and their evolution into multi-level marketing schemes.

In a nutshell:
Author Read provides the history of pyramid schemes and the modern turn to MLMs, framed on the backdrop of a Mary Kay consultant named Monique.

Worth quoting:
“We are taken care of as consumers, not as human beings.”

Why I chose it:
I find MLMs disgusting and fascinating.

Review:
What an great read. Author Read took a topic that is definitely intriguing, but managed to make even the discussions around regulation compelling.

Throughout the book, Read begins each section with an update on Monique. Monique is a former service woman who is struggling, and decides that becoming a seller of Mary Kay cosmetics is the way to go. She’d be her own boss, and apparently make boatloads of money. Spoiler: She end up spending over $75,000 of her own money over eight years, bringing in only about $5,000 in that time. So, not great.

Read doesn’t just examine Mary Kay (though she does manage to infiltrate their annual convention, so we get some first-hand insider information on them); she looks at the root of pyramid schemes and how they have preyed upon people – most often women – who are looking to make money without the schedule that shift or full-time work brings. Think mothers, or people who perhaps have a regular job but it doesn’t pay nearly enough because capitalism sucks.

She follows multiple companies, including Amway, which sort of started it all. And wouldn’t you know – one of the wost families in the world is behind it. The DeVos family! You are probably familiar with Betsy, who married into the family and started the destruction of the US Department of Education. Her brother is Erik Prince, who started the mercenary company Blackwater. Just a horrifying group of human being who have preyed on society for generations in order to make as much money as possible while controlling as many people as possible.

So much of this book had be yelling ‘what the fuck’ – but nothing more than when the author shared the connection between the backers of MLMs and Project 2025, the manifesto currently destroying what remains of the US government and economy. But the leaders of these ‘companies’ just don’t care – they get money, while millions of people get stuck in trying to sell products no one wants, buying more and more to move up the line. While the government has repeatedly shied away from calling these MLMs pyramid schemes, Read shows that they basically are, and they are not helping anyone but the smallest fraction at the very very top.

Four Stars

Best for:
Those looking for a straightforward mystery that holds a few twists.

In a nutshell:
Officer Birch is working on the Endeavor when a man dies, and another man – a detective from London – insists on investigating the death. Is it murder? An accident?

Worth quoting:
N/A

Why I chose it:
Had finish the author’s catalog as I’ve so enjoyed his other books.

Review:
Unlike the other three books Hindle has written that I have read, this book is told solely from the perspective of one character – Birch, an officer on a passenger ship heading from England to New York. But like the other books, the list of suspects is small. Not tiny – it is a ship of 2,000 people – but if there is a killer on board, they aren’t going anywhere until they dock in a few days’ time.

After an older man is found dead at the base of a staircase, Temple – a detective from London – insists on investigating it, and Birch is assigned to follow him. Temple is not pleased by this, and Birch himself is hesitant. Birch has experienced his own loss, and is struggling with it. But Birch agrees, and the rest of the book plays out while he Temple chase down clues and witnesses.

There is enough to keep the reader guessing, and the main twist is one I might have sort of seen coming, but not in the way it played out. And it was surprising enough that I audibly gasped. So that’s always fun in a mystery.

I’m sad though – that’s the last of his books (for now). But his next release comes out in January!

Three Stars

Best for:
Kids who like animal stories but like a little bit of meat in them.

In a nutshell:
The (true-ish) story of how a puppy found its new home.

Worth quoting:
N/A

Why I chose it:
I am related to the author!

Review:
As stated above, I am related to the author, so please keep that in mind.

This story is based on the author’s experience of being removed from a flight when trying to transport her newly-adopted puppy home. Its the rare example of a video that went fairly viral where the subject actually comes across positively.

Dr Pritchard decided to use this experience and write this story as a children’s book, with an eye towards making it into a series (I believe the second book is already on its way). The illustrations are great – Sitka Sue is an adorable puppy, and the likeness of her human (my relative) is pretty close to reality.

The story is told from the perspective of the puppy, following her confusion about being taken from her original home, flying somewhere, and then feeling safe and loved. It’s got adversity and talks about the importance of friendship, which is pretty cute too. It is a bit wordier than I’d expect from a kid’s book, but I could see the right kiddo really enjoying it.