Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena

Hello everyone.  I hope your day has been pleasant.

If you had wealthy parents would you consider killing them for their money?  Please note, I'm assuming you would all say no or run along as you have totally creeped me out.  Now, if your parents turned up dead would you throw your siblings under the bus to collect their share of the money? For me...absolutely.  I'll be getting phone calls tomorrow but let it be known that they are all goners!  Time to get even for my parents going with "what the majority wanted" and there being three of them (my sisters are triplets).  What they wanted always won.  Unfair.  So, if it comes down to it, up the river they go.  I'll even put my palms together and repeatedly curl my fingers, with an evil laugh, Disney villain style. Forget pricking your finger on that spinning wheel, you're prison bound! (Sleeping Beauty, must I tell you everything.)

I recently read Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena.  I love that Shari Lapena writes about upstate NY since that is where I grew up.  In this case, the story is about a family that lives in the Hudson Valley.  The very wealthy parents of three children are murdered.  The entire book is about who did it and why.  Lapena is an expert at convincing the reader that someone is guilty only to accomplish the same thing in the next chapter with another person.  A very fun read.  Not really thrillery but a great mystery.  Think the movie Knives Out, but much better.  The book features interesting character development which is revealed slowly, allowing our feelings toward each person to remain fluid.  Compounded with short, cliff hanger chapters and you've got a book that will fly by.  A great one to read on vacation.

By the way, to any reading siblings, expect no cakes with files from me.  You'll be lucky to get a cupcake!

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Well, I thought reporting in on my vacuum might be the big news today, boy was I wrong. Also, I'm going to have to curb any other talk of cooking or cleaning. Today I must tell you about this book, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.  If you're a big reader person, you've undoubtedly heard about this book, it's on the New York Times Bestseller list as we speak. No matter what you've heard about how good it is, it is better.

This book is like a sweeping movie, epic in proportion. It follows a family from birth until old age. You might think this is dry or a slower read, it isn't. This book is mesmerizing as it flows from past to present, weaving the story together flawlessly. It makes us wonder, driving the story forward, and yes it does deliver answers so as not to frustrate the reader. Of the gazillion books I've read, I have one all-time favorite that nothing has ever been able to touch. This might be that good. Simply amazing.

If you can get to the end and not be misty eyed, then perhaps you're a descendent of the Grinch. I was in a puddle, sobbing. It isn't that this is sad, it's just....perfect. If you have children, read it. If you were ever a child, read it. If you have a sibling, read it. If you have a heart, read it.

As for me, I'm sending my copy round robin style to my sisters, we'll see if they have a heart!