Finally, some belated news...

So, I haven't updated this blog for the past couple of weeks due to good ol' procrastination mainly and, secondarily, taking care of two small kiddies at home. But, fear not my friends, I have been very productive on the reading front. Below are the books that I have read since my latest post.

Rewiring Our Morality by Daniel Reisel

What goes on in the mind of a murderer? In this compassionate and insightful book, neuroscientist Reisel describes how empathy evolves in every child’s brain, and how early traumatic experiences can distort its development. Understanding this, Reisel argues that we must shift to a restorative form of justice — one that allows both victim and perpetrator a chance to heal, instead of the current punitive system that only perpetuates a cycle of crime. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Extremely interesting and informative read. Written in plain English, no shenanigans. I believe that the concept of restorative justice should not only be implemented as part of our judicial system but also within the education sector.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

In this extraordinary book, Dr. Oliver Sacks recounts the stories of patients struggling to adapt to often bizarre worlds of neurological disorder. Here are people who can no longer recognize everyday objects or those they love; who are stricken with violent tics or shout involuntary obscenities; who have been dismissed as autistic or retarded, yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents. If inconceivably strange, these brilliant tales illuminate what it means to be human.  

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆

I have to admit that I used this book as some kind of psychiatric porn. I enjoyed reading about the different neurological conditions and the story of the corresponding protagonists but I am afraid to see that I skip the most scientific bits.

Dark Tides by Chris Ewan

When Claire Cooper was eight, her mother disappeared during Hop-tu-naa, the Manx Halloween. When Claire was eighteen, she and her friends took part in a Hop-tu-naa dare that went terribly wrong. Now in her early twenties and a police officer, what happened that Hop-tu-naa night has come back to haunt them all, and Claire must confront her deepest fears in order to stop a killer from striking again.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆

All in all, a decent read. I enjoyed discovering more about the Isle of Man and its Celtic culture. The only issue is that I guessed the plot quite early on and it spoiled it a bit for me.

An Impossible Dilemma by Netta Newbound

Local vets Victoria and Jonathan Lyons seem to have everything—a perfect marriage, a beautiful five-year-old daughter, Emily, and a successful business. Until they discover Emily has a rare and fatal illness. When Jonathan is suddenly killed in a farming accident, Victoria turns to her sick father-in-law, Frank, for help. A series of events present Victoria and Frank with a situation that, although illegal, could help save Emily. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

I haven't read, or heard of, any other similar story before and I thought that the plot was quite original. I suppose that this book resonated even more with me since I am a mother myself and, like Victoria, I would do anything for my children. Even the darkest deeds.

After Anna by Alex Lake

A girl is missing. Five years old, taken from outside her school. She has vanished, traceless. The police are at a loss; her parents are beyond grief. Their daughter is lost forever, perhaps dead, perhaps enslaved. But the biggest mystery is yet to come: one week after she was abducted, their daughter is returned.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Another five stars read here. Again, the plot was quite original and I never saw the twist coming. The story was well written and the characters well developed. I will definitely check out this author's other books.

In A Dark Place by Ed & Lorraine Warren

The story of the most terrifying case of demonic possession in the United States. It became the basis for the hit film “The Haunting in Connecticut”. Shortly after moving into their new home, the Snedeker family is assaulted by a sinister presence that preys one-by-one on their family. Exhausting all other resources, they call up the world-renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren—who have never encountered a case as frightening as this…

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆
Even though I am a great fan of supernatural and poltergeist movies, this is my very first read of the genre. It has apparently been claimed after publication that the whole story was a hoax and not one of those "truer than true" stories. Hoax or not, I really enjoyed this book even if the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion.

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall

Meet Vish Puri, India's most private investigator. Portly, persistent and unmistakably Punjabi, he cuts a determined swathe through modern India's swindlers, cheats and murderers. When an honest public litigator is accused of murdering his maidservant, it takes all of Puri's resources to investigate. How will he trace the fate of the girl, known only as Mary, in a population of more than one billion? Who is taking pot shots at him and his prize chilli plants? And why is his widowed 'Mummy-ji' attempting to play sleuth when everyone knows Mummies are not detectives?

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
What a little gem! Being a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, I tremendously enjoyed meeting Vish Puri, India's number 1 sleuth. The foreign setting and the (extremely well researched and developed) characters of  Puri and Mummy-ji gave me a real thirst for travelling to Delhi and Jaipur. I will definitely read the other books in the series.  

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by David P. Perlmutter

I would like to say that yes I made a number of mistakes during the events that took place and I hold my hands up. I look back at what happen everyday and wish I could turn back the clock but you can't. The following story is based on true events about my trip to Marbella, Spain, where having lost everything, which was all self inflicted, including my job, apartment and self respect, I leave memories of a London police cell behind me and head for Spain with its promise of adventure and fun. Little do I know that I'm about to be thrust into the most terrifying time of my life. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆

- First observation right off the bat: The title is inaccurate in my opinion as we are not dealing here with chance events but the mere result of voluntary actions -- but, then again, I am no publisher -- so what do I know? 
- Second: The author has claimed that he is no writer. Actually, it did not bother me at all and I believe that Perlmutter has solid descriptive skills. In fact, what killed it for me were the unfortunate typos which should have been caught during the proofreading. 
- Third: I gave three stars to this book because I liked it overall. It is indeed a compelling story but I found that the life mistakes in question were just too much for my liking.  
- Fourth: Let it be said that the author saved two lives during his time in Spain. This should not be forgotten.