The Princess of Las Vegas

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian 400 pages

 

There is nothing more exciting than getting my hands on the latest Chris Bohjalian novel.  I love to sink down into my favorite chair and enter another compelling and entertaining world that this master storyteller creates. In this outing, “The Princess is fake, but the murders are real.”

 

The main character, Crissy Dowling, is a sensation on the Las Vegas stage. In a town full of impersonators, Crissy stands out as a Princess Diana look-alike, which draws British royals fans from, all over the world. However, it’s not “The Strip,” but the seedy portion of the strip where the casinos are down on their luck, looking rundown and out of date. But the tickets to shows are cheaper, so that’s some consolation.

 

By day, Crissy lounges in her private cabana, enjoys an Adderall and Valium cocktail, eats until her heart’s content, then purges so as not to gain weight.

 

Crissy’s life is the same, day after day. That is until Betsy, her estranged sister who could be her twin, blows into town with a newly adopted daughter and a rich boyfriend. Betsy has barely made her presence known when then bodies start to pile up.

 

First, it’s the two co-owners of the Buckingham Palace Casino where Crissy pretends to be a long-dead princess. Then things start to twist and turn. The mob (What’s a Las Vegas tale without the mob?) is trying to bring cryptocurrency to Vegas, but it is not without its price tags. Sometimes I felt as if I was in a James Bond novel.

 

A lot of the action takes place around cryptocurrency that I admit I don’t understand. Therefore, The Princess of Las Vegas receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Now comes the hard part, waiting until March 2025 when Bohjalian’s next novel is due to be released. It sounds more my cup of tea: historical fiction set during the American Civil War.

 

 

 

Now is Not the Time to Panic

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson 256 pages

 

It’s been a few weeks since I finished this novel, yet the story has stuck with him. It’s one of the books that I really wasn’t into, yet I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know how it ended.

 

The book opens in 2016. Frances Eleanor Budge---author, wife, mother, daughter---is contacted by a journalist named Mazzy. Mazzy knows that Frances is from Coalfield, Tennessee, and is doing a story on the 20^th anniversary of the Coalfield Panic of 1996. Does Frances, then known, as Frankie, recall the incident?

 

In the Summer of 1996, sixteen-year-old Frankie is dreading the long, sizzling summer in Coalfield. She is a loner, has no friends, there is nothing to do and is a budding writer. Plus her older, triplet brothers have their hearts set on irritating her.

 

Frankie bumps into Zeke, another sixteen-year-old, who is staying with his grandmother for the summer. He knows no one, and there is nothing to do. Zeke is an artist, but from the author’s descriptions, his art is rather Avant Garde. Together, they decided to create art. Zeke on image, Frankie on words. They like what they make.

 

In the garage at Frankie’s house there is an antique copier that, amazingly, still works. They print off several copies and hang them around town. As the townspeople begin to see them, popping up everywhere, they begin to wonder who is behind the poster since it is unsigned. Soon the town is obsessed with the poster. Especially since they keep popping up everywhere. Rumors circulate, people are killed, parents keep their kids indoors.

 

As the summer winds down, Frankie and Zeke go their separate ways, the furor over the poster subsides, but its impact on the town and beyond lingers on.

 

This was an okay story. It’s an interesting plot on the power of art. I wasn’t all that impressed with either Frankie or Zeke. For me it was a slow read, but I was interested to see how the author would plot the story and end it. Since Now is Not the Time to Panic was “okay,” it receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Sisterland

 Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld, 400 pages    

The book is set in St. Louis, mostly during 2009. Kate and Violets are twins who have 'senses'. Kate

rejects her senses while Violet embraces hers. Kate just wants to live a normal married suburban life. That goal is challenged when, after a small earthquake, her sister Vi predicts that there will be a much bigger earthquake on the local news.

The story blows up gaining a lot of local and national coverage. Vi doesn't know when but Kate gets a feeling about a certain date in the next couple of months. As the date approaches Kate doubts whether she will be right but prepares anyway. Along the way she grapples with relationship with her sister, her childhood and family history. 

The author lived in St. Louis and the local references rang true to me. Sittenfeld leaves the reader in suspense and throws in some twists for good measure. I didn't find the exploration truth and belief to be that strong. I would recommend this as a good (but not great) fiction read, especially if you want something set locally. 

Leah On The Offbeat

Leah On The Offbeat by Becky Albertalli, 343 pages

“In this sequel to the acclaimed Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda--now a major motion picture, Love, Simon--we follow Simon's BFF Leah as she grapples with changing friendships, first love, and senior year angst. When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat--but real life isn't always so rhythmic. She's an anomaly in her friend group: the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she's bisexual, she hasn't mustered the courage to tell her friends--not even her openly gay BFF, Simon. So Leah really doesn't know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It's hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting--especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.” I haven’t read the first book yet but it wasn’t necessary.  If I had realized before I’d started that it was a sequel I might have gone back and read it first, but I loved this story anyway.  Leah was a great character, easy to like even when she doesn’t like herself much.  This is a great read for teens who like realistic fiction or are questioning their identity.

Replica

Replica by Lauren Oliver, 520 pages

“Lyra's story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects--Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72--manage to escape. Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family's past and discovers her father's mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions. While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Turn the book one way and read Lyra's story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma's story. The two distinct parts of this novel combine to produce an unforgettable experience for its two young heroines--and its reader.” I liked the way book was two stories in one, giving us basically the same story from two different people’s perspective.  I also thought that the story was believable and slightly horrifying in ways.  However, I also thought that it was hopeful.  Teens who like science fiction will enjoy this book.

Forever Or A Long Long Time

Forever Or A Long Long Time by Caela Carter, 311 pages

“Flora and her brother, Julian, don't believe they were born. They've lived in so many foster homes, they can't remember where they came from. And even now that they've been adopted, Flora still struggles to believe in forever. So along with their new mother, Flora and Julian begin a journey to go back and discover their past -- for only then can they really begin to build their future.” This is one of the saddest, best books I’ve read in a long time.  Even though these kids’ experience was not mine at all I completely related to Flora.  I want to give this book to every kid, but the length will probably make it better for older kids who enjoy reading.

Bronx Masquerade

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, 167 pages

“While studying the Harlem Renaissance, students at a Bronx high school read aloud poems they've written, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears to their formerly clueless classmates.”  I thought I’d read this before because I’ve read a lot of Nikki Grimes’s books but I hadn’t.  Although I don’t care for the poetry format and only really liked a couple of the poems that the kids shared I liked what was happening in this story otherwise.  The revelations that the students were sharing with their classmates and the way they came together as a group made for a great story.  I would give this to reluctant teen readers because the format lends itself well to reading a small amount at a time and the book is not very long, which will appeal.  This is definitely a book for teens who like realistic fiction.

Trumpet

Trumpet by Jackie Kay, 278 pages

The novel starts soon after Joss Moody's funeral. It is mostly set in London in 1997. We find out that Joss was a legendary British jazz trumpet player. His wife Millie is mourning him. We find out that Joss was biologically a woman and the only person who knew before he died was Millie. The novel is told from the perspective of his wife and people who didn't know such as a doctor, a registrar, the funeral director, fellow jazz musicians, their adopted son Colman, a reporter, etc. Their reactions are all different.


The doctor, registrar and funeral director have to find a way to digest what they have never come across before.  The fellow jazz musicians don't care and indicate that the music was the important part. Colman didn't know until he was told by the funeral director and feels betrayed that he was never told. His father has left him a letter that he refuses to open. This leads him to accept a tabloid reporter's offer to write a book about his father. As time goes on, Colman begins to doubt the motivations (the reporter's and his) behind the book. In seeking answers about his father's life, he finds out that Joss's mother is still alive and goes to visit her. Will he come to peace with who his father was and open the letter?


This novel won the 1998 Guardian Fiction prize and was inspired by the real life of jazz musician Billy Tipton.


I thought this novel was good but I was also unsatisfied. On one hand, I realize it was meant to be mostly told from the perspectives of others but the lack of Joss's perspective left me with too many unanswered questions. Maybe that was the point.

Born Confused

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier, 413 pages

This is a coming-of-age type of story about an Indian girl named Dimple. Dimple was born in the United States but her parents were not.  She feels caught between two worlds, not Indian enough for her relatives who still live in India and not American enough for her friends there.  When her parents want to introduce her to a nice Indian boy, Dimple is determined not to like him because it isn't how things are done in America but she finds that she actually likes him.  Unfortunately, she comes to that realization after she has told her best friend, Gwyn, that the meeting was a disaster and now Gwyn is interested in him.  Dimple is trying to be true to herself, be a good friend, and still maybe get the boy in the end.  This wasn't one of my favorite books.  Some of the editing style made it awkward for me to read.  I liked the story and writing all right though.  Teens, especially girls, who like Sarah Dessen's books might like this story.

Guapa

Guapa by Saleem Haddad    368 pages

Rasa has been educated in America and is a translator for western journalists in an unnamed Arab country. I got the feeling that the story took place not many years of 9/11.

Taking place over the course of 24-hours, Rasa must confront the man who he really is. The day starts off horrifically when he learns that his beloved grandmother, the woman who raised and loved him, saw him with his lover, Taymour, the night before. He feels guilty and deceitful. Grandma has taken to her room.

Rasa cannot stand to know the dishonor he has brought on his house. Taymour doesn’t seem as in love with Rasa as Rasa is with him. He receives vague texts from Taymour about their relationships, which seem counter to the man Rases loves.

The next day, Rasa learns that his best friend, drag queen Maj, has been arrested. Maj is star at Guapa, an underground gay bar. He roams the city’s slums, looking for Islamist rebels, finds himself at Guapa, and eventually winds up at a wedding. Through it all, the backstory of Rasa’ life are interwoven, giving the narrative an unbalanced feeling.

I get that that’s to help the reader feel what Rasa is feeling, but that unsettling wasn’t consistent. There were times, like Rasa’s life, the book was riveting and times that the story seemed to drag. Upon reflection, debut author Haddad did a remarkable job. However, I didn’t care for this story. The bouts of compelling reading interspersed with lengthy, rather boring text just can’t make me like the story. And I still don’t understand why the book was named after a bar. Maybe I missed it.

I give Guapa  2 out of 5 starts. 

None Of The Above

None Of The Above by I.W. Gregorio, 328 pages

Kristin Latimer has a pretty great life.  She's captain of the track team, has a great boyfriend who is also on the team, two best friends, and a scholarship to college at the beginning of her senior year.  She's also voted homecoming queen, which was completely unexpected.  Except for her mother dying from cancer when she was younger, her life is pretty perfect.  But after a visit to the doctor, Kristin finds out that she's intersex.  Although she looks like a girl physically, she actually has a Y chromosome, testes, and no uterus.  Devastated, she doesn't tell anyone at first, except her father.  Eventually, Kristin tells her friends, and unfortunately, the whole school finds out.  Kristin now has not only her own feelings to sort out, but the taunting and bullying from classmates to deal with.  This was an amazing book about a subject that isn't very well known.  Few people understand much about this condition and this book goes a long way towards explaining the basics for teens and also would be helpful for people who are intersex in dealing with their condition.  I would definitely give it to teens who like "issue" books.

Seraphina

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
465 Pages


"In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons and humans live and work side by side - while below the surface, tensions and hostility simmer. The newest member of the royal court, a uniquely gifted musician named Seraphina, holds a deep secret of her own. One that she guards with all of her being. When a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, Seraphina is drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive--and dashing--Prince Lucien. But as the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina's struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult... while its discovery could mean her very life."

This is the first book in what will be a series, the second book just  came out.  The book is well-written with fully developed characters.  I look forward to reading the next book which I currently have  checked out.

Openly Straight

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg, 320 pages

Rafe is tired of being identified as just “the gay kid” and decides to go to a boarding school across the country so that he can change his image.  His parents have always been supportive and no one has ever bullied him but he has been overwhelmed with the fact that his gayness is the only thing that identifies him.  His parents don’t know his plan.  They think that he is switching schools to have a better chance at getting into an Ivy League college and are appalled when they find out what he is doing.  Because Rafe, although trying not to lie about being straight, is allowing the boys at his new all-boys school to assume that he is straight.  Unfortunately for Rafe, his feelings and who he really is haven’t changed and when he begins to fall for one of his new friends, he doesn’t know how to tell him the truth without driving him away.  A really good coming out story, different from most of the typical stories but no less valid.  A funny story that a lot of teens both gay and straight might like.

Four: A Divergent Collection

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth                    285 pages

This book has four stories, told from the perspective of Four from the Divergent series.  The first three take place before Divergent and the last story coincides with Divergent, but we get to see what’s happening from Four’s perspective instead of Tris.  We get an in-depth look at some of the trauma that Four faced as a child and what led to his choice to join Dauntless.  We also get to see what led to his discovery of the Divergent, how he ends up training new faction members and why he becomes interested in the rebellion.  In some ways, I liked this better than the other books in the series, maybe because of the novella style of the book, which has always appealed to me.  In any case, fans of the series will like this book.  This book could be read at any time.  It explains enough of the world that teens who have not read the series will understand what’s going on and since most of it happens before Divergent chronologically, it doesn’t give much away.  Teens who like dystopian books will like this story.