The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Novella
Rating: 4/5

From Little, Brown: Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

As a fan of the Twilight Saga, I knew I was going to read The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner but after the cracktasticness of Breaking Dawn I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily, Stephanie Meyer seems to have returned to the more polished writing of her earlier books. It was intriguing to see how a more traditional vampire, one that hunts humans, fits in the Twilight world and to see Bella from the POV of a vampire other than Edward. The Bree of this novella is less animalistic than the one in Eclipse. She befriends another new vampire named Diego, is suspicious of their unnamed creator and avoids confrontation with the other new vampires rather than participating in the in-fighting. I also found it interesting to see how Victoria used superstitions about vampires in order to control her new army. Each morning they returned to the coven before sunrise for fear of its effects.

I really enjoyed The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and would recommend it to fans and non-fans alike. Bree won me over within pages, and despite knowing what would happen, I found the ending bittersweet and wished it could end another way. Rumour has it that Meyer may be writing other books based on minor characters in the Twilight Saga and I'll definitely read them if she does, particularly if Freaky Fred gets his own book.

Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me

Title: Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me by Howie Mandel with Josh Young
Genre: Autobiography, Non-fiction, Humour
Rating: 5/5

From the publisher: A frank, funny, no-holds-barred memoir that reveals the Deal or No Deal host’s ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD–and how it has shaped his life and career.

I absolutely loved Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me. I grew up watching Bobby's World and have watched Here's the Deal, and knew that the book would be funny but it's so much more than that. Mandel reveals some of his darkest moments and the two instances where he truly felt embarrassed, both of which involve his daughter. He talks about his childhood and the cruel things he did to his younger brother in order to get attention, about the humiliation he heaped on friends as a joke and his struggle with OCD and ADHD. And towards the end of the book, he talks about his recent health scares and admits that as of early 2009, he didn't know if he'd still be alive to see the book published. It's utterly heartbreaking at points and fall-off-your-chair hilarious at others.

Mandel's writing is smooth and entertaining. Each chapter reads as its own story, so it's easy to find a place to break if you absolutely must put it down, though you won't want to. The middle of the book is filled with pictures that are amusing, narrated with funnier captions, and help illustrate the stories throughout the book. My only complaint has to do with the shortness of the book, but I suppose this means I may be able to look forward to a sequel.

I absolutely recommend Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me to other readers. Whether you're a child of the nineties (and watched Bobby's World), a fan of stand-up comedy, a Canadian or just like a good story, this is the book for you.

Captivity

Title: Captivity by Deborah Noyes
Genre: Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4/5

In mid-nineteenth century America, three sisters inspired a religious movement known as the American Spiritualists when they announced that they were able to communicate with the dead. In Captivity, Deborah Noyes fictionalizes their rise to fame and intertwines it with the story of Clara Gill, a fictional woman past her "prime," who'd become a recluse after a scandal had driven her family from their home in London a decade earlier.

Captivity is a beautiful and enthralling story that weaves together fact and fiction. From the fictional Clara Gill and her work at the factual menagerie at the Tower of London to the imagined personalities of the real Fox Sisters. Nothing felt awkward or out of character. It's obvious that Deborah Noyes did her research into the time period before she began writing. I am glad, though, that my knowledge of the Fox Sisters and the American Spiritualist movement was minimal before reading the book as I believe it would have distracted from Noyes' lyrical language and the haunting tale that she was spinning.

As for the characters, I found Maggie Fox irritating at the start of the book due to her self-centred nature, but came to appreciate Noyes' artistic portrayal of her as she matured. Maggie began to see the sisters' performances as more than a game and to consider the results of her actions. In comparison, I liked Clara from the start. It was hard not to empathize as it became obvious just how withdrawn from society she was and how obsessed she was with an unknown tragedy in her past. And I have to admit, I was intrigued by the mystery of what that tragedy was, and loved how Noyes expertly prolonged the suspense by offering only a bit of Clara's backstory at a time. Though in the end, I was surprised by the revelation as I'd been expecting something simpler and more innocent.

Overall, Captivity is a book that I'd recommend to other readers, but one that I'd be selective in recommending. It's a wonderful and entangled read, not something for those just looking for a quick afternoon's diversion. But those willing to give it a try will be rewarded.

Thanks to Unbridled Books for the ARC of Captivity. A positive review was not a requirement and the views expressed above are my own. For more information on Captivity, check out the Unbridled website.