Review: Such Good Boys - Tina Dirmann

Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder - Tina Dirmann

Paperback - 256 Pages

Published by: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2005

Borrowed from Karmin (My "MIL")

GoodReads Review:

AN ABUSIVE MOTHER

Raised in the suburb of Riverside, California, twenty-year-old college student Jason Bautista endured for years his emotionally disturbed mother's verbal and psychological abuse. She even locked him out of the house, tied him up with electrical cord, and on one occasion, gave him a beating that sent him to the emergency room. His fifteen-year-old half brother Matthew Montejo also was a victim to Jane Bautista's dark mood swings and erratic behavior, but for some reason, Jason received the brunt of the abuse-until he decided he'd had enough...

A SON'S REVENGE

On the night of January 14, 2003, Jason strangled his mother. To keep authorities from identifying her body, he chopped off her head and hands, an idea he claimed he got from watching an episode of the hit TV series "The Sopranos." Matthew would later testify in court that he sat in another room in the house with the TV volume turned up while Jason murdered their mother. He also testified that he drove around with Jason to find a place to dump Jane's torso.

A CRIME THAT WOULD BOND TWO BROTHERS

The morning following the murder, Matthew went to school, and Jason returned to his classes at Cal State San Bernardino. When authorities zeroed in on them, Jason lied and said that Jane had run off with a boyfriend she'd met on the Internet. But when police confronted the boys with overwhelming evidence, Jason confessed all. Now the nightmare was only just beginning for him...

My Review:

HOLY SCARE-FEST.  Okay, so I asked Karmin to borrow a book or two from her, because I know she loves to read non-fiction, true crime stories, and I have enjoyed one or two in the past.  This was by far one of the creepiest things I've read in a long time.

Jason and Matt grow up in an abusive household, and you hear their story from the beginning.  It is obvious that their mother, Jane is a paranoid schizophrenic, and puts them through hell.  Basically Jason has had enough and realizes that the only way he can hope to have a normal life is to make sure that his mother is no longer a part of it.  Unfortunately, instead of just getting up and moving out, he decides that killing her is the best option.  I started to really freak myself out because at one point I started thinking -- can you really blame the kid? I mean his mom is completely looney.  But then I started to read further and discovered that not only does he manually strangle his mother, he also cuts off her head, and both hands (because he saw an episode of The Soprano's in which one of the characters kills another character and discards the head and hands so that police will have a hard time identifying the body). So like I said, I started to kind of feel for the kid, until he is describing how easy it was for him to just saw off his mothers head/hands and only had to stop "a few times" to turn around and vomit.

WOW. Just wow.

This was definitely a quick, easy read, although quite disturbing.  I honestly couldn't put it down because I just wanted to know what was going through this kids mind.  UGH!

My Recommendation:  Honestly, I only recommend this to people that really, truly want to read about a psychotic mother, who raises two psychotic boys.  Otherwise, save yourself the trouble and read a quick article on Wikipedia about it -- the gory details are not for everyone.

3 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday (4)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.  

The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share 2 “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser

"True invention is in the application of vision.  This you have in grand measure, far beyond your years and experience."

From:

Happy Reading! 

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

This is a great weekly meme to share what books you got this weekend, whether bought, borrowed or sent to you.

This week I got quite a few books:

From my Mother In Law:

Such Good Boys - Tina Dirmann

053803, Life at Fifteen - Robert J. Gagnon

Cries in the Desert - John Glatt

From Amazon (for the Kindle):

Spinning Forward - Terri DuLong

Dancing in the Low Country - James Villas

Beyond Eden - Catherine Coulter

The Bite Before Christmas - Heidi Betts

One Hit Wonder - Charlie Carillo

Won through Blog Giveaway:

From Kathy at I'm A Reader Not A Writer

Come Sunday  - Isla Morley

So, I'm back on track and ready to keep on pushing through this challenge.  Things have finally settled down with the new job, so I'm able to have my reading time now as I'm not ready to just pass out when I get home from work now!

What books did you get this week?  Have you read any of these books?  If so, please post a link to the review you did in the comments section!

Happy Reading!

Review: Kiss The Girls - James Patterson

Kiss the Girls - James Patterson

Paperback - 458 pages

Published by Warner Books - 1995

Bought at the Library Book Sale

Goodreads Review: 

In Los Angeles, a reporter investigating a series of murders is killed. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a beautiful medical intern suddenly disappears. Washington D.C.Us Alex Cross is back to solve the most baffling and terrifying murder case ever. Two clever pattern killers are collaborating, cooperating, competing--and they are working coast to coast.

My Review:

As a huge fan of James Patterson, I didn't expect to be as disappointed as I was.  Don't get me wrong, I was completely creeped out for majority of the book --- and I was thrown off by the ending (but only slightly!).

James Patterson has a way of coming up with the creepiest, skin-crawling things to occur.  Cassanova is the killer in this book, and he goes around trying to find "perfect" women to become his lover.  He keeps them locked up in a hidden house in the woods, and rapes/tortures them. The details are extremely gruesome, so this is not a book for the weak stomached. 

I was completely disturbed by the first couple of chapters, describing Cassanova as a child -- it was horrifying to think that there are really people out there that are so crazy.  Cassanova was an incredible character, and Patterson did a phenomenal job stringing me along.

My only complaint is that I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter.  It seemed to drag on and on, and that annoyed me.  I just wanted to know who Cassanova was, and I wanted Alex Cross to find his niece.  Granted I didn't have as much time to read these last two weeks (with my job change and what not), but I read as much as I could and just couldn't plow through this one.

Recommendation: 

I would highly recommend this book to those that love a thrilling, chilling murder-mystery, but I would be hesitant to tell a Patterson lover to pick this one up.  It was quite disturbing, and just didn't seem very "James Patterson-like".

4 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading!

Follow Friday (4) & A Promise!

Well it's that time again folks!  FOLLOW FRIDAY!  WOOT!

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop are weekly events hosted by Parajunkee and Crazy-for-books respectively.  I love, love, love both of these weekly events, and you should too!  Hurry over to their sites, follow them, and link your blog to these awesome events!

This weeks question comes from Becky @ Becky's Barmy Book Blog.

Where is your favorite place to read? Curled up on the sofa, in bed, in the garden?

My favorite place to read is definitely in bed!  I have my comfy pillows, my snuggly blanket, and best of all it's my dogs favorite spot too!! I do have to say that my second favorite spot to read is (when I have time that is), in the huge garden tub (with candles and wine and bubble bath!).

What's your favorite place to read?

So, as I mentioned in my previous post, due to work I've been a slacker here.  Yay for a new position, but boo for the time it is taking away from my reading/blogging.  My promise to you, my loyal readers, is that starting today I am setting aside "me" time to get a chance to get back into it all.  Please stick with me, I promise to be back in full swing by next week.

Happy Reading!  Thanks for hopping by!

WWW Wednesday (2)

WWW Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Should Be Reading.  

To play along...answer the following!

- What are you currently reading?

- What did you recently finish reading?

- What do you think you'll read next?

Here are my answers:

Currently Reading: 

Recently Finished:

To Read Next:

((this is subject to change...I have so many on my TBR shelf, that I need to see what mood I'm in when I finish the book I am currently reading!))

I have been SOOOO busy these last two weeks.  I got a new position at work, and I feel like all of my free time to read is virtually gone. :(  However, I am finally getting into the groove, so I will be back on track soon!!  I hope you are bearing with me, and will continue to visit me as often as possible!  I love all my readers!! 

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday (3)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.  The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share 2 “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"I had already learned that human monsters could live anywhere; that some of the clever ones chose ordinary all-American-looking houses.  Just like the house I was examining now."

From: 

Happy Reading!

Review: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched - Meg Cabot

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched - Meg Cabot

Paperback / 319 Pages

Published by HarperCollins 2009

Lent to me by my best friend

GoodReads Review:  Big mouth. Big heart.

Big wedding. Big problems.

It's the wedding of the century!

Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings—not necessarily her own—as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiancé's château in the south of France.

But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man—whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept—announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.

Is Lizzie really ready to embrace her new role as wife and mistress of Château Mirac? Or is she destined to fall into another man's arms . . . and into the trap of becoming a Bad Girl instead?

My Review:  I love, love, love Lizzie...maybe because I am so like her.  I often find myself blurting things out that I know shouldn't be shared, and then thinking "where did that even come from!?" I read the first two books in this series earlier this year, and loved them too.  

Lizzie is an extremely likeable character, and throughout all her ups and downs I felt like I was right there with her.  She has fallen in love with Luke, whom she met in Paris the previous summer, and during the last book they have broken up and Lizzie spends some time with Luke's best friend, Chaz, who is also Lizzie's best friends ex boyfriend.  LOVE TRIANGLE!!! This is better than trashy tv!  Anyway, throughout all of this book, while Lizzie is engaged to Luke, everyone is rooting for her and Chaz.  

I also loved Ava Geck!!! How extremely hillarious!! All I could imagine was Paris Hilton becoming Lizzie's best friend and it was perfect!!

I think that the main thing I got from this book is just that you can't help who you love, and who you don't.  It is so true.  I know more often than not people will stay with their partner for reasons that just don't make sense, and you've got to stop and realize what you really want.  Lizzie is a fantastic character that I think most women can relate to.  I thought this was a witty (as always with Meg Cabot), fun read. 

Recommendation:  I would recommend this to anyone that has read Meg Cabot before, but also to those who haven't read Meg Cabot before.  Make sure that you read the first two Queen of Babble books before this one, or you might be a little confused.  This is a funny, sweet, great read!

Five Stars

Happy Reading!

Follow Friday (3)

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop are weekly events hosted by Parajunkee and Crazy-for-books respectively.  I love, love, love both of these weekly events, and you should too!  Hurry over to their sites, follow them, and link your blog to these awesome events!






This weeks question comes from Christina at The Paperback Princess.

When reading a book that you just can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title?

So honestly, I'm pretty OCD when it comes to books.  If I start it, I have to finish it.  Out of the hundreds of books that I have read, I've probably only not finished maybe 5?  I say that because it really takes a lot for me to be like 'okay, no more for me'.  I get extremely frustrated when there are grammatical errors, and more often than not that will be the reason I put the book down.  I guess for me, I am always hoping that the author will redeem themselves at some point in the book.  Maybe it is also that I choose my books wisely...I mean if I know that I don't like harlequin novels, I won't buy them.  I also feel like I try to give the book a fair chance.  I will give the book about 100 pages to really grab me, and if by then it hasn't I don't feel the same passion that I do when a book does grab me. 

I've had such a busy last couple of weeks, so I apologize for not writing as much as I would like to.  I got a new position at work (*yay*) but it is keeping me quite busy.


Follow me, leave me comments and most of all -- enjoy!


Happy Reading,

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Should Be Reading.  

To play along...answer the following!

- What are you currently reading?

- What did you recently finish reading?

- What do you think you'll read next?

Here are my answers:

Currently Reading: 

  

Recently Finished Reading: 

Next to Read:

Happy Reading,

Review: Relatively Famous - Jessica Park

Relatively Famous - Jessica Park

Electronic Version - Sent to me by the author

Goodreads Review: Meet Dani McKinley: A typical teen whose world is rocked when she finds out that her father is a famous Hollywood Action star. Now meet Mark Ocean: A self-serving actor with a floundering career who sees that a daughter is just what he needs to reinvent himself as a family man and get back on track. When the two decide to spend the summer together, they must not only wrangle their own love lives, but try to figure out who they really are to themselves and to each other. 

Now armed with credit cards, club memberships, and a new wardrobe, Dani learns that what Mark has in wealth, he sorely lacks in parenting skills. Trying to show Mark that parenting is about more than loading her up with Prada bags and taking her to movie premieres is challenging enough, but she's also got her hands full with her new friends. Oh, and the boys... Dani meets Jason, a gorgeous young personal trainer who is easy on the eyes and wildly flirtatious. But is this smug hottie the one for her? Or will she ignore her friends eye-rolling and go for the goofy but sweet surfer? 

While juggling her own complicated love life, Dani tries to set her father up with someone less likely to appear on a VH1 reality show, and someone more... well, normal. And age-appropriate. And dressed in anything but a thong bikini. But whether Mark is able to heal old wounds and move forward with anything more than a meaningless fling remains to be seen. 

Can Dani fit in with this new, fast-moving California crowd without losing herself? With the world at her fingertips and hot boys now after her, staying grounded gets tough. And can Mark drop his egocentric approach to life and learn to appreciate how truly wonderful his daughter is? As driven as he is to get that A-list acting role, he's willing to do whatever it takes to get there, even if it means using his daughter. Or is he...? Mark and Dani's relationship hits a few highs, but the question becomes whether the lows are too much.

My Review:

This book was sent to me by the author, Jessica Park.  I found a tweet by her (@JessicaParkYA) saying that she was sending out copies of this book for review.  I jumped on it, and I am so glad that I did.  This is the first book that I've reviewed for the author!  

I immediately fell in love with the main character, Dani.  She is your average teenager, but there is nothing not to like about her.  Honestly, I was a little jealous of her -- I mean, REALLY, your dad is a famous actor!? How cool is that!? 

When we meet Mark, Dani's father, you can tell he is just a typical Hollywood type.  I was definitely disappointed in Mark for some of the decisions that he made in the book, but by the end, I loved him too.

I thought this was a great book about a young girl dealing with something that I think is every kid's (who doesn't know their biological father) dream!  It was great to see Dani going from a smaller town girl, to this big city, Hollywood chic girl---but it was also great to see that she still knew who she was deep down. 

I laughed a lot throughout this book and I loved all of the references to pop culture things that are going on today.  The writing style in the book is easy going, and it is a light, quick read.  The message that I think Jessica Park was trying to get across was just that no matter what, it is important to know who you are, and where you come from. I know that most teens (I'm definitely including myself in this one) go through the phase where they are trying to figure out what they want, who they are and all that fun stuff.  I think this was a great take on it!  I will certainly be looking for more books by Jessica Park, and you should too! 

Recommendation:  I recommend this to any YA lovers, and anyone looking for a great, light read.

4 stars

Happy Reading!