NetGalley ARC | Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod

 

I received a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating ⭐

I really tried with this one because Costa's victims deserve to have their stories told. But the alternating chapters with Vonnegut/Mailer were not necessary and added nothing to the story, though then I suppose the book would have been much shorter. I skimmed those chapters because I did not find them interesting or valuable to the real story. I also find it difficult to believe massive re-created conversations and don't believe they belong in a non-fiction text unless the original conversation was recorded word-for-word. A few lines of dialogue, sure. But long conversation? Nope. If the book is marketed as non-fiction, then it should BE non-fiction. There is even an author's note where he states he took some fictional liberties with the story, which is not cool at all and that should have been at the beginning of the text. I was incredibly disappointed in this one, it was a jumbled mess, and I could not finish it despite several attempts. There are better books on the subject, and I do not recommend this one at all.

What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves

Rating: No rating, DNF

It's not often that I bother with a review of a book that I DNF, but I could not be quiet about this one. All I can really say is...

Fucking hell. A book about profanity should be much more interesting.

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be

Rating: 1 Star, DNF

Short version: This book is ridiculous, bordering on the downright atrocious. I have seen so many people rave about it, I thought it was going to at least be a decent read. (Spoiler alert: It's not.) You might like it if you are self-absorbed, insufferable, and have never had an actual struggle in your entire life and are probably on the WASP-y side. Now, there is nothing wrong with being WASP-y, but there is if it is also accompanied by the spoiled, self-absorbed, and insufferable parts. I gave up maybe 40 pages in. When someone who I have never heard writes in a way that implies I should know who they are, the book is definitely not for me.

Shorter version: Girl, Check Your Privilege.

Do not read. Highly NOT recommended.