In the Blink of an Eye

In the Blink of an Eye  💔💔💔💔
by Jesse Blackadder
Published March 2019 by St. Martin's Press 

In the blink of an eye is how long it can take to lose track of where your beautiful and smart 2 year old has wandered off to, and how long to realize that someone <spoiler alert> left the pool gate unlatched and your son is lying face down in the water.

This is a very sad (understatement) rendering of something that happens all too often, as the author knows all too well.  To watch this family, already with some rips in its seams, get completely shred to pieces is difficult  and emotional.  It's really well thought out and told.  I loved the epilogue.

My only complaints are these:  Telling the mother's  version of the story  in second person.  "You" did this and then "you" did that. Who is saying this and to whom?  Caught me off guard but I did get used to it.

1/2 star deducted.

Also there are paragraphs and paragraphs of incomplete sentences, which always throws off my rhythm until I see why it is so. For example, instead of someone saying, "I got up and I walked  to the kitchen," it would be more like "Got up.  Went to the kitchen.  Remembered something."  I mean, I write personal emails like that in the interest of time, but find it unprofessional otherwise.  Just my own opinion and personal preference.

Another 1/2 star deduction. 

Otherwise, let me say that I couldn't put this down.  I cared about the family and whether they would heal themselves as individuals and help each other to heal as a unit.  A big thank you to NetGalley and to Jordan Hanley of St Martin's Press.

The Kennedy Debutante - Review

The Kennedy Debutante   3.5 stars
by Kerri Maher
Published October 2 2018 by Berkley  Books

The Kennedy family makes for interesting story fodder, that's  for sure.  If nothing else, they provide a look into surviving multiple tragedies while maintaining a pretty charmed existence. Joe Sr. and Rose had nine children and tragedies befell five of them, six if you include Teddy's story that was mostly covered up.  Then there was John Jr. and his wife, and I'm purposely leaving out the other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  But it makes me wonder and marvel at their history.

I did not know much about the fourth oldest, Kathleen, aka Kick Kennedy, maybe the most tragic and short-lived of them.   Because the family was living in London during Joe's term as Ambassador, Kick's debut took place there.  These were her formative years and so she made her best friends and social connections in London.  She would always consider London her home, not America. Her true love was an English noble who would one day become Duke of Devonshire.  He was Protestant, which was a major issue with his family, with the Catholic church, and the Kennedys, especially Rose.  Most of the book delves into Kick's conflicted feelings about marrying for love or marrying to keep the peace in the two families.  I hope today religion isn't as big an issue, but I don't  know.

This kept me interested, even though it felt like a really long time before Kathleen and Billy finally found happiness.  Actually it was about 5 years, and then very short-lived because, again, tragedies ensue.  The author gives some additional history at the end, and then Google led me to reading about the Astors  and Fred Astaire's sister. Thanks  to  NetGalley and the publisher for this enjoyable preview copy.