More Summer Reading

Sharing GREAT reads (and the not-so-great) is the name of the game to beat the summer heat.
Here's my view on a few recent reads:

My Name is Memory: Ann Brasheres (C+)
I loved the Time Traveler's Wife and thought this one, based on a similar concept (protagonist can recall his past lives), would make for a great love story. Mediocore. Sorry Ann. Loved The Last Summer of You and Me, but this one is sappy and leaves you with a large gaping wound in your chest when you read the final "letter."

Learning to Swim: Sara Henry (B+)
A great story with a female lead that is commendable, respectable and downright smart.
Love stories about females with real guts. This story involves a near drowning of a young boy and his heroic rescue under mysterious circumstances. The pace could have been a bit quicker, but otherwise a worthwhile read.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lachs: Rebecca Skloot (D)
Very disappointing. After several friends highly recommended this true story, and because it involved what is now the foundation (HeLa cells) of most modern-day medicines and medical research, I thought I'd have a read. If you want to know every boring detail about cancer research, death by cancer, medical testing, cell cultures and have example after example of the poor judgement and greediness of many medical personnel who since the 1950's have tested drugs (in this case injecting cancer cells)into non-suspecting minorities, then this is the book for you. I thought Henrietta's story and the story of her family were treated like an after-thought in this book. Their story of survival, of being misled, and lied to for over 60 years, is the true story that should have been told here. Shame it was hidden behind the medical drama of cell culture research...just like Henrietta.

Still Missing: Chevy Stevens (A)
A 30-something year-old realtor is kidnapped from an Open House. She's taken and kept in a remote cabin (an hour from her home) for over a hear by a sick, perverted creep. The protagonist's story is recounted in a series of sessions she has (one-sided conversations where we only hear her voice) with her therapist. I could not put this down until the end. There are plenty of tears, twists and a superb ending that DOES NOT disappoint. I enjoyed Chevy's writing style and format so much, I just bought her next novel Never Knowing. Enjoy this one.

Next up:
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: Tom Franklin
Save Me: Lisa Scottoline
Deep End of the Ocean: Jacquelyn Mitchard (this was Oprah's first book club book...and I've yet to read it...what's up with that?)