We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: Beth is Dead & Wreck Your Heart
Today, we recommend Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet. In this unique spin on the beloved classic Little Women, set in the present day, Beth does not die from illness, but is murdered, and her sisters are determined to uncover what happened to her. Despite the bloody cover, the novel is neither really intensely gory nor frightening. It's more of a good old-fashioned mystery that will keep you guessing, perhaps not to the very end but at least throughout most of the book as to the culprit's identity.
Bernet has a way of delving into the characters that makes them seem more real and more relatable than ever before. This may be partly due to its contemporary setting, but it's more than that. By letting them tell their own story, she allows the reader to get inside these characters and get to know them in a way that wasn't possible in the original, making the reader feel more connected to them. Even Beth is given a voice through flashbacks.
The novel's best aspect may be the strong sense of family that permeates it. Although it was always a family story, in this version, you can really feel the love these girls have for each other. Their intense connection makes this novel what it is, an extremely entrancing novel that will warm your heart and also break it.
Today, we are talking about
Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day. Dahlia "Doll" Devine is a country singer whose boyfriend disappears with the rent money and then turns up dead. As if that weren't enough, her estranged mother turns up on her doorstep and then disappears, followed by the half sister Dahlia never knew she had, who implores Dahlia to help her find their mother.
Although the premise of this novel is interesting, the execution leaves something to be desired. It is hard to keep track of the characters because there are so many of them. The fact that several of them have the same name makes it even more confusing. Using sobriquets like Primary Jim and Lumpy Jim doesn't really help because it still gets confusing as to which Jim is which.
There is also too much that goes unexplained and doesn't make sense, including Alex's exact relation to Dahlia and/or her mother, and why her mother chose to leave her young child with him. The fact that Dahlia's mother had issues and was unable to care for her daughter herself is not enough of a reason to explain why she chose Alex in particular, especially because it's unusual for a young girl to be left in the care of a male if he is not her relative. There is also a whole treasure-related mystery that is never really satisfactorily explained.
There are some nice family and found family vibes, although they mostly come into play fairly late in the story. Also, as a strong, independent, and feisty woman, Dahlia is a somewhat admirable character, although she is not always a good friend. However, these things are not enough to overcome the novel's faults, and to wholeheartedly recommend it.
Movie: Simple Minds Everything is Possible
Today, we recommend Simple Minds: Everything is Possible. This band-related documentary is a must-watch for both fans of Simple Minds and those who enjoy learning about the story behind a band and their history. The film traces the history of this beloved band from the time when the band's two longest-standing members met as children, through the filming of the documentary in approximately 2023. Fans of the movie The Breakfast Club and/or the song "Don't You Forget About Me" (and perhaps those of Pitch Perfect, where the song was later used) will particularly enjoy learning about how the band came to record said song for the film.
It also delves a bit into lead singer Jim Kerr's marriage to Chrissy Hynde of The Pretenders, although it never mentions his later marriage to actress Patsy Kensit.
The thick Scottish accent of the band and others can be hard to understand at times, but that can be overcome through the use of closed captioning when possible. All in all, it's a fascinating film.
And that's our view. Beth is Dead and Wreck Your Heart will be published next Tuesday, January 6. Simple Minds: Everything is Possibe is available now for purchase on DVD or digitally for purchase or rental.
Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.
Book images used in this post are our own. Any and all other photos have been sent to us by publicists, artists, and/or PR firms and are used with permission. For any problems with the rights to an image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter.
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