The Sociopath Next Door/2d read --by Martha Stout, Ph.D.

Nonfiction / Psychology

256 pages

5 Stars

If you are a reader of this blog, the title might sound familiar. I originally bought, read, and reviewed this book two years ago. See http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-sociopath-next-door-by-martha-stout.html for the original review.

At the time I first read the book, it was research for a character I was developing. Turns out, the character is not a sociopath. I am relieved. Well, then, why did I read it a second time? Turns out I now know someone who began to set off warning bells. The bells have become a clamor, so I thought I'd give the book a second go-through.

The book held up well the second time through. One of the things I was quick to notice, I underlined very different passages this second time through. Before I was looking for a fictional character, and general information on sociopathy. This time, I read it with a very specific person in mind.

A sociopath has no conscience. S/He has no empathy, no capacity to love a pet or another human. They are often charismatic in the extreme, which is why they are such good con-men. Often, they have a grandiose sense of self worth, and the world is their oyster. They do not care who they hurt, or how they hurt them. They are here for one reason and one reason only: Domination. They are never, ever, responsible for anything that happens, it is always someone else's fault. If they marry, their spouses are usually somewhat shallow, and considered trophies. They serve one purpose – to make him look better. They have no guilt. Period.

Around 2/3 of the way through the book, Dr. Stout gives us 13 rules for dealing with sociopaths in everyday life. Basically, you don't. But her Rule of three is worth remembering: "One lie, one broken promise, or a single neglected responsibility may be a misunderstanding instead. Two may involve a serious mistake. But three lies says you're dealing with a liar, and deceit is the linchpin of conscienceless behavior. Cut your losses and get out as soon as you can. Leaving, though it may be hard, will be easier now than later, and less costly."

While the first part of the book is downright scary, especially if you think you know one, the last part of the book offers hope. This book is very well written, and her stories/examples could become stand-alone literary works all by themselves. While the sociopath is a pitiful creature, condemned to being alone, never, ever offer them pity. They feed on it, and like a vampire, will suck you dry. In fact, they count on it, and use it against you.

I strongly recommend you buy your own copy, and read it. Even if you don't know anyone you suspect might be a sociopath, you just never know. Besides, there is a lot of good information in here that may come in handy as you travel down life's road.

The Bear and the Nightingale --by Katherine Arden

Fiction / Fantasy

336 pages

5 Stars

Legalities first: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I found this book delightful and well written. The fact I knew next to nothing about Russian folk tales did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the story. Arden does a masterful job of telling the readers what they need to know. Thanks to Arden's story, I now know a wee bit about Russian folk tales.

True to fairy tales of which I am familiar, the mother dies shortly after childbirth and tasks her faithful servant to raise her daughter. The husband is morose over his wife's death, and basically allows the faithful servant to raise his beautiful daughter, with the help of his older daughters. Vasya is somewhat spoiled, not to mention a tad feral, but in a good sort of way.

Eventually, Papa goes to Moscow and comes home with a new wife who isn't happy being a wife, and stepmother. She was given to Papa as a wife, instead of being allowed into the convent, as she desired. The old priest died, and the new one is a firebrand, more in love with the idea and power of being a priest than in being helpful.

Subplots abound, and Vasya is to be married, but if she's married, how can she save her family and the people of the village? Evil is afoot, and only Vasya holds the key to locking it up again.

The biggest problem I had with the book were all the names and diminutives; however, it was nothing like trying to read Tolstoy. The few times I did get lost, Arden quickly brought me back to where I needed to be, name wise.

Do I recommend this book? Most assuredly. For anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially fairy tales; for anyone who grew up with Snow White and all her cousins; this is the book for you!

Etched in Bone (A Novel of the Others) –by Anne Bishop (Available 7 Mar 17)

Fiction / Urban Fantasy 

416 pages

5 Stars

Legalities first: I read an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have heard rumors this is to be the last book of this series. It could be. But then, it might not be. We shall just have to wait. Sometimes rumors are false. I truly hope this one falls into the 'false' category.

The human uprising is over—and life goes on in Lakeside, with a few changes. Lakeside was relatively unscathed, thanks in no small part to Meg Corbyn and Simon Wolfgard and the understanding they have brought between Others and Humans. Until a human brings his wife and two children to Lakeside, expecting a hand-out (no free lunch in Lakeside), and his cop brother to protect him. No one wants him to remain in Lakeside except the two Elders (aka: The Teeth and Claws of Namid) who have taken residence in the Courtyard and refuse to have him sent away. The Elders want to understand why he is the way he is. To them, it is important to understand him, and to the humans it is extremely important. The Elders are not yet through winnowing humans. They may decide to kill them all.

Meg, the resident Cassandra Sangue (blood prophet), has a positive impact on both her human pack and the Others with whom she lives and works, and on the two resident Elders who learn manners in order to get cookies. She knows danger exists, is coming to the Courtyard, to Lakeside, and to herself. When it manifests, Simon Wolfgard, the leader of the Courtyard finally faces his thoughts and feelings about Meg, and vice versa. Can a wolf and a human find true love and happiness? Read the book and find out!

If you have not yet read the other books in this series, I strongly suggest you do so before reading this one. You don't have to, but I think if you start at the beginning, it will make smoother reading. You will have the opportunity to meet and get to know the characters without having to try to figure out the backstory. I suggest you buy all the books, check into a hotel with decent room service, and hunker down for a good read. You'll thank me when you have done so.

Anne Bishop has created a marvelous alternate world. She has populated it with great and wondrous Others, who are the dominants. Humans are the upstarts, and at best, tolerated. They do provide certain goods the Others can't make. And upon occasion, they also provide a meal. Silly humans, they decided they should be the dominant race, and agitated for an uprising, which was short, bloody, and painful. This series is great fun to read with our modern mind-set and imagining what it would be like to live in such a world. Can you imagine a large area of your town set aside for Shifters—wolves, crows, vampires, etc., not to mention various Elementals? Can you imagine what it would be like to cut yourself and reveal prophecy? Cutting is the only thing to bring you relief, but too many cuts and you'll die. Can you imagine having no ownership of your body, your blood, but being forced to prophecy to the highest bidder? You will by the time you've finished this series.

Warning: Bishop writes page burners, do not start her books—any of them—unless you have the time to sit and read. The dishes can wait. The laundry can wait. The Others, not so much. (Check into that hotel. Trust me.)

Written in Red  http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/07/written-in-red-anne-bishop.html

Murder of Crows  http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/07/murder-of-crows-by-anne-bishop.html

Vision in Silver http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2015/07/vision-in-silver-by-anne-bishop.html

Marked in Flesh http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2016/03/marked-in-flesh-by-anne-bishop.html

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind --by Yuval Noah Harari

Nonfiction / History

464 pages

3 Stars

I will give the writing 4 stars. The sole reason I gave the book 3 stars was his use of end-notes. Footnotes would have been a godsend.

This is a broad history, the fine bloodlines of kings, queens, &c are not here. If that's what you want, please go elsewhere.

The writing is accessible, and often downright fun. This was my bedtime book, and I finally had to get a pen to start marking the good parts that I might want to go back to. I also finally took it to the other room and sat down to finish.

Because I write fiction, often of a historical nature, I marked a lot of things. One of my favorites is: "If a time traveller popped up in a medieval village and asked a passerby, 'What year is this?' the villager would be as bewildered by the question as by the stranger's ridiculous clothing." Nothing was said about the time traveller's or villager's odd, incomprehensible, speech.

A book of this breadth and scope is bound to contain contradictions, but then so is life. I didn't mind them, the ones that I noticed, I thought about, and came to my own conclusions.

If you're a curious person, and if you aren't afraid to have your mind stretched by ideas, perhaps even challenged by some, this may be a book for you. There are times when, admittedly, I rolled an eyeball, but perhaps because I read it before dropping off to sleep, I missed something? I enjoyed the writing, and a lot of the one-liners. I learned a lot of things I'll probably never use, but it was fun stretching the gray matter.

Silence Fallen (A Mercy Thompson Novel) --by Patricia Briggs

(Available March 7, 2017)

Fiction / Urban Fantasy

384 Pages

5 Stars

Legalities first: I received an Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I admit, I began this book with trepidation. It doesn't take place in the Tri-Cities. It takes place in Prague (and a bit in Milan). Oh me of little faith.

It begins in the Tri-Cities, when Mercy is kidnapped, wounded, drugged, and secreted to the Milan castle home of Iocopo Bonarata, the Lord of Night, the Chief Vampire of Vampires. And, of course, Mercy hates vampires.

And, of course, the bonds she has with Adam and the Pack, are sundered, and when, as a coyote, she escapes, she is truly on her own. She makes it to Prague, is seen as a coyote, and as a coyote, working with the Prague Pack, is captured by the evil and rogue Vampire who has taken over the local seethe.

Caged in the basement of the old castle, she manages to awaken many of the ghosts, which she can see, others cannot. As a coyote, she is warm, but in order to talk and communicate as a human, she must change, and freeze. One of her stronger allies is the Golem of Prague—at least for a while.

Adam, of course, is not taking any of this lightly, has traced her to Milan, and then to Prague, and of course, because this is a fantasy, well, all's well that ends well.

But it is different from the regular Mercy books. Some chapters are in Mercy's point of view (POV) and some are in Adam's POV. The timeline is a little off (Ms. Briggs warns us about that) but not enough to cause the reader any problem.

As much as I 'trepped' about having the story take place in Europe, that particular 'dation' did not come about. I loved the story, enjoyed the characters, feel I got to know a couple of the other regulars a bit better, and all in all, had a marvelous romp.

A strong believer in the adage that to be forewarned it to be forearmed, I tell you: It's a one-sit read. If you start it in bed, be prepared to get little, if any, sleep, and to be late for work the next day!