The BookFetish Blog

Joby Warrick’s The Triple Agent is simply a must read for anyone with an interest in what we’ve been doing in Afghanistan and the search for Bin Laden.

From the book summary:

In December 2009, a group of the CIA’s top terrorist hunters gathered at a secret base in Khost, Afghanistan, to greet a rising superspy: Humam Khalil al-Balawi, a Jordanian double-agent who infiltrated the upper ranks of al-Qaeda. For months, he had sent shocking revelations from inside the terrorist network and now promised to help the CIA assassinate Osama bin Laden’s top deputy. Instead, as he stepped from his car, he detonated a thirty-pound bomb strapped to his chest, instantly killing seven CIA operatives, the agency’s worst loss of life in decades.

In The Triple Agent, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Joby Warrick takes us deep inside the CIA’s secret war against al-Qaeda, a war that pits robotic planes and laser-guided missiles against a cunning enemy intent on unleashing carnage in American cities. Flitting precariously between the two sides was Balawi, a young man with extraordinary gifts who managed to win the confidence of hardened terrorists as well as veteran spymasters. With his breathtaking accounts from inside al-Qaeda’s lair, Balawi appeared poised to become America’s greatest double-agent in half a century—but he was not at all what he seemed. Combining the powerful momentum of Black Hawk Down with the institutional insight of Jane Mayer’s The Dark Side, Warrick takes the readers on a harrowing journey from the slums of Amman to the inner chambers of the White House in an untold true story of miscalculation, deception, and revenge.

Al Qaeda got one over on us. And it’s told in the page-turning The Triple Agent. I spoke with someone “in the know” on this, and this person is amazed at the amount of information Warrick was able to get and use in this story. Based on my conversations with this person, I feel like as we readers we get somewhat unprecedented insight into this incident. And if I recall correctly, the subject of this book is a scene in Zero Dark Thirty.

The account of the actions leading up to this disaster are told  in a matter of fact manner, and although you know what is coming, it’s still hard to turn the pages sometimes.  It’s tragic to think about how so many people involved in the operation had a bad feeling about the encounter, so reading this did pack an emotional punch.

I think everyone should read this book, but fans of non-fiction and those with an interest in the CIA and covert operations will certainly enjoy this one.

I’m so excited to be participating in the Blog Tour for Heather Wardell’s Everybody’s Got A Story. I’m a fan of Heather’s books and have the opportunity to review her books Blank Slate Kate and A Life That Fits previously on  the blog.  But this time, instead of just reviewing Everybody’s Got A Story for you, I also had the opportunity to interview Heather.  So keep reading after the review to get to know more about this author.

From the book summary:

Both personally and professionally, Alexa knows all too well the power of words. Two years after her boyfriend Christophe’s vicious attack, she’s still trying to see herself as more than simply ‘his victim’, still trying to figure out her own story.

After his trial, she moves from New York City to Toronto in an attempt to start over, but his words cling to her and even in a new country she can’t see how to move into relationships with the new people in her life while hiding the secret of Christophe’s worst offense. 

She can’t hide that secret from her coworker Jake, though, because the news buff has recognized her from the coverage of the assault and trial and knows every word she can’t bring herself to say about her ordeal. 

With Jake’s help, can Alexa reclaim her story and her life?

Fans of Blank Slate Kate will remember Jake. I always get a kick when authors, without writing a series, are able to integrate characters from other novels into new stories. It was a treat to see Jake again.

Everybody’s Got A Story deals with some heavy subject matter, and although a victim, Alexa’s strength and determination come through. Her hesitancy to trust others is understandable, and comes across as authentic.  Wardell spares us the most sordid of details of Christophe’s attack on Alexa, but I think that keeps the story from moving into the range of melodramatic.    The same things I’ve liked in other of Wardell’s stories- smart, strong heroines taking control of their own life- are present in Alexa and make for a highly entertaining read.  Without spoiling it, I was really glad that Alexa had someone’s number from the get go in the story.  Only one part of the book didn’t ring quite true for me- the suddenness of a particular action- but it’s not altogether unrealistic and doesn’t take away from the story. Sorry for the vagueness there but I’m avoiding spoilers.

Fans of Heather’s and fans of smart chick lit will not be disappointed in Everybody’s Got A Story!

My Interview With Heather Wardell:

TBF:Heather, one thing I’ve liked about all of your books that I’ve read is how you have your heroines face a challenge and really find themselves as a part of the story- and sometimes  not in the way we expect. Is there a particular incident that inspires you for this characterization, or is it just a trait you admire in people?

HW: I think it’s a trait I admire. We have a bit of a culture at the moment that encourages people to complain but not do anything to help themselves, and I want my heroines to work at fixing their problems and learn about themselves at the same time. I get lots of email from people who’ve been inspired to help themselves by reading my novels, and I cherish every one!

TBF: You’re an incredibly prolific author. Do most of your plot ideas come to you fully formed, or do you tend to get a bit of an idea and see where it takes you?

HW: I don’t think I’ve ever had a full-on plot land in my lap (but I’m more than willing to experience that!). I tend to have a spark of something hit me and then it takes off. For example, my “Blank Slate Kate” started with a line in my file of random inspirations (which I collect whenever something interests me) that read, “When I woke up, I couldn’t remember his name.” When I read that one, I thought, “What if she can’t remember her own name either?” and the whole book grew from that.

TBF: Of all your characters, who do you most wish existed in real life?

HW: Mary from “Stir Until Thoroughly Confused”, because she’s an amazing chef and I’d like to eat her food!

TBF: Do you get inside your characters’ heads when you write? Or maybe better put, do they get inside your head?  How do you say goodbye to a character once you’ve told their story?

HW: They definitely get inside my head. When I’m in the early planning stages of a book I know it’s working when I start hearing my main character talking and have whole scenes running in my head like they’re movies. If that doesn’t happen, I know I haven’t hit on what I really want to write yet.

As for saying goodbye, I do my best to always leave them in a good place, and I think that makes it easier. In some ways, though, I think they’re all still in my head. It’s getting crowded in there. 🙂

TBF: Is there a book that you like to read and re-read and re-read?

HW: Anything by Marian Keyes. I just pick ’em up off the shelf, flip to a random page, and know exactly where I am and what’s happening. It’s comforting.

TBF: What are you working on now?

HW: I am just finishing the second draft of a book that’s a sequel to my “All At Sea”, in which a woman has a baby on her own after failing at a major life goal then meets the man of her dreams.

Once that’s done, I’ll be getting back to the first draft of another sequel, this one for “Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many”, which features a woman who will get everything she’s ever wanted out of life if she can somehow find the white man named Will Smith she met on an airplane.

And at the same time I’m working on releasing my last book of 2013, which will be out in early December and is about a woman who wins fifty million dollars in a lottery and finds out exactly who her true friends are.

Busy, but fun!

TBF: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I really appreciate it!

HW: Thank you for having me here, Ashley! I hope you and your readers have enjoyed my answers to your questions, and if anyone hasn’t yet picked up my free-to-download “Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo” they can grab themselves a copy at http://www.heatherwardell.com/.

Author Bio:

Growing up, I was an avid (rabid?) reader. I am a natural speed reader, regularly clocked at about 1200 wpm (I read Harry Potter 5 in just under three hours), and always have several books on the go, nearly all in e-book form on my Kindle.

I have always made up stories in my head, but never considered becoming a writer. Instead, I intended to be a high school music teacher. I was sidetracked by my enjoyment of my psychology courses in university, and ended up with a psychology degree with a concentration in computer science.

This took me to a major Canadian bank as a software developer. I stayed there for just over four years, and then went back to school to become an elementary school teacher. After four years teaching elementary school computer science, I took up the National Novel Writing Month challenge and attempted to write a novel in a month.

I succeeded, and the first draft of “Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo” was the result. I realized I love writing. I left teaching, and I haven’t looked back since!

In my non-writing time, I read, run, swim, crochet, take care of my 55 gallon aquarium and my cat Trinity, and play drums and clarinet. Generally not all at once.

Connect with Heather!

http://www.facebook.com/heather.wardell.author

http://www.twitter.com/heatherwardell

http://www.heatherwardell.com/

Buy the Book!

§  Amazon.com (Kindle)

§  Apple’s iBookstore

§  Barnes and Noble (for their nook reader)

§  Google Play

§  Kobo (ePub format)

§  Smashwords.com (variety of formats)

§  Sony (for their ebook readers)

If you prefer print, you can get “Everybody’s Got a Story” at:

§  Amazon.com

§  Amazon.ca

§  Barnes and Noble

§  CreateSpace.com

The first book in Debora Geary’s new Witch Central series is here! An Imperfect Witch continues the stories of our Witch Central cast. In this instance, beloved Lizard is struggling with adjusting to her new life in Witch Central. After all, old insecurities are sometimes hard to shake. Now Lizard has to make a choice- does she go forward with her new life- her new friends, her new love- and take a chance at all life has to offer, or does she give into the Lizard of the past?

Rich with all the elements I love about the Modern Witch series, An Imperfect Witch is a great start to this new series.  It’s full of the characters I love- witch and non-magical alike- and all the things that make me want to live in Witch Central: the support, the love, the silliness, and the encouragement.  Each time a new Witch book comes out, it’s like visiting with old friends.

It would be easy for Geary to take these stories on a saccharine path, but she doesn’t do that. There’s still an edge and stubbornness to the characters, and they still face very real challenges. Granted, they have some pretty cool magical tools at their disposal to help save the day, but that doesn’t make their problems any less real. Most of us have been scared, at one time or another, to make a commitment and make decisions like Lizard is faced with in this book- and most of us haven’t had Witch Central to have our backs during this time, to know when to push us and to know when to catch our falls.

I’m so glad the Modern Witch series was only the beginning.  An Imperfect Witch was the perfect way to start the new series- a character everyone loves, the trademarks we love from the first series and a great water fight.  I can’t wait for the next book!

Clowning around and feeling witchy in Salem

RachelInTheOC says to just write your truth- who cares what anyone else thinks? Well, I care, but I’m trying to get over that. So I’m going to be as honest as I can be in anything I post in this series. Let’s start with the easy stuff.

What am I reading right now? Dorcas Good, Diary of a Salem Witch- I just visited Salem, MA, and I am totally obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials now. I’m also reading The Gifts of Imperfection (more on that later) and listening to Snow White Must Die and The Sociopath Next Door.  I have a number of books in queue and don’t know what I’ll start next. But stay tuned for updates on all of these.

What else?  Well, still in the vein of reading…. I’ve always found it hard to completely walk away from a book I don’t love.  But I’ve started doing that lately.  Sometimes I’ll come back to them. Sometimes they just aren’t for me.  But time is too precious to slog through a book I’m just not interested in.  I’m also coming to terms with (gasp!) giving away books. Although I frequently donate to charities who are more than happy to take books, I still feel a bit guilty getting rid of a book. I want to make sure it goes to a good home, so to speak- another bibliophile.  But there just isn’t enough space in the house to keep ALL THE BOOKS.

Back to The Gifts of Imperfection. Why did I choose this one? Here’s where that honesty part comes in.  I have a milestone birthday this month. I’m still loath to admit the number, but I am working on saying it out loud without cringing.  It’s one of those birthdays that forces a degree of life evaluation.  And I’m coming to terms, slowly, with the fact that my life is turning out nothing like I had planned. That’s not to say I don’t have a good, happy, and very fulfilling life.  But I always pictured myself as a wife and mother, and both of those are looking distinctly less likely each year.

It’s hard, sometimes, always being the lone person at a table of couples.  It’s hard, too, to admit that it’s hard- especially when most of your friends married relatively young and haven’t been in this situation and can’t really empathize with what it’s like to wonder what’s so wrong with you that you can’t manage this one thing that everyone else seems to fall into with relative ease.

It’s hard to look at your life and realize how compartmentalized it is. How many facets of yourself you hold back in a number of situations to keep peace, to preserve face, to meet expectations others have set. To stifle the desire to say fuck it all, I’m tired of remembering which mask I’m supposed to wear when.

And it’s hard, when you’ve become so self reliant, so independent, so used to going it alone and doing for yourself, to allow yourself to be open and vulnerable but you’ve read all the books and know that to be fulfilled, this hardest risk of all is the one you absolutely must take.  The Gifts of Imperfection is, I think (I’m not terribly far into it yet) one of those books meant to inspire and guide you in embracing your authentic self and not worrying so much what people think.  Which seems so very common sense, but is actually, sometimes, hard to put into practice. So that’s my goal with this big birthday milestone.  To learn to say Fuck it! To say YES! enthusiastically to the things that make life more full and make me happy. To say a firm no, and perhaps a goodbye to those things that drag me down. To carve a life that is, and isn’t built on what “should” have been.

Stay tuned.

Emma Forrest’s Your Voice In My Head is part memoir, part tribute, and absolutely un-put-down-able.  I’m not kidding. I read the entire book on a recent quiet Friday night.  I was that enthralled.

I loved Forrest’s writing style. Her British upbringing shows in the language and cadence of her writing. She presents the agony and ecstasy of her illness in a clear, concise manner. There is no “woe is me, I’m mentally ill.” But what we do get is a story that is sometimes painfully honest in its exploration of illness. I wouldn’t presume to know what the highs and lows of bi-polar disorder are like, but Emma made me really feel for her. I had an appreciation for the desperation, loneliness, and depression she felt.  And I was so happy for her when she learned enough about her self to know when the bad times are coming. I hope that doesn’t sound trite. The heart of the book, though, is Forrest’s tribute to her late psychiatrist.  The snippets from the guest book from the doctor’s obituary are so touching. You can sense just how many people this man influenced over the course of his life; the people whose lives he truly did help save.

I don’t think this book is in any way exploitative of mental illness- it’s just Emma’s story, told in her voice, the good and the bad, and ultimately with a triumph of manageability.  But it sucks you in. It allows you to feel empathy for people suffering from mental illness.  It gives you hope in the heroism of ordinary people, just trying to make it through the day.  Add this one to your non-fiction must-read list.