Tag: Evidence

Emma Rosen – Milk | Review

Title: Milk

Author: Emma Rosen

Type: Non-Fiction

Page Count: 326

Rating: 3.75/5

I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a copy of one of mine, but while I think it’s important to include a disclaimer here, it doesn’t affect my opinion of the book. In fact, I was a little worried that I wasn’t going to be able to enjoy it purely because of the subject matter. It’s basically a mixture between a memoir and a how-to guide for breastfeeding, but there are a few things to it that I think make it accessible to a more general readership than new and expectant mums.

For a start, there’s the research that Rosen carried out, and indeed at the end of the book there’s a comprehensive list of all of the sources that were used if you want to read more. This is coupled with Rosen’s own reminiscences, so you get just the right mixture of anecdotal versus scientific evidence. For me, that’s something that I actively try to seek out in the books that I read, and I think that Rosen did a cracking job of things.

The only thing that I can really complain about here is the fact that it felt a little bit top heavy, in that the first half of the book dealt with her first child, then the following third dealt with her second and the final sixth of it covered her third and final child. But I suppose  that can’t be helped because of the nature of the book – by the time that she had her third child, there was less for her to learn, although there were still a few bits here and there that she still had to discover.

All in all, I’m sure that this book isn’t for everyone, but then I thought it wouldn’t be for me and I was pleasantly surprised. Good stuff!

Click here to buy Milk.


Truman Capote – In Cold Blood | Review

Title: In Cold Blood

Author: Truman Capote

Type: Non-Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 354

Rating: 4/5

 

Truman Capote - In Cold Blood

Truman Capote – In Cold Blood

 

In Cold Blood is basically a sort of non-fiction novel that tells the story of the Cutter murders, where an entire family was wiped out by a person or persons unknown. Capote sets the scene then starts introducing the evidence and the murderers themselves, culminating in the eventual arrest and trial of the two main suspects. You can read about the case in plenty of other places, but this is notable because it’s written by Truman Capote and because it’s one of the first examples there is of a true crime book.

Of course, it does feel as though a lot of the book is actually fictitious, mainly because of the insane amount of detail that Capote was able to include here. I’ve read both Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Summer Crossing, but it was still a pleasant surprise for me to see a different side of Capote. There’s also a connection to Harper Lee somewhere, because the two authors are friends. I think they talked about the book and then Capote wrote it because Lee said she wasn’t going to. But I may be wrong.

It’s a pretty slow paced read and it took at least eighty pages for me to really get into the book, but it picked up towards the end and I can still recognise that it was beautifully written. I feel as though the problem with the first section was with me as a reader and not Capote as a writer, although I’m also glad that I ended up just reading it 20 pages or so every evening before going to bed. I’d probably recommend doing something similar, because if you try to read it all in one go then it’s going to end up overwhelming you.

Despite that, and despite the slow start, I still can’t help but recommend this one. My advice is to stick with it and to keep sinking your teeth into it a little at a time. If you like crime shows, you’ll like this.

 

Truman Capote

Truman Capote

 

Click here to buy In Cold Blood.