Mini Reviews: The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan and Unhinged by Omarosa Manigault-Newman
4.5*****
I'd heard a lot of buzz surrounding this book, and I'm happy to say it is warranted. The protagonist is engaging and likable with just enough of a rough edge to make him interesting. The story held my attention from start to finish and the writing and the scene-setting were perfect. Recommended!
2.5***
I'm in two minds about this book. On the one hand, it was compulsively readable; on the other it just felt unpleasant from start to finish. Omarosa Manigault-Newman is undoubtedly a narcissist and in that sense, well matched to the current president. On the other, she comes across as observant and far from stupid. In fact, I don't even think she is a liar (who needs to lie when the truth is stranger than fiction?!) I guess I just feel dissatisfied with the book mostly because I feel dissatisfied with the current situation. I wish her revelations, the recordings, all the stuff Manafort, and Cohen, the Muller investigation, the porn stars (I could go on and on...) would make a difference, but at this point, I frankly don't think it will. This president is made of Teflon and though I don't regret reading this book, ultimately, I feel as frustrated as I did before. I'm curious what others think of the book. In a way, I felt it was definitely not as sloppy as Fire and Fury. But did I enjoy it? I can't say that I did. If you're on the fence, I think you can give it a skip. Most of the "revelations" have already been dissected in detail in the news and media.