Jacob M. AppelCritiques

I just finished reading this book, and I’m left with some conflicting emotions. I must preface this by saying that I lost my mom and sister to suicide, so reading this was an interesting perspective (though Millard lived a hell of a lot longer than the two of them). I was so hoping for a happy ending, but perhaps the ending WAS happy, to Millard at least. Part of me feels a bit numb now, which admittedly threw me for an emotional loop. All in all, this was definitely an interesting read.

2.5 stars

I thought this would be full of truly challenging dilemmas that would make me think. As a longtime viewer of SVU and other procedurals, and a lifelong reader of nonfiction, I didn't find these 'dilemmas' to be very thought provoking at all. (I'm also a devout Christian and I believe the Bible clears up the gray areas in many of these situations.)

In addition, I thought that the author was going to present each situation without bias, but even though he doesn't come right out and say "This is what I think," the way he words each scenario makes it clear where he stands on many of the issues. (He believes that overpopulation is a real problem, and references Darwinian evolutionary theory as fact.)

There was one particular situation I feel he really failed to present without bias, which was a Christian doctor refusing reproductive services to an LGBTQ couple due to religious objections. The issue was framed as one of LGBTQ rights and religious rights in this scenario were more or less ignored.

Lastly, I just tired of his cutesy fake names for the people in his scenarios: Ms. Ratched, Dr. Death, Senator Cheapside, etc.

Certainly, if someone has not thought about these issues before, the scenarios will provoke discussion. But I just didn't love this read.

Great book. Good characters

I deeply thank the author for an ARC copy via Librarything. It sure took me ages to read & review it, but better later than never!

I entered this book without having any idea what to expect. While I knew the book would be a story from the viewpoint of a psychopath who starts going on a murder spree, I didn't really focus any attention to the particular aspects from the blurb, and didn't dare read any other reviews either.

We all know psychopaths are living among us, and have been spoon-fed from Hollywood flicks and ultra-dramatized tv shows that explain their murder sprees with succinct detail, making the layman suspect these sorts of unsolved homicides are happening everywhere. In reality, most homicides are usually spurs of the moment from muggings, gang or cartel crime, or very grisly crimes of passion. Serial killings are actually very rare, but the causes that spur psychopaths to cross the fine line are as varied as their personal profiles.

That said, the vast majority of psychopaths that engage in crime are usually both mentally very unstable and/or come from a blue collar background. This book instead decides to focus on the small group of psychopaths that are intelligent, successful, initially very likeable and have prominent social lives.

Jeremy Balint is a prominent Jewish Cardiologist living in an upper class suburbanite neighborhood in New Jersey, with a controlling and pragmatic wife named Amanda and two endearing young daughters. His life seems at first sight perfect until one day, he gets distracted on the commute home and runs over a dog. Initially desperate to save the animal's life, his instincts take him to the house of a young transplant surgeon named Warren Sugarman in the derelict hopes the man might save the pooch’s life. Little does he know, he discovers the man is alone at home half naked and caressing a woman in his living room sofa. Jeremy's prior life of being an outstanding citizen crumbles apart when he discovers the woman paying his coworker a visit is his wife!

Instead of feeling angry at Amanda or decide something civil such as reconciliation or divorce, Jeremy decides a different tactic according to his newly found twisted sense of logic: he has to murder his rival in order to save his marriage.

He never felt like a typical Hollywood stereotype psychopath with a rough upbringing and poor social skills. At first, he seems almost redeeming and his mental ramblings more the result of shock and denial of Amanda's treason. As the book moves forward and Jeremy starts deceiving people for his own benefit, you start to see figments of the monster hiding beneath the surface. A crazy cat lady neighbor yells at him because she doesn't believe those scratch marks on his face come from a wild raccoon, plenty of coworkers have spotted him leaving the hospital with a nursing student named Delilah, or the time he shuts off the radio in front of his wife in the car abruptly out of frustration when the blunding idiot of the prosecutor in charge of the new Emerald Choker killer case has stated a new discovery of the investigation that Jeremy knows is completely off track. Maybe these little things seem off-putting in a sort of way, but if people had known that Jeremy was killing complete strangers while juggling an endless life surrounded by playdates with his kids, meals with his neighbors, patient consults and the new free clinic he was coerced to supervise, these minor incidents would prove his true character.

Jeremy is quite an ironic character in the sense that he is viewed as an outstanding doctor going to great lengths to prolong the lives of terminal patients, but he sees no qualms in killing old people because they have outlasted their usefulness. His narcissism and high intellect only makes him an even more dangerous person, fueled by the way his mother puts him on the highest pedestal.

Jeremy goes to great lengths to ensure the cops have a hard time finding the killer, and he even feels a tinge of regret that he will probably get away with it.

The book was clearly well edited, and I didn't find any typos or meandering writing. There is enough description to give you a feel of the places without being overly flowery. I thought the story was thrilling to read from start to end, and if I have just one complaint, it would be that even though the book is focused solely on Jeremy's twisted POV, it would seem like he was the only smart guy and everyone around him was dumb. I also started to feel like the endless social gatherings Amanda forced on Jeremy to get tiring after a bit. Furthermore, Jeremy was being sued by the family of a girl who drowned in his pool and hesitated to even say hello to the traumatized mother due to the fears of losing the lawsuit, but he still ends up renting the house a few weeks later without any concern in the world even though the lawsuit hadn't been settled yet.

Other than that, I had a lot of fun reading this book!

Hmmm. I am torn about this book. The reason why I am torn is I think I am becoming burnt out with the whole older person who cracks wise yet is endearing in his/her crankiness genre that has sprung up since Man Called Ove became a best seller. I have read 5 books like this one in the last year, so it may be a case of its me and not you.

What I did enjoy is the focus on regret in the midst of death. Salter wants to die simply because he has seen what old age does to a person and he does not want to go through that, but it means leaving behind a world of regret and a loss of loved ones. It also means he gets out of a job where he dislikes his co-workers, so there is a conflict. I did enjoy that approach to the genre, but for some reason it just didn't stick with me. I do not think that is the author's fault at all, I just think it is entering a world where these types of books have hit their peak. Again, I think it is more me and I apologize for that.

*I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

-- DNF at 43%. --

I adored A Man Called Ove, so the many comparisons to this book - also concerning an elderly curmudgeon, grieving the loss of a longtime partner - grabbed my attention. Sadly, the two are nothing alike.

The titular character of MILLARD SALTER'S LAST DAY is unlikable. Not in a "hard on the outside, secretly soft on the inside" kind of way (think: Ron Swanson; Edward Teach, born on a beach), nor in a lovable grump kind of way (Ove; Ethel Beavers). Rather, Millard is a walking, talking "OK Boomer" meme, constantly waxing nostalgic about the good ole days. He spends his last day on earth complaining about how "stewardesses" are now "flight attendants" and "secretaries," "office administrators,", or about how the names of the subway lines have changed; he is perpetually disappointed that colleagues 40+ years his junior aren't hip to the celebs of his day; he whips out the n-word in defense of a off-color joke about his (Jewish) son Lysander naming his dogs Adolf and Benito (really Onion and Puddles - dear Millard can't bother to remember the names of two creatures so dear to his offspring); and he quizzes a panhandler on his alleged armed service record.

Between the long-winded digressions and Millard being, well, Millard, I was about ready to throw in the towel at 39% - but then I saw that Millard's lunch meeting with his ne'er do well son, Lysander, was coming up next. Given the many mentions of Lysander's affinity for animals (always couched in negative terms - why???), I just had to find out what was going on there. Turns out, some pretty toxic shit. Millard is kind of a dick, and not just to Lysander. It's 90 degrees out; Lysander, justifiably worried about Onion and Puddles, keeps trying to steal away and find them some water. In turn, Millard scoffs at his son's compassion: "He cared for those mutts as though they were royalty. If only the boy could muster such passion for something more productive." (To be fair, Millard has this thought when Lysander wrests a chicken bone from one of the dogs, which somehow makes it worse.)

Lysander is a vegan (the horror!); when he turns down Millard's suggestion that he order the noodles, since they're likely cooked in chicken broth, Millard's inner monologue reads thusly: "So get your lousy Coke, thought Millard. Why does everything with you have to be so goddamn difficult?" Yeah, clearly Lysander is just trying to inconvenience you with his food choices! Fuck your son and his ethics!

The bottom line is that Millard has zero respect for his son. News flash: kids are not your carbon copies. Also, Lysander is in his forties, stop thinking of him as a "boy." (Yes, I am a fellow Gen X'er who is vegan, loves dogs, and has experienced her share of aimlessness. Why do you ask?)

Another thing I hate about this book? It's pretentious AF. Normally I roll my eyes when reviewers complain that a book has too many Big Words - reading is an excellent way to expand your vocabulary - but I had to look up so many terms that reading became downright tedious. And my Kindle couldn't even find entries on them all! I mean, seriously. I don't want my leisure reading to feel like homework, okay.

This was a weird but good read. I love the uniqueness of this author.

Enjoyed this read and the cover is pretty.

Weird but so good. I've read a few by this author now and I find I enjoy reading his books.

This is an excellently written collection of short stories. Each story is captivating and interesting in unique ways. I love everything that I have read by Jacob Appel.

A well-written collection of short stories populated with interesting characters and scenarios.

Read in September 2021.

This is a beautifully written book of poetry that must be read slowly, so that each and every line can not only be absorbed but savored.
I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading this - from laughter to tears and back again.
Highly recommended!

I've read a few of Appel's short story collections. This grouping was not as good as others but it was still enjoyable and very smart writing. Thank you to the author who supplied me with a copy. Please forgive my delayed review.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I really liked the storyline and how a small gesture, like not standing up, escalated into Arnold being a terrorist. I thought the story was clever, funny, and totally random at times.
Special thanks to LibraryThing's Member's Giveaway for this free book and the opportunity to read and review it.

Millard Salter’s Last Day: a sad romanticism about life and ending it.

A few years back I read a collection of short stories by Jacob M Appel and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I get annoyed by short stories because they spit shine and pretty up a series of scenarios which end immediately after getting good, leaving me annoyed. So surprised enjoyment means job well done!

Given the opportunity to read a full novel by Appel, I took the shot and accepted an ARC copy... which sat on my digital shelf.. for a couple months..

When I finally picked up Millard Salter’s Last Day and began reading it, I was super happy! It is an unusual story about a 75 year old man who had a wonderful life, and wants to end it on his terms while he is still strong and and respected.

Unfortunately, this novel was very enjoyable but disjointed... Throughout Millard’s final day, he visits his work, finishes tying up loose ends, disparages his son over lunch, visits his ex-wife, and visits his burial plot next to another loved one . These normally mundane tasks are interesting to read because while Millard reminisces throughout, he also is tinged with ambiguous joy/fear of his upcoming private hanging. The book was very much ‘This was your life’ with only one section being heavy handed but absolutely critical to the story.

What bothered me about this book (and may be the root cause of me taking over a month to read it) was that there are several important events through the day which are glossed over. At first I thought ‘Hey, the guy is dying.. these matters are trivial’ but then I noticed his co-workers were also non-plussed.. Not one character treats these situations as actual people would, instead brushing them off with no effort. The lack of realistic emphasis on abnormal situations really dropped the spark..

—
Disclosure- based on an ARC copy provided by the Author/Publisher.

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/pi6HW2YDiNc

Enjoy!

This book wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped. It was just not the type of content that I like. Felt kind of like Sherlock Holmes, which I have never really been into.

Engaging enough to want to solve the mystery before the rabbis do, but too many characters to really get to know.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

This book started out strong and the idea of someone not standing up for a display of patriotism is certainly relevant today. However, towards the middle to second third of the book, Arnold’s life on the lam started to become a little unbelievable. I did enjoy the final few pages and how the author has left the resolution of the story up to the reader.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Larry Bloom is a tour guide by day and a writer by night. The Biology of Luck alternates between Larry's day job as a guide for a Dutch tourists, and the chapters of the novel he has written about the girl of his dreams (Starshine) and her travails on the same day. The entire book is about this one day, leading up to their evening date. Interestingly, the two narratives bleed into one another, at numerous points with the two main characters experiencing the same riot, accidents, and chance encounters. Appel's descriptive writing is magical at times, especially for native NYers as he captures the charms or ills of various neighborhoods.

This is a cunningly crafted novel about your not-so-typical serial murderer, a successful Jewish cardiologist. As the story unfolds, the reader begins to sense and feel dismay at the lack of empathy in Dr. Jeremy Balint, who can best be described as a sociopath. A bizarre part of this novel was when this murderer was asked by his rabbi to do a mitzvah (a good deed). Begrudgingly, the doctor did so. The hypocrisy of this doctor’s life increases as the story moves forward. This serial murderer is continually being lauded for his ethics. Come on!

An unusual novel in a genre I usually either can’t follow or don’t enjoy, this story was unusually engaging to me. However, there was one small part of this book that I felt was a bit cringe-worthy. It was Balint’s reactions to work he was doing on behalf of medical clinics for poor blacks. At one point, he made a black-face joke. Although it was in part of a conversation in the book and nothing I heard aloud, I had a very knee-jerk upset reaction to it. It made me angry, actually. I wish it hadn’t been part of this book although I’m aware I’m reading fiction.

This book was published in 2017. The prologue to this book was spot on. The author had no idea how prescient his words would be. You’ll have to read what he wrote and ponder it before proceeding to read this novel.

A prescient line from this book was “by this time next year, we’ll be sitting in this office, watching that Choker fellow on live television”. As I write these words, live television is presenting (although I’m not watching) the trial of the police officer involved in the death of George Floyd. What a sad coincidence.

In all, I enjoyed the experience of reading this book. The segments were just the right size. The characters were obnoxious enough to be believable. The hypocrisy of the the protagonist’s life was a tale unto itself. The Jewish references either made me cringe or laugh (“Boker tov!”). The story itself was direct and fast-moving, allowing me to proceed through the story without being bored at any point. The story is carefully constructed. All of Jeremy’s detailed plans are laid out in a way that the reader is made to feel a part of the whole plan!

I think my husband would also like this story so I’m saving this book for him to read next.½

As always, I enjoyed another book by Jacob M. Appel. My favorite stories were: Rods and Cones and Ad Valorem. I also enjoyed Scouting for the Reaper, The Extinction of Fairy Tales, Hazardous Cargoes, Creve Coeur and The Vermin Episode. I didn't care for Choose Your Own Genetics.

Mr. Appel is a an extremely talented writer. Here are two examples, each one from my top two favorite stories. From Rods and Cones: "So everyone has secrets. Badges of shame they carry around under heavy clothing."

From Ad Valorem: "The older Starlings had died, one after the other, within weeks of each other. "His-and-hers" aneurysms, just like matching monogrammed towels. "

I like this book, it's easy to read and light hearted. It's something to read on a relaxing day and don't want to read a serious book. It's a whodunit kind of book with some humor thrown in. It was easy to like the main character and to follow along with the story.

It was a fun read and I don't remember getting bored at all.

I was given this book in a Giveaway for an honest review.

[b:Einstein's Beach House|22925326|Einstein's Beach House|Jacob M. Appel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415581797s/22925326.jpg|42494069]
Author: [a:Jacob M. Appel|6884139|Jacob M. Appel|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1378487265p2/6884139.jpg]
Publisher: Pressgang
179 pages
*This review based on .pdf version provided free in exchange for honest review*

I'm not often left without words (as my husband would attest with a grin on his face). I've read, discussed, and reviewed a lot of books in my time. It's not often I read one, especially a collection of short stories, that leaves me grasping for the right words. I've been pondering what to say in this review for days after finishing this book of 8 short stories by Jacob Appel. The best I can come up with is this:

Ecclectic. Witty. Brilliant.

I don't give praise lightly. Although I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, the free book doesn't have any effect on my opinion. I receive many free books to review. But this one is special. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story. Nothing about these stories is old hat, or reworked dusty plotlines. I found myself finishing a story and wondering what interesting adventure the next one held in store for me. A childless couple who adopts a depressed hedgehog, a real estate lie that takes on a life of its own, a custody battle over a tortoise. Each story was something new and different, providing an interesting, unusual peek into the lives of the characters. The stories deal with the dark life struggles we all share -- divorce, mental illness, death, growing old, forgiveness, disillusion, lost love, revenge -- but in an ecclectic, magical blend of tragedy, comedy and the absurd.

Appel has a true gift for story telling. I'm not going to give a synopsis of each story. other than the small snippets I've given above. To me, telling more is akin to spoilers. For this collection, a reader should experience each story cold, without any knowledge of what is to come, until they read it for themselves. Not knowing makes it more fresh and surprising. These stories are amazing! Enjoy!

My rating: 9/10
Adult themes. Minor profanity. Ages16 & up.
Excellent short story collection!

I had a horrible time finishing this book. One of the things I try to determine is the author's message, which I can only assume is "the world doesn't make any sense." While this is true, I don't want it in my books where I go to escape.