Blanky
by Kealan Patrick Burke

A short (73 page) story about ghosts or murderers, you get to decide. It’s a good little story with a decent, if somewhat predictable twist, that does leave an open ending as to what is real and what’s not. It was worth the money.

Sour Candy
by Kealan Patrick Burke

Another 70-odd page short story, this time about a man whose life is suddenly and abruptly changed by the appearance of a young boy. There’s more supernatural horror in this one, so if you’re down for mysterious cults of supernatural beings, this is the one for you.

Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery
by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin

A long book, but one full of information, this book tells the story of how back pain became the hottest health care issue through startling amounts of fraud, money changing, and ignorance that led to all kinds of spinal surgeries and injections. The first half of the book tells the history and corruption of the back pain industry, while the second half focuses on what can actually be done for those in pain. She has great resources for those looking to manage their back pain. I highly recommend this one.

Tin Man
by Sarah Winman

Ugh, this one made me cry, and I’m so not a crier. It’s about Michael and Ellis, two best friends and one-time lovers, and Annie, Ellis’s wife, and their relationship. It starts with Ellis alone, both of them gone, dead, as we come to find out. Then it takes us back to Michael’s diary and we learn about his life. Finally, it cuts back to Ellis to finish out the story. It’s beautiful and tragic and bittersweet all at once. It’s also short, so if you’re looking for a nice, if heartbreaking, quick read, this is the one for you.