The Other Part of Me

By Ronnie Kinsley

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591960436
• ISBN13: 9781591960430
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: InstantPublisher.com
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Read It In One Day

This certainly wasn't the best book I've ever read, but I can't remember a book that was so hard to put down. In fact, I didn't put it down -started it this past Saturday morning and finished it in the afternoon. I bought the book on the recommendation of a friend because the story takes place in Columbia, Maryland where I live. Actually, the book starts off fairly slowly, but after about page 30 the pace becomes almost frenetic - just one surprising twist after another. The Webster family just can't let go of a tragedy that struck them 17 years in the past. Every time you think you have a handle on what happened on that terrible day 17 years ago you're hit with another shocker of revelation. Once you do understand the full scope of what really happened you can't wait to see how things are going to work out. One clever little thing the author did I really liked - for almost the entire book I thought the title meant one thing only to find out near the end that it meant something completely different. The sex was a little too explicit in a couple of spots for my tastes, but other than that I really enjoyed this book.

Zooms right along!

Larry Webster and his wife, Vivian, are haunted by the abduction of one of their twin daughters, Karen. Larry feels guilty because he was having sex in the back of his van with his girlfriend, Barbara, when the toddler was snatched. Seventeen years later, Vivian is a recovering alcoholic, their other daughter Rachel is making peace with her mother, who had psychologically abused her (and locked her in a closet), and Larry is still sneaking around with Barbara and spending a lot of his time "venting" in the railroad tunnel pictured on the cover. Despite his philandering, Larry is a generally likable character. He's an astrophysicist working as an administrator for the National Science Foundation, about to take on his dream job, setting up telescopes in Chile for a European consortium.He's not what you'd expect in a scientist. He meets Barbara after slipping on a soiled diaper and twisting his ankle; he slurps Cheerio milk; and when Vivian wants sex, after a long hiatus, he runs two red lights and parks next to a fire hydrant to get her in the sack. Kinsley provides lots of twists and turns. There's an ersatz rape, during which time we're introduced to Barbara; Larry jogs down the railroad tunnel coming face to face with a train, breaking his arm in the process; Barbara develops a lump on her breast; Rachel is unaccountably accepted at Harvard after a mostly lackluster academic career. Some of these twists remind one of David E. Kelley's shenanigans in "Boston Public." A fourteen-year-old girl ordering sex toys to impress her drama teacher with whom she's having an affair is just one example. The reader generally rolls with the punches, however, as Kinsley keeps us pointed toward a reunion with the lost twin. The best part of the book for me was when Larry flew to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, looking for Karen. Part of the climax involves skiing, and Kinsley works this to the max. Having become suspicious of Larry's lies, Rachel and her boyfriend, Vinnie, follow Larry to Jackson Hole. Vinnie adds more humor; he's kind of goofy amiable and loves to eat. There's lots of texture in THE OTHER PART OF ME. Kinsley uses his science background, Maryland atmosphere, and moment-to-moment description to give this novel a realistic feel. The pace just zooms right along up until the end.

EXCELLENT FIRST MYSTERY NOVEL

You Don't often find a first bookto be of this high caliber. Ittakes place in Maryland and Wyoming. The Websters, Dr Larry.his wife Vivian and 17 yr. olddaughter Rachel have been thru hell ever since Karen, Rachel'stwin sister, was abducted when shewas 9 months old. Father Larry hasa feeling of guilt he has notshared with anyone and for goodreason that we don't find out until later. Mother Vivian is sodevastated she becomes an alcohoicand abuses daughter Rachel, telling her that Karen was so muchsmarter and developmentaly aheadof Rachel so that she starts to hate Karen even though she isconsidered to be dead. Larry andRachel have a good relationshipbut everthing blows up on Dec.4th,the aniversary date of Karen'sabduction. They recover from theirlongest, most dreaded day of theyear. Vivian and Rachel try toform a decent attitude but it s anuneasy truce. Rachel who had beenunderachieving with an IQ of 144,has brough her grades up to all Asbut too late to expect to beaccepted by the best univrsities. She and her boyfriend, Vinnie hoped to be accepted by the same school. Vivian stops drinking andfinds herself sexually aroused by her husband but Larry had startedan affair with Barbara 16 years ago and is now torn between hiswife and lover. But Barbara has a deep secret she has not shared,until she finds out she has cancerof the breast. Her sister had died from it two years ago so now she is scared and tells Larry thatKaren is live and well in Wyoming.The pace picks up from there but Idon't want to spoil it for you. Itis complicated and a page turneryou won't want to put down. This is so well written that I find itamazing for a first write by avery intelligent author. He is working on anotherbook and I can't wait for it tocome out. The book is sensitive,respectful, well written and nota mystery you can solve by the middle of the book because the plot takes you into twists and turns. I liked the ending becauseit leaves you with many choices as to the Webster's futures. And there are 342 pages to get to know this family. You wll be glad youdid.

Couldn't put it down

I can't recall the last book that kept me guessing as much as this one. Everytime I thought I had zeroed in on where the story was going I was in for another big surprise. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but overall I really loved this book.

Captivating Reading

Initially I ordered this book because of its setting in Columbia, Maryland, but once I got into the story line I couldn't put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!