Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Erik Larson is known for his bestselling book "The Devil in the White City"
about the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the serial killer who
prowled its streets. Like that book, "Thunderstruck" also mingles a history-
changing event - Marconi's invention of wireless telegraphy, with an infamously
gruesome murder in London. He magically links the forward march of technology
with the nail-biting capture of that criminal at sea because the ship Montrose
used telegraph technology to communicate with the police in England.

While our proximity to Chicago makes the other book more interesting to me
personally, I am constantly spellbound by how this author makes the connections
that he does. The writing is very clear and readable, despite the scientific or
medical matters with which Larson sometimes deals. And the portraits he draws
of the Italian inventor Marconi and the American murderer Hawley Crippen are
complete and brilliant. Dr. Crippen is drawn by Larson as a mild-mannered man
who gave all he could to an abusive wife, before he could finally endure no more
and killed her. Marconi should be a heroic figure, but Larson draws him as a cold,
manipulative aristocrat who loved his invention more than his wives or children,
and certainly devoted more time to it's success.

Larson makes interesting the race for financial success that came with
Marconi's invention, bringing humanity to Marconi's striving fellow scientists, as
well as to charlatans who tried to link the "magic" of wireless communication with
communicating with the dead, which was so popular at the time. Larson makes
us sympathize with everyone - those who tried to help Marconi's invention
succeed, and those who felt his invention had stolen their own thunder. Larson
also has the gift of making us sympathize with the murderer Crippen much more
than his greedy, volatile wife, as well as with the meek little secretary who would
steal the doctor's heart and inevitably become a party to the wife's murder.

I thrilled with the readers of the time as Scotland Yard detectives sped across the
ocean to capture Crippen during his escape attempt, while Crippen himself,
aboard another ship, remained in blissful ignorance that the jig was up. The
situation is nearly impossible to imagine in this day and age where it is hard to
escape even the most mundane news thanks to computers and cell phones. The
capture happens, the villian is condemned to die, and through it all, the world
becomes aware of the power of Marconi's telegraph. Was it my favorite book
ever? No, not in the least. But I do not regret having read it, if only for it's
increasing my understanding of Marconi and the Crippen murder.

Submitted by Gerti

By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

After a string of botched suicide attempts Daelyn Rice is determined to get it right. She is broken beyond repair and doesn't want to live any longer. She joins a website called www.throughthelight.com for "completers". On this site she blogs about her history of bullying that dates back to kindergarten. When she's not on the Web, Daelyn's at her private girl's school, where she's known as the freak who doesn't talk. You don't learn until almost the end why she can't talk. Then she is approached by a boy named Santana. Everyday after school as she waits for her mom or dad to pick her up he sits with her. She just wants to be left along but Santana won't take no for an answer. It's too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life...isn't it?

This was a quick read and I didn't like the ending. The author leaves you hanging on whether or not Daelyn keeps on living or becomes a completer. I guess you get to make that decision for yourself. I'd like to think that she chooses to live but I'm a glass half full type girl.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

When your sister is raped I don't think you are supposed to all for her rapist's sister. But that is what happens in this book. While Ms. Downham could have made it a tragedy like Romeo and Juliet she ended it on a slightly upbeat note.

Mikey's sister Karyn says she is raped by Tom. Mikey wants to take revenge but gets side tracked by Tom's sister Ellie. Ellie doesn't know Mikey is Karyn's brother so Mikey decides to try and get information out of Ellie. When Ellie finds out who Mikey is she tries to get information out of Mikey. But while doing this they genuinely like each other. Is Karyn telling the truth or is Tom? With something like this between them do they really have a chance at being together?

This was a good read. When should you stop being loyal to family and start being loyal to yourself? Do you have the courage to tell the truth even if it is going to tear your family apart?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Skeeter is home from college and ready to start a career as a writer but it's 1962 in Jackson Mississippi and her mother won't be happy until a ring is on her finger. The one person Skeeter would find solace in, her maid Constantine, is gone. No one will tell her where she went.

Aibileen is a maid for Skeeter's best friend Elizabeth and she is raising her seventeenth white child. Since the death of her own beloved son a bitter seed has grown inside her. She loves the little girl she is raising but she knows that both of their hearts might get broken.

Then there is Minny. Minny is one of the finest cooks in Mississippi but she has a sharp tongue and can't hold a job. She's been fired from as many jobs as babies Aibileen has raised . When she gets let go from yet another job she gets hired by a women so new to the town she doesn't know Minny well enough to know her reputation. Minny's new employer has secrets of her own.

When Skeeter decides to write a book about the Help she goes to Aibileen first. Aibileen agrees after refusing a few times but she wants her story to be heard and then later Minny agrees as well. Farther down the road several other maids come forward as well. At that time during that climate it was very brave of them to come forward and share their stories. Many of them were heartwarming and not unpleasant. Skeeter's friend Hilly was quite unpleasant. I didn't like her very much. People let her have too much power over them and should have stood up to her. Hilly and I would not have been friends.

This book made me laugh, tear up, and really made me think. It was a fantastic read. The only thing that would have made it better was if I would have gotten a little more closure with the characters. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

This book gives us an insight on how a person lives with Asperger's syndrome and how it affects the whole family. Jodie Picoult leaves us with an ending that causes us to consider our justice system.

Submitted by Rose

A Thousand Cuts by Simon Lelic

Reading Level: Adult

This is one I haven't had a chance to read yet but I would like to when I get a chance. The saying, So many books, So little time, is so true.

Taken from the book jacket:

"It should have been an open and shut case." A recently hired history teacher, Samuel Szajkowski, walks into a school assembly with a gun and murders three students and a colleague before turning the weapon on himself. It seems clear that Szajkowski was psychopath beyond help, yet as Detective Inspector Lucia May begins to investigate it doesn't seem so open and shut any more. No one seems interested in the truth just in closing the case quickly. As the pressure to close the case builds and her colleagues' sexism takes a sinister turn, Lucia begins to realize she has more in common with the killer than she could have imagined, and becomes determined to expose the truth.

Stash by David Klein

Reading Level: Adult
Haven't read it yet so no rating

As you can see from above I haven't had a chance to read this book yet but it looked good. The main character Gwen has it all. She is an attractive, thirtyish stay at home mom living in a very nice neighborhood. Gwen's perfect world is about to get turned upside down. After buying a small bag of marijuana from an old boyfriend she is in a car accident that leaves her bruised but the other driver dead. When the pot is found in her car they throw the book at her. With all the drug problems at the schools the police want to set an example. This book is told from multiple perspectives and is driven by psychological suspense and an escalating plot.

My read pile is pretty large at the moment so I'm going to tuck this one away for when my read pile is smaller.

Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy

Reading level: Adult
4 out of 5

One morning Jenny sensed something was wrong with her son and she ran to his room. Evan was having a seizure in his crib. 911 was called and Jenny and Evan's medical journey began. Evan was diagnosed with epilepsy even though it didn't run in the family and he hadn't suffered an injury to the head. The seizure medication helped the seizures but Evan wasn't responding. He was in his own world. Jenny was relentless to find out what was really wrong. Finally after going to a different doctor Evan was diagnosed with Autism. Then began Jenny's journey to pull her son out of his world of Autism. She did that by researching, talking to other parents, getting Evan enrolled in a school that helped Autistic children, and just never giving up. Then finally she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from Autism. This book is very inspiring. Jenny didn't just accept that her son had Autism she became a detective and found what would help heal her son.

The Politician by Andrew Young

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Even though this book may be a “tell all” by Andrew Young, John Edwards’ aid of 10 years, it is a very eye-opening comment on the personal relationships between aspiring presidential candidates, their aids, family members and entourage. In the Politician Andrew Young has exposed the egotism and unacceptable behavior of a man who wanted to be the leader of the free world. Although he was an accomplice in John Edwards’ extramarital affair and abuse of power, you may understand Andrew Young’s motivations even if you do not agree. Look for the illusions and delusions that are inherent in people whose lives revolve around power and money. After you read this book you may become more skeptical and cynical about the political process … which is after all a good thing for a free country.

Submitted by Helen

Six Word Memoirs edited by Smith Magazine

Can you sum up your life in six words? If you can go to www.smithmag.net and submit your six word memoir. Mine is Read, Love, Laugh, Eat good food.

In I Can't Keep My Own Secrets teens wrote their six word memoirs. Some are funny and some are heartbreaking but all are real.

First Love was Worth Every Tear by Anna K.

A Purring Cat Makes Everything Better by Callista W.

Family Night is Secretly My Favorite by Lindsey D.

Six Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak is about first loves and painful breakups.

First College Sweethearts now Happily Married by Jason Pintor

We Belly Laugh Every Single Day by Michelle Ottey

My personal favorite is: My Apartment is Much Cleaner Now by Daniel J. Stasiewski

I Fell in Love Twice Today by Vanessa Aricco.

Love has Healed My Many Wounds by Inara de Luna

These two books are fun to read. Check them out!!

My Sister's Keeper the Movie

I watched My Sister's Keeper last night and I loved it. I have not read the book so I can't compare the two. And I have heard that the endings are different. From what I've heard I like the movie ending better. I think the book ending is definitely Jodi Picoult's style but it would have made me want to hurl the book across the room. Ms. Picoult does like to throw her readers a curve ball. I guess for me the books ending sounds way sadder than the movie ending, but stuff like that does happen.

This movie had a great cast, Cameron Diaz, Jason Patric, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack, and the very talented Abigail Breslin and Sophia Vassilieva.

This story makes you think. How far would you go to save your child? Would you have another baby that would be your other child's savior? Would you be able to let one child suffer the pain of being poked and prodded to save your other child's life? When is it time to let go? To say enough is enough?

I did get confused a few times watching the movie because it does go back and forth from present day to the past but I worked it out. This is a great story and I thought the acting was very good. I would watch it again.

The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)








What does it mean to Forgive? According to the dictionary it means to grant pardon for or remission of an offense, debt, etc. To grant pardon to a person. Sounds easy enough but would you be able to forgive your son's killer?

Irene and Nate Stanley have lived a quiet life with their two children, Bliss and Shep, in southern Illinois for most of their lives. One day Nate announces that he got a sheriff position in Oregon and they were going to move. Irene doesn't want to leave the life she has always known but she gives in to her husband and off they go to Oregon. About a year into living in Oregon the unthinkable happens. Their fifteen year old son Shep is shot in killed in there home during a robbery. His murder turns the Stanley's lives upside down. All Irene can think about is wanting justice for Shep's death and for her that means putting his killer to death. But the justice system can work slowly and years go by without word of his execution and Irene has to face facts. Can she continue hating her son's killer or can she forgive him?

I thought that this was a thoughtful, emotionally moving book. Life does move on after a tragedy. But how you move on is different from person to person. Ms. Rakha does throw in some curve balls that I wasn't expecting and I always enjoy when I don't see something coming.


On the back flap the book says, "Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, The Crying Tree is an unforgettable story of love and redemption, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the transformative power of forgiveness.



I highly recommend this book.

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Reading Level: Adult

(3 out of 5)

Jodi Picoult does not shy away from controversial or hot topics. In this book a baby is found dead in the Fisher's barn. The Fisher's are Amish and the most likely suspect is their eighteen year old daughter Katie Fisher. She denies ever having a baby even when blood is running down her legs and the hospital confirms she gave birth. Katie's family didn't know she was pregnant and since she is unmarried it is a sin. Her father Aaron just wants her to take responsibility and not have representation but Katie's Aunt Leda, who has been shunned from the Amish community since she married and Englisher, has a niece by marriage that is a lawyer and just happens to be visiting. Ellie Hathaway came to her Aunt and Uncles to rest and take a break from law cases but she feels compelled to help Katie. To keep Katie out of jail and from having a bond she agrees to be responsible for her and has to live with Katie and her family on their farm. Ellie gets a first hand look at how the Amish operate and what their beliefs are. It takes awhile to untangle the mystery of what happened to baby Fisher. This book was very good but it was really long and a lot of the information given is repeated twice. Once before the courtroom drama and then again in the courtroom. The ending to me was shocking. I wasn't expecting it at all. That's what I like about mysteries. I don't want to figure out the mystery by the first few pages I want to be kept in suspense. To find out more about Jodi Picoult and the books she has written you can visit her website: http://www.jodipicoult.com/

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

(4 out of 5)

Reading Level: Adult

If I had to describe this book in one word I would say UNBELIEVABLE. Carolyn Jessop was born into a polygamist cult. Her family were members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the radical sect of the Mormon Church that had settled in small communities along the Arizona-Utah border. Carolyn believed in her religion and she believed in polygamy. Her grandmother would tell her stories about how wonderful it was to have a husband with many wives. That she would be doing the will of God and of the church. The more wives a man had the more powerful he was and was in favor with God. Women only got to heaven with the permission of her husband. If she wansn't in harmony with him when she died she would experience a second death and live in a type of Hell. At eighteen Carolyn became the fourth wife to Merill Jessop a fifty-year-old man. Within the family Carolyn was as old as some of Merill's daughters and she was targeted by his favorite wife Barbara. The wives would jockey for attention, snitch on each other, and had the right to discipline each others children. If you complained to Merrill he would say you deserved it and that you were not in harmony with him. Withing fifteen years Carolyn had eight children and the new leader coming to power Warren Jeffs was preaching the apocalypse. His rules and laws became more and more dangerous and ridiculous. Carolyn knew she had to escape. Finally in April 2003 she had the opportunity to round up her children and escape with their lives.

I had the same feeling reading this book as I did when I read Dave Pelzer's books. Their stories are very different but they are both like train wrecks. You know you shouldn't look as it happens because it's painful to watch but you are riveted and can't look away. Her story is in many ways so sad it was hard to read at times but I just knew there had to be a light at the end of the tunnel. And there was a light. She escaped and had freedom for the first time in her thirty five years of living. It was definitely worth reading.

On the back cover of the books is a quote by the author John Krakauer, "Escape provides an astonishing look behind the tightly drawn curtains of the FLDS Church, one of the most secretive religious groups in the United States. The story of Carolyn Jessop tells is so weird and shocking that one hesitates to believe a sect like this, with 10,000 polygamous followers, could really exist in twenty-first-century America. But Jessop's courageous, heart-wrenching account is absolutely factual. This riveting book reminds us that truth can indeed be much, much stranger than fiction." Mr. Krakauer I couldn't agree with you more.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

(4 out of 5)

Reading Level: Adult

This book came out in 2002 and it went flying off the shelves at the library. If I remember correctly the waiting list was quite long. I was probably one of the only people on the planet not to read this book. It sounded very intriguing but I must have had other books to consume at the time. At the library we do once a month book discussions. I picked this book for our discussion in May. I thought to myself this is the perfect opportunity for me to read it. I'm really glad I did. Alice Sebold has spun an emotional roller coaster of a story. The Lovely Bones is about fourteen year old Susie and her family. From the start of the book Susie is already in heaven. She dies by the hands of a neighbor in a very brutal way. In the weeks following her death, Susie watches over her family desperately trying to reach out to them. And she also explores the place called heaven. As the months turn into years each family member (mom, dad, sister Lindsey, and brother Buckley) cope in their own way. The police have no leads as to who the killer is but Susie's father is convinced that he knows who did it. But he has no proof.

"The Lovely Bones is luminous and astonishing, a novel that builds out of grief the most hopeful of stories. In the hands of a brilliant new writer, this story of the worst thing a family can face is transformed into a suspenseful and even funny novel about love, memory, joy, heaven, and healing (book jacket)."

The Lovely Bones is being made into a movie directed by Peter Jackson. To find out more about the movie go to http://www.imdb.com/.