December, 2012

"Shocking the Conscience" by Booker and Booker         

This is an autobiography/history of the civil rights movement.  Booker was a journalist for Jet magazine and wrote stories about the shocking events of the 50's and 60's.          

I had a hard time finishing this book.  The author did a lot of name dropping at seemingly random times throughout the book.  He deviated from the story a lot.  For example, he began chronologically with civil rights events, and then launched into a history of the Jet offices.  I found this a bit annoying.  I think the book could use some careful editing and revisions.  Overall, I really wanted to like this book, but couldn't.

"Poison" by Bridget Zinn         

After a terrifying vision, Kyra, a potions master, has decided to kill her best friend, the princess.  She botches the job and find herself a fugitive.           

I thought the book was fairly interesting.  The characters and plot kept me turning the pages.  I felt that the book is definitely geared towards younger teenagers.  The surprises were a bit predictable.  I would also have loved to read more about how Kyra began a potions master.  Perhaps a prequel?  Overall, highly recommended.

"Shadowland" by Kate Brian     

After being attacked by a serial killer, Rory and her family are placed into witness protection.  They are sent to Juniper Landing, a small isolated vacation island.    

I'm still not sure how I felt about this book.  I don't want to give anything away, but the author seemed to wrap up the greater concepts in only a few paragraphs.  I wanted more.  More explanation, more description.  The author should also know that the Federal Marshall's are in charge of witness protection, not the FBI.  Plus, a family would never be sent to find their destination without police escort or some type of police presence.  This kind of makes the entire premise of the book, void.  I did enjoy the writing style, the character development and the situations Rory and her sister found themselves in.  Overall, a good book, but lacking in a lot of areas.

"Sea of Tranquility” by Katja Millay         

Nastya wants to start over.  She doesn't want to be known as the Brighton Piano girl, the girl who was brutally attacked and is now unable to play music.  Starting over at a new school, Nastya completely reinvents herself.  She dresses like a hooch and draws all of the wrong kind of attention.  And then she meets Josh Bennett, a boy almost as damaged as she is.          

I found this book fascinating.  I couldn't put it down.  The characters were engaging and interesting.  From a psychological standpoint it was riveting.  I think the author disclosed information at exactly the right pace.  I would love to read more from the author and look forward to her next book.

"This Way to the Gas Ladies and Gentlemen" by Tadeusz Borowski         

This book features a series of essays/writings by a concentration camp survivor.  Tadeusz survived the horrors of Auschwitz and Dachau.  He describes a world were compassion has been replaced by an overwhelming need to survive, regardless of the consequences.  I can only describe his writing style as beautiful yet haunting.  He holds nothing back in his quest to tell these horror stories.  Overall, highly recommended.

"Edge of Black" by J.T. Ellison         

Elizabeth, a medical examiner, has decided to restart life in D.C.  Rather than rejoin the morgue, she finds a position teaching pathology.   When a terrorist releases an unknown pathogen onto the metro, killing three people, Elizabeth is called in to perform an autopsy on one of the victims.  Elizabeth begins researching the three dead and slowly uncovers a connection between them.          

I thought this was a well written and engaging book.  The characters are interesting and dynamic.  I thought the book held some interesting twists and turns.  However, I felt that the main show down was a bit anti-climatic.  Overall, the book was interesting, and I would pick up another by this author.

"Shavelings in Death Camps:  A Polish Priest's Memoir of Imprisonment by the Nazis, 1939-1945" by Fr. Henryk M. Malak         

During World War II, the Nazi's arrested a number of Catholic priests and transferred them to concentration camps.  Fr. Malak was captured at the beginning of WWII and spent the rest of the war in a variety of camps.          

I found this book a bit difficult to read.  The author doesn't really write about himself, but rather about his comrades.  This caused the book to seem a bit detached (I understand that this is a coping mechanism, and that it is quite remarkable that he is able to put pen to paper after his horrible experiences).  I think that a dictionary at the back would also have been helpful.  I am not Catholic and am unfamiliar with some of the rites and words used, but not described.  Overall, this is the only book I've read from this perspective.  That alone makes it a worthwhile book to read.

"The Patient Ecstasy of Fraulein Braun" by Lavonne Mueller         

This is an erotic novel taken from the point of view of Eva Braun, Hitler's infamous lover.  I found this book to be tedious and boring.  It had long endless passages of nonsense.  The author rambled on and on and on.  Overall, this book was unreadable.