November, 2016

“Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors” by Piers Paul Read         

In 1972 an airplane carrying forty-five people crashed into the Andes. The search was called off after eight days, only a handful of family members had any hope that they were alive. With strength, determination, and will, the survivors worked together to combat the cold, starvation, and hopelessness they all felt.         

This was an amazing book. I knew nothing about the Andes survivors before reading this book. I just couldn’t put it down! The author treated the individuals in a humane and fair way, describing both the strengths and weaknesses of each. I thought he did an excellent job on giving the survivors view points and bringing their story to life. Overall, highly recommended.

“Cover Me in Darkness” by Eileen Rendahl         

Amanda, a lab tech working for a small cosmetics company, is seemingly leading a normal life. However, hiding in her past is the cult that she grew up with and the mother who murdered her brother. When Amanda’s mom commits suicide, the past comes rushing back, threatening the secrets she has tried to keep buried.         

Although this was an interesting story I thought that the characters lacked realism. Amanda felt like a character rather than a living breathing person. The supporting characters were pretty stereotypical and entirely predictable. Overall, not a bad book but not one that I would reread.

“Hermit on Mars” by Kate Rauner         

This is the third book in the Mars Colonization series. Following the sixth generation of settlers, this book focuses on Sig, a brilliant, yet unhappy robotocist. When his mother, a resident of Hermit’s Cavern, calls for help, he immediately comes to her rescue with a number of robotics parts and supplies. However, the Cavern is a society unto itself, with vastly different rules and relationships than what Sig is used to.         

I found this book fascinating. I enjoy the author’s writing style and the characters she has created. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and find out how the colony continues to develop. Overall, highly recommended!

“A Daughter’s Deadly Deception” by Jeremy Grimaldi         

Jennifer Pan, the daughter of Asian immigrants, coldly and callously arranges the murder of her parents. A seemingly normal child, Jennifer grew up with the urge and drive to succeed. When she was unable to get into a college, she began making up stories to satisfy her parents wishes. When her lies begin to unravel and she is given the choice between her boyfriend Daniel or her family, she initially chooses her family. What follows is a grim and horror filled story of murder and deceit.         

I’m not sure how to review this book. The first half of the book addressed the crime, investigation and trial. The second half of the book analyzed Jennifer’s life and the murders. During the first half, the author continuously went back and forth from present to past tense and tended to get bogged down in mindless details. The minutia about the phone calls and texts was particularly tedious. The second half of the book was repetitive psychological analysis that was a complete bore. It gave information about her background that should have been told chronologically during the first half of the book. Overall, an interesting subject matter, but the book itself was a bust.

“The Radium Girls” by Kate Moore         

During WWI, scores of young women picked up paintbrushes to work in the factory painting clock faces with luminous material. Told that the radium was perfectly safe, the girls were taught to point the tips of the brushes in their mouths. Coated from head to toe in the glowing residue, these girls were the envy of everyone. Until they began to fall ill, one-by-one. As the girls suffered from painful unhealing wounds, infected teeth and mysterious bone complaints, they were continually told that it could not have been the radium. Determined to find out the truth, the girls sought out doctors and lawyers, forcing the corporations to acknowledge that they were poisoned.

     This was a fascinating book. It is an important part of history that is not taught or discussed. These courageous women knew they were going to die, yet continued to fight, hoping that they could help the next girl. Well written and engaging, this book was hard to put down. Highly recommended.