In Death

For lovers of crime fiction with strong female leads, try the “In Death” series by JD Robb. I am in the midst of the series and have not gotten bored yet!

The Executor

“The Executor” by Jesse Kellerman was a surprising delight. Kellerman shows his skill with a dark, detailed plot.

The story was quite strange and only became stranger as I continued to read. I enjoyed the character of Jospeph Geist, I felt he was an original, interesting character.

If you like suspense, crime or just something different, try this one!

Perfect Parenting

A good book for parents is “Perfect Parenting” by Elizabeth Pantley. Sometimes parenting books are too strict in the subject matter. "Do this. Don't do that."  Pantley’s book was not like that. It was surprisingly easy to read and very resourceful.

You find an issue you are dealing with in the index, such as backtalk. The section then discusses that particular behavior, how common it is, what may be causing it and then a variety of solutions.

I found some helpful hints and would recommend it to other parents.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

My list recently threw “The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith into my hands. I have not seen this movie, but knew the plot from movie advertisements.

In this old-fashioned crime novel, the reader is able to enter the mind of a sociopath. I liked the speed of the book; very descriptive and the suspense of what would happen to Tom Ripley kept me reading.

I know this is the first in a series, but I don’t feel the need to read the others, although I enjoyed this one.

The Diary of a Young Girl

 “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank in an enduring memoir of life during the holocaust. I was introduced to this book in high school, and recently picked it up for another read.

Anne Frank puts a human face on the atrocities committed during this time in history. The honest words of a young girl put the reader, for a brief moment, in her shoes. Through this diary Anne Frank lives on, teaching so many others the effects of hatred and abuse of power on others.

Anne was denied the chance to develop into a woman. She was denied everything that comes with a long, happy life. And to add insult, she died amid hatred and inhumane conditions. I'm sure she could not understand how her fellow humans turned their backs on her, why she was hunted. And I cannot understand the why, can anyone?

I felt hopeless and sad thinking of Anne. She was introduced to the dregs of humanity. And they surround us, still today, these people filled with hatred. The persecution of others is still happening.

The Melting Season

I felt that “The Melting Season” by Jami Attenberg wasn’t worth the time. It lacked strong characters and plot development. Any else read this one and liked it?

A Child Called It

I first read “A Child Called It” by Dave Pelzer in high school. This story has stayed with me and I have since read it again. Gripping and heart-rending, Pelzer’s memoir details his childhood of severe child abuse.

Children are my soft spot. When I hear a story of neglect or abuse, it affects me. I think of these children often and I hurt for them. The horror of Pelzer’s abuse is absolutely impossible to fathom. As a small boy, he experienced a loss of his very identity. All of his rights, to even basic human dignity, were denied. The emotions I experienced through Pelzer’s words were so intense.

The moral of the story, the strength of his spirit to overcome such atrocities, is worth so much to me. Watch out for signs of child abuse and don’t let other children go through a childhood like this. Pelzer was robbed of a childhood of unconditional love and support; robbed of innocent dreams and whimsies. And these are things he can never get back. If I can touch even one hurt child's life, that is a true meaning to my life.

Pelzer has a follow up book in "The Lost Boy." This is also a must-read.