Merry Christmas

There's no denying that we're fast approaching that time of year again, the smell of pine and the faint sound of bells jingling on the horizon. How do you get into the holiday mood? Decorate the tree with popcorn, bake gingerbread cookies, gift-wrap your dad's car or roast chestnuts on an open fire? Does anyone actually roast chestnuts on an open fire? Another way to get into the holiday spirit is to watch a Christmas movie. The Warsaw Community Public Library has a wonderful selection of Christmas movies to choose from. Here are some of my favorites.

"It's a Wonderful Life." Whose heart hasn’t melted as neighbors rush in to empty their pockets to help George replace the missing money from Bailey Building and Loan?

Another excellent Christmas movie is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Who can forget the moment the Grinch realizes the true meaning of the holiday, learning that Christmas is in the heart and not in presents?

Are you in the mood for a Christmas miracle? Well, look no further "Miracle on 34th Street." Kris Kringle is in danger of being committed to an asylum because of his insistence that he is the true Santa Claus. Can Kris’ attorney save Kris and Christmas?

Good grief, who wouldn’t enjoy "A Charlie Brown Christmas"? Everyone remembers how Charlie picks out the most pathetic tree imaginable and his friends pitch in to decorate it and miraculously transform it into a beautiful sight.

The film "A Christmas Story" is everyone’s childhood wrapped into one. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder Carbine Action, 200-shot, Range Model Air Rifle, but his hopes of getting one dim as each adult he encounters (even Santa) tells him he’ll shoot his eye out.

Tired of all the old Christmas classics? Why not try “The Polar Express” which is a glorious example of holiday cheer, and rediscovering the pure spirit of a child at Christmas.

And last but not least is Dickens classic tale “A Christmas Carol”, with Ebenezer Scrooge transforming from, well, a scrooge, into an affectionate, compassionate person.

There’s still plenty of time to pick up some good holiday flicks that'll get you into the holiday spirit. So why don’t you stop in at the Warsaw Community Public Library and pick up one of these titles or one of your own favorite Christmas movies?

The Odd Life of Timothy Green grows on you

The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a modern day fable, a simple story about parenting, healing the wounds of childhood and familial love.

When Cindy and Jim Green learn that they are not able to have children, they spend one last night fantasizing about the kid who will never inhabit their lives. They scribble all the boy's imagined attributes on pieces of paper, put the notes in a wooden box and bury it in the yard.

Then a funny thing happens, as they sleep a freak storm arrives, pouring rain on just their house. Something stirs in the garden, and then … they discover a real, live boy has sprouted from their garden and despite the fact that he looks like a normal child, he has leaves near his ankles.. His name is Timothy. As the Greens get to know Timothy they come to realize he personifies every trait they wrote on their buried list. Timothy uses these traits to repair rifts and brighten lives.

Jennifer Garner makes a funny and cool mom and Joel Edgerton is a great kind-hearted dad who has his own childhood issues. The boy who plays Timothy(CJ Adams) is beyond adorable. He, in my opinion, is the real star of the show and the best part of the film.

What Timothy Green does best is capture the sadness of infertility, celebrate the eccentricities of an endearing child and probe the longings, fears and worries of parents. It also reminds us of the briefness of childhood and how as parents we all make mistakes. What's more, the movie stresses the importance of family and how one person's life can touch and inspire so many others.

The moral of this story? Love and be loved while you can, because nothing is forever, especially childhood. So why not come to the Warsaw Community Public Library and pick up this movie or another one and make it a family night?

Eat, Pray, Love

This book is fantastic, especially for me, someone who is beginning my own spiritual journey. I love the way Liz Gilbert explains her experiences and the insights she gained from other peoples words and deeds. I listened to this book on CD and it was read by Gilbert. If you get a chance to do this, I highly recommend it.  She has a gift for mimic, not completely recreating the voices of others, but reproducing the ascents and rhythm of their speech, letting us hear what she heard when they spoke.  I must have a copy of this book!  I know I will reread it many times.








Review by LibraryladyEat Pray Love Tour

"I'm never gonna see a Merman"

Of course we all know the typical horror movie and how it goes, there's usually a cabin in a wooden area(or other desolate place) Five young friends, lots of partying, lots of sex(a weekend of fun). Then murder and mayhem ensue and said friends are picked off by a “boogeyman” who is out maneuvered by one lone survivor(usually the female "virgin") who sets the scene for the upcoming sequel.(Buzzz! Wrong!)

It's not really fair to call Cabin in the Woods a horror movie, although it is disguised as one. Instead it's a new take on a genre that was starting to get rather stale(How many "Final Destinations" does it take to finally get to the end of a franchise?) This little gem of a film plays up and skewers every horror movie cliche imaginable. It forces us(the viewers) to identify why we love to watch bad things happen to everyday people on screen.

I have to admit there are scenes in this movie that made me laugh hysterically( cue the Merman) and others that made me cringe and cover my eyes(the blood and gore in the last minutes of the film)If you are a fan of Joss Whedon or H.P. Lovecraft then you will absolutely love this movie! Whedon does not disappoint! There is also a great cameo that I shan't reveal.(They appear close to the end of the movie)

I found it funny to see all the negative reviews of the film, many of which said the acting was horrible, the script was awful, the plot made no sense.(Yada yada yada) This is what the movie is making fun of. We, as viewers are so use to seeing the "hot kids get naked and then gruesomely murdered for no apparent reason" slasher rip-off then incessantly complain about how typical and boring it is and yet when filmmakers breathe new life into the same song and dance, we get annoyed when the “rules” get broken! It is clear that these reviewers did not get the irony or the whole point of the film. In my opinion the whole point of this film was to put a mirror in front of our faces and make us realize what we have become as viewers.

I don't want to give any of the plot away but I will say that the ending of this film offers no possibility for a sequel.(Or let's hope not) This may be one of those little films destined to become a cult classic.

Becoming Sister Wives

I have a confession to make, one of my guilty pleasures is watching the show  Sister Wives on TLC. (I won't tell you the other one except that it involves someone named Honey Boo Boo) Why am I interested in this unconventional family? I must admit that I truly enjoy learning about other lifestyles and cultures. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) What interested me most about this family was how easy going these women appear to be. How on earth do these women share one man and not have major jealousy issues? The show rarely shows that, however the book tells a different story. As I began reading I had my ah-ha moment! Cattiness, jealousy, hurt feelings, manipulation it's all here!

Each “Sister wife” has her own section and tells her own story. Truth be told they don't really live in a true plural marriage sense.(Since moving to Nevada) Each has their own home and live with their own children and Kody(The lone husband) spends his time with each family sometime during the week. Sounds almost like these 4 sister wives are single mothers who have a husband less than 2 days a week.

My impression of the Browns has changed drastically as a result of this book. Their show portrays a whole different family. A family with very few problems and jealousies were kept to a minimum because of their faith in God and the principle of their lifestyle. After reading their story I can see that these women are pretty darn unhappy and that the bad times out number the good times(Which makes me wonder, why on earth did they even invite a 4^th wife in?)

I  must also confess that while watching the show Sister Wives I found Kody Brown to be downright adorable and found myself wishing from time to time that perhaps Kody would add me as a fifth wife. Not so much now that I have read his story. He actually describes himself as a complex man with needs that cannot be met by just one woman. He is quite self centered(should have known that) and not all that loving and understanding. The sister wife I identified most with was Janelle.  She seems to be the smartest tool in the Brown shed. The other 3 could stand some therapy along with their superman of a husband Kody.

After I finished reading their story I came to the conclusion that the purpose of this foursome marriage is to make and keep Kody happy, and whichever wife does it best, wins.

If you love the show I'd recommend you read it. And remember that Reality TV isn't as real as it appears.

It's the middle class Stupid!

When I saw this book come across my desk here at the library I thought two things,  one: It's about time someone addresses the decline of  middle class America and two: I absolutely adore James Carville! How could I resist such a read?

Let me say that I was not disappointed in the least! Carville and Greenberg do an excellent job of covering the continuing destruction of the middle class in America. These fellows believe that while the elite(including dems) shy away from "class warfare" most average people understand(Let's hope anyway) that the rich started the war long ago, and that it is finally time to engage the battle! The issues that are raised in this book are critical for America's well being over the next few decades.

Both Carville and Greenberg are discombobulated(I love that word) by the "Rights" obliviousness to reality. They believe the middle class right clearly vote against their own interests by sending right-wing "reformers" to Washington. They also point out that the simple fact is unless the middle class(majority of the people) can afford to buy 'things', we'll never dig out of the hole that "THEY"(Government) put us in.

What I liked most about this book is that these two political strategists deliver the hard facts with very little if any embellishment(And we have seen so much of that these last few months from both sides) They give us hope that our best years are still ahead and that our children and grandchildren will be able to do better than we have!(Here's hoping)

At the end of the day whether you're Right, Left, Middle,(or alien) you should always remember it's the MIDDLE CLASS, not the big corporations and certainly not the billionaires that keeps America going yet we are the ones who are mostly ignored. So go out there and reclaim your American dream(Whatever that may be)

Luke I am your father!

There probably isn't a more dysfunctional father-son duo in movie history than Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The book Darth Vader and Son is a little comic book that takes the relationship between the Intimidating Darth Vader and the Jedi Luke Skywalker and humanizes it on a whole new level, one of parent and child.

In the book Luke Skywalker(son) and Darth Vader (dad) are living their lives in a galaxy far far away. Luke is a typical 7-8 year old boy and Darth is a typical attentive father. The story is done in comic strip form with various scenes and scenarios taking place in a typical father/son relationship.  While the book doesn't have a particular plot arc that it follows, it has great storytelling moments that are portrayed fabulously. The scenes range from endearingly sweet to laugh out loud hilarious.

This is definitely  a fun little read for fathers and sons as well as any Star Wars fan who is interested in a little bit of imagination.

For those who might be interested in the the authors(Jeffrey Brown) blogspot here is the link http://jeffreybrowncomics.blogspot.com/ . You can get a glimpse of his art style and find links to his other stuff.

Hot Coffee, A cautionary tale

I like to consider myself somewhat of a jaded individual. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the world we live in and the powers that be. (The "THEY" everyone speaks of) I, like many I'm sure, remember the notorious case where a woman sued McDonalds after being scalded by their hot coffee.(Outrageous I know) It became a national punchline and represented, to me, everything that was wrong with the contemporary legal system. (How ridiculous) After viewing Susan Saladoff's incendiary and eye-opening documentary "Hot Coffee," I realized I wasn't given all the facts. (And that's just the way "THEY" wanted it) The documentary follows 4 individuals (beginning with the infamous hot coffee incident) as they try to access the courts for restitution for the wrongs done to them. (And were they wronged in a BIG way)

Stella Liebeck, a 79 year old, sustained 3rd degree burns(wait until you see the photos)and nearly died from hot coffee that spilled on her upper legs which required numerous skin graphs! (Wow talk about the media leaving out key information) Unfortunately the jury decision for the plaintive caused a national media firestorm. The idea of the case, not the facts, were publicized as a platform for tort reform (procedural limits on the ability to file claims). "Hot Coffee incident" is industry's poster child for “frivolous” lawsuits. McDonald's was smart and kept a low profile due to the fact that they previously had over 700 burn cases involving their hot coffee. (I kid you not)
What is the point of the whole Tort reform? The whole point is to keep us, the public, from accessing the courts! (Say what?) Yes, ALL PUBLIC, no matter if frivolous or honest.

I strongly recommend "Hot Coffee" as an eye-opener for the problems of media misinformation, legislative and judicial manipulation, and citizen disenfranchisement. Watch and then wonder what else you have been lied to about (Scary stuff)

Fifty shades of Twilight

Fifty Shades of Grey

I kept thinking to myself do I-or don't I? Well after talking to people and reading reviews I decided that I must try it! Never have I read a book that had me so interested, yet so disinterested all at the same time. Yes I am afraid that the bad reviews are accurate but nevertheless the good reviews are dead-on as well. How can that be, you ask?  Fifty Shades of Grey should be enjoyed for what it is...pure erotic fluff! As Christian Grey would say “Don't over think this.”

First let me get The "bad" out of the way....the plot – I've seen it countless times, the way it was written - nothing special(borders on a racy romance novel at times) It was repetitive - A LOT, I got so tired of the words blush, flush, gray, gasp, and spank(You almost could predict where it was going and how it was going to end) Anastasia almost reminded me of Bella from Twilight and Christian Grey a little bit like a risque Edward. I could say this story could almost be the NC 17 version of Twilight(sans the wolves and vampires). 

Now let me discuss the “good” part of the book. With the stresses of  every day life  I was quite happy to be able to pick up a book and without having to think too much just sit back and enjoy the fluff.  50 Shades is definitely not a scholarly read.(But then I never expected it to be) And for someone who rarely gets into works of fiction I thought it was entertaining enough to keep me interested to the end.

The story goes like this- clumsy, naive, bookish co-ed meets stunningly attractive rich man who is so taken with said girl that he just has to have her.(And have her he does) Mix quite a bit of stubbornness, gift giving, lip biting, gasping and lots of spanking and a story is born

Let me reiterate that Fifty Shades of Grey will not go down in history as one of the classics, but it will certainly be remembered for all the hullabaloo and supposedly steamy parts (I say supposedly because those parts weren't all that; which has me thinking “What does that say about me?”)

Do I recommend it? If you thought Twilight was a little too tame and wanted more then yes, you will enjoy Fifty Shades of Grey (Otherwise skip it, you're not missing anything)

Down on Jump Street

Ahhh how I remember watching 21 Jump Street as a young adult in the 1980's. I loved it when it was on network television. The premise: a bunch of young looking 20 something detectives pose as high school students as they attempt to curb the criminal activity that is perpetrated by high school students.

The plot of the movie is not difficult to follow. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill are enemies in high school; with Channing Tatum being the popular high school jock(Jenko), while Jonah Hill is the socially awkward and geeky Eminem look-a-like(Schmidt). A few years after they graduate from high school, they enroll in the police academy, become friends and are so inept that they are placed in the bike unit. After a messy drug bust they are sent to 21 Jump Street to infiltrate a drug operation in a high school. I won't say more so as not to ruin it for you!

Even though I liked the TV series I was certainly glad that the movie was only loosely based on the original. (You know how movies made from TV shows turn out...can you say train wreck) Hill and Tatum are a perfect fit, a disaster waiting to happen. The chemistry between those two is authentic and fun to watch. I was pleasantly surprised as I am not a fan of Channing Tatum(Yeah I know sue me) but I am a fan of Jonah Hill(even the skinny one). Also Ice Cube's role as the Captain is hilarious! I must admit that I spent most of the movie looking for Johnny Depp's cameo! Almost thought I had missed it! Of course my darling Johnny never lets me down!(10 minutes on the screen and he steals the show!)

21 Jump Street is definitely worth a watch. So grab a bowl of popcorn and sit back and enjoy the laughs.

They should have talked about Kevin!

We need to talk about Kevin is the kind of movie that is not only highly controversial but likely to split viewers into the "love it" or " hate it" camp. Those who hate it are likely to find it beyond disturbing and actually loathsome. So which camp am I? Of course those who know me know I love a good sociopath story!

I will not forget this movie anytime soon. It is perhaps one of the best works I have seen lately. Not since "The girl with the dragon tattoo" have I found something so disturbing yet so powerful. In this day and age of CG (not that I don't like those type) movies for the most part have become redundant in my opinion. Not this movie, it tackles social issues that are rarely touched because they are taboo, such as the complexity of motherhood(what if you loathed your child, couldn't bond and nurture him)? That is literally unspeakable and inadmissible  in the age of the SuperMom/SoccerMom. This film explores the age old question of nature versus nurture and how that affects moral development.(Are people born bad? Or do we make them bad?) Kevin, whom the parents fail to talk about, represents the banality of evil.(Think "Bad Seed") Evil just because. A force that cannot be explained. (and that in itself is disturbing)

I consider this a horror movie, without the gore, just evil manifesting itself year after year...showing signs as it's developing...and then finally erupting.

I've always wondered what happens to the parents of evil people after they've been caught -- what are their lives like in the aftermath? The newspapers never tell you that. This movie sheds some light on it, and it's truly a nightmare straight out of Hell.

After watching "We need to talk about Kevin" I came to the conclusion that my teenage sons are not so bad. Thank God.

I Suck at Girls

 How many of us remember our youth and think to ourselves how did I ever survive the dating scene? Well Justin Halpern's new book holds nothing back. Halpern shares with us all his trials and tribulations with the opposite sex. Through his voice we hear everything from a childhood crush gone awry, to late night exploits with Hooter waitresses, and last but not least his engagement and marriage.

My significant other and I took turns reading it to each other while we laughed till our sides hurt!  It's a hilarious read and we loved it as much as Halpern's first book "Sh*t My Dad says." The humor is crude, though and riddled with profanity, so it probably isn't for everyone.  The funniest  moments in the book obviously come from Justin’s dad’s off-the-wall no-nonsense comments and advice(everyone should have a father like Sam)

The chapter on what a future wife will see(you'll understand when  you come to that part) had me laughing so hard I had to take a break and gain my composure! (It also reminded me of a story I like to share from time to time about my youngest son) 

I will leave you with my favorite wisdom that Sam gives to Justin after he finds out that Justin has stolen some girly magazines from a couple of homeless guys..."Son, you're never going to sleep with a girl who looks like that." Words to live by

I really hate self-help books but....

No  honestly, I really do! The paper they're printed on would be better used for bird-cage liners. (The psycho-babble "I'm OK, You're OK" -- good lord if we're all OK then why in the heck are we reading these?) However I absolutely love Augusten Burroughs so I thought I'd take a chance

I am certainly glad I did. This is not your typical feel good self help book-- no sugar-coating, no garbage no 10 steps, no goal listing, no mirror looking or soul searching just brutal honesty. From ending your life without committing suicide, to becoming "thin," to dealing with the death of a loved one -- you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel the sting of a wake-up slap across the face. Burroughs is not here to comfort you or tell you that you're ok(Chances are you're not) he's here to tell you like it is, to help you quit whining and build that bridge and get over it! You've got to face the truth, Because, as he says, truth is a force. And the truth of the matter is if your life sucks...you're probably the main reason it does. Not your mother, father, sister or that high school rival you wanted to slap, but YOU! Now get up, go get that book, change the way you think and behave and then change your life, Augusten is here to be your guide!

Marriage Plot

Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

I could hardly believe the negative reviews of a book by this author. I so enjoyed The Virgin suicides and Middlesex, it just couldn't be true. Could it? Surely, these disgruntled readers have it wrong.(Or so I thought) As I read along and got deeper into the "story" (one of the problems is just that: where is the story?) I came to realize all the reviewers were pretty much correct. Oh Jeffrey! Jeffrey where did you go? Nothing ever really takes off--the scenes, meant to be humorous, are pathetically bad. I mean, AWFUL! I'm almost ashamed to say I finished it!

The story is about 3 Brown University seniors in the 1980's and their first few years after college graduation(little bit like St. Elmo's Fire). A Coed with brains falls in love with a brilliant guy who is severely bipolar. The best part of the book is how Eugenides describes the extreme difficulties which bipolar disease brings to the sufferer and those close to him. (Very accurate)

When I finally finished the story I was glad about two things; one I was thankful that those days of post-adolescence are long over and two, I was thankful the story was over!

Here's hoping the movie version of this story is better!

What are you capable of?

Perhaps no other phrase in the comic book genre applies to daily life as much as Spider-Man's famous, "With great power comes great responsibility." Such a phrase has guided Spider-Man throughout his career, but occasionally the thought comes up: what if he didn't follow this famous mantra, and instead used his powers for selfish reasons? The movie Chronicle explores what would happen if one would use his super powers selfishly.

Filmed documentary style, the movie tells the story of three high school boys who encounter some sort of alien ship or something alien, and then acquire superhuman powers of telekinesis. Predictably, things spiral out of control for the three. (I won't say too much more as not to ruin it for you)

I really enjoyed the first half of this film; getting to know the characters via a hand held camera as they fooled around with their newly acquired powers. Chronicle pretty much lost me during the back half of the movie , however, when it began to resemble something out of the movie Carrie.  It just kept getting darker and darker. 

With that said though Chronicle puts a real world spin on what has always been the most interesting aspect of the superhero/supervillain divide, how these individuals came to be. What would you do  if you suddenly got superpowers? Would you use it for good or evil? Would you get addicted to the power and feel everyone is beneath you or would you help people and make the world better?

Overall, even though Chronicle is one of those shaky "Found footage" movies, it does avoid many of the pitfalls of those type of films by having awesome special effects, exceptional writing and impressive acting. If you like a good superhero movie, then I highly recommend this movie. If nothing else it forces you to think about what the consequences of having super powers might be and how you would use those powers... Remember villains don't start out evil.

The story of Hachi/Hachiko

Before watching this movie I had heard the story about Hachiko many times. I've also come across the two books we have here at the library called Hachiko waits by Leslea Newman and Hachiko: the True story of a loyal dog by Pamela S. Turner. The story goes a loyal dog returns to the train station to meet his master every day even after the death of the master (Richard Gere). The movie takes place in present day and in Connecticut instead of Japan and the 1920s and 1930s. The real Hachiko died in 1934 so this film is long overdue.

I was quite pleased that they kept the story simple; one of a man and his dog, of forging bonds of unconditional love and devotion. What really makes the film stand out is how it shows the perspective of the dog Hachi, who really is the star of the movie, and giving insight into the emotions he felt. I would rate this as probably one of the best dog movies to ever come out of Hollywood. Whether you are a dog lover or not you will not be disappointed in this magnificent film.

Even though I knew how the story ends and prepared myself, the tears nevertheless were inevitable so much so that at one point I thought I might have to turn it off and gain my composure.(I did finish the film but not without quite a bit of tissue)

Hachi's story is an excellent  reminder that ALL dogs have thinking, emotive minds; and that they are part of your family and not something to be possessed. Hachi will continue to educate us from the grave for generations to come. I can't think of a more profound legacy and testament of love from animal to human then Hachi's story.

Abe Lincoln vampire hunter!

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Say what? Go ahead and laugh at the title. But then do yourself a favor and read the book. I must admit that the only reason I even decided to read this book was because I saw that it was being made into a movie.

The book was quirky enough to be incredibly interesting but serious enough (without being over the top!) to scare the crap out of you if you were reading alone at night time. One thing that surprised me about this book is that it is a serious horror/historical mash-up. It is not written in a way that is campy or silly, it is written as if Lincoln really did hunt vampires. That made the book fun to read. Anyone who loves Abe Lincoln and wants to know more about him (which should be every American, in my opinion) should read this book. It is a fun way to learn more about one of the greatest men to ever live! 

Come on, I know you want to!

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Investigative journalist Mikael (Daniel Craig) has just lost a libel case for an "unflattering" article he wrote which has put him and his publisher in financial ruin. Mikael is summoned to a meeting with Henrik(Christopher Plummer ), a wealthy businessman, who presents him with the opportunity to investigate the suspected murder of his niece Harriet almost forty years ago. It soon becomes clear that he is in over his head and needs a second pair of eyes to piece together the mystery. Cue Lisbeth(Rooney Mara), a skilled investigator with a personality as unique as her dragon tattoo.

First let me say the opening of the film was a bit unanticipated. The “Immigrant Song” cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O plays over these really fluid visuals that are difficult to describe. As my significant other and I sat down to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the opening credits baffled us so much so that we weren't really certain what, if any,did it have to do with the movie?

The further we settled into the movie the more we noticed that the movie is extremely dialogue driven. So prepare yourself for a lot of extremely long discussions. The movie does, however keep you engaged while purposefully unfolding the mysteries. To describe this film as dark is putting it mildly. There are a few disturbing scenes that will no doubt make you squirm(they did me). However the flip-side to this is that it's gripping and those scenes pay off in spades later. However director (David Fincher) never glorifies the violence, he simply allows the horror to play out naturally without editing it which in turn forces you to look away (comparable to real life)

I will say that even though the film will take you down a very dark road it is worth the trip. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remains a rarity. I would also recommend watching the foreign movie version as well as the foreign novel by Stieg Larsson.

Last Plea Bargain

The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer.

What would happen to the legal system if suddenly every defendant demanded a trial by jury? With over 90% of cases settled by plea bargain agreements, if defendants were no longer willing to work out a deal, it would literally bring the legal system to a halt. This is the scenario Randy Singer presents in his latest legal thriller, The Last Plea Bargain.

Singer has the remarkable ability to integrate spiritual themes and difficult moral issues. He remains neutral in his storytelling, which allows for the reader to better evaluate their own preconceived ideas and perhaps gain a new perspective. In this book, the reader will be challenged on the pro-death penalty stance as well as the justice system itself.

What a great read! Neither myself or my husband could figure out the end. It was a grab your seat legal thriller that was full of twists and turns with plots and mini-plots. If you like mysteries, enjoy a little romance thrown in, and want your sensibilities challenged, this is a great book for you.

Kathy Stutzman

Public Relations Assistant