I almost ditched this book as I am not a fan of romance fiction with steamy sex scenes and kissing episodes ad nauseam. However, I am glad I persevereI almost ditched this book as I am not a fan of romance fiction with steamy sex scenes and kissing episodes ad nauseam. However, I am glad I persevered as the second half of the book is more substantial in which the author tackles relationships and big issues of domestic abuse:
� Why do people stay in abusive relationships? � What makes it so hard to leave? � Does history repeat itself, and how can one break free?
She also explores how the decisions we make affect others.
The reader meets Lily and Ryle very early in the book. Lily is grappling with her father's death and Ryle is grappling with his day as a neurosurgeon and the sad story of his patient who he was unable to save. A quasi courtship slowly unfolds in a frivolous way - Lily rebuffing Ryle's very covert advances while secretly pining for him. He, on the other hand, is sceptical of relationships but is smitten with Lily. Silly romantic stuff that almost made me pitched this book.
As the book details more of Lily's past and her experiences in Maine and subsequent move to Boston, it becomes more interesting. Likewise, Ryle's turbulent past can also provide glimpses of his personality. The most endearing of them all is Atlas, a honorable man who is pure of heart and wow....he can cook. Then there is Lily's mother who at first appears weak yet delivers some sage advice to her daughter - I know that you believe he loves you, and I'm sure he does. But he's not loving you the right way. He doesn't love you the way you deserve to be loved.
And, don't lose track of your limit. We all have a limit. What we’re willing to put up with before we break..... When I married your father, I knew exactly what my limit was. But slowly . . . with every incident . . . my limit was pushed a little more. And a little more. ..Every incident chips away at your limit. Every time you choose to stay, it makes the next time that much harder to leave. Eventually, you lose sight of your limit altogether.
Avoiding spoilers, I will just conclude that it was a 3.5 read for me ...more
This was just an okay book for me. A slow drawn out plot attempting to unravel the mystery of young boy's death. Billy Barringer is best friends with This was just an okay book for me. A slow drawn out plot attempting to unravel the mystery of young boy's death. Billy Barringer is best friends with Ethan Marsh and, after exploring the woods behind their house and trespassing on a property which is out-of-bounds for people in the community, Billy and Ethan resort to their plan to camp out/or sleep in a tent set up in Ethan's backyard.
However, in the middle of night (as per the book's title) the tent is slashed and Billy goes missing. No signs of a struggle and no clues. Billy's body is found 30 years later at the base of the Falls not far from the forbidden property where Billy, Ethan, and a few others were caught trespassing.
Ethan Marsh is haunted by this tragic incident as he is unable to recall anything except possibly hearing the sound of the tent being slashed. Unable to help the police or himself with respect Billy's disappearance, Ethan endures years of insomnia and guilt. His own relationship with his wife, Claudia is marred by this incident as he vows not to have children of his own while his wife wishes to be a mom someday.
Ethan returns to his childhood home after his parents move to Florida for their retirement. Back in the familiar Hemlock Circle and his old neighbors, Ethan notices blinking lights from the motion sensors on garages. Then he finds a baseball (and then a few more) left in his yard, a code/sign Billy once used to alert Ethan that he is ready for play. Ethan becomes discombobulated wondering if there are indeed ghosts or if his mind is simply playing tricks on him. He feels he needs to unravel all that happened so he can find peace.
The novel did create a few likely suspects and the ending is one I definitely did not imagine. The novel also dabbles a bit in the paranormal sphere as Ethan muses if the baseballs and the blinking lights etc are signs from Billy’s spirit trying to connect with him? Even at the end, the reader is left to believe that there is some sort of "out of the ordinary" circumstances leading to the survival of Ethan and young Henry, a little boy who Ethan adopted.
The forbidden property beyond the woods also has an aura of mystery. Owned by the very rich Ezra Hawthorn, it is believed that the research being conducted there requires complete secrecy: Parapsychology is the belief that there are forces at work beyond the easily proven ones we encounter every day. Extrasensory perception, telepathy, clairvoyance.
Despite the intrigue, I found the book is a bit slow at times especially in the middle and the occasional back and forth in time did not make for smooth reading. Focused on teen angst, friendships, parenting, secrets, grief, and guilt, the book covers a gamut of themes. My favourite quote is: Worry is by-product of love....more
What a moving story not entirely novel in its content about the Nazis' persecution of Jews. It is the perfect length and is written in short simple chWhat a moving story not entirely novel in its content about the Nazis' persecution of Jews. It is the perfect length and is written in short simple chapters and appropriately segregated in Parts to focus on the clutch of fictional characters developed to deliver its poignant message of doing the right thing and feeling compassion in your heart to enable courage and action.
This small book is fiction but based on the true story of Franciszka Halamajowa and her daughter, Helena, who saved two Jewish families and one German soldier in Poland during the German occupation. It is satisfying to read that Francisza and Helena are acknowledged as "the Righteous among Nations" with a plaque and a tree at the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.
The story of one Jewish family is told through the perspective on Bronek, the elder son who was left bearing the mantle of responsibility for the family once his father and brother passed away/murdered. Their predicament is so palpable and frightening but Bronek's duty and humility overcame the odds when he chose to seek out Francisza, a poor woman he once offered rides to the market and from whom he received carrots as a token of appreciation.
The second Jewish family is told through the perspective of Mikolaj, the son of a reputable doctor. His kind mother had once given a dress to Francisza to adjust for her daughter as Helena sets out for a job interview. Francisza once sold eggs to this family at a fair price.
The German soldier is Vilheim who was brought up by his German oma on a dairy farm. His oma taught him to value every living being and so he "can't imagine taking a life, any life." Needless to say he was not the kind of soldier who will be valued in the German army at that time. Knowing that he will be shipped to the Russian front, he begged Francisza to shelter him.
These disparate individuals become connected via the unbelievable humanity of Francisza and Helena who are stoic and incredibly courageous as these women risked their lives for others. This is a small book with enormous heart and I highly recommend it. Here are few words of wisdom imbued in its pages: “If you choose to do the right thing, it's a conscious decision at first. Then it becomes second nature. You don't have to think about what is right because doing the right thing becomes who you are, like a reflex. Your actions with time become your character�
“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. —SYDNEY J. HARRIS�
“Love is the only thing that you get more of when you give it away.� ...more
This book started off well for me but fell off the rails as it trundles on to the end. I must confess that I started to skim over pages to look for reThis book started off well for me but fell off the rails as it trundles on to the end. I must confess that I started to skim over pages to look for real literary meat. I must however credit the author for her atmospheric writing style which transports the reader to scenes such as garbage and dark, stinky places.
The book is structured in parts. Part one is written from the perspective of a little boy - Bird aka Noah Gardner who lives with his dad in a dystopian society governed by PACT(The Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act).
PACT intends to protect America from disloyal citizens who do not embrace the culture or exhibit the patriotism required to keep the smooth running of society. The book, however, showcases the irony and the impact of governmental over-reach which results in bigotry, and racism; it reveals the danger when seeming innocuous ideals take root and become toxic.
Parts two and three delve into the details of Bird's parents, and their actions to combat and/or survive in the state of their environment. Bird is an observant young man and he chooses to try and find his mother. He is inspired by another young girl - Sadie who is separated from her family.
Bird is unravelling clues which leads him to New York. The book has a few gaps and leaves the reader to accept the implausible as Bird navigates busy NY, meets his mother and listens to her narrative on her time away from Bird.
Possibly because of her own heritage, the author cites examples of stellar Asian American citizenry when big donations are made to good causes and institutions and then juxtaposing these very acts against acts of racism meted out to Asian Americans.
The book is overdosed on racism, economic and class differences, censorship, protests, fear, hate crimes, and, more heart-tugging insinuations of children taken away from their parents who are not perceived as patriotic.
Perhaps this book in itself is a political act featuring a fictional dystopian society. I am optimistic on the generosity and expansiveness of the human spirit for decency to prevail. At my most generous, this is a 3 stars book for me.
Here is one quote which describes the frailty of the human spirit. “Maybe, she thinks, this is simply what living is: an infinite list of transgressions that did not weigh against the joys but that simply overlaid them, the two lists mingling and merging, all the small moments that made up the mosaic of a person, a relationship, a life.�...more
Lisa Jewell creates unforgettable characters usually diabolical and twisted and manipulative. In this novel, one of the main characters is all of the Lisa Jewell creates unforgettable characters usually diabolical and twisted and manipulative. In this novel, one of the main characters is all of the above. I devoured this book as I turn page after page to find out how all of this messy plot will end.
As the title suggests, the reader ponders the truth of what is being told especially as different perspectives are offered up throughout the narrative. The novel has an unusual style littered with excerpts from a podcast which are inserted not necessarily chronologically. A clever way of creating further mystery.
Alix Summers is celebrating her 45th birthday with family and friends; they are obviously a very happy family. Josie Fair and her husband are seated close to the birthday party happening in front of their eyes. Josie realizes that Alix is celebrating her forty–fifth birthday just like her and she immediately tagged Alix as her "birthday twin" with coincidences of same date and same hospital etc. Josie deliberately makes her way to the washroom when Alix did so she can force a conversation with her.
Afterwards, Josie, intrigued by Alix, looks her up on the internet and discovers that Alix is a popular podcaster known for sharing the stories of strong women who overcame challenges in life to emerge successful. Sneaky Josie also discovers that Alix' children are attending the same school where her own two daughters once attended. She manufactures an encounter and makes a suggestion to Alix about featuring her in a podcast as she embarks on a process of making big changes in her life. Alix becomes convinced and here forth lies the unfortunate relationship which developed.
Josie begins to provide revelations about her past - her childhood, her mother with whom she is estranged, her husband and shocking inferences of grooming, sexual and physical abuse etc. Alix becomes inextricably drawn into Josie’s narrative even though she is gleaning some contradictory elements from others who have interacted with Josie and her children before.
The reader wonders how much of Josie's story is true? Concurrently, Josie discerns a crack in Alix's home life as Alix grapples with an alcoholic husband. What follows is a chilling narrative packed with lies, manipulation, betrayal, and murder. Writing more on this story line will simply ruin it for others; I do recommend this book as a highly volatile and wonky roller-coaster of a reading experience. Lisa Jewell did it again. Five stars. ...more
I stumbled upon this book considering it a quick read. The reader meets the protagonist, Gabriel Dax, as a 6 year old who escaped a raging fire at hisI stumbled upon this book considering it a quick read. The reader meets the protagonist, Gabriel Dax, as a 6 year old who escaped a raging fire at his Yeomanswood Farm home. Young Gabriel finds his mother dead and is obviously traumatized by this.
As an adult, his memories are sketchy at best and he is plagued by insomnia and nightmares about fires. His brother Sefton, who was away at boarding school at the time of the incident, is subsequently adopted by an aunt while Gabriel is taken by an uncle. Separated from his brother, the two are not close but nevertheless bonded by blood.
Gabriel Dax is a travel writer who loves to explore foreign locales and blogs/opines of his experiences in addition to the travel books he has authored. Gabriel is approached by the enigmatic Faith Green who requested Gabriel to carry out a task for the British secret service.
Gabriel had first encountered Faith on a plane reading one of his books as he journeys back to England after a trip to the Congo where in Leopoldsville, he agreed to interview the new President Patrice Lumumba at the behest of an old university friend. Back home in England, his interview is not published and Lumumba is dead. His tapes and notes are suddenly very sought after as Lumumba had named three people who he predicted would kill him.
Gabriel grapples with his love life and his issue of sleeplessness while trying to focus on his writings. He began seeing a psychoanalyst for help and is urged to explore his memories and facts surrounding the fire of his childhood. A wrench to his orderly life is Faith Green for whom he becomes a reluctant spy. Faith makes sure he knows that she is aware that he has, in the past, carried out the odd favours for his older brother, who works in the Foreign Office and with whom Gabriel has little in common.
These "little missions" for Faith Green are rife with mystery and double-crossing and Gabriel is often left feeling like the "useful idiot". The tasks get murkier as Gabriel is dragged in further and yet seemingly unable to resist Faith Green who he describes as "the sorceress, the puppet-mistress of his life."
Nothing is as it seems - people and incidents are inter-twined in complex ways. I enjoyed the roller coaster ride with Gabriel but did not like the ending which I know is deliberate by the author to ensure the Gabriel's saga and adventures continue. Did Gabriel alter course or assume his old life? He tries to sort things out and as he attempts to unravel what is going on. ...anger - yes, definitely - some shame, also, at how easily duped and malleable he had been. Helplessness too. Worry - that as well. What had he inadvertently become now? In what unknown jeopardy had Faith Green placed him as she tugged on his puppet strings.
In any event, the reader has not seen the last of Gabriel for sure....more
This book took me longer to finish as I had to pause frequently due to the heart-wrenching stories showcased in this book. Grisham partnered with McClThis book took me longer to finish as I had to pause frequently due to the heart-wrenching stories showcased in this book. Grisham partnered with McCloskey to present ten situations where innocent people were wrongfully convicted; they were all framed as per the title of this book.
Told in alternating chapters by the two authors, each bringing to light situations they are familiar with or have researched. Worth noting that Grisham admitted how it is tougher to write nonfiction since much focus and scrutiny are to be expended on the details so as to present an accurate picture; with non-fiction, there is no creative licence. McCloskey, on the hand, has lived and breathed these situations having spent a significant part of his life founding and working the mission of Centurion Ministries to let justice be brought to light.
For the life of me, I cannot fathom how people trained to serve and protect will twist and contort facts and glaring impossibilities and inconsistencies to upend the lives of innocent people for what? - a promotion? a career? to appease an impatient public? How can they live with themselves and why aren't these people held accountable and be jailed? Their modus operandi include:
1) To get innocent people to sign away their Miranda rights. 2. Lie about a secret witness or camera information. 3. Lie that the individual(s) failed a polygraph test. 4. Intimidate -"You're going to die. You're going to get the needle. We're going to make sure of it." 5. Browbeating with hurled accusations, threats, yelling and cursing, and physical abuse (slapping and brutalizing people). 6. Obtain forced confessions. "Put words into people's mouths" and lead confessions and witness information to match the story they are trying to assemble. 7. Force plea deals and produce prison snitches pedalling false narratives. 8. Ignore DNA results 9. Hide information from the defence team or simply burying conflicting information. 10. And even more troubling, ignore the confession of the real killer(s)
Here are a few examples: They yelled expletive-laden accusations in Kerry's face and told him, falsely, that his hair and semen were found on Linda's body. One of the locals even plunged Kerry's head into a toilet bowl, continually flushing it, screaming at him to confess...
Comeaaux, Moore, and Desormeaux had "intimidated witnesses, paid witnesses, and brutalized a witness (Herbert Derouen) for the sole purpose of having those witnesses testify to a fabricated story" against Alexander and Granger.
Way too numerous instances to insert here.
Sad that innocent people were forced to be incarcerated for crimes they were uninvolved in. One janitor was pursued relentlessly primarily because he was black. This man, after many years of wrongful incarceration, he held not a grudge against anyone. A group of young men trying to celebrate on the eve of a friend's wedding became embroiled in a nightmare.
Organizations such as the Innocent Project, Centurion Ministries, and lawyers doing pro bono work or willing to put in the hard work to seek justice, cannot be hailed enough - all heroes. ...it is much easier to convict an innocent person than to get one out of prison.
Abraham Lincoln famously once said that no man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.
Judges, corrupt law makers, crooked professionals (doctors, hypnotists etc.) and the heartless and godless among us engage in inhuman tactics and behaviours.
This book makes me both angry and sad in equal measure . I really really hope that people in law enforcement and the legal professions will read it. To ruin someone's life in such a shameful way is an abomination. Worth the read....more
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