Mini Theme: True Medical Mysteries

I really enjoy books where a medical case is presented, and then the doctor has to try to figure out what in the world is going on with that patient. The hope is, of course, that they do figure it out in time to save the patient. True stories--just to be clear.

If this type of book sounds interested to you, read on! I have a handful to get you started.

Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis, by Lisa Sanders

4 stars: Problems and perils of diagnosing patients, with interesting case studies to back up her points.

As the title would suggest, this book is from the POV of the doctor. Sanders says in the introduction that she hoped to put readers right there at the bedside, with the clues (symptoms) presented and the knowledge or lack thereof that the doctor has to go on in order to find the correct diagnosis. As such, it is broken into sections based on the parts of a physical exam: the patient's history, the actual physical exam, technology/testing, and what she calls "Limits of the Medical Mind." Each section has chapters within it delving into more detail about the various aspects of that method of diagnosing patients, along with case studies of real patients.

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I found this one fascinating. Then again, I also like to read my husband's medical journals when they come in the mail. There are so many variables standing between the sick patient and the saving treatment, including: the way they tell their story to the doctor (do they leave out crucial details or tell so much that the important stuff gets lost), what symptoms are presenting at the time of the exam, what the tests show or don't show, and so on.

I was reminded again of the importance of networking amongst doctors. Many of these difficult cases were solved by the doctor/s calling up a friend who was a specialist in that field, or even just another doctor with a lot of experience, and running the case by them to get some feedback. Often it was the collective memory of knowledge that came to the right conclusion, more so than one particular doctor.

(3/12/18)

If you liked this one, I've got 2 more for you!

The Medical Detectives, below, is more about epidemiologists figuring out what has caused clusters of severe illness, rather than individual cases, but still fascinating.

The Medical Detectives, by Berton Roueche

3 stars: Stories you'll want to tell someone else about! (Though maybe not over dinner...)

A compilation of 25 different unusual medical cases. A handful are presented as the doctor trying to figure out what could be causing certain symptoms, but with most, the disease is known and it's up to epidemiologists to track down the specific cause along with who else might be affected--or infected, as the case may be. 

Somewhat uneven writing between chapters, with some very slow and tedious to get through (particularly the chapter about aspirin) and others high interest to the end. Since they span decades, I suppose it was to be expected. 

I ended up retelling many of the stories to my kids. They clamored for more! In fact, my 8-year-old picked it up to read on his own, but got bogged down a chapter or two in. I guess you can tell there's a strong medical influence in our home! 

Also, wash new clothes before you wear them. Just...do it. Please. Thank you.

(01/06/17)

It has been almost 10 years since I read this one, so I can't tell you what angle it takes. I do remember that I liked it--perhaps this was the catalyst to my seeking out these others!

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales, by Oliver Sacks

4 stars: Fascinating.

I had to keep discussing the case studies with my husband just to be able to tell someone. I would recommend skipping all the introductions (there's one for each section), unless you're very interested in the author's research and networking with other doctors.

**My reviews were much shorter back in the day! :)

What have you read that would fit in with this Mini Theme? I'm always up for another!

Mini Theme: Art Crime

I enjoy reading true crime, as long as it isn't serial killers or murder related. The books in this mini theme all center on art theft, or finding stolen art. This is a crime that happens all the time, with many of the pieces of art never being recovered. Part of the fascination for me with this, as well as other true crime I've read, is to try to figure out why a thief would choose this particular avenue for wealth. In the case of stealing artwork, it's a quandry, because the more well-known the art or artist has been, the more the piece is worth. On the flip side, the fame makes it extremely hard to resell down the line, unless the thief has connections with a private collector or something.

The teen and middle grade fiction books give a more light-hearted perspective to the whole thing.

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, by Robert K. Wittman with John Shiffman

4 stars: Packed with interesting stories.


Wittman founded the FBI's Art Crime team during his tenure there. In our country, stolen art is not nearly as big a deal to the general public as in, say, Italy or France. So it took some doing for Wittman to make this the focus of his FBI career. Though he battled apathy and bureaucracy, he was able to recover some amazing pieces of art.

Some of what he found and returned to their rightful owners were actual big-name paintings. All were important to history, like a battle flag from one of the few African American regiments in the Civil War, and an original copy of the Bill of Rights. Wittman found he had a knack for befriending the bad guys and getting them to deliver up the goods.

Along the way, it also becomes a memoir of sorts, as he talks about his growing up years, a tragic accident that affected his life for years, and his marriage and family. He tells of the successes, but also the times things went wrong--or nearly so. Through the years, he worked with agents from all over the world to recover missing art and artifacts.

* * * * *
I enjoyed this insider's look at the world of art crime and investigation. I couldn't believe a) how expensive some of this art is and b) how poorly guarded. Also, how easy to get these stolen items across borders. Once lost this way, it's anyone's guess who might end up with it--often mafia or mobsters of various stripes--who use the art for a type of currency. Wittman came very close to recovering the artwork stolen from the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston, but you'll have to read it to find out what happened.

(3/19/18)

The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece, by Edward Dolnick

3.5 stars: An entertaining read.

Tells the story of the theft of Edward Munch's The Scream, from a prominent museum in Norway, right during the Olympic games held in Lillehammer. The Norwegians were deeply embarrassed and rather desperate to get their masterpiece back. Meanwhile, over in London, undercover policeman Charley Hill heard the news and decided he could find it.

Details the story of the search and recovery, but it also delves into Charley Hill himself, as well as Edward Munch, art history in general, and museum security (or lack thereof).

* * * * *
Whereas Priceless spanned a career, The Rescue Artist focused in on this one rescue mission. Charley's unique blend of belligerence, acting skills, and knowledge served him very well on this case. I found the side trails interesting enough, as well. I have never really liked the work of Edward Munch, but I was interested to learn more about him. He had some stuff going on, let me tell you. Most of it mental health related. Did you know he wasn't even well-known in his own time?

Of the two, I liked Priceless, by Robert K. Wittman better.

Content: Quite a bit of bad language.

(4/30/18)

Moxie and the Art of Rule-Breaking, by Erin Dionne

3 stars

So Moxie has a best friend named Ollie, and the two of them have an awesome summer planned out. Then a mysterious and mean redhead shows up at Moxie's door demanding things that Moxie doesn't know anything about. She has a pretty good idea who hid the things, though: her Grandpa. He helped some big-time crooks hide stuff back in the day--though he's been out of that business since she was a baby.

Moxie delves deeper into the mystery, and realizes that the missing items were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and have never been recovered. Also, they are worth millions. Unfortunately, Grandpa is suffering from Alzheimer's and even if he weren't, is not at all likely to give up his hiding places or be okay with Moxie getting involved. However with redhead escalating the threats, both to her personally and to her family, Moxie feels that she has no other choice than to try to find the missing art herself. With Ollie's help.

I liked that this was based on a real unsolved crime, and I thought the hiding places were clever and believable. Geared for teens or tweens. Maybe a step up to offer kids who are fans of Blue Balliet's middle grade mysteries. 

(Reviewed on Goodreads 10/06/2015.)

Under the Egg, by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

4 stars

Theo's grandfather died recently, and with her mother locked in a world of her own, it's up to Theo to take care of them both and the house. As he died, he told her to look "under the egg" for a letter and a treasure. Well, she's searched everywhere egg-related she can think of and hasn't found a thing.

Then she spills some rubbing alcohol onto the painting of an egg that had always hung in her grandfather's art studio. (She had taken it down to look under it.) The paint started coming off, to reveal something else entirely underneath. A different painting. A really old painting. Could this be the treasure he was talking about? Except, if it's an authentic painting by one of the masters of the Renaissance, does that mean it's stolen? By her grandfather?

Theo needs some help, and it's certain that her mother is not going to give it to her. She heads out into the city (NYC, that is), and ends up making some friends along the way to solving the mystery of the painting and the mystery of her grandfather's life.

Somehow I seem to be reading on a theme without planning it: art heists and the surrounding mysteries. I liked this one better than Moxie and the Art of Rule-Breaking, primarily because it had more depth to the backstory. I won't say any more than that, because finding out why her grandfather had this painting is such a big part of the story. 

(Reviewed on Goodreads 10-09-15)


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Have you read any of these? What did you think? 

Mini Theme: Survival

Let's talk about survival for a moment, shall we? It's always amazing how some people survive dire situations while many others don't. What makes that crucial difference? It's especially fascinating to me how it's usually smaller decisions that are the turning point, the key between life and death. The book I've read most recently on this topic delves into all of these issues.



The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes--and Why, by Amanda Ripley

5 stars: Let's talk about it!

When disaster strikes, people act in all sorts of unpredictable ways. Some people respond by freezing up, some immediately take action (for better or worse), and some dither and can't decide what to do until impending events take away all choice. Worse still, no-one can be sure how they personally will respond, until they have been in a situation like that.

Ripley has studied people's responses to all sorts of big disasters; from the 9/11, to hostage situations, to the plane that went down in the Hudson river. She has also interviewed many experts from a variety of fields on not only what people do in times of crisis, but how to increase any one person's chance for survival.

She found that we all go through 3 stages, when faced with a disaster: denial, deliberation, and the decisive moment. Those are the three parts of the book. The chapters within each part delve further into each stage of our response, from delay and procrastination (Denial) to groupthink (Deliberation) to heroism (the Decisive Moment.) There's more; that's just a sampling.

* * * * *
This book was fascinating. I have talked it over with several other people since reading it. The topics lead to great discussions naturally. How do we assess risk, and are our assessment tools accurate? (Hint: watching the news doesn't help on this one!) How can we shorten the amount of time we spend in denial and deliberation, so that we move straight to action and keep ourselves alive? How do you think you would react in any of these situations?

It was chock-full of stories from survivors of disastrous events, as well as some stories of those who didn't make it. Though it may seem like a depressing or anxiety-producing book to read, I found that it was actually the opposite. Reading this helped put some of my personal risk in perspective, as well as gave me tools to prepare myself for these types of events.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was from her section on risk. You can't live your life in fear. So you take a rational, clear-eyed look at what disasters you are most likely to experience, then you prepare for those things. In my area, it's probably wildfires and earthquakes. Possibly flooding from the river. A distant fourth would be flooding from the dam breaking up at the reservoir. Okay; knowing that, would do I need to do to prepare my family for those things? You make a plan and you practice it. Even if every detail of your plan doesn't work out--which it probably won't--you stand a much better chance at surviving than those with no plan at all, who have never even considered the possibility.

On a very personal note, I actually read this one the weekend before we had the fire in our home. I stayed awake half the night thinking about what I would do if our home caught on fire. How would we get the kids out? What if it happened at night while we were all asleep on the 2nd floor of our home? I remember thinking--it's the middle of winter; we would need to somehow grab shoes and coats if we could.

It's a good thing I did, since just 3 days later I had a chance to use the planning and deliberating I had done. The wall behind our boiler caught fire when it was just me home with the kids. (Full story here.) Thankfully, we were not asleep and not trapped upstairs. As I picked up the baby and called 911, I remember grabbing jackets on my way out and making sure the kids had shoes on. It was 15 degrees that night.

I want to read this one with a book club so I can discuss it more. So many more interesting things I could tell you, but this review is already getting lengthy.

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Apparently I'm drawn to this type of story, because I pulled up numerous examples from my reading past to share with you today.

Of course, there's this one about the Donner Party expedition, that I reviewed at the end of February.

Here are a few others to whet your appetite for survival stories:

Ada BlackJack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic, by Jennifer Niven

4 stars

So Ada was part of an explorer team sent to Wrangell Island (north of Siberia) in the early part of the 1900's. She was hired on to the team in Nome, Alaska, to be seamstress and cook for the expedition. The other members of the expedition were 4 men, most in their 20's, who were going to live on Wrangell Island for at least a year and prepare it for colonization. Also, they claimed the island for Great Britain, which caused an international scandal (Russia believed itself the owner.)

They had good times and bad, but eventually, times went from bad to miserable. After a year in, the supply ship sent to relieve them couldn't make it due to ice blockage. Game was scarce. Their food supply about the same. 3 of the men headed off across the ice pack, hoping to reach Siberia and eventually Alaska, to get help. The 4th man was too sick to travel. Ada stayed behind with him and eventually was left alone on the island. This is the whole story, starting from the beginnings of the expedition to the end and the aftermath.

Niven's portrayal of Ada was even-handed, not glossing over the less savory parts of her story, while still showing her resilience and courage in the face of great adversity.

I don't know if I'm getting less adventurous as I go, or if I'm just seeing my true self more clearly as time goes on. In any case, when it comes to Wrangell Island, I'm more than happy to be simply an armchair traveler.

(March 2015)

Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival, by Velma Wallis 

4 stars

It was a time of starvation and the two old women ate more than they were able to contribute. So the tribe left them behind and moved on. They didn't count on the will to survive and the latent knowledge that the two old women possessed between them. Though old bones creaked and old muscles tired quickly, the women made their way to a place where game could be found, and somehow...survived.

Based on an Athabascan legend. This story fascinated me. I loved reading the details of Arctic survival, and how the old women refused to let each other give up, until they made it. The account of the reconciliation with the tribe was also meaningful. A quick read, but well worth your time.

(02/24/14)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand

5 stars

Louie Zamperini was at the peak of his form as a runner when the war began. Many predicted he would be the man to break the 4-minute mile. But instead of training for the next Olympics, he began training to be a bombadier in the belly of a B-24 fighter plane. As his flying group completed missions, more and more of his friends didn't come back. Then one day it was him going down into the unforgiving Pacific.
His story of surviving the plane crash and subsequent raft journey on the ocean is riveting. Then he and the pilot are finally rescued, but delivered to a worse fate: POW camp. They come to miss the days on the raft.
This story follows Zamperini and a few others all the way through the horrors and hardship of POW camps, into later life and how their experiences affected them.
I have been wanting to read this one for some time, but when I finally got the chance I had already moved on from my "war books" phase, so it was with reluctance that I went back. It was well worth my time. Hillenbrand keeps the narrative flowing, adding in pieces of information as needed to fill in the gaps. Highly recommended.

(07/24/11)


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Do you have what it takes to survive a crisis situation? Maybe you should read some of these books and try to find out!

Mini Theme: Child Endangerment

This one was a bit heavy, but there were some good reads in there nonetheless. So many children are exploited and made to do terrible things for adult captors. This is the stuff of nightmares for a parent. That's why I put Protecting the Gift first on the list. If you don't read any of the others, read that. Learn how to arm yourself and your kids with knowledge and skills. Then go on and read the others if you wish.

Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane), by Gavin de Becker

5 stars: Every parent should read this.


This book goes through many different scenarios, and talks through how to spot a predator or violent criminal, and what to do about it if you think there is one. He talks extensively about our inner response to people we are around. Bottom line: if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, don't brush it off--pay attention to that feeling! Take notice of what's going on and determine if you need to take further steps or not (leave, gather children closer to you, get a ride home rather than walking, etc.) If you are around someone that makes you feel fear, trust your instinct. You don't have to be polite, you don't have to have a specific reason. Get yourself and your kids out of there!

He is very blunt and straightforward. Another point: we need to stop telling our kids not to talk to strangers. Just stop it! It's not helpful. A very high percentage of the time, sexual predators (for example) will be someone they know. In contrast, the chances of them being abducted by a stranger are very, very low.

Instead teach them how to pay attention to their own feelings, how to find a helpful stranger if they get lost or separated from you (it is far better for them to choose someone than for someone to choose them) and what to say and do if someone is trying to touch them inappropriately. He goes through vetting babysitters, preparing kids to walk to school alone, and other specific topics of concern.

There are many examples of real scenarios that people have shared with him over the years to illustrate his points. He gives specific traits that predators exhibit when sizing up a victim. One of the examples I'm still thinking about was one where he was able to prevent a tragedy from happening. He was on an airplane, sitting behind a teenage girl flying alone, when the middle-aged man across the aisle started up a conversation with the girl. De Becker knew just from the way the conversation went that this man was a predator. (In the book he goes through each point that gave it away.)

When the man got up to use the restroom, De Becker leaned forward and asked if he could talk to the girl. He told her, "This man you've been talking to is going to offer you a ride from the airport. Don't take the ride. He is not a good man!" That's about all he had time to say. Sure enough, he saw the man come up to her at the luggage claim. Though he couldn't hear the conversation, it was clear the she was saying no. The man stomped off.

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I should not have read this one just before bed. It took a long time for me to fall asleep, thinking about what I had read. My husband actually read it first and told me I needed to read it. It's not an easy read. It required facing up to some of my deepest fears as a parent, but offered concrete, practical advice on what to do about these problems.

Our world is not the same as what our parents grew up in. We need to be prepared and smart, and teach our kids how to be safe.

In fact, this has already changed the way I talk about these things with my kids. We need to do more direct teaching, but things have come up in conversations here and there that I have drawn upon what I learned in this book to frame my answers.

(12/28/17

Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future, by Elizabeth Esther

3 stars: A true story of courage and change.

Elizabeth grew up in a family of Christian fundamentalists, a group founded by her grandfather called The Assembly. While in many ways, her family probably seemed normal to the outside world--they didn't go off and live in a compound, for instance--her life completely revolved around the strict rules and punishments of their church. Her parents gave her spankings that bruised, with a paddle, well into her teens as punishment for her sins. One of her biggest fears as a little girl was that the Rapture was going to happen and she would be left behind.

However, as she grew up, Elizabeth began to feel suffocated by the religion. She and her husband Matt also became increasingly concerned by reports of abuses happening and then covered up by her father and grandfather. Together, they finally confronted her grandfather, and together left The Assembly, along with their children.

* * * * *
This was such an interesting story. Elizabeth brought it all to life; the desire to please her parents (that would include preaching on street corners at age 9), the way her desires and talents were constantly squashed to keep her in line, as well as the ritual abuse that occurred, under the guise of helping her repent. She didn't gloss over any of the difficult parts of the story, nor did she spare herself when she was a part of what was happening. She does have a sense of humor that comes through as well.

I found her descriptions of her life after leaving The Assembly to be especially telling. It wasn't just all fine once they had left. They still had to battle the effects of their upbringing (her husband was also raised in The Assembly,) and Elizabeth had long-lasting anxiety, panic attacks, and depression to work through. I also enjoyed learning about her experiences searching for another faith.

Despite my interest in the story, however, I found the writing style to be quite jarring. Most of the story was in past tense. Then, every time she would tell a flashback, she would switch to present tense. I think it was probably to give those episodes more immediacy, but it was confusing and jerked me out of the narrative every time. Not my favorite stylistic choice.

Content: Mostly clean. She mentions masturbation a couple of times.

(01/23/18)

My Story, by Elizabeth Smart with Chris Stewart

4 stars: The whole story.

Elizabeth, arguably the most famous kidnapping victim in recent history, recounts the story of her abduction, and the 9 long months she spent under the control of her captors.

* * * * *
Like many people, I had heard or read news accounts of Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping and subsequent recovery, but hadn't ever delved deeper than that. I found this book on the shelf of the house where we're staying and read it in one sitting.

It was well done. While she didn't shy away from talking about what happened to her, including rape and other terrible things, she never delved into crass details. I appreciated her restraint in that regard. I also admired the way she defended all the people who might have saved her or rescued her earlier, but did not for various reasons; starting with her little sister.

Her strength and positive outlook were inspiring.  

I'm glad I read it.

Content: For older teens on up. I think it was as clean as it could be, considering the subject matter. Be aware that it contains mentions of rape, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, alcohol use, theft, starving, and other potentially sensitive topics.

(12/20/17




Now for a fictional one:

The Child Finder, by Rene Denfeld

4 stars: This is one of those stories that has stayed with me since I read it.

Madison Culver disappeared while searching for the perfect Christmas tree with her family, in Oregon's Skookum National Forest. It was snowy that year, and she was just a small girl. Though her body was never found, the chance that she survived is right around zero; a fact that Naomi, the "child finder," does not shy away from when she is hired by Maddy's desperate parents to take the case. It has been a couple of years now since she got lost and the trail--if there ever was one--has long since gone cold.

That doesn't stop Naomi, however. She has a sixth sense for these cases, it seems. She is in such demand that she has to pick and choose very carefully which cases to take. Every one is heartbreaking in its own way, but some of them, every so often, have a ray of hope at the end. She does find some of the children.

However, something about this particular case is making the nightmares of her past come back more vividly than ever. She was once a lost child, too. Until the day she escaped across the strawberry fields. She remembers that wild run in detail, but she can't seem to remember what came before it. The deeper she follows this trail, though, the more it brings back snatches and glimpses of her own childhood. The child she finds at the end of this case may just be herself. She's not sure she's ready to face that yet.

Meanwhile, Maddy Culver doesn't exist anymore. In her place, in the underground root cellar of a cabin where she is kept, lives The Snow Girl, instead. The Snow Girl is made of snow and can't be hurt like Maddy. The Snow Girl can do a lot of things that Maddy couldn't; including survive with the strange silent man who sometimes is kind and sometimes terrifying. The girl Maddy is tucked safely away, deep inside the Snow Girl. Maddy still hopes to be rescued, sometimes. Snow Girl is not sure what that even means anymore.


* * * * *
In this book, the dual themes of missing children and rescued children interweave throughout the narrative. Sometimes the missing became the rescued, and sometimes those who were rescued were still missing in vital ways. It was hard to read, in many ways. It made me want to become a foster parent sooner rather than later.

For all of the difficult subject matter, there was hope and resilience woven into the mix as well. Naomi herself was a bringer of hope and perspective to all whom she encountered. Her foster mother was all that was wise and understanding toward the broken children in her care. Naomi's firm belief was that someday, all of her rescued children were going to rise up and save the world.

Thoughtful, lyrical, and memorable.

Content: Descriptions of child abuse--sexual and physical, as well as child captivity. Two murders, some intense scenes. I don't remember on the language. For adults.

(12/06/17)

Mini Theme: A Night at the Ball

I went on a Cinderella kick in December. I guess I needed the escape of glass slippers and fairy tale endings, with all the fire-related stress going on in my life. It fit the bill. Most of these were in the young adult section of the library.

Of the 4, I don't know that there was a particular stand-out. I enjoyed them, but haven't purchased any of them for my home collection. Actually, reading these got me thinking of Cinderella movies I have enjoyed. "Ever After," with Drew Barrymore, is one of my all-time favorites. Speaking of which, I have yet to see the new Disney version! I guess it's not even really new anymore. Do you have a favorite movie on this theme?

I quite enjoy fairy tale retellings, and it seems there are more cropping up every year, so I will no doubt revisit this theme again at some point. In the meantime, here are 4 to try for Cinderella fans.

 Cinderella (Faerie Tale Collection), by Jenni James

3 stars: Friendship becomes romance.


Eleanoria Woodston mostly tries not to think about how her life has changed since her beloved father died. Her stepmother, Lady Dashlund, rules the home with an iron hand, with Ella receiving the brunt of it. She now lives in the attic, instead of her own bedroom, and she does all the chores. Her stepsisters get to wear all the finery and are the recipients of Ella's hard work. Even her beloved horse, Sunshine, was sold to help pay the debts.

Prince Anthony has been roped into paying a formal visit to the Dashlund household, along with his friend Lord Gavenston. On the way there, he spots a woman on the grounds, whom he is certain is Eleanoria--a friend and rival from his childhood, when he used to sneak out of the castle and enter into local horse races. It can't be her, though. She's is dressed as a servant; she, whose father was one of the wealthiest merchants in the kingdom. Prince Anthony decides he must find out what is going on, so he once again dons the old ruse and nickname "John" and leaves Lord Gavenston to make his way on his own with the Dashlund sisters.

* * * * *
This version stayed fairly close to the original. What I liked about it, though, was that Ella and the Prince renewed their friendship long before the ball. The Prince got a lot more backstory, which was nice. He was more than a cardboard cutout. In this one, the King was dying, and he had the weight of that on his shoulders.

That being said, there was a part that tended toward insta-love. It had been 3 days (I think) since Ella and Anthony had renewed their acquaintance, and she started going on about all that she loved about him, naming each facial feature in turn (yes, it was awkward even reading about it.) Then at the end, she said something about how she didn't want him to take it wrong, because she knew they were just friends. Um...what?  Maybe that was just evidence of her own confusion. Anyway, they continued to meet for several more months before really declaring undying devotion to one another.


Content: Clean.

Ella, by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee

3 stars: Ella is resourceful and has purpose behind her obedience.

Ella Blakely works as a servant in her own home, ever since the death of her beloved father Henry. She has chosen to stay, despite the abuse from her stemother Victoria, and stepsisters Cecilia and Mabel, because of a promise to her father on his deathbed--that she would take care of them. She knows that he had no idea how bad things would get, but she still honors the promise and the man. She also stays because Ashfield is her home and has been in the family for generations. She will not leave, and by so doing, leave Ashfield in Victoria's clutches to do with as she chooses.

As it is, they are barely getting by. Ella somehow manages to scrape together food from the eggs and milk their 2 chickens and 1 cow give, but they are in desperate straits. Victoria has already sold off anything of value in the home, but instead of using the money to buy food or pay for upkeep, she invariably uses it to buy dresses for her daughters, or other trappings to make it look to the outside world like everything is still just fine.

When Prince Kenton returns home from years travelling abroad, he makes an electrifying announcement: he is having a ball, and means to choose his bride from amongst the commoners. Ella must get to that ball! Not that she will be the one chosen, but if she is--it would be a way out, while still keeping her promise to provide for her family.

Her friend Will, whom she often meets by the pond in the morning, has been so sweet to her always. He works at the palace, in charge of the stables. Maybe if he could give her a ride, or something...there must be a way for her to go!

* * * * *
I read this one after Ella's Will and it actually made me like Ella better. From Will's perspective, she is just too angelic and sweet to be believed. This one shows that she does feel frustrated and angry at her stepmother and stepsisters, at times, and that she isn't completely perfect.

Content: Clean.

Ella's Will, by Jessilynn Stewart Peaslee

3 stars: Maybe it's not the Prince who deserves the lady's hand.

Will Hawkins grew up in the Blakely home, ever since his own father died. In fact, Henry Blakely taught him more about what it means to be a man and a father than anyone else. His love of horses, and his first horse of his very own, came from working for Mr. Blakely. When Mr. Blakely died, however, Will was let go.

Some years later, as he's passing Ashfield--the Blakely ancestral home--he notices what seems to be a servant girl out in the yard. She is barefoot, though the ground is frozen, and ragged. When he gets closer, he recognizes Ella Blakely--at least, that's who it seems to be--but why the fear the comes over her face when he stops to talk to her, and why in heaven's name is Henry Blakely's daughter in this condition in her own home?

What he discovers is disheartening, to say the least. However, he learns that there is nothing he can do for Ella without causing additional hardship to her. Her stepmother will punish Ella at the slightest sign of help or interference from anyone, including Will. A chance meeting by a pond in the woods later on begins a new ritual of morning visits. He comes to treasure that time spent together.

As they both mature, Will begins to think about and plan for marriage. He's in charge of the Royal Stables, and has managed to save up some money. Then word comes out that the Prince plans to host a ball, to include commoners. What's more, he has stated his intentions of choosing a bride from those attending the ball. As Will thinks about his beloved Ella, he can't ruin her chances of being chosen by the Prince for a life of luxury, so he keeps his proposal (and most of his feelings bottled up) and does his best to support her as she gets ready for the ball. A few kisses may change everything, though.

* * * * *
Of the duo, I actually read this one first, as I mentioned earlier. It was good, though Will has Ella on such a pedestal that it was hard to relate to or like her very much. It was a sweet story about true love--in this case manifesting itself by Will sacrificing his own hopes for the greater good of the one he loved. Some humor in the grounds staff being used as waiters in the castle for the big ball. I was happy with the ending.

Content: clean.

Cinder and Ella, by Melissa Lemon

3 stars: Unexpected depth.

Cinder and Ella are sisters, the middle of 4 girls. Their family used to be close and happy, until one day the Prince came and talked to their father late into the night, about rebellion and how the King was mad. His words had a devastating effect, over time ensnaring their father in a subtle but evil spell. He eventually left the family all together. Their mother copes with the loss and changes by weaving constantly, day and night, and either giving in to or ignoring her daughters completely.

Katrina, the eldest daughter, becomes more and more selfish and tyrannical. Meanwhile, Beatrice, the baby of the family, is given anything she wants to stop her from crying or throwing a fit. Cinder sweetly goes about serving the family and taking care of the other 2, while Ella is more spunky and often gets exasperated with the state of things. The 2 girls are best friends, however, and help each other as much as they can.

Their mother has become confused in her mind, to the point where Ella does not exist anymore. She has become a part of Cinder, so rather than call for either girl by name, they both become "Cinderella." Cinder gets a job at the castle to help support the family, but Ella can't put up with the dysfunction all by herself for long. She soon also leaves to find work--preferably somewhere far, far away from the unhappiness that fills her home.

When Cinder returns home on leave to discover Ella gone, she decides she must find her, no matter what. She talks to a considerate guard at the castle, who forms a search party for the missing girl. Unfortunately, along the way, the Prince is informed of the plans, and he sets in motion sinister plans of his own for the sisters.

* * * * *
This one was quite different than the usual story. The basic elements are still there, but most have been altered dramatically. It was interesting. I didn't love it, but I liked it fine. Then I got to the end and thought--wait a minute! Has this whole thing been an allegory? So then I thought about it a lot more, trying to fit the various characters into different roles in the allegory.

If you read it, I'd like to know what you think.


Content:There's an attempted rape--not graphic--and some fantasy violence.


* * * * *
Can't get enough fairy tale retellings? Try some of these as well:

He Said/She Said: Fairy Tales from the Guys' POV

3 Fairy Tale Retellings

Happy reading!

Mini Theme: The Perils of Greed

Somehow this round of adult nonfiction has almost all had the same undercurrent: greed run amok. What happens when people put money--whether making it or saving it--above everything else? Well, these books give 3 compelling answers to that question.

The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France, by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle

3 stars: Absolutely fascinating.

Hamilton was rising in the skiing world, when a serious accident changed his course. He became a professional biker. Eventually he worked his way up to the team fielded by the U.S. Postal Service. The team's manager was obsessed with winning. He pushed them to begin competing (and living/training) in Europe, which they did, devoting their lives to the sport year-round. Hamilton was a teammate to Lance Armstrong and talks quite a bit about the evolution of their friendship and rivalry.

He also describes his personal life to some extent, including his marriage (and later divorce). His tolerance for pain was legendary. In 2003 he came in 4th place in the Tour de France, even though he broke his collarbone in one of the earlier stages.

Hamilton describes how he got started doping and taking drugs. First it was a way to simply keep up. It was just a little red pill to take (testosterone) to help him recover more quickly from the brutal training runs and races. It was administered to him by the team doctor. Then he noticed how certain select team members received white paper bags before races, and that invariably, they were the ones who came in first on the team. He felt he had to prove himself and get into that inner circle.

Once he did and found out just what was in those bags, he had a choice to make. It wasn't merely a choice between taking it or saying "no thanks," and remaining in the middle of the pack. It was essentially a choice between taking the drugs or choosing another career. In this era of professional biking, if you didn't take performance-enhancing drugs or blood dope, you had zero chance of winning.

In fact, Hamilton said for most of them it took roughly 1000 days to cave to the peer pressure and start doping. Essentially, 3 years of grueling workouts for little to no reward on the race course. Though he always felt guilty about it, particularly about the lies and deception required on a constant basis to keep the news out of the media, Hamilton admits that when he hit that 1000-day mark, the choice wasn't hard to make. He had already invested so much in the sport and sacrificed so much, that it seemed like the only option was to do it.

* * * *
Hamilton tells a compelling story. This was an eye-opener for me. It's hard to imagine feeling so much pressure to win that pretty much anything can be justified.


After leaving the U.S. Postal Service team, Hamilton joined another team in Italy. He quotes his trainer as saying:

To win the race, you have to be:
1) Very, very fit
2) Very, very skinny
[3) Dope--Not said right out, but understood.]

In a very telling afterwords, Hamilton notes that the winner of the Tour de France in 2011 would have gotten 40th place back in 2001, when he was riding in it.


Content: Obviously, there's a lot of talk about drugs and descriptions of taking them. I knocked off one star due to the sheer amount of bad language. Be forewarned--it's a lot; mostly in dialogue.

(Finished reading Sept. 7)

Tom's River: A Story of Science and Salvation, by Dan Fagin
Pulitzer Prize Winner for General Nonfiction, 2014

The title link goes to the separate review I did of this one a month ago. For this context though, let me just point out that every decision made by Ceiba-Geigy to avoid proper disposal of their toxic industrial waste was centered on greed. It would have cost millions of dollars to deal with their waste and they did not want to pay that much. They put making money over the human costs of long-term and terminal illnesses for many of their workers and those in the township. Pretty sad.

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century, by Claire Prentice

3.5 stars: Compelling and readable account of a crooked man and his human exhibit business.

In 1905, Truman Hunt brought a band of Philippine villagers of the Igorrote tribe to New York, to be part of a human exhibit at Coney Island. Hunt had lived among the Igorrote's for some time before coming up with the scheme. Truman had an interpreter named Julio to act as a middleman when needed. Julio was half Igorrote and spoke the language.

The villagers that accompanied him across the ocean were there under contract for one year. They were supposed to be earning $15 per month each, plus tips and any money they made from selling handicrafts. It sounded like a grand adventure for most; a chance to get rich and provide for their families for many years to come for others.

Well, someone got rich, but it certainly wasn't the Philippinos. After arriving on the West Coast, Truman booked them for shows all the way across the country, eventually setting up in Luna Park. The tribespeople were headhunters and ate dog, two facts that were soon blazened across every newspaper headline.

They built a village, of sorts, within the confines of the park. They performed native dances and ate a lot of dog. In fact, they complained to Hunt several times that the steady diet of dog was not good for them--back home it had been just on special occasions. Their main diet was sweet potatoes, rice, and other plants. Hunt ignored them--the dog feasts were good for business. One of many requests from his charges that he ignored.

In fact, millions of people came to see the Igorrotes, making piles of money for Hunt and for the owners of Luna Park. They were the top attraction for several months. Then the owner of the other main park on Coney Island offered Hunt a better deal. Contract notwithstanding, he moved the Igorrotes to their new home in the dead of night and set up shop at the competitor's park. Conditions for the Igorrotes just got worse from there.

* * * * *
Truman Hunt was a piece of work. He started off as a friend to the tribespeople. When he lived in the Philippines with them, he doctored them and treated them well. Then, it seems that he was utterly corrupted by greed. At some point along the way, the Igorrotes stopped being human beings who deserved humane and fair treatment, and became to him simply a commodity. Whatever he needed to do--or get them to do--to bring in more money, he would do it. He staged fake weddings; he made up wild stories about them. In the end, he failed to even provide adequate housing and food for them.

It was all to get publicity and make more money. For himself. Do you think they saw one dime of what he promised to pay them? No. He told anyone that asked that they were such a simple people they couldn't be trusted with their money, and he was "saving it for them" to give to them all in one lump sum at the end. Yeah right.

It was interesting to read the backstory on what was a huge phenomenon back in its time. I didn't know anything about it going into the book, but this really opened my eyes. Now we look on a human exhibit with revulsion, but apparently back then it was completely accepted. Particularly if those being exhibited were considered to be inferior to Western humans in some ways. Hence the headhunting, dog-eating Igorrotes.

This story made me sad and it made me angry. Hunt was so dishonest and greedy. I liked how it asked--who were the true savages in this story? It certainly wasn't the tribespeople, with all their customs.

(Finished reading Sept. 16)

* * * * *
Okay, it's a good thing I've moved on to more uplifting reading since I read these--it was becoming a bit depressing reading on this Mini Theme. Have you read any lately that would fit into this theme?

Mini Theme: Wildlife Smugglers

What makes stories of true crime so fascinating?
I suppose for me it's a glimpse into a world that I had no idea existed, in my sheltered life growing up. Even as an adult, I prefer to look at the happier side of life, and believe that the world is full of good things happening, even if the news is irrevocably skewed toward reporting the bad stuff. (Sometimes I have to take a break from reading the news for my own sanity.)

I think part of the fascination for me is also just trying to figure out what makes these people tick. Why are they spending so much time and effort to do something illegal and damaging to others? Also, I like to find out if they've been caught. (Just a sidenote: I can not and will not read true crime related to serial killers or the like. I already know they would freak me out. I need to be able to sleep at night.)

Anyway, one niche of true crime that I keep coming back to is stories of wildlife smugglers. Did you know that millions of dollars worth of plants and animals are illegally smuggled into our country every year? It's hard for me to fathom. Truly. It's hard to stop, too--when murders and drug dealers are walking the street, it's hard to even get a sentence passed down for a suitcase full of baby turtles--but there are some good people out there working tirelessly to shut it down.

So, if you want to learn more, here are a few that I've read to get you started:

The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers, by Bryan Christy 

4 stars: Well-written, with many different aspects woven in to create a fascinating true story.

Christy investigates the multi-billion dollar industry of selling reptiles in the United States. In particular, the dealings of Michael van Nostrand and his company Strictly Reptiles, which supplies most of America's pet shops and dealers. It's a company that does a lot of legitimate business, but it is also up to its neck in the illegal wildlife trade and black market.

It's not just the story of an industry. It's also the story of Chip Bepler, the FBI agent determined to shut down the constant flow of smuggled animals, and van Nostrand himself, who rather reluctantly (at first) joined the family business, only to take it to new depths.

* * * * *
As with other books in this genre, I was angered and saddened by the way greed has powered the destruction of animal species and habitats around the world. Christy talks about reptile people almost as if they were a different sort than the normal human race. The way he describes it:
    
   

"Reptile people are on a trajectory from the time they are children: bigger, meaner, rarer, hot. . . Most reptile enthusiasts give up their hobby long before the hot phase, and some never feel it at all. Still, few who get into the reptile world as children do not long, at some point, for something exotic, something imported." (p. 6)

He explains that "hot" is slang for "venomous" but also can mean illegal. Perhaps that attitude lends itself to the high rate of crossover Christy describes between smuggling poisonous snakes to dealing in other illegal substances--like drugs. Apparently, of all the wildlife smugglers, pretty much everyone agrees the reptile guys are the worst. Most, if not all, are also involved in drugs to some extent, and have other connections to the underworld.

This makes me never want to buy a reptile for my child as a pet! Not that I had a strong desire to do so before reading this book.

Content: Some language--mostly from interviews.

(Finished reading March 17.)

Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy, by Eric Hansen

5 stars

Hansen delves into the world of orchids and those who love them, and finds it to be a rabbit hole of some depth, where things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser. He hears stories that seem unbelievable: armed men with dogs raiding an orchid nursery; orchid ice cream that you eat with a fork and can use as a jump rope; and sets out to get to the bottom of it all. He finds out all sorts of things, but the Truth, in most cases, remains a bit slippery.

* * * * *
I have one orchid on my windowsill, that continues to live and bloom despite lack of any special care whatsoever. After reading this book, that's probably where I'll stay in relation to orchids. A healthy distance seems wise.

Content: There's a chapter or so that compares orchid flowers to sexual organs and talks about the "lust" side of things. Um...just skip it--you won't miss much.

(Originally reviewed March 2013.)

Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skulduggery, by Jennie Erin Smith

3 stars

Delves into the history of the reptile trade and those who have made and lost fortunes importing wild animals from other countries; particularly snakes, but also all kinds of others. Primarily follows the rise and fall of two main smugglers/importers: Henry Molt and Tom Crutchfield.

* * * * *
I find it fascinating and a bit mind-boggling that the American appetite for reptiles supports this type of subterfuge.

(Originally reviewed March 2014.)

Winged Obsession: The Pursuit of the World's Most Notorious Butterfly Smuggler, by Jessica Speart

3 stars

A new FBI agent takes on the kingpin of butterfly smuggling. Takes a disturbing turn towards the end when Kojima (smuggler) takes a sexual interest in Newcomer (agent) and becomes super needy/borderline stalker. Yikes.

I was a bit disappointed--though not too surprised--with the outcome.

(Originally reviewed July 2013.)







* * * * *

Are you a fan of true crime? Any recommendations for me?

Mini Theme: On the Run

So this falls into the thriller sub-genre: "ordinary person is framed for heinous crimes and has to run for his or her life." I could make a separate bookshelf for them on Goodreads, but the name would be longer than the list itself! Most of them include an element of romance, which enters into the plot in varying degrees.

Incidentally, these are all written by LDS (i.e. Mormon) authors, which I prefer for this genre, as they tend to be much cleaner overall and less bloody during the violent scenes. As I was making this list I realized that a couple of them are very cheap on Amazon right now, if you get the Kindle edition! So if you want a low-risk way to check out the genre, now would be a great time! (Title links are affiliate links, just fyi.)

Run For Your Life,* by Jean Holbrook Matthews

3 stars: Reminded me a lot of The Pelican Brief, but cleaner and not as intense.

Mattie Mathis is a staffer for her Uncle Max, who is about to retire from being a congressman. She gets a strange call from her boyfriend Craig about some research related to an environmental lawsuit. The implications (detailed in a paper now on its way to her) could extend to federal judiciary nominees and beyond. Before they even have a chance to discuss it, he is dead. So is the law student who wrote the paper and his professor.

As the police force scrambles to put together the pieces, Mattie realizes with chilling certainty that she will be next. An officer named Jack Summers is put on the job to keep her safe. Unfortunately, he can't be with her every minute. After a few near misses, she decides to hide out on her own and figure out how to stop this madness that has taken over her life.

* * * * *
Run, Mattie, run!

Enjoyable and suspenseful. I appreciated that the romance moved VERY slowly, especially since Mattie was still mourning Craig. A bit scary to realize how easy it would be for the bad guys to find you, if they had a mind to do it--especially in our connected, digital age. She keeps saying, "How did they find me?" Well, a phone tap here and few clicks of the mouse there. Didn't take much. Yikes!

(Finished reading Feb. 5)

*From my home library!

So I went through my reviews on Goodreads to dig up a few more for you! Here's what I found:

All I Hold Dear, by Jennie Hansen

3 stars

After a broken engagement Courtney needs some time alone, so she heads to her family's cabin at the edge of their large ranch property. However, time alone is not in the cards. She has only been at the cabin for a short time when a man, almost frozen, stumbles through the door. It's obvious that he needs help, but she's also all alone in a remote cabin, and there's no telling what kind of man he is...or who may be after him. What becomes clear fairly soon is that not only is his life in danger, but hers is as well.

* * * * *

The suspense and romance are in about the right proportions for my taste, but the writing was much stronger on the suspense side. (Or perhaps I am just more critical of the smarmy romance stuff...?) Good enough that I'll try some of her others

(Originally reviewed Nov. 2009)

Chaos, by Jeff Downs

4 stars

Jason Harrington is a teacher. His life is pretty normal. That all changes one afternoon when he gets home to find that his apartment has been ripped apart, including a knife slammed into the headboard. Then he gets a phone call that puts him on the run: essentially, he's being framed for killing 4 cops and whoever really did it is going to take him down, as well.

The rest of the book is him eluding his attacker (or not, or nearly), while also rekindling a past romance with a girl named Kelly that he just happened to ask for a date before this all went down. It's lucky that he has her to help him, but either way it doesn't seem like he's going to last long. If he can just get to the bottom of it and figure out why he's been targeted, he might have something to go on.

* * * * *

This was a quick read, as I was racing through to see if and how he survives. There were a couple of unexpected twists near the end that upped the ante by quite a bit.

Well done. Jason and his choices were believable.

By the way, it looks like the Kindle edition is only $3.99 right now, if you're interested.

(Originally reviewed April 2015)

Hearts in Hiding, by Betsy Brannon Green

4 stars

When Kate finds out that her FBI agent husband is dead, and that her life is also in danger, she is immediately sent into hiding. With the help of the agency, she has a new name, a new home, and even a new "husband" (another agent). To top it all off, her baby is due in a few months. Meanwhile, the killers are still out there, and no disguise is fool-proof.

* * * * *
Suspenseful, with some humour and romance thrown in. The first book in the Haggerty mystery series. I recommend reading this one before delving into the rest of the series--I didn't, and it cleared up quite a few points I had been wondering about. Other than the dumb title, this is one of her best that I've read so far.

Kindle edition for  just $2.99.

(Originally reviewed Feb. 2009)

Undercurrents (Undercurrents #1), by Traci Hunter Abramson

4 stars

Shaye is an innocent girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She escaped with her life, but unfortunately, now she has to be in the Witness Protection Program. Her dreams of swimming at an Olympic level have to be put on hold indefinitely. With all of that, she's starting at a new university, and can't even admit that she's Mormon.

As she starts to settle into her new life a little bit, the past has a way of tripping her up, particularly once she meets a boy named Matt.

* * * * *

Now I want to find the rest in the series. This one was a cut above most of this genre I've read.

Kindle edition only $1.99!

(Originally reviewed Jan. 2015)

* * * * *

Have you read any of these? What would you add to this list? I know I've read more, but these are the only ones that I've actually reviewed...