""One of the cardinal rules of newspaper work drilled into me as a 'cub' reporter was: 'Be sure you are right, then go ahead.' Since we all know it is most often difficult determining 'beyond a reasonable doubt' what is absolutely right, I have made my own maxim. It is, 'Be on the side of right, then go ahead.'"
-Mabel Norris Reese in a letter to Judge Truman G. Futch
A few years ago, I read The Devil in the Grove, Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by this author. I called it a real-life horror story! The research was very thorough and the writing so compelling, I gave it a 5. I thought it read like fiction. This one is no different! It gets a 5 also---another page-turner!
The villain is the same in both stories---Lake County Florida's Sheriff Willis McCall, a man so powerful, he seems to dictate all judicial matters in the county and even to the state level from 1944 to 1972, having been elected to 7 consecutive terms. He is still using his position to harass blacks but the main protagonist in this novel is Jesse Daniels, a white mentally challenged nineteen-year-old, falsely accused of the rape of a white woman, wife of a prominent landowner. With a conspiracy of deputies, states attorney Gordon Oldham, judges and even a governor, McCall sends Jesse to the dreaded Florida State (Mental) Hospital at Chattahoochee. There, despite the unrelenting efforts of Jesse's mother, Pearl, and journalist Mabel Norris Reese to prove his sanity and innocence, he is kept for over 14 years. Mabel is a heroic figure to me, absolutely driven to seek justice for Jesse, even though she is threatened in numerous ways. Eventually, a couple of lawyers---Richard Graham and Ted Husfeld---are convinced to get involved. More heroes!
I liked the Epilogue because it described what happened to the major players. Even the Acknowledgements and Notes at the end of the book are fascinating. King obviously did extensive research, even interviewing central figures still living at the time. Beneath a Ruthless Sun is both heartbreaking and infuriating in parts but I can only hope it uncovers prejudice, injustice, hatred and violence that we can vow to overcome.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Thin Air by Lisa Gray
"There were thousands of other similarly tragic stories, all of the people apparently disappearing into thin air." -from the novel
This was a First Reads freebie from Amazon but if I had paid for it, I wouldn't have been disappointed. It was a suspenseful story with a rather unique twist. Jessica Shaw is a private investigator specializing in missing persons. She mysteriously receives a photo of a missing child and is shocked to realize it is HER, 25 years back. Come to find out, her mother, who is also in the picture, was killed at the same time the child (Alicia Lavelle/Jessica Shaw) was abducted. Obviously the case has gone rather cold but Jessica has a VERY personal interest in getting to the bottom of it. Until now Jessica had categorized missing persons two ways---probably dead or missing on purpose. Now she must add another: didn't know they were missing!
Almost predictably Jessica meets a handsome journalist, Jack Holliday, also fascinated by this story. At the same time Jessica is starting her quest, LAPD detective Jason Pryce is on a murder case involving a college student, Amy Ong. Finding out how the two investigations intersect keeps the reader turning pages.
The title of this book reminded me of a favorite TV show from a few years back: "Without a Trace." Seemingly, that is what happened to Jessica (Alicia) as a child.
I am rating Thin Air a 3. I found the plot compelling but toward the end, a bit confusing. Also I wasn't crazy about the ending---seemed to be a bit of a cliffhanger for the next Jessica Shaw novel.
This was a First Reads freebie from Amazon but if I had paid for it, I wouldn't have been disappointed. It was a suspenseful story with a rather unique twist. Jessica Shaw is a private investigator specializing in missing persons. She mysteriously receives a photo of a missing child and is shocked to realize it is HER, 25 years back. Come to find out, her mother, who is also in the picture, was killed at the same time the child (Alicia Lavelle/Jessica Shaw) was abducted. Obviously the case has gone rather cold but Jessica has a VERY personal interest in getting to the bottom of it. Until now Jessica had categorized missing persons two ways---probably dead or missing on purpose. Now she must add another: didn't know they were missing!
Almost predictably Jessica meets a handsome journalist, Jack Holliday, also fascinated by this story. At the same time Jessica is starting her quest, LAPD detective Jason Pryce is on a murder case involving a college student, Amy Ong. Finding out how the two investigations intersect keeps the reader turning pages.
The title of this book reminded me of a favorite TV show from a few years back: "Without a Trace." Seemingly, that is what happened to Jessica (Alicia) as a child.
I am rating Thin Air a 3. I found the plot compelling but toward the end, a bit confusing. Also I wasn't crazy about the ending---seemed to be a bit of a cliffhanger for the next Jessica Shaw novel.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
"'What d'ya mean, where the crawdads sing? Ma used to say that.' Kya remembered Ma always encouraging her to explore the marsh: 'Go as far as you can---way out where the crawdads sing.'"
-Kya, from the novel
This book was recommended to me weeks before it hit the top of the Best-Seller list and stayed there a long time. It was SO popular several of our Page Turners found themselves impatiently awaiting their turn to receive a library copy or a loan from a friend. My expectations were high!
I know there are several in our group who loved this book and I expect it to be one of our highest-rated in some time. I have struggled with my rating and it will be a 4. The writing is beautiful, giving lovely tribute to the natural world. It is not surprising that the author's background is biological science, particularly wildlife. It is likely she has projected her passion for nature onto her protagonist, Kya,
In this novel, Kya Clark is abandoned by one after another of her very large family until she is completely on her own at age 7. People in the nearby small town in North Carolina call her the "Marsh Girl" because of where she lives and, with few exceptions, they shun her. The novel tells of her survival alone in the woods which I found somewhat difficult to believe. And I found it strange that social services did not seem to care that this very young child was fending for herself.
The setting moves back and forth from the early 1950's to 1969, when Chase Andrews, a former Barkley Cove football hero. is found dead and authorities are suspicious of foul play. The plot becomes more engaging as an investigation is begun. When Kya meets a boy named Tate Walker, romance blossoms.
So take a survival story, add coming-of-age angst and society prejudice. Mix in a murder mystery and there you have Where the Crawdads Sing.
More after our meeting.....
-------------------------
We met outdoors today, an appropriate setting for discussion about a book that celebrates so much of the natural world. A near-record number of attendees---18---could it have been the popularity of the book or the promise of a delicious brunch?
Our average rating was 4.4, the highest-rated book so far this year. Everyone appreciated the author's writing style. A few agreed with me that the survival of a child alone at Kya's age was a bit implausible but some argued that in other cultures it is likely common and one of our members shared personal experience to convince us of the real possibility.
Some of our folks made accurate predications about how Chase met his unfortunate end and others of us were taken by surprise but you will get no spoilers from me! Needless to say, we enjoyed a stimulating discussion of this novel. Most of us would recommend it!
-Kya, from the novel
This book was recommended to me weeks before it hit the top of the Best-Seller list and stayed there a long time. It was SO popular several of our Page Turners found themselves impatiently awaiting their turn to receive a library copy or a loan from a friend. My expectations were high!
I know there are several in our group who loved this book and I expect it to be one of our highest-rated in some time. I have struggled with my rating and it will be a 4. The writing is beautiful, giving lovely tribute to the natural world. It is not surprising that the author's background is biological science, particularly wildlife. It is likely she has projected her passion for nature onto her protagonist, Kya,
In this novel, Kya Clark is abandoned by one after another of her very large family until she is completely on her own at age 7. People in the nearby small town in North Carolina call her the "Marsh Girl" because of where she lives and, with few exceptions, they shun her. The novel tells of her survival alone in the woods which I found somewhat difficult to believe. And I found it strange that social services did not seem to care that this very young child was fending for herself.
The setting moves back and forth from the early 1950's to 1969, when Chase Andrews, a former Barkley Cove football hero. is found dead and authorities are suspicious of foul play. The plot becomes more engaging as an investigation is begun. When Kya meets a boy named Tate Walker, romance blossoms.
So take a survival story, add coming-of-age angst and society prejudice. Mix in a murder mystery and there you have Where the Crawdads Sing.
More after our meeting.....
-------------------------
We met outdoors today, an appropriate setting for discussion about a book that celebrates so much of the natural world. A near-record number of attendees---18---could it have been the popularity of the book or the promise of a delicious brunch?
Our average rating was 4.4, the highest-rated book so far this year. Everyone appreciated the author's writing style. A few agreed with me that the survival of a child alone at Kya's age was a bit implausible but some argued that in other cultures it is likely common and one of our members shared personal experience to convince us of the real possibility.
Some of our folks made accurate predications about how Chase met his unfortunate end and others of us were taken by surprise but you will get no spoilers from me! Needless to say, we enjoyed a stimulating discussion of this novel. Most of us would recommend it!
Monday, May 6, 2019
Say Nothing A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
"The famous
Northern reticence, the tight gag of place
And times: yes, yes. Of the 'wee six' I sing
Where to be saved you only must save face
And whatever you say, you say nothing."
And times: yes, yes. Of the 'wee six' I sing
Where to be saved you only must save face
And whatever you say, you say nothing."
-Seamus Heaney, from "Whatever You Say, Say Nothing" 1975
I am not sure when I became a Hibernophile, a person with fondness for all things Irish. It could have been when I read Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt about a year ago or it might have been visiting 4 ports in Ireland on a recent cruise. When I saw a review of Say Nothing in a magazine a few months ago, it captured my interest and I added it to my must-read list.
When John and I visited Ireland last year, a tour guide in Belfast mentioned the option of a Troubles Tour of sites involved in that conflict. Although I had heard of turmoil in Ireland between Protestants and Catholics years ago, I knew precious little of the history. I saw plenty of hints of animosity between the two religious groups and anti-British feelings in Angela's Ashes. It was rather funny to me that McCourt's father would come home drunk late at night and wake his sons to make them promise to "die for Ireland." In watching the Masterpiece Theatre series "Victoria" it became clear that the discord goes back much farther than the late 60's forward which is the focus of this book.
After reading this thoroughly researched narrative nonfiction about The Troubles by award-winning journalist Keefe, I wish I could go back and do that tour in Belfast.
The most challenging thing for me in reading this book was keeping the names of so many organizations straight! Googling the Troubles in Ireland helped to line up the Irish Republic paramilitaries, (mostly Catholic) and their splinter groups and the Ulster Loyalist paramilitaries, (mostly Protestant) and others on their side, including, it would seem, the British. The violence was disturbing but not so different from sectarian brutality in other parts of the world, even our own country. Apparently over 3500 people died during the Troubles.
In his final chapter, Keefe gets personal, sharing his own ethnic background and motivation and inspiration for writing Say Nothing. This passage, I believe gives a good overview of book's theme and historic figures: "In the intertwining lives of Jean McConville, Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, and Gerry Adams, I saw an opportunity to tell a story about how people become radicalized in their uncompromising devotion to a cause, and about how individuals---a whole society---make sense of political violence once they have passed through the crucible and finally have time to reflect."
Say Nothing was close to being a page-turner for me; it gets a rating of 4+. The story was mesmerizing, if not exactly enjoyable. Every Hibernophile should read it!
When John and I visited Ireland last year, a tour guide in Belfast mentioned the option of a Troubles Tour of sites involved in that conflict. Although I had heard of turmoil in Ireland between Protestants and Catholics years ago, I knew precious little of the history. I saw plenty of hints of animosity between the two religious groups and anti-British feelings in Angela's Ashes. It was rather funny to me that McCourt's father would come home drunk late at night and wake his sons to make them promise to "die for Ireland." In watching the Masterpiece Theatre series "Victoria" it became clear that the discord goes back much farther than the late 60's forward which is the focus of this book.
After reading this thoroughly researched narrative nonfiction about The Troubles by award-winning journalist Keefe, I wish I could go back and do that tour in Belfast.
The most challenging thing for me in reading this book was keeping the names of so many organizations straight! Googling the Troubles in Ireland helped to line up the Irish Republic paramilitaries, (mostly Catholic) and their splinter groups and the Ulster Loyalist paramilitaries, (mostly Protestant) and others on their side, including, it would seem, the British. The violence was disturbing but not so different from sectarian brutality in other parts of the world, even our own country. Apparently over 3500 people died during the Troubles.
In his final chapter, Keefe gets personal, sharing his own ethnic background and motivation and inspiration for writing Say Nothing. This passage, I believe gives a good overview of book's theme and historic figures: "In the intertwining lives of Jean McConville, Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, and Gerry Adams, I saw an opportunity to tell a story about how people become radicalized in their uncompromising devotion to a cause, and about how individuals---a whole society---make sense of political violence once they have passed through the crucible and finally have time to reflect."
Say Nothing was close to being a page-turner for me; it gets a rating of 4+. The story was mesmerizing, if not exactly enjoyable. Every Hibernophile should read it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)