The Secret Garden OR A Guide to Building a Family

~ Tell us the title: The Secret Garden
~ Who penned this work?: Francis Hodgson Burnett
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: It was my Grandmother's favorite book.  I felt a great connection to her by reading it and could easily place her as one of the characters in the book.
~ Number of pages: 234
~ Time passed from start to finish?: Don't remember. It didn't take long.
~ Describe the cover: A young girl (Mary Lennox) stooping in front of an ivy-covered wall, inserting a key into a lock.
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Classics Maybe?
~ Summary of the basic plot: Mary's a spoiled rotten brat forced to move into her uncle's house when her parents die of cholera.  What unfolds is an unexpected welcoming of love and care from a family that is not her own (aka - not her uncle).
~ Background information on the story/author:  Hodgson Burnett was a woman born in England than started writing for journal publications to help her family make money.  Her writing earned her money and later fame as she moved to writing novels.
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):  I loved it.  Even though its target is children, its still a novel with lessons and themes that can be applied at any stage in life.  The reading flowed smoothly and lacked slow moments and extraneous details.
~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life. It really was a great connection to my grandmother and helped me reconcile her passing.  She was a fantastic woman that treated everyone as family and her love and companionship will always be missed.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

True Crime, Nothing More

~ Tell us the title: Serial Murder 101
~ Who penned this work?: Bridget DiCosmo
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: Borders went out of business, I got it for 60% off I think.  There was probably a reason it was still on the shelf.
~ Number of pages: 294
~ Time passed from start to finish?: 10 daysish
~ Describe the cover: Two pictures of Krajcir, a man that reminds me of Dr. Death, perhaps fitting;  There are also three pictures that I'm guessing belong to victims of his.
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:  True Crime
~ Summary of the basic plot:  Timothy Krajcir (I don't know how to say that either) was a serial killer that went out with a whimper.  This book follows his escapades in a very matter-of-fact manner while attempting to draw personal connections within the story and to the reader.
~ Background information on the story/author: Krajcir is/was (don't care if he's still alive) a rapist and murderer.  And, from the back page, "Bridget DiCosmo is an award-winning crime reporter for the Southeast Missourian, a daily newspaper in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She pursued a graduate education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and holds an undergraduate degree in history from St. John's University in Queens, New York.  When she is not digging into the world of crime, Bridget relaxes by riding horses and spending time at home with Bandit, her King Charles spanieal, and Natalie, her cat."
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):  I felt like the whole thing was a long, drawn out bore of a story.  I love true crime, which is likely the only reason I was able to finish this book.  On numerous occasions I found myself frustrated by repetitive metaphors and elaborate descriptions of simple events.  It reminds me of the writing in A Date with Death, which I'm working on reviewing currently.  Coincidentally (or not so much) both DiCosmo and A Date with Death's  author are reporters.  The tie between them seems to explain the struggles they both had in creatively telling a true story.  If you're writing a paper article, you've got three lines to express three paragraphs.  In Serial Murder 101, DiCosmo fails to increase the juicy details of the story, while expanding on the three line articles she writes day-to-day.  Furthermore, any personal connection misses wildly while over-emphasis on certain "connections/coincidences" runs rampant.  
     Overall, it was a frustrating read.
~ Which page was your favorite? Share why:  I made it through the whole book without a single dog-eared page, so I'm not sure I was intrigued much.  However, I did find it interesting that someone was convicted and died while in prison for "committing" one of the crimes that Krajcir confessed to committing.
~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?  I wouldn't make a movie out of it, there was nothing spectacular about it.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: "The current Mount Vernon police chief suggested that the confession was a phony and should cast serious doubt on Krajcir's credibility" (pg. 287)  Very interesting that a police official, whom the public trusts, is unwilling to even consider they may have made a mistake.  Pointing the finger at someone else never helps, it will catch up with you.  
~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere
~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page.  "About a half hour north loomed the Pocono Mountains, a coal-mining region marked by several large ski resorts and scenic lakes."

History, Science, Personal Triumph

~ Title: The Immortal Life of Herietta Lacks


~ Penned by: Rebecca Skloot


~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: Kevin (my bro) gave it to me for Christmas.  Thank You!


~ Number of pages: 328


~ Time passed from start to finish?: A week


~ Describe the cover: Orangish-red cells with a picture of Henrietta in the top corner


~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Biography, Science, Bestsellers


~ Summary of the basic plot: A background on the what are probably the most important human cells in biomedical history.


~ Background information on the story/author:  Henrietta Lacks was a woman that died much too young of cervical cancer.  A researcher at Johns Hopkins developed a cell culture using her cancerous cells which led to countless discoveries which have saved millions, probably billions of lives.  The author is a science writer whose articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; Columbia Journalism Review; and in numerous other publications.  She has taught non-fiction in the creative writing departments at the University of Memphis and the University of Pittsburgh, and science journalism at New York University.  This is her first book.


~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): Awesome!  This book combines science, history, family, and incredible writing.  It reads like a novel (though non-fiction) and I couldn't put it down.


~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: There's a page (somewhere) that Zakariyya receives a gift from his sister.  It moved me reading about a hardened, embittered individual softening, if only for a moment.


~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? Henrietta - Viola Davis, Rebecca - Erin Cummings, Deborah - Octavia Spencer


~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: one of many, this is a book that I could see myself reading a number of times: "In February 1954, Southam loaded a syringe with saline solution mixed with HeLa.  He slid the needle into the forearm of a woman...then pushed the plunger, injecting about five million of Henrietta's cells into her arm."  

In today's world where everything must receive informed consent, it is appalling to me that this ever happened.

~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere
Definitely one of the best books I've ever read, in this case the rating is more of a, "I laughed, I cried, You HAVE to read this"




~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page.  (Page 2) "I first learned about HeLa cells and the woman behind them in 1988, thirty-seven years after her death, when I was sixteen and sitting in a community college biology class." A book 22 years in the making is destined to be great.

Would the real Jesus Christ please stand up?

~ Tell us the title: Imaginary Jesus
~ Who penned this work?: Matt Mikalatos
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: My ever-deepening quest for religion...or maybe the librarian conference.
~ Number of pages: 225
~ Time passed from start to finish?: 4 Days
~ Describe the cover: A photo of a man wearing green-framed, star-shaped lensed sun glasses and a hawaiin shirt. He's also got a beard added with marker (think second grade) and a halo drawn with a yellow highlighter.
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: God, Comedy
~ Summary of the basic plot: Matt, the author sets out to find the real Jesus after discovering that the Jesus he was following was simply his depiction of what he wanted from Jesus.
~ Background information on the story/author: Matt Mikalatos is from somewhere around Portland and goes to Church at Village (not the Korean Presbyterian) church that's in Beaverton.
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): I wasn't bored, which is more than I expected. Mikalatos actually presents a number of valid points while inserting humor along the way.
~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: Pg. 64, there are no fewer than 5 Jesuses involved in this one scene.
~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? I could see this being an Adam Sandler-ish movie. Something similar to a Bedtime Stories.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: American Eagle came over and announced, "You're going to need stitches. Don't wash the blood off. The emergency room serves you faster if you're covered in blood." I like humor...and truth...so
~ Choose your rating:
- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A definite page-turner
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere
~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. I seem to find books that do not fit this criteria...so this is from pg 222. "Krista called me and I turned the grill over to my dad."

Some Driving Tips

~ Tell us the title: The Bad Driver's Handbook: Hundreds of Simple Maneuvers to Frustrate, Annoy, and Endanger Those Around You
~ Who penned this work?: Zack and Larry Arnstein
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: The awesomely awesome Library Convention
~ Number of pages: 189
~ Time passed from start to finish?: 3 days
~ Describe the cover: Black and yellow similar to "Caution" tape, with an illustration of "The Jerk-Merge Left" and a stop sign with that doesn't say stop, instead "The Book the DMV Doesn't Want You to Read!"
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Humor, Fiction
~ Summary of the basic plot: Silliness, complete silliness. 39 ridiculous chapters of ways to piss of other drivers...and wreck your car. But, still funny.
~ Background information on the story/author: "Zack Arnstein, after failing his first three driving tests, finally passed it at the age of 16 on his fourth try, making him one of the world's most distinguished experts on driving tests." AND "Larry Arnstein, after failing his first driving test, passed it at the age of 18 on his second try. He has also collected his share of moving violations and fender-benders during a driving career which included driving taxicabs in New York City and Berkeley, California." straight from the back cover.
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): Total silliness.
~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: Pg. 114, it has a list of what your mechanic might say and what it actually means. For example, "If Your Mechanic Says, Your intake manifold pulley needs to be rebuilt. He Means, I lost a bet last night, and I'm a bit low on cash."
~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? Not sure that works here...but maybe Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey, they could be really bad drivers.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: Nothing exactly quote-worthy.
~ Choose your rating:
- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A definite page-turner
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere
~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. "Basically, what he was trying to say, in his own way, is that speed limits are a crock of sh*t." (Somehow Einstein's Theory of Relativity explains away speed limits)

Cataldie's Mission

~ Tell us the title:
Coroner's Journal: Forensics and the Art of Stalking Death
~ Who penned this work?:
Louis Cataldie, M.D.
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:
First trip to Powell's Books and the forensics aspect grabbed me.
~ Number of pages:
336
~ Time passed from start to finish?:
2 weeks
~ Describe the cover:
Black and white, low-angle shot of a sheet-covered body in a forest; title is this color, subtitle is this color.
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:
Memoirs, Legal/Forensics
~ Summary of the basic plot:
Author tells about his life as a coroner. From duties in pursuing causes of death to cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina to the odd responsibility of committing psychotics to mental institutions.
~ Background information on the story/author:
Louis Cataldie was a General Practitioner when he first finished med school. He was actually drawn to be a coroner by his interest in psychiatry. When he moved to Baton Rouge he found himself working at the coroner's office. He progressed through the ranks and was acting coroner of East Baton Rouge Parish for five years. He finished his career after two years as the Louisiana State Medical Examiner.
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):
It was an interesting point of view on murders with a few weird accidental deaths thrown in. It wasn't very technical in the biology/forensic science aspect, in fact it definitely could have used more input from the science side. Interesting note...he got sued at one point (case went to trial with Cataldie's side prevailing) by a lawyer that was a member of the Louisiana State Senate. A law that the Senator wrote saved him.
~ Which page was your favorite? Share why:
His description of the days after Hurricane Katrina paid respects to the deceased while providing a small glimpse of the horrors that occurred. In total, ten corpses were recovered from the Louisiana Superdome--contrary to urban legend, not one was a homicide." That revelation was a shock to me...five years later.
~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?
Actually, throw a toupe on Dr. Phil and you've got your guy. Not only the right look, but the personality seems to mesh too.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:
In total, ten corpses were recovered from the Louisiana Superdome--contrary to urban legend, not one was a homicide." That revelation was a shock to me...five years later.
~ Choose your rating:
- Changed. My. Life.
- I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
- A definite page-turner
- Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
- Why did I waste my weekend on this?
- A disgrace to paper everywhere
~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. Not appropriate.