Lynn's List (September 27, 2019)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!

• The Last 100 Days: The Tumultuous and Controversial Story of the Final Days of World War II in Europe (Modern Library War) by John Toland
• The Orchard by Theresa Weir
• One Fine Day (Molly #2) by Theresa Weir
• The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett Graff
• The Obamas by Jodi Kantor
• She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
• The Institute: A Novel by Stephen King
• Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story Of How The Wildest Man In Congress And A Rogue Cia Agent Changed The History Of Our Times by George Crile
• The Longest Year: America at War and at Home in 1944 by Victor Brooks
• Stilwell the Patriot: Vinegar Joe, the Brits, and Chiang Kai-Shek by John S. Major and David Rooney
• No Substitute for Victory: Successful American Military Strategies from the Revolutionary War to the Present Day by David Rigby
• 1941: The America That Went to War by William M. Christie
• With Wings As Eagles: The Eighth Air Force in World War II by Philip Kaplan
• Baker Chocolate Company, The: A Sweet History by Anthony M. Sammarco
• The World Crisis, 1911–1914 (Winston Churchill World Crisis Collection #1) by Winston S. Churchill
• The World Crisis, Vol. 2 (Winston Churchill World Crisis Collection #2) by Winston S. Churchill
• The World Crisis, Vol. 3 Part 1 and Part 2 (Winston Churchill World Crisis Collection #3) by Winston S. Churchill
• The World Crisis, Vol. 1: The Aftermath (Winston Churchill World Crisis Collection #4) by Winston S. Churchill
• The World Crisis, Vol. 1: The Eastern Front (Winston Churchill World Crisis Collection #5) by Winston S. Churchill
• History of the Twentieth Century: The Concise Edition Of The Acclaimed World History by Martin Gilbert
• The Will of the People by Martin Gilbert
• The Story of the Jewish People: Letters to Auntie Fori by Martin Gilbert
• Never Again: A History of the Holocaust by Martin Gilbert
• The Holocaust: The Human Tragedy by Martin Gilbert
• Auschwitz and the Allies: A Devastating Account of How the Allies Responded to the News of Hitler's Mass Murder by Martin Gilbert
• Red Rain: A Novel by R. L. Stine
• The Tea Planter's Wife: A Novel by Dinah Jefferies
• Her Father's House: A Novel by Belva Plain
• I Could Never Be So Lucky Again: An Autobiography by Carroll V. Glines and James Doolittle
• Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
• The Sun Coast Chronicles by Terri Blackstock
• The Seasons Collection: Seasons Under Heaven, Showers in Season, Times and Seasons, Season of Blessing by Beverly Lahaye and Terri Blackstock
• The Cape Refuge Collection: Cape Refuge, Southern Storm, River's Edge, Breaker's Reef by Terri Blackstock
• The Newpointe 911 Collection: Private Justice, Shadow of Doubt, Word of Honor, Trial by Fire, Line of Duty by Terri Blackstock
• The Moonlighters Collection: Truth Stained Lies, Distortion, Twisted Innocence by Terri Blackstock
• The Definitive FDR: The Soldier of Freedom (1940–1945) (Roosevelt) by James Macgregor Burns
• The Kat Bronsky Thrillers: The Last Hostage and Blackout (The Kat Bronsky Thrillers #1) by John J. Nance
• Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble
• Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
• The Charlestown Mysteries: Books 1 and 2 by Tom MacDonald
• When the Clouds Fell from the Sky: A Daughter's Search for Her Father in the Killing Fields of Cambodia by Robert Carmichael
• Once Shadows Fall (A Jack Kale and Beth Sturgis Mystery #1) by Robert Daniels
• Last Girl Gone (A Laura Chambers Novel) by J. Hetherton
• On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein
• 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week by Tiffany Shlain
• The Need: A Novel by Helen Phillips
• Memories of the Future: A Novel by Siri Hustvedt
• From a Dead Sleep (The\sean Coleman Thriller Ser. #1) by John A. Daly
• Anytime Soon (Anaya's World #1) by Tamika Christy
• Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
• Return to Earth by Buzz Aldrin and Wayne Warga
• The Wall by Mary Roberts Rinehart
• The Wolf and the Watchman: A Novel by Niklas Natt och Dag
• Such Good Work: A Novel by Johannes Lichtman

Review: The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff recounts the event of September 11, 2001, in vivid and graphic detail. It is, as the title states, an oral history of events of that day, when terrorism came to America, in a way not seen before or since.

This is by far the best book I have read concerning 9/11. I say that because it provides a word picture of that day from several angles, if you will. What struck me, as I read this book, is how no one was prepared to deal with the terror and the uncharted waters of coping with the magnitude of it all. And people stepped up and just did what they had to do.

A word of warning: If you are bothered by graphic description, this may not be the book for you. There is no sugar coating of death or destruction in these pages. Reality is front and center. I am so grateful to all those who have taken the time and trouble to preserve this oral history, and to Mr. Graff for bringing it all together in this historic work.

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Review: The Deep Dark: Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Silver Mine

The Deep Dark: Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Silver Mine by Gregg Olsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On May 2, 1972, 174 miners went to work, as usual, in Kellogg, Idaho, at the Sunshine Mine. Though mineral mining is a risky job, no one expected a major fire in a hard rock mine such as this. Because of the pattern of smoke, and the slow response of mining company personnel, many of the miners who became trapped and lost their lives were caught off guard. There were questions about a lack of functioning rescue equipment and lack of proper training in its use. Some miners made it out before the toxic smoke got too bad. Many did not. Two remained alive and trapped for several days on one of the deep dark lower levels of the mine. This book tells the story of the disaster and the people who survived and those who did not.

I found this book terribly sad, yet fascinating. I came away with a better understanding of the risks many workers take each day as they go about earning a living. It also gave me a greater appreciation for first responders who also put their lives on the line for others. This was an interesting and informative read.

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Review: A Faint Cold Fear

A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dr. Sara Linton and her ex-husband, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, investigate a series of supposed suicides at the local college in "A Faint Cold Fear (Grant County, #3)" by Karin Slaughter. And, Lena Adams finds herself wight in the middle of the investigation, as a probable suspect this time.

As with the previous two book in the Grant County series, Karin Slaughter does not disappoint. The thrills and chills just keep on coming. If you are bothered by graphic detail, however, this may not be a read for you.

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Lynn's List (September 20, 2019)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!

• The Good Father: A Novel by Diane Chamberlain
• A Faint Cold Fear: A Grant County Thriller (Grant County Mysteries #3) by Karin Slaughter
• Kate Chase, Dominant Daughter: The Life Story of a Brilliant Woman and Her Famous Father by Mary Merwin Phelps
• The Main Enemy: The Inside Story of the CIA's Final Showdown with the KGB by Milton Bearden and James Risen
• The Generals: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, and the Winning of World War II by Winston Groom
• 9/12: The Epic Battle of the Ground Zero Responders by William H. Groner and Tom Teicholz
• Just Jackie: Her Private Years (Core Ser.) by Edward Klein
• The Deep Dark: Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Silver Mine by Gregg Olsen
• American Warlords: How Roosevelt's High Command Led America to Victory in World War II by Jonathan W. Jordan
• Girls Like Us: The Amazing New Thriller From The Author Of The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger
• On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein
• Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry
• In Jerusalem: Three Generations of an Israeli Family and a Palestinian Family by Lis Harris
• Think Black: A Memoir by Clyde W. Ford
• Crossfire Hurricane: Inside Donald Trump's War on the FBI by Josh Campbell
• The Stranger Inside: A Novel by Lisa Unger
• Elevator Pitch: A Novel by Linwood Barclay
• Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge And A Model For America's Future by Pete Buttigieg
• 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder: Effective Strategies from Therapeutic Practice and Personal Experience (8 Keys to Mental Health) (8 Keys to Mental Health #0) by Carolyn Costin Babette Rothschild and Gwen Schubert Grabb
• Close To Me: A stunning new psychological drama with twists that will shock you! by Amanda Reynolds
• Betray Her: The gripping new psychological thriller that you'll be obsessed with by Caroline England
• The Making of a Justice: Reflections on My First 94 Years by John Paul Stevens
• If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin
• In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect by Ronald Kessler
• The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power
• Bound for the Promised Land: Portrait of an American Hero by Kate Clifford Larson
• The Lies We Tell (The Undertaker's Daughter) by Debra Webb
• Home Front Girls by Loretta Nyhan and Suzanne Hayes
• The Triangle Fire, the Protocols of Peace, and Industrial Democracy in Progressive Era New York by Richard Greenwald
• This We Know: A Chronology Of The Shootings At Kent State, May 1970 by Laura Davis, Carole Barbato and Mark Seeman
• Warnings: The True Story of how Science tamed the Weather by Mike Smith
• The Tortoise and the Soldier: A Story of Courage and Friendship in World War I by Michael Foreman
• The Rise and Fall of America's Concentration Camp Law: Civil Liberties Debates from the Internment to McCarthyism and the Radical 1960s (Asian American History & Cultu) by Masumi Izumi
• Crossing: A Transgender Memoir by Deirdre N. McCloskey
• Emerson: The Mind on Fire by Robert D. Richardson Jr.
• When Women Won The Vote: The Final Decade, 1910-1920 (Critical Moments in American History) by Sandra Opdycke
• And Then You Were Gone: A Novel by R. Jacobs
• Before She Was Found: A Novel (Harlequin Audio Ser.) by Heather Gudenkauf
• Girls of Summer: In their Own League by Lois Browne
• Battle Cry by Leon Uris
• Mila 18 by Leon Uris

Review: Kisscut

Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Doctor Sara Linton and Chief Jeffrey Tolliver find themselves drawn into solving a horrific crime in "Kisscut," the second book of the Grant County series. On a Saturday night, not unlike all other Saturday nights at the local skating rink, a teen age girl is shot by Chief Tolliver, and, after, there is an even more grizzly discovery--one that leads to more and more crimes. Step by step, Sarah and Jeffrey begin to put the pieces together, and Detective Lena Adams begins to try and reclaim her life after her recent trauma she experienced in the first book of the series.

There is nothing quite like a Karin Slaughter book when it comes to thrillers. Fast-paced is an understatement, and the characters are fascinating in personality. I'm hooked on the Grant County series, no question.

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Review: Walking Towards Thunder: The true story of a whistleblowing cop who took on corruption and the Church

Walking Towards Thunder: The true story of a whistleblowing cop who took on corruption and the Church by Peter Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The world is a better place because of people like Peter Fox who care enough to speak out for people who may not be able to speak for themselves. in "Walking Towards Thunder: The true story of a whistleblowing cop who took on corruption and the Church," Peter Fox, Former Detective Chief Inspector in the Hunter region of Australia, spoke out publicly concerning the sexual abuse and years of cover-up of these crimes by the Catholic Church. And, for his trouble, he was subjected to ridicule by many, especially by others within the police force--many of whom chose to support the Catholic Church, no matter what.

The subject of abuse of children in the Church--not just the Catholic Church--has interested me for years, so I was very interested in reading this book. It is a most detailed account of the author's experiences as an investigator, and provides detailed profiles of many victims and perpetrators. The extent of the abuse and the ensuing cover-up often extends for decades and decades. The failure of the Church and individuals to recognize the extent of the evil is absolutely astounding to me. This book opened my eyes, in so many ways, to the extent some will go to deny and cover-up evil. It was a very emotional read, but I am glad I read this book. I came away better informed and more aware.

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Review: The Women of the Copper Country

The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell is a historical account of the 1913 strike against the largest copper mining company in the world, lead by Annie Clements, a young woman in her mid twenties with know political experience or preparation for the task--and yet, she stepped up and inspired copper miners and their families to strike for better wages and working conditions.

I found this book totally enthralling and inspiring. It is difficult to imagine how families kept going during the strike, and even before. The working and living conditions were what I can only characterize as brutal. This is in total contrast to today's many excesses in America. Fully deserving of 5 of 5 stars. An excellent read.

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Lynn's List (September 13, 2019)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!

• Wunderland: A Novel by Jennifer Cody Epstein
• A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction by Stephen Fried and Patrick J. Kennedy
• The Conspiracy (Maximum Security #1) by Kat Martin
• Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
• Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller
• Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir by Clint Hill and Lisa Mccubbin
• Fraud of the Century: Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel Tilden, and the Stolen Election of 1876 by Roy Morris Jr.
• The Cases That Haunt Us: From Jack the Ripper to Jon Benet Ramsey, The FBI's Legendary Mindhunter Sheds New Light on the Mysteries That Won't Go Away (Lisa Drew Bks.) by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker
• CoDex 1962: A Trilogy by Victoria Cribb and Sjón
• The Weight of a Feather: A Mother's Journey Through the Opiates Addiction Crisis by Lynda Hacker Araoz
• The Undiscovered Country: A Novel by Mike Nemeth
• The American President: A Complete History by Kathryn Moore
• The Big Free: A Novel by Martha B. Boone
• Eat Wheat: A Scientific and Clinically-Proven Approach to Safely Bringing Wheat and Dairy Back Into Your Diet by John Douillard
• Here and Now and Then: A Novel by Mike Chen
• November Road: A Novel by Lou Berney
• The Woman Upstairs: A completely gripping psychological thriller packed with twists by Ruth Heald
• Tiny House: Live Small, Dream Big by Brent Heavener
• Walking Towards Thunder: The true story of a whistleblowing cop who took on corruption and the Church by Peter Fox
• The War Outside by Monica Hesse
• Own It.: Make Your Anxiety Work for You by Caroline Foran
• His Secret Family: An absolutely emotional page turner by Ali Mercer
• Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi
• Lyndon B. Johnson and the Transformation of American Politics (Library of American Biography Series) by John Bullion
• Because You're Mine: A Novel by Rea Frey
• It Rained Warm Bread: Moishe Moskowitz's Story of Hope by Hope Anita Smith and Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet
• Keeping Lucy: A Novel by T. Greenwood
• The Murder List: A Novel of Suspense by Hank Phillippi Ryan
• Kill Zone: A High-Tech Thriller by Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason
• Everything I Never Told You: A Novel by Celeste Ng

Lynn's List (September 6, 2019)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!

• Chowderland: Hearty Soups & Stews with Sides & Salads to Match by Brooke Dojny
• Missing Daughter by Rick Mofina
• Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider
• Quakers and Mysticism: Comparative and Syncretic Approaches to Spirituality (Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Mysticism) by Jon R. Kershner
• If I Don't Make It, I Love You: Survivors in the Aftermath of School Shootings by Amye Archer
• Fractured: A Novel by Tamar Ossowski
• The Glass Woman: A Novel by Caroline Lea
• Cold Storage: A Novel by David Koepp
• Now You See Me: A Novel by Chris McGeorge
• Home Front Girls by Loretta Nyhan and Suzanne Hayes
• Courage to Say No: A Pakistani Female Doctor's Battle Against Sexual Exploitation by Raana Mahmood
• The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner
• After the Flood: A Novel by Kassandra Montag
• Freedom: The Overthrow Of The Slave Empires by James Walvin
• Unbreakable: The Woman Who Defied The Nazis In The World's Most Dangerous Horse Race by Richard Askwith
• A Polar Affair: Antarctica's Forgotten Hero And The Secret Love Lives Of Penguins by Lloyd Spencer Davis
• The Golden State: A Novel by Lydia Kiesling
• Detain and Punish: Haitian Refugees and the Rise of the World's Largest Immigration Detention System by Carl Lindskoog
• Shark Trouble: True Stories and Lessons About the Sea by Peter Benchley
• Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham
• The Liberators: America’s Witnesses to the Holocaust by Michael Hirsh
• City of the Sun: A Novel (Frank Behr #1) by David Levien

Review: The Passengers by John Marrs

Title: The Passengers
Author: John Marrs
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication Date: August 27, 2019 (first published April 1st 2019)
Edition: ebook (352 pages)
Genres:

• Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Thriller

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine: You come out of your house and get into your self-driving autonomous car which is supposed to take you to your programmed destination. Suddenly, you discover, not only are you not traversing the programmed route, but you can do nothing to change the destination or stop the vehicle--and then you're told you're going to die. And to make matters worse, the vehicle's doors are locked, so you are trapped, awaiting your fate.

This book was riveting from the first page onward. The characters were fascinating, the plot inventive but not unrealistic, and the ethical issues presented go far beyond those related to just those one would think about with respect to self-driving vehicles. I will have to reread this book again to absorb the full depth of the ethical dilemmas presented here. A disturbing, yet excellent, read! I highly recommend it.