Life Without Summer has gained a lot of attention from various bloggers, as well as some magazines where I have read reviews for it. It sounded like a good read, and something different from the usual mystery and thriller books I read. I decided to place it on hold from my library and am glad I did. I pretty much read it one sitting this morning/afternoon and enjoyed it. Life Without Summer receives a B+ from me.
Inside cover:
Tessa Gray's life changes forever when she loses her four-year-old daughter, Abby, in a hit-and-run accident outside her preschool. Once a vivacious, joyful mother and wife, Tessa now spends her days holed up in Abby's room, sleeping in her bed, clutching Abby's Tootsie Rabbit stuffed animal- anything to keep her memories close. As Tessa graples with her terrible grief, made worse by the police's insistence that the case is unsolvable, she finds solace in Celia Reed, the therapist her husband has pushed her to see, and in the journal she's keeping, where she compulsively counts the "days without Abby" and maps out her plan for catching the driver who tore her family apart.
As Celia struggles to keep Tessa from getting caught up in a bleak crusade for answers, she finds that their sessions open the door to emotions she's spend years ignoring, forcing her to face the rising tensions in her life- her troubled teenage son, her alcoholic ex-husband, and her fragile new marriage. Celia begins to realize that she must come to terms with the tragic mistakes of her past and the choices that have led her family to their own brink of destruction.
Life Without Summer is told through Tessa's journal and Celia's, who begins to start one after suggesting to Tessa to help sort out her thoughts and feelings. I thought Ms. Griffin did a great job of writing about Tessa's grief and confusion of losing her daughter is such a senseless way (though as I write that, is there a way that makes sense when a little child's life is lost) and the reactions of those surrounding her. I was more drawn, however, to Celia's story, perhaps because it wasn't as painful Tessa's. I have to admit, I really disliked Celia's husband and wanted to jump into the pages and beat him over the head. Actually, the more I think about it, I wanted to jump into the pages and beat most of the characters over the head at one time or another, though I think that just goes to show how raw and realistic the characters are in this story. It was a difficult book to read at times, and I did shed a few tears. It was a good book, but definitely not the type of story one can read too many of.
Reading this story pulled a lot of raw emotions out of me. After being married for nearly five years and deciding to try and start a family, things are not happening as quickly as I would like. Every day I am surrounded by people who should not have children or can't seem to be bothered with their children, and I get so frustrated that I am having such a difficult time fulfilling this desire of mine. Then I read this book and am further reminded that bad things happen to good people all of the time and it does depress me a bit. Right now in my neck of the woods, a little 5 year old girl has gone missing. She disappeared on Sunday after her mother allowed her to play outside without any adult supervision. This mother, who was just released from prison herself, surrounded her and her daughter with convicted sex offenders and two are in custody right now on other charges and are being called "persons of interest". It causes me so much anger on how some people can be so dumb, or I guess I should say, so selfish. The mother has said that she knew these two men are sex offenders though she seems to think nothing of letting them be around her child. Are there really women that desperate for a man that they make these stupid decisions, or are they just so selfish? I don't understand, but I will say I hope something happens to her. Neglect charges or something, because unfortunely, as each day passes, the hope that little Neveah is found safe and unharmed is dwindling. Anyways, all of this has been on my mind and reading Life Without Summer had me examining my feelings a bit more.
Well I am going to try and keep my mind focused on happier thoughts. The Wings start tonight, and I am going to find a less depressing book to start reading now. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label local news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local news. Show all posts
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Third Degree by Greg Iles
I have been a fan of Greg Iles since I first read him late last year. When I went to the library to pick up another book on hold, I saw this one and remembered I had started to listen to this on audio last year but for some reason didn't finish it. I grabbed it and decided to read it after finishing Plum Spooky. I raced through it and couldn't put it down. I give Third Degree an A-.
From Amazon:
Sometimes the gravest dangers -- and the darkest souls -- live right beside us....
In the span of twenty-four hours, every-thing Laurel Shields believes about her life and her marriage to a prominent doctor will be shattered -- if she survives a terrifying ordeal. The day begins with the jarring discovery that, soon after ending an affair, Laurel is pregnant. But when she returns home to find her husband ashen, unkempt, and on the brink of violence, a nightmare quickly unfolds. In the heart of an idyllic Mississippi town, behind the walls of her perfect house, Laurel finds herself locked in a volatile standoff with a husband she barely recognizes. Confronted with evidence of her betrayal, she must tread a deadly path between truth and deception while a ring of armed police prepares a dangerous rescue. But Laurel's greatest fear -- and her only hope -- lies with her former lover, a brave man whom fate has granted the power to save both Laurel and her children -- if she can protect his identity long enough....
Third Degree takes place in the span of one day and the thrills never stop. Right from the opening chapter when Laurel discovers that she is pregnant the reader is hooked and can't stop turning the pages. Just when you think you have something figured out, Mr. Iles takes you on a wild turn and you are thrown through another loop. Even when I thought the book was over and the final pages were wrapping things up, another surprise was thrown my way. I will definitely be checking out more of Mr. Iles' books and if you haven't read one of them yet, run to your nearest bookstore or library and pick one of them up.
I am going to have cut this short. I just heard some terrible news about a horrible accident that killed four local teens. Apparently, a woman in her 40s decided that her right to drink and drive was more important than that of everyone else's right and slammed into a stopped car carrying 4 teenagers going to the mall. She killed all four of them and she walked away without a scratch, except for a hangover from hell since she was more than three times over the legal limit. I am truly sickened by this and emotional, so I am going to say Happy Reading.
From Amazon:
Sometimes the gravest dangers -- and the darkest souls -- live right beside us....
In the span of twenty-four hours, every-thing Laurel Shields believes about her life and her marriage to a prominent doctor will be shattered -- if she survives a terrifying ordeal. The day begins with the jarring discovery that, soon after ending an affair, Laurel is pregnant. But when she returns home to find her husband ashen, unkempt, and on the brink of violence, a nightmare quickly unfolds. In the heart of an idyllic Mississippi town, behind the walls of her perfect house, Laurel finds herself locked in a volatile standoff with a husband she barely recognizes. Confronted with evidence of her betrayal, she must tread a deadly path between truth and deception while a ring of armed police prepares a dangerous rescue. But Laurel's greatest fear -- and her only hope -- lies with her former lover, a brave man whom fate has granted the power to save both Laurel and her children -- if she can protect his identity long enough....
Third Degree takes place in the span of one day and the thrills never stop. Right from the opening chapter when Laurel discovers that she is pregnant the reader is hooked and can't stop turning the pages. Just when you think you have something figured out, Mr. Iles takes you on a wild turn and you are thrown through another loop. Even when I thought the book was over and the final pages were wrapping things up, another surprise was thrown my way. I will definitely be checking out more of Mr. Iles' books and if you haven't read one of them yet, run to your nearest bookstore or library and pick one of them up.
I am going to have cut this short. I just heard some terrible news about a horrible accident that killed four local teens. Apparently, a woman in her 40s decided that her right to drink and drive was more important than that of everyone else's right and slammed into a stopped car carrying 4 teenagers going to the mall. She killed all four of them and she walked away without a scratch, except for a hangover from hell since she was more than three times over the legal limit. I am truly sickened by this and emotional, so I am going to say Happy Reading.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Another sad story
This story has been all over the front pages of the newspapers and on all of the news channels for three weeks, and has made it on Fox News Channel as well as Nancy Grace and was to be profiled on America's Most Wanted tonight. Now, it has come to a sad conclusion.
Tara Grant, a 34 year old mom from the same county as me, disappeared on February 9 after arguring with her husband about the number of business trips she had to take. He said someone called her, and she left. When she didn't show up for work, he finally reported her missing on Valentines Day. Telephone records have shown that no one called Tara, and the day after reporting her missing, her husband hired an attorney, wouldn't take a lie detector test, would not turn over computers, would not let them look in the house, and would only communicate with the police through his attorney. Then, like the Laci Petterson case, an ex-girlfriend came out with emails that Stephen Grant sent to her 2 weeks before Tara went missing trying to start up an affair with her, calling marriage vows liek speed limits, that sometimes they need to be broken.
Police were finally able to obtain a search warrant for their house and the gruesome discovery of Tara's torso was found in the garage. They then searched a nearby park and recently found more body parts suspected to be Tara's. Stephen is now missing, and two children are going to be without their mother, and as it looks, their father as well.
I know this is a long shot, but you never know. Though only a few people read this blog, I want to get this info out there. Stephen is suspected of driving a 2006 yellow Dodge Ram truck with Michigan license plates 9FL-R57. Maybe just keep an eye out. He has been gone since late last night, so he could be far gone by now. Justice needs to be done for this young mother, and I just want to get the word out there. I am not sure if America's Most Wanted is still going to be airing the case, but I will be watching!
Next time, I promise not so much depressing news.
Tara Grant, a 34 year old mom from the same county as me, disappeared on February 9 after arguring with her husband about the number of business trips she had to take. He said someone called her, and she left. When she didn't show up for work, he finally reported her missing on Valentines Day. Telephone records have shown that no one called Tara, and the day after reporting her missing, her husband hired an attorney, wouldn't take a lie detector test, would not turn over computers, would not let them look in the house, and would only communicate with the police through his attorney. Then, like the Laci Petterson case, an ex-girlfriend came out with emails that Stephen Grant sent to her 2 weeks before Tara went missing trying to start up an affair with her, calling marriage vows liek speed limits, that sometimes they need to be broken.
Police were finally able to obtain a search warrant for their house and the gruesome discovery of Tara's torso was found in the garage. They then searched a nearby park and recently found more body parts suspected to be Tara's. Stephen is now missing, and two children are going to be without their mother, and as it looks, their father as well.
I know this is a long shot, but you never know. Though only a few people read this blog, I want to get this info out there. Stephen is suspected of driving a 2006 yellow Dodge Ram truck with Michigan license plates 9FL-R57. Maybe just keep an eye out. He has been gone since late last night, so he could be far gone by now. Justice needs to be done for this young mother, and I just want to get the word out there. I am not sure if America's Most Wanted is still going to be airing the case, but I will be watching!
Next time, I promise not so much depressing news.
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