In this third installment of the Temperance Brennan series, Tempe finds herself called back to Canada earlier than planned to help identify the remains of two Outlaw Motorcycle Club members -- the latest victims of the violent turf war going on between such clubs. The death toll quickly rises as retaliation is sought, and before long, innocent people are being caught in the crossfire, hurling Tempe into a vicious and convoluted mystery that leads her to South Carolina and back again as the bodies keep piling up.
Meanwhile her personal life becomes just as convoluted as her relationship with Andrew Ryan takes a shocking turn when he is arrested for dealing drugs; and then her nephew shows up and begins showing an unsettling interest in biker clubs. As Tempe races to find the people responsible before more innocent victimes pay the ultimate price, she finds her own life in danger and only escapes with the help from a surprising source.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Nineteen Minutes -- Jodi Picoult
On what should be a typical school day in March at Sterling High School, an 11th grader named Peter Houghton enters the school and begins shooting. When the smoke clears, ten students lay dead and 19 more are wounded. Peter is arrested and held in jail while the rest of the town struggles to piece together the events of the day and the aftermath of the tragedy as some bury their own children. Peter Houghton is a monster...
...Or is he?
Through flashbacks and changing perspectives, the reader becomes acquainted with Peter and the key people in his life. Beginning in kindergarten, Peter was taunted, teased, hurt, and humiliated for 12 years, mostly by the same kids. His one true friend abandoned him in 6th grade to join the popular crowd, and his family focused more on his glorified (and tragically killed) older brother. Peter was alone in the world -- or at least he thought he was.
This book forces the reader to ask a lot of questions about actions and consequences, about the importance of friends and status. And it also reminds us that even those we perceive as monsters were loved by someone.
...Or is he?
Through flashbacks and changing perspectives, the reader becomes acquainted with Peter and the key people in his life. Beginning in kindergarten, Peter was taunted, teased, hurt, and humiliated for 12 years, mostly by the same kids. His one true friend abandoned him in 6th grade to join the popular crowd, and his family focused more on his glorified (and tragically killed) older brother. Peter was alone in the world -- or at least he thought he was.
This book forces the reader to ask a lot of questions about actions and consequences, about the importance of friends and status. And it also reminds us that even those we perceive as monsters were loved by someone.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner -- Stephenie Meyer
The story begins with a known conclusion: Bree Tanner will die in the end.
Stephenie Meyer brings to life the character of Bree Tanner, who was first introduced in Eclipse as one of the newborn vampires. Told from the perspective of Bree, the reader becomes acquainted with Bree's story: her "creation" as a vampire, her fears, her experiences. Though "friends" are not plentiful in the vampire coven into which Bree has been inducted, she soon finds a kindred spirit in Diego, a vampire a bit older than herself. Together they discover things about their new selves... thing their leader never bothered to tell them. As they learn more and more, they become suspicious as to why they were created, and why Riley, their leader, is keeping them in the dark. As the days pass and the reason for their existence begins to take shape, Bree finds herself on a collision course with fate as she tries to rescue Diego so they can begin their vampire lives away from Riley and his newborns.
But it turns out nothing they'd been told was ever true. And Bree's second life ends prematurely.
Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? It all depends on perspective.
Stephenie Meyer brings to life the character of Bree Tanner, who was first introduced in Eclipse as one of the newborn vampires. Told from the perspective of Bree, the reader becomes acquainted with Bree's story: her "creation" as a vampire, her fears, her experiences. Though "friends" are not plentiful in the vampire coven into which Bree has been inducted, she soon finds a kindred spirit in Diego, a vampire a bit older than herself. Together they discover things about their new selves... thing their leader never bothered to tell them. As they learn more and more, they become suspicious as to why they were created, and why Riley, their leader, is keeping them in the dark. As the days pass and the reason for their existence begins to take shape, Bree finds herself on a collision course with fate as she tries to rescue Diego so they can begin their vampire lives away from Riley and his newborns.
But it turns out nothing they'd been told was ever true. And Bree's second life ends prematurely.
Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? It all depends on perspective.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)