Book 43 - A Twisted Faith

A Twisted Faith by Gregg Olsen

It’s amazing what some people will do in the name of religion … and this book tells the story of one man, Nick Hacheney, who exploited his position as a spiritual leader at a small church in Washington State to satisfy his own desires of the flesh.

But that’s not what was so incredible about this story. After all, we’ve heard enough scandalous church tales in recent years that we’re pretty much immune to them. What made this true-crime story stand out – for me at least – was how gullible so many young women of his congregation were. Married, single, young or old, they not only believed they were doing “God’s will” by having sex with this man, but several of them actually fell in love with him, including the barely legal daughter of the pastor.

Oh … and they also believed Nick’s story about a mysterious post-Christmas fire that destroyed his home and his beautiful young wife.

I found this book to be quite gripping, and had a hard time putting it down. I kept hoping for someone to come to his or her senses and see Nick Hacheney for the person he was … an overweight, oversexed sociopath. It was an agonizing wait. In the end, good triumphed over evil, but not before taking a lot of people down first.

Book 42: Middle Age: A Romance

Book 42: Middle Age – A Romance by Joyce Carol Oates

I have always enjoyed Joyce Carol Oates’ writing, from the time I first read Garden of Earthly Delights back in high school. Now that I am … um … no longer in high school, the title of this book appealed to me right away.

This was a very enjoyable and thought-provoking novel about the inhabitants of a wealthy suburb of New York. After the accidental and heroic death of one of their favorite gentleman artists, they discover that he was not necessarily who he appeared to be … and neither is anyone else! This is personality study at its finest, with plenty of humor, pathos and wisdom to spare. For anyone facing middle age – or refusing to do so – enjoy the ride that this book takes you on!

Book 41: Dinner with a Perfect Stranger

Book 41 – Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory

Occasionally a book comes along that inspires my spirituality and makes me feel that things are right with the universe. This was not that book.

Brief (100 pages) and conversational in tone, the basic story of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is that a successful but overwhelmed businessman receives an anonymous invitation to meet Jesus Christ at a nearby restaurant. He accepts – just for the hell of it (excuse my choice of words) – and sits down to a most interesting meal with a “perfect stranger.” 

The message is a familiar one – trust in God, all is well, focus on your loved ones and not on money and career. And it should have been a reassuring one, but it contained far too many fundamentalist undertones (us vs. them) for my comfort. So in the end, the best thing I have to say about this book is that it was “blessedly” short.

Summer Reading - Books 34-40

More summer reading!

Book 34: The Weight of Dreams by Jonis Agee

The Weight of Dreams told a story of vengeance that I felt could have been told in half the amount of pages. Set in the West, it gave the reader the impression that the Plains were still very much like the Wild, Wild West we know from the days of cowboys and Indians. For whatever reason, I could not get involved with the characters’ lives and pretty much plodded through this book.

Book 35: Riven Rock by T.C. Boyle

Riven Rock was quite a welcome departure from the previous book. I love T.C. Boyle’s style, and he didn’t disappoint. This was the fictionalized story of the heir to the McCormick reaper fortune and his sad life as a schizophrenic and sex maniac, locked up in his mansion and forbidden to see any women – even his own wife. It was a fascinating look at history, early 20^th century mores, and the rudimentary beginnings of the field of psychiatry.

Book 36: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

… And then there was American Psycho … which definitely took abnormal psych to a whole new level. I would not recommend this book for anyone who is squeamish. I vaguely recall this being a movie, but I don’t think I saw it. If I did, I would surely remember it … and not with fondness. Sexual depravity, senseless violence, rampant drug use, all wrapped up in the guise of an ‘80s New York success story. If that’s your cup of tea, this is the book for you.

Book 37: River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke

A haunting look at the Georgetown section of Washington, DC, in the early part of the 20^th century. Home to a thriving community of African-Americans, this book tells the story of the accidental drowning of a young girl and how the effects of her death ripple throughout the lives of the people who knew her.

Book 38: Chasing Fire by Suzanne Collins

The second in the Hunger Games trilogy, this book has some predictable moments, but there are enough unexpected twists and turns to make it just as hard to put down as the first one. Looking forward to what this author has in store in the final book.

Book 39: The Gathering by Anne Enright

The last of my “summer reading” books, this one tells the story of an Irish family coming together to mourn the passing of one of their siblings. Told from the point of view of the sister, it skillfully weaves together the story of the family’s past and the challenges of the present day as she tries to cope with grief at the same time she is questioning her marriage and her relationships with the surviving members of the family. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I swear I almost felt like I’d just visited by the time this book was done. Well written and engrossing.

Book 40: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

To say that this book is disturbing would be a gross understatement. Lots of books are disturbing, but this one is more so because it is true. Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped at age 11 and was not reunited with her family until she was 29. During those 18 years, she was held prisoner, treated as a sex slave, bore two daughters and feared for her life if she attempted escape. Although her captor was a parolee and received regular visits from his parole officer, no one discovered the girl in the backyard until two astute UC Berkeley police officers investigated the strange behavior of a local “religious” fanatic. The thought of this all taking place in an otherwise unremarkable and well-populated neighborhood is terrifying. The fact that Jaycee Dugard survived with body and soul intact is a miracle.

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 30-33

Summer Reading List

There’s something about summer and reading that just goes together. And as the days fly by, so do the books. Here then is a brief outline of four books I read over the past month:

Jewel by Bret Lott – A touching, fascinating look back at the struggles of raising a special needs child in post-WWII America. And a compelling reminder that the main ingredient is a mother’s love.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides – This book proved the adage that you can’t judge a book by its cover. The cover art nearly deterred me from what turned out to be a fun, intelligent read. The fact that it took place in a New England college town in the early 80s made it particularly relevant to me.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I finally gave in and began the trilogy … and couldn’t put it down. This series is designed for young adult readers, but since in my mind I am still 19, I felt I was the perfect audience. I have now gotten hold of the two remaining books, and will likely plow through those as well.

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson – Trite and way too sugary for my taste. A blessedly quick read.

Vacation is over, but there’s still another four weeks of summer! And the read-a-thon continues!

52 Books in 52 Weeks: Book 29 - The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that I couldn’t put down, but this was one of them. 

This book gave me a whole new perspective on Afghanistan … a place I was only vaguely aware of before 9/11. At times endearing and at others powerfully disturbing, I was struck first by its depiction of the universality of childhood. And how its innocence – skillfully woven in the symbolism of kite flying – could be snuffed out in a moment.

I had seen the film version of The Kite Runner several years ago, so as the book unfolded, I remembered many of the incidents. But – as usual – I preferred the book to the movie, even though the latter was excellent. The plot twists and character development keep the reader on edge throughout, and deeply involved in the life of the protagonist (Amir) and his people.

For me, one line stands out as a stark reminder of how quickly life changes. Spoken by the mother Amir never knew, it states: “[Profound] happiness is frightening. … They only let you be this happy if they’re preparing to take something from you.” Indeed that was the case for so many of the Afghanis affected by war and inhumanity in this book. Yet we are left with a sliver of hope for the future in the image of the kite flying free.