Based on true events that occurred in Bhopal, India, this is a fictional account by a 19-year-old boy named Animal, due to the fact that his body is deformed and he walks on all fours, due to a chemical disaster that occurred when he was an infant. The story is told through Animal's eyes, and while we don't get a full account of what happened "that night," we learn about it through the ongoing court battles against the "Kompani" in which Animal becomes involved.

Animal was raised in an orphanage by Ma Franci, a French nun who has lived in India for many years. She sees Animal as her own son, and when Ma Franci becomes mentally ill and cannot understand other people, Animal translates for her and cares for her. We also meet Zafar, the ringleader in the movement against the American company responsible for the disaster, and his girlfriend Nisha, who Animal desires with a passion. Much of the story revolves around Elli Barber, an American doctor who comes to India in order to help victims of the disaster. Zafar is convinced that she is working with the Kompani, and even though people want medical attention, they are convinced by Zafar to boycott her practice. Animal is forced to make a choice to either boycott Barber's practice or to help her convince everyone that she is there to help them, not the Kompani.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I picked it up. What I found was a sometimes sad, sometimes funny story of a young man who is trying to come of age, but who also faces unique obstacles. He has all the same hopes, dreams, and attitudes of any 19-year-old, but these are put forth in a unique perspective. Animal is mostly hopeful for himself and his future throughout the book, but it is heart-rending to realize that some things we take for granted, Animal may never experience. It's a different type of coming-of-age story, but with no less impact.

More novelty than actual reading material, "You are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero" is one of those books you remember from your childhood, written in the tradition of Choose Your Own Adventure. I picked this book up because I remember loving those books as a kid, so of course a more grown-up version was intriguing.

The core storyline is that Julia, a girl with whom you just went out on a date, is kidnapped and the kidnappers call you to demand a ransom. You're not sure how strongly you feel about this girl, so it's up to you whether you choose to help her, and how you are going to go about doing it. And in the tradition of the children's books, you can get yourself into a number of different predicaments no matter what you choose.

While reading this book - and it's definitely a quick read, especially if you keep hitting "The End" - I found myself doing the same thing I did when I was a kid: keeping my previous place so that if I didn't like the direction the story was going, I could go back and take the other option. It's definitely not a book that you sit down and read straight through, simply due to the format. I enjoyed retracing my steps and making different choices, but I found that I lost interest with that and simply paged through here and there to see what kind of trouble the character keeps getting into. The book definitely stays in light and fluffy territory, even though some situations involve death, destruction, and elderly orgies. This is not a book to read if you are looking for the next Great American Novel or deep insight into life, the universe, and everything. That said, however, the writing is funny, and it easily comes across as a parody of a mystery thriller. If you're looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, you might want to page through this book.

Terri Cheney, former entertainment lawyer and current mental health spokesperson, has written a riveting account of her time spent dealing with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. In the book's preface, Cheney notes that the book is written episodically rather than chronologically, which is how she experiences her past and her illness. Because of this, the chapters really stand on their own as essays.

Cheney describes her struggles with bipolar disorder, as well as her desire to maintain a normal life in spite of the illness, with vivid detail. At times, she comes off as arrogant and self-centered, and even admits to being that way; that was frustrating to me as a reader until I realized that when a person is manic, that is how life seems: they are the only person in the world. Cheney also describes her suicide attempts, something that can be difficult to read, but necessary in order to understand the severity of this illness. She gives appalling accounts of possible "cures" for bipolar, recounting her experience with electroshock treatment and an attempt at behavior modification. I had the hardest time reading about Cheney's stint in jail, when she was not allowed to contact her therapist so that her medications could be explained. Also, as someone earning a master's degree in psychology, it is appalling to read about her time spent strapped down in a padded room, when no one would allow her up to use the bathroom.

At times difficult to read, Cheney's memoir remains impossible to put down. Even though she writes about sensitive topics, Cheney always seems to keep a sense of humor, sometimes even a sense of disbelief in some of the things she engaged in while feeling the extremes of bipolar disorder. The book ends on a positive note, with Cheney finally able to confront her illness. I recommend this book to anyone dealing with bipolar disorder. I feel that I have gained much more understanding of this illness from the other side of the diagnosis.

I chose this book because I loved the recent movie with Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. I was drawn by this story of a loveless marriage being transformed by the danger of cholera and the escape from claustrophobic English society. In the end, I actually preferred the movie but still enjoyed the book.

The story takes place in England and Hong Kong in the 1920s. Kitty is a young (at least by present day standards) woman who takes her time finding a husband and then, when her younger and plainer sister becomes engaged, panics and takes the next man who offers: Walter, a shy government bacteriologist who is hopelessly in love with Kitty. They wed in a rush because Walter is due to leave for Hong Kong for his work. Kitty accompanies him, and out of boredom and a lack of love for her husband, begins an affair with Charlie Townsend, an older married man who is on his way to the top of the Hong Kong bureaucracy, and who, she is convinced, loves her as she loves him. Eventually Walter sets out to a small rural village in the heart of the cholera epidemic, bringing Kitty with him. Over time, Kitty gains a deeper understanding of life beyond her small existence.

I found it interesting that throughout the book, Kitty was always concerned with what others thought, both in England and in China - it was just that different things were valued in each place. In England, she worried about her social status and marrying someone with a title; in China, she hoped that the nuns at the orphanage found her helpful. I had hoped that she would gain even more independence and live more in consistency with what she thought rather than what others thought, but considering her environment and the culture at the time, what changes she did experience are impressive. Another interesting parallel is that we see how Kitty loves Charlie despite his callousness and unkindness; this follows how Walter loves Kitty even though she shows little interest, to the point of unkindness, toward him.

Kitty is admirable as she fights to reconcile her new feelings of independence and charity with her socialite upbringing, although it remains unclear what her future holds. She maintains her belief that she does not love Walter, but I wonder if there was more to it. Perhaps she was feeling love for him but did not want to acknowledge it; the book is unclear. That lack of clarity may be intentional on the author's part, however; Kitty herself is quite unclear about what she wants and what she believes. This book was a moving portrait of one couple's experience in the midst of tragedy.

I earned a bachelor's degree in justice studies, so during that time period I heard quite a bit about Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his Tent City Jail in Maricopa County, Arizona. Nearly everyone has heard of this jail, known for dying the inmates' boxers pink to deter theft, as well as for the male AND female chain gangs (the female chain gang is reportedly the first of its kind worldwide). I was always intrigued by Tent City concept, so when I saw this book at the library I picked it up. Sheriff Joe, as he is known to many, has some conservative ideas regarding the issues of illegal immigration and drugs, which are featured in the majority of the book. I have a more liberal view, and I was afraid that because of this I wouldn't enjoy the book, but that's not entirely true. Even though I found quite a bit to disagree with Sheriff Joe about, I respect the fact that he is clear about doing his job and he is clear about his mission. He is definitely not a wishy-washy politician; in fact, he writes an entire chapter about politics.

In addition to reporting his experiences fighting drugs and illegal immigration, Sheriff Joe outlines some of the programs he features at the Tent City Jail, most of which do not receive as much media attention as do his more controversial initiatives. These programs are impressive, spanning from education to daily life skills to caring for shelter dogs. Sheriff Joe also reports on several cases that he has worked on over the years, giving a brief history of his career and how he ended up being one of the country's (and maybe world's) most well-known law enforcement agents. Even if you do not agree with Sheriff Joe's views, you will likely find something to respect or admire about the man.

The book is written in a common-sense, straightforward, casual tone, and it reads as though Sheriff Joe were actually talking to you. This is great when he presents his ideas, because it makes them understandable and accessible. However, the negative to this kind of writing means that portions of the book come off as ranting or unprofessional. Of course, this fits with Sheriff Joe's everyday, regular guy image, so it works, but it can be distracting. Overall, this book was a quick, informative read, and while I am not going to change my personal views any time soon, I came away from this knowing a bit more about the man behind the Tent City Jail.

This children's book was read to my third-grade class by our school librarian. I remember absolutely loving the book and being completely enthralled with what was going to happen to Emily Luccock next. It is full of suspense, mystery, and adventure, and I have never forgotten the book.

Recently I re-discovered this book at my library, and because I remembered loving it so much, I was afraid that I would be disappointed in it now - but that wasn't the case. I read this book in just a few hours, and it brought back so many memories. There were so many characters and events that I had forgotten about, and as I was reading, they kept coming back to me. This book, in third grade, was probably one of my first experiences reading a mystery, and it has obviously had a profound effect on me. I know that I am not alone, because my sister, who is five years younger than I, also had this book read to her when she was in third grade, and she holds the book in high regards as well.

First we are introduced to Emily Luccock, a young girl who has recently lost her parents in a tragic accident. She is off to live with her much beloved Aunt and Uncle Twice, and she spends her train ride remembering the wonders of Sugar Hill Hall, her aunt and uncle's mansion. However, when she arrives, she discovers that Sugar Hill Hall has become a home for "unwanted" elderly people who seem to be no more than shadows along the parlor wall. The mansion has fallen into the hands of Mrs. Meeching, a sinister snake-like woman, and Mrs. Plumly, who seems as though she may be sympathetic to Emily's plight. While Uncle Twice is nowhere to be found, Aunt Twice still resides in the Hall. However, she is now one of the housekeepers, along with Tilly, a rough teenage "orphing". We also meet Kipper, a fishmonger's son who befriends Emily. Sugar Hill Hall has become a house of unanswered questions - why are the peppermints put out to tempt everyone? What happens in the Remembrance Room, where people - young and old alike - are locked in if they dare to steal a peppermint? And does fish syrup really taste all that great?

This book was just as wonderful as I remember it to have been 16 years ago, and I highly recommend it. With the influx of movies based on children's books that we have had in recent years, I think Peppermints in the Parlor would be an excellent choice. Flashy special effects are not required, and the story is appealing for all ages. As I was reading, I couldn't help but picture Frances McDormand as Aunt Twice, Freddie Highmore as Kipper, and Dakota Fanning (although someone new would also be nice) as Emily.

Escape tells one woman's story of fleeing a fundamentalist religion and getting her eight children out in the process. Jessop details several instances of abuse that occurred during her time involved in the Colorado City, AZ community, and many of these were difficult for me to read. Her husband's other wives shunned her and abused her (and their own) children by beating them, verbally attacking them, or depriving them of food. Her husband was not involved with the children, but the threat of losing them to the outside world was very real to him, and her fight for custody became dangerous.

Throughout the book, I admired Jessop's courage and determination. I can hardly imagine how difficult it would have been to fight for my freedom and that of my children, while I was constantly being told that my attempts wouldn't work and my children had been turned against me. In reading this, I realized how little I knew about these extremist groups that have popped up across the nation, and I have learned that they are more dangerous than I ever thought.

The writing itself is sometimes choppy and elementary, but Jessop tells her story with passion and genuineness. There was a sense of immediacy and urgency in her writing, something I believe that she felt while experiencing nearly unbelievable abuses and human rights violations. I enjoyed the book, even though at times I had to put it down and shake my head, wondering if I would have been as strong as Jessop in her situation.