A Thriller with a Heart

You have got to read this book. Put everything else aside, find a comfortable chair, and start reading. Actually, you won't even need a comfortable chair, because once you start reading, you won't notice where you are or what you're sitting on. This book is that good. This was my first time to read John Hart, and after reading The Last Child, I intend to go back and read his two previous books as soon as possible. It is the perfect blend of page-turning suspense, intriguing plot, and characters that come alive on the page. Johnny Merriman is a 13-year-old boy who has had to grow up way too fast, and Clyde Hunt is the detective who always seems to be one or two steps behind Johnny. (That was my one and only complaint about this book--I was disappointed that it took Hunt so long to figure out what Johnny was up to!) Johnny's sister Alyssa disappeared a year ago, his father left shortly after that, and his mother totally fell apart. Johnny's life is devoted to trying to find Alyssa, escaping the wrath of his mother's cold and heartless "boyfriend" (more like drug supplier) Ken, and trying to watch out for his fragile mother as best as he can. Hunt, who was the lead detective on Alyssa's case, is obsessed with the case and tries to keep tabs on Johnny and his mother. Then another young girl is abducted, and the nightmare escalates. If you like a good crime novel, or a good character-driven novel, you will love this book. Read it.

A Remembrance of Times Past

Remembering the Bones, by Frances Itani, is a delightful book about a delightful woman in a not-so-delightful predicament. Georgina Danforth is on her way to visit the queen when her life takes a big turn. She shares Queen Elizabeth II's birthday, so she is one of 99 who is invited to a big party celebrating their 80th birthdays. On her way to the airport, Georgie, who is excited and distracted, veers off the road and into a ravine. She is injured and unable to move very far. Her car and herself are hidden from the road. She comforts herself by remembering and naming all the bones of the body, which she learned as a child by poring over her grandfather's anatomy books. She also remembers many scenes from her life, and reflects on whether she has lived a worthy one. At least one reviewer has said that Georgie's musings are very awkward and disordered, but wouldn't your thoughts be a little in disarray if you were in pain and lying in a ditch, wondering if you would ever be found? This is a wonderful story about a woman's life, with a tension growing with every page, as the reader wonders about Georgie's fate. This is the Morning Book Club's selection for June. Come and discuss the book with us on June 26, at 9 a.m.

Dark truths hidden in Dark Places

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day is the sole survivor of a family massacre that took place in 1985. Seven years of age at the time of the murders, her testimony clenches a life-sentence for her brother Ben, 15, who at the time was rumored to have been dabbling with Satanism. Libby, now in her early 30s, is in a financial fix. She becomes involved with a club whose members are interested in true crime and finds that none of the members believe her story. When they offer her cash for digging up her past and investigating key possible suspects, she reluctantly agrees and soon begins to question what she saw or didn't see on that cold and tragic January night.

The Broken Cord

This title is an exploration of one man's experience with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Michael Dorris adopted a Native American boy who was eventually diagnosed with FAS. He explores this horrible affliction from both an emotional standpoint as a grieving, struggling father, and from an analytical viewpoint as an anthropologist and author. Adam is a loving but difficult boy who has numerous problems that will plague him all his life. Dorris shows us a window into that difficult life, with all its joys and sorrows. This title is the May selection for the Morning Book Club, which will meet to discuss it on Friday, May 22 at 9 a.m.

Starvation Lake: A mystery

This is Bryan Gruley's first book which is surprising because the writing is so relaxed. It reads like a well told story and the characters are very typical of those found in a small town, without being cliched. Starvation lake is a small dying resort town located at the northern end of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. In better times, the town was known for its summer resort and its dedication to hockey. Coach Jack Blackburn came to Starvation Lake determined to win the state championship and had the whole town behind him. Gus Carpenter was the goalie who lost the game for the coach and the entire town and now that he is back, no one lets him forget it. Gus has returned with his tail between his legs, because he has also failed in his chosen profession-journalism when working for a Detroit newspaper. Now he is the editor for the local paper and he is trying to avoid
dealing with the mess he left behind in Detroit. Soon he is involved in a local mess-Jack Blackburn was thought to have been killed in an accident on the ice a decade ago, but his snowmobile washes up on the shore of an entirely different lake. Bullet holes are found which point to murder. Gus must pursue the truth, although it is apparent most of the town would rather ignore the entire business. Secrets are uncovered and friendships are tested and no one is left the same.

Reading an Old Favorite

The Morning Book Club at the Delphi Public Library decided to read a classic for this month's discussion. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith fits the bill perfectly. Even though it is set in Brooklyn, which may seem far away from Delphi, Indiana, and was first published way back in 1943 and set even earlier at the beginning of the 20th century, this novel has a timeless appeal for readers anytime and anywhere. The story of Francie Nolan's growing-up years is uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. She's smart, idealistic, and sensitive, and has some tough times in the slums of Williamsburg. Read about Francie and her friends and family in this beloved classic, and join in the conversation at the book club's get-together on Friday, April 17, at 9 a.m.

Things We Should Know

Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ, by Brother Andrew.

This book is an eye opener all Americans should read. In Secret Believers you will read real stories of Muslims turning Christian and what they have to deal with in their Islamic countries. You find out that many Muslims are finding Christ and how. And you will see how key people are used by God to disciple these Christians in a threatening environment.

Brother Andrew (God's Smuggler) tells us we are in a war...a spiritual war with Islam... and we must decide how we will respond. With bombs and guns or with love and prayer? Secret Believers will change your way of thinking. Really!

This book is the March 2009 pick for the "Faith Inspired Book Club."