Guest Review: Oklahoma City

Summary: Veteran journalists Andrew Gumbel and Roger G. Charles give the fullest account yet of the Oklahoma City bombing plot and investigation, with unprecedented access to government documents, voluminous correspondence with Timothy McVeigh's partner, Terry Nichols, and more than 150 interviews. In Oklahoma City, Gumbel and Charles document what went wrong: in particular, the dysfunction within law enforcement agencies that squandered opportunities to prevent the bombing, as well as the unanswered question of who inspired the plot—and who else might have been involved. 

To this day, the FBI heralds the Oklahoma City investigation as one of its great triumphs. In reality, though, its handling of the bombing foreshadowed many of the problems that made the country vulnerable to attack on 9/11. Oklahoma City gives the most complete, honest story of both the plot and the investigation, drawing a vivid portrait of the unfailingly compelling—driven, eccentric, fractious, funny, and wildly paranoid—characters involved. -- William Morrow

When OKLAHOMA CITY: THAT THE INVESTIGATORS MISSED AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS arrived in my mailbox, I pretty much knew it wasn't the book for me. However, I had a feeling that my dad might be interested in it. Here are his thoughts:

In OKLAHOMA CITY: THAT THE INVESTIGATORS MISSED AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS, authors Andrew Gumbel and Roger G. Charles make their case that the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995 was a much larger conspiracy than presented at the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.  As you may remember McVeigh and Nichols were convicted of a conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.  McVeigh was sentenced to death and executed on June 11, 2001 and Nichols was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.  The government’s cases advocated that the two acted alone.  

Gumbel and Charles had access to a vast volume of government documents, extensive correspondence with Terry Nichols and interviews with many others to make their case.  They talked to and investigated, among others, federal agents, para-military groups, gun show fanatics, a fringe religious sect in Elohim City, bank robbers, drug addicts and neo-nazis.  Charles also worked as an investigator for the McVeigh defense team.

The authors, although convinced that both McVeigh and Nichols were guilty, contend that the investigators missed or ignored evidence of additional co-conspirators.  Examples presented by Gumble and Charles include eyewitness accounts of a second man with McVeigh before and after the bombing; the lack of checking fingerprints found in McVeigh’s car and hotel room and at the rental agency; a second rental truck theory; the lack of explosive training by either McVeigh or Nichols; and contacts McVeigh and Nichols had with the radical right.

Gumble and Charles argue that several actions in combination prevented the government from looking deeper into the possibility of a vast conspiracy.  For example, there was an unhealthy competition among government entities like the FBI, FEMA and ATF. (The FBI and Louis Freeh are put in a particularly bad light.); federal prosecutors wanted to quickly conclude the case to quell public outrage and neglected the idea of a bigger conspiracy; and the federal government was hesitant to look into the possibility of a radical far right involvement in fear of another disaster like the 1992 Ruby Ridge encounter or the 1993 Waco fiasco (the bombing occurred on its second anniversary). 

OKLAHOMA CITY does not answer any of the questions that Gumble and Charles raise but does point out the many complexities that arise from investigating federal disasters. The Kennedy assassination and the 9/11 attack are two other examples.  Like Oklahoma City, conspiracy theories remain in both these disasters and the government investigations are always painted as inept. 

OKLAHOMA CITY is a well researched book by two respected investigators.  Whether their contention of a far reaching conspiracy is to be believed or regarded as just “another” wacky conspiracy theory is up to the reader.  I do recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more detail of the Oklahoma City bombing case or is interested in the workings of the federal agencies in investigating a crime of this nature.   

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Review: The Comfort of Lies

Summary: “Happiness at someone else’s expense came at a price. Tia had imagined judgment from the first kiss that she and Nathan shared. All year, she’d waited to be punished for being in love, and in truth, she believed that whatever consequences came her way would be deserved.”
 
Five years ago, Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. Married, and the father of two boys, Nathan was unavailable in every way. When she became pregnant, he disappeared, and she gave up her baby for adoption. 

Five years ago, Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. She prayed her misgivings would disappear; instead, she’s questioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother. 

Five years ago, Juliette considered her life ideal: she had a solid marriage, two beautiful young sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again, and she trusted him. 

But when Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband from Tia that contains pictures of a child with a deep resemblance to her husband, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? And if he’s kept this a secret from her, what else is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl. And before long, the three women and Nathan are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted. 

Riveting and arresting, The Comfort of Lies explores the collateral damage of infidelity and the dark, private struggles many of us experience but rarely reveal. -- Atria

There were a few reasons that I was looking forward to reading THE COMFORT OF LIES by Randy Susan Meyers. First, I read her other novel THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS a few years ago and thought it was a very good book. (You can read my review here.) I enjoyed her writing style and thought her characters were extremely interesting. Plus it was a definitely a thought-provoking read -- perfect for book clubs.

After reading the description for THE COMFORT OF LIES, I figured the novel would be similar to THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS in that the characters sounded complex and there was no doubt that their situations were interesting to say the least. And for the most part, I found both of these things to be true. However, I'm not certain that I enjoyed THE COMFORT OF LIES quite as much as Ms. Meyers' earlier novel.

To give you a little background, THE COMFORT OF LIES tells the story for three women and how an event five years in the past significantly affected all of their lives. When Tia was a student, she fell in love with Nathan, a married man with two children. Nathan never had any intentions to leave his family, so when Tia found herself pregnant, she realized it was best if she gave up the child for adoption. Now, she's having regrets.

And that's where Caroline enters the picture. Caroline is a successful doctor who wasn't able to have children. To make her husband happy, she decided to adopt a baby which ended up being Tia and Nathan's daughter. Caroline isn't entirely sure that she's mother material since she's having some doubts about the whole motherhood thing.

Then there's Juliette, Nathan's wife. She seemingly has it all -- a great husband, two fantastic kids and a very successful business. However, her world falls out from under her when Nathan tells her that he was having an affair with Tia. He promises to never cheat again and they work to repair their marriage, but when she finds a letter addressed to Nathan with a photograph of his daughter, she begins to doubt everything about the man she married.

Needless to say, THE COMFORT OF LIES is not a light and happy read. These women have big-time problems, and since the story was told in alternating chapters about each women, the reader really gets to know just how troubled they are. At times, I would even say that they were desperate in their misery and it was almost painful to read about them.

Having said that, I appreciated how Ms. Meyers was able to effectively capture each of their individual stories and make the characters stand apart from each other. In addition, she gave the reader some insight into Nathan's character as well, but I didn't find that these chapters were quite as robust as the ones about the women.

There is no doubt that THE COMFORT OF LIES is a well-written story; however, I think what kept me from really loving this novel was that I didn't like any of the characters. Of course, I realize it's not absolutely necessary for me to love the characters to enjoy a book, but I did want to feel more for them. And what's odd is that there were parts of these characters' lives (not really Tia's) that did resonate with me. I actually could understand some of Caroline's feelings about being a mother as well as Juliette's doubts about her husband. But for some reason, I wasn't as caught up in their lives as I had hoped or expected.

One thing is for certain, THE COMFORT OF LIES would make a wonderful book club pick. There is a reading guide available with fifteen discussion questions along with some ideas to enhance your book club experience. Some of the themes you might want to explore include lies, trust, dishonesty, betrayal, adultery, forgiveness, guilt, stress, and adoption. In addition, I think because I did have a few issues with the characters that there is a lot of opportunity for discussion. I imagine some readers will resonate with these women and passionately defend their actions. Could be fun!

Overall, I enjoyed THE COMFORT OF LIES but it didn't exactly "wow" me! I have a feeling that I'm in the minority with this opinion, and if you enjoy women's fiction, then you might want to check it out!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: Here I Go Again

Summary: Twenty years after ruling the halls of her suburban Chicago high school, Lissy Ryder doesn’t understand why her glory days ended. Back then, she was worshipped...beloved...feared. Present day, not so much. She’s been pink-slipped from her high-paying job, dumped by her husband and kicked out of her condo. Now, at thirty-seven, she’s struggling to start a business out of her parents’ garage and sleeping under the hair-band posters in her old bedroom.

Lissy finally realizes karma is the only bitch bigger than she was. Her present is miserable because of her past. But it’s not like she can go back in time and change who she was...or can she? -- New American Library

Right smack dab in the final weeks of my training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, I was feeling a little stressed -- okay, a lot of stressed! I decided that I needed to read a fun novel; and based on Kathy's recommendation, I picked up HERE I GO AGAIN by Jen Lancaster. I've only read one or two of Ms. Lancaster's books, but I know that she's pretty darn funny.

HERE I GO AGAIN has a really cute premise. Lissy Ryder's best days just might be behind her. She's twenty years out of high school, and her high school sweetheart has just told her that he wants a divorce. To add insult to injury, Lissy has been fired from her glamorous job and kicked out from her condo. At 37 years old, she's back at home with her parents and trying to redefine her career prospects.

When she attends her class reunion, she hopes to make some connections with her more successful classmates to get her PR company on its feet. However, Lissy realizes that "karma is a bitch" when none of these people want anything to do with her. See... Lissy was a real bitch in high school and burned a heck of a lot of bridges.

When Lissy gets the opportunity to go back in time and get a do-over (thanks to a magic potion), she's more than willing to try. Things can't really get much worse for her. However, Lissy finds that her inner mean girl is still at work and it's not as simple as she had hoped. So when Lissy finally does try to make some changes and amends for her past, she discovers that this behavior might further complicate matters and not always be entirely helpful! Can Lissy fix her past so that she can fix her future?

I'm sure you can tell from my description of HERE I GO AGAIN that it's a light read. It is extremely funny and silly at times, and there were even a few feel-good moments thrown in. I am definitely giving myself away by saying this, but like Ms. Lancaster and Lissy, I am also a product of the 80s; and I absolutely loved all of the 80s references -- from the fashion, to the hair, to the music.

Lissy is definitely a unique character. Quite frankly, she's a horrible person for a major part of the novel and she's a little hard to take. Of course, that's by design! However, by the end of the novel, I found that I began to understand Lissy and I even began rooting for her. I don't want to read too much into this novel, but I did appreciate how Lissy reminded me that even the mean girls in high school had insecurities and a lot more going on than I ever realized. I remind my daughter of this almost daily, but I know I didn't have that perspective back then (and sometimes even now!)

I think the appeal of HERE I GO AGAIN (besides that it's a Jen Lancaster novel) is that it's about second chances. And who doesn't wish they had a way to fix some of the things from our past? While I would never (ever) want to revisit my high school days, it is fun to think about those days and wonder how things would have turned out differently if we'd made a few different choices. It's also kind of uplifting to know that those kids who weren't exactly the most popular in high school do end up with fulfilling lives!

HERE I GO AGAIN is just a light, fun read that's the perfect escape book... especially for those women who want a walk down the 1980s "Memory Lane."

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Giveaway: Admission Prize Package

Summary: Tina Fey (Date Night, 30 Rock) and Paul Rudd (I Love You Man, Knocked Up) star in Admission, the new film directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Weitz (About a Boy), about the surprising detours we encounter on the road to happiness. Straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer Portia Nathan (Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate, the free-wheeling John Pressman (Rudd). Pressman has surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption many years ago. Soon, Portia finds herself bending the rules for Jeremiah, putting at risk the life she thought she always wanted -- but in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having. 

Release Date: March 22 
Genre: Comedy 
Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Wallace Shawn, Gloria Reuben, Nat Wolff, Traveris Spears, Lily Tomlin Directed By: Paul Weitz (“About a Boy,” “Being Flynn,” “In Good Company”) 
Written By: Karen Croner (“One True Thing”); Based on the novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz 

I am so excited about this movie and giveaway!!! A few years ago, I reviewed ADMISSION by Jean Hanff Korelitz and absolutely adored the novel! I loved Ms. Korelitz's writing style and I found the characters and the storyline to be incredibly intriguing. So what could be better than having a fantastic novel being made into a movie? Simple -- having Tina Fey and Paul Rudd starring in it!

Thanks to the fine folks at Big Honcho Media and Focus Features, I have an amazing Admission Prize Pack available to one lucky Booking Mama reader. Not only does it contain what's in the photo above (Folder, Notepad, Pen, Drawstring Bag, Toothbrush), but it also includes paperback copies of ADMISSION (movie tie-in edition) and BOSSYPANTS! To enter, just fill out the form below before March 26th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!


If you'd like to learn more about the movie, check out these sites:

Visit the official website

Like Admission on Facebook                   

Watch the trailer on YouTube         

And of course you can always tweet using #Admission.

Summary: "Admissions. Admission. Aren't there two sides to the word? And two opposing sides...It's what we let in, but it's also what we let out."

For years, 38-year-old Portia Nathan has avoided the past, hiding behind her busy (and sometimes punishing) career as a Princeton University admissions officer and her dependable domestic life. Her reluctance to confront the truth is suddenly overwhelmed by the resurfacing of a life-altering decision, and Portia is faced with an extraordinary test. Just as thousands of the nation's brightest students await her decision regarding their academic admission, so too must Portia decide whether to make her own ultimate admission.

Admission is at once a fascinating look at the complex college admissions process and an emotional examination of what happens when the secrets of the past return and shake a woman's life to its core. -- Grand Central Publishing

Summary: Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.

She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!) - -Little Brown

Review: Three Graves Full

Summary: For fans of the Coen brothers’ films or for those who just love their thrillers with a dash of sharp humor—an engaging and offbeat story about a man driven to murder, who then buries the body in his backyard only to discover that there are two other shallow graves on his property.

“There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard.”

With this memorable first line, we meet Jason Getty, a regular guy in every mild sense of the word. But extraordinary circumstances push this ordinary man to do something he can’t undo...and now he must live with the undeniable reality of his actions. And just as Jason does finally learn to live with it, a landscaper discovers a body on his property—only it’s not the body Jason buried.

As Jason’s fragile peace begins to unravel, his life is hitched to the fortunes of several strangers: Leah, an abandoned woman looking for answers to her heartbreak; Tim, a small-town detective just doing his job; and Boyd, a fringe-dweller whose past is about to catch up to him—all of them in the wake and shadow of a dead man who had it coming.

With the tense pacing of a thriller and the language and beauty of a fine literary novel, Three Graves Full heralds the arrival of a stunning new voice in fiction. -- Gallery

Since I started doing Mystery Mondays about two years ago, I've read my fair share of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels. It's been a lot of fun reading all of the different types of mysteries and I've gone through phases where I prefer cozies or thrillers or even traditional mysteries; and while I wouldn't say I've gotten bored with this genre, I admit that I am on the lookout for something a little different. And that's why THREE GRAVES FULL by Jamie Mason caught my attention. This "thriller" has been compared to a Coen brothers' film with its dark humor, so I thought it might be fun to check it out.

THREE GRAVES FULL has quite the unique premise. Get a load of this... Jason murdered a man, buried him in his backyard, and beginning to move on despite with his guilt. When a landscaper discovers a body (and then another) buried in Jason's yard, Jason figures it's all over; however, neither body is the one Jason buried. (It is kind of funny if you think about it!) As Jason's life begins to unravel, he becomes involved with an interesting cast of characters including some police detectives, the girlfriend of a murdered man, and a man who has been living with some pretty big secrets.

I don't know if I was expecting to love THREE GRAVES FULL, but I did think it had great potential to be a fun, and more importantly, unique read. Unfortunately, I ended up thinking it was just okay. There is no doubt that the writing was good, and at times, very very good; however, the story and characters didn't really hold my attention the entire time. In addition, I never felt as if the book gripped me the way a thriller ought to do.

That's not to say that the book wasn't entertaining because, at times, it most definitely was. I found myself laughing a lot at the beginning, and especially at Jason's predicament. I even found myself kind of liking him (and rooting for him) despite the whole murder thing. And boy were there some fun twists! But all of that still wasn't enough to make me say that I loved this book.

I am beginning to wonder if this genre of thriller just isn't for me. I seriously tried to appreciate the dark humor, but I admit that some of it kind of wore on me. The more I read, the less I enjoyed it -- if that makes sense. Furthermore, I thought the book went from funny to outlandish; and I definitely didn't love the huge chase scene at the end. In my opinion, it would have worked better in a movie than a novel.

Having said that, many readers will find THREE GRAVES FULL to be a great story! One reason for this is Ms. Mason's writing style. It was truly refreshing and original, and she has a way of describing characters and scenes in a totally unique way. I was actually quite impressed with her writing, and I wouldn't hesitate to try another one of her novels. THREE GRAVES FULL is her debut novel and I suspect we'll be seeing more of her in upcoming years!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Giveaway: Egmont USA Middle Grade Titles

Lately, I've been taking off more Sundays than not when it comes to posts; however, here's a little special Sunday treat. It's a giveaway for two Egmont USA middle grade titles -- CLONEWARD BOUND: THE CLONE CHRONICLES #2 by M.E. Castle and THE MAGICIAN'S TOWER: A SEQUEL TO THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET by Shawn Thomas Odyssey courtesy of Egmont USA and Media Masters.

Summary: Fisher Bas and Two were able to thwart the evil Dr. X, but after somehow surviving the explosion at TechX Enterprises, Two is in Hollywood looking for his "mother." Fisher must bring him back to Palo Alto before his cloning secret is discovered. When a class field trip to see the Dr. Devilish science show arises, it becomes the perfect opportunity for Fisher to find his clone. But all kinds of complications will get in the way--including Amanda Cantrell, who knows more than Fisher would like about Two's identity.

As Fisher, FP, and Amanda team up to find Two, they find trouble, high jinx, and the return of an evil mastermind--all set in the glitz of Hollywood. -- Egmont USA

Summary: In her first big case, Oona Crate was able to solve the mystery of her uncle's--the wizard of Dark Street--disappearance while exposing Red Martin as a criminal mastermind. Despite her success, Oona's detective agency has failed to take off. But a new challenge arises to capture her attention - The Magician's Tower Contest. Held every two years, no one has ever completed the array of dangerous tasks, riddles, and obstacles. Now brave souls--includ­ing Oona--from all over Dark Street will enter the contest in hopes of becoming the first successful contestant.

As the contest commences, a new case arises. A punchbowl--one with great magical powers--has disappeared from the carnival surrounding the Magician's Tower.

If Oona can find the culprit, she could use the bowl to answer her long-standing question about her mother and sister's death ­was she really at fault?

Full of magic, mystery, danger, and fun, The Magician's Tower continues the wonderful adventures of Oona Crate. -- Egmont USA

I haven't had a chance to read either of these books, but they look absolutely adorable and perfect for the middle grade reader in your life! To enter, just fill out the form below before Saturday, March 23rd at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Kid Konnection: Goodnight Baseball

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a new picture book that celebrates baseball!

Summary: A sweet, nostalgic goodnight to the thrill of a baseball game. This hardcover edition is produced in reinforced library binding and in partership with Sports Illustrated KIDS. -- Capstone

GOODNIGHT BASEBALL by Michael Dahl and illustrated by Christina Forshay is a terrific book! This cute picture book features a young boy's day at a baseball game and his eventual return home to his bed.

I am certain that Booking Son would have loved this book a few years ago; however, he is now past the ideal age for this book. The it's actually pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade; and I definitely think it leans towards the younger side of the age range. There are only a few words of rhyming text per page and it's a very quick read so even little ones will be able to sit still for the entire story.

I am a pretty big baseball fan so I was naturally drawn to this adorable book. It highlights much of the action of a ballgame including players, snacks, cheering fans and home runs. After a fun-filled day at the ballpark, the little boy and his father take time to say goodbye to all of the sights and sounds of the day. The father then drives the sleepy child and puts him to bed. It's very sweet and perfect for reading before bedtime!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how absolutely wonderful the illustrations are. Each page has detailed drawings of the ballpark and I thought they were extremely fun and colorful. I can see children of all ages exploring the pictures and discovering new things each time they read the book.

GOODNIGHT BASEBALL is a cute book for the little baseball fan in your life. Highly recommended!

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!