"We are only as blind as we want to be"
                            ---Maya Angelou 


True to my word, I stopped reading all of the articles that venomously tore down each of the candidates running for President.  I decided that I would wait for the debates and listen to them explain their platform to us.  How many times Trump was married and why Clinton "stood by her man" is totally irrelevant to their abilities to govern.  So the first debate came and went, and I am more confused than ever as I watch the reactions of my fellow Americans.  Ms. Angelou's words ring oh so true.

Don't get me wrong, I understand why some people are choosing Trump and others are choosing Clinton.  Their platforms are definitely polar opposite in many areas, and each side draws a different type of voter.  My problem is with the people who refuse to see that this election isn't all black and white.  They are blinded by their devotion to one side. Although I am going to vote for Hillary Clinton, I do not agree with everything she says and does.  I will admit that she is more of a hawk than I would prefer.  I am not thrilled with her relationship with Wall Street, and I realize that she comes off over rehearsed and sometimes over confident.  I can say those things and still vote for her.
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Listening to a great many Trump enthusiasts insist that he won the debate is just plain frightening.  Tell me that you prefer his immigration policies or agree with his health care views. I can except that you are invigorated by his style.  I can respect your opinion that we need a President who is less of an insider.  These are all valid points in any election cycle.  What I can't understand is why people think it is necessary to stand behind everything his/her chosen candidate says or does, no matter how bazaar.  

Hillary was as well prepared as anyone could have been.  She laid out her plans for the next four years and defended each of her points.  She made sure that her experience was put out there, and explained why her stamina was surely intact.  She never lost her cool.  That is understandable...she has had years of experience in the political limelight.  Donald, is somewhat new to the political arena, and we can't expect him to have her composure.  On the other hand, we can expect him to prepare to face our nation.  His own people admit that he didn't. We can expect him to  keep cool when he is debating, even when unfairly attacked.  He didn't!  I even accept all of that.  What I can't accept is listening to his followers say he won a debate that he clearly fumbled.  I will listen to your opinions if you can admit that neither side is perfect, and Monday was just not Trump's finest hour.  That is okay.  He can learn from his mistakes if you let him believe he made some.

Neither Trump nor Clinton need your blind loyalty.  Our country and our politicians need you to open your eyes to their failings and gently push them to a direction that will serve us all. Stop pushing them into a corner in which they have no choice but to go against their morals.  Trump is not a vicious candidate who supports violence in his heart of hearts, but his backers are pushing him into that scenario to garner their votes.   Clinton doesn't necessarily believe in a strongly progressive platform, but her need for those votes pushes her in that direction.  Instead of pushing them into an "us against them" battle, let us forget blind loyalty to a person or party, and instead help them to be the best version of themselves.

The two books that I reviewed today feature Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Davis, a man who is truly trying to be the best version of himself.  I actually read Injustice by Lee Goodman first, not realizing that is is the second book in this series.  I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read the first one, Indefensible. Goodman makes his character's come alive, and while there are good courtroom scenes, the "who done it" escapades really made these books hard to put down.

As always, complete reviews of these two books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

​- Beverly

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Genre: Legal Thriller

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Unfortunately, I came upon Injustice, Goodman's second book featuring Nick Davis, before I read his first.  I was captured by his writing style and immediately grabbed a copy of book number one, Indefensible.  I was not disappointed.  Davis, a federal prosecutor, is a good guy with a few flaws.  The death of his infant son, years ago, is something he can't get over and sometimes influences his actions, but his moral fiber is a strong one, and the reader can't help but love him.

This story begins with a bird-watcher coming across two men seemingly burying something in a park. She reports it to the authorities, and Nick is brought into the case.  One death follows another, leading to the discoveries of other criminals and connections closer to home than Nick expected. 

While the mystery is fun to follow, it is his handling of the characters in his books that makes Goodman the kind of author who keeps calling you back.  Nick's ex-wife, Flora, is very much in his life, and their concern for each other is refreshing.  His feelings for witness Cassandra and his co-worker, Tina, show the reader a vulnerable side of Nick that is often missing in books describing Federal Prosecutors. His daughter, Lizzie, is a fun character as she contributes all of her fourteen year-old angst.

His male co-workers and the various criminals who weave in and out of Indefensible make this more than your typical "who done it."  I found myself really caring about what happened to these people and hoping that we see more of these characters in future books.

- Beverly


Publisher - Atria Books
Date of Publication -June 3, 2014

Genre: Legal Thriller

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It is not often that I read a "who done it" and wonder "who done it" for long.  I guess my English teacher training helps me to recognize foreshadowing and pick up obscure clues.  So it is with admiration that I say Injustice by Lee Goodman kept me guessing for most of the book.  I would suspect someone, the police would arrest that person, and suddenly I would be sure of his/her innocence.  The confusion drove me delightfully crazy.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Davis is a likable character whose happiness seems to be just inches from his grasp.  His backstory includes the death of his son and a divorce from Flora, a woman who he still admires.  Since she is married to Nick's good friend Chip, an FBI agent and good man, they spend a great deal of time together.  His current wife, Tina, is a defense attorney who is working for the Innocence Project, trying to free a man from death row. She is convinced of his innocence, even though he confessed and pleaded guilty.

Meanwhile Nick and his assistant Henry are working on a corruption investigation, and the reader watches them work around legislators who took bribes in order to get to the top of the ladder of corruption.  Henry's backstory is even more heartbreaking than Nick's, and his disfigurement has made his search for a significant other very difficult.  Luckily Tina's sister, Lydia sees past the physical impairment and falls in love with Henry.

Lydia's brutal murder is the third case that we are following as we read this well written legal thriller.  As the investigations continue, there are overlappings that can only happen in the world of fiction, and excitement builds.  Goodman has an easy style of writing, and the chapters fly by as we anxiously try to figure out "who done it."

- Beverly


Publisher - Atria/Emily Bestler Books 
Date of Publication - September 15, 2015

"Our country, right or wrong.  When right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right."  
  ---Carl Schurz


Those of you who are television fans might remember the "sweat hogs" in Gabe Kaplan's sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter."  These incorrigible teens (a young John Travolta leading their pack) showed America what I thought was an exaggerated  version of the high school classroom. Then I got my first job as a high school English teacher.  Granted, I knew what I was getting into, as I was the eighth teacher to attempt to teach these classes (one teacher actually ran out screaming in the middle of class), but those first few weeks were brutal.

I dealt with drugs, vulgar language, graffiti etched into my walls, and attempted arson, or some might say murder, when Joe tried to set the girl next to him on fire.  I handled it all like a pro, until they all refused to stand for the flag.  For some reason, that was the proverbial straw that broke my idealistic teacher's back. They were slouched there, talking over the pledge, and I lost my cool. I never really raised my voice, but the intensity of my emotions stopped their chatter.  I explained what the flag represented and the number of people who died defending it. I told them that they were lucky to live in a country of choice, and in my classroom they didn't have to pledge allegiance, but if they couldn't stand to show respect for their country, then what exactly would they respect. Tears actually ran down my frustrated face, and they all just stared in disbelief.  Interestingly enough, they all did stand for the flag in the days that followed.

Today, quite a few years have passed, and I want to give football player, Colin Kaepernick, a similar speech.  I want to tell him I understand his frustration and support his search for a change in a broken system.  I want to join him in his fight for equal rights and equal treatment for all people.  I want him to understand that his status as an athletic figure puts him in a unique position to lead young people in a much needed change.  He can speak to auditoriums filled with teens and encourage them to show respect, and he can talk with auditoriums filled with police officers and encourage them to show the same respect for our "innocent until proven guilty" system.  He can be a role model.  I want to tell him that our flag is not representing the bad that our country offers, and outwardly disrespecting it is counterproductive. 
 
I also want to tell him, that because of what it does represent...because of those that did die protecting what it represents...he has every right to take the knee rather than stand, and with tears once again streaming down my face, I will stand behind his choice.

Speaking of  high school classrooms, the first book I reviewed this week is To Sir, With Love by E.R. Braithwaite.  This memoir, originally written in 1959, is as timeless as the actions and attitudes of the young people it portrays.  The author talks about his first teaching job in London, and we watch as he teaches these incorrigible young people the importance of respect for themselves and others.  This is my second reading of this book.  I read it many years ago, and I found it helpful in forming my own teaching strategies.

The next book I read, Karolina's Twins by Ronald H. Balson, was one of those books you never forget.  Lena, an elderly holocaust survivor, comes to attorney Catherine and asks for her help.  Lena made a promise to her friend Karolina, when they were both very young women, and she needs help fulfilling it.  Catherine and her husband(and investigator), Liam, agree to help, and much of the book is Lena's story of her years in Poland during the horrors of WWII.  The history woven into this incredible tale is amazing, and the legal side- story keeps us in the present as we read about the past.  This is the third book in which Balson weaves history into the lives of Catherine and Liam, and I can't wait to see where he goes from here.

As always, full reviews of these two books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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Genre: Historical/Thriller

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I know that I reviewed Balson's second book, Saving Sophie, two weeks ago, but I could not resist Karolina's Twins when it came out two weeks ago.  I was not disappointed. Balson's ability to tell a story is up there with Leon Uris, and his research is impeccable.  This is the second of his books that takes us into the holocaust, and his ability to bring the reader there is actually frightening.

I gave up reading books about that time period many years ago, because they centered on life (and death) in the concentration camps, and the stories seemed to run into each other. Although Auschwitz does make an appearance, Balson's story centers around the life of Lena, a young girl growing up in Poland.

We first meet Lena Woodward when she asks Attorney Catherine and Liam, her investigator husband to help her search for Karolina's twins.  This elegant, elderly woman is desperate to tell her story, and Catherine agrees to listen. Lena begins to tell her story of life in Nazi occupied Poland, and the reader is instantly caught up in life that is too relatable for comfort. Seventeen at the time of the Nazi takeover, Lena watched everybody and everything she loved be taken from her.  The strength that she and her best friend, Karolina,  showed was remarkable as they were faced with one struggle after another. This coming of age tale is unlike any you have ever read.

This is the third in the series for Catherine and Liam, who are now married and expecting a child. When Lena's son tries to take legal control of her finances and move her to a facility for those with dementia, Catherine acts as Lena's attorney.  The court scenes give us a bit of a break in between the chapters that flashback to Lena's past, but the true strength of this book is in Lena's story.

This amazing look into an ugly part of history is beautifully told, and I am anxiously waiting for the next book in Balson's series.

- Beverly


Publisher - St. Martin's Griffin
Date of Publication - September 6, 2016

Genre: Memoir

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I read the original version of To Sir, With Love many years ago, and decide to read the kindle version this week.  This inspirational book written by E.R. Braithwaite has helped many teachers face the worst of days.  It is a memoir of sorts, that seems to prove that young people from any country and in any era will always have the same needs and respond well to those who recognize those needs.

Braitwaite's descriptive style captured me from chapter one.  He describes his ride to school on a bus, and makes the reader feel as though he/she is right there, eavesdropping in on the conversations going on around the anxious teacher.  Of course his descriptions of the school, the students and faculty, and life in London at the time added great depth to a very good story.

The book takes place in London, just after WWII, when jobs were not easy to come by, especially for a black man. So Rick Braithwaite, a Cambridge-educated engineer, takes a job teaching bigoted and unmotivated young white teenagers in London's East End.  He starts the job believing it will just be a job, but soon it becomes a calling.  He soon realizes that these young people will rise up to what is expected of them, and he begins to show them respect and expect it in return.  Reading this book many years ago helped form me into the teacher that I became, and I recommend it to anyone who ever has to deal with teenagers.

- Beverly


Publisher - Open Road Media 
Date of Publication - January 14, 2014

 “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
                                          ---Dalai Lama 
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I just read a Facebook post by a mother of a little boy whose friend has a peanut allergy.  When her son was three he watched his friend go into anaphylactic shock. Thank goodness the child survived, and his class learned a very important lesson in empathy that day.  Dairy was that child's allergen, and so dairy was no longer permitted in that classroom. No milk...no ice cream...no yogurt...nothing baked with milk...AND no one minded. These children wanted to help protect their friend.   

Not everyone thinks this way.  The author also told of the little boy whose nut allergy contributed to a nut free classroom.  The children knew this and handled it well.  It was a parent that was "inconvenienced" because she was told to remove the nut birthday cake she brought for her son's birthday celebration.  When the teacher again patiently explained the situation to the mother, her response was one of annoyance. "Can't he just eat something else?" she snapped.

It is difficult to fully appreciate what a parent of an allergy stricken child goes through, but I can assure you that spending every day worrying about your child's ability to catch his/her breath is more "inconvenient" than replacing a nut cake that should never have been brought into a nut free environment. While both of my children faced allergy issues in their childhood, luckily they were not severe enough to require them to carry an epi-pen at all times.  They did, however, have friends with serious food restrictions, and worrying about these children's problems ahead of their own desires helped build them into the empathetic adults who I admire.

Our society has become too "me" centered, with individual needs taking precedent over the good of many.  Universal health care is an example of thinking of others instead of one- self.  I thought long and hard about the repercussions of such a plan.  We had been paying an exorbitant amount to cover our health care for as long as I could remember.  I knew that my costs would probably remain the same or raise a bit, and my personal level of care might go down, because simple math told me that an influx of newly insured patients without an influx of new doctors meant longer waiting times and less attention. Hospitals would become over-crowded and specialists difficult to access, but in the end my vote was for some form of universal health plan, because the ability to pay should never determine whether a child (or adult for that matter) should live a healthy life.  

Our schools are trying to encourage students to see beyond themselves.  In most high schools community service hours are as necessary as credit hours in order to graduate. Students are encouraged to work in libraries, hospitals, or any other community organization that desperately needs help to accomplish their vital tasks. Yes, in order to raise happy, healthy children in our world today, it does take a village of family, friends and even strangers all pitching in and changing "me" centered to "we" centered, and teaching them to be kind in an often unkind world is our most important task.

Speaking of libraries, I read two books that you might want to check out this week. Fly Paper Soup - David Winter Mysteries by Cleve Sylcox is a light story about a Florida attorney and the "black widow" he is trying to defend.  

A much deeper and more disturbing book is John Connolly's latest, Time of Torment: A Charlie Parker Thriller.  Connolly begins with a terrifying two chapters and proceeds to introduce some of the most frightening characters in modern fiction.  There is an eerie quality about this well written book that will capture your imagination as you race to the finish. Scary but truly exciting novel.

As always, complete reviews of these two books will follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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Genre: Thriller

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Wow!  There is an eerie feeling about this book, right from page one.  The "Gray Man" is introduced to the reader, and his thoughts terrified me.  Instead of killing for the thrill, he kidnaps people, learns about their lives and then torments those that await their return.  Roger Ormsby, indeed lives in the gray shadows of the world, preying on those who least expect it.  Connolly's description of Ormsby's latest conquest in Time of Torment makes for a terrifying two chapters.  

He then introduces us to  attorney Eldritch and " the collector" in chapter three, and we are again entangled in a world only Connolly can build. When he finally introduces the protagonist, Charlie Parker, we aren't sure what to expect.  This is the 14th book in the Parker series, and it probably helps to have read a few previously, but this is still an excellent story on its own. Charlie is a bit different in this book, after a near death experience in the last.  The main storyline is about an ex-con Jerome Burnel, a hero who saved the lives of several people by killing the "bad guys."  He explains that the thieves' angry relatives  set him up for child pornography, and he spent five years being tormented in prison.  He is out now and believes they are still after him.  He disappears shortly after seeing Charlie, and the hunt is on.

Parker ends up in a place called "the Cut" in West Virginia, where people don't take kindly to strangers.  They live among themselves and the criminal mentality runs The Cut. The various parts of the story start coming together, and characters from his previous novels show up in Time of Torment.  Angel and Louis are particularly interesting and the relationship and dialog between them and Charlie add much to the book. 

Connelly writes like few others, and this book particularly has a spooky feel throughout.  If you have never experienced Parker before, you are in for a treat. Just make sure you read it with all of the lights lit around you.

- Beverly


Publisher - Atria/Emily Bestler Books 
Date of Publication - August 2, 2016

Genre: Mystery/Legal Thriller

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The story of the "black widow" is a theme that occurs more often than I can count.  Novelists and play-writes may change the names and locales, but there is always a beautiful woman and a collection of dead husbands.  The question is...are they always guilty?

In Fly Paper Soup David Winters, Florida attorney, is enjoying the sunshine (yes, he is slathered in SPF twenty-something) when his secretary calls to announce a new case.  His Army buddy, Sean, needs him to come to Missouri and defend Sean's Aunt Sharon.  She is accused of killing seven husbands.  It is a bit sketchy for me at this point, since attorney David is more of a nuisance lawyer than a murder lawyer, but Sean has money and David "owes him."  

While the case seems pretty open and shut, with Sharon spending the rest of her days locked away from any chance of a husband number eight, David does his best to investigate and defend her.  Instead of giving anything away, I will just recommend this as a good book that will make you smile.  The characters are fun to follow, there is mystery and intrigue to keep you thinking, and David's fight against a not so scrupulous prosecutor was well played.  

Definitely a fun beach read for these hot summer days.

- Beverly 


Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - September 13, 2015

“To a mother, a son is never a fully grown man; and a son is never a fully grown man until he understands and accepts this about his mother.” —unknown


Michael is visiting us this week.  He left the bustle of NYC and is relaxing in the South Florida sunshine.  I get to pamper him with as many of his favorite meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as he can consume and pick his brain on how to update my Madderly Review web page.  Sometimes I think fondly about the "good old days" that my grandmother talked about, when families all lived within a few blocks of each other, and every Sunday dinner was a feast.

Of course those were also the days before penicillin, when my great grandfather, the tailor, died in his twenties from blood poisoning he contracted from a pinprick, and my grandmother's brother succumbed to TB in his thirties.  It was also the days when my grandmother washed clothing by hand and hung them on lines in the yard, never mind the upcoming storm. She dealt with an ice box instead of the side-by-side, door-in-door, ice maker equipped refrigerator that I am fortunate enough to have. She also dealt with the Great Depression,  people jumping out of windows and rationing.

My parents' generation dealt with WWII, polio and eventually, the Cold War.  I remember being told to hide under my desk during drills to protect us from a possible bomb strike.  Even as a kindergartner I realized that my broken down little desk was not going to be much help, and we grew up in fear of Russia, Cuba and any place with communist leanings. Yet my father often waxes nostalgic over his younger days while he discusses the problems he sees in today's society.  I guess it is inherent in us to look back and remember the good while the bad disappears.

I love my todays!  I definitely wish I could spend a day or two with my children in various stages of their lives, but I wouldn't give up the time I spend with the adults they have become.  I can't imagine a world without the new people that they have brought to my life either.  Yes, I wish that Mike lived closer, but if he did I wouldn't get the extended visits that I love so much.  The wonderful thing about life is that each stage can bring joy if we let it, and our memories will always be there to fill up the quiet times.

Ronald H Balson's book, Saving Sophie, did an amazing job tapping into the memories of its characters to bring us a much richer description of the Middle East controversies. Balson's research is amazing, and brings a depth to this wonderful story-line of a child kidnapped and brought to the Middle East by her grandparents, and the father who will do anything to get her back.  I just couldn't put this book down.

On a lighter note, Justin Taylor's The Computer Code Mystery is a wonderful book for young adults, featuring girls who are involved in science and math, and a mystery that is exciting for all ages.  Great gift for the pre-teens in your family.

As always, complete reviews of these books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

Click on the book cover to order a title mentioned in today's blog:​​​​​