Hello readers,

We here we are weeks after we all should have finished Defending Jacob and be well into the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  I find them both disturbing works of literature.  Gotta find some feel good books!

BTW: I was keeping a list of your suggestions for future books of the Month and I goofed.  I was cutting and pasting on my iPad and lost all of your suggestions.  So, Jennifer Christopher if you are still out there, please email me the books you suggested in February.  Maria, I have the suggestions from Penny but any others you gave me would be appreciated.  Eileen, I am not sure if you gave me some suggestions but if you have any please email me.   I hate when I am electronically challenged but do appreciate your cooperation.

So, how do you all feel about Defending Jacob?  As I said I found it very disturbing.  The family seemed too one-dimensional to me.  Landry in a small way tries to make the mom seems caring at the funeral  but I found her character to be flat, although when tragedy strikes a family like it certainly did this one, each person reverts to their comfort zone.  Maybe this is the reason I found the ending so surprising.  Could it be?     Was it really cleverness on the part of the author?

I would never want a relative or friend to defend me or someone in my family.  As the saying goes: a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.  In 'real life'Andy should have not been involved at all in the defense and looking back on the story now - maybe Jacob did it!  However, does that have anything to do with his heredity?  Can things like violence be passed from generation to generation?  Is maturity the ability to overcome our base impulses.

I know, bullying is a big no-no in our society now but sometimes the less smart, popular, athletic, musically gifted, etc. have to step up and defend their territory.  I don't know if this happened in the book but maybe Jacob and his friends were being bullied and as a group decided to stand up for themselves.  Maybe Ben was murdered by more than one of them.  Did anyone else think of that?

Usually movie editions of books I have read never live up to my expectations.  Two exceptions to that have been Harry Potter and Twilight.  Maybe those books are so description in a youthful way that the movies must be on target.  I can see the mom being played by the actress on Law and Order, Mariska Hargitay oand John Kusak for Andy.  The grandfather should be played by someone who gives us all the creeps - like Christopher Walken.

Write to the blog and tell us what you think.  Have a wonderful day and  - May is just around the corner so get reading!  I have to find something easy to read for May --- help!

Happy Reading,
Barbara