Discussion
"Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society" by Judy Christie & Lisa Wingate. Content Warning.
From the 1920s to 1950, Georgia Tann ran a black-market baby business at the Tennessee Children's Home Society in Memphis. She offered up more than 5,000 orphans tailored to the wish lists of eager parents--hiding the fact that many weren't orphans at all, but stolen sons and daughters of poor families, desperate single mothers, and women told in maternity wards that their babies had died. The publication of Lisa Wingate's novel “Before We Were Yours” brought new awareness of Tann's lucrative career in child trafficking. Adoptees who knew little about their pasts gained insight into the startling facts behind their family histories. Encouraged by their contact with Wingate and award-winning journalist Judy Christie, who documented the stories of fifteen adoptees in this book, many determined Tann survivors set out to trace their roots and find their birth families. “Before and After” includes moving and sometimes shocking accounts of the ways in which adoptees were separated from their first families. Often raised as only children, many have joyfully reunited with siblings in the final decades of their lives. In “Before and After”, Wingate and Christie tell of first meetings that are all the sweeter and more intense for time missed and of families from very different social backgrounds reaching out to embrace better-late-than-never brothers, sisters, and cousins. In a poignant culmination of art meeting life, long-silent victims of the tragically corrupt system return to Memphis with Wingate and Christie to reclaim their stories at a Tennessee Children's Home Society reunion . . . with extraordinary results.
By Kristen Barenthaler3 years ago in BookClub
"Burn Boston Burn" by Wayne Miller. Content Warning.
A conspiracy of 9 men, including 3 Boston cops and a Boston firefighter, burned Boston and surrounding communities in the early 1980s due to tax-cutting measures that caused layoffs of hundreds of police and firefighters. Over 2 years, these fire buffs turned arsonists, torched 264 buildings, causing millions of dollars in damages and hundreds of injuries. The city was ablaze with nightly fires, sirens wailing through the streets and people too afraid to sleep. This book interweaves the activities of the arsonists with those of the investigators, the firefighters and the citizens of the area. Readers will shake their heads in disbelief at the brazen and wanton actions of these political terrorists.
By Kristen Barenthaler3 years ago in BookClub
"A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard. Content Warning.
On 10 June 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in Tahoe, California. It was the last her family and friends saw of her for over eighteen years. On 26 August 2009, Dugard, her daughters, and Phillip Craig Garrido appeared in the office of her kidnapper's parole officer in California. Their unusual behavior sparked an investigation that led to the positive identification of Jaycee Lee Dugard, living in a tent behind Garrido's home. During her time in captivity, at fourteen and seventeen, she gave birth to two daughters, both fathered by Garrido. Dugard's memoir is written by the 30-year-old herself and covers the period from the time of her abduction in 1991 until now. In her stark, utterly honest, and unflinching narrative, Jaycee opens up about what she experienced, including how she feels a year after being found. Garrido and his wife Nancy have since pleaded guilty to their crimes.
By Kristen Barenthaler3 years ago in BookClub
The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer by Liza Rodman & Jennifer Jordan. Content Warning.
Growing up on Cape Cod in the 1960s, Liza Rodman was a lonely little girl. During the summers, while her mother worked days in a local motel and danced most nights in the Provincetown bars, her babysitter—the kind, handsome handyman at the motel where her mother worked—took her and her sister on adventures in his truck. But there was one thing she didn’t know; their babysitter was a serial killer. Some of his victims were buried—in pieces—right there, in his garden in the woods. Though Tony Costa’s gruesome case made screaming headlines in 1969 and beyond, Liza never made the connection between her friendly babysitter and the infamous killer of numerous women, including four in Massachusetts, until decades later. Haunted by nightmares and horrified by what she learned, Liza became obsessed with the case. Now, she and co-writer Jennifer Jordan reveal the chilling and unforgettable true story of a charming but brutal psychopath through the eyes of a young girl who once called him her friend.
By Kristen Barenthaler3 years ago in BookClub
"The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil" by Philip G. Zimbardo - Book Club Discussion. Content Warning.
The Lucifer Effect explains how—and the myriad reasons why—we are all susceptible to the lure of “the dark side.” Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can work in concert to make monsters out of decent men and women. Here, for the first time and in detail, Zimbardo tells the full story of the Stanford Prison Experiment, the landmark study in which a group of college-student volunteers was randomly divided into “guards” and “inmates” and then placed in a mock prison environment. Within a week the study was abandoned, as ordinary college students were transformed into either brutal, sadistic guards or emotionally broken prisoners. By illuminating the psychological causes behind such disturbing metamorphoses, Zimbardo enables us to better understand a variety of harrowing phenomena, from corporate malfeasance to organized genocide to how once-upstanding American soldiers came to abuse and torture Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib. He replaces the long-held notion of the “bad apple” with that of the “bad barrel”—the idea that the social setting and the system contaminate the individual, rather than the other way around.
By Kristen Barenthaler3 years ago in BookClub
Amazon Basics Shagreen Journal, 2-Pack
Amazon Basics Shagreen Journal redefines the art of journaling, seamlessly blending aesthetic elegance with practical functionality. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this journal stands as a testament to sophistication and durability. The cover, made of high-quality synthetic Shagreen leather, not only radiates a luxurious charm but also ensures longevity, protecting your thoughts and musings for years to come.
By Nite Stories3 years ago in BookClub
Think and Grow Rich
Unveiling the Wealth of Wisdom: A Comprehensive Review of "Think and Grow Rich" In the realm of personal development literature, one timeless beacon of inspiration stands tall — Napoleon Hill's magnum opus, "Think and Grow Rich." First published in 1937, this literary masterpiece has transcended generations, leaving an indelible mark on the minds of countless readers seeking success, prosperity, and a profound understanding of the human mind's potential. This essay embarks on a journey through the corridors of this transformative work, unraveling its key themes, timeless principles, and enduring relevance.
By JANE SMITH3 years ago in BookClub
Fantasy Worlds and Folklore: The Magical Realm of 2019-Present Pinoy Middle-Grade Books
The emergence of fantasy worlds ingeniously interwoven with the patterned design that represents Filipino folklore is a significant phenomenon that became closely linked to Pinoy middle-grade literature during 2020 and beyond. These magical tales not only take young readers into a world of magic but also offer an entry point to the vast cultural treasure trove that is the Philippines.
By Shella Mae Villanueva3 years ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: The Trout Wail by Greg Buck
Greg Buck has written something in "The Trout Wail" which is an unexpected and rather enjoyable thriller. The book starts with Molly Hund having a fallout with her boss, Donald, a seemingly innocuous disagreement which we soon learn has much deeper repercussions for Molly, as Donald is not all that he seems to be and the extent of his reach and his purpose is made manifest as the book progresses. Also ,at the start of the book, Molly then has to defend herself against hired hurters and manages to escape and is helped in this by coyotes, who appear to protect her.
By Rachel Deeming3 years ago in BookClub
My 3(and a half) Reading Goals for the Year
To start off with a very honest answer I want to read 100 books. Why? Because why not? I believe that I can do it, it’s only eight and a bit books a month and I’ve already read six books by the time I’m writing this. I have a strong capability to read books really fast and so I thought I’d give myself a few additional challenges to make the task harder than it needs to be.
By Terri Allen3 years ago in BookClub
