Severance followed Candice Chen throughout her life with sections from her childhood, the time surrounding her move to NYC, and then during “The End” due to the fever pandemic.

I found this to be a quick and compelling read. I’m that that I picked it up from the cruise book exchange library.

One of my favorite memoirs to read! It’s amazing to think that Scott and Misha could live up in the ISS for a year.

Thank you, Scott. For serving your country, for participating in science, and sharing your story!

I picked up Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil after seeing a few people that I follow on Instagram give it raving reviews. I usually end up loving all of the books that these people recommend, but sadly, this one fell short. Part one of the book had me wanting to give it two stars. Luckily, part two saved the book for me and managed to make me a little more interested in the story. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is based in picturesque Savannah, GA and combines the glamour of southern living and hospitality with the petty crimes people can commit and get away with. My first issue with the book is that after reading the whole book, I still don't understand where the title comes from besides maybe the approximate time of the murder in the Mercer house. Part one seemed like just the back story, introducing all of the people in the story one by one with the narrator. Part two was focused on the murder (which is why I picked up the book in the first place, I love true crime books), but the only thing that really kept me reading to the end was Minerva the 'voodoo doctor' and wanting to see if Jim would get away with it or not.

Good thing Part Two of the book picked up because if it hadn't, I would have given Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil two stars.

April 20, 1999.

20 years ago. Personally, I would turn three years old two days later. I don’t remember this happening.

All I know is that there have been countless school shootings since and nothing has been done to stop them.

Dave Cullen wrote a story full of facts. While some seem to be angry that he includes background on the killers. That he names them. However, without the background on the killers, we wouldn’t know why they wanted to do it. Why they planned for two years.

To his credit, Cullen also shares the struggles of the victims and their families. How this one, school shooting 20 years ago still affects them for years on.

He sheds light on the mistakes that the Jeffco sheriffs office makes. We can only hope that their mistakes are never made again.

Now, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month (May), which is the month that I am read this in, I’d like to share a quote that struck me from the epilogue.

“We should not be identify teen depression just because of school shooters. We should do it to slash school dropout rates, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol addiction, car accidents, and general misery. But if we are to act, this is the answer. Teen depression: the greatest unlearned lesson of Columbine.” (p.387)

The case of Lizzie Borden is one that had always baffled me. Lizzie was put on trial for the murder of her father and step-mother and was later acquitted. Part of me thinks that a jury of men couldn’t fathom the thought of a woman committing such a heinous crime and therefore found her not guilty. In my opinion, Lizzie was guilty. ⠀⠀
While I enjoyed learning more details of the case, I found myself bored by the extra details from the court room and the conversational pieces from reporters that seemed out of place.

Overall, I felt like I was reading a 300 page Wikipedia article.

5 stars.

Listened to the audiobook in less than twenty four hours and I don’t regret a minute of it.

Hearing Billy talk about his job as well as the cases that got him started, was amazing.

I am truly living for this True Crime moment and I want to thank Karen and Georgia (of My Favorite Murder) for introducing us to the great men that are Billy Jensen and Paul Holes.

Oh was this good.

Evil Has a Name is comprised of interviews with victims and those in law enforcement and forensics that finally helped bring Joseph DeAngelo to the front of the Golden State Killer investigation.

Without Paul Holes, this may not have happened.

There are not enough words to express how much I loved this book and love Kristin Hannah’s writing.

I mostly listened to this on Audible, and I highly recommend it.

This helps express how important a community and family can be in cases of domestic abuse.