A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern

This book deals with the feelings that a friend of a missing girl has. Unlike in the book The Lovely Bones it is unclear if this friend, Jenny-May has been murdered, abducted, or just gotten lost and died of starvation. Not knowing causes pain, maybe more pain than dealing with the hatred that fills a heart after a murder. The not knowing where lost things/people are and the heartache this causes people is the basis of this book. It was interesting to think about the reactions and lives of friends in the same age goup as the missing child. The main character Sandy becomes tragically flawed and an obsession over missing things seems like a natural consequence to having a next door neighbor friend suddenly show up missing and never heard from again. Really it's every parents nightmare no matter if you kid is little or big. I can easily empathize with the characters in the book and pray that I am never forced to really live in this kind of nightmare. Aubrie having wondered off for 40 minutes was enough flood of emotion for me. The rate at wich people's are reported missing all around the world was quite staggering. I wondered what the real statics are. It's also interesting to think about memories being eventually lost. The memory of someone's laugh or smell or smile. It's true these are lost with the passing of time. I wish I could teach my children to have outstanding memories. People with near photographic memories are genius and while I don't expect that of my children giving them the gift of a strong memory seems very important. So should I commit to regular practice? Yes, but as of yet I haven't made it a high enough priority. There always seems to be so much to do. I diegres, the book was great.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I was hesitant to write a review for this book, there is so much that I can't wrap my mind around to form any solid opinions. It was very well written, captivating, the movie did a great job but yet I still couldn't put the book down. It does seem probable to me that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife. I just don't know how much of the proposed truths to accept into my views of religion and I don't feel like writing a review of my current status of religion. Maybe Constantine the Great did hold the Council of Nicaea where Paganisms was melded into Christianity and Christ being born of divine power was put to a vote. It also seems probable that the Catholic church used the Bible, compiled and edited to their own agenda to rise to power and influence in the world. The statement "we worship the gods of our fathers" is certainly true. Our parents teach us day by day what they feel is important in life weather it be Mormon parents, Catholic or Jewish. The majority of people will feel the same religously as their parents did, though to greater of lesser amounts. I do not know the answer to the religious uprising that this book stirs in me and others who have read the book or saw the movie. But I do know that I just need to try a little harder each day to make good choices, keep an open mind, learn from others (advice, mistakes, life experiences, friendships...) and to love deeply. Wheather or not all the facts in this book are right or not it needn't affect me so much. I needn't go on my own grail quest to find the answers to life. Although it was a great adventure book to read.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

This book came highly recommended to me from DeEtte and I've since found it on "must read" lists. I liked it but it was dark. I know I need to get over my dreams of 'happily ever after' but this book just did not leave me in my happy place when I was done with it. It did however give me insight into these fictional characters struggles that I find fascinating. What would I do in a similar situation? The story is from the point of view of a murdered 8 year old girl. I can still recall the description of the murder in my mind over a month later. I think of it when I pass corn feilds. I'm more worried now that my children will get abducted than before. I hope when (not if) disaster occurs my husband and I will face it clinging tightly together and not alone. I hope if I ever have to face the loss of a child that I won't go insane but know this is something I can't promise. I hope I never have to face a murderer. I also feel that rapists should get the death penalty. All in all I found this book disturbing but a nice slap of reality. Life does not end happily ever after for everyone.