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Starting in the 1970's a man bilks millions out of unsuspecting women, abuses their daughters and leaves countless people in the lurch. Once caught he charms his way into the justice system by ratting out his fellow inmates with testimony that will put them away and reduce the time Paul Skalink spends in any jail cell. This pattern continues for decades and will leave an innocent man on death row for most of his life. Pamela Colloff gives us a riveting account of gross injustice - from cops, to judges and beyond. How can such an unreliable witness with everything to gain and nothing to lose have been trusted with others lives? 4 stars 
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Whaling has never been a safe profession but while we think of accidents from storms or an angry whale, the mariners in the Pacific also faced massive storms far from land. If shipwrecked you were left with hopefully finding an island- one that supported life and if inhabited, had native populations that didn't see you as a threat. In 1832 one such storm took out the whaling ship The Mentor leaving what was left of the crew on a lifeboat headed for one of the many small islands around Palau. Some relationships worked and the islanders need for iron could be exchanged for fresh supplies. If you were unlucky and ended up with a group of islanders who had not had good experiences with foreigners on their shores you faced being attacked, starved and enslaved. This is an interesting look not only on the European idea of conquering/civilizing the indigenous people but also the lack of urgency in saving those left behind. If it wasn't for one of the survivors writing a book this account would have been lost to time. Readers of THE WIDE, WIDE SEA and other Pacific Islander books will get much out of this. 4 stars  The genius of the master architect Frank Lloyd Wright is matched only by his bad luck/poor judgement concerning the women in his life. He, as many creative figures are, driven by ego and the need for constant admiration finds him bored with his first wife and children once his career takes off. It is Mamah, the wife of one of his clients, who captures his full attention and heart. Sadly, his current wife won't divorce him, his lover is also married with children and society openly looks down on his indiscretion . He builds a hideaway in rural Wisconsin where they live happily until a tragic killing spree by their butler occurs killing Mamah, two of her children and several others. Wright is devastated until he meets his last wife causing yet another scandal. I enjoyed learning about Wright's architectural beginnings and influences more than how he emotionally mistreated his family and the scandalous affairs. As with Casey Sherman's other books the reader gains an understanding of the times and culture as well as the main event setting the story on a solid foundation before decorating the rooms. 4 stars  An interesting look at a strange mission into the unknown territory of everything north of Mexico. El Norte Misterioso was a quest by Francisco Coronado to expand (conquer) the native population and mineral rich land just as the Spanish had done in Mexico. Not knowing what to expect and going off of a report of a city of gold they were ill prepared for the harsh terrain, the sheer size (2500 miles) and that the peoples they met might not understand what they wanted or give up easily. The author does a great job of setting the scene especially what it must have looked like for the native people to see horses and men head to toe in metal for the first time screaming latin at them or other languages that they had no way of understanding. Coronado was desperate to make this his claim to fame and impress his mother in law as well as the Spanish but it did not go as planned. To think that this began in 1540 and the native people lived there unbothered once more until the westward expansion. This story will resonate with history lovers and those who enjoyed Erik Larson's storytelling. 4 stars  A sad family drama that leads into corruption, lies and big money in 2019 London. A teenage boy lies dead on the cement below the high-rise building where he fell. A suicide or murder? The most troubling question of all is how did a kid from a middle class neighborhood end up hanging out with wealthy Russian mafia and less than honest businessmen. The parent's search for answers dug up more questions about who their son claimed to be and the wild life that his alter ego was living underneath their noses. Interesting narrative of lies and ambition in a city that had a scary underside. Readers of true crime as well as family drama will find much to love here. A sad family drama that leads into corruption, lies and big money in 2019 London. A teenage boy lies dead on the cement below the high-rise building where he fell. A suicide or murder? The most troubling question of all is how did a kid from a middle class neighborhood end up hanging out with wealthy Russian mafia and less than honest businessmen. The parent's search for answers dug up more questions about who their son claimed to be and the wild life that his alter ego was living underneath their noses. Interesting narrative of lies and ambition in a city that had a scary underside. Readers of true crime as well as family drama will find much to love here. 4 1/2 stars  Susan Aiken's memoir of her aloneness, both in childhood and as an adult in remote Alaska, is a study of perseverance , stubbornness and the desire to live life on your own terms. At a time when young girls are thinking about dating, friends and their teen years Susan went to Alaska alone. With no money, no family support and no friends to take her in she managed to survive on her own. Later she fell in love and raised a family but longed for the quiet remote world in Alaska. Taking an offer to help run a very remote camp she left her family and returned to a life that most would find unlivable. Animal attacks, freak storms, extreme isolation and then years of a being the focus of a reality series rounded out this incredible story of a human lone wolf making her den mere miles from the Arctic Circle. An amazing story of survival and trust that will appeal to adventure seekers everywhere. 4 stars  A mostly self taught diver and ocean archeologist yearns of finding the big treasure. From his childhood in Cuba to moving to the U.S. Roger Dooley was determined to find the largest Spanish sunken treasure shipwreck in history. The problem is he had to locate it without knowing the general area where it sank, searching for any documents over 300 years ago, then finance it and then put a claim on it before local governments or other treasure seekers could. In superb storytelling Julian Sancton shares Roger Dooley's life and obsession with finding the San Jose as well as the history of Europe's thirst for gold and silver that led to the fateful battle and ship sinking and the early history of deep sea wreck exploration and treasure salvage. The one and a million chance he would find it and the toll it would take. Armchair history buffs, wannabe treasure seekers and curious readers who enjoy a biography of a man who wouldn't give up on his dream. It is an enjoyable and thrilling journey that readers of the Key West Florida treasure hunters, the search for the Titanic and THE WIDE WIDE SEA will enjoy. 4 stars  A National Geographic journalist provides us with a beautiful glimpse into one of the harshest landscapes on Earth - the Arctic Circle. Neil Shea begins looking for the effects of climate change on the people, animals and land but it evolves into a tender story of kindness, perseverance and hope from the people who live there and who depend on this fragile ecosystem. He goes into the history and culture through a wide sweep of the Arctic from Alaska to Finland. It is obvious that telling this story and his experiences meant alot to him. It is educational, entertaining and a call to action all at once and will appeal to nature lovers, people concerned with the effects of climate change and the history and anthropology of an area less explored. It might also serve as a travelogue for the hardy or for the armchair variety! 4 stars  Christine uncovered some shocking truths about her father and grandparents. Growing up her father was very quiet about his upbringing, parents and siblings but he had wonderful stories about growing up in Hawaii but even in his young years nothing about his parents or siblings. Over a span of decades Christine searched for information about her family history but nothing could reconcile the warm and caring father she knew with the cold Nazi family of spies he grew up in. The audio was incredible and gave enough human interest background to balance the families horrific spying for the Japanese and Germans helping to guide the attack on Pearl Harbor. For fans of THE AMERICANS, war crimes, the downfall of Pearl Harbor and the aftermath of war. 4 stars  Part memoir and part study of animal/human communication this is for animal lovers, pet owners and all those humans who are just trying to understand the world around us a bit better. Amelia Thomas is a new farmer with pigs, dogs, chickens and at least one moody horse. Each chapter is a month in her first year where she and her family are getting to know their new surroundings and animal charges. In many chapters she delves deeper and interviews animal researchers and animal whisperers of many backgrounds to explore animals on land and sea. Heartfelt and bittersweet at times (like the chapter on her horse) it is jammed with information. I really enjoyed life on the farm and some of the more unusual encounters but found myself skimming over the more detailed studies. It makes for interesting conversation and food for thought if you ever find yourself wanting to get away from the city and buy a farm. 3 1/2 stars  |
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