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Becky W. (Beckaru) - Reviews

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Abandoned Prayers: The Shocking True Story of Obsession, Murder, and 'Little Boy Blue'
Abandoned Prayers: The Shocking True Story of Obsession, Murder, and 'Little Boy Blue'
Author: Gregg Olsen
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 72
Review Date: 6/21/2011


This book reflects excellent and extensive research. It is very well-written. It is long, but isn't overdone nor could be shortened like some books that are 400 pages.


Bitter Harvest : A Woman's Fury, A Mother's Sacrifice
Bitter Harvest : A Woman's Fury, A Mother's Sacrifice
Author: Ann Rule
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 175
Review Date: 12/11/2015


I think this is probably Ann Rule's worst book. I love her work, but this book was clearly not her best effort. She seemed to be taken in by the slick "victim" and discounted the actual facts.


Blackfeet Indian Stories
Blackfeet Indian Stories
Author: George Bird Grinnell
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 11/7/2012


I am a Montanan who minored in Native American History. Although I am not Blackfeet, I have always had a deep respect for this tribe. They were always a self-sufficient, wholesome people. This book had some stories I already knew from other tribes, but it was interesting learning the Blackfeet version. It has a nice history of the Blackfeet people, too.


Dark Dreams : A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines  Homicide and the Criminal Mind
Review Date: 8/18/2011


This is an excellent book and well-written. I especially liked the overview of the Brett Beyers case because I was a student at MSU when the murders took place, although I didn't know him or his victims.


Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Review Date: 11/28/2016


I purchased this book because Quanah Parker's granddaughter, a dear friend of mine in her late 80s, had recently passed away. I wanted to know more about the ancestor whom she loved so much. I'm well-versed on most indigenous groups in the United States. But, I guess I didn't know as much about the Comanche as I thought I did. That said, it was a good book. Quanah Parker was quite the fellow. And, his granddaughter was a wonderful lady.


Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone for Everything
Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone for Everything
Author: Iyanla Vanzant
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 10/17/2016


This book has some helpful ideas, but is mostly for someone into "tapping," which I am not.


Grandmother's Grandchild: My Crow Indian Life (American Indian Lives)
Review Date: 12/17/2012


I became interested in this book because Alma became my mentor after I attended one of her lectures while I was in college. It was a good book with good information. However, it was a bit disjointed, especially in the beginning.


Heart Full of Lies: A True Story of Desire and Death
Heart Full of Lies: A True Story of Desire and Death
Author: Ann Rule
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 191
Review Date: 12/11/2015


More like book full of lies. The saving grace for this book is that it was well-written. The author seemed to discount a lot of facts in the case, which inspired me to do a lot of research. I found that she ended up paying thousands of dollars in lawsuits. There are nearly 300 errors in the book, which are all documented by court records. It made me wonder if she actually did any research or just made it up. Ann Rule is/was one of my favorite authors. But, she missed the boat big time with this book.


It's Okay to Take a Nap and Other Reassuring Truths for Mothers Everywhere
Review Date: 7/7/2011


Full of wisdom, and reassuring thoughts. I also bought this for a relative going through postpartum depression after her 4th child. She LOVED it.


The Lighthouse Keeper
The Lighthouse Keeper
Author: James Michael Pratt
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 35
Review Date: 9/29/2011


This was a very enjoyable book with some discrepancies. For instance, in 1949, Kathleen would have been 6 years old, not 4. And, at first, it says that Uncle Billie told Anna about his wife and children. Then, later, it says that Peter wrote her about it in a letter. And, it says that Alexander was Billie's firstborn son, when he actually was the second born son and third born child.
It wasn't very clear what happened to Billie's property in Ireland. Did he hire people to care for it? No one in the family ever went back to it.

I wasn't sure why the author would make Uncle Billie, a man in his fifties, out to be an old man.

I didn't care for the interactions with General Patton. I've never liked it when an author has a real person interacting with fictional characters, giving the real person actions and words that never happened.

But, other than those few things, this is a very good book. It is the story of much heartache, but valiantly overcoming grief and finding a greater purpose.


Living by the Power of Faith
Living by the Power of Faith
Author: Gene R. Cook
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 8/12/2015


A thought-provoking book. It is full of good ideas and things I hadn't of.


Out of the Night: A Story of Tragedy and Hope from a Survivor of the 1959 Montana-Yellowstone Earthquake
Review Date: 10/19/2019


This is a well-written book. However, if you're looking for a book about the earthquake itself, this is not it. It is the personal account of one of the survivors. It is mostly her life story before and after the earthquake in which her husband and three of her four children perished. It's a good book, but has very little about the earthquake.


Promise Bridge
Promise Bridge
Author: Eileen Clymer Schwab
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 9
Review Date: 6/16/2011


Except for the horrific reflection of animal cruelty in the beginning, I really enjoyed this book. I understand that it sets just what a scumbag Twitch is, but I could've done with out that visual. But, I did delight when the mother crow got her revenge on him. It is set during the years immediately preceding the Civil War. Very few works of fiction have I given a 5 star rating, but this book earned it. The characters are well-developed and make one feel like they know them. This author didn't leave out a thing! I was glad that Winston was the one who got to do Twitch in. But, I was really vying for it to be Willy Jack come out of nowhere to help again.


Rebecca's Choice (Adams County, Bk 3)
Rebecca's Choice (Adams County, Bk 3)
Author: Jerry S. Eicher
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 23
Review Date: 12/27/2011


This was definitely the best book in the series. It was a very good book. One error that I noticed was when it referred to Rebecca's cousin, Jonathan, as her nephew.

I wondered if John was so set on joining the dreaded Mennonites if the Amish Bishop had refused to marry them, why would he not think to just go to the justice of the peace? It would make more sense and he wouldn't have to change religions. Although, they would likely be shunned or worse. But, they would have anyway.

Many of it was expected, but some was a surprise. The ending was excellent. Greed and rapaciousness are never a good combination.

I really would like to see another book with these characters, perhaps continuing with Luke & Susie.


Rebecca's Promise (Adams County, Bk 1)
Rebecca's Promise (Adams County, Bk 1)
Author: Jerry S. Eicher
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 36
Review Date: 9/15/2011


This is a very good book with good character development. I like that there are essentially two main stories ongoing throughout the book.

I can see why M-Jay left all his of his estate to his sister and not to his children if they're all as greedy as Rachel. One would wonder if she ever did love her husband at all. If my aunt was ill and dying, my concern would be about losing her and seeing to her needs, not about what I hoped to inherit. Emma seems like a sensible, loving person and a shrewd businesswoman.

Luke seems like a good person and would have a better life if he would get away from his mother's clutches. Rachel seems to never be satisfied with anything and impossible to please.

John seems like a nice enough fellow, but has a controlling and jealous streak a mile wide. One can't blame Rebecca for being concerned about his attitude.


Rebecca's Return (Adams County, Bk 2)
Rebecca's Return (Adams County, Bk 2)
Author: Jerry S. Eicher
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 24
Review Date: 9/13/2011


I did enjoy this book. It is fairly well-written and the characters are well-developed. My issue with the book is the author's depiction of law enforcement and emergency medicine in the state of Ohio. I certainly hope that it is an inaccurate portrayal. As an EMT for almost 16 years, there are times I've had to "load and go," but never before at least packaging a patient in John's condition on a backboard and stabilizing his c-spine. And, any doctor worth his salt would NEVER wait until morning to do a CT scan on a head injury patient. They are routinely ordered in the E.R. as are MRIs when warranted. I've also never known any hospital to admit a patient in John's condition so quickly. Typically, it's after hours of tests in the E.R. And, then he'd be transferred to the ICU, not a regular room.

As a sheriff's office dispatcher for 15 years, I was astounded at the unprofessional manner in which the deputies and "night receptionist" conversed on the radio. I work for a smaller department, but we'd all be in trouble with the brass if we used the radio like that. I'm also glad that our deputies have portable radios and don't have to run back to their patrol cars to talk to us.

Over all, it really is a good story and interesting plot.


Roots
Roots
Author: Alex Haley
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 121
Review Date: 1/9/2011


Well written, interesting saga


A Single Voice
A Single Voice
Author: Kristen McMain Oaks
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 5/6/2012


This is an excellent book. I really enjoyed it. It touched on almost all my feelings, fears, and frustrations as a single adult. I only wish that she'd have given more of a bio of herself, her courtship, wedding, family, etc. It was a little disjointed in places, but otherwise very well written.


The Story of Me and My Grandma (Life Canvas)
The Story of Me and My Grandma (Life Canvas)
Author: Parragon Books
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 11/21/2016


I ordered this because I had a close relationship with my grandmother. But, it is more for a child to do as a gift for his/her grandmother. My sister is rearing two of her grandchildren. I gave it to the nine-year-old to do for her. She's had her since she was four months old and she is even more of a grandma's girl than I was. It was a huge hit with them both.


The Tortilla Curtain
The Tortilla Curtain
Author: T. C. Boyle
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 188
Review Date: 5/1/2010


I was 90 pages into this book before it became interesting and was no longer deathly boring. I can honestly say that I have no idea what it is about. It is supposedly about the American Dream, but mostly it's about the lives of two couples and illegal immigration. I would not recommend it, especially to animal lovers such as myself.


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