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Waking in Time

I probably liked this book more than I would have had it not been set on the UW-Madison campus.  It was fun to know the dorms and halls mentioned, the college traditions referred to, and a few actual historical events that happened.

In this book, a college freshman keeps waking up in a different decade but in her same dorm room (different roommate).  Obviously freaked out, she tries to determine why this is happening and befriends a professor who has met her in the past.  Romance and a little mystery make this a predictable but cute story.  A fun, easy read, especially for alums.

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

Wow, cults are crazy.  I had caught some parts of a documentary on Jonestown a few years ago but I had no idea the history behind the massacre. I especially wasn’t aware that some parts of the Peoples Temple actually did some good.  The religion fought racial inequality and prejudice, plus fed and clothed the homeless.  The rest is some crazy stuff but it was interesting to learn the reasons why so many people joined.

I think this book was extremely well written.  It takes you from Jim’s mother’s upbringing all the way until the aftermath of the murder-suicide.  It is a long book with tons of narrative but it never gets boring and you can keep all the characters (people) straight.  The book delves into the political, financial, and legal aspects of Peoples Temple with a huge focus on the man who started it all.  Jim Jones was an egomaniac who did everything he forbid his followers to do.  To be honest the end made me physically ill but the whole story is super fascinating.

Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall

I wanted to start a series but this is not the one to keep my interest.  This story follows the main character Ross from 1783 to 1787.  He is just returning to his home in Britain after fighting Americans in the colonies and learning of his father’s death.  The land and home he has inherited are in disarray.  Ross is able to get his land ready for planting and starts a mine while helping the local poor community members.  The book is pretty sedate but the end starts to get a little better.  There is a love story and a few parts, like the courtroom scene, are exciting but not enough to pick up this book.

Before the Fall

Absolutely fantastic!  A private plane crashes and miraculously there are two survivors, a 4-year-old boy and a man who was invited on the plane last-minute.  With very high-profile men aboard, the crash becomes a media storm and the federal government gets involved as well.  You read the back stories of each person on the plane leading up to the crash intermixed with current happenings in the media and survivors’ lives. You do learn what happens in the end (thank goodness).

Want more good books to read? Check out what I recommended in January.