Thursday, December 24, 2009

Bad Blood: Freedom and Death in the White Mountains

For those who enjoy reading true crime drama, Casey Sherman's Bad Blood: Freedom and Death in the White Mountains is a fair, but gritty account of events that took place in May 2007 here in New Hampshire.

When three very different men came together on a country road in Franconia a violent series of events played out leaving two men dead, one a policeman, the other a young man from a well known local family.  Both men knew each other and were part of the same community.

The third man involved in the violence, who was exonerated of charges by the Attorney General the following day, turned out to be a "loose cannon" by anyone's definition.  He often threatened to shoot people.  One of his favorite sayings was he'd give you a "third eye."  At the crime scene, he bragged about how many people he'd killed in his life, threatened early by-standers who came to see what was happening, and had to be told several times by the first police officer on the scene to drop the gun he held.  It was later learned he was taking over 20 prescription drugs at the time.

Sherman gives the reader all sides of the story as well as the reaction of the community.  The account of this unfortunate event is both disturbing and compelling in its insight into human nature.  Adult content and some inappropriate language in quotations.

-Jennifer

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Lexicographer's Dilemma

The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch is a readable and informative work on the evolution of the English language and the age-old feud between prescriptavist grammarians --  those who argue that there is a correct and proper form of the language that should be upheld as the standard -- and the descriptivist grammarians -- those who believe language is constantly shifting in form and style and thus reject the concept of a "proper" English. Lynch is squarely in the latter camp, and argues his case effectively. In the process, he takes the reader through a lively survey of the evolution of the English language and the history of lexicography.

I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the history of the English language.

-Paul

Monday, December 21, 2009

206 Bones

I just finished Kathy Reichs's new book - 206 Bones.  I always enjoy her mysteries.  Kathy Reichs is one of the few forensic anthropologists in the country and she does a wonderful job of blending her actual work experience into the plots of her stories.  

When the novel's protagonist -- forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan -- regains consciousness she finds herself bound and confined in a tomb-like space. The novel then alternates between Brennan's current predicament and her recollection of the three murder cases that lead her there.

In addition to the murder mystery, the author addresses the issue of quality lab work. When justice depends on the forensic evidence, what happens when labs do inferior work?

Reich's books are so popular that the television show "Bones" is based on their main character.

-Natalie