Groundbreaking Reads Book Reviews, Week 2

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult     4 STARS
Overall, I enjoyed the book.  It discussed some ideas I never thought about . . . being a celebrity, abuse, Native Americans. But I felt the ending lacked something. -- Reviewed by AM

Book Description from Library Journal:  Anthropologist Cassie Barrett, suffering from amnesia, is rescued from a church cemetery by Native American cop Will Flying Horse, only to be reclaimed by her Academy Award-winning husband, Alex Rivers. A positive pregnancy test triggers memories of abuse at the hand of her star husband, and Cassie turns to Will, who secrets her away in Pine Ridge with relatives for the remainder of her pregnancy term. All of the characters in this book come from dysfunctional families and offer sad tales of childhood contrasted with details of life among Hollywood's rich and famous.

The Complete Illustrated Manual of Handgun Skills by Robert Campbell     3.5 STARS
This book is a serious but not too technical introduction to handguns and their uses for competition, hunting, and defense.  The author is not a gifted writer, but his style becomes easier as you complete the book.  He has a lot of good information and draws from a wealth of experience.

Pros:

• Author is generally fair, with solid advice.
• Excellent look at safety and competition options.
• Advanced tips on hand loading and ballistics make it a lasting reference.
• Balances responsibility and recreation very well.
• Good for both beginners and intermediates.

Cons:

• Illustrations and directions inadequate at times.
• Author mixes good information with rambling passages, requiring a close read.
• Too many pictures that serve no real purpose.

-- Reviewed by NC

Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin     5 STARS
This is a great book to read for those who are not only pet owners, but also for people who care about how animals are treated.  This book helps you understand why animals -- pets, farm animals, and animals in the zoo -- act the way they do.  It also discusses human treatment when animals are brought to slaughter houses.  The book is very informative, and an eye-opener of animal behavior, why they act the way they do. I now want to read her other book, Animals in Translation, and I don't read books about animals.  Loved this book!  -- Reviewed by JD

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C. S. Forester   3 STARS
Midshipman Hornblower sails on a ship in the early 1800s. He eventually becomes Admiral and is released from a captured prison of Spain.  He is from England and is even shipwrecked halfway through the story.  I did like this story, but it had a lot of sailing terms that I didn't understand too well.  -- Reviewed by SB