In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

9/10

I finished reading this today. I figured I would launch into this disturbing tale on the immediate heels of the other disturbing tale, Lolita, which I had just finished. Although, this one is based on a true story which makes it more disturbing in a way, getting into the minds of such brutal characters. I have never ventured into true crime thrillers, but figured this one is a classic and the best choice for the genre. The storytelling is superb, perfectly paced, and brings to life the people and events of this horrible crime. To me, the most disturbing part, aside from the description of the grisly murders, is how unsympathetic these criminals are about the acts they have committed. There is this part where Perry Smith is describing in great detail the night of the murders and how they learned there was no money in the house. He finds a silver dollar in the daughters room and drops it. He tells how he had to get on his hands and knees to find this silver dollar and at that moment realized how ridiculous this whole thing was, killing a whole family and he's crawling around on the ground for a measly dollar. Then how they drove away from the house just laughing and in the best spirits. Crazy that there are people in the world like that. And the other people who were sharing death row with them at that time were equally devoid of human compassion. Capote does a great job telling this story and kept me invested and wanting to keep reading chapter after chapter, the sign of a great story.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

7/10

I finished reading this about a week ago. It is different than any book I have ever read. It was this weird mixture of being uncomfortable with the subject matter while simultaneously drawn in with the excellent writing. Also, I have mentioned previously how I enjoy novels that allow you access into the mind of a madman. And old Humbert Humbert is maybe the maddest of madmen I have ever read, probably even topping one of my favorites, Iago, from Othello. And the book is written from HH's vantage point, and he does not hold back on his deepest, darkest feelings, providing complete access to his twisted mind. And it's pretty messed up. There were parts, several parts, that are so realistic and convincing that I caught myself wondering from time to time if Nabokov was writing about himself. His writing really was impressive, especially since English is not his first language. Just really well done. There is even somehow some humorous moments in this book and Nabokov amazingly manages to trick you into sort of liking the main character until you again quickly realize that he is an absolute monster. Only masterful writing could accomplish this.

The book did start to get a little old after a while though. I wouldn't recommend this book or advise anyone to read this book because it's just too disturbing and kind of depressing and inappropriate. I didn't fully understand what I was getting myself into when I began this book.

Pro: Amazing writing; makes me want to read more of Nabokov.
Con: Crazy disturbing and I hope I can forget this story and never think about it ever again.

4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

6/10

I finished reading this last night. It is my second Agatha Christie book, both Jane Marple ones. I liked this one much more than the other one I had read. This one started out pretty strong with a creative murder-witnessing and subsequent corpse-disposal mystery with Jane doing some nice detective work. Lucy and the characters at Rutherford Hall all had the makings of a really good whodunnit mystery. Unfortunately, about half way through the book it just loses steam, drags for a bit and finally comes to an underwhelming end.

The Miss Marple character in both of the books I have read has been surprisingly in the background. Although she was present in this one much more than the other one. I thought the Lucy character was going to be good but she ended up being a bit of a disappointment.

I liked the book overall but mostly felt letdown on how the story was squandered. It had all the makings of a good, fun murder-mystery story, but it was not to be. I also wish there were more dramatic moments involving the possibility of peril to one or more beloved characters. This book had the most boring murderer ever.

I think I need to try one of Christie's Hercule Poirot books next time to see if I like it any better.

Here are my Agatha Christie book rankings:

1. 4:50 from Paddington
2. At Bertram's Hotel

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

8/10

Finished reading this with Mallory a few nights ago. We slogged through this one more so than the others. Not sure if it was just because we were busier with school starting back up or if we were just losing a bit of the Harry Potter steam. Either way, this one was a bit more of a drag at first than a lot of the others, but it finished pretty strong.

I did enjoy any time Harry and Dumbledore got together for their Voldemort hunting adventures. Most of the rest of the storyline wasn't as much fun compared to most of the other books. Didn't like all the romantic storylines. I felt like the Snape/Malfoy storyline wasn't played up enough and was a missed opportunity. Also, the Slughorn character seemed out of place and his role didn't have any sort of conclusion which makes me think he will maybe play a bigger role in Book 7. Or he was just there for the Voldemort-Horcrux revelation scene. I still enjoyed the book overall though as my rankings below shall show:

1. HP-4
2. HP-3
3. HP-6
4. HP-5
5. HP-2
6. HP-1

The Freedom Factor by Gerald N. Lund

5/10

I finished reading this a few days ago. It was exactly the type of book I needed after slogging through Madame Bovary - an easy read where I could just lean back and try my darnedest to enjoy the ride. I liked the book fine, but didn't love it. I liked it much more when I decided to try to not be too critical about everything and just enjoy it for what it was - a simple little fantasy tale with a nice little message about the importance of the Constitution.

I must say that the book was not at all what I was expecting. I did not know it was a fantasy book and was surprised when **Spoiler Alert** the Founding Father ghost character showed up. I was probably more surprised about it than the main character was, as he seems to take it pretty well in stride and was more annoyed with the inconvenience of it rather than being scared/shocked and in total disbelief. Then the story goes full It's a Wonderful Life mode where the main character gets sent to a time where life would be like if the Constitution had never been ratified. Things happen and the Constitution is proved to be important and valuable.

It was a fine read as long as you don't take it too seriously. Nothing spectacular, but enjoyable enough overall especially following a not-so-enjoyable book. Also, my first Gerald Lund book (although I remember my Dad reading The Alliance to my brother and I when I was a super youngster; I should revisit that one because I remember thinking it was pretty interesting; so stay tuned for that; maybe).

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

3/10

I finished reading this a little more than a week ago. I have procrastinated this post just like I procrastinated reading this book each night and for the same reasons. I just did not enjoy the book. And I don't really have too much to say about it. I have a hard time enjoying books with such dislikable characters. It reminded me a lot of Anna Karenina in a way where the leading lady was an unfaithful spouse who is just impossible to root for. Both were well written, but at least Anna Karenina had one likable character. This book had none. The husband has a few moments where you feel bad for him, but even he doesn't have many redeeming qualities. I wanted to like it but just couldn't.

My favorite part of the book by far was the transcript of the real-life trial that took place based on the decency of the book. It was pretty interesting stuff hearing the prosecution's reasonings (which seemed legit based on what appeared to be the laws of the time) and the defenses arguments (which seemed largely to stretch the truth but was the approach they had to take in order to succeed in the case, which they did). The trial was much more enjoyable to read than about lame-o Madame Bovary and her super lame and self-absorbed decision-making.

Discourses of Brigham Young

8/10

I finished reading this a couple weeks ago. It was interesting. Brigham Young had a lot to say about a lot of different topics. You has some very good insight into many aspects of the gospel and life. He also has a very blunt way of speaking that can be a turn off for many people, but I didn't really see anything in this book that was all that offensive. On the contrary, you could see that he had a great love for people and would do anything to help anyone. And I think that gets looked over when people talk about Brigham Young. He did have a lot of opinions and you wonder how much of what he said was true gospel principles or partly speculation on his part. I think that was more of a thing back in the day.

Also, I recently listened to a little podcast episode about the reliability of some of Brigham Young's speeches and whether they were accurately recorded. The original transcriptions are often many words different than the printed version. It is pretty interesting and can be listened to here: https://ldsperspectives.com/2017/02/15/in-brighams-words/ So we should be a little hesitant to totally 100% rely on Brigham Young quotations found in the Journal of Discourses.

Some quotes:

"And instead of our classing prayer among the duties devolving upon us as Latter-day Saints, we should live so as to deem it as one of the greatest privileges accorded to us."

"If I ask him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life, or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, or those that I preside over, and get no answer from him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, he is bound to own and honor that transaction, and he will do so to all intents and purposes."

"The first great principle that ought to occupy the attention of mankind, that should be understood by the child and the adult, and which is the main spring of all action, whether people understand it or not, is the principle of improvement."

"It is our privilege to say, every day in our lives, 'That is the best day I ever lived.'"

"It would be no blessing to you to be carried into the celestial kingdom, and obliged to stay therein, unless you were prepared to dwell there."

"No matter how good a government is, unless it is administered by righteous men, an evil government will be made of it."

"The mothers are the moving instruments in the hands of Providence to guide the destinies of nations."

"We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. We should set them an example that we wish them to imitate. Do we realize this? How often we see parents demand obedience, good behavior, kind words, pleasant looks, a sweet voice and a bright eye from a child or children when they themselves are full of bitterness and scolding! How inconsistent and unreasonable this is!"

"If you are ever called upon to chasten a person, never chasten beyond the balm you have within you to bind up."

"We do not wish a man to enter on a mission, unless his soul is in it."

"Now, sisters, I want you to vote also, because women are the characters that rule the ballot box."

"Is the spirit world here? It is not beyond the sun, but is on this earth that was organized for the people that have lived and that do and will live upon it."

"The men and women, who desire to obtain the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day."