Aleta's Book Report

by Neil White This is the story of a prison in Carville, Louisiana. Most of us know that Carville is also the site of the only "leper" colony in the lower 48 states. It happens to have been shared for some time by the Department of Corrections prison. Neil White, a Mississippi native educated at Ole Miss, was indicted and jailed for crimes he committed in his publishing business. He was incarcerated in the Carville facility, which shared housing with a very old colony of Hansen's Disease patients. Neil was surprised and upset that he was at the same place with "lepers", not even sure that he wasn't going to "catch" the disease. This is his story of accepting the residents and learning from them. You will enjoy this sweet book.

Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York Deborah Blum http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125502336&ft=1&f=1033 WOW - What a book! Science teachers will especially enjoy the history behind the elements of the periodic table as these elements are used in poisons and toxins. The book itself follows the story of the two men who founded forensic science in New York City ( New York City?! ). Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler worked many years to find methods to detect toxins during autopsies. Their trials were magnified by the politics of Tammany Hall, since, in many cases, the political body did not want cause of death to be recorded. Blum wrote a very readable book. Listen to the interview at the link above - I think you will enjoy it.

by Colin Dickey This was a fun and interesting book to read. I really enjoyed the historical aspect and the stories of the "unusual" ways these characters "memorialized" their heroes. Being a lover of music, I really enjoyed the post-death adventures of Haydn and Beethoven, and as a student and teacher of anatomy, it just goes to follow that I enjoyed the "research" part of this story. I immediate shared this book and it is now on the circuit, being enjoyed by many.

by Steve Berry Steve Berry hooked me with the Romanov Prophesy, and did not let me down on this story. It is another in the Cotton Malone series, dealing with the mysteries from Napoleon's adventures in Egypt. Ironically, I am also reading Mirage, a factual writing about Napoleon's time in Egypt (which ties in with the Katherine Neville book "The Eight"). I love the way Berry weaves in histories and myths into his writings. He rounds out a book like few other authors.

by James Rollins Wow - if you want a good roller-coaster ride in a book, this is IT. Rollins has presented a great story centered in Louisiana, and has incorporated good genetic tales. My mother read this book in one sitting (on my Kindle) and just gushed about it. I cannot tell you the premise or describe the story without ruining it for another reader, but I do highly recommend this book. Fun Science Fiction with a thriller twist.

by Simon Winchester I looked at my last posting and realized it has been a ridiculously long time since my last book. I have been reading - I promise! Winchester's book (another "I heard it on NPR" read), while a slow read, was very informative. He tells us not only about the events during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but also about events leading up to that date. The thing that really grabbed me was the comment about the seismic activity prior to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake being the greatest in recorded history. This statement got to me as, while I was reading this book, we seem to be having another cycle of great seismic activity in the world. Read and learn.