Predators, Prey and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy by Dorothy Allred Simpson (396 pages). This book was the true story of one of Rulan Allred's daughters. The daughter of his fourth wife and twenty-eighth of forty-eight children. She was born in 1949, after her father had already been convicted of polygamy once. So all subsequent children and wives were always hidden. The families were uprooted time and time again in an effort to evade polygamist round-ups. Dorothy decided to rebel against her family and was monogamous. But her family went through a lot. Her father was shot in his office, a victim of a rival family who hated the Allreds. When the woman who pulled the trigger was acquitted (after lying during the trial), Dorothy headed up the civil lawsuit when the woman wrote a tell-all. A lawsuit that actually inspired the civil lawsuit against OJ Simpson. The story was really fascinating and made me do a little Googling once I finished (I love doing that when I'm reading about real people!). Lo and behold, Rulan was Christine Brown's (one of the Sister Wives') grandfather! Crazy! It took me three days to read (only two days of actual reading time).
The Lizzie Borden Trial: Be the Judge. Be the Jury by Doreen Rappaport (184 pages). My parents and I are going to see Lizzie Borden's house in September, so Dad decided we should do a little pre-trip reading. This one was interesting. It was laid out very matter of factly. By prosecution side. By defense side. By witness. By the jury charge. The most shocking thing to me wasn't the lack of direct evidence or he fact that the police force didn't do a stellar job (hello, it was the 1890's. They didn't have forensics). It was the jury charge. The judge basically told the jury to find her innocent. It was insane! It was also an easy read. I finished it in one afternoon by the pool!
The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller (251 pages). This one wasn't quite as matter of fact as the prior one. It told more of a story and less of a transcript. I really enjoyed it. The author seemed to lean a little more towards Lizzie's innocence than I do. Then again, she's done research and mine is just gut. Another easy read. I finished it in one afternoon by the pool (different weekend).
The Secrets of Lizzie Borden by Brandy Purdy (293 pages). Another in the Lizzie Borden onslaught of 2016. I kind of wish I'd read this book first. It was a historical novel. Which I normally love. But I tend to like historical novels about people with whom I am not familiar. The. I can research and learn more about them and what is truth vs fiction. I did this one in reverse. I know WAY too much about Lizzie to enjoy this very much. Who knew Lizzie was completely sexually confused, falling in love/lust with both men and women? Or that she was raped? Or engaged to her cousin? No one, that's who. Because none of those are truths about Lizzie. The being a lesbian was a rumor. But never verified. The book took SOOOO many liberties with the life of Lizzie Borden that I finally had to pretend like this was a work of fiction. At that point, I could actually keep reading. It took me five days to finish if (but only three days of actual reading time). And thus endeth the Lizzie Borden trilogy for this girl. I must say, I'm really excited about going to see her house next month!!
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (527 pages). Rachel Chu and Nick Young have been together for 2 years when he asks her to be his date at the wedding of his best friend in his hometown of Singapore. Rachel quickly realizes that the handsome, studio-apartment living professor she's been seeing is actually a member of one of the richest families in Singapore. The world he is a part of is beyond anything she could ever imagine. And while Nick is thrilled to introduce her to his world, members of his family don't share his excitement. Drama ensues. I really loved this one. I kind of didn't want it to end. It took me seven days to read it (only three days of actual reading time).
One Day by David Nicholls (435 pages). So I saw this movie a while ago and realized that I actually owned the book. I'm very glad I saw the movie first. Because the movie was NOT good. But I, for some reason, decided to give the book a chance (after all, the book is always better). The book was SO much better. The concept was great (both as a book and as a movie). Emma and Dexter become friends the night of graduation from college, July 15. And each chapter of the book reflects what they are doing on that same day, every year. Sometimes they are together, sometimes they are apart. Sometimes they love each other, sometimes they barely like each other. It made me laugh, it even made me get a little teary-eyed (even when I knew what was coming). I finished it in two days.
