Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

   Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

by Ronan Farrow

Pages: 448

5 stars out of 5

This book made me angry. But, I think it is supposed to make you angry. Reporter Ronan Farrow stumbled upon a conspiracy that had long protected men in power in the media, the government, the world of finance and Hollywood.  As he dug deeper to find out how many women had been sexually harassed and some assaulted, he discovered a network that covered up what was going on for decades. Women were afraid to come forward both because of a threat to their careers but for some their life and the lives of the family members had also been threatened. Some people disappeared. Ronan thought about backing off the story when he realized he was being followed and photographed but his partner and his sister kept encouraging him not to be another  man who had let these women down. He lost his job and had to sell the story freelance but eventually the truth won out. Several people in this book have recently been convicted of their crimes while others are still awaiting trial. Sadly, some are still protected. 

Extraordinary Black Missourians: Pioneers, Leaders, Performers, Athletes, and Other Notables Who've Made History by John A. Wright, Sr. and Sylvia Wright

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Missouri TV personalities such as Julius Hunter, news anchor, journalist, and author, musicians W.C. Handy and Count Basie, and politician Freeman Bosley, Jr. are some of the black Missourians who are in this wonderful book.  240 pages.

The Cat from Hue: A Vietnam War Story

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Along with wartime portraits and a chronicle of daily life in a war zone, this book reveals the author's personal antiwar sentiment and admiration of American soldiers.  He brings back a cat who adopted him in Hue.

Audio:  31 hrs. 39 min.
Print:  864 pages

"10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story" by Dan Harris

Dan Harris is one of the co-anchors of the weekend edition of "Good Morning America" and a contributor to other ABC news programs.  After being in international war zones for years, he tries to find the same excitement with recreational drugs.  This leads to a panic attack on live television while reading the news on GMA in 2004.  After kicking the drugs, he still finds that the constant, critical voice in his head as well as his high stress job is getting the best of him.  At the same time, he's assigned to produce a series of news pieces on religion and ends up meeting Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, the Dalai Lama, and Ted Haggard, among others.  Several Jewish Buddhists suggest that Harris try meditation, which he does reluctantly.  He finds that it takes a lot of practice but it works to calm and focus him.  Harris is a good writer and narrates his story, which is not flattering to Tolle, Chopra, and Harris' own mentor, Peter Jennings.  Recommended for readers who want to know more about Buddhism, meditation, and ABC news. 

Audio:  7 hrs. 45 min.
Print:  256 pages

"From Missouri to the Isle of Mull: Impressions of a Little Journey by Three Missourians" by Ethelbert F. Allen, Campbell Wells, and Walter Williams

Written and privately printed in 1909, this little tome chronicles a five week trip from Montreal to the Isle of Mull and back.  Wells and Williams helped found the MU School of Journalism in 1908 and traveled with Allen, a bigwig in the Kansas City Masonic community, by boat and train.  Along with descriptions of fellow passengers, the book recounts Dublin, London (which was the most populous city at the time), rural England, Paris, Plymouth (where they attended the Institute of Journalists' annual conference), Edinburgh, the Isle of Mull, and their inhabitants.  It was interesting to read the impressions that these cities and people made on the three men over 100 years ago.  There are also some amusing observations, such as "Is living cheaper in England?  That depends on the living and the liver."  "Ireland is the saddest country. ... The land and inhabitants alike appear in tears."  And this gem:  "The Frenchman like the Englishman runs his business to get money enough to maintain himself and family in comfort at home.  The American man runs his home as a boarding house where he sleeps and eats to get strength to run his business."  77 pages; published in 1909.

"Finding Home" by Lauren Baker and Bonnie Dee

Megan is a 23-year-old aspiring journalist working as a copy editor at an L.A. weekly hoping for her big break when she takes it upon herself to write a piece about homeless youth on her own time.  One of the teens who reluctantly agrees to be interviewed is Mouth, a 17-year-old orphan who makes money as a prostitute on Santa Monica Boulevard.  As Megan gets to know some of the kids better and continues to interview them, she finds herself physically drawn to Mouth and worries when she doesn't see him for nearly a week.  When he reappears beaten and robbed by thugs, Megan talks him into staying at her apartment until he heals.  Though reluctant, Mouth agrees and admits that his real name is Sean and that he wants to get his GED along with a real job.  As their friendship deepens and they become roommates, he and Megan both try hard to fight their mutual attraction, and here's where the book becomes controversial.  Even though Sean is still legally a minor for only a few more months, he and Megan do become involved.  She feels guilty; is this his way of paying her back for all she's done for him, or does he truly care for her and want a real relationship?  As her friends and family find out that they are dating, reactions range from disbelief and disgust to acceptance.  Sean also has issues when he sees how harshly she is being judged for being with him.  His self-esteem is already low, and not being accepted by some of Megan's friends and family makes it worse.

I liked this story but was torn in my feelings because Sean/Mouth is still legally a minor, although he acts more mature than Megan does sometimes, but that's really what drives most of the conflict in the story. He's been on his own for over a year and knows how to survive while Megan is constantly late for work and family functions and can barely take care of herself.  The authors did a great job handling a controversial subject and rendering both characters with depth and distinct personality traits.  Megan's family was also well drawn, especially her sister and brother and their relationship to her.  Overall, this was a well written and highly believable tale of love and redemption.  248 pages (Kindle edition).

The Heartbreaker by Carly Phillips

(Posted for Diann Stark)

The third of a trilogy:  The Chandler Boys

Chase Chandler runs the family newspaper in Yorkshire Falls, New York, since his father's death. He has looked for his “big break” headliner, and he finds it when he is asked by the senators wife to ‘watch over’ her daughter Sloane while she is visiting Chase’s hometown in exchange for a one on one interview. Sloane Carlisle comes to town after uncovering a family secret, however, there are people out there that wants to keep the secret buried in the past. 

Audio 8 hours and 41 minutes. 352 pages

The Bachelor by Carly Phillips

(Posted for Diann Stark)

The first of a trilogy:  The Chandler Boys.

In Yorkshire Falls, New York, Raina Chandler feigns illness to encourage her three sons to marry and give her grandchildren. This is a story of the son Roman who is a foreign correspondent who comes home to help take care of his mom. He loses the toss to be the first one of the three boys to marry and give his mother the first grandchild. He plans to find a woman that will marry him agree to have a child and also agree that he can continue his career abroad. He falls in love again with Charlotte Bronson, his childhood sweetheart. But Charlotte doesn't want a long-distance marriage. 

Audio 8 hours, 23 minutes. 336 pages

Rouge Island by Bruce DeSilva

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

The reporter of a failing newspaper helps old friend in the neighborhood find out who’s burning it down and why. His ex-wife to be is always calling but won’t release any of his personal belongings.  302 pages.