House Rules by Jodi Picoult

House Rules (I read it in March of 2010 for the first time) is about a young man with Asperger who is  accused of murder. Jacob is intelligent, fascinated with criminal investigation and forensics. He lacks social skills and fundamental "normal" human emotions. His syndrome makes it easy to point to him as the perpetrator to those who don't really know or understand Jacob and Asperger's. Jacob's Asperger's might land him behind bars and it's up to his mother and lawyer to prove his innocence despite evidence pointing the crime in his direction.

House Rules is written from the perspective of 5 different individuals, which is very common for Picoult's storytelling. The collection of characters vary in interest and together they tell a story. 
I don't have much experience with Asperger's but it appears to be well researched. The trial is a bit long winded and repetitive and I could have done without some of it but I was entertained enough but I don't believe I will be reading this book again.


  

Animal Farm by George Owell

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Animal Farm is one of those books that has always been on my To Be Read list --- I finally decided to take the plunge and read it. I took less than one day and it's rather frightening at how closely it relates to today's politics.

 It is basically a novel about revolution and the ensuing government but animals tell the story and we are all animals after all, aren't we?

Basically the animals converge together to overthrow, Farmer Jones and take over. Initially everything is in a Utopian state but the pigs (45, anyone?) team up together and use various tactics to overpower the rest of the animals. The use lying, overwriting history, backstabbing to take control and sabotage the original plans set forth.

This little book packs a lot of messages, the most important one being that power corrupts. Owell was a genius and his book stands the passage of time, which is a bit scary if you ask me.

Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood

Rust and  Stardust by T. Greenwood

Expected publication: August 7th 2018

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
 

Rust and Stardust is based upon the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner that took place in 1948. Her kidnapping also inspired Vladimir Naboko, Lolita. 

Sally is only 11 years old and desperate to fit in with the popular girls and become part of the in crowd. In an effort to impress them she steals a 5 cent notebook. Frank LaSalle, an ex-convict recently released from prison uses this chance opportunity to pose as an FBI agent and "arrest", Sally.

Sally being naive, trustworthy and scared falls for his ruse and becomes his victim. He convinces, Sally that in order for her to avoid jail she must cooperate with him. Sally obliges. The book then chronicles the next two years in which, Sally is physically, mentally and sexually abused. The move from one location to another to avoid detection. 

 

Greenwood tells this story from multiple points of views. The reader hears Sally's view, her families, the police and those few individuals who pop in and out of her life for various reasons.

 

 Greenwood gives a voice to, Sally with tact and emotion. Your heart will break over and over again. You will cringe, your skin will crawl in particular as the desperation, fear and loneliness come to life across the pages. Rust and Stardust is well written, dark and real.

 Be prepared to go on an emotional journey.