Falling by T.J. Newman

Captain Bill Hoffman is in charge of flight 416. It is headed to New York everything seems typical until he receives a photo of his wife. She and their children are being held hostage and her capture and his given him a choice -- Crash the plane and save your family or refuse to crash the plane and lose your family. Bill refuses both options. He is determined to save his family without having to crash the plane. 

The story unfolds in a thrilling fast paced manner and full of important well developed characters. Its a roller coaster ride. I hope to this on the big screen. I think it would make an excellent movie. 

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

 

Vladimir is a dreadful book. It came so highly recommended that I forced myself to finish reading it.  It's about a professor and her husband (who is also a professor). Their marriage is a wreck, they both are terrible people. The husband is facing allegations of sexual misconduct and the college they teach at while our narrator is has set her eyes on Vladimir. He is a much younger colleague and she is rather obsessed with him. She wants to conquer him.

This book is like one long exceedingly boring monologue. I am not exactly sure why people like but they do.

Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman

Maus II, is the second volume of Vladek Spiegelman experience at  Auschwitz. We get a deeper look into his life at Auschwitz and his life after. It is darker, bleaker and more devastating then Maus I. 

The lack of humanity is detailed and heartache is more painful. We learn how Vladek survived and we see how Art is dealing with his father aging. 

The conclusion is powerful and a must read. 

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

 

Vladek Spielgeman is a Holocaust survivor. This is his story. His son, Art Spiegelman is the author and illustrator of this graphic novel. This story is about Vladek's experience during WW II and the relationship Art has with this father. 

Art interviews his father and learns about how he managed to survive and how others perished. The characters depending upon their race are depicted as different animals which makes the story move forward and puts an strong importance on the story of  this dark time in history. 

This is Pulitzer Prize winner and it's easy to see why. I can't recommend this enough especially since it tells an important story. The graphic novel method will hopefully make it appealing to readers who are not traditional so that they to can read a personal account of the Holocaust. 

I'll See You Again by Jackie Hance

If you are familiar with the documentary, There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane or the crash that took place on the Taconic Parkway than you know that three little girls, all sisters lives were taken in the crash. 

Jackie Hance is the mother of these three little girls and this is her memoir. It is powerful, emotional and completely devastating. Jackie provides an honest view into her grief and how she unleashes it on others, her husband, her family and friends. She shuts people out and has bursts of anger. We all experience grief differently and losing a loved one changes us. 

This isn't a book that gives a look at how the accident happens or answers to it because their really aren't any answers. It's about a mothers grief and her road to healing.

Forever by Judy Blume

 I remember this book being touted as controversial. This would normally arouse my interest but somewhere along the way I forgot about it or would put off reading it and pick something else up.

The book is a simple read that deals with young love, relationships, discovering ones and others bodies and sex. Our main characters are Kath and Michael. The are seventeen years old when they met at a party. They form a relationship and the feelings and confusion surrounding relationships and sex is explored. The book also talks about birth control and STIs. There is no slut shaming or shame regarding sex. I don't find this book controversial at all and think it's a great  book for teens to read so that they can recognize  a lot of what they feel is normal.