Mosiacs by Amy Grant

Finished and need to review

Last Child in the Woods

Finished and need to review

White Crosses

I anticipated and dreaded reading another book by Larry Watson, author of Montana 1948 (which I consider to be one of the best Western books written!). I was right. Watson returns to the setting of Montana 1948, but it is 1957. The new sheriff in town is Jack Nevelson. A fatal accident could possibly bring "down" the town so Jack sets out creating his own story. (Note: While reading about Watson, I discovered that the town, Bentrock is pure fiction, but his father and grandfather were sheriffs)

Ultimately, we grow to understand that the truth is always there underneath the lies. The story unfolds beautifully into the truth - the real truth. I did think that book beautifully told - as only a good sad story can be. There was a certain "creep" factor in the story of the principal and the high school graduate. YUCK!

White Crosses lacked the perfect matching of landscape to word, but it stands alone as a wonderfully imagined sad story. My main complaint about the book is that we know too much of Jack's thoughts and sometimes his thoughts are too much for his character. It became unrealistic. I yearned for the perfect scarcity of language that Watson has proved he can do. Instead, White Crosses often felt burdened by excess words and too - much of Jack's thoughts. One huge redeeming beautiful essence of the book was that you never (I mean never) understand the character of June. I loved that! Thank you Larry for staying true to the character of June, whoever she is. That longing for information is what sets his books apart from other writers. I don't need or want a beautiful bow tied around a story!

BLURB: Mercer County Sheriff Jack Nevelsen has sworn to serve and protect his corner of Montana, which includes his lifelong home, the small, tidy town of Bentrock. It's a relatively modest task, because aside from some hard weather, the perils of Bentrock in 1957 are few. But the fatal accident at the bottom of Sprull Hill one night compels Jack to try and protect a part of Bentrock that even a hero would have trouble saving: its innocence. For most everyone in the community would agree that the two people who died in that car had no business heading out of town together.

One victim is June Moss, a quiet girl who had just graduated high school that afternoon. The other is Leo Bauer, the principal of Bentrock Elementary School, and a married man like Jack. There's a story twisted in the wreckage--one that Jack believes will do even greater harm to his town than the accident itself. So as Jack sets out to unravel the mystery of their deaths, he begins to create another story, a lie that will reverberate throughout an entire community, and into the shadows of his own heart.

Trash

So, I keep a book in the car to read in spurts while waiting for the kids or in a line. I finished it, but it was pure trash. Chick Lit was on the front page. Brainless entertainment was inside.

No title, no author, just me embarrassed reading something to pass the time. Perhaps I should take the paper with me next time.

Where the Bluebird Sings ...

Stegner's book of essays of the West.