Fourth Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Judgment Ridge by Dick Lehr & Mitchell Zuckoff Genre: Non-Fiction

Judgment Ridge shows the truth behind the Dartmouth murders. It re-examines the murder and gives every piece of evidence and clue in detail, so you can learn how the real detectives caught the murders. It goes in depth to tell you the background information of the two boys Robert Tulloch and Jim Parker who murdered Half and Susanne Zantop. It tells about Half and Susanne’s careers, friends, families, and past experiences before their deaths and shows how Robert and Jim got to the point of murder.

“Spellbinding…. [Reveals] the story behind the headlines…. Multifaceted and richly believable.” - Denver Post

Judgment Ridge films the life of Robert and Jim and it tells the story of how they met and became best friends, the best of friends that they were actually like brothers and were inseparable. It told everyone’s views on the friends and how nobody saw it coming. It also told about the Zantop’s lives as Dartmouth professors and their promising lives.

This book was similar to other mystery books that I have read and it shows the points leading up to the murder, the murder, and the days after. Unlike those books Judgment Ridge goes more in depth and goes the extra step to give the details. Plus unlike any other this book was actually true. The authors do a good job of writing the book and adding in all the details so you get the complete story.

“ Townspeople learned two weeks after the families were interviewed that two combat knives were found in Robert’s room, and that the blood detected on the foot-long knives matched Susanne’s DNA.” (269)

I enjoyed reading all about the murders and how it happened. I myself was thinking about becoming a detective when I am older and it was neat to see how they solve crimes. Also my dad is a police officer so I learned a little more about what he does and now the stories that he tells me I will be able to better connect to. This book made me want to further more my experience, as a detective and I really loved reading it.

Third Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella. Dell Books, 2001. Genre: Fiction

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is not one of Sophia’s better-known books but it includes a detailed description of her main character Becky Bloomwood and the conflicts she faces. It takes place in urban London, England and Becky has to deal with her financial problems and moving he relationship with her boyfriend Luke to the next level. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is a funny, energetic story that makes you wanting to keep reading and learn more about the crazy life of Becky Bloomwood.

“Kinsella’s Bloomwood is plucky and funny… You won’t have to shop around for a more winning protagonist.” (People) the book jacket says.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan the personal issues of Becky Bloomwood and how she faces them. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan being the sequel of Shopaholic it is quite similar to in the sense that the work is just as detailed and you meet most of the characters that were in Shopaholic. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is different because a lot of the characters have grown and changed since the last book but they still face many similar conflicts but they have a different twist to them.

“ But as I look up my heart gives an almighty flip and I feel something hard blocking my throat. I don’t believe it.” (128)

I enjoy reading Sophia Kinsella's work and she is one of my favorite readers. I learn a lot from her books and I am able to take away a lot from them. Her themes are easy for me to relate to and I know that they are true. In Shopaholic Takes Manhattan the theme is to go with what you think will be what is best for you and don’t let anyone stop you. I can relate to this because to get what you want in life you have to do what you want and not stop even if people say its not the right choice, as long as you believe it is. I enjoy reading her books because there are things that I can relate to and she has a very funny writing style.

Second Quarter ORB

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, Delta Books, 2001 Genre: Fiction

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella is a humorous book with a lot of detail and action although it may not be real. It takes place in London, Europe where Rebecca Bloomwood works as a financial journalist at Successful Savings and goes about her every day life. Rebecca goes through many tough times trying to keep her job, paying bills, trying to make more money, and figuring out her complicated love life.

“ Kinsella’s Bloomwood is plucky and funny… You won’t have to shop around to find a more winning protagonist.” – People
“ If a crème brulee could be transmogrified into a book, it would be Confessions of a Shopaholic.” – The Star-Ledger

Confessions of a Shopaholic shows Rebecca in her energetic, fast pace life style. Being a novel the book gives much detail on the challenges Rebecca faces and the tasks she must face each day. Can You Keep a Secret also by Sophie Kinsella is very similar in the sense that there are two girls in there mid twenties trying to keep their jobs as they try to get promoted. Also in both stories each one of the girls ends up in a relationship with a c.e.o of a major company.

Sophie’s writing style is very similar and the books and it talks about some of the same problems like business meetings, relationships, and work but they both have different conflicts. They are difference between the books is that Confessions of a Shopaholic is about money and being in debt but Can You Keep a Secret is about keeping people from embarrassing you and securing your social status. In both books you get a lot of detail and imagery and get a glimpse of Rebecca and Emma lives.

“ As I sit on the tube on my way home, I stare at my reflection- outwardly calm and relaxed. But inside, my mind’s scurrying around like a spider trying to find a way out. Round and round, legs flailing, no escape…” (Page 181)

I enjoy reading books by Sophie and I would like to read more. This book affects me in a major way because I learned a lot from it. I learned that you should not run away from your problems you will only get in more trouble and find yourself in terrible situations, instead you should deal with them head on and they will get better before you know it. I enjoyed that the book was funny and once I got into I just wanted to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next. That is one thing about Sophie Kinsella’s work, I always wanted to keep reading and never put the book down.