Remember When



An interesting strategy is used by the author in writing this book in that Nora Roberts uses her pseudonym J.D. Robb to write the second half of the novel a novel.  The story is of a diamond heist committed by Laine Tavish's father, Jack O'hara, and his two partners in crime.  Laine has left the life of her childhood and settled in Maryland where she runs an antique store. Proper, but sexy, she is determined to shed the life of her childhood.One of her father's partner dies outside her shoo[p as he tries to tell her about the diamonds.  Another ruthless partner attempts to find the diamonds and frightens Laine, as well as the insurance investigator, Max Gannon, who is looking for the diamonds. Max and Laine become romantically involved, so there is good that comes out of their strange tale. Samantha Gannon is the granddaughter of Laine and Max.  A successful and independent reader, she is reminiscent of her grandmother.  However murder is committed and Eve (heroine of J.D. Robb's futuristic novels) must solve the crime which is connected to the diamond theft of 50 years prior.

Margaret Trudeau: Changing My Mind

The title of this novel suggests a double entrendre, Margaret Trudeau attempts to understand the changes in her life and the role of mental illness in those changes.  She never blames anyone for her decisions, but always takes responsibility for them.  There are events in her life which are shared with the former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and then further events with her second husband, Fred Kempler. Her biography begins with her first marriage and the political stir that caused and the expectations levied on Margaret. Feeling a failure, Margaret left Pierre.  She did not have full custody of the three children, Justin, Michael and Sasha, but did continue to have a positive relationship with them.  Two more children followed in her second marriage.

Her emotional state became more and more fragile, to the point where she was hospitalized more than once.

The death of her son Michael caused her depression to lessen.  She was diagnosed as manic-depressive, which explained her many impulses and emotional lows. The book is illustrated with many pictures from her life, which are stories in themselves.  Most Canadians will not learn much about the political affairs of the nation, but may come to better understand a beautiful woman whose life has been filled with both joy and sorrow. It is my observation that considerable bravery is involved in showing the world your mistakes and your complete helplessness.  Margaret Trudeau in a strait-jacket is not a pretty picture.



The Help

 

Excellent read about race relations in American South in the 60's.