Law Man: My Story of Robbing Banks, Winning Supreme Court Cases, and Finding Redemption by Shon Hopwood with Dennis Burke

about book:

Shon Hopwood was a good kid from a good Nebraskan family, a small-town basketball star whose parents had started a local church.  Few who knew him as a friendly teen would have imagined that, shortly after returning home from the Navy, he'd be adrift with a few prospects and plotting to rob a bank.  But rob he did, committing five heists before being apprehended.

Only twenty-three and potentially facing twelve years in Illinois's Pekin Federal Prison, Shon feared his life was already over.  He'd shamed himself and his loving family and friends, and a part of him wanted to die.  He wasn't sure at first if he'd survive the prison gangs, but slowly glimmers of hope appeared.  He earned some respect on the prison basketball court, received a steady flow of letters from hometown well-wishers, including a note from a special girl whom he'd thought too beautiful to ever pay him notice - and, most crucially, he secured a job in the prison law library.

It was an assignment that would prove his salvation.

Poring over the library's thick volumes, Shon discovered that he had a knack for the law, and he soon became the go-to guy for inmates seeking help.  Then came a request to write a complex petition to the Supreme Court - a high-wire act of jailhouse lawyering that had never before met with success.

By the time Shon walked out of Pekin Prison, he'd pulled off a series of legal miracles, earned the undying gratitude of numerous inmates, won the woman of his dreams, and built a new life for himself far greater than anything he could have imagined.

A story that mixes moments of high adrenaline with those of deep poignancy, Law Man is a powerful reminder that even the worst mistakes can be redeemed through faith, hard work, and the love and support of others.

my thoughts:

DNF!!!!  I absolutely disliked this book and could not stand to read another page.  A guy who gets bored and decides to rob banks isn't exactly worth reading about.  I could care less that he wound up in prison and turned his life around, because he had a good life that he chose to throw away.  He had a good family, a great childhood, played football in high school, joined the Navy, and had friends.  Yes, he came back home and didn't feel like he had any career prospects, which can be frustrating, but why didn't he go and talk to his family or a therapist!?!  Why must he decide that robbing banks sounds like a great idea?  Am I supposed to empathize with the fact that he made a mistake and paid for it?  Am I supposed to be 'wowed' by the way he turned his life around?  Because, I didn't and I wasn't. 

This is a book that I just could not read and that's all I can really write about it.  And, if I hadn't agreed to review this book, I wouldn't have written this post.

Thanks to Crown Publishing (a subsidiary of Random House) for providing me with a copy of this book!

January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield

about book:

Michael Schofield's daughter, January, is at the mercy of her imaginary friends, except they aren't the imaginary friends that most young children have; they are hallucinations.  And January is caught in the conflict between our world and their world, a place she calls Calalini.  Some of these hallucinations, like "24 Hours," are friendly, and some, like "400 the Cat" and "Wednesday the Rat," bite and scratch her until she does what they want.  They often tell her to scream at strangers, jump out of buildings, and attack her baby brother.

At six years old, January Schofield, "Janni" to her family, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, one of the worst mental illnesses known to man.  What's more, schizophrenia is 20 to 30 times more severe in children than in adults, and in Janni's case, doctors say, she is hallucinating 95 percent of the time she is awake.  Potent psychiatric drugs that would level most adults barely faze her.

January First captures Michael and his family's remarkable story in a narrative that forges new territory for books about mental illness.  In the beginning, readers see Janni's incredible early potential:  her brilliance and savant-like ability to learn extremely abstract concepts.  Next, they witness early warning signs that something is not right, Michael's attempts to rationalize what's happening, and his descent alongside his daughter into the abyss of schizophrenia.  Their battle has included a two-year search for answers, countless medications and hospitalizations, allegations of abuse, despair that almost broke their family apart, and, finally, victories against the illness and a new faith that they can create a life for Janni filled with moments of happiness.  

A compelling, unsparing, and passionate account, January First vividly detail's Schofield's commitment to bring his daughter back from the edge of insanity.  It is a father's soul-baring memoir of the daily struggles and challenges he and his wife face as they do everything they can to help Janni while trying to keep their family together. 

my thoughts:

I read this book ages ago and have been wondering what to write about it ever since.  I wasn't sure what to make of it.  This is the kind of book that is unputdownable - to the point that you are still awake at three in the morning, because you just have to finish it or you won't be able to sleep.  Its the kind of book that makes for great discussion, because there is just so much to talk about - schizophrenia in children, mental illness, medical industry, psych wards and children, affects of schizophrenia on family members, parental rights, marital issues, social issues, etc.  And, its the kind of book that is so emotional and heartbreaking, you just can't get it out of your head.

January First is about Janni Schofield, a little girl who gets diagnosed with schizophrenia.  The book is told from Michael's (Janni's dad) point of view.  We get to read all about Janni's high IQ and how Michael feels that her intelligence plays a huge part in affecting Janni's lack of social skills.  He gets mad at his wife for forcing Janni to attend play dates - all she wants is for Janni to make some friends, because Janni's only friends are imaginary.  Plus, her imaginary friends are rather bossy -  they demand that Janni hit her baby brother, scream for no reason, jump out a window, etc.  These imaginary friends are becoming too much for the Schofield's to handle.  So, Janni's parents take her to therapy, doctors, psych wards - anywhere that they feel might offer them the slightest glimpse of hope that something can be done for their little girl.  Of course, all of this takes its toll on the family and soon they are more broken than united.

Its a gripping read, for sure.  Michael's writing is engaging, real, and honest.  You find out how angry he gets at his wife; how much he would sacrifice for Janni; how sad he is that he can't even recognize his little girl anymore; and how he finds himself asking the police what will happen to his daughter if he just lets them take her away.  This is a man gasping for air in a life that is drowning him in anxiety, worry, stress, anger, sadness and so much more.  I found Michael's account of what happened to his family, Janni, and himself to be quite an emotional read.  I teared up and sighed one too many times while reading his book.  I also found myself wondering about Michael's choices at times  - were they the right ones to make?  How could he not understand that his wife was scared, tired, and overwhelmed by it all?  How could he not realize that his daughter did have mental issues that needed to be dealt with NOW?  How could he not see that her IQ was not the reason she didn't make any friends?  I would get frustrated with Michael at times - I felt that he needed to recognize that it wasn't just him and Janni against the world, but that it was him, Janni, his wife and son against the world.   Of course, what do I know about dealing with this type of situation?  I would assume that it would be hit and miss the whole way through - how could it not be?  At the end of the day, I found it brave of Michael to share his story with us all - the rare good bits and the overwhelming bad ones.  I may not agree with everything Michael does in the book, but I do believe that he loves his family and would be willing to do just about anything for them. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in memoirs and books dealing with mental illness (specifically schizophrenia).

Thanks to Crown Publishing (a subsidiary of Random House) for providing me with a copy of this book!

Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

About book:

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day.  That is, until the doorbell rings.  Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max that he could be his long-lost relation.  He introduces himself as Paolo, and Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos.  Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max.  Her Max.  And he is alive and well.

The information Paolo shares with Shelley sets them on a trail across the globe and through some of Europe's most dramatic history in search of answers.  Along the way, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was.  As she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to. 

My thoughts:

Wow. History and a love story - talk about the perfect combination.  Oh, and throw an immortal into the mix and you have got me hooked!  Seriously, I have to admit that I was not expecting what I read.  I mean from the blurb it says that Max is alive and well, but I truly never thought he was immortal.  I just thought he had faked his death or something.  Totally not what I expected.  And, I love Samantha Sotto for that!  This book has got to be one of my favorite reads this year.  It had everything and so much more.  I fell in love with Before Ever After and I'm sure anyone who reads it will, too.

So, what exactly is the story about?  Love.  Its as simple as that.  Max and Shelley meet and fall madly in love with one another.  They experience marital bliss and then suddenly, Max is no more.  Shelley is devastated by her loss and pretty much lives like a zombie - sleeping, barely eating and never leaving the house.  One day she gets a visitor - Max's grandson.  Say what?! Yep, looks like Max was not as truthful about his past, or his age, as Shelley had believed.  Trusting Paolo (Max's grandson), Shelley joins him on a trip that will reveal truths about her husband that will not only shock and amaze her, but also leave her feeling betrayed.  And on this trip we learn all the details surrounding how Shelley met Max.  From road trip guide to husband - lets just say, Shelley and Max had quite a historical and well-traveled courtship.   Its during this trip that we learn everything about Max and who he was - except we don't really know that we are learning about Max's history until we find out that he's immortal.  And let me just say that once you realize Max has been sharing stories from his own past, well, it makes for quite an emotional and unreal read.  Now, I'm not going to share anymore details about this book with you, because you seriously need to read it for yourself! I want you to read all about Shelley and Max falling in love and about the many, many lives of Max.  Oh, and I want you to read about the eggs and chicken and how they are relevant to the story.  Yes, eggs and chicken are enmeshed in this story and its actually pretty interesting. 

All in all,  Before Ever After is an amazing story!  Its filled with great writing, complex and emotional characters, and one unforgettable story.  Its the epitome of  unputdownable.  And, I'll definitely be recommending it to anyone and everyone looking for a truly good read. 

Thanks so much to Broadway Books an imprint of Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this lovely book! 

Winner of THE EXPATS Giveaway is...

 

 

Kathy from BermudaOnion's Weblog!! Congrats!!