Domestic Violence, Where The Bizarre Is Normal
936136
I entered into the very heart and soul of Natalie as she got caught up in the bizarre world of Paul's abuse. Her blindness frustrated me and infuriated me as she returned again and again to him. Abuse knows no social class for this story is a high drama world of luxury, yachts, wild parties, drugs, explicit sex, and murder. In the end it is every abused woman's story and a lesson for everyone in the dynamics of abuse.
1234818
The husband admitted to doing a horrible thing. And from the way he looks I almost wasn't surprised. He killed an innocent animal, a cat. For no reason whatsoever. He admitted it on TV. Supposedly I think, because the house was ah, affecting him. His wife has an absent-in-the-head look about her that spells "weird and passive", and he simply looks "weird". Creepy and not too bright.  If ANYONE I ever knew ever killed a defenseless animal I would never speak to them again. That would so upset and disturb me,if my husband did that I would divorce so fast they wouldn't know what hit them. Sick in the head.
1119948
Think about your day-to-day, mundane activities infused with eerie and surreal visions and feelings, with occasional interventions into traumatic events that you foresaw, and you might have some idea of what life is like for 20-ish Odd Thomas. A full-time short-order cook and semi-psychic, Odd has acclimated amazingly well to his innate abilities - although never fully understanding them. But a gargantuan evil has been infiltrating his life in the small desert town where he resides; one that foreshadows deadly and very personal consequences.

Odd sees those who have departed this world and return for visits, along with some creepy, shadowy figures that appear sporadically and presage ominous events. He also tries to forge a reasonably "normal" life with his work associates, friends, and his girlfriend, Stormy.

This story is sort of a supernatural-thriller-mystery, where you get the feeling that something really bad is going to happen, and live the anxiety through Odd who recognizes the imminent danger and must work with his knowledge, skills, and relationships to try and avert as much of the damage as possible.

There are many "odd" circumstances in this story - Odd's relationship with his girlfriend, Stormy, and his dysfunctional family; how he interacts with the apparition-types who pop-up now and then - and his quirky handling of his paranormal visions and feelings as if they were "business as usual" occurrences.

As you read through this book you get closer and closer to Odd - feeling the tension that he is experiencing, and understanding a bit about the emotional toll that it takes to be able to see and know things that elude most other people. He is a compassionate and altruistic character that shows you what it really means to go the extra mile for others.
4737450
Very interesting read about a super smart, driven woman, Susan McFarland, who for reasons unknown to her family and friends marries loser Rick, who can never quite keep it together, can't hold a job, has ADD (but doesn't take his meds), and is a compulsive shopper. Susan has 3 kids with this guy. Rick is a not so great stay at home dad, who by some accounts is abusive and medicates his kids with various adhd meds, when the mood strikes. Finally Susan has had enough. When she starts plotting a divorce, and in turn, Rick starts plotting her murder. The psychology of Rick McFarland is truely mystifying, and this book leaves you asking many questions about this couple. Fanning managed to score interviews with friends and neighbors of the couple, who provide a disturbing look into the marriage of Rick and Susan, and how their 3 young sons fit into the picture. The actual murder of Susan and attempted cover up, left me wondering, is this guy crazy? an idiot? or a combination of both. Strange and intriguing story I recommend to true crime fans.
2876597
If you suspect someone is going through domestic violence, please give them this CD.  Excellent and a surprising ending!
1046386
When they say dysfunctional family, they aren't kidding. The abuse in this story is pretty horrifying, mostly in that it seems to have been NORMAL for the author, her family, and those in their social circle. A decent book, but don't read unless you are ready to read some gritty details.
2534892
Basically, women are always victims and men are always abusers. And if your boyfriend hits you, you're totally justified in cutting his throat, stabbing him, and shooting him in the head. Dangerous literature and terrible advice from an author with too many personal demons.
653452
A gut wrenching, memoir of domestic violence. It is raw.  It is real.  It is devastating.  But, most of all it is educating and COURAGEOUS!  Her story will make a profound impact and difference for all victims and survivors.  Buy it, Read it and Share it!
1032471
I found the first gratuitous killings a bit shocking and then found myself getting used to it.  Maybe that is part of the point.  Enough violence breeds a comfort.
2165029
There are some places that seem to be normal (whatever that means) on the surface. That appearance, though, is a thin veneer that conceals a treacherous undercurrent. Jenny Milchman has created such a place, that being Wedeskyull, New York, a small municipality in the remoteness of the Adirondack Mountains. What could possibly go wrong there? Milchman has been answering her own question, commencing with COVER OF SNOW and continuing in RUIN FALLS, which is built upon a subject that is every parents terror.

Liz Daniels, the mother of two small children and wife of Paul, has found her niche as an organic farmer and creating a small but growing supply company with her best friend. Her career dovetails nicely with her husband, a college professor who was advocating a return to a simpler lifestyle long before it became fashionable in some quarters. Though considered a bright and guiding light on campus, Paul remains estranged from his father, a man to whom he has not spoken in years. Liz accordingly finds it strange when Paul suggests that they take the children to visit his parents, going so far as to make an impromptu overnight stop on the way when the hour gets late. While its very unlike Paul to do so --- he considers chain hotels to be models of conspicuous over-consumption, don't you know --- Liz welcomes the rare opportunity to live normally, outside of Pauls usual rigid lifestyle rules.

However, Lizs comfort turns to horror the next morning when she discovers that her children are missing from their hotel bedroom. The police are called, and an investigation begins immediately. Then a second unexpected disappearance occurs: Paul himself slips away just as he is about to be interviewed by the police. For law enforcement, it becomes clear that this is a domestic matter, which involves the father leaving with the children. The search is canceled, and Lizs familiar, if not entirely comfortable, life is turned upside down. She goes to Pauls parents, who seem to know something they are not about to reveal.

Desperate and with almost nowhere to turn, Liz discovers a slim, seemingly unrelated clue pertaining to Pauls past and his relationship (or lack thereof) with his father, who is as rigid and unbending in his way as Paul himself. Liz experiences an additional betrayal of a sort, as well as some assistance from an unexpected source, as she makes a desperate and frantic attempt to locate her children and rescue them from a situation that, however well-intended, is truly madness run amok.

Milchman has created an interesting concept with respect to using Wedeskyull as a focal point for a number of unrelated incidents that are unsettling at best and harrowing at worst. It remains to be seen if Milchman will gradually begin to connect the incidents and characters she has introduced in her novels --- those characters who make it to the end of the book, that is --- or if the town will remain a curious crossroads from which trouble arises, spreading out across several unrelated lines. Either way, Milchman and her work will be worth watching in the future, if what has gone before is any indication.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
4392610
This book is a quick read with some violence in it.  What amazed me was the fact that the "hit man" for the lack of a better term, had no need for human contact.  Some of the reasons for this were explained at the end of the book.  The book was an interesting character study of this man, as he was very unusual!
263062
Wow.  I will admit from the start of this review that I could not finish this book.  The female lead was not a person that I could root for.  I understand that her life had been one tragedy after another but she is a nightmare.  In the beginning of the book we are told that she was violently abused by a man that she dated- and of course (rightly) the man was described as despicable and vile.  But what does the female lead do when she is confronted by an ex-boyfriend?  She beats the crap out of him and laughs when he required stitches!  OH!  I guess domestic violence is only evil when it is a man beating a woman.  It is just cool when the woman is violent.  And of course he really hurt her feelings so doesn't that give her the right to beat him until he bleeds?  Really?  No thank you.  If this book had the genders reversed in this scenario then the readers would all be furious.  It makes me really wonder who is giving this book five stars.  I hate double standards.
222939
I respect and admire this author for her excellent stories.  I believe I've read everything she has written and have enthusiastically shared them with others.  However, this book is quite different.  It is the most graphically violent book I have ever read (perhaps that speaks in part  to my preference).  It was disturbing and unforgettable.  Because of this, I feell strongly that there should be an advisory about that.  It's not your typical wartime violence.  It is torture and mayhem.  To be honest, I skimmed in a couple of spots.  This is because as one author said, I seem to "get books all over myself".  I don't just walk away.  I wear what I read.  This is why I am selective about what I read.  I still enjoyed the book, as I have each by this writer.  But I took a star off, because to me, the violence was overboard.  Too much.  Yes, these things happen.  A lot of horrible things happen.  Unspeakable things.  That doesn't mean we should focus on the details of the horror.  Of course, others will most likely disagree, which is fine.  This is strictly my opinion.  I was also a bit frustrated with the ending.  It just  didn't satisfy.  We went through, well, you know,  with this couple.  I wanted a lot more resolution!  I hope this is merely a departure and not a trend.  I do recommend the book, but with an advisory warning.
1968402
Well written, believable, touching, and interesting view of domestic violence in one family.
3627509
It was difficult to read some of the abusive episodes.  Speaks to the long-term impact of domestic violence on children.  Domestic violence is an equal opportunity striker.  It knows no boundaries--economic, ethnic, racial, class, gender, or sexual orientation!  We MUST break the silence!
3376868
Really horrible, terrifying, mean, cold hearted, despicable violent crimes that some people are capable of is a horrible nightmare. Why they decide to behave in such ways just puzzles me.
365240
This hard hitting true story reminds us that domestic abuse is alive and well. Teri's husband, David Larsen, was every woman's worst nightmare. Who would have thought that a leader in his neighborhood church would be an abuser at home? David's need for complete control was a sign that he was a complete psychopath. His physical abuse was always Teri's fault. This book is a wake up call for women. If you have a bully for a husband, if you have a friend or neighbor who you suspect is being abused, do something before you end up as a headline on the local news. The best thing about the book is a reasonably happy ending. Teri lived to tell her story.