W... W... W... Wednesdays April 20

It's time to link up with Should be Reading for W.W.W Wednesday.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

Currently I'm reading Live Bait by P.J. Tracy

I recently finished reading Dead Weight by Batt Humphreys. This was an excellent book - I highly recommend!

Next I'll read The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry. I've already renewed it once from the library - it's time to get it knocked out!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Dead Weight~ by Batt Humphreys

Synopsis:  In one of America's most beautiful cities, an ugly crime. Charleston, South Carolina, in 1910 is the scene of a true story. There is a trial in the town, a triangle of animosities. A Jewish merchant murdered, a black man accused and a white populace primed for a hanging.

Into the real events, steps a fictional character. A reporter from New York arrives to cover the story. Hal Hinson follows the facts, but finds that Charleston is a much more complex and seductive city than he imagined. Hinson discovers a dangerous balance in the racial divide, a country of beauty and cruelty, and a love story that reviewers describe as Shakespearean in its ending.  

My thoughts: I'll admit - I checked this book out because I saw (but missed) the authors visit to our local library and that definitely made me curious. I was not disappointed. The author did an excellent job of weaving the fictional Hal HInson into the true life story of Daniel "Nealy" Duncan. The book was made even more sad with the realization that the City of Charleston pretty much tried and convicted an innocent man before his trial even started.  The book is very well written and I highly recommend it.

On a side note, I was looked up the application for the posthumous pardon the author submitted to South Carolina to right the 100 year wrong - it was denied. The article is here. I applaud Mr. Humphries for making the attempt and am saddened that the state is still afraid to correct an injustice. Sorry I got all soapboxy on you.

I give this book a 4 - I loved it. 

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

W... W... W... Wednesdays April 6

It's that time of the week again, time to link up with Should Be Reading for WWW Wednesdays.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

Even if you don't link up you should go check it out - I've found it to be an excellent source for learning about different books.

Currently I'm reading Crushing Crystal. It's my fourth cozy in a row, and if I hadn't checked it out from the library I would have pushed it to the end of my stack! I'm a huge cozy fan - but I definitely need to read something else.

Recently I finished reading Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier. Another library check out!

Next I plan on reading Dead Weight by Batt Humphreys.  Yes, from the library. I really do {heart} my library!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown