My Adventure: An Encounter with Life by William Millard

 Started: 3/18/2021

Finished: 3/26/2021

Year: 2020

Pages: 282

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B-

Type: Trade paperback

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Blurb (from back cover): "Bill Millard is a commercial attorney with an international law firm in Dallas, Texas, and life could not be better.

"On top of his lucrative job, he is married with two wonderful children, lives in a nice neighborhood with great schools, and is a proud Texan. But his world comes crashing down as his health starts to decline.

"At first, it's not clear what is wrong, but then he is diagnosed with several near-fatal diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which is a progressive nervous system disease that causes a loss of muscle control.

"He loses his family, career, home, and health. After a period in a comatose state, he wakes up as a quadriplegic, suffering severe seizures. He is unable to eat, drink, swallow, speak, stand, breathe without respiratory care, or carry on life as he knew it.

"In this inspiring memoir, Millard reveals how he coped with his diagnosis and made a miraculous recovery, spending seven-plus years fighting for his life in long-term health care facilities, physical rehabilitation facilities, and other centers. Millard's story also offers a unique first-hand patient's perspective as to what it is like to live in skilled and senior healthcare facilities today, containing many observations on what he thinks makes a better facility for patients and their families."

Opinion: I wanted more about his illness but he does address why he didn't dwell on what it was or could have been. I think that this could have been helpful for others and their families that are facing similar struggles. A more complete review will be on Reader Views in the near future.

The Memorandum by Robert W. Kelley

 Started: 3/10/2021

Finished: 3/17/2021

Year: 2019

Pages: 259

Genre: Legal non fiction

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: Trade Paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In The Memorandum, attorney Robert W. Kelley offers a gripping account of his years-long epic battle against one of the world's most power companies and his efforts to seek justice for a family forever devastated by its misconduct.

"Part legal thriller, part personal memoir, part trial strategy, attorney Kelley's narrative brings to life one of the most important legal cases of the decade. A giant corporation, a secret memo exposing is reprehensible conduct, legions of defense laws blocking the truth, all brought to justice by Kelley and his relentless band of warriors."

Opinion: This was a great combo of memoir and legal info. There is enough explanation of the legal stuff without making it overwhelming to readers who might not understand it. A more complete review will be posted on Reader Views in the near future.

Day of Judgment by Heath Daniels

 Started: 3/6/21

Finished: DNF 3/9/2021

Year: 2019

Pages: 641

Genre: Literature

Grade: F

Reason for reading: review for Reader Views

Type: paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "The Hammond family has worked and lived comfortably in the semi-rural, semi-isolated Appalachian area of southwest Virginia for years until a a violent attach against Arabs disrupts their American-dream life. Frank and Brad each live and work in a 'don't ask, don't tell' environment until violence by disaffected Arabs sends them seeking answers.

"Arab-Muslim professional, Joe and Omar, are committed to seeking justice! Joe, a brilliant young American-born attorney, seeks justice in the courtroom and starts the process of becoming one of the country's experts on hate crimes. At the same time, his good friend Omar, an equally brilliant Islamic theologian, seeks justice within the spiritual realms of Allah. Their actions reflect the double entendre in the title Day of Judgment: judgment in the US legal system and judgment before Allah"

Opinion: This book needs to be chopped in half and be heavily edited. Several grammar errors and just a lot of words that don't need to be there. A more complete review will be on Reader Views in the future.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

 Started: 2/27/2021

Finished: 3/5/2021

Year: 1994

Pages: 346

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: trade paperback

Blurb (from back cover): "In 1915, Sherlock Homes is retired and quietly engaged to study of honeybees when a young woman literally stumbles into him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes-and match him wit for wit. Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern twentieth-century woman proves a deft protegee and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective. In their first case together, they must track down a kidnapped American senator's daughter and confront a truly cunning adversary-a bomber who has set trip wires for the sleuths and who will stop at nothing to end their partnership."

Opinion: Having heard so many good things about this book and not really looking up to see what it was all about, I was thoroughly surprised. I can understand the praise. Definitely a fun read.