Bent, Not Broken

Nice story about compassion, understanding and empathy.  I was really able to "feel" the angst that the main character with OCD was feeling.  I thought there were times that the girlfriend fed into his compulsions, almost to the point of encouraging them, but then there were times she showed great compassion.  Overall, I feel that this book showed how difficult it is to live life and have relationships with others when you suffer from OCD.  I also feel that the story shows that there is hope...that there are people who are willing to try to understand the hardships of the disease and are willing to love regardless.

This read fulfills 1 of 12 books for the Mental Illness Advocacy Reading Challenge 2014.

OCD: National Institute of Mental Health

2014 Monthly Keyword Challenge

The last reading challenge I will join this year.  I am addicted....

Monthly Keywords:

• JAN- Angel, Secret, Clock, Black, Day, Wild         
• FEB- Her, Life, Night, Red, Dark, Island
• MAR- Forever, Inside, Storm, Sky, Flower, Stay 
• APR- Star, Light, Never, Princess, Break, Clear
• MAY- Dawn, Death, End, Lost, Beautiful, And
• JUN- Color, Beyond, Found, Place, Grave, Road
• JUL- Crash, Ship, Prince, Whisper, Sun, Of
• AUG- Forgotten, Down, True, Run, Danger, Me
• SEP- Number, Take, Shadow, Ice, Who, After
• OCT- Ocean, Blood, Still, Out, The, Fate
• NOV- Into, Sound, Blue, House, My, Last
• DEC- Kiss, Fire, Ruin, White, Promise, Infinity

• JAN-  Wild: Lost and Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

 This is a story about a double murder committed, in the name of God,  by two Fundamentalist Mormon brothers.  Along with telling the story of the murders, the author also details the history of the Mormon church.  I was intrigued and confused by what I read and found myself really thinking about religions and religious extremists.  The section of the story where the author retells events of the murders is gruesome and stuck with me for several days.

 I found myself intrigued, bothered, concerned....just a lot of different emotions!  This was definitely a "thinker" book for me.  I now have many, many questions.  So Mormon friends, you have been warned!!  I'm coming with my questions!!

   

Brenda, Erica and Allen Lafferty

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer fulfills #2 (true crime non-fiction) book in The Eclectic Reader Challenge 2014 and "Suspense or Crime" for the Full House Challenge.