Evil Became Them by Pat Root © 1959
Synopsis: (from the back of the book)
Three Sadists…
These were the three Vails, uninhibited, unconventional, unscrupulous…
Phillip, who drank too much to disguise the decadence in his life…
Douglas, who painted weird pictures and delighted in the grotesque…
Lise, who was as beautiful as woman could be, and as deadly.
The Vails built their lives around a morbid pattern of violence and brutality. For them, morality had no meaning; murder itself could become a matter of pride…and when they set out to gain the fortune they believed was rightfully theirs, only one man – a man they believed a coward – dared to stand in their way…
The duel which followed would have delighted the Devil himself.
Comments: How good does this book sound?! I’m loving it so far. I’ll never understand why so many of these great old pulp books aren’t being re-printed with their original cover art. A lost art definitely worth preserving. You won’t find these on Kindle.
Suicide: A Study in Sociology by Emile Durkheim
Synopsis: Emile Durkheim’s Suicide addresses the phenomenon of suicide and its social causes. Written by one of the world’s most influential sociologists, this classic argues that suicide primarily results from a lack of integration of the individual into society. Suicide provides readers with an understanding of the impetus for suicide and its psychological impact on the victim, family, and society.
Comments: Relax, I was reading this book weeks before any of this depressing mom news hit home. I’ve always been intrigued by various sociological phenomena, suicide just being one of them. Remember, when I was reading Theories of Attraction and Love by Bernard Murstein? Idle curiosity. Besides, I lack the enviable un-derailable organization skills of one my all-time favorite fictional characters, ‘Jesse’ from the play turned 1986 film, starring Sissy Spacek & Anne Bancroft, ‘night, Mother.
Anyway, I find it interesting that suicide was once (still?) considered the realm of the insane. Still, an intriguing read, if you can get past the slow-going first three chapters.
Deadly Nightshade by Elizabeth Daly © 1947
Comments: Since the book has no printed synopsis, either on the book itself or online, I honestly have no idea what the book is about…yet. I just started reading it and so far it reads like the typical murder mystery, with detective Henry Gamadge at the helm.
I bought it first, for the title (great title), then for the beautiful cover art and thirdly for the actual storyline. Typical me. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I find that more often than not, I do.
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‘night Mother is one of my favorite movies (in a long list of favorites)but I have always hesitated telling anyone it was a favorite for fear they would think I was morbid or something. I’m not sure exactly what fascinates me about that movie. The acting is superb and the character study provokes so many feelings.
Comment by Cindi June 13, 2009 @ 10:33 pmDear you’ve got to send me your entry password… on facebook or myspace or something.
Comment by Reba June 15, 2009 @ 5:43 pm