``Life Sentence`` by Amy Bell is a powerful mix of true crime, memoir, and local history. The book tells the story of Bell’s father, who defended two men accused of killing police officers in 1974. While he believed that everyone deserved a fair trial, the case ended up destroying his career, damaging his reputation, and deeply affecting his family.

What makes this book stand out is that it is not only about the crime itself. Bell also focuses on the emotional impact the case had on everyone involved, especially her father and her family. She is very honest about her relationship with him, showing both the love she had for him and the hurt she felt because of the choices he made. This makes the story feel much more personal and emotional.

I also liked how the book explored flaws in the justice system. It raises important questions about fairness, guilt, and whether defending someone accused of a terrible crime is worth the cost. Bell stays neutral throughout the book, which makes it easier for readers to form their own opinions.

Overall, ``Life Sentence`` is a sad but meaningful book that is hard to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime, courtroom stories, or books that explore family relationships in a thoughtful way.

This book is a memoir-style read told from the perspective of a widow whose husband, Ron, underwent a journey with Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID). The book goes into detail about Ron’s initial journey with his chronic disease, the fragmented effect it had on their relationship, and his ultimate decision to undergo MAID.

This book was eye-opening. I often read memoirs, especially ones about medical conditions, but this was one read that challenged me to really think beyond preconceived assumptions, which I appreciated. I was aware of Bills C-14 and C-7, surrounding MAID, which received royal assent in Canada in March of 2021 and even though this book touched upon that, I liked that it focused more on their family’s experience rather than the legal side of it.

I found myself ending the read with several takeaways. I thought a lot about Weber’s focus on the role that Ron’s doctor played in their lives. She described the way he listened compassionately, acted in softness, and how he helped secure their financial future even beyond his role’s expectations. As someone interested in healthcare, I am a strong advocate for excellent physicians and love how this book reaffirmed that. It also opened my eyes to how difficult it can be to prove the extent of physical suffering.

This book was engaging and written in an easy-to-read manner but did contain heavy themes such as grief, mortality, isolation, etc. The book was quite uniquely raw, even though Rob passed away, their relationship was not painted solely in a positive light. Weber wrote about their struggles and the complications that the illness caused, beyond just the symptoms.

This heartwrenching read is a good one for anyone looking to read a memoir. It is a great reminder for readers to be empathetic. One will never know the reality of what other people are going through. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a deep, heart-breaking, yet impactful read.

I rate this book 3.5 / 5 stars

“Life Sentence” by Amy Bell is a true story about the search for two missing police officers, and how her father lost himself defending the men who took and killed them.

I found this book quite enjoyable, and it was another book for me that once I started it, I wanted to read it all in one day. I forced myself to split it up a bit so I didn’t fly through it too quickly, and with the book not being crazy long it worked out quite nicely. One big thing I enjoyed about this book is the it was written as a true crime book, but also as a memoir and local history book. The author blends together fact with emotion very well, and combining that with the styles it was written in makes for a very compelling story.

This story also does a very good job of showing just how much her father taking on this case affected many people. His family was torn apart, and he had very strained relationships. I appreciated that the book wasn’t just strictly the crime, it also looked at the blemishes in the justice system.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes true crime and local history. Though Amy’s father ‘lost’ the case there are really no winners, and it is a very unfortunate story.

Book: Maple Sugar Pie
Author: Susan White
Published by Acorn Press

Maple Sugar Pie is a book that I will continue to think about! It follows our main character Hazel Whitford and her family’s past as we see the events that led to her family being divided and how she fixes it again. This book is told to use in black and white pictures which I really loved!

Personally, I really connected to this book because I understand that life isn’t always fair and I strongly believe that this book further illustrates that statement.

I really appreciated the pictures which added an extra interesting layer to the book!

Overall, I really liked this book and would love to read it again for the first time if I could!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

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