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[katara]

Title: All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the Superstar Whose Life Ended on Murderers' Row
Author: James Patterson, Alex Abramovich, Mike Harvkey
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.50/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: February 13, 2018 to February 14, 2018
Book Summary: Everyone thought they knew Aaron Hernandez. He was an NFL star who made the game of football look easy. Until he became the prime suspect in a gruesome murder. But who was Aaron Hernandez, really?

Rich with in-depth, on-the-ground investigative reporting that gives readers a front row seat to Hernandez's tumultuous downward spiral, THE PATRIOT will reveal the unvarnished truth behind the troubled star, with first-person accounts and untold stories--from his hometown of Bristol, CT to his college days in Gainesville, FL to the Patriots' NFL locker room where he ascended to stardom, to the prison where Hernandez spent his final days. Packed with the shocking details of a true crime masterpiece and the pacing of a suspenseful thriller, THE PATRIOT answers the questions that everyone is asking about Aaron Hernandez.
Book Review: Aaron Hernandez could have had it all. He was one of the most paid NFL tight ends. He had a job with the New England Patriots. And a little girl who would have loved growing up having her dad guide her through life and be able to attend every game he played.

Aaron's life was anything but happy. His father died early in his life and his mother married a man with whom she was having an affair with. Aaron had a bright future in football. He had been looking forward to attending UConn with his brother but all that would change when he turned his eyes toward attending Florida to become a gator. There he would learn that Gator players tended to get away with anything and saw that as an advantage.

When Aaron is drafted by the New England Patriots, things seem to escalate with him. He now has money to burn and drugs (and guns to buy).

All that would end one day when Aaron becomes accused of murdering Odin Lloyd, a young man who played football with the Boston Bandits and worked for a living.

Aaron's trial would be the trial of the century that would end with a guilty verdict and lifetime look in prison.

My thoughts

This book was hard to put down that I ended up devouring it within an entire evening. The story of Aaron Hernandez is tragic. Here was a young man who had a promising career in football and ended up throwing it all away. This book paints Aaron as a tragic figure meant to garner sympathy for his choices in life. I felt sorry for him but only for his choices. He had a chance to change himself when he got into the NFL and he chose to continue with his lifestyle even after becoming a father. This told me he did not care one whit of what he was doing nor did he care any for the life's he was snuffing out. The only thing is, I am sure, is that he felt sorry that he was snitched on.

I am not a fan of the New England Patriots nor was I a fan of Aaron Hernandez. I was curious what led this young man down this path and I can see that most of it came from his family. I am just sad that his family did not do enough to reach out to this kid during the early stages of his life. Perhaps if they had, maybe things would be different? There really is no telling how this story would have changed. Maybe he would still be playing football and enjoying the rewards that came with it.

This book is something one should go into with an open mind regardless of what your feelings are for both the team and the player. This book will pull you in until the last page is turned and leave you feeling that either sorry for Aaron or believing him guilty.

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[katara]

Title: Darth Vader (2017-) #11
Author: Charles Soule, Giuseppe Camuncoli (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.95/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: February 14, 2018
Book Summary: An expensive bounty has been put on Vader’s head! Who would dare try to challenge the Dark Lord’s place in the Empire?
Book Review: This issue sets up Vader's next adventure. This time he has a bounty on his head and the bounty hunters have all come to collect. Too bad their target is not that easy to catch and certainly being on his bad side is not something you want nor do you want him chasing after you.

Vader has been tipped off that a Jedi is in this bar. With him, a minion named The Ninth Sister. As Vader goes in to find his targeted Jedi, he finds himself surrounded by bounty hunters who have been told that there is a bounty on his head. Of course, Vader is not so easy to capture and he turns the tables on this hunters until he corners them, only to find that this bounty on him goes all the way to the top.

So what does that mean for Vader? Well we won't find out until the next issue. Certainly it does set up the next issue and will make the reader exactly wonder why such a bounty has been placed. I have always wondered if Palpatine was afraid of Vader. I mean if these comics are canon, I can see why. I mean Vader has the ability to become even more powerful than what Palpatine is. I would think that having groomed Vader that Palpatine must have felt in some way or another a fear that his own apprentice could turn on him as he did with his own master. Certainly this would be interesting to see especially to see how the Star Wars universe would have turned out if this had happened before episode IV.

This was a great issue. I have to admit I am always excited when I know Vader's issue is coming out. He has always been a fascinating character and I love what Charles is doing with him. I cannot wait for next month's issue.