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    <user id="355841">
    <name><![CDATA[Bayshore]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Oconto, WI]]></location>        
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      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Sep 03 11:06:52 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Sep 03 11:07:57 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The story of the Columbine shootings was horrifically realistic, using real names and actual journal entries.  Wally Lamb is a master at bringing the story to life describing the scents and sounds, helping the reader to feel what the victims must have.  The lasting effects of violence is the focus of this story - from Caelum’s reaction to his wife’s betrayal to the teens’ deadly rampage.  Powerful and heart wrenching, I couldn’t put it down. . . Then the second half of the book began.  The author went off in a completely different direction as Caelum sets out to discover the history of his family.  Unfortunately, the reader is forced to trudge along on this painfully drawn out trek.  The storyline may have been mildly interesting if I wasn’t so anxious to continue on with Caelum and Maureen’s journey.  I was thankful just to successfully struggle through the second, seemingly unrelated, storyline and finally put an end to the history lesson.  5 stars for the first half, 1 for the second.]]></body>
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