Save Me

Save Me

Adult fiction
I highly recommend Lisa Scottoline's Save Me. What I don't
recommend is reading it late at night when you're home alone (like I
did). The beautifully crafted suspense makes every normally ignorable
sound--the furnace coming on, the house settling--quite startling. If
you want to be caught up in a story that is gripping and scary because
of human nature, not vampires, sparkly or otherwise, this fine book
will be your cup of tea.
Save Me brings to life one of a parent's worst nightmares: what
if the instinctive saving of your own child in a horrific situation
makes you seem guilty of neglecting other people's children. Rose,
Scottoline's protagonist, has become a lunch mother. Her daughter,
Melly, is bullied by classmate, Amanda, because of a prominent facial
port wine birthmark. Rose wants to see for herself what's going on.
Right before the children are to go out to recess Amanda does
something that causes Melly to flee the room. Rose keeps Amanda and
two other girls in the cafeteria to try to talk to them. Suddenly the
kitchen explodes, turning the immediate area into a flaming inferno.
Terrifying hours later Amanda is in intenive care fighting for her
life and Rose is facing civil and criminal charges. Her family could
lose their home. She could go to jail.
Fortunately Rose is savvy enough to know when things do not add
up and brave enough to investigate. Her research gives her insight
into a horrifying web of crime and corruption. Now her life is in
danger. People in high places have sanctioned murder and wouldn't
hesitate to do so again.
On a personal note, last weekend was a walking weekend for me.
Saturday I participated in Paws on Parade as part of Team Veazie Vet.
It was great to be part of such an amazing pack and meet so many sweet
natured dogs. Alpha vet Dave Cloutier provided coffee and scads of
scrumptious pastries to invigorate the people on his team. In total
the walk raised something like $65,000.
Then Sunday was the Out of the Darkness walk for suicide prevention at
UMaine. I think there were over 600 people. We walked to downtown
Orono and back after hearing the stories of people who had lost loved
ones to suicide or faced the temptation. At the end, as the book of
remembrance--names of lost loved ones and those who miss them--was
read aloud we placed white carnations in the river. It was a poignant
and dignified moment.
I was very lucky to be able to participate in both. We were all lucky
to have perfect autumn weather rather than the downpour of Biblical
proportions Wednesday we could still see reminders of.
A great big shout out goes out to all who put in a lot of hard work to
organize and publicize both events.
Julia Emily Hathaway



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