Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Many people NEED to read this book. Many, even most, will hate the basic story, but, we all need to understand the mindset here, if we are to find a way to prevent more of these sorts of horrors. Okay, there is a specific reason this tale struck home. That reason is part of the explanation as to why I am so moved. Other, even more telling reasons, concern two close relatives of mine (remaining anonymous for now) who wreaked horrific nightmares upon their children. Perhaps few living people can appreciate my deep understanding for the combined effects of drugs and sex within American society… Due to an uncanny set of ironies, part of me wanted to resist reading this story. Because of those ironies, I found that I HAD to read this book. A paradox similar to a something in Stephen King’s most recent novel, “The Outsider.” ‘CAN’T MUST.’ Let me explain. The first irony is that I recollect bits of this true story from the weeks just before my wife and I moved from our home near Portland, Oregon to North Dakota in June, 2009. That, however, is not the more chilling coincidence. Today, our church is hosting a funeral for another child murdered by his mother. The young son of a chiropractor was tossed from a hotel room in New York, and followed by his mother. His uncle is my chiropractor here and his grandmother did a story about a bakery I once started in town. So, yes, this story comes about as close to home as any nightmare I might wish to endure. What I mean is, it boggles the mind to know that this true story about a woman tossing two of her children into a river (one died) is available to read on the very day that a local friend’s nephew, who was killed in much the same way, is being buried in my adopted home town. I was at work, 25 miles away, so could not attend the funeral with my wife. I guess, in a spiritual sense, I am taking part in that funeral by grieving over the facts of another murder? I trust readers of this review will not be too put off by my introduction, but I do feel I must put this true story review into perspective. BLUSH FACTOR Aside from the profane nature of the topic itself, the number of spoken profanities is not excessive. Still, the few f-words might concern a few people who might choose to read it to a child or a fellow member of the church book club. WHAT GRABBED MY ATTENTION As nonfiction, this reads much more as though it were a novel. Good flow, the sort of grammar that rings true to the ear. The writer spends a good deal of effort in setting the scene. WHAT PERPLEXED ME Maybe this is because I write reviews the way this author writes this book. She tends to explain herself in the story. For me, it interrupts the flow of the work, much as some review readers tell me my reviews do. [Mental note: consider reducing my interjection of self into reviews.] IS THERE ANY HUMOR IN THIS DARK TALE Yes. I pops up at about location 789. It’s the definition of a three-time loser. Coming at the point it does, it tickled my funny bone. POINT OF VIEW This is written in multiple points of view. Some is first person, but most is third person. OTHER SALIENT POINTS The story includes photos and a sketch, which help to bring the story to life. Also, the writer skillfully interweaves bits and pieces regarding other crimes where in mothers murdered their children. EXCERPT ‘…Sabrina Trembley pulled her car to the end of the car line for Living Savior Lutheran Preschool. If the car line had always bugged her—these were preschoolers, for goodness’ sake, so why in the world should parents not be allowed to walk their four-year-olds to class?—today she was especially annoyed. It had been only two days since Eldon was killed; were they expected to stay honeycombed in their cars and interact as little as possible? Sabrina couldn’t do it. She couldn’t drive up like everything was normal and drop off her son. She swung the car around and parked in the church parking lot. It was a beautiful clear morning. She opened the car doors and sat there with Max. The car line looked longer than usual because the school doors had not opened on time. Sabrina was under the impression that teachers came early to pray together before school started. What could that have been like this morning, absorbing the news about Eldon while planning how to keep the kids happy all day? When the doors opened, Sabrina saw how strained things were. The teachers wore grim half smiles while trying to sound ordinary: “Hi, Daphne. Oh, here’s Athena.” Their former classmate had been murdered by his mother, and yes, what Amanda had done was unspeakable, but did that mean they were supposed to act as though it had not happened? Sabrina thought the email the school sent over the weekend, essentially a “we regret to inform you” note, had been vastly inadequate. Any sentient parent knew what happened. Amanda’s mug shot had been in every newspaper and on television. What disturbed Sabrina about the email, and again watching the children being escorted inside, was the sense that the murder was not going to be talked about. Did the faculty think that just because Eldon had been taken out of school in February—Sabrina was not sure why; something about his father taking him to Eugene—the children would forget him? Max would not forget, and though Sabrina could not know as much in the car that morning, he never would. Six years later, he would cry in the back of a different car after being reminded of Eldon, of whom he would say, “He will always be four.” Rommelmann, Nancy. To the Bridge: A True Story of Motherhood and Murder (p. 43-44). Little A. Kindle Edition. BOTTOM LINE As I alluded to in the opening, this is not the sort of story you’re going to enjoy, per se. It is, though, a story that you will need to grapple, if you intend to be a part of the solution. It matters less whether you find empathy for the mother, than it does that you understand the cause and effect of the interweaving of our current society in relation to lifestyles, entertainment, and the legal system. Based on the overarching content, this is five star nonfiction. Based on the writing, which strikes many chords in good and in irritating ways, I am rating it four stars. Please forgive me if I’ve injected too much of myself into this review. Did this review answer most of your questions and concerns? 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