The Newsmakers

by Lis Wiehl
Dakota County Library hardcover 336 pages
genre: realistic fiction

Although this is our book club title, I wouldn't classify it as Christian fiction . . . if I didn't already know that Wiehl writes as a Christian, I just wouldn't identify it that way. Erica Sparks is a wonderful character - a horrible childhood, a flawed past, striving to become something more, invited to join a huge network news show. When odd things start happening and she asks too many questions, her life is clearly in danger. That sense of danger and action was built well throughout the story.

page 28 - she mentions the North Korean hack of Sony and the Target breach. It works perfectly in this book, but how quickly will that become outdated? I always question the use of modern, relevant details . . . because they definitely date the book. There are a LOT of things in this book that will read differently in a few years.

page 57 - the scene she describes about her parents making fun of her for doing well in school is so sad! I know that there are parents who tear their kids down instead of building them up. "School was her sanctuary - if it hadn't been for the nurturing teachers and her guidance counselor, who recognized and encouraged her promise, she never would have made it to Yale, where Archie Hallowell took her under his wing."

page 129 - When Erica ducks into a small church as she's starting to panic, she finds peace. I love this! And calling it a sanctuary . . . I think we use that word too freely when we're describing a room. A sanctuary is a safe place, a haven.

page 140 - "Erica believes deeply in democracy . . . and . . . is profoundly troubled by ideologues who cast compromise as a bad thing. Compromise builds unity, and unity is strength. A house divided will not stand. We're all in this together."

page 184 - As Erica remembers the last time she saw her mother and hopes (briefly) that she'll be encouraged, her mother stings her again. "But just remember, you can change a lot of things in your life, but you can't ever, ever change where you come from. And deep down, you'll never be better than any of us." Nasty.

page 259 - " . . .Donald Trump - that bloated, orange-faced freak - wants to be his BFF." This made me chuckle. Except that it's so incredibly scary that Trump is seriously one of the top contenders in the presidential race right now.

page 287 -When Erica finally slips and drinks alcohol (after two years of sobriety!), I wanted to cry. Nooooo! Don't do it! Call Moira!