Karen Tintori

[Warning: lots of backstory spoilers here, but nothing that spoils the main (contemporary) narrative.]

I've long been fascinated by the fact that "Let there be light" occurred on the first day, according to the book of Genesis, while the creation of the stars, sun and moon didn't take place until the fourth day. Even as allegory, it's obvious that the light in question on that first day could not have been our sun. For lack of any better explanation, I've always considered it to be a legacy show more of the Big Bang even as I failed to find a way to explain how folks in biblical times would have known about this relatively recent theory of the origin of the universe.

At the same time, I had never heard of a tzohar (or sohar) being mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament ark story. But something about it is there, I've since confirmed. And I've also long known about how J.R.R. Tolkien's works were laced with his Roman Catholic beliefs, but I never connected (even as passing theory) this strange primordial light of Genesis with Galadriel's mirror and the phial that she gave to Frodo as a gift before he left Lorien. "May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out."

It is the sum of these tales that forms the basis of THE ILLUMINATION, a fascinating contemporary story that is, essentially, a thriller about the fate of this light. The Israelis wants it and claims provenance from Noah through David and beyond. Muslim and Christian extremist groups want it for their own reasons. The American government wants it for scientific reasons. And caught up between all of these factions are our likable protagonists: Natalie Landau, a museum curator, and Jim D'Amato, an MSNBC journalist who may or may not be something more.

The novel has its share of gaping plot holes (towards the end, in particular), but the premise is so cool and the principals so likable and the narrative so well done that, for once, I was able to ignore a lot of the cognitive dissonance. But honestly, in a lesser story, those plot holes would have been fatal. Here, I found them to be drowned out by all of the good and fun elements of the story. show less

This book tells the story of the 1909 fire at the Cherry mine in northern Illinois. The author decided to investigate a family story that her grandfather had survived this mine disaster. It did not turn out quite that way - he actually stayed home with a hangover, so one could say that he averted the disaster rather than survived it - but several other family members were inside the mine when the fire started. The story is told from diaries maintained by men who were trapped inside the mine, show more from the subsequent investigation, and from family stories related by descendants, many of whom still live in the area.

The mine was fairly new, and was considered "fireproof" because the structures above ground were made of concrete and steel, but the fire revealed deficiencies in design and in emergency response planning. I would have liked more photos, and more detailed maps of the mine layout, but the story is compelling and worth reading. show less

I just finished this book. It is a page turning read! It is thought provoking,disturbing and sad. While there were some happy memories in this book and those ignited my own happy memories of my sicilian family, the dark side of the men in this family is what sticks with you.
I will always remember Frances and very grateful I was born to make my own choices and decisions and not baggage owned and abused by the men in her family as was the ways then.If you have any sicilian blood in you or do show more genealogy, please consider this book.
Many sicilian customs were remembered here, some good and some not so good. show less

Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster by Karen Tinori

An emotioannly charged thought provoking, tragic story of one of the worst Coal Mine Disasters in the United States.

Well researched, with indepth details from the few surviors, families of those lost, public records and acrchives. Photos and testimonies from (those) involved added to this compelling story.

Overall I found Trapped: The 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster informative and heartbreaking. I feel this books should be read by those in the show more (Illinois) area as well as nation wide.

This is a story that should not be forgotten, in honor of those who lost their lives and the families it affected. It left an imprint in my heart and one that will last forever. show less