Category: Based on True Story

Strength and Healing….”Wild”, by Cheryl Strayed

WildThe non-fiction novel by Cheryl Strayed, “Wild”, was voted best non-fiction book of 2012 by several review outlets. The personal story she relates is from her experience in making an impulsive decision to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. The route originated in the Mojave Desert and continued through California, Oregon, and ended in Washington State. The most harrowing part of the impulsive decision…she did it alone.

When just twenty-two years of age, Cheryl felt that she had lost everything in her young life. Her mother passed away, which prompted the family to scatter to other places leaving her alone. And, if that weren’t enough trauma, her own marriage fell apart. It was then that she made the commitment to begin her journey.

Wild is a powerful narrative of a young woman who feels desperation and the need to connect with nature on her own terms. The novel captures all the terror and triumphs of one young woman who forged ahead on her journey against all odds. The experience was maddening, but also resulted in giving her strength and healing.

The film adaptation of “Wild” is due to be released on December 5, 2014. The movie will give justification to the motto of the book…”From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.” The movie will star Reese Witherspoon as Strayed, with cast members Laura Dern (as Strayed’s mother), Toby Hoffman, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman, and Kevin Rankin. Director for the project is Jean-Marc Vallee’, distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

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Decide for yourself…Killing Jesus: A History by, Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

Killing JesusThis book has raised much controversy for its content and because its author is a controversial figure himself. Bill O’Reilly has written several books, most of which have been best sellers. This is possibly his most difficult endeavor to try to explain the circumstances and historical events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. To explain such an important event in religious history is a daunting task, but one that Mr. O’Reilly and Martin Dugard gave every effort to accomplish. They write this book from the perspective of fact that we do not actually know that much about Jesus. Until the last few months of his life, he was considered just an ordinary Jewish man struggling to survive, as all others in that difficult time period. He lived in a time when Rome reined over all, not allowing any dissent from people whose lives were worth very little. Jesus struggled to bring goodness and light to these down trodden people, but in the short term, the Romans won. Jesus was executed.
Killing Jesus is a true story of the fight between good and evil. Listen for to it, and decide for yourself your opinion of their research and work. Whether you agree with all of their conclusions or not, Killing Jesus: A History is an important reference about the life of Jesus.

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Just In Time For Easter…”Heaven Is For Real”, by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

Insurgent“Heaven is for Real” is about the four year old son of a Nebraska minister, Colton, who requires emergency surgery, and describes being able to look down to see the doctors performing the surgery, and also could see his Dad praying in the hospital waiting room. There were many doubters who attributed the reason for the stories to various causes. But soon even the doubters were convinced and became believers. The central message of the inspirational book is to live each day with the hope of heaven and eternal life.
This incredible true story has been adapted to film. The movie will be in theaters this Easter weekend, April 16. It is a TriStar Pictures Production, under the direction of Randall Wallace. The inspirational characters are played by Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum as Colton, Jacob Vargas, Nancy Sorel, and Lane Styles as Colton’s sister.

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Justice System Gone Wrong…”Devil’s Knot”, by Mara Leveritt

Allegiant jacket coverThis non-fiction novel is based on the 1993 murders of three eight year old children and the three teenagers who stood trial for their murders. The children went missing from their homes on May 5th and on May 6th their bodies were found in the woods near their homes. The murders were savagely executed, giving the community the evidence they thought they needed to claim it to be Satanic ritual.
The story follows the process of finding those who were thought to have perpetrated the crime and all the mishandling of the evidence and trial by the detectives, lawyers, and what the author perceived to be a prosecution biased judge. All three were convicted with poor representation and nothing more than circumstantial evidence. Two received life sentences without parole, and one a death sentence. Eventually, they were released from prison. This novel uncovers the blatant abuses of the criminal justice system in a horrific case.

A movie is soon to be released adapted from the novel starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth (directed by Atom Egoyan)

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