My Beloved World

My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor, 315 pages.

In this 2013 memoir by the third female Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, the author recounts her life from her childhood in the Bronx to her first appointment to the federal bench. She tells loving stories of her Puerto Rican family, sad stories about some of the people she grew up with, and an overall inspiring story of the obstacles that she overcame and the journey she took.  It is a really good story and I enjoyed listening to it. The narration by Rita Moreno is a treat too.

The children act

The children act / Ian McEwan 221 pgs.

Fiona is on top of her profession, a judge dealing with family issues.  She is also in the middle of the breakdown of her previously solid marriage.  She is trying to focus on work when a case with a young leukemia patient whose family is denying treatment for religious reasons crosses her desk.  She ends up visiting the patient in the hospital.  He is also of a mind to say no to treatment and understands the risks.  Despite firmly believing the patient understands the situation and respecting the religious belief, Fiona decides to allow treatment to occur.  Now the life is saved but the boy has an unhealthy obsession with Fiona.  He writes to her, he follows her on a trip.  He wants to come and live with her.  She, of course, can not allow this to continue.  She throws herself back into her real life, reconnects with her husband and continues working hard.  She later finds out his leukemia reoccurred and as an 18 year old, he chooses to refuse treatment and dies. Is this a suicide?  Does it matter?  Fiona only has the power of the law behind her, she is not able to treat this boy's other problem.  She offered him life once and he, instead chose death. How much of this is her fault? A haunting novel.