The Bride Collector (Book Review)

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker



How will they escape, how will the untangle the web of truth and fantasy, and can they stop the killer before it is too late? Those are the questions FBI agent Brad Raines struggles with while hunting down the Denver serial killer, nick-named "the Bride Collector." Each young women killed is left with a veil covering their faces. To help him stop the killer, Brad requires the help from an unlikely source, Paradise.

Paradise is a resident of the Center of Wellness and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for the mentally ill with extraordinary gifts. She has the gift of being able to see the last few moments of a person's life before they died when she touches the body. With seven died women as the goal for the serial killer, Paradise does not know if she has it within her to help Brad stop the killings.

With Paradise's help Brad begins to see the world in a different light and is able to stop the killer, but not before sacrifices and pain.

This is one of the most riveting stories I have read. Dekker creates a world of suspense and believable characters. Each character is well developed and captivating. Through the entire book Dekker twists a story of danger, intrigue, and personal growth. In the end characters have learned from their experiences and there is an end to the chaos.

MUVE (multi-user virtual environments)

MUVE is an acronym for multi-user virtual environments. Children and even adults enjoy exploring and creating worlds where anything can happen. Virtual environments and games are a great way to help children learn in a different way. The can see how history ways played out, they can become the Egyptians building pyramids or discover space and the dynamics of space ships.

Through my experience as a preschool teacher, I learned that children learn and absorb more information if it is not only words on paper. Librarians can embrace the new technology of virtual environments and games to encourage children to live history for themselves and learn in new ways. To be inspired to greater things, just like those in the past.

FaceBook vs LinkedIn

The world today is all about media. The world wide web is how you make romantic connections, find childcare and home repair specialists, attend school to continue your education, and even find jobs.

In my experience Facebook provides a great way to stay connected to people from your past as well as stay informed on the goings on of places (i.e. charities and libraries) you enjoy to frequent. You can easily find information and navigate Facebook to find the information you are seeking. It is all in the matter of knowing the name of the person or location you desire to find information about. The IUPUI FaceBook page allows people to see what the school is all about and how to connect to learn more information as well as the connects IUPUI has around the United States. Libraries would benefit from using Facebook for its simple layout and easy access for patrons. To help patrons stay informed on the events and benefits provided by libraries on a regular basis, Facebook is an easy and simple option.

LinkedIn on the other hand, is beneficial for the wider net of information it can provide. However, the learning curve to figure out the dynamics and layout of LinkedIn is a bit more challenging. In my personal experience it is not as simple as typing in the information you desire, you have to have knowledge of the proper language to use and it takes more time to discover the correct information. LinkedIn is a great source of connection with professional people. If you are looking for a job or an employee, LinkedIn is a solid virtual way to make connections through people you already know.

Overall each virtual portal has its place within the library. Librarians can benefit from staying up to date within the virtual domains. The world is all about media, why not take advantage of patrons interest to help them stay informed of the benefits of a library and words?