My favorite books

So I decided to write a blog based off of some one's facebook posting. These books are the top 15 most important books in my life as of now and they books that I will always remember and cherish. On with the list!

1. Cat’s Cradle-Kurt Vonnegut
This book was the one that got me seriously thinking about my views on religion. I read it about a year after my dad died and I was pretty shaken in my faith. Luckily, I am no longer that pessimistic or angry towards organized religion, but I am still searching for the one that is right for me.
2. To Kill a Mocking Bird-Harper Lee
Ah Atticus Finch. This book made me want to be a lawyer more than I did before I read it. It just shows you that there are hard cases that you may not want to defend, but you do because of the due process of the law.
3. In Cold Blood-Truman Capote
I read this while I was working at the courthouse. Capote confirmed my views on capital punishment and did point out a few flaws in the legal system, that maybe one day I or some one else will change.
4. East of Eden-John Steinbeck
Another book on religion, although very different from Vonnegut. I just really liked this book. It's the story of Cain and Abel only in the 1950's or so I think.
5. Harry Potter (the entire series)-J.K. Rowling
These books may have had the biggest impact on my life. I grew up with Harry and used Hogwarts as my own refuge when life got too tough.
6. The Kite Runner
My 12th grade English teacher said something that will always stick with me that applies to this book and the next. She said "when we read we expand our subconscious because we are placed in situations we would never have to deal with in reality." The rape scene in this book made me think about what I would do if that was my friend in the same circumstances and honestly I may have done the same thing, which really bothered me. (I won't' say what happened just in case you may read it).
7. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
Same influence as above only it was about family and not friends.
8. 1984-George Orwell
So too much governmental control can be a bad thing, lol. This book just really amazed me since it was written in 1948 and predicted certain actions the government may take to control its people (i.e. cameras on street corners).
9. Angels and Demons-Dan Brown
I had a very intense reaction to this book. Yet another book that started me thinking about religion, not because of the content though.
10. The Trial-Franz Kafka
I hated this book when I read it. I remember it took me about a month or so. But, it does make some important points that I think are applicable to our legal system today. For instance, the average American has little knowledge of the legal system let alone knowledge of their rights guaranteed to them. As a result of this, litigants are entirely dependent on their attorney's.
11. Starship Troopers-Robert Heinlein
Even though I have yet to finish it, I had to put this in here. Me and David talked a lot about this book in relation to natural rights when we first started dating. Honestly I never really gave natural rights much thought prior to our discussions and just assumed we all had them.
12. The Five People You Meet In Heaven-Mitch Albom
I liked this book a lot because I like to think about the 5 people I may meet if these circumstances were true. Pretty much you meet 5 people that either had an enormous effect on your life or you had one on theirs. You may not necessarily know who they are, which illustrates how we are all interconnected in some way. My thoughts have changed on who I may meet, but the one constant has always been my dad.
13. The Wedding-Nicholas Sparks
I just thought this book was really romantic and cute when I read it. And then Amy and Lauren planned me a surprise bday dinner based off of it and it was quite lovely. I still have all of the clues!
14. The Republic-Plato
This book got me thinking of my own definition of justice. As evidenced in my last post, it is something I am still working on and don;t know if I will ever have a clear view on.
15. Freckle Juice
I read this in 4th grade I think and did a mock court proceeding in class and I was one of the lawyers. I had so much fun I decided I wanted to be one! Plus it was about a kid who wanted to have more freckles, which has always been my dream. :)

ADR=Justice?

Ok, so I have to write a paper for my program and it's turning into something different than I thought it would be, so I am going to jot some thoughts down here and see what happens, lol. The topic is can Alternative Dispute Resolution do justice or is that something only to be achieved in a courtroom?

I have always struggled with the definition of justice. The definition I used for a paper last year was a textbook definition in favor of adjudication. It pretty much read that justice is when an unbiased third party hears each set of facts from both parties and makes a decision based on those facts. Obviously this definition of justice does not pertain to ADR since the parties consent to a settlement and there are discrepancies on what the settlement may be based on the proceedings and negotiations. My tutor said justice is similar to the definition I gave for my other paper and that justice ensures everyone is treated the same under the law, which does not occur in ADR. I have come to conclude that our definitions of justice are flawed. I mean is our legal system really just? Do those who commit crimes serve the appropriate punishment for their acts or are parties remedied for the torts committed against them? Just because the defendant gets their day in court, does that mean they had a fair trial? My colleagues discussed knowingly lying to win a case today. Obviously if this actually occurs in a court room, the trial was decided unjustly and needs to be remedied.