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friend0's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Powerhouse of a book!
heidihaverkamp's review against another edition
2.0
I loved hearing Iversen interviewed on NPR, and while parts of her book were gripping - growing up in the late 60s and seventies, her parents' struggles, and the way hippies, nuns, and blue collar folks shared in activism against the nuclear industry, I got bogged down in so much mechanics of the poorly-run plant and nuclear waste. Still, this book made me grateful for all that's been done to make nuclear energy safer (?). Also makes me nervous about other plants and government regulations that aren't really protecting vulnerable people (fracking? waste dumps? oil industry?).
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
I live about four hours away from Denver, Colorado. I can rightfully say that I am not familiar with the Rocky Flats nuclear plant. I mean that I know of it but did not hear the warnings as other children may have heard from their parents who lived close by to the area like don't get the snow, beware strange glowing rocks (ok, so maybe not this particular warning) but you get the idea.
I got a little more out of reading this book than I thought I would. What I found the most fascinating was the nuclear plant and the last half of the book, where the government and the DOE were held responsible for the after effects of the nuclear plant. Reading Kristen's story about growing up near Rocky Flats nuclear plant and losing friends was sad. I did like getting to know Kristen. Although. I felt like this book was more about the people who lived near the nuclear plant, worked there, and the nuclear plant itself versus really a memoir about Kristen and her family. Not that I am complaining as I did feel like getting to know the people that Kristen grew up with helped to tell the story. Not that you needed to know every detail about the people who worked or lived near the nuclear plant to feel sorry for them and cheer when the DOE was held accountable for the nuclear plant. Full Body Burden is an intriguing read. Even fiction readers will find this book worth a first and second look.
I got a little more out of reading this book than I thought I would. What I found the most fascinating was the nuclear plant and the last half of the book, where the government and the DOE were held responsible for the after effects of the nuclear plant. Reading Kristen's story about growing up near Rocky Flats nuclear plant and losing friends was sad. I did like getting to know Kristen. Although. I felt like this book was more about the people who lived near the nuclear plant, worked there, and the nuclear plant itself versus really a memoir about Kristen and her family. Not that I am complaining as I did feel like getting to know the people that Kristen grew up with helped to tell the story. Not that you needed to know every detail about the people who worked or lived near the nuclear plant to feel sorry for them and cheer when the DOE was held accountable for the nuclear plant. Full Body Burden is an intriguing read. Even fiction readers will find this book worth a first and second look.
_lilbey_'s review against another edition
4.0
I have always figured if I got cancer it would be due to this place, but now I can FEEL the plutonium in my body. And the nightmare of Rocky Flats and what to do with the contaminated land has continued even after the conclusion of this book.
jj_does_romance's review against another edition
5.0
Book #2. It is on the challenge list but it also happens that I had it on my unread shelf so it was a good reason to finally pick it up.
Fascinating! And scary.
A memoir about growing up in a family falling apart and a non fiction tell-all of Rocky Flats where nuclear weapon triggers were produced. The common denominator - secrets and things no one wants to talk about.
Took me a bit to read this one as it is pretty dense. Full disclosure I did some research on Rocky Flats and similar complexes in college so maybe I'm predisposed to find this interesting. I think the author does an amazing job of weaving growing up in the suburbs in the 70s/80s with an alcoholic father and the very well researched history of what happened at Rocky Flats and how it affected the environment and people who lived and worked in the area. Definitely recommend!
Fascinating! And scary.
A memoir about growing up in a family falling apart and a non fiction tell-all of Rocky Flats where nuclear weapon triggers were produced. The common denominator - secrets and things no one wants to talk about.
Took me a bit to read this one as it is pretty dense. Full disclosure I did some research on Rocky Flats and similar complexes in college so maybe I'm predisposed to find this interesting. I think the author does an amazing job of weaving growing up in the suburbs in the 70s/80s with an alcoholic father and the very well researched history of what happened at Rocky Flats and how it affected the environment and people who lived and worked in the area. Definitely recommend!
greenogal's review against another edition
3.0
Check out my review at:
http://www.shannonsbookbag.blogspot.com/2013/02/full-body-burden-iversen.html
http://www.shannonsbookbag.blogspot.com/2013/02/full-body-burden-iversen.html
jebrant's review against another edition
5.0
I found the information on Rocky Flats to be fascinating. I've lived most of my life in the general area, but did not know about some very substantial events at Rocky Flats that likely had very consequential impacts to the area. Asking around amongst friends and family in the area, I found a similar level of ignorance.
kearl100's review against another edition
3.0
This was good! Weird, but good. I grew up 23 miles from Rocky Flats, so I found this disturbing, enlightening, and educational. I found the authors life to be interesting as well! I don’t really understand the choice to cram both narratives into one book. I’ll definitely be much more aware now, driving 93 from Golden to Boulder