Brian's bookshelf: all en-US Sat, 05 Apr 2025 17:13:36 -0700 60 Brian's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Angle of Repose 22146715
Lyman Ward is a retired professor of history, recently confined to a wheelchair by a crippling bone disease and dependent on others for his every need. Amid the chaos of 1970s counterculture he retreats to his ancestral home of Grass Valley, California, to write the biography of his grandmother: an elegant and headstrong artist and pioneer who, together with her engineer husband, made her own journey through the hardscrabble West nearly a hundred years before. In discovering her story he excavates his own, probing the shadows of his experience and the America that has come of age around him.]]> 632 Wallace Stegner 1101872764 Brian 4 fiction
ANGLE OF REPOSE was my first experience with the works of Wallace Stegner, and it took some time to settle into. This is a literary novel—it demands patience, especially through the first 50 pages. But once I adjusted to the style and scope, I found myself consistently engaged every time I picked it up.

While the text mostly held my attention, there were some parts that fell flat for me. One such section was set in Leadville, Colorado. Ironically, it’s the only location in the novel that I have personal experience with—I had family that lived there for years—yet it was the least compelling to me.

On the other hand, many other aspects of the book were powerfully rendered. One particularly memorable scene involves an argument between a husband and wife, triggered by uncertain professional futures and exacerbated by alcohol. That scene felt incredibly real—it reeked of humanity and was artfully done.

As the narrative progressed, my feelings toward the characters shifted. Susan Ward, the protagonist, became increasingly irritating due to her unrelenting snobbery and her clear disdain for those around her. In contrast, her husband, Oliver Ward, grew more and more endearing. I ended up loving him by the end of the book.

Chapter 5 of the section titled “The Mesa� stood out as a masterclass in writing. Stegner seamlessly weaves together past and present, exploring themes of trust, longing, and adultery with nuance and depth. It's a brilliant section, emotionally resonant and skillfully executed.

Quotes:
� “Many things are unclear to me, including myself, and I want to sit and think.�
� “…If I listen I might learn something.�
� “Respectability is a burden perhaps greater than I want to bear.�
� “It won’t do it any good to fog it all up with words.�
� “� perhaps that not even gentility and integrity are proof against the corrosions of human weakness, human treachery, human disappointment, human inability to forget.�
� “I can't help feeling that if justice is observed, mercy is forever unnecessary.�
� “I know no way of discounting the doctrine that when you take something you want, and damn the consequences, then you had better be ready to accept whatever consequences ensue.�
� “It is a sort of insanity not to be happy, when one has reasonable health and good children…�
� “Touch. It is touch that is the deadliest enemy of chastity, loyalty, monogamy, gentility with its codes and conventions and restraints. By touch we are betrayed, and betray others.
� “There is some history that I want not to have happened.�
� “Satisfying natural desires is fine, but natural desires have a way of being both competitive and consequential.�
� “I want a society that will protect the wildlife without confusing itself with it.�
� “Civilizations grow and change and decline- they aren't remade.�

Though ANGLE OF REPOSE isn’t a quick read—it’s long, and not particularly fast-moving—its pacing isn’t a weakness. The novel’s strength lies in its dual storyline and in its exploration of how human emotions, relationships, and struggles remain fundamentally the same across time. That timelessness is what gives the novel its weight and beauty.

And finally, the last sentence of the novel is interesting, unexpected, poignant, and, for ANGLE OF REPOSE, absolutely perfect.]]> 4.18 1971 Angle of Repose
author: Wallace Stegner
name: Brian
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1971
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves: fiction
review:
“I know none of the intimate circumstances; I only guess backward from the consequences.�

ANGLE OF REPOSE was my first experience with the works of Wallace Stegner, and it took some time to settle into. This is a literary novel—it demands patience, especially through the first 50 pages. But once I adjusted to the style and scope, I found myself consistently engaged every time I picked it up.

While the text mostly held my attention, there were some parts that fell flat for me. One such section was set in Leadville, Colorado. Ironically, it’s the only location in the novel that I have personal experience with—I had family that lived there for years—yet it was the least compelling to me.

On the other hand, many other aspects of the book were powerfully rendered. One particularly memorable scene involves an argument between a husband and wife, triggered by uncertain professional futures and exacerbated by alcohol. That scene felt incredibly real—it reeked of humanity and was artfully done.

As the narrative progressed, my feelings toward the characters shifted. Susan Ward, the protagonist, became increasingly irritating due to her unrelenting snobbery and her clear disdain for those around her. In contrast, her husband, Oliver Ward, grew more and more endearing. I ended up loving him by the end of the book.

Chapter 5 of the section titled “The Mesa� stood out as a masterclass in writing. Stegner seamlessly weaves together past and present, exploring themes of trust, longing, and adultery with nuance and depth. It's a brilliant section, emotionally resonant and skillfully executed.

Quotes:
� “Many things are unclear to me, including myself, and I want to sit and think.�
� “…If I listen I might learn something.�
� “Respectability is a burden perhaps greater than I want to bear.�
� “It won’t do it any good to fog it all up with words.�
� “� perhaps that not even gentility and integrity are proof against the corrosions of human weakness, human treachery, human disappointment, human inability to forget.�
� “I can't help feeling that if justice is observed, mercy is forever unnecessary.�
� “I know no way of discounting the doctrine that when you take something you want, and damn the consequences, then you had better be ready to accept whatever consequences ensue.�
� “It is a sort of insanity not to be happy, when one has reasonable health and good children…�
� “Touch. It is touch that is the deadliest enemy of chastity, loyalty, monogamy, gentility with its codes and conventions and restraints. By touch we are betrayed, and betray others.
� “There is some history that I want not to have happened.�
� “Satisfying natural desires is fine, but natural desires have a way of being both competitive and consequential.�
� “I want a society that will protect the wildlife without confusing itself with it.�
� “Civilizations grow and change and decline- they aren't remade.�

Though ANGLE OF REPOSE isn’t a quick read—it’s long, and not particularly fast-moving—its pacing isn’t a weakness. The novel’s strength lies in its dual storyline and in its exploration of how human emotions, relationships, and struggles remain fundamentally the same across time. That timelessness is what gives the novel its weight and beauty.

And finally, the last sentence of the novel is interesting, unexpected, poignant, and, for ANGLE OF REPOSE, absolutely perfect.
]]> <![CDATA[Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda]]> 205205272
How deeply have leftist billionaires infiltrated America’s churches?

Liberal theology isn’t new. Pastors and theologians have drifted, slipped, or even plunged into doctrinal error for centuries. But in recent decades, Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham reveals, well-funded forces from outside the church have been sowing seeds of discord from behind the scenes.

In Shepherds for Sale, Basham documents how progressive powerbrokers—from George Soros, to the founder of eBay, to former members of the Obama administration—set out to change the American church. Secular foundations and think tanks have deliberately targeted Christian media, universities, megachurches, nonprofits, and even entire denominations, not to mention many high-profile pastors and influencers, with infiltration and astroturf campaigns. Their goal: to co-opt the church for political purposes. In exchange for toeing a left-wing line, many of those church leaders and institutions have received cash, career jumps, prestige, and praise.

Now, many evangelical leaders are pushing their members to “whisper� about sexual sins, reconsider the importance of abortion, lament the effects of climate change, and repent of “perpetuating systemic racism.� Meanwhile, America’s largest evangelical denominations are fraught with division over issues like critical race theory, and many ministries once known for publishing sound doctrine are now promoting social justice.

Through years of investigation, Basham uncovered compromise at the highest levels of evangelical leadership—from the revered Presbyterian theologian who furtively backed a rogue congregation rebelling against his own denomination, to the celebrity megachurch pastor who secretly encouraged a group of pastors to change their views on sexuality.

A rigorously reported exposé, Shepherds for Sale serves as a warning of what can happen when a church forgets that true power lies not in the world’s wisdom, but in Scripture.

©2024 Megan Basham (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers]]> 352 Megan Basham 0063413442 Brian 0 4.30 Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda
author: Megan Basham
name: Brian
average rating: 4.30
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves: currently-reading, non-fiction, religion
review:

]]> Dad's Maybe Book 43261204
“We are all writing our maybe books full of maybe tomorrows, and each maybe tomorrow brings another maybe tomorrow, and then another, until the last line of the last page receives its period.�

In 2003, already an older father, National Book Award–winning novelist Tim O’Brien resolved to give his young sons what he wished his own father had given to him—a few scraps of paper signed “Love, Dad.� Maybe a word of advice. Maybe a sentence or two about some long-ago Christmas Eve. Maybe some scattered glimpses of their rapidly aging father, a man they might never really know. For the next fifteen years, the author talked to his sons on paper, as if they were adults, imagining what they might want to hear from a father who was no longer among the living.

O’Brien traverses the great variety of human experience and emotion, moving from soccer games to warfare to risqué lullabies, from alcoholism to magic shows to history lessons to bittersweet bedtime stories, but alwaysreturning to a father’s soul-saving love for his sons.

The result is Dad’s Maybe Book, a funny, tender, wise, and enduring literary achievement that will squeeze the reader’s heart with joy and recognition.]]> 400 Tim O'Brien 0618039708 Brian 0 3.94 2019 Dad's Maybe Book
author: Tim O'Brien
name: Brian
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves: currently-reading, audio, non-fiction
review:

]]> The Devil All the Time 12992927 The Devil All the Time follows a cast of characters from the end of World War II to the 1960s. There’s Willard Russell, tormented veteran of the carnage in the South Pacific, who can’t save his beautiful wife, Charlotte, from an agonizing death by cancer no matter how much sacrifi­cial blood he pours on his “prayer log.� There’s Carl and Sandy Henderson, a husband-and-wife team of serial kill­ers, who troll America’s highways searching for suitable models to photograph and exterminate. There’s the spider-handling preacher Roy and his crippled virtuoso-guitar-playing sidekick, Theodore, running from the law. And caught in the middle of all this is Arvin Eugene Russell, Willard and Charlotte’s orphaned son, who grows up to be a good but also violent man in his own right.]]> 320 Donald Ray Pollock 0307744868 Brian 4 fiction
“The Devil all the Time� is an ugly, uncompromising book. Donald Ray Pollock has created an atmosphere that is dark, unrelenting, and devoid of hope. I would say that he exaggerates the atmosphere of the parts of southeast Ohio and West Virginia that he writes about, but he has lived there all his life, so who I am to say? I do live in central Ohio and have all of my life, and my belief is that there is a segment of society in that area that probably inspires the truth in Mr. Pollock’s novel. However, don’t mistake that segment of the population for the whole.
While reading this book I kept thinking of the film “No Country for Old Men�. It just put me in that vein. This text is not for those who dislike the ugly, dirty elements of human squalor depicted. This is not a book to read while eating.
As for the story and the writing…Mr. Pollock has managed to create a gripping narrative in which he weaves numerous plot threads and neatly brings them together as the novel concludes. That element of the text is well done, as is the fact that it spans well over 18 years and yet it is concise and moves along. The author covers that span of years quickly, and yet you never feel like he left anything out.
The characterizations are taut and are real, disgustingly so at times. This next sentence is not going to make sense� I detested many of these characters, but was drawn into their lives rather than judging them. I can’t really explain that, because if I knew these people in real life I know my judgment would fly and I would have to work very hard to keep it in check. I especially enjoyed the character of Arvin Russell, who is probably as close to a protagonist as this ensemble lead story gets. He is the only character who ends the novel with any kind of hope, and even then not much.
“The Washington Post� review of this book says it so well�"You may be repelled, you may be shocked, you will almost certainly be horrified, but you will read every last word.� Seriously, that sums it up for me. Can’t say it any better.
I have now read two of Mr. Pollock’s novels. I don’t think they are for everyone, and they get in your head and not in a good way. Nevertheless, I am glad that he is writing them. It is a voice we should have in American fiction.]]> 4.16 2011 The Devil All the Time
author: Donald Ray Pollock
name: Brian
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/17
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: fiction
review:
“Alone at last with the ghosts of his childhood.�

“The Devil all the Time� is an ugly, uncompromising book. Donald Ray Pollock has created an atmosphere that is dark, unrelenting, and devoid of hope. I would say that he exaggerates the atmosphere of the parts of southeast Ohio and West Virginia that he writes about, but he has lived there all his life, so who I am to say? I do live in central Ohio and have all of my life, and my belief is that there is a segment of society in that area that probably inspires the truth in Mr. Pollock’s novel. However, don’t mistake that segment of the population for the whole.
While reading this book I kept thinking of the film “No Country for Old Men�. It just put me in that vein. This text is not for those who dislike the ugly, dirty elements of human squalor depicted. This is not a book to read while eating.
As for the story and the writing…Mr. Pollock has managed to create a gripping narrative in which he weaves numerous plot threads and neatly brings them together as the novel concludes. That element of the text is well done, as is the fact that it spans well over 18 years and yet it is concise and moves along. The author covers that span of years quickly, and yet you never feel like he left anything out.
The characterizations are taut and are real, disgustingly so at times. This next sentence is not going to make sense� I detested many of these characters, but was drawn into their lives rather than judging them. I can’t really explain that, because if I knew these people in real life I know my judgment would fly and I would have to work very hard to keep it in check. I especially enjoyed the character of Arvin Russell, who is probably as close to a protagonist as this ensemble lead story gets. He is the only character who ends the novel with any kind of hope, and even then not much.
“The Washington Post� review of this book says it so well�"You may be repelled, you may be shocked, you will almost certainly be horrified, but you will read every last word.� Seriously, that sums it up for me. Can’t say it any better.
I have now read two of Mr. Pollock’s novels. I don’t think they are for everyone, and they get in your head and not in a good way. Nevertheless, I am glad that he is writing them. It is a voice we should have in American fiction.
]]> Bad Monkey (Andrew Yancy #1) 18656068

Andrew Yancy-late of the Miami Police and soon-to-be-late of the Monroe County sheriff's office-has a human arm in his freezer. There's a logical (Hiaasenian) explanation for that, but not for how and why it parted from its shadowy owner. Yancy thinks the boating-accident/shark-luncheon explanation is full of holes, and if he can prove murder, the sheriff might rescue him from his grisly Health Inspector gig (it's not called the roach patrol for nothing).

But first-this being Hiaasen country-Yancy must negotiate an obstacle course of wildly unpredictable events with a crew of even more wildly unpredictable characters, including his just-ex lover, a hot-blooded fugitive from Kansas; the twitchy widow of the frozen arm; two avariciously optimistic real-estate speculators; the Bahamian voodoo witch known as the Dragon Queen, whose suitors are blinded unto death by her peculiar charms; Yancy's new true love, a kinky coroner; and the eponymous bad monkey-who just may be one of Carl Hiaasen's greatest characters.]]> 400 Carl Hiaasen 0446556149 Brian 3 fiction
It has been a while since I have read any Carl Hiaasen. A recent beach trip seemed like a nice time for a reunion. BAD MONKEY is a fine book to entertain, just don’t get caught up in some of the more ridiculous details. I didn’t, and I was happy with the experience.

BAD MONKEY has a clever premise, a smart aleck protagonist, and a fun build up and falling action. It is a little zany, and way too convenient in its conclusions, but for what it is, it is perfect fun.
An issue, there are one or two subplots that seem to have no real bearing or point in the larger story, and Hiaasen stretches to try to tie them in. They are not needed, and the book could easily have been 40 pages or so shorter.

Quotes:
* “That such a small, shabby crime could cause so much heartache was a revelation, and he thought of how often it happened every day.�
* “Sending her off to meet with a pair of murderers was one way to spice up a date weekend, but experimenting with variable-speed sex toys in a bounce house would have been safer.�
* “She’s got something way more lethal than a gun. You know what they say- p#$$* is undefeated. That’s from Merle Haggard himself.�

Hiaasen has written a second book featuring this novel’s protagonist (ex-cop, turned restaurant inspector Andrew Yancy) and at some point (probably on a vacation) I will be reading it.]]> 3.83 2013 Bad Monkey (Andrew Yancy #1)
author: Carl Hiaasen
name: Brian
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2021/06/08
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: fiction
review:
“There’s a karmic symmetry you’ve got to appreciate. Not quite Shakespearean, but close.�

It has been a while since I have read any Carl Hiaasen. A recent beach trip seemed like a nice time for a reunion. BAD MONKEY is a fine book to entertain, just don’t get caught up in some of the more ridiculous details. I didn’t, and I was happy with the experience.

BAD MONKEY has a clever premise, a smart aleck protagonist, and a fun build up and falling action. It is a little zany, and way too convenient in its conclusions, but for what it is, it is perfect fun.
An issue, there are one or two subplots that seem to have no real bearing or point in the larger story, and Hiaasen stretches to try to tie them in. They are not needed, and the book could easily have been 40 pages or so shorter.

Quotes:
* “That such a small, shabby crime could cause so much heartache was a revelation, and he thought of how often it happened every day.�
* “Sending her off to meet with a pair of murderers was one way to spice up a date weekend, but experimenting with variable-speed sex toys in a bounce house would have been safer.�
* “She’s got something way more lethal than a gun. You know what they say- p#$$* is undefeated. That’s from Merle Haggard himself.�

Hiaasen has written a second book featuring this novel’s protagonist (ex-cop, turned restaurant inspector Andrew Yancy) and at some point (probably on a vacation) I will be reading it.
]]> <![CDATA[Fan the Flame: Let Jesus Renew Your Calling and Revive Your Church]]> 60693239 240 Jim Cymbala 0310133769 Brian 0 4.54 Fan the Flame: Let Jesus Renew Your Calling and Revive Your Church
author: Jim Cymbala
name: Brian
average rating: 4.54
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: currently-reading, non-fiction, religion
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Killing Sin: Conquer the One Thing That Is Defeating You]]> 216388875 Kill what’s killing you.

Every fiber of you aches to distance yourself from something holding you back—that one thing that is killing you. Pastor Karl Clauson understands.

How can we take hold of God’s promises and walk in freedom—not just for a day or a week but a sustained, lasting victory? InKilling Sin, Karl is honest about his own personal battles and draws from his decades of experience helping people conquer sin to show us the pathway to freedom.

Sin separates us from God, what Jesus saves us from, and what the Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome. Karl presents behavioral habits that hold you back, an understanding of how change happens, and strategies for winning wars grounded in Scripture. No longer do you need to hideor suffer alone. Killing Sin shows you how to successfully fight temptation and overcome the sin in your life.]]> 144 Karl Clauson 0802434592 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion
KILLING SIN is a short text, meant to be a biblical companion for the Christian who has something in their life that they want to get some power over. What person who is striving to live a holy life would not be interested in that subject matter?
Author Karl Clauson gains major points with me for brining everything back to the word of God, and his adamant disregard for “self-help� which he views as the antithesis of successful biblical living. It is in His help, no one else’s. As he writes, “It’s God’s work, or it won’t work.�

Some highlights for me included some excellent thoughts on “pride� and “humility� and their roles in our lives. Some good insight in those sections.
I also especially appreciated Mr. Clauson’s discussion of the role of hatred in defeating sin. His blunt assessment of the need to hate the things that are dragging us down is refreshingly candid.

KILLING SIN: CONQUER THE ONE THING THAT IS DEFEATING YOU offers readers a compelling guide to overcoming persistent spiritual struggles. Drawing from his personal experiences and extensive pastoral work, Clauson presents a biblically grounded approach to achieving lasting freedom from sin. The book delves into behavioral habits that hinder spiritual growth, provides insights into the transformation process, and offers practical strategies rooted in Scripture.
I found it to be a worthwhile read.]]> 4.00 Killing Sin: Conquer the One Thing That Is Defeating You
author: Karl Clauson
name: Brian
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“The root of all of our sins is that something or someone is taking the place of God.�

KILLING SIN is a short text, meant to be a biblical companion for the Christian who has something in their life that they want to get some power over. What person who is striving to live a holy life would not be interested in that subject matter?
Author Karl Clauson gains major points with me for brining everything back to the word of God, and his adamant disregard for “self-help� which he views as the antithesis of successful biblical living. It is in His help, no one else’s. As he writes, “It’s God’s work, or it won’t work.�

Some highlights for me included some excellent thoughts on “pride� and “humility� and their roles in our lives. Some good insight in those sections.
I also especially appreciated Mr. Clauson’s discussion of the role of hatred in defeating sin. His blunt assessment of the need to hate the things that are dragging us down is refreshingly candid.

KILLING SIN: CONQUER THE ONE THING THAT IS DEFEATING YOU offers readers a compelling guide to overcoming persistent spiritual struggles. Drawing from his personal experiences and extensive pastoral work, Clauson presents a biblically grounded approach to achieving lasting freedom from sin. The book delves into behavioral habits that hinder spiritual growth, provides insights into the transformation process, and offers practical strategies rooted in Scripture.
I found it to be a worthwhile read.
]]> The Winners (Beartown, #3) 60209470
As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?

Everything.

The long-awaited conclusion to the beloved New York Times bestselling and “engrossing� (People) Beartown series—which inspired an HBO series of the same name—follows the small hockey town’s residents as they grapple with change, pain, hope, and redemption.]]> 673 Fredrik Backman 1982112794 Brian 2 fiction
It is early in 2025, but I have a feeling that THE WINNERS may win the “most disappointing book of the year award� for me this year. What a waste of time. Not once in this 673-page book did I feel invested in it. In fact, I should have put it down. This is a classic example of a self-indulgent book, one where the author is too big for his editors to say, “This is 400 pages too long!� And that is not an exaggeration, this is an overwritten novel. There are entire chapters that are superfluous to the plot.

The biggest problem with this text is that I was halfway done with it, and I still had no idea what it was supposed to be about. Its focus was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It boggles my mind that a concluding text in a trilogy could be so unfocused. Which tells me that the author had no story he needed to tell, he just wrote the thing because he was supposed to. After BEARTOWN (the first book in the series) Mr. Backman should have pulled the plug on this series. That novel is fine as a standalone book.

Quotes:
� “Naïve dreams are love’s last line of defense…�
� “…because no one stands a chance if they are alone.�
� “People say that our worst moments reveal who our friends are, but of course most of all we reveal ourselves.�
� “It’s only a story, it might not even be true, but that doesn’t mean it’s improbable.�
� “The most unbearable thing about death is that the world just goes on.�
� “Warriors are supposed to love other men, not fall in love with them.�
� “Everyone dreams about being invisible sometimes, no one dreams of being transparent.�
� “Time is unreliable when it comes to those we love.�
� “The lack of words is worse than loneliness.�
� “It’s the same everywhere: almost everyone loves too much, hates too easily, forgives too little.�

And just as you are getting to the falling action and the conclusion of this tome, Mr. Backman gives the reader another kick in the nads because the final pages of this book are bad. Like Instagram poetry pages bad! There are so many stupid and uninspired threads in this novel that the conclusion takes over 40 pages for the author to give each of them an overwrought, and mostly unrealistic, ending.

Goodness, I wished I had skipped THE WINNERS.
I will still read Mr. Backman, but I will be more selective about it.]]> 4.42 2022 The Winners (Beartown, #3)
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Brian
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: fiction
review:
“Guilt is always stronger than logic.� (1.5 stars)

It is early in 2025, but I have a feeling that THE WINNERS may win the “most disappointing book of the year award� for me this year. What a waste of time. Not once in this 673-page book did I feel invested in it. In fact, I should have put it down. This is a classic example of a self-indulgent book, one where the author is too big for his editors to say, “This is 400 pages too long!� And that is not an exaggeration, this is an overwritten novel. There are entire chapters that are superfluous to the plot.

The biggest problem with this text is that I was halfway done with it, and I still had no idea what it was supposed to be about. Its focus was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It boggles my mind that a concluding text in a trilogy could be so unfocused. Which tells me that the author had no story he needed to tell, he just wrote the thing because he was supposed to. After BEARTOWN (the first book in the series) Mr. Backman should have pulled the plug on this series. That novel is fine as a standalone book.

Quotes:
� “Naïve dreams are love’s last line of defense…�
� “…because no one stands a chance if they are alone.�
� “People say that our worst moments reveal who our friends are, but of course most of all we reveal ourselves.�
� “It’s only a story, it might not even be true, but that doesn’t mean it’s improbable.�
� “The most unbearable thing about death is that the world just goes on.�
� “Warriors are supposed to love other men, not fall in love with them.�
� “Everyone dreams about being invisible sometimes, no one dreams of being transparent.�
� “Time is unreliable when it comes to those we love.�
� “The lack of words is worse than loneliness.�
� “It’s the same everywhere: almost everyone loves too much, hates too easily, forgives too little.�

And just as you are getting to the falling action and the conclusion of this tome, Mr. Backman gives the reader another kick in the nads because the final pages of this book are bad. Like Instagram poetry pages bad! There are so many stupid and uninspired threads in this novel that the conclusion takes over 40 pages for the author to give each of them an overwrought, and mostly unrealistic, ending.

Goodness, I wished I had skipped THE WINNERS.
I will still read Mr. Backman, but I will be more selective about it.
]]> <![CDATA[Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems]]> 20263062
“America’s favorite poet.� —The Wall Street Journal

From the two-term Poet Laureate of the United States Billy Collins comes his first volume of new and selected poems in twelve years. Aimless Love combines fifty new poems with generous selections from his four most recent books� Nine Horses, The Trouble with Poetry, Ballistics, and Horoscopes for the Dead. Collins’s unmistakable voice, which brings together plain speech with imaginative surprise, is clearly heard on every page, reminding us how he has managed to enrich the tapestry of contemporary poetry and greatly expand its audience. His work is featured in top literary magazines such as The New Yorker , Poetry , and The Atlantic , and he sells out reading venues all across the country. Appearing regularly in The Best American Poetry series, his poems appeal to readers and live audiences far and wide and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. By turns playful, ironic, and serious, Collins’s poetry captures the nuances of everyday life while leading the reader into zones of inspired wonder. In the poet’s own words, he hopes that his poems “begin in Kansas and end in Oz.� Touching on the themes of love, loss, joy, and poetry itself, these poems showcase the best work of this “poet of plenitude, irony, and Augustan grace� (The New Yorker).

Envoy

Go, little book,
out of this house and into the world,

carriage made of paper rolling toward town
bearing a single passenger
beyond the reach of this jittery pen
and far from the desk and the nosy gooseneck lamp.

It is time to decamp,
put on a jacket and venture outside,
time to be regarded by other eyes,
bound to be held in foreign hands.

So off you go, infants of the brain,
with a wave and some bits of fatherly

stay out as late as you like,
don’t bother to call or write,
and talk to as many strangers as you can.

Praise for Aimless Love

“[Billy Collins] is able, with precious few words, to make me cry. Or laugh out loud. He is a remarkable artist. To have such power in such an abbreviated form is deeply inspiring.� —J. J. Abrams, The New York Times Book Review

“His work is poignant, straightforward, usually funny and imaginative, also nuanced and surprising. It bears repeated reading and reading aloud.� � The Plain Dealer

“Collins has earned almost rock-star status. . . . He knows how to write layered, subtly witty poems that anyone can understand and appreciate—even those who don’t normally like poetry. . . . The Collins in these pages is distinctive, evocative, and knows how to make the genre fresh and relevant.� —The Christian Science Monitor

“Collins’s new poems contain everything you've come to expect from a Billy Collins poem. They stand solidly on even ground, chiseled and unbreakable. Their phrasing is elegant, the humor is alive, and the speaker continues to stroll at his own pace through the plainness of American life.� � The Daily Beast

“[Collins’s] poetry presents simple observations, which create a shared experience between Collins and his readers, while further revealing how he takes life’s everyday humdrum experiences and makes them vibrant.� —The Times Leader]]> 261 Billy Collins 0812982673 Brian 0 currently-reading, poetry 4.40 2013 Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems
author: Billy Collins
name: Brian
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: currently-reading, poetry
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great]]> 51231712 Now a #1 New York Times Bestseller.

Human beings have never had it better than we have it now in the West. So why are we on the verge of throwing it all away?

In 2016, New York Times bestselling author Ben Shapiro spoke at the University of California–Berkeley. Hundreds of police officers were required to protect his speech. What was so frightening about Shapiro? He came to argue that Western civilization is in the midst of a crisis of purpose and ideas; that we have let grievances replace our sense of community and political expediency limit our individual rights; that we are teaching our kids that their emotions matter more than rational debate; and that the only meaning in life is arbitrary and subjective.

As a society, we are forgetting that almost everything great that has ever happened in history happened because of people who believed in both Judeo-Christian values and in the Greek-born power of reason. In The Right Side of History, Shapiro sprints through more than 3,500 years, dozens of philosophers, and the thicket of modern politics to show how our freedoms are built upon the twin notions that every human being is made in God’s image and that human beings were created with reason capable of exploring God’s world.

We can thank these values for the birth of science, the dream of progress, human rights, prosperity, peace, and artistic beauty. Jerusalem and Athens built America, ended slavery, defeated the Nazis and the Communists, lifted billions from poverty, and gave billions morespiritual purpose. Jerusalem and Athens built America, ended slavery, defeated the Nazis and the Communists, lifted billions from poverty, and gave billions more spiritual purpose.

Yet we are in the process of abandoning Judeo-Christian values and Greek natural law, watching our civilization collapse into age-old tribalism, individualistic hedonism, and moral subjectivism. We believe we can satisfy ourselves with intersectionality, scientific materialism, progressive politics, authoritarian governance, or nationalistic solidarity.

We can’t.

The West is special, and in The Right Side of History, Ben Shapiro bravely explains how we have lost sight of the moral purpose that drives each of us to be better, the sacred duty to work together for the greater good,.]]> 288 Ben Shapiro 0062857916 Brian 4 audio, non-fiction
Ben Shapiro’s THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY is exactly what its sub-title promises, an overview of how “reason and moral purpose made the West great�. The book is a compelling exploration of the philosophical and moral foundations that have shaped Western civilization.
With sharp analysis and historical depth, Shapiro takes readers on a journey through the Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions (from the ancient to the present day) demonstrating how these ideas have influenced the development of reason, morality, and individual rights. As I was reading this book I kept thinking of introductory Philosophy of Western Civilization classes from college. This book is a more interesting version of those classes. And since many crap colleges probably would not deign to teach a course like that anymore, it is a needed text!

Shapiro’s writing style makes complex philosophical concepts accessible, while his passionate defense of these principles highlights their continued relevance in today’s cultural and political landscape. If there is an overarching theme to this text it is the idea of the necessity of a cultural moral foundation. Shapiro writes, “…cultivating our souls and minds requires us to live with moral purpose.� This book does a nice job of fleshing out that argument.

In the Introduction these two thoughts are posed to the reader: # 1, “Why are things so good?� and # 2, “Why are we blowing it?� This book gives one lots to think about in regard to both questions.
Whether one agrees with all Mr. Shapiro’s conclusions or not, THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY offers a thought-provoking and insightful reflection on the values that have defined the Western world.]]> 3.79 2019 The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great
author: Ben Shapiro
name: Brian
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“Lasting happiness can only be achieved through cultivation of soul and mind.�

Ben Shapiro’s THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY is exactly what its sub-title promises, an overview of how “reason and moral purpose made the West great�. The book is a compelling exploration of the philosophical and moral foundations that have shaped Western civilization.
With sharp analysis and historical depth, Shapiro takes readers on a journey through the Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions (from the ancient to the present day) demonstrating how these ideas have influenced the development of reason, morality, and individual rights. As I was reading this book I kept thinking of introductory Philosophy of Western Civilization classes from college. This book is a more interesting version of those classes. And since many crap colleges probably would not deign to teach a course like that anymore, it is a needed text!

Shapiro’s writing style makes complex philosophical concepts accessible, while his passionate defense of these principles highlights their continued relevance in today’s cultural and political landscape. If there is an overarching theme to this text it is the idea of the necessity of a cultural moral foundation. Shapiro writes, “…cultivating our souls and minds requires us to live with moral purpose.� This book does a nice job of fleshing out that argument.

In the Introduction these two thoughts are posed to the reader: # 1, “Why are things so good?� and # 2, “Why are we blowing it?� This book gives one lots to think about in regard to both questions.
Whether one agrees with all Mr. Shapiro’s conclusions or not, THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY offers a thought-provoking and insightful reflection on the values that have defined the Western world.
]]> <![CDATA[Maiden, Mother, Crone: A collection of poetry]]> 61826757 190 Amba Elieff Brian 1 poetry
MAIDEN MOTHER CRONE brings to mind something a professor once said in my undergraduate Intro to Poetry class: “Poetry should do more than serve the poet alone.� Her blunt phrasing aside, her point was clear—if poetry functions solely as personal expression without offering something broader to the reader, it becomes self-contained rather than resonant. Much of this collection falls into that category. These poems read like journal entries—valuable as a means of personal exploration but lacking the universality that makes poetry meaningful to a wider audience.

Here are a few of the many issues with this text:
� Not one poem in this collection has a title and none of them have any punctuation. None! And both devices are used for no purpose.
� The collection has many moments of the absolutely insipid. There is a poem on page 17 about nuclear bombs. It is the perfect example of shallowness trying to disguise itself as deep.
� There are some poems about Covid. They are dreadful.
� There are a few moments in this collection where there might be a decent poem, but then it is followed by pages and pages of the worst sort of navel gazing.

To be fair, there are moments of merit within the collection. Without titles to reference, I’ll note that the poem on page 22, which reflects on quilts, and the one on page 96, exploring a woman’s life cycle, stand out as exceptions. These pieces manage to rise above the collection’s overall self-absorption, offering glimpses of something more universal. Additionally, there were scattered moments—an evocative image here, a striking line there—that hinted at potential, only to be overshadowed by a lack of cohesion, trapped in an inferior piece.

The collection concludes with poems written in response to Instagram prompts and challenges, a fitting end for a work that often feels more like a compilation of personal social media posts than a refined body of poetry.

There is better poetry out there. On to it!]]> 2.75 Maiden, Mother, Crone: A collection of poetry
author: Amba Elieff
name: Brian
average rating: 2.75
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/27
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: poetry
review:
�...you always wonder if everyone else is actually telling the truth.�

MAIDEN MOTHER CRONE brings to mind something a professor once said in my undergraduate Intro to Poetry class: “Poetry should do more than serve the poet alone.� Her blunt phrasing aside, her point was clear—if poetry functions solely as personal expression without offering something broader to the reader, it becomes self-contained rather than resonant. Much of this collection falls into that category. These poems read like journal entries—valuable as a means of personal exploration but lacking the universality that makes poetry meaningful to a wider audience.

Here are a few of the many issues with this text:
� Not one poem in this collection has a title and none of them have any punctuation. None! And both devices are used for no purpose.
� The collection has many moments of the absolutely insipid. There is a poem on page 17 about nuclear bombs. It is the perfect example of shallowness trying to disguise itself as deep.
� There are some poems about Covid. They are dreadful.
� There are a few moments in this collection where there might be a decent poem, but then it is followed by pages and pages of the worst sort of navel gazing.

To be fair, there are moments of merit within the collection. Without titles to reference, I’ll note that the poem on page 22, which reflects on quilts, and the one on page 96, exploring a woman’s life cycle, stand out as exceptions. These pieces manage to rise above the collection’s overall self-absorption, offering glimpses of something more universal. Additionally, there were scattered moments—an evocative image here, a striking line there—that hinted at potential, only to be overshadowed by a lack of cohesion, trapped in an inferior piece.

The collection concludes with poems written in response to Instagram prompts and challenges, a fitting end for a work that often feels more like a compilation of personal social media posts than a refined body of poetry.

There is better poetry out there. On to it!
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle That Defined WWII]]> 59808226
They were known as “Rudder’s Rangers,� the most elite and experienced attack unit in the United States Army. In December 1944, Lt. Col. James Rudder's 2nd Battalion would form the spearhead into Germany, taking the war into Hitler’s homeland at last. In the process, Rudder was given two Take Hill 400 . . . and hold the hill by any means possible. To the last man, if necessary. The battle-hardened battalion had no idea that several Wehrmacht regiments, who greatly outnumbered the Rangers, had been given the exact same orders. The clash of the two determined forces was one of the bloodiest and most costly encounters of World War II.

Castle Hill, the imposing 1320-foot mini-mountain the American Rangers simply called Hill 400, was the gateway to a desperate Nazi Germany. Several entire American divisions had already been repulsed by the last hill's dug-in defenders as―unknown to the Allies―the height was the key to Adolf Hitler's last-minute plans for a massive counterattack to smash through the American lines in what would become known to history as the Battle of the Bulge.

Thus the stalemate surrounding Hill 400 could not continue. For Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, there was only one Call in Rudder's Rangers. Of the 130 special operators who stormed, captured, and held the hill that December day, only 16 remained to stagger back down its frozen slopes. The Last Hill is replete with unforgettable action and characters―a rich and detailed saga of what the survivors of the 2nd Ranger Battalion would remember as “our longest day.”]]> 416 Bob Drury 1250247160 Brian 4 non-fiction
THE LAST HILL is narrative nonfiction that focuses on the 2nd Ranger Battalion unit and their exploits in World War II. It deals with the formation of the unit, their training, and their fighting from Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Fortress Brest, and the Hürtgen Forest. Most of the book focuses on the three months prior to the Battle of the Bulge, specifically the fighting in the Hürtgen Forest. I had not read much about that campaign, and this text does a wonderful job of depicting the vicious ferocity of the fighting that happened in that area.
The authors (Bob Drury and Tom Clavin) are unflinching in their analysis of the dubious strategic value of the campaign in the Hürtgen Forest. Of course, they acknowledge that they're looking on this from many years in the future.

One of the great strengths of this book are the portraits of some of the individuals of the 2nd Ranger Battalion unit. Their humanity is on full display. Readers will enjoy getting to know men like Bob Edlin, L. Rod Petty, Len Lomell, Duke Slater, and others. These were real men, and these are real stories, and I enjoyed that.
An unexpected surprise was learning about the “Fabulous Four�, which was a group of scouts from the 2nd Battalion who performed some wonderful, and colorful, exploits in the war. These were amazing stories about these four men, and I'd never heard of them. Quite frankly, this little group of Scouts deserves a book of their own.

Quotes:
� “Because first I’m going to make men of you, then I’m going to make soldiers of you, and them I’m going to make Rangers of you.�
� “No small part of that heroism accrued to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, which by 1945 had become one of the most highly decorated units in American military history, earning 18 Distinguished Service Crosses, 73 Silver Stars, 64 Bronze Stars, 2 British Military Medals, and an astonishing 542 Purple Hearts.�

In recent years I been drawn to reading about World War II, especially the stories of the young men—many still in their teens—who rose to the challenge and changed the course of history. THE LAST HILL earns a well-deserved place on my bookshelf, standing out as an engaging, educational, and deeply moving account of courage and sacrifice. As a final thought, the last two paragraphs of the Epilogue left a lasting impression on me—an absolutely brilliant tribute to the men of this extraordinary unit, and to all who served in World War II.]]> 4.28 The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle That Defined WWII
author: Bob Drury
name: Brian
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“It could only be understood by those who have had this privileged experience.�

THE LAST HILL is narrative nonfiction that focuses on the 2nd Ranger Battalion unit and their exploits in World War II. It deals with the formation of the unit, their training, and their fighting from Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Fortress Brest, and the Hürtgen Forest. Most of the book focuses on the three months prior to the Battle of the Bulge, specifically the fighting in the Hürtgen Forest. I had not read much about that campaign, and this text does a wonderful job of depicting the vicious ferocity of the fighting that happened in that area.
The authors (Bob Drury and Tom Clavin) are unflinching in their analysis of the dubious strategic value of the campaign in the Hürtgen Forest. Of course, they acknowledge that they're looking on this from many years in the future.

One of the great strengths of this book are the portraits of some of the individuals of the 2nd Ranger Battalion unit. Their humanity is on full display. Readers will enjoy getting to know men like Bob Edlin, L. Rod Petty, Len Lomell, Duke Slater, and others. These were real men, and these are real stories, and I enjoyed that.
An unexpected surprise was learning about the “Fabulous Four�, which was a group of scouts from the 2nd Battalion who performed some wonderful, and colorful, exploits in the war. These were amazing stories about these four men, and I'd never heard of them. Quite frankly, this little group of Scouts deserves a book of their own.

Quotes:
� “Because first I’m going to make men of you, then I’m going to make soldiers of you, and them I’m going to make Rangers of you.�
� “No small part of that heroism accrued to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, which by 1945 had become one of the most highly decorated units in American military history, earning 18 Distinguished Service Crosses, 73 Silver Stars, 64 Bronze Stars, 2 British Military Medals, and an astonishing 542 Purple Hearts.�

In recent years I been drawn to reading about World War II, especially the stories of the young men—many still in their teens—who rose to the challenge and changed the course of history. THE LAST HILL earns a well-deserved place on my bookshelf, standing out as an engaging, educational, and deeply moving account of courage and sacrifice. As a final thought, the last two paragraphs of the Epilogue left a lasting impression on me—an absolutely brilliant tribute to the men of this extraordinary unit, and to all who served in World War II.
]]> <![CDATA[The Emmaus Code: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament]]> 25159538
In the 2014 New York Times bestseller Jesus on Trial , David Limbaugh made a case for the Gospels as hard evidence of the existence of God, drawing on his own spiritual journey from skeptic to believer. Now, in The Emmaus Code , Limbaugh unlocks the mysteries of the Old Testament and reveals hints of Jesus Christ's arrival through all thirty-nine Old Testament books.

The key to the secrets of the Old Testament, Limbaugh argues, is the crucial New Testament encounter between the risen Jesus and two travelers on the road to Emmaus. With that key, and with Limbaugh as a deft guide, readers of The Emmaus Code will come to a startling new understanding of the Old Testament as a clear and powerful heralding of Jesus Christ's arrival. Limbaugh takes readers on a revealing journey from Genesis through Malachi, demonstrating that a consistent message courses through every one of the Old Testament's thirty-nine the power, wonder, and everlasting love of Jesus Christ.]]> 420 David Limbaugh 1621574156 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion
I have seen David Limbaugh’s books on Christianity in bookstores for a while, and I decided to give him a go. Mr. Limbaugh is a lawyer by trade, and it shows in his logic-based analysis of his premise, which is that the Bible is from beginning to end about Jesus Christ. (I agree with this premise by the way.)

The focus of the text is on finding Christ in the Old Testament, and THE EMMAUS CODE is an accessible and insightful review of the historical Old Testament as a whole. Limbaugh approaches the historical timeline of events in chronological order and it makes for interesting reading.

Chapters 5 & 6 of this text, dealing with biblical covenants, were misses for me. They were a little dry and I have some theological differences with some of the of interpretations/conclusions that Limbaugh comes to, but nothing that was a reason to walk away from the text. For example, some of the writer’s conclusions lead him to believe in a literal 1000-year millennial reign. I do not subscribe to that view.

Quotes:
� “…Christianity does not abrogate the Old Testament; it completes it.�
� “As Christians we do not get to cherry-pick the Bible-it is all God’s living, breathing Word.�
� “God forgives the past, but He does not undo it.�
� “Man left to his own devices can produce nothing but chaos, destruction, and death.�
� “With more than eighty citations, Deuteronomy is one of the most frequently quoted books in the New Testament.�
� “I never cease to marvel at the parallel threads coursing through Scripture, all heading inexorably to fulfill God’s unfolding purposes.�
� “Acquiring wisdom involves a pattern of behavior: steeping ourselves in God's Word, applying the principles from it to our experiences, then incorporating those lessons to gain greater insight that will in turn enhance our next readings of scripture.�
� “…the certainty of judgement is the very reason we need the Gospel.�

One of the things I liked about THE EMMAUS CODE is that Mr. Limbaugh has clearly read and studied a lot on this subject, and much of the book is a collation of his studies. He cites other scholars a lot! I appreciated what was clearly a labor of love for him.
I learned a lot from this text, and it enhanced my personal biblical study. I would not recommend this book for the beginning Christian. I think it would overwhelm them. But for those who have been in the faith a while and have been regular with reading God’s Word I think it would be a good experience.
I do intend to read some of Mr. Limbaugh’s other biblically based works.]]> 4.13 2015 The Emmaus Code: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament
author: David Limbaugh
name: Brian
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/24
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“The Bible is Christ and Christ is the Bible.�

I have seen David Limbaugh’s books on Christianity in bookstores for a while, and I decided to give him a go. Mr. Limbaugh is a lawyer by trade, and it shows in his logic-based analysis of his premise, which is that the Bible is from beginning to end about Jesus Christ. (I agree with this premise by the way.)

The focus of the text is on finding Christ in the Old Testament, and THE EMMAUS CODE is an accessible and insightful review of the historical Old Testament as a whole. Limbaugh approaches the historical timeline of events in chronological order and it makes for interesting reading.

Chapters 5 & 6 of this text, dealing with biblical covenants, were misses for me. They were a little dry and I have some theological differences with some of the of interpretations/conclusions that Limbaugh comes to, but nothing that was a reason to walk away from the text. For example, some of the writer’s conclusions lead him to believe in a literal 1000-year millennial reign. I do not subscribe to that view.

Quotes:
� “…Christianity does not abrogate the Old Testament; it completes it.�
� “As Christians we do not get to cherry-pick the Bible-it is all God’s living, breathing Word.�
� “God forgives the past, but He does not undo it.�
� “Man left to his own devices can produce nothing but chaos, destruction, and death.�
� “With more than eighty citations, Deuteronomy is one of the most frequently quoted books in the New Testament.�
� “I never cease to marvel at the parallel threads coursing through Scripture, all heading inexorably to fulfill God’s unfolding purposes.�
� “Acquiring wisdom involves a pattern of behavior: steeping ourselves in God's Word, applying the principles from it to our experiences, then incorporating those lessons to gain greater insight that will in turn enhance our next readings of scripture.�
� “…the certainty of judgement is the very reason we need the Gospel.�

One of the things I liked about THE EMMAUS CODE is that Mr. Limbaugh has clearly read and studied a lot on this subject, and much of the book is a collation of his studies. He cites other scholars a lot! I appreciated what was clearly a labor of love for him.
I learned a lot from this text, and it enhanced my personal biblical study. I would not recommend this book for the beginning Christian. I think it would overwhelm them. But for those who have been in the faith a while and have been regular with reading God’s Word I think it would be a good experience.
I do intend to read some of Mr. Limbaugh’s other biblically based works.
]]> The Winter Soldier 42283321
Vienna, 1914. Lucius is a twenty-two-year-old medical student when World War I explodes across Europe. Enraptured by romantic tales of battlefield surgery, he enlists, expecting a position at a well-organized field hospital. But when he arrives, at a commandeered church tucked away high in a remote valley of the Carpathian Mountains, he finds a freezing outpost ravaged by typhus. The other doctors have fled, and only a single, mysterious nurse named Sister Margarete remains.

But Lucius has never lifted a surgeon's scalpel. And as the war rages across the winter landscape, he finds himself falling in love with the woman from whom he must learn a brutal, makeshift medicine. Then one day, an unconscious soldier is brought in from the snow, his uniform stuffed with strange drawings. He seems beyond rescue, until Lucius makes a fateful decision that will change the lives of doctor, patient, and nurse forever.

From the gilded ballrooms of Imperial Vienna to the frozen forests of the Eastern Front; from hardscrabble operating rooms to battlefields thundering with Cossack cavalry, The Winter Soldier is the story of war and medicine, of family, of finding love in the sweeping tides of history, and finally, of the mistakes we make, and the precious opportunities to atone.

" The Winter Soldier brims with improbable narrative pleasures...These pages crackle with excitement... A spectacular success." —Anthony Marra, New York Times Book Review]]> 336 Daniel Mason 0316477591 Brian 4 fiction
Daniel Mason’s novel THE WINTER SOLDIER is a tale that weaves together historical detail and emotional depth. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the story follows Lucius, a young medical student thrust into the chaos of a field hospital in the remote Carpathian Mountains. Mason’s ability to bring the stark realities of war to life is evident in his vivid descriptions of the hospital’s primitive conditions and the challenges faced by both the medical staff and their patients.

What kept me engaged throughout the novel was Mr. Mason’s attention to historical accuracy and his integration of medical and military details into the narrative. The depiction of wartime medicine adds a compelling dimension to the story. I also appreciated Mason’s portrayal of Vienna society and Polish culture, which enriched the backdrop of the novel. Despite considering the book average overall, there was a quality in the text that kept me turning the pages.

While I admired Mason’s craftsmanship, the book didn’t fully captivate me. The pacing felt uneven, with moments slowing the narrative’s momentum. Even so, Mason’s lyrical prose and his ability to evoke a strong sense of place helped mitigate these shortcomings, adding depth and atmosphere to the story.

The central relationship between Lucius and Margarete, the enigmatic nurse who becomes his partner and guide, serves as the emotional core of the novel. However, the pivotal event meant to profoundly transform Lucius’s life felt unconvincing to me. It lacked the emotional weight the author seemed to intend, occasionally pushing the narrative into melodramatic territory.

Quotes:
� “Our exotic things are always female.�
� “But most advances in medicine involved some serendipity.�
� “He now understood why one might die for someone else. It wasn’t mercy; it was torture to remain.�
� “If anything, there was something in the very denial of the flesh that acknowledged the power of flesh’s pleasures.
� “…who seem forever stuck in eternal winters.�
� “Marriage is a market, like any other. And a very liquid market, I should add.�
� “…for she smiled with a smile that only the very beautiful can mage, wicked and conciliatory at once.�
� “But now, they both had retreated from whatever dream they’d tested.�
� “But what he was seeking was forgiveness and atonement, and he couldn’t think of any worthy offering to give.�

I will add that the last 20 pages beguiled me. I was caught up in them, and it was nice to be swept up in such a manner.
Ultimately, THE WINTER SOLDIER is a read for those who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction. It may not have gripped me as deeply as I had anticipated, but the thoughtful writing and immersive historical context made it a worthwhile experience.]]> 3.93 2018 The Winter Soldier
author: Daniel Mason
name: Brian
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves: fiction
review:
“…he found shelter in Medicine’s routine.� (3.5 stars)

Daniel Mason’s novel THE WINTER SOLDIER is a tale that weaves together historical detail and emotional depth. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the story follows Lucius, a young medical student thrust into the chaos of a field hospital in the remote Carpathian Mountains. Mason’s ability to bring the stark realities of war to life is evident in his vivid descriptions of the hospital’s primitive conditions and the challenges faced by both the medical staff and their patients.

What kept me engaged throughout the novel was Mr. Mason’s attention to historical accuracy and his integration of medical and military details into the narrative. The depiction of wartime medicine adds a compelling dimension to the story. I also appreciated Mason’s portrayal of Vienna society and Polish culture, which enriched the backdrop of the novel. Despite considering the book average overall, there was a quality in the text that kept me turning the pages.

While I admired Mason’s craftsmanship, the book didn’t fully captivate me. The pacing felt uneven, with moments slowing the narrative’s momentum. Even so, Mason’s lyrical prose and his ability to evoke a strong sense of place helped mitigate these shortcomings, adding depth and atmosphere to the story.

The central relationship between Lucius and Margarete, the enigmatic nurse who becomes his partner and guide, serves as the emotional core of the novel. However, the pivotal event meant to profoundly transform Lucius’s life felt unconvincing to me. It lacked the emotional weight the author seemed to intend, occasionally pushing the narrative into melodramatic territory.

Quotes:
� “Our exotic things are always female.�
� “But most advances in medicine involved some serendipity.�
� “He now understood why one might die for someone else. It wasn’t mercy; it was torture to remain.�
� “If anything, there was something in the very denial of the flesh that acknowledged the power of flesh’s pleasures.
� “…who seem forever stuck in eternal winters.�
� “Marriage is a market, like any other. And a very liquid market, I should add.�
� “…for she smiled with a smile that only the very beautiful can mage, wicked and conciliatory at once.�
� “But now, they both had retreated from whatever dream they’d tested.�
� “But what he was seeking was forgiveness and atonement, and he couldn’t think of any worthy offering to give.�

I will add that the last 20 pages beguiled me. I was caught up in them, and it was nice to be swept up in such a manner.
Ultimately, THE WINTER SOLDIER is a read for those who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction. It may not have gripped me as deeply as I had anticipated, but the thoughtful writing and immersive historical context made it a worthwhile experience.
]]> 2024 on ŷ 195342176 2024 on ŷ should make an interesting and varied catalogue of books to inspire other readers in 2025.

For those of you who don't like to add titles you haven't actually 'read', you can place 2024 on ŷ on an 'exclusive' shelf. Exclusive shelves don't have to be listed under 'to read', 'currently reading' or 'read'. To create one, go to 'edit bookshelves' on your 'My Books' page, create a shelf name such as 'review-of-the year' and tick the 'exclusive' box. Your previous and future 'reviews of the year' can be collected together on this dedicated shelf.

Concept created by Fionnuala Lirsdottir.
Description: Fionnuala Lirsdottir
Cover art: Paul Cézanne, The House with the Cracked Walls, 1892-1894
Cover choice and graphics by Jayson]]> Various Brian 4 review-of-the-year 27 fiction, 30 nonfiction. All reviewed on ŷ.

Best and favorite reads of the year:
� "Paper Money� (Ken Follett)
� “All the Old Knives� (Olen Steinhauer)
� “Refiner’s Fire� (Mark Helprin)
� “Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World� (Simon Callow)
� “How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises� (Spencer Klavan)

Favorite reread: "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever� (Barbara Robinson), a book which still holds up after my initial reading of it over 30 years ago as an elementary student. I gifted a copy to one of my nieces this past Christmas.

I read 30 nonfiction this year. This is the first year in a long time where nonfiction was more than fiction. This is due to my embracing audio books this year. They are great for yard work, chores, etc. Top of that list were the aforementioned “Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World�, a text that made me determined to read more Dickens in the next years. I also enjoyed “Martin Luther� (Eric Metaxas) and “The Wars of the Roses� (Dan Jones). Two texts that were much more engaging than one would think their subject matter would indicate.

Biggest 'meh' reads of the year: “Somebody’s Fool� (Richard Russo) a third installment in his North Bath series. I loved the first two novels in this series. Loved them. This one hurt. This text takes the title of most disappointing read of 2024 for me. Also ‘meh� was “The Measure� (Nikki Erlick). Some people loved this book. I thought it was so lackluster that it should win an award for being such.

Books I should have put down: “The Mosquito� (Timothy C. Winegard) was just awful. One of the worst nonfiction books I have ever encountered. And entirely the result of the author and his sloppy arrogance. “The Sentence� (Louise Erdrich) was a book I loathed. I must have been out of my mind to finish it.

Best Surprise of the Year: “Simon the Fiddler� (Paulette Jiles) was such an interesting text. There was something about the writing that has caused me to add more of Ms. Jiles works to my ‘to read� pile. “How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises� (Spencer Klavan) was also much more interesting than I was anticipating a nonfiction book about antiquity to be. Mr. Klavan has recently published another book. I will be reading it.

I only read 1 play in 2024, “Cymbeline� by Shakespeare. This was a reread for me.

Other misc. observations:
--16 of my books this year were audio. This is double the amount of audio books I consumed the previous year. All of them nonfiction as I feel that genre is better for audio. At least for me. It kind of feels like listening to a podcast.
--I continued my way thru Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. I read #18 “The Other Woman� and #19 “The New Girl�. These two were more standard thriller fare than a lot of the series. Something changed with Mr. Silva in 2018, and the series suffered. However, I will be continuing with the series, because usually they are smart books, have an element of legitimacy, are fast paced thrillers, and Silva is a decent writer.
--I read quite a few books on Christianity and apologetics this year. 8 to be exact. I got something from all of them, but C.S. Lewis� “The Problem of Pain� probably made me think the most.
--11 books I read in 2024 were part of larger series. I like series, but I feel that I have too many of them going at the moment. I am liking Michael Connelly’s Rene Ballard series. They are good for what they are. I read two this past year.
--I read two works of poetry in 2024. The complete narrative poems and sonnets of Shakespeare (a personal achievement I am very proud of) and the complete works of Galway Kinnell. I have not read so much poetry since college. I intend to continue reading it regularly in 2025.

Looking forward to what reading in 2025 brings my way.
Here is to a wonderful reading year ŷ friends! Health and happiness to all of you.]]> 4.15 2024 2024 on ŷ
author: Various
name: Brian
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/01/05
shelves: review-of-the-year
review:
In 2024 I read 57 books for a total of 19,952 pages.
27 fiction, 30 nonfiction. All reviewed on ŷ.

Best and favorite reads of the year:
� "Paper Money� (Ken Follett)
� “All the Old Knives� (Olen Steinhauer)
� “Refiner’s Fire� (Mark Helprin)
� “Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World� (Simon Callow)
� “How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises� (Spencer Klavan)

Favorite reread: "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever� (Barbara Robinson), a book which still holds up after my initial reading of it over 30 years ago as an elementary student. I gifted a copy to one of my nieces this past Christmas.

I read 30 nonfiction this year. This is the first year in a long time where nonfiction was more than fiction. This is due to my embracing audio books this year. They are great for yard work, chores, etc. Top of that list were the aforementioned “Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World�, a text that made me determined to read more Dickens in the next years. I also enjoyed “Martin Luther� (Eric Metaxas) and “The Wars of the Roses� (Dan Jones). Two texts that were much more engaging than one would think their subject matter would indicate.

Biggest 'meh' reads of the year: “Somebody’s Fool� (Richard Russo) a third installment in his North Bath series. I loved the first two novels in this series. Loved them. This one hurt. This text takes the title of most disappointing read of 2024 for me. Also ‘meh� was “The Measure� (Nikki Erlick). Some people loved this book. I thought it was so lackluster that it should win an award for being such.

Books I should have put down: “The Mosquito� (Timothy C. Winegard) was just awful. One of the worst nonfiction books I have ever encountered. And entirely the result of the author and his sloppy arrogance. “The Sentence� (Louise Erdrich) was a book I loathed. I must have been out of my mind to finish it.

Best Surprise of the Year: “Simon the Fiddler� (Paulette Jiles) was such an interesting text. There was something about the writing that has caused me to add more of Ms. Jiles works to my ‘to read� pile. “How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises� (Spencer Klavan) was also much more interesting than I was anticipating a nonfiction book about antiquity to be. Mr. Klavan has recently published another book. I will be reading it.

I only read 1 play in 2024, “Cymbeline� by Shakespeare. This was a reread for me.

Other misc. observations:
--16 of my books this year were audio. This is double the amount of audio books I consumed the previous year. All of them nonfiction as I feel that genre is better for audio. At least for me. It kind of feels like listening to a podcast.
--I continued my way thru Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. I read #18 “The Other Woman� and #19 “The New Girl�. These two were more standard thriller fare than a lot of the series. Something changed with Mr. Silva in 2018, and the series suffered. However, I will be continuing with the series, because usually they are smart books, have an element of legitimacy, are fast paced thrillers, and Silva is a decent writer.
--I read quite a few books on Christianity and apologetics this year. 8 to be exact. I got something from all of them, but C.S. Lewis� “The Problem of Pain� probably made me think the most.
--11 books I read in 2024 were part of larger series. I like series, but I feel that I have too many of them going at the moment. I am liking Michael Connelly’s Rene Ballard series. They are good for what they are. I read two this past year.
--I read two works of poetry in 2024. The complete narrative poems and sonnets of Shakespeare (a personal achievement I am very proud of) and the complete works of Galway Kinnell. I have not read so much poetry since college. I intend to continue reading it regularly in 2025.

Looking forward to what reading in 2025 brings my way.
Here is to a wonderful reading year ŷ friends! Health and happiness to all of you.
]]> Collected Poems 33413918
“It’s the poet’s job to figure out what’s happening within oneself, to figure out the connection between the self and the world, and to get it down in words that have a certain shape, that have a chance of lasting.� —Galway Kinnell

This long-awaited volume brings together for the first time the life’s work of a major American voice.

In a remarkable generation of poets, Galway Kinnell was an acknowledged, true master. From the book-length poem memorializing the grit, beauty, and swarming assertion of immigrant life along a lower Manhattan avenue, to searing poems of human conflict and war, to incandescent reflections on love, family, and the natural world—including "Blackberry Eating,� "St. Francis and the Sow," and “After Making Love We Hear Footsteps”—to the unflinchingly introspective poems of his later life, Kinnell’s work lastingly shaped the consciousness of his age.

Spanning 65 years of intense, inspired creativity, this volume, with its inclusion of previously uncollected poems, is the essential collection for old and new devotees of a “poet of the rarest ability . . . who can flesh out music, raise the spirits, and break the heart.� (Boston Globe)]]> 640 Galway Kinnell 0544875214 Brian 4 poetry
I am not sure why I picked up COLLECTED POEMS by Galway Kinnell. I might have read a poem or two of his in college, but they didn’t leave much of an impression. Still, when I spotted the book at a local discount store for a great price, I thought, “Why not?�

As I’ve been reading through Kinnell’s work, I’ve been reminded of a truth about poetry: you can read dozens of poems that don’t move you, but then one comes along that hits you like a lightning bolt. That’s the magic of poetry—it has the power to resonate deeply when it connects. Kinnell’s poetry exemplifies this. Great poets understand the value of words and their placement, and while I wouldn’t call myself a devoted fan of Kinnell’s work, several of his pieces moved me profoundly. One such poem was “Little Sleep’s-Head Sprouting Hair in the Moonlight�. It’s hauntingly beautiful and has stayed with me, embodying the kind of experience that defines great art.

COLLECTED POEMS spans Kinnell’s entire career, from his earliest collections to his final works. Like any long creative journey, it’s a mixed bag—there are hits and misses. His 1980 collection MORTAL ACTS, MORTAL WORDS stands out to me as his strongest, with many of its pieces leaving a lasting impression.

Among the individual poems, here are a few that stuck with me for various reasons:
"Fisherman" is a poignant lament for a friend mourning the loss of his wife.
"Conception" is thought-provoking; it made me pause and reflect, though I’m still unsure how I feel about it.
"Promissory Note" contemplates death and meaning, themes that have long been explored by artists, but Kinnell delivers them powerfully in this compact poem.
"Passion" offers a lovely realization about romantic love.
"The Avenue Bearing the Initial of Christ into the New World" is a long poem bursting with auditory imagery. While I don’t typically favor long poems, this one intrigued me.
"For Robert Frost" is simple, accessible, and immediately likable.
“Conversation (For Maud)� asks a lot of the questions that in our quiet moments, and in our mundane moments, we ask of ourselves. It’s reflective and very true to life.
“Last Gods� is one of the most subtly erotic depictions of making love I have ever come across.
“The Choir� is a short piece that celebrates the ability of music to meet any occasion.

Kinnell’s use of nature imagery is another highlight. Poems like “Middle of the Way� really spoke to me, and the “Spindrift� —while brilliant in its own right—almost defies easy explanation. This line from that poem, contemplating the ocean tide has not left me, “It is the most we know of time, And it is our undermusic of eternity.�

Some lines (out of context obviously) that have stuck with me:
� “Where do you think you might have ended up if you had turned around?�
� “Of all the varieties of pain, loneliness may be the most lonely.�
� “…friends who have figured out what they have figured out by sounding it upon the other.�
� “…with the failing marriage of solitude and happiness.�
� “Love is the religion that bereaves the bereft.�
� “I’m just a naked body, a body not as it was, nor as it wishes to be, but as it is.�
� “…all those Who took it easy when they should have been failing at something- �
� “If love had not smiled we would never grieve.�
� “…the wages of dying is love.�
� “Everyone while singing is beautiful.�
� “And so just as you are, sing, even if you cry; the bravery of the singing turns it into the true song…�

Overall, COLLECTED POEMS is an ambitious and comprehensive anthology of a lifetime’s work. While not every piece resonated with me, his collection “The Book of Nightmares� had some pieces I loathed, the omnibus as a whole showcases Kinnell’s artistry and growth over the years. For me, the high points—particularly his 1980 collection—made the journey worthwhile.]]> 4.21 2017 Collected Poems
author: Galway Kinnell
name: Brian
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves: poetry
review:
“Does the past ever get too heavy to lug around?� (3.5 stars)

I am not sure why I picked up COLLECTED POEMS by Galway Kinnell. I might have read a poem or two of his in college, but they didn’t leave much of an impression. Still, when I spotted the book at a local discount store for a great price, I thought, “Why not?�

As I’ve been reading through Kinnell’s work, I’ve been reminded of a truth about poetry: you can read dozens of poems that don’t move you, but then one comes along that hits you like a lightning bolt. That’s the magic of poetry—it has the power to resonate deeply when it connects. Kinnell’s poetry exemplifies this. Great poets understand the value of words and their placement, and while I wouldn’t call myself a devoted fan of Kinnell’s work, several of his pieces moved me profoundly. One such poem was “Little Sleep’s-Head Sprouting Hair in the Moonlight�. It’s hauntingly beautiful and has stayed with me, embodying the kind of experience that defines great art.

COLLECTED POEMS spans Kinnell’s entire career, from his earliest collections to his final works. Like any long creative journey, it’s a mixed bag—there are hits and misses. His 1980 collection MORTAL ACTS, MORTAL WORDS stands out to me as his strongest, with many of its pieces leaving a lasting impression.

Among the individual poems, here are a few that stuck with me for various reasons:
"Fisherman" is a poignant lament for a friend mourning the loss of his wife.
"Conception" is thought-provoking; it made me pause and reflect, though I’m still unsure how I feel about it.
"Promissory Note" contemplates death and meaning, themes that have long been explored by artists, but Kinnell delivers them powerfully in this compact poem.
"Passion" offers a lovely realization about romantic love.
"The Avenue Bearing the Initial of Christ into the New World" is a long poem bursting with auditory imagery. While I don’t typically favor long poems, this one intrigued me.
"For Robert Frost" is simple, accessible, and immediately likable.
“Conversation (For Maud)� asks a lot of the questions that in our quiet moments, and in our mundane moments, we ask of ourselves. It’s reflective and very true to life.
“Last Gods� is one of the most subtly erotic depictions of making love I have ever come across.
“The Choir� is a short piece that celebrates the ability of music to meet any occasion.

Kinnell’s use of nature imagery is another highlight. Poems like “Middle of the Way� really spoke to me, and the “Spindrift� —while brilliant in its own right—almost defies easy explanation. This line from that poem, contemplating the ocean tide has not left me, “It is the most we know of time, And it is our undermusic of eternity.�

Some lines (out of context obviously) that have stuck with me:
� “Where do you think you might have ended up if you had turned around?�
� “Of all the varieties of pain, loneliness may be the most lonely.�
� “…friends who have figured out what they have figured out by sounding it upon the other.�
� “…with the failing marriage of solitude and happiness.�
� “Love is the religion that bereaves the bereft.�
� “I’m just a naked body, a body not as it was, nor as it wishes to be, but as it is.�
� “…all those Who took it easy when they should have been failing at something- �
� “If love had not smiled we would never grieve.�
� “…the wages of dying is love.�
� “Everyone while singing is beautiful.�
� “And so just as you are, sing, even if you cry; the bravery of the singing turns it into the true song…�

Overall, COLLECTED POEMS is an ambitious and comprehensive anthology of a lifetime’s work. While not every piece resonated with me, his collection “The Book of Nightmares� had some pieces I loathed, the omnibus as a whole showcases Kinnell’s artistry and growth over the years. For me, the high points—particularly his 1980 collection—made the journey worthwhile.
]]> <![CDATA[America, a Redemption Story: Choosing Hope, Creating Unity]]> 60310341 The American Dream isn’t a thing of the past, but a miracle of the present.

Now more than ever it’s easy to focus on the divisions that plague our nation. It may seem as if our best days are behind us, but bestselling author and senator Tim Scott believes we have yet to realize the fullness of our identity. We are in the midst of a story that’s still unfolding. And beautiful opportunities await.

In this powerful memoir, Scott recounts formative events of his life alongside the inspiring stories of other Americans who have risen above hardship and embodied the values that make our nation great. Together these personal and inspirational accounts call readers to embrace


the mountaintops as well as the valleys on the journey to a more perfect union;
a path marked by optimism, hope, and resolve; and
a future characterized by endurance, unity, and strength.
Both a clear-eyed reckoning with our nation’s failures and an ode to its accomplishments, America, a Redemption Story issues a clarion call for all of us to rise courageously to the greatness within our reach.]]> 256 Tim Scott 1400236495 Brian 2 audio, non-fiction
Senator Tim Scott’s AMERICA, A REDEMPTION STORY reads like a campaign book. Unfortunately, the book largely fails to transcend the genre’s clichés, making it a disappointing read overall.

The writing is filled with aphorisms, platitudes, and anodyne statements that dominate much of the text. These elements distract from the moments when Scott discusses real people he knows or has worked with—stories that could have been compelling if they weren’t also used as talking points. The calculated nature of the book is its most glaring flaw.

Scott’s beliefs occasionally shine through, but rather than confidently presenting them, he seems to dilute his convictions by leaving room for opposing views in ways that feel more like pandering than open-mindedness. While respecting differing opinions is admirable, it comes across as lacking the courage of his convictions—an issue for a book meant to reflect a leader’s vision and principles.

One of the book’s strongest sections addresses the racism faced by black conservatives. He confronts the vitriol directed at him and others—such as Thomas Sowell, Condoleezza Rice, and Clarence Thomas—with commendable candor. His critique of liberal racism is poignant and underscores an important issue often ignored in mainstream discussions. In these moments, Scott is at his best: forthright, passionate, and genuinely compelling.

However, Senator Scott’s attempt to straddle multiple sides of key issues—race, the economy, and others—feels disingenuous. This is particularly jarring in an era of politicians who, for better or worse, are often unabashed in their beliefs. While one might not agree with the likes of Donald Trump, the raw authenticity of such figures contrasts sharply with Scott’s overly calculated approach.

Quotes:
� “Clearly our Founding Fathers had glaring blind spots, but they were smart enough to know it! They created a Constitution that allowed us to adapt and evolve.�
� “Redemption won’t be stopped.�

Ultimately, this text left me less impressed with Senator Scott than I was before reading it. While I still believe he’s a decent person and a better option than many of his peers, this book does little to inspire confidence in his leadership or authenticity. This is not a book that needs to be reread or even kept on your bookshelf.
Instead, it serves as a reminder of the performative nature of modern politics—a missed opportunity for Senator Scott to present himself as a principled leader rather than just another politician.]]> 4.30 2022 America, a Redemption Story: Choosing Hope, Creating Unity
author: Tim Scott
name: Brian
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“I, for one, plan to make my story count.�

Senator Tim Scott’s AMERICA, A REDEMPTION STORY reads like a campaign book. Unfortunately, the book largely fails to transcend the genre’s clichés, making it a disappointing read overall.

The writing is filled with aphorisms, platitudes, and anodyne statements that dominate much of the text. These elements distract from the moments when Scott discusses real people he knows or has worked with—stories that could have been compelling if they weren’t also used as talking points. The calculated nature of the book is its most glaring flaw.

Scott’s beliefs occasionally shine through, but rather than confidently presenting them, he seems to dilute his convictions by leaving room for opposing views in ways that feel more like pandering than open-mindedness. While respecting differing opinions is admirable, it comes across as lacking the courage of his convictions—an issue for a book meant to reflect a leader’s vision and principles.

One of the book’s strongest sections addresses the racism faced by black conservatives. He confronts the vitriol directed at him and others—such as Thomas Sowell, Condoleezza Rice, and Clarence Thomas—with commendable candor. His critique of liberal racism is poignant and underscores an important issue often ignored in mainstream discussions. In these moments, Scott is at his best: forthright, passionate, and genuinely compelling.

However, Senator Scott’s attempt to straddle multiple sides of key issues—race, the economy, and others—feels disingenuous. This is particularly jarring in an era of politicians who, for better or worse, are often unabashed in their beliefs. While one might not agree with the likes of Donald Trump, the raw authenticity of such figures contrasts sharply with Scott’s overly calculated approach.

Quotes:
� “Clearly our Founding Fathers had glaring blind spots, but they were smart enough to know it! They created a Constitution that allowed us to adapt and evolve.�
� “Redemption won’t be stopped.�

Ultimately, this text left me less impressed with Senator Scott than I was before reading it. While I still believe he’s a decent person and a better option than many of his peers, this book does little to inspire confidence in his leadership or authenticity. This is not a book that needs to be reread or even kept on your bookshelf.
Instead, it serves as a reminder of the performative nature of modern politics—a missed opportunity for Senator Scott to present himself as a principled leader rather than just another politician.
]]> <![CDATA[The New Girl (Gabriel Allon, #19)]]> 42392712 A rapariga nova, um thriller novo em que o engano, a traição e a vingança andam de mão dada.

Num elitista colégio particular suíço, o mistério rodeia a identidade de uma rapariga de cabelo preto que chega todas as manhãs acompanhada por uma escolta digna de um chefe de Estado. Na verdade, o seu pai é Khalid bin Mohammed, o difamado príncipe herdeiro da Arábia Saudita. E, quando a sua única filha é sequestrada, recorre ao único homem capaz de a encontrar antes que seja tarde demais.

O que está feito, não pode ser desfeito�

Gabriel Allon, o lendário chefe dos serviços secretos israelitas considera Khalid um colaborador valioso, mas do qual não se fia, na guerra contra o terror. O príncipe comprometeu-se a quebrar o vínculo estreito que une a Arábia Saudita com o Islamismo radical. Juntos vão arquitetar uma aliança precária numa guerra secreta pelo controlo do Médio Oriente. Ambos os homens têm numerosos inimigos. E ambos têm tudo a perder. Do autor mais vendido do The New York Times, chega-nos um magnífico thriller novo de engano, traição e vingança.]]> 481 Daniel Silva 0062834835 Brian 3 fiction
Daniel Silva's THE NEW GIRL delivers much of what fans of the Gabriel Allon series have come to expect: a tightly plotted, high-stakes geopolitical thriller with well-drawn characters and intricate storytelling. The novel opens with the kidnapping of a mysterious girl from a Swiss private school, revealing a complex web of international intrigue involving Saudi Arabia, intelligence agencies, and global power struggles. One character in the book remarks, “Because men who tell one lie usually tell others.� This text amply demonstrates that idea.

While engaging and well-written, THE NEW GIRL doesn’t stand out as a series highlight. Silva's knack for weaving timely geopolitical events into his fiction has been clearly evident in this series, but some of his 2019 predictions (this text’s publication) about global affairs feel off when viewed from the perspective of late 2024. For instance, certain political dynamics involving Middle Eastern diplomacy and shifts in power haven't aged as presciently as in previous books. This doesn’t detract entirely from the story but does make it feel slightly less impactful compared to other entries in the series.

For fans of Gabriel Allon, it’s an enjoyable, if not groundbreaking, read. I am starting to feel that the series is coming near to its conclusion. Or it should. But there are 5 other novels after this one! THE NEW GIRL has not given me a reason to walk away, so on to number 20 in the series soon.]]> 4.28 2019 The New Girl (Gabriel Allon, #19)
author: Daniel Silva
name: Brian
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/29
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: fiction
review:
“The cruelty of the desert had influenced the faith.�

Daniel Silva's THE NEW GIRL delivers much of what fans of the Gabriel Allon series have come to expect: a tightly plotted, high-stakes geopolitical thriller with well-drawn characters and intricate storytelling. The novel opens with the kidnapping of a mysterious girl from a Swiss private school, revealing a complex web of international intrigue involving Saudi Arabia, intelligence agencies, and global power struggles. One character in the book remarks, “Because men who tell one lie usually tell others.� This text amply demonstrates that idea.

While engaging and well-written, THE NEW GIRL doesn’t stand out as a series highlight. Silva's knack for weaving timely geopolitical events into his fiction has been clearly evident in this series, but some of his 2019 predictions (this text’s publication) about global affairs feel off when viewed from the perspective of late 2024. For instance, certain political dynamics involving Middle Eastern diplomacy and shifts in power haven't aged as presciently as in previous books. This doesn’t detract entirely from the story but does make it feel slightly less impactful compared to other entries in the series.

For fans of Gabriel Allon, it’s an enjoyable, if not groundbreaking, read. I am starting to feel that the series is coming near to its conclusion. Or it should. But there are 5 other novels after this one! THE NEW GIRL has not given me a reason to walk away, so on to number 20 in the series soon.
]]> <![CDATA[The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (The Herdmans, #1)]]> 239810 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.� The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.

Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start! When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way.

This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.]]> 128 Barbara Robinson 0064402754 Brian 4 children-s-picture, fiction
I first discovered THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER in my school library in the mid-1980s when I was in elementary school. I remember enjoying it so much that I read it repeatedly, until my parents eventually bought me my own copy.

Although I’ve never forgotten about the book, I hadn’t read it in probably 35 years—until recently, when a new movie adaptation was released. Inspired by the film, I picked up a copy of the text at my local bookstore. Within the first 10 pages, memories from all those years ago came flooding back.

As a child, the story’s themes of grace and redemption didn’t resonate with me as deeply as they do now. But as a man in his mid-40s, who has returned to faith in the last decade, I find this book incredibly moving. It’s not preachy or didactic, but an honest and heartfelt exploration of how even those who’ve faced life’s hardest knocks can find beauty in the story of Christ’s birth.

And after all, isn’t that why He came?

I was delighted to gift a copy of this book to one of my nieces this Christmas. Of all my nieces, she’s the one most likely to see herself in some of the characters. I hope she discovers the same joy, self-recognition, and wonder at what the Christ child came to do that I now see in this story.

Revisiting this book after so many years was a true joy. It had been absent from my bookshelf for far too long, and I’m so glad to have rectified that.]]> 4.24 1972 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (The Herdmans, #1)
author: Barbara Robinson
name: Brian
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1972
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/26
date added: 2024/12/26
shelves: children-s-picture, fiction
review:
“Hey, unto you a child is born!�

I first discovered THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER in my school library in the mid-1980s when I was in elementary school. I remember enjoying it so much that I read it repeatedly, until my parents eventually bought me my own copy.

Although I’ve never forgotten about the book, I hadn’t read it in probably 35 years—until recently, when a new movie adaptation was released. Inspired by the film, I picked up a copy of the text at my local bookstore. Within the first 10 pages, memories from all those years ago came flooding back.

As a child, the story’s themes of grace and redemption didn’t resonate with me as deeply as they do now. But as a man in his mid-40s, who has returned to faith in the last decade, I find this book incredibly moving. It’s not preachy or didactic, but an honest and heartfelt exploration of how even those who’ve faced life’s hardest knocks can find beauty in the story of Christ’s birth.

And after all, isn’t that why He came?

I was delighted to gift a copy of this book to one of my nieces this Christmas. Of all my nieces, she’s the one most likely to see herself in some of the characters. I hope she discovers the same joy, self-recognition, and wonder at what the Christ child came to do that I now see in this story.

Revisiting this book after so many years was a true joy. It had been absent from my bookshelf for far too long, and I’m so glad to have rectified that.
]]> Holidays on Ice 7958833 A Christmas Story). Sedaris' essays and stories are at once hilarious, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. His new anthology, Holidays on Ice, collects three previously released stories and essays and offers three brand-new ones; all revolve around Christmas. P"SantaLand Diaries," which originally appeared in "Barrel Fever," leads off the collection and may be Sedaris's best-known work. A laugh-out-loud-hysterical look at Sedaris's experiences working as an elf in SantaLand in Macy's, the story is a wickedly funny slicing-and-dicing of the holiday season and the good cheer that supposedly accompanies it. His dark humor is exactly what you need when you're getting sick of all the fuss about Christmas.]]> 166 David Sedaris 0316078913 Brian 3 non-fiction, fiction
I first read HOLIDAYS ON ICE over 20 years ago in my 20s, back when I was a big fan of David Sedaris. As I’ve gotten older, however, I find his work less satisfying. To be fair, I haven’t yet read his two most recent books.

Many of the pieces in this collection left me feeling unsatisfied. That said, this edition includes some additional stories, and the ones carried over from the original edition remain enjoyable. HOLIDAYS ON ICE opens with the famous “Santaland Diaries�, which has been adapted into plays and other formats. It details Sedaris’s experience working as an elf in Macy’s Santaland at their flagship Manhattan store. The piece is good for a laugh and remains a highlight of the collection.

Another standout is the wonderfully sharp Christmas letter written by the fictional matriarch of the Dunbar family. In “Season’s Greetings�, Sedaris creates a wholly believable and hilariously passive-aggressive persona in the voice of Mrs. Dunbar. This piece is so wrong on so many levels, but I can’t help grinning every time I read it.

My favorite piece in this collection, however, is one I don’t remember from my initial reading: “Front Row Center�. In it, a character reviews local elementary school holiday productions as if they were legitimate professional theater performances. The satire had me in stitches, with numerous laugh-out-loud lines. At the same time, it acknowledges the absurdity and charm of those productions, which we endure and enjoy only because someone we love is performing. The final lines of this story are unexpectedly moving, as Sedaris makes an important and poignant point. For me, it’s by far the standout piece in this collection.

Quotes:
� “All of us take pride and pleasure in the fact that we are unique, but I’m afraid that when all is said and done the police are right: it all comes down to fingerprints.�
� “Under certain circumstances parental pride is understandable but it has no place in the theater, where it tends to encourage a child to believe in a talent, that more often than not, simply fails to exist.�
� “If I could believe in myself, why not give other improbabilities the benefit of the doubt?�

Overall, HOLIDAYS ON ICE is a quick and entertaining read for the season, though it’s not exactly a feel-good book. It’s more for the grown-up who wants a day of biting humor amidst the sugary kindness of the Christmas season.]]> 3.55 1997 Holidays on Ice
author: David Sedaris
name: Brian
average rating: 3.55
book published: 1997
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/21
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: non-fiction, fiction
review:
“I think I’ll be a low-key sort of elf.�

I first read HOLIDAYS ON ICE over 20 years ago in my 20s, back when I was a big fan of David Sedaris. As I’ve gotten older, however, I find his work less satisfying. To be fair, I haven’t yet read his two most recent books.

Many of the pieces in this collection left me feeling unsatisfied. That said, this edition includes some additional stories, and the ones carried over from the original edition remain enjoyable. HOLIDAYS ON ICE opens with the famous “Santaland Diaries�, which has been adapted into plays and other formats. It details Sedaris’s experience working as an elf in Macy’s Santaland at their flagship Manhattan store. The piece is good for a laugh and remains a highlight of the collection.

Another standout is the wonderfully sharp Christmas letter written by the fictional matriarch of the Dunbar family. In “Season’s Greetings�, Sedaris creates a wholly believable and hilariously passive-aggressive persona in the voice of Mrs. Dunbar. This piece is so wrong on so many levels, but I can’t help grinning every time I read it.

My favorite piece in this collection, however, is one I don’t remember from my initial reading: “Front Row Center�. In it, a character reviews local elementary school holiday productions as if they were legitimate professional theater performances. The satire had me in stitches, with numerous laugh-out-loud lines. At the same time, it acknowledges the absurdity and charm of those productions, which we endure and enjoy only because someone we love is performing. The final lines of this story are unexpectedly moving, as Sedaris makes an important and poignant point. For me, it’s by far the standout piece in this collection.

Quotes:
� “All of us take pride and pleasure in the fact that we are unique, but I’m afraid that when all is said and done the police are right: it all comes down to fingerprints.�
� “Under certain circumstances parental pride is understandable but it has no place in the theater, where it tends to encourage a child to believe in a talent, that more often than not, simply fails to exist.�
� “If I could believe in myself, why not give other improbabilities the benefit of the doubt?�

Overall, HOLIDAYS ON ICE is a quick and entertaining read for the season, though it’s not exactly a feel-good book. It’s more for the grown-up who wants a day of biting humor amidst the sugary kindness of the Christmas season.
]]> Somebody's Fool 62952125 The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls returns to North Bath, in upstate New York, and to the characters that captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers in his beloved best sellers Nobody's Fool and Everybody's Fool.

Ten years after the death of the magnetic Donald "Sully" Sullivan, the town of North Bath is going through a major transition as it is annexed by its much wealthier neighbor, Schuyler Springs. Peter, Sully's son, is still grappling with his father's tremendous legacy as well as his relationship to his own son, Thomas, wondering if he has been all that different a father than Sully was to him.

Meanwhile, the towns' newly consolidated police department falls into the hands of Charice Bond, after the resignation of Doug Raymer, the former North Bath police chief and Charice's ex-lover. When a decomposing body turns up in the abandoned hotel situated between the two towns, Charice and Raymer are drawn together again and forced to address their complicated attraction to one another. Across town, Ruth, Sully's married ex-lover, and her daughter Janey struggle to understand Janey's daughter, Tina, and her growing obsession with Peter's other son, Will. Amidst the turmoil, the town's residents speculate on the identity of the unidentified body, and wonder who among their number could have disappeared unnoticed.

Infused with all the wry humor and shrewd observations that Russo is known for, Somebody's Fool is another classic from a modern master.]]> 464 Richard Russo 0593317890 Brian 2 fiction
If you, like me, fell in love with Richard Russo's North Bath Trilogy—starting with NOBODY’S FOOL and continuing with EVERYBODY’S FOOL—you enjoyed the rich tapestry of salt-of-the-earth characters. These were real, complex people you came to love, navigating the gritty realities of small-town life. However, I suggest you skip what I hope is the final installment of this series, SOMEBODY’S FOOL. It pains me to say this, but Russo has seemingly lost his touch with North Bath.

To begin with the positives, there are a few moments in SOMEBODY’S FOOL that reminded me why I loved this series. The character of Rub Squeers returns, and Russo handles Rub’s grief over Sully’s death with poignant care. It’s deeply moving, raw, and authentic—one of the few elements of the book that stayed with me.
Additionally, there’s a lovely chapter titled “Too Late,� in which a mother and daughter, who have struggled throughout the series to connect, share a moment of profound understanding. This chapter stands out as Russo at his best: simple, human, and deeply resonant.

Unfortunately, these highlights are overshadowed by the book’s numerous shortcomings. The hallmark wit and dry humor that defined the first two novels are noticeably absent. This loss of humor leaves the story feeling flat and lifeless by comparison. Moreover, the novel leans heavily into contemporary cultural tropes and stereotypes, which feel forced and out of place in the world Russo has built. For instance, there are obligatory mentions of a closeted homosexual character and the latest cultural fad, a man who decides he is a woman. These moments are not explored with the depth or nuance one would expect from Russo; instead, they feel perfunctory, as if included solely to tick cultural boxes. Each of these topics is given less than half a page, making them feel like superficial nods rather than meaningful elements of the story.
Another issue is the inconsistency in the text’s treatment of race. The word “Black� is capitalized when referring to ethnicity, while “white� is not. It struck me as distracting, inconsistent, and ridiculous.

On a literary level, the novel suffers from excessive internal monologues and navel-gazing. While Russo’s earlier works allowed readers to inhabit the minds of his characters, these internal explorations were balanced with action and dialogue that brought the characters to life. In SOMEBODY’S FOOL, however, the narrative spends so much time inside the characters� heads that it feels stifling. The story lacks the spark of dynamic characterization and the engaging momentum of its predecessors.

Quotes:
� “If potholes and second-rate schools kept taxes low and degenerates, atheists and Starbucks out, then let’s hear it for potholes.�
� “Did lust count as a feeling? he wondered. It should.�
� “Aren’t we all trapped in our heads?�
� “Maybe she figured a few chips and cracks were worth it, proof she’d lived and loved.�
� “His myriad, strident opinions on a wide range of subjects he viewed as proof of enviable intellectual acuity, whereas in reality, they rendered him tiresome in the extreme…�
� “…I’ve learned to put hurt in a different room from the one I’m in.�
� “People who love you are the easiest to lie to.�
� “After all, how long could you stay pissed off at somebody for trying to be happy?�

Ultimately, this text feels disconnected from the heart and soul of the series. The characters and storylines that once felt organic now feel contrived, as if Russo were writing not from a place of inspiration but out of obligation. It’s disappointing to see such a series conclude on a note that feels so inauthentic and lackluster.

If you’re a fan of the first two books, my advice is to cherish them and let the series end there in your mind. I doubt I’ll pick up another installment if Russo chooses to continue. SOMEBODY’S FOOL left me with a lingering sense of regret, wishing I had stopped after book two and preserved my admiration for this once-brilliant series.]]> 4.15 2023 Somebody's Fool
author: Richard Russo
name: Brian
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/14
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: fiction
review:
“But true is true, whether you want it to be or not.� (2.5 stars)

If you, like me, fell in love with Richard Russo's North Bath Trilogy—starting with NOBODY’S FOOL and continuing with EVERYBODY’S FOOL—you enjoyed the rich tapestry of salt-of-the-earth characters. These were real, complex people you came to love, navigating the gritty realities of small-town life. However, I suggest you skip what I hope is the final installment of this series, SOMEBODY’S FOOL. It pains me to say this, but Russo has seemingly lost his touch with North Bath.

To begin with the positives, there are a few moments in SOMEBODY’S FOOL that reminded me why I loved this series. The character of Rub Squeers returns, and Russo handles Rub’s grief over Sully’s death with poignant care. It’s deeply moving, raw, and authentic—one of the few elements of the book that stayed with me.
Additionally, there’s a lovely chapter titled “Too Late,� in which a mother and daughter, who have struggled throughout the series to connect, share a moment of profound understanding. This chapter stands out as Russo at his best: simple, human, and deeply resonant.

Unfortunately, these highlights are overshadowed by the book’s numerous shortcomings. The hallmark wit and dry humor that defined the first two novels are noticeably absent. This loss of humor leaves the story feeling flat and lifeless by comparison. Moreover, the novel leans heavily into contemporary cultural tropes and stereotypes, which feel forced and out of place in the world Russo has built. For instance, there are obligatory mentions of a closeted homosexual character and the latest cultural fad, a man who decides he is a woman. These moments are not explored with the depth or nuance one would expect from Russo; instead, they feel perfunctory, as if included solely to tick cultural boxes. Each of these topics is given less than half a page, making them feel like superficial nods rather than meaningful elements of the story.
Another issue is the inconsistency in the text’s treatment of race. The word “Black� is capitalized when referring to ethnicity, while “white� is not. It struck me as distracting, inconsistent, and ridiculous.

On a literary level, the novel suffers from excessive internal monologues and navel-gazing. While Russo’s earlier works allowed readers to inhabit the minds of his characters, these internal explorations were balanced with action and dialogue that brought the characters to life. In SOMEBODY’S FOOL, however, the narrative spends so much time inside the characters� heads that it feels stifling. The story lacks the spark of dynamic characterization and the engaging momentum of its predecessors.

Quotes:
� “If potholes and second-rate schools kept taxes low and degenerates, atheists and Starbucks out, then let’s hear it for potholes.�
� “Did lust count as a feeling? he wondered. It should.�
� “Aren’t we all trapped in our heads?�
� “Maybe she figured a few chips and cracks were worth it, proof she’d lived and loved.�
� “His myriad, strident opinions on a wide range of subjects he viewed as proof of enviable intellectual acuity, whereas in reality, they rendered him tiresome in the extreme…�
� “…I’ve learned to put hurt in a different room from the one I’m in.�
� “People who love you are the easiest to lie to.�
� “After all, how long could you stay pissed off at somebody for trying to be happy?�

Ultimately, this text feels disconnected from the heart and soul of the series. The characters and storylines that once felt organic now feel contrived, as if Russo were writing not from a place of inspiration but out of obligation. It’s disappointing to see such a series conclude on a note that feels so inauthentic and lackluster.

If you’re a fan of the first two books, my advice is to cherish them and let the series end there in your mind. I doubt I’ll pick up another installment if Russo chooses to continue. SOMEBODY’S FOOL left me with a lingering sense of regret, wishing I had stopped after book two and preserved my admiration for this once-brilliant series.
]]> <![CDATA[Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy]]> 50623471 Now a #1 NationalBestseller!

A journalist who's been attacked by Antifa writes a deeply researched and reported account of the group's history and tactics.
When Andy Ngo was attacked in the streets by Antifa in the summer of 2019, most people assumed it was an isolated incident. But those who'd been following Ngo's reporting in outlets like the New York Post and Quillette knew that the attack was only the latest in a long line of crimes perpetrated by Antifa.

In Unmasked, Andy Ngo tells the story of this violent extremist movement from the very beginning. He includes interviews with former followers of the group, people who've been attacked by them, and incorporates stories from his own life. This book contains a trove of documents obtained by the author, published for the first time ever.


]]> 320 Andy Ngo 154605958X Brian 3 audio, non-fiction
UNMASKED: INSIDE ANTIFA’S RADICAL PLAN TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY by Andy Ngo is not exactly an enjoyable book to read, but it’s one I’m glad I took the time to absorb. I listened to the audio version, which I found to be a great way to take in this journalistic exploration. In this book, Andy Ngo takes a deep dive into the actions, history, and ideology of Antifa.

I have little tolerance for violent individuals who hide behind masks and harass people—sometimes even at their homes. This is exactly the kind of behavior that Antifa has carried out against Andy Ngo himself. The book includes photographic and video evidence that such harassment has occurred, leaving little room for doubt.

One of the more compelling aspects of this text is how thoroughly Ngo examines the history and development of the Antifa movement, including its internal policies, rules, and organizational structure. What surprised me most was Ngo’s willingness to engage with and even consider some of the perspectives held by Antifa members. While he ultimately criticizes their values as misguided, he shows a level of thoughtfulness and consideration that is more generous than I expected. For example, he takes time to understand and address the logic (fallacious though it is) of their arguments, even though he does not agree with them. This measured approach is something I appreciated. That said, Ngo has no praise for Antifa or its goals. His criticism is clear and pointed, but it’s not dismissive from the outset, which allows the reader to weigh his arguments thoughtfully.

The most profound part of UNMASKED is its “Afterward�. It’s powerful and thought-provoking, standing out as the most impactful section of the text. Ngo, a first-generation American and the child of refugees from communist Vietnam, reflects on why he is so committed to preserving the America he knows and loves. At one point, he writes, “America is worth preserving and protecting for future generations.� I found this perspective deeply moving. It’s always inspiring when the child of immigrants, who may have a more acute understanding of the fragility of freedom, values this nation even more than those who have been here for generations.

As a side note, the book is well-researched, concluding with 53 pages of single-spaced endnotes and sources. Ngo does an excellent job of backing up his claims with hard evidence, which is a testament to his journalistic rigor.

Is UNMASKED an enjoyable read? Not exactly. But it’s a book I’m glad to have been exposed to. It’s thought-provoking, informative, and a sobering look at a movement that warrants scrutiny.]]> 4.07 2021 Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy
author: Andy Ngo
name: Brian
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/13
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“I’m grateful for this country and its Constitution.�

UNMASKED: INSIDE ANTIFA’S RADICAL PLAN TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY by Andy Ngo is not exactly an enjoyable book to read, but it’s one I’m glad I took the time to absorb. I listened to the audio version, which I found to be a great way to take in this journalistic exploration. In this book, Andy Ngo takes a deep dive into the actions, history, and ideology of Antifa.

I have little tolerance for violent individuals who hide behind masks and harass people—sometimes even at their homes. This is exactly the kind of behavior that Antifa has carried out against Andy Ngo himself. The book includes photographic and video evidence that such harassment has occurred, leaving little room for doubt.

One of the more compelling aspects of this text is how thoroughly Ngo examines the history and development of the Antifa movement, including its internal policies, rules, and organizational structure. What surprised me most was Ngo’s willingness to engage with and even consider some of the perspectives held by Antifa members. While he ultimately criticizes their values as misguided, he shows a level of thoughtfulness and consideration that is more generous than I expected. For example, he takes time to understand and address the logic (fallacious though it is) of their arguments, even though he does not agree with them. This measured approach is something I appreciated. That said, Ngo has no praise for Antifa or its goals. His criticism is clear and pointed, but it’s not dismissive from the outset, which allows the reader to weigh his arguments thoughtfully.

The most profound part of UNMASKED is its “Afterward�. It’s powerful and thought-provoking, standing out as the most impactful section of the text. Ngo, a first-generation American and the child of refugees from communist Vietnam, reflects on why he is so committed to preserving the America he knows and loves. At one point, he writes, “America is worth preserving and protecting for future generations.� I found this perspective deeply moving. It’s always inspiring when the child of immigrants, who may have a more acute understanding of the fragility of freedom, values this nation even more than those who have been here for generations.

As a side note, the book is well-researched, concluding with 53 pages of single-spaced endnotes and sources. Ngo does an excellent job of backing up his claims with hard evidence, which is a testament to his journalistic rigor.

Is UNMASKED an enjoyable read? Not exactly. But it’s a book I’m glad to have been exposed to. It’s thought-provoking, informative, and a sobering look at a movement that warrants scrutiny.
]]> <![CDATA[If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty]]> 33573814
In 1787, when the Constitution was drafted, a woman asked Ben Franklin what the founders had given the American people. "A republic," he shot back, "if you can keep it." More than two centuries later, Metaxas examines what that means and how we are doing on that score.

If You Can Keep It is at once a thrilling review of America's uniqueness—including our role as a "nation of nations"—and a chilling reminder that America's greatness cannot continue unless we embrace our own crucial role in living out what the founders entrusted to us. Metaxas explains that America is not a nation bounded by ethnic identity or geography, but rather by a radical and unprecedented idea, based on liberty and freedom for all. He cautions us that it's nearly past time we reconnect to that idea, or we may lose the very foundation of what made us exceptional in the first place.]]> 272 Eric Metaxas 1101979992 Brian 4 audio, non-fiction
I was surprised by this book. In a pleasant way. It was much less political than I thought it was going to be, in fact there are no political references of any note that are more current than the Clinton presidency. I’m sure other modern presidents were mentioned, but the only two I can remember being mentioned were Clinton and Nixon.
The book was also just much better in general then I expected. I think Mr. Metaxas wants his book to be relevant long after the current political climate has passed away, so he wrote this book from a historical perspective, which will give it a much longer shelf life.

Especially good is chapter four where Mr. Metaxas examines the idea of Heroes, specifically heroes in American culture. His line-by-line examination of the Longfellow poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere� is just lovely. This respect for our past, despite its flaws, is just not what it was when I was a child. It's lacking in American culture currently (in sections of American culture) and it makes me sad. I for one am glad that Mr. Metaxas is defending it.
There is also a nice bit about Squanto, and the providential aspects of his life. If you don’t know who that was, I read books about him when I was a kid. Now he has all but disappeared from popular culture.
The book also includes an excellent examination of the timing, and miracle, of the drafting of the US Constitution. This section was especially stirring and thought provoking.

In IF YOU CAN KEEP IT, THE FORGOTTEN PROMISE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY Metaxas focuses on the idea of America, venerating heroes, the importance of moral leaders, loving America, and other concepts. It’s a positive book, but not sycophantic. It is a text that refuses to ignore the good just because there is also bad.
I end with this thought from the author as he concluded this work, “So go forth and love America, knowing that if your love is true it will be transmuted one way or another into a love of everything that is good beyond America, which is her golden promise to the world. And the promise that we, you and I, must keep.”]]> 4.08 2016 If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty
author: Eric Metaxas
name: Brian
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/24
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“True freedom must be an ‘ordered freedom�, at the center of which is what we call ‘self-government�.�

I was surprised by this book. In a pleasant way. It was much less political than I thought it was going to be, in fact there are no political references of any note that are more current than the Clinton presidency. I’m sure other modern presidents were mentioned, but the only two I can remember being mentioned were Clinton and Nixon.
The book was also just much better in general then I expected. I think Mr. Metaxas wants his book to be relevant long after the current political climate has passed away, so he wrote this book from a historical perspective, which will give it a much longer shelf life.

Especially good is chapter four where Mr. Metaxas examines the idea of Heroes, specifically heroes in American culture. His line-by-line examination of the Longfellow poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere� is just lovely. This respect for our past, despite its flaws, is just not what it was when I was a child. It's lacking in American culture currently (in sections of American culture) and it makes me sad. I for one am glad that Mr. Metaxas is defending it.
There is also a nice bit about Squanto, and the providential aspects of his life. If you don’t know who that was, I read books about him when I was a kid. Now he has all but disappeared from popular culture.
The book also includes an excellent examination of the timing, and miracle, of the drafting of the US Constitution. This section was especially stirring and thought provoking.

In IF YOU CAN KEEP IT, THE FORGOTTEN PROMISE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY Metaxas focuses on the idea of America, venerating heroes, the importance of moral leaders, loving America, and other concepts. It’s a positive book, but not sycophantic. It is a text that refuses to ignore the good just because there is also bad.
I end with this thought from the author as he concluded this work, “So go forth and love America, knowing that if your love is true it will be transmuted one way or another into a love of everything that is good beyond America, which is her golden promise to the world. And the promise that we, you and I, must keep.�
]]> The Devil and Sherlock Holmes 135026371 404 David Grann Brian 3 non-fiction
THE DEVIL & SHERLOCK HOMLES: TALES OF MURDER, MADNESS, AND OBSESSION is a collection of 12 pieces of narrative journalism that David Grann wrote for various publications. 9 of the 12 pieces where originally published in “The New Yorker� magazine. In the “Introduction� Mr. Grann writes, “But it is the messiness of life, and the human struggle to make sense of it, that drew me to the subjects in this collection.� That is the book’s premise and unifying theme in a nutshell.

With the exception of the final essay, “Giving ‘The Devil� His Due�, I enjoyed all the pieces for differing reasons, and they kept my attention.
I was unexpectedly moved by the piece, “Which Way Did He Run�, a sobering essay about a fireman who survived 9/11 when the rest of his squad did not. There is a line from that piece that I thought was especially insightful, “Memory is a code to who we are, a collection not simply of dates and facts but also of emotional struggles, epiphanies, and transformations.�
I also enjoyed that this is a book filled with many incidental facts that you did not know you did not know. Here is just one example, “Though oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth- the Pacific alone is bigger than all the continents put together- the underwater realm has remained largely invisible to human beings.�

Overall, THE DEVIL & SHERLOCK HOMLES is an interesting collection of pieces, examining some of the more intriguing aspects of our human nature. It is an enjoyable read.]]> 3.85 2010 The Devil and Sherlock Holmes
author: David Grann
name: Brian
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/25
date added: 2024/11/28
shelves: non-fiction
review:
Eclectic collection

THE DEVIL & SHERLOCK HOMLES: TALES OF MURDER, MADNESS, AND OBSESSION is a collection of 12 pieces of narrative journalism that David Grann wrote for various publications. 9 of the 12 pieces where originally published in “The New Yorker� magazine. In the “Introduction� Mr. Grann writes, “But it is the messiness of life, and the human struggle to make sense of it, that drew me to the subjects in this collection.� That is the book’s premise and unifying theme in a nutshell.

With the exception of the final essay, “Giving ‘The Devil� His Due�, I enjoyed all the pieces for differing reasons, and they kept my attention.
I was unexpectedly moved by the piece, “Which Way Did He Run�, a sobering essay about a fireman who survived 9/11 when the rest of his squad did not. There is a line from that piece that I thought was especially insightful, “Memory is a code to who we are, a collection not simply of dates and facts but also of emotional struggles, epiphanies, and transformations.�
I also enjoyed that this is a book filled with many incidental facts that you did not know you did not know. Here is just one example, “Though oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth- the Pacific alone is bigger than all the continents put together- the underwater realm has remained largely invisible to human beings.�

Overall, THE DEVIL & SHERLOCK HOMLES is an interesting collection of pieces, examining some of the more intriguing aspects of our human nature. It is an enjoyable read.
]]> Sonnets and Poems 108165
The authoritative edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets and Poems from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers,

-Full explanatory notes conveniently linked to the text of each sonnet and poem
-A brief introduction to each sonnet and poem, providing insight into its possible meaning
-An index of first lines
-Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the sonnets

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.]]> 684 William Shakespeare 0743273281 Brian 5 poetry
With the completion of this text, I have read all of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets and poems at least once. Over the years I have read many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, some of them countless times, but never all of them. I had never read his narrative poems. Now I have. I’m proud of that.
I especially enjoyed VENUS AND ADONIS and THE RAPE OF LUCRECE, the two narrative poems. That is not a genre I typically care for, but I was really taken by them. That was perhaps the biggest surprise of this reading experience for me.
The Bard is good. I am not going to sit here and try to explain why he is. I will share a couple of personal highlights from the experience and leave you with that. It’s poetry, it will mean something else entirely different for you if you read it.

Sonnets 33-35 are a lovely sequence about being hurt by the one you love. Shakespeare distilled a lot of emotion into those 42 lines.
Sonnet 77 explores time and its passage, combined with remembrance. It speaks to the very essence of life.
Sonnets 55 and 121 are two of my favorites. Consider these lines from each one:
55- “Not marble nor the gilded monuments of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme.�
121- “Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed�
Sonnet 138 examines a relationship built on the lies that lovers tell each other. It is very clever, and very timeless in its premise. This line is brilliant, on a lot of levels, “When my love swears that she is made of truth I do believe her though I know she lies.�
Sonnet 147 might be the best poem about a toxic love/relationship ever written! Go read it and see for yourself.

As mentioned, I really enjoyed the two narrative poems. They deal with those most primal of emotions, love and lust. As long as there are people we will be dealing with these basic instincts. Here are a few lines from VENUS AND ADONIS and THE RAPE OF LUCRECE that I enjoyed.
� “Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, but Lust’s effect is tempest after sun. Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain; Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done. Love surfeits not, Lust like a glutton dies. Love is all truth, Lust full of forged lies.�
� “What win I if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week or sells eternity to get a toy?�
� “Short time seems long in sorrow’s sharp sustaining�

I could go on and on about these sonnets and poems. Rather, I encourage you to read them for yourself, bit by bit to make it more digestible if needed.

While reading these works there were so many times I would find a line that spoke directly into my life. Therein lies the power of truly great poetry. And that is why these great works will last!]]> 4.31 Sonnets and Poems
author: William Shakespeare
name: Brian
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/13
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves: poetry
review:
“…that you alone are you�

With the completion of this text, I have read all of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets and poems at least once. Over the years I have read many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, some of them countless times, but never all of them. I had never read his narrative poems. Now I have. I’m proud of that.
I especially enjoyed VENUS AND ADONIS and THE RAPE OF LUCRECE, the two narrative poems. That is not a genre I typically care for, but I was really taken by them. That was perhaps the biggest surprise of this reading experience for me.
The Bard is good. I am not going to sit here and try to explain why he is. I will share a couple of personal highlights from the experience and leave you with that. It’s poetry, it will mean something else entirely different for you if you read it.

Sonnets 33-35 are a lovely sequence about being hurt by the one you love. Shakespeare distilled a lot of emotion into those 42 lines.
Sonnet 77 explores time and its passage, combined with remembrance. It speaks to the very essence of life.
Sonnets 55 and 121 are two of my favorites. Consider these lines from each one:
55- “Not marble nor the gilded monuments of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme.�
121- “Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed�
Sonnet 138 examines a relationship built on the lies that lovers tell each other. It is very clever, and very timeless in its premise. This line is brilliant, on a lot of levels, “When my love swears that she is made of truth I do believe her though I know she lies.�
Sonnet 147 might be the best poem about a toxic love/relationship ever written! Go read it and see for yourself.

As mentioned, I really enjoyed the two narrative poems. They deal with those most primal of emotions, love and lust. As long as there are people we will be dealing with these basic instincts. Here are a few lines from VENUS AND ADONIS and THE RAPE OF LUCRECE that I enjoyed.
� “Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, but Lust’s effect is tempest after sun. Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain; Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done. Love surfeits not, Lust like a glutton dies. Love is all truth, Lust full of forged lies.�
� “What win I if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week or sells eternity to get a toy?�
� “Short time seems long in sorrow’s sharp sustaining�

I could go on and on about these sonnets and poems. Rather, I encourage you to read them for yourself, bit by bit to make it more digestible if needed.

While reading these works there were so many times I would find a line that spoke directly into my life. Therein lies the power of truly great poetry. And that is why these great works will last!
]]> <![CDATA[The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator]]> 42983957 The instant New York Times bestseller
An international bestseller
Finalist for the Lane Anderson Award
Finalist for the RBC Taylor Award

A pioneering and groundbreaking work of narrative nonfiction that offers a dramatic new perspective on the history of humankind, showing how through millennia, the mosquito has been the single most powerful force in determining humanity's fate

Why was gin and tonic the cocktail of choice for British colonists in India and Africa? What does Starbucks have to thank for its global domination? What has protected the lives of popes for millennia? Why did Scotland surrender its sovereignty to England? What was George Washington's secret weapon during the American Revolution?

The answer to all these questions, and many more, is the mosquito.

Across our planet since the dawn of humankind, this nefarious pest, roughly the size and weight of a grape seed, has been at the frontlines of history as the grim reaper, the harvester of human populations, and the ultimate agent of historical change. As the mosquito transformed the landscapes of civilization, humans were unwittingly required to respond to its piercing impact and universal projection of power.

The mosquito has determined the fates of empires and nations, razed and crippled economies, and decided the outcome of pivotal wars, killing nearly half of humanity along the way. She (only females bite) has dispatched an estimated 52 billion people from a total of 108 billion throughout our relatively brief existence. As the greatest purveyor of extermination we have ever known, she has played a greater role in shaping our human story than any other living thing with which we share our global village.

Imagine for a moment a world without deadly mosquitoes, or any mosquitoes, for that matter? Our history and the world we know, or think we know, would be completely unrecognizable.

Driven by surprising insights and fast-paced storytelling, The Mosquito is the extraordinary untold story of the mosquito's reign through human history and her indelible impact on our modern world order.]]> 496 Timothy C. Winegard 0735235791 Brian 1 audio, non-fiction
When I read the overwritten and pompous Introduction to THE MOSQUITO, A HUMAN HISTORY OF OUR DEADLEST PREDATOR I became worried about the book to follow. My fears were justified.
The premise of this book is an intriguing one. An examination of how human history has been shaped by the mosquito and the disease that it has facilitated throughout recorded time. However, author Timothy Winegard inserts himself and his woke and stupid opinions on events into the text at every chance. The resulting book is nauseating.

I have lots of issues with this text, here are just a couple.
Number one-Especially egregious and disingenuous is Winegard’s constant insulting of Christianity, all the while completely ignoring the “sins� of other religious practices. It ticked me off. Mainly because it is deceitful.
Number two- This clown of a “historian� actually suggests with all seriousness that mosquitos in the new world were nothing more than scratchy pests before Columbus and all those evil Europeans showed up. Then because of the influx of Europeans (evil white men in Winegard’s world) suddenly these benign North American mosquitos that lived in swamps and bred in stagnant water, etc. mutate and became deadly like their European counterparts. How stupid does this writer think you and I are?
Number three- What the author says about Christopher Columbus is typical woke claptrap, truly crap. I did not appreciate the author's attempt to appear unbiased. Just own it dude. When he speaks of depravity in cultures that are not European, which he only does rarely, the terms he uses belie his supposed intent. This author attacks Europeans incessantly. Everyone else in history gets a pass. In short, that is dishonest scholarship.
Number four- Mr. Winegard dismisses out hand many established historical facts throughout this book. In his version of events, the stories that he replaces some of these historical facts with are totally unsubstantiated. Frankly, the notes and bibliography section for this book are incredibly weak considering all the well-known and established things that it purports to turn on its head.

I could go on. I have made my point.
I only completed the book so that I could trash it in a review.
I see now why it was on my local library’s “free shelf". I should donate it to my local used bookstore, but I am not sure I hate my community that much.]]> 3.62 2019 The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator
author: Timothy C. Winegard
name: Brian
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2019
rating: 1
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“Just like us, she is simply trying to survive.�

When I read the overwritten and pompous Introduction to THE MOSQUITO, A HUMAN HISTORY OF OUR DEADLEST PREDATOR I became worried about the book to follow. My fears were justified.
The premise of this book is an intriguing one. An examination of how human history has been shaped by the mosquito and the disease that it has facilitated throughout recorded time. However, author Timothy Winegard inserts himself and his woke and stupid opinions on events into the text at every chance. The resulting book is nauseating.

I have lots of issues with this text, here are just a couple.
Number one-Especially egregious and disingenuous is Winegard’s constant insulting of Christianity, all the while completely ignoring the “sins� of other religious practices. It ticked me off. Mainly because it is deceitful.
Number two- This clown of a “historian� actually suggests with all seriousness that mosquitos in the new world were nothing more than scratchy pests before Columbus and all those evil Europeans showed up. Then because of the influx of Europeans (evil white men in Winegard’s world) suddenly these benign North American mosquitos that lived in swamps and bred in stagnant water, etc. mutate and became deadly like their European counterparts. How stupid does this writer think you and I are?
Number three- What the author says about Christopher Columbus is typical woke claptrap, truly crap. I did not appreciate the author's attempt to appear unbiased. Just own it dude. When he speaks of depravity in cultures that are not European, which he only does rarely, the terms he uses belie his supposed intent. This author attacks Europeans incessantly. Everyone else in history gets a pass. In short, that is dishonest scholarship.
Number four- Mr. Winegard dismisses out hand many established historical facts throughout this book. In his version of events, the stories that he replaces some of these historical facts with are totally unsubstantiated. Frankly, the notes and bibliography section for this book are incredibly weak considering all the well-known and established things that it purports to turn on its head.

I could go on. I have made my point.
I only completed the book so that I could trash it in a review.
I see now why it was on my local library’s “free shelf". I should donate it to my local used bookstore, but I am not sure I hate my community that much.
]]> The Problem of Pain 25824013
For centuries people have been tormented by one question above all: If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain? And what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it?

The greatest Christian thinker of our time sets out to disentangle this knotty issue. With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, C. S. Lewis offers answers to these crucial questions and shares his hope and wisdom to help heal a world hungry for a true understanding of human nature.]]> 176 C.S. Lewis Brian 5 non-fiction, religion
I love C.S. Lewis. Oftentimes I have to really slow down and digest his work. He is not a surface writer. For me, THE PROBLEM OF PAIN was no exception to that rule. Like all of my encounters with Mr. Lewis, I read some things that clicked, I read other things that I needed to ponder on for a bit, and I read some things that I found worded and explained in such a manner that I think it is not exaggeration to call it genius.

There is lots to say about this text. I won’t attempt to say it here. Here are some impressions I have, among many.
Lewis writes about the idea of “Numinous� in some depth and does an excellent job of pointing out that if humanity does not connect Numinous with Righteousness the fallout is heavy, He writes this as fact in 1940. It was true then and if one considers the things that our culture prioritizes today it is very obviously true nowadays. Which really means that it is universally true all the time, and always has been, and always will be.
Great writers and thinkers reveal humanity in all its glory and debauchery. Mr. Lewis was a great writer.

Chapter 5 of this text, called “The Fall of Man� was a little beyond me, and I am not sure I agree with its argument. That is rare for me when it concerns Mr. Lewis. I find it interesting that at the end of the chapter Lewis himself admits that he may have gotten into the weeds a little bit with its premise.

Quotes:
� “…my conviction that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.�
� “Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free will involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.�
� “…whether we like it or not, God intends to give us what we need, not what we think we want.�
� “A recovery of the old sense of sin is essential to Christianity.�
� “Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.�
� “For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.�
� “Love, by definition, seeks to enjoy its object.�
� “But God will look to every soul like its first love because He is its first love.�

I learned a lot about myself, my faith, and about God while reading THE PROBLEM OF PAIN. That is a worthwhile read in my opinion!]]> 3.87 1940 The Problem of Pain
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Brian
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1940
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/11/24
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.� (4.5 stars)

I love C.S. Lewis. Oftentimes I have to really slow down and digest his work. He is not a surface writer. For me, THE PROBLEM OF PAIN was no exception to that rule. Like all of my encounters with Mr. Lewis, I read some things that clicked, I read other things that I needed to ponder on for a bit, and I read some things that I found worded and explained in such a manner that I think it is not exaggeration to call it genius.

There is lots to say about this text. I won’t attempt to say it here. Here are some impressions I have, among many.
Lewis writes about the idea of “Numinous� in some depth and does an excellent job of pointing out that if humanity does not connect Numinous with Righteousness the fallout is heavy, He writes this as fact in 1940. It was true then and if one considers the things that our culture prioritizes today it is very obviously true nowadays. Which really means that it is universally true all the time, and always has been, and always will be.
Great writers and thinkers reveal humanity in all its glory and debauchery. Mr. Lewis was a great writer.

Chapter 5 of this text, called “The Fall of Man� was a little beyond me, and I am not sure I agree with its argument. That is rare for me when it concerns Mr. Lewis. I find it interesting that at the end of the chapter Lewis himself admits that he may have gotten into the weeds a little bit with its premise.

Quotes:
� “…my conviction that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.�
� “Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free will involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.�
� “…whether we like it or not, God intends to give us what we need, not what we think we want.�
� “A recovery of the old sense of sin is essential to Christianity.�
� “Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.�
� “For you will certainly carry out God’s purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.�
� “Love, by definition, seeks to enjoy its object.�
� “But God will look to every soul like its first love because He is its first love.�

I learned a lot about myself, my faith, and about God while reading THE PROBLEM OF PAIN. That is a worthwhile read in my opinion!
]]> <![CDATA[Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69]]> 49255 Nothing Like It in the World gives the account of an unprecedented feat of engineering, vision, and courage. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad—the investors who risked their businesses and money; the enlightened politicians who understood its importance; the engineers and surveyors who risked, and sometimes lost, their lives; and the Irish and Chinese immigrants, the defeated Confederate soldiers, and the other laborers who did the backbreaking and dangerous work on the tracks.

The U.S. government pitted two companies—the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads—against each other in a race for funding, encouraging speed over caution. Locomotives, rails, and spikes were shipped from the East through Panama or around South America to the West or lugged across the country to the Plains. In Ambrose's hands, this enterprise, with its huge expenditure of brainpower, muscle, and sweat, comes vibrantly to life.]]> 432 Stephen E. Ambrose 0743203178 Brian 4 non-fiction
This was my first experience with a Stephen E. Ambrose book. I will read others, but I hope they are a little better than this one. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but I found the writing to be disjointed at times, with lots of awkward transitions. I was surprised to find that in a writer who seems to be highly regarded.

NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD is about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, and I had never read a book on that subject, so I was interested to pick it up. More than anything this text celebrates the grit of the American mentality. Every major milestone in railroad engineering and construction came out of mid-19th century America. That is remarkable. Lots of problems encountered with this project, and one by one they were met head on and solved.

Here are some highlights of the text for me:
1. Mr. Ambrose quotes liberally from primary sources. I appreciate that he present their words without commentary, not projecting our current values/mores on them. He presents them in the context of their time, and leaves it alone. As any good historian would do.
2. At one point Ambrose writes of the endeavor, “Altogether it was a great modern army, moving forward with a will and a plan, unable to stop, determined to win the battle.� This book does a nice job of demonstrating how very true that statement is.
3. Long before people could go live on social media at any time from their phones, the driving of the “golden� spike that officially signaled the transcontinental railroad’s completion on May 10th 1869 was telegraphed across the world live. It’s a very cool story, and one I knew nothing about.
4. Ambrose closes the book with a strong refutation of the accepted (and false) history that the builders of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads got the better of the government. He succinctly dismantles that false notion, and shows how it was a beneficial enterprise for government and private industry.

Quotes:
� “The transcontinental railroad was the last great building project to be done mostly by hand.�
� “The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific were the first big business in America.�
� “The grain fields of Europe are mere garden patches beside the green oceans which roll across the Great Plains.�
� “…the genuine American genius-the genius of the West especially, which welcomes obstacles and looks on impossibilities as incentives to greater exertion.�
� “Weather dominates everything.�
� “So work on as though Heaven were before you and Hell behind you.�
� “The locomotive was the first great triumph over time and space. After it came and crossed the continent of North America, nothing could ever again be the same. It brought about the greatest change in the shortest period of time.�
� “Together, the transcontinental railroad and the telegraph made modern America possible.�
� “But a choice made is made, it cannot be changed.�

NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD is not a consistently great book, but it is a good one. The last two paragraphs of the text are excellent. Really good, and a perfect summation for the whole experience of the building of this railroad. I appreciate that Mr. Ambrose keeps these folks he is writing about squarely in their time and context. His final sentence says it best, “So we admire those who did it-even if they were far from perfect-for what they were and what they accomplished and how much each of us owes them.”]]> 3.97 2000 Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69
author: Stephen E. Ambrose
name: Brian
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/04
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: non-fiction
review:
"The railways made America.� (3.5 stars)

This was my first experience with a Stephen E. Ambrose book. I will read others, but I hope they are a little better than this one. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but I found the writing to be disjointed at times, with lots of awkward transitions. I was surprised to find that in a writer who seems to be highly regarded.

NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD is about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, and I had never read a book on that subject, so I was interested to pick it up. More than anything this text celebrates the grit of the American mentality. Every major milestone in railroad engineering and construction came out of mid-19th century America. That is remarkable. Lots of problems encountered with this project, and one by one they were met head on and solved.

Here are some highlights of the text for me:
1. Mr. Ambrose quotes liberally from primary sources. I appreciate that he present their words without commentary, not projecting our current values/mores on them. He presents them in the context of their time, and leaves it alone. As any good historian would do.
2. At one point Ambrose writes of the endeavor, “Altogether it was a great modern army, moving forward with a will and a plan, unable to stop, determined to win the battle.� This book does a nice job of demonstrating how very true that statement is.
3. Long before people could go live on social media at any time from their phones, the driving of the “golden� spike that officially signaled the transcontinental railroad’s completion on May 10th 1869 was telegraphed across the world live. It’s a very cool story, and one I knew nothing about.
4. Ambrose closes the book with a strong refutation of the accepted (and false) history that the builders of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads got the better of the government. He succinctly dismantles that false notion, and shows how it was a beneficial enterprise for government and private industry.

Quotes:
� “The transcontinental railroad was the last great building project to be done mostly by hand.�
� “The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific were the first big business in America.�
� “The grain fields of Europe are mere garden patches beside the green oceans which roll across the Great Plains.�
� “…the genuine American genius-the genius of the West especially, which welcomes obstacles and looks on impossibilities as incentives to greater exertion.�
� “Weather dominates everything.�
� “So work on as though Heaven were before you and Hell behind you.�
� “The locomotive was the first great triumph over time and space. After it came and crossed the continent of North America, nothing could ever again be the same. It brought about the greatest change in the shortest period of time.�
� “Together, the transcontinental railroad and the telegraph made modern America possible.�
� “But a choice made is made, it cannot be changed.�

NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD is not a consistently great book, but it is a good one. The last two paragraphs of the text are excellent. Really good, and a perfect summation for the whole experience of the building of this railroad. I appreciate that Mr. Ambrose keeps these folks he is writing about squarely in their time and context. His final sentence says it best, “So we admire those who did it-even if they were far from perfect-for what they were and what they accomplished and how much each of us owes them.�
]]> <![CDATA[Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake, #5)]]> 11471028

The epic fifth novel in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery series by the bestselling author of Winter in Madrid and Dominion

Summer 1545. A massive French armada is threatening England, and Henry VIII has plunged the country into economic crisis to finance the war. Meanwhile, an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr has asked Matthew Shardlake to investigate claims of "monstrous" wrongs committed against a young ward of the court. As the French fleet approaches, Shardlake's inquiries reunite him with an old friend-and an old enemy close to the throne.

This fast-paced fifth installment in C. J. Sansom's "richly entertaining and reassuringly scholarly series" (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review ) will enchant fans of Wolf Hall , Bring Up the Bodies , and The Other Boleyn Girl .]]> 640 C.J. Sansom 0143120654 Brian 3 fiction
HEARTSTONE is a solid book, but it is not my favorite of the five books in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor mystery series that I have read. There was something about it that was not as satisfying as the four books that preceded it.

In this installment of the series, lawyer Shardlake is dispatched to England’s coastal region, near Portsmouth on the eve of the anticipated French invasion in summer 1545. As mentioned, this text was not my favorite thus far, but it does keep building the tension and the intrigue. I certainly never was going to not finish it. Bit by bit, the reader becomes aware of more and more, and suddenly you find that you are very interested in this story!

Quotes:
� “However much one lacks piety, the atmosphere in a graveyard encourages quiet reflection.�
� “Politics is like dice; the better the player, the worse the man.�
� “God will not suffer injustice to children.�
� “Someone has to care for those nobody else cares for.�
� “But often in this life we must spend our time associating with those who are not our friends, must we not?�
� “But no secret lasts forever.�
� “But there are only so many favors a man can call in from anyone.�
� “But I have faith. It is the only way to live with the mystery.�

Before I end this review, there are two items that deserve to be singled out in HEARTSTONE.
First, there is a section where our protagonist goes on a king’s warship. It is surprisingly evocative. The details and atmosphere given to secondary moments like this in the text are vivid.
Second, I have greatly enjoyed in this series the developing and deepening characterization of Matthew Shardlake. In this novel his presumptuous and obsessive nature is used to good effect, and it is a natural development from earlier novels.

There are two more books in this series. I will be reading them!]]> 4.47 2010 Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake, #5)
author: C.J. Sansom
name: Brian
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/22
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: fiction
review:
“Faith and desperation showed equally in his face.� (3.5 stars)

HEARTSTONE is a solid book, but it is not my favorite of the five books in the Matthew Shardlake Tudor mystery series that I have read. There was something about it that was not as satisfying as the four books that preceded it.

In this installment of the series, lawyer Shardlake is dispatched to England’s coastal region, near Portsmouth on the eve of the anticipated French invasion in summer 1545. As mentioned, this text was not my favorite thus far, but it does keep building the tension and the intrigue. I certainly never was going to not finish it. Bit by bit, the reader becomes aware of more and more, and suddenly you find that you are very interested in this story!

Quotes:
� “However much one lacks piety, the atmosphere in a graveyard encourages quiet reflection.�
� “Politics is like dice; the better the player, the worse the man.�
� “God will not suffer injustice to children.�
� “Someone has to care for those nobody else cares for.�
� “But often in this life we must spend our time associating with those who are not our friends, must we not?�
� “But no secret lasts forever.�
� “But there are only so many favors a man can call in from anyone.�
� “But I have faith. It is the only way to live with the mystery.�

Before I end this review, there are two items that deserve to be singled out in HEARTSTONE.
First, there is a section where our protagonist goes on a king’s warship. It is surprisingly evocative. The details and atmosphere given to secondary moments like this in the text are vivid.
Second, I have greatly enjoyed in this series the developing and deepening characterization of Matthew Shardlake. In this novel his presumptuous and obsessive nature is used to good effect, and it is a natural development from earlier novels.

There are two more books in this series. I will be reading them!
]]> Tecumseh: A Life 1672618 544 John Sugden 0805061215 Brian 2 non-fiction
TECUMSEH: A LIFE took me a decent bit of time to get through. I just did not find this book all that engaging.
Author John Sugden is clearly a good researcher. He did his homework with a difficult subject. However, he is not a very engaging writer!
Sometimes in this text all the detail is a bit much. Eventually tribal names and locations lose any distinctiveness, and it all just jumbles together.

I did like that this book depicts Indians as people, not as some idealized (and false) idea of a noble savage. Indians are people (gasp) and people are the same the world over. I was surprised to learn that there were witch hunts in the native community, ones very reminiscent of the famous trials in Salem, that the Indians overhunted at times, had tons of civil strife, fought over religious values/beliefs, allowed petty jealousies to destroy the greater good, etc. In short, they were like everybody else. It was the greatest strength of this text to read a book that just presented facts without judgment, and with no agenda. At one point Sugden writes, “The assumption that people consistently live up to their best principles is, we all know, a naïve one.� He is talking about all of us there!

Overall, TECUMSEH: A LIFE seems to be a mostly balanced biography. Tecumseh was a great leader, not a saint. And in preserving that humanity of Tecumseh’s, Mr. Sugden does him a great service.]]> 4.12 1998 Tecumseh: A Life
author: John Sugden
name: Brian
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1998
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/05
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“…the occasional triumph, in moments of great adversity, of the human spirit.�

TECUMSEH: A LIFE took me a decent bit of time to get through. I just did not find this book all that engaging.
Author John Sugden is clearly a good researcher. He did his homework with a difficult subject. However, he is not a very engaging writer!
Sometimes in this text all the detail is a bit much. Eventually tribal names and locations lose any distinctiveness, and it all just jumbles together.

I did like that this book depicts Indians as people, not as some idealized (and false) idea of a noble savage. Indians are people (gasp) and people are the same the world over. I was surprised to learn that there were witch hunts in the native community, ones very reminiscent of the famous trials in Salem, that the Indians overhunted at times, had tons of civil strife, fought over religious values/beliefs, allowed petty jealousies to destroy the greater good, etc. In short, they were like everybody else. It was the greatest strength of this text to read a book that just presented facts without judgment, and with no agenda. At one point Sugden writes, “The assumption that people consistently live up to their best principles is, we all know, a naïve one.� He is talking about all of us there!

Overall, TECUMSEH: A LIFE seems to be a mostly balanced biography. Tecumseh was a great leader, not a saint. And in preserving that humanity of Tecumseh’s, Mr. Sugden does him a great service.
]]> <![CDATA[Cymbeline (Modern Library Classics)]]> 11172519 As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.�
—C⳾Ա

Eminent Shakespearean scholars Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen provide a fresh new edition of this classic tragedy in which nothing is as it seems.

THIS VOLUME ALSO INCLUDES MORE THAN A HUNDRED PAGES OF EXCLUSIVE FEATURES:

� an original Introduction to Cymbeline
� incisive scene-by-scene synopsis and analysis with vital facts about the work
� commentary on past and current productions based on interviews with leading directors, actors, and designers
� photographs of key RSC productions
� an overview of Shakespeare’s theatrical career and chronology of his plays

Ideal for students, theater professionals, and general readers, these modern and accessible editions from the Royal Shakespeare Company set a new standard in Shakespearean literature for the twenty-first century.]]> 226 William Shakespeare 0812969421 Brian 4 plays
CYMBELINE is one of Shakespeare's last plays and boasts more subplots than almost any other of the Bard's works. However, the resolution of this play brings all the subplots together nicely in a satisfying (and convenient I admit) resolution that is one of the happiest endings in all of Shakespeare.
By the way, I give "Cymbeline" a 4-star rating compared to other Shakespeare, not to literature as a whole. The Bard is in a class of his own.

CYMBELINE shares a lot in common with the play that Shakespeare wrote soon after it, THE WINTER’S TALE. Many readers don't like these late works of Shakespeare's, but I love them as their themes of grace and redemption resonate mightily with me. The two male leads of both plays (Posthumus and Leontes) also share common traits, as both are quick to anger, rage, and willingness to believe the worst about their spouses. And both are the unworthy recipients of the redeeming power of forgiveness and grace.
Act 2:4 is a highlight of this dizzying play as we get to see one of Shakespeare's lesser villains, Iachimo, toying with Posthumus, who believes he is a cuckold. Iachimo paints such vivid pictures in the jealous mind of this dupe that he backs Posthumus into a corner with sexual imagery. The cat enjoys toying with this mouse, and it makes for delightful reading!
This play also boats the richly drawn character of Innogen, the daughter of the king of the title and wife to Posthumus. She is a great Shakespearean heroine, especially in Acts 3 and 4 of this play. In those two acts she is on par with AS YOU LIKE IT’S Rosalind, who is in my opinion Shakespeare's greatest female creation. Innogen is almost too well drawn a character for this play, such is her vivacity and delight for the reader.
Act 4:2 contains one of the more famous aspects of CYMBELINE, a very simple and touching elegy that is spoken over the grave of one of the characters. To my mind it is one of the best statements about death in all of literature. In fact, it is often quoted at funerals to this day. In context it is spoken by two brothers at the grave of their friend/adopted brother, and it is what every living soul hopes for the dead.

Quotes:
� “Away, thou’rt poison to my blood.�
� “Sir, as I told you always: her beauty and her brain go not together.�
� “Boldness be my friend.�
� “I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure.�
� “How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature.
� “No, tis slander, whose edge is sharper than the sword.�
� “Society is no comfort to one not sociable.�
� “…nothing routs us but the villainy of our fears.�
� “I am merrier to die than thou art to live.�
� “Pardon’s the word to all.�

This is a play that is not easy to read and will require a commitment from you. With its large cast and many plotlines, you cannot pick this text up at random. However, if you stick with it and focus on it you will experience a gem of the Shakespeare canon.

Note on this specific edition-
The RSC Modern Library editions of the plays of Shakespeare are a quality trade paperback edition. These editions include an Introduction to the play, an essay on the performance history of the piece, and interviews with directors and actors who have worked on it. For CYMBELINE these extras are a miss. The Introduction is typical quasi-intellectual claptrap. Skip it, as it is overthinking the play. Also, the extra essays for this one I did not find as satisfying as I have for some of the other plays.
The Modern Library edition also includes a scene-by-scene analysis, which can help point out an image or symbol you might have missed. The edition also includes a nice “Further Readings� list specifically for this play. Frankly, all the extra essays allow you to dive into the world of the play, and it is all included in one text.]]> 3.91 1610 Cymbeline (Modern Library Classics)
author: William Shakespeare
name: Brian
average rating: 3.91
book published: 1610
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/26
date added: 2024/11/02
shelves: plays
review:
“Heaven mend all!�

CYMBELINE is one of Shakespeare's last plays and boasts more subplots than almost any other of the Bard's works. However, the resolution of this play brings all the subplots together nicely in a satisfying (and convenient I admit) resolution that is one of the happiest endings in all of Shakespeare.
By the way, I give "Cymbeline" a 4-star rating compared to other Shakespeare, not to literature as a whole. The Bard is in a class of his own.

CYMBELINE shares a lot in common with the play that Shakespeare wrote soon after it, THE WINTER’S TALE. Many readers don't like these late works of Shakespeare's, but I love them as their themes of grace and redemption resonate mightily with me. The two male leads of both plays (Posthumus and Leontes) also share common traits, as both are quick to anger, rage, and willingness to believe the worst about their spouses. And both are the unworthy recipients of the redeeming power of forgiveness and grace.
Act 2:4 is a highlight of this dizzying play as we get to see one of Shakespeare's lesser villains, Iachimo, toying with Posthumus, who believes he is a cuckold. Iachimo paints such vivid pictures in the jealous mind of this dupe that he backs Posthumus into a corner with sexual imagery. The cat enjoys toying with this mouse, and it makes for delightful reading!
This play also boats the richly drawn character of Innogen, the daughter of the king of the title and wife to Posthumus. She is a great Shakespearean heroine, especially in Acts 3 and 4 of this play. In those two acts she is on par with AS YOU LIKE IT’S Rosalind, who is in my opinion Shakespeare's greatest female creation. Innogen is almost too well drawn a character for this play, such is her vivacity and delight for the reader.
Act 4:2 contains one of the more famous aspects of CYMBELINE, a very simple and touching elegy that is spoken over the grave of one of the characters. To my mind it is one of the best statements about death in all of literature. In fact, it is often quoted at funerals to this day. In context it is spoken by two brothers at the grave of their friend/adopted brother, and it is what every living soul hopes for the dead.

Quotes:
� “Away, thou’rt poison to my blood.�
� “Sir, as I told you always: her beauty and her brain go not together.�
� “Boldness be my friend.�
� “I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure.�
� “How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature.
� “No, tis slander, whose edge is sharper than the sword.�
� “Society is no comfort to one not sociable.�
� “…nothing routs us but the villainy of our fears.�
� “I am merrier to die than thou art to live.�
� “Pardon’s the word to all.�

This is a play that is not easy to read and will require a commitment from you. With its large cast and many plotlines, you cannot pick this text up at random. However, if you stick with it and focus on it you will experience a gem of the Shakespeare canon.

Note on this specific edition-
The RSC Modern Library editions of the plays of Shakespeare are a quality trade paperback edition. These editions include an Introduction to the play, an essay on the performance history of the piece, and interviews with directors and actors who have worked on it. For CYMBELINE these extras are a miss. The Introduction is typical quasi-intellectual claptrap. Skip it, as it is overthinking the play. Also, the extra essays for this one I did not find as satisfying as I have for some of the other plays.
The Modern Library edition also includes a scene-by-scene analysis, which can help point out an image or symbol you might have missed. The edition also includes a nice “Further Readings� list specifically for this play. Frankly, all the extra essays allow you to dive into the world of the play, and it is all included in one text.
]]> <![CDATA[The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant, #5)]]> 77661 206 Josephine Tey Brian 5 fiction
I really enjoyed this book! THE DAUGHTER OF TIME was a great and unexpected read. In this text a 400-year-old murder is “solved� from a hospital bed in London. There is no action, just astute observation and process of deductive reasoning, and I found it utterly fascinating.

The plot in short, Police Inspector Alan Grant lies in a hospital bed, recovering from broken bones. He is bored to tears and a friend brings him several items to pass the time, including pictures of historical people. Alan becomes fascinated with the portrait of Richard III and slowly concludes that this is not the face of the man that history records as an infamous monster. He then sets out to research and ponder (from his bed) if this man is capable of the murder of his nephews, the famous Princes in the Tower, who suddenly disappeared and who history tells us Richard had murdered to protect his throne.

Some thoughts I want to share�
- This novel is enhanced by a knowledge of the period covered, England 1455-1500. It is not necessary, but I think it enhances the read.
- The book is set in 1951, and the time period is key to keep in mind in terms of understanding how the “investigation� is handled. There is no Google and internet in 1951. It was so fun to inhabit a world where one can’t search the internet for answers. They must utilize libraries. Gasp!
There are some incredible strengths to this novel. Among many:
- The characterization is really well done. Author Josephine Tey has a deft knack for making people seem instantly real and full. Her protagonist Grant has a nickname for almost every character in the text, and his nicknames are spot on, and flesh out and expand the characters. It all works hand in glove to create a well-rounded cast of characters for this text.
- The book is filled with delightfully drool lines, like this one, which our protagonist muses as he observes a character who has brought him an item that he needs. “She ceased to be a large female who breathed like a suction-pump and became a potential dispenser of delight.�
- The humor is in this text is sly and very dry. More than a couple of times while reading I laughed out loud. I was not expecting that with this book.

Quotes:
� “Marta looked as scandalized as a lifetime in the theatre and an hour of careful make-up allowed her to.�
� “It was shocking how little history remained with one after a good education.�
� “When you sit on a throne I suppose companionship is a rare blessing.�
� “Grant had dealt too long with the human intelligence to accept as truth someone’s report of someone’s report of what that someone remembered to have seen or been told.�

THE DAUGHTER OF TIME may not be for everyone, but it was for me. A well written, concise, and vastly intriguing fictional take on one of the great unsolved mysteries of history. The conclusions it presents are indeed plausible, which makes the book even more interesting. It certainly made me think about my perceptions, and how I think about situations (current and historical) that I interact with.

As Inspector Grant observes as he contemplates a portrait of Richard III, “Villains don’t suffer, and that face is full of the most dreadful pain.�
Could be…could be.]]> 3.89 1951 The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant, #5)
author: Josephine Tey
name: Brian
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1951
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/15
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves: fiction
review:
“After all, the truth of anything at all doesn’t lie in someone’s account of it.�

I really enjoyed this book! THE DAUGHTER OF TIME was a great and unexpected read. In this text a 400-year-old murder is “solved� from a hospital bed in London. There is no action, just astute observation and process of deductive reasoning, and I found it utterly fascinating.

The plot in short, Police Inspector Alan Grant lies in a hospital bed, recovering from broken bones. He is bored to tears and a friend brings him several items to pass the time, including pictures of historical people. Alan becomes fascinated with the portrait of Richard III and slowly concludes that this is not the face of the man that history records as an infamous monster. He then sets out to research and ponder (from his bed) if this man is capable of the murder of his nephews, the famous Princes in the Tower, who suddenly disappeared and who history tells us Richard had murdered to protect his throne.

Some thoughts I want to share�
- This novel is enhanced by a knowledge of the period covered, England 1455-1500. It is not necessary, but I think it enhances the read.
- The book is set in 1951, and the time period is key to keep in mind in terms of understanding how the “investigation� is handled. There is no Google and internet in 1951. It was so fun to inhabit a world where one can’t search the internet for answers. They must utilize libraries. Gasp!
There are some incredible strengths to this novel. Among many:
- The characterization is really well done. Author Josephine Tey has a deft knack for making people seem instantly real and full. Her protagonist Grant has a nickname for almost every character in the text, and his nicknames are spot on, and flesh out and expand the characters. It all works hand in glove to create a well-rounded cast of characters for this text.
- The book is filled with delightfully drool lines, like this one, which our protagonist muses as he observes a character who has brought him an item that he needs. “She ceased to be a large female who breathed like a suction-pump and became a potential dispenser of delight.�
- The humor is in this text is sly and very dry. More than a couple of times while reading I laughed out loud. I was not expecting that with this book.

Quotes:
� “Marta looked as scandalized as a lifetime in the theatre and an hour of careful make-up allowed her to.�
� “It was shocking how little history remained with one after a good education.�
� “When you sit on a throne I suppose companionship is a rare blessing.�
� “Grant had dealt too long with the human intelligence to accept as truth someone’s report of someone’s report of what that someone remembered to have seen or been told.�

THE DAUGHTER OF TIME may not be for everyone, but it was for me. A well written, concise, and vastly intriguing fictional take on one of the great unsolved mysteries of history. The conclusions it presents are indeed plausible, which makes the book even more interesting. It certainly made me think about my perceptions, and how I think about situations (current and historical) that I interact with.

As Inspector Grant observes as he contemplates a portrait of Richard III, “Villains don’t suffer, and that face is full of the most dreadful pain.�
Could be…could be.
]]> A Death in Belmont (P.S.) 110129 266 Sebastian Junger 0060742690 Brian 3 non-fiction, audio
A DEATH IN BELMONT is an interesting nonfiction book. The text begins with a horrific crime that happened about a mile from where author Sebastian Junger grew up. There is a loose connection between that murder and the man that was possibly the infamous serial killer known as the Boston Strangler. Sebastian Junger takes that tenuous connection and expands it into a book. Which is fine, however his personal connection to the story that he tells is not very deep and therefore a lot of the book is examining the back story.

This piece is really the tale of two people, who receive most of the book’s focus. One, a black man named Roy Smith who was accused of (and jailed for) the murder that took place near infant Sebastian's childhood home. The other focus is on Albert DeSalvo, the man who many believe was the Boston Strangler, although that has never been proven conclusively.
What I found most interesting about the book was its larger examination of the cultural context of the period. Things like the examination of the justice system in 1960s America, the way that childhood and the events of young adulthood change and shape one’s perspectives, etc. It was all the cultural context and little tidbits of history surrounding the crimes examined in this text to flesh it out that I was most intrigued by. I learned a lot of interesting things in those bits. The main story, the story of the crime that set all of this in motion, was the least interesting part of the book for me. But I am also not a huge fan of true crime. However, give me cultural examination and a historical context, and I am all ears.

If you are interested in a snapshot of a time period, then A DEATH IN BELMONT is a choice for you. If you're someone who's really interested in crime, and already know the name Albert DeSalvo this might not be the text you want.

Mr. Junger deals well with the open-endedness of much of the details that surround the events depicted in this book, and this following line from the text really does sum up the experience of reading this book nicely. “But maybe the truth isn’t even the most interesting thing about some stories, maybe the most interesting thing about some stories is all the things that could be true.�

Side note: I listened to the audio book, and narrator Kevin Conway is excellent! He characterizes with his voice and is pleasant sounding. I really enjoyed listening to him.]]> 3.58 2006 A Death in Belmont (P.S.)
author: Sebastian Junger
name: Brian
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/14
date added: 2024/10/22
shelves: non-fiction, audio
review:
“One of the conceits of my profession is that it can discover the truth…�

A DEATH IN BELMONT is an interesting nonfiction book. The text begins with a horrific crime that happened about a mile from where author Sebastian Junger grew up. There is a loose connection between that murder and the man that was possibly the infamous serial killer known as the Boston Strangler. Sebastian Junger takes that tenuous connection and expands it into a book. Which is fine, however his personal connection to the story that he tells is not very deep and therefore a lot of the book is examining the back story.

This piece is really the tale of two people, who receive most of the book’s focus. One, a black man named Roy Smith who was accused of (and jailed for) the murder that took place near infant Sebastian's childhood home. The other focus is on Albert DeSalvo, the man who many believe was the Boston Strangler, although that has never been proven conclusively.
What I found most interesting about the book was its larger examination of the cultural context of the period. Things like the examination of the justice system in 1960s America, the way that childhood and the events of young adulthood change and shape one’s perspectives, etc. It was all the cultural context and little tidbits of history surrounding the crimes examined in this text to flesh it out that I was most intrigued by. I learned a lot of interesting things in those bits. The main story, the story of the crime that set all of this in motion, was the least interesting part of the book for me. But I am also not a huge fan of true crime. However, give me cultural examination and a historical context, and I am all ears.

If you are interested in a snapshot of a time period, then A DEATH IN BELMONT is a choice for you. If you're someone who's really interested in crime, and already know the name Albert DeSalvo this might not be the text you want.

Mr. Junger deals well with the open-endedness of much of the details that surround the events depicted in this book, and this following line from the text really does sum up the experience of reading this book nicely. “But maybe the truth isn’t even the most interesting thing about some stories, maybe the most interesting thing about some stories is all the things that could be true.�

Side note: I listened to the audio book, and narrator Kevin Conway is excellent! He characterizes with his voice and is pleasant sounding. I really enjoyed listening to him.
]]> <![CDATA[Why Jesus?: Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality]]> 11030967 In WHY JESUS?, Ravi Zacharias looks at the impact of this "storm" by discussing the 60s-70s "Age of Aquarius," actor Shirley MacLaine's book and TV series Out On a Limb, author James Redfield (The Celestine Prophecy), Rhonda Byrne (The Secret), Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), and other books by Eckart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, the Dali Lama, and Marianne Williamson. Special attention will be given to the influence of Oprah Winfrey's media platform in reshaping society by introducing and promoting certain books and authors.

Major new age and human potential tenets will be discussed like: the belief that we are all gods and have to discover our divinity; Jesus was only a good teacher; Christianity is but one among many ways to eternal life; reincarnation is real; Jesus was married; truth is relative; there is no sin; and perfection is possible.

The truth of and the arguments for the bodily resurrection of Jesus will be presented as the most important argument for the exclusive claims about Jesus and Christianity.]]> 281 Ravi Zacharias 0892963190 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion
This was my first experience with the work of the late Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. It was interesting to me, but it did not inflame in me an intense desire to read more of his output. I may, or I may not. I am ambivalent about it at this point.

WHY JESUS? takes an in depth look at the so called “New Spirituality� that has become a fad in the 21st century, at least in western culture. As a result, the text had a little too much focus on eastern religious practices for my taste. That was not my goal for picking up this book. It makes for good thought and discussion, and Zacharias is very respectful and considerate when examining non-Christian religious practices, but I feel there was too much emphasis on that, and not enough focus on what I thought the book would be about, which is the divinity and superiority of Christ.

Some highlights for me with this book:
On page 46 of the hardcover edition Mr. Zacharias gives one the of the best and most concise summaries of postmodernism that I have come across. My undergrad degree is in English, and I found postmodernism criticism stupid then, and now 24 years later, I find it even more ridiculous.
Chapter 11 of this text, called “The Search for Jesus�, is easily the book’s best. It is well argued and biblically backed up. I enjoyed it immensely.

Quotes:
� “Who, deep in his or her heart, doesn’t want to know God, if he really exists?�
� “Cultural shifts do not happen in one giant step.�
� “We think we can follow whichever path we want and still end up with something meaningful.�
� “From its value to its power, to its deification, even as an abstract category truth becomes the final question in any conflict.�
� “The loss of reading has also reduced the individual’s capacity to write.�
� “One cannot simply live without boundaries. The question is, whose boundaries?�
� “The world was made for the body. The body was made for the soul. And the soul was made for God.�
� “We do not have the seeds of divinity. That is the ultimate seduction.�
� “Often when we are struggling with how best to say we no longer believe what we once did, it is easiest to find one idea and either warp it or take it out of context and make ourselves heroes for being willing to renounce the unacceptable.�
� “Without the transcendent perspective the mirror distorts the image.�
� “Love does have its boundaries, but it must have a long reach.�

WHY JESUS? was a book that gave me food for thought, and Ravi Zacharias takes great pains to debunk the Jesus pushed by other religious (non-Christian) traditions as antithetical to biblical writings and teachings. I appreciated that. It is one area that any practicing Christian should not struggle with. But sadly, many do.]]> 3.99 2012 Why Jesus?: Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality
author: Ravi Zacharias
name: Brian
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/13
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“Life is a search for the spiritual.� (3.5 stars)

This was my first experience with the work of the late Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. It was interesting to me, but it did not inflame in me an intense desire to read more of his output. I may, or I may not. I am ambivalent about it at this point.

WHY JESUS? takes an in depth look at the so called “New Spirituality� that has become a fad in the 21st century, at least in western culture. As a result, the text had a little too much focus on eastern religious practices for my taste. That was not my goal for picking up this book. It makes for good thought and discussion, and Zacharias is very respectful and considerate when examining non-Christian religious practices, but I feel there was too much emphasis on that, and not enough focus on what I thought the book would be about, which is the divinity and superiority of Christ.

Some highlights for me with this book:
On page 46 of the hardcover edition Mr. Zacharias gives one the of the best and most concise summaries of postmodernism that I have come across. My undergrad degree is in English, and I found postmodernism criticism stupid then, and now 24 years later, I find it even more ridiculous.
Chapter 11 of this text, called “The Search for Jesus�, is easily the book’s best. It is well argued and biblically backed up. I enjoyed it immensely.

Quotes:
� “Who, deep in his or her heart, doesn’t want to know God, if he really exists?�
� “Cultural shifts do not happen in one giant step.�
� “We think we can follow whichever path we want and still end up with something meaningful.�
� “From its value to its power, to its deification, even as an abstract category truth becomes the final question in any conflict.�
� “The loss of reading has also reduced the individual’s capacity to write.�
� “One cannot simply live without boundaries. The question is, whose boundaries?�
� “The world was made for the body. The body was made for the soul. And the soul was made for God.�
� “We do not have the seeds of divinity. That is the ultimate seduction.�
� “Often when we are struggling with how best to say we no longer believe what we once did, it is easiest to find one idea and either warp it or take it out of context and make ourselves heroes for being willing to renounce the unacceptable.�
� “Without the transcendent perspective the mirror distorts the image.�
� “Love does have its boundaries, but it must have a long reach.�

WHY JESUS? was a book that gave me food for thought, and Ravi Zacharias takes great pains to debunk the Jesus pushed by other religious (non-Christian) traditions as antithetical to biblical writings and teachings. I appreciated that. It is one area that any practicing Christian should not struggle with. But sadly, many do.
]]> <![CDATA[Revelation (Matthew Shardlake #4)]]> 6719326 Revelation, Sansom's newest book in the series, the year is 1543 and King Henry VIII is wooing Lady Catherine Parr, a woman sympathetic to reform, whom he wants for his sixth wife- much to the dismay of Archbishop Cranmer and the embattled Protestant faction at court. Meanwhile, Matthew Shardlake is working to defend a teenage boy, a religious fanatic who is being held in the infamous Bedlam hospital for the insane. When an old friend of Shardlake's is murdered, he vows to bring the killer to justice. His search leads him back to Bedlam but also to Catherine Parr-and the dark prophecies of the Book of Revelation. As Bishop Bonner prepares to purge London of Protestants, Shardlake, with his assistant Jack Barak, uncovers a series of horrific murders that shake them all to the core. Revelation-the strongest novel in the series to date-is sure to delight Sansom's many fans and bring him to a wider audience.]]> 550 C.J. Sansom 014311624X Brian 4 fiction
REVELATION is the fourth book in the Shardlake series, and this installment really delves into the radical reformers and those who were reverting back to Catholic lite rituals at the end of Henry VIII’s reign. C.J. Sansom creates an interesting plot twist around this civil and religious unrest and incorporates an intriguing development with the Book of Revelation from the Bible as the inspiration for the plot’s driving devices.

As has been the case in this series, one of the best parts of this text is that our protagonist (hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake) is such a well-drawn character. A flawed man, yet those flaws pale in comparison to his compassion and flat-out human decency. I did find the characterization of Shardlake to be a little flat in this installment compared to others, but I think that is because the lives of some of the characters that surround him were given much more attention in this book. As in any developing series, the more it goes on the more involved and robust the world of the series becomes. The relationships in this series are real, and they are encountering real problems, and it is seamlessly weaved in with a plot and storyline that will keep you turning the pages. I love that as I continue with this series more and more layers of the reoccurring characters are revealed, and they become more complex, more nuanced, and thus even more human.

As is always the case with this series the period feels real, and I felt the realities of the world of Tudor England while I was reading. I enjoy it a lot when a book creates that kind of immersive experience.

Quotes:
� “Christ said, by their fruits shall you know them, and the fruits of the faithful of both sides looked more rotten each year.�
� “The strangest matters may have a simple resolution.�
� “There are no debts between friends.�
� “…that there was little hope in the world, and a man should not be blamed for clinging on to that which he could find.�
� “But if we never acted except when we were certain our motives were pure, we would never act at all.�
� “I think that is how grief is. The hole in the world will always be there but you begin to notice other things.�
� “But we cannot always believe what suits us.�
� “Yes, I believe that humility is the greatest human virtue.�

In REVELATION the mystery at its core is interesting and Mr. Sansom does a nice job of incorporating the “reformist� and “conservative� religious issues of 1540s England seamlessly into the text.
I am looking forward to reading the last three novels in this series soon.]]> 4.35 2008 Revelation (Matthew Shardlake #4)
author: C.J. Sansom
name: Brian
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/29
date added: 2024/10/07
shelves: fiction
review:
“Sometimes these days I feel that everywhere I look there is madness and darkness and devils.�

REVELATION is the fourth book in the Shardlake series, and this installment really delves into the radical reformers and those who were reverting back to Catholic lite rituals at the end of Henry VIII’s reign. C.J. Sansom creates an interesting plot twist around this civil and religious unrest and incorporates an intriguing development with the Book of Revelation from the Bible as the inspiration for the plot’s driving devices.

As has been the case in this series, one of the best parts of this text is that our protagonist (hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake) is such a well-drawn character. A flawed man, yet those flaws pale in comparison to his compassion and flat-out human decency. I did find the characterization of Shardlake to be a little flat in this installment compared to others, but I think that is because the lives of some of the characters that surround him were given much more attention in this book. As in any developing series, the more it goes on the more involved and robust the world of the series becomes. The relationships in this series are real, and they are encountering real problems, and it is seamlessly weaved in with a plot and storyline that will keep you turning the pages. I love that as I continue with this series more and more layers of the reoccurring characters are revealed, and they become more complex, more nuanced, and thus even more human.

As is always the case with this series the period feels real, and I felt the realities of the world of Tudor England while I was reading. I enjoy it a lot when a book creates that kind of immersive experience.

Quotes:
� “Christ said, by their fruits shall you know them, and the fruits of the faithful of both sides looked more rotten each year.�
� “The strangest matters may have a simple resolution.�
� “There are no debts between friends.�
� “…that there was little hope in the world, and a man should not be blamed for clinging on to that which he could find.�
� “But if we never acted except when we were certain our motives were pure, we would never act at all.�
� “I think that is how grief is. The hole in the world will always be there but you begin to notice other things.�
� “But we cannot always believe what suits us.�
� “Yes, I believe that humility is the greatest human virtue.�

In REVELATION the mystery at its core is interesting and Mr. Sansom does a nice job of incorporating the “reformist� and “conservative� religious issues of 1540s England seamlessly into the text.
I am looking forward to reading the last three novels in this series soon.
]]> Paper Money: A Novel 36956946 An explosive novel of high finance and underworld villainy from Ken Follett, the grand master of international action and suspense. Look out for Ken's newest book, A Column of Fire, available now.

Crime, high finances, and journalism are interconnected in this early thriller by the author of On Wings of Eagles and Lie Down With Lions. In one suspenseful, action-packed day, fortunes change hands as an ambitious young reporter scrambles to crack the story. A suicidal junior minister, an avaricious tycoon, and a seasoned criminal with his team of tough guys all play their parts in a scheme that moves "paper money" around at a dizzying pace.]]> 221 Ken Follett 0143133365 Brian 4 fiction
PAPER MONEY was my first experience reading Ken Follett. I enjoyed it! Published a couple of years before I was born this text is a taut, tightly written book with fully realized characters, coming in at a quick 221 pages. It is not a bit overwritten. There are few, if any, superfluous words.

There is not a central protagonist in this slim novel. It is a true ensemble piece. The point of view shifts by chapter, and there are quite a few very different voices and storylines explored in this book. In PAPER MONEY Mr. Follett demonstrates a clever interlocking of several plot threads, all told over the period of one day, starting at 6 AM and ending at 4 PM.

Quotes:
� “Everything in business is courage.�
� “What had he done with his life, to be left with no one who would love him right or wrong?�
� “A reputation for honesty was made slowly and lost quickly in the City.�

Unfortunately, I disliked the final chapter of this book, a lot. However, everything that came before it was great!
I have been aware of Mr. Follett for a while. PAPER MONEY guarantees that I will read more of his work.]]> 3.70 1977 Paper Money: A Novel
author: Ken Follett
name: Brian
average rating: 3.70
book published: 1977
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/17
shelves: fiction
review:
“What do I get out of my work?�

PAPER MONEY was my first experience reading Ken Follett. I enjoyed it! Published a couple of years before I was born this text is a taut, tightly written book with fully realized characters, coming in at a quick 221 pages. It is not a bit overwritten. There are few, if any, superfluous words.

There is not a central protagonist in this slim novel. It is a true ensemble piece. The point of view shifts by chapter, and there are quite a few very different voices and storylines explored in this book. In PAPER MONEY Mr. Follett demonstrates a clever interlocking of several plot threads, all told over the period of one day, starting at 6 AM and ending at 4 PM.

Quotes:
� “Everything in business is courage.�
� “What had he done with his life, to be left with no one who would love him right or wrong?�
� “A reputation for honesty was made slowly and lost quickly in the City.�

Unfortunately, I disliked the final chapter of this book, a lot. However, everything that came before it was great!
I have been aware of Mr. Follett for a while. PAPER MONEY guarantees that I will read more of his work.
]]> <![CDATA[Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock & Roll History]]> 61398904
The definitive biography of legendary musician, composer, and performer Leon Russell, a profound influence on countless artists, including George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and the world of music as a whole.

Leon Russell is an icon, but somehow is still an underappreciated artist. He is spoken of in tones reserved not just for the most talented musicians, but also for the most complex and fascinating. His career is like a roadmap of music history, often intersecting with rock royalty like Bob Dylan, the Stones, and the Beatles. He started in the Fifties as a teenager touring with Jerry Lee Lewis, going on to play piano on records by such giants as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Phil Spector, and on hundreds of classic songs with major recording artists. Leon was Elton John’s idol, and Elton inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Leon also gets credit for altering Willie Nelson’s career, giving us the long-haired, pot-friendly Willie we all know and love today.

In his prime, Leon filled stadiums on solo tours, and was an organizer/performer on both Joe Cocker’s revolutionary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh . Leon also founded Shelter Records in 1969 with producer Denny Cordell, discovering and releasing the debut albums of Tom Petty, the Gap Band, Phoebe Snow, and J.J. Cale. Leon always assembled wildly diverse bands and performances, fostering creative and free atmospheres for musicians to live and work together. He brazenly challenged musical and social barriers. However, Russell also struggled with his demons, including substance abuse, severe depression, and a crippling stage fright that wreaked havoc on his psyche over the long haul and at times seemed to will himself into obscurity. Now, acclaimed author and founding member of Buffalo Tom, Bill Janovitz shines the spotlight on one of the most important music makers of the twentieth century.]]> 592 Bill Janovitz 0306924773 Brian 3 non-fiction, audio
Now…I know a lot about the guy. This is a very thorough (too long) book.
LEON RUSSELL: THE MASTER OF SPACE AND TIME’S JOURNEY THROUGH ROCK & ROLL HISTORY is an interesting read. But it will only be very interesting to those who are really into rock and roll history, and things like the minutia of what it takes to produce a tour/ concert, songwriting royalties, and other such items. That part of the book was not that interesting to me and therefore I feel it could have been cut. As mentioned, this is a long biography, almost 600 pages. And that's before the notes, etc.
What I did like about this book was that Leon Russell seems to have been a thread woven through some of the most important aspects of rock and roll history. The dude performed with (or wrote for) everybody! Or at least it seems that way. That aspect was interesting, seeing how Leon Russell's life intersected with so much of rock and roll history. In fact, this book has convinced me that it would be easy to play “Six Degrees of Leon Russell� with almost any musician from 1955 to 1990.

On a personal level, Mr. Russell's life was not one that was all that appealing to me. I don't think he was a decent human being, he clearly had a lot of issues. That being said, don't we all?

Will I keep a copy of this book on my shelf? No.
But having read it will I think of Leon Russell and his music a little more? Yes.
And as a result, occasionally, I'll pull up some of his albums. And I’ll listen to them.
And that ain't bad at all.]]> 4.16 2023 Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock & Roll History
author: Bill Janovitz
name: Brian
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/14
shelves: non-fiction, audio
review:
I am too young to have been an original fan of Leon Russell's. In fact, his star was already quickly fading before I was even born. Mr. Russell came to my attention in the early 2000s when Elton John started really pushing him, eventually releasing an album with him. Since then, I've noticed Russell's music a little more, and fell in love with a couple of his songs. When I saw this biography of him, I thought “why not? I don't know anything about the guy.�

Now…I know a lot about the guy. This is a very thorough (too long) book.
LEON RUSSELL: THE MASTER OF SPACE AND TIME’S JOURNEY THROUGH ROCK & ROLL HISTORY is an interesting read. But it will only be very interesting to those who are really into rock and roll history, and things like the minutia of what it takes to produce a tour/ concert, songwriting royalties, and other such items. That part of the book was not that interesting to me and therefore I feel it could have been cut. As mentioned, this is a long biography, almost 600 pages. And that's before the notes, etc.
What I did like about this book was that Leon Russell seems to have been a thread woven through some of the most important aspects of rock and roll history. The dude performed with (or wrote for) everybody! Or at least it seems that way. That aspect was interesting, seeing how Leon Russell's life intersected with so much of rock and roll history. In fact, this book has convinced me that it would be easy to play “Six Degrees of Leon Russell� with almost any musician from 1955 to 1990.

On a personal level, Mr. Russell's life was not one that was all that appealing to me. I don't think he was a decent human being, he clearly had a lot of issues. That being said, don't we all?

Will I keep a copy of this book on my shelf? No.
But having read it will I think of Leon Russell and his music a little more? Yes.
And as a result, occasionally, I'll pull up some of his albums. And I’ll listen to them.
And that ain't bad at all.
]]> <![CDATA[Traveling Light Deluxe Edition: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear]]> 16219259
Backs ache. Feet burn. Eyelids droop.

We've all seen people like that.

At times, we are people like that -- if not with our physical luggage, then at least with our spiritual load.

We all lug loads we were never intended to carry. Fear. Worry. Discontent. No wonder we get so weary. We're worn out from carrying that excess baggage. Wouldn't it be nice to lose some of those bags?

That's the invitation of Max Lucado. With the Twenty-third Psalm as our guide, let's release some of the burdens we were never intended to bear.

Using these verses as a guide, Max Lucado walks us through a helpful inventory of our burdens. May God use this Psalm to remind you to release the burdens you were never meant to bear.]]> 224 Max Lucado 0849947472 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion
The focus of TRAVELING LIGHT is a close, and very practical, examination of the 23rd Psalm. Perhaps the most famous Psalm, the one that begins “The Lord is my Shepard…� Max Lucado brings some interesting insight and applications to this psalm, and I think the text is a good use of time for any practicing Christian.

Some personal highlights for me:
Chapter 4 focuses on contentment and is simply lovely. It gives some profound insight on what really matters in our lives.
I was really taken with chapter 15, which has a great analysis of the verse “You anoint my head with oil.� Lucado gives an awesome and surprisingly relevant examination of this verse/image.

Quotes:
� “Traveling light means trusting God with the burdens you were never intended to bear.�
� “Self-reliance misleads you.�
� “The wise remember the brevity of life.�
� “We do what comes naturally, rather than what comes spiritually.�
� “Before you go anywhere else with your disappointments, go to God.�

This edition of TRAVELING LIGHT has a surprisingly in-depth, and good, Study Gide at the end of the text. I took my time with it and got a lot out of it. I recommend getting the edition that includes it, if possible.

After reading this book I look at the 23rd Psalm in an enhanced and new way, and that’s a good thing.]]> 4.28 2001 Traveling Light Deluxe Edition: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear
author: Max Lucado
name: Brian
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/30
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“Why is it that the ones who most need a shepherd resist him so?�

The focus of TRAVELING LIGHT is a close, and very practical, examination of the 23rd Psalm. Perhaps the most famous Psalm, the one that begins “The Lord is my Shepard…� Max Lucado brings some interesting insight and applications to this psalm, and I think the text is a good use of time for any practicing Christian.

Some personal highlights for me:
Chapter 4 focuses on contentment and is simply lovely. It gives some profound insight on what really matters in our lives.
I was really taken with chapter 15, which has a great analysis of the verse “You anoint my head with oil.� Lucado gives an awesome and surprisingly relevant examination of this verse/image.

Quotes:
� “Traveling light means trusting God with the burdens you were never intended to bear.�
� “Self-reliance misleads you.�
� “The wise remember the brevity of life.�
� “We do what comes naturally, rather than what comes spiritually.�
� “Before you go anywhere else with your disappointments, go to God.�

This edition of TRAVELING LIGHT has a surprisingly in-depth, and good, Study Gide at the end of the text. I took my time with it and got a lot out of it. I recommend getting the edition that includes it, if possible.

After reading this book I look at the 23rd Psalm in an enhanced and new way, and that’s a good thing.
]]> <![CDATA[Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier]]> 36433723
In 1899, railroad magnate Edward H. Harriman organized a most unusual summer voyage to the wilds of Alaska: He converted a steamship into a luxury "floating university," populated by some of America's best and brightest scientists and writers, including the anti-capitalist eco-prophet John Muir. Those aboard encountered a land of immeasurable beauty and impending environmental calamity. More than a hundred years later, Alaska is still America's most sublime wilderness, both the lure that draws a million tourists annually on Inside Passage cruises and a natural resources larder waiting to be raided. As ever, it remains a magnet for weirdos and dreamers.

Armed with Dramamine and an industrial-strength mosquito net, Mark Adams sets out to retrace the 1899 expedition. Using the state's intricate public ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway System, Adams travels three thousand miles, following the George W. Elder's itinerary north through Wrangell, Juneau, and Glacier Bay, then continuing west into the colder and stranger regions of the Aleutians and the Arctic Circle. Along the way, he encounters dozens of unusual characters (and a couple of very hungry bears) and investigates how lessons learned in 1899 might relate to Alaska's current struggles in adapting to climate change.]]> 336 Mark Adams 1101985100 Brian 4 non-fiction
TIP OF THE ICEBERG. MY 3,000-MILE JOURNEY AROUND WILD ALASKA, THE LAST GREAT AMERICAN FRONTIER is a vastly interesting travelogue. Author, Mark Adams, tries to retrace the route of the Harriman Expedition of 1899. The Harriman Expedition was a sort of luxury, quasi-scientific cruise sponsored by a wealthy American industrialist who also invited leading scientists and environmental “explorers� to come along.

TIP OF THE ICEBERG is peopled with interesting characters, the type of people one would expect to find in Alaska. Mark Adams does a nice job of keeping himself out of the center of the narrative, which I appreciated. The book is much more about Alaska and the people Adams encounters there than it is about him. The chapters alternate between Mr. Adams recounting some aspect of the Harriman Expedition, followed by a chapter of his own experiences and adventures retracing their steps.

Like the best travel books, the main benefit of this one is that it allowed me to experience vicariously places I will probably never be able to visit. It also expanded my worldview. But more importantly, it gave me a hunger to know more about a part of my nation that I know very little about.

Alaska is huge. Its massiveness is breathtaking. Its wildness is astounding to behold and in this book Mr. Adams successfully gives a sense of all that grandeur. I have already ordered some of his other books to read. Not only that, but I've ordered other books about Alaska. So, all I can say is that I think TIP OF THE ICEBERG did what it was meant to do.
I end with a quote from the book that I just loved, and that I think sums up what I tried to express in this review. “In Alaska, it was still ‘the morning of creation.’”]]> 3.88 2018 Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier
author: Mark Adams
name: Brian
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/31
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“You didn’t turn your back on Alaska."

TIP OF THE ICEBERG. MY 3,000-MILE JOURNEY AROUND WILD ALASKA, THE LAST GREAT AMERICAN FRONTIER is a vastly interesting travelogue. Author, Mark Adams, tries to retrace the route of the Harriman Expedition of 1899. The Harriman Expedition was a sort of luxury, quasi-scientific cruise sponsored by a wealthy American industrialist who also invited leading scientists and environmental “explorers� to come along.

TIP OF THE ICEBERG is peopled with interesting characters, the type of people one would expect to find in Alaska. Mark Adams does a nice job of keeping himself out of the center of the narrative, which I appreciated. The book is much more about Alaska and the people Adams encounters there than it is about him. The chapters alternate between Mr. Adams recounting some aspect of the Harriman Expedition, followed by a chapter of his own experiences and adventures retracing their steps.

Like the best travel books, the main benefit of this one is that it allowed me to experience vicariously places I will probably never be able to visit. It also expanded my worldview. But more importantly, it gave me a hunger to know more about a part of my nation that I know very little about.

Alaska is huge. Its massiveness is breathtaking. Its wildness is astounding to behold and in this book Mr. Adams successfully gives a sense of all that grandeur. I have already ordered some of his other books to read. Not only that, but I've ordered other books about Alaska. So, all I can say is that I think TIP OF THE ICEBERG did what it was meant to do.
I end with a quote from the book that I just loved, and that I think sums up what I tried to express in this review. “In Alaska, it was still ‘the morning of creation.’�
]]> The Little Liar 112975105 333 Mitch Albom 0062406655 Brian 4 fiction
THE LITTLE LIAR has a great premise, an interesting perspective, an intriguing story, and a great idea for a narrator. And it is a good read and one I am glad I have under my belt. Mitch Albom does a nice job with this book. He really does. But as I was reading it, I kept wondering what this great premise would have looked like in the hands of a truly stellar writer. Someone like a Mark Helprin, or a Kent Haruf. However, I will give credit where it is due. Mr. Albom has taken the Holocaust and given a unique and compelling version of a well-worn story in this novel.

The plot, Nico Krispis is 11 years old when his Greek town comes under Nazi occupation, and the deportation dictated by the Final Solution comes to his life. This little boy has never told a lie…until he is tricked into giving misinformation to his fellow Jews. Other key characters are a Nazi officer named Udo Graf, Nico’s older brother, Sebastian, and a friend of the family that both boys have a crush on, Fannie. The story takes us from the 1940s to the mid-1980s.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel is that it is told by a 3rd person omniscient narrator. The Narrator in this case is the Angel of Truth. This device is well deployed by Mr. Albom, and for me was the most intriguing and well-done aspect of the text. When you are presented with unvarnished truth, with no pretense or disguises allowed, it gives the reader no room to question what they are reading. If Truth says it, it is! No unreliable narrators or questions in this book.

Quotes:
� “Humans can be trusted only to watch out for themselves.�
� “Humans lie constantly, especially to their Maker.�
� “But just as ignoring proper food will ultimately decay your body, so will handpicking the Truth eventually rot your soul.�
� “Sometimes, it is the truths we don’t speak that echo the loudest.�
� “Like many decisions that change a life, it comes silently, without fanfare.�
� “But a lie comes in many disguises; sometimes, it looks like safety.�
� “We are all one fateful act from a redirected destiny, and the price we pay can be immeasurable.�
� “Perhaps it’s because the lies you die with are the first thing the Lord peels away-the lies you have told, and the lies that have been told about you.�
� “Jealousy rarely forgets.�
� “When it comes to lies, governments can outlast anyone.�

There are lots of nuggets of great human truth strewn throughout THE LITTLE LIAR, and I am very glad that I read this book. Lines like the following are all over this text, and they serve as a powerful reminder of the great responsibility, and consequences, of the Truth. “Truth calls for a reckoning, whether immediate or in the distant future.� We would all do well to realize how very true that statement is!

Another thing that I appreciated about this book was that its bent was toward human redemption and the goodness that humanity is capable of. I think too often in literature we can forget about that, and if we don’t strive to recognize the goodness we are capable of, then all is lost. I won’t have a problem with a book that strives to remind us of that fact.]]> 4.54 2023 The Little Liar
author: Mitch Albom
name: Brian
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/19
date added: 2024/08/19
shelves: fiction
review:
“If you want to get away with lying, first change the language.�

THE LITTLE LIAR has a great premise, an interesting perspective, an intriguing story, and a great idea for a narrator. And it is a good read and one I am glad I have under my belt. Mitch Albom does a nice job with this book. He really does. But as I was reading it, I kept wondering what this great premise would have looked like in the hands of a truly stellar writer. Someone like a Mark Helprin, or a Kent Haruf. However, I will give credit where it is due. Mr. Albom has taken the Holocaust and given a unique and compelling version of a well-worn story in this novel.

The plot, Nico Krispis is 11 years old when his Greek town comes under Nazi occupation, and the deportation dictated by the Final Solution comes to his life. This little boy has never told a lie…until he is tricked into giving misinformation to his fellow Jews. Other key characters are a Nazi officer named Udo Graf, Nico’s older brother, Sebastian, and a friend of the family that both boys have a crush on, Fannie. The story takes us from the 1940s to the mid-1980s.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel is that it is told by a 3rd person omniscient narrator. The Narrator in this case is the Angel of Truth. This device is well deployed by Mr. Albom, and for me was the most intriguing and well-done aspect of the text. When you are presented with unvarnished truth, with no pretense or disguises allowed, it gives the reader no room to question what they are reading. If Truth says it, it is! No unreliable narrators or questions in this book.

Quotes:
� “Humans can be trusted only to watch out for themselves.�
� “Humans lie constantly, especially to their Maker.�
� “But just as ignoring proper food will ultimately decay your body, so will handpicking the Truth eventually rot your soul.�
� “Sometimes, it is the truths we don’t speak that echo the loudest.�
� “Like many decisions that change a life, it comes silently, without fanfare.�
� “But a lie comes in many disguises; sometimes, it looks like safety.�
� “We are all one fateful act from a redirected destiny, and the price we pay can be immeasurable.�
� “Perhaps it’s because the lies you die with are the first thing the Lord peels away-the lies you have told, and the lies that have been told about you.�
� “Jealousy rarely forgets.�
� “When it comes to lies, governments can outlast anyone.�

There are lots of nuggets of great human truth strewn throughout THE LITTLE LIAR, and I am very glad that I read this book. Lines like the following are all over this text, and they serve as a powerful reminder of the great responsibility, and consequences, of the Truth. “Truth calls for a reckoning, whether immediate or in the distant future.� We would all do well to realize how very true that statement is!

Another thing that I appreciated about this book was that its bent was toward human redemption and the goodness that humanity is capable of. I think too often in literature we can forget about that, and if we don’t strive to recognize the goodness we are capable of, then all is lost. I won’t have a problem with a book that strives to remind us of that fact.
]]> <![CDATA[Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster]]> 871781
Into Thin Air is the definitive account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest by the acclaimed journalist and author of the bestseller Into the Wild. On assignment for Outside Magazine to report on the growing commercialization of the mountain, Krakauer, an accomplished climber, went to the Himalayas as a client of Rob Hall, the most respected high-altitude guide in the world.A rangy, thirty-five-year-old New Zealander, Hall had summited Everest four times between 1990 and 1995 and had led thirty-nine climbers to the top. Ascending the mountain in close proximity to Hall's team was a guided expedition led by Scott Fischer, a forty-year-old American with legendary strength and drive who had climbed the peak without supplemental oxygen in 1994. But neither Hall nor Fischer survived the rogue storm that struck in May 1996.

Krakauer examines what it is about Everest that has compelled so many people -- including himself -- to throw caution to the wind, ignore the concerns of loved ones, and willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense. Written with emotional clarity and supported by his unimpeachable reporting, Krakauer's eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world is a singular achievement.

Into the Wild is available on audio, read by actor Campbell Scott.]]> 293 Jon Krakauer 0679457526 Brian 3 non-fiction
I have read a few Jon Krakauer books over the years, and although I enjoyed INTO THIN AIR, it is my least favorite of his thus far. I think mainly because this text is too much of him, he was a firsthand participant in the events the book depicts, and I did not find him all that likable, and thus it got in my way.

This text is about the disastrous spring in 1996 when Mount Everest claimed many lives from the various expeditions (almost all of them commercial) that were attempting to summit her that year. Mr. Krakauer was on one of them, and he was in the midst of the deadly few days that claimed the lives of 6 or so people. It was undoubtedly a traumatic experience, and Krakauer succeeds in conveying that.

INTO THIN AIR was a fine read, It is well written and organized, but I was not all that into it until the last 100 pages or so. It is not quite a 3oo page book, so that is not as big a deal as it sounds.

Krakauer admits in the book’s opening that he was discouraged from writing about the events on Everest in May of 1996 until he had put some distance and assessment between himself and this very monumental personal event in his life. He waited less than a year. I wish he had taken that advice. Some time, distance, and perspective would have made this text a better read.

My biggest issue with the text was the obvious way Krakauer tries to appear modest and humble, as it does not quite fit and appears insincere, even though he goes to great lengths to try to achieve the opposite effect. His double guessing some folks who were clearly heroes of those days, in particular a man named Anatoli Boukreev, who actually saved lives, was a bit too douchey for my tastes.

The strength of this book is the same strength I have found with every Krakauer I have read, he knows how to write a sequence of events in a manner that is interesting, and all encompassing. This book does an awesome job of conveying the absolute majesty of Everest, and how insignificant mankind really is when it tries to conquer nature. Mount Everest is not a hospitable place, and the book constantly makes the reader aware of how difficult trying to ascend it is, even in these “modern� times with all our gadgets, etc.

Krakauer also writes with a candidness and appraising eye that I appreciated. He even turns that sharp eye on himself, it just did not work for me, as noted above. And that is really it in a nutshell. Krakauer writes best when he is not a subject of his writing. I suspect that is true of most folks, so no hard feelings on my part on that account.

Another strength is the amount of technical knowledge that the author conveys in a mostly enjoyable manner. He knows this stuff firsthand. And it comes across in the details. Greatly enjoyed that aspect of it.

I am glad I read INTO THIN AIR, but I would read other Krakauer if you have not done so, before you read this one.]]> 4.31 1997 Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
author: Jon Krakauer
name: Brian
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1997
rating: 3
read at: 2021/09/30
date added: 2024/08/18
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“Wisdom comes easily after the fact.�

I have read a few Jon Krakauer books over the years, and although I enjoyed INTO THIN AIR, it is my least favorite of his thus far. I think mainly because this text is too much of him, he was a firsthand participant in the events the book depicts, and I did not find him all that likable, and thus it got in my way.

This text is about the disastrous spring in 1996 when Mount Everest claimed many lives from the various expeditions (almost all of them commercial) that were attempting to summit her that year. Mr. Krakauer was on one of them, and he was in the midst of the deadly few days that claimed the lives of 6 or so people. It was undoubtedly a traumatic experience, and Krakauer succeeds in conveying that.

INTO THIN AIR was a fine read, It is well written and organized, but I was not all that into it until the last 100 pages or so. It is not quite a 3oo page book, so that is not as big a deal as it sounds.

Krakauer admits in the book’s opening that he was discouraged from writing about the events on Everest in May of 1996 until he had put some distance and assessment between himself and this very monumental personal event in his life. He waited less than a year. I wish he had taken that advice. Some time, distance, and perspective would have made this text a better read.

My biggest issue with the text was the obvious way Krakauer tries to appear modest and humble, as it does not quite fit and appears insincere, even though he goes to great lengths to try to achieve the opposite effect. His double guessing some folks who were clearly heroes of those days, in particular a man named Anatoli Boukreev, who actually saved lives, was a bit too douchey for my tastes.

The strength of this book is the same strength I have found with every Krakauer I have read, he knows how to write a sequence of events in a manner that is interesting, and all encompassing. This book does an awesome job of conveying the absolute majesty of Everest, and how insignificant mankind really is when it tries to conquer nature. Mount Everest is not a hospitable place, and the book constantly makes the reader aware of how difficult trying to ascend it is, even in these “modern� times with all our gadgets, etc.

Krakauer also writes with a candidness and appraising eye that I appreciated. He even turns that sharp eye on himself, it just did not work for me, as noted above. And that is really it in a nutshell. Krakauer writes best when he is not a subject of his writing. I suspect that is true of most folks, so no hard feelings on my part on that account.

Another strength is the amount of technical knowledge that the author conveys in a mostly enjoyable manner. He knows this stuff firsthand. And it comes across in the details. Greatly enjoyed that aspect of it.

I am glad I read INTO THIN AIR, but I would read other Krakauer if you have not done so, before you read this one.
]]> <![CDATA[The Night Fire (Renée Ballard, #3; Harry Bosch, #22; Harry Bosch Universe, #33)]]> 43885041 Harry Bosch and LAPD Detective Renee Ballard come together again on the murder case that obsessed Bosch's mentor, the man who trained him -- new from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly

Back when Harry Bosch was just a rookie homicide detective, he had an inspiring mentor who taught him to take the work personally and light the fire of relentlessness for every case. Now that mentor, John Jack Thompson, is dead, but after his funeral his widow hands Bosch a murder book that Thompson took with him when he left the LAPD 20 years before -- the unsolved killing of a troubled young man in an alley used for drug deals.

Bosch brings the murder book to Renée Ballard and asks her to help him find what about the case lit Thompson's fire all those years ago. That will be their starting point.

The bond between Bosch and Ballard tightens as they become a formidable investigation team. And they soon arrive at a worrying question: Did Thompson steal the murder book to work the case in retirement, or to make sure it never got solved?]]> 405 Michael Connelly 0316485616 Brian 3 fiction
THE NIGHT FIRE is the third installment in Mr. Connelly’s Renée Ballard series. Of the three it is my favorite so far. The relationship between Renée and her unofficial under the radar partner Harry Bosh is getting a little more development, and it was just a tightly plotted novel. By the book’s end three subplots are seamlessly and intriguingly connected into a coherent throughline.

In this text Mr. Connelly also brings in one of his other regulars, Mickey Haller (the Lincoln Lawyer), and a defendant he gets off in court, a cold case from many years ago, and an “accident� at a homeless encampment come together in a manner that never bored me.

Quotes:
� “Take every case personally and you get angry. It builds a fire. It gives you the edge you need to go the distance every time out.�
� “How did one child retain hope in the darkness, and another come to believe it was gone forever?�
� “True heroes are hard to come by I guess.�

One glaring flaw is that the falling action and conclusion of this text is a little to on the nose. I saw it coming a mile off, but the story is a good one and I was always engaged when I picked it up. That is becoming a bigger deal to me the older I get.
On to # 4 in the series soon.]]> 4.14 2019 The Night Fire (Renée Ballard, #3; Harry Bosch, #22; Harry Bosch Universe, #33)
author: Michael Connelly
name: Brian
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/11
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: fiction
review:
“Everybody counted or nobody counted.� (3.5 stars)

THE NIGHT FIRE is the third installment in Mr. Connelly’s Renée Ballard series. Of the three it is my favorite so far. The relationship between Renée and her unofficial under the radar partner Harry Bosh is getting a little more development, and it was just a tightly plotted novel. By the book’s end three subplots are seamlessly and intriguingly connected into a coherent throughline.

In this text Mr. Connelly also brings in one of his other regulars, Mickey Haller (the Lincoln Lawyer), and a defendant he gets off in court, a cold case from many years ago, and an “accident� at a homeless encampment come together in a manner that never bored me.

Quotes:
� “Take every case personally and you get angry. It builds a fire. It gives you the edge you need to go the distance every time out.�
� “How did one child retain hope in the darkness, and another come to believe it was gone forever?�
� “True heroes are hard to come by I guess.�

One glaring flaw is that the falling action and conclusion of this text is a little to on the nose. I saw it coming a mile off, but the story is a good one and I was always engaged when I picked it up. That is becoming a bigger deal to me the older I get.
On to # 4 in the series soon.
]]> <![CDATA[Tropic of Stupid (Serge Storms, #24)]]> 53287273
Devoted Floridaphile Serge Storms is a lover of history, so he’s decided to investigate his own using one of those DNA services from late-night TV. Excited to construct a family tree, he and Coleman hit the road to meet his kin. Along the way, he plans to introduce Coleman to the Sunshine State’s beautiful parks where he can brush up on his flora, fauna, and wildlife, and more importantly, collect the missing stamps for his park passport book.

But as the old saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far . . . Serge is thrilled to discover he may be related to a notorious serial killer who’s terrorized the state for twenty years and never been caught. Which one of his newfound relatives will be the one to help him hunt down this deranged maniac? Serge doesn’t know that a dogged investigator from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is also hot on the trail.

Then Serge meets a park ranger who’s also longing to make a family re-connection. But all is not as it appears on the surface, and Serge’s newfound friendship in the mysterious swamps of Florida may lead to deadly results.

Finding his own relatives has made Serge understand the importance of family. Of course he’ll do anything to help . . .]]> 355 Tim Dorsey 0062967509 Brian 4 fiction
Went on the annual beach trip, and that meant it was time for another installment in Mr. Dorsey’s Serge A. Storm series. These books are usually good for a laugh and a bonkers plot. TROPIC OF STUPID is a great addition to the series.
In this installment Florida history buff and serial killer (of people who deserve it) Serge Storms gets caught up in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and also on internet ancestry services that use DNA to make family connections for people. It makes for an interesting combination!

The text boasts lots of subplots; a determined woman in law enforcement, a sleezy lawyer who finds redemption, a serial killer (not Serge) on the rampage and they all eventually tie nicely together to create a coherent and fun plotline.

Quotes:
� “Destiny, for better or worse, has stuck me with you as my soul mate. Who decides this shit?�
� “And since the meaning of life isn’t about us, it must be about how we treat others.�
� “Because doing the right thing isn’t always easy or fun, and sometimes it’s downright sacrifice. You have to become the kind of person who wants to do the right thing more than what you personally desire.�
� “Millions of Americans aren’t happy unless they’re unhappy.�
� “One thing I’ve learned is that human behavior will never stop surprising you.�
� “If you don’t make up cool s%#t about your family, nobody else will…�
� “Nudity and gibberish are underrated.�
� “Just talking to myself…I like the company.�
� “He inhaled deeply and happily through his nostrils, taking in the invigorating aroma of coffee and freshly baked Latin bread, trying to inhale life itself.�

I read TROPIC OF STUPID in the pool with palmetto trees blowing in the breeze. That combined with the fact that Serge’s sidekick Coleman was less annoying to me in this installment than in others in the series and that the plotting was tighter than in some of the previous books, made this a quick and really enjoyable outing for me.]]> 3.90 2021 Tropic of Stupid (Serge Storms, #24)
author: Tim Dorsey
name: Brian
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/31
date added: 2024/08/10
shelves: fiction
review:
“Life is just a few minutes!� (3.5 stars)

Went on the annual beach trip, and that meant it was time for another installment in Mr. Dorsey’s Serge A. Storm series. These books are usually good for a laugh and a bonkers plot. TROPIC OF STUPID is a great addition to the series.
In this installment Florida history buff and serial killer (of people who deserve it) Serge Storms gets caught up in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and also on internet ancestry services that use DNA to make family connections for people. It makes for an interesting combination!

The text boasts lots of subplots; a determined woman in law enforcement, a sleezy lawyer who finds redemption, a serial killer (not Serge) on the rampage and they all eventually tie nicely together to create a coherent and fun plotline.

Quotes:
� “Destiny, for better or worse, has stuck me with you as my soul mate. Who decides this shit?�
� “And since the meaning of life isn’t about us, it must be about how we treat others.�
� “Because doing the right thing isn’t always easy or fun, and sometimes it’s downright sacrifice. You have to become the kind of person who wants to do the right thing more than what you personally desire.�
� “Millions of Americans aren’t happy unless they’re unhappy.�
� “One thing I’ve learned is that human behavior will never stop surprising you.�
� “If you don’t make up cool s%#t about your family, nobody else will…�
� “Nudity and gibberish are underrated.�
� “Just talking to myself…I like the company.�
� “He inhaled deeply and happily through his nostrils, taking in the invigorating aroma of coffee and freshly baked Latin bread, trying to inhale life itself.�

I read TROPIC OF STUPID in the pool with palmetto trees blowing in the breeze. That combined with the fact that Serge’s sidekick Coleman was less annoying to me in this installment than in others in the series and that the plotting was tighter than in some of the previous books, made this a quick and really enjoyable outing for me.
]]> The Guardians 43701061
Quincy was framed, convicted, and sent to prison for life. For twenty-two years he languished in prison with no lawyer, no advocate on the outside. Then he wrote a letter to Guardian Ministries, a small innocence group founded by a lawyer/minister named Cullen Post.

Guardian handles only a few innocence cases at a time, and Post is its only investigator. He travels the South fighting wrongful convictions and taking cases no one else will touch. With Quincy Miller, though, he gets far more than he bargained for. Powerful, ruthless people murdered Keith Russo, and they do not want Quincy exonerated.

They killed one lawyer twenty-two years ago, and they will kill another one without a second thought.]]> 370 John Grisham 0385544189 Brian 3 fiction
I read THE GUARDIANS sitting with my feet in the ocean, so I am sure that this colored my reading experience with it. In this book the good guys win, and the momentum is always heading in a positive direction. So, I’m saying it is ridiculous, but a good read for the beach.

Alternating between fist and second person point of view, the novel follows Cullen Post, an Episcopal minister and lawyer who works on behalf of falsely convicted prisoners. The case that is the book’s driving force involves a man falsely convicted twenty-two years ago of killing his lawyer. It is quickly discovered that he was a diversion, scapegoated to protect the real killers and their conspiracy.

Interesting to me was the slightly religious bent the novel has because of the protagonist being a part time minister. Although the religious element is slight in this text, it was nice to read a mainstream fiction book where Christianity is not mocked.

THE GUARDIANS was not a bad read for what it was. Not something I would ever pick up again.
I end with the only quote from the book that made me take notice- “Prison is a nightmare for those who deserve it. For those who don’t, it is a daily struggle to maintain some level of sanity.”]]> 4.03 2019 The Guardians
author: John Grisham
name: Brian
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/02
date added: 2024/08/09
shelves: fiction
review:
“You’re paying for it.�

I read THE GUARDIANS sitting with my feet in the ocean, so I am sure that this colored my reading experience with it. In this book the good guys win, and the momentum is always heading in a positive direction. So, I’m saying it is ridiculous, but a good read for the beach.

Alternating between fist and second person point of view, the novel follows Cullen Post, an Episcopal minister and lawyer who works on behalf of falsely convicted prisoners. The case that is the book’s driving force involves a man falsely convicted twenty-two years ago of killing his lawyer. It is quickly discovered that he was a diversion, scapegoated to protect the real killers and their conspiracy.

Interesting to me was the slightly religious bent the novel has because of the protagonist being a part time minister. Although the religious element is slight in this text, it was nice to read a mainstream fiction book where Christianity is not mocked.

THE GUARDIANS was not a bad read for what it was. Not something I would ever pick up again.
I end with the only quote from the book that made me take notice- “Prison is a nightmare for those who deserve it. For those who don’t, it is a daily struggle to maintain some level of sanity.�
]]> <![CDATA[Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Complete Text & Lyrics to the Smash Rock Musical � Broadway Edition]]> 22295329 Best Musical Revival Nominee: TONY, Outer Critics, Drama Desk, and Drama League!

Winner of the Obie Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and the Sundance Film Festival Audience Prize Hedwig and the Angry Inch , “the best rock musical ever� (Rolling Stone) follows the journey of “internationally ignored song stylist� Hedwig Schmidt, victim of a botched sex-change operation, as dazzlingly recounted by Hedwig (née Hansel) herself in the form of a lounge act, backed by the rockband The Angry Inch, and transported to the Belasco Theatre “for one night only� and taking over the set for Hurt Locker: The Musical. This new edition contains the updated book and lyrics from the smash Broadway production starring Neil Patrick Harris of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s landmark American musical.

]]> 96 John Cameron Mitchell 146831002X Brian 3 plays The lyrics and songs work well as standalone pieces of rock music, but if you read the text of the script you will see that there is a narrative that they integrate into. To be honest, I will have to read this piece again before I would be able to give any coherent answer to what I think it is “trying to say�, and maybe even then it needs a director’s vision and performance to actualize. I am not sure.
The text is surprisingly moving, and as one reads you cannot help but think of the mask that each and every one of us wear every day in order to protect ourselves as we try to reach what we want, love and acceptance.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch� is a quick read. It has a unique and intriguing premise, and it helped me to appreciate the music even more.]]> 4.49 1998 Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Complete Text & Lyrics to the Smash Rock Musical – Broadway Edition
author: John Cameron Mitchell
name: Brian
average rating: 4.49
book published: 1998
rating: 3
read at: 2017/01/29
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: plays
review:
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch� is a play that needs to be seen to be appreciated. I have never seen it in performance, but after listening to, and liking, the recent Broadway cast album I decided I needed to know the story and what the heck was going on.
The lyrics and songs work well as standalone pieces of rock music, but if you read the text of the script you will see that there is a narrative that they integrate into. To be honest, I will have to read this piece again before I would be able to give any coherent answer to what I think it is “trying to say�, and maybe even then it needs a director’s vision and performance to actualize. I am not sure.
The text is surprisingly moving, and as one reads you cannot help but think of the mask that each and every one of us wear every day in order to protect ourselves as we try to reach what we want, love and acceptance.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch� is a quick read. It has a unique and intriguing premise, and it helped me to appreciate the music even more.
]]> <![CDATA[Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In) (Jack Reacher)]]> 59900675 THE FIRST NOVEL IN LEE CHILD'S #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING JACK REACHER SERIES--NOW AN ORIGINAL SERIES ON PRIME VIDEO!

"From its jolting opening scene to its fiery final confrontation, Killing Floor is irresistible."--People

Ex-military policeman Jack Reacher is a drifter. He's just passing through Margrave, Georgia, and in less than an hour, he's arrested for murder. Not much of a welcome. All Reacher knows is that he didn't kill anybody. At least not here. Not lately. But he doesn't stand a chance of convincing anyone. Not in Margrave, Georgia. Not a chance in hell.]]> 496 Lee Child 0593440633 Brian 2 fiction
This was my first Jack Reacher novel. I doubt there is another Reacher novel in my life anytime soon. The plot, in short, Jack Reacher gets off a bus in the little town of Margrave, Georgia and a few hours later he is arrested for a murder he did not commit. Jack Reacher is a former military MP and West Point grad and he does not take getting arrested for something he did not do lightly. What follows contains the obligatory action, blood, and sex that one would expect in a novel like this.

I was just not into this text. It's very heavy in the body count. Very heavy! And it just felt poorly developed. The denouement of the novel is pure violent fantasy schlock. The book just feels like a book of male teenage fantasy. My 15-year-old self would have loved it. I can see why some people like it, but it's just not for me.

Quotes:
* "My name is Jack Reacher," I said. "No middle name. No address."
* "The big things and the small things which were supposed to represent home."
* "They had that slack, empty look that is left behind when life has departed."

I understand that the hero of books like these are meant to be" too good to be true," but there still has to be an element of believability with that character, and in this novel there isn't. Jack Reacher does not feel real to me. This is the first novel of what is obviously a very successful series, so maybe Mr. Child got better. I'm just not sure that I am interested in finding out.]]> 3.98 1997 Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In) (Jack Reacher)
author: Lee Child
name: Brian
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1997
rating: 2
read at: 2024/07/30
date added: 2024/07/30
shelves: fiction
review:
"The sour smell of used money." (1.5 stars)

This was my first Jack Reacher novel. I doubt there is another Reacher novel in my life anytime soon. The plot, in short, Jack Reacher gets off a bus in the little town of Margrave, Georgia and a few hours later he is arrested for a murder he did not commit. Jack Reacher is a former military MP and West Point grad and he does not take getting arrested for something he did not do lightly. What follows contains the obligatory action, blood, and sex that one would expect in a novel like this.

I was just not into this text. It's very heavy in the body count. Very heavy! And it just felt poorly developed. The denouement of the novel is pure violent fantasy schlock. The book just feels like a book of male teenage fantasy. My 15-year-old self would have loved it. I can see why some people like it, but it's just not for me.

Quotes:
* "My name is Jack Reacher," I said. "No middle name. No address."
* "The big things and the small things which were supposed to represent home."
* "They had that slack, empty look that is left behind when life has departed."

I understand that the hero of books like these are meant to be" too good to be true," but there still has to be an element of believability with that character, and in this novel there isn't. Jack Reacher does not feel real to me. This is the first novel of what is obviously a very successful series, so maybe Mr. Child got better. I'm just not sure that I am interested in finding out.
]]> <![CDATA[A Shot of Faith (to the Head): Be a Confident Believer in an Age of Cranky Atheists]]> 12098302 A Shot of Faith to the Head provides Christians with clear and powerful ways to address atheism's most ardent proponents, and it shows that believers can remain calm, confident, and effective in the face of contemporary attacks on faith. But more than just offering defensive tools, the author provides the Christian with powerful means for launching offensive strikes on unbelief. After providing the reader with an update from the front in the war between faith and unbelief, the book presents a fundamental lesson about the very nature of evidence, a lesson extracted from the recent revolution in Christian thought. The book then turns to a handful of the most important specific issues in the debate between belief and unbelief: the surprising implications of naturalism (the view that only the natural world of space and time exists) the universe's remarkable mathematical design the necessary religious nature of science the possibility of good and evil in a purely physical world With this information, Stokes arms readers with the weapons to go on the offensive against unbelief and to be able to use these with kindness for evangelistic purposes.]]> 222 Mitch Stokes 1595554343 Brian 3 audio, non-fiction, religion
A SHOT OF FAITH (TO THE HEAD) is not for the casual reader. This is a philosophically dense read, meant to buck up those who struggle with the intellectual arguments against faith. Its arguments are good, thoughtful, even profound…but frankly, I am not sure that this is a good text for the average reader. I had to take my time with it, however, I appreciated its rational bedrock and its delight in meeting the arguments of the “new atheists� head on.

The book is organized along the following lines-
First, the author, Dr. Mitch Stokes, catches the reader up on the latest in the faith vs. unbelief debate, (as of 2012 when the book was published) and then the book dives into a key lesson about what counts as evidence, based on recent shifts in Christian thinking. It then tackles some major topics in the belief vs. unbelief discussion, like the unexpected twists of naturalism (the idea that only the natural world exists), the mind-blowing mathematical design of the universe, (easily the text’s strongest section) the surprisingly religious side of science, and whether good and evil can exist in a world that's just physical.
That's a lot to digest.
Each chapter also ends with a section called ‘For Your Arsenal�, which is essentially a highlight of some of the key points in support of belief that were addressed in the preceding chapter.

Quotes:
� “The real wonder is why anyone believes. The explanation, of course, is that God has begun to repair humanity, at an unimaginable cost to Himself. And that is really good news.�
� “Humans can’t be the standard of absolute right and wrong.�
� “And the conclusion is simplicity itself: if there is no God, there is no evil. Nor is there any good.�
� “…to some degree, the war between belief and unbelief exists in microcosm inside every believer.�

Most anything that takes on the argument that faith in God is irrational or intellectually dishonest will get support from me. I appreciate what I took away from this text, but I am not sure that A SHOT OF FAITH (TO THE HEAD) is for any more than a limited audience within the Christian community.]]> 4.22 2012 A Shot of Faith (to the Head): Be a Confident Believer in an Age of Cranky Atheists
author: Mitch Stokes
name: Brian
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/22
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves: audio, non-fiction, religion
review:
“Faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it.�

A SHOT OF FAITH (TO THE HEAD) is not for the casual reader. This is a philosophically dense read, meant to buck up those who struggle with the intellectual arguments against faith. Its arguments are good, thoughtful, even profound…but frankly, I am not sure that this is a good text for the average reader. I had to take my time with it, however, I appreciated its rational bedrock and its delight in meeting the arguments of the “new atheists� head on.

The book is organized along the following lines-
First, the author, Dr. Mitch Stokes, catches the reader up on the latest in the faith vs. unbelief debate, (as of 2012 when the book was published) and then the book dives into a key lesson about what counts as evidence, based on recent shifts in Christian thinking. It then tackles some major topics in the belief vs. unbelief discussion, like the unexpected twists of naturalism (the idea that only the natural world exists), the mind-blowing mathematical design of the universe, (easily the text’s strongest section) the surprisingly religious side of science, and whether good and evil can exist in a world that's just physical.
That's a lot to digest.
Each chapter also ends with a section called ‘For Your Arsenal�, which is essentially a highlight of some of the key points in support of belief that were addressed in the preceding chapter.

Quotes:
� “The real wonder is why anyone believes. The explanation, of course, is that God has begun to repair humanity, at an unimaginable cost to Himself. And that is really good news.�
� “Humans can’t be the standard of absolute right and wrong.�
� “And the conclusion is simplicity itself: if there is no God, there is no evil. Nor is there any good.�
� “…to some degree, the war between belief and unbelief exists in microcosm inside every believer.�

Most anything that takes on the argument that faith in God is irrational or intellectually dishonest will get support from me. I appreciate what I took away from this text, but I am not sure that A SHOT OF FAITH (TO THE HEAD) is for any more than a limited audience within the Christian community.
]]> At the Wolf's Table: A Novel 45046935 The international bestseller based on a haunting true story that raises provocative questions about complicity, guilt, and survival.

They called it the Wolfsschanze, the Wolf's Lair. "Wolf" was his nickname. As hapless as Little Red Riding Hood, I had ended up in his belly. A legion of hunters was out looking for him, and to get him in their grips they would gladly slay me as well.

Germany, 1943: Twenty-six-year-old Rosa Sauer's parents are gone, and her husband Gregor is far away, fighting on the front lines of World War II. Impoverished and alone, she makes the fateful decision to leave war-torn Berlin to live with her in-laws in the countryside, thinking she'll find refuge there. But one morning, the SS come to tell her she has been conscripted to be one of Hitler's tasters: three times a day, she and nine other women go to his secret headquarters, the Wolf's Lair, to eat his meals before he does.

Forced to eat what might kill them, the tasters begin to divide into The Fanatics, those loyal to Hitler, and the women like Rosa who insist they aren't Nazis, even as they risk their lives every day for Hitler's. As secrets and resentments grow, this unlikely sisterhood reaches its own dramatic climax, as everyone begins to wonder if they are on the wrong side of history.]]> 288 Rosella Postorino 1250179165 Brian 3 fiction
Translated from Italian, author Rosella Postorino’s AT THE WOLF’S TABLE is an interesting book. I liked it, but I think that it tries to be too many things at once.
In short, it is the story of Rosa Sauer, a woman who has left Berlin to live with her in-laws after her parents are killed in the bombs that drop on Berlin. In rural Germany, she is conscripted to be one of Hitler’s food tasters when he is at his headquarters, known as the “Wolf’s Lair.� Rosa’s husband is also missing in action.
Told in the first person, Rosa fills us in on how she came to be where she is, and bit by bit we get backstory and new revelations as they are detailed and revealed by her. The author uses this device well, and there were more than a few times in the novel where I was surprised by something I had just learned. This device is well utilized.

The text is a slow burn, I did not mind that, it is really a character study. As a result, there are few characters, other than Rosa, who are fully rendered. There are a lot of secondary characters in the text, and as mentioned, with only a few exceptions their names and attributes run together. I was never fully aware of who was who. Because they are not distinctly drawn, they tend to jumble together. There are a couple of exceptions to this, and those characters gave me enough to go on to enjoy the book.

Quotes:
� “A person can cease to exist even when alive.�
� “In those who recognize it, weakness awakens guilt.�
� “Often, sharing a secret doesn’t bring people together-it separates them.�
� “It’s endearing, the human need to eat so as not to die.�
� “People use love to justify all kinds of things.�
� “Everything considered, life matters so little, and devoting it to someone fills it with meaning.�
� “…how strange, one death that contains another.�
� “It’s deranged, the human species; it’s instincts shouldn’t be heeded.�
� “With time, even the enthusiasm of a miracle dampens.�
� “Marriage is a fluctuating system-it moves in waves, it can always end and always begin again, it has no linear progression, not does it follow logical paths.�
� “When you lose someone, the pain you feel is for yourself�.�
� “The past doesn’t go away, but there’s no need to dredge it up; you can try to let it rest…�

I will say this, the ending was a fascinating take by the writer. I have no other comment than that. I would love to know why she chose to conclude the novel in the way that she did.
I would urge someone who starts this book to stick with it. Get past the first 75 or so pages. It gets better. AT THE WOLF’S TABLE boasts an intriguing premise and plot and it gives some interesting insight into the lives of the German civilian population during WW II.]]> 3.49 2018 At the Wolf's Table: A Novel
author: Rosella Postorino
name: Brian
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves: fiction
review:
“I never had enough of living.� (3.5 stars)

Translated from Italian, author Rosella Postorino’s AT THE WOLF’S TABLE is an interesting book. I liked it, but I think that it tries to be too many things at once.
In short, it is the story of Rosa Sauer, a woman who has left Berlin to live with her in-laws after her parents are killed in the bombs that drop on Berlin. In rural Germany, she is conscripted to be one of Hitler’s food tasters when he is at his headquarters, known as the “Wolf’s Lair.� Rosa’s husband is also missing in action.
Told in the first person, Rosa fills us in on how she came to be where she is, and bit by bit we get backstory and new revelations as they are detailed and revealed by her. The author uses this device well, and there were more than a few times in the novel where I was surprised by something I had just learned. This device is well utilized.

The text is a slow burn, I did not mind that, it is really a character study. As a result, there are few characters, other than Rosa, who are fully rendered. There are a lot of secondary characters in the text, and as mentioned, with only a few exceptions their names and attributes run together. I was never fully aware of who was who. Because they are not distinctly drawn, they tend to jumble together. There are a couple of exceptions to this, and those characters gave me enough to go on to enjoy the book.

Quotes:
� “A person can cease to exist even when alive.�
� “In those who recognize it, weakness awakens guilt.�
� “Often, sharing a secret doesn’t bring people together-it separates them.�
� “It’s endearing, the human need to eat so as not to die.�
� “People use love to justify all kinds of things.�
� “Everything considered, life matters so little, and devoting it to someone fills it with meaning.�
� “…how strange, one death that contains another.�
� “It’s deranged, the human species; it’s instincts shouldn’t be heeded.�
� “With time, even the enthusiasm of a miracle dampens.�
� “Marriage is a fluctuating system-it moves in waves, it can always end and always begin again, it has no linear progression, not does it follow logical paths.�
� “When you lose someone, the pain you feel is for yourself�.�
� “The past doesn’t go away, but there’s no need to dredge it up; you can try to let it rest…�

I will say this, the ending was a fascinating take by the writer. I have no other comment than that. I would love to know why she chose to conclude the novel in the way that she did.
I would urge someone who starts this book to stick with it. Get past the first 75 or so pages. It gets better. AT THE WOLF’S TABLE boasts an intriguing premise and plot and it gives some interesting insight into the lives of the German civilian population during WW II.
]]> All the Old Knives 59406635 From Olen Steinhauer, the author of New York Timesbestseller The Tourist, comes his intimate, most cerebral, and most shocking novel to date, All the Old Knives—Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture Starring Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton.

Six years ago in Vienna, terrorists took over a hundred hostages, and the rescue attempt went terribly wrong. The CIA's Vienna station was witness to this tragedy, gathering intel from its sources during those tense hours, assimilating facts from the ground and from an agent on the inside. So when it all went wrong, the question had to be asked: Had their agent been compromised, and how?

Two of the CIA's case officers in Vienna, Henry Pelham and Celia Harrison, were lovers at the time, and on the night of the hostage crisis Celia decided she'd had enough. She left the agency, married and had children, and is now living an ordinary life in the idyllic town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Henry is still a case officer in Vienna, and has traveled to California to see her one more time, to relive the past, maybe, or to put it behind him once and for all.

But neither of them can forget that long-ago question: Had their agent been compromised? If so, how? Each also wonders what role tonight's dinner companion might have played in the way the tragedy unfolded six years ago.]]> 320 Olen Steinhauer 1250862809 Brian 4 fiction
ALL THE OLD KNIVES is my first novel by Olen Steinhauer, and it's surprisingly good! It is a taut, fast-paced novel, and it takes place entirely around a dinner table with some flashbacks thrown in. I was very impressed by the depth of characterization in such a tightly plotted novel. The book comes in at less than 260 pages, but it doesn't need any more length in order to tell a complete and detailed story.

Plotwise, we have two ex-lovers, both CIA employees who were stationed in Vienna together. At the time there was a terrible terrorist attack at the Vienna Airport. Now, six years after the event and their relationship, they reconnect to have dinner at a restaurant, ostensibly to talk about the events of the past. And that's all I'll say about the plot.

In an unexpected twist I feel like this thriller has a lot to say about what it means to be a parent, and how that changes you. In fact, I would argue that examining how parenthood changes a person is one of the bigger themes of the novel. Another theme that comes into play is the idea of not moving on from the past. There were more than a few moments in this text where I felt a twinge of guilt because I was reminded of past lovers or relationships. Things that perhaps I haven't appropriately put on the shelf and left there. Who expects feelings like that when reading an espionage novel?

Quotes:
� “I don’t have a heart to break.�
� “In gorgeous landscapes loneliness is more acute-it’s something I’ve noticed.�
� “For once I was satisfied, which is really all anyone can ask for.�
� “And without failure you’re not really human. You’re just skating on the surface of life.�
� “Things happen. The only thing that matters is how we deal with the now.�

As I mentioned, this was my first Steinhauer novel, so I was not prepared for how good a writer he is. The quality of the writing in ALL THE OLD KNIVES is excellent!

There will be more books of Steinhauer’s in my future. I can promise you that. ]]> 3.52 2015 All the Old Knives
author: Olen Steinhauer
name: Brian
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/06
date added: 2024/07/12
shelves: fiction
review:
“History is full of inconsistencies.�

ALL THE OLD KNIVES is my first novel by Olen Steinhauer, and it's surprisingly good! It is a taut, fast-paced novel, and it takes place entirely around a dinner table with some flashbacks thrown in. I was very impressed by the depth of characterization in such a tightly plotted novel. The book comes in at less than 260 pages, but it doesn't need any more length in order to tell a complete and detailed story.

Plotwise, we have two ex-lovers, both CIA employees who were stationed in Vienna together. At the time there was a terrible terrorist attack at the Vienna Airport. Now, six years after the event and their relationship, they reconnect to have dinner at a restaurant, ostensibly to talk about the events of the past. And that's all I'll say about the plot.

In an unexpected twist I feel like this thriller has a lot to say about what it means to be a parent, and how that changes you. In fact, I would argue that examining how parenthood changes a person is one of the bigger themes of the novel. Another theme that comes into play is the idea of not moving on from the past. There were more than a few moments in this text where I felt a twinge of guilt because I was reminded of past lovers or relationships. Things that perhaps I haven't appropriately put on the shelf and left there. Who expects feelings like that when reading an espionage novel?

Quotes:
� “I don’t have a heart to break.�
� “In gorgeous landscapes loneliness is more acute-it’s something I’ve noticed.�
� “For once I was satisfied, which is really all anyone can ask for.�
� “And without failure you’re not really human. You’re just skating on the surface of life.�
� “Things happen. The only thing that matters is how we deal with the now.�

As I mentioned, this was my first Steinhauer novel, so I was not prepared for how good a writer he is. The quality of the writing in ALL THE OLD KNIVES is excellent!

There will be more books of Steinhauer’s in my future. I can promise you that.
]]> <![CDATA[13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi]]> 25862002 The harrowing, true account from the brave men on the ground who fought back during the Battle of Benghazi.

13 Hours presents, for the first time ever, the true account of the events of September 11, 2012, when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A team of six American security operators fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there. Those men went beyond the call of duty, performing extraordinary acts of courage and heroism, to avert tragedy on a much larger scale. This is their personal account, never before told, of what happened during the thirteen hours of that now-infamous attack.

13 Hours sets the record straight on what happened during a night that has been shrouded in mystery and controversy. Written by New York Times bestselling author Mitchell Zuckoff, this riveting book takes readers into the action-packed story of heroes who laid their lives on the line for one another, for their countrymen, and for their country.

13 Hours is a stunning, eye-opening, and intense book--but most importantly, it is the truth. The story of what happened to these men--and what they accomplished--is unforgettable.]]> 352 Mitchell Zuckoff 1455538442 Brian 4 audio, non-fiction
I was pleasantly surprised by 13 HOURS. It is a very non-partisan examination of the 13 hours that a State Department complex and a CIA Security Annex in Benghazi, Libya were under attack from Islamic terrorists. It focuses specifically on the annex security team who worked to save most of the officials at the State Department complex and in the CIA compound. The Annex Security Team was made up of men who were former military special ops, now working as private contractors hired to provide extra security for State Department installations. Author Mitchell Zuckoff, in conjunction with the surviving members of the annex security team, delivers firsthand recounting of the events in those harrowing 13 hours that began on September 11th, 2012.

Really, this book is a behind the scenes look at an operation that most of us can't fathom. There's not a lot of extraneous information. There's not flowery language, there's not an attempt to be sentimental or emotional about the events depicted. At times, 13 HOURS is emotional (due to the nature of the subject matter) but in a non-sentimental manner.

Like all stories of politics, war, and turmoil there are heroes and villains, although, Mr. Zuckoff takes great pains to label no one as either. The actions of the individuals involved speak for themselves. I was also impressed that Mr. Zuckoff and the annex security team reports very factually (and without malic) that there was a misrepresentation in the American press as to why the attack happened. But they refrain from politicizing that fact. As someone who has hyper politicized feelings about Benghazi, the State Department, CIA, and the leadership that allowed this disgrace to happen I was very impressed that the people who actually lived it and experienced it refrained from that. Their greater interest was in giving a factual recounting of an event that Americans should remember. And more significantly, that Americans should make sure doesn't happen again.

13 HOURS held my attention. I learned some things I did not know. And more importantly, it gave me an insight into those in civil service and private security that I was not aware of.
I can end this review in no better way than with this line of summation from the text, “…brave Americans who put themselves in harm’s way, who believed in their work and their country, and who died serving others.”]]> 4.39 2014 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi
author: Mitchell Zuckoff
name: Brian
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/30
date added: 2024/07/03
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“The situation at the Compound kept getting worse.� (3.5 stars)

I was pleasantly surprised by 13 HOURS. It is a very non-partisan examination of the 13 hours that a State Department complex and a CIA Security Annex in Benghazi, Libya were under attack from Islamic terrorists. It focuses specifically on the annex security team who worked to save most of the officials at the State Department complex and in the CIA compound. The Annex Security Team was made up of men who were former military special ops, now working as private contractors hired to provide extra security for State Department installations. Author Mitchell Zuckoff, in conjunction with the surviving members of the annex security team, delivers firsthand recounting of the events in those harrowing 13 hours that began on September 11th, 2012.

Really, this book is a behind the scenes look at an operation that most of us can't fathom. There's not a lot of extraneous information. There's not flowery language, there's not an attempt to be sentimental or emotional about the events depicted. At times, 13 HOURS is emotional (due to the nature of the subject matter) but in a non-sentimental manner.

Like all stories of politics, war, and turmoil there are heroes and villains, although, Mr. Zuckoff takes great pains to label no one as either. The actions of the individuals involved speak for themselves. I was also impressed that Mr. Zuckoff and the annex security team reports very factually (and without malic) that there was a misrepresentation in the American press as to why the attack happened. But they refrain from politicizing that fact. As someone who has hyper politicized feelings about Benghazi, the State Department, CIA, and the leadership that allowed this disgrace to happen I was very impressed that the people who actually lived it and experienced it refrained from that. Their greater interest was in giving a factual recounting of an event that Americans should remember. And more significantly, that Americans should make sure doesn't happen again.

13 HOURS held my attention. I learned some things I did not know. And more importantly, it gave me an insight into those in civil service and private security that I was not aware of.
I can end this review in no better way than with this line of summation from the text, “…brave Americans who put themselves in harm’s way, who believed in their work and their country, and who died serving others.�
]]> <![CDATA[How to Pray in a Crisis: A 4-Step Guide to Renewal]]> 53463735 128 Daniel Dean Henderson 0802423590 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion
HOW TO PRAY IN A CRISIS is a quick read that will help you reexamine the point of prayer in your life. It is not earth shattering, rather it is a few practical ideas/practices for good prayer mixed in with some theory. It’s good theory, however.

One thing of note from this text is the emphasis placed on prayer as a corporate entity. Author Daniel Henderson really places a lot of importance on its being especially powerful in the early church. It gave me something to think about.

Quotes:
� “…hard is hard; hard is not bad.�
� “Crisis is used by God to bring us to fresh places of humility, repentance, and essential conviction about the things that ultimately matter.�
� “Jesus did not call us to ‘figure it all out� but to follow Him.�
� “A world in crisis needs Christians on a mission.�
� He commands us to know, hear, trust, obey, and fully surrender to the indwelling Spirit, according to His revealed Word.�

At one point author Daniel Henderson defines prayer as “intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of His purposes.� I think that is about as good of a definition for prayer that I have come across.
This short text would be a nice thing to include in your devotional reading, or share in a prayer group.]]> 4.07 How to Pray in a Crisis: A 4-Step Guide to Renewal
author: Daniel Dean Henderson
name: Brian
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/25
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“Good praying is more easily caught than taught.�

HOW TO PRAY IN A CRISIS is a quick read that will help you reexamine the point of prayer in your life. It is not earth shattering, rather it is a few practical ideas/practices for good prayer mixed in with some theory. It’s good theory, however.

One thing of note from this text is the emphasis placed on prayer as a corporate entity. Author Daniel Henderson really places a lot of importance on its being especially powerful in the early church. It gave me something to think about.

Quotes:
� “…hard is hard; hard is not bad.�
� “Crisis is used by God to bring us to fresh places of humility, repentance, and essential conviction about the things that ultimately matter.�
� “Jesus did not call us to ‘figure it all out� but to follow Him.�
� “A world in crisis needs Christians on a mission.�
� He commands us to know, hear, trust, obey, and fully surrender to the indwelling Spirit, according to His revealed Word.�

At one point author Daniel Henderson defines prayer as “intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of His purposes.� I think that is about as good of a definition for prayer that I have come across.
This short text would be a nice thing to include in your devotional reading, or share in a prayer group.
]]> Refiner's Fire 107499 Tom Jones and the story of Moses, Refiner´s Fire is a great and colorful adventure that ends in a crucible of battle, suffering, and death, from which Marshall Pearl rises purely by the grace of God. Addressing the holy and the profane, but never heavy handedly, it is not so much a meditation on the fate of the Jews after the Holocaust, the rise of Israel, and the spirit of America, as it is an elegy and a song in which the powers of life and regeneration are shown to gorgeous effect.]]> 560 Mark Helprin 0156031078 Brian 5 fiction
You finish a Mark Helprin book, and you bask in the beauty of what you've just read. REFINER’S FIRE is a novel that is uplifting and examines the beauty in an ugly world. You read Mark Helprin and you bask in his incredible command of language, and the way he wrestles gorgeousness from the English tongue.
This is my second Mark Helprin book, and I will be a Mark Helprin completist. All of his books are sitting on my “to read� pile. And I look forward to devouring all of them.

In REFINER’S FIRE we follow the life of Marshall Pearl, a man born on the sea, the child of someone fleeing war and pain, a man who starts life as a foundling. Starting in 1947 on a ship off the coast of Palestine and ending in 1973 in Haifa Israel, we see the first half of Marshall's life. And what a life it is. Marshall’s life takes him from coast to coast in the United States, with stops in Jamaica, Mexico, the Alps, and in the English Merchant Navy. This is an adventure story, a story of one’s maturation, a love story, a semi history of a time in the world, and much more. Helprin has a gift for taking the implausible, and through his mix of satire, humor, and truth of humanity he mixes a fantastical and yet entirely believable story that the reader buys into.

One of my favorite things about REFINER'S FIRE is that this book contains nuggets of satire that just explode off the page, unexpected and pointed, and then disappear just as quickly. At one point, while some characters imagine themselves “revolutionaries�, the reader is treated to this gem of a line, “And besides, most revolutionaries from good universities become effete, epicene, whining, hermaphroditic muffins, fit only to write for the ‘New York Review of Books’�. Helprin wrote that line in 1977. He could have written that biting satire today! There are moments like that strewn throughout this novel.
At one point in the story our protagonist extols some virtues to be had in the Code of Hammurabi. It is through the conversation that ensues where Mr. Helprin makes some brilliantly sensible points in a manner that few authors can master.

Quotes:
� “A country in war is a country alive. It hurts all the time and is full of sorrow, but is as alive as the blaze of a fire, as energetic and restless as an animal in its pen-full of sex and desires of the heart.�
� “He could not restrain himself from consideration of that which was feasible mainly in the magical world and, strangely enough, sometimes in this one.�
� “Know the elements, order them with love, and thereby know the great matter of things.�
� “The silence vanished and natural laws which had withstood all assaults appeared once again as ultimate guides, as they had been in the beginning and will always be-lines along which shattering can make itself whole.�
� “But I detest those who would destroy.�
� “Although the weak don’t know this, when you have power you have to protect yourself from it.�
� “He could not go backward, and did not try.�
� “Of what use is this or that knowledge of this earth, if by our Faith it is not enhanced?�
� “He was not against change if it were to perfect rather than replace.�
� “It was not the first time that love had arisen from nowhere and given him strength, sustenance, and peace.�
� “…there is little more exquisite and taxing than devotion to a lost love.�
� “Now go and learn, and when you come back, you will learn more.�
� “The only advantage they have is that they’re immoral. That’s a short-term advantage.�
� “Those who have compassion only for criminals are compassionless, and themselves criminal.�
� “They touched and it was like breathing again.�
� “The room was filled with the unsaid.�

One of the most fascinating things about REFINER’S FIRE is how relevant it is to the here and now in mid-2024. Uncannily so. Almost 50 years old and yet the human truth of this book still breathes most powerfully!

At times fantastical, but always insightful and lovely, what Mark Helprin does in this book surrounds the reader. It envelopes you and you surrender to its beauty. Helprin celebrates that most basic of elements in our world. As one character says in this elegant novel, “The special thing was that life came back.”]]> 3.98 1977 Refiner's Fire
author: Mark Helprin
name: Brian
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1977
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/19
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: fiction
review:
“By God, I’m not down yet.�

You finish a Mark Helprin book, and you bask in the beauty of what you've just read. REFINER’S FIRE is a novel that is uplifting and examines the beauty in an ugly world. You read Mark Helprin and you bask in his incredible command of language, and the way he wrestles gorgeousness from the English tongue.
This is my second Mark Helprin book, and I will be a Mark Helprin completist. All of his books are sitting on my “to read� pile. And I look forward to devouring all of them.

In REFINER’S FIRE we follow the life of Marshall Pearl, a man born on the sea, the child of someone fleeing war and pain, a man who starts life as a foundling. Starting in 1947 on a ship off the coast of Palestine and ending in 1973 in Haifa Israel, we see the first half of Marshall's life. And what a life it is. Marshall’s life takes him from coast to coast in the United States, with stops in Jamaica, Mexico, the Alps, and in the English Merchant Navy. This is an adventure story, a story of one’s maturation, a love story, a semi history of a time in the world, and much more. Helprin has a gift for taking the implausible, and through his mix of satire, humor, and truth of humanity he mixes a fantastical and yet entirely believable story that the reader buys into.

One of my favorite things about REFINER'S FIRE is that this book contains nuggets of satire that just explode off the page, unexpected and pointed, and then disappear just as quickly. At one point, while some characters imagine themselves “revolutionaries�, the reader is treated to this gem of a line, “And besides, most revolutionaries from good universities become effete, epicene, whining, hermaphroditic muffins, fit only to write for the ‘New York Review of Books’�. Helprin wrote that line in 1977. He could have written that biting satire today! There are moments like that strewn throughout this novel.
At one point in the story our protagonist extols some virtues to be had in the Code of Hammurabi. It is through the conversation that ensues where Mr. Helprin makes some brilliantly sensible points in a manner that few authors can master.

Quotes:
� “A country in war is a country alive. It hurts all the time and is full of sorrow, but is as alive as the blaze of a fire, as energetic and restless as an animal in its pen-full of sex and desires of the heart.�
� “He could not restrain himself from consideration of that which was feasible mainly in the magical world and, strangely enough, sometimes in this one.�
� “Know the elements, order them with love, and thereby know the great matter of things.�
� “The silence vanished and natural laws which had withstood all assaults appeared once again as ultimate guides, as they had been in the beginning and will always be-lines along which shattering can make itself whole.�
� “But I detest those who would destroy.�
� “Although the weak don’t know this, when you have power you have to protect yourself from it.�
� “He could not go backward, and did not try.�
� “Of what use is this or that knowledge of this earth, if by our Faith it is not enhanced?�
� “He was not against change if it were to perfect rather than replace.�
� “It was not the first time that love had arisen from nowhere and given him strength, sustenance, and peace.�
� “…there is little more exquisite and taxing than devotion to a lost love.�
� “Now go and learn, and when you come back, you will learn more.�
� “The only advantage they have is that they’re immoral. That’s a short-term advantage.�
� “Those who have compassion only for criminals are compassionless, and themselves criminal.�
� “They touched and it was like breathing again.�
� “The room was filled with the unsaid.�

One of the most fascinating things about REFINER’S FIRE is how relevant it is to the here and now in mid-2024. Uncannily so. Almost 50 years old and yet the human truth of this book still breathes most powerfully!

At times fantastical, but always insightful and lovely, what Mark Helprin does in this book surrounds the reader. It envelopes you and you surrender to its beauty. Helprin celebrates that most basic of elements in our world. As one character says in this elegant novel, “The special thing was that life came back.�
]]> <![CDATA[Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter]]> 34427205 From the creator of Dilbert, an unflinching look at the strategies Donald Trump used to persuade voters to elect the most unconventional candidate in the history of the presidency, and how anyone can learn his methods for succeeding against long odds.

Scott Adams--a trained hypnotist and a lifelong student of persuasion--was one of the earliest public figures to predict Trump's win, doing so a week after Nate Silver put Trump's odds at 2 percent in his FiveThirtyEight.com blog. The mainstream media regarded Trump as a novelty and a sideshow. But Adams recognized in Trump a level of persuasion you only see once in a generation.

Trump triggered massive cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias on both the left and the right. We're hardwired to respond to emotion, not reason. We might listen to 10 percent of a speech--a hand gesture here, a phrase there--and if the right buttons are pushed, we irrationally agree with the speaker and invent reasons to justify that decision after the fact.

The point isn't whether Trump was right or wrong, good or bad. Win Bigly goes beyond politics to look at persuasion tools that can work in any setting--the same ones Adams saw in Steve Jobs when he invested in Apple decades ago. For instance:

- If you need to convince people that something is important, make a claim that's directionally accurate but has a big exaggeration in it. Everyone will spend endless hours talking about how wrong it is while accidentally persuading themselves the issue is a high priority.
- Stop wasting time on elaborate presentations. Inside, you'll learn which components of your messaging matter, and where you can wing it.
- Creating "linguistic kill shots" with persuasion engineering (such as "Low-energy Jeb") can be more powerful than facts and policies.

Adams offers nothing less than "access to the admin passwords to human beings." This is a must-read if you care about persuading others in any field--or if you just want to resist persuasion from others.]]> 304 Scott Adams 0735219710 Brian 2 non-fiction, audio
Scott Adams is an interesting writer; however, he is also a very redundant writer. I know that he would defend his numerous redundancies in this book by saying that it's part of persuasion� which he takes great pains to point out.

The premise of WIN BIGLY is intriguing. But in the book’s first half Mr. Adams talks about persuasion, the art of persuasion, the different elements of persuasion, etc. All the while getting very technical, and quite frankly, a bit boring. Mr. Adams is apparently a “persuasion expert� (he calls himself that a lot in this text) and so the first half of the book he talks about persuasion as an academic examination.

The most interesting part of this text is when he examines the 2016 presidential campaign, probing the things that the Clinton and Trump campaigns did, and then relating them back to persuasive techniques that he mentions in the book's first half. That is fascinating and is the strongest element in this text.

Then Mr. Adams can't help himself and he reverts to his old ways, and the last third of the book seems to be focused on taking backhand credit for many things that Trump did during his presidential campaign. Adams goes to lengths to mention moments where he tweeted some thought, or wrote a blog, and then later the Trump campaign did something similar. I say backhanded because Mr. Adams says that what Trump often did is an obvious thing that any smart persuader would do. So, then my question is, why did you think you were the one that showed this “skilled persuader� the way?

Quotes:
� “Persuasion isn’t the most predictive variable in every situation.�
� “Life is generally messy and complicated, with lots of powerful influences at play.�
� “Our brains did not evolve to understand reality.�

I listened to this book on audio while I was doing summer yard work, so for that it's an okay experience. Is it something I would ever feel the need to return to or that I thought was particularly enlightening? No. If it did anything, it made me dislike Mr. Adams on a personal level. Not because of his politics, or the things he wrote or said…just him. I really disliked how he talks and thinks about himself.

Some quibbles-
A lot of the book seems to be regurgitations of posts and excerpts from a blog that Mr. Adams writes.
Also, there is an appendix to the book where he talks about how to be a writer. All I'll say is that he did not take his own advice for this book.

Having finished WIN BIGLY, I am no better or worse for the wear.]]> 3.68 2017 Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter
author: Scott Adams
name: Brian
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2024/06/21
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: non-fiction, audio
review:
“Welcome to the third dimension.� (2.5 stars)

Scott Adams is an interesting writer; however, he is also a very redundant writer. I know that he would defend his numerous redundancies in this book by saying that it's part of persuasion� which he takes great pains to point out.

The premise of WIN BIGLY is intriguing. But in the book’s first half Mr. Adams talks about persuasion, the art of persuasion, the different elements of persuasion, etc. All the while getting very technical, and quite frankly, a bit boring. Mr. Adams is apparently a “persuasion expert� (he calls himself that a lot in this text) and so the first half of the book he talks about persuasion as an academic examination.

The most interesting part of this text is when he examines the 2016 presidential campaign, probing the things that the Clinton and Trump campaigns did, and then relating them back to persuasive techniques that he mentions in the book's first half. That is fascinating and is the strongest element in this text.

Then Mr. Adams can't help himself and he reverts to his old ways, and the last third of the book seems to be focused on taking backhand credit for many things that Trump did during his presidential campaign. Adams goes to lengths to mention moments where he tweeted some thought, or wrote a blog, and then later the Trump campaign did something similar. I say backhanded because Mr. Adams says that what Trump often did is an obvious thing that any smart persuader would do. So, then my question is, why did you think you were the one that showed this “skilled persuader� the way?

Quotes:
� “Persuasion isn’t the most predictive variable in every situation.�
� “Life is generally messy and complicated, with lots of powerful influences at play.�
� “Our brains did not evolve to understand reality.�

I listened to this book on audio while I was doing summer yard work, so for that it's an okay experience. Is it something I would ever feel the need to return to or that I thought was particularly enlightening? No. If it did anything, it made me dislike Mr. Adams on a personal level. Not because of his politics, or the things he wrote or said…just him. I really disliked how he talks and thinks about himself.

Some quibbles-
A lot of the book seems to be regurgitations of posts and excerpts from a blog that Mr. Adams writes.
Also, there is an appendix to the book where he talks about how to be a writer. All I'll say is that he did not take his own advice for this book.

Having finished WIN BIGLY, I am no better or worse for the wear.
]]> Unfreedom of the Press 44595958 From five-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, FOX News star, and radio host Mark R. Levin comes a groundbreaking and enlightening book that shows how the great tradition of the American free press has degenerated into a standardless profession that has squandered the faith and trust of the American public, not through actions of government officials, but through its own abandonment of reportorial integrity and objective journalism.

Unfreedom of the Press is not just another book about the press. Levin shows how those entrusted with news reporting today are destroying freedom of the press from within: “not government oppression or suppression,� he writes, but self-censorship, group-think, bias by omission, and passing off opinion, propaganda, pseudo-events, and outright lies as news.

With the depth of historical background for which his books are renowned, Levin takes the reader on a journey through the early American patriot press, which proudly promoted the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, followed by the early decades of the Republic during which newspapers around the young country were open and transparent about their fierce allegiance to one political party or the other.

It was only at the start of the Progressive Era and the twentieth century that the supposed “objectivity of the press� first surfaced, leaving us where we are today: with a partisan party-press overwhelmingly aligned with a political ideology but hypocritically engaged in a massive untruth as to its real nature.]]> 258 Mark R. Levin 1476773092 Brian 3 audio, non-fiction
I listened to UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS while doing yard work. It is interesting to listen to it in 2024 (it was written in 2019) and see how much further the American press has gone to prove that it is even more dishonest than it was even 5 short years ago.

There is a lot of quoting from primary sources in this text. One of the most effective things that Mr. Levin does is when he uses the press's very own words against them. He will make a point about a bias that they have, or a story they lied about, and then he will spend literally pages just quoting from across the media spectrum from individuals or outlets doing the very thing that they claim not to do. It's a pretty powerful device. However, he does employ it a lot in this text. There are literally pages and pages and pages of him doing nothing more than quoting the media doing something that they say they don't do. I have mixed feelings about how interesting that is as a reader, but it's very powerful in terms of proving a point.

Mr. Levin is a bright man. That's obvious. He also has a rabid disgust for the politicization of the modern American media. It's not that (as he takes great pains to point out in his book) he has a problem with media bias. He has a problem when the media pretends that their bias doesn't exist.

There's a lot of this text that is actually a history lesson. Lots of attention is given to the 1917 Espionage Act and to the Alien & Sedition Act that John Adams signed into law in the early days of our nation. There is also a lot of attention given to the idea of a very partisan press. The press was partisan, and owned it up until the late 1920s, and then the façade of impartiality began to rear its head.

Another point that's interesting is Mr. Levin's takedown of the New York Times. I have nothing but contempt for the New York Times and have felt that most of my adult life. But Mr. Levin's piece by piece examination of their ignoring of the Holocaust, and at times, even covering it up from the American readers is disgusting to read. He also goes after Walter Duranty, a reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize for the New York Times, who flat out lied about Stalin's genocide and the Ukrainian famine of the 1930s. It's disturbing that the “paper of record� has never really been a paper of honesty.

All in all, UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS is an interesting and quick read. It's certainly only reconfirmed for me that my disdain and distaste for the media, and my lack of trust in almost all of it, is well placed.]]> 4.32 2019 Unfreedom of the Press
author: Mark R. Levin
name: Brian
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/08
date added: 2024/06/12
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
In their own words... (3.5 stars)

I listened to UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS while doing yard work. It is interesting to listen to it in 2024 (it was written in 2019) and see how much further the American press has gone to prove that it is even more dishonest than it was even 5 short years ago.

There is a lot of quoting from primary sources in this text. One of the most effective things that Mr. Levin does is when he uses the press's very own words against them. He will make a point about a bias that they have, or a story they lied about, and then he will spend literally pages just quoting from across the media spectrum from individuals or outlets doing the very thing that they claim not to do. It's a pretty powerful device. However, he does employ it a lot in this text. There are literally pages and pages and pages of him doing nothing more than quoting the media doing something that they say they don't do. I have mixed feelings about how interesting that is as a reader, but it's very powerful in terms of proving a point.

Mr. Levin is a bright man. That's obvious. He also has a rabid disgust for the politicization of the modern American media. It's not that (as he takes great pains to point out in his book) he has a problem with media bias. He has a problem when the media pretends that their bias doesn't exist.

There's a lot of this text that is actually a history lesson. Lots of attention is given to the 1917 Espionage Act and to the Alien & Sedition Act that John Adams signed into law in the early days of our nation. There is also a lot of attention given to the idea of a very partisan press. The press was partisan, and owned it up until the late 1920s, and then the façade of impartiality began to rear its head.

Another point that's interesting is Mr. Levin's takedown of the New York Times. I have nothing but contempt for the New York Times and have felt that most of my adult life. But Mr. Levin's piece by piece examination of their ignoring of the Holocaust, and at times, even covering it up from the American readers is disgusting to read. He also goes after Walter Duranty, a reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize for the New York Times, who flat out lied about Stalin's genocide and the Ukrainian famine of the 1930s. It's disturbing that the “paper of record� has never really been a paper of honesty.

All in all, UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS is an interesting and quick read. It's certainly only reconfirmed for me that my disdain and distaste for the media, and my lack of trust in almost all of it, is well placed.
]]> <![CDATA[Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World]]> 13392635 370 Simon Callow 000744530X Brian 4 non-fiction
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I was not expecting CHARLES DICKENS AND THE GREAT THEATRE OF THE WORLD to be as interesting and engaging as it was. And I was impressed by how good a writer actor Simon Callow is.
I especially enjoyed the connection Simon Callow makes between Dickens’s life and his love of theatre and theatricals. The integration of theatre performances at his home and traveling shows gives such insight into Dickens as a writer and as a person. It's a unique and enjoyable connection Mr. Callow uses to get the reader into the mind of this great writer. Mr. Callow does such a nice job getting into the mind of Dickens because he skillfully analyzes his work to get ideas about him as a person.

An unexpected delight in this text was reading about Dickens’s exuberant friendships. He loved his close friends dearly. They were integral to this life. Especially notable was his friendship with John Forster to whom, Dickens writes, “I look back with unmingled pleasure to every link which each ensuing week has added to the chain of our attachment.� John Forster was a constant presence in Dickens� life, and he is in this book as well.

Quotes:
� “He was learning to wear a mask, to conceal his inner life, to rise above his circumstances.�
� “…he had learned, at an astonishingly early age, how to nourish his inner life, by observing and responding to the world around him.�
� “Everything that had happened to him conspired to make him what he became; every last detail of it fed into his work.�
� “…it is Ignorance and Want, the root causes, Dickens believed, of all the world’s malaise.�
� “Dickens’s performances were triumphs of mind over matter: real acting is about mind in matter.�
� “…in this brief life of ours, it is sad to do almost anything for the last time.�
� “Literature was his wife, the theatre his mistress, and to the very end he was tempted to leave the one for the other.�
� “It is one of the greatest of English Lives, both humbling and heart-warming, despite titanic flaws.�

One of the great strengths of this text is that Mr. Callow uses lots of primary sources. It makes the book feel relevant, vital, and in the here and now. The people in this book are alive in the present in his capable hands. Consider this description of Dickens’s laugh (written by one of his friends) and you cannot help but adore the man’s zest for life and companionship. “Right to the end, it is Dickens’s laughter that people remembered: ‘not poor, thin, arid, ambiguous laughter, that is ashamed of itself, that moves one feature, only of the face�, his friend Helps wrote, ‘but the largest and heartiest kind, irradiating his whole countenance, and compelling you to participate in his immense enjoyment of it.’�

In the text’s Forward Mr. Callow writes of Charles Dickens that he was “Human through and through, an inspiration and a bafflement.� Callow has successfully shown him to be just that in this wonderful book.]]> 4.14 2012 Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World
author: Simon Callow
name: Brian
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/27
date added: 2024/06/07
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“At his writing desk, he felt like an emperor; in the theatre, he felt like a god.�

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I was not expecting CHARLES DICKENS AND THE GREAT THEATRE OF THE WORLD to be as interesting and engaging as it was. And I was impressed by how good a writer actor Simon Callow is.
I especially enjoyed the connection Simon Callow makes between Dickens’s life and his love of theatre and theatricals. The integration of theatre performances at his home and traveling shows gives such insight into Dickens as a writer and as a person. It's a unique and enjoyable connection Mr. Callow uses to get the reader into the mind of this great writer. Mr. Callow does such a nice job getting into the mind of Dickens because he skillfully analyzes his work to get ideas about him as a person.

An unexpected delight in this text was reading about Dickens’s exuberant friendships. He loved his close friends dearly. They were integral to this life. Especially notable was his friendship with John Forster to whom, Dickens writes, “I look back with unmingled pleasure to every link which each ensuing week has added to the chain of our attachment.� John Forster was a constant presence in Dickens� life, and he is in this book as well.

Quotes:
� “He was learning to wear a mask, to conceal his inner life, to rise above his circumstances.�
� “…he had learned, at an astonishingly early age, how to nourish his inner life, by observing and responding to the world around him.�
� “Everything that had happened to him conspired to make him what he became; every last detail of it fed into his work.�
� “…it is Ignorance and Want, the root causes, Dickens believed, of all the world’s malaise.�
� “Dickens’s performances were triumphs of mind over matter: real acting is about mind in matter.�
� “…in this brief life of ours, it is sad to do almost anything for the last time.�
� “Literature was his wife, the theatre his mistress, and to the very end he was tempted to leave the one for the other.�
� “It is one of the greatest of English Lives, both humbling and heart-warming, despite titanic flaws.�

One of the great strengths of this text is that Mr. Callow uses lots of primary sources. It makes the book feel relevant, vital, and in the here and now. The people in this book are alive in the present in his capable hands. Consider this description of Dickens’s laugh (written by one of his friends) and you cannot help but adore the man’s zest for life and companionship. “Right to the end, it is Dickens’s laughter that people remembered: ‘not poor, thin, arid, ambiguous laughter, that is ashamed of itself, that moves one feature, only of the face�, his friend Helps wrote, ‘but the largest and heartiest kind, irradiating his whole countenance, and compelling you to participate in his immense enjoyment of it.’�

In the text’s Forward Mr. Callow writes of Charles Dickens that he was “Human through and through, an inspiration and a bafflement.� Callow has successfully shown him to be just that in this wonderful book.
]]> <![CDATA[Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians]]> 580421 320 James Gilchrist Lawson 1577487907 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion
Written in 1911, DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS is a sometimes poorly written text. It fluctuates greatly in terms of quality. This book draws from Christian history (and the Wesleyan holiness movement) to include many post-conversion experiences with the Holy Spirit, which author James Lawson believed to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The book’s Introduction is an interesting overview of a few major theological points and some of the various ways said points are interpreted by various Christian denominations/practices. The text is heavy on the theological concepts of “justification by faith�, “indwelling of the Holy Spirit�, etc.

Leaving all that aside, there are three persons considered in the book whose story, or an element of it, left an impression on me. First was that of Madame Guyon (who I had never heard of) a spiritual leader in France, whose life seems to have been the 15th century version of the biblical Job. Second was the chapter about the Welsh preacher Billy Bray, a man filled with joy. Consider this quote attributed to him; “Well, friends, I have been taking vinegar and honey, but praise the Lord, I’ve had the vinegar with a spoon and the honey with a ladle.� Finally, I enjoyed the chapter on Pastor A.B. Earle. It was comforting to read about a great man of God who still struggled long after he accepted the faith. Such lives seem possible to us and demonstrate the patience and love of God.

Quotes:
� “So long as men have different degrees of light they are bound to differ in theory.�
� “True joy and peace come from living by faith, without regard to feelings.�
� “When we lose our inward happiness, we are very apt to think that we lose God, not considering the moral life of the soul does not consist in pleasure, but in union with God’s will, whatever that may be.�
� “God preserves the lives of those who He has chosen for some great work.�
� “This is the mystery of effective preaching. We must be endued with power from on high.�
� “How reluctant we are to cleave to the Lord� How prone to creature dependencies.�
� “When the Spirit, the Word, and the providence of God agree, we may be quite certain that the Lord is leading us, for these three are always in harmony and cannot disagree.�
� “There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness. God admits you by the one into the other.�

I believe that DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS is a book for a select audience. If you like brief autobiographical sketches of Christians (mostly Protestant) with some theology thrown in, you will find value here. Otherwise, this is probably not the book for you. For me, there were moments that I greatly enjoyed and I am glad I encountered this collection.]]> 3.67 1981 Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians
author: James Gilchrist Lawson
name: Brian
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1981
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/25
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“How wonderful that God should have borne so long with me.�

Written in 1911, DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS is a sometimes poorly written text. It fluctuates greatly in terms of quality. This book draws from Christian history (and the Wesleyan holiness movement) to include many post-conversion experiences with the Holy Spirit, which author James Lawson believed to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The book’s Introduction is an interesting overview of a few major theological points and some of the various ways said points are interpreted by various Christian denominations/practices. The text is heavy on the theological concepts of “justification by faith�, “indwelling of the Holy Spirit�, etc.

Leaving all that aside, there are three persons considered in the book whose story, or an element of it, left an impression on me. First was that of Madame Guyon (who I had never heard of) a spiritual leader in France, whose life seems to have been the 15th century version of the biblical Job. Second was the chapter about the Welsh preacher Billy Bray, a man filled with joy. Consider this quote attributed to him; “Well, friends, I have been taking vinegar and honey, but praise the Lord, I’ve had the vinegar with a spoon and the honey with a ladle.� Finally, I enjoyed the chapter on Pastor A.B. Earle. It was comforting to read about a great man of God who still struggled long after he accepted the faith. Such lives seem possible to us and demonstrate the patience and love of God.

Quotes:
� “So long as men have different degrees of light they are bound to differ in theory.�
� “True joy and peace come from living by faith, without regard to feelings.�
� “When we lose our inward happiness, we are very apt to think that we lose God, not considering the moral life of the soul does not consist in pleasure, but in union with God’s will, whatever that may be.�
� “God preserves the lives of those who He has chosen for some great work.�
� “This is the mystery of effective preaching. We must be endued with power from on high.�
� “How reluctant we are to cleave to the Lord� How prone to creature dependencies.�
� “When the Spirit, the Word, and the providence of God agree, we may be quite certain that the Lord is leading us, for these three are always in harmony and cannot disagree.�
� “There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness. God admits you by the one into the other.�

I believe that DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS is a book for a select audience. If you like brief autobiographical sketches of Christians (mostly Protestant) with some theology thrown in, you will find value here. Otherwise, this is probably not the book for you. For me, there were moments that I greatly enjoyed and I am glad I encountered this collection.
]]> The Measure 58884736
"A story of love and hope as interweaving characters display: how all moments, big and small, can measure a life. If you want joy, love, romance, and hope—read with us." —Jenna Bush Hager
A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out.

But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.]]> 353 Nikki Erlick 0063204207 Brian 2 fiction
The premise of THE MEASURE is an interesting one. Everyone on earth receives a box when they turn 22, and inside said box is a string, and that string’s length is your lifespan. Okay, an idea that has been around for a long time (see the Fates in mythology) and I like the idea of the present-day setting. However, in author Nikki Erlick, this idea has been placed in the hands of someone whose skill is not up to the idea.

The characters in this book are bland and interchangeable. There is no depth to any of them, in fact they are hard to tell apart. Very surface level characterization, mostly “types�, but not real humans. And for a book whose focus is on what it means to really live, a book peopled by one dimensional characters cannot fulfill that idea’s potential. One of the subplots involving a presidential candidate and his family is especially bad. Stock characters and plot at its worst.
There is also a lot of annoying pop psychology in the text. Lots of telling about emotions, but not actually showing the nuance of the emotion. Again, surface level stuff.

Quotes:
� “Aren’t there just some things in this world that can’t be explained by facts or science?�
� “…and it sometimes overwhelmed Nina to think that she could spend an entire lifetime reading and never keep up.�
� “There were few places she felt more contented than in a bookstore.�
� “Yet there was something about the physical, intimate act of writing a letter that made him want to be honest.�
� “But sometimes I think we forget that it also takes strength to be able to let go.�
� “But surely the chaos didn’t feel so chaotic if you believed it was part of God’s plan.�
� “…and everything that needed to be said was said in the silence, in their touch.�
� “You saw something wrong, and you didn’t look away…that’s not nothing.�

The last 100 or so pages of this text are not good. It is amateur hour at its finest.

My biggest issue with this book is that it tries to do too many things. A tighter focus of character and plotlines would have made THE MEASURE a better book. The last chapter of the novel is easily its best and demonstrates my above point.
One wonders what this text could have been.]]> 3.96 2022 The Measure
author: Nikki Erlick
name: Brian
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/05/21
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves: fiction
review:
“…it’s hard to keep fighting against something once you realize it’s not a fair fight…� (1.5 stars)

The premise of THE MEASURE is an interesting one. Everyone on earth receives a box when they turn 22, and inside said box is a string, and that string’s length is your lifespan. Okay, an idea that has been around for a long time (see the Fates in mythology) and I like the idea of the present-day setting. However, in author Nikki Erlick, this idea has been placed in the hands of someone whose skill is not up to the idea.

The characters in this book are bland and interchangeable. There is no depth to any of them, in fact they are hard to tell apart. Very surface level characterization, mostly “types�, but not real humans. And for a book whose focus is on what it means to really live, a book peopled by one dimensional characters cannot fulfill that idea’s potential. One of the subplots involving a presidential candidate and his family is especially bad. Stock characters and plot at its worst.
There is also a lot of annoying pop psychology in the text. Lots of telling about emotions, but not actually showing the nuance of the emotion. Again, surface level stuff.

Quotes:
� “Aren’t there just some things in this world that can’t be explained by facts or science?�
� “…and it sometimes overwhelmed Nina to think that she could spend an entire lifetime reading and never keep up.�
� “There were few places she felt more contented than in a bookstore.�
� “Yet there was something about the physical, intimate act of writing a letter that made him want to be honest.�
� “But sometimes I think we forget that it also takes strength to be able to let go.�
� “But surely the chaos didn’t feel so chaotic if you believed it was part of God’s plan.�
� “…and everything that needed to be said was said in the silence, in their touch.�
� “You saw something wrong, and you didn’t look away…that’s not nothing.�

The last 100 or so pages of this text are not good. It is amateur hour at its finest.

My biggest issue with this book is that it tries to do too many things. A tighter focus of character and plotlines would have made THE MEASURE a better book. The last chapter of the novel is easily its best and demonstrates my above point.
One wonders what this text could have been.
]]> <![CDATA[How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises]]> 61273417
It has been proclaimed many times, but perhaps never more convincingly than now, when every news cycle seems to deliver further confirmation of a world gone mad.

Is this the endgame? Have we come to closing time in the West?

Author Spencer Klavan is a classicist, with a Ph.D. from Oxford, and a deep understanding of the West. His The situation is dire. But every crisis we face today, we have faced before. And we can surmount each one. Today’s “five essential crises�

� The Crisis of Is there such a thing as objective truth—and even if there is, can “virtual reality� replace it?
� The Crisis of the Not just the “transgender� insanity, but the push for a “transhumanist� future
� The Crisis of Evolution—both biological and cultural—is a process of endless replication, of copying. But is there an original model that gives us an aspiration to aim for? Do our lives and actions have meaning?
� The Crisis of Science has not eliminated man's religious impulse, but rather misdirected it—and wrongly dismissed the profound philosophical plausibility of Judeo-Christian revelation.
� The Crisis of the Has America reached a point of inevitable collapse? Republican government was meant to end the destructive cycle of regimes rising and falling—but can it?

Klavan brings to the West’s defense the insights of Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, and the Founding Fathers to show that in the wisdom of the past lies hope for the future. That wisdom can improve our own lives and the lives of those around us—and ultimately save the West.]]> 256 Spencer Klavan 1684513456 Brian 4 audio, non-fiction
I was not prepared to like HOW TO SAVE THE WEST as much as I did. I had heard Mr. Klavan on various podcasts and was impressed by his obvious intelligence. The premise of this book, that Western Civilization is facing some dire crises, but that the crises are not new, and have been successfully dealt with by Western Civ before is an intriguing one. The five crises that Mr. Klavan examines are the crises of reality, the body, meaning, religion, and regime.
The organization of the text is that a “crisis� is examined in its modern iteration and then it is examined and dealt with through the wisdom and the practice of our forebears from ancient practice. And I was surprised at how very interesting an exercise that is! If there is one thing that this book makes abundantly clear, it is the Ecclesiastical admonition that “there is nothing new under the sun.� The story of history is one of endurance (that is also a biblical admonition) and this book is one that leans on that hope.

The 16-page Introduction to the book is brilliant. And I don’t use that word lightly. It is good! I kept going back to go over some sections of it again. By the end of the intro, I knew this book was going to be worth my time.

I am going to share a lot more quotes than I usually do, because this is one interesting text!
Quotes:
� “People become friends for various reasons: because they enjoy each other’s company, because they have some advantage to offer each other, or simply and purely because they recognize one another’s excellence of character.�
� “Even for all the manuscripts that are lost heedlessly or burned in war, for all the towers that come crashing down, some things-the memory of lost republics, the nagging conviction that justice is eternal-endure. They endure because they too are God’s.�
� “Your life is not some toy for you to bat listlessly at in search of a new thrill. It is a holy thing, made holy by the fact that everything you do and say has meaning.�
� “Every worthwhile account of human life and experience depends on reference to concepts that have no meaningful location on a brain scan.�
� “We are language-makers because God makes language, and the thing we try to express in all our utterance-whether in words or images or actions-is love.�
� “All science takes place within the context of philosophy-within a universe of meaning and understanding.�
� “There is a danger in a word like “love,� which has been so belittled as to look pathetic.�
� “Love is what says with unbridled intensity. “this is good� and, by comparison, “this is evil.�
� “Political and cultural authorities do not like to have their ignorance exposed.�
� “Athens� crisis of reality was everywhere, just like ours: to a man, practically everyone in power had abandoned real wisdom for the sake of personal gain.�
� “…the neuroscience, though interesting, only confirms what our ancestral wisdom could have told us: that we learn, grow, and connect by imitating one another.�
� “If everything is just matter, nothing can really mean anything.�
� “If there truly is nothing beyond nature, both art and life are meaningless.�
� “We breathe in stories like oxygen, and they shape who we become.�
� “There is an inescapable feedback loop here; art is not only the object which receives our moral evaluations but also the teacher which informs them.�
� “But anyone who wants art and human life to have significance should want to believe in God-otherwise, we have no ground to stand on.�

I listened to this book on audio, but I was so impressed by it that I will read it again. So, I went out and purchased a hard copy. HOW TO SAVE THE WEST is not a long book, but it is one that makes its rather profound points in a succinct and powerful manner.

At one point Klavan muses that the West is “used to rising from the ashes of its own ruin.� I am going to cling to that verdict. Civilizational battles are not new. May we take the best bits of the lessons of antiquity that preceded us and carry them forward.]]> 4.22 How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises
author: Spencer Klavan
name: Brian
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/04
date added: 2024/05/14
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“…hold on to what is truly real.�

I was not prepared to like HOW TO SAVE THE WEST as much as I did. I had heard Mr. Klavan on various podcasts and was impressed by his obvious intelligence. The premise of this book, that Western Civilization is facing some dire crises, but that the crises are not new, and have been successfully dealt with by Western Civ before is an intriguing one. The five crises that Mr. Klavan examines are the crises of reality, the body, meaning, religion, and regime.
The organization of the text is that a “crisis� is examined in its modern iteration and then it is examined and dealt with through the wisdom and the practice of our forebears from ancient practice. And I was surprised at how very interesting an exercise that is! If there is one thing that this book makes abundantly clear, it is the Ecclesiastical admonition that “there is nothing new under the sun.� The story of history is one of endurance (that is also a biblical admonition) and this book is one that leans on that hope.

The 16-page Introduction to the book is brilliant. And I don’t use that word lightly. It is good! I kept going back to go over some sections of it again. By the end of the intro, I knew this book was going to be worth my time.

I am going to share a lot more quotes than I usually do, because this is one interesting text!
Quotes:
� “People become friends for various reasons: because they enjoy each other’s company, because they have some advantage to offer each other, or simply and purely because they recognize one another’s excellence of character.�
� “Even for all the manuscripts that are lost heedlessly or burned in war, for all the towers that come crashing down, some things-the memory of lost republics, the nagging conviction that justice is eternal-endure. They endure because they too are God’s.�
� “Your life is not some toy for you to bat listlessly at in search of a new thrill. It is a holy thing, made holy by the fact that everything you do and say has meaning.�
� “Every worthwhile account of human life and experience depends on reference to concepts that have no meaningful location on a brain scan.�
� “We are language-makers because God makes language, and the thing we try to express in all our utterance-whether in words or images or actions-is love.�
� “All science takes place within the context of philosophy-within a universe of meaning and understanding.�
� “There is a danger in a word like “love,� which has been so belittled as to look pathetic.�
� “Love is what says with unbridled intensity. “this is good� and, by comparison, “this is evil.�
� “Political and cultural authorities do not like to have their ignorance exposed.�
� “Athens� crisis of reality was everywhere, just like ours: to a man, practically everyone in power had abandoned real wisdom for the sake of personal gain.�
� “…the neuroscience, though interesting, only confirms what our ancestral wisdom could have told us: that we learn, grow, and connect by imitating one another.�
� “If everything is just matter, nothing can really mean anything.�
� “If there truly is nothing beyond nature, both art and life are meaningless.�
� “We breathe in stories like oxygen, and they shape who we become.�
� “There is an inescapable feedback loop here; art is not only the object which receives our moral evaluations but also the teacher which informs them.�
� “But anyone who wants art and human life to have significance should want to believe in God-otherwise, we have no ground to stand on.�

I listened to this book on audio, but I was so impressed by it that I will read it again. So, I went out and purchased a hard copy. HOW TO SAVE THE WEST is not a long book, but it is one that makes its rather profound points in a succinct and powerful manner.

At one point Klavan muses that the West is “used to rising from the ashes of its own ruin.� I am going to cling to that verdict. Civilizational battles are not new. May we take the best bits of the lessons of antiquity that preceded us and carry them forward.
]]> <![CDATA[Hell or Richmond: A Novel (The Battle Hymn Cycle, 2)]]> 16059369
Against this backdrop of the birth of modern warfare and the painful rebirth of the United States, New York Times bestselling novelist Ralph Peters has created a breathtaking narrative that surpasses the drama and intensity of his recent critically acclaimed novel, Cain at Gettysburg.

In Hell or Richmond, thirty days of ceaseless carnage are seen through the eyes of acompelling cast, from the Union’s Harvard-valedictorian “boy general,� Francis Channing Barlow, to the brawling “dirty boots� Rebel colonel, William C. Oates. From Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee to a simple laborer destined to win the Medal of Honor, Peters brings to life an enthralling array of leaders and simple soldiers from both North and South, fleshing outhistory with stunning, knowledgeable realism.

From the horrific collision of armies in the Wilderness, where neither side wanted to fight, to the shocking slaughter of the grand charge at Cold Harbor, this epic novel delivers a compelling, authentic, and suspenseful portrait of Civil War combat.

Commemorating the approaching 150th anniversary of this grim encounter between valiant Americans, Ralph Peters brings to bear the lessons of his own military career, his lifelong study of this war and the men who fought it, and his skills as a bestselling, prize-winning novelist to portray horrific battles and sublime heroism as no other author has done.]]> 544 Ralph Peters 0765330482 Brian 4 fiction
Ralph Peters is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of historical fiction about the Civil War. HELL OR RICHMOND is his third novel about the war that I have read, and I will be sure to read all of them. Focusing mainly on the bloody mess of fighting that occurred between May 5th and June 3rd, 1864, which included the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse and Cold Harbor, this novel is a harrowing depiction of war and its effect on the men who fight them. Mr. Peters does an excellent job of rendering the chaos of battle. He does not flatter it or try to make it appear noble. I am not sure I have come across a writer yet who is better at it.

Some highlights of this text for me:
- Chapter 11 is disturbing to read. It depicts the late afternoon fighting at Tapp’s Field on May 6th, 1864 (The Wilderness). Alternating between the point of view of a sergeant in the 50th Pennsylvania and a Colonel in the 15th Alabama, the shifting POV of two men engaged in a fight against each other on the same field gives a full and unsettling depiction of the heat of battle.
- Chapter 17 depicting the night before the bloody assault at the “Mule Shoe� (Spotsylvania Courthouse) uses an alternating point of view to create a tension filled buildup to this iconic battle.
- There is a very human moment where numerous officers engage in ribald ribbing of one another before an assault that they know is doomed. The macabre humor in the face of disaster reeks of true sentiment.
- A moment where Robert E. Lee contemplates a life of no close human friendship, as he longs to confide in someone, knowing there is no one. This moment is depicted as the result of Lee’s own choices in his life, and it rings true for anyone who has worn a mask in public to hide true feelings.
- The constantly shifting point of view in the text is excellently used by Mr. Peters. He creates real flesh and blood characters, and often they may only appear in the book for a few pages and then they are gone. It is a great skill and one that is deftly deployed in this text.

Quotes:
� “Their ardor for slaughter repelled him.�
� “But ordeals end for the lucky men who survive them.�
� “Killing well was the darkest form of genius.�
� “An army in collapse made a terrible noise.�
� “A man had a hunger to know things, to understand.�
� “To seek death was a coward’s act, no matter how others perceived it.�
� “Men who had never been poor as dirt didn’t understand the hard figured cost of things.�
� “He did not pray. He would not insult the Lord by begging in time of danger. He trusted in the Lord.�

The “Author’s Note� is a brilliant analysis of what should constitute real historical fiction. I thought it was something that anyone who attempts to write in this genre should read.

Ralph Peters� research and intimate knowledge of the historical particulars of his subject matter makes this novel an excellent resource for those interested in the details of tactical elements of the events depicted, as well as those who enjoy good characterization and human truth and beauty. In HELL OR RICHMOND those elements are combined to make a very good work of historical fiction.

At one point two characters share this exchange;
“I joined up believing war exalts a man. But it only humbles us.�
“No sir�, Brown said. “It shames us.�
HELL OR RICHMOND makes the case for all three.]]> 4.28 2013 Hell or Richmond: A Novel (The Battle Hymn Cycle, 2)
author: Ralph Peters
name: Brian
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/14
date added: 2024/05/13
shelves: fiction
review:
“The trick of leading men was to ask a great deal, but not more than they could deliver.�

Ralph Peters is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of historical fiction about the Civil War. HELL OR RICHMOND is his third novel about the war that I have read, and I will be sure to read all of them. Focusing mainly on the bloody mess of fighting that occurred between May 5th and June 3rd, 1864, which included the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse and Cold Harbor, this novel is a harrowing depiction of war and its effect on the men who fight them. Mr. Peters does an excellent job of rendering the chaos of battle. He does not flatter it or try to make it appear noble. I am not sure I have come across a writer yet who is better at it.

Some highlights of this text for me:
- Chapter 11 is disturbing to read. It depicts the late afternoon fighting at Tapp’s Field on May 6th, 1864 (The Wilderness). Alternating between the point of view of a sergeant in the 50th Pennsylvania and a Colonel in the 15th Alabama, the shifting POV of two men engaged in a fight against each other on the same field gives a full and unsettling depiction of the heat of battle.
- Chapter 17 depicting the night before the bloody assault at the “Mule Shoe� (Spotsylvania Courthouse) uses an alternating point of view to create a tension filled buildup to this iconic battle.
- There is a very human moment where numerous officers engage in ribald ribbing of one another before an assault that they know is doomed. The macabre humor in the face of disaster reeks of true sentiment.
- A moment where Robert E. Lee contemplates a life of no close human friendship, as he longs to confide in someone, knowing there is no one. This moment is depicted as the result of Lee’s own choices in his life, and it rings true for anyone who has worn a mask in public to hide true feelings.
- The constantly shifting point of view in the text is excellently used by Mr. Peters. He creates real flesh and blood characters, and often they may only appear in the book for a few pages and then they are gone. It is a great skill and one that is deftly deployed in this text.

Quotes:
� “Their ardor for slaughter repelled him.�
� “But ordeals end for the lucky men who survive them.�
� “Killing well was the darkest form of genius.�
� “An army in collapse made a terrible noise.�
� “A man had a hunger to know things, to understand.�
� “To seek death was a coward’s act, no matter how others perceived it.�
� “Men who had never been poor as dirt didn’t understand the hard figured cost of things.�
� “He did not pray. He would not insult the Lord by begging in time of danger. He trusted in the Lord.�

The “Author’s Note� is a brilliant analysis of what should constitute real historical fiction. I thought it was something that anyone who attempts to write in this genre should read.

Ralph Peters� research and intimate knowledge of the historical particulars of his subject matter makes this novel an excellent resource for those interested in the details of tactical elements of the events depicted, as well as those who enjoy good characterization and human truth and beauty. In HELL OR RICHMOND those elements are combined to make a very good work of historical fiction.

At one point two characters share this exchange;
“I joined up believing war exalts a man. But it only humbles us.�
“No sir�, Brown said. “It shames us.�
HELL OR RICHMOND makes the case for all three.
]]> <![CDATA[Faded Coat of Blue (Abel Jones, #1)]]> 1793509 Set against the backdrop of battles and bordellos, of the intrigues of war-time Washington and the elegant mansions of old Philadelphia, FADED COAT OF BLUE reaches behind the myths and heroics to paint a ravishing, disturbing and deeply moving portrait of the United States in the midst of our harshest trial. A determinedly moral man in a troubled age, Abel Jones triggers a drama involving greedy immigrants and impassioned patriots, vicious politicians and the greatest president the country has ever known. His investigation draws him into a web of sinister relationships that reveals a hidden side to Fowler's life and a shocking secret the youth may have died for. As a nation begins its long march into war-and as President Lincoln agonizes over the coming carnage-Abel Jones discovers that good and evil are easily intertwined, while heroes may be betrayed by those who cherished them the most.

Vividly told, rich in history and compelling authentic detail, Faded Coat of Blue is a riveting tale of crime and punishment set amid the blood and tumult of the American Civil War; a startlingly original work of fiction that introduces Abel Jones, a most unusual crime-solver, a true American hero, and a keen observer of a world on fire.

]]> 352 Owen Parry 0380976420 Brian 4 fiction
I picked up FADED COAT OF BLUE when I literally stumbled across it in the library. A mystery set in the Civil War…sure, I’ll give it a go.
What an excellent find I made!

This is one of the most historically rich and atmospheric novels I have read in a while. It feels and reads like it was written in the late 1800s. The era breathes. Author Owen Parry took pains to convey accuracy and rich atmosphere. It shows. I was immersed in the world.

Mr. Parry has created for the novel’s protagonist a recent Welsh immigrant to America, a veteran of Queen Victoria’s� armies in India, and just an all around decent and very human man named Abel Jones. Jones is a noble man, who sees his weaknesses, who has made terrible mistakes, but is still a good principled man. His narrative voice is so Welsh in its construction, so funny in its observations, and so true to life. Jones repeats himself, has predictable patterns of speech, reveals his prejudices through the things he thinks and says, and is just so darn real I could have lifted a pint with him. If Abel Jones drank, which he does not, he “signed the pledge�. He has an immigrant’s love of America and its possibilities. I really liked him, its as simple as that.

The story takes place in 1861, in the early days of the Civil War, mostly in Washington DC. A joy of the text are remarks that characters make that are clever allusions that we who know (or should know) the coming events appreciate. The mystery in the text is an interesting one, and plausible considering the time period, but for me, it was really secondary to the excellent writing.
The novel is unflinching in its portrayals of the attitudes of the time, but it does not use them gratuitously, or in a ‘see how superior we are now� manner. It just incorporates them as the everyday facets of the time. Without comment or notice. The author trusts the reader to know those views are not standard or correct.

Some lines I liked…there are many I could have chosen:
* “What man with a brain in his head would waste his breath on politicians?�
* “There is decency in men, and goodness, and we must never forget that.�
* “…the softness of the old and the callous brutality of the present, the drabness and the beauty so
mixed up you soon stopped trying to make sense of it all and just lived.�
* “I knew enough of their heads to know there is more in them than sense.�
* “There is a quality of fear that makes a man run toward the object of his terror.�
* “It’s a terrible thing to be without hope.�
* “Men without Faith must substitute a dream, and mad dreams there are in plenty.�
* “…but we cannot hold the Irish to the same standards we apply to civilized people.�
* “But his voice that night was full of what we men are, of loneliness and the mix of bitterness and
conviction that pushes us from one day to the next.�
* “You had to stop to see the picture whole, to feel that bigness of unspoken hopes.�

There are lots more I could choose. All I will say is that their context makes lines like these even richer.

Even the author’s afterward in this book is good reading!
FADED COAT OF BLUE is the first in a series that deal with Abel Jones and the American Civil War, and I will continue reading them. I guess that says it all.]]> 4.04 1999 Faded Coat of Blue (Abel Jones, #1)
author: Owen Parry
name: Brian
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/31
date added: 2024/05/10
shelves: fiction
review:
“Battle is an intoxicating thing.�

I picked up FADED COAT OF BLUE when I literally stumbled across it in the library. A mystery set in the Civil War…sure, I’ll give it a go.
What an excellent find I made!

This is one of the most historically rich and atmospheric novels I have read in a while. It feels and reads like it was written in the late 1800s. The era breathes. Author Owen Parry took pains to convey accuracy and rich atmosphere. It shows. I was immersed in the world.

Mr. Parry has created for the novel’s protagonist a recent Welsh immigrant to America, a veteran of Queen Victoria’s� armies in India, and just an all around decent and very human man named Abel Jones. Jones is a noble man, who sees his weaknesses, who has made terrible mistakes, but is still a good principled man. His narrative voice is so Welsh in its construction, so funny in its observations, and so true to life. Jones repeats himself, has predictable patterns of speech, reveals his prejudices through the things he thinks and says, and is just so darn real I could have lifted a pint with him. If Abel Jones drank, which he does not, he “signed the pledge�. He has an immigrant’s love of America and its possibilities. I really liked him, its as simple as that.

The story takes place in 1861, in the early days of the Civil War, mostly in Washington DC. A joy of the text are remarks that characters make that are clever allusions that we who know (or should know) the coming events appreciate. The mystery in the text is an interesting one, and plausible considering the time period, but for me, it was really secondary to the excellent writing.
The novel is unflinching in its portrayals of the attitudes of the time, but it does not use them gratuitously, or in a ‘see how superior we are now� manner. It just incorporates them as the everyday facets of the time. Without comment or notice. The author trusts the reader to know those views are not standard or correct.

Some lines I liked…there are many I could have chosen:
* “What man with a brain in his head would waste his breath on politicians?�
* “There is decency in men, and goodness, and we must never forget that.�
* “…the softness of the old and the callous brutality of the present, the drabness and the beauty so
mixed up you soon stopped trying to make sense of it all and just lived.�
* “I knew enough of their heads to know there is more in them than sense.�
* “There is a quality of fear that makes a man run toward the object of his terror.�
* “It’s a terrible thing to be without hope.�
* “Men without Faith must substitute a dream, and mad dreams there are in plenty.�
* “…but we cannot hold the Irish to the same standards we apply to civilized people.�
* “But his voice that night was full of what we men are, of loneliness and the mix of bitterness and
conviction that pushes us from one day to the next.�
* “You had to stop to see the picture whole, to feel that bigness of unspoken hopes.�

There are lots more I could choose. All I will say is that their context makes lines like these even richer.

Even the author’s afterward in this book is good reading!
FADED COAT OF BLUE is the first in a series that deal with Abel Jones and the American Civil War, and I will continue reading them. I guess that says it all.
]]> Ladder of Years 13432133 Alternate Cover Edition for ISBN10: 0449910571 (ISBN13: 9780449910573)

Married with three almost-grown children, Delia Grinstead has vanished without trace or reason. But for Delia, walking away from it all is an impulse that will lead her into a new, exciting, and unimagined life. Chosen by "Time" magazine as One of the Ten Best Novels of the Year.]]> 326 Anne Tyler Brian 4 fiction
Anne Tyler captures the quiet nuances of life that we all hold back, or rarely share with those around us. I would not call it our loneliness, just the distance that most of us create in certain aspects of our lives. LADDER OF YEARS is another example of her displaying that skill. It’s a 326-page book that feels longer, and I mean that in a good way. It’s so well developed, so richly written that it feels fuller, denser than what it actually is.
Plot in short- Deila Grinstead, age 40, walks away from her marriage and children (the youngest is 16) one day during a family beach vacation and stats a new life. And the reason she does this is never fully explained. Are such actions ever?

This novel started out slow for me, and then suddenly I was caught up. I wanted to keep reading every time I picked it up. Every time I read Ms. Tyler her simplicity of observation of the small daily things in life make me appreciate being alive. There is a startling moment where Delia remembers beach vacations from her children’s younger days, and the small items that sift through her mind are instantly recognizable to anyone who has taken such a trip. Tyler writes as Delia recounts these memories, “She recalled each less-than-perfect detail, and yet still she would have given anything to find herself in one of those moments.�

Quotes:
� “Except that real life continues past the end…�
� “Funny how life contrived to build up layers of things around a person.�
� “Never do anything you can’t undo.�
� “Just a few scattered moments, she thought, have a way of summing up a person’s life.�
� “It was not that her sadness had left her, but she seemed to operate on a smooth surface several inches above the sadness.�
� “I may be single, but I’m not suicidal.�
� “Oh, lately it seems everything I touch goes galloping off in every direction! Leaves me staring after it amazed.�
� “All those years when I was a child, longing for it to be ‘my turn�, it hadn’t occurred to me that my turn would be over, by and by.�
� “Taken over by rubbish words, while the real words disappear.�
� “I mean, how did things get so out of hand here? When did they start to go wrong that I didn’t even notice?�

With about 60 pages to go in the book, I realized that I did not know where this story was going. And that’s life. Who really knows how this journey will end up?
I will say that the last chapter of the text killed it for me, but only because it was not the end I wanted. Although reflecting on it, I think LADDER OF YEARS ended the way it was supposed to. It’s an ending that the reader must let percolate.

I keep reading Anne Tyler because her people are real. I’m so glad I have more of her output to dig through.]]> 3.65 1995 Ladder of Years
author: Anne Tyler
name: Brian
average rating: 3.65
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/29
date added: 2024/05/08
shelves: fiction
review:
“…you get to what you thought was the end and you find it’s a whole new beginning.�

Anne Tyler captures the quiet nuances of life that we all hold back, or rarely share with those around us. I would not call it our loneliness, just the distance that most of us create in certain aspects of our lives. LADDER OF YEARS is another example of her displaying that skill. It’s a 326-page book that feels longer, and I mean that in a good way. It’s so well developed, so richly written that it feels fuller, denser than what it actually is.
Plot in short- Deila Grinstead, age 40, walks away from her marriage and children (the youngest is 16) one day during a family beach vacation and stats a new life. And the reason she does this is never fully explained. Are such actions ever?

This novel started out slow for me, and then suddenly I was caught up. I wanted to keep reading every time I picked it up. Every time I read Ms. Tyler her simplicity of observation of the small daily things in life make me appreciate being alive. There is a startling moment where Delia remembers beach vacations from her children’s younger days, and the small items that sift through her mind are instantly recognizable to anyone who has taken such a trip. Tyler writes as Delia recounts these memories, “She recalled each less-than-perfect detail, and yet still she would have given anything to find herself in one of those moments.�

Quotes:
� “Except that real life continues past the end…�
� “Funny how life contrived to build up layers of things around a person.�
� “Never do anything you can’t undo.�
� “Just a few scattered moments, she thought, have a way of summing up a person’s life.�
� “It was not that her sadness had left her, but she seemed to operate on a smooth surface several inches above the sadness.�
� “I may be single, but I’m not suicidal.�
� “Oh, lately it seems everything I touch goes galloping off in every direction! Leaves me staring after it amazed.�
� “All those years when I was a child, longing for it to be ‘my turn�, it hadn’t occurred to me that my turn would be over, by and by.�
� “Taken over by rubbish words, while the real words disappear.�
� “I mean, how did things get so out of hand here? When did they start to go wrong that I didn’t even notice?�

With about 60 pages to go in the book, I realized that I did not know where this story was going. And that’s life. Who really knows how this journey will end up?
I will say that the last chapter of the text killed it for me, but only because it was not the end I wanted. Although reflecting on it, I think LADDER OF YEARS ended the way it was supposed to. It’s an ending that the reader must let percolate.

I keep reading Anne Tyler because her people are real. I’m so glad I have more of her output to dig through.
]]> Darkness at Chancellorsville 41555920 Ralph Peters' Darkness at Chancellorsville is a novel of one of the most dramatic battles in American history, from the New York Times bestselling, three-time Boyd Award-winning author of the Battle Hymn Cycle.



Centered upon one of the most surprising and dramatic battles in American history, Darkness at Chancellorsville recreates what began as a brilliant, triumphant campaign for the Union--only to end in disaster for the North. Famed Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson bring off an against-all-odds surprise victory, humiliating a Yankee force three times the size of their own, while the Northern army is torn by rivalries, anti-immigrant prejudice and selfish ambition.

This historically accurate epic captures the high drama, human complexity and existential threat that nearly tore the United States in two, featuring a broad range of fascinating--and real--characters, in blue and gray, who sum to an untold story about a battle that has attained mythic proportions. And, in the end, the Confederate triumph proved a Pyrrhic victory, since it lured Lee to embark on what would become the war's turning point--the Gettysburg Campaign (featured in Cain At Gettysburg).]]> 384 Ralph Peters 0765381737 Brian 4 fiction
I read a book that Ralph Peters wrote under a pen name and I was very impressed by it. He has a series of books about the Civil War, so I have decided to read them. DARKNESS AT CHANCELLORSVILLE makes me confident that I have made a good choice.

The novel is structured so that we get many 3rd person points of view from various characters. Some of the perspectives are reoccurring throughout the whole text, and some only pop up once or a few times. I really enjoyed getting into one character’s head for a few pages, sometimes only for a few sentences, and then moving into another’s. Peters also does a nice job using the hubris of some characters to create some clever (and sometimes unexpected) moments of dramatic irony. The characters are complex. There is no hagiography here. Or scapegoating. These people are “good and ill combined�, as are we all.

I have read quite a few novels about the Civil War, and Peters has them all beat for authenticity (the world leaps off the page) and for dialogue. His generals and soldiers are not the folks of pontificating history books. He also knows his stuff (Peters has an extensive military background, and is a very educated and obviously smart man). An example is in chapter 6 of the book, which is a brilliant depiction of Stonewall Jackson’s surprise flank attack at the battle of Chancellorsville. The often shifting perspectives in this chapter makes for a vivid recreation of what that evening must have felt like for the various participants.

When an immigrant solider in the book said the following, I almost shouted. “But this war won’t be lost. It can’t be. We’ll win because we must win. Show me another country, anywhere, that has fought a civil war to free its own slaves-and men of a different race, at that. There is no such country. Only here.� I always remind people who knock America about the scourge of slavery about this very pertinent fact. It does not excuse it, etc. But it is relevant to the values and spirit upon which my nation was founded that slavery lasted less than 80 years in the United States. Compared to much of the world that is remarkable. It was lovely to see it echoed in this novel, and by an immigrant, a former soldier of the revolutions in Prussia. And, the sentiment was depicted in a manner still accurate for the prevailing sentiments of the period. Notice that this person (enlightened by the standards of the time) still sees color as a difference with an implication that it is somewhat less than.
In the same vein, this is the first Civil War novel that I have read that gives a lot of attention to the recent immigrants (on both sides) who fought in the war. It gives a powerful depth this this text.

Quotes:
� “He’d seen too many promising starts dissolve into chaos and loss.�
� “An officer with nothing to do was a danger to man and beast.�
� “Few things made Germans happier than melancholy music.�
� “Plenty of things that feel good don’t help.�
� “Habit outlasted reason.�
� “It was always the one thing you took for granted that bit you…�
� “He saw and sensed and knew things others didn’t, although he had learned not to speak of it to others.�
� “Equal in chances, if not in gifts.�
� “…the point is not to be damaged inside, even when we’re damaged on the outside…to believe not because, but despite.�
� “…but war didn’t whisper requests, it shouted demands.�

Ralph Peters� Author’s Note at the end of this novel is brilliant in and of itself. Don’t put the book down before reading it. At one point he writes, “I’m allergic to attempts to romanticize war.� This text proves that he truly believes that.

From Generals Lee and Hooker to nameless privates on the field, DARKNESS AT CHANCELLORSVILLE bounces around, making a full picture for the reader. This is a realistic, gritty, and honest depiction of history. I will start in with Mr. Peters� “Battle Hymn� cycle (5 books that take the war from Gettysburg to Appomattox) soon.]]> 4.33 Darkness at Chancellorsville
author: Ralph Peters
name: Brian
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/09
date added: 2024/05/04
shelves: fiction
review:
“None of the dying and bleeding had done any good.�

I read a book that Ralph Peters wrote under a pen name and I was very impressed by it. He has a series of books about the Civil War, so I have decided to read them. DARKNESS AT CHANCELLORSVILLE makes me confident that I have made a good choice.

The novel is structured so that we get many 3rd person points of view from various characters. Some of the perspectives are reoccurring throughout the whole text, and some only pop up once or a few times. I really enjoyed getting into one character’s head for a few pages, sometimes only for a few sentences, and then moving into another’s. Peters also does a nice job using the hubris of some characters to create some clever (and sometimes unexpected) moments of dramatic irony. The characters are complex. There is no hagiography here. Or scapegoating. These people are “good and ill combined�, as are we all.

I have read quite a few novels about the Civil War, and Peters has them all beat for authenticity (the world leaps off the page) and for dialogue. His generals and soldiers are not the folks of pontificating history books. He also knows his stuff (Peters has an extensive military background, and is a very educated and obviously smart man). An example is in chapter 6 of the book, which is a brilliant depiction of Stonewall Jackson’s surprise flank attack at the battle of Chancellorsville. The often shifting perspectives in this chapter makes for a vivid recreation of what that evening must have felt like for the various participants.

When an immigrant solider in the book said the following, I almost shouted. “But this war won’t be lost. It can’t be. We’ll win because we must win. Show me another country, anywhere, that has fought a civil war to free its own slaves-and men of a different race, at that. There is no such country. Only here.� I always remind people who knock America about the scourge of slavery about this very pertinent fact. It does not excuse it, etc. But it is relevant to the values and spirit upon which my nation was founded that slavery lasted less than 80 years in the United States. Compared to much of the world that is remarkable. It was lovely to see it echoed in this novel, and by an immigrant, a former soldier of the revolutions in Prussia. And, the sentiment was depicted in a manner still accurate for the prevailing sentiments of the period. Notice that this person (enlightened by the standards of the time) still sees color as a difference with an implication that it is somewhat less than.
In the same vein, this is the first Civil War novel that I have read that gives a lot of attention to the recent immigrants (on both sides) who fought in the war. It gives a powerful depth this this text.

Quotes:
� “He’d seen too many promising starts dissolve into chaos and loss.�
� “An officer with nothing to do was a danger to man and beast.�
� “Few things made Germans happier than melancholy music.�
� “Plenty of things that feel good don’t help.�
� “Habit outlasted reason.�
� “It was always the one thing you took for granted that bit you…�
� “He saw and sensed and knew things others didn’t, although he had learned not to speak of it to others.�
� “Equal in chances, if not in gifts.�
� “…the point is not to be damaged inside, even when we’re damaged on the outside…to believe not because, but despite.�
� “…but war didn’t whisper requests, it shouted demands.�

Ralph Peters� Author’s Note at the end of this novel is brilliant in and of itself. Don’t put the book down before reading it. At one point he writes, “I’m allergic to attempts to romanticize war.� This text proves that he truly believes that.

From Generals Lee and Hooker to nameless privates on the field, DARKNESS AT CHANCELLORSVILLE bounces around, making a full picture for the reader. This is a realistic, gritty, and honest depiction of history. I will start in with Mr. Peters� “Battle Hymn� cycle (5 books that take the war from Gettysburg to Appomattox) soon.
]]> <![CDATA[The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors]]> 24611635
Discover the real history behind The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses , thePBS Great Performance series of Shakespeare's plays, starring Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sofie Okenedo and Hugh Bonneville.

The crown of England changed hands five times over the course of the fifteenth century, as two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty fought to the death for the right to rule. In this riveting follow-up to The Plantagenets , celebrated historian Dan Jones describes how the longest-reigning British royal family tore itself apart until it was finally replaced by the Tudors.

Some of the greatest heroes and villains of history were thrown together in these turbulent times, from Joan of Arc and Henry V, whose victory at Agincourt marked the high point of the medieval monarchy, to Richard III, who murdered his own nephews in a desperate bid to secure his stolen crown. This was a period when headstrong queens and consorts seized power and bent men to their will. With vivid descriptions of the battles of Towton and Bosworth, where the last Plantagenet king was slain, this dramatic narrative history revels in bedlam and intrigue. It also offers a long-overdue corrective to Tudor propaganda, dismantling their self-serving account of what they called the Wars of the Roses.

“If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones or The Tudors then Dan Jones� swashbucklingly entertaining slice of medieval history will be right up your alley� Every bit as entertaining and readable as his previous blockbuster The Plantagenets .� � Daily Express]]> 416 Dan Jones 0143127888 Brian 4 non-fiction
I read Dan Jones� book THE PLANTAGENETS, THE WARRIOR KINGS AND QUEENS WHO MADE ENGLAND a while ago and I greatly enjoyed it. So, it was an easy decision to read his follow up to that text, THE WARS OF THE ROSES, THE FALL OF THE PLANTAGENETS AND THE RISE OF THE TUDORS. The book is a good overview of the tumultuous 15th century in England. From the gruesome execution that opens the text, to the coronation of Elizabeth 1st, which closes the epilogue, it makes for an exciting trip.

There is a lot of history in the stories that this concise and to the point explanation covers, and Mr. Jones takes this complicated and convoluted history and gives it to us in a digestible account. The book is endlessly fascinating and riveting, and all of it is true!

Quotes:
� “For if the travails of the last six decades had taught Englishman anything, then it was that the prosperity of the kingdom was dependent heavily on the good sense of the man who wore the crown.�
� “The wounds were passing into the realm of history and folklore.�

At one point Jones writes of this period in England’s history, “…this was a vicious and at times barely comprehensible period of deep political instability, which stemmed ultimately from a collapse in royal authority and English rule in France under Henry VI.� If there was one thing that THE WARS OF THE ROSES demonstrates it is that very point.
I’m sure that this book leaves out many pertinent points, but if you want to be informed about England’s political history and have a good overview of the period and the aspects of this bloody time in England’s monarchial history, then this is the read for you.

I already have more books by Dan Jones on my “to read� pile. Looking forward to them. I know I will be entertained, and learn something to boot!]]> 4.29 2014 The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors
author: Dan Jones
name: Brian
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/28
date added: 2024/04/25
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“As with so many tragedies, our story opens with a moment of triumph.�

I read Dan Jones� book THE PLANTAGENETS, THE WARRIOR KINGS AND QUEENS WHO MADE ENGLAND a while ago and I greatly enjoyed it. So, it was an easy decision to read his follow up to that text, THE WARS OF THE ROSES, THE FALL OF THE PLANTAGENETS AND THE RISE OF THE TUDORS. The book is a good overview of the tumultuous 15th century in England. From the gruesome execution that opens the text, to the coronation of Elizabeth 1st, which closes the epilogue, it makes for an exciting trip.

There is a lot of history in the stories that this concise and to the point explanation covers, and Mr. Jones takes this complicated and convoluted history and gives it to us in a digestible account. The book is endlessly fascinating and riveting, and all of it is true!

Quotes:
� “For if the travails of the last six decades had taught Englishman anything, then it was that the prosperity of the kingdom was dependent heavily on the good sense of the man who wore the crown.�
� “The wounds were passing into the realm of history and folklore.�

At one point Jones writes of this period in England’s history, “…this was a vicious and at times barely comprehensible period of deep political instability, which stemmed ultimately from a collapse in royal authority and English rule in France under Henry VI.� If there was one thing that THE WARS OF THE ROSES demonstrates it is that very point.
I’m sure that this book leaves out many pertinent points, but if you want to be informed about England’s political history and have a good overview of the period and the aspects of this bloody time in England’s monarchial history, then this is the read for you.

I already have more books by Dan Jones on my “to read� pile. Looking forward to them. I know I will be entertained, and learn something to boot!
]]> Origin (Robert Langdon, #5) 32307358 This an alternate cover for B01LY7FD0D

Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement--the unveiling of a discovery that "will change the face of science forever." The evening's host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. Kirsch, who was one of Langdon's first students at Harvard two decades earlier, is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough . . . one that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence.

As the event begins, Langdon and several hundred guests find themselves captivated by an utterly original presentation, which Langdon realizes will be far more controversial than he ever imagined. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch's precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch's secret.

Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain's Royal Palace itself . . . and who will stop at nothing to silence Edmond Kirsch. On a trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch's shocking discovery . . . and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us. Origin is stunningly inventive--Dan Brown's most brilliant and entertaining novel to date]]> 482 Dan Brown Brian 1
Did you ever start reading a book that was so stupid you knew you were going to finish it because you always assumed that deep down you were a masochist?
I did. That book was called ORIGIN.

Did you ever start reading a book that was so poorly written that you knew you were going to finish it because you had to see for yourself had bad bad writing could be?
I did. That book was called ORIGIN.

Did you ever start reading a book that was so foolish you began to doubt its actual existence and began to assume that you were being mocked on a hidden camera television show?
I did. That book was called ORIGIN.

That is pretty much all I got folks. Seriously, what terrible teenage musings and plotting, all while striving so hard to give off the impression of being deep.
I knew when I picked it up it would be bad, Dan Brown cannot write. But the couple of books of his I have read were fine for poolside laziness. I got this book for free from a library sale and read it while trapped on an exercise bike and I was still robbed on both accounts. Another installment in Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, this text is a religion hating screed, gussied up as a thriller. Second verse same as the first.

These two lines I like though-
“Even for those who wield great power, life is brief.�
"My faith will never die, it dwells beyond your realm of science.�

That’s it. Those are the only two things I care to remember about this book.]]> 3.87 2017 Origin (Robert Langdon, #5)
author: Dan Brown
name: Brian
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2017
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2024/04/24
shelves:
review:
“Human creation and human destiny. They are the universal mysteries.�

Did you ever start reading a book that was so stupid you knew you were going to finish it because you always assumed that deep down you were a masochist?
I did. That book was called ORIGIN.

Did you ever start reading a book that was so poorly written that you knew you were going to finish it because you had to see for yourself had bad bad writing could be?
I did. That book was called ORIGIN.

Did you ever start reading a book that was so foolish you began to doubt its actual existence and began to assume that you were being mocked on a hidden camera television show?
I did. That book was called ORIGIN.

That is pretty much all I got folks. Seriously, what terrible teenage musings and plotting, all while striving so hard to give off the impression of being deep.
I knew when I picked it up it would be bad, Dan Brown cannot write. But the couple of books of his I have read were fine for poolside laziness. I got this book for free from a library sale and read it while trapped on an exercise bike and I was still robbed on both accounts. Another installment in Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, this text is a religion hating screed, gussied up as a thriller. Second verse same as the first.

These two lines I like though-
“Even for those who wield great power, life is brief.�
"My faith will never die, it dwells beyond your realm of science.�

That’s it. Those are the only two things I care to remember about this book.
]]> <![CDATA[Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace]]> 22299380 The New York Times bestseller from the author of Help, Thanks, Wow, Hallelujah Anyway and Almost Everything, Lamott's long-awaited collection of new and selected essays on hope, joy, and grace

Anne Lamott writes about faith, family, and community in essays that are both wise and irreverent. It’s an approach that has become her trademark. Now in Small Victories, Lamott offers a new message of hope that celebrates the triumph of light over the darkness in our lives. Our victories over hardship and pain may seem small, she writes, but they change us—our perceptions, our perspectives, and our lives. Lamott writes of forgiveness, restoration, and transformation, how we can turn toward love even in the most hopeless situations, how we find the joy in getting lost and our amazement in finally being found.

Profound and hilarious, honest and unexpected, the stories in Small Victories are proof that the human spirit is irrepressible.]]> 286 Anne Lamott 1594486298 Brian 3 non-fiction, audio
SMALL VICTORIES is a book I should not have liked at all. And at times, I didn’t. However, for the most part it kept my attention, and I enjoyed the read. I don't think I agree with Anne Lamott on one political or theological issue. In fact, I found her version of Christianity to be rather shallow and insipid. However, I can appreciate her skill at capturing the elegiac and the emotional. This collection of essays, grouped around the idea of the book’s subtitle (Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace) was a pleasant experience for me.

Miss Lamott is certainly not a biblical Christian. Her theology is very very liberal, which she takes great pains to point out all throughout the book. In the essay “Falling Better� she is especially heretical. At one point she makes the claim that if people she wants in Heaven, aren't there than she’s really not interested in going there herself. That's just stupid. The final essay, in this book, “Market Street� is awful. Miss Lamont tries to sell the reader an idea not rooted in reality.

There's a lot of death in the essays in this book. Lots of people dying. And in those moments of difficulty, I give immense credit to Ms. Lamott for finding beauty. Beauty that, that for the most part, she is successful in conveying in this book. I was uplifted while reading this text. The small things, the small graces that Lamott gleans from the mundane of the everyday are indeed gifts.

Quotes:
� “It’s gone. We can mourn it, but we don’t have to get down in the grave with it.�
� “…because we had come with dedication, with loving intention and attention, which is what makes something sacred.�
� “Where is God in gang warfare? And the answer is, the same place God is in Darfur, and in our alcoholism, and when children are being bullied: being crucified.�
� “Willingness to change, after all, comes only from pain.�

Lamott mentions her liberal political agenda, a lot, which is fine. I’m surprised it did not irritate more than it did, as I agree with none of her politics. And as mentioned, I agree with almost none of her interpretation of Christianity. But her essays have an elegiac sentimental tone to them which I appreciated very much.
I’m not opposed to reading more of her output, just not sure when I will. To be determined.]]> 3.86 2014 Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace
author: Anne Lamott
name: Brian
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/20
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves: non-fiction, audio
review:
“Not everything is going to be okay.� (3.5 stars)

SMALL VICTORIES is a book I should not have liked at all. And at times, I didn’t. However, for the most part it kept my attention, and I enjoyed the read. I don't think I agree with Anne Lamott on one political or theological issue. In fact, I found her version of Christianity to be rather shallow and insipid. However, I can appreciate her skill at capturing the elegiac and the emotional. This collection of essays, grouped around the idea of the book’s subtitle (Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace) was a pleasant experience for me.

Miss Lamott is certainly not a biblical Christian. Her theology is very very liberal, which she takes great pains to point out all throughout the book. In the essay “Falling Better� she is especially heretical. At one point she makes the claim that if people she wants in Heaven, aren't there than she’s really not interested in going there herself. That's just stupid. The final essay, in this book, “Market Street� is awful. Miss Lamont tries to sell the reader an idea not rooted in reality.

There's a lot of death in the essays in this book. Lots of people dying. And in those moments of difficulty, I give immense credit to Ms. Lamott for finding beauty. Beauty that, that for the most part, she is successful in conveying in this book. I was uplifted while reading this text. The small things, the small graces that Lamott gleans from the mundane of the everyday are indeed gifts.

Quotes:
� “It’s gone. We can mourn it, but we don’t have to get down in the grave with it.�
� “…because we had come with dedication, with loving intention and attention, which is what makes something sacred.�
� “Where is God in gang warfare? And the answer is, the same place God is in Darfur, and in our alcoholism, and when children are being bullied: being crucified.�
� “Willingness to change, after all, comes only from pain.�

Lamott mentions her liberal political agenda, a lot, which is fine. I’m surprised it did not irritate more than it did, as I agree with none of her politics. And as mentioned, I agree with almost none of her interpretation of Christianity. But her essays have an elegiac sentimental tone to them which I appreciated very much.
I’m not opposed to reading more of her output, just not sure when I will. To be determined.
]]> A Soldier of the Great War 87985 860 Mark Helprin 0156031132 Brian 5 fiction
A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR is not a perfect book. It has flaws. But it is a beautiful book about beautiful things (love, art, friendship, family, life, etc.). This novel celebrates and explicates what is beauty. The aesthetics of the good things in this world. It sounds heady, at times it is, but this text is a thing of exquisiteness.

This long novel is the story of Alessandro Giuliani, a Roman, and covers his life in the first half of the 20th century, with most emphasis on his early life and his years in the Italian Army in WW I. Alessandro tells the story of his life to a young man who he finds himself walking with for a few days. The frame story begins and ends with this walk/conversation between Alessandro and this young man (Nicolo).

The book, which starts out a little didactically, I found to be engaging and unexpectedly very funny at times. Of great enjoyment to me was the dry humor that the author (Mark Helprin) endows the novel’s protagonist with. Alessandro’s witty retorts and wry observations pop up in the most unexpected, and oddly appropriate, moments.

This is a long book, so I’ll share some moments that I liked. There are many to choose from�

I greatly enjoyed the chapter “Stella Maris� which boast some grand and profound philosophical and theological musings, powerful for their simplicity and joy in the divine and the ways in which it manifests itself in this world. The melancholy tone of this chapter is ringed with splendor.
The above chapter also has a character take down the socialist ideology in one of the best efforts I have seen in fiction or nonfiction. Consider this exchange between two characters-

“Since its beginning the world has seen empires, theocracies, slave states, anarchy, feudalism, capitalism, revolutionary states, and everything else you can think of, and no matter what the variation, the bloodstained stakes, guillotines, and killing grounds remain.�
“Scientific socialism will make it otherwise.�
“Scientific socialism will make the killing scientific and socialistic�, Alessandro replied.
“True, it may be necessary initially to liquidate opponents of the revolution�, Ludovico admitted.
“Yes, I know. The stakes do come in handy. It’s why no one ever takes them down.�
“You commit a great evil� Ludovico declared “By abandoning belief in the perfectibility of man in favor of dreams of the heavenly city and of a God that cannot be proved.�
“The heavenly city in which I believe Ludovico, cannot be demonstrated. It is a matter of faith and revelation, not reason. You, however, claim that your heavenly city is demonstrable, and, of course, it isn’t.�

Later on in the book Alessandro worries about Italy post WW I, “Alessandro feared that fascists would flirt with the Left, that rather than destroy one another, they would combine…� And sadly, I fear the same today.

When I read the following passage my heart soared, as it is one of my passions, seeing people in the past as humans and as products of their time, not ours!
“It’s simple. You can do something just, and that is to remember them. Remember them. To think of them in their flesh, not as abstractions. To make no generalizations of war or peace that override their souls. To draw no lessons of history on their behalf. Their history is over. Remember them, just remember them-in their millions-for they were not history, they were only men, women, and children. Recall them, if you can, with affection, and recall them, if you can, with love. That is all you need to do in regard to them, and all they ask.�
When you realize that in one generation this applies to you, it should make you a lot less judgmental of those who came before us.

Overall this novel is a mix of a good story that has moments of literary beauty and philosophical musings interlaced in a seamless blend. These elements serve each other and create an enchanting whole. In A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR if one of those features was missing the novel would not seem complete, so well do they complement each other.

At the novel’s end someone observes about a baby, “All his heart had been in his cry, and then he had had peace.� Sounds like a great way to describe a life to me.

This is my first Mark Helprin novel. It will not be my last. His is too great a talent to ignore.]]> 4.35 1991 A Soldier of the Great War
author: Mark Helprin
name: Brian
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1991
rating: 5
read at: 2020/11/10
date added: 2024/04/19
shelves: fiction
review:
“But, think, if darkness did not exist, how would you know light?�

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR is not a perfect book. It has flaws. But it is a beautiful book about beautiful things (love, art, friendship, family, life, etc.). This novel celebrates and explicates what is beauty. The aesthetics of the good things in this world. It sounds heady, at times it is, but this text is a thing of exquisiteness.

This long novel is the story of Alessandro Giuliani, a Roman, and covers his life in the first half of the 20th century, with most emphasis on his early life and his years in the Italian Army in WW I. Alessandro tells the story of his life to a young man who he finds himself walking with for a few days. The frame story begins and ends with this walk/conversation between Alessandro and this young man (Nicolo).

The book, which starts out a little didactically, I found to be engaging and unexpectedly very funny at times. Of great enjoyment to me was the dry humor that the author (Mark Helprin) endows the novel’s protagonist with. Alessandro’s witty retorts and wry observations pop up in the most unexpected, and oddly appropriate, moments.

This is a long book, so I’ll share some moments that I liked. There are many to choose from�

I greatly enjoyed the chapter “Stella Maris� which boast some grand and profound philosophical and theological musings, powerful for their simplicity and joy in the divine and the ways in which it manifests itself in this world. The melancholy tone of this chapter is ringed with splendor.
The above chapter also has a character take down the socialist ideology in one of the best efforts I have seen in fiction or nonfiction. Consider this exchange between two characters-

“Since its beginning the world has seen empires, theocracies, slave states, anarchy, feudalism, capitalism, revolutionary states, and everything else you can think of, and no matter what the variation, the bloodstained stakes, guillotines, and killing grounds remain.�
“Scientific socialism will make it otherwise.�
“Scientific socialism will make the killing scientific and socialistic�, Alessandro replied.
“True, it may be necessary initially to liquidate opponents of the revolution�, Ludovico admitted.
“Yes, I know. The stakes do come in handy. It’s why no one ever takes them down.�
“You commit a great evil� Ludovico declared “By abandoning belief in the perfectibility of man in favor of dreams of the heavenly city and of a God that cannot be proved.�
“The heavenly city in which I believe Ludovico, cannot be demonstrated. It is a matter of faith and revelation, not reason. You, however, claim that your heavenly city is demonstrable, and, of course, it isn’t.�

Later on in the book Alessandro worries about Italy post WW I, “Alessandro feared that fascists would flirt with the Left, that rather than destroy one another, they would combine…� And sadly, I fear the same today.

When I read the following passage my heart soared, as it is one of my passions, seeing people in the past as humans and as products of their time, not ours!
“It’s simple. You can do something just, and that is to remember them. Remember them. To think of them in their flesh, not as abstractions. To make no generalizations of war or peace that override their souls. To draw no lessons of history on their behalf. Their history is over. Remember them, just remember them-in their millions-for they were not history, they were only men, women, and children. Recall them, if you can, with affection, and recall them, if you can, with love. That is all you need to do in regard to them, and all they ask.�
When you realize that in one generation this applies to you, it should make you a lot less judgmental of those who came before us.

Overall this novel is a mix of a good story that has moments of literary beauty and philosophical musings interlaced in a seamless blend. These elements serve each other and create an enchanting whole. In A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR if one of those features was missing the novel would not seem complete, so well do they complement each other.

At the novel’s end someone observes about a baby, “All his heart had been in his cry, and then he had had peace.� Sounds like a great way to describe a life to me.

This is my first Mark Helprin novel. It will not be my last. His is too great a talent to ignore.
]]> <![CDATA[The Other Woman (Gabriel Allon, #18)]]> 36421600
She was his best-kept secret�

In an isolated village in the mountains of Andalusia, a mysterious Frenchwoman begins work on a dangerous memoir. It is the story of a man she once loved in the Beirut of old, and a child taken from her in treason’s name. The woman is the keeper of the Kremlin’s most closely guarded secret. Long ago, the KGB inserted a mole into the heart of the West—a mole who stands on the doorstep of ultimate power.

Only one man can unravel the conspiracy: Gabriel Allon, the legendary art restorer and assassin who serves as the chief of Israel’s vaunted secret intelligence service. Gabriel has battled the dark forces of the new Russia before, at great personal cost. Now he and the Russians will engage in a final epic showdown, with the fate of the postwar global order hanging in the balance.

Gabriel is lured into the hunt for the traitor after his most important asset inside Russian intelligence is brutally assassinated while trying to defect in Vienna. His quest for the truth will lead him backward in time, to the twentieth century’s greatest act of treason, and, finally, to a spellbinding climax along the banks of the Potomac River outside Washington that will leave readers breathless.

Fast as a bullet, hauntingly beautiful, and filled with stunning double-crosses and twists of plot, The Other Woman is a tour de force that proves once again that “of all those writing spy novels today, Daniel Silva is quite simply the best� (Kansas City Star).]]> 496 Daniel Silva 0062834827 Brian 3 fiction
THE OTHER WOMAN is very typical spy thriller fare. More so than most of Mr. Silva’s output. The story that Silva expands and connects to the world of his perennial protagonist Gabriel Allon was inspired from a true-life spy from the mid-20th century. The plot in short is that the Russians have a mole high up in one western intelligence service. Gabriel Allon and Israeli intelligence are caught up in the conspiracy, and we are off to the races. It’s a fun story, but it was not quite as good for me as many of the other novels in the Allon series have been.

One noticeable lapse in this text was that Daniel Silva is usually spot on with his geopolitical analysis. He is off his game in this book. He gets some things right, especially about Russian aggression, but he gets quite a bit wrong too, especially when he takes (what are coming to seem like the obligatory) shots at President Trump. Reading this novel six years after its publication (in 2018) it is obvious Silva’s instincts missed the boat on that account. He has several characters state as fact what we now know as the Russian Collusion Hoax. Whoopsie Mr. Silva. I hope he has not got caught up in politics clouding his judgment. In the previous 17 books in the series Silva made astute observations and made some harsh criticisms of the presidencies and foreign policy choices of republican and democratic presidents. But this time he makes obvious swipes not in service of the story, but out of dislike. It’s cheap and drags one out of the reality of the story. I hope he self-corrected in later books.

Quotes:
� “In matters of both intelligence and art, he was a traditionalist who believed the old ways were better than the new.�
� “This is Switzerland. Privacy is our religion.�
� “Truth is the only currency we accept.�

THE OTHER WOMAN is an average installment in a series that is usually much better than average. I’m no worse for the wear. On to # 19 soon.]]> 4.22 2018 The Other Woman (Gabriel Allon, #18)
author: Daniel Silva
name: Brian
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/03
date added: 2024/04/13
shelves: fiction
review:
“But not all secrets are created equal.�

THE OTHER WOMAN is very typical spy thriller fare. More so than most of Mr. Silva’s output. The story that Silva expands and connects to the world of his perennial protagonist Gabriel Allon was inspired from a true-life spy from the mid-20th century. The plot in short is that the Russians have a mole high up in one western intelligence service. Gabriel Allon and Israeli intelligence are caught up in the conspiracy, and we are off to the races. It’s a fun story, but it was not quite as good for me as many of the other novels in the Allon series have been.

One noticeable lapse in this text was that Daniel Silva is usually spot on with his geopolitical analysis. He is off his game in this book. He gets some things right, especially about Russian aggression, but he gets quite a bit wrong too, especially when he takes (what are coming to seem like the obligatory) shots at President Trump. Reading this novel six years after its publication (in 2018) it is obvious Silva’s instincts missed the boat on that account. He has several characters state as fact what we now know as the Russian Collusion Hoax. Whoopsie Mr. Silva. I hope he has not got caught up in politics clouding his judgment. In the previous 17 books in the series Silva made astute observations and made some harsh criticisms of the presidencies and foreign policy choices of republican and democratic presidents. But this time he makes obvious swipes not in service of the story, but out of dislike. It’s cheap and drags one out of the reality of the story. I hope he self-corrected in later books.

Quotes:
� “In matters of both intelligence and art, he was a traditionalist who believed the old ways were better than the new.�
� “This is Switzerland. Privacy is our religion.�
� “Truth is the only currency we accept.�

THE OTHER WOMAN is an average installment in a series that is usually much better than average. I’m no worse for the wear. On to # 19 soon.
]]> <![CDATA[This Is the Day: Reclaim Your Dream. Ignite Your Passion. Live Your Purpose.]]> 37861777 ECPA BESTSELLER - The New York Times best-selling sports star and media icon motivates readers to stop postponing dreams and start making them happen now because--this is the day.

Beyond Tim Tebow's exploits as a Heisman-winning football player, he is widely known and respected for his exemplary character and personal excellence, which have made him a role model for millions. When Tim interacts with the public, he often encounters people who feel "stuck"--unable to take action on matters ranging from daily life to pursuing lifelong dreams. In response, Tim often identifies a crippling fear or lack of courage, to which he advises: "now is the time to take some risks, to quiet the voices of defeat, to step forward and make a mark, because this is the day." In this inspiring, motivational book, readers will receive the advice and encouragement to daily move from "pause" to "play" in finding deeper meaning and success. Tim illustrates the book's themes with stories from his personal life that will delight all readers, including his an update on his dream pursuit of a baseball career.]]> 224 Tim Tebow 052565030X Brian 2 audio, non-fiction
I’ve read (listened) to a Tim Tebow book. I’m set now. No more needed. What a platitudinous text. Take this nugget, “life can be challenging.� Thanks for the update, Tim!

I gave this book two stars because it is liberally filled with Bible verses. The verses are gold. The rest of the text is…not gold. Now, there is probably not one point in this book that I disagreed with Mr. Tebow on. I think the world would be better if more men were a bit more like him. As I said, I did not disagree with one point he made. It’s the way he makes the point that I take issue with. There are so many times where Tim Tebow’s preciousness and fake humility is seriously off putting. This book is filled with “humble brags�. Tebow has a high opinion of himself. If I had a dime for every time Tebow talks about seeing someone in an airport or some such place and they burst into tears at the sight of him, and he leads them out of the darkness…I’d have a dollar or two. He always says how “much he wants to bring hope.� Maybe he should have rephrased it to say that “Jesus brings hope.� Just a thought.

THIS IS THE DAY is a positive book. Tim Tebow is a good guy. But this book is surface level. If I’m going to read something like this, I want more meat. I’m sure this is a good read for some, just not for me.]]> 4.21 2018 This Is the Day: Reclaim Your Dream. Ignite Your Passion. Live Your Purpose.
author: Tim Tebow
name: Brian
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2024/03/29
date added: 2024/04/12
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“…life isn’t just about one day.�

I’ve read (listened) to a Tim Tebow book. I’m set now. No more needed. What a platitudinous text. Take this nugget, “life can be challenging.� Thanks for the update, Tim!

I gave this book two stars because it is liberally filled with Bible verses. The verses are gold. The rest of the text is…not gold. Now, there is probably not one point in this book that I disagreed with Mr. Tebow on. I think the world would be better if more men were a bit more like him. As I said, I did not disagree with one point he made. It’s the way he makes the point that I take issue with. There are so many times where Tim Tebow’s preciousness and fake humility is seriously off putting. This book is filled with “humble brags�. Tebow has a high opinion of himself. If I had a dime for every time Tebow talks about seeing someone in an airport or some such place and they burst into tears at the sight of him, and he leads them out of the darkness…I’d have a dollar or two. He always says how “much he wants to bring hope.� Maybe he should have rephrased it to say that “Jesus brings hope.� Just a thought.

THIS IS THE DAY is a positive book. Tim Tebow is a good guy. But this book is surface level. If I’m going to read something like this, I want more meat. I’m sure this is a good read for some, just not for me.
]]> <![CDATA[Deepening Your Conversation With God (Pastor's Soul)]]> 525549


If you long to call your prayer time "sweet," but usally find it flat or without taste...

If you thirst to know God through prayer, but too often fail to find the time for prayer...

If you desire conversation wtih God, but tend toward a monologue instead...

Ben Patterson, with "I've been there too" reassurance, will encourage and inspire you to turn your prayers from a spiritual discipline to a much-anticipated delight. In this want-to-pray guide, he describes prayer as the work of the Christian, explaining why God covets your prayer and how it gets God's work done on earth.]]> 172 Ben Patterson 0764223518 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion
DEEPENING YOUR CONVERSATION WITH GOD is a book that was given to me decades ago. I’m just now reading it. And it was what I needed to read at this season in my life, so I guess I picked it up when I was supposed to. I found it a stimulating text, and one that gave me reason to think and ponder. Right off the bat the first chapter in the book doles out some truth on the role and purpose of prayer in our lives. For me, they were sobering and needed thoughts.

I’ll focus on a couple of highlights from the text, but first I want to say that this book is not a how-to manual. I think some folks approach it in that manner. Rather it is an analysis of the role of prayer and its importance in the life of a Christian.
Highlights:
- The text emphasizes that prayer is work, necessary work. Chapter two, “Our Real Work� gives a nice analysis of this practicality.
- I appreciated the author’s thoughts on the dangers of an impersonal God. It is an often-overlooked aspect of a nominal Christian life.
- The word “yada� means “to know�. The author gives an excellent exegesis about this phrase.
- Chapter 6 has some eye opening (at least for me) examinations of the role of praise in one’s faith. It made some very powerful points about how praise is needed even during personal failure, etc. Which is counter to my practice. To my own detriment.
- I was heartened to read a section where the author discusses being angry with God and not trying to hide that in our dialogue with Him. I have long thought the same thing, and it was nice to see it agreed with.

Quotes:
� “God often illustrates for you in the life of another a blessing that He desires for you.�
� “…the business of the church is to pray.�
� “When we lose God’s view of things we lose perspective on everything else, too.�
� “The logic of secularization is busyness.�
� “The choices we make when we are not motivated are the most critical of our Christian walk.�
� “Before it is anything else, lack of prayer is a lack of hunger for God.�
� “With simplicity comes gratitude and joy.�
� “Prayer is both a ‘must� and a ‘may�, an obligation and a gift.�
� “To know something is good, even great. To be known is transforming.�
� “Questions are critical to faith.�
� “Answered prayer comes from His living in us and our living in Him.�

The final chapter of DEEPENING YOUR CONVERSATION WITH GOD includes some thoughtful points about corporate prayer, which I think would be good for any Christian to consider. Worship and prayer with others are vital to the Christian walk.

This text kept my attention, and I found that reading a bit of it every day gave me some insightful ideas to contemplate. I appreciate it for that.]]> 4.17 1999 Deepening Your Conversation With God (Pastor's Soul)
author: Ben Patterson
name: Brian
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/12
date added: 2024/03/27
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“Ora Labora� (3.5 stars)

DEEPENING YOUR CONVERSATION WITH GOD is a book that was given to me decades ago. I’m just now reading it. And it was what I needed to read at this season in my life, so I guess I picked it up when I was supposed to. I found it a stimulating text, and one that gave me reason to think and ponder. Right off the bat the first chapter in the book doles out some truth on the role and purpose of prayer in our lives. For me, they were sobering and needed thoughts.

I’ll focus on a couple of highlights from the text, but first I want to say that this book is not a how-to manual. I think some folks approach it in that manner. Rather it is an analysis of the role of prayer and its importance in the life of a Christian.
Highlights:
- The text emphasizes that prayer is work, necessary work. Chapter two, “Our Real Work� gives a nice analysis of this practicality.
- I appreciated the author’s thoughts on the dangers of an impersonal God. It is an often-overlooked aspect of a nominal Christian life.
- The word “yada� means “to know�. The author gives an excellent exegesis about this phrase.
- Chapter 6 has some eye opening (at least for me) examinations of the role of praise in one’s faith. It made some very powerful points about how praise is needed even during personal failure, etc. Which is counter to my practice. To my own detriment.
- I was heartened to read a section where the author discusses being angry with God and not trying to hide that in our dialogue with Him. I have long thought the same thing, and it was nice to see it agreed with.

Quotes:
� “God often illustrates for you in the life of another a blessing that He desires for you.�
� “…the business of the church is to pray.�
� “When we lose God’s view of things we lose perspective on everything else, too.�
� “The logic of secularization is busyness.�
� “The choices we make when we are not motivated are the most critical of our Christian walk.�
� “Before it is anything else, lack of prayer is a lack of hunger for God.�
� “With simplicity comes gratitude and joy.�
� “Prayer is both a ‘must� and a ‘may�, an obligation and a gift.�
� “To know something is good, even great. To be known is transforming.�
� “Questions are critical to faith.�
� “Answered prayer comes from His living in us and our living in Him.�

The final chapter of DEEPENING YOUR CONVERSATION WITH GOD includes some thoughtful points about corporate prayer, which I think would be good for any Christian to consider. Worship and prayer with others are vital to the Christian walk.

This text kept my attention, and I found that reading a bit of it every day gave me some insightful ideas to contemplate. I appreciate it for that.
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Full Measure (The Civil War: 1861-1865 #3)]]> 1070274 560 Jeff Shaara 0345425480 Brian 4 fiction
With the completion of “The Last Full Measure�, I have read every novel that Mr. Shaara has written (to date) about the American Civil War. Oddly enough, even though this text was written second out of his six books about the Civil War, the writing might be the best of the group. Less stilted, and ponderous as some of the others could be at times.

Mr. Shaara is at his best when writing about battle. He puts you there in a vivid and very matter of fact manner. He does not comment on what is happening. You can figure that out for yourself. His depiction of the Battle of the Crater during the siege of Petersburg is riveting and heartbreaking.
I plowed through the text at a quick pace, and this text is told mainly from the point of view of Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and Joshua Chamberlain.

Highlights of the book include chapter 52, which is the fateful meeting between Lee and Grant at Appomattox Court House where Lee surrenders his army. The chapter is told from Grant’s point of view and gives an interesting insight into the mind of the victor when he respects his enemy. Chapter 53 is simply beautiful. It depicts the events of April 12, 1865 the actual surrender ceremony between the two armies. The sentiments in the mind of the Union victors, which we get from the point of view of Josh Chamberlain during the ceremony, are of reconciliation and peace. It is beautiful to read and think on.

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially military historical fiction I would give Mr. Shaara a read. “The Last Full Measure� is one of his better efforts. I did not often want to put it down.]]> 4.23 1998 The Last Full Measure (The Civil War: 1861-1865 #3)
author: Jeff Shaara
name: Brian
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/09
date added: 2024/03/26
shelves: fiction
review:
“If God is watching us, what judgement does he make now?�

With the completion of “The Last Full Measure�, I have read every novel that Mr. Shaara has written (to date) about the American Civil War. Oddly enough, even though this text was written second out of his six books about the Civil War, the writing might be the best of the group. Less stilted, and ponderous as some of the others could be at times.

Mr. Shaara is at his best when writing about battle. He puts you there in a vivid and very matter of fact manner. He does not comment on what is happening. You can figure that out for yourself. His depiction of the Battle of the Crater during the siege of Petersburg is riveting and heartbreaking.
I plowed through the text at a quick pace, and this text is told mainly from the point of view of Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and Joshua Chamberlain.

Highlights of the book include chapter 52, which is the fateful meeting between Lee and Grant at Appomattox Court House where Lee surrenders his army. The chapter is told from Grant’s point of view and gives an interesting insight into the mind of the victor when he respects his enemy. Chapter 53 is simply beautiful. It depicts the events of April 12, 1865 the actual surrender ceremony between the two armies. The sentiments in the mind of the Union victors, which we get from the point of view of Josh Chamberlain during the ceremony, are of reconciliation and peace. It is beautiful to read and think on.

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially military historical fiction I would give Mr. Shaara a read. “The Last Full Measure� is one of his better efforts. I did not often want to put it down.
]]> <![CDATA[How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps]]> 50496911 288 Ben Shapiro 006300187X Brian 4 audio, non-fiction
I was pleasantly surprised by this text. It was not what I expected. I listened to it as an audiobook because I thought it would be more political than it was. It’s more history and political science theory then I was expecting. And that’s a good thing. A note, for me the audiobook took a little getting use to as Mr. Shapiro has a very quick reading pace, and I had to get used to his quick cadence.

Mr. Shapiro breaks down the American citizenry into two broad categories, Unionist and Disintegrationist. The rest of the book is an examination of how individuals view and live out their American lives considering the philosophy that seems to govern them. This dichotomy is broken down in a concise and interesting manner in the text’s Introduction.

As I read chapter one of HOW TO DESTROY AMERICA IN THREE EASY STEPS, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was real political science. It was an examination of principles and ideas, not parties or politics. As I progressed through the text it also became part history lesson. I did not always agree with the lesson that Shapiro took from history, but I appreciated his thoughts on it.
An interesting note, although he is conservative Mr. Shapiro frequently disagrees with, and takes on, the views of others who call themselves conservative. This willingness to disagree with principles over common political cause was engaging to read. Examine the ideas, not just circle the wagons because we may have a common enemy.

Quotes:
� “But encouraging better individual decision making doesn’t fit within the Disintegrationist worldview.�
� “Disintegrationist history is designed to explain everything, but it fixes nothing.�
� “The social media mob will come for anyone and everyone-even, hilariously enough, those who have egged on the social media mob.�

My favorite part of the experience was chapter 5 of this book, called “The American History�. It is an excellent, and interesting, overview of American policy as it relates to specific events from our founding to current day. It is 44 pages of concise, engaging, and thoughtful history and analysis. High school (or sadly college) classes should read it just to get an idea of the board sweep of American history so they can then begin to dive in and dissect and debate it.

HOW TO DESTROY AMERICA IN THREE EASY STEPS was a better experience than I was anticipating, and my attention was held. I had to think, engage, and digest its content, and I appreciate books/writers that do that. Plus, the ideas it presents are well thought out. I’ll read another book of Mr. Shapiro’s at some point.]]> 4.25 2020 How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps
author: Ben Shapiro
name: Brian
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/16
date added: 2024/03/23
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“If we do not unify around our common past, we can have no common future.� (3.5 stars)

I was pleasantly surprised by this text. It was not what I expected. I listened to it as an audiobook because I thought it would be more political than it was. It’s more history and political science theory then I was expecting. And that’s a good thing. A note, for me the audiobook took a little getting use to as Mr. Shapiro has a very quick reading pace, and I had to get used to his quick cadence.

Mr. Shapiro breaks down the American citizenry into two broad categories, Unionist and Disintegrationist. The rest of the book is an examination of how individuals view and live out their American lives considering the philosophy that seems to govern them. This dichotomy is broken down in a concise and interesting manner in the text’s Introduction.

As I read chapter one of HOW TO DESTROY AMERICA IN THREE EASY STEPS, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was real political science. It was an examination of principles and ideas, not parties or politics. As I progressed through the text it also became part history lesson. I did not always agree with the lesson that Shapiro took from history, but I appreciated his thoughts on it.
An interesting note, although he is conservative Mr. Shapiro frequently disagrees with, and takes on, the views of others who call themselves conservative. This willingness to disagree with principles over common political cause was engaging to read. Examine the ideas, not just circle the wagons because we may have a common enemy.

Quotes:
� “But encouraging better individual decision making doesn’t fit within the Disintegrationist worldview.�
� “Disintegrationist history is designed to explain everything, but it fixes nothing.�
� “The social media mob will come for anyone and everyone-even, hilariously enough, those who have egged on the social media mob.�

My favorite part of the experience was chapter 5 of this book, called “The American History�. It is an excellent, and interesting, overview of American policy as it relates to specific events from our founding to current day. It is 44 pages of concise, engaging, and thoughtful history and analysis. High school (or sadly college) classes should read it just to get an idea of the board sweep of American history so they can then begin to dive in and dissect and debate it.

HOW TO DESTROY AMERICA IN THREE EASY STEPS was a better experience than I was anticipating, and my attention was held. I had to think, engage, and digest its content, and I appreciate books/writers that do that. Plus, the ideas it presents are well thought out. I’ll read another book of Mr. Shapiro’s at some point.
]]> Fight Club 5759 218 Chuck Palahniuk 0393327345 Brian 2 fiction
I have such conflicting feelings about this book. I think the idea that I suspect may be behind it is a good one. But I don’t think this novel does a good job of making that point known. FIGHT CLUB has an interesting opening sentence. Maybe even a good one. But, by the end of the first chapter I had a bad feeling about this book.

To be blunt I hated this text for the first 100 or so pages. At that point it got a little more interesting for me (it’s only 218 pages total), but I never wanted to pick it up. Now before you ask the obvious, it was a book club choice that’s why I kept reading.
A book that looks at the neutering of men in society, a book that looks at civil chaos, a book that examines the idea of connection in an increasingly isolated world…such good topics. Good topics not fully realized in this text.

Quotes:
� “On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone will drop to zero.�
� “Loosing all hope was freedom.�
� “Then you’re trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.�
� “There are lots of things we don’t want to know about the people we love.
� “Only in death will we have our own names since only in death are we no longer part of the effort.�

I will say this about FIGHT CLUB, although I never liked it, I did appreciate it more after our club discussion than I did before we talked. The vulgarity, the ugliness, the violence…if you are going to go there, then the book needs to be stunning. This one isn’t. I did not enjoy the experience of this read, and I seriously doubt I will ever read this book again, but there is something there…I’m just not sure what.]]> 4.19 1996 Fight Club
author: Chuck Palahniuk
name: Brian
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1996
rating: 2
read at: 2024/03/13
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves: fiction
review:
“A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection.�

I have such conflicting feelings about this book. I think the idea that I suspect may be behind it is a good one. But I don’t think this novel does a good job of making that point known. FIGHT CLUB has an interesting opening sentence. Maybe even a good one. But, by the end of the first chapter I had a bad feeling about this book.

To be blunt I hated this text for the first 100 or so pages. At that point it got a little more interesting for me (it’s only 218 pages total), but I never wanted to pick it up. Now before you ask the obvious, it was a book club choice that’s why I kept reading.
A book that looks at the neutering of men in society, a book that looks at civil chaos, a book that examines the idea of connection in an increasingly isolated world…such good topics. Good topics not fully realized in this text.

Quotes:
� “On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone will drop to zero.�
� “Loosing all hope was freedom.�
� “Then you’re trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.�
� “There are lots of things we don’t want to know about the people we love.
� “Only in death will we have our own names since only in death are we no longer part of the effort.�

I will say this about FIGHT CLUB, although I never liked it, I did appreciate it more after our club discussion than I did before we talked. The vulgarity, the ugliness, the violence…if you are going to go there, then the book needs to be stunning. This one isn’t. I did not enjoy the experience of this read, and I seriously doubt I will ever read this book again, but there is something there…I’m just not sure what.
]]> Simon the Fiddler 54427140 “The reader is treated to a kind of alchemy on the page when character, setting and song converge atall the right notes, generating an authentic humanity that is worth remembering and celebrating.� —� New York Times

The critically acclaimed, bestselling author of News of the World and Enemy Women returns to Texas in this atmospheric story, set at the end of the Civil War, about an itinerant fiddle player, a ragtag band of musicians with whom he travels trying to make a living, and the charming young Irish lass who steals his heart.

In March 1865, the long and bitter War between the States is winding down. Till now, twenty-three-year-old Simon Boudlin has evaded military duty thanks to his slight stature, youthful appearance, and utter lack of compunction about bending the truth. But following a barroom brawl in Victoria, Texas, Simon finds himself conscripted, however belatedly, into the Confederate Army. Luckily his talent with a fiddle gets him a comparatively easy position in a regimental band.

Weeks later, on the eve of the Confederate surrender, Simon and his bandmates are called to play for officers and their families from both sides of the conflict. There the quick-thinking, audacious fiddler can’t help but notice the lovely Doris Mary Dillon, an indentured girl from Ireland, who is governess to a Union colonel’s daughter.

After the surrender, Simon and Doris go their separate ways. He will travel around Texas seeking fame and fortune as a musician. She must accompany the colonel’s family to finish her three years of service. But Simon cannot forget the fair Irish maiden, and vows that someday he will find her again.

Incandescent in its beauty, told in Paulette Jiles’s trademark spare yet lilting style, Simon the Fiddler is a captivating, bittersweet tale of the chances a devoted man will take, and the lengths he will go to fulfill his heart’s yearning.

"Jiles� sparse but lyrical writingis a joy to read. . . . Lose yourself in this entertaining tale.”�—� Associated Press ]]> 368 Paulette Jiles 0062966758 Brian 4 fiction
SIMON THE FIDDLER is a lyrical novel, compelling in its rhythms and pace. The novel is always in forward motion. It features rich robust characters without being bogged down in an eternal internal miasma of self-reflection. Never once while reading it was I bored with it.

The plot, in brief, is that Simon is a young musician conscripted into Confederate forces at the tail end of the Civil War. Originally from Kentucky, Simon is now in Texas. Right at the war’s end, Simon sees an Irish governess at an officer’s ball he is playing for, and he falls in love. And Simon purses that love for the rest of the novel. The entire story takes pace in Texas between 1865 and 1867.

The style of the novel is occasionally very abrupt, which took me a minute to get use to. However, that fast pace and abruptness ultimately works very well for this text. The protagonist Simon is always moving forward. He tackles the circumstances he finds himself in, he is not ruled by them. As a result, the narrative is always propelled forward.

I especially enjoyed how music, the technical and emotional aspects of it, are integrated into the character’s emotional lives. Ms. Jiles does this with a deft and skillful hand. It is so seamless you sometimes don’t realize she is doing it unless you step back from the novel and think about it for a moment.

Quotes:
� “He loved solitude; it was as necessary to him as music and water.�
� “He knew that he did not play music so much as walk into it…�
� “They would be for each other as much as the world was not.�
� “Trust in God, her mother said, but never dance in a small boat.�
� “But that’s why God made people young at first, to get the doing done.�
� “…and now everything I remember will be gone.�
� “He had forgotten that there was silence in the world.�
� “It was a song that came to people as sadness, as memory, as longing.�
� “Become wise, young man, and cynical, and life will be far more understandable.�
� “We all suffer from some deficiency and must bear our sinful natures with patience.�
� “A person could get seized at the most inopportune moments by sheer animal desire.�
� “If we all knew one another’s lives in all the details nobody would marry anybody.�

SIMON THE FIDDLER was my first novel of Paulette Jiles. I will be moving on to others soon. What an interesting, and very good, writer she is.]]> 3.77 2020 Simon the Fiddler
author: Paulette Jiles
name: Brian
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/24
date added: 2024/03/14
shelves: fiction
review:
“I want two people to be in love and stay in love and never desert each other.�

SIMON THE FIDDLER is a lyrical novel, compelling in its rhythms and pace. The novel is always in forward motion. It features rich robust characters without being bogged down in an eternal internal miasma of self-reflection. Never once while reading it was I bored with it.

The plot, in brief, is that Simon is a young musician conscripted into Confederate forces at the tail end of the Civil War. Originally from Kentucky, Simon is now in Texas. Right at the war’s end, Simon sees an Irish governess at an officer’s ball he is playing for, and he falls in love. And Simon purses that love for the rest of the novel. The entire story takes pace in Texas between 1865 and 1867.

The style of the novel is occasionally very abrupt, which took me a minute to get use to. However, that fast pace and abruptness ultimately works very well for this text. The protagonist Simon is always moving forward. He tackles the circumstances he finds himself in, he is not ruled by them. As a result, the narrative is always propelled forward.

I especially enjoyed how music, the technical and emotional aspects of it, are integrated into the character’s emotional lives. Ms. Jiles does this with a deft and skillful hand. It is so seamless you sometimes don’t realize she is doing it unless you step back from the novel and think about it for a moment.

Quotes:
� “He loved solitude; it was as necessary to him as music and water.�
� “He knew that he did not play music so much as walk into it…�
� “They would be for each other as much as the world was not.�
� “Trust in God, her mother said, but never dance in a small boat.�
� “But that’s why God made people young at first, to get the doing done.�
� “…and now everything I remember will be gone.�
� “He had forgotten that there was silence in the world.�
� “It was a song that came to people as sadness, as memory, as longing.�
� “Become wise, young man, and cynical, and life will be far more understandable.�
� “We all suffer from some deficiency and must bear our sinful natures with patience.�
� “A person could get seized at the most inopportune moments by sheer animal desire.�
� “If we all knew one another’s lives in all the details nobody would marry anybody.�

SIMON THE FIDDLER was my first novel of Paulette Jiles. I will be moving on to others soon. What an interesting, and very good, writer she is.
]]> 2023 on ŷ 62316199 2023 on ŷ should make an interesting and varied catalogue of books to inspire other readers in 2024.

For those of you who don't like to add titles you haven't actually 'read', you can place 2023 on ŷ on an 'exclusive' shelf. Exclusive shelves don't have to be listed under 'to read', 'currently reading' or 'read'. To create one, go to 'edit bookshelves' on your 'My Books' page, create a shelf name such as 'review-of-the year' and tick the 'exclusive' box. Your previous and future 'reviews of the year' can be collected together on this dedicated shelf.

Concept created by Fionnuala Lirsdottir.
Description: Fionnuala Lirsdottir
Cover art: Paul Cézanne, Bibémus Quarry, c.1895
Cover choice and graphics by Jayson]]> Various Brian 4 review-of-the-year 29 fiction, 23 nonfiction. All reviewed on ŷ.

Best and favorite reads of the year: "Nobody’s Fool" and “Everybody’s Fool� (Richard Russo), the first novels of his I have ever read. I greatly enjoyed them, I have more of him on my “to read� pile. I also read the final two books in Kent Haruf’s Holt trilogy, "Eventide� and “Benediction� and both were brilliant. I also read the final installment of Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy, “The Mirror and the Light� which was an astounding conclusion to that series. I also read “A Greif Observed� (C.S. Lewis) and I found a great comfort in Lewis’s ability to articulate such a complicated emotion.

Favorite (and only) reread: "Confederates in the Attic� (Tony Horwitz), a book which still holds up after my initial reading of it over 20 years ago.

I read 23 nonfiction this year. Top of that list were the aforementioned "Confederates in the Attic�, and I also enjoyed “Wild Bill� (Tom Clavin) and “Pirate Hunters� (Robert Curson). Two texts that were much more interesting than I was anticipating.

Biggest 'meh' reads of the year: “Stealing Rembrandts� (Anthony M. Amore) and “The Line Becomes a River� (Francisco Cantu). Both nonfiction, both which could have been so much better than they were.

Most disappointing book and one I should have put down: “Camino Winds� (John Grisham) was just dumb. “Lady Romeo� (Tana Wojczuk) was a nonfiction piece about a famous actress of the 1800s that was ruined by the author’s inability to handle the subject matter.

Best Surprise of the Year: “Spearhead� (Adam Markos) a nonfiction text about a tank division in WW II which really drew me in. I have added another of his books to my “to read� pile. I also really enjoyed “Marley� (Jon Clinch) and as a result have added more Dickens, and Mr. Clinch to my “to read� pile. “Marley� is a backstory to the minor character from Dickens� “A Christmas Carol� and it had my complete attention.

I continued my way thru Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. I read #16 (the first book in the series I ever picked up, which prompted me to go back to #1 and read from the beginning) and # 17 this past year, “The Black Widow� and “The House of Spies�, two books that together form one long story. They are smart books, have an element of legitimacy, are fast paced thrillers, and Silva is a decent writer.

I read no plays in 2023. Very unusual for me.

Other misc. observations:

-I finished a project I had set of reading the Bible all the way through. Something that I enjoyed and learned a lot by doing, and something I intend to do again.

-I listened to 8 audio books in 2023. I had never listened to audio books before. I’m finding it is a great thing to do, especially if it is a book I feel uncertain about. 5 of the 8 were nonfiction, and I feel that genre is better for audio. At least for me. It kind of feels like listening to a podcast.

-I returned to Tim Dorsey’s Serge A. Storms series this summer, reading it on the beach which is the perfect place to consume it. They are usually good for a laugh. "Naked Came the Florida Man". Mr. Dorsey died in November 2023, so assuming the current output will be the end of the series I now only have 3 more books to go until my journey with this series ends.

15 books I read in 2023 were part of larger series. I like series, but I feel that I have too many of them going at the moment. It makes me a little anxious.

Looking forward to what reading in 2024 brings my way.
Here is to a wonderful reading year ŷ friends!]]> 4.10 2023 2023 on ŷ
author: Various
name: Brian
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/02/27
shelves: review-of-the-year
review:
In 2023 I read 52 books for a total of 18,367 pages.
29 fiction, 23 nonfiction. All reviewed on ŷ.

Best and favorite reads of the year: "Nobody’s Fool" and “Everybody’s Fool� (Richard Russo), the first novels of his I have ever read. I greatly enjoyed them, I have more of him on my “to read� pile. I also read the final two books in Kent Haruf’s Holt trilogy, "Eventide� and “Benediction� and both were brilliant. I also read the final installment of Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy, “The Mirror and the Light� which was an astounding conclusion to that series. I also read “A Greif Observed� (C.S. Lewis) and I found a great comfort in Lewis’s ability to articulate such a complicated emotion.

Favorite (and only) reread: "Confederates in the Attic� (Tony Horwitz), a book which still holds up after my initial reading of it over 20 years ago.

I read 23 nonfiction this year. Top of that list were the aforementioned "Confederates in the Attic�, and I also enjoyed “Wild Bill� (Tom Clavin) and “Pirate Hunters� (Robert Curson). Two texts that were much more interesting than I was anticipating.

Biggest 'meh' reads of the year: “Stealing Rembrandts� (Anthony M. Amore) and “The Line Becomes a River� (Francisco Cantu). Both nonfiction, both which could have been so much better than they were.

Most disappointing book and one I should have put down: “Camino Winds� (John Grisham) was just dumb. “Lady Romeo� (Tana Wojczuk) was a nonfiction piece about a famous actress of the 1800s that was ruined by the author’s inability to handle the subject matter.

Best Surprise of the Year: “Spearhead� (Adam Markos) a nonfiction text about a tank division in WW II which really drew me in. I have added another of his books to my “to read� pile. I also really enjoyed “Marley� (Jon Clinch) and as a result have added more Dickens, and Mr. Clinch to my “to read� pile. “Marley� is a backstory to the minor character from Dickens� “A Christmas Carol� and it had my complete attention.

I continued my way thru Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. I read #16 (the first book in the series I ever picked up, which prompted me to go back to #1 and read from the beginning) and # 17 this past year, “The Black Widow� and “The House of Spies�, two books that together form one long story. They are smart books, have an element of legitimacy, are fast paced thrillers, and Silva is a decent writer.

I read no plays in 2023. Very unusual for me.

Other misc. observations:

-I finished a project I had set of reading the Bible all the way through. Something that I enjoyed and learned a lot by doing, and something I intend to do again.

-I listened to 8 audio books in 2023. I had never listened to audio books before. I’m finding it is a great thing to do, especially if it is a book I feel uncertain about. 5 of the 8 were nonfiction, and I feel that genre is better for audio. At least for me. It kind of feels like listening to a podcast.

-I returned to Tim Dorsey’s Serge A. Storms series this summer, reading it on the beach which is the perfect place to consume it. They are usually good for a laugh. "Naked Came the Florida Man". Mr. Dorsey died in November 2023, so assuming the current output will be the end of the series I now only have 3 more books to go until my journey with this series ends.

15 books I read in 2023 were part of larger series. I like series, but I feel that I have too many of them going at the moment. It makes me a little anxious.

Looking forward to what reading in 2024 brings my way.
Here is to a wonderful reading year ŷ friends!
]]> <![CDATA[The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon]]> 1312031 As POWs, Bouck's platoon began an ordeal far worse than combat-survive in captivity under trigger-happy German guards, Allied bombing raids, and a daily ration of only thin soup. In German POW camps, hundreds of captured Americans were either killed or died of disease, and most lost all hope. But the men of Bouck's platoon survived-miraculously, all of them.

Once again in vivid, dramatic prose, Alex Kershaw brings to life the story of some of America's little-known heroes-the story of America's most decorated small unit, an epic story of courage and survival in World War II, and one of the most inspiring stories in American history.

]]> 344 Alex Kershaw 0306813041 Brian 4 non-fiction
Alex Kershaw is fast becoming one of my favorite nonfiction writers on the subject of WW II. This is the third book of his I have read, and none have disappointed. THE LONGEST WINTER is about 18 men in the American 99th Army Division, who in December of 1944 were responsible for slowing a massive German surprise attack in the Belgian village of Lanzareth at the very beginning of what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. For eighteen hours these men (who were merely part of a reconnaissance team) slowed the German advance. Miraculously, all 18 men who fought in that battle survived the war, this even though many were wounded, and most ended up under horrible conditions in POW camps.

This text has a slow start, but Mr. Kershaw is doing what he does best…making the people of history come alive by exploring their humanity and the mundane of their lives. By his doing this we recognize ourselves and become more invested in what we are reading.

Like the previous Kershaw books I have read, this one is composed of several human moments that stick with the reader. Here are just a few.
- A wounded GI left unattended by his captors on the outside of a rail car in the cold Belgian winter recites the 23rd Psalm repeatedly as his anesthetic to distract from the pain of his wound.
- An army chaplain contemplates the bodies of 40 dead GIs, POWs who have just been killed by friendly Allied fire, just days before the war’s end.
- An old German woman gives two POWs some bread smothered with butter and jelly as they are marched by her house on the way to a camp.
- An allied nurse cries as she cradles the body of a dying German SS soldier.
- Allied POWs sit in boxcars at Dachau as the SS work feverishly to exterminate more “undesirables� in the war’s final days.
Mr. Kershaw excels at making the historical personal, and this text is no exception.

Quotes:
� “…the truly brave go mostly unrewarded.�
� “I give you the gallant men of the I&R platoon, 394th Infantry, 99th Infantry Division, and the high honors-however belated- now bestowed upon them.�

Due to happenstance circumstances, the men of this brave platoon were not recognized by their government for many years. But I am thankful for books like THE LONGEST WINTER that will live on and ensure that moments (and people) like this, moments that are so consequential in the history of Western Civilization, will be preserved for future generations to learn from.
I am a beneficiary of the sacrifices of this generation, and writers like Mr. Kershaw powerfully remind me of this.]]> 4.16 2004 The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon
author: Alex Kershaw
name: Brian
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/11
date added: 2024/02/25
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“You are to hold at all costs.�

Alex Kershaw is fast becoming one of my favorite nonfiction writers on the subject of WW II. This is the third book of his I have read, and none have disappointed. THE LONGEST WINTER is about 18 men in the American 99th Army Division, who in December of 1944 were responsible for slowing a massive German surprise attack in the Belgian village of Lanzareth at the very beginning of what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. For eighteen hours these men (who were merely part of a reconnaissance team) slowed the German advance. Miraculously, all 18 men who fought in that battle survived the war, this even though many were wounded, and most ended up under horrible conditions in POW camps.

This text has a slow start, but Mr. Kershaw is doing what he does best…making the people of history come alive by exploring their humanity and the mundane of their lives. By his doing this we recognize ourselves and become more invested in what we are reading.

Like the previous Kershaw books I have read, this one is composed of several human moments that stick with the reader. Here are just a few.
- A wounded GI left unattended by his captors on the outside of a rail car in the cold Belgian winter recites the 23rd Psalm repeatedly as his anesthetic to distract from the pain of his wound.
- An army chaplain contemplates the bodies of 40 dead GIs, POWs who have just been killed by friendly Allied fire, just days before the war’s end.
- An old German woman gives two POWs some bread smothered with butter and jelly as they are marched by her house on the way to a camp.
- An allied nurse cries as she cradles the body of a dying German SS soldier.
- Allied POWs sit in boxcars at Dachau as the SS work feverishly to exterminate more “undesirables� in the war’s final days.
Mr. Kershaw excels at making the historical personal, and this text is no exception.

Quotes:
� “…the truly brave go mostly unrewarded.�
� “I give you the gallant men of the I&R platoon, 394th Infantry, 99th Infantry Division, and the high honors-however belated- now bestowed upon them.�

Due to happenstance circumstances, the men of this brave platoon were not recognized by their government for many years. But I am thankful for books like THE LONGEST WINTER that will live on and ensure that moments (and people) like this, moments that are so consequential in the history of Western Civilization, will be preserved for future generations to learn from.
I am a beneficiary of the sacrifices of this generation, and writers like Mr. Kershaw powerfully remind me of this.
]]> <![CDATA[The Lunatic, the Lover & the Poet]]> 68766900 0 Brian Bedford 1682660583 Brian 5 fiction, audio
This one man show, compiled by the late actor Brian Bedford, is an examination of Shakespeare’s life using Shakespeare’s works as a sort of outline for this “biography.� I realize that much of what Bedford conjectures in this piece is probably not true, but I wish it was.

I saw Mr. Bedford perform this show live on stage, and it should be noted that this is an audio book only. There is no written version of it. It speaks to Mr. Bedford’s talents that he conveys so much characterization, and depth of emotion, through an audio only performance. His rendering of some of these famous Shakespearean monologues are among my favorites.
Some highlights of the piece include:
- Bedford’s (probably apocryphal) linking of some of the Sonnet’s to Shakespeare’s life and loves. It really makes some of those pieces come alive.
- There are a trio of monologues from RICHARD II that are exquisite in their poetry and beautifully delivered.
- This piece includes some rarely performed monologues from HENRY VI that remind the listener of just how good those early plays of Shakespeare’s are.
- There is a lovely and sentimental connection that Bedford makes between THE TEMPEST and Shakespeare’s retirement from the stage.

As noted, this piece is mostly not a true rendering of Shakespeare’s life and it draws heavily on the idea of an artist’s work being autobiographical, which is a tenuous premise. But I just love it, and this piece (which I first discovered early in my undergraduate days) was the motivating reason for my falling in love with Shakespeare. I am so glad it is now available in audio book format.]]> 5.00 2000 The Lunatic, the Lover & the Poet
author: Brian Bedford
name: Brian
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/17
date added: 2024/02/22
shelves: fiction, audio
review:
“All the world’s a stage…�

This one man show, compiled by the late actor Brian Bedford, is an examination of Shakespeare’s life using Shakespeare’s works as a sort of outline for this “biography.� I realize that much of what Bedford conjectures in this piece is probably not true, but I wish it was.

I saw Mr. Bedford perform this show live on stage, and it should be noted that this is an audio book only. There is no written version of it. It speaks to Mr. Bedford’s talents that he conveys so much characterization, and depth of emotion, through an audio only performance. His rendering of some of these famous Shakespearean monologues are among my favorites.
Some highlights of the piece include:
- Bedford’s (probably apocryphal) linking of some of the Sonnet’s to Shakespeare’s life and loves. It really makes some of those pieces come alive.
- There are a trio of monologues from RICHARD II that are exquisite in their poetry and beautifully delivered.
- This piece includes some rarely performed monologues from HENRY VI that remind the listener of just how good those early plays of Shakespeare’s are.
- There is a lovely and sentimental connection that Bedford makes between THE TEMPEST and Shakespeare’s retirement from the stage.

As noted, this piece is mostly not a true rendering of Shakespeare’s life and it draws heavily on the idea of an artist’s work being autobiographical, which is a tenuous premise. But I just love it, and this piece (which I first discovered early in my undergraduate days) was the motivating reason for my falling in love with Shakespeare. I am so glad it is now available in audio book format.
]]> <![CDATA[The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Case for ... Series)]]> 27840542 336 Lee Strobel 0310345863 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion
I am not a doubter in the life and divinity of Christ, but I wanted to read this book to see how the author achieved his premise, which was to use historical evidence to “prove� the major tenants of the life of Christ. The book’s Introduction grabbed my attention immediately, and it makes a great point about preconceived notions, and how we try so hard to protect them.

Mr. Strobel organizes the book as a series of interviews with various experts with many credentials and expertise. He approaches this examination though an empirical lens, and it is an approach that is different from most texts, which tend to be primarily faith based. Strobel writes like the journalist he was for many years. The book is laid out as a critical investigation. There are no literary flourishes, or rhetorical arias, just step by step logical progressions.

Some highlights for me:
- In chapter 8 a psychologist gives the most succinct overview of Jesus� human traits that I have ever read. It was simply beautiful.
- In the conclusion there is a list that explores the implications of Jesus being who He is. It is a great list for Christians to acknowledge and ponder.
- I really liked the organizational structure of putting the gospels though 8 evidential tests. I had never looked at it in that manner before.
- The final 6 pages of the concluding chapter, “The Verdict of History�, are powerful. A personal confirmation (from Strobel’s experience) of the life changing power of Christ.
- This edition has an interview with Mr. Strobel that cleared up some of my nagging criticisms of the text.

Quotes:
� “If Jesus is to be believed- and I realize that may be a big if for you at this point- then nothing is more important than how you respond to Him.�
� “…I sensed that he isn’t out to pummel opponents with his arguments; he’s sincerely seeking to win over people whom he believes matter to God.�
� “And for people to accept the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus and not take the final step of testing it experientially would be to miss where the evidence is ultimately pointing.�

THE CASE FOR CHRIST is an interesting read. One that for the most part tries to look at Christ in the realm of empirical data. Faith is a huge component of the Christian practice, and I appreciate that Strobel ultimately keeps that faith experience at the center of what is valuable in a Christian walk. He writes of his life before coming to Christ that his “main motivator was personal pleasure- and ironically, the more I hungrily sought after it, the more elusive and self-destructive it became.� I know that experience all too well, Lee. All too well. I am humbled and grateful that one day the Living Christ revealed Himself to me. ]]> 4.47 1998 The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Case for ... Series)
author: Lee Strobel
name: Brian
average rating: 4.47
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/06
date added: 2024/02/17
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“The theological truth is based on historical truth.� (3.5 stars)

I am not a doubter in the life and divinity of Christ, but I wanted to read this book to see how the author achieved his premise, which was to use historical evidence to “prove� the major tenants of the life of Christ. The book’s Introduction grabbed my attention immediately, and it makes a great point about preconceived notions, and how we try so hard to protect them.

Mr. Strobel organizes the book as a series of interviews with various experts with many credentials and expertise. He approaches this examination though an empirical lens, and it is an approach that is different from most texts, which tend to be primarily faith based. Strobel writes like the journalist he was for many years. The book is laid out as a critical investigation. There are no literary flourishes, or rhetorical arias, just step by step logical progressions.

Some highlights for me:
- In chapter 8 a psychologist gives the most succinct overview of Jesus� human traits that I have ever read. It was simply beautiful.
- In the conclusion there is a list that explores the implications of Jesus being who He is. It is a great list for Christians to acknowledge and ponder.
- I really liked the organizational structure of putting the gospels though 8 evidential tests. I had never looked at it in that manner before.
- The final 6 pages of the concluding chapter, “The Verdict of History�, are powerful. A personal confirmation (from Strobel’s experience) of the life changing power of Christ.
- This edition has an interview with Mr. Strobel that cleared up some of my nagging criticisms of the text.

Quotes:
� “If Jesus is to be believed- and I realize that may be a big if for you at this point- then nothing is more important than how you respond to Him.�
� “…I sensed that he isn’t out to pummel opponents with his arguments; he’s sincerely seeking to win over people whom he believes matter to God.�
� “And for people to accept the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus and not take the final step of testing it experientially would be to miss where the evidence is ultimately pointing.�

THE CASE FOR CHRIST is an interesting read. One that for the most part tries to look at Christ in the realm of empirical data. Faith is a huge component of the Christian practice, and I appreciate that Strobel ultimately keeps that faith experience at the center of what is valuable in a Christian walk. He writes of his life before coming to Christ that his “main motivator was personal pleasure- and ironically, the more I hungrily sought after it, the more elusive and self-destructive it became.� I know that experience all too well, Lee. All too well. I am humbled and grateful that one day the Living Christ revealed Himself to me.
]]> The Sentence 56816904
Louise Erdrich's latest novel, The Sentence, asks what we owe to the living, the dead, to the reader and to the book. A small independent bookstore in Minneapolis is haunted from November 2019 to November 2020 by the store's most annoying customer. Flora dies on All Souls' Day, but she simply won't leave the store. Tookie, who has landed a job selling books after years of incarceration that she survived by reading with murderous attention, must solve the mystery of this haunting while at the same time trying to understand all that occurs in Minneapolis during a year of grief, astonishment, isolation, and furious reckoning.

The Sentence begins on All Souls' Day 2019 and ends on All Souls' Day 2020. Its mystery and proliferating ghost stories during this one year propel a narrative as rich, emotional, and profound as anything Louise Erdrich has written]]> 387 Louise Erdrich 006267112X Brian 1 fiction
What a truly bad book THE SENTENCE is. It is all over the place, and never finds a place to land, or a point. In fact the only reason I finished it was so that I could give it a bad rating, and I have a rule about rating books I don’t finish. Also, it was a book club pick, so I felt obligated. I did switch to the audio version about halfway through so I could listen to it while doing things that were more interesting than the book. Things like emptying the dishwasher, picking up twigs and dog poop from the yard, and other such sundries. Even still, I should have just dropped it. Have I mentioned it’s bad?

This book tries to tackle a bunch of “relevant� issues, covid, BLM riots, politics, etc., but Erdrich wrote this before enough time had passed to see if what she thought about these issues was actually true. This book gets so many (all) of those issues wrong because it rushed to have something to say about them before enough time had passed to see if first impressions ended up being the truth. Instead what we get is a novel that reflects the arrogance of the assumptions of the author’s world view.
The section that deals with covid is especially ridiculous. It is self-important, and for lack of a better word, stupid.

Quotes:
� “It’s like you never learned that our choices get us where we are.�
� “Delight seems insubstantial; happiness feels more grounded; ecstasy is what I shoot for; satisfaction is hardest to attain.�
� “Here I shall be held by love.�
� “A people who see themselves primarily as victims are doomed.
� “Every piece of wood needs a companion to keep it burning.

These quotes are the sum total of what I found valuable in this book. Moving on.
I have some other Erdrich on my “to read� pile. This experience might result in their being jettisoned.]]> 3.92 2021 The Sentence
author: Louise Erdrich
name: Brian
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2024/01/27
date added: 2024/02/10
shelves: fiction
review:
“Who doesn’t have a book in them?�

What a truly bad book THE SENTENCE is. It is all over the place, and never finds a place to land, or a point. In fact the only reason I finished it was so that I could give it a bad rating, and I have a rule about rating books I don’t finish. Also, it was a book club pick, so I felt obligated. I did switch to the audio version about halfway through so I could listen to it while doing things that were more interesting than the book. Things like emptying the dishwasher, picking up twigs and dog poop from the yard, and other such sundries. Even still, I should have just dropped it. Have I mentioned it’s bad?

This book tries to tackle a bunch of “relevant� issues, covid, BLM riots, politics, etc., but Erdrich wrote this before enough time had passed to see if what she thought about these issues was actually true. This book gets so many (all) of those issues wrong because it rushed to have something to say about them before enough time had passed to see if first impressions ended up being the truth. Instead what we get is a novel that reflects the arrogance of the assumptions of the author’s world view.
The section that deals with covid is especially ridiculous. It is self-important, and for lack of a better word, stupid.

Quotes:
� “It’s like you never learned that our choices get us where we are.�
� “Delight seems insubstantial; happiness feels more grounded; ecstasy is what I shoot for; satisfaction is hardest to attain.�
� “Here I shall be held by love.�
� “A people who see themselves primarily as victims are doomed.
� “Every piece of wood needs a companion to keep it burning.

These quotes are the sum total of what I found valuable in this book. Moving on.
I have some other Erdrich on my “to read� pile. This experience might result in their being jettisoned.
]]> <![CDATA[Dark Sacred Night (Renée Ballard, #2; Harry Bosch, #21; Harry Bosch Universe, #32)]]> 38204696 LAPD Detective Renée Ballard teams up with Harry Bosch in the new thriller from #1 NYT bestselling author Michael Connelly.

Renée Ballard is working the night beat again, and returns to Hollywood Station in the early hours only to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The intruder is retired detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin. Ballard kicks him out, but then checks into the case herself and it brings a deep tug of empathy and anger.

Bosch is investigating the death of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood who was brutally murdered and her body left in a dumpster like so much trash. Now, Ballard joins forces with Bosch to find out what happened to Daisy and finally bring her killer to justice.

]]> 433 Michael Connelly 0316484806 Brian 3 fiction
DARK SACRED NIGHT is the second book in Mr. Connelly’s series about LAPD detective Renée Ballard. It is also the second book of Connelly’s I have ever read, the other being the first in this series. In this outing Connelly brings in his prolific character Harry Bosch, who I only know because I have seen some of the Amazon Prime series based on that character. To be frank, I kinda wish he had kept Bosch out of this series. This novel’s Boschless predecessor (THE LATE SHOW) is better than this one.

The plot- graveyard shift detective Renée Ballard falls into an accidental partnership with Harry Bosch over a 9 year old cold case. They work on this while dealing with separate cases/issues in their individual lives, collaborating as time permits. The novel’s point of view shifts between these two characters.

Honestly this was pretty routine crime fiction fare. There was a little more ridiculousness with some of the plot elements in this one then I recall from the first in the series, and the most eye rolling moments where those with Bosch, which is why I wish he had not popped into this series.

Weirdly one of the biggest surprises in this text was a description of sexual climax that was one of the most succinct and poetic descriptions of that moment that I have ever encountered in a novel. Very unexpected to say the least.

Quotes:
� “Well, it’s like they say, the cover-up is worse than the crime. It always gets them in the end.�
� “For every noble movement or advancement in the human endeavor across time, there were always betrayers who set everything a step back.�
� “He realized that the long wait for justice had been too long…�
� “You’ve got scars on your face but nobody can see them.�
� “But we bend the rules. We don’t break them.�

The last 100 pages are not as interesting as the first 300 pages. The story fizzles out a little. But it’s still a fun read.
DARK SACRED NIGHT ends with an unofficial partnership being declared between active duty detective Renée Ballard and the retired Harry Bosch.
I won’t rush to pick up number 3 in the series, but I will get to it at some point. ]]> 4.14 2018 Dark Sacred Night (Renée Ballard, #2; Harry Bosch, #21; Harry Bosch Universe, #32)
author: Michael Connelly
name: Brian
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/27
date added: 2024/01/27
shelves: fiction
review:
“She could lose herself in the work.�

DARK SACRED NIGHT is the second book in Mr. Connelly’s series about LAPD detective Renée Ballard. It is also the second book of Connelly’s I have ever read, the other being the first in this series. In this outing Connelly brings in his prolific character Harry Bosch, who I only know because I have seen some of the Amazon Prime series based on that character. To be frank, I kinda wish he had kept Bosch out of this series. This novel’s Boschless predecessor (THE LATE SHOW) is better than this one.

The plot- graveyard shift detective Renée Ballard falls into an accidental partnership with Harry Bosch over a 9 year old cold case. They work on this while dealing with separate cases/issues in their individual lives, collaborating as time permits. The novel’s point of view shifts between these two characters.

Honestly this was pretty routine crime fiction fare. There was a little more ridiculousness with some of the plot elements in this one then I recall from the first in the series, and the most eye rolling moments where those with Bosch, which is why I wish he had not popped into this series.

Weirdly one of the biggest surprises in this text was a description of sexual climax that was one of the most succinct and poetic descriptions of that moment that I have ever encountered in a novel. Very unexpected to say the least.

Quotes:
� “Well, it’s like they say, the cover-up is worse than the crime. It always gets them in the end.�
� “For every noble movement or advancement in the human endeavor across time, there were always betrayers who set everything a step back.�
� “He realized that the long wait for justice had been too long…�
� “You’ve got scars on your face but nobody can see them.�
� “But we bend the rules. We don’t break them.�

The last 100 pages are not as interesting as the first 300 pages. The story fizzles out a little. But it’s still a fun read.
DARK SACRED NIGHT ends with an unofficial partnership being declared between active duty detective Renée Ballard and the retired Harry Bosch.
I won’t rush to pick up number 3 in the series, but I will get to it at some point.
]]> <![CDATA[Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World]]> 34348320 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas comes a brilliant and inspiring biography of the most influential man in modern history, Martin Luther, in time for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation

On All Hallow’s Eve in 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a document he hoped would spark an academic debate, but that instead ignited a conflagration that would forever destroy the world he knew. Five hundred years after Luther’s now famous Ninety-five Theses appeared, Eric Metaxas, acclaimed biographer of the bestselling Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, paints a startling portrait of the wild figure whose adamantine faith cracked the edifice of Western Christendom and dragged medieval Europe into the future. Written in riveting prose and impeccably researched, Martin Luther tells the searing tale of a humble man who, by bringing ugly truths to the highest seats of power, caused the explosion whose sound is still ringing in our ears. Luther’s monumental faith and courage gave birth to the ideals of liberty, equality, and individualism that today lie at the heart of all modern life.]]> 480 Eric Metaxas 110198001X Brian 4 non-fiction
I had never read a book about Martin Luther. As a man of devout Christian faith, and a Protestant, I felt like I probably should. So I picked up Eric Metaxas� excellent biography of Luther, and I am the better, and more knowledgeable, for it. One thing this biography emphasizes again and again was “Luther’s advice was to trust God and to trust him radically.� He certainly lived his own advice.

In this text Mr. Metaxas makes abundantly clear that Luther’s impact was made greater because of the printing press and how much it was responsible for the dissemination of his speaking and writing. That simple invention has changed the world in more ways than I think we fully appreciate. It took Luther’s teaching directly to the people, and for the first time in human history the common man was being directly communicated with while being treated as an entity worthy of the information. It’s remarkable. This is one of many examples from the text that back up the book’s assertion that, “Luther’s story is a testament to how things beyond him shaped his course and the course of the Reformation in general.�

Some highlights of the text:

Especially good is Metaxas� close examination of the famous Diet of Worms, and the theological implications of what Luther said there.

The chapter called “Fanaticism & Violence� is an excellent analysis of how legalistic and fanatical folks can destroy such good things. It is also deft in its thoughts on how a natural consequence of freedom is the growth of fanaticism. At one point Metaxas writes, “There is nothing quite like religious madness, and that it is a foretaste of hell can hardly be debated.�

Metaxas includes many footnotes throughout the text, some of them mere outlets for his brand of humor. Overall, I did not mind them.

Quotes:
� “Luther was the unwitting harbinger of a new world in which the well-established boundaries of what was acceptable were exploded, never to be restored. Suddenly the individual had not only the freedom and possibility of thinking for himself but the weighty responsibility before God of doing so.�
� “His view of the truth was far too high for him to let confusing or errant things slip by the wayside.�
� “Luther saw in this the very essence of Christian theology. God reached down not halfway to meet us in our vileness but all the way down, to the foul dregs of our broken humanity.�
� “We are alone at the end of all human capability and logic, looking up.�
� “He came out decisively for the idea that the Bible must supersede the church, which came to be known as the idea of Sola scriptura.�
� “Luther’s theology had dragged a startlingly egalitarianism out of the Gospels and into the center of history, and history and the world would never be the same.�
� “…he translated the New Testament into German, forever releasing from its Latin prison the simple song of freedom itself, which would fly around the world and never again be hidden away.�
� “He was concerned more about the people than about the correctness of the theology.�
� “His business was to obey.�
� “Ideas have consequences and Luther’s had more than most.�
� “Here was the very wound at the heart of human existence: even when we know as much as or more than anyone else of the truth of God, we are nonetheless sufficiently mired in the fallenness of this world so that we are unable fully to comprehend what we know to be true.�
� “All that was good was of God, and to create walls where God has built none was far worse than a mere tragic mistake.�

The book is not hagiography however. Mr. Metaxas does not shy away from Luther’s contradictions and unsavory aspects. His look at some of Luther’s late life writings about Jews is disconcerting.

Mr. Metaxas has written an interesting and challenging text that I greatly appreciated. His personal analysis and thoughts on Luther’s life and teachings are also interesting to take in. I am very glad I read MARTIN LUTHER.

The Epilogue, “The Man Who Created the Future� is an erudite and often profound examination of Luther’s legacy on western civilization since his death. It makes the book’s subtitle, “The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World� very hard to deny. The text sums it up best, “But there was no going back.”]]> 4.07 2017 Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World
author: Eric Metaxas
name: Brian
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/20
date added: 2024/01/27
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“…here was a man who believed in something.� (4.5 stars)

I had never read a book about Martin Luther. As a man of devout Christian faith, and a Protestant, I felt like I probably should. So I picked up Eric Metaxas� excellent biography of Luther, and I am the better, and more knowledgeable, for it. One thing this biography emphasizes again and again was “Luther’s advice was to trust God and to trust him radically.� He certainly lived his own advice.

In this text Mr. Metaxas makes abundantly clear that Luther’s impact was made greater because of the printing press and how much it was responsible for the dissemination of his speaking and writing. That simple invention has changed the world in more ways than I think we fully appreciate. It took Luther’s teaching directly to the people, and for the first time in human history the common man was being directly communicated with while being treated as an entity worthy of the information. It’s remarkable. This is one of many examples from the text that back up the book’s assertion that, “Luther’s story is a testament to how things beyond him shaped his course and the course of the Reformation in general.�

Some highlights of the text:

Especially good is Metaxas� close examination of the famous Diet of Worms, and the theological implications of what Luther said there.

The chapter called “Fanaticism & Violence� is an excellent analysis of how legalistic and fanatical folks can destroy such good things. It is also deft in its thoughts on how a natural consequence of freedom is the growth of fanaticism. At one point Metaxas writes, “There is nothing quite like religious madness, and that it is a foretaste of hell can hardly be debated.�

Metaxas includes many footnotes throughout the text, some of them mere outlets for his brand of humor. Overall, I did not mind them.

Quotes:
� “Luther was the unwitting harbinger of a new world in which the well-established boundaries of what was acceptable were exploded, never to be restored. Suddenly the individual had not only the freedom and possibility of thinking for himself but the weighty responsibility before God of doing so.�
� “His view of the truth was far too high for him to let confusing or errant things slip by the wayside.�
� “Luther saw in this the very essence of Christian theology. God reached down not halfway to meet us in our vileness but all the way down, to the foul dregs of our broken humanity.�
� “We are alone at the end of all human capability and logic, looking up.�
� “He came out decisively for the idea that the Bible must supersede the church, which came to be known as the idea of Sola scriptura.�
� “Luther’s theology had dragged a startlingly egalitarianism out of the Gospels and into the center of history, and history and the world would never be the same.�
� “…he translated the New Testament into German, forever releasing from its Latin prison the simple song of freedom itself, which would fly around the world and never again be hidden away.�
� “He was concerned more about the people than about the correctness of the theology.�
� “His business was to obey.�
� “Ideas have consequences and Luther’s had more than most.�
� “Here was the very wound at the heart of human existence: even when we know as much as or more than anyone else of the truth of God, we are nonetheless sufficiently mired in the fallenness of this world so that we are unable fully to comprehend what we know to be true.�
� “All that was good was of God, and to create walls where God has built none was far worse than a mere tragic mistake.�

The book is not hagiography however. Mr. Metaxas does not shy away from Luther’s contradictions and unsavory aspects. His look at some of Luther’s late life writings about Jews is disconcerting.

Mr. Metaxas has written an interesting and challenging text that I greatly appreciated. His personal analysis and thoughts on Luther’s life and teachings are also interesting to take in. I am very glad I read MARTIN LUTHER.

The Epilogue, “The Man Who Created the Future� is an erudite and often profound examination of Luther’s legacy on western civilization since his death. It makes the book’s subtitle, “The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World� very hard to deny. The text sums it up best, “But there was no going back.�
]]> American Crusade 55277934
In American Crusade , Pete Hegseth explores whether the election of President Donald J. Trump was sign of a national rebirth, or instead the final act of a nation that has surrendered to Leftists who demand socialism, globalism, secularism, and politically-correct elitism. Can real America still win? And how?

Hegseth is an old-school patriot who is on a mission to do his part to save our Republic. This book celebrates all that America stands for, while motivating and mustering fellow patriots to stand ready to defend—and save—our great country. As he travels around the country talking to American citizens from all walks of life, Hegseth reveals the common wisdom of average Americans—and how ready they are to join the cultural battlefield. Now is that time, and Hegseth has written the playbook.

American Crusade is written with the same insight, politically incorrect candor, and humor that has made his television show one of the most highly-rated in America.]]> 352 Pete Hegseth 1546099379 Brian 3 audio, non-fiction
I listened to AMERICAN CRUSADE as an audio book, so it felt more like a podcast to me. If I had sat and read it I’m not sure how I would have felt about it. It was read by its author, Pete Hegseth, and since its content is about the political and cultural world, it is a natural fit for the audio format.

The book was written in 2019/2020, and it was interesting to see what it had gotten right, and wrong, since that time. Some of the things that Hegseth accurately called out include extreme leftist goals with sex (gender), immigration, and the American border. He nailed it, and the subsequent 4 years have proven that. However, he also got some things very wrong, the funniest example being Kanye West’s Christian conversion. Oops!

The text is especially spot on when it talks about education (a field I have been in for a long time) and the benefits of a “classical education.�

When Mr. Hegseth wades into religious waters he gets in a little too deep for him. It’s occasionally cringe, especially when he tries to explicate and impress with his thoughts on Christianity.

It was not a bad listen, overall. Although I certainly did not agree with some of the book, I did not dismiss it because there were parts that I did not see eye to eye with.]]> 4.40 2020 American Crusade
author: Pete Hegseth
name: Brian
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/07
date added: 2024/01/21
shelves: audio, non-fiction
review:
“…but as history shows us…�

I listened to AMERICAN CRUSADE as an audio book, so it felt more like a podcast to me. If I had sat and read it I’m not sure how I would have felt about it. It was read by its author, Pete Hegseth, and since its content is about the political and cultural world, it is a natural fit for the audio format.

The book was written in 2019/2020, and it was interesting to see what it had gotten right, and wrong, since that time. Some of the things that Hegseth accurately called out include extreme leftist goals with sex (gender), immigration, and the American border. He nailed it, and the subsequent 4 years have proven that. However, he also got some things very wrong, the funniest example being Kanye West’s Christian conversion. Oops!

The text is especially spot on when it talks about education (a field I have been in for a long time) and the benefits of a “classical education.�

When Mr. Hegseth wades into religious waters he gets in a little too deep for him. It’s occasionally cringe, especially when he tries to explicate and impress with his thoughts on Christianity.

It was not a bad listen, overall. Although I certainly did not agree with some of the book, I did not dismiss it because there were parts that I did not see eye to eye with.
]]> <![CDATA[Lady Romeo: The Radical and Revolutionary Life of Charlotte Cushman, America's First Celebrity]]> 52767765 For fans of Book of Ages and American Eve, this illuminating and enthralling biography of 19th-century queer actress Charlotte Cushman portrays her radical lifestyle that riveted New York City and made headlines across America.

From the very beginning, she was a radical. At age nineteen, Charlotte Cushman, America’s beloved actress and the country’s first true celebrity, left her life—and countless suitors—behind to make it as a Shakespearean actress. After revolutionizing the role of Lady Macbeth in front of many adoring fans, she went on the road, performing in cities across a dividing America and building her fame. She was everywhere. And yet, her name has faded in the shadows of history.

Now, for the first time in decades, Cushman’s story comes to full and brilliant life in this definitive, exhilarating, and enlightening biography of the 19th-century icon. With rarely seen letters, Wojczuk reconstructs the formative years of Cushman’s life, set against the excitement and drama of New York City in the 1800s, featuring a cast of luminaries and revolutionaries that changed the cultural landscape of America forever.

A vivid portrait of an astonishing and uniquely American life, Lady Romeo reveals one of the most remarkable women in United States history, and restores her to the center stage where she belongs.]]> 224 Tana Wojczuk 1501199528 Brian 2 non-fiction, audio
I had never heard of Charlotte Cushman, so when I saw this book for a couple of bucks on the bargain rack I picked it up. Alas, this book is not going to increase her reputation and significance. It might actually hurt it.

As the subtitle says, LADY ROMEO is the biography of America’s first celebrity. And it shows (although unintentionally I believe) just how fatuous and unworthy of note “celebrity� really is. Charlotte Cushman was an actress. A very famous one for the time. But this book is really not a biography as much as a hagiography. Apparently Ms. Cushman had no real flaws or foibles. Except it is obvious that she did.
There is not a lot of depth to this text, but the author does seem to want to celebrate and focus more on Cushman’s companions and possible lovers (mostly female) and her bohemian lifestyle. Which ironically makes her life seem even emptier. Ms. Cushman floated from person to person and never seemed settled. She may have had a good and happy life, but this book does not make that case very well.

The text is also riddled with factual errors. Many that I caught at a glance. The author fails this subject on so many levels.

A plus, there are some interesting tidbits about the theater and its environs in the mid nineteenth century that I enjoyed reading about. However, the best part of LADY ROMEO is the first bit of the epilogue which does address (and admits) the fleeting nature / idea of celebrity. 140 years after Cushman’s well documented life and career there is barely enough material for a 178 page book. Celebrities are only for a moment, not for an age, like a Shakespeare, or Mozart, or a Lincoln.]]> 3.82 2020 Lady Romeo: The Radical and Revolutionary Life of Charlotte Cushman, America's First Celebrity
author: Tana Wojczuk
name: Brian
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2023/12/29
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves: non-fiction, audio
review:
“Like many women of her time, her lasting impact could be found in the actions of those she inspired.�

I had never heard of Charlotte Cushman, so when I saw this book for a couple of bucks on the bargain rack I picked it up. Alas, this book is not going to increase her reputation and significance. It might actually hurt it.

As the subtitle says, LADY ROMEO is the biography of America’s first celebrity. And it shows (although unintentionally I believe) just how fatuous and unworthy of note “celebrity� really is. Charlotte Cushman was an actress. A very famous one for the time. But this book is really not a biography as much as a hagiography. Apparently Ms. Cushman had no real flaws or foibles. Except it is obvious that she did.
There is not a lot of depth to this text, but the author does seem to want to celebrate and focus more on Cushman’s companions and possible lovers (mostly female) and her bohemian lifestyle. Which ironically makes her life seem even emptier. Ms. Cushman floated from person to person and never seemed settled. She may have had a good and happy life, but this book does not make that case very well.

The text is also riddled with factual errors. Many that I caught at a glance. The author fails this subject on so many levels.

A plus, there are some interesting tidbits about the theater and its environs in the mid nineteenth century that I enjoyed reading about. However, the best part of LADY ROMEO is the first bit of the epilogue which does address (and admits) the fleeting nature / idea of celebrity. 140 years after Cushman’s well documented life and career there is barely enough material for a 178 page book. Celebrities are only for a moment, not for an age, like a Shakespeare, or Mozart, or a Lincoln.
]]> <![CDATA[The French Executioner (French Executioner, #1)]]> 23570083
In The French Executioner, C.C. Humphreys once again brings the past to life in all its glory and peril. This thrilling novel captures the breathtaking story of how courage, love, and loyalty bound Anne Boleyn to the man who ended her life—and saved her legacy.

"Humphreys has fashioned a rollicking good yarn that keeps the pages turning from start to finish."—Irish Examiner

"A wonderful saga of magic and heroism. If you can find a first impression, hoard it and wait till it rises in value like a first edition of Lord of the Rings. This is as good."—Crime Time, UK

"A brilliant, brutal, and absorbing historical thriller on the real-life figure of Jean Rombaud, the man who beheaded Anne Boleyn."—Northern Echo

"An entertaining read—a charming page turner."—Edmonton Journal

"Lightning paced."—Publishing News]]> 391 C.C. Humphreys Brian 2 fiction
THE FRENCH EXECUTIONER is an escapist, swashbuckling, historical fiction, quasi fantasy adventure. Which is fine, if the book were not stupid. It gets worse and more ridiculous the longer it goes.

The plot is that Jean Rombaud, the swordsman who executed Anne Boleyn, promises to bury her hand at a crossroads in France. That’s the motivating action for this novel, but it is never explained why the hand needs buried, and why those who try to stop this from happening go to the ends of the earth to try and stop it. As a result, the plot seem pointless, as no point was given.
The action and characters are all over the place; the Tower of London, a corsair slave galley, an apocalyptic prince, demon possessed monks…I could go on and on. Throw in a fight scene every 10 pages, and you have a 1530’s version of a Marvel action film. Just more ridiculous.

Quotes:
� “He was always surprised when ordinary men did extraordinary things.�
� “To die is the Norwegian way of having fun.�
� “The Devil was abroad in the world, everyone knew.�
� “But is it madness to fight, to journey, to dare?�
� “…we all know how hard it can be to go home. That’s why many of us never do.�
� “I have breath, and thus hope.�
� “Only a madman pursues death for no purpose.�

This novel is mindless and ludicrous. If you read it you will have to accept it on those terms and enjoy it for what it is, or you won’t and you will hate it. I’m still not sure where I fall.]]> 3.50 2001 The French Executioner (French Executioner, #1)
author: C.C. Humphreys
name: Brian
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at: 2023/12/23
date added: 2023/12/30
shelves: fiction
review:
“Causes are lost. Loyalties change.�

THE FRENCH EXECUTIONER is an escapist, swashbuckling, historical fiction, quasi fantasy adventure. Which is fine, if the book were not stupid. It gets worse and more ridiculous the longer it goes.

The plot is that Jean Rombaud, the swordsman who executed Anne Boleyn, promises to bury her hand at a crossroads in France. That’s the motivating action for this novel, but it is never explained why the hand needs buried, and why those who try to stop this from happening go to the ends of the earth to try and stop it. As a result, the plot seem pointless, as no point was given.
The action and characters are all over the place; the Tower of London, a corsair slave galley, an apocalyptic prince, demon possessed monks…I could go on and on. Throw in a fight scene every 10 pages, and you have a 1530’s version of a Marvel action film. Just more ridiculous.

Quotes:
� “He was always surprised when ordinary men did extraordinary things.�
� “To die is the Norwegian way of having fun.�
� “The Devil was abroad in the world, everyone knew.�
� “But is it madness to fight, to journey, to dare?�
� “…we all know how hard it can be to go home. That’s why many of us never do.�
� “I have breath, and thus hope.�
� “Only a madman pursues death for no purpose.�

This novel is mindless and ludicrous. If you read it you will have to accept it on those terms and enjoy it for what it is, or you won’t and you will hate it. I’m still not sure where I fall.
]]> <![CDATA[Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship]]> 27067478
Finding and identifying a pirate ship is the hardest thing to do under the sea. But two men—John Chatterton and John Mattera—are willing to risk everything to find the Golden Fleece, the ship of the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister. At large during the Golden Age of Piracy in the seventeenth century, Bannister should have been immortalized in the lore of the sea—his exploits more notorious than Blackbeard’s, more daring than Kidd’s. But his story, and his ship, have been lost to time.If Chatterton and Mattera succeed, they will make history—it will be just the second time ever that a pirate ship has been discovered and positively identified. Soon, however, they realize that cutting-edge technology and a willingness to lose everything aren’t enough to track down Bannister’s ship. They must travel the globe in search of historic documents and accounts of the great pirate’s exploits, face down dangerous rivals, battle the tides of nations and governments and experts. But it’s only when they learn to think and act like pirates—like Bannister—that they become able to go where no pirate hunters have gone before.

Fast-paced and filled with suspense, fascinating characters, history, and adventure, Pirate Hunters is an unputdownable story that goes deep to discover truths and souls long believed lost.

Praise for Pirate Hunters

“You won’t want to put [it] down.� � Los Angeles Times

“An exceptional adventure . . . Highly recommended to readers who delight in adventure, suspense, and the thrill of discovering history at their fingertips.� � Library Journal (starred review)

“A terrific read . . . The book gallops along at a blistering pace, shifting us deftly between the seventeenth century and the present day.� � Diver

“Nonfiction with the trademarks of a the plots and subplots, the tension and suspense . . . [Kurson has] found gold.� � The Dallas Morning News

“Rollicking . . . a fascinating [story] about the world of pirates, piracy, and priceless treasures.� � The Boston Globe

“[Kurson’s] narration is just as engrossing as the subject.� � The Christian Science Monitor

“A wild ride [and an] extraordinary adventure . . . Kurson’s own enthusiasm, combined with his copious research and an eye for detail, makes for one of the most mind-blowing pirate stories of recent memory, one that even the staunchest landlubber will have a hard time putting down.� � Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The two contemporary pirate-ship seekers of Mr. Kurson’s narrative are as daring, intrepid, tough and talented as Blood and Sparrow—and Bannister. . . . As depicted by the author, they are real-life Hemingway heroes.� � The Wall Street Journal

“[Kurson] takes his knowledge of the underwater world and applies it to the ‘Golden Age of Piracy� . . . thrillingly detailing the highs and lows of chasing not just gold and silver but also history.� � Booklist

“A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds . . . It’s all true.� —Lee Child]]> 304 Robert Kurson 0812973690 Brian 4 non-fiction
I saw this book and thought it would be a good mindless beach read. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. What a fun nonfiction ride this is! And it is perfect for reading in the blazing sun.

There is a blurb on the cover of PIRATE HUNTERS that says, “A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds…and it really happened.� That blurb is dead on accurate. Essentially the book is about two men and their quest to find a famous pirate ship, the “Golden Fleece�. Those two men are John Chatterton and John Mattera, and the text is also a biography of sorts about them, and their lives are interesting enough to warrant that. These two are very fascinating and brilliantly mad men. The story of their lives, and the search for the ship, mingle together in a fun and informative read. It is gripping to read about Chatterton and Mattera. These dudes are men! Tough, brave, energetic, and adventurous.

Quotes:
� “To Mattera, history was more than just a collection of old stories; it was an insight into human nature, a crystal ball that told as much about the future as it did about the past.�
� “…this was history-better than textbook stories of presidents and kings, because he could stand there; he could feel the place for himself. The feeling of a place was the reason to go.�
� “In this way, gold and silver performed alchemies of their own. By mixing with human instinct, they could even turn the pious base.�
� “Men came alive when they were made equal.�

Especially notable was chapter 16, “The Battle�, which was an engaging section. It includes a detailed description of the mechanics of firing a cannon in the 1680s. And it is good reading! Detailed, yet not so technical that I could not follow it. Ditto for a description of a surgeon amputating limbs on a naval ship.

Overall, the strongest thing about this text is the love of history that permeates very page. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book.]]> 4.16 2015 Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
author: Robert Kurson
name: Brian
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/06
date added: 2023/12/29
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“If we can think like pirates, we can find them.�

I saw this book and thought it would be a good mindless beach read. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. What a fun nonfiction ride this is! And it is perfect for reading in the blazing sun.

There is a blurb on the cover of PIRATE HUNTERS that says, “A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds…and it really happened.� That blurb is dead on accurate. Essentially the book is about two men and their quest to find a famous pirate ship, the “Golden Fleece�. Those two men are John Chatterton and John Mattera, and the text is also a biography of sorts about them, and their lives are interesting enough to warrant that. These two are very fascinating and brilliantly mad men. The story of their lives, and the search for the ship, mingle together in a fun and informative read. It is gripping to read about Chatterton and Mattera. These dudes are men! Tough, brave, energetic, and adventurous.

Quotes:
� “To Mattera, history was more than just a collection of old stories; it was an insight into human nature, a crystal ball that told as much about the future as it did about the past.�
� “…this was history-better than textbook stories of presidents and kings, because he could stand there; he could feel the place for himself. The feeling of a place was the reason to go.�
� “In this way, gold and silver performed alchemies of their own. By mixing with human instinct, they could even turn the pious base.�
� “Men came alive when they were made equal.�

Especially notable was chapter 16, “The Battle�, which was an engaging section. It includes a detailed description of the mechanics of firing a cannon in the 1680s. And it is good reading! Detailed, yet not so technical that I could not follow it. Ditto for a description of a surgeon amputating limbs on a naval ship.

Overall, the strongest thing about this text is the love of history that permeates very page. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book.
]]> Everybody's Fool (Sully, #2) 27068575
The irresistible Sully, who in the intervening years has come by some unexpected good fortune, is staring down a VA cardiologist's estimate that he has only a year or two left, and it's hard work trying to keep this news from the most important people in his life: Ruth, the married woman he carried on with for years ... the ultra-hapless Rub Squeers, who worries that he and Sully aren't still best friends ... Sully's son and grandson, for whom he was mostly an absentee figure (and now a regretful one). We also enjoy the company of Doug Raymer, the chief of police who's obsessing primarily over the identity of the man his wife might've been about to run off with, before dying in a freak accident ... Bath's mayor, the former academic Gus Moynihan, whose wife problems are, if anything, even more pressing ... and then there's Carl Roebuck, whose lifelong run of failing upward might now come to ruin. And finally, there's Charice Bond - a light at the end of the tunnel that is Chief Raymer's office - as well as her brother, Jerome, who might well be the train barreling into the station.

Everybody's Fool is filled with humor, heart, hard times and people you can't help but love, possibly because their various faults make them so stridently human.]]> 477 Richard Russo 0307270645 Brian 4 fiction
I read EVERYBODY’S FOOL just a few weeks after reading its predecessor, NOBODY’S FOOL. This novel begins 10 years after that one (about 1994 or so). I recommend reading them close together, mainly just to have the references fresh and to fully immerse in Richard Russo’s wonderfully compelling citizenry of North Bath, NY.

Like NOBODY’S FOOL, this text takes place over only a few days. And like that book it pushes 500 pages. And that’s a good thing. It’s not the action, although the plot is fun, it is the details and observations that flesh out the book. The protagonist of NOBODY’S FOOL, Sully Sullivan, returns in this text and while he is important, he is not the main focus. Like in life, the central characters are always replaced as the world slowly moves on, and daily circumstances change. Along with Sully, other characters return and it is interesting to see how they have changed, and not changed, in the decade the reader missed. However, the protagonist of EVERYBODY’S FOOL is Doug Raymer, a minor character in the previous book. Doug is the current Chief of Police in North Bath, and his role in the previous text was minor and humorous. Doug is still responsible for a lot of humor in this text, and I just could not help rooting for the guy. Mr. Russo does a nice job of fleshing him out and making us feel tender towards him and his many foibles.

This is only my second novel of Mr. Russo’s but I am growing fond of him. Mainly because his writing seems to abound with key insights into human traits and truth. Take this example from the book, which made me wince with self-recognition. “He’s always wanted friends, and later lovers, but also was repelled by intimacy and, at times, even proximity. Careful to cultivate an air of strident self-sufficiency, he was, according to Charice, extremely vulnerable.� There are moments like this that drive straight to the heart of human action and motivation all throughout this novel.

Quotes:
� “I mean, look around. Who’s not a damn fool most of the time?�
� “An academic affiliation might explain both his windy nonsense and the confidence with which he delivered it.�
� “But you come here because you don’t know where else to go.�
� “Man starts thinking this late in life, no previous experience or proper guidance, there’s no telling where it could lead.�
� “You don’t have to be hard, just because the world is.�
� “We don’t forgive people because they deserve it, we forgive them because we deserve it.�
� “Wouldn’t it be a kick in the nuts if that was how things worked? If we each knew things that other people needed desperately to know, yet were forever clueless about how to help ourselves?�
� “…it occurred to him that waiting for a woman who’d forgotten something was one of life’s underrated pleasures.�

Once again in EVERYBODY’S FOOL Richard Russo’s writing drew me in. I enjoyed that I was revisiting North Bath, New York. Meeting new people, getting to see different sides of people I thought I knew, and watching old friends as life and age changed them too. I love seeing how in Russo’s expert hands we see how all of these things can combine and mix in our life experiences to change our perspectives and our values. A good novel gives you that experience, and this is a good novel!]]> 4.06 2016 Everybody's Fool (Sully, #2)
author: Richard Russo
name: Brian
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/21
date added: 2023/12/28
shelves: fiction
review:
“I also think it’s possible for us to be better people tomorrow than we are today.�

I read EVERYBODY’S FOOL just a few weeks after reading its predecessor, NOBODY’S FOOL. This novel begins 10 years after that one (about 1994 or so). I recommend reading them close together, mainly just to have the references fresh and to fully immerse in Richard Russo’s wonderfully compelling citizenry of North Bath, NY.

Like NOBODY’S FOOL, this text takes place over only a few days. And like that book it pushes 500 pages. And that’s a good thing. It’s not the action, although the plot is fun, it is the details and observations that flesh out the book. The protagonist of NOBODY’S FOOL, Sully Sullivan, returns in this text and while he is important, he is not the main focus. Like in life, the central characters are always replaced as the world slowly moves on, and daily circumstances change. Along with Sully, other characters return and it is interesting to see how they have changed, and not changed, in the decade the reader missed. However, the protagonist of EVERYBODY’S FOOL is Doug Raymer, a minor character in the previous book. Doug is the current Chief of Police in North Bath, and his role in the previous text was minor and humorous. Doug is still responsible for a lot of humor in this text, and I just could not help rooting for the guy. Mr. Russo does a nice job of fleshing him out and making us feel tender towards him and his many foibles.

This is only my second novel of Mr. Russo’s but I am growing fond of him. Mainly because his writing seems to abound with key insights into human traits and truth. Take this example from the book, which made me wince with self-recognition. “He’s always wanted friends, and later lovers, but also was repelled by intimacy and, at times, even proximity. Careful to cultivate an air of strident self-sufficiency, he was, according to Charice, extremely vulnerable.� There are moments like this that drive straight to the heart of human action and motivation all throughout this novel.

Quotes:
� “I mean, look around. Who’s not a damn fool most of the time?�
� “An academic affiliation might explain both his windy nonsense and the confidence with which he delivered it.�
� “But you come here because you don’t know where else to go.�
� “Man starts thinking this late in life, no previous experience or proper guidance, there’s no telling where it could lead.�
� “You don’t have to be hard, just because the world is.�
� “We don’t forgive people because they deserve it, we forgive them because we deserve it.�
� “Wouldn’t it be a kick in the nuts if that was how things worked? If we each knew things that other people needed desperately to know, yet were forever clueless about how to help ourselves?�
� “…it occurred to him that waiting for a woman who’d forgotten something was one of life’s underrated pleasures.�

Once again in EVERYBODY’S FOOL Richard Russo’s writing drew me in. I enjoyed that I was revisiting North Bath, New York. Meeting new people, getting to see different sides of people I thought I knew, and watching old friends as life and age changed them too. I love seeing how in Russo’s expert hands we see how all of these things can combine and mix in our life experiences to change our perspectives and our values. A good novel gives you that experience, and this is a good novel!
]]> <![CDATA[A Place Called Heaven: 10 Surprising Truths about Your Eternal Home]]> 36695817
In this enlightening book, bestselling author Dr. Robert Jeffress opens the Scriptures to unpack ten surprising truths about heaven and explain who we will see there and how we can prepare to go there someday. Perfect for believers or skeptics who are curious about heaven.]]> 256 Robert Jeffress 0801093678 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion
Heaven is a place of vast interest to me. Mainly because no one can speak definitively about it, and the only thing we can accept as fact is what Christ said about it, if we are a believer in Him. I am by the way, so FYI as I’m sure that colored my experience with this book. I picked up A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN more out of curiosity, than out a desire to learn something.

I don’t share the author’s, Dr. Robert Jeffress, millennial views so that aspect of the book fell flat for me. I did appreciate that he tried to base everything in biblical text, even if I did not always share his interpretation of said text.

Here are some bits from the book that stuck with me.
- I had never thought much about “near death experiences�. As a rule I don’t put much stock in them. After reading Dr. Jeffress� thoughts on them, he also doubts their veracity, I will stick with my low regard for them.
- Chapter eight, “Will Heaven Be the Same for Everyone?�, was theologically a bit of a stretch for me. Not sure that I agree or disagree with the author’s view, but I am glad I read his thoughts. Gave me something to ponder.
- I had never given a lot of consideration to the idea of rewards in Heaven and how that affects our individual experiences there. Since reading this book, I have been thinking and studying about it more.

Quotes:
� “God knows that our minds are incapable of fully comprehending the complete magnificence of Heaven.
� “Truth is not the sum of our imagination.�
� “…forgiveness means letting go of my right to hurt another person for hurting me.�

Overall, this was a good reading experience. One I took in small bites, on a daily basis. Some interesting ideas presented, most of them taken back to biblical text for validation. I appreciated the effort, and the thoughts it engendered in me.]]> 3.96 A Place Called Heaven: 10 Surprising Truths about Your Eternal Home
author: Robert Jeffress
name: Brian
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/17
date added: 2023/12/27
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“It’s a place more magnificent than you could ever imagine.� (3.5 stars)

Heaven is a place of vast interest to me. Mainly because no one can speak definitively about it, and the only thing we can accept as fact is what Christ said about it, if we are a believer in Him. I am by the way, so FYI as I’m sure that colored my experience with this book. I picked up A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN more out of curiosity, than out a desire to learn something.

I don’t share the author’s, Dr. Robert Jeffress, millennial views so that aspect of the book fell flat for me. I did appreciate that he tried to base everything in biblical text, even if I did not always share his interpretation of said text.

Here are some bits from the book that stuck with me.
- I had never thought much about “near death experiences�. As a rule I don’t put much stock in them. After reading Dr. Jeffress� thoughts on them, he also doubts their veracity, I will stick with my low regard for them.
- Chapter eight, “Will Heaven Be the Same for Everyone?�, was theologically a bit of a stretch for me. Not sure that I agree or disagree with the author’s view, but I am glad I read his thoughts. Gave me something to ponder.
- I had never given a lot of consideration to the idea of rewards in Heaven and how that affects our individual experiences there. Since reading this book, I have been thinking and studying about it more.

Quotes:
� “God knows that our minds are incapable of fully comprehending the complete magnificence of Heaven.
� “Truth is not the sum of our imagination.�
� “…forgiveness means letting go of my right to hurt another person for hurting me.�

Overall, this was a good reading experience. One I took in small bites, on a daily basis. Some interesting ideas presented, most of them taken back to biblical text for validation. I appreciated the effort, and the thoughts it engendered in me.
]]> <![CDATA[In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette]]> 23995214
Two years into the voyage, the Jeannette's hull was breached by an impassable stretch of pack ice, forcing the crew to abandon ship amid torrents of rushing of water. Hours later, the ship had sunk below the surface, marooning the men a thousand miles north of Siberia, where they faced a terrifying march with minimal supplies across the endless ice pack.

Enduring everything from snow blindness and polar bears to ferocious storms and labyrinths of ice, the crew battled madness and starvation as they struggled desperately to survive. With thrilling twists and turns, In The Kingdom of Ice is a tale of heroism and determination in the most brutal place on Earth.]]> 454 Hampton Sides 0307946916 Brian 4 non-fiction
IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE is a good dose of narrative nonfiction. There are moments in this text where the Gilded Age felt very much alive. As the subtitle indicates, this book is about a Polar expedition that left for the North Pole in the summer of 1879. Those who survived did not return to civilization for three years. I had never heard of the USS Jeannette, and how this expedition came to become a reality (privately funded by a newspaper mogul) and the competing theories about the Artic that were floating around in the 19th century. It all makes for fascinating reading.

This was my first book by Hampton Sides. Others are in my “to read� pile. Mr. Sides does a nice job of fleshing out the larger cultural context that surrounds the focus of this narrative. The second half of the nineteenth century was an endlessly fascinating time in the world. A period of vast and immense change, and Sides captures that nicely.

Quotes:
� “The American invents as the Greek sculpted and the Italian painted: it is genius.�
� “We have a good crew, good food, and a good ship, and I think we have the right kind of stuff to dare all that man can do.�
� “Stay good friends and pull together…you must succeed!�
� “We face the future with the firm hope of doing something worthy of ourselves, and worthy of the flag that floats above us.�
� “The Fates seem to be against us.�
� “If ever Divine Providence was manifested in behalf of needy and exposed people, we are an instance of it.�
� “The magnitude of their struggle had forged a forgiving brotherhood.�
� “I can only say that we did our whole duty, that we did all that we could do, and that if we had not tried to do that, we would have been no men at all.�

When some of the inevitable things happened, I found myself unexpectedly sad. I had built a connection with the book’s subjects, and that speaks to Mr. Sides� skill with the narrative. The last 100 or so pages of IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE are hard to put down. I had never heard of this expedition, so I had no foreknowledge of what happened to it. It made for exciting reading.

I learned some cool things, and I enjoyed the experience too. Great combination.]]> 4.39 2014 In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
author: Hampton Sides
name: Brian
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/03
date added: 2023/12/17
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“We are not yet daunted.�

IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE is a good dose of narrative nonfiction. There are moments in this text where the Gilded Age felt very much alive. As the subtitle indicates, this book is about a Polar expedition that left for the North Pole in the summer of 1879. Those who survived did not return to civilization for three years. I had never heard of the USS Jeannette, and how this expedition came to become a reality (privately funded by a newspaper mogul) and the competing theories about the Artic that were floating around in the 19th century. It all makes for fascinating reading.

This was my first book by Hampton Sides. Others are in my “to read� pile. Mr. Sides does a nice job of fleshing out the larger cultural context that surrounds the focus of this narrative. The second half of the nineteenth century was an endlessly fascinating time in the world. A period of vast and immense change, and Sides captures that nicely.

Quotes:
� “The American invents as the Greek sculpted and the Italian painted: it is genius.�
� “We have a good crew, good food, and a good ship, and I think we have the right kind of stuff to dare all that man can do.�
� “Stay good friends and pull together…you must succeed!�
� “We face the future with the firm hope of doing something worthy of ourselves, and worthy of the flag that floats above us.�
� “The Fates seem to be against us.�
� “If ever Divine Providence was manifested in behalf of needy and exposed people, we are an instance of it.�
� “The magnitude of their struggle had forged a forgiving brotherhood.�
� “I can only say that we did our whole duty, that we did all that we could do, and that if we had not tried to do that, we would have been no men at all.�

When some of the inevitable things happened, I found myself unexpectedly sad. I had built a connection with the book’s subjects, and that speaks to Mr. Sides� skill with the narrative. The last 100 or so pages of IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE are hard to put down. I had never heard of this expedition, so I had no foreknowledge of what happened to it. It made for exciting reading.

I learned some cool things, and I enjoyed the experience too. Great combination.
]]> Marley 43822323
From the acclaimed author of Finn comes a masterful reimagining of Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol with this darkly entertaining exploration of the relationship between Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley.

“Marley was dead, to begin with,� Charles Dickens tells us at the beginning of A Christmas Carol. But in Jon Clinch’s ingenious novel, Jacob Marley, business partner to Ebenezer Scrooge, is very much a rapacious and cunning boy who grows up to be a forger, a scoundrel, and the man who will be both the making and the undoing of Scrooge.

They meet as youths in the gloomy confines of Professor Drabb’s Academy for Boys, where Marley begins their twisted friendship by initiating the innocent Scrooge into the gentle art of extortion. Years later, in the dank heart of London, their shared ambition manifests itself in a fledgling shipping empire. Between Marley’s genius for deception and Scrooge’s brilliance with numbers, they amass a considerable fortune of dubious legality, all rooted in a pitiless commitment to the soon-to-be-outlawed slave trade.

As Marley toys with the affections of Scrooge’s sister, Fan, Scrooge falls under the spell of Fan’s best friend, Belle Fairchild. Now, for the first time, Scrooge and Marley find themselves at cross-purposes. With their business interests inextricably bound together and instincts for secrecy and greed bred in their very bones, the two men engage in a shadowy war of deception, false identities, forged documents, theft, and cold-blooded murder. Marley and Scrooge are destined to clash in an unforgettable reckoning that will echo into the future and set the stage for Marley’s ghostly return.

Meticulously crafted and beguilingly told, Marley revisits and illuminates one of Charles Dickens’s most cherished works to spellbinding effect.]]> 288 Jon Clinch 1982129700 Brian 4 fiction
I really loved this book. Unexpectedly so. Author Jon Clinch cleverly fills in some of the gaps that are in A CHRISTMAS CAROL in a manner that works with that text. It is very Dickensian in its style, and the names reek of Dickens� ability to create character names that also indicate what the character is like. Names like Drabb, Sweedlepipe, Gradgrine, etc. They’re just fun. I suspect many of them probably came from other Dickens works. I have regrettably only read a little of him. The text also abounds with allusions and hints of foreshadowing that readers of A CHRISTMAS CAROL will catch. Especially clever is a cameo from a young (child) Bob Cratchit.

Mr. Clinch has imagined the life of Jacob Marley, who in Dickens� world we only know as a ghost. Beginning with Marley’s youth in 1787 and ending with his death in 1836 we see what made this man tick. Clinch’s creation is a con man of the highest order. A bad dude, one with not a single scruple.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the writing. So many fun sentences, like this� “The deliveryman has a wooden leg that belongs to him, and a horse and a wagon that don’t.� Also enjoyable was the fact that we get a glimpse of the kind of life Scrooge could have lived. It’s sad to see this light in his character, knowing that it will be extinguished with bitterness and greed. Clinch’s Ebenezer Scrooge is a man ruined by his poor choice in friends and partners.

Quotes:
� “The details do not matter, though, for the principle is the thing.�
� “What sort of Englishman is forever too busy for tea?�
� “It looks hastily done but its offhandedness is a matter of much consideration. Such is art.�
� “I should think there’s wisdom in choosing when to do battle…�
� “They recede into the past, generation by generation, terrible ordinary men with terrible ordinary failings and terrible ordinary secrets that they have learned to keep even from themselves- burdens fated to accompany them to their graves and beyond.�
� “It is better to fail at a difficult thing than to succeed at the commonplace again and again.�

As stated, I enjoyed this book. The wonderful depiction of the journey of Jacob Marley is brilliant. I hated him from the text’s onset to almost the last page. I had a visceral reaction to this awful human. But Jon Clinch’s kicker of an ending pulled the rug out from under me…reminding me of Marley’s humanity. Which made his ugliness all the more terrifying. It could be my own. It also seamlessly fits into (and creates) the motivation for Marley to appear as a ghost to Scrooge in Dicken’s CAROL.

MARLEY is a quick read, fast paced, and a thoughtful text. It captured me completely.]]> 3.72 2019 Marley
author: Jon Clinch
name: Brian
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/11
date added: 2023/12/17
shelves: fiction
review:
“Small misjudgments ramify into networks of larger ones.�

I really loved this book. Unexpectedly so. Author Jon Clinch cleverly fills in some of the gaps that are in A CHRISTMAS CAROL in a manner that works with that text. It is very Dickensian in its style, and the names reek of Dickens� ability to create character names that also indicate what the character is like. Names like Drabb, Sweedlepipe, Gradgrine, etc. They’re just fun. I suspect many of them probably came from other Dickens works. I have regrettably only read a little of him. The text also abounds with allusions and hints of foreshadowing that readers of A CHRISTMAS CAROL will catch. Especially clever is a cameo from a young (child) Bob Cratchit.

Mr. Clinch has imagined the life of Jacob Marley, who in Dickens� world we only know as a ghost. Beginning with Marley’s youth in 1787 and ending with his death in 1836 we see what made this man tick. Clinch’s creation is a con man of the highest order. A bad dude, one with not a single scruple.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the writing. So many fun sentences, like this� “The deliveryman has a wooden leg that belongs to him, and a horse and a wagon that don’t.� Also enjoyable was the fact that we get a glimpse of the kind of life Scrooge could have lived. It’s sad to see this light in his character, knowing that it will be extinguished with bitterness and greed. Clinch’s Ebenezer Scrooge is a man ruined by his poor choice in friends and partners.

Quotes:
� “The details do not matter, though, for the principle is the thing.�
� “What sort of Englishman is forever too busy for tea?�
� “It looks hastily done but its offhandedness is a matter of much consideration. Such is art.�
� “I should think there’s wisdom in choosing when to do battle…�
� “They recede into the past, generation by generation, terrible ordinary men with terrible ordinary failings and terrible ordinary secrets that they have learned to keep even from themselves- burdens fated to accompany them to their graves and beyond.�
� “It is better to fail at a difficult thing than to succeed at the commonplace again and again.�

As stated, I enjoyed this book. The wonderful depiction of the journey of Jacob Marley is brilliant. I hated him from the text’s onset to almost the last page. I had a visceral reaction to this awful human. But Jon Clinch’s kicker of an ending pulled the rug out from under me…reminding me of Marley’s humanity. Which made his ugliness all the more terrifying. It could be my own. It also seamlessly fits into (and creates) the motivation for Marley to appear as a ghost to Scrooge in Dicken’s CAROL.

MARLEY is a quick read, fast paced, and a thoughtful text. It captured me completely.
]]> Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1) 3273
Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end---but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

With a vibrant cast of vividly realized characters, Moloka'i is the true-to-life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death. Such is the warmth, humor, and compassion of this novel that "few readers will remain unchanged by Rachel's story."]]> 405 Alan Brennert 0312304358 Brian 4 fiction
This is a text that came into my life through a book club. I had never heard of it, or its subject matter, before. It took me a while to read it, and I did not think often about wanting to pick it up, but every time I did I was captured. An odd experience.

MOLOKA’I is a historical fiction account of a real leper colony that was in Hawaii. This novel takes place starting in 1891 and ends in 1970, and it clips along, covering a lot of material in a pretty quick pace. We follow one Rachel Kalama from pre diagnosis, until death, experiencing the life of one who lives (and Rachel certainly does live a life) with leprosy. The text flows very cinematically, as it does not belabor any point. It presents it, and moves on. And I liked that about this book.

There really are not villains in this piece. Just people. And most people are not really bad, they just sometimes make bad decisions. I appreciate writers who remember that fact. Author Alan Brennert does not take cheap shots at targets that popular culture seems to always take cheap shots at. He does not go after low hanging fruit in this novel, and I marveled that his depictions of the Catholic Church were thoughtful. Lesser writers would have painted the easy (cheap) target of the “unfeeling church�, proselytizing before caring about the individual. But Brennert does not do that. Instead his people of the church are decent (sometimes amazing) humans, with good intentions, sometimes poor execution, but usually good hearted. I appreciated his effort to not paint cheap villains, but instead to give a humanity and realistic depth to his multi-faceted characters and their motives.

Quotes:
� “…and the thought draped itself around her, warm and comforting as a favorite blanket: she wasn’t alone here.�
� “…after a while the fear became a constant, cold companion, a simple fact of existence.�
� “…for a while, at least, the ocean washed everything away. �
� “I believe in Hawai’i. I believe in the land.�
� “Fear is good. In the right degree it prevents us making fools of ourselves. But in the wrong measure it prevents us from fully living. Fear is our boon companion, but never our master.�
� “…and they sat here wordlessly, sharing more than silence.�
� “The sea is always in command, humanity an invited guest; those who did not respect that did not return.�
� “I’ve come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death…is the true measure of the Divine within us.�
� “It wasn’t right. But it’s over.�

One of the best things about MOLOKA’I is that the book does not focus on the negative. It focuses on living and life, acknowledging the positive and the negative as part of that process. I for one found that very refreshing. We will experience both good and bad repeatedly throughout this journey called life. And neither should dominate our choices.

A note, this edition of the text features a short “Get to Know the History� section at the end that I found to be a nice complement to the book.]]> 4.19 2003 Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1)
author: Alan Brennert
name: Brian
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/17
date added: 2023/12/12
shelves: fiction
review:
“It’s a hard thing, to love someone and not be able to show it.�

This is a text that came into my life through a book club. I had never heard of it, or its subject matter, before. It took me a while to read it, and I did not think often about wanting to pick it up, but every time I did I was captured. An odd experience.

MOLOKA’I is a historical fiction account of a real leper colony that was in Hawaii. This novel takes place starting in 1891 and ends in 1970, and it clips along, covering a lot of material in a pretty quick pace. We follow one Rachel Kalama from pre diagnosis, until death, experiencing the life of one who lives (and Rachel certainly does live a life) with leprosy. The text flows very cinematically, as it does not belabor any point. It presents it, and moves on. And I liked that about this book.

There really are not villains in this piece. Just people. And most people are not really bad, they just sometimes make bad decisions. I appreciate writers who remember that fact. Author Alan Brennert does not take cheap shots at targets that popular culture seems to always take cheap shots at. He does not go after low hanging fruit in this novel, and I marveled that his depictions of the Catholic Church were thoughtful. Lesser writers would have painted the easy (cheap) target of the “unfeeling church�, proselytizing before caring about the individual. But Brennert does not do that. Instead his people of the church are decent (sometimes amazing) humans, with good intentions, sometimes poor execution, but usually good hearted. I appreciated his effort to not paint cheap villains, but instead to give a humanity and realistic depth to his multi-faceted characters and their motives.

Quotes:
� “…and the thought draped itself around her, warm and comforting as a favorite blanket: she wasn’t alone here.�
� “…after a while the fear became a constant, cold companion, a simple fact of existence.�
� “…for a while, at least, the ocean washed everything away. �
� “I believe in Hawai’i. I believe in the land.�
� “Fear is good. In the right degree it prevents us making fools of ourselves. But in the wrong measure it prevents us from fully living. Fear is our boon companion, but never our master.�
� “…and they sat here wordlessly, sharing more than silence.�
� “The sea is always in command, humanity an invited guest; those who did not respect that did not return.�
� “I’ve come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death…is the true measure of the Divine within us.�
� “It wasn’t right. But it’s over.�

One of the best things about MOLOKA’I is that the book does not focus on the negative. It focuses on living and life, acknowledging the positive and the negative as part of that process. I for one found that very refreshing. We will experience both good and bad repeatedly throughout this journey called life. And neither should dominate our choices.

A note, this edition of the text features a short “Get to Know the History� section at the end that I found to be a nice complement to the book.
]]> <![CDATA[Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America]]> 15818238 368 Jeff Chu 0062049739 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion Jeff Chu has written a book that celebrates God, and the structure of “Does Jesus Really Love Me?� follows his “pilgrimage� of sorts of visiting / investigating the myriad of ways in which American Christianity interacts with the issue of homosexuality. Chu is a good writer and the book flows with ease, and the setup of each chapter being a new experience with a new church or group works well. Chu also intersperses throughout the text little essays written by people that he met over the course of researching this book who he invited to put into their own words some thoughts they had. The mini-essay written by disgraced former mega-church pastor Ted Haggard is surprisingly thoughtful and profound. Mr. Chu also uses the life experience of an email correspondent named Gideon Eads as a thread throughout his own journey plopping in emails between the two of them throughout the text at appropriate points in the narrative. Eads� final email to Chu, that ends the epilogue, is a devastating (in a good way) end to the text.
Now to share some moments in the book that spoke to me. This is just a sampling, there are many others, and this text will resonate very differently with different readers based on life experience, etc. One moment that I found especially powerful was on page 190 when a young gay Christian shares with the author his poem “Ways I want to be Kissed�. This moment highlights a powerful message in the book, mainly that we need love and companionship in our lives. I also appreciated Chu’s willingness to say what he really felt at times. This became readily apparent to me when he talks about his feelings for the MCC (Metropolitan Community Church). He takes issue with the fact that the church is focused on the people in the church (mainly their sexuality) instead of Christ which is the antithesis of what religious worship is supposed to be. I appreciated his sensitivity to the church’s practice while still highlighting this huge (from his and my perspectives) flaw. He does not present all gay approving churches as dignified and right. Nor does he lump those who don’t approve of homosexuality into the (carelessly overused in today’s society) category of bigot. This evenhanded approach is one of the text’s biggest assets.
“Does Jesus Really Love Me?� is an honest examination of two areas of American life that are often in contention, and I think it is worth reading for a variety of reasons by people on both sides of the debate. If for no other reason than to see portraits of the people on the other side that are not colored by an agenda. Well done Mr. Chu!]]> 4.15 2013 Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America
author: Jeff Chu
name: Brian
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
First off, I had just started this book before a 12 year relationship unexpectedly and suddenly ended. A relationship that suffered under the specter of evangelical Christianity the whole time, and so I am sure that it mirrored my reading of the text. Bear that in mind with this review.
Jeff Chu has written a book that celebrates God, and the structure of “Does Jesus Really Love Me?� follows his “pilgrimage� of sorts of visiting / investigating the myriad of ways in which American Christianity interacts with the issue of homosexuality. Chu is a good writer and the book flows with ease, and the setup of each chapter being a new experience with a new church or group works well. Chu also intersperses throughout the text little essays written by people that he met over the course of researching this book who he invited to put into their own words some thoughts they had. The mini-essay written by disgraced former mega-church pastor Ted Haggard is surprisingly thoughtful and profound. Mr. Chu also uses the life experience of an email correspondent named Gideon Eads as a thread throughout his own journey plopping in emails between the two of them throughout the text at appropriate points in the narrative. Eads� final email to Chu, that ends the epilogue, is a devastating (in a good way) end to the text.
Now to share some moments in the book that spoke to me. This is just a sampling, there are many others, and this text will resonate very differently with different readers based on life experience, etc. One moment that I found especially powerful was on page 190 when a young gay Christian shares with the author his poem “Ways I want to be Kissed�. This moment highlights a powerful message in the book, mainly that we need love and companionship in our lives. I also appreciated Chu’s willingness to say what he really felt at times. This became readily apparent to me when he talks about his feelings for the MCC (Metropolitan Community Church). He takes issue with the fact that the church is focused on the people in the church (mainly their sexuality) instead of Christ which is the antithesis of what religious worship is supposed to be. I appreciated his sensitivity to the church’s practice while still highlighting this huge (from his and my perspectives) flaw. He does not present all gay approving churches as dignified and right. Nor does he lump those who don’t approve of homosexuality into the (carelessly overused in today’s society) category of bigot. This evenhanded approach is one of the text’s biggest assets.
“Does Jesus Really Love Me?� is an honest examination of two areas of American life that are often in contention, and I think it is worth reading for a variety of reasons by people on both sides of the debate. If for no other reason than to see portraits of the people on the other side that are not colored by an agenda. Well done Mr. Chu!
]]> <![CDATA[Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians]]> 3070392 192 Candace Chellew-Hodge 0470279281 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion Personally I found the book mostly helpful and I enjoyed Ms. Hodge's honesty in exposing her own warts and issues. She has a bad temper, and often feels the need to get in the last word. Knowing this about herself, and being honest about it, enables her to be very blunt and constructive with her readers who share the same faults. That is a very helpful element of this book. She is also very upfront about the fact that this text is not meant to give you scriptural ammunition to fight those who want to condemn homosexuality. It does not provide that, and with a few exceptions many of her scriptural analysis are not all that insightful. But her heart is clearly in the right place, and that goes a long way with me.
I also liked how Hodge occasionally inserts into the text little excerpts that she calls "Spiritual Survival Exercises". These are meditations, prayers, and other helpful tools that she has used in her life to help her become closer to God, and having tried most of them some work for me, some don't. Ms. Hodge is just trying to jump start your prayer/thought life with God.
However, there are also some flaws in the book that leave it and its subject matter vulnerable to criticism. It is there, as much as I wish it wasn't, and this does detract from the work. First off she uses some ridiculous examples to make her points. She quotes, and comes back to often, Xena the Warrior Princess to make one of her more salient points in the book. Besides being a stereotypical choice to use, it also reeks of pop culture. There are numerous Biblical examples that Hodge could have used to make the same point. There are also a few times where her arguments are very weak and not very sound. I know this because I am a friendly and supportive audience for her views, and even I occasionally rolled my eyes at some of her arguments. If I am doing that, what will her detractors do? I would hate to see the effectiveness of her message lost to such small things, but I am afraid for some people that is exactly what will happen.
If you are struggling because you are gay and a Christian or you are just struggling with attacks on your faith, then "Bulletproof Faith" is an easy and supportive read that will probably give you some help and solace. That is a good thing; just don't expect more from it then it can give. The ultimate message of this text is love for all God's people, and I will never have a lot of problems with a book that does that.]]> 4.07 2008 Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians
author: Candace Chellew-Hodge
name: Brian
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
"Bulletproof Faith" works best if one approaches it as a surface self-help book. As a tool for being a Christian who is less tuned in to those who attack you (for whatever reason) it offers helpful advice and some nice activities that you can do in order to be able to better handle the slings and arrows that others throw at you. As a book that will "bulletproof" the faith of gay people who come from a strong evangelical background, it will be found lacking.
Personally I found the book mostly helpful and I enjoyed Ms. Hodge's honesty in exposing her own warts and issues. She has a bad temper, and often feels the need to get in the last word. Knowing this about herself, and being honest about it, enables her to be very blunt and constructive with her readers who share the same faults. That is a very helpful element of this book. She is also very upfront about the fact that this text is not meant to give you scriptural ammunition to fight those who want to condemn homosexuality. It does not provide that, and with a few exceptions many of her scriptural analysis are not all that insightful. But her heart is clearly in the right place, and that goes a long way with me.
I also liked how Hodge occasionally inserts into the text little excerpts that she calls "Spiritual Survival Exercises". These are meditations, prayers, and other helpful tools that she has used in her life to help her become closer to God, and having tried most of them some work for me, some don't. Ms. Hodge is just trying to jump start your prayer/thought life with God.
However, there are also some flaws in the book that leave it and its subject matter vulnerable to criticism. It is there, as much as I wish it wasn't, and this does detract from the work. First off she uses some ridiculous examples to make her points. She quotes, and comes back to often, Xena the Warrior Princess to make one of her more salient points in the book. Besides being a stereotypical choice to use, it also reeks of pop culture. There are numerous Biblical examples that Hodge could have used to make the same point. There are also a few times where her arguments are very weak and not very sound. I know this because I am a friendly and supportive audience for her views, and even I occasionally rolled my eyes at some of her arguments. If I am doing that, what will her detractors do? I would hate to see the effectiveness of her message lost to such small things, but I am afraid for some people that is exactly what will happen.
If you are struggling because you are gay and a Christian or you are just struggling with attacks on your faith, then "Bulletproof Faith" is an easy and supportive read that will probably give you some help and solace. That is a good thing; just don't expect more from it then it can give. The ultimate message of this text is love for all God's people, and I will never have a lot of problems with a book that does that.
]]> Mortality 13529055 Hitch-22, Christopher Hitchens was stricken in his New York hotel room with excruciating pain in his chest and thorax. As he would later write in the first of a series of award-winning columns for "Vanity Fair," he suddenly found himself being deported "from the country of the well across the stark frontier that marks off the land of malady." Over the next eighteen months, until his death in Houston on December 15, 2011, he wrote constantly and brilliantly on politics and culture, astonishing readers with his capacity for superior work even in extremis.

Throughout the course of his ordeal battling esophageal cancer, Hitchens adamantly and bravely refused the solace of religion, preferring to confront death with both eyes open. In this account of his affliction, he describes the torments of illness, discusses its taboos, and explores how disease transforms experience and changes our relationship to the world around us. By turns personal and philosophical, Hitchens embraces the full panoply of human emotions as cancer invades his body and compels him to grapple with the enigma of mortality.]]> 104 Christopher Hitchens 1455502758 Brian 3 non-fiction My personal favorite section is one where he takes apart the idea of the old maxim, “Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger�. He calls BS on that and his argument is thought provoking, and I happen to believe, quite true! Hitchens writes unflinchingly about death, calling his illness “Tumortown�. This text actually has more than a few moments that are funny. The dry humor comes out quite a bit in the process of dying.
Hitchens salient effort to be pragmatic and brave in the force of his mortality gives the book the push that propels the reader to the end. The final chapter is a collection of disjointed musings and thoughts that were in Hitchens notes after his death. The text never received its proper ending because its author did not live to write it.
“Mortality� is a quick read and for the most part flows nicely. Thinking about our end is not something we like to do. This text makes it as palatable as it can be.]]> 4.09 2012 Mortality
author: Christopher Hitchens
name: Brian
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction
review:
“Mortality� is an interesting text, coming in at a fast paced 106 pages. Most of the book contains the erudite and interesting thinking that one is use to if they frequently read Christopher Hitchens� work. I have never agreed with much that Mr. Hitchens said or wrote, but I always enjoyed his writing and intellect. This final text, although showing the results of fighting a grave illness, is worth the time to read it.
My personal favorite section is one where he takes apart the idea of the old maxim, “Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger�. He calls BS on that and his argument is thought provoking, and I happen to believe, quite true! Hitchens writes unflinchingly about death, calling his illness “Tumortown�. This text actually has more than a few moments that are funny. The dry humor comes out quite a bit in the process of dying.
Hitchens salient effort to be pragmatic and brave in the force of his mortality gives the book the push that propels the reader to the end. The final chapter is a collection of disjointed musings and thoughts that were in Hitchens notes after his death. The text never received its proper ending because its author did not live to write it.
“Mortality� is a quick read and for the most part flows nicely. Thinking about our end is not something we like to do. This text makes it as palatable as it can be.
]]> <![CDATA[The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University]]> 3525894
Liberty University is the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's proudest accomplishment - a 10,000-student conservative Christian training ground. At Liberty, students (who call themselves "Champions for Christ") take classes like Introduction to Youth Ministry and Evangelism 101. They hear from guest speakers like Mike Huckabee and Karl Rove, they pray before every class, and they follow a 46-page code of conduct called "The Liberty Way" that prohibits drinking, smoking, R-rated movies, contact with the opposite sex, and witchcraft. Armed with an open mind and a reporter's notebook, Roose dives into life at Bible Boot Camp with the goal of connecting with his evangelical peers by experiencing their world first-hand.

Roose's semester at Liberty takes him to church, class, and choir practice at Rev. Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church. He visits a support group for recovering masturbation addicts, goes to an evangelical hip-hop concert, and participates in a spring break mission trip to Daytona Beach, where he learns how to convert bar-hopping co-eds to Christianity. Roose struggles with his own faith throughout, and in a twist that could only have been engineered by a higher power, he conducts what would turn out to be the last in-depth interview of Rev. Falwell's life. Hilarious and heartwarming, respectful and thought-provoking, Roose's embedded report from the front lines of the culture war will inspire and entertain believers and non-believers alike.]]> 324 Kevin Roose 044617842X Brian 3 non-fiction, religion In short, Mr. Roose decides that he has no understanding of fundamentalist Christianity as a result of his uber liberal upbringing, and rather than be one of the intolerant "tolerant" liberal elite decides to find out for himself the truth behind what he has assumed or been told. The result is a semester being a student at Liberty University in Virginia, the college started by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.
There are moments in "The Unlikely Disciple" that are quite profound and theologically interesting, and Roose seems to be very honest about the power of Christian living and the attraction that it holds. However, the text also suffers from some rather insipid and pedantic observations made by Roose that I believe are expressly the result of his age. There are parts of the text that reek of the "philosophical" discussions we all had while sitting around with our friends drunk in the dorms thinking that we were being "deep." They detract from the text because they are so jarring and contradict (in terms of quality) the better parts of the book.
The text also slides between embracing and detracting from the faith and belief of the Liberty community. Roose often contradicts himself, usually on the same page. This may prove frustrating to some readers, but I did not mind it (for the most part) simply because the gamut of thought and emotion seems to be part of religious faith for many people. One thing I found particularly interesting was that the most unlikable (and I believe) bigoted people mentioned in the text are polar opposites. Roose has a homophobic and mean spirited roommate who I find disgusting. He also mentions frequently two lesbian aunts, who I found to be just as bigoted and small minded about people not like them. I don't think this was a purposeful contrast that the author tried to create, but it is there, and I have talked to others who read this book that thought the same thing.
All in all an interesting text and one that I am glad I read. It is hard to come across a book that deals with the religious divide that is mostly impartial, but "The Unlikely Disciple" comes close, and it is to be celebrated for that.]]> 3.98 2009 The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University
author: Kevin Roose
name: Brian
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
"The Unlikely Disciple" is an interesting book. I believe its greatest flaws are the result of the writer's age. I also think its greatest strengths are the result of the writer's age. This text is for the most part an unbiased and interesting take on one aspect of evangelical Christianity (which is a vast and very diverse subculture) and gives an outsider's undercover inside view. I enjoyed the text a lot, but I wonder if I got more out of it because I understand the evangelical culture, being raised in church, more than readers who have no Christian upbringing? I am not sure.
In short, Mr. Roose decides that he has no understanding of fundamentalist Christianity as a result of his uber liberal upbringing, and rather than be one of the intolerant "tolerant" liberal elite decides to find out for himself the truth behind what he has assumed or been told. The result is a semester being a student at Liberty University in Virginia, the college started by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.
There are moments in "The Unlikely Disciple" that are quite profound and theologically interesting, and Roose seems to be very honest about the power of Christian living and the attraction that it holds. However, the text also suffers from some rather insipid and pedantic observations made by Roose that I believe are expressly the result of his age. There are parts of the text that reek of the "philosophical" discussions we all had while sitting around with our friends drunk in the dorms thinking that we were being "deep." They detract from the text because they are so jarring and contradict (in terms of quality) the better parts of the book.
The text also slides between embracing and detracting from the faith and belief of the Liberty community. Roose often contradicts himself, usually on the same page. This may prove frustrating to some readers, but I did not mind it (for the most part) simply because the gamut of thought and emotion seems to be part of religious faith for many people. One thing I found particularly interesting was that the most unlikable (and I believe) bigoted people mentioned in the text are polar opposites. Roose has a homophobic and mean spirited roommate who I find disgusting. He also mentions frequently two lesbian aunts, who I found to be just as bigoted and small minded about people not like them. I don't think this was a purposeful contrast that the author tried to create, but it is there, and I have talked to others who read this book that thought the same thing.
All in all an interesting text and one that I am glad I read. It is hard to come across a book that deals with the religious divide that is mostly impartial, but "The Unlikely Disciple" comes close, and it is to be celebrated for that.
]]> <![CDATA[The Uncensored Bible: The Bawdy and Naughty Bits of the Good Book]]> 2197622 224 John Kaltner 0061238848 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion The main flaw with this text is the hideous amount of bad jokes. They are so many, and so lame, that they begin to detract from the text. Had the amount of bad jokes, puns, riffs, etc been reduced I would have given this text 4 stars.
If you know your Bible, and are open to thinking critically about it, then this is a quick and engaging read and worth your time.]]> 3.70 2008 The Uncensored Bible: The Bawdy and Naughty Bits of the Good Book
author: John Kaltner
name: Brian
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
"The Uncensored Bible" is an intriguing and scholarly text that explores the myriad of possible interpretations of some Bible stories. It is written in an engaging and readable style, and the authors aptly realize that they are writing for a wide audience, not a bunch of scholars at a conference. Kudos to them for acknowledging that fact. This is a serious work, and I was greatly impressed by the rigorous standards that the authors gave to each "questionable' theory that they examined in the text. They are not trying to shock people, but rather to investigate the aspects of the Bible that are unseemly, and to come up with reasonable conclusions that are based on reliable research, and the Bible itself. Again, it is refreshing to read a work by a scholar that seems to be absent of the scholar`s personal biases and beliefs.
The main flaw with this text is the hideous amount of bad jokes. They are so many, and so lame, that they begin to detract from the text. Had the amount of bad jokes, puns, riffs, etc been reduced I would have given this text 4 stars.
If you know your Bible, and are open to thinking critically about it, then this is a quick and engaging read and worth your time.
]]> <![CDATA[Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality]]> 14287150
In print for nearly a decade, "Blue Like Jazz" has earned a coveted spot on readers' shelves and in their hearts. Many have said that Donald Miller expressed exactly what they were feeling but couldn't find the words to say themselves. In this landmark book that changed what people expected from Christian writers, that changed what people needed for their spiritual journeys, Donald Miller takes readers through a real life striving to understand relationship with God.

Heartwarming and hilarious, poignant and unexpected, "Blue Like Jazz" has become a contemporary classic.

For anyone wondering if the Christian faith is still relevant in a postmodern culture, thirsting for a genuine encounter with a God who is real, or yearning for a renewed sense of passion in life . . . "Blue Like Jazz" is a fresh and original perspective on life, love, and redemption.]]> 256 Donald Miller 1400204585 Brian 2 non-fiction, religion Especially bad was chapter 11, titled “Confession�. I disliked it for two reasons. #1-It rings false. I would not be a bit surprised if he made most of it up. #2-Spirituality is not a substitute for a walk with Christ. Jesus was pretty adamant (and clear) about that. Miller is more than entitled to his beliefs, but to pass it off as a substitute equal to what Christ explicitly taught is a bit much. Again, the arrogance and self-righteousness comes out of the writing in spades, and Mr. Miller is a big fan of pointing that out in others. In an attempt to be “cool�, he becomes irrelevant.
On page 210 of the text he has to gall to say that the Christian communities he has belonged to had unwritten rules and social strictures, but the ultra-liberal college he attended was a bastion of love and acceptance and no social strictures at all. That is a huge lie. Every social group has unwritten social mores and codes. Every. Single. One. Someone who does not know that much about humanity should not be writing a book to instruct others. I could point out a ton of moments like this in the text. For the sake of space, trust me on this one.
There are some nice moments and thoughts in this piece, hence the two star rating. The chapter called “Grace� was interesting and had some real insights on God’s grace and the role it plays in Christian life. Unfortunately, when Miller makes a good point, he follows it up with such irritating comments & observations that it becomes irrelevant.
I am not setting myself up as better, or more qualified than him. However, I also have the humility to know that my spiritual walk is not one to put on a pedestal and share out. Mr. Miller does not seem to know that about himself.]]> 3.94 2003 Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
author: Donald Miller
name: Brian
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2003
rating: 2
read at: 2017/03/12
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
Reading “Blue Like Jazz� was very much a like/hate relationship. It is not a particularity deep text; in fact it demonstrates a very shallow understanding of Christianity, especially the teachings of Christ. If Christ made a rule, Mr. Miller apparently does not believe he actually meant one to follow it. The author also seems determined to be “cool� by constantly elevating those of a liberal/ant-Christian bent against those of Christian evangelicals or fundamentalists. Sure, he occasionally says that his thinking that way is wrong, but he knocks those of a conservative religious bent enough that I think his very weak attempts to say that those of a more conservative faith are not bad people seems forced. His own intolerance still comes through, and that hypocrisy was galling to me.
Especially bad was chapter 11, titled “Confession�. I disliked it for two reasons. #1-It rings false. I would not be a bit surprised if he made most of it up. #2-Spirituality is not a substitute for a walk with Christ. Jesus was pretty adamant (and clear) about that. Miller is more than entitled to his beliefs, but to pass it off as a substitute equal to what Christ explicitly taught is a bit much. Again, the arrogance and self-righteousness comes out of the writing in spades, and Mr. Miller is a big fan of pointing that out in others. In an attempt to be “cool�, he becomes irrelevant.
On page 210 of the text he has to gall to say that the Christian communities he has belonged to had unwritten rules and social strictures, but the ultra-liberal college he attended was a bastion of love and acceptance and no social strictures at all. That is a huge lie. Every social group has unwritten social mores and codes. Every. Single. One. Someone who does not know that much about humanity should not be writing a book to instruct others. I could point out a ton of moments like this in the text. For the sake of space, trust me on this one.
There are some nice moments and thoughts in this piece, hence the two star rating. The chapter called “Grace� was interesting and had some real insights on God’s grace and the role it plays in Christian life. Unfortunately, when Miller makes a good point, he follows it up with such irritating comments & observations that it becomes irrelevant.
I am not setting myself up as better, or more qualified than him. However, I also have the humility to know that my spiritual walk is not one to put on a pedestal and share out. Mr. Miller does not seem to know that about himself.
]]> More Than a Carpenter 313631 128 Josh McDowell 0842345523 Brian 3 non-fiction, religion -I am a practicing Christian
-this review is about the text as a book, not as a piece of proselytization
-there is an updated and revised edition of this text. I did not read that edition

“More Than a Carpenter� is a dated book. There is no way around it. (see above note) However, for what it is, and its intended audience, I think it is fine for what it seems meant to do. I am not a person who is in doubt about the divinity of Christ, but I am a person who is very intellectual in my approach to many aspects of religion, and I can see why some folks on intellectual grounds disregard it.
Here are my thoughts on this text, which seems to be written with the goal of giving a person intellectual/logical reasons to believe in Christ.
1. Chapter 2 (Lord, Liar, or Lunatic) presents some interesting thoughts about Christ that I had
never considered.
2. I see some flaws and weaknesses in some of Josh McDowell’s arguments. But find me a
philosophy or argument that does not have weak points. I will not discard the text for that
reason.
3. I found especially intriguing the section called “Bibliographical Test� which makes a potent
argument for the historical truth of the New Testament manuscripts that I had never really
given much thought to. I looked elsewhere to find if McDowell was alone in presenting this
information. He is not. Religious and secular scholars back his points up.
4. Ironically, for a text that makes an intellectual argument for Christ, I found chapter 5 (Who Would Die for a Lie?) and chapter 11 (He Changed My Life) to be the most persuasive aspects of the book. Chapter 5 is a very simple ethical rhetorical appeal that is so simplistic I was stunned momentarily by its power. Chapter 11 is a plain old emotional appeal that is the author’s personal testimony about finding Christ.

Overall, I am not sure if “More Than a Carpenter� is a successful text or not. I do not feel that I am its intended audience, yet I did find aspects of it that reinforced my faith.

If the topic interests you, take a look. Josh McDowell is polite and practical in his approach, and I would think one would be hard put to be offended by this text if they end up disagreeing with him.]]> 4.24 1977 More Than a Carpenter
author: Josh McDowell
name: Brian
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1977
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/15
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
Some disclaimers off the bat:
-I am a practicing Christian
-this review is about the text as a book, not as a piece of proselytization
-there is an updated and revised edition of this text. I did not read that edition

“More Than a Carpenter� is a dated book. There is no way around it. (see above note) However, for what it is, and its intended audience, I think it is fine for what it seems meant to do. I am not a person who is in doubt about the divinity of Christ, but I am a person who is very intellectual in my approach to many aspects of religion, and I can see why some folks on intellectual grounds disregard it.
Here are my thoughts on this text, which seems to be written with the goal of giving a person intellectual/logical reasons to believe in Christ.
1. Chapter 2 (Lord, Liar, or Lunatic) presents some interesting thoughts about Christ that I had
never considered.
2. I see some flaws and weaknesses in some of Josh McDowell’s arguments. But find me a
philosophy or argument that does not have weak points. I will not discard the text for that
reason.
3. I found especially intriguing the section called “Bibliographical Test� which makes a potent
argument for the historical truth of the New Testament manuscripts that I had never really
given much thought to. I looked elsewhere to find if McDowell was alone in presenting this
information. He is not. Religious and secular scholars back his points up.
4. Ironically, for a text that makes an intellectual argument for Christ, I found chapter 5 (Who Would Die for a Lie?) and chapter 11 (He Changed My Life) to be the most persuasive aspects of the book. Chapter 5 is a very simple ethical rhetorical appeal that is so simplistic I was stunned momentarily by its power. Chapter 11 is a plain old emotional appeal that is the author’s personal testimony about finding Christ.

Overall, I am not sure if “More Than a Carpenter� is a successful text or not. I do not feel that I am its intended audience, yet I did find aspects of it that reinforced my faith.

If the topic interests you, take a look. Josh McDowell is polite and practical in his approach, and I would think one would be hard put to be offended by this text if they end up disagreeing with him.
]]> The Great Divorce 25845273
C.S. Lewis� The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, Lewis’s revolutionary idea in the The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside. Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis� The Great Divorce will change the way we think about good and evil.]]> 146 C.S. Lewis Brian 3 fiction, religion
“The Great Divorce� is a didactic novel and the premise though intriguing is not always interesting. Some “ghosts� board a bus in Hell and make their way to a portion of Heaven (although it does not seem to be “in� Heaven proper. What follows are a bunch of conversations that the narrator overhears. As mentioned, the story is didactic in tone, but when Mr. Lewis hits a strong point, it is a kick in the pants. This text is a thinking novel, not a diversionary one. There are one or two well-drawn characterizations, but the narrator (I think by choice) is not one of them. I believe the narrator is a sort of stand in for C.S. Lewis himself.
Of special note is the “Preface� to the text, which is in and of itself worth the price of the novel. Lewis says more in those 4 pages then most writers do in 100.
As a former actor/artist myself this line on page 85 knocked me back a step. “Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from the love of the thing he tells, to love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him.� I think that in any pursuit you can eventually lose sight of the forest for the trees. I have lived this experience, which is perhaps why it was so impactful for me.
In this short text chapter 11 seems to be the meat of the book. In it, we are witness to two different “ghosts� and their vastly different reactions to the offer of Heaven. That sentence makes this text seem simplistic. It certainly is not, do not be fooled. In chapter 11 we also observe a scenario in which we see how natural love can be warped by our humanity and turned into something quite ugly. It is pretty heady stuff, and disturbingly unsettling.
At one point a character says of love on Earth, “But what we called love down there was mostly the craving to be loved.� I have thought about that one a lot. I think this might be true. I don’t add a value to that or suggest that is a bad thing, I just wonder if that is not a huge motivation for something that we sometimes tell ourselves is altruistic. Don’t know�
I think that you would appreciate “The Great Divorce� more if you have a knowledge of the Bible, especially the New Testament. It will greatly aid you in seeing what Mr. Lewis is doing with this text. This novel has depth, but does not get bogged down in it. I read it quickly; it made me stop and think. I will take that as a good thing in almost any book.]]> 4.39 1946 The Great Divorce
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Brian
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1946
rating: 3
read at: 2018/12/19
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: fiction, religion
review:
“Bad cannot succeed even in being bad as truly as good is good.�

“The Great Divorce� is a didactic novel and the premise though intriguing is not always interesting. Some “ghosts� board a bus in Hell and make their way to a portion of Heaven (although it does not seem to be “in� Heaven proper. What follows are a bunch of conversations that the narrator overhears. As mentioned, the story is didactic in tone, but when Mr. Lewis hits a strong point, it is a kick in the pants. This text is a thinking novel, not a diversionary one. There are one or two well-drawn characterizations, but the narrator (I think by choice) is not one of them. I believe the narrator is a sort of stand in for C.S. Lewis himself.
Of special note is the “Preface� to the text, which is in and of itself worth the price of the novel. Lewis says more in those 4 pages then most writers do in 100.
As a former actor/artist myself this line on page 85 knocked me back a step. “Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from the love of the thing he tells, to love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him.� I think that in any pursuit you can eventually lose sight of the forest for the trees. I have lived this experience, which is perhaps why it was so impactful for me.
In this short text chapter 11 seems to be the meat of the book. In it, we are witness to two different “ghosts� and their vastly different reactions to the offer of Heaven. That sentence makes this text seem simplistic. It certainly is not, do not be fooled. In chapter 11 we also observe a scenario in which we see how natural love can be warped by our humanity and turned into something quite ugly. It is pretty heady stuff, and disturbingly unsettling.
At one point a character says of love on Earth, “But what we called love down there was mostly the craving to be loved.� I have thought about that one a lot. I think this might be true. I don’t add a value to that or suggest that is a bad thing, I just wonder if that is not a huge motivation for something that we sometimes tell ourselves is altruistic. Don’t know�
I think that you would appreciate “The Great Divorce� more if you have a knowledge of the Bible, especially the New Testament. It will greatly aid you in seeing what Mr. Lewis is doing with this text. This novel has depth, but does not get bogged down in it. I read it quickly; it made me stop and think. I will take that as a good thing in almost any book.
]]> <![CDATA[Faith: A Holy Walk (OSWALD CHAMBERS LIBRARY)]]> 1536290 160 Oswald Chambers 1572930535 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion
Note: this review is aimed at those who practice Christianity. If you don’t I am not sure you will see any point to it.

“Faith: A Holy Walk� is really just a collection of thoughts and quotes on the subject of Christian faith taken from 30 of Oswald Chambers� full length works and devotionals. As a result there is not a lot of depth, more like thought provoking bits to get the Christian to consider their faith. Julie Ackerman Link, who compiled and edited the material here has referenced the larger work that each quote comes from, which I think is an excellent resource for the reader.
I read a couple of pages a day from this short work. That way I actually had the time to ponder and digest what was being said. To sit and read it for great lengths at a time would be a disservice as you would lose a lot by not interacting with the text on a deeper level.
The best use for this book is as a starting point for a daily devotional.
I understand there were more compilations like this made from Chambers' body of work, based on subject, such as this one was “Faith�. I think that is a great idea and I intend to look up more of them. He was a giant Christian thinker and worth your time.]]> 3.81 1996 Faith: A Holy Walk (OSWALD CHAMBERS LIBRARY)
author: Oswald Chambers
name: Brian
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at: 2018/12/30
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion
review:
“The miracle of the Christian life is that God can give joy in the midst of external misery.�

Note: this review is aimed at those who practice Christianity. If you don’t I am not sure you will see any point to it.

“Faith: A Holy Walk� is really just a collection of thoughts and quotes on the subject of Christian faith taken from 30 of Oswald Chambers� full length works and devotionals. As a result there is not a lot of depth, more like thought provoking bits to get the Christian to consider their faith. Julie Ackerman Link, who compiled and edited the material here has referenced the larger work that each quote comes from, which I think is an excellent resource for the reader.
I read a couple of pages a day from this short work. That way I actually had the time to ponder and digest what was being said. To sit and read it for great lengths at a time would be a disservice as you would lose a lot by not interacting with the text on a deeper level.
The best use for this book is as a starting point for a daily devotional.
I understand there were more compilations like this made from Chambers' body of work, based on subject, such as this one was “Faith�. I think that is a great idea and I intend to look up more of them. He was a giant Christian thinker and worth your time.
]]> <![CDATA[Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering]]> 14334
The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who comfortably discusses everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.]]> 100 David Gregory 1578569052 Brian 4 fiction, religion
“Dinner with a Perfect Stranger� is a 3 star book in terms of quality, but I gave it 4 stars as a read for its ease of manner in addressing what (for some) can be complex theology in a very accessible manner.
The premise of this novel is that a man named Nick who is not a follower of Christ receives a dinner invitation to a local restaurant from Jesus. This short 100 page book is their conversation over dinner. Don’t roll your eyes at the premise. “Dinner with a Perfect Stranger� (look closely at that title, there is a lot of meaning packed in there) is a lovely and simple lesson on the basic theology of Christianity and a relationship with God.
There are moments that are profound elements of Christianity that are very simply observed. Some examples:
“I’m saying that God’s desire to forgive doesn’t negate his perfect justice.�
“God longs to have you with him. That’s why he created you.�
“A new heart gets you in the game. Then you have to let me be your instructor.�

I’m a believer, so I know that shaped my reading of the text, but when I took down the critical eye, and looked at it through a wider lens I found that I enjoyed this book. It may be too basic for some, and it certainly does no try to complicate with dogma, but I won’t complain about something that is theologically sound and helps remind people of the message of Christ.]]> 3.99 2005 Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering
author: David Gregory
name: Brian
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2020/10/14
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: fiction, religion
review:
“Because they never learned to live as the new people they were.�

“Dinner with a Perfect Stranger� is a 3 star book in terms of quality, but I gave it 4 stars as a read for its ease of manner in addressing what (for some) can be complex theology in a very accessible manner.
The premise of this novel is that a man named Nick who is not a follower of Christ receives a dinner invitation to a local restaurant from Jesus. This short 100 page book is their conversation over dinner. Don’t roll your eyes at the premise. “Dinner with a Perfect Stranger� (look closely at that title, there is a lot of meaning packed in there) is a lovely and simple lesson on the basic theology of Christianity and a relationship with God.
There are moments that are profound elements of Christianity that are very simply observed. Some examples:
“I’m saying that God’s desire to forgive doesn’t negate his perfect justice.�
“God longs to have you with him. That’s why he created you.�
“A new heart gets you in the game. Then you have to let me be your instructor.�

I’m a believer, so I know that shaped my reading of the text, but when I took down the critical eye, and looked at it through a wider lens I found that I enjoyed this book. It may be too basic for some, and it certainly does no try to complicate with dogma, but I won’t complain about something that is theologically sound and helps remind people of the message of Christ.
]]> <![CDATA[Morning and Evening Prayerbook]]> 42772157 400 Jeanie Gushee 1404109382 Brian 4 non-fiction, religion, poetry
A MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERBOOK is a collection of two prayers a day for each day of the year. The collection culls prayers from various Christian faith traditions from across the centuries. There are also prayers by figures of historical and/or literary note (George Washington, Jane Austen, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.) some of whom I found surprising, and more than a few deeply moving.

I kept this by my bedside and read a prayer each morning and evening for 2021. The prayers are not specific to a year so this text can be read (or reread) at any time. The prayers vary greatly in quality. Some are very astoundingly profound and added to my own reflections, some were spiritless and fell flat. No surprises there.

Here is an example of a prayer from the text. One I particularly liked-

"May you be blessed forever, Lord, for not abandoning me when I abandon you.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for offering your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moment.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for putting up with such a stubborn soul as mine.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for loving me more than I love myself.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for continuing to pour out your blessings upon me, even though I respond so poorly.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for drawing out the goodness in all people, even including me.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for repaying our sin with your love.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for being constant and unchanging, amidst all the changes of the world.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for your countless blessings on me and on all your creatures."
~Teresa of Ávila

This text is not a substitute for a prayer life of one’s own, it is just a decent supplement, and if nothing else a nice quite moment to start and end each day.]]> 4.42 Morning and Evening Prayerbook
author: Jeanie Gushee
name: Brian
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/12/31
date added: 2023/12/05
shelves: non-fiction, religion, poetry
review:
“His greatness is unsearchable.�

A MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERBOOK is a collection of two prayers a day for each day of the year. The collection culls prayers from various Christian faith traditions from across the centuries. There are also prayers by figures of historical and/or literary note (George Washington, Jane Austen, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.) some of whom I found surprising, and more than a few deeply moving.

I kept this by my bedside and read a prayer each morning and evening for 2021. The prayers are not specific to a year so this text can be read (or reread) at any time. The prayers vary greatly in quality. Some are very astoundingly profound and added to my own reflections, some were spiritless and fell flat. No surprises there.

Here is an example of a prayer from the text. One I particularly liked-

"May you be blessed forever, Lord, for not abandoning me when I abandon you.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for offering your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moment.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for putting up with such a stubborn soul as mine.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for loving me more than I love myself.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for continuing to pour out your blessings upon me, even though I respond so poorly.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for drawing out the goodness in all people, even including me.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for repaying our sin with your love.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for being constant and unchanging, amidst all the changes of the world.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for your countless blessings on me and on all your creatures."
~Teresa of Ávila

This text is not a substitute for a prayer life of one’s own, it is just a decent supplement, and if nothing else a nice quite moment to start and end each day.
]]>