The World According to Garp Book Review

I read the book The World According to Garp by John Irving, and it was wild! It is a Winner of the National Book Award. It's the fictional story of a man, as well as his mother, wife, children and friends, as he grows up and becomes a writer. His mother becomes famous for a book she wrote, and then he becomes famous for a book he wrote. No one is typical or normal. Everyone has good qualities and almost everyone has issues. It's a literary soap opera. There's an above average amount of sex and the topic of feminism frequently appears. It's not serious reading, but it made me think. It is sometimes entertaining and sometimes not. I saw the movie a long time back, and I don't remember it as that good. It's a recommended read.

Jayber Crow Book Review

I read the book Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry, and it was okay. It's the life story of someone born in 1914 who loses both parents and then both adoptive parents and has to make his way in the world. He returns to his rural hometown and makes his life as a barber, single and bald but a good listener with a perceptive soul. There's ample reflection about marriage, death, religion and heaven. There's some engaging and sometimes funny tales. He makes the uninteresting interesting. Insights and wisdom occasionally flow from the text. That said, the plot and pace was too slow for me. It's not a strongly recommended read.

Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire Book Review

I read the book Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire by Roger Crowley, and it was excellent! It's the history of Portugal in the late fifteenth century and early sixteenth century regarding their leap into dominating the spice trade replacing India and Islamic traders. Portugal was insignificant compared to Spain, Italy, England and France, but they quickly became an economic powerhouse. It highlights key players like Vasco da Gama, Portugal's King Manuel, and general/governor Afonso de Albuquerque, the king's representative in the Indian Ocean. Several key battles led by Albuquerque, in particular, were fascinating as he leveraged his superior cannon firepower, and tried to transition from soldiers fighting to win glory/honor to soldiers working together as a unit. It's fascinating history and a highly recommended read!

Republic Book Review

I read the book Republic by Plato, and it was a tough slog. Written around 393 BC, it philosophizes multiple topics through a fictional dialogue between Socrates and his friends. They explore and question justice, governance, education, art, exercise, happiness, reality, heaven, and more. It was interesting hearing Plato's portrayal of the ideal state where everyone is naked, there is selective breeding, romantic love and families are banned, and sickly babies are euthanized. It's logic and presentation are often difficult to understand, but it does get easier with time. I probably would have enjoyed a shorter introduction or commentary on this book more. While this is arguably one of the most influential books ever written in human history, I cannot say this is a recommended read.  It's more of a recommended study.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Book Review

I read the book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, and it was okay. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2008. It's the story of an overweight kid from the Dominican Republic who loves fantasy, Sci-fi and RPG's. He's a nerd. There are references to the Princess of Mars, the Queen of the Demonweb pits, Dune, LOTR, Star Wars, and more. There's also lots of Hispanic references and lingo, some of which I had to Google Translate. If you don't speak some Spanish or aren't deeply into fantasy/sci-fi, it likely won't be an enjoyable read. Fortunately, I was able to catch most references and inferences, and it is a creative and fun read. This book features mature content and language. It's a recommended read but just barely. 

The Good Earth Book Review

I read the book The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, and it was good. It won a Pulitzer Prize in the Novel category in 1932. It tells the story of a poor, Chinese farmer who works hard and becomes married and wealthy. He finds peace in working the land and growing crops. He finds frustration and agitation in most all his relationships. It's one conflict after another. Then there's problems with the weather or war or flooding. It's humorous because he's uneducated and simple-minded so he makes some bone-headed decisions but he also makes some shrewd moves. I found myself yearning for him to succeed. This is the first book in a three-book series. It's a recommended read! 

Chronicles of Prydain Series Book Review

I read the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, and it was pretty good. The books in the series are The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King. Originally published back in 1964 and based on Welsh mythology, it tells of a teenager who stumbles through one adventure after another adding one and then another compatriot to his band. This series is written for younger readers. These books do not include a map, but there are fan sites where such maps can be found.

In the second book, the protagonist teenager continues his adventures aided by his assortment of companions, a feminist princess, a lying bard, an invisible dwarf, and a Gurgi. Gurgi has the hair of a wookie and the intelligence of Jar Jar Binks and is there for comic relief. The group of adventurers are trying to find and destroy a magic cauldron which turns dead humans into undead warriors. This book is better and darker than the first book in the series. The second book in the series was the inspiration for the Disney animated movie, The Black Cauldron. Reading this book has me interested in the movie even though it's poorly rated by Rotten Tomatoes.

In the third book in the series, the protagonist Taran continues his adventures in Prydain. This time, he has to rescue his princess friend, again, from an evil enchantress who wants to use the princess's magical abilities for evil. Taran also begins to realize he's attracted to the princess which makes for some awkward situations. There are magical items, a giant, sword fights and other typical hallmarks of fantasy, but the whimsy sometimes takes away my enjoyment. However, I realize it's fantastic fantasy for younger readers.

In the fourth book the protagonist, Taran, is becoming a man more and more. He wants to win the hand of a princess and believes he must discover his heritage hoping that his parents were royalty. So, his quest has fits and starts, mistakes and lessons. It turns into a morality tale that it's the mettle which makes a man and not his blood. As this series progresses, it reminds me a bit of the Harry Potter series in that the protagonist grows up and learns more about life and himself with each passing year.

The final book in the series was excellent! It was a Newbery Medal Winner in 1969. Finally, all the different threads of this saga come together in a satisfying conclusion. There are a few unexpected twists and turns and plenty of action. The protagonist gathers all the friends he's gained to fight against the forces of the evil Death King, Arawn. There's a magic sword, magical creatures, and a few spells by an old wizard. The protagonist learns some life-changing lessons along the way. By the end of the series, he's become a man. It's a recommended read!

Troy Rising Series Book Review

I read the book series, Troy Rising by John Ringo which included the books Live Free or Die, Citadel, and The Hot Gate. 

The first book begins with aliens putting a stargate near earth which began well but evolved into oppressive bullying by an unfriendly species. Earth fights back. There's plenty of science and engineering fiction, economic wrangling, and space diplomacy as humanity overcomes one hurdle after another. The book reminded me of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein. It's not too long and has a dramatic, satisfying end.

The second book, Citadel, was also excellent! There's more action, bigger battles and a good plot twist. The blend of science and fiction are just right. Earthlings, who he calls "Terrans," go from just protecting their solar system to fighting back. Terrans create some seemingly simple, but huge, technology to effect their rebellion, which makes me wonder why the aliens did not develop similar technologies. Still, the plot moves fast enough that contrived elements did not disturb my enjoyment of the book. 

The final book in the series, The Hot Gate, was a somewhat disappointing finale given how much I enjoyed the first two books in the series. The writing is good except he overuses acronyms, but about half the book dealt with negotiating cultural conflicts. I'm sure that cultural differences will be an issue should earth be attacked by alien species, but it's not an interesting sci-fi topic. There were also issues with the AI system that didn't make for interesting reading. However, there were other interesting developments, and the book ends with a huge, dynamic space battle! The ending did leave room for sequels, so I wouldn't be surprised to see one or two in the future. Overall, the series is a recommended read. 

Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 Book Review

I read the book Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 by David Kennedy, and it was interesting history. It won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2000.

This book begins with the Great Depression and concludes with the end of World War II. The book covers a lot of territory and helped me understand how the US transitioned from massive unemployment, poor education, housing, and health into a robust economy and huge middle class in less than a decade. The US went from a second-class country into a world leader. I found the sections on Herbert Hoover and the New Deal particularly interesting. It was also interesting understanding why Japan and Hitler poorly understood the US.

It was fascinating how many of the same divides and disagreements happened between progressives and conservatives, and I wondered why this polarization continues. Aren't the progressives smart enough or the conservatives righteous enough to work peaceably together? Can't we all just get along better instead of worse? I realize I'm being loose with labels, but most people know what I'm describing.

The reason behind the divide is likely pride...on everybody's part. Progressives are proud of their intelligence perhaps, and conservatives are proud of their righteousness perhaps. My dad always taught me whenever there's a fight, both sides are wrong.

What we all need is some humility, to get down on our knees and apologize to God for our pride. Help someone who's different from you. Smile at strangers. Volunteer. The last thing we need is people posting how right or better they are on Facebook.

It's well written and researched. It's not a short book and recommended especially for those who love history. It's a recommended read.

A Clockwork Orange Book Review

I read the book A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, and it was a strange read. It's the story of a teenage boy who leads a gang into violence and crime. He's eventually caught, and the state rehabilitates him using a new technique limiting his free will. Then, anti-government protestors use him for their own agenda. It's a satire, a critique of a government's ability to control society and those who try to reform it. The strangest part is the lingo/slang used throughout which took a while to fully understand. I wish my volume had a glossary as apparently some do. I also learned that my edition is the original British edition which has one more chapter than the first American edition used by Stanley Kubrik for his version of the film. I saw the film many years ago and remember it as strange and disturbing. While thought-provoking, it's just a little too creative and surreal to be enjoyable. It's not a recommend read.

Dianne and I took a brief vacation to Tybee Island this fall, relaxing, reading, refreshing and enjoying some seafood. It was a wonderful escape.

Gates of Fire Book Review

I read the book Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield, and it was good! It was a national bestseller. It's a historical fiction account of the Battle of Thermopylae and a few years prior. Normally I resist historical fiction. Often the fiction supersedes the history, but this take is sublime. There are liberties with the history, but there's also many passages about what makes a warrior, their anxiety, their fear, courage and training. The author helps readers understand war and what it does to people. There are also some passages about leadership I liked. The only thing I didn't like was the too frequent use of flashbacks. I prefer sequential stories. It's a recommended read!

Journey to the Center of the Earth Book Review

I read the book Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne, and it was okay. Jules Verne is often credited with being the father of Science Fiction, and I've been wanting to read it for some time. A couple of things took away from my enjoyment. First, the science described has not aged well. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by contrast, has aged better. Second, half the book describes just their journey to the volcano which is their entry into the lower realms of the earth. I also couldn't help comparing the Pellucidar series by Edgar Rice Burroughs to this book, and I found that series slightly more interesting. I wish my edition had the illustrations from the earlier printings of this book. Still, it was an engaging read, and I found myself laughing at the protagonist who was a reluctant adventurer being dragged along by his older uncle. I'm glad I read it. It would be a great book to read to a kid. It's a recommended read.

A Case of Need Book Review

I read the book A Case of Need by Michael Crichton, and it was good! I read it because I liked the author's other books, it was a national bestseller, and was only 10 cents. I'd never heard of it before but was one of his earlier books.

It's a medical murder mystery. A girl with influential parents has died from a botched abortion, which was illegal, and the doctor suspect claims he's innocent. So, a doctor friend of his goes around questioning suspects trying to figure out who really committed the crime. It's well written and fast paced. In my opinion, Jurassic Park is clearly his best book, followed by Lost World and then this book. Timeline is one of his worst. I've read Andromeda Strain, but it's been decades, so I didn't rank in here. It's a recommended read!

The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism Book Review

I read the book The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and it was excellent! This was a New York Times Bestseller and won other awards. This book focuses on Roosevelt, Taft, and journalists known as "muckrakers." Muckrakers exposed corruption, misconduct, and abuses by corporations and government officials. It's fascinating how so much of what we take for granted was non-existent as capitalists took advantage of insider trading, monopolies, child labor, lack of quality, and health oversight on foods and drugs and more. Roosevelt, in particular, used and interacted with the press to generate public opinion which pressured congress to adopt his views and approve his legislation or face defeat in their next election. It's well-written and fascinating history. It's a recommended read.

Lysistrata Book Review

I read the book Lysistrata by Aristophenes, and it was naughty and bawdy! This was a play written in in 411 BC, a little over half a century after the great invasion by Xerxes in 480 BC. It's considered Aristophenes' best play. This comedy presents women of Greece united against war, and they decide to forgo sex until all men forgo war. It's graphic as men from Athens and Sparta come together with erections agreeing to peace. There are other humorous scenes and puns. For example, in ancient Greece, a woman's private parts were referred to as a "hedgehog" (today's equivalent of a "beaver")! With today's constant news of war, a call for peace is timely. It's a recommended read. 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Book Review

I read the book The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, and it was strange. I read it because I was able to purchase it for 25 cents. It's the story of five interconnected people and a dog loving, suffering, working, and living through the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Russia. They have affairs, deal with the secret police, change jobs, and seem miserable along the way. Relationships are frustrating. Life and death are difficult. It's hard not to philosophize as the characters try to figure out the other people in their life and their own feelings. It's strangely easy to see yourself at times through the experiences and thoughts of the characters. It's a stark look at human nature and the randomness of circumstances. I hear the movie in nothing like the book. It's a recommended read.