(read aloud)
Usual good writing. Some cynicism about justice. Characters thinking and acting "in character." Plot not very good, certainly an unsatisfying ending, by design I think.
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Give Unto Others by Donna Leon
Rising Sun by Michael Crichton
Crime thriller about Japanese incursion in American corporate world. Lots of Japanese culture, presumably realistic. Reading this 1992 book in 2022 is interesting as Japan seems to have been replaced by China with many of the same considerations and warnings relevant today.
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon by Kenny Moore
All about Bowerman from Fossil, Oregon, WWII in Italy, coaching, the birth of Nike and Olympics. Lots of famous runners, many records. I get the feeling runners wanted to please him, even loved him, but that he was crusty and not very nice. Much wealth from Nike that he used generously.
The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts
About a woman who rode her horse in 1956 across America after hearing she had two years to live and couldn't afford to keep her farm. With no money after buying a horse, she and her dog Dépêche-toi set out. Depending on grit and helpful people along the way she made it to the Pacific and lived quite a few more years. Great story, well-written, much research, a real slice of Americana.
In Full Flight by John Hemingway
Dr Anne Spoerry, an early member of Kenya's Flying Doctors, was famous for her service to thousands in remote Kenya. She was in the French resistance, captured and sent to Ravensbrück. There she probably collaborated with the Nazis for survival. Facing prosecution after the war, she fled to Africa where she served tirelessly. Painful reading at times, the book is quite good and measured, neither overlooking her faults nor piling on. It is quite plain that her service was seeking of atonement.
Limitations by Scott Turow
Very good, perhaps a better writer than Grisham with comparable story-telling ability. This is about an awful gang rape but more about statute of limitations in law and in life. Really quite a good short mystery novel.
Reading Black Books by Claude Atcho
Read in part, author is very good, subject important. Books reviewed and interpreted are classics. Very valuable book, painful and hard to read. The books are almost unimaginable in their true description.
The Professor by Robert Bailey
Legal thriller, very much like Grisham, not quite as good but exciting. A bit racy and raw.
The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton
Surprisingly excellent. Good writing with style reflecting the times. Suspenseful, historical, dialects in conversation very well done, lots of old jargon.
The Golden Egg by Donna Leon
(read aloud)
Good linguistics and characters as usual, interesting plot but ending slightly disappointing.
The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene
About faith, faithfulness, and infidelity. Scobie, the main character, is good and flawed. He is a sinner who believes in God and hell. Greene is a master of drawing the boundaries of belief and doubt. His descriptions of confession and conversations about sin and God are moving and real. A really great writer.
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Read again, still very good, based a lot on C. S. Lewis, N. T. Wright quoted re: resurrection. Highly recommended.
Silverview by John LeCarré
His last book, good writing, very different style, very descriptive, have to fill in a lot of the plot from inferences.
After Steve by Tripp Mickle
Thesis is that Jobs and Ives were the soul and gradually the business side has taken over. Tim Cook is a good person but mostly a business genius and the company is changing.
The Crypto Book by Siam Kidd
A lucid introduction to crypto coins and blockchain. Written as an encouragement but coming across as a dire warning.
Shape by Jordan Ellenberg
A very interesting book about topology an graphs and networks. Ellenberg is a top-notch explainer. A significant portion of the book is about pandemics and spread of infection or anything else. I was interested in Sir Ross of malaria fame and his mathematical explanation of the mosquito's random flight presaging the famous Drunkard's Walk. His mathematical adviser was Hilda Hudson, an excellent mathematician and devout evangelical Christian.
Rich Blood by Robert Bailey
(read aloud)
Billboard accident lawyer represents his sister in his first murder trial, fun thriller, enjoyed it.
With a Mind to Kill by Anthony Horowitz
(read aloud)
Last of a trilogy of James Bond. Enjoyable writing. Horowitz is a master of writing just to the brink of melodrama but never misstepping. Very clever and fun.
Statistics: Concepts and Controversies by David S. Moore
This book is extremely good. It is clear, interesting, ad chock-full of amazing examples. I read some of the chapters and understood things that had not been clear to me. It has hundreds of exercises and many side discussions. It goes into all the dangers in detail. A great book, strongly recommended.
Darwin Devolves by Michael J. Behe
Basically an update of Darwin's Black Box. Much has been studied in biology, but irreducible complexity has not been refuted. Also, there are reputable evolutionary biologists who do not hold that natural selection is sufficient to explain evolution. Behe notes that adaptation below the level of family is, notably, often devolution or loss of gene complexity.
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Airman's Odyssey by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
includes Wind, Sand and Stars; Night Flight; Flight to Arras
Almost magical lyrical writing about flight. Also a comment on the folly of war, and the frailty of life. One of the best writers ever in my opinion.
Moses by Marilynne Robinson
Very well-written, as expected. Conservative. Poorly formatted for Kindle.
Death in the Sunshine by Steph Broadribb
A fun romp. First part much fun and clever. Loses steam toward the end.
The Truth and Beauty by Andrew Klavan
(read aloud)
An exposition of Keats and Wordsworth and other English poets as an illumination of the Gospel and Jesus as the Logos. Quite interesting.
The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker
(read aloud)
Another Bruno Chief of Police. More food, friends, horses, dogs, wine and again international intrigue in a sleepy small French town!
Ravenous by Sam Apple
About Wartburg, a Jewish scientist during the Nazi reign who thought cancer was a derangement of cell metabolism. Forgotten for decades due to interest in genomics, this idea of insulin and sugar affecting cancer seems to be gaining interest. Book particularly blames fructose.
Black Diamond by Martin Walker
(read aloud)
Good mystery about truffles. Bruno almost dies in a fire.
Isaac's Storm by Erik Larsen
About the Galveston hurricane, September 8, 1900. Full of detail and accounts of the state of forecasting of weather at the time. It was a time of hubris, it seems. Harrowing description of the storm. Perhaps 10,000 dead. Good writing salted with small details of the times.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
(read aloud)
This wonderful book has it all. An exciting story of abuse, escape, kindness of strangers, cruelty of strangers, and the meaning of family, the nature of God. Blurs the line between fiction and history. More true than truth.
Rubicon by Tom Holland
Holland's writing is very engaging. His prose style is to me quite unique and his vocabulary is expansive. He seems to read between the lines of his primary sources but I am inclined to trust him and his erudition.
Liftoff by Eric Berger
Early history of SpaceX. Really kind of exciting as its future was much in doubt at times. Learning from failure and obsessive attention to detail is the key. And lots of cash!
Uniform Justice by Donna Leon
(read aloud)
An apparent suicide at a military school investigated by Brunetti. Deeply cynical story about Italian corruption.
Paradiso by Dante
Read with the guidance of "100 Days of Dante," a project of Baylor Honors College with scholars from many other places contributing. A wonderful seminal work. Deeply spiritual and surprisingly timely. Ending with seeing Christ in his full glory.
The Judge's List by John Grisham
(read aloud)
Very good story about a sitting justice who was a serial killer. You know he's guilty but still riveting.
War Doctor by David Nott
The most graphic and harrowing account of war medicine I have ever read. Additionally, Nott is almost always in danger of his own life. The experience he has acquired and his skill and commitment must be unique. It is hard to recommend this book to most people. Suffice it to say he takes people, often children, and puts them back together, what is left, and some survive. And he cares and suffers with them.
Pompeii by Robert Harris
(read aloud)
A very good book, lots of interesting facts and a good story. Pliny must be the most curious man ever. Good read, recommended.
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams
Surprisingly fun read, had spastic dysphonia. Main takeaway is talent stacking, and systems over goals.
Another Kingdom by Andrew Klavan
An interesting, time-shifting tale, exciting with good writing. At times I laughed out loud. I really enjoyed this unique story. The ending is obviously a cliffhanger for the next volume, which I will read.
The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker
(read aloud)
An early Bruno mystery. Very good; about the area, the food, the wine, the life of a village policeman. The mystery was less satisfying. Good writing and characters.
Gilbert: The Man who was G. K. Chesterton by Michael Coren
This is a biography and tells of his life, his education, his marriage, his friends, and his occupation. It was disappointing to me as it didn't seem to tell of his thoughts and his faith, talking more of "distributionism" and his conversion to Catholicism.
Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ by R. Kent Hughes
Used to give extra info for my own commentary. Many quotes and examples. Very pastoral.
Power Play by Tim Higgins
A book about the ups and downs of Tesla. A remarkable ongoing story. The book has a seemingly authoritative outside view. It seems fairly neutral and fair.
Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey
(read aloud)
A memoir of his life and his family and his church experience. A rather painfully accurate portrayal of southern protestant fundamentalism. Good writing and brave confrontation with his past. His mother was definitely suffering from a personality disorder. His relation with his brother is detailed and vividly told with gentleness but without holding back. I would say the book was very well done but not a pleasant read.
Mending a Broken Mind by Andrew White
An excellent, comprehensive exploration of depression from a scientific and thoroughly Christian perspective. Very good. Includes a description of depression as experienced by a close friend. The author also shares his experience as a patient as well as his experience of treating many patients.
Around the World in 80 Trees by Jonathan Drori
Fantastic book about especially interesting trees. Beautifully written and a gorgeous book with drawings and an attractive layout. Read one a day so I called it "tree devotions." Amazing creations, adaptation abounding.
Friday, January 14, 2022
Wish it had lasted forever --Dan Shaughnessy
I enjoyed this because I an a big fan. Not much new. A recap of the '86 season possibly the best NBA team ever. Very good about Walton. Bird is featured. Parish hardly mentioned as he wouldn't talk with the author who it seems was not that well liked by the players.
Last Train to Istanbul -- Ayse Kulint
I read this in pieces over months but read the last half at one time and was thoroughly captivated. The kindness of the Turkish diplomats toward Jewish turks and non-turks was a stunning contrast to the behavior of the Gestapo. The stress leading up to the last trains's departure was agonizing and I read with fear and hope. Parts or the book are beautiful and the less beautiful parts are honest and real. Free on kindle but a gem.
A Line to Kill -- Anthony Horowitz
(read aloud)
Lots of fun, good plot with twist but plausible threads running through. Hawthorne is enigmatic but not drab. Tony the writer and the foil is lovable "meta".
The Shooting at Chateau Rock -- Martin Walker
(read aloud)
Bruno the policeman has a local case with international connections and makes sure his local case gets solved. Corruption and geopolitics rule in the timely tale with Putin Ukraine style intrigue.
A Prince and a Spy -- Rory Clements
Another Nazi Britain story but quite good. The American Cambridge professor is an OSS spy and is quite believable and sympathetic. Plot is exciting. The writing is very good.
Inferno -- Dante (Esolen)
Read again, this time with a guide, 100 Days of Dante. Wonderful lectures, notes by Esolen extremely helpful and even spiritual. Inferno is a work of genius and is edifying, remarkably even encouraging.
The Plague -- Albert Camus
Very timely account of the plague in Algeria. An entire town closed off for many months. Sad tale of despair and death and coping. The best and the worst of people's behavior. Dr. Rieux is tirelessly futilely working in the same situation as everyone else. He loses friends and his wife. The plague leaves but somewhere the bacillus remains, waiting.
The Devil's Cave -- Martin Walker
(read aloud0
Chief of Police Bruno receives a call about a naked dead woman in a boat floating down the local river. The rest is an exciting, complex plot with climaxes near the end. Bruno is wise to the wider world but values his city his job and his neighbors. A new dog Balzac joins his horse Hector and his band of friends in St Denis.
One for the Money -- Janet Evonovich
First Stephanie Plum book. Racy but not gratuitous. Good writing , clever plot.
City of Bone -- Michael Connelly
A good Bosch tale, food complex plot. Earthy with our being foul. Good writing,
Viral --Robin Cook
Not well written, formulaic, deals with real problems in medicine but not constructively.
Project Hail Mary -- Weir
Audacious attempt to tell a story of alien encounter with strikingly different evolutionary paths. Remarkable attempt but took an impossible task and I think it was all in all a failure. The physics is good the biology relatively poor. My cynicism about evolutionary explanations fells vindicated.
Five Little Pigs -- Agatha Christie
Good little mystery. Well written. Clever plot with misdirection and twists.
Doctored Evidence -- Donna Leon
(read aloud)
Very good. Brunetti is in a bad mood throughout. Scarpa is at his worst. The seven deadly sins scanned for this murder's motive. Solved by the Madonna.
SSN --Tom Clancy
Enjoyable submarine story. War with China. US sub is essentially invincible. A kind of truism of submarine warfare, you win till you lose, then game over.
Sooley -- John Grisham
Sudanese boy who by hard work and genes and luck became a star basketball player brought to the US before rebels burned his town and his father was killed and mother and brothers fled to a refugee camp in Kenya. Exciting basketball juxtaposed with life in a camp. Sad ending.
Pleading Guilty -- Scott Turow
A nicely plotted legal mystery with a dead body but more focused on dead ethics. Read aloud with omission of racy parts of which there were many. The remainder was a nicely crafted story of a flawed but likable alcoholic lawyer who ... one could tell from the first page where this might go but weren't quite sure till the last page or two.
Two Kinds of Truth -- Michael Connelly
Bosch goes undercover and almost is thrown from a plane. Is accused of planting evidence. Lincoln lawyer brother proves his innocence. Good story
Zero Fail ; the rise and fall of the secret service -- Carol Leaning
Interesting book about the secret service. Surprisingly under budgeted and technologically behind. Improves through mistakes. Kennedy and Clinton were more immoral than I had thought. Agents very much drinkers and womanizers. Author very negative about Trump. Does appear his large family and his travels were very expensive.
The Life of Captain James Cook -- J.C. Beaglehole
Avery thorough biography 760 pages but very interesting. He was an excellent navigator and seaman. He was very patient with the varied people he came in contact with on his travels. He was almost unique in his ability to keep his sailors healthy. He met an untimely and unfortunate end.
The Wrong Side of Goodbye -- Michael Connelly
Good Bosch story, as PI investigating a paternity case of a dying billionaire and also a case of a serial rapist who is in the police department right under everyone's noses.
Transient Desires -- Donna Leon
(read aloud)
Another mystery involving human trafficking. This time with boats and the trail starts with a mysterious accident where two American girls are dumped outside a Venice hospital unconscious and seriously injured.
The Fabric of Civilization -- Virginia Postural
A book that changes one's view of fiber, thread, yarn, cloth, knit, dyes, fashion, banking, commerce, in short the "fabric" that runs through civilization. Wool, cotton, linen and synthetics and materials yet unborn. A fascinating book, even mathematics owes a debt to weaving.
The Bomber Mafia --Malcolm Gladwell
About the tension between precision bombing and incendiary bombing in WWII. Interesting topic and I was not aware of the tremendous loss of life compared to the A-bomb which gets all the conversation and ethical discussion it seems. Also it seems the vaunted Norden bombsight was somewhat of a practical failure. Norden evidently was a Christian but apparently not a likable one.
The Pull of the Stars -- Emma Donaghue
A nurse midwife and three days in an Irish hospital at the height of the influenza pandemic. The obstetrics is of the time and is completely authentic. There are forays into the plight of the underclass, and the Irish "terrorists" which add a great deal. Brief female kissing episode actually serves well in the plot, a little shocking but not at all gratuitous. Very well written.
Two Spies in Caracas - Moises Naim
Venezuelan intrigue CIA, Cuban. Mostly forgettable by probably good about influence of Castro in the region
The Templars Last Secret -- Martin Walker
(read aloud)
Very good story, excellent characters. Good Dordogne food, lot of history about pre-historic caves and drawings.
The Law of Innocence - Michael Connelly
A real page-turner, Heller is stopped in his Lincoln and a body is found in his trunk, to his surprise. He defends himself from jail. Bosch helps him.
Fault Lines -- Voddie T Baucham Jr.
Written by a black man with an authentic urban black experience and experience of racism and slave ancestors. See takes issue with assuming disparity is certain explanation of racism. He denies major tenets of Black Lives Matter and sees a deeper sinister agenda in much of the anti-racist movement. He identifies Marxist roots. He faults leading evangelicals for not following biblical justice and following "social justice" instead. His view is based on his experience, his intellect, his training and his actions are a view and a voice to be reckoned with.
Separated Siblings - John E Phelan Jr.
There is much Judaism has in common with Christianity. This book very carefully and with mostly Jewish references deals with both. The tone is irenic and helpful. It is positive with our minimizing the impasse over the person and significance of Jesus.
Twisted Vines Jenine Panegiotakas (read aloud)
A story of secrets and regrets and a beautiful winery in Tuscany. Fair writing, a difficult plot which the author actually pulls off in an acceptable manner.
The Mote in God's Eye - Niven and Pournelle
Said to be a classic in the Sci-Fi genre. I found it to be uneven. The first half of the book interesting and engaging the last part pensive slow-moving and uninteresting. The vestiges of current civilization existing into the future was clever and the persistence of religion is presented with out apology or surprise.
A Case for Keto - Gary Taubes
A quite comprehensive accessible book where the journalist Taubes correctly becomes and advocate . Realizing people are different he nevertheless espouses the insulin hypothesis and the lo-carb keto fasting paradigm.
Thursday, January 13, 2022
News of the World -- Paulette Jiles
Wonderful heartwarming story with suspense and duty and love. Show the good and bad side of humanity. Highly recommended. It was recommended to me to read before seeing the movie
Zorba the Greek - Nikos Kazantzakis
Zorba is larger than life, with a lust for life, with an emphasis on lust. The first part is good with development of the characters. Natural beauty, resourcefulness, loyalty are all themes. The last part is somber with revenge murder, the lingering death of a main character, the complete failure of the major project, and the arson of a monastery. I found this sad and disappointing .
The Hunters -- James Salter
A beautifully written novel of the jet fighter war in Korea. Somewhat sad but the writing is worth the flight. From the point of view of an unsung hero, a man of character.
Evidence Dismissed - Lange and Vannatter
O. J. trial from the detective point of view. The detectives were put on trial and the case collapsed due to Mark Furhman a dishonest detective.
Journey without Maps - Graham Greene
A difficult journey on foot through remote Liberia, Sierra Leone in seldom traveled areas. Painful reading about a painful trip. Full of rats, spiders, snakes, disease and hostile tribes. The only good thing about the trip and the book is the feeling one gets as the end nears!
Calico Joe - John Grisham
A baseball story about fathers sons forgiveness and regret. Short book but for those with any interest in baseball it is rewarding.
Fifth Witness - Michael Connolly
Very good. A case of the worst client ever, did she do the murder? A real page turner, surprises galore at the end.
The Reversal - Michael Connolly
A Lincoln Lawyer book with Haller and Bosch half-brothers. Haller is usually a defense lawyer but is asked to prosecute a retrial. An exciting courtroom drama with a surprise ending.
Pigs in Heaven -Barbara Kingsolver
A sequel to the Bean Trees. Beautifully written with wonderful characters especially Turtle the adopted Cherokee girl who has few lines but steals your heart as they travel across the southwest and beyond. Speaks about love motherhood and cultural identity.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Apocalypse Never - Michael Shellenberger
A former environmental radical writes an even-handed well-documented approach to environmental concerns. He basically agrees with the science of the IPCC but not the summary documents that he says are political and do not follow the science. He says renewable will never suffice, that working against fossil fuels and dams for developing countries is very unfair. He says radical environmentalism and vegetarianism are religions and Malthusian. He is very pro-nuclear and thinks natural gas replacing coal is essential.
Persian Fire - Tom Holland
Story of Xerxes and his invasions of Greece. Much background and detail. A tale more unwoven than told, would be more effective if my interest was greater, found myself wanting him to get on with it!
Moonflower Murders - Anthony Horowitz
(read aloud)
Murder mystery with a book within a book, several murders, anagrams, real life mentions, fictional characters quoting fictional books --- vintage Horowitz. Clever, funny, with a love story thrown in.
Spillover - David Quaamen
Quaamen is among the best of science writers. This book about zoonoses is epic in breadth and depth. His research of the literature and his travel to the exact loci of the emerging infections is amazing. He interviewed the entire gamut from fishermen to the research gurus. But the uncanny thing is the foreboding when he talks about coronavirus and its pandemic potential. Also it almost seems like if you are unsure where and unknown disease comes from, blame a bat!
Shadow to the Dragon - Clancy et al.
Picked this because it is new and had submarines in it. Subs were very small part. Same cast of characters, like a soap opera running too many seasons. Could be written by a bot.
All the Devils are Here - Louise Penny
(read aloud)
A real thriller, convoluted plot with Paris as a main character. Ganache finds out why his son has been so distant, with a shocking but plausible tragic reality. Fear of losing his father. Stephen is a character larger than life though in intensive care. The ending is almost ridiculously convenient though I found it joyfully pleasant. And from Paris it ends in Three Pines and all is well, but I have to admit I am glad for it.
Quo Vadis - Henryk Sienkievicz
A novel of Nero, Peter, Paul and christians, which gives a flavor of decadence and tyranny and faith and devotion.
The Last Trial - Scott Turow
A very good trial story, well-written and well explained. Turow explains the intricacies of the law as well or better than Grisham. Sandy Stern has been in all Turow's novels in different guises. In this we say good-bye and we will miss him.
A Certain Justice - P. D. James
A defense lawyer who is respected but not liked is found murdered in her office. Dalgleish and company find suspects near and far and much motive and opportunity. Good plot twists, philosophical excursions and an exciting but only partial resolution. Perhaps I didn't understand the last few pages.
Monday, January 10, 2022
The Brass Verdict- Michael Connelly
The Lincoln Lawyer meets Bosch and the chemistry is nearly explosive. Good characters, Heller is just holding it together. He and Bosch couldn't be more different, or are they alike. Won't spoil the reveal in the last chapter.
9 Dragons - Michael Connelly
Bosch goes to Hong Kong to rescue his daughter from the Triad, his ex-wife dies. Shots fired, laws broken, Bosch lives to continue mayhem.
The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver
A simply delightful story about an "instant mother". Well-written, funny, sad, and very insightful about immigrants and sanctuary, made me think and empathize. Resilience and resourcefullness are words that are not adequate to describe how some people cope. These characters are not only believable I know they must exist.
Trace Elements - Donna Leon
Another good story. Still enjoying the asides about language and culture, food, Venice , attitudes to "southerners". Some interesting forays into environmentalism, justice and corruption.
Out of the Silent Planet- C. S. Lewis
Read for "book group"
Simply marvelous. Reminded of Lewis' power of description and his precise and powerful use of words and his love of words. Perhaps because of current events noticed ideas he brings about what might be called "race". A book to read again and again and shared.
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