(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 Reading this 1992 book in 2022 is interesting as Japan seems to have been replaced by China with many of the same considerations and warnings relevant today.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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
