The Father's Tale by Michael O'Brien

(read aloud)

Very long book with long philosophical ellipses. Probably not a good choice to read aloud. Many good spiritual themes. Parts of the writing are very good but though my friends who recommended this book disagree I think a good editor could have taken this good book and made it a great book, and at two-thirds the length.

The Map that Changed the World by Simon Winchester

William Smith, a self-taught geologist and canal engineer, had the idea of a map that showed the underground strata of England. He collected rocks and fossils of small animals that he used to date the strata. He traveled all over England and spent years making a map and published it; but before it made money for him, he lost everything and was put in debtors prison. With some help from friends he got out of prison. His maps were plagiarized. He left London and lived simply. Eventually his contributions were recognized, he was given official honors with apologies, and made a good financial recovery. So the book has a pleasant ending.

As usual, Winchester keeps the reader's interest. He makes a good case for Smith's importance. He tends to dwell on Christianity holding back scientific discovery because of its insistence on a young earth. It seems to me that there are more innocent explanations, like whole continents were not thought to move, and who thought that tops of mountains were once under oceans!

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

(Listened to audiobook)

Following a painting back in time as it went from person to person back to the artist. Each chapter is a separate story standing on its own with the painting a silent presence observing and being observed, influencing by its beauty and value. Some chapters touching, some much fun, especially as read by gifted actors.

Reagan at Reykjavik: Forty-Eight Hours that Ended the Cold War

This book takes an historical event and puts it in context, recounts the event as an eyewitness, and presents its historical significance.

For a summit meeting that is of common knowledge, this book is surprisingly interesting.

While it presents Reagan in a very favorable light it avoids a fawning tone. The author has very good credentials and a very engaging manner.

The book makes a good case for the subtitle.

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah by Captain Sir Richard F. Burton

This voyage in 1852 was extremely dangerous. It was only possible because of Burton's astonishing language ability and his cultural understanding. The account is extremely detailed, at times tedious; but there are parts of extreme interest. The whole account is under the constant tension of the possibility of his discovery. Violence is always just an insult away, robbery or assault if one is momentarily relaxed. And always the heat, the implacable unbearable heat. And water is life and thirst is a death.

9 Algorithms that Changed the Future by John MacCormick

This book is written at exactly the right level. It seems to explain so that it is understandable but comprehensive and reliable.

The discussion of error correcting was interesting. Data compression and databases were also quite clearly presented.

I enjoyed this book.

Faraday Maxwell and the Electric Field: How Two Men Revolutionized Physics by Nancy Forbes

This is a well-written and engaging history based on the premise that Faraday, a self-taught experimentalist, had seminal insights that were noticed by a similarly brilliant mathematical genius and physicist. The idea of electromagnetic fields was born and changed the world. In the course of the book one grows to appreciate these two men at a deeper level than their ideas. The book looks at their character and there is grace at work there.