Slow burn: the hidden costs of a warming world, by R. Jisung Park

 

In this deeply researched book about the effects of climate change, environmental and labor economist Park (Univ. of Pennsylvania) warns that global warming’s impact goes beyond the weather events in the news. He demonstrates the sweeping effects of climate change on health, education, and productivity by taking an economic approach to the analysis of even minor increases in the average temperature of the planet. His book spotlights research indicating how higher temperatures negatively affect worker productivity, conflict, violence, and student learning, achievement, and performance on tests. For example, increases in the number and size of forest fires not only cause disastrous damage to homes, property, and lives, they also create long-term damage thousands of miles away due to the spread of smoke, impacting the economy, health, and mortality. He argues that societies need to tackle these dangers and that it will take a globally coordinated approach to ameliorate them. VERDICT With gripping prose, this book encourages policymakers to consider the many hazards associated with the unavoidable increases in global temperature that the world faces. This is a call to arms addressing one of the most critical issues of contemporary times.

A version of this review was previously published in Library Journal 149:3 (2024): 113.

Sea of tranquility, by Emily St. John Mandel

 

I enjoyed this novel by Emily St. John Mandel. Loosely related to the happenings in her earlier novel, The Glass Hotel, Sea of Tranquility is about several characters from different time periods who all experience the same strange phenomenon that involves a glitch in time where they sense similar things, such as a violin playing. As each section of the book tackles a different time period and character, we can begin to piece together the events that they all have in common. The writing is really good, and this is an easy and fast book to read. I would have liked to re-read it, but had to return it to the library, unfortunately. My only beef about it is that time travel books (and movies) always have some element that doesn't really work or make sense. I don't want to give it away, so I won't write any more about this, but this book is no exception. However, if you just suspend your disbelief, this is a good book that I highly recommend. It helps if you've read The Glass Hotel already, though.

Morse's greatest mystery and other stories, by Colin Dexter

 

I finished the last of the Inspector Morse mystery novels a few weeks ago, and wrapped it all up with this collection of entertaining short stories. Most, but not all, of these stories involved a crime or mystery and involve Inspector Morse, although not always in the main role. Since I very much enjoyed the 13-book series, this book provided some familiar enjoyment that gave me a taste of the books, which I will miss.

The remorseful day, by Colin Dexter

 

The is the 13th and final Inspector Morse novel by Colin Dexter. Morse is feeling his age and suffering from a number of debilitating illnesses, yet is unable to stop smoking and drinking (although he does try). He is asked to take on a cold case based on some new evidence. Although he refuses to take the lead on the case, he still investigates it behind the scenes, in a way conducting a parallel investigation to Sergeant Lewis'. In the meantime, the investigation threatens to reveal the murderer, leading to two additional murders. Morse and Lewis, with some help from their boss Strange, work their way to the solutions to these crime puzzles, all the while as Morse is getting sicker and sicker. The final answers come from a letter from Morse to Lewis, with Strange providing the remaining clues. These books have gotten better and better as the series progresses. I'm sorry there won't be more of them, but I do have a final collection of short stories based on Morse to look forward to.

Autumn songs: essays on absence, by Patrice Gopo

 

Autumn song is a collection of essays “on absence.” It is organized into four major sections: dwelling, living, understanding, and changing. I liked these essays, which were thoughtful and wide ranging, covering broad topics such as the author’s childhood, work, children, as well as recent and current topics such as social justice and the Covid pandemic. The writing is excellent, and the essays are very thoughtful.