The Contender: Andrew Cuomo, a Biography, by Michael Shnayerson

 

Andrew Cuomo's recent starring role during the COVID-19 pandemic piqued my curiosity about him, leading me to this warts-and-all unauthorized biography by Michael Shnayerson. This book tells his story from his childhood through his inauguration for his second term and his father's death. It's a well written and very detailed look at Cuomo's life and career, although it leans much more heavily on the political than on the personal, which makes sense given that it was both unauthorized and competing with Cuomo's own autobiography, which came out at roughly the same time. This is a fascinating look at the cut-throat nature of New York politics, and it provides the background and context for many of the stories that I've read in the news since moving to Albany nearly eight years ago.

Red at the Bone, by Jacqueline Woodson

 

I really enjoyed this short (196 page) novel by Jacqueline Woodson. It tells the story of multiple generations of one family. The context is Melody's 16th birthday party, and family members use the occasion to reminisce about their own lives and how they got to this point. Melody and her parents and grandparents all take turns narrating their lives in short, spare paragraphs and chapters, and the result is a rich tapestry of love, sadness, yearnings, aspirations, and family.

Wingnuts: Extremism in the Age of Obama, by John Avlon

 

I was a little late in the game with this book, originally published in 2010, and updated in 2014. It's an in-depth look at the many extremist groups and movements that have arisen in the last 20 or so years, but which seemed to explode with the election of Barack Obama. I'm a fan of John Avlon's reporting; he was the editor of The Daily Beast until recently, and he's a regular on CNN; I particularly like his "Reality Check" segments. Wingnuts is a very readable, yet heavily research look at extremism in America. Avlon provides a brief history of extremism, then tackles the rise of the Tea Party, white-minority politics, partisan media, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, birthers and truthers, and much more. I was fascinated by this history, made all the more poignant by how much worse everything has gotten since 2014.

Uniform Justice, by Donna Leon

 

I really enjoyed this detective story set in Venice, Italy, starring Commissario Guido Brunetti. Uniform Justice is the 12th in the series, although only the first one that I've read. The story begins with the apparent suicide of a teenage boy in a military high school. Brunetti's suspicions grow when he learns that the boy's mother was attacked the previous year, and the father stepped down early from an elected position after writing a report that questioned some military procurement practices. Could all of this be related? The plot moves along quickly, the writing is very good, and the mystery reveals itself slowly as it approaches a heartbreaking revelation.

Too Much and Never Enough, by Mary L. Trump

I couldn't resist reading this memoir by Mary Trump, the daughter of Trump's older brother Fred. It's a slight book, at only 225 pages, and a very quick read. Including 14 chapters, it's organized into four sections which clearly tells you where Mary Trump stands on her uncle's fitness for office or worth as a person: The Cruelty is the Point, The Wrong Side of the Tracks, Smoke and Mirrors, The Worst Investment ever Made. While I had heard and read some of this before, the book goes into much more detail about family dynamics and history, revealing how nasty and mean Trump's parents were, along with the greed and venality of most of the rest of the family. It shows a family so greedy they will do just about anything to hold onto the wealth earned primarily by Trump's father, all while actively fleecing the government and discriminating against minorities. In spite of the wealth, none of them seem happy with their lot in life. What an unpleasant bunch of people!
 

The Calligrapher's Daughter, by Eugenia Kim

The Calligrapher's Daughter is one of the best historical novels that I've read. It tells the story of Najin, born in Korea in 1910, and brought up as a Christian in a household run by Confucian principles. The novel follows her story through her education and marriage to a student who is traveling to the United States. Denied a passport at the last minute by the Japanese occupiers, she is separated from her husband for 11 years. This novel shows in intimate detail what life was like for women in Korea before the 2nd World War. It's fascinating and extremely well-written. It's followed by a sequel, The Kinship of Secrets, which I can hardly wait to read.

 

 

LaRose, by Louise Erdrich

I loved this 2016 novel by Louise Erdrich. It's a heart wrenching tale of two families after a hunting accident leaves a child dead. To atone for the accident,  Landreaux and his wife Emmeline give their son, LaRose, to the mourning family to raise. After a while, they come to terms about how they'll share him. Even though he's very young when this happens, he has an intuitive understanding of his role in both families, including keeping his new mother from suicide. While this is a sad tale, there is a lot of humor and love in it. LaRose's new sister and he become very close, and he pulls the families closer together in ways that allow for healing to take place. Louise Erdrich is a wonderful writer, and she incorporates Native American traditions and history into the novel, touching on the practice of sending children away from their families to live in boarding schools. I highly recommend this book.

The Enemy of the People, by Jim Acosta

I really enjoyed this narrative about reporter Jim Acosta's experiences following the Trump campaign and the first three years of his administration. As a news junkie, I was familiar with most of the events covered here, but I appreciated reading about them from the perspective of someone on the front lines. Well-written and a fast read.

June 2020 Films and Series

The Good Liar. Great suspense.

Killing Eve (seasons 2-3)

Toni Erdmann. Touching German comedy.

DCI Banks (seasons 1-5).

1917. Heartbreaking.

Maggie's Plan. Another quirky Greta Gerwig film.

The Woods. Polish adaptation of a Harlen Coben thriller.

The Quake. Norwegian disaster film. Spoiler: no one listens to the expert...

Our little sister. Touching Japanese film about family, love, and belonging.

May 2020 Films and Series

Rocketman. I enjoyed this portrayal of Elton John's life, although it wasn't at all what I expected.

The Goldfinch. I can't compare this to the book, which I own but haven't yet read. I enjoyed the film.

Bosch (season 6). So good!

 Roma. This was OK, but I am very surprised at how much people raved about it.

Blinded by the Light. Charming portrayal of a Pakistani teen immigrant in England whose life is transformed by Bruce Springsteen's music. A true story based on the author's memoir of the same title.

Elle. We had watched this a few years ago, but forgot and ordered it from Netflix again. A good thriller that leaves you with a lot of questions.

Ordeal by Innocence. British mystery series based on the Agatha Christie novel.

The Guilty. Compelling Danish drama.

Julieta. Directed by Pedro Almodovar.

Western Stars. Documentary about the inspiration of and a performance of Bruce Springsteen's recent album.

April 2020 Films and Series

The Edge of Seventeen.

Judy.

Killing Eve (season 1)

Bad Times at the El Royale.

 Joker.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette.

March 2020 Films and Series

The Handmaid's Tale (season 3)

After the Wedding.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein

In his latest work, David Epstein delves into the differences between people who have deep knowledge in a narrow subject and those who have more general knowledge about a wide array of subjects. Writing in the mode of Malcolm Gladwell or the authors of Freakonomics, Epstein uses anecdotes and case studies to illustrate his main points. In chapter after chapter, he shows that better solutions to problems or challenges are found by those with a variety of life experiences and education, or by teams with a lot of diversity. In the end, the best results came from folks with broad knowledge about many subjects, but who also had an area of specialization. While I had hoped for an approach that addressed issues of generalization and specialization at a more common level (e.g., what can I learn and apply to my own life), this was an entertaining and interesting read.

I Almost Forgot about You, by Terry McMillan

I really enjoyed this novel by Terry McMillan. It's about Georgia, a twice-divorced optometrist in the Oakland area who learns of a long-ago lover who has died. Regretting that she never told him how important he was to her at that point in her life, she decides to reach out to all the men she's loved in her life. As she embarks on this project, she also begins to question her career choices and starts dreaming of a career in art or design. Dealing with aging parents, two daughters with their own struggles, grandchildren, and managing a variety of encounters with old and new flames, Georgia slowly works her way towards a more fulfilling life. I loved the writing, the characters, and the great conversations between the (mostly) women in this book.

Acid for the Children: A Memoir, by Flea

I really enjoyed this memoir by Flea, one of the founding members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It covers his childhood through the founding of RHCP, leaving the possibility that he will cover the RHCP in another project. Having recently completed Anthony Kiedis' memoir, Scar Tissue, published in 2004, I would welcome a memoir by either (or both) of them that brought their story up to date.

The Thousandth Floor, by Katharine McGee

The Thousandth Floor is set n 2118, in a Manhattan that has been built up into one enormous structure: a building that is 1,000 floors high and which covers most of the island. The novel follows five young adults as they struggle with relationships, family crises, and drug and alcohol abuse. It delves a bit into the inequities that exist between classes, with the more wealthy living on the upper floors, and one's social status being reflected by your level. This is a fun YA drama that also includes its share of tragedy and sadness, but it focuses a little too much on wealth, privilege, and appearances (why are all the main characters breathtakingly beautiful?). Nevertheless, it's an entertaining and fast read, and it was followed by two sequels, so there must be a fan base for it.

Feminist Fight Club, by Jessica Bennett

This is a fun look at the sexism that women often encounter on the job and how they might fight that sexism through a variety of strategies. Encouraging women to find a group of like-minded supporters, author Jessica Bennett uses many of her own experiences to help women recognize sexism, fight their ingrained acceptance and acquiescence, and succeed in spite of those challenges. It's very amusing and includes clever illustrations. This is a quick read that would be beneficial particularly for early career women.

Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi

Homegoing was my book club's March pick. Unfortunately, the book club hasn't been able to meet since the COVID-19 crisis began and we were all asked to begin physical distancing, and without a deadline, I ended up not finishing the book until May! (In my defense, I spent a lot of time with Mr. Putin over the last few months.)

Homegoing tells the story of two families over the course of four centuries; the families are descended from two half-sisters. The sisters never met, and their lives diverged dramatically, as one was abducted and sold into slavery, while the other made an advantageous marriage and remained in Africa. The chapters alternate between the families, and follow the generations of descendants, so the book reads more like a collection of short stories. The writing is wonderful, and the characters are realistic. I enjoyed reading about the different historical time periods, both in the U.S., and in Africa. Some of the chapters are tragic and heartbreaking, but not all, giving the book an overall sense of optimism. Highly recommended.

Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin, by Fiona Hill and Clifford G. Gaddy

I've wanted to read this book ever since I saw Fiona Hill testify before Congress during the impeachment trial. I was impressed with her testimony, her poise, and her deep knowledge and expertise about Russia. When I went to buy her book, it was out of stock (I guess a lot of people had the same idea that I did), and our library copy was already checked out, so I put this on the back burner. But I was surprised to find this among my Christmas presents; I couldn't believe that my husband had remembered my wish to read it.

I loved this book. Not a conventional biography; instead, it analyzes the influences on Vladimir Putin and how they made him who he is. Describing Putin as a statist, a history man, a survivalist, an outsider, a free marketeer, and a case officer, authors Hill and Clifford G. Gaddy show how each of these identities play out in Putin's actions within Russia and in foreign affairs. This is a dense book, but it is so well-written that it just flows as you read it. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in world affairs. My only complaint is that it was published in 2013; I would really like to see Hill and Gaddy bring this up to the present.

The Ghost Factory, by Jenny McCartney

The Ghost Factory is one of the best novels I've read in a while. Set in Northern Ireland in the 1990s through the present day, it follows the story of Jacky, a boy whose trying to avoid the ever-present violence in Belfast. When Jacky's friend is attacked, and Jacky retaliates, he realizes that he has to leave to save his own life. He makes his way to London and builds a life there, but Belfast draws him back to revisit the ghosts that still haunt him. The writing in this book is so good that I couldn't put it down. It deals with serious topics, but still has a sense of humor about it. It will give any reader a feel for the time and place of Northern Ireland while it was still experiencing the violence and strife of "the troubles."

March 2019 Books

Other than the first book below, the rest of my reading this month was a stack of review copies of books that I got by attending either Book Expo America or American Library Association Conferences


This was my book club's February pick. I enjoyed this story, told from two viewpoints, alternating between a young girl who was kidnapped and offered up for adoption in 1939, and a 30-year-old lawyer who is learning about this practice for the first time, and realizing that her grandmother may have also been adopted. My fellow book clubbers also liked the book, but they seemed to prefer the sections set in 1939 much more than the present ones, although I liked both equally.

A bio-engineered virus has been released in the U.S.; it causes people who are infected to become ravenous monsters (called ticks) who cannibalize humans and animals. It especially likes teenagers, so they've been rounded up and kept on former college campuses. Our heroine, Lily, lives on such a farm with her autistic sister Mel, and they've planned an escape. Joined by a former friend from "before," they learn that even though the bio-engineered monsters are called "vampires," they really aren't; we know that because vampires really do exist, and one of them is going to help Lily and Mel escape because they can help in the revolution to beat the ticks. This dystopian, science fiction, paranormal adventure mixed with teen angst and drama is completely ridiculous. Waiting for the movie...

Ellen is divorcing her husband, Sam, because he's irresponsible with money and, as an inventor, he's had a series of unsuccessful projects. She is the sole proprietor of a coffee shop/home furnishings store, but doesn't bring in enough to pay both mortgages on their house. She's so angry with him that instead of insisting that he get a job that provides a reliable income, she decides to sell the house and divorce him, even though she still loves him. All while they have two kids who are heartbroken about this, and their best friends live next door to them. That alone is completely unbelievable. The rest of the novel swings back and forth with her trying to buy the house back and the new owners splitting up over the decision, even though they also love each other and have children. What a stretch. Almost too dark for a Hallmark movie, but no more credible...

This children's book by musician Colin Meloy is about Charlie, a neglected boy who takes up with a band of child pickpockets in 1950s Marseilles. He learns the tricks of the trade, only to find that he's been used to get close to his diplomat father and steal a valuable document. He has to use all his new-found skills to make things right. Fun and clever.

February 2020 Films and Series

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I thought this movie was too long and too slow. Definitely over-hyped.

The Borgias (Seasons 1-3). I really enjoyed this not-very historically accurate telling of the Borgia family history; I just wish it hadn't been canceled before they filmed the 4th and final season; apparently, it was too expensive to continue.

Beirut. A compelling film about the kidnapping of an American diplomat in the early 1980s.

Parasite. As good as the reviews said, although I would have preferred that it didn't take such a dark turn at the end.

Wolf Hall (Season 1). Based on the Hillary Mantel book; it was fun watching this series, which takes place just 30 years after the action in The Borgias. It was a little slow, but I enjoyed seeing Damian Lewis and Claire Foy in these roles as well.