The light in the ruins, by Chris Bohjalian

 

The Light in the Ruins takes us to 1943-1944 rural Tuscany where the Nazis were making a last stand against the allies as they invaded Sicily and then began making their way north. The wartime period is juxtaposed by 1955 when a serial killer begins killing members of the Rosati family, whose estate was used by the Nazis near the end of the war. As Nazis plundered art work and antiquities from Italy, the Rosati estate comes to their attention when they learn of the Etruscan burial site that has been unearthed. One of the Nazis begin a romance with Christina Rosati, as Vittore Rosati works reluctantly with the Nazi officers who are identifying the antiquities they want to take. The Rosati parents walk a fine line trying to appease the Nazis without becoming targets of the partisan resistance fighters in the area. The Rosati family pays a heavy price for being at the center of this struggle, and they're trying to move on. But who is now targeting them? Serafina Bettini is a detective investigating the murders, which take her back to her own connection with the family when she was one of the partisan fighters who sought refuge at their estate near the end of the war. This was a well-written book that keeps you guessing until the end.

The law of similars, by Chris Bohjalian

 

Reading The Law of Similars was like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Leland is a recently-widowed lawyer whose tendency to hypochondria is put into overdrive as he tries to keep himself together as a single father. He gives homeopathic treatments a try and begins to fall for the homeopath who's helping him. As one of her other patients dies after her treatment, Leland's law firm is asked by the patient's wife to represent her, and Leland is forced to face not only his hypochondria, but also ethical dilemmas that have far-reaching repercussions for others. The writing is excellent and the plot pulls you along, even while you're silently screaming "No!" "Stop!" "Don't do that!" to Leland.

Then she was gone, by Lisa Jewell

 

I enjoyed this page-turner of a thriller by Lisa Jewell. Laurel's daughter goes missing, and 10 years later her remains are found. But Laurel is still haunted by her daughter's disappearance. When Laurel begins a new relationship with Floyd, she is surprised by the resemblance between his younger daughter and her missing daughter. As she begins to pick up on clues, she learns what really happened to her daughter 10 years ago.

Vox, by Christina Dalcher

 

I have mixed feelings about this novel. It has been compared to The Handmaid's Tale, but the writing is nowhere near as good. The premise is completely silly as well. I think there are plenty of men out there who are misogynistic enough to try to limit women's speech to 100 words a day, but not nearly enough of them to actually pull something like this off, so I had a hard time setting aside my disbelief as I read the story. Just the scale of it would be impossible: manufacturing 150 million or more "bracelets" (i.e., word counters) that give an increasingly strong electric shock for every word spoken that exceeds the 100 permitted. Apparently, this just happened overnight, with women seized and fitted with the device. Too far-fetched to believe. The story wraps up fairly quickly when the main character finishes her research, and with the help of three men (really?) defeats the reigning leaders of the government.

Disappearing earth, by Julia Phillips

 

I really loved this novel about two girls who are abducted from their town on the Kamchatka Peninsula, part of Russia that is very remote where many indigenous people live. The story is told from more than a dozen viewpoints, showing how the girls' disappearance has affected the entire community. The writing is excellent, and the look inside the Kamchatka Peninsula culture is fascinating.

Books to build on: A grade-by-grade resource guide for parents and teachers, edited by John Holdren and E.D. Hirsch

 

This book provides reading suggestions for kindergarten through grade 6 in many disciplines: language arts, history and geography, visual arts, music, science, and mathematics. It's co-edited by E.D. Hirsch, whose proposals regarding cultural literacy has proven to be somewhat controversial; nevertheless, it would be a great resource for librarians, teachers, and parents who would like to direct their children's reading in support of their education.

The National Portrait Gallery history of the kings and queens of England, by David Williamson

 

I finally got around to reading this purchase that I made many years ago from the History Book Club. It's a very high level overview of each of the kings and queens of England, covering the highlights of their lives and reigns, and illustrated with portraits from the Gallery's collection.

A first dictionary of cultural literacy, by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.

I came across this book at work, and although dated (1989), I was curious about what the author thought every child should know (the book is aimed at 6th graders). It's organized into several dozen chapters, addressing proverbs; idioms; English; literature; mythology; music, art, and architecture; the Bible; religion and philosophy; American history to 1865; American history since 1865; politics and economics; world history to 1600; world history since 1600; United States geography; world geography; mathematics; physical sciences; earth sciences and weather; life sciences; medicine and the human body; and technology. It was a fun look back at the K-12 curriculum, but I have to question the need for a book that lists all the facts a child should know by a certain age. The details in many of the chapters will change constantly, and these are things that (in my opinion) are best left learned through reading and schoolwork rather than a list. On the other hand, one of the reviews that I read was written by a parent who used it as a fun quiz activity for her kids. For me, this book was a great reminder of what I liked about school so much growing up!
 

The brain diet, by Alan C. Logan

 

This is an interested look at the research connecting diet with brain health. Fortunately, all the foods that are good for heart health, joint health, etc., are also good for the brain!

Smaller and smaller circles, by F.H. Batacan

 

This was a good murder mystery set in the Philippines. Two priests serve as consultants with the National Bureau of Investigation to track down and arrest a serial killer in one of the poorest regions of the Philippines. It was a good story, well written and plotted, but it unfortunately does not seem to have a sequel.

Healthy aging, by Andrew Weil

This is a valuable book with straightforward advice about all aspects of health and aging. I particularly appreciated the 2nd half in which the author speaks about anti-inflammation diets, physical activity, rest and sleep, stress, and much more. This is a good resource for anyone to get their health back on track, with the goal of extending your healthy years.
 

Sherlock Holmes, the missing years: Japan, by Vasudev Murthy

 

This is the first volume in a series that tries to fill in why Sherlock Holmes might have been up to after he fell off the Reichenbach Falls. In this book, Holmes and Watson investigate the effort by Japanese Yakuza, Chinese Triads, and Professor Moriarty to import opium into Europe. Lots of fun for Sherlock Holmes fans.

Buja's diary, by Seyeong O

 

This graphic narrative uses 13 short stories to illustrate life in Korea during various periods of the 20th century. Many of the stories reference the Japanese occupation, which occurred between 1910 and 1945. Other stories are about village and family life, relationships, and getting old. Many of the characters in the book appear to be depressed or traumatized by something that happened in their past.

I have to admit that I found the stories to be a little bit dull, and I occasionally had a difficult time telling what was happening. In contrast, the artwork is very good. Consisting of black and white ink drawings, the images are extremely detailed and expressive. I especially like the way the author draws horses and other animals.

Parsnips, Buttered: How to win at modern life, one email at a time, by Joe Lycett

 

Joe Lycett is another comedian (along with Sarah Millican) whom I was introduced to by Facebook (thanks!). You can find many of his clips on Youtube and I recommend that you watch them as well. Many of his stunts revolve around his use of email to protest things like parking tickets, and much of the humor comes from his delivery, not just the content. When I read this book, I imagined it in his voice, so it might be better to watch some of his videos before reading the book. I enjoyed this a lot, and it was a great way to take my mind off of the news!

Unwinding anxiety, by Judson Brewer

 

This is a useful approach to dealing with anxiety that has its roots in mindfulness. The author has conducted research and led experiments that show that mindfulness practices are more successful at beating addictions than more traditional methods, and he applies those findings to anxiety in this book.

I found you, by Lisa Jewell

 

This is an absorbing thriller about a woman who discovers a man on the beach outside her home; he's suffering from amnesia. She invites him into her home and begins to help him follow the clues to who he might be and what his connection is to the small seaside resort town where she lives.

Adrenaline, by Jeff Abbott

This fast-paced thriller is about a CIA officer, Sam, whose pregnant wife is kidnapped just before a bomb destroys the London office where they both worked. After being cleared of wrong doing, but still defending his wife, Sam is pushed out of the CIA, but given a job as a bartender in an effort to draw the kidnappers close. Sam is determined to clear his wife's name and bring her home, so he escapes the confines of his new job, and goes back to Europe to track down the group that is responsible.
 

Want, by Lynn Steger Strong

 

This short novel follows a year in the life of a private school teacher in Brooklyn who's trying to balance her marriage, two children, and full- and part-time work while struggling to make ends meet. An early pregnancy with complications while a graduate student with less-than standard health care benefits left her with a mounting debt that she and her husband have to meet with declaring bankruptcy. This still leaves them with student loan debt that isn't covered by bankruptcy procedures. This novel shows how difficult it is in the U.S. even for the most privileged and successful people when the social safety net has so many tears in it.

The Lion, by Nelson DeMille

 

Anti-Terrorism Task Force member John Corey races to catch Libyan terrorist Asad Khalil before Khalil kills him and commits another act of large scale terrorism.

Night fall, by Nelson DeMille

 

Anti-Terrorist Task Force member John Corey searches for the real cause of the TWA flight 800 disaster, following up on long-suppressed video footage of the event.

A big little life, by Dean Koontz

 

I really loved this account by Dean Koontz about his and his wife Gerda's adoption of Trixie, a highly-trained, three-year-old golden retriever who had to retire from a companion dog program because she had to have elbow surgery and wouldn't be able to reliably pull someone in a wheelchair to safety. Trixie was an extremely intelligent dog who made a significant impact on the lives of his adopted family and their friends. As someone who read a lot of Dean Koontz novels throughout the 1980s and 1990s, I really enjoyed reading this account of how he works (he treats writing like a job, 9-5), and how Trixie had an influence on the themes of several of his books. Like all good dog stories, this one has a sad ending, with Trixie succumbing to cancer. Reading this shortly after losing my dog Bailey to cancer was a bit cathartic, and I was surprised by how closely their cancer diagnoses paralleled each other.

Blue pills: A positive love story, by Frederik Peeters

 

In an exploration of my library's graphic narratives, I came across this 2001 account of a young man who falls for a young mother of a three-year-old, both of whom are HIV positive. The story is told in black and white ink drawings that clearly show the emotions they all feel as they come to terms with their situation. They go through a period of anxiety, concerned about transmission; they consult a doctor multiple times; they surmount the challenges of telling family and friends; finally, they come to an acceptance and peace with their lives. This is a touching, heartfelt, and introspective look at the challenges faced by HIV-positive people who want a "normal" life.

Rivethead: Tales from the assembly line, by Ben Hamper

 

I first learned about this book when my boss mentioned that he'd listened to a review of it (I believe on NPR, of which he was a big fan). I thought it was something that my dad would like, so I gave it to him for Christmas or his birthday that year. I later bought myself a paperback copy, but didn't get around to reading it until just this month, 30 years after I bought the book for my dad. 

Ben Hamper was the eldest child in a large family with an alcoholic father who was negligent and mostly absent. He struggled with his studies, and when he finished high school, he didn't have many options. After working a few jobs, he was hired by GM to work on the assembly line during the night shift (which is where all new hires were placed). This book is an account of the various jobs that Hamper had on the assembly line, how he was alternately laid off and then re-hired, the drugs and alcohol that he abused in and out of the workplace, and the various hi-jinks that he and others got up to at work. 

This is a fascinating look at work on an assembly line, although some of the tales he tells are so tall that I have to think that he's exaggerating for comedic effect. Hamper worked for many years on the assembly line until he developed a medical/psychological condition that led to his departure from GM. This book paints an informative picture of life at GM, working on an assembly line in the 1970s and 1980s, and life in Flint, Michigan, when the only game in town was GM.

Close encounters of the bovine: Recollections of a rural veterinarian, by Rosalie Cooper-Chase

 

When I was growing up, I was determined to become a veterinarian. After reading All things great and small, by James Herriot, I read every memoir by a veterinarian that I could find in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. These included both zoo and rural vets; I volunteered at the Pittsburgh Zoo, so the zoo vet memoirs were very interesting to me as well. I really enjoyed this account. Dr. Cooper-Chase worked primarily with cattle, horses, dogs, and cats, but this book focuses on her experiences with cattle. Many of the stories she recounts have to do with birthing difficulties, although some are about other common dangers. She shares her observations about the ranchers as well, and her stories show the wide variety of people who go into ranching. This book would be of interest to anyone interested in animals and their care.

Copycat, and a litter of other cats, by David Yow

 

This is a really fun collection of drawings by David Yow, otherwise known as the vocalist for the bands Scratch Acid and Jesus Lizard. Yow draws in his spare time, and he created this collection of cats, along with their pun-filled names. All of the cats in his drawings are named with a word or phrase that has the word cat in it. For example, the image of the cat named Catastrophe is of a cat sitting in front of a trophy labeled "1st prize Ass." The cat named Catholic is sitting in a cathedral with a bishop's mitre on his head. All of the images are cute and clever; it's very fun to look through, especially for cat lovers.

The perfect storm, by Sebastian Junger

 

I appreciated this account of the October 1991 storm that caused so much havoc and tragedy, later made into a film starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. I saw the film when it came out, and remember being so shocked by the tragic ending. I hadn't read the book, and since the film related the last moments of the people who died, I assumed most of the way through the film that they had been rescued. I bought the book not longer after having seen the film, but just got around to reading it now. It's a well-researched and compassionate account of the storm and how it affected so many: the fishermen, other boaters, rescue swimmers, and all of their families. The jobs these people do are so dangerous that it makes me question the ethics of supporting the fishing industry at all. Not to mention that one of the things that makes the job so dangerous is that they have to fish so far away from port because of centuries of over-fishing. A storm can brew in just days, but it takes a week to get from the fishing ground to a safe port, and sometimes it's just impossible. I know the money can be good, but do I really want people risking their lives so that I can have a swordfish steak at a restaurant? This is a very well-written and researched book; it's a shame Junger hasn't written many more long form non-fiction (I believe he only has one other).

Micro fiction, edited and introduced by Jerome Stern

 

Edited by Jerome Stern, a former Florida State University professor of English and popular culture, this is a fun collection of very short short stories (most with fewer than 250 words). These stories are culled from the thousands submitted to a short story contest that Stern oversaw for many years. Although short stories aren't my favorite form of fiction, I really enjoyed many of these. Some are funny, some sad, and some made me wonder what they were supposed to be about. Wha? 

Jerome Stern is also known for his short essays that he read on NPR published as Radios: Short takes on life and culture, which I read a few weeks ago.

Into the wild, by Jon Krakauer

 

I really enjoyed this book, although it's a very sad account of Chris McCandless' trek into the Alaskan wilderness and ultimate death. Author Jon Krakauer tries to make some sense of Chris' decision to spend the summer by himself in Alaska, but in the end, everyone is just guessing about his motivations. What is known is that Chris gave away all of his money after he graduated from Emory University, and took off on a two-year odyssey around the country, mostly in the west. He abandoned his car after a few months, and hitchhiked the rest of the way, working odd jobs to earn enough cash for the next leg of the journey. There isn't much that's known about these last two years of Chris' life, but the outlines have been pieced together by his diary, postcards that he sent to people he met along the way, and interviews. Krakauer bolsters these thin pickings with chapters that compare Chris' exploits with similar happenings in the past and with his own solo trek to climb Devils Thumb, a mountain in Alaska. It's a compelling story that left me with a lot of questions.

Another side of Bob Dylan, by Victor Maymudes and Jacob Maymudes

 

I picked this book up a few years ago at a Book Expo or ALA conference, and just got around to reading it. Based on recordings made by Victor Maymudes in the year or so before his death from an aneurysm, it tells about his years working with Bob Dylan at the beginning of Dylan's career and from the mid-80s to the late 90s. Interspersed with Victor's memories are recollections by his son Jacob, as Victor was never able to complete the memoir he was planning, and Jacob took up the challenge many years later. I found the book interesting as an account of what it was like to travel on road tours. It's a fast read and covers many years, so I think it's a worthwhile read if you're interested in popular music of the 60s and later. But I don't really think it shows us "another side of Bob Dylan," as the book doesn't share much that was not previously known. But it does reveal the lopsided relationship between these two men, one highly admired and holding the reins of power and money, and the other doing the admiring. I think that if Victor had lived and if he had a co-author or ghost writer who could really delve into the project and question him about his experiences with Dylan that this might have made a more valuable contribution to the history of Dylan, but without Victor's further input, the skeleton of the recordings that he left weren't substantial enough to provide significant insight. This is primarily a collection of anecdotes about work that Victor did for Dylan, not breaking new ground but still interesting. And neither men come away looking admirable.

The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt, by Michael G. Vann and Liz Clarke

 

I loved this graphic history of a time period that I don't know very much about: the French colonial period in Vietnam. The artwork is very well done, with a lot of detail. The book tells how the author became interested in the period and conducted his research. The book is organized into five parts, with the graphic history being the first part, followed by primary sources, historical contexts, the making of the book, and how to use it in the classroom. This is a very creative and enjoyable way to learn about and study history.