'The Downhill Lie' by Carl Hiaasen

The Downhill Lie, Carl Hiaasen (3.0)

As usual, Mr. Hiaasen writes with plenty of humor. Unlike his other books, this is a bit of a memoir about his return to golf. It’s a short, funny, completely golf related book. If you golf, you have likely been frustrated with the game and will appreciate his experience. His journey to be a better golfer will resonate with all of us who have done all the recommended things: get lessons; try the newest club, the newest balls, and then the next newest club/ball. All while failing miserably, though having one good hole amongst 9 and trying it all over again. If you play golf (I won’t say ‘like’), you’ll enjoy this book. If not, I’d recommend one of his fiction books.

'Equations of Life: How Physics Shapes Evolution' by Charles S. Cockell

Equations of Life: How Physics Shapes Evolution, Charles S. Cockell (3.0)

This book started off very slowly for me, but I did enjoy the last 1/3. I think the problem was that many of my questions about the author’s assumptions weren’t answered until the last few chapters. A major assumption of physicists is that all elements and the rules of physics work the same in all possible universes. Mr. Cockell chapter by chapter discusses theories of why, if life does emerge elsewhere, it will likely have some similarities to life on earth. He uses physics, chemistry and biology to discuss in detail how our life works from its inception through evolution. Given what we currently know of other planets’ environments, he looks at the possibility of other combinations to form life. My favorite sections were ones that covered favorite science fiction tropes (i.e. would lower gravity allow aliens to fly?). While it’s hard not to like a science book that discusses the possibility of alien life, I found the majority of the first half of the book rather ‘ho hum’. Perhaps it would appeal to someone less familiar with the physics and biology covered.

'The Devil and Miss Prym' by Paolo Cuelho

The Devil and Miss Prym, Paolo Cuelho (4.0)

I really enjoyed this short, thought provoking book. It reminded me of Jose Saramago’s style, though with easier to read prose. Cuelho investigates good and bad influences on humanity with the direct interference of the devil and his counterpart on a small village in the French Pyrenees. The devil uses a distraught stranger to infiltrate the village and offer a proposition: gold bars that will insure the villagers’ future for the death of one member of their group. The stranger wants to prove that life is as bad as he feels and believes the villagers will accept the deal. They can ‘pick anyone, even someone close to death already’. The scenario is complicated as the stranger first explains the deal to Miss Prym, who will get one bar for bringing the deal to the village. Success, change, family, and the meaning of happiness are all discussed and argued. The reader follows the transition through greed and fear through Miss Prym, the reluctant protagonist. The ending is a bit amorphous; which oddly didn’t bother me.

'Educated: A Memoir' by Tara Westover

Educated: A Memoir, Tara Westover (3.0)

I had a hard time concocting a review for this book. When asked whether I liked it, my gut reaction is ‘no’, though I have few words to describe why. My fellow book club readers mostly found it enthralling and applauded the strength the author showed throughout her survival.  While I still cannot account for my discomfort with the book, I do recognize a feeling of ‘bait and switch’ and lots of uncertainty. The book is touted as a memoir of a woman who grew up in a Mormon survivalist family in Idaho. She didn’t go to school or get professional medical care, but she managed to go to college and get her PhD. Unfortunately, the bottom line is this is a story of abuse, both mental and physical. While difficult to read, the value of a memoir is hearing about the events from someone who lived them. In this case, the author’s family disputes the events as told by Ms. Westover. I believe she is giving an accurate telling of things as she experienced them, but that didn’t help the story for me. Her doubts after the fact as to major aspects made things confusing and didn’t feel necessary. I also had a feeling some things were exaggerated in hindsight (e.g. the lack of home schooling and the extent of some of the medical emergencies). Lastly, the author is still quite young and obviously conflicted about her current situation with regards to her family. I don’t like to be negative, but the satisfaction the reader wants of knowing she ‘survived’ is possibly premature. While I believe part of her healing is writing this memoir, I would have liked to read it later in her life.

'Assembling California' by John McPhee

Assembling California, John McPhee (3.5)

This is my first John McPhee book and I can say the author does not talk down to his audience. If anything, I would have enjoyed a Geology textbook or glossary next to me for the majority of the book. Written in 1993, this is the fourth in a series of books that follow McPhee as he pairs with geologists to understand the history of our land formations. In this section, he focuses on California’s various famous geographies from the gold rush to wine country to the central valley to the San Andreas group of faults. He diverts to the Greek island of Cyprus and the Himalayas, but mainly stays within our California borders. I got lost during some of the heavy geology discussions, but was mesmerized by the last chapter – a step-by-step description of the Loma Prieta earthquake from start to finish meshing what was going on to those of us above ground to what was happening miles below the surface. For someone who experienced it firsthand, I appreciated the look back at how it happened.