'The Lincoln Highway' by Amor Towles

The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles (4.0)

I really enjoy Amor Towles’s characters, they are never all good or all bad, but at least one can be called ‘charming’. In this story the younger brother, Billy, gets to be the charming one. Throughout the book, the reader holds their breath so that nothing bad will occur to him. His innocence and belief in people were refreshing to read. Like the heroes in the book he carries with him, he and his brother, Emmett, are on a perilous journey. They meet interesting people, have companions join them and have obstacles put in their way. The ending was not quite what I expected, and I felt the book ended only part-way through the journey. I would have liked to have seen where Towles would take them. 

'The Old Ways' by Robert MacFarlane

 The Old Ways, Robert MacFarlane (2.5)

I liked the idea of this book a lot more than I liked reading it. A book describing a variety of walks, both the experience of the journey today and its history, sounds perfect. Unfortunately, I lost the story of each walk amongst the ornate language and liberal use of synonyms and metaphors. Good synonyms stand out to me, used every other sentence and I’m less appreciative. I did like the variety of paths and some of the characters the author meets were profoundly interesting. As with his previous book, there were nuggets of gold, but I was not keen on prospecting.

'This Tender Land' by William Kent Krueger

This Tender Land, William Kent Krueger (3.5)

It surprises me when a 400+ page book has an abrupt ending. I thought it was odd that my kindle was at 92%, but the story did not seem to be ending. Next thing I knew it wrapped up and I was reading the Epilogue! I can see why many people rated the book highly – likable characters being chased by despicable ones, racism of the times to bemoan, an interesting perilous journey and a whole lot of Americana thrown in along the way. The details related to the Depression were added well and appropriately heartbreaking. While I liked the storytelling, I found the book to be too long and a bit heavy handed with the messaging

'Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence' by Max Tegmark

 Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Max Tegmark (3.5)

Tough book to read – due to technical content, story-telling flow and disturbing matters to consider. I liked the thought provoking ‘what-if’ scenarios which included things I had not considered before, but I felt the narrative strayed in the middle of the book to where I questioned the points being made. The author is definitely a thoughtful expert on AI, it’s current state and all the possible ways AI can progress. I particularly liked the first and last 20% of the book and wish there could be a shorter version for most readers. He ends with a relatively positive outlook that describes how a large group of AI experts are currently working on a framework to keep AI safe going forward. And encourages us to all be ‘mindful optimists’ with a goal to own technology (since it is here to stay) and not let it own us.

'Recursion' by Blake Crouch

 Recursion, Blake Crouch (3.5)

Blake Crouch consistently blows my mind. In ‘Dark Matter’, that was a great thing, in this book it was not as good. He gets full marks for creativity and his writing is generally excellent. The fault I found here is the same as what drives my intolerance for the movie, ‘Ground Hog Day’, I find repeated timelines can be boring. His multiple timelines in ‘Dark Matter’ were like multiple existences, here it is more about changing memories by traveling back in time. I did like the social and personal issues brought up with these concepts, but I was bored and depressed though much of the book. 

'The Fifth Season' by N. K. Jemison

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth #1), N. K. Jemison (4.5)

It’s worth noting that this trilogy won the prestigious Hugo award for each of the 3 years a book was released. I can definitely see why the first one won and look forward to reading the other two. Ms. Jemison has created a unique world where seismic activity drives the lives of the inhabitants. Major earthquakes occur that wipe out nearly all civilization (the ‘seasons’). There is a group of humans (Orogenes) with powers to control the planet’s movement What is most interesting is that they do not run the world, they are the workers who attempt to keep it in control but are held in check by the Guardians. The social dynamics and messaging in this book are as clever as the world building. I find it refreshing to read something so different (what, no dragons, elves or dwarves in a fantasy book??) that puts our worlds issues in a different light. Very thought provoking! To top that the characters are amazing and how they interrelate is surprising without being gimmicky. 

'The Tribe of TIger: Cats and Their Culture' by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and Their Culture, Elizabeth Marshall Thomas (4.0)

This is a great book for all cat lovers. It was written years ago, but still has amazing insight to behaviors of all types of cats and how they are related. I particularly enjoyed the many examples of behavior in the wild and in the home- including the behavior of a wild panther in a home! Also interesting was the difference in behavior of wild cats she witnessed among bush tribes versus more recent animals in preserves. The cats appeared to communicate more directly when they lived amongst the bushmen, potentially a more symbiotic relationship. Her view on circus cats vs zoo cats is very interesting and probably controversial. While we may never know what cats are thinking, the author uses many examples to point to reasons for their actions.

'The Moth and the Mountain' by Ed Caesar

The Moth and the Mountain, Ed Caesar (3.0)

I enjoyed the history and love the adventure but am loath to give more attention to the main character. He reminded me of a recent narcissistic politician who plays loose with the truth if it means getting more attention. What a nutter. It’s crazy to hear that someone was so misguided to believe they could fly from Britain to Nepal (in the 1930’s and he had never flown a plane before), land on the side of Mt. Everest and climb to the summit alone (with no climbing experience)! A few groups had tried, but this was prior to Hillary and Tanguy’s successful trip. Again – a nutter filled with hubris. Oh, to top it off, he had to engage in subterfuge as the sane civil servants of Britain, India and Nepal were on the lookout for this crazy person with a death wish. The writer did a good job researching his journey, though had more compassion for him than I did.

'Once Upon a River' by Diane Setterfield

Once Upon a River, Diane Setterfield (3.5)

A unique, interesting book that dances between mysticism and science. My biggest complaint is that it didn’t seem to know what it wanted to be. It is set on a made-up Thames-like river in rural England in the 1800’s. The action begins on a dreary night when a stranger shows up at the local inn with a drowned girl in his arms. Later the girl comes back to life and several parties insist she is their missing daughter/sister. Setterfield has come up with clever ways by which the truth cannot be known and the girl cannot speak. Has the girl come back from the dead? What happened between in the years she was gone? Interesting characters are introduced as the mystery unfolds. I particularly liked the village nurse, who brings a certainty with science. While she continues to find scientific explanations to the unexplained, a few things stay mystic, which I found inconsistent. But the storytelling is good, and many other readers have found this charming. 

'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (4.0)

Similar to ‘Klara and the Sun’, this earlier Ishiguro novel explores the existence and feelings of something outside our current world. Set mostly in what appears to be an upper-class boarding school in rural England, we follow the three main characters into adulthood. There are clues to what makes them unique seeded throughout the story and their quest to understand more becomes the plot. As with his later book, Ishiguro takes an ethical choice based on new technology and examines its effect on society, but even more so on individuals. The movie of the same name is also compelling. Both are best seen and read without knowing more about the main conceit.

'Bullet Train' by Kotaro Isaka

Bullet Train, Kotaro Isaka (2.5)

As the title implies, the story here mainly occurs on a Shinkansen bullet train in Japan. There are numerous hit men and nefarious characters aboard with seemingly different objectives that become more and more intertwined. Oddly the concept of this book was better for me than the actual writing. There were a couple of high points – but they were intermittent and inconsistent. A couple characters would speak or act interestingly, but then would either become boring or be one-dimensional. Throughout the book I wanted to like it more and found it hard to define exactly what was missing. I was really perplexed in hearing that this will be a movie starring Brad Pitt – more perplexed when I heard he was playing a under 30 year-old character. Now that will be acting!

'The Premonition: a Pandemic Story' by Michael Lewis

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story, Michael Lewis (4.0)

I was worried that this book would be ‘too soon’ and lay too much of the blame of our nation’s inadequate COVID response at Trump’s door, which may be true, but not interesting to read. I was pleased that the moral was more interesting. Sadly, it was much more concerning for the future. In reviewing the U.S. federal health care system’s processes and preparation for potential pandemics, Mr. Lewis covers from the CDC to individual County Health Care Officers across several health emergencies. It’s not a spoiler to say the CDC does not come out looking good. The lack of synergy between all the organizations and overall lack of federal leadership is frightening. As with most Michael Lewis’ books, the writing is good, and the pages turn quickly.

'Verity' by Colleen Hoover

Verity, Colleen Hoover (3.0)

While I enjoyed parts of this book, I found it a bit too much like ‘Gone Girl’ (i.e. unreliable narrator). Reading other reviews, the majority quite high, I’m surprised at how many people were flabbergasted by the ending. I found it more interesting to figure out which type of twist the story would take – since there were several possible given the clues. Since it was so dark, I had imagined an even darker ending. The writing was good, and the plot moved along quickly. Sadly, the story is very disturbing on many levels – even the author wrote in the acknowledgements that she did not want her husband or children to read it. If you liked ‘Gone Girl’ or ‘Girl on a Train’, you will definitely enjoy this book- I do consider it somewhat better than both of those.

'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins

The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins (4.0)

Once again, the father of the detective novel has delivered a page-turner. I think of Collins as ‘Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie’- the good detective whodonnit set in the very proper, upper class of the 1800s. He was famously friends with Charles Dickens. In addition to a good mystery, the book is told from the perspective of several characters via their letters, diaries or requested notes. The Moonstone is a valuable, ancient Indian diamond stolen from India and bequeathed to a young English Lady on her 18th birthday. Unfortunately, three Indians have made it their life’s work to retrieve the diamond. It disappears from her room after her party and, since the house was sealed from the outside, the guests staying in the house are suspected. Nothing is simple or obvious in this mystery – some clues are given, but the outcome unfolds like an onion with each layer being quite surprising. Not surprising for the mid 1800s, but still off-putting were the descriptions of the ‘Hindoo’s’ and anyone else of color. I also found the old servant’s repeated description of most women (albeit not his charge, Miss Rachel) quite misogynistic and really annoying. Given those complaints, a point was deducted (apologies – too much Olympics).

'Call for the Dead, A Murder of Quality, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold' by John Le Carre

 Call for the Dead, A Murder of Quality, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, John Le Carre (4.0)

Three of Le Carre’s first novels introducing his reluctant hero, George Smiley, are included in this book. The third is the most famous, was made into a movie and pushed Le Carre into the world stage. The first two read more similarly to traditional ‘whodonnits’: murder, obvious suspects, handful of confusing clues and interesting results. George Smiley is introduced as an unlikely detective. He is a mousey, unkempt, bookish man, recently retired from Britain’s Secret Service. He tends to partner with a local policeman and uses his understanding of society and individuals to solve the murders. I enjoyed the first two books as pure murder mysteries, but the third is definitely something unique: a slow, intellectual, spy thriller with little action and lots of plot. The majority of the book is spent setting up an elaborate sting of a supposed East German spy. Until the end the reader is trying to understand who is really stinging whom. The movie with Richard Burton is also quite amazing.  In this book Smiley is a side character, but others from the earlier two books reappear. My only complaint about the books is the obvious anti-Semitism, particularly in the first book. It was written in 1961 with parts occurring both before and after WWII. He may have purposefully written the slights, but it was jarring to come from non-Nazi characters.

'The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race' by Walter Isaacson

 The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race, Walter Isaacson (4.0)

As with all the Isaacson books I have read, this book highlights the life and career of someone quite remarkable. While Jennifer Doudna is arguably less controversial than Steve Jobs or Leonardo Di Vinci, her main subject (CRISPR gene altering tools) drives important discussions in evolution and ethics. The book has a lot of science and could be difficult to read for those not familiar, but Isaacson does a good job of simplifying (i.e. core of CRISPR: ‘small snippet of RNA that acts as a guide and an enzyme that acts as a scissors’). The ‘how’ is complicated, but you can understand that if one can insert the RNA guide to cut a portion of the DNA helix, we can change our genes. Not controversial when it comes to obvious diseases, very controversial when it comes to ‘designer babies’, choosing height, sex, intelligence, etc. The book follows all the people working on the technology and highlights the competition for patents, credit of discovery and even businesses.  I appreciated that the author did not feed the stereotype that scientists compete to the point of losing their integrity. While the main actors in this story are very competitive, he has humanized them all and tended to give them good intentions, for the most part. That is refreshing in today’s media environment of ‘if it bleeds it leads’ on steroids. It would have been easy to stoke the paranoia and make the legal issues even more contentious. I was disappointed in the COVID section at the end, possibly due to the speed at which the science is moving, but it was not clear to me how CRISPR actually contributed. Tests were developed – but where did they end up being used? I remember a very long time over 2020 where the tests were not prevalent and not accurate.

'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffennegger

 The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffennegger (3.5)

I first read this book in the early 2000’s and was captivated by the plot. The idea of a man who travels back and forth through his own life made for fascinating ‘what if’ scenarios. This time I was a bit less enthralled (older, more critical, or just less novelty the second time around?). I still enjoyed the puzzle – if an older Henry meets a younger Henry in a scene, what portends when we get to the later part of the book? I also found the love story touching, if not totally believable. Interesting that the idea of older Henry visiting his future wife as a child is fine in the book, but creepy in the movie. The questions of how one behaves if we know our future, how you can appreciate the time you do have together, and how we make choices knowing what we know are very interesting and thought provoking. I also liked how the author considers the ability to travel through time as an evolutionary change in humans – a condition, not something one does with a machine. Oddly that premise made it easier to ignore the issues with physics. Sadly, upon this recent reading the secondary characters don’t hold up well. They are very stereotypical of their ethnicity and/or culture. While I would have given this a ‘4’ in 2005, given my more critical older eyes, it rates a ‘3.5’.

'Entangled Life: How Fungi Make our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures' by Merlin Sheldrake

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures, Merlin Sheldrake (3.0)

This book is filled with many eye-opening facts about Fungi and their relationships with plants and animals. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on truffles and how they have evolved a desirable scent in order to procreate. Since they are buried deep at a plant’s roots, their odor needs to be strong enough for a pig or dog to find it, eat it and defecate farther away for it to spread it’s ‘genes’. Also, interesting that the symbiotic relationship of the truffle with the plant is too complex for farmers to replicate, hence there are no real cultivated truffles! Mr. Sheldrake does a good job of describing the vastness of fungi (2.2-3.8 million species) and their complexities. I did find the book was a little redundant at times and didn’t hold my interest through all the chapters. If you are at all interested in the largest Kingdom, you will likely find this book interesting.

'Words of Radiance' by Brandon Sanderson

 

Words of Radiance, Brandon Sanderson (4.5)

At 1500 pages, this is one of the longest books I’ve read in a while, my only complaint is that it ended in the middle of the climatic battle! Apparently, there are 10 books planned in this series, with 4 already written.  This book is very interesting with a lot of movement of the plot and further character development. It’s hard to come up with new ideas in the fantasy/world building genre, but Mr. Sanderson has done just that. While the first book in the series could have easily been 200-300 pages shorter, this volume didn’t waste any pages- lots of action and forwarding of the story as the main characters find out more and more about what changes are happening in themselves and in their world. I don’t think you can skip the first book, but for those interested in a refreshing fantasy book with new concepts, this series is one of the best.

'Shadow and Bone' by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo (3.0)

I recently read a review of a Netflix series set in Ms. Bardugo’s Grishaverse, the world she has created with several books. This is the first book in that series and name of the show. The review mentioned two stories told concurrently. I didn’t realize it when starting, but this book follows the more predictable story: homely orphan has crazy powers (though doesn’t know it), falls into a love triangle (with her childhood friend and the dark, powerful head of the witch-like Grisha’s – both ridiculously good looking, of course), and is the only one who can save their world. Sounds familiar? I did find the writing fast paced and the world-building was interesting. Some of the magic concepts were quite unique. Sadly, much of the time I felt I was reading a Harlequin romance, predictable and manipulative. Apparently, the other storyline follows ‘Six of Crows’ and per that reviewer, has a more unique plot based on the group trying to kidnap the heroine of this book. 

'Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age' by Annalee Newitz

 

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, Annalee Newitz (3.0)

I liked the idea of this book more than the book itself. Looking at the history of the demise of 4 ancient cities with the idea of relating that to today’s cities and possible futures was intriguing. I had heard of two of the cities (Pompeii and Angkor), but was shocked to learn about Cahokia, the 1st century American Indian city with over 30,000 people at one point – which lies just across from St. Louis and was designated a National Historic Landmark before I was born! And I had never heard of it!  The fourth, Catalhoyuk, was the oldest, a city in Turkey ~9000 BCE. While I enjoyed learning more about these cities, their main linkage seemed to be that they were all deemed to be ‘lost’ (mainly by Europeans who happened to find them), though were far from it. Except for Pompeii getting covered in ash, the others faded away over centuries and were well known to those in the area, i.e. never lost. Also, I was not convinced that the author’s thesis held up through all four. Was their downfall ‘managing an enormous piece of human built infrastructure in a constantly changing environment’? And given what is happening with politics and climate now, are we headed for global urban abandonment? The argument was not convincing to me.

'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro

Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro (4.0)

I find it interesting that the same author of ‘Remains of the Day’ wrote this book about an AF, a robotic artificial friend for young people. Though if you have read any of Ishiguro-san’s books, you realize he writes more about the characters and their motivations than the plot. I liked that this novel is told from the perspective of Klara, the AI. Looking through her innocence adds another filter to the reader’s understanding of this new world, which makes it more puzzling and interesting. We are introduced to Klara’s life in the store, as she and the other AFs wait to be chosen by some lucky child. From the start, we realize that Klara is ‘special’ in that she appears to observe more around her than her peers. As she shares her insights throughout the story, sometimes they will be surprising to the reader. I liked that we are at our own disadvantage since we don’t know exactly what has changed in this version of our future. Once she is chosen and goes home with a family, we slowly get more information through her observations. I won’t reveal these as I believe much of the joy of reading this book is that journey with Klara.

'Just Mercy' by Bryan Stevenson

 Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson (4.5)

This is a very moving and very sad retelling of Mr. Stevenson’s experiences as a lawyer helping death row prisoners and children held for life without parole. Many of us realize that whether you agree with the death penalty as an effective punishment/deterrent, there is plenty of evidence that it has not been administered fairly. It’s still shocking to hear how bad the ‘justice’ was for Walter, the man on death row who dominates the book. The casual way the judge and prosecutors ignore the hundreds of people who were with Walter at a party when the alleged murder takes place; the fact that the only eye witness can’t identify Walter and is completely unreliable; the lack of evidence and motive; all these and more leave the reader astonished and incredulous. As much as I felt for the innocence of Walter, the imprisoning children who have done the crime for their life without parole was even more disturbing. While it certainly was not pleasant to read, it is important for us all to recognize that these are not issues limited to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, but still happen and Mr. Stevenson continues to fight for these injustices. This book is very thoughtful and thought provoking. 

'Attack Surface' by Cory Doctorow

Attack Surface, Cory Doctorow (4.0)

Cory Doctorow has done it again – he has such a way of taking something I know to be true, and creating a page turning story that informs and scares at the same time. As the second follow-on book to ‘Little Brother’, I think it carries the torch well. He follows a secondary character pursue contract cybersecurity somewhat in parallel to ‘Homeland’, the second book in the series. As usual, the pace is frenetic, and the technology spins one’s mind. I try to slow down my reading to catch all the nuances, but the writing does not encourage that! As with most of his books, some characters are a bit one-dimensional, but I read Doctorow for the imaginative plot and thoughtful message. This delivers both. In the dedication and ‘Afterwords’ it is clear how close this book is to reality and Doctorow strikes an alarm that we should all heed.

'The Secret Lives of Color' by Kassia St. Clair and 'A Wrinkle in Time' trilogy by Madeleine L'Engle

 The Secret Lives of Color, Kassia St. Clair (3.5)

This book is an encyclopedia of color with 2-3 pages devoted to the history of ~60 important colors. Each major section covers the broad categories (reds, greens, whites, etc.) including their general significance and metaphorical meanings over the years. Included are those colors that are no longer with us due to availability and often toxicity and those still being used today. The delight in the book is in the discovery, such as: since Orange is so important in Dutch culture, why isn’t their flag orange? Also: there is a color called Mummy that actually came from bitumen in Egyptian mummies! This is not a page turner but can be picked up intermittently and enjoyed. It’s not just for painters, though certainly would be appreciated by any painters in your life. Not surprisingly, I recommend reading this in color as it doesn’t work on a black and white e-book.

A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Madeleine L’Engle (4.0)

Having read and enjoyed this trilogy as a child, I decided to reread it as an adult to remind myself of the wonder I felt upon first reading it. Having said that, my review of ‘4’ is based the first read. These books have many unique ideas that are mind opening as a youngster. Some of the faults of the book (one dimensional characters, religious overtones and repetition) were plainer to me as an adult, at this point less surprised by the plot. I like the strong-willed protagonist, Meg, who has typical young adult doubts about her abilities. Also, the idea of a family of scientists with greater purpose is always a crowd-pleaser in my house. My favorite character is Charles Wallace. Who doesn’t love a ridiculously smart younger brother with great dialogue who’s always watching out for the older sister? As far as the plot goes, Meg and Charles Wallace go on an adventure to find their father, with the help of three ‘witches’. That’s all I’ll say as it’s best experienced firsthand without spoilers. While there are more options these days, this book was an important example of a smart girl leading the adventure, something rare in the 60’s and 70’s for young girls to read.

'A Promised Land' by Barack Obama

A Promised Land, Barack Obama (4.5)

What a joy to read a book written by a politician who is thoughtful, knowledgeable and not particularly cynical!  I appreciated the insight given to understand major decisions and initiatives. The book is quite long and mainly covers his first presidential election and the first three years in office. I didn’t feel he covered too many topics, but he does give a lot of background to each. This was sometimes helpful and sometimes I could go through it quickly. For example, in order to understand our issues with Iran, he goes back to pre-Khomeini and walks the reader through their history with many of the major players highlighted. I had read a review of the book that said the book was not personal enough. I disagree – I was surprised how often he talked about how he really felt and about his family and friends. Always the gentleman, he was quite gracious about those he worked with or against- a little chippy when he pointed out that Sarkozy wears ‘lifts’ – but mostly gracious. I also liked that his digs at Trump were relatively subtle and mostly highlighted by the comparisons the reader will make. I believe this book shows why someone should pursue a government job and by example shows how it’s possible to remember than while deep in the muck.