'The Flight of Gemma Hardy' by Margot Livesey

The Flight of Gemma Hardy, Margot Livesey (3.5)

The NYT review of this book was very positive and indicated it was an ‘homage’ to ‘Jane Eyre’.  Given that ‘Jane Eyre’ is one of my favorite books, I put it on my reading list.  While many things about this book were enchanting and well written, I found it to be less of homage than the exact plot with somewhat updated characters.  While the setting is 1950’s-1960’s Scotland, the basic plot was almost identical.  I think this has worked with some of Jane Austen’s classics as they were less plot-driven and more character/time studies.  ‘Jane Eyre’ has strong characters, but the plot is also strong and serves as a driver to bring out the characters’ strengths and flaws.  Gemma Hardy is as strong and independent as Jane.  She is very likable and resilient.  My biggest problem was that I knew her every move before she did it!  As most of my friends know, I love surprises – particularly in books and movies.  So I can recommend this as a very good story – but why read it if you could read ‘Jane Eyre’??

Book Club book - 'White Fang' by Jack London

White Fang, Jack London (4)

It likely comes as no surprise that the group gave this book a ‘4’ rating.  It is considered a classic for good reason. It is hard for one to pick the best Jack London book, but this is certainly a good place to start, particularly to experience the unique voice Mr. London has given to a wild creature. While we may never know if it is accurate, his vision of the world through the eyes of a wolf is fascinating. We all agreed that the most interesting scene and interpretation were of the newborn pup’s view of his world in the cave where he was born. He knows there are 3 hard dark walls and 1 wall of light, from which his father appears and disappears. Imagine his feeling when he eventually finds that wall of light is not hard like the other walls. We had only a few criticisms. Many of the group found it hard to read the gruesome scenes of dog/wolf fights and had no interest in going to the Great North in all its harshness, though we agreed these were all essential elements to understanding the tough life that made White Fang what he was.  Some of us (ok, mainly me) found the fact that a male wolf who only procreated at the very end quite odd. I chalked it up to Mr. London not wanting to sully our view of the protagonist! Also while everyone appreciated that White Fang eventually gets a loving home, we did find his use of ‘Love Master’ a bit over the top. Jack London writes an amazingly fast reading action story all from the view of a wild animal, pretty revolutionary for 1906.

'A Single Roll of the Dice, Obama's Diplomacy with Iran' by Trita Parsi

A Single Roll of the Dice, Obama’s Diplomacy with Iran, Trita Parsi (3.5)

Given the continuous news about the concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and pressure from Israel for the US to intervene, I was interested in reading more about the issue. Trita Parsi was a recent guest on ‘The Daily Show’ and this book sounded like a good place to start.  I often have mixed feelings when I read the detail behind political decisions our country has made.  The complexity of the situation is usually quite shocking and the details very hard to follow.  And as with most complex issues, there is no one right or wrong answer.  I think my main worry stems from a lack of faith that smart enough brains are involved to navigate us through the issue safely.  In this case, I was particularly suspicious of the Israeli lobby (who obviously have very strong emotions on the question of Iran’s nuclear position) and of our Congress’ ability to do anything but posture.  While I was glad to see cooler heads at the front of the decision making with regards to the US’s position (Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama), the pressure from all sides was remarkable.  Mr. Parsi interviewed 70 high-ranking officials from the US, Iran, Israel, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Brazil.  I found his reporting to be non-judgmental and balanced.  He did not appear to be as appalled as I was when I read about the nuclear capitulation that Iran delivered to President Bush in 2003. It was a ‘laundry list of policies that Iran was willing to discuss and amend’ and was ‘nothing short of an American wish list of everything that needed to change about Iran’.  Rumsfeld and Cheney roundly dismissed this proposal with ‘we don’t speak to evil’ and even the most hawkish are realizing that may have been a mistake.  The rest of the book delves deeply into the dual track strategy of diplomacy and sanctions, and the effects of both.  I found his conclusions or ‘next steps’ to be wise, though given that more sanctions are currently being threatened, I’m not sure anyone is following his proposed approach.

'2030' by Albert Brooks

2030, Albert Brooks (3.0)

The basic premise of this book is very interesting: what happens when cancer is cured, people live much longer and the population ages accordingly?  Albert Brooks looks at a possible future where the youth resent the ‘olds’ as a group that lives too long, no longer contributes, but has the voting power to keep all benefits for people their age.  How would youth react, given they can’t afford insurance, owe for their large college bills and overall appear working to pay for the care of the older citizens? Add to his premise, a major earthquake that decimates LA and you have the setting in ‘2030’.  My main issue with this book is that it’s an interesting premise, but it doesn’t seem to have a suitable resolution.  I felt a quick rush at the end to tie things up, but while the pace accelerated, the old vs young quandary remained.  Maybe I missed something? The other parallel story had to do with China’s involvement in rebuilding LA, which had an interesting path, but ignored the main issue of the aging population.

'Shadows in Flight' by Orson Scott Card

Shadows in Flight, Orson Scott Card (3.0)

While Orson Scott Card’s ‘Ender’s Game’ is a true Sci-Fi classic, I can officially say he is milking it for all it is worth.  The fact that I read this 237-page book in less than 4 hours show’s how little was actually in it.  As a continuation to the whole Ender’s series (the 11^th book??), it is more of a long chapter than a full book.  There is no doubt that Mr. Card has a very clever overall story with this series, but I was very disappointed in the brevity of plot in this installation.  It also ends with obvious room for the next chapter!  My other complaint is that, while having good long-term plot lines, his writing mechanics and style are just not comparable to really talented storywriters. I envied S. finishing Stephen King’s amazing prose in ‘11/22/63’. I’m not sure how long Mr. Card will milk the Ender families, but I’m not sure I have the patience for another short chapter.

'Then Again' by Diane Keaton

Then Again, Diane Keaton (3.5)

Of the various memoirs and autobiographies I’ve read recently, Diane Keaton’s stands out for two reasons. Firstly her focus is much more about her family, specifically her mother, with many passages from her mother’s journals included. Secondly, her humility and insecurities are a big theme and they are very believable. Many memoirs read as a who’s who and can be entertaining for that very reason.  While she give personal insights to some of her very famous co-stars in movies and life (Woody, Warren, Al), you are struck more by her focus on the every day challenges and her family relationships.  I found a lot of sensitivity in her telling of the loss of both her father and mother specifically what she regrets not having said.  As opposed to the usual Hollywood ‘tell-all’ this is a thoughtful love letter from daughter to mother.