Couple of Good Ones from 2009

With two kids (3 and 5) and a job I haven't had a chance to read nearly as much as I'd like in the last couple years. That lack of time has made me far more selective in my reading.

I'm no book critic so I'll keep these descriptions short. Here are 2 I read in 2009 that I highly recommend. Trust me, these are a good read.

"The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. My younger brother Adam recommended this one to me. Adam is a voracious reader just like the rest of my family and his tastes run pretty unconventional. He has recommended some of the most memorable books over the years and this one is a stand-out. Anyone who thinks about religion, enjoys some science fiction, or just appreciates a brilliant story and characters will really enjoy this one. It's not a new book (was published in '96) but was new to me and a real pleasure to read. Get it.

"The Terror" by Dan Simmons. I discovered Dan Simmons writing about 15 years ago when I read his "Song of Kali". "Song of Kali" is a scary book set in some very memorable locations in India. It really left an impression on me (I've re-read it twice since then) and I've been a fan of Dan Simmons writing ever since. "The Terror" is about an English arctic expedition in 1845 to find the Northwest Passage. Really good period piece and one hell of a good read. This is a big book so not for the short-attention-span crowd. BTW, if you enjoy a scary story, "Song of Kali" is also excellent.

A Quick List

Just off the top of my head, a few favorites from the last year or two:

- Physics of the Impossible:  Michio Kaku
- Snow Crash:  Neal Stephenson
- Salem's Lot:  Stephen King
- The Grapes of Wrath:  John Steinbeck
- The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid:  Bill Bryson
- Where Rivers Change Direction:  Mark Spragg
- On Human Nature:  Edward O. Wilson
- Confederates in the Attic:  Tony Horwitz
- Wolves At Our Door - Jim and Jamie Dutcher

More to follow:

Rein

On Writing - Stephen King

This one was a recommendation from my ex wife Helje.  It's a deceptive title.  I probably would have never even thought of looking at, let alone buying and reading it.  King takes a look at his own life, his childhood, how his writing career started and took off.  It is by no means a textbook on the craft of writing.  He does throw in quite a few hints, rules, and recommendations on how to write a book.  But ........it's mixed in with his life story.  If you are thinking of writing a book, I would consider this book a must. 

It's an easy and quick read.  I think you'll enjoy it whether or not you're a Stephen King fan.  BTW - despite the weird and crazy stuff that has become his bread and butter, he comes across as a reasonably normal, easygoing, likable, and humble guy.

Rein

A Little Bit of History

“American Sketches” by Walter Isaacson. As one of my cohorts put it, “I’m no book critic.” So I’ll do my simple minded best to describe this one.

The book consists of a series of “Sketches” (as described by Isaacson), vignettes (my personal favorite terminology), excerpts from Biographies, Time Magazine articles, etc, that do a pretty damn good job of providing the reader with a glimpse of some really influential characters in American History. Folks like Ben Franklin, Tom Jefferson, Einstein, Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, The Clintons, Bill Gates, and….believe it or not a little bit on Woody Allen.

Isaacson paints these complex personalities for us rather cleverly through effective storytelling and very revealing quotes. Oh hell, my meager attempt to describe it just won’t do. So……..here is an example: A quote from one of Bill Clinton’s high school essays, “I am a living paradox – deeply religious, yet not as convinced of my exact beliefs as I ought to be; wanting responsibility yet shirking it; loving the truth but often giving way to falsity….I detest selfishness, but see it in the mirror every day.” Get the picture?

Most importantly……..I’m lazy and don’t care to read dozens and dozens of biographies and history books. In a few hundred pages I got a fantastic overview and…….. at the same time, insight into the lives of the some of the most influential figures in American History.