What are you reading the week of September 9, 2023?

I'm reading The Day the Rabbi Resigned, but it is tough going. Was out with friends this evening, so very late (or early) start to this week's thread.

Alternating between The Making of the Middle Sea and The Archive Undying; the second is not impressing me.

Switched to Spomenik Monument Database as something of a palate cleanser.

I finally finished The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and it was amazing.

Now I'm reading Gangster Nation by Tod Goldberg. He's going to be here next week promoting the final book in the series so I thought I should get on #2.

I'm awaiting the arrival of my interlibrary request for Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders and in the meantime working my way through a few of my "between books" and doing the reading for the Latin American History I class that I'm auditing at Columbia this fall.

I seem to be reading slowly of late. I finally finished Oblomov, which presents a variety of approaches to life. The enticement of leisure, day dreams, and peace rules the life of Oblomov while his friend Stolz revels in work and engagement. A comparable contrast is presented between the intelligent Olga and the self-sacrificing Agafya. I found it an enchanting tale which empathetically accepted each approach.

started this audio via hoopla ~

The Bodyguard
by Katherine Center

Got halfway through Violets are Blue while I was at the auto mechanic yesterday, and also reading The Neverending Story for this month's SFFKit challenge. Either one of them I plan to finish this week.

The Daughters of Juárez – Teresa Rodríguez
4****

Subtitle: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border.

Beginning in 1993, the residents of Juárez, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, became aware of a disturbing frequency of murders of young women. The women were mostly young, slender, and with long hair. They disappeared in broad daylight, from bus stops or while walking home from their jobs in factories or downtown shops. Their bodies were typically found in the surrounding desert, usually days or weeks after they disappeared, with the result that there was little evidence remaining. And yet the families claimed that authorities took the murders too lightly.

Investigators bungled or just ignored standard procedures, failed to collect and secure (or just lost or destroyed) key evidence, and relied on torture of random suspects to secure “confessions” and clear the dockets. The continued murders attracted international attention, but despite heightened scrutiny the crimes and lack of prosecution continued.

Journalist Teresa Rodríguez was a reporter for Univision and spent considerable time in the area interviewing families, suspects, prosecutors and police officials (when allowed to). This is her report of the time up to about 2005. It’s well researched and the story is presented in a manner that is easy to absorb, however distressing the subject.

Some estimate that at least 350 women were murdered between 1993 and 2005. It seems that the machismo culture put little value on these women. But Rodríguez makes it clear that there was considerable corruption and/or ineptitude among authorities. The most disturbing thing to me is that the book leaves the reader with more questions than answers.

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon – James Norbury
4****

”Which is more important,” asked Big Panda, “the journey or the destination?”
“The company,” said Tiny Dragon

And so, two unlikely friends set off on a journey of discovery. They have no specific plan and go where life leads them over the course of four seasons. Sometimes they are certain they are lost, but then they realize that they might not have had a particular experience or seen a certain sight if they hadn’t been ‘lost.’ They enjoy the beauty of nature and open their minds to new experiences. They learn to rely on each other. At times the journey is difficult – they are cold or wet or hungry. They ponder some serious philosophical questions, and carefully observe how others endure. “Even a damaged tree can produce beautiful blossoms.”

The story is told through Norbury’s wonderful drawings and the pair’s quiet conversations. There were times when I just sat and looked at one of those drawings and let my mind take me where it wanted. How refreshing!

”Are we nearly there yet?” asked Tiny Dragon.
Big Panda smiled. “I hope not.”

Fortune and Glory
Janet Evanovich
3/5 stars
Stephanie is back! However, her grandmother's new husband, Jimmy Roselli died on their wedding night and leaving a hidden fortune. Stephanie and her grandmother are now searching for the money along with his several others and Gabriela Rose, a soldier of fortune. Will they find it before anyone else does?

They Called Us Enemy – George Takei
Co-authors: Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott
Illustrated by Harmony Becker
4****

George Takei, best known as Lt Hikaru Sulu, science officer aboard the Spaceship Enterprise, recalls his childhood growing up in an internment camp after the US government required that even US-born persons of Japanese ancestry be treated as “enemy” during World War II.

George was young and his parents tried to shelter him and his siblings from the realities. They shouldered the burdens and tried to give their children a sense of community and security despite the conditions they endured. George’s father, in particular, took a leadership role within the camps where they were assigned, leading work crews to help improve conditions, ensuring schooling for the children, and even organizing entertainment. But as George grew into his teens, he came to realize how degrading this treatment was. He lashed out at what he viewed as his parents’ passivity; he wanted anger and rebellion. Over time, he came to understand his parents’ decisions and he found that he could draw upon his childhood experiences and lead efforts to inform Americans about the policies of the US during that period.

I found the graphic novel format really engaging and accessible. Becker’s illustrations were excellent; not too dark so it was still easy to read the text. The facial expressions she gave the characters really helped to convey the emotions they were feeling.

>12 BookConcierge: Such a good book!

I'm reading The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey. It's the 4th book in the Perveen Mistry series and I'm enjoying it.

I know, I know, I'm reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I know exactly what you're thinking, but to finish the series has been in my to-read pile for MONTHS. I've just never gotten to it (partially because of summer, partially because of other books for school) but I'm finally getting around to it. So yeah, that's my book update.

John Hughes: A Life in Film: The Genius Behind Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, and more
Kirk Honeycutt
4/5 stars
Kirk Honeycutt recaps and discusses the films of John Hughes. This book does also talk about his life but not in an in-depth way. I enjoyed it.

Her Last Flight – Beatriz Williams
Book on CD performed by Cassandra Campbell
3.5***

Adapted from the book jacket: In 1947, photojournalist Janey Everett arrives at a surfing village on Kauai, Hawaii to research a planned biography of aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who never returned from the Spanish Civil War. Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s great unsolved mysteries.

My reactions:
For some reason I thought this book was going to actually be a fictionalized story of Amelia Earhart. (Obviously, I never read the book jacket or reviews before opening the book.) Well, it isn’t that, but Earhart’s own story (and disappearance) certainly influence this novel.

Once again, the author uses the now typical dual timeline for this work of historical fiction. Of course, both timelines are historical: 1947 and 1937. As Janey wiggles her way into Lindquist’s world and tries to earn her trust, Irene reflects on her own memories of meeting Sam Mallory, flying with him, and both their disappearances. As the stories unfold, the reader comes to learn more about both these women: their hopes, dreams, joys and sorrows.

There are more than a few surprises in store – for Janey, and for the reader.

Although I’ve come to dislike the dual timeline so popular in historical fiction, Williams handles it very well in this case. And it did serve to heighten interest and intrigue. I couldn’t help but try to fit the puzzle together, but I was as surprised as Janey to learn the full truth of the story.

Cassandra Campbell has become one of my favorite audiobook narrators. She does a stellar job of performing the audio version.

I finished the LTER book Making the Low Notes. As the author carefully points out, this is a memoir focusing on his life in the music business, playing the bass in jazz groups, gigs, and musicals. It provides interesting insights into the life of a musician both on and off stage.

Less – Andrew Sean Greer
3***

Novelist Arthur Less is almost fifty and can’t seem to get his writing mojo back. He is lost on life’s journey, feeling sad, lonely, and dejected. His latest work is not being accepted for publication, and now his recent ex-boyfriend is getting married! So, Arthur does the logical thing. He runs away from his troubles by accepting every invitation to speak at a variety of odd events. Doing so, he’ll be able to spend some time going around the world and avoiding Freddy’s wedding, and his birthday.

This won the Pulitzer for fiction and I’m not sure why. I never warmed to Arthur. I couldn’t relate to his depression and fear about turning fifty. And I thought the ending was just too pat. There were episodes in Arthur’s journey that tickled me: his attempt at teaching a seminar in Germany with his very poor rudimentary German, the camel ride in Morocco, and the dinners in Japan. Greer’s depictions of these settings and events were quite entertaining.

Such episodes kept me reading, but it’s not a prize-winner in my opinion.

Going on a trip with my siblings and my internet access is going to be limited.

The reading for next week is He Who Drowned the World, Fire and Steel, Italy 1636.

>18 BookConcierge: My wife read Less for her book group and had about the same reaction you did.

The new thread is up over here.