American Pastoral, Philip Roth

American Pastoral by Philip Roth is a Pulitzer prize winner that was on a list of books that should be read.

Started: 8/20/2019

Completed: 8/26/2019

Recommendation: Not Recommended

Recommended By:  A list of top books to read before you die

Review:

The author does a great job of contrast throughout the book.  For example after envisioning the scene of a rape, the author offers a contrasting view of the innocence of the woman as a young child, "[a] body that looks quickly put on after having been freshly ironed--no folds anywhere."

Having said that, while the author pursues great detail in some areas, far too many lines of the story are left entirely disjoint and one repeatedly wonders to what extent the story would be true to the characters themselves.  This is a literary device in two ways:  the story is non-linear and it is a projection of the narrator's opinion of other characters motives.  This makes it a story within a story and seems to be the narrator's collection of theories offered in a disorganized matter.  To my mind, this detracts from the story itself and lessons the value of the book to me, though it may increase the literature value.

The person who read the book (I listened to an audio version), Ron Silver, did an excellent job of interpreting the patois of the male Jewish narrator and really made the book seem like it was being told rather than read.  He did an excellent job.

In the end, I read books for enjoyment.  I like to be immersed in the story.  Even a difficult story can be immersive.  While I also like the way a story is told, I am not fond of literary style for its own sake.  As a result, I did not find this book and found myself frequently isolated from the narrative as I tried to figure out what was happening (not understanding a complex series of events as in a mystery, which can be enjoyable, but trying to find some link to associate events which seemed displaced in time and place without any help from the narrator).  I cannot recommend this book.

Altered Carbon, Richard Morgan

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan is a book recommended from one of the top 10 lists.

Started: 8/13/2019

Completed: 8/20/2019

Recommendation: Not Recommended

Recommended By:  A top ten list

Review:

This book is almost explicitly erotic.  It is also enormously violent.  I like the concepts, but did not like the material in the story line.  It is not my style and I did not enjoy it.

I have to admit that the concept of being downloaded into a body and calling that body a "sleeve" was a really good idea.  I also liked some of the descriptions and the use of language.  All in all, however, I cannot in good conscious recommend this book.

Uprooted, Naomi Novik

Uprooted by Naomi Novik has been on my list for quite a few years (ever since reading His Majesty's Dragon).  It seems likely that a television series based on this book and its sequel are in the works.

Started:  8/5/2019
Completed: 8/11/2019
Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Recommended By:  Nobody

Review:

What a wonderful read!  Really enjoyed it.  I enjoyed the approach to magic which viewed it as enhancing that which already exists.  The story was good and it was fun.  It was also great to hear a story that has Baba Yaga as a positive influence--the witch you kind of like.

Beyond Charlottesville, Terry McAuliffe

Beyond Charlottesville:  Taking a stand against white nationalism by Governor Terry McAuliffe was sent to me by its editor,  Stephen Power.  This was ostensibly in appreciation for some fact checking that I did on Team of Vipers, but I think it is more likely that Mr. Power is just a nice guy.

Started: 8/4/2019
Completed: 8/10/2019
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By:  Stephen Power

Review:

It so happened that I started this book just after two back-to-back mass shootings by white supremacists.  It appeared in my mail box and went straight to the top of the pile, so it was coincidence of a sort.  Given that we are currently averaging more than one mass shooting per day this year it couldn't be too much of a coincidence, but enough that the book felt heavy in my hands (despite it being a small treatise) before I started reading John Lewis' introduction.

"Alt-right protesters who had lived double lives soon found they could no longer hide from whom they really were.  They had exposed themselves--and the world took notice, and recoiled."  Not the most adroit prose, but striking none the less.

McAuliffe quotes Larry Sabato, "Until whites do get [racism], progress is going to be very limited.  We'll never make lasting progress if we pretend race isn't still central to many of the problems that bedevil us."

This book is well written.  I thought that the beginning was sort of a "pat myself on the back" for Gov. McAuliffe, but fight through it.  That background material is important to understand his commitment to acting in Charlottesville then and continuing to work against white nationalism today.

A geeky book note:  I really like the dust jacket.  It is mildly textured and it makes the book much easier to hold.  It does not wear well as it is already showing wear around the edges (white is showing through the mostly black cover).  Maybe black paper would fix that instead of black ink on white paper.

New York 2140, Kim Stanley Robinson

New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson is not a book I would normally select.  New York under water.  Ho-hum.  If New York is under water things would be much worse then the plight of New York.  Oh, and that is what Kim Stanley Robinson addresses.  Hmmmm...  I really enjoyed the Mars series, so I think I will find this a light, but interesting read.  Perfect for audio book on commutes.

Started: 7/24/2019

Completed: 8/5/2019

Recommendation: Mild Recommendation

Recommended By: Nobody in particular, but I read about it in several places

Words for which I sought help:

tumescent -- swollen or becoming swollen, especially as a response to sexual arousal

Review:

This is light reading.  There really isn't very much there.  It does feel like Robinson is on his bully pulpit to explain climate crisis boldly to those who many not really get it and to forward a pet theory about how it could be much worse than expected much more quickly then expected.  I have a feeling that those who read a book about New York being inundated are already solidly sold on climate change; are willing to believe the theory that sort of runs through the book; and, don't need the repetition to "get it."

The characters are pretty flat without any real development as far as I can tell.  Mutt and Jeff run through a horror and emerge about the same as they went in (with the exception of preferring the out doors--no real character change).  It sort of feels like the scientific ideas predated the story (typical of many a sci-fi novel), but instead of the book examining what happens when the scientific ideas appear, it feels like the novel is a form of presentation for the scientific (and political) ideas.

New York is the setting for the familiarity of the landmarks that are transformed by water and, thus, different.  Despite the author's protestations, this city could be any coastal city and the book would read the same.

An Uncivil War, Greg Sargent

An Uncivil War:  Taking back our democracy in an age of Trumpian disinformation and thunderdome politics by Greg Sargent was recommended in a magazine.  I have read a few of Sargent's columns in the post, so it seemed like a good book to pick up.

Started: 7/14/2019
Completed: 8/3/2019
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By:  A magazine, but I cannot remember which one

Review:

Sargent argues that Americans' perception of the political landscape and its threats to democracy fall into two broad categories.  "Voter suppression and extreme gerrymandering--perpetrated mostly by Republicans--are hideously undemocratic practices, while voter fraud is largely a fiction."  Clear from Republican attempts to prosecute those who vote inappropriately, voter fraud is exceedingly rare.  This was laid bare in Kansas when an entire portion of the government was dedicated to eliminating voter fraud and could only find a handful of cases to pursue over the recent history (20 years?) of voting in Kansas.  On the other hand, the Supreme Court recognized that gerrymandering was happening, but determined that it was not a problem for the courts:  "[T]he fact that such gerrymandering is ‘incompatible with democratic principles’ ... does not mean that the solution lies with the federal judiciary. We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts" (Baltimore Sun, June 27, 2019).

While it is hard to argue that Sargent is even handed, he does give credit where it is due:  "We should also acknowledge that a good number of Republican election officials...take their public duty to oversee election very seriously and want those to run smoothly and inclusively for all voters."

As far as Trump goes, Sargent pulls no punches (as one might expect from the title):  "[taunts and abuse of reporters] got worse once Trump was elected, given that such attacks on the media--when waged by the president himself--amount to a direct effort to weaken the role of the institution that is supposed to hold elected officials like him accountable."

This book is not a book bred solely from anger.  It seems like there is more frustration, a touch of fear, and an effort to calm and provide perspective.  Sargent makes the case it is not only possible to go to far, but that it is a concern for our democracy that the Democratic party might do that.  He provides some suggestions for where the line might be.  It is very hard for me to see the line through the shock, anger, and outright sense of hurt at how the scorched earth policy of the right has gone so far.

The Speed of Sound, Eric Bernt

The Speed of Sound by Eric Bernt was recommended to me by my mother.

Started: 7/30/2019

Completed: 8/2/2019

Recommendation: Mild recommendation

Recommended by: My Mother

Review:

Thrillers are not my genre.  I do not really enjoy people chasing around, so most of this book was not my cup of tea.  The idea of an autistic savant, however, is something I understand and I think that this is the angle my mother was hitting.  The "science" is fanciful, but I stepped into the world and enjoyed the run up to the big chase that occupied more than half the book.  The chase and twists were things that I could see coming pretty clearly (I'm assuming that was the author's intent), it just isn't my genre.