Master Slave Husband Wife, Ilyon Woo

 

Master Slave Husband Wife:  An epic journey from slavery to freedom by Ilyon Woo

Started: 719/2023
Completed: 7/27/2023
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

There is a heroic run from slavery.  This is not, however, the story of a couple who "went on the lam" and hid constantly dodging slave catchers.  Instead this is the story of a couple who used cunning and careful planning to make a clean escape in broad daylight.  They did have to run from slave catchers eventually (after the fugitive slave law was passed and Daniel Webster was the AG of Massachusetts).  I think that this book is more about perseverance under life threatening adversity.  This isn't really a full biography and it is told in a narrative format although the research is top-notch. 

A Thread of Violence, Mark O'Connell

 

A Thread of Violence:  A story of truth, invention, and murder by Mark O'Connell is a book I picked up after reading an excerpt in the Washington Monthly.

Started: 7/16/2023
Completed: 7/19/2023
Recommendation: Not Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

This is journalist as writer.  The same passages repeat throughout the book.  The story is relatively thin as the murderer was not terribly inclined to speak about his crimes to O'Connell.  Thus, the book is sort of a biography of the author and his experiences while interviewing the murderer.  This might be OK if there was some sort of life changing event, shocking revelation, or gritty effort.  While there is no doubt that O'Connell worked hard to get his interviews and he literally spent years talking with the murderer, insight was missing.  The murderer was a weirdo (using O'Connell's description).  He tended to talk about his crimes in abstract terms which conveniently seemed to omit the murderer.  While the murderer's regret may be genuine (O'Connell thinks so), it is hard to understand whether there is regret for personal losses or genuine remorse at the harm he caused to others.  I just did not find the book compelling (tidbits are surely interesting) and the manner of writing seemed plodding--like someone who had to expand a long article.

The Chinese Groove, Kathryn Ma

 

The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma

Started: 7/14/2023
Completed: 7/16/2023
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By:  I read a compelling review in the New York Times.

Review:

This could have been a very sad story, but it mostly wasn't.  The protagonist, Shelly, definitely wears rose colored glasses, but this is not naivete, rather it is mostly a desire to find a way forward no matter the circumstances.  Ma does a good job of throwing a lot at the characters and does an excellent job of making them bewildering to Shelly.  At the same time, Shelly is observant and while he may miss some things and ascribe improper motives (often looking on the bright side), he is generally rather astute when he puts his mind to it.  I enjoyed the "fish out of water/coming of age" troupes that were used and twisted slightly to make them much more interesting.

Priest of Bones, Peter McLean

 

Priest of Bones by Peter McLean is the first book in the War for the Rose Throne series.

Started: 7/11/2023
Completed: 7/14/2023
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: Kobo book review

Review:

I enjoyed this book and liked how the characters were each given a patois that made them distinct.  McLean did this by identifying these characters as largely war comrades which allowed them to be from anywhere.  Even the locals, however, had their own manner of speaking which largely reflected the way that they dealt with the world.  I have not experienced this in real life, but it was welcome in the novel where I was quick to identify who was speaking and was able to anticipate some of what that character was thinking.  Maybe I just need a simple book in order to fully understand it.  I once watched Dennis Franz get into the character of Andy Sipowicz on a talk show and it was both body and manner of speaking.  I kind of feel like the characters in this book have that full transformation as I read the transitions from one to the other.

The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell

 

The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

Started: 4/20/2023
Completed: 7/12/2023
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: My uncle, Russ

Review:

This is a very interesting book.  The thesis is that the hero story is fairly consistent across all forms of human history.  There is a good reason to believe that this is true.  There are a ton of hero stories that follow the same general path across social group after social group.  I also learned a fair amount about myths with which I only had a passing aquaintance.

Time Shelter, Georgi Gospodinov

 

Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov who was a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize in Literature in 2022.

Started: 7/10/2023
Completed: Did not Finish
Recommendation: Not Recommended
Recommended By: A list of books translated into English which are well respected in their original language.

Review:

I lasted through about 10% of this book.  I have no idea what is happening and I hate that.  There are definite literary allusions I did not get.  It was time to move on.

Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros

 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a hot new book that got so many good reviews, I wanted to add it to my library holds right away.  This is the first book in the Empyrean series.

Started: 7/4/2023
Completed: 7/10/2023
Recommendation: Mild recommendation
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

I am not thrilled with the romance (will they won't they) that has started to take a larger part in fantasy novels.  I am OK with the concept, but the implementation has the feel of a "take off your shirt" romance novel and a tad of porn (hmmm...given that Yarros is a romance novelist, this should have come as no surprise).  I am really cool with the protagonist fighting off a real problem like EDS.  The writing is pretty good overall and without the "steamy" there is decent world building and an internally consistent magic system.  The plot is enjoyable and I will likely pick up the next book in the series.  I probably won't be breathless waiting for it to drop.

The Shadow Docket, Stephen Vladeck

 

The Shadow Docket: How the supreme court uses stealth rulings to amass power and undermine the Republic by Stephen Vladeck

Started: 7/1/2023
Completed: 7/4/2023
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: My wife

Review:

I was aware of what the shadow docket was and mostly noticed it in terms of things not getting certiorare.  I did not really understand how emergency stays worked except within the broad concept of midnight refusals to stop the death penalty.  This book is extremely informative about how much of the overall work the Supreme Court does is on the shadow docket (more than half).  I was also stunned that the court is saying that these actions can be precedent setting even without any explanation for the ruling.  This is remarkably shocking.  I wonder if the Court is uncomfortable with the increased load, but doesn't want to say anything out of fear that this will lead to expansion of the court.  I think that the first step would be to remove the ability of the Supreme Court to make any ruling (even granting cert) without an explanation.  Thereafter, the work load would surely justify expanding the court and perhaps revisiting the practice of hearings before a smaller number of justices instead of everything being en banc.

The Martyr, Anthony Ryan

 

The Martyr by Anthony Ryan is the second book of the Covenant of Steel.

Started: 6/26/2023
Completed: 7/1/2023
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

This is an interesting series, although I did not like the cliff hanger at the end.  In some ways, this is starting to feel like batman.  The protagonist finds himself in impossible situations, but manages to escape every time.  The "bad guys" have a habit of putting him in grueling situations, but don't finish him off.  In a similar position, however, the protagonist does not go through lengthy situations to make his opponents suffer, he just bashes heads.  Until the end of this book, I attributed that to his being a thief at heart, but with the end of this book, that went away.  Who knows, maybe he and the Risen Martyr are well matched.