HELGA'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2017

[Pamela]

I always liked Erskine Caldwell and not just because he was from Georgia. He is easier to read than Faulkner.

[Helga]

Yes, I agree. Though like Faulkner too and will read some more of them.

[Helga]

71. by Frans de Waal
Finish date: September 9, 2017
Genre: Biology, animal behavior
Rating: A-
Review: This was a very insightful book about animal cognition by the Dutch/American author Frans de Waal. He is a primatologist and ethologist who has studied animal behavior and cognition for decades. We see what animals can do. We see that many animals can recognize emotions, have memories, identities, can use tools and cooperate just as humans. The author explains how we need to evaluate other species by what they do in their own environment instead of making humanity the measure of all things.

There is so much fascinating information about animals in this book from the greater apes, lesser apes, whales, octopuses, fish, birds and elephants to name a few. Even though the author specializes in primate social behavior at Yerkes Primate Research Center, he focuses on much more. Our science of animal cognition has progressed much since the early days of behavior studies from decades ago.

Some of the fascinating stories are about Alex, the parrot that could respond to questions about objects, defining how they are different and not by rote. Alex could count and do addition. And Betty the crow that could bend straight wires into a hook to retrieve food from a tube, the first evidence of a non-primate making a tool. We see apes that have great insight for solving problems. They can learn to brush their teeth, ride bicycles, and eat with a knife and fork, peel potatoes and much more. They are also capable of deception. There are elephants who can tell human languages apart as well as the gender and age of human speakers.

The premise of this book shows that you cannot call one animal species smarter or dumber than another on the basis of individual abilities. In order to fully understand the cognitive abilities of animals, we must dispense with the human bias that expects them to have the same abilities as we do. This book was very good at communicating this premise and is worth reading.

[Helga]

72. by Timothy Snyder
Finish date: September 11, 2017
Genre: Politics/history
Rating: A
Review: This important book by Timothy Snyder treats the rise of fascism and Communism in repressive regimes throughout the 20th century and compares those times to the situation in the US today. The author focuses on these major political events that lead to tyranny, war, loss of human rights and death and misery of individuals in 20 lessons. It is an alert to citizens to understand and consider the importance and fragility of democracy today.

“The president is a nationalist, which is not at all the same thing as a patriot. A nationalist encourages us to be our worst, and then tells us that we are the best. A nationalist, “although endlessly brooding on power, victory, defeat, revenge,” wrote Orwell, tends to be “uninterested in what happens in the real world.” Nationalism is relativist, since the only truth is the resentment we feel when we contemplate others. As the novelist Danilo Kiš put it, nationalism “has no universal values, aesthetic or ethical.”

A patriot, by contrast, wants the nation to live up to its ideals, which means asking us to be our best selves. A patriot must be concerned with the real world, which is the only place where his country can be loved and sustained. A patriot has universal values, standards by which he judges his nation, always wishing it well—and wishing that it would do better.”

This is a concise commentary with the rise of Trump. It is one of the most important books to read. Everyone should read this book. It is short but powerful but I’m sure the target audience will not read it and those that do will not like it and call it left wing drivel.

[Pamela]

Really good review, Helga.

[Helga]

Thanks, Pamela. It's an insightful book.

[Helga]

73. by Joel M. Hoffman
Finish date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Non-fiction, Religion
Rating: B
Review: The author of this book seeks to clarify misinterpretations of the Bible that he says are products of “ignorance, accident, culture gap, mistranslation, and misinterpretation.” As a professor of theoretical linguistics and who has taught Bible in religious settings at Brandeis University and Hebrew Union College, he is able to tackle subjects in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testamnet such as evolution, Jesus’s death, keeping kosher and homosexuality. With his understanding of Hebrew, he is able to explain how many of the passages in the Bible were incorrectly interpreted from the Hebrew into the Bible as it is written.

In one chapter, he discusses the origin and pronunciation of God’s name. The Hebrew alphabet is introduced, the aleph (a) bet (b). He explains about the four letter name for God (the Tetragrammaton) from the Hebrew vowels-Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey. The misunderstanding of the Hebrew grammar led this to the pronunciation of Yahweh and the German pronunciation of Jehovah. Jewish tradition has circumvented this unpronounceable name by using Adonai. Most observant Jews say Hashem which means “the name”.

This book also discusses the alternate stories about the creation and Noah and many other topics. With this book, one needs an open mind and be receptive. Some of the misconceptions are minor but other misconceptions have led to misunderstandings that even caused conflicts with people of faith.

[Helga]

74. by Ron Rash
Finish date: September 23, 2017
Genre: Short stories, southern
Rating: A-
Review: This is a master storyteller of the South and writes about the Appalachia of western North Carolina. He has written many popular books of fiction, novels, poetry and short stories. I have been to many of his author book signings in the past. This is a collection of short stories representing the old and new south. Rash is so familiar with this region so his writing really portrays the lives of the people and culture.

In “Chemistry”, a teacher suffers from severe depression for which he is hospitalized and received electroconvulsive therapy. Once released instead of taking his medicine he takes up scuba diving and converts back to his Pentecostal church. In “Last Rite”, a woman is obsessed with where her son was killed and hires a surveyor to map out the location. “Deep Gap” is about addiction and a father who goes through steps of grief as he deals with his son’s addiction. “Speckled Trout” is about a 16 year old boy who goes trout fishing and comes across a field of marijuana plants. He steals several plants and returns for more, hoping to make money but gets his due. These are just a few of this gem of a collection of stories by this author.

[Helga]

75. by Amor Towles
Finish date: September 26, 2017
Genre: historical fiction, Russia
Rating: A+
Review: I loved this book. It was beautifully written and historical in nature. I felt totally enthralled by Count Rostov who was a member of the wrong class in 1922. Alexabnder Ilyich Rostov appeared before the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs and was destined to go before a firing squad for being a threat to their new nation but instead he was put under hotel arrest for the rest of his life. He could never step foot outside the grand Metropol Hotel in Moscow. The hotel though was like a town. It had stores, a barbershop, a tailor, and great restaurants and he would finally have time to read. He was relocated from his prior room with a view of the Bolshoi to 100 sq ft room in the attic.

We find the Count to be a man of honor, justice and integrity and the last gentleman in Moscow as all the rest had either fled or been shot during the Revolution. With the Bolsheviks there were no longer any ruling classes, only comrades. There were many people coming and going in the hotel and some stayed to live for a while so the Count had a lot of company, like the movie starlet. And one day a friend, since her childhood, now married left for a cause but never returned. She left her daughter in his care. He raised this girl and loved her as his daughter. He was a connoisseur in his taste of food and wine and became a head waiter at the fine gourmet restaurant. His descriptions of the food and wine were out of this world.

Throughout this book, we see how Alexander Rostov holds himself high and there is no bitterness.

"If a man does not master his circumstances he is bound to be mastered by them".

I highly recommend this book.

[Helga]

OCTOBER

76. by Neil Gaiman
Finish date: October 3, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A
Review: This was a compulsively readable retelling of the Norse myths. We meet many of the gods and goddesses in Norse mythology. This book does a great job in introducing them to us in a way that we might not otherwise have thought about reading or might have seen in the comics. We meet Odin and his son Thor, and Odin’s blood brother, a giant’s son, Loki who live in Aesir in Asgard who are in the center of the lore. There is also mentions of other gods and goddesses and giants and elves among them Valkyrie, Baldur, Frey and Freyja, Heimdall, Idun, Fenrir, Mjollnir, Vidar, Njord. This is about the creation of the worlds until the final battle between the Gods and the creatures that will destroy the worlds. It is an epic battle until the end and the beginning of the new creation. There are many great stories in between.

This is a must read for anyone interested in Norse/Viking myths in a straight-forward writing style that I really liked.

[Pamela]

I'm glad you liked it, Helga. Reading your review makes me want to read it all over again. I loved it.

[Helga]

I think I will read it again sometime. I liked it alot, It was fun to read.

[Helga]

77. by John le Carré
Finish date: October 5, 2017
Genre: espionage, mystery-crime
Rating: B+
Review: This is the introduction to the George Smiley series by LeCarre’. I have read many of the author’s books but missed some of them including this one. In this book the reader is woven through the intricate world of international espionage. This is a classic and we ask “who is the spy?” and “who is being set up?’. LeCarre’ knows the ins and outs of national intelligence and security firsthand. And Smiley is unassuming and unattractive and does not appear to be anyone’s idea of a spy so he can fit into this role without any conceptions and he does it well.

Smiley is ordered to conduct a routine security check on Samuel Fennan and sees no serious harm other than a past mingled with wartime communism. He reassured him there was no danger but then shortly after finds he has committed suicide. Smiley’s instincts and questions lead him to believe he was murdered so he follows the path to his wife, Elsa and the weavings of her life and their past to follow the truth of what happened.

LeCarre’ is a brilliant writer and this first effort was a pleasure to read. It lead to the phenomenal series about Smiley and literary acclaim as a writer

[Pamela]

Sounds good. Years ago I read a couple of LeCarré books and enjoyed them. From your review, it sounds like the way to go is to start at the beginning. :>)

[Helga]

Yes, I agree. I read some later in the series before but not the beginning and other stand alones. It's nice to see how it begins.

[Helga]

78. by Ray Bradbury (no photo)
Finish date: October 5, 2017
Genre: Classic/dystopian
Rating: A
Review: This is a reread of this timeless classic written 62 years ago. I liked it just as much this time as I did the first time I read it. It’s not just about book burning and for me that would be agony as I can’t see a world without books, but the message conveyed which is not censorship but how television destroys interest in reading literature. The people just stopped reading. This leads to a perception of knowledge that consists of partial information without proper context and factoids reiterated in people’s minds and entertainment that deadens the mind. This has a relevancy today with Twitter and other media sources where this is all some people rely on for their source of information.
This book is about Guy Montag and his inner emotional journey and moral journey from a fireman who gleefully burns books to someone who risks his life, his marriage and his career for the sake of books. Books were burned because for some people they were made to feel inferior to educated readers. By banning them, this removed the inferiorities. People no longer had individuality or able to be thought provoking.

It is a compelling book and well worth reading once and even twice for its powerful message. It is an important book and it tells us that books are important to us in our lives because they provide us answers, entertainment, and because they make us ask questions.

[Helga]

79. by Dan Fagin
Finish date: October 7, 2017
Genre: Environmental, Pulitzer General-Nonfiction
Rating: A
Review: This Pulitzer Prize winning book of 2014 was extremely hard hitting. It dealt with the pollution from well -known chemical companies and how their pollutants caused cancer. Leukemia and neuroblastoma especially in children which was caused by industrial waste teratogens.

Fagin discusses the history of Toms River, the plant, its employees, its citizens and the history of industrial waste disposal, environmental safeguards and the history of epidemiology, cancer and cancer research and treatments. This is the basis of what happened at Toms River.

It involved the companies Ciba-Geigy now owned by Dow Chemical and nearby Union Carbide now also owned by Dow Chemical and their corporate greed and small town politics. Even though pollution went on for decades, for many years little was done about it. The people who worked at the Toms River Chemical Plant and the Toms Water Plant needed their jobs. The government didn’t want to spend the money to do what needed to be done until they were forced to and there were no regulations at the time. It started when a major dye manufacturer moved into the Toms River Community and the by-products of the dye manufacturing created pollution and polluted the river and the water table from which the community drew its water supply. And then after some opposition, they built pipelines to the ocean for their waste. Childhood cancers and cancer clusters were found in the area and stiff opposition to the corporations arose. This eventually led to major investigations, lawsuits and the companies closing after the sites became Super Fund sites which are still undergoing some cleanup. The manufacturing of dyes and other products has been moved to China where the author made a visit and found that China is now seeing an upsurge of cancer clusters and massive pollution. And to those who want jobs returned back to this country, we don’t want those kinds of jobs and the harm they cause to individuals and the environment.

This book deserved the Pulitzer Prize and I recommend it anyone who wants to understand how epidemiology arose and how cancer was caused by industrial waste.

[Helga]

80. by Fredrik Backman
Finish date; October 11, 2017
Genre: Fiction, Swedish
Rating: A
Review: I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I found it really grabbed me and I really did enjoy it. At times it was hilarious. I just couldn’t help but laugh at Ove and his antics. Ove was a real curmudgeon that made people want to hate him. But in reality he had a heart. He was a man of principles, strict rules and he had a short fuse. Despite his cantankerous exterior, his is a story of character and sadness. He lost his wife a few years ago and he misses her so much that he wishes to join her every day. When a young couple with 2 children move next door and befriend him, we see a cranky old man change before our eyes. This is a feel-good story and was the first novel by this Swedish blogger turned author. I found it worth reading and will be reading some more of his books.

[Helga]

81. by Lynne Olson
Finish date: October 18, 2017
Genre: Non-fiction/World War II History
Rating: A
Review: This was a very well researched book about London during World War II and some very brave and visionary Americans who lived in London during this tumultuous time. It was about three key Americans, broadcaster and head of CBS News Ed Murrow, the US ambassador John Winant, and the man to run the lend-lease program Averill Harriman. Murrow and Winant were most beloved by the British people after FDR. They lived the war and saw the struggles of the British people. She writes about the conflicts that arise between Roosevelt and Churchill and the thoughts and feelings among them and the Britons and Americans.

This book shows how the British people suffered through the Blitz and how their hearts went out to the Americans who took on the fight as their own long before the US entered the war. It was interesting to read how at this time the military was segregated and the appalling racial attitudes of the Americans. It was admirable to read of the 244 Americans flying with the RAF against the neutrality laws of the US and 40% were killed fighting against evil.

The author wove an interesting story of the 3 key Americans and their lives and the war itself and how America finally entered after Pearl Harbor was attacked. It reminded me of my father (RIP) who went to Germany and fought under Gen Omar Bradley at the Battle of the Bulge and the stories he only told in the last years of his life recently and how easily we could have lost. One story he told me was that the Germans were impersonating Americans so it was hard to distinguish them but what gave them away was that the American GI’s would speak of baseball and the Germans knew nothing about it. It saved them. And because he knew German so well, he was one of the soldiers who went to Dachau Concentration camp and was at its liberation and saw the horror and at the reconstruction.

This was a fascinating book and is highly recommended.

[Helga]

82. by Heather Ann Thompson
Finish date: October 30, 2017
Genre: History/Pulitzer winner
Rating: A
Review: This very much deserved book was the winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in History. This is a definitive history of the infamous and horrible 1971 Attica Prison uprising. It is a story that needs to be told and read by everyone. It told of the state of New York’s violent response that lead to killings and injuries and then lies and cover up’s and it told of the victims more than 45 year quest for justice and truth.

On Sept 9, 1971, nearly 1300 prisoners took over the Attica correctional Facility to protest the mistreatment of the prisoners who wanted to seek rights and overall better treatment. They wanted to negotiate with the state officials. But on Sept 13, 1971, the state instead of meeting their negotiations to acceptance retook the prison by force. They came in with tear gas and gunfire. They killed 39 men, hostages and prisoners and injured more than 100 more and in the weeks and months to come brutally retaliated against the prisoners. New York State authorities then went and prosecuted only the prisoners and accused them of killing the hostages and prisoners. They withheld the evidence and covered up the crimes committed by the police and correction officers who retook the prison.

The prisoners and the hostages and their families fought for justice and to have the truth be told. This fight took 45 years to be told completely through the extensive research by Ann Thompson. It was through the words of the surviving prisoners, hostages and the whistle blower Malcolm Bell, the attorneys and others that this story could be completed and justice pursued.

This is an extremely important civil rights story and at times was very difficult to read. The atrocities by the police and correction officers and the outright lies and cover up was hard to accept sometimes so I had to read this book in small doses. But everyone should read it. I highly recommend it.

[Helga]

NOVEMBER

83. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: November 1, 2017
Genre: crime mystery/Norway
Rating: B+
Review: This is a Harry Hole crime mystery, number 7 which takes place in Oslo Norway. It should make a really interesting movie. I will be interested in seeing how they translate it into a movie. I enjoyed this book. I like this author’s style of writing and enjoyed the way he wove the different stories together in an intricate way and the descriptions of a gloomy wintry Norway.

This book begins when a boy finds his mother missing and goes outside and finds a snowman adorned with his mother’s scarf. Harry investigates with his new partner Katrine Bratt. Through his investigation, he finds there were 11 missing women through the years and concludes it’s the work of a serial killer. This leads to mystery of macabre twists and turns and a battle of wits between Harry and the killer and it does not disappoint.

[Dimitri]

For some reason I keep postponing Nesbo. Would this make a good first ?

[Helga]

Yes, I think you can start with this one as a good start. You don't have to read the prior books in the series.

[Helga]

84. by Richard Russo
Finish date: November 5, 2017
Genre: Pulitzer Prize in fiction
Rating: B+
Review: This was the 2002 Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Russo is a good novelist and his story telling ability comes out in this character driven novel which takes place in Empire Falls Maine. Miles Roby has been a short order cook at the Empire Falls Grill for 20 years. It was a job and town that cost him his college education and much of his self-respect. Why does he stay around? It could be because of his sensitive daughter, Tick who needs him or his soon to be ex-wife Janine soon to be married to a vain health-club proprietor. The town is in decline and most of the town is owned by the imperious Francine Whiting including the grill. This novel covers several generations and focuses mostly on the present but recalls the past to explain the characters and ongoing events. It makes for an interesting story.

I found this to be a highly entertaining and well written novel.

[Helga]

85. by Ed Yong (no photo)
Finish date: November 11, 2017
Genre: Science/Biology
Rating: B+
Review: This was an interesting book about the microbes inside us and around us and that are everywhere. This book goes into a lot of detail about the symbiosis between the microbes and other organisms, humans and animals. They are essential for life in all aspects, in digestion, our immune systems, and every other aspect of life. We would not be here today without them. It is also important to know that most microbes are not harmful. We have become so fixated on getting rid of them by too many antibiotics and too much antibacterial soaps and overly hygienic conditions that it is to our detriment. Antibiotics must be taken with care and only when necessary. Bacteria have been around forever and we have learned about them since Louis Pasteur and other microbiologists but with the new technologies of gene sequencing and genomics, it is now possible to sequence every gene and get a complete detail of every microbiome. With our understanding of evolution, we know that all life has co-evolved within close contact with microbes. And with our fast expanding knowledge of these microbes, we are learning how to eradicate diseases and learn how to live with them symbiotically.

This book covers a very interesting array of topics about microbes in an understandable way and is for you if you are interested in microbiology.

[Helga]

86. by Louise Penny
Finish date: November 16, 2017
Genre: mystery, police procedural
Rating: B+
Review: I’ve had this book in my library for several years and finally got around to reading it. I don’t know why I delayed as long as I did. It’s a very good debut to the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. I know I will be reading more in this series which takes place in Quebec Canada. It is well deserving of its literary awards.

A murder takes place in a rural village south of Montreal. It is in this quiet artsy village that Jane Neal a fixture of the community is found murdered and is investigated by Gamache and his team including the new rookie, Yvette Nichol. There are a lot of characters to keep track of in this book. I especially liked the role of the painting ‘Fair Day’ that was painted by Jane Neal and the mystery surrounding it. It was the day after her showing of this painting that she died of a bow and arrow wound. The question at the time was this a tragic accident or a murder. It was so much fun to follow Gamache and his team to solve this mystery. I especially enjoyed the setting and became attached to some of the characters. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.

[Pamela]

I really like this series and always look forward to the newest book. Louis Penny has created a cast of characters that are always interesting and make you want to meet them again and again.

[Helga]

Thanks Pamela. I think I will like it too.

[Helga]

87. by Kazuo Ishiguro
Finish date: November 18, 2017
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: A
Review: A deeply moving story by this Noble Prize winning author. Exquisitely written story about a very dignified and very proper butler who reminisces about his years while he travels around the English countryside.

Stevens embarks on a country drive after three decades in the employ of Darlington Hall. It is post World War II, so during his travels he thinks about his former employer Lord Darlington and his “greatness” and also the former housekeeper, Miss Kenton who got married and plans to visit. The butler, Stevens takes us through his journey of service to his employer with insight and dignity. It was emotional and bittersweet. I hope that he uses the remains of his day to learn to banter and create friendships and enjoy life.

This was such a beautifully written book. It was easy to immerse myself in it and also the English countryside. It is highly recommended.

[Clyde]

I read "The Remains of the Day more than twenty years ago. I thought it was good, very riveting, and sad about what employers can do to their domestic help, and how we trap ourselves in our self created ideas about what we are.

[Alisa]

Helga wrote: "87. by Kazuo Ishiguro
Finish date: November 18, 2017
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: A
Review: A deeply movi..."

Deeply moving indeed. Great book. Great review.

[Helga]

88. by Franz Kafka
Finish date: November 26, 2017
Genre: European literature, classics
Rating: C
Review: This classic by Kafka haunted me. It is the terrifying story of Josef K, a respectable bank officer who is suddenly arrested for a crime the nature of which he is never told. He tries to find out the situation of his crime and the workings of the judicial system. This leads to more confusion and strife. It becomes apparent that Josef K is meant to remain in ignorance. “I see, these books are probably law books, and it is an essential part of the justice dispensed here that you should be condemned not only in innocence but also in ignorance.”

In this book we see an attack on totalitarianism and useless bureaucracy and no accountability. A very frightening image of K’s world. This is a somber and dreary story but it had some very interesting sections like when K spoke to the Painter and he lectured about the strategies for acquittal, namely “actual acquittal”, apparent acquittal” and “protraction” or deferment. I found that rather ingenious.

After reading this book, I am left with a lot of unanswered questions namely, what is the trial and why are there so many characters that we never hear from again, and the ending, why that ending which I did not like.

[Helga]

DECEMBER

89. by David Grann
Finish date: December 1, 2017
Genre: History/True Crime
Rating: A
Review: This was an exceptionally well written, well researched book about the awful time in our history known as the “Reign of Terror”. In the 1920’s the richest people in the world, the Osage Indians of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma were killed off one by one. This occurred after they were moved by the government from their original lands to this oil rich area. They became rich after oil was struck and the Indians got headrights from the oil drilling. The Indians were lowly people in the eyes of the government and whites. The Osage had to have guardians to oversee their riches and this led to theft, corruption and murder of the Osage Indians.

Mollie Burkhart was one Osage woman who watched as her family was murdered one by one. Her sister Anna was shot, her mother was poisoned and her other sister, Rita and her husband were killed when their house was burned down while they slept. As the murders increased to more than 24, the newly created FBI took over the case. The new director, J Edgar Hoover hired Tom White to investigate the case. They penetrated the area and mingled with the people to uncover the case. With the help of the Osage and new forensic techniques, they were able to expose the conspiracy.

This was a riveting and highly recommended book.

[Alisa]

Helga, glad you got to this. I fully agree, this was a riveting book about a very disturbing time.

[Helga]

I’m glad too. I wanted to get it read this year.

[Jane]

Helga and Alisa, Just ordered this and it arrives Wednesday. There were so many in line for it at the library (hard copy and Kindle) that it would be a year until I could read it.. I'll try plugging it into one of my challenges for the year and start it in January. Can't wait!

[Alisa]

Jane that’s great! I hope you find it as compelling as we did.

[Helga]

Jane, it is definitely worth reading. Everyone has been enjoying it.

[Helga]

90. by John le Carré

Finish date: December 2, 2017
Genre: British crime mystery
Rating: B
Review:
This is another George Smiley story in the series by an excellent writer. In this book George Smiley who is retired from the British Secret Service, is called by an old friend, Ailsa Brimley of a small newspaper to investigate a troubling letter she received from a worried reader. It claims that her husband will kill her. Smiley goes to this very proper distinguished boys’ school, Carne School, and finds that he is already too late and that she was dead.

Smiley immerses himself with the professors and locals and listens and learns about them and the community. As he uncovers their secrets and hatreds, he solves the mystery. Smiley is such a likable, smart and unassuming character. It’s a lot of fun to read this series. It is an enjoyable book for mystery lovers.

[Helga]

91. by Agatha Christie
Finish date: December 4, 2017
Genre: Classic, mystery
Rating: A
Review: I decided to reread this favorite mystery by Agatha Christie since the movie is coming out. It was well worth my time to revisit Inspector Hercule Poirot on the Orient Express and see him at work with his superior reasoning and ability to solve the mystery of the passenger that got murdered on the train on a snowy night. It’s a perfect murder with a great story line, multiple suspects and a brilliant ending. I have to say I liked it just as much or even more than the first time. Now, I’m anxious to see the movie.

[Helga]

92. by Garry Wills
Finish date: December 5, 2017
Genre: Military history, Pulitzer reading
Rating: B-
Review: This was a very scholarly Pulitzer Prize winning book about Lincoln and the greatest speech in our nation’s history. I memorized this speech in school but this author gives understanding to this short speech. In this book, the author examines the speech in minute and exacting detail. He analyzes Lincoln’s influences from the Transcendentalist of Emerson and the Greek oratory of Pericles. And he examines the place, the Gettysburg cemetery where the speech took place. With this speech, Lincoln succeeded in a “new birth of freedom” for the nation.

I can appreciate why this book received the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. His inclusion of the appendices and text by Edward Everett was very useful in the understanding of the discussion and completeness in the understanding of this important speech and this important time in our nation’s history.

[Helga]

93. by Charles Dickens
Finish date: December 6, 2017
Genre: classics
Rating: A
Review: This has always been a perennial favorite during this time of the year. I don’t know how many times I have read it, seen it in movies or theater. Who hasn’t heard of Ebenezer Scrooge and “bah humbug”?
It’s about Scrooge and his miserly ways and how he is visited by his former business partner, Marley’s Ghost, who died 7 years ago. He tells him he needs to rethink his ways. Over the course of the evening, he is visited by 3 more spirits, the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come.

It is delightful to see how he changes and how he sees himself in the past, present and how he will become in the future unless he changes. These visits help Scrooge to see the error of his ways and to become a kinder and gentler person. A heart-warming and timeless story with a strong message.

[Helga]

94. by David Baldacci
Finish date: December 9, 2017
Genre: fiction, holiday
Rating: B-
Review: This is a holiday story by Baldacci. I did not find it to be as exciting as his thriller stories but it did have a little of everything. It had adventure, romance, humor and a mystery and some historical contexts. It was a light read but suitable for the holiday spirit. A change in pace for the author.

A journalist, Tom Langdon who is forced to travel by train from Washington, DC to LA in time for Christmas finds the trip to be more than he expected. The train travels through rugged terrain into the mountains and into blizzards and an avalanche. There is a wedding on board the train and a robber who takes expensive items from the passengers. Through all of this he also comes to grips with his own life and finds a second chance in life.

[Helga]

95. by Yesenia Chavan (no photo)
Finish date: December 10, 2017
Genre: Non-fiction, health
Rating: B-
Review: This is a good primer and a short concise book on meditation. The author discusses the benefits of meditation, the different types and some tips of how to start and where to meditate. It does not go into great detail but it was a good starting off point to now lead me to more detailed books. I found this to be helpful in this endeavor.

[Helga]

96. by Yesenia Chavan (no photo)
Finish date: December 11, 2017
Genre: Non-fiction, health
Rating: B
Review: I have been taking yoga for many years and recently started a class that my neighbor teaches on Meditation and Mindfulness according to this colleague/yoga teacher, is a “new trend”. Since I am someone who wants to stay healthy mentally and physically, I thought I would try this class and decided to start reading some books about it. I find this to be useful as I tend to have a mind that wonders all of the time and is everywhere. This can be a challenge as our “monkey minds” as Buddhists call them, jump from thought to thought like monkeys swinging from tree to tree. Meditation and mindfulness will help me focus more on the present, stop regretting the past and worrying about the future. This is a basic beginner book and I will now read more detailed books.

[Helga]

97. by Joe Biden
Finish date: December 13, 2017
Genre: Memoir, politics
Rating: A
Review: The premise of this heartwarming book was a promise Joe Biden made to his son Beau who had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma, as they gathered together for their annual Thanksgiving on Nantucket on November 2014. Beau had the same cancer as Edward Kennedy. Beau told his father, “Promise me, Dad. Give me your word that no matter what happens, you’re going to be all right.”

So with these words in his mind at all times, Joe Biden illuminates the year that followed. Biden has had a challenging but worthwhile 36 years in the Senate followed by 7 years at this time of the vice presidency. During the year that followed, he traveled more than 100,000 miles to deal with the Ukraine crisis because of Putin’s threat, Central America and Iraq dealing with the ISIS crisis. Joe Biden was always there when he was called and he always responded. He was also pondering whether he should seek the presidency.

And throughout the international and domestic issues, he was always there for his son and his immediate cancer treatment. This book clearly shows the bonds with his family and his religion. It shows Biden as a very caring and emphatic person. I had tears in my eyes with his suffering when Beau died.

Biden is seriously involved in the cure for cancer and deeply understands the issues at hand. It was truly a shame that he did not seek the Presidency in 2016. I understand why he just wasn’t ready for it mentally after reading this book. But I hope that Joe Biden will run for president in 2020. We need his deep understanding and feelings that are genuine. We can have hope because Biden said,” Beau was insisting that he stay true to himself and to all things.” He was making him promise to stay engaged in the public life of the nation and the world. Biden states in closing that he wants to help change the country and the world for the better. It’s a duty that gives him purpose and something to hope for.

This was a good memoir of a very interesting public figure.

[Helga]

98. by J.D. Vance
Finish date; Decenber 19, 2017
Genre: Non-fiction/Memoir/Sociology
Rating: TBD
Review: TBD

[Helga]

99. by P.D. James
Finish date: December 21, 2017
Genre: Mystery/short stories/ holiday
Rating: B-
Review: This book consisted of 4 short stories by the Queen of Crime, P D James. They occurred during Christmas time so it was the perfect time to read them. They are not as developed as her crime novels but are still enjoyable. In 2 of the stories, the iconic Scotland Yard inspector Dalgliesh appeared. These stories will be enjoyed by P D James fans.

[Helga]

100. by Samantha Silva
Finish date: Dec 23, 2017
Genre: Historical-fiction/holiday
Rating: B+
Review: This was a sentimental and charming read about the incomparable Boz, Charles Dickens, a celebrated writer of his time. His carol was created out of financial necessity and amazingly he was only 31 years old when he wrote his most famous story never out of print to this day.

"Mr Dickens and His Carol" is an imaginative historical story based on a period of his life with a realistic atmosphere of England. It quoted and stated truisms that actually occurred so I felt very attune to this story and the setting. I thoroughly enjoyed the foggy London setting, the graveyard scenes, the ghosts and little Timothy. It was a heartwarming and enjoyable read and great for the holiday.

[Helga]

101. by R. William Bennett
Finish date: December 25, 2017
Genre: historical-fiction/holiday
Rating: A-
Review: Another wonderful holiday story to read this time of the year. In this book a sort of prequel about Marley the ghost, it begins, "Marley was dead." So the journey focuses on his early life and his life as a business partner with Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley is seen as a miserly and mean man who influenced Scrooge to be the person he became. It is an interesting view of Marley and how he sought to redeem himself and save Scrooge from the evil person he was. It explains why he was so evil and what he did to save Scrooge and ultimately himself.

This is a well done story and is recommended as an additional read to the real thing. I would not rely on this as the main story or replacement as I think nothing can beat it. The real story was the basis of this one and it could not have been written without it. This is a good read during the holidays and the theme and process of redemption and forgiveness is universal and so needed this time of the year and with the world today.