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April's 2015 reading list
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5. Dead Giveaway, by Charles Ramsey and Randy Nyerges. This is a short autobiography on Charles Ramsey, who became an instant celebrity for his role in rescuing Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who had been kidnapped and held captive by Ariel Castro for a decade. He busted down Castro's door after he heard one of the women cry for help. That would have been noteworthy enough, but his responses to media queries gained him even more fans, and fame. For example: “Bro, I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms . . . dead giveaway.” Ramsey, who had been a neighbor of Castro's and had no inkling as to what was going on in that house, gives his side of the story of that fateful May 2013 day and the aftermath. Ramsey also talks about his life, growing up in an upper middle class family, and his penchant for troublemaking. That's putting it mildly. I get the impression that Ramsey is a very smart man who, as a youth, alas, did not have that intelligence steered in the right direction. His youthful hijinks -- many aimed at getting back at his domineering father -- range from eyebrow raising to downright dangerous. Those who are easily offended may not want to read this. Ramsey doesn't pull punches in regards to his past transgressions, which includes charges of domestic violence, drug dealing and a couple terms in jail before he straightened up. The book is written in Ramsey's voice, which includes a lot of language. However, if you don't mind a different, pull-no-punches sort of read, it is a very engaging story. Not sure I always agreed with Ramsey's conclusions on some points, but he strikes me as honest, and this book is straight from him, the story told in his words.6. The Dream Hunters, by Steven M. Hamrick. A fair disclosure- this was written by a friend of mine, so this may not be as impartial as usual. The idea behind this historical fiction work, which I know was many years in the making, is an interesting one. The story centers on Roger Douglas, a young man who finds himself facing both the Creek Wars and the War of 1812, two historic periods that tend to get short shrift in the schools and in publications. Roger, half Scottish and half Muscogee, is looking to inherit his late father's trade -- exchanging goods with the Native Americans and white Americans. However, the brewing wars alter his plans in more ways than he can foresee. It's a lengthy book, but well-paced; it kept me reading and I got through it in a couple of weeks.Some of the dialogue and Roger's thoughts/conversation with his deceased father come across as a bit stilted early on, but things smooth out as the book progresses. The 400+ pages might daunt a younger reader but I can see a grade school teacher reading a chapter or two of this in class, in connection with this era in history. There are some battles of course, but there's nothing gratuitous. Hamrick's book touches on issues such as rascism and the cost of war, but the overall light tone won't make these topics too intimidating. I would recommend it for fourth grade and older.
Currently reading: Hidden Like Anne Frank, by Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis.
7. Hidden Like Anne Frank, by Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis. This book gives 14 first-hand accounts from adults who, as children or teens, were forced to go into hiding when Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands. Most were in hiding for at least two years, moved from place to place by the country's active resistance members. The book is aimed at readers 12 and older; the narratives strike a balance between conveying the horrors of what these individuals went through and the often bittersweet (at best) followup without getting too graphic. This would be a good companion novel to The Diary of Anne Frank; an interesting note is that one of the contributors saw Anne and her sister Margot at Auschwitz and recalled going to school with them. These children and teens, and their families, were often moved multiple times to try to keep ahead of the Germans and the NSB. One boy was moved more than 40 times. There are stories of bravery, of betrayal, of loss and reunited- but with a different reality. The stories include information about life afterwards, and several of the narrators talked about how the Hunger Winter and the War, the splitting up of families and the constant uncertainty and fear led to permanent fissures in the family - emotional and physical. It's a beautifully told compilation of personal accounts that should interest both younger and older readers.Currently reading: Sin in the Second City, by Karen Abbott.
8. Witch Wraith (The Dark Legacy of Shannara), by Terry Brooks. This is the third and final book in the Dark Legacy series. I honestly wasn't sure how Brooks would pull this off- there was so much going on by the end of the second book I wasn't sure how he would wrap up everything in just one more book. But he did it, and for the most part in a way that didn't feel rushed or contrived. There are still a lot of questions left hanging at the end of the third book, but given the unsettling tone of this entire series, I think it is fitting that not everything gets tied up in a neat bow. It's tough to review this without giving away major spoilers. Let's just say the body count is pretty high, and it's rare to see missions and characters screw up so royally- and the consequences play through. The ending is at best bittersweet. No one escapes unscathed. I especially felt sorry for Aphenglow. This is one of the bleakest fantasy trilogies I've ever read. I do wonder if Brooks will address some of the questions in later Shannara books. I do hope so, especially regarding Aphenglow.Currently reading: Sin in the Second City, by Karen Abbott, and Eiffel's Tower, by Jill Jonnes.
9. Sin in the Second City, by Karen Abbott. This is a fun read for those interested in a rather different sort of history. The narrative centers on two sisters, best known as Ada and Minna Everleigh (although they changed their names, ages and histories like most people change garments). At their height, they ran the Everleigh Club in Chicago's Levee district (basically a semi-sanctioned red light district) at the turn of the 20th century. This was the best-known brothel in Chicago, if not the nation. When they were finally forced to close due to mayoral decree, they were millionaires. Several expressions and ideas, such as drinking champagne out of a lady's slipper and the term "to get laid" stems from the Everleigh Club. The sisters ran their establishment as a very upscale resort (that term having a very different meaning back then), with a minimal fee to get in. There was never a shortage of clients, and their "boys" as the sisters called them included some big celebrities. Perhaps the biggest name was the brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The sisters' success earned them many enemies-- both from the local madames, who resented the loss of business, and the reformers, who wished to see the Levee district cleaned up and the illicit activities abolished once and for all. But the Everleigh sisters were not only charming socially (particularly the younger sister Minna) but were shrewd businesswomen who knew when to fight and when to fold. What is interesting is that Ada and Minna had hoped to bring the veneer of respectability to the "world's oldest profession." They had strict rules for both their "butterflies" and the clients. No drugs and no abuse on either side were allowed, among other decrees. The girls had regular medical care and earned $100 a week to start-- on top of board and meals. This is in the day where $18 a week was considered a decent salary. Ada and Minna insisted on educating their girls, especially in poetry and literature. Other parts of the story relate the background and efforts of the reformers, who did have legitimate concerns about "white slavery"- basically, girls enticed west under false pretense, who were then drugged, raped and forced into working at a brothel. The reformer's actions led to, among other things, the passage of the Mann act, which is probably best known for its misapplication and abuses (look up boxer Jack Johnson for but one example) but was initially passed with the best of intentions. It's hard to know, in review, who really won in the end. At any rate, this was a quick and interesting read. It would be an interesting dual read of this and "The Girls of Murder City"- another book about crime and corruption in Chicago, which is actually set not too long after the action wraps up in this book.Currently reading: Eiffel's Tower, by Jill Jonnes, and Liar Temptress Soldier Spy by Karen Abbott.
10. Liar Temptress Soldier Spy, by Karen Abbott. I really enjoyed this story about four women who worked as undercover agents in some capacity during the Civil War. Both sides of the bloody conflict are represented. Working for the Union were Emma Edmonds, a young woman who disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the military; and Elizabeth Van Lew,an older single woman from a wealthy family, who smuggled both information and Union prisoners to the North from the heart of Richmond. On the side of the Confederates was Belle Boyd, a fiery teen for most of the war, who used her charm to coax crucial information from Union soldiers; and Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a widow who cultivated relationships with Northern politicians in the effort to pass on secrets to the South. A book can (and I'm sure has) be written on each of these women individually, who risked everything for what they believed was right, and who risked everything during and after the Civil War.11. Eiffel's Tower, by Jill Jonnes. This is a fascinating read about the 1889 World Fair in Paris and the creation of the Eiffel Tower. This structure today is so synonymous with France today, that it is hard to believe that there was a time when it was highly controversial, was almost not built and was almost torn down after its 20-year lease was up. Ironically, it was the start of World War I, which tore up so much of Europe, that saved the tower, when what was then the tallest structure in the world proved to be a useful beacon for radio transmissions. The story also concentrates on the World Fair itself, which, despite the initial apathy of the other European countries, wound up being a rousing success. Prominent figures mentioned throughout include Gustave Eiffel, Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley and Thomas Jefferson. If I have a nit, it's that I think there are too many stories on too many individuals, some who are only on the periphery of the fair and some who really weren't involved in the fair at all; while this is a short read at just a tick over 300 pages, there were still several times when I got drawn out of the atmosphere the book did such a great job in creating as I puzzled "OK, now who is this person again?" But again- this is a minor point. I'd recommend reading this, then following it with Devil in the White City, which concerns the Chicago Fair held shortly after.
12. Heaven is Paved With Oreos, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. This is a good and surprisingly deep book for preteens. I admit I wasn't sure how I would like this book after the first few pages, but it got better as it went along. The main protagonist is Sarah, who is getting ready to enter high school. The book is her journal entries. The story is a fairly typical coming-of-age story, with major changes coming first from tension from Curtis, Sarah's longtime friend, and after an eventful trip to Rome with her grandmother, whom Sarah calls Z. Murdock does a great job recreating the thoughts of a young teen (albeit a very smart teen), and there was one part at the end that had me laugh out loud (without giving too much away, it's Sarah's description of an album cover by The Eagles, and her description of the band.) Fans of Murdock's Dairy Queen trilogy will be happy to hear that D.J. is in this book, although as a secondary character.
13. Texts from Jane Eyre, by Mallory Ortberg. The concept of this book is interesting: Literary characters (and even a couple authors) text each other. Of course we see texts from Jane to Rochester, but fictional texters include Medea, Scarlett O'Hara, Nancy Drew, Pride and Predjudice, Edgar Allen Poe, and characters from the Babysitters Club. The funniest were the ones from Medea, The Great Gatsby and Nancy Drew. Many of the text were pretty amusing but a problem with this book is that if you are not familiar with the original source material, you probably aren't going to get the jokes. I know there were a couple that went over my head. That's problem one. Problem two is that the source material that inspired the text exchanges run from classical to gradeschool serial. Nancy Drew is one thing, she's fairly universal. But unless the reader is/was a hardcore Babysitters Club or Sweet Valley High, you probably aren't going to get the humor there (I remember reading those books eons ago, but only perhaps three or four from each series). Also, current readers of these books probably aren't going to be steeped in the classics. I think this book either needed to go all contemporary or all classics, and pick an audience. Also, while whom was texting whom could usually be gleaned from the context, sometimes it was tough- having names would have helped. Indeed, the made-up handles the fictional characters created could have been its own source for hilarity.Currently reading: The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, The Romanov Sisters, by Helen Rappaport, and Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
14. The Romanov Sisters, by Helen Rappaport. This was a really interesting read on the last tsar and his family. This one concentrates on the four sisters (obviously, given the title): Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. Rappaport fleshes out the four girls, outlining their different personalities, through their letters, their diaries and through the recordings of others. The portrayal of the family is sympathetic (some may say even too sympathetic). I come to the conclusion that one would be hard-pressed to find an unluckier royal family. From mother Alexandra being German and having her own considerable health issues, to having four daughters in a country salivating for a son (and a side note- all five of her children were huge babies- the smallest was 8 pounds, the largest, Alexei, was 11-something; this makes me wonder if undiagnosed gestational diabetes, followed by full-blown undiagnosed diabetes, contributed to her ailments), then the constant criticism about the hands-on way Tsar Nicholas and Alexandra raised their children, and of course there's Alexei having hemophilia. The four daughters were described by those who knew them as very kind, unaffected and more like ordinary, middle class children than those of royals. I come away with the impression that the Romanov family would have been happier as lesser nobles or even middle class rather than being made in charge of a country in desperate need of a strong and forceful leader. I was especially surprised by Alexandra's portrayal. In what I've read and the movies I've seen, she was always painted as cold and indifferent to the suffering of the poor. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, Alexandra, Olga and Tatiana were all active as nurses during World War I. Tatiana especially shone in this capacity. Her distance was a result of cultural differences, her health issues, and trying to cope with Alexei's health issues. The conclusion of the book goes into what happened to the family's loyal servants and the children's tutors. All in all, a great read for history buffs.15. The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan. This has been on my "want to read" list for some time. It's a quick read, and thoroughly enjoyable. Tan's book weaves the stories of four mothers who came to the United States from China, and four of their daughters who were brought up in the United States. The story centers somewhat on Jing-Mei Woo, whose mother recently passed away. Jing-Mei has been invited by her mother's longtime friends to be the fourth player in their regular mahjong group, which they call the Joy Luck Club. During the first meeting, Jing-Mei finds out more about her mother, whom she felt she never understood well, as well as the other women in the group. The stories run the gamut of emotions, from funny and sweet to heartbreakingly sad.
16. The Black Book and Schwambrania, by Lev Kassil. This was...OK. The story centers on the protagonist, Lev, as a young boy. He and his younger brother Oska create an imaginary world to escape their humdrum world and indulge in adventures and their idealism. They call their world Schwambrania. They draw maps, make their own codes of conduct and a fictional cast of characters. Their imaginary world changes somewhat as they grow up and as the conflicts of World War I and the Revolution encroach on their quiet life. This story has some interesting ideas and wonderful moments. I especially love the younger brother Oska, whose precocious and inquisitive nature leads to the funniest moments (I had to stop reading for a few moments after reading the scene between Oska and the priest I was laughing so hard). However, I feel this book was trying to be something like Doll Bones or Bridge to Terabithia, but it falls horribly short. A big problem is the book is *very* choppy. The Schwambrania scenes felt like an afterthought half the time. The translation is a bit rough in spots, but I've read worse. I would love for someone to take this and redo it. Also, it needs trimmed; yes, several of the 483 pages are illustrations but it still dragged in places.
17. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. Another book that's been on my "want to read" list for some time. This is a fun adventure tale, one I think I would have enjoyed as a kid. It's also nice to finally see some of the pirate references. The story's main protagonist, young Jim Hawkins, helps his parents (later just his mother) run an inn and tavern. Their lives change with the appearance of an eccentric sailor. When he dies, Hawkins finds a map to pirate treasure, which sends him and other notable citizens on the Hispaniola. Hawkins finds out by chance that several of the crew on the Hispaniola are planning to mutiny, so they can commandeer all of the treasure. The mutinous group is lead by Long John Silver, one of the more intriguing and ambiguous villains in literature. Hawkins is a borderline Gary Stu and you have to ignore some of the plot points where your credulity gets a bit of a workout. But treat it as what it is meant to be- an adventure yarn- and it's enjoyable.
Currently reading: The Laramie Project, by Moises Kaufman, and The Diary of Anne Frank
18. The Laramie Project, and The Laramie Project 10 Years Later, by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project. I've had the pleasure of seeing The Laramie Project twice, but it was still nice to have an opportunity to read the script. Wow, what an incredible piece. After the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, Kaufman and a group of others from the Tectonic Theater project trekked to the community to interview the residents there about the case, which garnered international attention. The play is a result of those interviews, and the cover the spectrum of voices. It's a moving theatrical piece, handled with sensitivity, on issues that raise controversy and even ire today. I was not aware that Kaufman and several members of the theater group went back to Laramie during the 10th year anniversary of the murder to do followup interviews, which include interviews with Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, who are both serving two consecutive life sentences for the murder. This play concentrates on the changes within the 10-year span- both in Laramie and in the progress of passing hate crime legislation. Again, an excellent play.
Currently reading: The Diary of Anne Frank
19. The Diary of Anne Frank. This is actually not just the diary, but includes biographies, background, photos, maps and other details- totaling more than 700 pages. The diary part included Anne Frank's initial writings, her own revisions, and the best-known German translation. It was neat seeing the differences among the three versions, even if it was a bit confusing at times. What can you say about a journal that has been read by millions? Something that has touched so many people? Anne Frank was a somewhat ordinary girl (albeit with a considerable talent for writing, which improved as she matured) in extraordinarily horrifying circumstances. My experience with her story beforehand was limited to seeing a movie, reading a play script in high school and seeing two staged versions based on an updated (and much improved) version of that first script. Of course, nothing beats reading the actual source material. I found myself a bit shocked at the liberties taken, although I'm not unsympathetic. It's not easy cramming more than two years into two or so hours. One thing I had always wondered about is what they would have done if the plumbing went out- eight people living with one bathroom would be tricky enough. Compromised plumbing did, indeed, happen on a couple occasions. It was fascinating to watch Anne's writing style, her attitudes and reflections- many quite profound- mature as the diaries went on. It's also impossible to read this book without a tinge of sorrow, since you know the final outcome of the Annex residents. You always have to wonder "what if...?" What if they could have remained hidden even just three more weeks? What would have happened to the families after the liberation? Would we know them as well as we do now? I can see why this is often assigned in school- and it should be. Yes, there are some "controversial" subjects, such as talk about sex and menstruation. But Anne's voice is a voice many preteens and teens can relate to. Certainly, we are not at war and don't have to live in hiding as she did. But while she does discuss in her diaries what is going on outside the Annex, she also talks about her difficult relationship with her mother, her quarrels with Mr. and Mrs. van Pels, her slowly budding romance with Peter, her love of movies, and her love of freedom and ideas. This would be a good book to pair with Hidden Like Anne Frank, which I read earlier this year.Currently reading: 100 Ideas That Changed Fashion, by Harriet Worsley, and Mark Twain's Guide to Diet, Exercise, Beauty, Fashion, Investment, Romance, Health and Happiness, collected and edited by Mark Dawidziak.
20. Mark Twain's Guide to Diet, Exercise, Beauty, Fashion, Investment, Romance, Health and Happiness, collected and edited by Mark Dawidziak. This is a fun and fast read for Mark Twain fans. The book is a collection of Mark Twain quotes on all the topics mentioned in the title, and then some. Most highlight the famous author's acerbic wit and unflinching opinions, but occasionally, there is a sweet or wistful reflection, particularly in the chapter on Romance. I'm sure this is a reflection of Twain's own love for his wife.Currently reading: 100 Ideas That Changed Fashion, by Harriet Worsley and The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas
21. 100 Ideas That Changed Fashion, by Harriet Worsely. Really enjoyed this look at the defining moments of fashion, some of which I'd never considered. One, it's hard to overstate, and this book drives it home, how much the two World Wars changed the fashion scene, particularly for women. Many trends listed here have a direct or indirect connection to those world-shattering events. The brief articles are chock full of interesting information on fashion, trends and trendsetters. This would be a great book for anyone wanting a quick primer on the fashion world, or your "reluctant reader" who follows Project Runway religiously. A couple minor nits. One, in the article on the white wedding gown, it mentions Queen Victoria as the one who slowly ushered in the concept, making it sound like she was doing this as a romantic and revolutionary. Actually, her white wedding dress and eschewing a crown of jewels for a garland of flowers were a sign of austerity- plain fabric was less expensive than print, certainly less expensive than brocade. The country was facing financial difficulties at that time, and the new queen's white gown was her way of scaling back on costs. Also, in the same section, it mentions that most women wore pink or blue at their weddings. Blue, yes, but at that time pink (and red) were considered men's colors. You occasionally see a portrait of a woman in a pink print dress but not often. In another section, it makes mention how much World War I changed women's fashions, and how military uniforms impacted women's wear. This is very true, and as I said earlier, the World Wars did more than anything in completely turning women's fashion on its head. But the way the article is written, it makes it sound like war never had an impact on women's fashion. Certainly not true. In the Civil War, women often used military-inspired braiding on hems and sleeves, and the fashion of slashing garments in the middle ages to allow undergarments to show through was a result of war. Still, all in all an entertaining and enlightening read. Especially loved the sections on the impact of technology on fashion.22. In the Shadows, by Kiersten White, with illustrations by Jim DiBartolo. This novel actually tells two related stories, in two different formats, and the effect is quite ingenious. It opens with a series of illustrations, then goes into a seemingly unrelated chapter. As the book goes on, the pieces of the dark mystery come together. The story centers on five teens living at a boarding house in a remote town- Cora and Minnie, who run the house with their recently widowed mother; Thomas and Charles, brothers who have been sent there for the summer by their father for Charles' health- and perhaps darker reasons; and Arthur, who harbors several closely-guarded secrets but who knows more than he lets on about the mysterious happenings in the town - happenings that threaten to ensnare all five of them. This is a quick read, with an engaging mystery. The five main characters are well done. My only nit is I wonder if this would have worked even better as a series, so we can get more into the back stories on several of the other characters, including Mary. Also, I do wonder if the ending was wrapped up a bit too neatly and quickly. All in all, though, I really liked it. The illustrations are just gorgeous, detailed and dark. This would be good for preteens and teens looking for a good mystery or a quick summer read.
Currently reading: Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas; Cleveland in the Gilded Age, by Dan Ruminski and Alan Dutka; and A Curious Man, by Neal Thompson
23. Cleveland in the Gilded Age, by Dan Ruminski and Alan Dutka. This was a bit frustrating. There's a lot to like here, it's not a terrible book. The information seems complete and well-researched, I love all the photos and the authors clearly know their history. I also like Ruminski's conversational style. The problems are mostly with organization. The organization is all over the place, and there is a lot of repetition. A lot of this comes from having two different authors with two different writing styles writing in the same chapter. Both are good writers, although Dutka has more of academic feel. In my personal opinion, if you are going to have two different authors, either the writing needs to meld and flow as one (you can tell who wrote what, and the shifts in writing style are jarring), or have one author write one chapter, and the other write the next). It's not a bad book, and there is a lot of fascinating trivia. For example, I knew Rockefeller lived on Millionaire's Row, but never knew that Euclid Avenue was considered THE spot in the nation for the elite, and was even a tourist destination for overseas travelers. I knew Northeast Ohio once was renowned for pottery, glassmaking/marbles, Quaker Oats/cereals and - of course- rubber. Did you know that once a Cleveland company was the largest producer of kerosene stoves in the world? I was surprised how much industry and innovation had its start in Cleveland. As I said, there's a lot of good information on the people who lived on Millionaire's Row and their industries- I just wish it were better organized.Currently reading: Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas; A Curious Man, by Neal Thompson; and The Vanishing Newspaper, by Philip Meyer.
24. A Curious Man, by Neal Thompson. This book, about the life of Robert Ripley, of Believe It Or Not fame, is a fascinating look at the man, the times he lived in and the interesting information he unearthed. The novel includes several pictures of Ripley and the people he met. Thompson shows the interesting, engaging nature of Ripley, warts and all. Ripley was sometimes a mix of human contradictions and as interesting as his travels and the people he wrote about. This was a man who grew up in poverty, he dropped out of high school months before graduating and was fired from his first newspaper job. But he went on to improve himself, he took considerable risks but eventually became on of the top-paid sportswriters and cartoonists; later of course he'd become *the* top paid-cartoonist... and radio personality... and television personality. One interesting tidbit- Ripley was an accomplished and award-winning handball player. I highly recommend this book for history buffs, odd fact aficionados and for anyone who likes a good read.Currently reading: Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas (yeah, slowly but surely making my way through this one); The Vanishing Newspaper, by Philip Meyer; and The Angel Tree, by [Daphne Benedis-Grab.
25. The Vanishing Newspaper, by Philip Meyer. I wasn't sure I was going to finish this one. It's not the book per se. It's well-written, with a lot of good information and takeaways despite its age. But that's the big problem: it was published in 2004, which means that the information itself was most likely written at least 13 years ago. A lot of things have happened since then, rendering large parts of this book moot. The whole third chapter about advertisers can easily be skipped or skimmed. As I said, there are some interesting statistics (although almost certainly dated) and information, but it's fascinating in a way that looking into a time capsule and looking at predictions of the future holds one's interest. I am curious whether the author has come back to this book, or would consider doing so, and doing an update. It did enlighten me a bit on why many newspaper companies have taken the actions they have, and it has a good chapter on the impact of Wall Street on the newspaper business (really, the news business in general). But the ultimate lesson learned- I will try to remember, with a book like this, to check the publication date. Had I realized it was so old, I would have left it on the shelf.Currently reading: Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas (yeah, still plugging away- this is a good story, just very long); The Angel Tree, by Daphne Benedis-Grab; and Dead Wake, by Erik Larson.
26. The Angel Tree, by Daphne Benedis-Grab. This is a good book for the pre-teen set; I know I would have loved it in grade school, especially around the holidays. A small town has an uplifting and mysterious tradition. Each year, a tall tree goes up in the middle of town. It is decorated, and residents who have a need are encouraged to attach notes naming their desire to its branches. Through the month of December, the wishes are granted by an unknown benefactor. Four children come together to try to find who the mysterious Angel is. Each of the children face their own issues. Lucy, who is blind, is worried about her seeing eye dog. Cami struggles with comparing herself to her more popular cousin. Max covers his insecurities by being the class clown. Joe, the newcomer, wrestles with adjusting to a new town and a new life. The four find friendship and closeness as they try to investigate the Angel, so they can throw a thank-you celebration for the benefactor's generosity. The book provides a nice lesson about not taking things at face value, and the benefits of giving. As I said, I think grade-schoolers will enjoy this. My only qualms- and these are minor - is that one, I thought the wishes of the children were resolved a bit too quickly; I know a part of that is to give more time in solving the mystery (which was well done).The second thing involves a bit of a spoiler...
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I honestly thought the book was going in a certain direction as to whom the Angel was- that it was all of the town's adults, or at least several people. That would have made the most sense to me, rather than having the bulk of the work be done by one individual. Personally, I thought having multiple people involved not only would have been more realistic, it would have allowed the children to transition as "helpers" for the tradition.
These are minor points, however- this is, all in all, a great holiday story for children.
27. Dead Wake, by Erik Larson. Larson's latest book details the time before and the aftermath of the sinking of the Lusitania, an event that would be the first volley into tempting the United States into entering World War I. The action shifts from the ship itself, to the White House, to Great Britain and to U-20, the German submarine which would sink what was at the time the fastest and most luxurious passenger liner in the world. I admit I didn't know a lot about the incident, other than it led to the loss of a lot of people and that it sorely tested America's neutral stance. America would be drawn into the war a couple years later, of course, after an even more incendiary incident: the interception of a message from Germany to Mexico, asking for an alliance and offering up a part of the United States as a prize. The author, as is his style, not only goes over the facts and figures, but highlights various people affected by the infamous event. All the small pieces that led up to this incident -- the delays in launching, the fog, the slower speed the ship made -- resulted in more than a thousand dead-- many of the victims women and children. Indeed, it's a miracle in some ways that there were any survivors at all- the one stroke of luck was that the weather was calm. Chilling is the ruthless and efficient Schwieger, who seemed to have no reservation in taking out a passenger ship filled with civilians. More chilling still is Germany's exuberant reaction and the escalation of U-boat attacks. But perhaps the most chilling is the theory that the British government back then may have wanted the attack to happen, to entice American to join the Allies. This is not just an idle conspiracy theory, either. For if there was no plan to dangle an unprotected Lusitania in front of the nose of U-20 like a rich sweet, then the failure of British intelligence was colossal.
Currently reading: Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas (roughly two-thirds done)
28. Followers, by Anna Davies. If a preteen or younger teen is looking for a cotton-candy book to pass some time, they may find this book a good way to do that. Personally, I thought it was too predictable (I figured out pretty quickly who the culprit was), the characters were rather flat, a couple things were never explained and the ending just not realistic at all (it was too neat). In the book, Briana, who goes to an exclusive arts-based school, is disappointed that she doesn't get cast in the school play. She is asked to be the media directer- spur interest from the students through her Twitter account. Things start to turn ugly, though, when her rival turns up dead and she becomes a suspect.29. Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne. This was an interesting read, which about the Comanche tribes and the final push of white settlers into the west. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is how bizarrely circular the history is. One of the reasons for the clash was the settlement of the extended Parker family in lands previously owned by one of the Comanche tribes. The Comanche's range was enormous. They were skilled horseback riders and buffalo hunters. The Comanche attacked the Parker family, slaughtering many of them and took several captives. Among them was Cynthia Ann, who was about 11 at the time. She was adopted into the Comanche tribe and eventually married one of the leaders. She had three children. The oldest, Quanah, would go on to become one of the most feared Comanche chiefs in the final battles between the United States military and the remaining tribes. After the defeat of the Native Americans, Quanah, ironically enough, also became of the the staunchest advocates for isolated holdouts to come to the reservations and adapt, and often served as a sort of ambassador. The book is interesting because it portrays all sides, warts and all. There was a lot of barbarity on several fronts. But while school-based histories paint the conflicts between the indigenous people and the white settlers as largely one sided, that was hardly the case. There was a good deal of back and forth battle, with victories - and mistakes - on both sides.
30. The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas. Finally finished this one. It's actually quite an enjoyable yarn (if a bit slow at the beginning), but it is long. The story itself is fairly well known, and has been adapted (and parodied) in countless ways. There's adventure, there's swordfighting (naturally), there's some tragedy and a lot of humor. The story centers on D'Artagnan, who is NOT a Musketeer (at least not at first), but strives to be one. He is thrown together with three veteran Musketeers, Porthos, Aethos and Aramis. Together, they strive to protect the crown and fight not just with their swords but with their wits. There's intrigue, particularly with the wily Cardinal Richelieu, the slippery Rochefort and the devious Milady de Winter, who is quite possibly one of the best literary villainesses I have ever come across. Richelieu also is quite interesting, an ultimate chess master who knows how to play behind the scenes and how to keep from getting his hands too dirty. The Musketeers are fun as well- there's the quiet Athos, who has a hidden past, there's the deeply religious Aramis, and there's the fun-loving Porthose. D'Artagnan shows the biggest change as the story progresses (albeit a bit unevenly and not consistently). At first, he's a brash, hot-headed youth but gradually becomes a respected compatriot, and even a leader, to the others.
Currently reading: The Johnstown Flood, by David McCullough, and The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan.
31. The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan. I really didn't know much about the Dust Bowl, which coincided with and exacerbated the Great Depression in the 1930s. I had always had the impression that this weather/environmental event was part bad luck, part human ignorance and that it was a miserable time for those living through it. After reading Egan's book, the Dust Bowl was about 10 percent bad luck in the form of a drought, and 90 percent humanity's hubris. And that's being generous to humanity. Also, from the pictures throughout and the first-account descriptions, this was not just uncomfortable, but deadly. One vet, who saw World War II, said the Dust Bowl was worse than combat. Children and the elderly died of dust pneumonia, where the fine particles would so line and inflame the lungs that it became perilous. One of the more heartbreaking accounts was a woman's description of losing her infant daughter to dust pneumonia. It didn't spare even the healthy - in another segment, a doctor bluntly tells an otherwise healthy man that he is stuffed with dust. That man died shortly afterwards. Livestock died, were autopsied and found with their insides so crammed with dirt that even if there was grass to eat, it could not have been absorbed into their bodies. On two occasions, the dust and dirt from the midwest blew into and coated the east coast, including New York and Washington. A Black Sunday account- the worst dust storm- an aviator who encountered it tried to fly over it. At 23,000 feet, she realized that would be impossible so she turned back around and sped as fast as she could towards safety. On this day, people reported not even being able to see their hands in front of their faces. The whole phenomenon, as did most of the woes of the Great Depression, had its roots in the optimistic 1920s (and even before that, with The Great War). People were encouraged to migrate west to settle the now more or less empty lands and take up farming- the government even offered free train rides. Land was cheap and, with the Europe fighting (and later recovering from) the War, wheat was in high demand and wheat prices were high. A wheat farmer could make a huge profit for about a decade or so. The minority of voices that cautioned against the wholesale attempts at farming the arid grassland areas were ignored (it's a common theme- voices of reason always get muzzled when there is a buck to be made, and long history and the multitudes of lessons have not changed that). Combined with the bad luck of an unusually rainy decade (and yes, I mean bad luck- bad luck masquerading as good fortune), people flocked to the west to seek a new life. They tore up millions and millions of acres of grazing land and planted wheat and other crops. Due to the unusual amount of rain, some people even planted and had success with fruit trees.
Things started going sour at the end of the 1920s, when wheat prices started to plummet. To maintain their profits - or just to break even - farmers tore up more ground and planted even more crops. Then the rainy decade changed to that area's more typical dry nature. The Buffalo grasses and other native flora, which was used to such variations and could withstand drought, was pretty much gone. Left in its place was the more fragile wheat and food crops, which withered away, leaving only enormous tracts of uncovered and depleted land. The author states at the end that the area, even today, hasn't fully recovered. And thus the worst ecological disaster of this country's history was born.
There's a lot of good history and research; what makes this account come to life are the personal accounts, the stories of the people who lived through this time. It should be required reading -- not only in the schools, but among lawmakers as well.
32. The Johnstown Flood, by David McCullough. Another example of hubris in action. In 1889, a dam containing a large artificial lake- a lake created by a group of millionaires for fishing and boating- failed, sending huge amounts of water careening through the lower towns, killing more than 2,000 people (the exact total will never be known). From the first-hand accounts, it is amazing more didn't die, either from the flooding, the fire that raged afterwards in Johnstown, or from exposure or disease. The book includes maps (a bit fuzzy), illustrations from that time and many pictures that show the extent of the damage, which wiped out whole areas. I think one of the more haunting accounts (told by a couple people) was that there was so much debris being swept away, people couldn't even see the water at first, just the roofs, buildings, trees and other items swept up in that massive wall of water. McCullough's book outlines the history of the hunt club and the dam, the day before the flood and the aftermath. While there was some bad behavior, help efforts and rebuilding were far more prevalent. All in all, a good read, very educational.
Currently reading: The Last Empress, by Anchee Min, and Pioneer Girl by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
33. The Last Empress, by Anchee Min. I'm not sure how much of this book is history and how much is speculation and interpretation, but what I do know is that it was hard to put The Last Empress down. The story, told in first person, is about Empress Tzu-Hsi (Empress Orchid, or the Dowager Empress). This is a sequel to Empress Orchid, and takes place after the death of Tzu-Hsi's husband Emperor Hsien Feng. The empress finds herself trying to educate her son Tung Chih, the emperor's only heir, into assuming a role of leadership during a stife-filled period of China's history. Unfortunately, Tung Chih is not only an incompetent leader but dies young. Tzu-Hsi's adopted son, her nephew Guang-hsu, is only a slight improvement. Tzu-Hsi finds herself battling both adversaries and differing factions within China, and from the western countries and Japan looking to seize control of the crumbling empire. I get the impression from what little I've read that Tzu-Hsi is, even now, considered a controversial character (she certainly was a lightening rod for controversy when she was alive). Loved the layers, the descriptions and the symbolism. I can see this made into a movie (if it hasn't been already). All in all, I really enjoyed this. Will have to add Empress Orchid to my reading list now (yeah, nothing like reading the sequel first; ah well, this book stands well on its own).34. Pioneer Girl, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (edited by Pamela Smith Hill). I had to wait several months to get this from the library, but it was worth it. This was a fascinating read for me. I grew up reading (and re-reading, and re-re-reading) the Little House books. This book includes a draft of the autobiography of famous author Laura Ingalls Wilder. The autobiographical material is, perhaps, about 100 pages or so. Much of the book includes a history of how the books (both Pioneer Girl and the fictionalized Little House series) got their start, and annotations throughout the autobiography (some pages are nothing but annotations). Indeed, the annotations are almost overwhelming, but worth the read. If you have time, I recommend reading the autobiography, then going back through and skimming the autobiography for context and reading the copious amounts of notes and history that go with it. Pioneer Girl is darker than the Little House series; in it, Wilder describes the loss of her baby brother, a frightening incident with a drunken man and the many illnesses that struck. One thing that really jumped out at me is how young she was when she was asked to teach. I knew she had been a teacher, but thought she had been in her early 20s. She MIGHT have been as young as 15 (the annotations point out in this section, as well as several others, where historical events don't necessarily jive with Wilder's recollections), and was no older than 18 when she first headed a classroom. Wow. I can't even imagine. Fans of the series should appreciate this novel, and while it deals with some darker themes, preteens may enjoy it as well, if they aren't overwhelmed by the plethora of historic detail. Also loved all the photos and illustrations throughout- those were a nice touch.
35. The Ashtabula Hat Trick, by Les Roberts. I'm a big fan of the Milan Jacovich novels, and this one does not disappoint. It was a lot of fun and a quick read- I finished it in a weekend. I'm just loving the relationship between Milan and Tobe Blaine. Their dialogue just crackles with wit and fun. Only warning I have is be careful drinking beverages while reading this- because you may be doing a spit-take or three. Seriously, though, I hope we see more of Tobe in future books. Also really liking Kevin O'Bannion, who is quickly learning the ropes as a private eye and proving himself more and more indispensable to Milan. The Ashtabula Hat Trick is set in a small (and fictional) town in Ashtabula County. This quiet, out of the way place has been rocked by two murders. Tobe, a homicide detective with the Cleveland police force, is called in to help investigate. She brings Milan along to assist in an unofficial capacity. Aside from the strange and brutal murders, Tobe and Milan quickly discover an overt prejudice in the town. Basically, anyone who is not white, Christian and heterosexual is viewed with a jaundiced eye. The African American Tobe and Slovenian Milan get a lot of stink-eyes cast their way. It takes the combined efforts of Tobe, Milan and "K.O." to get to the bottom of things, and not without some hazards along the way.
While the town and people are fictional, a lot of the issues are taken straight from today's headlines, particularly with the fire-and-brimstone preacher. The ending is perhaps the most "gray area" I've seen in this series. The reader is really left with a conundrum. I do wonder if the ending here will be revisited in a future book. While each of the novels in the series stands well on its own, they maintain a solid continuity. I don't want to say more than that for fear of giving away spoilers. Time will tell.
Currently reading: Ida B. Wells: The Light of Truth, edited by Mia Bay.
36. The Making of Major League, by Jonathan Knight. This fun, fast read goes behind the scenes of the baseball movie "Major League." It includes interviews with several of the actors, the director and others involved with the movie and has pictures from promotion stops and even a few pages of the script (including deleted material). Now, I have a confession to make: I've never actually seen this movie (yeah, I'm probably one of maybe a dozen Cleveland-area residents older than 21 who hasn't). I really want to though, after reading this collection of anecdotes and memories. If the movie is half as fun and engaging as the book was, I will enjoy it. There are many sections where I laughed out loud; I can imagine those who have actually seen the movie and know more about what happened in front of the camera will get even more out of the hilarity. "Major League," of course, is a fictionalized story of the Cleveland Indians, who are the underdogs of the professional baseball world (a case of art imitating life). However, they go on to win the division title, despite the nefarious efforts of the team's new owner. The book includes an introduction from Charlie Sheen. Currently reading- Ida B. Wells: The Light of Truth, edited by Mia Bay.
37. Taking on Diversity, by Rupert W. Nacoste. This should be required reading by anyone who wants to hold public office, anyone who teaches and… really anyone who wants to interact with the public on any level. I’ve purged a lot of read books from my shelves, but I plan to keep this one. It not only brings up several issues regarding our diverse nation that I never considered before, but offers solutions on bridging the gaps that exist. Boy, do we need that right now! Nacoste, who teaches at North Carolina State University, would be a cool teacher to have. His writing style is conversational and easy to follow, but he pulls no punches. One thing he emphasizes is that there are no innocents. Or, to quote a song from Avenue Q, Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist. The book goes into more than just issues of race, and Nacoste includes numerous examples of his students’ writings (withholding names). One thing I hear a good deal is that discrimination is in the past, and discrimination doesn’t happen today. This book is a wakeup call- the very real examples of discrimination along issues of race, ethnicity, disability, sex, and religion are all too current. Prejudice is still very much alive and well, and all the more rabid from some sectors as we head on a (hopefully) steady course towards an increasingly diverse future. I say “hopefully” because Nacoste’s view is that there is no turning back time, no going back to segregation and government-sanctioned discrimination. I, personally, hope he is right. But events of this past year make me wonder if we can take progress so much for granted. Still, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to help the people in our society work through our differences. 38. Ida B. Wells-Barnett: The Light of Truth, edited by Mia Bay and Henry Louis Gates Jr. It took me all summer to read this dense book, but it is worth the effort. This is a collection of work by famed journalist and writer Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Most of the writing deals with her essays, columns and pamphlets protesting the lynch laws prevalent during her time, and her writing was an eye-opener for me. I know I’m not the only one but my “knowledge” (if it could be called that) of lynching was somewhat limited. I thought, and always had the impression, that lynching meant a spur-of-the moment enraged mob hanging someone. Oh no. That is the sanitized version of what lynching meant. Wells-Barnett, through her writings which could wax poetic one moment and hurl barbs the next, provides facts, numbers, figures and many interviews to counter the common opinions of the time- that lynchings were necessary, and were always done against someone who was guilty and deserved such treatment. Wells-Barnett details several cases where, when the culprit (who may or may not have been guilty of a crime) could not be found, lynch mobs attacked the family. Wives, children, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers could be targeted. And forget the idea that a lynch mob was a spur of the moment group. There were more than a few cases where trains made special excursions to cities where a lynching was anticipated, and whole families – including small children- came out by the hundreds. And while hanging someone without the full benefit of trial would be horrible enough, it was “just” a hanging if the mob decided to be lenient. Removal of fingers, toes and ears for souvenirs was all too common, as was burning, shooting and stabbing. The victim would often be alive as these atrocities happened. What’s more appalling is the lack of action by the government (at least one governor is quoted as saying that he would have lead a lynch mob if circumstances warranted it). The number of people killed by lynchings run into the thousands. Wells-Barnett early on states that the Civil War really did not end in 1865; civil war continued for decades. I think she had a point. This is not an easy book to read, but it does contain an unvarnished look at our history. A history we need to acknowledge fully if we do not wish to repeat it.
39. El Deafo, by Cece Bell. This charming graphic novel is a sort of autobiography. Bell became deaf after contracting meningitis as a young child. She draws her characters as rabbit-like creatures – it is hard to miss the irony. Bell is unflinchingly honest in telling her story about adapting to a new world where, no matter what, she would stand out as being different. But eventually, she discovers that the hearing aid system she uses for school gives her an ability the other students don’t have, so she becomes El Deafo, someone who has super powers. The drawings are simple and clean, and there is a great mix of humor and sadness. This is good for older grade school and preteens, especially for those who may know someone with a disability.
40. The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander. This story centers on Josh, the narrator, and his twin brother Jordan. The entire book is told in free verse; The Crossover would be an excellent, modern-day book for teachers working on the various forms of poetry with their students. The poetry and feelings conveyed aren’t limited to the sentences themselves, but often how the words are placed. Josh and Jordan are both in middle school. They are incredibly talented basketball players, more than living up to the image of their basketball star father. But this year, the brotherly ties that have always held the twins together starts to fray, particularly after Jordan develops feelings for the new girl in school. The story is a quick read, good for the reluctant reader and sports fan, as well as those looking for something just a bit different. If I have a nit, I did find it hard to believe that the two brothers were only 12, going on 13. The writing and vocabulary feel older, more like high school. That was my only issue. All in all, I highly recommend this book.
41. A Boy and a Jaguar, by Alan Rabinowitz, with illustrations by Catia Chien. This lovely picture book is based on the real story of zoologist and conservationist Alan Rabinowitz. The illustrations have an organic feel, with its greens, golds and browns. Rabinowitz overcame many difficulties to help establish a jaguar sanctuary, fulfilling a promise he made as a child. This would be a good book for younger grade school, either for self-reading or for a teacher or librarian to read.
42. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. This picture book is a feast – both in information and in its illustrations. Most people, of course, have heard of Roget’s Thesaurus- but how many know about the man behind this ubiquitous book? Here, the reader can find a brief biography of Peter Roget, which includes timelines, family information and his thought processes which lead him to compile and publish the first thesaurus. The book is richly illustrated with charts, artfully arranged words and lovely illustrations. The Right Word is a book which you can flip through multiple times and see something new each time. This would be a good read for older grade schoolers (I do wonder if children younger than first grade might be a bit overwhelmed by all the detail), and a good way to learn new words (not to mention introducing a valuable writing tool).
43. Waiting is Not Easy, by Mo Willems. Those looking for a good, fun book for kindergarten age and younger cannot go wrong with any of Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books. Once again, Willems publishes a book that has become a hit. Here, Piggie tells Gerald, an elephant, that she has a surprise for him. Gerald finds it very hard to wait so long for this surprise – something any young child can relate to! But Gerald finds in the end that Piggie’s surprise is well worth the wait.
44. The Noisy Paint Box, by Barb Rosenstock and Mary GrandPre. Artist Vasily Kandinsky always saw the world in a different way. But when he tried to convey what he heard through the colors of his paint box, he only served to confuse and infuriate his parents, family and teachers. As an adult, though, he would connect with other artists who wanted to paint what they heard and felt, and move away from the typical painting subjects such as portraits, still lifes and landscapes. This picture book does a wonderful job not just telling Kandinsky’s story, but showing through color and word placement how a sound might look. I’d recommend The Noisy Paint Box for older grade school; it is a good introduction to teaching abstract art and expanding color vocabulary. What I love about the illustrations is the contrast between Kandinsky’s everyday existence – especially with his strict, straight-laced family – done in muted, almost sepia tones, and the bright, vivid splashes of color when he is painting.
45. Viva Frida, by Yuri Morales. There are several recent books aimed at children and teens about famous artist Frida Kahlo. This book is perfect for younger children. It’s large, colorful illustrations are complimented by bold font types and few words per page. It is a good way to introduce young children (preschool to first grade) to Frida, but a good way to introduce the Spanish language (the book is written in both English and Spanish). What is fascinating about the illustrations is how the pictures use many 3D items, including a doll, as Frida thinks about her art. But when she gets to creating a piece, the illustrations take on the feel of one of her works. The book also includes a brief biography of the artist.
46. Beekle, the Unimaginary Friend, by Dan Santat. What a charming and original story! This picture book would be great for younger grade school. An imaginary friend becomes lonely as other imaginary creatures are adopted by children. Finally, he decides to do the unimaginable and go search for a child himself. The illustrations are bold and imaginative, with great use of color and space.
47. Firebird, by Misty Copeland, with Christopher Myers. This picture book has famous ballet dancer Misty Copeland encouraging a young, nameless teen (who can be any teen) to aim high and reach for her dance dreams. This is a powerful message coming from Copeland, who overcame many obstacles to become a renowned soloist with the American Ballet Theatre. Her words are lushly illustrated by Myers’ work; his vibrant drawings seem to come alive on the page. I would recommend this for kindergarten (a teacher reading it) and grade school age.
48. Nana in the City, by Lauren Castillo. A wonderful picture book for younger grade school, especially for children who may find themselves, or have found themselves, in a different and overwhelming situation. Here, a young boy visits his nana in the city, but he finds himself overwhelmed by the crowds, the noise, the busy streets and the unfamiliar. Nana makes him a cape, which she says will protect him. Feeling safer, the young boy sees the beauty and excitement of the big city. I love the bright, simple illustrations, which capture the vast feeling of the city.
49. You Are (Not) Small, by Anna Kang, with illustrations by Christopher Weyant. A perfect book for preschool and kindergarten age. It wonderfully illustrates not only the differences in sizes (big and small) but the differences in perceptions. The illustrations are simple and clean, and the text large and easy for developing eyes to read and follow. This would be great either as a solo read or for a classroom/library.
50. Separate is Not Equal, by Duncan Tonatiuh. Most adults have heard of the groundbreaking Brown v. The Board of Education, which overturned “separate but equal” across the United States. But seven years before this landmark case, another court battle, Mendez v. The Westminster School District, would provide the legal precedent in abolishing segregation. The story is told through the eyes of Sylvia Mendez, who, along with her brothers, were forced to attend a segregated school. Their father fought to desegregate the school system so his children could be afforded the same opportunity for a quality education. The illustrations are highly stylized, with sharp colors. The author’s notes at the end give a more detailed description of the court case, the Mendez family and current issues with segregation.Currently reading: I’ll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson, and Let’s Have Another, by Dan Coughlin.
51. I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson. This artfully woven story is part coming-of-age story and part mystery, with a healthy dose of tragedy and a dash of supernatural. The two protagonists are twins Jude and Noah, with the chapters not only alternating each twins' viewpoint, but from different time periods. Noah is 13 (later 14) when he is telling his version of the story, and his sister is 16 when telling her version. The contrasts in view and time period make for an interesting presentation, but it is easy to follow and helps add to the little mysteries that take place in the story. Noah and Jude seem to be polar opposites right before they enter high school. Noah is a shy, nerdy adolescent who keeps his feelings under wraps. He longs to go to the local, prestigious art school to get away from the bullies and "surftards" as Noah calls them. Jude, at 13, is far more confident, athletic and part of the "in" group at school. But they are incredibly close - Noah refers to them as NoahandJude - and both share a singular talent for art. However, by the time the twins are 16, things have changed a good deal. Jude is now the recluse, Noah the more confident one. Also, due to a horrific tragedy and a series of misunderstandings, they seldom even speak to each other. As the story progresses, the reader puts together the series of events until they reach the end, with various revelations coming out pieces at a time. The story -- in a way, "stories"-- is beautifully told, and I personally recommend it for high school and older.
52. I lived on Butterfly Hill, by Marjorie Argosin. Argosin's wonderfully written novel is fiction, but I get the impression, from the story and the information on the jacket cover, that the action in the story is loosely based on the author's own flight with her family from Chile after Pinochet's coup. Here, both the current president at the start of the story and the dictator, only referred to as "The General," are fictionalized, but the story and the tragedies, the heartbreaks and losses feel real. Celeste is a schoolgirl living with her doctor parents, her grandmother and the family's nanny Delfina. The opening chapters introduce day-to-day life with the family, which lives on Butterfly Hill. But even in the beginning, darkness and change looms, the first changes being the appearance of large, formidable-looking ships in the harbor. After the president is killed and The General takes over, Celeste's parents have to go into hiding, and eventually Celeste herself is sent to Maine to live with her mother's older sister, an aunt the young girl hasn't seen in several years. The story does an excellent job balancing the fear Celeste goes through, the uncertainty and the losses without overwhelming the younger audience for which the story is intended. Celeste, a bright girl with a penchant for daydreaming and a talent for words, sees friends and neighbors disappear, worries about her parents' safety, struggles to adapt in America and, later, feels torn between wanting to return to Chile but knowing she will leave a piece of her heart behind with her American aunt.An interesting side story is from Celeste's Abuela Frida, who had lived in Vienna but was forced to flee to Chile when the Nazi party took control of Germany. It is a large book, nearly 500 pages, but there are charming illustrations (by Lee White) throughout, and I finished it in two days. While this is fictional, it can lead to discussions on historical events such as Pinochet's coup, World War II and even events of today.
Currently reading: Let’s Have Another, by Dan Coughlin.
53. Let's Have Another, by Dan Coughlin. This latest book by longtime sports journalist Dan Coughlin shares his memories and anecdotes about Cleveland sports and sports figures, all told with Coughlin's dry, sharp wit. On a side note, I'll never forget the one-liner he delivered ages ago while doing a sports cast on television. It was regarding another game the Cavs lost, at a time when the Cavs were a complete embarrassment. It was around Easter time, and Coughlin quipped that "the Cavs must have given up winning for Lent." At any rate, Coughlin shares several stories. Some of the most memorable include a story about four golfing buddies who got zapped by lightening one day while they were out playing a round- and all four lived to tell the tale! Another tale involves a Browns lineman who, in a quarrel with his wife, got shot by her. He, too, lived and if anything they grew closer together. Just never know. This is a great collection of stories about the great sports figures -- great both on and off the field -- and the not-so greats, like the talented but temperamental Albert Belle and a former Indians owner who, among other problems, nearly killed a couple of spectators during a weird publicity stunt. Anyone who is a sports fan, a local history fan, or anyone who likes a quick, fun read should enjoy this book. And now I want to get my hands on his first two....54. Midwinter Blood, by Marcus Sedgwick. The story -- actually stories -- was not at all what I expected it to be, given the brief description on the inside fold. But that is a good thing. I thought I would be reading an oft-told tale about some sort of supernatural romance, and in a way, that is what Midwinter Blood is. But there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Sedgwick's novel is seven short stories plus an epilogue, written in different time periods covering the span of about a thousand years, and each set on a remote northern island. I'm really not sure what else I can say without revealing any spoilers, so I will just state that if you like mystery, the supernatural and a bit of romance thrown in, you will probably enjoy this story.
Currently reading: Cleveland TV Tales Vol. 2, by Mike and Janice Olszewski.
55. Cleveland TV Tales Volume 2, by Mike and Janice Olszewski. I think their first excellent book was the first book I reviewed for this year. Not sure this will be the last, but it does make for a nice bookmark. Again, the Olszewskis have compiled a fun assortment of facts on Cleveland-area television legends and shows, this time going from the 1970s to the 1990s. This book touches on Ghoulardi's long-running horror show, and the competition to fill his shoes once Ernie Anderson headed west; the sad story of Joel Rose; the Cleveland mayor who hosted a children's show; the strange and sometimes hazardous life of the investigative reporter; and a chapter on the legendary Dorothy Fuldheim, who was a strong presence in television even into her 90s. This is a fast, lively read, and can serve both as a way to go down memory lane for the Baby Boomer era, and an easy to follow (and enjoy) bit of local history for those who may not recall such figures like Superhost and The Ghoul. There was a hint at the end of the book that more books may be on the way. I certainly hope so.
Oops, just noticed vol. 1 wasn't a book I read last year. Maybe late last year? Ah well, enjoyed both regardless.
56. Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris. This play is a spinoff of "A Raisin in the Sun," and even features two characters -- one in Act 1 and one in Act 2-- from that award-winning play. The two acts are set in two different time periods: 1959 and 2009, and are set in the same house in Chicago. In Act I, it is owned by Russ and Bev, a white suburban couple who are in the process of moving out after the death of their son. A friend had handled the sale and has sold their home to a black family (the Youngers). This upsets Karl (Karl Lindner in A Raisin in the Sun), who is afraid of what will happen to his property values should a black family move into the neighborhood. Karl is especially afraid of the repercussions with his own growing family; his wife Betsy is eight months pregnant. Russ's response to Karl is terse and even vitriolic, and he makes some rather pointed barbs about the hypocrisy of the so-called good neighbors. Caught in between are Jim, a young local minister, who tries to keep the peace along with Bev, who struggles to put a positive spin on everything. Also caught up in the tension is Francine, Russ and Bev's black housemaid, and Francine's husband Albert. Much of the talk about the possible racial integration goes around and over them, and only occasionally directed at them. It's hard to tell which scenario is more discomforting. In Act II, things have changed considerably. The house has obviously seen better days. What is interesting is that all the actors in Act I reappear in Act II, in different roles- although often with the same personality. This is especially evident with Steve and Lindsey (the actors play Karl and Betsy in the first Act I). Steve and Lindsey are a young white couple poised to tear down the home and build a new house for their soon-to-be family of three. Tom and Kathy are attorneys trying to hash things out, which includes addressing the concerns of Lena (Lena Younger) and her husband Kevin. However, little business is conducted, and their conversation often has eerie overtones of the discussions in 1959. Issues of bigotry -- not just on race -- crop up, and often with explosive results. The ending is left rather vague, and the audience is left guessing as to whether Steve and Lindsey actually go through the the home purchase. The animosity shown during the meeting exposes some major gaps in their marriage.
The very end flashes back to the 1950s, the night when Russ and Bev's son kills himself. It is a brief scene and a bit of an odd ending. But then, this incident is what fuels the actions in much of the rest of the play, so it fits.
I am eager to see this live on stage. There's a lot of humor in the script, but much of it I think will have the audience laughing and squirming at the same time, especially in Act II.
Managed to squeeze in one more book before the end of 2015...57. The Bone Lady, by Debra Darnall. I flew through this fun book, and what a nice read to wrap up 2015 with! This is Darnall's own story as the Bone Lady, to add to the fun of attending Cleveland Browns games. Needless to say, Darnall is a huge Browns fan, and is even in the fan Hall of Fame. I'm a very casual sports fan at best, so this was educational in many ways. One, I didn't even know there *was* a football fan hall of fame, nor how close uber fans are, nor how involved they are in promoting not only their teams, but charity events. Much of the book goes into the adventures of being the Bone Lady, who also has her Volvo painted to look like a Browns helmet (did I mention she is a big fan?) Most of the adventures are pretty funny; I laughed out loud at some of them. A few were more serious and one was a bit chilling. Darnall also goes into her life before and when she is not "boned up" as she calls it. In addition, she is a talented mural painter (there are many pictures in this book, including a few of her paintings) and artist. She also writes about her upbringing and her insecurities, and how she works to overcome them. In addition, she also includes tips for fans going to tailgating parties (the highlight of Browns games, because the games, even by her own admission, are so often a letdown), etiquette at the games, and tips on creating a costume if one so desires. This is a fun, easy read and should appeal to sports fans and non-sports fans alike.
2. Cleveland Christmas Memories, by Gail Ghetia Bellamy. The New Year continues on a good literary note with this collection of Christmas memories from Cleveland-area residents. Many of the memories described are about a decade or more before my time, but I enjoyed reading about them. Indeed, I can picture this as a good book to read in schools. It would be a great way to teach about local history, local traditions and spur students to share their own memories and get family members to tell about their special holiday moments. The memories vary: people who worked at department stores, as Santa, who were children, who were parents, authors, local celebrities and more reminisce about Christmas in Cleveland. Most of the memories range from the 1950s to the 1970s. A couple were sad; Neil Zurcher of One Tank Trip fame shared his memory of seeing a family who had just been evicted on Christmas Eve. That was the saddest story by far. But most are sweet and sentimental, and several are hilarious. One of the funniest stories was from a woman who once let her 2-year-old daughter try to "help" make Christmas cookies. I probably don't even need to say this, but no, it did not end well.
Cleveland is home to many ethnic groups, especially Slavic, Polish and Italian. In addition, Cleveland had its share of unique traditions, including Mr. Jingeling, the Keeper of The Keys. This fictional character in his heyday (before my time) was as big around here as St. Nick. This is not an exaggeration. Mr. Jingeling has his own story, local appearances and even his own song. I remember a few years back, Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, as part of their Deck The Hall, had Mr. Jingeling work with Santa on the nightly tree lighting ceremony and give away keys. I went on media night, and when he was mentioned - and his jingle came up - I think every adult in the room older than 50 started spontaneously singing it. He is that well remembered.
3. Glory Days in Tribe Town, by Terry Pluto and Tom Hamilton. I'm not a huge sports fan, but even I remember the heady days, from 1994 to 1997, when everyone had Tribe fever. After decades of mediocrity, the Cleveland Indians had a new owner, a new stadium, new and promising players and a general feeling of optimism. This combination got the Tribe to the World Series twice- in 1995 and in 1997. Of course, Cleveland sports luck being what it is, we fell just short of winning the whole enchilada (1997 was especially painful), and a series of bad trades and bad decisions after 1997 had our all-too-brief Camelot dreams crash back into reality. This was an enjoyable read, even for a (very) casual fan like me, easy to follow. Some of the more technical numbers went over my head but the book doesn't dwell too much on numbers. Rather, it goes into the stories of the players, the front office, the managers, and there's even sections of the book dedicated to memories submitted by fans. It was interesting how many chances the front office and coaching staff took-- chances that, for the most part, paid off-- offering long-term contracts to young, promising but untried players in hopes of becoming contenders by 1994. Long-term planning, what a concept!
Pluto, a longtime sports writer, and Hamilton, the longtime radio announcer for the Indians, put together a book that humanizes and fleshes out the players that became heroes for so many. There's also a lot of interesting tidbits. One, I didn't know Dick Jacobs, the former owner, grew up in Goodyear Heights- the neighborhood where I grew up. Also, I didn't know about the sweetheart deal former Browns owner Art Modell had at the stadium (basically he paid a dollar to rent the facility and not only got the profits from the Browns, but a percentage from the Indians, who rented from him). I can see why he was so bitter, having that gravy train yanked from him. No sympathy here, on the contrary.
But I digress. This book was a nice walk down memory lane for even me, and bigger fans of baseball should enjoy this.
4. Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style, by Susan Brown. This was my "Merry Christmas To Me" gift over the holidays. I had been drooling over this book for the past couple years but the asking price was a bit rich for my budget. Thankfully, I was able to get this one on sale. I study fashion history as a hobby, and consider my money well-spent on this gorgeous book. Most of the emphasis is on European (especially French, English and German) and American design, with occasional forays into Japan. I can see some people questioning the lack of diversity in the fashions and the models. It's a fair point. But this book still covers a LOT of ground in its more than 400 pages, going from Ancient Egypt to about 2011. The book is mostly short articles and many, many pictures, with notes on specific items. There are several garments, including a few reconstructed pieces, that are highlighted in detail on two pages. What I really liked were the profiles on couture designers and on individuals who broke ground and set the standards for fashion. For a hobbyist like me, this was a wonderful introduction to terms, designers and history. The glossary of terms at the end is also well laid out and organized. I was startled how many words have a different meaning in the fashion sense. Then again, some words in fashion I suspect are the root for some words today, such as bombast. In fashion, bombast is the filler used in medieval times to "puff" up the sleeves and trouser area. Hmmm. This was definitely a worthwhile purchase.
Currently reading: The Dream Hunters, by Steven M. Hamrick, and Dead Giveaway, by Charles Ramsey and Randy Nyerges.