Alias's 2024 Book Challenge

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "You think that's long? When we visited Leavenworth, Kansas, a few years ago, we learned about the 6888th. It was the WWII "Central Postal Directory Battalion", an all-black WAC unit, which handled ..."

Thanks for sharing this, deb. I have to confess I never heard of Central Postal Directory Battalion. :(

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "You think that's long? When we visited Leavenworth, Kansas, a few years ago, we learned about the 6888th. It was the WWII "Central Postal Directory Battalion", an all-black WAC unit, which handled ..."

It is good to see that this overdue monument was created. By the same token it is sad that it took so long. Has our society evolved as to how people who contribute are honored? I guess that remains to be seen. Thanks for pointing that out. I was totally unaware.

[madrano]

We are living in an age wherein non-white people are finally getting the credit they've merited. At least that's what i've noticed.

I wanted to mention a fine novel about the 6888th, Sisters in Arms--Kaia Alderson. It is the author's debut historical novel and served a good purpose. The story follows two women and their entry into the military, as well as what they did in Europe.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "We are living in an age wherein non-white people are finally getting the credit they've merited. At least that's what i've noticed.

I wanted to mention a fine novel about the 6888th, [book:Sister..."

Finally stories that should be told. Thanks for bringing this book to our attention.

[madrano]

So very glad to do so, Rachel.

[Alias Reader]

I checked off another prompt !

✅48- Book that takes place in or is about a country you don't live in. F/NF
Prophet Song

The novel takes place in Ireland. Unfortunately, the book did not meet my expectations. I gave it a 2/5 rating. I reviewed the novel in The Book Salon.

[John]

Story seems rather grim to me, but congrats on the prompt!

[Alias Reader]

Very grim, John. Relentless.

[madrano]

Well done, Alias!

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, deb.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "Very grim, John. Relentless."

I read the reviews. It does seem grim. Imagine writing a book with that subject matter. You would be living it for a long time.

[madrano]

Thoughtful comment, Rachel. I wonder how an author copes with that.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Thoughtful comment, Rachel. I wonder how an author copes with that."

I am thinking it must be similar to an actor who is in a grim movie or has a part playing someone depressing. But at least the actor does not have to make it up. I wonder what draws and author to that sort of material.

[Alias Reader]

Rachel wrote-- post 363

am thinking it must be similar to an actor who is in a grim movie or has a part playing someone depressing. But at least the actor does not have to make it up. I wonder what draws and author to that sort of material..."

Paul Lynch, the author of Prophet Song, said that the Syrian Civil War, the refugee crisis, and the West's indifference to refugees were some of the main inspirations for his dystopian novel. Lynch also said he was thinking about "the unrest in Western democracies" and the political situation in the world in 2018, when he began writing the book.

[madrano]

Thanks for that info, Alias. I wonder if the families of those who write abut such depressing topics try to steer clear?

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "Rachel wrote-- post 363

am thinking it must be similar to an actor who is in a grim movie or has a part playing someone depressing. But at least the actor does not have to make it up. I wonder wh..."


That is a great point. The other day I heard a person from OXfam (British organization that feeds the hungry) said the Darfur is the worst place in the world to be a child right now. I am thinking this is worse than Gaza. It is quite shocking.

[Alias Reader]

Rachel wrote: "The other day I heard a person from OXfam (British organization that feeds the hungry) said the Darfur is the worst place in the world to be a child right now. I am thinking this is worse than Gaza. It is quite shocking"

:( I really can't even imagine.

[madrano]

Rachel wrote: " OXfam (British organization that feeds the hungry) said the Darfur is the worst place in the world to be a child right now. I am thinking this is worse than Gaza...."

It's beyond words, isn't it?

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: " OXfam (British organization that feeds the hungry) said the Darfur is the worst place in the world to be a child right now. I am thinking this is worse than Gaza...."

It's beyond w..."

It is beyond words or even comprehension. The world is certainly completely split into the haves and have nots.

[madrano]

True.

[Alias Reader]

I checked off the Sports prompt !

✅30- Sports F/NF
Playing for Pizza

[John]

Awesome achievement! 👍

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, John !

I was surprised when I googled: sports books list and Grisham came up.

[madrano]

Well done, Alias.

I didn't think about fictional sports books in the past. This, however, may prod me to actually read one. In my mind, that is one prompt i thought i'd skip this year. We'll see...

[Alias Reader]

Deb, a top rated sports book for me was
Open by Andre Agassi

It's an autobiography.

I know ZERO about tennis. I gave the book a top rating.

It was ghost written by J.R. Moehringer

Moehringer also did
The Tender Bar: A Memoir Another book I loved.
And
Spare by Prince Harry

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "I checked off the Sports prompt !

✅30- Sports F/NF
Playing for Pizza"


Grisham/sports, who'd a thunk it?
Good for you in finding a unique sports book.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, Rachel !

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "Deb, a top rated sports book for me was
Open by Andre Agassi

It's an autobiography.

I know ZERO about tennis. I gave the book a top rating. ..."

I still remember your surprise when you finished the book. What a good illustration of the benefit of Book Challenge reading.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Deb, a top rated sports book for me was
Open by Andre Agassi

It's an autobiography.

I know ZERO about tennis. I gave the book a top rating. ......"

Andre Aggasi is a very interesting character. He is a hometown boy here in Las Vegas.

[madrano]

I didn't realize LV was his home.

[Alias Reader]

Finished another prompt !

✅43 - Topic or a character has one of the 7 deadly sins or more! (pride, greed, envy, gluttony, sloth, wrath and lust) F/NF
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

Sadly, I think this book probably covered most of the 7 deadly sins.

[Lindsey]

Yay for another prompt!

[madrano]

Wow, most of the 7 Deadly covered!

Congratulations on completing this prompt, Alias.

[John]

WOW! Congrats!

[Alias Reader]

Thanks deb and John. It was a good book for the prompt.

Though the hubris of some in the book was wild. A few of the men just up and did what ever they wanted despite not having authorization to do so.

There also was one person, Edmund Ruffin a Virginia planter and slave holder, I thought was a bit of a psychopath. He was what they called a Fire-eater. "Fire-Eaters were a group of pro-slavery Democrats in the antebellum South who urged the separation of Southern states into a new nation, which became the Confederate States of America. " At one point at Bull Run he was invited to fire the cannon into the backs of retreating Union troops. "He was delighted to do so." When looking at the battlefield the next day " Ruffin and fellow soldiers rode out to scavenge the battlefield. He took great satisfaction in examining the Union dead and savored the details in his diary. I will spare the gruesome details that he enjoyed so much. He wrote in his diary, "This is a disappointment to me, I should have liked not only to have killed the greatest possible number-but also to know, if possible, which I had killed, and to see the count the bodies."

[madrano]

Awful! How sad he couldn't see the human in those he killed, only personal statistics.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "Awful! How sad he couldn't see the human in those he killed, only personal statistics."

Deb, the guy was so full of himself. He was really a very unlikeable fellow.

The hero in the book was Anderson. He was the commander at Fort Sumpter. Because Lincoln didn't want to upset the southern states and start a war he really left Anderson hanging. He didn't resupply him and the poor man and his troops had to watch as S. Carolina built up their arms all around him.

[madrano]

As i read the above comment, Alias, i was reminded of where i first learned the story, at Ft. Sumpter itself. What a good visit that was, knowing what we know now. Can you imagine seeing the build, from his POV?

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "As i read the above comment, Alias, i was reminded of where i first learned the story, at Ft. Sumpter itself. What a good visit that was, knowing what we know now. Can you imagine seeing the build,..."

There are some YouTube videos of the Sumter tour. Of course not as good as being there. Still, I find YouTube so helpful when I read about various places. It really adds to the enjoyment of the book for me.

Where the Civil War Began | Fort Sumter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1unxs...

Visit Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1BvG...

Visiting Fort Sumter (with Civil War Pictures of the Destruction)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-QNB...

Visiting Fort Sumter - Charleston, SC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCt6f...

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "I didn't realize LV was his home."


He grew up here. One day a couple of years ago I was sitting in an outdoor cafe near where they live (in a very upscale apartment building). I happened to look down at the foot of the person sitting next to me and thought that it was a large foot and slowly I looked up and who was it but Steffi Graf.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "Thanks deb and John. It was a good book for the prompt.

Though the hubris of some in the book was wild. A few of the men just up and did what ever they wanted despite not having authorization to ..."

This is a classic case of thinking of people not in their own tribe as others.

[Alias Reader]

Rachel, yes. It's very sad.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "There are some YouTube videos of the Sumter tour. Of course not as good as being there. Still, I find YouTube so helpful when I read about various places. It really adds to the enjoyment of the book for me..."

Good idea. I tend to do that after i've read the story. I think i'd find it more rewarding to do it while or, even, before.

[madrano]

Rachel wrote: "thought that it was a large foot and slowly I looked up and who was it but Steffi Graf..."

How neat...and at an outdoor cafe. Las Vegas!

Fun story, Rachel.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "thought that it was a large foot and slowly I looked up and who was it but Steffi Graf..."

How neat...and at an outdoor cafe. Las Vegas!

Fun story, Rachel."

There are lots of outdoor cafes here but TOO HOT at this time of year.

[madrano]

No kidding!

[Alias Reader]

I checked off another prompt.

✅15- philosophy, ethics, morality
Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets

I think this one fits as the author explores his grandfathers role as a Nazi party official. I'll explain more in my review.

[John]

Great choice! I'm interested in German points of view from that era, we can't just ignore unpleasantness.

[madrano]

Congratulations on a fitting selection, Alias.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Great choice! I'm interested in German points of view from that era, we can't just ignore unpleasantness."

John, that is exactly why I selected the book. I thought it would be an interesting point of view.

When ones life is on the line or that of ones family, it's not so easy to say what one would do if we are honest.