Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson -------------------- 2.5 Stars

On my list for many years, I finally got around to reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter Thompson's, classic 1971 book that started the idea of "gonzo journalism." While a famous book that shocked readers at the time (and led to a mediocre movie decades letter), I struggled to enjoy the book as much as I hoped.

I'm not sure if I've read a book quiet like this; though I am not sure it's a compliment. As I did some digging after finished, I learned that this story included a mix of fact and fiction. Shared from the first person narrative of the author, the story is a mix of real life events and fictional additions. And while this would sound like an engaging read, I struggled with the content of the story. To be frank, the book is incredibly explicit as it has atrocious language, constant and detailed drug references, and many examples of violence and sexual exploits. The plot in the book is quite limited and vaguely about a journalist needing to be in Vegas to report on a racing event (though, in part 2, hanging around to join an anti-drug conference).

Unlike my previous review which piqued my interest and made me want to watch the film based on the novel, I had no such interest here. While it was made into a major motion picture in 1998, between the content of the story and the poor reviews of the movie, I had no interest in watching. Ultimately, I think my dislike is based on my inability to feel connected or even care about the characters. While the story is somewhat interesting, this book is really detailing how to take drugs and how people feel on drugs. Further, it covers many drugs I was not even aware of. I literally had to Google many of the drugs referenced. In addition, there was a monotony about how the characters dealt with their drug use that became boring quickly into the story. On occasion, I would find myself somewhat interested in the characters escapades, but the author could rarely keep an interesting storyline going without defaulting back to details about a drug trip.

With all that being said, I can appreciate the novel for what it is. I understand that it was a commentary about the '60s and parts of that generation. I get that Thompson was trying to offer viewpoints about a multitude of issues. His hate of Nixon, the misunderstanding from many about the ills of using drugs, the problems with capitalism, what is the real goal of the "American Dream", etc. And even though I understand those items, I simply didn't find myself enjoying the book. And while I am happy I read it (and it was short), I am not confident I can endorse it strongly to others.

The World According to Garp - John Irving -------------------- 3.5 Stars

I am not sure why or how The World According to Garp made my "to read" list. I know it's been on there a long time (like 5 years) and I only picked it up as I was seeking a book in paper form and saw it in the library (perhaps a blog later about the digital vs. paper divide). Although I finished it a week ago, I've been struggling to figure out if: a) I liked it, b) why I did/did not like it, c) what it's really about.

I ended up landing with 3.5 stars as I really couldn't figure out how much I enjoyed the book. There were parts I couldn't put down and read quickly, while other times I had wished I didn't pick it up. And, even with the parts that were highly entertaining, I wasn't sure often what to make of the content. The book has been out over four decades so it's been around a while and there was (I think) a pretty popular movie based on the book that starred Robin Williams and Glenn Close that I watched after in hopes that it would give me more insights into the book (it really didn't).

The book is mostly a story about the character Garp - literally from when he was born to his death. His experiences growing up, turning into a writer, raising a family, and having marital issues. And while the book is fairly straightforward, I would classify the book is weird. I was trying to figure out what it reminded me of and I think the closest comparison I could make connections with was David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest (review here). That book, unlike this, is a masterpiece and beloved but there is a similar oddness to it. Both have a make believe quality (that seems based in reality but not really) that makes you question what you are reading and the connections to the book's themes as a whole. I did Google parts of this book to see if the references were real or unreal (almost all were fictional). The book also has many explicit parts that I was surprised to see in this book - partly because of its age and partly because I just figured it would be more wholesome.

So all of this leads to the final part - what was this book about? Usually, I don't get too focused on that part. Mostly because it's usually easy to tell and I'm mostly reading for entertainment. But when I finished and didn't know, it bothered me. Ironically, the edition I read was the 20th anniversary and Irving, the author, attempted to answer this question himself. And he too struggled! While he waxed thoughtfully about whether this was a coming of age story, a feminist focused novel, or about the power of lust, he too was not able to fully answer the question.

Which, upon review, is probably why the book is well regarded. While not the most entertaining story, it did pull on many of my emotions (humor, sadness, etc.) and did make me think. I guess a book could do a lot worst.  

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage - Alfred Lansing --------------- 4 Stars

Oh, how I do love summer. So much time to read! This is the last book I finished prior to the summer coming to a close for me, and it was a good one. It also put me at over 2,500 pages in the past few months. No other time during the year do I get to enjoy so much uninterrupted reading time. So, back to this current review; Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage was a superb way to finish the summer.

Written by Alfred Lansing in 1959, this book tells the amazing story of the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's adventure in Antarctica in 1914. The book is about how these explorers' boat was trapped, crushed, and their amazing journey to safety.  Interestingly, this book was not well received when it was released in the early 1960s to the point that hardly anyone was aware of it. Thankfully, the book was discovered and reviewed by the NY times many year later and became a bestselling novel well after Lansing's death. 

Upon looking back at my reviews, I clearly have a strong interest in these type of adventure stories. Here is my review of Alive from '09, which mentions my enjoyment of both Touching the Void and Into Thin Air previously (all books are tremendous and highly recommended). Likes those other books, this also tells the story of near death experiences for these amazing men. 

On a positive, the book is really well told and the author does an amazing job of explaining, in detail, the most critical parts of this nearly 24 month journey. This includes details of the 1,000 mile journey from start until finish. How you might ask? Well, many of these explorers kept copious journals. That, coupled with in-person interviews with many aboard, allowed him to recreate the experience that these men went through during those horrid two years.

Not too many downsides of this book. Some might find it to narrow in scope and repetitive. As I mentioned, the author was very detailed in his storytelling and there are parts that can bore from time to time. Similarly, while there was much adventure and danger during this incredible story, much of the two years was spent sitting and waiting or slowly moving from place to place. However, the fact that the author makes this story as exciting as it is, is a true testament to his strong writing. Finally, and this may be more a personal challenge, even by the end I was confused with some of the vocabulary. Much of the descriptions of parts of an early 20th century boat, odd foods, or types of ice were lost on me (examples - grog, pemmican, floes, ballast, forecastle, mizzen, keel, etc.). 

The adventure is beyond astounding. While the crew of the Endurance quickly realized they were not going to be able to carry out their mission, their strong faith in themselves and one another, makes for one of the greatest real-life adventure stories of all time.

PS - If you do happen to read this book or have any interest in it at all, check out the recent discovery made of the original Endurance boat earlier this year.

PPS - Also, watch this incredible documentary from 1919 with real footage from the adventure. Although a non-speaking movie, it's a fantastic viewing.

The Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles ------------------- 3 Stars

A few years ago I read the well reviewed and mildly entertaining A Gentleman in Moscow (review here), by this same author. I had seen The Lincoln Highway getting similar positive buzz, so I thought I'd give it a try. While a more accessible book, I did not find it nearly as enjoyable.

Set in the 1950s, the story is a coming of age novel for a set of brothers and two other teenagers that go on a number of adventures in search of different things. Unlike A Gentleman in Moscow, the book is set in American (both the midwest and New York City) and was an easier read to follow and engage with. 

Unfortunately, I found the story less strong and characters not nearly as easy to root for. While I would never call the story boring, it did move at a pedestrian pace and the "cuteness" and likeability of characters that is now becoming a hallmark of Towles storytelling was simply less apparent with this read.

My other main complaint was with the logistics of his storytelling. While the book is a written in the third person, the author would change the focus, and perspective of the story, by chapter to focus upon a different main character. While this was a welcome technique in the early chapters, I found it frustrating by the end. Although it did give the reader varying perspectives about occurrences, I also found it retold actions multiple times to ensure the reader was clear about a different characters placement for a previously told part of the story. By the end, it felt like I was basically re-reading passages when it shifted to a new chapter.

On a positive, it's still a pretty engaging story. While not as good as his previous book, the author is still a good storyteller, and it's hard to not root for certain characters or feel the nostalgia of the 1950s and many pop references was over you. In addition, in the final pages you could finally understand more about certain characters motivations and more was illuminated about previous choices made in the story. 

You could do a lot worse than The Lincoln Highway; it's an easy read and enjoyable in many parts. Just be aware that for many it'll feel like a runner up to his previous work.

City of Thieves - David Benioff ------------------- 4 Stars

I heard about City of Thieves on a recent podcast, and the individual shared it was one of his favorite books. As I dug deeper, it was really difficult to find anyone who had a bad thing to say about this book. Those positive impressions combined with it's short length made it an obvious book to give it a try, and I'm pretty happy I did.

As I had not heard of this book before and others might also not have awareness, a quick synopsis - this book tells the story of two Russians during the siege of Leningrad during World War 2. After some surprising circumstances, these two strangers end up being close friends as they work to secure a dozen eggs for a colonel's daughter's wedding. 

As I mentioned earlier, this book is a quick read, coming in at only 280 pages (it reads even faster). More importantly, it's a highly engaging and entertaining read that is delivered enjoyably by this strong author (learned after I finished the book that Benioff is a co-creator of Game of Thrones). While a serious subject matter filled with many violent passages and war heavy themes, this book seems to never lose its way as a playful story. Much of this is due to the sharp storytelling, funny dialogue, and a rich main character who never lets the seriousness of the war overtake the joy that exists as part of life. As I've written many times before, I love good dialogue, and this book offers some of the best back and forths and retorts between characters. As you may also assume from the unlikely plot, the search for the eggs is an intriguing centerpiece as the reader is constantly reminded of the heartaches of war.

While I found this a great read and difficult to put down, a few things held it back. First, the themes are mature and can be difficult to get through at some parts. Death is a constant part of the book and some chapters were difficult to read as the author had a way of making the reader feel the anxiety and tenseness of situations. Sex was also a constant theme (and often funny distraction) of the story. Second, I found it difficult to give a much higher rating with the shortness of the story. While I don't know if a longer book would have actually made the story better, it's hard to feel the "fullness" of a story or it's characters when you only get to know them over a short period of time (in this case, literally only 5 days).

As a whole, it's hard to not recommend this book. What a great return on investment for the little time needed to read! It's hard to read this book and not feel interested in the characters and engaged in the story developing. That's really the magic of the book - a great story!

Hawaii - James Michener ---------------- 3 Stars

It's a bit difficult to try to give a rating to James Michener's Hawaii. There are parts of it that are exhilarating and difficult to put down; while, coming at nearly 1,000 pages, it often it drags and struggled to keep me engaged. So, let's split the difference with 3 stars. 

James Michener was a prolific author of over 40 novels, most of them large, sprawling fictional sagas about families living in disparate geographic areas. I had never read one of his books before, and this one caught my eye as reviewers shared that the first chunk of the book had no characters. Instead, it was a detailed description of the literal creation of the Hawaiian island manys years ago. Following that introduction, Michener details different immigrant groups that come to the islands, beginning with the Polynesians from Tahiti over a millennium. The book finishes not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the melting pot of persons from China, Japan, the Philippines, native Hawaiians, and ancestors of 19th century missionaries.

This book is really a book of stories. Michener, at his essence, is a storyteller. While the connection to Hawaii hooked me into the book and provided me motivation to begin, his layered and well told stories are what kept me going and are the the heart of this book. Based on the long length noted, much of these stories had great depth. This includes rounding out all of the main characters and going into great detail about the various elements that are part of the story.

The other side, of course, is that there can be too much or it turns boring or repetitive. Take, for example, his retelling of the creation and detailing of the Kalaupapa leper colony on Molokai. First, I was happy he included this footnote of history as it was a fascinating part of Hawaiian history that I remembered well learning about as I grew up there. In the novel, he retells about an outbreak of leprosy in a Chinese labor camp and the eventual necessity for one of the main characters to go with her husband, who contracts leprosy, to Kalaupapa. Unfortunately, like he does often in the book, there is an excessive number of details and stories about the leper colony. And, while I presume they are mostly accurate (I believe he thoroughly researched the novel), they are also disturbing and extravagant.

As a whole, I did enjoy many parts of the book. And, like any good long family saga, I appreciated seeing the lives of the main characters change and learn about all the developments. I do think it's likely that this book would be too slow for many or would not offer the same level of comfort if you don't have a strong connection to Hawaii. Learning about the development of the land, people and culture was my favorite parts of the book (though, when done well, the strong storytelling is a close second).

Moss - Joe Pace ---------------- 4 Stars

This is a special post, as I believe it's the only book I have reviewed which I know the author. The author is Joe Pace, a former colleague, and excellent writer of the impressive Moss. I know he would only want a genuine critique and no favoritism, so here you go:

I think his first couple of books were science fiction, but Moss is about a man who is fledlging author, teacher, and son of, perhaps, the most famous author of modern American novels - Isaiah Moss (a Hemingway type). The novel begins with his father dying and follows his story walking in the footprints off his father (literally in a lake cabin) and meeting an intriguing woman.

Unlike many other books that get high ratings based on explosive actions or intriguing plot developments, Moss is more of a slow burn. Pace is in no hurry as he carefully and thoughtfully develops the main characters. While it is a bit of a slow start, it's worth the payoff later, as it's clear for the reader the motivations and choices of these fully formed characters. Other
than one shocking development later in the book, the novel is not going to wow the big actions scenes. Instead, the subtlety of the writing and dialogue is where the magic is. As noted above, the writing is exquisite and there are many passages where the words come to life. 

Other than the lack of scene stealing activity, it's hard to offer many negative critiques. There a few parts where it does drawl on for a while, with the plot slowing down for more expository writing. There are also a few passages with curses that feel a little off with the classic writing style he offers (though, it also makes the book more relatable, so perhaps a wash). 

As a whole, it's a real engaging read. The story is told at such a smooth pace, and the characters are developed so fully. The book also makes you think about one's own mortality and how one wants to live. Exposing the challenges of trauma, parental expectations, and finding one's way in the world, it's difficult to finish Moss and not think more about how you look at life. I definitely feel like this book could be enjoyed by many - and I'm not just saying that because it's a friend who wrote it.  Congrats Joe!

Yearbook - Seth Rogen ------------- 3.5 Stars

Yearbook is the first book I've ready by Seth Rogen (and likely only). The book is short and funny and this blog post will be similar (except for the funny!).

This book is a collection of essays and stories about Seth Rogen's life. I am presuming you all know the very funny Seth Rogen but may not know as much about his time growing up in Canada or his early journeys through Hollywood. This book mostly covers those areas by relling many funny stories that have occurred to him over the years. 

It's a genuinely entertaining read thanks to his humorous writing style and variety of playful stories. Like most books that are attempts to be funny, I would imagine one's level of appreciation is highly correlated to how much one finds that person funny. I happen to enjoy Seth Rogen so I found most of this book interesting (like any comedian, some jokes don't land quite as well). If you are not a fan of his, I would not recommend this book. 

I do think the cover is pretty cool....

 

1Q84 - Haruki Murakami ----------------- 4 Stars

I've read a few other Murakami books over the last few years (reviews here) with the hope that I would build up and eventually be able to take on 1Q84. Well, I finally felt I had the time and energy to take on his behemoth of a novel. Unfortunately, like the last couple of books of his, the read didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Some regard 1Q84 as one the best sciencey ficitiony books of the last 25 years (I say "sciency fictiony" as it's certainly not pure science fiction; rather, it's much more magical realism or surrealism but is labelled otherwise). As a whole, it's a pretty solid read with some fantastic parts. There were times when I was so enthralled I could not put the book down and felt this may be one of the best books I'd ever read. There were other times where I was falling asleep as Murakami repetitively offered the same parts over and again.

To describe it briefly - its about two main characters who, eventually, become a love interest. Set in 1984 and a deritivate universe called 1Q84, the book is part mystery, action adventure, religious/cult focused, and an existential quest. Really, the whole thing is a lot to grasp and share, while at the same time, in the span of the 6 months of 1984 this book encompasses, not that much actually takes place (at least for the 928 pages it offers).

What I loved - the characters are amazing and fascinating. I loved to learn about their uniqueness an couldn't want to find out what some would do next. I also deeply enjoyed how entertaining Murakami can make mundane tasks. Pages and pages can go by with truly nothing happening but, because of his superb narrative skills, I would continue to be engaged. The story is told in 3 parts and the first two are really strong. As I read the last 50 to 100 pages of the second part, I truly couldn't put the book down.

What I disliked - the length. It's hard to get past the 900+ pages, especially as the third part slowed the narrative down notably. Relatedly, the ending had a lot to be desired as, after the large investment to get there, it was a bit of a let down. I also struggled with understanding what was real and what was magical. While that is part of the allure and joy of the novel (the mixing of reality and fiction), it could also lead to frustrations. Besides not being clear on occasion of what was happening, it did seem to leave the author too easy of a reason to move the plot in any possible direction.

I was really hoping this book might be better than it was. This continues to be a frustration that my style and interest don't jive as closely with Murakami's books as I would like. In general, it's hard to fully recommend this book; especially if it's your first foray into Murakami. Besides the length, it can be a tough style to get used to. However, it's really quite a story and there are tremendous highs. I certainly don't regret reading it but I did know what I was getting into before giving it a go. I hope this might help some of you if your thinking about taking it on. Good luck!

Sooley: A Novel - John Grisham ------------------------ 4 Stars

I can't remember the last time I read a John Grisham book. As an adolescent I was religious in reading all of his early books... The Firm, The Client, Pelican Brief... I probably read the first 8 to 10 novels that he released. They were exhilarating. At some point my addiction fell off; I can't remember if the books got worst or I grew out of them.

A few months ago my son read a few of his books that were young adult fiction (we actually read parts of some together), and they were excellent. I forgot how much I enjoyed his entertaining storytelling style. So, when someone dropped of Sooley, and I realized that it had been given some positive reviews and was about basketball, I figured I had to give it a try. As usual, Grisham did not disappoint.

A departure from his typical novels, this book had nothing to do with lawyers or the judicial system. Rather, this book was about basketball. Well, mostly basketball, it also focused on immigration and tribal warfare in South Sudan. Nicknamed Sooley, the book's main character is an engaging and lovable individual who you can't help but root for. Raw, athletic, young, and still learning the game of basketball, his story of coming from a dirt court in Sudan to being one of the best players in college, is a wonderful story.

As a whole, the book is well told, has strong pacing, engaging characters and a memorable ending. Really, many of Grisham's trademarks. As a basketball fan, the book reads realistically and the details about his play, the games, coaches, etc., all resonated with me as a basketball aficionado. While the ending seemed a bit unrealistic, I think I understand more clearly why he chose to go in that direction after thinking more about the book in the past few days.

There's no major drawbacks; it's a strong book and good story. At time it seemed a tad unrealistic and on a few occasions I felt like I wanted to know more about certain characters and their motivations. However, I like the length as told so not sure how that could have been accomplished.

Overall, the book is an entertaining and enjoyable read that likely would be enjoyed by all audiences. If you are a Grisham or basketball fan (like me), the book is a must read.

American Tabloid - James Ellroy --------------- 4 Stars

In my teens, I had a pretty strong obsession about the JFK assassination. It wasn't long after Oliver Stone's JFK was released which lead to a multi-year focus learning as much as I could about this supposed conspiracy. Late last year was the 30th anniversary of this dynamic, crazed, and fascinating movie. I was listening to a podcast last week which was reminiscing about the JFK movie and one of the guests mentioned that American Tabloid was a great read in connection with the movie. While I had heard of James Ellroy, I had not read any of his books, so I gave it a shot.

For the most part, the book was well worth the read. As I don't think it's the most popular book (I had to use inter-library loan to actually get from the library!). The book is a fictional account of the five years leading up to the JFK assassination and is based on many real events and real people (though the three main characters are fictional and an amalgamation of two or three people). While the book ends with the assassination, it's an engaging read that is hard to put down. Not for the faint of heart, the book is violent, sexual in nature, and includes a LOT of cussing and adult situations. However, it's a pretty fascinating read, especially if you have any interest in the odd bedfellows of the CIA and mafia during time time after Fidel Castro took over in Cuba.

Like the movie JFK, it's hard to not to think that much of it is real. As, much of what was described, did take place. The challenge, of course, is to know where reality ends and fictions begins. When do real things stop taking place and Ellroy (or Stone's) imagination begins? Of course, it's very hard to tell but that's part of what makes it so interesting. If you ever want to get the backstory about Jack and Robert Kennedy, Howard Hughes, J. Edgar Hoover, and some other favorites from last century, this book will put you there.

A few things I didn't like. It is a crazy writing style. I'm not sure how to quite describe it. It's very fast, almost a staccato style. Incredibly short sentences and you can almost "hear" the noises of the many action sequences with the words/sounds he uses. The book is over 500 pages, and on some occasions, feels longer. While the pace is usually strong, there are some parts where it slows too much or, what seems like the same scene,
occurs over and over. Finally, and this is more a personal issue with the text I read, but the book I borrowed had some of the smallest font. It must have been like 8 point; made for some tough reading and headaches!

I highly recommend this book for any JFK conspirators of JFK movie lovers. If you like a good old gangster story from the 1950s/1960s, you might like this as well. If you are not in one of those groups, I have far less confidence you'll enjoy. 

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott --------------------------- 2.5 Stars

Not really a book that was on my list to read, I happened to view the most recent movie iteration of this classic novel and wouldn't you know, I loved it! Books about mid-19th century adolescent girls are not usually my first area of interest, but I found the stories captivating and well-acted scenes engaging and felt I had to take a chance on the famous Little Women. And, frankly, I should have stuck with the movie!

Based on the popularity of this story, I won't share a summary of the plot. It's one of the most famous novels of all time and numerous film productions have been created. I'm still struggling to understand why the joy I received from the movie did not parallel my reading experience. With many books/movies, it's the opposite; the movie is cool but the book is so much richer and more detailed. While that may be true, I think the book just didn't pique my interest in the same way as the movie. It's also possible that, since I knew what was coming, that took away from the read. Though, I find this less likely as it's not really a mystery with a lot of twists and turns. In fact, the most recent film version (directed by Greta Gerwig) told the story in a non-chronological order; which I enjoyed more.

To be clear, the book is still an interesting read, and I do regret not reading at some point earlier in my life. It's hard not enjoy getting more detail and richer character development of the four sisters and learning more about their various plights growing up in the March house. 

Perhaps what was most challenging about the novel was how dated it read. Nearly all the books I read tend to be from the last few decades so reading something written over 150 years ago did not stack up from an entertainment perspective. While the novel does move at a nice pace and the varying storylines keep the readers interest, there were times when pages (and pages) would go by without an interesting episode or anecdote. 

Of course, I recommend reading the book, as it's a classic, if you have not done so. Alternatively, I really enjoyed the most recent movie version if you prefer to save yourself a bunch of hours!

The Tennis Partner - Abraham Verghese -------------------------- 3.5 Stars

The Tennis Partner has been on my list to read for quite a while. Thanks to the free time allotted from Winter Break, I finally had a chance to enjoy this book. While it was a heavy read, it turned out to be a meaningful and worthwhile book.

If you are not familiar, this book is about an impressive doctor in the El Paso area who befriends a former tennis pro aspiring to also be a doctor. Through their shared love of tennis, they get to know each other more closely, and it becomes clear that one of them has a dark secret.

While the book is dated (it often refers to the challenges presented by AIDS), the themes and challenges are relevant. The author is an excellent writer writer who has a playful, lyrical, and when needed, serious style that moves forward the story through some slower parts. He also does a superb job of personalizing his experiences through the book and displays his vulnerabilities at multiple times.

Ultimately, the book is at its best when the author shows depth in his areas of expertise. Whether it be the detail and specificity with which he highlights an exciting tennis rally, or sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of internal medicine, the story is buoyed by those exciting passages that allow the reader to share real depth with a master in two different, but oddly relatable fields. Relatedly, near the tail-end of the book, he really hits his stride waxing thoughtfully about the existential nature of our lives. This is certainly put into great focus after learning more about his tennis partner. For me, this was the best part of the book.

A few drawbacks of this book. It can be slow. While he does have an engaging style, I found the detailing of the scenery repetitive and unnecessary.  And while I enjoyed the medical jargon and expertise he shared, it occasionally became tiresome without any background knowledge (at least for me). I also found the book heavier than I realized. As I knew that it was more than simply about tennis, I didn't realize the depth of the material this book would approach. Things like drug addiction, sex addiction, suicide, friendship, and a few others deep subjects are littered throughout the book. While the author does a super job approaching them, it's a lot to take on. Finally, I found the lack of depth about his tennis partner's character frustrating. Potentially this was done to be as accurate as possible to his experience with this person but it made the book, and the ending especially, more difficult to understand.

On a whole, this is a very strong and meaningful book. I would recommend doing a bit more digging about the themes and challenges offered prior to reading it, but if you are looking for a meaningful story about addiction, life, and tennis, this should be a welcome read. 

The Flight Attendant - Chris Bohjalian ------------------------ 2 Stars

The Flight Attendant is a very popular book that has recently been made into a dark comedy series of the same name on HBO. I figured I'd enjoy due to the large amount of positive feedback and interesting plot. Unfortunately, for me, it was a huge flop. Let me do my best to explain.

To start with the positive, this book has an interesting and somewhat engaging plot. A flight attendant wakes up in a hotel room with a dead (more or less) stranger next to her and does not know (or remember) what happened to him. A pretty good set up the reminded me a lot of The Girl on the Train (review here) or The Woman in the Window (review here). All have a similar formula - something crazy and unexpected happens and the unreliable narrator is an alcoholic type woman.

This actually might be my first problem with the book. Clearly this type of narrative plot has been used before (and, as I believe, much better) with past novels. Perhaps if this was the first time I had seen this device used, it would have been more engaging. However, the lack of plot originality was a problem.

Another problem I occasionally have with fictional books is how realistic they may or may not be. While I know this book is fictional and not real, the book could be told in a way that is based in reality or is more fantasy. While this book makes clear it attempts to base itself in a reality of the world we live in, I found numerous things occur that seemed unrealistic. Perhaps, most notably, the work of the main character's lawyer. While I am not a lawyer, I feel like I have enough experience with them to know that they tend to be professional and focused. Not drama maniacs who curse often and belittle their clients. The lawyer in this book is where I felt the novel "jumped the shark" from being based in reality to something else.

Finally, and perhaps most frustrating, the book is simply slow and not engaging. In the other novels mentioned, the action was packed from start to end and the exposition left the reader wanting more. Not here; rather, I was shocked at how dozens of pages could go by without anything noteworthy happening (other than the author talking about the significant anxiety the main character had over and over). I feel like some of the other challenges could have been overlooked had the story been more engaging. Again, it just seemed like it was following an overused script that I've seen too many times.

I'm sure this book is well liked by many others. Perhaps I just have a skewed and too negative a viewpoint. So, you should it read it and decide for yourself. However, if you do, please be wary of my concerns and don't be surprised if you are under engaged by this novel.

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit - Michael Finkel ------------------ 4 Stars

 The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit is a really great title. I find the idea of hermits fascinating, and once I heard a little about this story, a Maine man who lived in the woods by himself for twenty-seven years, I felt I had to give it a try. The book was not a disappointment.

As noted, this book is about a Maine man, who, at 20, decided he wanted to live in the woods of Maine. He did not have a real plan nor a willingness do die; rather, he felt disconnected and uncomfortable in modern society and was seeking relief. As he was arrested 27 years later for stealing food, his adventure came to an end and his story became public. The author, who had a deep interest in his story since it was first publicized, eventually began corresponding with the hermit and eventually interviewed him numerous times. Based on those letters, interviews, and conversations with others, wrote this story.

While not long, this book moves at a nice pace and is an enjoyable read. The author has a simple but engaging style that appropriately moves the reader along while filling in many questions about the past and current status of the main character. I find the later chapters, which focus more on the psyche of this person, to be the most interesting. As he goes deeper into the reasons the hermit made this choice many years ago, the reader quickly becomes aware of the deep longing he has to remain in the woods and how comfortable he is in that setting. As the reader learns more about the hermit's current status and some of the challenges facing the author as he gets closer to this individual, I couldn't help by sympathize with both of their situations. In addition, many philosophical and existential questions are raised in the last parts of the book. These questions do not have easy answers and seemed to be perfectly placed as a great juxtaposition to so much of the prior novel (which is much more focused on the "what/how" and not the "why".)

While there was nothing I particularly disliked about this book, I also found the story-telling often perfunctory. Some of it was slightly repetitive and not as engaging as other parts. That may be in part because of the difficulty of the subject matter - the story of the prior 27 years in the woods lacks excitement (the hermit only said one word to another human during that entire time).

If nothing else, this book is a fascinating look at a true recluse and hermit (although that term is debated about its appropriateness in this case - read the book to figure out why). As a person who values nature and understands the allure, I found this book engaging, and the quest to understand his motivations, fulfilling. 

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir ---------------------- 4.5 Stars

I presume most of you know about the movie the Martian, which I found entertaining and enjoyable. You may not know that it was based on a book by Andy Weir. After seeing the movie and hearing good things about the novel I picked it up along with his first book, Artemis (here is my review of those books). So, it was only natural I check out his new novel, Project Hail Mary. Wow, I am really happy I did!

So, I'll start with a quick note - these books are not pure science-fiction that many people assume. While the books do depict things that are fantasy and certainly are fiction, I find them different than some of the more traditional science-fiction novels that seem totally disconnected from our human existence. Rather, one of the pleasures of these books, is how relevant Weir makes the characters and their human experiences vis a vis these unbelievable things happening to them.  It's so fun when he puts his very real and human characters in experiences that seem unreal. How would someone survive on a foreign planet? What would it be like meeting an alien? Things that seem fantastical are juxtaposed with all realness of being a human from Earth - it's fun to read!

This book isn't dissimilar from this last two; it's still about incredible adventures and unbelievable challenges that need to be overcome with some amazing science. In this book, the world is going to end due to a slow lessening of sunlight coming to earth and a team of scientists need to be sent many light years away to the one place they can find an answer to the problems. Once there, hilarity ensues. Well, not so much hilarity I guess. Really, almost dying ensues. Over and over and over. But, the almost dying is really entertaining.

As I alluded to early, the joy in this read is how well the author is able to make so many of the interactions and scenes have a playfulness to them. I think that is why Weir's style is so attractive to readers. While he is describing incredibly complicated and difficult science (from what I understand, is 99% accurate), he quickly offers some very real and explanatory human responses. Often, these happen to be very funny; which helps as well.

Finally, for as much as the characters are great, his storytelling is super fun, and it's a pretty easy book to engage with, the plot is fantastic. He has a gift of pulling in the reader from page one, keeping the plot moving forward at a steady rate (neither too slow or too fast), and ensuring the plot is something relatable that the reader cares about.

As you can see, I am huge fan of this book.  It almost got a 5 star rating though I tend to save that for epic, longer reads that end up needing more investment (and offer more reward). For pure entertainment value, this book is near the top of the list. On many occasions, I slowed myself down from consuming large chunks knowing how much I enjoyed it and savouring the read. I urge you to give it a try!

The Plot - Jean Hanff Korelitz ------------------------ 4.5 Stars

The Plot has been a pretty hot book since it's release in May of this year. I heard good things about it and was happy that I was able to borrow a copy (after a few weeks on the waiting list) from the local library. It did not disappoint!

Synopsis - a struggling writer "borrows" a fantastic plot from another author and quickly rises to fame but someone who knows more about the origin of the story starts bothering him. Mystery begins as the reader is slowly feed clues about what really happened in the plot of the fictional book and also "The Plot."

So, as you can see by the rating, I REALLY enjoyed this book. While not a great piece of literature by any means, based on my ranking, which is purely on entertainment value, I struggled to put this book down. While slow in some parts at the start when developing the story, I truly had to slow myself down to savour the last quarter. In fact, the final 50 pages were almost impossible to put down - the telltale signs of an entertaining book.

Not surprisingly, this book talks often about how incredible the plot is of this novel being written in the book, and while that plot really isn't that incredible, the way the author weaves it into the story of this book was enjoyable. I struggled to guess where the book was heading and was flabbergasted on more than one occasion as I continued moving through the final chapters.

Interestingly, I figured the internet would have loved the book as much as I did. I thought wrong. While it's still hailed as a strong book, I was surprised by how many people figured out the mystery early on and struggled to enjoy the final parts of the book. Many, including my wife, realized what was going on with a number of chapters left, which took away from the strength of the novel. I, on the other hand am no detective, and I was kept guessing into the final pages. I could imagine not enjoying this book nearly as much as if I different experience. 

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's got a great plot (no pun intended), an interesting set of characters, and is a page turner! While some readers seemed to not enjoy, I thought it was one of my favorite books that I can recall. Enjoy!

Shadow Country - Peter Matthiessen -------------------- 4 Stars

Shadow Country was unknown to me until I recently read an article that mentioned this long, epic tale. During summer, I always feel like I can take on a longer book, and I ended up going much deeper into the history of this novel than I expected.

Released over a decade ago, Shadow Country was not on my radar. When I read a synopsis - an epic tale about E.J. Watson, a notorious farmer and outlaw in turn of the 20th century Florida Everglades - I thought I'd give it a shot. Interestingly, the book was originally written as 3 different novels. The first, a retelling of Watson's life from the viewpoint of friends and associates; the second, a retelling from his son (1st person) years after his death as he tries to put together what was real and what was exaggerated; and a third, a first person retelling from Watson himself. The author shaved over 500 pages off these books to offer them together as the sprawling, 900 page Shadow Country.

Another development also elevated this novel for me. While I knew the novel was entirely fiction, I had figured that main character and events were also totally fiction, but with about 100 pages left, I Googled a place in the book to learn more about it and found out that Watson was a real person! In fact, the entire book was based on real history that occurred in Florida over 100 years ago. After finishing the book, I did go down the Google black hole to learn more about how much was real and what may have been made up. While this book is in no way a biography, it does have some factual elements that improved the reading experience.  

So what was good about this book? Well, the three ways of telling the story was great. While there were shared events and characters between all three retellings, each varied enough to read as differentiated stories. I also loved the character of EJ Watson. While it's commonplace now to see the anti-hero depicted on TV and movies, here was a much less recent literary example. Much like a Tony Soprano, Watson was a pretty awful dude but his charisma and odd empathy for certain people made him captivating. Finally, I loved the story itself. His trials (literal and figurative) and tribulations were thoroughly engaging and there were large pieces of this book that I found myself unable to put it down.

Alternatively, there were also large parts of the book were I struggled NOT to put it down. At almost 900 pages, more could have been edited out and streamlined. Because of the large number of characters (too many in my opinion), I also had difficulty keeping up with who everyone was (I did appreciate the handy ancestral chart that at least made it easier to keep the Watsons straight). I also think others might find the content difficult to navigate. Quite similar to the Wild West at this time, much of the book focuses on death, detailed violence, rape, racism, sexism, etc. So, not for the faint of heart.

As a whole, this book is quite an investment. It took me over a month to read, and that included many stretches of multiple hours a day. While it helps that the book is based in real life events, includes exciting characters, and is an enjoyable read, be aware of the difficulty of getting through the text. This includes both the page length and content included. However, if you can, it is a fulfilling read.

The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal - Ben Mezrich ----------- 4 Stars

By now, most people have seen the excellent The Social Network, which tells about the founding of Facebook from the college dorm room of Mark Zuckerberg. The movie goes into the lawsuits filed by the Winklevoss twins claiming Zuckerberg stole their idea, while also how Eduardo Saverin helped Zuckerberg start the company, and, eventually be pushed out. But, you probably are not aware that Aaron Sorkin's excellent script was based on Ben Mezrich's book The Accidental Billionaires. After being on my "to read" list for years, I finally got to it this summer.

The book is pretty darn engaging. While it's almost all based on real events, the author does have to create dialogue in a number of parts and there is no way to know if those were the words being said. However, it's awfully dramatic and interesting and, as a reader, I appreciate these offerings (as opposed to straight reporting of facts). The characters are absolutely fascinating, and it was interesting to learn more about what motivates/motivated Zuckerberg and the clear awkwardness he exhibits socially. Getting the background about the Winklevoss twins, Saverin, and, the interesting, Sean Parker also made this book a fun read.

Interestingly, I did find this book more dissimilar from the movie than I expected. I think this is a testament to the genius of Sorkin (my favorite screenwriter). While The Accidental Billionaires is a good book, I think The Social Network is a phenomenal movie. I believe much of its greatness is attributed to Sorkin. The opening scene in the movie, which immediately pulls you in, does not exist in the book. But Sorkin does a phenomenal job, in his rapid dialogue style, to paint an immediate picture to allow the viewer to understand Zuckerberg. Alternatively, it takes Mezrich numerous chapters to accomplish the same goal.

The book may be less of a draw to some that already know the story of the founding of Facebook. If you have not seen the movie or are not familiar with the story, I HIGHLY recommend this book. The story is absolutely fascinating. If you have seen the movie recently, it's probably not a "must read" but may be enjoyable. Either way, see you online! 😃

The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett ------------------------ 3.5 Stars

So, another book with the same challenges I've had with others I've read recently. I had the same problem of The Vanishing Half as with some other recent novels I read; they have an amazing and engaging start but it didn't keep the pace as the book continues.

The short synopsis on this book (which you may know as it's SUPER popular right now) is about two twins girls born to black parents. One twin has a much lighter complexion and lives her life as a white woman and the other as black. The book presents this dichotomy immediately and quickly grabs the reader's attention. In fact, the first 30-40 pages were so engaging, this book was on track to be a 4.5 or even a 5 star novel. But, alas, it couldn't sustain.

What went wrong? Well, I felt the author went away from the interesting characters she started with and introduced less interesting characters. Also, I felt the story went away from what made the book so captivating. The twin sisters diverging lives was the best part of the story, and it seemed like the author told that entire story, realized there was a lot more necessary for a novel, and then switched to a couple other characters to fill it out. I also felt the author was stuck between trying to make it as realistic as possible and it be fantastical; she does neither well. If it was the former, then some of her plot elements are beyond incredible in how they occurred. If more the latter, she shouldn't have spent such large amounts of the book making, what could have been quite interesting, interactions between the conflicting characters so mundane.

Don't get me wrong, the book is still an enjoyable read and a very strong story. I enjoyed picking it up and reading it and found the many interwoven themes - race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic issues - clear and thoughtfully presented. For as strong as the book started, it did get as close to that peak in the last 15% of the book, as the author did a great job bringing the varying characters together and concluding their journeys in and engaging and thoughtful way. I DO recommend this book for many reasons; just know that it likely won't stay on that pace throughout the whole book.