The Book Challenge discussion

Belatedly started and unusually short.
Back in December, I slipped on a patch of ice and fractured my femur close to the hip. This is the first time I've had a chance to update my reading list. I'm a lot better than I was but still have a ways to go, recovery-wise.

1. To the Bitter End, by John Stark Bellamy II. I confess to being a bit disappointed. Bellamy is one of my favorite authors when it comes to Cleveland history. I have most, if not all, of his collection of short stories about various crimes and disasters in Forest City. I think that was where part of the problem is: Bellamy does better with the short story format. This is not a bad read, but it goes far too deep into the minutia. This book goes into the history, often day by day, into the 1899 Streetcar Strikes, which have been largely forgotten today (which is astounding, considering the amount of damage and number of casualties). Not sure recording even slower days, lists of the dozens of people arrested (most whom are never mentioned again) and running nearly two pages of the unions that supported the strike was necessary, or they could have been included in footnotes in the back. This felt like the 500+ page book it was. I think it could have been trimmed to 400, even 350 pages and it would have been a far better read. Still, it does cover a fascinating part of an explosive period of Cleveland's history. I'd recommend it for local history buffs, just skim the lengthy and numerous lists.

2. From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America, by Elizabeth Hinton. This was certainly an eye-opening read. The question always comes up: why do our country's jails hold such a disproportionate percentage of people of color, particularly young black and Latino men? And why does America have the greatest percentage of its population behind bars? The answer — essentially, it was designed that way, going back decades. Unwittingly, at times, to be sure. But the history of our ill-fought wars made me ill to read this book at times. We seem to have a history of disregarding preventative measures — even when they are shown to have success — and use only the stick (or in this case, jail) to deal with problems and potential problems. Answers and solutions won't come easy, but reading this book would be a good starting point, at least to illustrate how things got to this point.

3. Zen Happiness, by Jon J. Muth. What's not to love about another book by Muth, featuring his signature panda Stillwater? The sweet and beautiful illustrations are accompanied by short words of wisdom and hope that made me smile. I may have to get my own copy.

4. That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, by Anne Sebba. Until I read this book, I admit I knew very little about Wallis Simpson, other than the fact that she married the popular King Edward VIII, he abdicated his throne for her, and that she owned the famous "Lobster Dress" designed by famed fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. I found Sebba's account of the woman who upended the British monarchy quite engaging and entertaining. I had no idea what a crisis this cause Great Britain, and just how divisive the issue was then. Simpson, who was twice divorced, caught the eye of the handsome Prince of Wales; this was sound like the makings of a rags to riches Cinderella story, especially given Simpson's tough and often impoverished background. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the end, they both paid a high price for the marriage. Ironically, the country probably should be grateful to Simpson, which Sebba points out: Edward, while handsome and the idol of I'm sure many young women at the time, he really would not have made a good monarch, particularly during World War II.

I was a bit leery of one aspect of the book: Sebba speculates a good deal on whether Wallis may have had a type of Disorder of Sexual Development (DSD). It's entirely possible, of course, but she offers little in the way of proof. DSD might have explained some of Simpson's behavior- but it might not have had any impact at all.

Other than that, I thought this was a good book on "that woman" and the era she not only grew up in, but helped shape, in her own way.

5. Art & Wonder: An Illustrated Anthology of Visionary Poetry, edited by Kate Farrell. This book combines the artwork by the Metropolitan Museum of Art with poetry that fits the art. The result is a treat. Samples are taken from a variety of countries, poem and art styles, and eras. Really enjoyed this.

6. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin. I've been wanting to delve into this book series for some time, and my only regret is not starting sooner. I already knew the gist of this book, having read a graphic novel version that covers about 2/3rds of the first book. I've also seen bits and pieces of the popular television series. There were still enough surprises to keep me hooked. I don't know how Martin keeps all of his characters straight; I bet his notes on the world of Westeros would fill a huge storage unit, top to bottom. For such a huge cast, many of the characters are well-rounded and complex, particularly Cersei and her nemesis Eddard Stark. Catelyn Stark and Varys are probably the most interesting so far. Catelyn is a mother wolf; she has her faults and prejudices (particularly against Jon Snow or anyone not of known bloodlines), but her love for her children cannot be denied. And Varys- he's hard to figure out, but he's fun to watch. Daenerys Targaryen is probably my favorite character so far. Already in one book she has come a long way. Even Cersei, you love to hate her but she does have her moments when you feel a little sorry for her. Just a little. We shall see if that changes as the book series goes on.

7. Black Square: Adventures in Post-Soviet Ukraine, by Sophie Pinkham. An interesting account of modern-day Ukraine, from someone who was there. Pinkham initially went to Ukraine to help combat the HIV epidemic. Her observations on conditions in the country, which span about a decade, are pointed and uncover a lot of the problems- both in the country and in the aid organizations that try to help. Through this book, you meet several people who call the country home. They are seen, unfiltered, as imperfect people with their strengths and faults. Anyone wanting a quick, engaging and relatively current read on that region should pick this book up.

8. The Last Great Strike: Little Steel, the CIO, and the Struggle for Labor Rights in New Deal America, by Ahmed White. White goes into what was then a huge story, and is now largely forgotten: the 1937 steel strikes. Much of this took place in this region, including Youngstown. White goes into how the strikes came about, the uneven success of the unions attempt at organizing the workers and, ultimately, how the corporate heads may have won the 1937 battle but in the end lost the war (at least for a time). This was the last big strike, and there were a lot of injuries, and at least 16 deaths. The Last Great Strike is a well-researched, well-paced book, worth picking up.

9. Chains of Opportunity: The University of Akron and the Emergence of the Polymer Age 1909-2007, by Mark D. Bowles. I read this book for a story I was working on. I had only a vague notion as to what polymers were — which is sad, considering one of the largest institutes for polymer studies is practically in my back yard — and I admit I didn't know a lot of the history of polymers nor of The University of Akron. I braced myself for a dull, dry and technical read, but Bowles delivers a book that kept me interested from start to finish. It was neat not only reading about what a polymer is (basically anything that can be manipulated, such as natural rubber, plastics, even human skin) and the history of polymers and polymer studies. I enjoyed getting this glimpse of an important part of Akron's history.

10. The Hamilton Affair, by Elizabeth Cobbs. I admit when I picked up this book, I thought I was getting a history, a non-fiction. However, I really enjoyed what was between the book covers: more of a narrative non-fiction that reads more like a novel. Cobbs has notes at the end which outlines what was historically accurate (most of it), and what was fictionalized (really, only one or two points). My other Hamilton-based reads were straight non-fiction (yes, I'm a big fan of the musical), so this was a nice change of pace. These historic figures come across well, as living people with their strong points and foibles. All in all, I really enjoyed it.

11. Thirteen Chairs, by Dave Shelton. This was a mixed bag. The premise is a boy goes into a creepy house, where he finds 12 other people. Each tell a ghost story. The stories are connected through the observations and reactions of the others after a story is told, particularly from the boy, Jack. The mystery as to what was ultimately going on was good. It took me a while to figure out. The first two stories would have been better if they were spaced apart more, because they were too much alike (both featured a main character who was so detestable, you were rooting for the ghost). One story was just plain bad (the one with the bells; I read the ending and my first incredulous thought was "you have GOT to be kidding!") I did like the Russian tale, and the little girl's tale, as well as the final story. Probably should mention here I got a galley copy, so it's possible some of these issues were fixed in the final printing. So my verdict: Not bad, it's short, but I've read better.

Currently reading: Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin, Plan of Attack, by Bob Woodward, and Remedy and Reaction: The Peculiar American Struggle over Health Care Reform, by Paul Starr.

12. Remedy and Reaction, by Paul Starr. An excellent read for those wondering how America's system of health care (really, non-care for too many) came to be. Fair warning: it will make your blood boil. It goes into the various attempts at providing universal healthcare, the steps forward, the problems and the steps back. Starr was a key part of helping with the effort of former President Clinton to overhaul the healthcare system, so there's a bit of a slant. Still, there's lot of information here, it's definitely worth checking out.

13. Life Hacks, by Keith Bradford. Want to know how to best remove crayon from the walls? Take away the stench from your shoes? Save money? Get freebies? You can find the answers to these and more here. Bradford's easy to read book is both insightful and entertaining (the ways to survive a zombie apocalypse made me laugh out loud). I've used a few of these (like the tip about rubbing alcohol taking out ink, that works like a charm), and have heard of several. I think most if not all are worth at least a try. If you are not adventurous, I know there are YouTube videos, like Mental Floss, that have tried several of these, with varying degrees of success.

14. Plan of Attack, by Bob Woodward. Well, it's by Bob Woodward, so you know this book is going to be excellent. And it was. Woodward goes into how the second Bush administration took its path to invading Iraq and launching it's famous (infamous?) War on Terror. It's a fairly short read, but dense, packed with interviews. What I really like is that all the players, real life people, come across as that: real life people. People with their strengths, their faults, their clarity and their blind spots. The author never descends to parody or caricature. Instead, the story is told, mostly from the mouths of those who made the decisions, and it's up to us to decide what went right and what went wrong (although, years later, we now have the benefit of hindsight.) Anyone who teaches current events should at least consider this book, it's the best nonfiction book I've read this year.

15. A Storm of Swords, by George RR Martin. I'm going to do the best I can with this review, because I'm actually almost done with the fourth novel at this point. The action picks up right after the events of the first novel. With the death of Robert Baratheon, several kings are now vying for the Iron Throne. Really enjoying this series! One thing I forgot to mention is Tyrion in the last review. How could I forget Tyrion?? He's easily shaping up to be my favorite character. He's far from perfect, but unlike Cersei, he listens to his conscious. Usually. And like most of the Lannister family, I'd hate to play chess with him. The one-upsmanship battles between Cersei and Tyrion are just fantastic.

16. A Clash of Kings, by George RR Martin. And the feuding for the Iron Crown continues in what is one of the longest novels I've ever read (Gone With the Wind might be a bit longer, not sure.) This does not feel like a 1,000-plus page novel, though. The action is fast and furious, and I was actually sorry to come to the end. Until I got my hands on Book 4, A Feast for Crows, that is. There's a lot going on in here, as all the pieces in Martin's chess board continue to move and position themselves. Which makes me wonder, if anyone has created a chess game based on this series? Or an RPG? The latter would be easier. But I digress. I knew a bit about the storyline from seeing parts of the HBO series, but there were still a few surprises.

Currently reading: A Feast for Crows, by George RR Martin

17. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum. I finished this short, sweet story in a couple of days. It's quite charming, and serves as the basis of one of the Rankin Bass Christmas features. I can see this as a good book to read to children during the holiday season, perhaps a chapter or three at a time. It's quite imaginative, delving into how Santa Claus came to be. Fair warning: there are a few differences between what is "convention" and what is mentioned here. The biggest example are the names of the reindeer. However, I'm sure parents can work around this. All in all, it made me smile and feel nostalgic.

18. A Girl's Got to Breathe: The Life of Teresa Wright, by Donald Spoto. This was an engaging biography on actress Teresa Wright, whose career spanned about five decades. A huge plus for this bio is that the author knew Teresa and her second husband, Bob Anderson incredibly well. Many of the quotes and notes are directly from Teresa, Bob, and others first-hand. The prologue was a bit rough- it took 10 pages to even mention Teresa Wright. The book does tend to meander in the beginning but it smooths out. All in all, it kept my interest, and I would recommend it to others.

19. Haunted Franklin Castle, by William G. Krejci and John W. Myers. I had the chance to listen to a talk by Krejci at one of the local libraries before buying this book there, so I knew what it would cover. My one nit is people picking this up may expect it to be chock-full of stories about purported hauntings, especially given the title and the cover art. Oh, there are stories about possible paranormal encounters, but that encompasses about a quarter of the book. Maybe. The bulk of the history covers just that: the history of Franklin Castle. Now, that is fascinating in and of itself, even without the ghosts. Krejci and Myers especially spend considerable time debunking the many, many legends and myths surrounding the unique structure, particularly the tales about Hannes Tiedemann and his family. For example, the stories about Tiedemann being a tyrant and possibly murdering his own children, including three infants? Total fallacy. So, again, someone looking for a book full of paranormal happenings may be disappointed. But those who like local history, not the mention the truth, should add this one to their shelves.

20. The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn. Oh my gosh, I cannot say enough good things about this novel. It is far and away the BEST book I've read in 2019, and there was some fierce competition. Wow. I highly recommend this to anyone. This is a longer book but I finished it in a week. I hated putting it down. This is historical fiction, centered on two women from different eras that find their paths crossing. There is an excellent afterward at the end, where Quinn talks about what was factual and what was fictionalized. The two main heroines, Charlotte and Eve, are fiction (although they have loose inspirations in history), but many of the people and events surrounding them happened. The chapters alternate from Charlotte's view and Eve's. Most of Eve's chapters take place during World War I, where she served as a spy in occupied France against the Germans. Charlotte's chapters take place a few years after World War II. They come together after Charlotte seeks out Eve in the search for her beloved cousin. Both women have been broken by life, each harboring several personal tragedies. By coming together, they start to heal. I don't want to say much more, I've never been much for giving spoilers. But do yourself a favor and read this. You are welcome.

21. A Map of Days, by Ransom Riggs. This newest Miss Peregrine book takes place immediately after the third book. The Hollowgasts and wights that terrorized the peculiar children in the first three books are largely a thing of the past, but Jacob and the others soon find out that other dangers still exist. Jacob and several other peculiar children venture through modern day America (with some time loop travel) on an unsupervised adventure after stumbling across a secret room in Jacob's grandfather's old house. This is possibly the most complex and nuanced book yet, and certainly the most political, as Jacob discovers just how different the peculiar world is in America. I'm not sure I liked one element in the very end, but I will withhold judgement until the next book- and make no mistake, there will be another book, I'm certain. And this makes me very, very happy.

22. Gertrude and Claudius, by John Updike. I've thought for some time that a story from Claudius' point of view had potential. Updike sort of beat me to it, in this book that serves as a sort of prequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet, while delving into a bit of the history of that time. The first couple of pages took some getting used to, with the different names and the language. Also, the very beginning was a little weak, even melodramatic. However, stick with it, because it gets much better after the first couple of pages. After the rocky start, I had trouble putting this one down. While the names are different for much of the book (Hamlet is Amleth, for example), it's still easy to tell one character from the other. Fans of Hamlet should enjoy this book.

23. Night, by Eli Wiesel. This short autobiography is short but intense. Incredibly intense. Each chapter includes at least one punch-to-the-gut moment. Wiesel, who lived in Romania as a teen during World War II, was sent to the concentration camps with his family and neighbors during the last years of the war. Before Germany invaded, his town was more or less ignorant of the Nazi threat, and this would prove costly. Wiesel's first-hand account is told with a brutal honest, and not just about the war or the conditions of the camps, but with himself. More than once, I was moved to tears. A must read for those who care about history.

24. A Feast for Crows, by George RR Martin. This fourth saga concentrates on about half of the main characters (with the other half covered in the next installment). Again, really enjoyed this book. It had more than a few surprises. There was one character introduced I'm not sure I like; the person seems a bit superfluous, but I'll withhold judgement until the end of the series. I really liked Samwell's development in this, as he slowly begins to gain confidence in his journey with Gilly and the baby to become a maester. Also really liking Arya Stark's character, and the development of Jaime and Brienne.

25. A Dance With Dragons, by George RR Martin. The fifth book, and last one published so far. The action in this runs simultaneously with the fourth book, but from different viewpoints. Much of the book deals with Daenerys Targaryen, directly and indirectly. At this point word of the Queen of Dragons is spreading, and there are several trying to find her for one of three purposes: seek her hand, kill her, or ally with her. That final one is the main goal of Tyrion Lannister, who is on the run. In this book you also begin to see clearly what was only hinted at: what a monster Ramsey Bolton is. Wow, he is quite possibly the most evil character in the series. His physical and psychological tortures, and his glee from inflicting them, is blood chilling. It also continues the story with Cercei Lannister, whose blunder in the last book regarding the Sparrows becomes all too clear here. My only complaint is that now I have to wait for the sixth book. Drat.

Currently reading: Painted Girls, by Cathy Marie Buchanan, Throw Like a Woman, by Susan Petrone, and The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You, by Lydia Fenet.

Thanks for the recommendations. I didn't really love the Painted Girls.

You are welcome! So far, I like Painted Girls, but I'm only about a third of the way through