colorful and interesting characters and clever dialogue

Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Pudd'nhead Wilson" is a fine, albeit dark, tale by the classic Mark Twain, told with his unique wit and wisdom. I really enjoyed this one, with its colorful and interesting characters and clever dialogue.

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sloooow fiber this evening :(

definitely an issue with our @googlefiber this evening! Wired - very slow downloads but uploads are normal pic.twitter.com/rZ118uKRHb

— Kevin Routh (@KcRouth) February 7, 2020

useful delusion or useless truth

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Underground Railroad is a tragic and heartbreaking story that is beautifully written. Colson Whitehead's prose are among the best i've read. The story told is the damning truth of slavery, and the history, philosophy and culture of the American nation and people - how this nation was built, and the brokenness and systemic evil so key to its building. Through imagination and creativity, this story communicates not hard facts, but the undeniable truth about America. Sadly the truth illustrated here in a 19th century context have survived into the 21st century today, and must still be confronted and fought.

One quote that seems key to the story, and the truth it communicates is:

"We can't save everyone. But that doesn't mean we can't try. Sometimes a useful delusion is better than a useless truth."

Sometimes delusion, rather than the cold hard facts, is what we hang on to in order to be saved. But just below the above passage we find this:

"And America, too, is a delusion, the grandest one of all. The white race believes - believes with all its heart - that it is their right to take the land. To kill Indians. Make war. Enslave their brothers. This nation shouldn't exist, it can't exist. This place must be a delusion, too. Yet here we are."

To whom does the useful delusion of America belong? Here we are indeed. Looking no further than the current occupant of the White House and his rabid followers, ranging from the factory and farm all the way to the halls of Congress, we see that the delusion that in America is alive today, and must still be confronted and fought, for the sake of every person. Everyone. FOR ALL.

interview with the author:

https://www.npr.org/2016/08/06/488969873/new-novel-takes-the-underground-railroad-beyond-the-metaphor


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more ahead for Claire and Jamie

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

in Dragonfly in Amber we continue with Claire and Jamie's life where it left off at the end of Outlander. The first half of the book takes us through the political scheming behind Prince Charlie's aspirations of regain the throne. We are introduced to many new and "interesting" players as well as reuniting with a few characters from the first book. Just when the political maneuvering starts to get tedious, the pace is yanked into double time as the plans take shape in tangible form back in Scotland. Once back in their homeland, the action and plot twisting and turning does not stop until a final confrontation between the Scottish rebels and the British army. The outcome is left somewhat cloudy. But then, Claire returns to the 20th century to rejoin the timeline that started the book, Claire bringing her daughter to Scotland to meet her father. The bookending of the book with the 20th century narratives is nice, and when the book closes, we can safely assume that there is more ahead (200 years in the past) for Claire and Jamie.

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shocking and sobering historical journalism

Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story by Timothy B. Tyson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We ran across this book at a local library sale. I was interested in reading this account of recent history to learn a bit more about the place and people we chose to call home 33 years ago. The events recounted here took place about 30 miles from our home, in 1970, a mere 16 years before we moved here. This account is both shocking and sobering as it reveals the purposely hidden facts about the murder of a black man in Oxford, NC, the subsequent cover-up and the sham of trial that let the murderers go free. As an isolated event, it is shocking enough. But this well written historical and journalistic research shows how the horrific events in Oxford NC were part of a larger systemic culture that were and to some degree, still are, widespread throughout the US, especially in the US South. The facts are well presented and documented. In addition, the author adds his family's intersection with the story, which provides a nice personal feel. This is a great book, and conveys many facts missing from the accepted mainstream version of the struggle for civil rights in this nation. I am anxious to read more of this author's excellent work.

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moving and heartwarming memoir - BRUUUCE!

Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock 'n' Roll by Sarfraz Manzoor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Greetings from Bury Park is a moving and heartwarming memoir of friends, family, race, politics, religion, and music - especially the music of Bruce. When it comes to Springsteen fandom, it is amazing how many parallel life experiences have come under the healing and inspiring influence of Bruce's music. This story, although set in another continent and culture, and about people of another skin color and religious tradition, bears such a close parallel to my story and the story of so many others who, in their journey growing up and through life, have found inspiration and personal peace through the music of Springsteen. Even with all the obvious differences in place and culture, i felt the author was describing much of my own life's story. This is a great story to read, regardless of the reader's relationship with Bruce's music. It is a wonderful story of Growin' Up and the journey to The Promised Land. :)

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a must-read for all fans of the Wheel of Time

Warrior of the Altaii by Robert Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not a story type that i usually read, but being by Robert Jordan, i grabbed it as soon as it became available at our local library. This tale, completed in 1978, is one of the first Jordan wrote. But after publishing rights changing hands several times, was never published until now. The Forward is by his widow Harriet, and contains some back story not only to this book but also to their meeting. As Harriet mentions in the Forward, this tale contains many characteristics and concepts that foreshadow the classic and epic Wheel of Time series, which is second to none among fantasy epics. I really enjoyed this story, the character development, and the multiple dimensions to many aspects. After completing the book, i can see many Wheel of Time concepts that were explored and foreshadowed in this tale. I would say that this is a must-read for all fans of the Wheel of Time.

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great space saga continues

Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A great space saga continues - this installment not as compelling as the previous ones, but still action packed, full of suspense and plot twists and turns and fairly interesting characters. Time to return to the TV series to catch up with the books.

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A breakthrough book

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A breakthrough book for Willa Cather, O Pioneers! is rooted in the land and people of the northern plains of Nebraska. Bold topics and strong characters, especially the heroine of the story, shine in this revolutionary and grounded book published in 1913! Ms. Cather was certainly ahead of her time as a writer and advocate of gender roles and rights. I am looking forward to reading more of her celebrated works.

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precious jewels

Black Elk Speaks by Black Elk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Black Elk Speaks is several books in one.

On one hand, it is a personal history of man living within a society and culture under siege and risk of extinction by the self appointed heirs of the North American continent. Through the "words" of Black Elk, a Oglala Lakota medicine man, as written and felt by John G. Neihardt, a dedicated poet historian and mystic, we are able to see and feel what it was like being the last generation of a great and noble people to live in freedom in their homeland. We also experience, just a little, being the targets of a genocide both of our people and of our culture and environment. It is refreshing and sobering to be able to learn and feel a little of what it was like to be the victims of our European descended ancestors.

But Black Elk Speaks is also a philosophical and spiritual glimpse into the Great Vision that Black Elk was given as a child that defined his purpose for most of his life, and of his "brother" from outside his race and culture who was able to bond and translate more than just words, but a life and people's philosophy into a language we can experience and try to understand.

At times the book was beyond my grasp as a 21st century skeptical reader and thinker, but the story and meaning inside are precious jewels and we are lucky that they were captured for us before they were lost forever to our own peoples acts of genocide and destruction.

We discovered this author and book because of his connection to the University of Missouri, and of his influence on another excellent and loved author William Least-Heat Moon, the author of Blue Highways.

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suspense and tension right to the very end

Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We just recently heard Josh Ritter and his band in concert for the first time, and fell in love with his music and lyrics. Doing some homework after the show, not only do we discover many great CDs, but we also find out that Josh had written and published this book! Given the depth and richness of his lyrics, we immediately picked this book up at our local library.

Bright's Passage is a beautifully told tale that is rich in imagery and feeling. The method of story telling makes it difficult to put the book down until finished, and maintains the suspense and tension right to the very end. The story opens with both drama and mystery, and then fills in details little by little as the story progresses. The chapters jump around in space and time to gradually paint a complete picture of the characters and situations, right on through to the uncertain conclusion of the story, and at the same time leaves an open path for our hero to walk on. Excellent story and writing!

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critique of our culture and society

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one was a little too over the top for me. It swung between totally outrageous and a true representation of our culture and society. I didn't mind the swings so much as the rate of the swinging. Certainly, the reader is left with many points to ponder, and as outrageous as a literal reading is, it is a valid and biting critique of our culture and society. Definitely worth reading.

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three travelogues in one

A Little House Traveler: Writings from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Journeys Across America by Laura Ingalls Wilder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

this book is three travelogues in one, spanning the time between 1894 and 1930. All three accounts are quite interesting, but especially interesting is the detailed description of the city of San Francisco in 1915. Lots of fascinating details, as seen through the eyes of a country woman visiting. I really enjoyed these accounts of traveling in the late 19th and early to mid 20th century.

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very interesting reading after watching the series

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Re-read with three seasons of the Amazon video series based upon this story under my belt. The series is a significant embellishment and somewhat divergence from the plot of the book, although anchored in the same "world reality".  It was very interesting reading after watching the series. I got more from the book, and it made a lot more sense, even with the vast differences. I tired of the emphasis on the Oracle however. It is hard to believe that it could play such a widespread role in the culture.


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The Wheel of time turns once again

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my 3rd reading - hoping to finish the series again. On to book 3 :)

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outrageously zany and great fun

Mort by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mort is outrageously zany and great fun! If you loved Hitchhikers Guide, you'll love this one!

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a very special collection

Burning Bright by Ron Rash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really nice collection of short stories that portray real people and their lives set in the mountains of Appalachia. The tales cover a range of topics and time periods, but portray in gritty and sometimes gruesome detail life as it really goes down. This is a very special collection, i heartily recommend it.

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realities of life at the margins

Above the Waterfall by Ron Rash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another beautifully told story of the realities of life at the margins. Told from the POV of the two central characters, we experience the paradoxes of good and evil, right and wrong, and how life seems to settle out somewhere in between. The word imagery the author uses, especially in Becky's account, is top shelf. Wonderful writing and reading, one can't help but feel the story as if living it.

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great conclusion!

The Graveyard Book Volume 2 by P. Craig Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great conclusion to Neil Gaiman's first volume of this graphic novel format of his Graveyard Book. Now i find out that these two volumes are based on a novel by Mr. Gaiman, which i will soon obtain and read. I'm sure it will not disappoint!

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America and Americans

America and Americans by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

America and Americans is an interesting and nicely written collection of essays on topics related to . . . America and Americans. Steinbeck displays his wisdom and knowledge on a range of topics and discusses how the current events and issues of the 1960's are related. It is fascinating (as always) to read Steinbeck's insight and thoughts, but the context of the 60's should be kept in mind when reading them today, in the 21st century. While some of his views are somewhat dated, those are the exception to the mass of wisdom and intelligence that are conveyed as he works through each topic. The book's pages are the majority photos from famous photographers, but aside from the photographer credits in the back of the book, there are no captions or descriptions of any kind, which is frustrating when viewing the pictures for content and context, etc. This is a great read for Steinbeck fans and Americans alike.

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