Franciscan Spirituality and the town of Assisi

Enter Assisi: An Invitation to Franciscan Spirituality by Murray Bodo O.F.M.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enter Assisi is a nicely written account of how Franciscan Spirituality overlays the town of Assisi in Perugia. Aspects of the Franciscan way are linked to times, places and events in and around Assisi, where St. Francis was born and died, and based his ministry from. I especially enjoyed the latter part of the book as it described events in places we visited this past summer when in Assisi. I look forward to a more extended stay there.

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a deeply layered and multifaceted account

Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska by Warren Zanes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is like a biography, except it's for an album rather than a person. In "Deliver Me from Nowhere", Warren Zanes brilliantly delivers a deeply layered and multifaceted account of the birth of the amazing album "Nebraska" by Bruce Springsteen. In this book, we learn the backstory of Nebraska, get acquainted with all the people involved, but most interestingly, we get to see how and why it was written, recorded, "produced", and released. Every aspect of this story is fascinating. Especially interesting to me (besides my being a lifelong fan of Bruce and his music) were the technical details of the recording, mixing, and mastering. Being a retired Electrical Engineer, who for 40 years have felt some regret for not pursuing the music industry in my career, and having run sound equipment, mixers, and recording setups for artists and bands on the amateur level, the techie section was pure joy. Nebraska was one of the first Springsteen albums I purchased in college, right after it was released. I've loved it in many ways over the years. Today, i went back and put the CD on after i finished the book, to relive the album with all the details fresh in mind. Given the excellent writing and amazing subject matter, this was an easy 5 star rating for me.

Note that this book inspired the recently aired PBS Television special entitled "Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska - A Celebration in Words and Music", narrated by Warren Zanes and featuring many artists performing the songs live. Especially love Noah Kahan's version of Atlantic City!!
https://www.pbs.org/show/bruce-springsteens-nebraska-a-celebration-in-words-and-music/

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rewrite of the Jack Kirby saga

Eternals by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A rewrite of the Jack Kirby saga, which i haven't read. It was interesting, but my interest was tempered by recent revelations. Too bad. The art was much improved over the original (comparisons in the appendices).

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A fun geeky read

The Iron Road: An Illustrated History of the Railroad by Christian Wolmar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm in the process of collecting a lot of books to donate to the Friends of the Library, and ran across this one that i decided to read before donating. Its a very high level history of the development of railroads globally. Written on the level of a middle/high school text book with generous illustrations, it was fascinating to follow the birth and evolution of rail travel and transportation over the centuries. Coming off spending a month on the trains in Italy and other adjoining EU countries, i found it interesting to see how those rails systems developed. A fun geeky read.

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an amazing worldview

Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi by Richard Rohr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first overview of the Franciscan way. I have read other writings and books by Father Richard, but this was a first book about the Franciscan way. I picked it because we were in the process of planning to go to the town of Assisi this past summer. I have been inside of Christianity most of my life, and in my view, the Franciscan way is the most credible and worthy form of Christianity i have ever seen. Offhand, i can't even think of a close second. What an amazing worldview. I recommend this book.

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much to think about

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In cleaning out and giving away a bunch of books, i ran across this one that i had not read. It is not the most encouraging story to read at my age, but nevertheless, a well written story. It deals with many aspects of survival and success in our capitalistic society. Published in 1949, this script has been the basis for many stage productions and films. It is a well told story that leaves much to think about. Very good.

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delightful and satisfying travels

Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo by Tim Parks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This my second title by Tim Parks and I'm a fan. I love reading travel writing, but Prof. Parks includes so many of the dimensions that are seen only in the very best travel writers. I especially like his grounded, honest, approach to describing not just history and politics behind the places, but such thoughtful reflections on the people, places, and sights, including self reflection to give a special context to the journey. I loved Italian Neighbors (how was that NOT made into a film?) and this just adds more layers to the delightful and satisfying life story of Prof. Parks. I will continue pick up and read more of his canon, especially as i reflect on traveling to Italy, both before and after. Excellent account.

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a "manifesto" for travel

Rick Steves' Travel As a Political Act by Rick Steves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rick Steves' "Travel As a Political Act" is his "manifesto" for travel. In it, he shares many details of his most meaningful and life changing travel, and expounds on what was learned and how it changed him. The book shares a wide diversity of places, people, and experiences. In addition, through advice and experience, the author shows us how we can apply the same principles of travel to our travel experiences, in order to make ourselves better citizens of the world, as well as to connect meaningfully to a larger scope of humanity. Rick is a really cool person who lives what he publishes. This is a great read for anyone venturing outward, whether out of state, or across the globe.

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ditto, this time Florence

Rick Steves Pocket Florence by Rick Steves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another excellent and concise overview, this time of Florence. Great maps, tours, and recommendations. All around great summary which will definitely go with us to Italy! Thank you, Rick Steves!

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Another excellent and concise overview, this time of Rome.

Rick Steves Pocket Rome by Rick Steves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another excellent and concise overview, this time of Rome. Great maps, tours, and recommendations. All around great summary which will definitely go with us to Rome! Thanks again, Rick Steves!

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Excellent and concise overview of the Cinque Terre

Rick Steves Pocket Italy's Cinque Terre by Rick Steves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent and concise overview of the Cinque Terre and the surrounding towns. Great tips, recommendations, and i especially love the detailed walks in and around each town. I also appreciate the frankness in the reviews of sites and eateries. All around great summary which will definitely go with us to the Cinque Terre! Thanks Rick Steves!

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a fascinating, wonderful, and deeply human story

Italian Neighbors by Tim Parks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Italian Neighbors is a brilliantly written book about Tim Parks' initiation to life in Italy, and it becoming his home. The author details the wide variety of people and events over the course of a year, after setting up residence at Via Colombare, 10, Montecchia. The small town, the people, the customs, the religion and politics, the personalities, are always interesting and often eclectic and outrageous. Unlike many travelogues i've read, this book is about digging in and making a new place into a home. As the author says in his Afterword:

"If this book is anything, I hope it suggests how I passed that point of no return. Which is a process of immersion in details, whether they be pleasant or unpleasant. For details are sticky as spider's silk; you are very soon caught. And rather than a travel book, perhaps if there were such a category in the libraries I should call this an arrival book. For by the end, this small square handkerchief of Italy I live in has become home for me. I hope that for just a moment the reader will have been able to feel at home here too."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a fascinating, wonderful, and deeply human story. Highly recommended!



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Proud Shoes - walking in the steps of giants

Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family by Pauli Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading Rosalind Rosenberg's Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray and being blown away by the amazing person named Pauli Murray, I decided to read the detailed history of their family in their own words, Proud Shoes. It is little surprise that Pauli was such a pivotal world changing person after reading their family history. Pauli's grandfather, Robert Fitzgerald, and his wife Cornelia, as well as his parents, siblings , and children lived their lives on the front line of the battle for equality, education and justice for every person. Although some of this story happened elsewhere, much of it transpired just a few miles from where we live, and transformed our community of Durham NC in the post Civil War years. It was again mind blowing to read the stories of these giants and be able to walk in the same spaces that they lived and walked. Proud Shoes is excellently written and researched, including written as well as rich oral history from Pauli's family. This is an amazing true story of an amazing family that embodied so much of what Durham has come to represent to the surrounding communities, the State of NC, and to our nation. This is on my must read list, a really special story. Please, read it.

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a thoughtful and considered memoir

Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections at Sixty and Beyond by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections at Sixty and Beyond" is a thoughtful and considered memoir, looking back on 60+ years of Larry McMurtry's life. A range of subjects are discussed, among which are pioneering and homesteading on the Texas frontier in the late 19th century, reading, learning, writing, book scouting, and many others. The author reflects not just on his own life, but that of his family, his neighbors, of cowboys, cattle and horses, small towns, libraries, books, University, being a storyteller, and so on. Mr. McMurtry is an excellent writer, so reading this is a delight. It was great to "get inside" the head and history of the creator of "Lonesome Dove", "The Last Picture Show" and "Brokeback Mountain". Recommended for all McMurtry fans.

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masterful story telling, a classic

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lonesome Dove is some of the most masterful story telling i have read. McMurtry's prose remind me so much of the best of Steinbeck. The passages often take on a literary life of their own with their cadence and color, something that is rare and special. And the story. . . Lonesome Dove is an epic saga of quest and purpose with a varied and colorful cast of characters that are painted vivid and rich. This story has "all the things", love and hate, triumph and tragedy, victory and defeat, in the context of the newly opened American West. This classic tale deserves the "must read" status. McMurtry studied under Wallace Stegner at Stanford Univ, which is also where Steinbeck spent some college years. I don't know if there is any overlap that is significant, but McMurtry's writing, especially Lonesome Dove, is of the same classic status as Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. A wonderful book that i want to re-read after re-watching the series. Excellent!

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fascinating and exciting tour of Italy

See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy by Frances Mayes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"See You in the Piazza" is a fascinating and exciting tour to many of the places in Italy that don't show up in the guidebooks. Ms. Mayes and her husband (and sometimes family) drive, read, and eat their way from the top of Italy's mountain ranges to the southern tip of Sicily. Many of the seemingly endless amazing meals are shared in the form of recipes given by the chefs. Because of Ms. Mayes notoriety, she shares with us many special glimpses into the places and people along the way. By sharing her experiences in this wonderfully written account we are able to experience many places, people, and food that we could not on our own. In our upcoming trips to Italia, we plan to add to our itinerary some of the places visited in this book. Our trip will be richer for it. A couple quotes that really stuck with me:

Mayes, Piazza, p.332
Author reflecting on a trip to Italia w/ friends from the US (author lives 1/2 time in Cortona, 1/2 time in Hillsborough NC)

"A discovery for me: A new context deepens friendship. At home, we have our dinner parties, walks, fund-raisers, birthday parties, etc. Traveling together moves us out of preconception. Though some travel only to confirm their held convictions, this group is ready to be amazed. Seeing what is new gives our friendships new grounds. We'll be reliving Puglia for years."

Mayes, Piazza, p.406 epilogue

"The greatest gift of travel: the steep learning curve. Second best: how your vision refreshes and you see with infant eyes. Third: memory. How the places seen will layer into life as time moves on."

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Excellent (again)!

New Spring: The Graphic Novel by Chuck Dixon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved reading this one again. Reading it parallel with New Spring, i am impressed at how well this graphic adaptation follows the entire story line of the novel. Excellent (again)!

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especially sweet in the re-read

New Spring by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one was especially sweet in the re-read. Noticed lots of things i missed first time through. Great story and prequel to the Wheel of Time.

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a better way to communicate

Declarative Language Handbook: Using a Thoughtful Language Style to Help Kids with Social Learning Challenges Feel Competent, Connected, and Understood by Linda K. Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent introduction and overview of a better way to communicate with kids and folks with Social Learning Challenges. Can't wait to learn more and start practicing it daily.

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rich adventure, ended too soon

O America: Discovery in a New Land by William Least Heat-Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"O America: Discovery in a New Land" is a different approach to a travel book. Usually, travel books are written by someone describing who and what they encounter as they travel on a journey and as they stop to experience places and people along the way. Some are serious, some add humor, some are philosophical, but most add information to greatly increase the readers understanding and second-hand experience of the places visited. Some are set in modern contemporary times (Bryson, McMurtry, Heat-Moon), and others were written in the past about past experiences (Steinbeck, Mark Twain). What makes this account unique among the travel books i've read is that this is written in the present as historical fiction, narrated by a traveler displaced in time from the author. In this case, the time is 1848 and the traveler is a Caribbean born British physician visiting and exploring 1848 America for the first time. For me, it is a refreshing approach to visiting an America of our past, looking on it as an outsider, somewhat objectively. The adventure is rich, but ended too soon. This could have been a book 2-3 times longer, and still been engaging and rich. I enjoyed reading it.

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