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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good geekish fun!

AC/DC: The Savage Tale of the First Standards War by Tom McNichol
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"AC/DC: The Savage Tale of the First Standards War" is an interesting glimpse into the battles waged to establish standards, in this case, the standard for electrical power generation and distribution. As an electrical engineer, the subject caught my attention immediately. Unsurprisingly, the battles were not primarily fought with scientific facts or engineering expertise, but rather with misinformation, fearmongering, and overblown egos and greed. As the cover image suggests, the face off between Edison and Westinghouse was fierce and brutal, and in the end, the loser never really conceded defeat. The book refreshed some forgotten history related to Edison and Westinghouse, but more interestingly, provided many insights into their personalities and motivations as manifest in this particular conflict. This is a nice concise history which is fun in a geekish sort of way. Good book.

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vivid storytelling and rich writing

The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Last Picture Show is a story about coming of age, of growing old, and of the end of an era. It is set in a tiny, fading Texas town, with a bit of "The Graduate" and "Deliverance" mixed in. This brilliantly told story showcases that special flavor of disfunction that is probably unique to mid-20th century small rural towns in the US. The characters are rich and realistic, and black and white issues are thoroughly blurred into a shade of gray that represents the dull life of the town (although there is NEVER a dull moment!). McMurtry's writing often reminded me of Steinbeck with the vivid storytelling and rich writing style. A great story, and a great film. Looking forward to reading the sequel by McMurtry - Texasville, also a film.

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stopped for a moment today to remember

 

a heartwarming human tale

Leaving Cheyenne by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

That Larry McMurtry can sure tell a story. "Leaving Cheyenne" is a heartwarming human tale of life and love in rural Texas. This is book 2 of "A Texas Trilogy" set in the fictional town of Thalia TX representing McMurtry's roots. I'm heading on to book 3 of the Trilogy, "The Last Picture Show" of movie fame. Excellent storytelling.

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Pauli Murray - the incarnation of everything we love about Durham

Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray by Rosalind Rosenberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A few months ago, i decided to take a different route home from our local Co-op grocery store. In so doing, i found myself driving past the Pauli Murray Center for History & Social Justice on 906 Carroll St., Durham, NC. Having lived in Durham for 35 years, i have seen the murals of Pauli Murray in various places around town (https://www.paulimurraycenter.com/pauli-murray-murals), but had never bothered to find out who Pauli Murray was. After reading a short bio on the above website, i picked up this biography at our local library. This book is a detailed, extremely well written and extensively documented account of the life of Pauli Murray. Having just completed reading it, i am in awe of the person Pauli Murray. The Center and murals are here in Durham because Pauli grew up in Durham, a graduate of the same high school as our oldest child. As i read their life story, i was awed over and over at the significant accomplishments and adversity overcome by Murray. You can probably get a concise summary of these on Wiki or elsewhere. This is a very moving life story which is engaging from start to finish. Now i understand why Durham NC has so embraced Murray as our own. Murray's life, passions, and accomplishments so aptly capture the spirit of Durham in its diversity, its quest for truth and knowledge, and the progressive spirit of our citizens. Pauli Murray was the incarnation of everything we love about Durham, and it makes me proud to call them our own.

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another excellent book from @JYSexton

The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis by Jared Yates Sexton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As has been the case with every book i've read by @JYSexton, The Midnight Kingdom . . . is a well researched, documented, and written overview of the subject matter. With this book, the author expands the scope of his research to some of the earliest recorded history of "western" culture and civilization. In so doing, he uncovers, identifies, and explains recurring patterns which have been in play over the dozens of centuries examined. Once the patterns are revealed, the author helps us overlay these patterns on top of what we are experiencing today. We can see over and over and over the methods and motivations used by the ruling class to maintain their power and the hierarchy of the established order. Virtually no tool is overlooked, with religion, mythology, misinformation and ignorance being dependable go-to means of control and domination. Because of the breadth of the subject matter and chronology covered, at times i felt like i was drinking from a fire hose. But the excellent presentation, organization and prose serve as catalysts to deliver the information efficiently. This is a book i will definitely re-read to get a firmer grasp of the information contained. The extensive footnotes undergird the material, with references being approximately 1/4 of the pages in the book. They offer an excellent jumping off point for digging deeper. This is definitely a 5 star book, another excellent book from @JYSexton.

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Excellent reading the 2nd time through!

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent reading the 2nd time through. I had forgotten how many big things happened in this last book written exclusively by Robert Jordan before his passing. Now to double back and read New Spring, which i should have read immediately before this one. Oops!

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35 years since my first Bruce show!!!

Great memories yesterday when this popped up in my e-mail. 35 years since my first Bruce show!!! It’s been quite a journey thru the years since discovering Bruce on late night rock radio back in 78 with the release of Darkness. Bruce wrote the soundtrack of my life ❤️🎸🎶❤️ Bruuuuuce‼️‼️

an unexpected delight

Renegades: Born in the USA by Barack Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an unexpected delight. I had not listened to the podcast series on Spotify of this conversation between Bruce and President Obama. But given that I love Bruce (whose music has been the soundtrack of my life) and I respect and admire Barack Obama, I should not be surprised that this collection is so good. This book is a collection of the transcripts of the heartfelt and thoughtful conversations between these two giants on many topics important to individuals and to our nation. The topics included friendship, history, music, grace and forgiveness, race, economics and values, ghost of our individual and collective past, love, and hope for the future. Generously sprinkled within this dialog are hundreds of wonderful photos from the lives of these two men. It is a wonderful package, and certainly a must-read to anyone who has heard the podcast conversations or who love and admire these men. I really enjoyed this collection, and I'm now going back to listen to the conversations in the audio format of the podcast. Great book.

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Roots - interesting, but not a must-read

Roots by Alex Haley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having recently watched the 1977 TV mini-series "Roots" for the first time, i decided to read the Alex Haley book upon which it was based for Black History Month. Because of what Roots attempted to do, and the influence it and the series had, i wanted to give this book more than 3 stars. But . . no. The book Roots was billed as a work of history and research when it was first published. It in fact is a work of historical fiction which is loosely tied into Alex Haley's oral history. I think that its' aims were high, but it falls short.

I respect and embrace the many things Roots tried to accomplish. It gives the reader a raw view into the slave trade of the 18th century and how it brutalized and exploited people. It gives glimpses into the sophisticated and ordered culture of the African peoples, which were incorrectly portrayed by white Europeans as savage and primitive. It reminds us of the historical link each of us have to our roots and ancestors. It gives a glimpse into life in America as a slave, both first generation, and after many generations of slavery. I suspect that the picture painted does not even come close to actuality, but it nevertheless tries. All in all, Roots presents an interesting story, and perhaps is representative of many experiences of slavery in America. But by today's historical research standards, it should probably be considered a work of historical fiction rather than researched history. The author himself said as much years after it was published, amidst fallout from criticism and even lawsuits related to the contents of the book.

It is easy to find critiques and exposés on the internet with some simple searching. Please search and read if you want to know more. As a story, this is a good one, but not a great one. It is probably on par with the level of TV miniseries of the time. I think that much of the acclaim and awards garnered were due to the breakthrough of this subject matter into the mainstream public consciousness, and I suspect it was controversial at the time (1977). But as a book, it is a bit too long, and not well enough written for me to recommend it as a must read. If you want more details than the series provided, it is a good source. But read it knowing it is largely historical fiction that is tied to some real history.

Also, related to real history in the book, the method used to "timestamp" the narrative using historical events that were "overheard" or relayed word of mouth as they happened came off as simplistic, unrealistic, and downright annoying by the time the book ended. I think a better method could have been used to accomplish this. My $0.02

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Black History Month reading

Roots is at the top of my To-Read list for 2023 so i thought it would be great to read it for Black History Month 2023. Roots was published in 1976 by Alex Haley and is the result of 12 years of research tracing the roots of his family back to Africa. My wife and i just finished watching the 1977 TV series "Roots" (based on the book). She had watched it as a teen when it first came out, and i'd never seen it.  Considering it was made in 77 for network TV, it holds up pretty well in light of the current discussions. I can't imagine how much controversy it must have stirred up back then. I am now embarking on the 688 pages of Alex Haley's book, to read his story in his own words.

engaging, captivating, and thoughtfully written sci-fi

Dune by Frank Herbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wanting to see the 2021 film Dune, but wanting to read the book first, i picked it up to read for the first time. Dune is an excellent story and i found it hard to put down between reading sessions. It is immediately engaging, captivating, and thoughtfully written. The story is imaginative, and has many layers which touch a broad scope of topics. I found that it sets up a context which is then challenged and perhaps shattered as the plot unfolds. Characters grow and change, and in so doing, reveal their back stories and their vision and dreams for the future. Issues which can be taken for granted are presented and then challenged, and in many cases, the conclusions drawn are open ended for further consideration. These topics include religion, politics, capitalism, commerce, ecology, patriarchy, oligarchy and hierarchical rule, eugenics, living systems and creatures, environment, procreation, social and political order, rule of law, etc. I've probably missed a bunch in my listing. Anyway, this story is one of the best of what i consider "old" sci-fi that i have read. I definitely am interested in reading sequels to it, as well as re-reading this original tale again after seeing the film. Great stuff.

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another beyond excellent tale from Colson Whitehead

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Colson Whitehead delivers another beyond excellent tale. Harlem Shuffle is a story of life in Harlem in the mid 1950s to mid 1960s. It is about living with your family and your history, and overcoming it, while at the same time being pulled back into the rut of how things have always been, yet still pushing up and out and beyond. The writing and story telling is nothing short of amazing to read. Colson Whitehead is a rare treasure of a writer. This story is not as heavy or powerful as his previous two works (The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys), but is nevertheless a beautiful read, one of those i found myself wanting to read every word, because the author makes every word count. This is a great story, highly recommended.

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