On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books by Karen Swallow Prior
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved this book by Karen Swallow Prior of Liberty Univ. I waited a long time to get this from the library; the wait was well worth it. Prior is a very astute reader who extracts deep values & principles for life from a number of specific novels. Prior devotes each chapter to a different virtue (love, hope, faith, pride, etc.) and uses one specific novel (The Great Gatsby, Pride & Prejudice & others) to illustrate deep lessons regarding that virtue. Great analysis and exegesis. Well-written and organized, as well as readable/engaging. There is so much to learn from fiction & literature of all kinds--if we have ears to hear & eyes to see. Prior surely helped to better develop my hearing & seeing, and I think I'll be a better reader & interpreter as a result.


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The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Sorry--thought I'd give Roy a chance, seeing as this book won the Booker Prizer, but nah. Couldn't wait to finish it. Didn't like the extremely fragmented & convoluted way that the story unfolded, or the way the characters were drawn--goodness, how could one keep track of them the way things were written. I didn't like the silly & sometimes obscurantist way the English was written. Maybe on a 2nd read it would all make better sense--but I can't ever see myself reading it a 2nd time (which in itself is a sign of a poor novel/story). Choppy, disconnected, vague, hazy, pointless, non-engaging are ways I'd describe this book. Did I really care what happened to the 7 yr old twins and their other relatives who were had to make sense of as they ambled & rambled through meaningless scenes? No, I did not. did there seem to be a purpose or point to the experiences in the characters' lives? No, not really. Borrowed from the library (unfortunately twice! with a long wait in between); read on my iPhone, since the Kindle version wasn't available. Thank God it's over..


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Here To Stay by Mark  Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a rip-roaring thriller this turned out to be! My wife & I read this together--well, she mainly did the reading, first while we were driving to/from Muscat (from Dubai & via Al Ain), and then at home in the evenings. Some very memorable characters are well-fleshed out in the book--and there are some surprising twists & turns. Elliot--the main character from whose perspective we see things--has it all together and lives in a beautifully refurbished house on a quiet street in London. Hold on to your horses--things are about to drastically change following a drop-by open house visitor named Gemma, with whom Elliot surprisingly & quickly becomes involved. Great pace, great chapter endings that leave you hankering for the next, and colorful characters & dialog that move the story forward (& take you backward)--slowly untwisting a twisted family of characters who are "here to stay" in one way or another, at least until... This was my first Mark Edwards book--but probably not my last, as he's written numerous other thrillers that I look forward to reading one day. Read on the iPad/Kindle as an "audioCookbook"--which we got from one of our monthly Amazon Prime Reads choices.


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Made in America by Bill Bryson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Take a trip down memory/history lane in America with Bill Bryson, as you learn how American English came to differentiate itself from British ("proper") English. And, along the way, learn some fascinating things about American history, personages, battles, events, inventions, discoveries, etc. As usual, Bryson can write about the kitchen sink and make it interesting & engaging. He does it again in this tome. So much to learn; so much to be fascinated about down through the centuries, starting back with the arrival of the Saints & Strangers to the "New World" in the 1600s (which, as you'll learn, wasn't all that new at all--thousands & thousands of fisherman had been there trawling the Great Banks and the Vikings had been there 600+ years before!). Great book--especially for those with a love of history and language.


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Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story by Bruce Iglauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved this history of Alligator Records from Chicago. I gave this a 4-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. It is a very honest, transparent look by Bruce Iglauer into the start-up of Alligator Records, as well as its successes and failures. Bruce should know--as he started Alligator Records out of his tiny Chicago apartment back in 1971. It all started with Hound Dog Taylor, who had impressed Iglauer in one of the many southside blues clubs in Chicago. Lots of insights into what makes a label tick, about artist contracts & issues, about royalties and other overhead costs, and about distribution/sales & returns. Alligator has stood the test of time--love this label and have bought many of its CDs. They continue on with digital music now and are going as strong as ever. Keep up the great work, Alligator, of bringing us great artists with their best musical offerings!


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Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump by Rick Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whoever would've thunk it? Golf explaining a US President? Rick Reilly has done a superb job of clearly demonstrating the underlying character of the US' current Commander-in-Cheat. Classic title--I must admit; spot on. I'm giving this a 4-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. A shame in so many ways: the lies, deception, vain boasting, trickery, cheating, bold-face-lying, brazenness, infantile attitudes, and just plain meanness based on an egotistical & self-centered vision of life--which for the Commander-in-Cheat means "winning" at any cost. Enriching himself & his family at any cost--to the detriment of so many others. OK, Trump has done some good things as well--it's not all bad; yes, governments & politicians are well-known to basically all be self-centered cheats (show me some who aren't), so it's just par for the course, as they say (!). These revelations are just so laughable--in the sense that one has to truly laugh at the audacity of the tricks & deceptions & boastings (in a sad, depressing manner). The book is written by a lauded sportswriter who loves golf--whose family has loved & lived for golf over generations. He points out the sadness in Trump's treatment of the game--and this went on for years before he became Commander-in-Cheat, and still goes on to this day as he holds the office--and the way Trump has denigrated the principles (& rules) of the game. Along with his two lifelong caddy friends who regularly tweet & cheat on his behalf. This book was a sad hoot-a-minute that was sad and depressing--to think that half of it could really be true is just. plain. disgusting. And dishonoring to the institution of the presidency of the United States. How many hours has Trump played golf during his current presidency? How many times has he stayed at his own trumped-up hotels & courses at taxpayer expense?...you don't want to know. Believe me. Read on my Kindle; borrowed from the library. Thanks for the tip-off, Kevin.


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The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some great, succinct info/principles on how to better budget, save, and invest for one's future. Written in a very informal, engaging and humorous manner--like having a conversation over a meal. One issue: if you're American, be aware that this is written by an Aussie for an Australian market--so all the various banking & investment instruments are from that context. As well as some of his references to various Australian sporting folks whom you've never heard of...well, maybe they weren't all sporting folks, but they were obscure references, nonetheless. But, overall, don't let that distract you from the great insights in this book.


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Light from Heaven by Jan Karon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More adventures of Father Tim & his wife, Cynthia (Kavanaugh), as Tim takes on a new assignment as the vicar of a long-abandoned parish up in the hills outside Mitford. There are some nice surprises waiting for Father Tim as he steps into this new challenge--and some very likable new characters who are added to the Mitford series hall of fame. Love the narrator for these Karon books--he really does an excellent job representing the voices of the various characters--old & new--and brings their conversation & interaction alive. Listened to this audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library (though my loan ran out near the end of the penultimate chapter--just as Father Tim was sharing a simple prayer for salvation...arggh--had to go & borrow the Kindle version to finish it up!). But, you can't beat getting free books at our local libraries! What a country we live in--thanks be to God.


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The Revolving Door of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great unfolding adventure revolving around that famous Edinburgh address--44 Scotland Street. Where the now-7 year old Bertie lives--at this time so very much enjoying the absence of his controlling mother (Irene) who has ended involuntarily sequestered in an Arab sheikh's harem! Bertie's grandmother--Bertie's father's mother, Nicola--comes to the rescue from Portugal and gives Bertie untold freedoms & gifts, including a new traditional Scottish kilt. Very enjoyable--love McCall Smiths' writing and development of these characters from the neighborhood who have become so familiar. Read on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good. Short. Meditative...do all moderns think the East & Buddhist monks/monasteries are the final answer? It's just all so, well, so PC-'ish for the day & age. God forbid that Jesus or The Bible had anything to say about this--centuries ago...But, ah yes, that's so old school, isn't it? Listened to on my iPhone; bought for cheap on chirp.com.


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Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great handbook with insights & principles for biblical counseling. Tripp does an excellent job looking at how we can be used a instruments of change in others' lives as we listen to them, understand them, confront & care for them, and then support & teach them to apply the truths they've learned. Illustrated with plenty of examples (without real names) from Tripp's personal counseling experiences over his many years of counseling. A good reference handbook to refer back to--I have lots of notes to record for later reference/use.


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Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How long have I heard of this famous book and not yet read it? A long, long time. My wife recently read the book, talking about it in glowing terms on many an occasion. I am now so glad I've read it--it was a great read. A hard read, for sure. Hard things to hear and vicariously to "live" through. Though fiction, as the author states at the conclusion, these characters, their stories and the context of their sufferings, were based on true events & people that the author heard about in her lifetime. Sad, sad, sad. Horrible. Some parts hopeful and encouraging--seeing the faith of slaves who were treated so horribly. What a divide this whole issue of slavery caused in our nation, since its beginning. What a terrible cancer on our land; a blight on all our ideals and hopes & dreams & values. A dark hypocrisy of grandest proportions that contradicted our nation's yearnings for freedom and that ran against biblical principles (despite those who took the Bible totally out of context to support their fallacious beliefs). But, yes, even in the midst of so much suffering, dislocation, unfairness, injustice--there were glimmers of hope because of the Gospel that transformed evil human hearts.


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Worm: The First Digital World War by Mark Bowden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quite an overall fascinating read regarding internet security & fraud--mainly focused on the Cornficker worm that has infected thousands & thousands of computers loaded with the Microsoft Windows OS. MS really screwed it up with vulnerabilities to Port 445 (I think that was it--lots of #s swirled in this book). Interesting to read how vulnerable the infrastructure the internet worldwide is and how vulnerable US government/military internet networks are--and now LITTLE the US government, at least prior to 2009-2010 was doing about it. I think things have improved since then, but there was horribly dangerous exposure up to that point--and will always be bad/dark guys--"Black Hats"--who are looking at ways they can explore & exploit weaknesses & openings.


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Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter's Search for Meaning in the Stories of Our Times by Scott Pelley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book by the CBS reporter/editor, Scott Pelley. I've always enjoyed Pelley's segments on 60 Minutes and think he is an engaging, incisive, unbiased reporter who is good at asking tough/hard questions. Turns out he's a pretty good writer too. Love the wide spectrum of people & situations/issues he covers in this book of his many years of experience as a journalist, from 9/11 to Elon Musk to the Clintons (focused on deception & lies & lies, untrustworthiness, & serial abuse of women). Pelley makes a great case for the necessity of the freedom of the press & journalists in the sustenance of a democracy--and I like his emphasis on being careful, objective, unbiased, story-driven, and prickly about getting to the truth at the heart of the matter. Get your confirmed sources straight--and beware of Russian bots and fake news generated to be intentionally provocative for the sake of "like" algorithms to generate ad money. Check your sources; don't be sucked in by junk news and one-sided gobbley-gook. Stand up for what is right and do it with excellence. Read on my iPad; borrowed from the library.


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How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In by James C. Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another insightful business book by Jim Collins, with a focus on the causes behind great companies who have fallen--some into non-existence, some into bankruptcy, some into irrelevance, some into the history books of ignominy. I gave this book 3-1/2 stars in my Reading Log; it's really an extended research paper--clocking in at only 123 real pgs. (then another 100 pgs of Appendices). How do the mighty/great--former giants of business--fall? 1) Hubris born from success, 2) Undisciplined pursuit of more (greed/relentless drive), 3) Denial of risk & peril (not facing the facts), 4) Grasping for salvation (in a new CEO, restructuring, etc.), and 5) Capitulation to irrelevance or death. These 5 phases of going from Great to Naught can happen slowly over many years, or can happen in a flash (e.g. Lehman Bros in the Crash of 2008). And, some have been able--over time--to bounce back. Some of the companies highlighted: Motorola, Rubbermaid, A&P Supermarkets, Ames Department Stores, Bank of America, Circuit City, Addressograph, HP, Merck, Scott Paper, & Zenith. One of the ones that was a "Success Contrast" (to Bank of America) was Wells Fargo...and since the book was written, they have fallen hard & been exposed for fraudulent business practices & a level of greed/avarice that is unprecedented (just watched an episode of Dirty Money, Season 2, which excoriated their high pressure tactics & disregard of their personnel). Some good warnings/lessons for all in this book, so illustrative in many ways of the biblical principle that "pride goes before a fall."


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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a good "read" and I really liked Gary Sinise's narration. Of course, he played George in a film adaptation, so was the perfect fit for this audiobook. What a sad, sad story--of some down on their luck farm hands in California. Listened to on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Some great ideas and recommendations in this book on how one can start up a business with very little capital. Focus on value--what are you giving to the customer? Follow your natural interests & passions--stuff you're already good at, and begin with giving value to people, even if at first that means for free or losing a bit. Build a good, solid, loyal customer base and give them options and more than they even asked for. Some great/practical examples of real businesses and vignettes of real people. Borrowed from the library; read on my Kindle.


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Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat. by Sarah Robb O'Hagan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quite the career charted by the "Extremer" Sarah Robb O'Hagan, starting with her homeland's national airline, Air New Zealand. Later she had marketing stints at Virgin Megastores, Virgin Atlantic, Nike & Pepsico (Gator-Ade). She's apparently a very savvy marketer--and later moved more into high-end/exclusive health fitness clubs. She outlines some good ideas for how to be the best version of yourself--and how to take things to a higher (more extreme) level. Good/practical steps to growing and pushing oneself towards success. I liked that she also included some of her biggest mistakes/flops--and lessons learned from those experiences. Listened to on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World by Maya Jasanoff
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyed learning about Joseph Conrad's background and story. I knew he was one of the few non-native English writers to be successful, but didn't know much about his history. Polish heritage, though he eventually moved to England and became a British citizen. Didn't realize about all his sea-going experiences, as a worker, deckhand, and eventually captain. Most of his writings were conjured up out of his seafaring experiences, including the classic Lord Jim & Nostromo, as well as The Heart of Darkness. Well-written and researched overall. Listened to this on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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Diamond Head by Cecily Wong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an Amazon First Reads selection (free!). Set in Hawaii and also some in China--where families of the main characters emigrated from--this was a very interesting story of two families whose fates & destinies intersected. It started out slowly, but built to a powerful conflict & climax, with some surprising third generation woes. Wong does a great job filling out the main characters, their inner struggles, their sorrows, their conflicts, their hopes & broken hearts. Read on my Kindle.


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