The Great Fire: One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century's First Genocide

The Great Fire: One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century's First Genocide
by Lou Ureneck
HarperCollins, 2015.  488 pgs. Nonfiction

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Lou Ureneck has written a fascinating book about an extraordinary man. The Reverend Asa K. Jennings didn't have the look or demeanor of a hero. Just over five feet tall, he had barely survived tuberculosis, and walked with a limp. Sent to Smyrna, one of the great cities of the Ottoman Empire, he was largely shunned or ignored by those who should have helped him in his assignment to administer the YMCA there. Shortly after he arrived, Jennings found himself, literally and figuratively, in the midst of a great conflagration. Turkey had overcome Greece in their nationalist battles, and as Greek soldiers, Armenians, and other Christians fled to the harbor at Smyrna, no one seemed willing or able to help them escape the slaughter that was to come. The senior U.S. naval officer in the region liked the Turks and despised the Greeks, so ignored reports of the calamity at Smyrna, so it fell to a makeshift rescue committee, Reverend Jennings, and Lieutenant Commander Halsey Powell of the U.S. Navy to engineer the removal of thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, from certain death at Smyrna. Jennings established safe houses in the city and took as many people who would fit, and then some, negotiated to purchase as much food as he could, and when these measures were about to fail, he tirelessly negotiated with Greek merchants, British military officers, andTurkish administrators to get the refugees to safety. He had often to rely on bribes, half-truths, and Halsey Powell (who risked his career to help) because of the relentless courage, determination, and charity of a short, gimpy, plain-spoken man wearing a straw boater. Ureneck's descriptions of the massacre of Greeks, Armenians, and Christians at Smyrna are graphic and distressing, but provide a memorable picture of the savage times that would change our world forever.

LW

Nobody Walks

Nobody Walks
by Mick Herron
Soho Crime, 2015.  296 pgs.  Mystery

Nobody Walks is as well written a thriller--or book of any kind--that I have read in a long time, and one of the most painful. Tom Bettany has fled his past in England to work anonymously in a meat-packing plant in France, but when he learns of the accidental death of his estranged son Liam, he comes home to investigate. Liam, who fell from a balcony while smoking marijuana, may well have died by accident, or maybe he was pushed. As Tom calls upon all his old skills from his clandestine service days, he runs afoul of some formidable foes and former colleagues and must call upon all his wit and skill to arrive at the surprising discovery of what happened to Liam. I can't tell any more about this fine novel without giving too much away, but be aware that it arrives at difficult conclusions, not that least of which is that Lord Acton was right:  Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

LW

Still Foolin' 'Em

Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys
By Billy Crystal
Henry Holt and Co., 2013. 288 pgs. Nonfiction

 In this book Billy Crystal tells about his life starting in childhood, his rise to fame, important people in his life, and recent events of the last decade that will have a lasting impact on him. These are all interspersed with humorous bits about aging and being a baby boomer in this modern age. I listened to the audiobook which I enjoyed immensely, Billy's inflection and presentation add to the story immeasurably.

 I was really impressed by Crystal's storytelling ability. Of course this book made me laugh, but it also made me tear up. It had a compelling narrative flow, with meaningful themes that reappeared throughout the text and came full circle in the end. It also helps that he seems to have had one of the most charmed lives I've ever heard of. If you can, I'd highly recommend watching a recording of Crystal's broadway show, 700 Sundays, in addition to this, as it fills in a few gaps in this story and is equally heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) as this book was. Be aware that Crystal frequently uses adult language and suggestive jokes.

 BHG

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Warner Books, 1988. 296 pp. Fiction

This is one of those classic novels I somehow missed all through my school years. As did millions before me, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Scout is one of the best literary protagonists ever conceived. Her precocious drive to comprehend her small town existence while struggling with the often baffling and frustrating demands of adults was wonderfully portrayed by the author. The dynamics of her relationships with her brother Jem and her father were particularly interesting. While there is a good bit of sibling tension, Jem never really questions Scout's tomboy nature. Their relationship with their father was fascinating as well, deferential and yet oddly familiar, referring him as Atticus rather than Dad, Father, etc. Her portrayal of small town life is wonderfully complex, acknowledging both the close sense of community while still recognizing the tendency toward insularity and narrow minded provincialism. While this is often required reading for high school or college students, this is definitely a book that should be revisited by adult readers as well.

CHW

Information Doesn't Want to be Free

Information Doesn't Want to be Free
by Cory Doctorow
McSweeney's, 2014. 162 pp. Non-fiction

In this book, Cory Doctorow builds on his already considerable reputation as a leading writer on technology issues in general and intellectual property matters in particular. He concisely lays out his critique of current copyright laws and related tools (such as DRM), their flaws and tendencies to result in the exploitation both producers and consumers of creative works. He presents his arguments in three laws followed by short thought pieces explaining each. For such a short work, Doctorow does a marvelous job of distilling complex issues and elucidating them clearly without a fog of technical verbiage. In laying out his arguments for a new copyright framework that is both fair and appropriate to the realities of the internet, he writes will real passion for the topic while avoiding diatribes and vitriol. This is a very thought provoking book, challenging the reader to grapple with an issue that is becoming, given the ubiquity of social media and digital content, increasingly relevant.

CHW

The Killer Angels

The Killer Angels
by Michael Shaara
Ballantine Books, 1974. 374 pages. Fiction.

I recently re-read this book and was reminded why I often recommend it for anyone interested in the Civil War or Historical fiction. This is the story of the Battle of Gettysburg told from the perspective of the generals and other leaders from both the Confederate and Union Armies. Though this is a work of fiction, the forward explains that Shaara, to be as accurate as possible, researched the personal letters and writings of the key men involved.

The first half of the book is slower in pace as the armies slowly converge on the small town of Gettysburg and position themselves. The book culminates with the intense and bloody Pickett's Charge up Little Round Top.

The book is far more than an account of this seminal battle. What interests me most is the look into the minds of these famous military leaders, how they interacted with each other, how war affected them, and the cost their mistakes had on themselves and their men.

AJ

Re Jane

Re Jane
By Patricia Park
Viking, 2015. 342 pgs. Fiction.

Jane Re is a half-Korean, half-American orphan who grew up in Flushing, New York among the second largest population of ethnic Koreans outside of Korea. Despite high expectations, the economic downturn forced her to find work in the family grocery store under her strict uncle. Jane doesn’t quite fit in and becomes desperate to get away from Flushing, so she takes a job as an au pair for two Brooklyn academics and their daughter.

A trip to Seoul for her grandfather’s funeral turns into an extended stay as Jane reconnects with family and discovers a modern Korea, completely different from the one her uncle left decades earlier. As her outlook on life changes and she tries to find a balance between the two cultures, Jane starts to wonder if the man she loves is really the right person for her.

As someone who is interested in all things Korean, I was really looking forward to this Korean-American retelling of Jane Eyre. Jane, and the struggles she had, felt real to me which probably has a lot to do with the author’s background and personal experiences. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in Korean culture, or retellings of classic novels. It was satisfying on both fronts.

ACS

Summer Campaign

Summer Campaign
By Carla Kelly
Sweetwater Books, 2015. 259 pgs. Romance

Onyx Hamilton should feel lucky to be marrying the respectable vicar Andrew Littletree but she accepted more out of duty than anything else. Her life has been full of heartache and she has resigned herself to a lonely future. Soon the handsome and charming Major Jack Beresford rescues her from a dangerous situation and she must, in turn, nurse him back to health.

The chemistry between the two is unmistakeable and their banter back and forth makes this a fun Regency romance to read even though it deals with some very heavy issues. This is a reprint of one of Carla Kelly's earlier books.

AL

A Desperate Fortune

A Desperate Fortune
By Suzanna Kearsley
Sourcebooks Landmark, 2015. 495. Fiction

Sara Thomas doesn't feel qualified to go to Paris to crack the cipher of a three hundred year old cryptic journal. She is a computer programmer with the ability to solve number games, cyphers and codes in part because of having Asperger's. She is told that the journal belonged to Mary Dundus, a Jacobite exile and that the journal should contain accounts of her everday life. Once Sara breaks the cypher she soon discovers that Mary took part in an unexpected adventure.

Suzanna Kearsley is a master at writing novels with duel timelines. The past is brought to life through the journal entries and I enjoyed learning more about the Jacobite rebellion. I also liked that the present day heroin struggled with Asperger's. It brought a different perspective to the story. This novel does not have a very fast moving plot but the characters are great and make it well worth reading.

AL

Joyride

Joyride
by Anna Banks
Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 278 pgs. Young Adult

Ever since her parents were deported to Mexico, Carly Vega's kept her head down and her nose clean. Between her dreams of attending college, a late-night convenience store job, and a family in need of every dollar she can earn, Carly doesn't have a lot of anything left over, especially money and time.

But when she stops a robbery outside the convenience store, her path collides with that of Arden Moss: The handsome, wealthy, popular Anglo son of the local sheriff (also known as the man who won his office campaigning on an anti-immigration platform). When Arden confesses the robbery was an ill-conceived attempt to prevent his uncle's drunk driving, Carly can't help the empathy she feels for Arden and for his uncle. And once Arden discovers Carly's tough, ballsy streak, he decides that she can fill the hole his beloved sister left behind when she committed suicide. But Carly's suspicious of the boy with a racist father and more money in his back pocket than she makes in a week, and less than thrilled about trying to squeeze him into her packed schedule.

Eventually, Arden convinces Carly to join him on the pranking spree of a lifetime, which turns into a humorous yet heart-wrenching journey to the things that matter most.

Joyride tackles a lot of big issues: Immigration, racism, socioeconomic disparity, rogue police officers, and family disputes abound in the novel, but Banks handles them with grace, care, and humor. Banks deftly handles Carly's first-person narrative and Arden's third, and both characters bound off the pages and demand the reader's empathy for different reasons. I don't often read contemporary YA novels, and I certainly don't read a lot of romances; but I enjoyed this book immensely, particularly Banks' sensitive portrait of a young Latina girl struggling between her family's needs and her own. Recommended.

CA

Sweet

Sweet
By Emmy Laybourne
Feiwel & Friends, 2015. 272 pgs. Young Adult

By a stroke of luck (or by way of having a wealthy best friend), seventeen-year-old Laurel lands a spot on the "Cruise to Lose," a seven-day trip that promises passengers they'll lose ten to fifteen percent of their body weight thanks to a revolutionary new sweetener called Solu. But despite a ship packed with glittering celebutantes and the fabulously wealthy, Laurel doesn't feel inclined to worry about her size 14 waistline. She knows that someday, someone will love her just the way she is . . .

 . . . She just didn't expect that someone to be Tom Forelli, former child star, Laurel's crush, and who happens to be the host of Solu's "Cruise to Lose." Both Laurel and Tom avoid Solu for their own reasons, and are the only ones on the ship to do so, besides several members of the ship's staff.

So when Solu turns out to be addictive enough to kill for, Laurel and Tom find themselves trapped on a ship spiraling into madness. Survival alone won't be enough -- if the teens can't find a way to warn the world of the dangers of Solu, they might find home as hellish as the ship they fought so hard to survive.

Reluctant readers, take heed. Told from two perspectives, Sweet is a whirlwind of a read, offering up enough romance, action, and zombie-like gore to please almost any reader. Laybourne wins bonus points for the inclusion of a heroine who knows her body doesn't fit the beauty standard, but loves herself anyway with no restraint. A great beach read for anyone who likes a side of satire with their sun.

CA

The Last of the Doughboys: The Forgotten Generation and Their Forgotten World War

The Last of the Doughboys: The Forgotten Generation and Their Forgotten World War
By Richard Rubin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. 356pgs. Nonfiction

In the early 2000s, there was a lot of talk about the rapid expiration of living WWII veterans, and the need to preserve their names and stories. Richard Rubin, however, realized that there were a very few living veterans from the first world war, all aged between 101 and 113, and he set out to find and interview as many WWI vets as he could. Mr. Rubin weaves their individual stories into an amazing narrative that offers profound insight into the individual experience (and cost) of an entire world at the first industrial war.

This book is very moving. Not many people know the causes, conflicts, and outcomes of the first world war, although it continues to shape the world we live in to this day. It’s impossible to overstate the impact that WWI had on every aspect of life, both for individuals and for entire continents. I would recommend this book to everyone.

LC

First Frost

First Frost
By Sarah Addison Allen
St. Martin’s Press, 2015. Fiction. 304 pgs.

This sequel catches up with sisters Claire and Sydney Waverly more than a decade after the events of Addison’s debut novel, Garden Spells. Having put her catering business and personal needs on hold to launch an overwhelmingly successful candy business, Claire begins to question her Waverly identity and abilities. Sydney, meanwhile, is happy as a wife, mother, and hairstylist, but her desperation to have a second baby is starting to interfere with every aspect of her life. She is unaware that her daughter Bay, now a teenager, has not only discovered her special Waverly gift, but has also had her first taste of loneliness and love. When a dangerous stranger comes to town, he threatens the happiness of all of the Waverly women.

Like Allen’s other works, First Frost makes for a pleasant, mellow read. I found Sydney’s story a little less developed than either Claire’s or Bay’s, so readers who enjoyed that character in Garden Spells might be a little disappointed. I also wasn’t totally sold on the mysterious stranger storyline. Nevertheless, Allen’s sleepy, romantic, and magical portrayal of small town life remains as charming as ever. Overall, her books strike me as being overly similar to each other, but I’m a sucker for them anyway.

SGR

Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style

Work Simply:Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style

by Carson Tate
Penguin, 2015. 286 pgs. Nonfiction

Time management is a myth—this is one of the first declarations made by the author, Carson Tate. She should know—she’s an expert on productivity in the workplace. She lays out four different styles of personal productivity: Prioritizer, Visualizer, Planner, and Arranger. There is an assessment included by which you can determine your predominant productivity style. The bulk of the book reviews many tasks in the modern business world and how they might be accomplished most effectively: handling email, working with others, delegating tasks, running effective meetings, etc. Tate includes myriad tips and frequent references to software & apps that assist with specific tasks for each style.

The approach by productivity style is interesting and the tips and recommendations throughout this book would be useful to anyone feeling swamped with work or inundated with email. By discovering our own style and matching our approaches to that style, Tate demonstrates how each of us can increase our productivity.

SML

K-Pop: Korea’s Musical Explosion

K-Pop: Korea’s Musical Explosion
By Stuart A. Kallen
Twenty-First Century Books, 2014. 64 pgs. Nonfiction.

Korean pop music, or K-pop, didn’t start really taking off in the U.S. until Psy’s hit song Gangnam Style, but K-pop has been around for decades. This book tracks it from its start in the 1950s when US soldiers brought American pop music into Korea, all the way to its modern incarnation.

I’ve been swept up by Hallyu (the Korean wave), so I was really looking forward to checking this book out. It didn’t disappoint. It’s definitely a beginner’s guide and touches on some of the biggest K-pop groups from the past (which was new to me), as well as current big names like Super Junior, Girls Generation, Big Bang, 2NE1, Rain, BoA, and of course Psy. One of the features I particularly liked was that as it discussed the different idols, it also gave a short suggested playlist to help the reader become familiar with the artist’s music.

For anyone just starting to get into K-pop, I would highly recommend this book. For those already quite familiar with the genre, you probably won’t find too much new information.

ACS

H is for Hawk

H is for Hawk
by Helen Macdonald
Grove Press, 2015. 300 pgs. Nonfiction.

Helen Macdonald is a well known author and naturalist from the U.K.  "H is for Hawk" recounts her response to the sudden death of her father.  Devastated, she decided to escape the world for a while and try her hand at training a goshawk.  Already an experienced falconer, Macdonald acquired Mabel and began the challenge of taming and training her to hunt.  She found advice and guidance by revisiting "The Goshawk" written by T.H. White.  White's experiences and struggles in both life and in the taming of his own goshawk, strangely mirror Macdonald's own restlessness and isolation.  She first loses herself completely to the project but then begins to emerge as she heals during this strange period of loss and grief.

I am pretty sure I've never read anything quite like this.  It's a unique blend of nature writing, historical literary review, and bereavement memoir.  Macdonald is very self-aware when it comes to her admitted obsession and slight madness during her time training Mabel and recounts her journey with a nice dose of humor and honesty.  I also enjoyed learning more about T.H. White's life and the writing of "The Once and Future King".  Really an enjoyable and distinctive literary experience.

CZ

The Precious One

The Precious One
By Marisa De los Santos
William Morrow, 2015. 359 pgs. Fiction.

Wilson Cleary, a highly respected professor and businessman, has two daughters.  One, Eustacia, he abandoned along with a wife and son seventeen years ago to start a new family.  Taisy, now a successful ghost writer in her mid-thirties, has spent the past couple of decades recovering from the circumstances that led to the split and feels she's moved on.  But then Wilson calls asking her to visit, she feels unable to turn him down.  


Wilson's other daughter, Willow, has been raised with all the love, care, and attention that Taisy never enjoyed. Wilson home schools her keeping her safe from practically all the polluting influences of a world never quite worthy of her.  When Taisy responds to her father by joining his new family for a couple months visit, these two daughters will together learn what it means to be family and how to truly forgive and love.

I really enjoyed this heartfelt novel.  The narration switches back and forth between Taisy and Willow and they both prove to be entertaining storytellers.  While some aspects of the story were predictable, it was still enjoyable with just the right dose of romance along side an intriguing family drama.

CZ

The Anticancer Diet

The Anticancer Diet: Reduce Cancer Risk Through the Foods You Eat 
By Dr. David Khayat
W.W. Norton and Company, 2015. 288 pgs. Nonfiction.

Chapter by chapter, oncologist David Khayat analyzes various foods’ tendencies to either increase or decrease cancer risk. In addition to devoting chapters to broader food groups such as dairy, meat, produce, and fish, he provides a helpful appendix listing dozens of individual foods and their effect on cancer probability. He does gloss over grains and prepared foods, however, to focus solely on whole, unprocessed items.

I was impressed by Khayat’s oncology credentials in both research and patient care, and because of this I felt that his book was a more trustworthy source than other similar books might be. Apart from the omissions mentioned above, he carefully cites major clinical studies for every claim he makes. As a result, his writing could occasionally be a little jargony, but in these cases he warns the reader to skip ahead a few pages if desired to avoid especially detailed medical information. Overall, The Anticancer Diet was readable, informative, and a useful reference. Much of it was common sense, and I especially appreciated Khayat’s moderate approach toward food, which avoids the extremism one might expect from a book with “diet” in the title.

 SGR

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation
By Michael Pollan
Penguin Books, 2013. 480 pgs. Nonfiction

What makes humans different from every other animal? In this fascinating book, the answer is: we cook our food. In four parts that explore each of the ancient elements of fire, water, air, and earth, Pollan discusses the techniques of how and the reasons why we transform raw ingredients into delicious food.

The most interesting aspects of this book for me were the discussions on why we as a culture have stopped cooking our own food, and the impact that has had on our health, our families, and our future. I didn’t realize how little cooking any of us do anymore; many of us open a package or a jar and heat something up. Cooked is an eye-opening exploration of the importance of food, cooking, and our rapidly disappearing culinary heritage.

LC

Ms. Marvel. 1, No Normal

Ms. Marvel. 1, No Normal
By Willow G. Wilson
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., 2014. 120 pgs. Graphic Novel

Kamala is a teen living in Jersey City who dreams of being an Avenger and escaping the sometimes stifling atmosphere of her close Pakistani family. But when she finally gets her wish, she struggles with her identity - trying to discover if this is what she really wants after all, and if she will give up too much of herself to go after her dreams.

This is a great teen graphic novel and I can easily recommend it to fans of superhero comics and The Avengers. The main character is a Pakistani and a Muslim, and her culture and identity are strong themes in the novel. She desires to both surpass and still be a part of her culture and her family, and she struggles with how to do this in an authentic way. Kamala's parents also play a strong role both as supporters and sometimes antagonists (sound familiar, teens and parents?). I also appreciated how Kamala is portrayed as a realistic teen - she makes mistakes but ultimately wants to do good and tries her best.

BHG