June Books and Reviews

Another wildly eclectic of books for you to consider this month, each one containing flashes of insight.

Despite being on the road much of the month, I read five books in June and here are my one-sentence reviews of each book and the rating scale I use.

*****        An extraordinary book: one of my Top 15 all-time favorites

****          An outstanding book: highly recommended

***            A good book: worth the read

**              An OK read, but you'd be better off finding something else

*                Not worth the read; avoid at all costs

Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri  (****)

A couple of months ago, I read the phenomenal novel, Whereabouts, by Lahiri who is fast becoming one of my favorite authors: this fascinating collection of short stories, chronicling the lives of people from India caught in strange places between their home country and the U.S., was her first published work and earned her a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize over 20 years ago. 

All That is Gone by Pramoedya Ananda Toer (****)

This extraordinary collection of short stories, written by perhaps the greatest Indonesian writer post-Independence, is a compelling glimpse into the often-tragic lives of average Indonesians as they struggled through their nation's quest for freedom as well as the country's growing pains. 

David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell (***)

This is a typical Gladwell book filled with interesting examples and case studies designed to help the reader examine the world in a different light, this time exploring how underdogs can defeat powerful opponents; it's a thought-provoking book, even if a couple of the case studies don't seem closely tied to the book's theme. 

Islam, A Very Short Introduction, by Malise Ruthven--Volume 7 of the Oxford University Very Short Introduction Series  (***)

This introduction to Islam is designed for someone with a basic to intermediate knowledge of Islam who wishes to learn more--it's filled with detailed information, but might be a bit academic for the average reader, as one might expect from a text published by Oxford. 

Almost Everything:  Notes on Hope, by Anne Lamott (**1/2)

Actually only one chapter talks about hope, as the rest of the book is about the author's thoughts on "Almost Everything";  while there are lots of wonderful insights scattered across the book, I found it to be like tasting a soup with 50 different ingredients, where the flavor is a bit muddled. 

Speaking of soup, none of these books might be your preferred flavor, nevertheless try to read at least one book this coming month.  The act of reading can nourish your mind in the same way a warm bowl of homemade soup can nourish your body.