I haven't posted any book reviews in 3 months. I think the reasons have been 30% laziness; 30% busy dealing with challenges in my life (actually I'm fine; it's the challenges of virtually everyone else in my family that take up my time); 30% wasting my spare time watching sports on television; and 10% is my belief that no one reads my reviews regardless of what I post. But, I have decided to soldier on with a new set of reviews anyway, motivated by the fact that a few people have actually asked me when more book reviews would be coming, a fact I found very surprising.
I usually just highlight my favorite book of the month, but I've read so many interesting books that I will quickly review all of them here.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (*****)
This novel is the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, written almost 35 years later. It's a follow-up to Atwood's dystopian vision of a future America run by right-wing religious misogynists. The frightening part is that much of Atwood's original novel from the '80s has come precariously close to becoming reality during our time. This sequel is as suspenseful as the original novel and is filled with biting social commentary on right-wing excess. What is even more disturbing is many of the elements of the plot were based, in part, on newspaper clippings that Atwood has gathered over the years chronicling repressive elements in American society. Both novels are extraordinary and compelling. Let us hope that the ending of The Testaments will be as equally prophetic as Atwood's first novel has been (if not more so). Both novels are essential, urgent reading and are among my top 15 favorite novels ever.
(Those of you from SU should be aware that The Handmaid's Tale is part of the collection if you wish to check it out and those of you at UCA Naryn can discover that novel as well because I donated a new copy to the library when I visited in 2022.)
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (**** 1/2)
This incredible book covers the history of science from the origins of the universe, The Big Bang, all the way to the current century. Geology, chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and everything in-between are covered in Bryson's easy-to-read, conversational style. Almost every page contains a fascinating piece of information that you never knew existed. After reading this book, I actually felt a non-scientific person like me suddenly had a pretty clear understanding of the major concepts and ideas of science. I would love it if every science-hating MAGA moron would be forced to read this enlightening book, but they are from the dark ages and would brand the book "fake" anyway, because it doesn't fit with their wildly inaccurate perceptions of science. So, those of you reading this review, who possess far more reason and intelligence than they do, would indeed marvel at all you will have learned after reading Bryson's informative and entertaining journey through space and time. (Also in the SU Library Collection)
Talking to Strangers, by Malcolm Gladwell (****)
I simply enjoy books written by Malcolm Gladwell and the way he puts an unconventional spin on sociology and psychology. The lesson Gladwell is illuminating in this book is "What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know." In other words, what we know/don't know about strangers can have a dramatic impact on human interactions, even society as a whole. Gladwell always uses insightful and surprising examples to make his point, which sadly is summed up in the last two sentences of the book: "Because we do not know how to talk to strangers, what do we do when things go awry with strangers? Sadly, we blame the stranger." Hopefully, after you read this book you'll have a deeper understanding of how to analyze and improve your interactions and encounters with people you don't know. It really matters. Another Gladwell book I strongly recommend.
Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri (****)
Jhumpa Lahiri is one of my favorite authors of all time. This collection of short stories is magnificent as well. The stories follow Indian expatriates (most of them living in America) through their journeys of displacement and loss. The stories are emotional without being melodramatic and the last three stories in the collection, which are tied to each other, are among the most poignant you'll ever read. If you ever find yourself with a book by Lahiri in your hands hold onto it tightly.
The Memory Police, by Yuko Ogawa (*** 1/2)
This novel can't be described, instead it must be experienced. I can't do it justice in a short paragraph. It is a haunting tale of a dystopian island off the coast of Japan where things start disappearing including the memory of them. There's a police force on the island that arrests you and takes you away permanently if you retain any of these lost items for yourself or even if you retain your memories of the items. It's a wildly surreal novel, yet it feels palpably real at the same time. How people choose to lose their collective memories and how they live with that disjointed reality forms the center of the book, but it addresses much more than that. My recommendation: get lost in this powerful tale which will get you thinking about what it means to remember, to forget, and to love--despite my totally inadequate review which really doesn't come close to explaining the core of this book.
The Heart of Christianity, by Marcus J. Borg (*** 1/2)
This book is is aimed solely at Christians--I'm not sure if people of other faith traditions (or the non-religious) would appreciate the discussion it advances. Basically, it is a critique of the "earlier" paradigm of Christianity that is fundamentalist in nature and is the most prominently practiced in America today. The earlier paradigm asserts that the Bible is a divine product/creation with divine authority, that the Bible should be interpreted in a literal/factual manner, that the Bible's function is to reveal doctrine, that Christianity is the only true religion, and that a Christian's life should emphasize what one should believe or do to be "saved", in order to reach the afterlife successfully. Unfortunately, this brand of Christianity is in conflict with science, reason, and the modern world, as well as being hostile to other religions. Borg attempts to outline an "emerging" paradigm which some progressive Christians follow now that is in contrast to the "earlier" fundamentalist paradigm. He asserts that this new paradigm can lead Christians to a way more faithful to the Bible and God's will. If you are a Christian you ABSOLUTELY need to read this book, because, in my opinion, the only way Christianity can feasibly exist in our modern world is through this new paradigm which serves as an antidote to the excesses of Christian Fundamentalism such as Christian-Trumpism and Islamophobia. If you are not a Christian, just skip this book and tend to your own religious or non-religious practices.
The Red Bowl and Other Stories, by Zen Hae. (no rating given)
This is another in the BTW series produced by the Lontar Foundation, which features works by little-known Indonesian writers. These books are tri-lingual (Indonesian with English and German translations in the same book) and are very reasonably priced. I have only been able to find them at Books Kinokuniya in the Grand Indonesia Mall. They disappeared for a while, but there was one lonely orphan sitting on the shelves when I visited Kinokuniya recently, and I snapped it up immediately as these volumes are wonderfully interesting and present a great alternative picture of Indonesian literature that exists out of the mainstream. I have not given this particular volume a rating, not because of quality of the book, but because of my inadequacy as a reader. This is the first BTW book I have had difficulty assessing because I just don't have cultural background to know what to make of it. The stories, though puzzling to me, were kind of exciting though. Anyway, don't let this inconclusive review deter you if you are in Jakarta and happen to get your hands on a BTW volume. I have 11 of them now in my home library and I have found them to be, almost universally, a fascinating glimpse into Indonesia.
Now you know why I haven't been writing reviews, they simply morph into something far too long for the reader. Even if none of these seven books seems interesting to you: read anything! Any good book will do. Your brain will expand and will be much happier because of your efforts.
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