Book Report

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

 Passport by Sophia Glock – Graphic memoir. Glock grew up in Latin America though her family was from the US, and she grew up under a shroud of secrecy concerning her parents’ jobs. The illustrations were perfectly-done and I was eager to learn the truth of her parents’ jobs, but otherwise the narrative just didn’t have much to it or much to offer. Grade: 5

 

Victory. Stand! By Tommy Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile – Two graphic memoirs in a row; I didn’t plan it, I swear. This one is Tommy Smith’s story. He won Olympic gold in 1968 and was excoriated for standing on the dais with his fist raised, in protest of the US’s racism. Before he got to that point, he raised in a family of impoverished sharecroppers. His story is brilliant and compelling, and the illustrations are pristine. The memoir talks about the backlash he faced for years, for taking this stand against racism. In the final panel, he says he would do it all over again – and I legit got tears in my eyes. Grade: 8

 

Madam Speaker by Susan Page -  An 11 CD audiobook on Nancy Pelosi, and yet…it’s good? In fact, I am amazed at all that Pelosi has done, and her skill at doing it. I was interested to learn that Pelosi never actually had political aspirations though she came from a political family. Her father was a multiple-term mayor of Baltimore and the family grew up talking and understanding politics, but Pelosi herself had always planned to stay in the background, supporting candidates from the sidelines. She married and had 5 children in 6 years. But her trajectory changed when a dying Congresswoman told her to run to replace her. What a tenure she has had! She was (is) a master fundraiser, master strategist, she is tireless and fearless.  If it was not for her, we wouldn’t have Obamacare (which should be called Pelosicare) nor would we have had the measures that saved us from a Depression after the crash in ’08. The book is filled with some of the strategies she used. She didn’t allow “exit ramps” when working with Obama and Emmanuel on Obamacare. She calls in favors. She figures out who will influence a given Congressman and gets them on the phone with him. Obama was like this brilliant Harvard professor but he didn’t know how to play politics and get votes like Pelosi did. She always knows her numbers before she calls a vote. She filibustered once for 8 hours. Which meant she had to stand and talk the entire time, no breaks other than to sip water. She was 77 years old and she was wearing 4 inch heels. Why did she do it? To protect the Dreamers and DACA. She is progressive and yet practical too. And Pelosi is supportive of LGBTQ rights; she fought endlessly to get the AIDS memorial quilt on display in DC when all the organizers were hearing was ‘no’. She found a way to get them to say yes. I could go on and on but she is clearly one of the most effective Speakers ever. And I don’t know what will happen in the presidential election but….if Harris wins, it’ll largely be due to Pelosi making the final call that Biden had to step aside. Grade: 8 (I should add that parts of the book are a bit boring and I did skip thru a few tracks!)

 

Ten Lessons For a Post-Pandemic World by Zareed Zakaria – I started this report with two graphic memoirs in a row, and now here are two audiobooks in a row. (I spent much of October driving around Wisconsin, so that means – audiobooks!). This short book could have been painfully dry. And it starts out that way. Ugh, the guy is talking global geo-politics, diplomacy, China vs US, economics, and such.  But at times it’s really interesting? Like when he’s talking about AI or the rise of cities or even the divides like rural/urban or educated/non-educated which are even more salient with the upcoming election. I’d say if someone has time to listen to audio and wants to learn a little bit more about the world on a big scale, this is a good book. Grade: 7

 

The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper – This is the third in the trilogy I’ve been reading, which centers around a young woman in ancient Rome who is enslaved when our story starts.  What an ending to this trilogy! I couldn’t put the book down. It is fascinating, just like the first two books. Someone needs to make this into a TV series! The plot twists are expertly done. And such beautiful writing. The author has done her homework on ancient Rome. She describes it all with just the right amount of detail, tossing in a lovely metaphor here and there but never overdoing it.  Grade: 9