Book Report

 Just wanted to thank anyone who reads these reports. There are so many bloggers out there who are a hundred times more insightful and humorous than I am. I don’t really even try to be funny because I know I can’t compete with people who can actually write humor! And there’s never much insight in these reports either. Just a recounting of what I thought of every book. So I thank anyone who actually wades through these.

 

Book count: I’m down to 8 books at home (I recently bought 4 more from Women and Children First and Better World Books; the others are from Little Free Libraries). Two of the below books were e-books from my library. Our library did recently re-open for curbside pickup, but they are really backlogged and I’ve only received two books from them so far.

 

Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn – These authors (a husband and wife journalist team) wrote two other excellent books so I was eager to check this one out. It’s basically a look at America today and its many problems – terrible criminal justice system, inability for most folks to even just get by financially, opioid addictions and our medical system, and on and on. Could’ve been very depressing but two things make it readable: the authors give us personal stories to illuminate their points and they spotlight programs that do work on making things better. So the book is never without hope even though it accurately paints the bleak picture that is America today. One big complaint – the writing. The writers continuously use the word “for” in a weird, melodramatic, and outdated fashion. It’s easier to give an example, so here’s my own: “Marianne could not read her book, for she had left her reading glasses downstairs”. Or “I had to do the laundry, for Doris had forgotten to do it yesterday.” They use “for” in this way about 200 times and it’s just silly and  theatrical, and it happened so many times that it actually diminished my liking of the book. (Or should I write “I couldn’t enjoy the book too much, for the writing style was bad”). Grade: 7

 

Outcasts United by Warren St. John – A solid work of nonfiction about a town in Georgia that has accepted a lot of refugees, their struggles, and the coach who unites many of the male teenage refugees into a soccer team. The author does a good job keeping the book moving even for people who don’t like sports (me), sharing bits about the coach and the refugees and the people who’ve lived in the town their whole lives and find themselves living among folks who speak another language or don’t understand driving rules. Different perspectives are shared and you are allowed glimpses into people’s thoughts and beliefs. I liked how well that was done, how subtle it was, how good it was to read a book that places no judgment.  But oh my god, what about the girls? The soccer teams are all male. It’s like the sisters of the players don’t exist. Does Luma (the coach – who happens to be female) ever even think of them?? Don’t they need support too? Grade: 6

 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai – This is a novel that demands your attention, demands that you slow down and immerse yourself. It’s worth it. It tells two interwoven stories: a man named Yale in the 1980s is watching most of his friends die of AIDS and despite his monogamous relationship with Charlie, he’s worried too; and Fiona (sister of one of Yale’s friends) in the 2010s dealing with her estranged daughter and the impacts of having cared for and lost so many friends. The author skillfully shares themes of struggle, love, betrayal, and much more. Yeah, at times I wanted it to move faster but I managed.  Bonus points: the 1980s bits take place in Chicago and there is just something so wonderful reading about places you know. I rarely ventured into the city myself until I was older but I still connected with most of the references, the LBGT papers, the streets, the bars. Grade: 7

 

You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train by Howard Zinn – A memoir by the writer, activist, and professor. The book was published in the early 1990’s and I believe the writer has been dead now for about 15 years. The book covers his work in the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s and ‘70s. A few things stood out for me. One, there’s a lot of talk right now about how white people can be allies to people of color. Zinn, who was white, basically answers the question in this memoir: get involved and join the movement to fight for other people’s rights. He has gone to jail in the course of his activism, he was part of the march on Selma, he got out there and took action. Two, I loved the overall sense of optimism in this book. I liked reading Zinn’s history too; he grew up in poverty, fought in WWII, went to college on the GI Bill. Also, interesting, Zinn worked alongside a lot of civil rights legends like John Lewis, Marian Wright Edelman, Bernice Johnson Reagan, and others and it was neat each time he mentioned one of them. Grade: 7

 

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer – This is what happens when I don’t have access to a library! I read crazy shit like this. (Since my library had this available as an e-book). What is this? Well, someone decided to write a mystery novel staring Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The mystery storyline is…okay I guess. Mostly the book is ridiculous, and it pokes fun at Obama and Biden’s dynamic (like Biden wishing he was as cool as Obama and feeling sad that they’re not besties anymore since they’re no longer in the White House). It’s just silly, goofy, over the top – and also make sure you Google the cover art, as it’s fairly insane. (Obama and Biden in a car together, Obama pointing and half-standing). Grade: 3 I guess (I did laugh a few times and it kept me entertained, but I really need access to more books now please!)