A word upfront: when I bought this book at a used bookstore and started reading it, I was unaware of allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, and misstatements of fact made against this author. Some of the oopsies include the following book, so I can’t in good conscience recommend it, even if it were a fantastic read.Continue reading “Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose”
Category Archives: book review
Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Plot: This book is more of a character study than a narrative with a plot. Ifemelu is a young Nigerian woman who comes to the United States for a postgraduate education. The book begins as she is about to return to Nigeria and stops in a hair salon to have her hair braided. This isContinue reading “Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”
Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Plot: In 1945, Barcelona, Spain, Daniel Sampere’s father, a bookseller, allows him to choose one book from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The father does this to comfort him after Daniel realizes he can no longer remember what his late mother looked like. He chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Barcelona author Julián Carax,Continue reading “Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón”
Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo
Plot: Widowed and about 70, Flor Marte asks her family for a living wake so she can enjoy it while she’s still here. She’ll get to see everyone again, especially her three sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila. They are originally from the countryside of the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at differentContinue reading “Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo”
Review of “What You Are Looking For is In the Library” by Michiko Aoyama
Plot:This is a collection of five interrelated stories of people who come into the library in Hatori Community House in Tokyo. There, the librarian asks each person, “What are you looking for?” Ms. Sayuri Komachi, the librarian, is not a mousy person with black-framed winged glasses, but something of a presence. In the first story,Continue reading “Review of “What You Are Looking For is In the Library” by Michiko Aoyama”
Review of: “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding” by Osita Nwanevu
Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…Winston Churchill,Continue reading “Review of: “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding” by Osita Nwanevu”
Review of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie
The Stuff and Ramblings:This semi-autobiographical YA novel centers on an adolescent young man called Junior growing up on the Spokane Reservation. Like the author, he was born with hydrocephalus and underwent surgery as an infant. Both also suffered seizures as children. Because he is not athletic, he is easy prey for bullies. He has oneContinue reading “Review of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie”
Review of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson
Warning: the book reviewed deals with sexual violence. The review mentions it but does not describe it. Plot:Melinda Sordino starts high school with everyone hating her. Her old friends from middle school aren’t talking to her. She really does eat her lunch all by herself. Maybe if she could tell them about what happened, aboutContinue reading “Review of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson”
Review of “The Life of a Stupid Man” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
A warning: This work, published posthumously, was written shortly before its author took his life in 1927 and reflects his long-standing despair. I wish to add that if you are dealing with issues like this, please call the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Hotline at 988. The Stuff and Ramblings: This extremely short semi-autobiographical book canContinue reading “Review of “The Life of a Stupid Man” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa”
Review of “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself about Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” by Alexander Vindman
For it is the US and its allies, I argue, that have enabled the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine. The West’s failings to constrain Russian aggression and harden Ukraine against it have nourished the Russian sense of impunity.–Alexander Vindman, The Folly of Realism, p. 3 In his introduction, author Alexander Vindman describes the history of America’sContinue reading “Review of “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself about Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” by Alexander Vindman”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 