Saudi America: The Truth About Fracking and How It's Changing the World

Transitions. Financial reporter Bethany McLean has written a compact and engaging book about the energy industry titled, Saudi America: The Truth About Fracking and How It's Changing the World. She describes the transition from what seemed to be “peak oil” in the United States, to the expensive and creative ways in which fracking has reduced reliance on foreign energy sources. McLean tells us about the people, the money, and the science. Whatever you think you know about fracking, read this book, and you’re likely to want to learn even more. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Saudi America from amazon.com.

The Witch Elm

Memory. Fans of Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad novels will discover an unexpected treat in a new standalone novel titled, The Witch Elm. Protagonist and narrator Toby is a complex and interesting character whose memory and reliability fade in and out of a great story. French writes with great skill, and I enjoyed her humor as well as the plot twists. The pacing of the novel matched the gradual recovery in Toby’s body, mind and spirit from physical trauma early in the story. The setting and supporting characters, especially Uncle Hugo, all add to a very satisfying and entertaining novel. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Witch Elm from amazon.com.

Unsheltered

Foundations. Many of us crave stability and desire some solid foundation to anchor our lives. In her novel titled, Unsheltered, Barbara Kingsolver explores instability and uncertainty during two time periods: today and 100 years ago. She explores the lives of two families united by a house and their common inability to maintain that house as they face societal change and economic hardship. Kingsolver presents a cast of characters who reflect both time periods and highlights the dramatic divisions and differences between individuals in both eras. In the contemporary plotline, a professional working couple have done everything they thought was right, followed the rules, and find themselves in late middle age with little to show for their efforts, and great uncertainty about finding the means to provide for themselves and their dependents. The plotline from the past includes threads to Darwin and to a scientist neighbor whose naturalist observations encourage a teacher whose boss won’t allow him to teach about evolution. Instability is uncomfortable, and the fearful and unstable characters in this novel may disturb some readers. Thoughtful readers will want to talk about this novel with others and share the discomfort. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Unsheltered from amazon.com.

American Dialogue: The Founders and Us

We. What would our first four United States presidents think about our current situation? In a book titled, American Dialogue: The Founding Fathers and Us, historian Joseph Ellis creates a dialogue of sorts between those founders and the issues we deal with today. By reflecting on our history, past compromises and choices, and the principles underlying our Constitution, readers can gain some perspective on current events. The founders were by no means homogeneous in their views, as anyone who has studied this period knows. Their arguments were thoughtful and principled. The shared objective was to unite different interests to bring meaning to “we the people.” Today, we can use insight about our past to forge unity about those important things we continue to hold in common. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase American Dialogue from amazon.com.

Cherry

Addicted. The debut novel by Nico Walker titled, Cherry, takes readers into the lives of characters addicted by opioids. Walker develops these characters with skill and helps readers understand the complexity of lives and the choices individuals make every day. There’s darkness and wit in this novel, side by side, including war experience and PTSD. If you know addicts, you will recognize the characters in this novel. If you are far removed from the American opioid crisis, congratulations, and use this novel as a way to understand the ways in which drug addiction takes over one’s life. Walker’s voice is blunt and unblinking and may offend some readers. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Cherry from amazon.com.

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die

Temptation. I should never have picked up a copy of James Mustich’s book titled, 1,000 Books To Read Before You Die. In recent years, I’ve been reading at the pace of about a book a day. My focus has been to try to drink from the fire hose of newly published books and try to select an eclectic sample to match my interests. I was curious to see how many of Mustich’s selected 1,000 I’ve read during my six decades of reading. While I did not read everything Mustich had to say about each book he selected and referenced (actually about 6,000 altogether), I turned every page and was alarmed by how many authors he chose who were totally unfamiliar to me. I think I’ve read over a third of his selections. Now I am tempted toward the two-thirds. I sensed a kindred spirit in Mustich when I read his take on diversity in reading appetite: “No matter their pedigree, inveterate readers read the way they eat – for pleasure as well as nourishment, indulgence as well as education, and sometimes for transcendence, too. Hot dogs one day, haute cuisine the next.” (p. ix) Any reader looking for something interesting to read can use this book to fulfill reading appetites of all sorts. Will I abandon my focus on new books and turn toward the past to recover what I’ve missed along the way? Time will tell. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase 1,000 Books from amazon.com.

Becoming

Conversational. Place politics aside, and listen to Michelle Obama’s conversational story of her life in her memoir titled, Becoming. From describing her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to life in the White House, she tells her story in ways that are very personal, revealing, and come across as genuine. Her optimism fills every chapter of this book, even when she takes a swipe or two. Whether as daughter, student, lawyer, boss, spouse, mother or first lady, she communicates with wit and candor. Hers is an American story, and I enjoyed ready every page. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Becoming from amazon.com.