The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Suffering. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a novel about pain and suffering as much as I did Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Set mostly during the building of the Thai-Burma death railway in 1943, the novel explores the range of human behavior from good to evil, often in the same characters. Prisoners of war were used as slaves to build the railway, and the scenes Flanagan describes can be difficult to read. Amid the suffering, there is kindness, courage and support. Flanagan reflects on memory, trauma and the ephemeral nature of life, especially through the life of protagonist Dorrigo Evans. Readers who enjoy finely written intelligent fiction are those most likely to enjoy reading this novel. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Narrow Road to the Deep North from amazon.com.

The Peripheral

Future. My patience was strained during the first few dozen pages of William Gibson’s novel titled, The Peripheral. I found myself constantly asking myself: “What’s going on here?” and receiving no clear answer. After I turned off that questioning in my mind, and just kept reading, the pieces came together and I was both entertained and intrigued by this complicated tale of different connected futures. I was delighted by Gibson’s dialogue, and found myself thinking a little more deeply about the consequences of technological change on our humanity. Here’s my advice: pick this book up, start reading a little. If you think you have the patience to keep at, chances are you’ll be richly rewarded. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Peripheral from amazon.com.

The Wallcreeper

Birds. Nell Zink’s debut novel, The Wallcreeper, is good on so many levels. The title refers to a rare bird whose habitat is Central Europe. Protagonists Tiffany and Stephen are rare birds as well: Americans living in Central Europe, unsure of whether the new habitat is suitable. There’s humor and good writing inside the covers of this novel, but like other rare birds, this will not satisfy readers who prefer chicken over other exotic fowl. I’m sure I’m not hip enough to “get” this novel, but I enjoyed the birdwatching experience, thanks mostly to Zink’s writing skill. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Wallcreeper from amazon.com.

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

Start. If you’re starting a business, or trying to accelerate the growth of one, reading Peter Thiel’s book, Zero to One, won’t make the job any easier, but you’ll probably feel better and more motivated to go full steam ahead. As a serial entrepreneur and successful investor, Thiel has the track record to deserve a listening audience for what he has to say. Take a few minutes to hear his perspective, then get back to work. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Zero to One from amazon.com.

The Escape

Treason. The third novel by David Baldacci in his series featuring protagonist John Puller is titled, The Escape. I’ve enjoyed this series more than some of Baldacci’s earlier novels, and I was thoroughly entertained by this exciting story of the brothers Puller, family ties and treason. Packed with details and tension, this novel will appeal to those readers who enjoy thrillers, especially those that seem to come straight from newspaper headlines. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Escape from amazon.com.

Last Days in Shanghai

Schemes. Casey Walker’s debut novel, Last Days in Shanghai, could have gone off the rails at many different places. Walker’s great skill kept me suspending disbelief, staying interested in protagonist Luke Slade, and being regularly amused by the complicated schemes at play as the plot progressed. The ingredients Walker mixes include a congressional junket, Chinese construction projects, corruption, sex and alcohol. Luke faces issues of identity and morality, and by the time the novel ends, I was prepared for the decisions Luke makes. Readers willing to try out a debut novelist should consider reading this novel. I was well-entertained. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Last Days in Shanghai from amazon.com.

The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution

Collaborative. I had an odd thought after I finished reading Walter Isaacson’s fine book titled, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution. I wondered how much Isaacson’s point of view was influenced by Elizabeth Warren’s frequent speeches on “you didn’t build that.” It seemed to me that a theme throughout this expansive inventory of the earliest days of computers to the present focuses on the ways in which contemporaries and predecessors collaborated. Each advancement proceeded because of the work done by others. Readers interested in technology or innovation will fine a lot to enjoy from this finely written book. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Innovators from amazon.com.