Monday, September 30, 2019

Unsheltered - Barbara Kingsolver

This book is probably going to be in my top 5 for 2019.  I've read all of Kingsolver's books and didn't know this one had come out until I saw it at a used bookstore on our way back from Alaska.

The stories of two families are told in parallel - the hook being that one is living in their disintegrating home in the 1870s after the Civil War and the other is living in the same house in the present.  Both families are seeking safe shelter - from the elements, relationship turmoil, family changes and leaders who abuse their power.  It's cutting commentary on today's political environment which weirdly parallels the turmoil after the Civil War. 

I enjoyed the characters and their families.  The alternating stories were smoothly transitioned and the story moved to  satisfying conclusion.  Highly recommended

Published: 2018  Read: September 2019  Genre: Fiction

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Flying Carpet - Richard Halliburton


Sometime in the past I'd read about the adventure stories of Richard Halliburton and added his name to my TBR list.  In a dusty old bookstore on our way back from Alaska this summer, I finally found one of his books.

Richard Halliburton was a son of well-to-do English parents who in the 1920s explored the world on foot, by sea and land and wrote about his adventures.  He was a superstar who wrote in a romantic, exaggerated style that won the fascination of the public in his day.

The Flying Carpet was the name he gave to his bi-plane that he used to travel from California to NY and then transport by ship to England where he embarked on a world tour of exotic locations from Timbuktu to Persia and Turkey and on to the Taj Mahal and Mt Everest, eventually returning to the U.S.

I was transported to the time and places and attitudes of the 1920s and thrilled with his spirit of can do optimism and daring-do.  If I run across other of his writings, I'll read them as well.

Published: 1932 (originally) 1982 ed.  Read: 2019  Genre: Adventure

The Spirit Catches You and then You Fall Down - Amy Fadiman


I'd remembered this author's name when I saw it on the spine so thought it would be a good choice.  I picked the book up in Pismo Beach while camping there.  I found the previous book I'd read of this author's, Ex Libris, by searching on my blog.  I'd enjoyed it a lot and this one was also a great read.

This book tells the story of Lin, a Hmong child whose family had immigrated from Laos after the Vietnam war.  Lin has a severe form of epilepsy and the way she is treated by American doctors versus the beliefs of her family and culture are the focus of the story.

I didn't know who the Hmong were so the history and cultural information was fascinating.  Their immigration struggles in the late 70's and 80's brought home the extreme difficulty of starting life over some place new. 

I was enthralled by the contrast in the belief systems of the two cultures and sadden by its impact.  A wonderful, thoughtful read.

Published:  1997  Read: September 2019  Genre: Non-fiction

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Enchantress of Numbers - Jennifer Chiaverini

Sub-title: A Novel of Ada Lovelace

Picked this hardback, large print up on trip back from Alaska.  It was a good read by the author of another title I read of hers, about Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker. 

It's the story of the only legitimate daughter of Lord Byron, the great romantic poet of early 1800s.  The story is told in first person by Ada, sharing her life from her birth through her attendance at the Great Exposition just shortly before her death.  It's an example of one of the century's scandalous families, who were always in the press, much like current talented, yet flawed celebrities of today.

I despised Ada's mother's manipulation and poisoning of Ada's mind and manner and the sad destruction of so many lives.  A tidy bit of history worth reading.

Published: 2017  Read: September 2019  Genre: Historical fiction