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Goodreads
Nov
29
The Killing Sea by Richard Lewis
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In a world where disaster seems to be a daily occurrence, where war is constant companion, the Indonesian tsunami of 2004 is a distant memory for most of us. But as the people of Mississippi and Louisiana know all too well, you don’t just recover from events like this in a few weeks or months.
Richard Lewis knows this as well because he lives in the area and volunteered in Aceh after the tsunami. Lewis was born and raised in Bali, Indonesia as the son of American missionaries. His first book, The Flame Tree, was also set in Indonesia and is “a remarkable look at religious conflict and personal relations in a post 9/11 world.”
In his latest book, The Killing Sea, Richard Lewis reminds us of the devastation that struck the region that day two years ago and the horror that transpired in its wake. But he doesn’t leave it there, he also reminds us of the courage and the generosity that flowed into the region as the water receded. Lewis manages to give us both a gut wrenching reminder of the pain and suffering as well as a poignant story of friendship and loyalty.
The Killing Sea focuses on two teenagers caught up in the tragedy: Ruslan, an Indonesian boy searching for his missing father, and Sarah, an American - at least according to the book flap - girl whose family vacation ends up being in the path of the devastation. In trying to get medical treatment for her sick brother, Sarah meets up with Ruslan and they decide to travel together. The story follows them from the day of the tsunami up to the point where rescue workers arrive and the media descends in mass on the area.
Nov
28
11 Days in December: Christmas at the Bulge, 1944 by Stanley Weintraub
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Always interested in books about the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, I decided to read 11 Days in December: Christmas at the Bulge, 1944 by Stanley Weintraub. It is an interesting and brief look at the battle from both sides - more from the American than the German.
As the title infers, the book does not cover the entire Bulge campaign, but begins with the offensive on December 16 and ends with the relief of Bastogne on December 26. The book is not a true narrative, but a collection of stories about combat on the frontlines and the chaotic scenes behind the frontlines.
Nov
27
Competent. Interesting word. A sort of back-handed compliment. Solid. Serves its purpose. Gets the job done, but lacks the wow factor. No shame in being competent these days, but it isn’t exactly the type of praise we are looking for now is it?
What’s behind all this musing? No, it isn’t my own writing, which I am not sure quite even gets to competent - derivative is probably a better term, but rather my recent reading of The Perfect Assassin by Ward Larsen. Publishers Weekly has this to say about this recently released spy thriller from Oceanview publishing:
Larsen’s competent debut has many of the right ingredients for a successful spy thriller: plenty of action, technical detail that would do Tom Clancy proud, and a hero with almost superhuman skills . . . What’s missing is that no character, except for Palmer, has an inner life.
As a person who can’t really comprehend creating all the things that must go into writing a novel of any kind (plot, setting, dialog, characters, etc.) much less a competent one, I have a hard time sniffing at competence. But in the end I think PW is right. Larsen has assembled an interesting set of ingredients, but the book never quite manages to get beyond its genre limitations.
As long as I am stealing PW material, allow me to use their plot description:
When Christine Palmer, an American doctor sailing solo across the Atlantic, retrieves the almost lifeless body of David Slaton in the middle of the ocean, Slaton commandeers her small boat and demands she deliver him to England. A member of Kidon (Mossad’s special assassination team), Slaton is the sole survivor of a ship that sank with a super-secret cargo-a pair of unaccounted for nuclear weapons. Double agents within Mossad want to kill Slaton before he uncovers their convoluted plot to use the weapons to undermine Israel’s international support. Needless to say, they’re soon after Palmer as well.
The book’s beginning is one of its strengths. The plot gets off to an interesting start as Larsen keeps the reader focused on the mystery of the stranger plucked from the ocean and the events behind his near death. Larsen meticulously plots out the details of Slaton’s spy craft and survival tactics. There is a nice blend of action, backstory, and intrigue.
Nov
26
The End
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Steelers playoff hopes die a cruel death.
Nov
23
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
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Nov
22
Lion’s Honey by David Grossman
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I have been fascinated by Cannongate’s Myth series from the start. I have been trying to read each new book in the series as they come along (see previous reviews here: A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong; The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood; and Weight by Jeanette Winterson). A number of additional works in the series have been published and I thought it time to catch up.
As a part of this effort I recently finished David Grossman’s take on Samson entitled Lion’s Honey. The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur by Victor Pelevin and Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams by Alexander McCall Smith remain in the TBR pile.
Lion’s Honey is somewhat unique in that it isn’t really a fictional retelling or re-imagining of a famous myth so much as a psychological and literary discussion of the story and characters. This involves Grossman’s unique viewpoint on Samson, which certainly counts as a re-imagining, but it doesn’t involve straightforward storytelling. Instead, Grossman provides a sort of read along commentary and analysis. Here is how the Complete Review describes it:
Grossman both re-tells the Samson-myth and interprets it, lingering over a variety of detail in trying to understand what might have motivated Samson (and the other actors) in these various scenarios. He has a nice touch — midway between teacher and raconteur (with a touch of the Talmudic scholar as well) — and manages to convey both Samson’s entire life-story as well as offering a specific interpretation.
Grossman’s take involves both a non-traditional take on Samson and a political commentary on the state of Israel. Many reviewers touch on the former but emphasize the later. I found neither quite as useful as many. It is perhaps my innate skepticism toward psychology, particularly any sort of Freudian analysis, and my conservative political perspective that prevented my appreciation of Grossman’s insights, but the approach left me underwhelmed. More below.
Nov
20
Books and publicity, Part Deux
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The whole issue of book bloggers and publicity continues to be discussed around literary the blogosphere and I thought I would take a break from the football (and the pain) and talk books again. Debra Hamel returns to the Kimbofo imbroglio and raises the controversy surrounding The Thirteenth Tale over at MetaxuCafe. Debra asks a honest question:
Read the above carefully. Here’s what’s being asked of bloggers who want to take part in this contest.
1. Mention the sweepstakes in your blog with a link to the contest.
2. Have your readers write in the name of your blog when they enter the contest.That’s it. Nowhere does it ask that bloggers review the book, or say anything favorable about it. It’s promoting a contest related to the book. It’s asking for links to the contest and providing incentive for those links. Can someone please explain to me what’s so disgusting about this?
I have to say I too fail to see the issue here. Booknija called it a “Skeevy promotion.” Here is the comment I left there:
Perhaps it is different for folks that write reviews professionally or hope to, but I don’t see any ethical issues here. As a blogger people read my reviews, I assume, because they either enjoy them or find them useful. I also assume if I started flaking for certain publishers or writers when I have a clear financial gain they would take my opinion less seriously. I post my honest opinion on the books I review whether the publisher sends them to me; I buy it, or check it out of the library. If readers like that, they click over. If they don’t, they don’t.
In this case, I simply made note of a web page and a connected contest. If people want to try and win a free book they can. I noted that I stood to gain in certain circumstances and my cynicism about my chances. If I happen to win will I have some sort of debt to S&S/Atria? No. I got lucky and won a contest. I fail to see how that changes how I operate my blog.
Nov
20
Steelers beat Browns, avoid last place
Filed Under Sports: NFL | Leave a Comment
The Steelers made me sweat it out, but in the end they pulled out the victory and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. Of course, a Steelers win at this point hardly compensates for the Wolverine’s loss, but I have to take what I can get these days. And yes, the Steelers do own the Browns. This was their sixth straight victory and 12 of 13. Ironically, for Ohio State Buckeye Santonio Holmes played a big role in helping the Steelers win. Nice, to have something good come out of OSU.
It certainly didn’t have the feel of a win for most of the game. Steelers again turned the ball over and in aggravating fashion. Ben Roethlisberger had three interceptions but they were all on tipped balls. The first pick was a bad throw but the others really weren’t his fault. With Cleveland stacking the line to stop the run, however, Roethlisberger got his chance to make up for the turnovers. On two key drives in the fourth quarter he scrambled and made things happen down field. These touchdown drives were perfect illustrations on why he gives them the best chance to win.
Nov
18
Game Over
Filed Under Sports: Col FB | 3 Comments
I am not sure what to say at this point. If you would have told me that Michigan would win the turnover margin 3-0; that they would score 39 points, that Mike Hart would run for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns and that we would lose; I would have said you were crazy. But that is what happened.
Troy Smith, I think the greatest QB in the history of this rivalry, has beaten Michigan three straight times. Smith played great, but two breakaway runs killed Michigan in my mind. The Beanie Wells and Antonia Pittman runs were back breakers. Obviously the penalty on Crable late in the game that led to Ohio State’s touchdown was a killer. I think it is a call that is going to be made. I am not sure the player was in the wrong given the split second nature of the play, but the refs are going to call that hit 9 or 10 times out of 10.
The pain from this game will linger for a long time. This season had the makings of a perfect season. It could have been a perfect season of redemption, beating all the teams they lost to last year and on their way to a national title. But once again Ohio State simply got the bigger plays when they needed them and won. It is getting old. The enjoyment of the John Cooper years has dried up.
The fact of the matter is that Ohio State has played better in the big games in the last five years. In fact, Michigan has not done well in these type of games. I don’t have Michigan’s bowl record in front of me, but I know there have been a lot of disappointments. Lately, Ohio State has simply been better. They are now playing in their second title game in five years.
Nov
18
Game On!
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graphic via Michigan Against the World
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