Here are some short reviews of books I've read lately. If you'd like more information or more details about any of them, let me know!
Moonglow
Michael Chabon
A wonderful “fictional memoir” (I have no idea how much of this is true and how much is false) that is beautifully and lovingly written. The narrator tells the story of his grandfather, a no nonsense, space-race obsessed man, and his undying and unquestioning love for his mysterious, beautiful, and ill wife. There’s some fascinating stuff here, too, about the space race and its connection to militarized rockets. As a soldier during World War II, the grandfather aspires to capture Wernher von Braun, the creator of the V-2 rocket. I knew very little about von Braun; I loved this sub story and the whole book. Highly recommended.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Matthew Quick
A troubled teen in a terrible situation contemplates and plans a murder / suicide. Dark and sometimes darkly funny, I’d recommend this to fellow teachers or anyone who has met or will ever meet a teenager. Sometimes life’s despair is truly felt and deeply held and difficult to manage without people on your side, and (too) many young adults don’t believe anyone is on their side.
Young Blood
Matt Gallagher
A young lieutenant in Iraq tries to win the war (except it’s the “counter-insurgency” now, as his higher ups, say, because it’s been 10 years since the invasion) while at the same time maintaining his own decency and reputation. Don’t be afraid of this book if you don’t like War Books. There are elements of the genre here (some senseless violence, some purposeful violence, some terrible language, and a resigned and ironic melancholy from the soldiers) but it’s not just a book about war, and that’s why I recommend it so highly.
IQ
Joe Ide
Isaiah Quintabe is an inner-city Sherlock Holmes-like character, intelligent and sarcastic, who solves problems and mysteries for neighbors. In doing so, he’s paying penance for an earlier mistake, and, partially, showing off that big IQ that gave him his nickname. A very fun read to, what I hope, becomes a very fun series.
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead
This book won the National Book Award and the praises of President Obama among others, so I don’t know what to add to that. I thought it was a great book, and I’m already looking forward to re-reading it (and maybe teaching it at some point? Anyone doing that yet?).
The Risen
Ron Rash
It’s fine. Read it if you like Ron Rash. If you haven’t read any Ron Rash start with Serena or The Cove, or some of his short stories, not this book.
Before the Fall
Noah Hawley
I liked the first three fourths of this book, and then my interest (or the writer’s interest, maybe?) just faded out. To borrow a metaphor from the novel, the book swims, sometimes in multiple directions -- but at least it’s MOVING -- but then it treads water, and treads water, and treads water until you’re just hopeful it tires itself out.
To The Bright Edge of the World
Eowyn Ivey
An earnest and ambitious Colonel is sent to map an uncharted Alaskan river valley, a place so untamed that “a thin line separates animal and man.” (And the author means literally: Indian women turn into swans. Maybe. There are other examples). I’m a sucker for heroics and mysticism and love (the Colonel’s wife is back at camp, alone and pregnant expecting the couple’s first child) and I thought this was a great book.
