It is raining this afternoon. I had planned to go to the State Fair, but it's raining, so I'm skipping it. I thought that since I am sitting here, I can write a few more book reviews.
****
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Story:
This is McCarthy's classic post-apocalyptic novel. A father and his son are walking through a barren nuclear-ravaged wasteland. The father continuously tries to save the son and keep him alive.
The Review:
I loved this book.
I feel really bad for saying that I loved it. In talking about this book, everyone comments on the graphic descriptions and the horror. It is presented and discussed as a seriously violent graphic novel, and the movie had to cut a scene because it couldn't keep an R rating with it.
But that's not what I got out of this book. Instead, the book I read was about a father's relationship with his son and how much he will go through for his son, to help him, and to protect him. The father's love and protection is a major piece, but the son is old enough and aware enough to see his father's love. He knows that his father will not eat in order to save food for his son, and rather than let him, the son points out what he is doing and makes him eat. They both need each other and show their love, even in this crazy wasteland.
There are strikingly beautiful things about the way the story is written and told. But I loved the father and son and how complex the relationship was. And it's also interesting that the relationship can be so developed because neither character is given a name.
I highly recommend it.
****
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
Format:
Audiobook
The Story:
These are short humorous essays by Sedaris about life and whatever.
The Review:
Sedaris is very funny. His observations are spot on and entertaining. He covers a bunch of different topics and just shares his observations. He writes one essay about standing in line at the airport. It was my favorite.
I recommend it with a warning for the language.
****
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
The Format:
Audiobook
The Story:
A pastor writes about his son's near death experience.
The Review:
I have read a couple of Near Death Experience (NDE) books recently, which is admittedly an odd choice, so I was curious because this book is so popular. I really struggled with this one for two reasons. The first is that the writing is not good. It makes it very hard to be engaged because it is so stilted. The second reason I had trouble is because the content is problematic. The father tells the story about his 3 year old son's NDE. The son had a surgery and over the next several years tells his parents bits and pieces of what he saw. With the content, I have doubts about what the kid was actually telling his parents. The father writes the story, and because he is a pastor, he tells everything in a very strong Christian/Book of Revelation way. But rather than saying that his son mentioned X and it made the father remember the passage about purple robes, the father says that his son told him that Jesus wears purple robes and heaven is full of angels with wings, and there will be a great battle, etc. With a kid that young, I'm not sure I believe that he would present his dream or memories in that way.
With my doubts, and how poor the writing is, I wound up not enjoying this book. I don't recommend it.
****
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
The Story:
Set in the 1940's, a young black man is accused of murder and sentenced to die, even though he is innocent. In the trial, the defense attorney compares him to brute animals, including a pig. Before he is put to death, the local school teacher is asked to meet with him and help him prepare to die.
The Review:
This is a heavy book, although it is a short quick read. It is beautifully written. It sucks you in very quickly. Gaines is extremely adept at illuminating the racial tensions and problems in society, but he also creates a very personal relationship between these two men.
I highly recommend it.
****
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Steven King
The Story:
This is one of King's famous novellas. It tells the story of Andy Dufrasne who is falsely accused of murder, found guilty, and imprisoned in Shawshank Prison. He becomes friends with Red who narrates the story about Andy's time in Shawshank Prison.
The Review:
I've watched the movie The Shawshank Redemption many times and it is a great movie. The novella is equally as good. The movie actually sticks pretty close to the book, and does a good job of getting across the mood.
I highly recommend it.
****
The Perfect Theory by Pedro G. Ferreira
The Format:
Audiobook
The Story:
An examination and history of Einstein's Theory of Relativity. The book looks at when Einstein developed it and then tracks the ensuing developments through the century and into the present day.
The Review:
This was fascinating.
To be honest, I got a little lost in some of the details about the science and in all the different names. I assume this would be a bit different if I had read a physical book rather than listening to an audiobook. But despite that, it was interesting to listen to and know there are so many developments. I was interested in the history and the arch and how it develops.
I recommend it if you are interested in crazy science stuff.
****
32 Ways to Outsmart Cancer by Nalini Chilkov
The Story:
A super short examination of healthy practices.
The Review:
This was an easy read with very clear explanations of why you would want to do these things and the effect they would have. Many of them are fairly common if you regularly read this kind of thing, but it is nice to have them all presented together in a specific order. I picked up a few new tips to incorporate.
I recommend it if you are concerned about your health.
