2007 Books
"The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11" by Lawrence Wright (Fall, 2007). Winner of this year's Pulitzer Prize and deservedly so. An astonishingly well-researched treatise on the fundamentalist Islamic movement which has recently culminated in a ragtag group of suicidal terrorists becoming feared by the world. The portrait of Osama bin Laden, his father, and his wives and children is detailed and convincing. He emerges as a non-worldly (never been to America), not especially bright man who lacks leadership skills. Only the incompetence of the world's powers can account for his survival. Highly recommended.
"The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court" by Jeffrey Toobin (Fall, 2007). The author, the legal correspondent for The New Yorker, walks a careful line between honest and direct reporting about individual Justices and a need to maintain access to them (and their clerks) for future material. He does his best to disguise that Thomas is incompetent and Rehnquist disdained or dispensed with legal analysis and reasoning in his decisions. The growth of the Federalist Society of right-wing jurists and lawyers is truly frightening as is the religious right's total control of the confirmation process under the Republican Senate. The author demonstrates that the Court is now entirely ideological and pays scant attention to precedent. This is a deeply troubling book which offers little hope for the next decade or more of Court decisions. Highly recommended.
"The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl" by Timothy Egan (Fall, 2007). Deserved winner of this year's National Book Award for nonfiction, this book teaches that there are large parts of the American west that are unfit for human habitation, much less farming. I will never drive through the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle area again without thinking of this book and the human suffering that took place there. It also teaches that there are situations in life that cannot be improved upon and should not be tolerated. It is not a fault to give up, to move on, to start over somewhere else. The farm families and small town merchants who put up with year after year of no income at all, eight years of drought, "dust pneumonia" which killed infants and the very old were more stubborn than intelligent. (George W. Bush's ranch is located in the former dust bowl!) A tough read only because of the events described. Highly recommended.
"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini (Fall, 2007). Amazingly good first novel which I ignored until I saw a movie preview outlining the plot. Well written, involving, memorable. Highly recommended.
"The Descendants" by Kaui Hart Hemmings (Fall, 2007). This first novel, authentically set in Hawaii, has little to do with the narrator's heritage from Hawaii's founding families. Of more immediate concern is his wife, who is in a coma from a boating accident, and the impact upon their two daughters, 18 and 10, and a random sort-of boyfriend, also 17 or 18. Her treatment of the situation involves the reader to a surprising degree. While the plot is insufficient to recommend the book, this is a fine piece of work. The author's next book will be of interest, especially if set in Hawaii.
"Peeling the Onion: A Memoir" by Gunter Grass (Summer, 2007). Having previously read the New Yorker's excerpt covering his war WW II service, the first 1/3 was a serious disappointment (and my admiration of the magazine's editors is higher than ever.) The remainder greatly exceeded my expectations. The immediate postwar years in Germany have long been of interest and Grass' experiences and education as an artist in many mediums is memorable and the book ends at precisely the right place. Highly recommended, but skip the early part if you read the New Yorker piece.
"The Huntsmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (Summer, 2007). Classic graffic novel set in the mid-80s and published more than a decade ago. Enjoyed some characters and especially the interior comic strip of the survivor on a raft supported by dead shipmates. Not my cup of tea; doubt I'll read another. If it is made into a movie, I will see it. Recommended for exposure to genre.
"Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History" by Erik Larson (Summer, 2007). A nonfiction account of the deadly Galveston, Texas hurricane in September, 1900. The central focus is on Isaac Cline, head of the National Weather Bureau station in Galveston who was limited by the technology and hubris of the time and lost his wife in the storm. Recommended but not as good as "Thunderstruck" or "The Devil in the White City" (both below) by the same author.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J. K. Rowling (Summer, 2007). Half of the first half should have been edited out, but the second half is a pleasing mix of action and reflection. Overall, a fitting culmination of this seven book series written under significant pressure. My favorite remains the first book and I am not sorry there will be no more, but the Harry Potter series is recommended overall.
"Einstein: His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson (Summer, 2007). Better than expected, educational, and 150 pages too long. The author advises early on that Einstein spent the last 30 years of his career trying without success to develop a unified theory of the universe, so reading about those 30 years is especially unrewarding. In other respects, this biography is well-paced and the subject led a remarkable and, in most respects, admirable life. Recommended.
"The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert (Spring, 2007). Detailed treatment of life and times of Eustace Conway, genuine living (late 40s) mountain man. Intriguing, a tad long, full of insights and, to borrow the wording of The New York Times, "wickedly well written" by the author of "Eat, Pray, Love." Makes one think about the upbringing, maturity, and capability of modern American youth. Highly recommended (feel free to skim some of the last half). National Book Award finalist in 2002.
"Tales from a Tin Can: The U.S.S. Dale from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay" by Michael Keith Olson (Spring, 2007). This WW2 memoir is written by the son of a sailor who served on the destroyer Dale from early 1942 until decommissioning in October, 1945. The narrative begins at Pearl Harbor. The format is an overview of "big picture" military history by the author followed by excerpts from the ship's diary and/or oral interviews with crew gathered at recent reunions. This provides an authentic take on battles and life aboard. The Dale was a lucky ship and earned battle stars in 12 of the 22 Pacific battles. Interesting if you like military history. Otherwise not recommended.
"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy (Spring, 2007). Award winning fiction and relentlessly bleak and gloomy. Not difficult to read compared to, say, "Beloved," but not enjoyable either. Do not envy the legions of students who will be forced to wade through this postapocalyptic work. To what purpose? Talent present, true, but not recommended.
"Thunderstruck" by Erik Larson (Spring, 2007). A nonfiction account mixing technology and crime during the Edwardian age. Interweaves the development of the first wireless telegraph service by Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian who spoke perfect English, with the story of a notorious London murderer, Dr. Crippen, who was apprehended on an ocean liner through use of the Marconi wireless service. Not as complex or intriguing as "The Devil in the White City" (below), but well paced, educational, and entertaining. Recommended.
"Hold'em Wisdom For All Players" by Daniel Negreanu (Spring, 2007). Light, readable poker book. Not recommended.
"The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring" by Richard Preston (Spring, 2007). Narrative nonfiction account of leading Redwood tree explorers and climbers of the last 20 years. Interesting descriptions and details of botanical aspects of high forest canopies in Redwoods, Douglas Firs, and other high trees. The author becomes a canopy researcher himself. Excellent read for people who like trees, especially in the Pacific northwest and northern California. Recommended.
"The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America" by Erik Larson (Spring, 2007). Nonfiction account of 1893 Chicago World's Fair intertwined with crimes of truly evil serial killer who lived nearby and operated "World's Fair Hotel." Well-paced and full of interest for architecture buffs (buildings and landscape). Heinous nature of crimes is off-putting but highly recommended otherwise.
"Positively Fifth Street" by James McManus (Spring, 2007). The author uses his $4000 advance for a Harper's magazine article on women Texas hold'em poker players to enter a satellite tournament, qualifies for the 2000 World Series of Poker ($10k buy-in), and finishes fifth, earning $250,000 in his first tournament. McManus also covers the Ted Binion murder trial, explains the intricacies of high stakes no limit hold'em, illuminates the poker world circa 2000, and provides too many details of his personal life. At least 25% too long, this is still a classic Las Vegas and poker book. Recommended.
"Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them" by Francine Prose (Spring, 2007). The author teaches writing and makes extensive reference (by way of many lengthy quotations) to good writing by (mostly) classic authors. Insightful and occasionally boring. Recommended.
"Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell (Spring, 2007). Our unconscious makes a lot of decisions for us. Quickly. Sometimes this is good, sometimes this is bad. Either way, this is a useful concept to understand. A quick read with fascinating anecdotes. Highly recommended.
"Through the Children's Gate: A Home in New York" by Adam Gopnik (Winter, 2007). Starts where "Paris to the Moon" left off and continues through five years in NYC. The beginning is below expected standards and should have been edited out. Numerous chapters are recognizable from New Yorker pieces. The last half is much better, but overall the book is not recommended. Chalk it up to editing.
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