Go ahead and use the money how you want. It's yours now.

I try to be generous. That extends to strangers, when I think I can help out. When I worked in Manhattan, I bought lots of lunches for guys on the street. How can you go wrong feeding someone? 

Well, we're in Savannah, and we recently went shopping at Publix. It was late for food shopping--about 8pm--and the turn lane into the Publix wasn't well lit. But as we approached, I thought I saw someone. Sure enough, as we got close, I saw that it was a man with a little sign, asking for money.

I had a couple of dollar bills in my pocket. I rolled down the window and gave them to him. With that, he thanked me and apparently was done with his work for the evening. He immediately headed across the road. In that dim light, I was worried he'd get hit by a car. There was one coming, but luckily they saw him.

The man was heading into the same parking lot we were. At first, it looked like he was heading for Publix, too, and I said to Marc, if he goes in there, I want to tell him we'll buy him anything he wants. Marc agreed. Really, whatever he could get and bring home wasn't going to bankrupt us and would brighten his life at least for a bit.

So as we were parking we watched him head towards the Publix entrance. And then right past it, to the corner of the shopping center and the liquor store.

Oh well, if that's what he needed, so be it. More importantly, I suppose it got him out of traffic, so he'd live to see another day. It's his life, not mine, and the that little bit of money was his by then anyhow. But I really did love the idea of helping send him home with lots of fresh food. I hope he gets to a better place where that's his priority.

The troubling transformation of an historic city

We've been part-time residents of beautiful Savannah for almost 9 years. We were fortunate to find a house that was a great fit for us. A big place, built when Thomas Jefferson was President, it’s in a great downtown location. Like many old houses here, its appearance won’t change because of its historic status.  Those same types of restrictions protect the overall look of the historic district, and that’s great.

What’s particularly interesting, though, is how much of the unprotected parts of the city—or areas whose zoning was changed with the right big-money political influence—are seeing major building projects that could be anywhere. They don’t have the Savannah look and feel.

A few decades ago, a house was built near here that was specifically made to look like ours. The very deliberate intent was to maintain the same character. A lot of this new stuff, however, has very little in common with the existing structures of this city.

In our years here, Savannah has grown and changed quite a bit, but these latest developments are another level. We have visited many places over the years where we have heard about the character of those places changing slowly, so no one really grasped how much was being lost. In this case, I think anyone could see it. A lot of things are changing here, and I don’t know that they are changing for the better. A lot of people are going to make a lot of money, and that, of course, is what is driving all of this. But I don’t know if that is the best thing for Savannah. Sure, growth and economic prosperity are good things, but I feel like the pace here is going to get away from people. One day, they will look back and wonder how they lost what used to be.

Book Review: "Resurrection Walk" by Michael Connelly

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My only problem with Michael Connelly's novels is that they're over so fast. I don't think I'm a particularly fast reader, but I wait a while for his next novel with great anticipation. Then I get my hands on a copy, and I'm done in a couple of days.

Resurrection Walk brings together Mickey Haller ("the Lincoln Lawyer") and Connelly's great homicide detective Harry Bosch. I won't get into the details of the story, other than to say they're looking to help people wrongfully convicted who want to clear their names. This is a powerhouse team, and, with the aid of a couple of other key players, they bring a fight for justice that most needing criminal defense only can dream of. This is a fast, well-written story, and I highly recommend it!

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Book review: "The Exchange" by John Grisham (sequel to "The Firm")

The Exchange: After The Firm by John Grisham
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Exchange isn't really a follow-up to The Firm. There's an early attempt to tie the books together by having Mitch McDeere meet with one of his old colleagues who did time for what happened at the Bendini firm. But it has no real substance in the plot of this book.

The plot itself is a kidnapping perpetrated by terrorists, but the character development is lacking. The kidnapping victim is barely known to us, but we're supposed to be on the edge of our seats. Not that I'd want a stranger kidnapped or harmed, but there isn't sufficient character development to make me really care intensely. Also, if anything, this book makes me like Mitch McDeere less than I might have before. It makes clear he got into the Bendini/mafia mess because he was greedy from the start.

Now, 15 years after the events in The Firm, Mitch is very improbably a partner at the world's largest law firm. I don't see how, with his background--and without lots of major clients to bring in--he could have wound up there. The explanation in the book doesn't ring true at all, for anyone familiar with the machinations of "Big Law." Also, we find out that Mitch, as well as being greedy in general, is a thief. Sure, he felt justified after what had happened, in making off with a very large amount of funds from the Bendini firm, but this doesn't exactly make him a more sympathetic character. Put simply, there's nobody particularly likable in this book. Overpaid lawyers who bill for hours that really aren't work for their clients, wealthy corporate types, and a kidnap victim we barely know aren't people I'm anxious to root for or hang out with.

This doesn't continue the story except we now know what Mitch McDeere supposedly is doing. I really was disappointed in this book. There are so many things John Grisham could have done with this character. He could have made him decide to fight for justice for those who can't afford expensive lawyers. In fact, early in the book, in yet another part that doesn't seem to fit, Mitch visits with a lawyer who has dedicated his life to trying to save people on death row. He could have made an interesting story from that kind of work. He could have made him an environmental lawyer. A government lawyer. There are countless good, honorable things a lawyer can do, but instead, we have a pretty weak kidnapping/terrorism story located in the world of rich Wall Street lawyers with limousines and private jets. What was the point?

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Book Review: "Light Bringer" (Book 6 of the "Red Rising" series)

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another very good book in the Red Rising series. I feel like a strong editor could make the language more concise and have it flow better, as there are parts that seem needlessly verbose and get into tangents that don't add much to the story, especially if you've read the prior five books of the series.

Even so, this is a book that builds connection with the characters, as too many other authors don't or can't, and there's lots of tension that keeps you turning the pages. Of course, be ready for true brutality of war on a massive scale. That brings sadness, certainly, as we see humanity at its worst in ways one hopes will be banished from our existence. There's the loss of characters we're invested in, too, but that's the nature of war.

If you're looking for happily ever after, look elsewhere. Even if book 7 brings a happy ending on a macro level, lots of individual losses will remain and will be extremely sad and regrettable, as some of the people lost are brave, honorable and well-meaning (one in particular comes to mind in this book... of course, I won't say which). Still, this massive book was a relatively quick read for its size, as it kept me wanting more.

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Book Review: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I'd been looking to read "The Road" for a while. After all, it was talked about so much, and it won a Pulitzer, so I felt compelled to read it. Unfortunately.

I'm beginning to think too many "critics" are impressed if an author drags out all the fancy words he knows and strings them together in a way that normal people don't speak or write.

"The Road" is a story of a father and son wandering a post-apocalyptic landscape (although we're not told exactly what happened, whether a nuclear war or an asteroid impact or what), in search of a better place. The world is covered in ash. All of the trees and plants are dead, and it seems virtually all of the animals are dead, too, except for a handful of humans, most of whom are marauding, murderous gangs. How anything will survive if all the plants are dead is a mystery, so the journey seems pointless. Yes, the father and son find some supplies to sustain them along the way, and those gangs have turned to cannibalism, but if the plants are gone, it's over. Just a matter of how long until everyone else dies.

The story is bleak, and the writing is nothing compelling. It's like Cormac McCarthy wanted to write a dark, hopeless tale that somehow celebrated the idea of a father finding a chance for his son. And for a writing style, "Maybe I should show how I can write like Robert Frost! No, wait, maybe I should write like Stephen King. Hmm, I can't decide. I know, I'll write like both of them!"

Really, this book is over-hyped, and the Pulitzer judges apparently are impressed by this nonsensical drivel. Spare yourself the time. I wish I had!

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A thought-provoking, entertaining book: "Mosaic" by Evan Mandery

Mosaic by Evan Mandery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A good detective story gets my attention. So does a good science fiction story. "Mosaic" provides both, not in some clumsy mashup but in a smart, thought-provoking way. Without giving away too much, the deterioration of our environment has continued and the damage has compounded. At the same time, a system called Mosaic is developed that, through computer advancement, allows people to disappear into another time--a better time--or so it seems from the perspective of the users.

In this alternate setting, someone dies. And in the real world, too, but did the death in Mosaic cause the death in "the real world." And is the death an accident or a murder? If it's a murder, who is the murderer? Into this steps a police officer with a checkered past and demons with which he's wrestling.

There aren't a lot of really smart, inventive stories, whether crime or sci-fi, out there, but this one was great. Entertaining, thought-provoking and well-written. Grab a copy!

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A great book: Antony Beevor's "D-Day: The Battle for Normandy"

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy by Antony Beevor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absolutely great book. It's hard to have such a densely packed, non-fiction book be so enjoyable to read, but Antony Beevor certainly achieved that.

With this well-researched book, Mr. Beevor takes us into the massive operations that went into the invasion of Normandy, showing both the Allied and Axis sides. In addition to all the detail, individual stories add color throughout, and he shows the great depth of knowledge and strategic understanding that comes with being a student of history.

He also confirmed much of what I'd already read about the poor behavior of Montgomery*, the bottomless egomania and selfishness of DeGaulle, and the unspeakable evil of many of the German troops.

Even for someone who has read a great deal about history and this period in history in particular, Antony Beevor's "D-Day" was well worth reading, and I highly recommend it!

*This bit at the end of the book is worth sharing: "The usually tolerant Eisenhower refused to forgive Montgomery for the claims he made after the war. 'First of all he's a psychopath,' Eisenhower exploded in an interview in 1963. 'Don't forget that. He is such an egocentric man--everything he has done is perfect--has never made a mistake in his life.' It was tragic that Montgomery should have thus diverted attention away from his own undoubted qualities and from the sacrifice of his troops, who had held down the vast bulk of the German panzer formations and faced the greatest concentration of 88mm anti-tank guns."

(I'd share some about the behavior of DeGaulle and some other French "leaders," but that could go on for pages. As someone who had a member of the French Resistance in his family, I was happy to see their bravery and sacrifice acknowledged, but some of the others, starting with DeGaulle, behaved abominably.)

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Book Review: "Goodbye to Berlin" by Christopher Isherwood

Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure where to begin. As I'm sure everyone who picks up the book knows, this is the work that spawned the movie and Broadway musical, "Cabaret." There certainly are similarities that carry from one into the other.

With that said, they most certainly aren't the same by any stretch. Yes, "Cabaret" included the Nazis on the march and foreshadowed their antisemitic oppression, but "Goodbye to Berlin" makes clearer how everyday Germans shrugged off the very obvious evil around them and how some applauded it. It is this indifference and even tacit acceptance that is a warning that needs to be heard generation after generation, including the current one, where too many are ready to ignore authoritarian efforts.

Isherwood shares an overheard conversation: "Those Nazis . . . They mean business . . . You mark my words: they're going to clear the Jews right out of Germany. Right out." This is just one example, but clearly, the "we didn't know" crowd, after the Nazis were routed, were as disingenuous as suspected.

Describing a night of Nazi violence, he shares the comments of one of the ladies of his acquaintance: "Frl. Mayr, of course, was delighted: 'Serves them right!' she exclaimed. 'This town is sick with Jews.'"

While describing the difficult circumstances of many Germans in the aftermath of their loss of World War I, it's painfully clear how these circumstances surfaced the very worst impulses.

By the same token, we see the foolishly naive view of some. A lady with whom Isherwood stayed is annoyed at her debt to the local Jewish tailor, despite his having made it possible for her family to purchase his skills by extending her credit. "'When Hitler comes, he'll show these Jews a thing or two.' But when I suggested that Hitler, if he got his own way, would remove the tailor altogether, then Frau Nowak would immediately change her tone: 'Oh, I shouldn't like that to happen. After all, he makes very good clothes. Besides, a Jew will always let you have time if you're in difficulties. You wouldn't catch a Christian giving credit like he does . . . You ask the people round here, Herr Christoph: they'd never turn out the Jews.'"

Of course, we know all too well the horrors that soon would follow. All of this to say, "Goodbye to Berlin," published after Nazi rule was a reality but before their "final solution" came fully to fruition, is an interesting but, of course, deeply disturbing view of Berlin as Germany and the world hurtled towards unspeakable nightmare. If you're expecting a book that will have the bounce of the very catchy "Cabaret," then you'll be disappointed. But if you're interested in the backstory that informed the creation of that catchy musical, together with an interesting historical perspective on a very important time in history, then grab a copy!

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Book Review: "Harm's Way" by John Gilstrap

Harm’s Way by John Gilstrap
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I found this latest installment in the Jonathan Grave series very disappointing. The usual formula was there, with "Security Solutions" taking on a dangerous mission that the government couldn't. There really was nothing new in that, as it's the usual routine of these exceptional killers fighting bad guys to try to save the day. The problem is, this book was chock full of political diatribes. Rather than being entertainment, it was a polemic against the left, the government, the FBI, and everything you might expect from someone who holds such views. Also, newspapers are the enemy.

From the book:

"It's the legacy [news]papers that get it wrong. It's because they don't report news anymore. They make up shit their readers want to hear."

"Tell President Asshat. It's like he's shilling for them. The cartels and the Chi-Coms."

"Open border makes kiddie prostitution easy while keeping the cartels rich. All of that adds to murder."

Regarding the FBI Director, "Wolverine," "It'd be tough being the only honest person in a place as sprawling as the Hoover Building."

There's plenty more like that, making clear that the author thinks everyone is Washington, DC, is corrupt, from the President to FBI agents, etc., as well as demonizing anyone who isn't as politically hard-core as he is. We have problems in this country, but this isn't going to help. More to the point, this is supposed to be a work of entertainment.

It's his right to say what he wants, but I hate when an author fills a story with this kind of disparagement. He may have many fans who will agree and even enjoy that, but I don't think it belongs in a work of entertainment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

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Book Review: "The Siberia Job" by Josh Haven

The Siberia Job by Josh Haven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Siberia Job" is a quick read, which says a lot for how much it pulled me in. Apparently based on real-life stories shared with the author, the book explores the world of the post-USSR scramble for ownership of companies and industries that were supposed to be for the benefit of the people of Russia. Instead, modern-day carpetbaggers swoop in to try to take control of money they hadn't earned (unless you consider their ability to invest tiny amounts of "hard currency" earning anything) before Russian oligarchs can build their own empires with little more right to it than the American and European "investors."

While John, Petr and Anna are interesting characters, and I will admit to rooting for them at points (they're better than their murderous opponents), their way of getting rich is very questionable morally. If you like Gordon Gekko-style raiders, you will like them, but if that turns you off... well, then not so much.

Their view is that their approach will help make the new Russia rich, too, but it seems very unlikely that the average Russian is going to benefit any more under this new regime than they did under the old Communist one.

Still, an interesting book and a page-turner. I'm not the fastest reader, and I was through it in two days.

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Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me by Bernie Taupin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked this book more that I might have expected. Bernie Taupin is, of course, the other half of the duo that's completed by Elton John. Bernie is the lyricist behind so many very popular songs. In addition to his great success with Elton John, he wrote popular songs for other performers, as well.

When reading an autobiography by someone with this type of entertainment success, I worry that I'll just get an avalanche of pointless name-dropping. Don't get me wrong. I could take a header over the piles of names dropped in this book, but it doesn't come off as that. Rather, he tells stories of the ups and downs of his years in music and the various people who were a part of that, either directly or tangentially.

If you're looking for insight into the meanings or origins of his lyrics, Mr. Taupin does give some of that but also admits that some of it isn't clear even to him. For that matter, he writes that some should be left to the interpretation of the listeners. "That's the beauty of songwriting. Having those listening use their own imagination and draw their own conclusions is half the fun. It's like abstract art." He also acknowledges certain lyrics that haven't aged well: "the less said about 'Island Girl' the better."

This book goes beyond his work as a lyricist. We learn about his foray into being a restaurateur, his involvement in ranching, horses, bull-riding, and more, and a lot about his personal life. It's a pretty full picture. And of course, there are many insights into his writing process and inspiration for certain songs.

This book definitely is worth your time!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of the book. I very much enjoyed it!

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Book review: "Homeless to Hopkins"

"Homeless to Hopkins" reads more like a journal than anything. The author grew up in challenging conditions, with less-than-stellar parents, as well as poverty and tragedy coloring his years. He overcame this through intelligence and hard work, and he certainly succeeded, but a story that's so very rags-to-riches should feel more compelling, and I just didn't get that here.

He's very religious, being a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons), and we learn about his doing missionary work in his youth. He also credits God with getting him through his many tough times, although he seems to have been saddled with much more adversity than most. I suppose that's the perspective of someone so religious, and if you are of a similar mind, you may find that compelling, The book is peppered with many religious references, such as "my faith nourished me during this dark time," "sustained by my faith in God," "I felt that this was Divine intervention for us," etc.  If that helped him get through and succeed, good for him! But some may find it off-putting.

That aside, it's interesting to see all he got through, from terrible parents to other challenging family members to his sister-in-law's addiction issues to his own wife's medical issues. While all of that sounds like the basis for a rather dramatic autobiography, the writing itself comes across more as a recitation of facts. I didn't expect this to read like a novel, but the entire story was rather flat.

Book review: "Independence Square" by Martin Cruz Smith

 

Independence Square is the latest installment in Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series, and possibly the last installment. The author is reported to have Parkinson's Disease, and he has shared this with his fictional detective.

Arkady is fighting for what's right, as he deals with his diagnosis. While seeking to solve a murder that hits close to home, he finds himself an eyewitness to a couple more. All of this set to the backdrop of Putin-caused criminality and a corrupt system standing in his way. Will he make it out safely, and can he get someone he cares about to safety before that person is caught and held to account for a crime they didn't commit?

There's plenty of tension and suspense in this well-written novel. I enjoyed it!

From the way the ending read, and considering the author's age and diagnosis, this may be the last installment in the series, but I think it was handled well, if that was the case. Investigator Renko is doing what works for him, and there's no false hope that the near future will be wonderful in Putin's Russia. Overall, a very good book that was well handled, considering the various real-life and fictional circumstances at play. Well done!

Book review: Don Winslow's "City of Dreams"

 

I'll begin by saying I'm a Don Winslow fan. Whatever the subject of his writing (in this case, the mob in Providence, Rhode Island--although most of the action in this book doesn't take place there), he's a great writer whose style has me tearing through each book. I can't claim to be the fastest reader, but I was done with "City of Dreams" in two days.

This installment in his latest trilogy has us following Danny Ryan as he tries to escape his old life and "go straight." He finds himself on the west coast, involved in business he never would have dreamed of in the past. With twists and turns that leave the reader wondering who will survive and who won't, the book is suspenseful, while delivering an ending that I found a bit abrupt and unexpected. I also found at least one segment (thinking of the returning Marine son of one mob boss and his actions when he returns) somewhat disjointed, like it just got dropped in there almost without context. Perhaps there will be a tie-in later, but that didn't seem like it fit well. With that said, Mr. Winslow is an author who can provide surprises, so I will see what the next book brings.

Don Winslow's books aren't for the squeamish. There's some rather graphic violence, although "The Power of the Dog" et seq. were more brutal. In any case, if you're overly sensitive about such things, be warned. But really, this is a good story in a good series about damaged people doing bad things (and occasionally some good things), and I very much enjoyed this installment. Is it his best book? No, but it's very good and better than most of what I've read by other authors lately.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read and review this advance copy.

Book review: The Best American Travel Writing 2021

I've read other "Best American Travel Writing" books in prior years, so I know they often contain very serious explorations of cultures, situations, the world around us and so on. But really, in a book that begins with a complete fixation on our world during the COVID-19 pandemic, I would have expected that the non-COVID pieces might have taken a lighter direction; perhaps an exploration of the good things still out there, to remind us of the joys we'll find as we get back to traveling more normally.

But no, that's not this book's direction. And while the pieces may have been written in 2021, not all of them were about things in 2021, so there was room to maneuver. After a very heavy dose of COVID-driven death, we got to learn about the deaths of some good people, deaths of animals, and a very troubling exploration of the very real problems of racism and white supremacy. All of it was good, intelligent writing, but damn, this book really depressed me. So I gave it three stars, because of the good writing, but I really didn't expect it to be quite so depressing and don't think it needed to be. There had to be better ways to balance things out.

Rich people feeling entitled

I won't cry poverty. We're not rich, but we've done okay. But there is a culture in this country that seems to make some rich people feel like they're entitled to everything they have--some are, but many inherited it or just lucked out--and it's all about them. To hell with helping others or even just recognizing your own good fortune.

I'll try not to go into a complete rant here, but this morning on CBS News, there was a story about people in Florida whose boats were damaged--some destroyed--by Hurricane Ian who are still waiting for them being fixed, and about a marina that is keeping afloat (no pun intended) by being a place for damaged boats to be stored, evaluated by insurance adjusters and even fixed.

In this, they had a guy whose waterfront home now had his boat in the yard, because the storm had tossed it there. That sucks, but... he has a waterfront home and a boat. I think it's pretty safe to say he's not wondering where his next meal will come from.

Then I see he has written a website on the side of the boat. Out of curiosity, I went to check out the website. It's a small website with a link to his GoFundMe page, where he is trying to raise money for his boat (the poor thing!) and asks that people "donate to the cause so I can recuperate some losses and also give back to my community."

Give back to his community? By getting money for his boat and his house? Put in your insurance claim, Thurston Howell III, and try being thankful that you're still alive. Unbelievable! 

By the way, the one good note is, his GoFundMe page has been up for at least a month, and he's gotten almost no takers. I hope it stays that way. Maybe people who see it will be inspired to go give to people who actually need help! That's what I plan to do. In this guy's honor, of course. 😉