He's The Last Policeman

The Last Policeman

By Ben H. Winters

All is not as it appears, right from the start of this novel.  It looks like a suicide, and yet rookie detective Hank Palace isn’t sure of that.  Still, he wonders what the point is to investigate further.  It’s only a feeling he has that it could be murder, and what will it matter when the world is certain to end in six months.  That’s right, the major twist in this novel is asteroid 2011GV which is on a direct heading to earth, and nothing will stop it. The science is undeniable.  The end of the world has been announced.  The only questions left are the date and the precise location.

Life on earth has changed with this asteroid news.  People, including other police officers, are walking off their jobs to pursue their bucket lists and other end of world desperate pursuits.  Is there any reason now for Detective Palace to investigate what by all accounts appears to be suicide?  With the end of the world a certainty, suicide has become sadly epidemic.  Is it really so hard to believe this one?  No one else seems to care, including the dead man’s family.  Is perseverance in this world to do the right thing, despite circumstances, part of human nature?  How important is one man’s death?

It’s a fascinating character study to see questions of motive in this new light, with the asteroid approaching.  The end of the world changes everything from a law enforcement perspective.  The dead man worked in the insurance industry, which is affected in its own way by the world news.  Is there motive there for murder?  Or motive for suicide?  When the detective notifies the man’s family, curious dynamics ensue.

Hank Palace is struggling with his own personal and family issues throughout this novel as well, which brings another dimension to his job and to the chaos around him.  This novel combines the best of detective investigation with philosophical debate and science fiction.

Ben H. Winters is the author of eight novels, including most recently World of Trouble (Quirk), the concluding book in The Last Policeman trilogy.  The Last Policeman was the recipient of the 2012 Edgar Award, and it was also named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Amazon.com and Slate.  As I read, I was working side by side with Detective Palace to uncover clues, follow leads, and to seek meaning in a human life.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Glimpse the Mind of a Great, Free Solo Climber

Alex Honnold is probably the most famous adventure athlete in the world.  He’s a world class free solo climber, known for climbing without the help of ropes, equipment, or a partner.  He’s been known to scale 2,000 feet with only shoes and a chalk bag for “equipment”.  He doesn’t always solo, but when he does it’s truly breathtaking.  This is a sport with a history, but Alex’s new generation has brought a new edge to it.  He climbs up a vertical wall with his fingers finding tiny cracks and spots to hang onto, and just-barely toe holds.  Weaving his way like a spider man, he’s setting not just solo climbing records, but also speed records.

I don’t know anything about the skills or requirements for soloing, mountain climbing, bouldering, or alpining.  I’m just a regular hiker.  Yet this book is so well written I was fascinated throughout, and learned so much about the sport.  The book’s design is well done, with the narrative decidedly split between Alex Honnold’s stream of conscious thought about the climbs he’s describing, and the narrative by the co-author David Roberts.

A veteran mountaineer who's written 30 books himself, David Roberts was the one behind Alex's book project. Alex's primary interest in the book is that he hopes it will push readers in their own climbing ambitions.  The included color photos of spectacular climbs are incredible, interspersed with photos of Alex’s van life and his growing up.  The book recounts seven incredible climbing achievements, starting out immediately on page one with the climb that began his fame, free soloing Moonlight Buttress, which is a 1,200 foot high, nearly vertical sandstone cliff in Utah’s Zion National Park.

I was one of the fortunate in the sold out crowd recently when Alex Honnold gave a talk in Seattle and a book signing.  Alex said this was the biggest crowd he'd ever spoken in front of, and he said that's a tribute to Seattle's climbing community.  And that didn’t even take into account the line of people outside that went all the way down the block hoping for a last minute spot in the sellout crowd.

Before you judge him as crazy, Alex would remind you that there's 20 years of practice and dedication behind his climbing choices.  "If I thought I was going to die I wouldn't do this."  He chooses what he climbs and does a lot of both mental and physical preparation.

His physical preparation includes lots of gym training.  He also often does a climb roped first in order to see how hard it is, and also to determine how tired he will get.  His mental preparation includes detailed thinking through the whole experience and visualizing.  He also does heavy thinking on the ground about his approach.

He insists that it's all well thought through in advance, and then on the wall it's an enjoyable experience.  On specific tough “pitches” he'll be intensely focused.  As an example of the proportion - for most climbs the easy, relaxed part of the solo, for Honnold, could be about 1,500 feet and the hard solo requiring 100% of his focus could be about 500 feet of it.

As far as dying, Alex insists that what matters is what you do before you die - thought provoking, as is the book.

He splits climbing into consequence and risk.  The consequence - if fall, die.  The risk - he can control some risk. He judges the risk by how confident he feels from the preparation he did.  What’s optimal?  Alex aims for high consequence, with managed risk.

Alex formed the Honnold Foundation after his life altering experience on a climb in Chad in 2010.  It's an environmental nonprofit that helps raise the standard of living around the world.  Proceeds from his book go to his Foundation.

Did you know that Alex's support was instrumental in saving our nearby Index for climbers?  A world traveler, he’s a native Californian through and through.  His very favorite climb and his original training ground are Yosemite and Half Dome.  He also loves Rainbow Wall in California.

Alex’s favorite thing is feeling like a tiny dot on a huge expansive rock all by himself.  Soloing gives him a deep satisfaction, especially because it's such a slow, methodical process.  He’s committed to continually improving himself and his performance.

Despite his amazing accomplishments, Alex is a very humble person.  His nickname is Alex No Big Deal Honnold, stemming from his nonchalant demeanor.  His book will surface your appreciation for nature, and for people who passionately follow their dreams to wherever they lead, whether to the next granite wall, or to the next Honnold Foundation goal improving the lives of others.  Don’t pass up this book and the chance for a glimpse into the mind of a great free solo climber.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Alone on the Wall

By Alex Honnold with David Roberts

Hooti Couture Memoir Delights

Alligators, Old Mink & New Money

By Alison Houtte & Melissa Houtte

All avid readers delight in good books, but to unexpectedly discover a gem when you’re not expecting to is a special treat.  I was doing fashion research; yes there is such a thing, and this book I had selected for research turned out to be a delightful read.

This memoir begins with the author’s life growing up in Miami.  Alison is co-author of her memoir with her sister, who is a journalist.  Highlighted from the start is the embarrassment her mother was to Alison and her siblings, because of how her mother dressed.  She dressed in vintage, shopping at Goodwill and church rummage sales.  The family experiences are precious and full of good natured humor.  As her adult life progresses, Alison ends up embracing vintage and even owning her own, famous shop in Brooklyn.  Don’t you just love irony?  Alison’s life takes such interesting turns from Miami to Brooklyn.

As she grows up in Miami, she is able to do some modeling.  That leads to a surprising opportunity to live and model in Paris.  The descriptions of her life in Miami are vibrant, and her descriptions of the modeling life in Paris and later in Europe are exciting and fascinating.  The humor intertwined in her reflections on her family life in Miami continues throughout this book of her life’s adventures.

After the runway and fashion magazines in Paris, becoming owner of a vintage shop, Hooti Couture aka Hooti’s, in Brooklyn is an intriguing turn of events.  Reading about her evolution as a small business owner is compelling.  And how her knowledge of her product, vintage, grows!  She sums up her business philosophy so well, “I’m a little secondhand shop in Brooklyn, but I cater to each client like she’s in Bergdorf’s.  I think the success has come with the service and price points. It’s great, fun stuff in a fun environment and we get new merchandise weekly.  I buy with love, what I love.”  And don’t let this quote mislead you, she did carry men’s vintage as well and had some very loyal male customers.

Getting back to fashion research, there is plenty of good advice, solid designer knowledge, and interesting history for fashion lovers, flea marketers, and thrift store addicts.  If you haven’t explored vintage before, this book will open a whole new world to you.  If you are already a vintage fan, you’ll learn even more.

Alison has an eye for style and a keen sense of value, and many tips to pass along.  Her business philosophy is simple, “keep it fresh, cheap and chic!”

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Media Murder Thriller

Author A. C. Fuller and me

The Anonymous Source

By A. C. Fuller

Seize the opportunity this Saturday 10/24 at noon to meet A.C. Fuller at The Edmonds Bookshop, and hear firsthand the way he spins a thrilling tale.

This media thriller engages you from its very beginning, which is 9/11.  When the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, Macintosh Hollinger was in his executive offices on the 99^th floor of the South Tower.  What happens to him that day is not what his loved ones believed.  A. C. Fuller skillfully reveals a story of intrigue that whirls around a fast changing media business, and also around a cast of characters, each with passions that boil so close to the surface. 

A year after the attacks, a young newspaper reporter in New York is seeking excitement and a fast break into flashy television news.  He’d been disappointed by his assignment to a bland court circuit, until now with the beginning of the Santiago trial.  He knows this media-circus story will finally land him on the front page and will keep him there for weeks.  What he doesn’t know is that he’s about to start down a trail where he’ll uncover the scoop of a lifetime.  So why then does his editor bury the story?  And it can’t be some coincidence that his source turns up dead.  What ensues will test this reporter’s courage and integrity.

Now Alex Vane is a reporter in the midst of a violent media conspiracy.  He needs to solve the mystery before more people end up dead, before he could end up dead.  Who is the anonymous source that seems to be helping Alex?  What is motivating this anonymous source?  Is he really helping Alex?  And how does any of this relate to Macintosh Hollinger?  You’ll be eagerly analyzing along with Alex as he tracks down facts, interviews people, and investigates clues using the newly emerging internet and other turn of the 21^st century technology.  In the end, it’s a mix of reporter’s intuition and some old fashioned common sense that puts it together and reveals a secret that leads back to the tragic morning of 9/11.

This author has been an observant witness to the unprecedented media reporting changes of this timeframe.  A. C. was a freelance reporter, and previously taught Journalism at New York University.  He’s currently an English teacher at Northwest Indian College on the Olympic Peninsula, and fortunately for readers he’s also now a published author.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Forgotten Hollywood Remembered

Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History

By Manny Pacheco

It was October 2010 that author Manny Pacheco visited Edmonds, Wa as an honored Hollywood guest for the Edmonds International Film Festival.  Bringing Hollywood to that small town was such a treat, and one of many of his tours.  His fascinating book shares incredible stories of the character actors and supporting players who brought American history to life on the screen during the days of old Hollywood.  The author brings his additional insight, analyzing these actors’ body of work to show how they have also created history themselves.  As the author says about these actors, “We can see by type-casting, or through intentional choices, the development of a career with some meaning.”  Enhancing his story about these actors and their historical works are some delightful pictures of them, their films, and also the real historical people and events.

Savor the personal stories of award winning supporting actors such as Claude Rains, Ward Bond, Walter Brennan, Thomas Mitchell, William Bendix, Donald Crisp, and others.  See how their personal histories also reflect American history.  There’s great trivia too.  For example, do you know who holds the record for appearing in more movies nominated for Best Picture awards than any other actor in history?  You’ll also learn little known factual information about the American history events and people depicted.

Manny Pacheco is steeped in the world of Hollywood.  He’s been a broadcaster in Los Angeles and Southern California for over three decades, and he’s a thirty year member of the Screen Actors Guild.  A student of history and a movie fan, he’s blended his two passions in this book.  He keeps very busy with an engaging website that also includes interviews, events, and articles.  He also has other books, including Son of Forgotten Hollywood Book 2 published in 2012.

After reading this book you’ll want to watch some of those old time movies and see these legendary performances for yourself.  So sing along . . . .

“Hooray for Hollywood

That screwy ballahooey Hollywood

Where any office boy or young mechanic can be a panic

With just a good looking pan

And any barmaid can be a star maid

If she dances with or without a fan”

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

You'll Enjoy Playing - Saul's Game

                                           Homeland Saul’s Game

By Andrew Kaplan

There are lots of ways to tell a good story.  This is the second novel in a prequel series that’s a tie-in to the Showtime Homeland series on cable.  In this case, if you discover the television series and like it, you’ll love the book.  And also, if you first discover the books and like them, you’ll love the television series.

These stories are about fictional characters in the CIA fighting the war on terror, defending the homeland.  If you’re looking for passion, you’re definitely going to find it in this book.  These characters are so passionate in their beliefs and in their actions.  The action is constant, and the situations are desperate.  Throughout, you’re never sure exactly who you can trust as the plot takes turns around each corner.

The heroine is Carrie Mathison, a CIA operative.  Her boss is Saul.  The characters are incredibly real, with amazing strengths and chilling flaws.  It’s fascinating to see how the strategies and undercover plays unfold.  You have to wonder how closely fiction might reflect reality.  The life depicted of an operative in the Middle East and Iran is heart pounding.  The books give you a more in depth background and feel for the thoughts, emotions and backgrounds of all the characters than the television series platform allows.  Books also give a more in depth understanding of the issues facing the Middle East today.  For those fans of Nick Brody, the Marine POW caught up in the CIA intrigue, he and his story are included in this novel.

The author, Andrew Kaplan is a former journalist, war correspondent.  He served in both the US Army and also in the Israeli Army during the Six Day War.  He’s worked in military intelligence and has been a consultant with groups that advise governments.  He’s the author of several spy thrillers, including the Scorpion series, as well as this novel, and the first in this series – Carrie’s Run.  Saul’s Game is the winner of the 2015 Scribe Award for the best original media tie-in novel of the year.  The Scribe Awards are selected each year by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers to honor excellence in licensed works that tie in with other media such as television, movies, gaming, or comic books.

Just like the incredible Showtime series, which is available on DVD, Andrew Kaplan’s books leave you wanting more.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Extend Your Summer With A Beach Read

The Summer We Read Gatsby

By Danielle Ganek

Extend your summer delights with this beach read.  It’s a quick trip out to Southampton, and then weeks languishing by the sunny shore.  Two sisters, with very different mothers, share memories of a beloved Aunt Lydia and their summer visits to her beach home.  Eccentric Aunt Lydia has now passed away.  The two sisters are very different women, one quietly practical and the other a larger than life romantic.  They meet for a few weeks at Fool’s House, so named long ago by Lydia, to pack it up and sell it.  Or, can they revive it?  They find that there’s little they agree on.

Aunt Lydia’s will had been written in the flowery words she’d loved all her creative life.  The will included that she’d bequeathed her house and all its contents to her beloved nieces.  She was quite specific that they spend a month in Southampton together in the summer and seek a “thing of utmost value” from within this cherished place.  So here they are, like it or not.  Can they at least cooperate well enough to uncover this hidden value?

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the narrator Nick Carraway remarks, “You can’t repeat the past.”  It was Gatsby who answers, “Why of course you can.”  These sisters immerse themselves in the eccentric life, traditions, and romance of the house and friends they thought they knew from so many summers ago.  Over these few weeks they find out how little they did know.  Now they learn so much about this place, its character, and each other.

It’s hard to resist a book that starts, “Hats, like first husbands in my experience, are usually a mistake.”  This Summer starts with an extravagant Gatsby-style party, introduces some memorable characters, follows clues to a mysterious stolen painting, along with a stolen first edition of The Great Gatsby, reveals romantic games, and also a secret about Aunt Lydia.  Then, like most summers it ends all too soon.

This is Danielle Ganek’s second novel.  Although American, the author spent most of her childhood in Brazil and then in Lausanne, Switzerland.  She says she always felt like a foreigner, even when she returned to the U.S. at 16.  “Being a perpetual outsider made me a constant observer and I began writing as a child,” she says.  “I’m a fiction writer.  I’m a big believer in our ability as readers to suspend our disbelief.” 

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Jimmy Carter's Full Life

A Full Life

Reflections at Ninety

By Jimmy Carter

“Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be,” this quote from Robert Browning, could be a great description of this optimistic book by our thirty-ninth President, Jimmy Carter.  I was privileged to briefly meet the President, when he was at Third Place Books signing this 29^th book he’s authored.  His warmth, humor and optimism comes through immediately in person, as it does in this book.

Jimmy Carter at 90 reflects back on his full life, and the reader is treated to an in-depth description of the events and people who shaped his life actions and decisions.  It seems he’s packed several lifetimes into one, and as he quipped to one of the people at the book signing, “I’m not done yet.”

He was born in 1924, and I enjoyed reading about his childhood in rural Georgia, a life very foreign to what I’m used to.  There were many parts of his life that I wasn’t aware of, and it was interesting to see, in hindsight, what he felt led him into the next stages of his life.  His time in the Navy was riveting, and how he came to the decision to return to Plains, Georgia to be a Peanut Farmer and business man.  His caring for the people in his community is what led him to government office, beginning locally.  His election campaigns really showed his personal connection made with the electorate.  It also gave a glimpse from comparison how very different times have become.

The strength of his convictions carried him through a tough, and also incredibly giving and meaningful life.  I was fascinated by the information about his Presidency, what he felt his priorities were and why.  He is consistently very good about letting you know the why’s of his times.  He’s honest about his regrets, and humble about his successes.  He also shares his reflections on current events and times.

And this book has a wonderful, unexpected treat inside.  The President has included some of his wonderful poems that he’s written throughout his life.  He includes the poems he wrote at the different times of his life.  They are often insightful.  He also includes personal photos and copies of his own paintings.  I especially like the painting he’s titled Home in Plains.

We’re fortunate to have available the reflections of this humble, sincere man who was the thirty-ninth President, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, who with his wife founded the Carter Center – a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people around the world.  He’s still living a full life, and we can all learn from his tales of caring, perseverance, staunch belief, and moral character.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Come, Sit, Read, Enjoy

A Dog’s Purpose

By W. Bruce Cameron

It’s unconditional love.  We crave it; we seek it.  Many find it with their canine best friend.  This book is all about it.

First appearing on the page as a feral puppy, Toby will tug at your heart as he learns from his litter mates, and starts his quest to learn why he exists.  What is his purpose in life?  This author skillfully reveals this dog’s thoughts and heart, as the story is told by Toby.  You’ll read Toby’s vivid, innocent insights from his dog’s senses.  Toby doesn’t always fully understand the human world around him and his misinterpretations add to life’s adventure.

Toby’s first life ends in a way that leaves you still wondering about his life purpose.  And Toby isn’t finished.  He’s reincarnated and frolics into a second life, snuggling into a family and especially snuggling into the arms of the boy, Ethan.  In his second life he remembers some of the more compelling lessons learned from his first life.  What’s also revealing is how Toby, who is now Bailey, views the people around him, and their lives.  Bailey’s family life has its delights, and at times is no walk in the park.  As a reader you care for Bailey, and join in his pursuit of purpose as he matures.  This universal quest to answer why we’re here is an exhilarating exploration in this novel.  A dog’s life is just too short.

Back again, you’ll greedily lap up Bailey’s next incarnation as Buddy.  This time a she, her spirit is brought back in a most unique way and she has retained knowledge from both her previous lives.  You’ll share all new experiences that will keep you turning or swiping, pages hungrily.  I felt thrilled that Buddy was fulfilling a great purpose, and then a most unexpected turn took the story soaring.  Toby/Bailey/Buddy is an old soul who will warm your heart like the old Peanuts quote “happiness is a warm puppy”.

W. Bruce Cameron’s entertaining humor is scattered throughout this marvelous novel.  In a taped interview, hosted by his dog Tucker, the author said that “I remember reading these books when I was young and you had this great bond with this dog, then the dog dies.  I remembered how much I hated that.  I wanted to write a book that made you feel good about your relationship with dogs, and then the dog doesn’t die at the end.”  Adorable Tucker the “interviewer” is a rescue dog, and the author has said his favorite “breed” is a rescue dog.

This book will remind you why, or teach you why, people love dogs.  It will also remind you that we all have a purpose to fulfill, and there is goodness in that search and fulfillment.  That’s a lot to learn from a wag and a bark.

Here’s to the many dogs I’ve loved, especially Tristan, Charley, and King.

No Excuses

No Excuses

By Derrick Coleman Jr. with Marcus Brotherton

Derrick Coleman is #40, fullback for the Seahawks and part of the Super Bowl XLVIII championship team.  He made history by becoming the first deaf offensive player in the NFL.  He tackled Trindon Holliday at the 12-yard line on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII - getting the game started right I’d say.  And the rest is history, including the first Super Bowl Championship team that included a deaf player.

All Twelves, and football fans will enjoy his new memoir book.  It’s so interesting to read about his childhood and his progression from Pop Warner, to High School football, and then trying to get into the NFL, and then the story about what it was like to be in that Super Bowl!  But that is just the icing on the cake, because this book brings to life so much more than just football.

I had the privilege to meet Derrick Coleman Jr. at his recent book signing at Third Place Books.  His memoir is written is such a conversational and personal way, that when I met him I felt an instant connection through what I’d read.  Mixed into the life stories are life lessons that feel so sincere and embraceable.  This isn’t a book that preaches at you what you should do; it takes your hand and shows you what works.  He shows you the importance of having goals, and of pursuing them.

This book is about a man who persevered to overcome in a big way his obstacle of being deaf.  That has been an incredible inspiration for so many in the deaf community – kids and adults.  I would never discount that.  Standing in line at the book signing I was surrounded by so many people who told me how inspired they are by him for exactly that hope that he’s showed them.  Yet, as he says himself, we all have obstacles that we have to overcome to achieve our goals.  He has written a book of sincere and plain spoken inspiration for anyone who has ever dreamed and been told they couldn’t do that.

 

I can tell you that in person Derrick Coleman Jr. is a humble, caring, and compelling man.  His whole face and demeanor lights up around kids, and he’s given back to kids in many ways.  In a recent interview this UCLA graduate told kids, “The sky’s the limit for you; I’m nobody special. If I can make it to college, y’all can too. Don’t have any excuse. Whatever it is you want to do, do it.  Have fun and don’t worry about other people.”  Derrick Coleman has confronted even more than the one obstacle in his life, and he’s learned many things from his struggles, that he’s now sharing.  His sense of humor has softened life’s blows, and adds to this engaging read.

For you football fans and Twelves, yes there are some tantalizing stories you’ll enjoy.  His memoir is about such recent history, you’ll recognize many of the people included.  Thankfully Coleman has recovered from his foot injury, says he’s feeling good, and participated in all of Seattle’s Organized Team Activities, which are now done.  All indications are that he’s preparing for his second season as the Seahawks’ likely starter at fullback.  As always, Derrick Coleman takes nothing for granted.

If Derrick Coleman Jr. was signing off from this recommendation, he’d say to you - Be Great!!

I’ll add, Go Hawks!

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Who Could Resist Wesley the Owl

Wesley the Owl

By Stacey O’Brien

Spoiler alert – before you start this novel make room in your heart for an adorable little barn owl named Wesley.  You won’t be able to resist this smart, fluffy bundle of energy.  On Valentine’s Day biologist Stacey O’Brien adopted a baby barn owl with an injured wing who couldn’t survive in the wild.  Talk about a life changing decision!  For almost twenty years Wesley and Stacey shared a life.  As she says, “he was my teacher, my companion, my child, my playmate, my reminder of God.”

What a treat that the author decided to share this love story with us.  Life with a wild barn owl is not for everyone.  I stand in deep admiration of the author’s infinite level of patience.  Her devotion certainly pays off in a deeply empathetic, emotional communion with this beautiful creature.

A wonderful gift in this book is the large number of photos of Wesley in his everyday glory.  The photos alone will melt your heart.  But then to read the stories behind this cutie, you’ll be delighted.  As the author says, “he joyfully poured out his love in loud exclamations and had boisterous opinions about everything.  He kept a running commentary on all that happened in our lives, in his owl language . . . we were happy together.”

But don’t get the idea that raising an owl, and living with one is an endeavor for those faint of heart.  The description of daily life and required routines make me realize that the model owl adoptive parent is a trained biologist specializing in wild animal behavior, working at Caltech (California Institute of Technology) where scientists from all over the world were on the barn owl research team.

Wesley’s story is so humorous, I often found myself laughing out loud.  The author really captures the humor in everyday activities.  I had so much fun reading the story and looking at the many photos that I was surprised to find how much I’d learned about barn owls, and also about animal behavior in general.  Some of these lessons are couched in the theme throughout that is “the Way of the Owl”.  I’m excited that I’ve learned so much in such an enjoyable way.  It’s amazing how well Wesley communicated with his beloved human family.  The author notes that “we are on the cusp of a new understanding of animal communication.”  Thank you Wesley, for teaching me too.

For anyone who believes in the emotions, and soul, and intelligence of animals – you will be captivated by the exploits of Wesley the Owl.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .            

The Girl on the Train Takes You For a Ride

The Girl On The Train

By Paula Hawkins

As the girl rides the daily commuter train to London, she stares out her window at rows of houses lining the tracks.  She grabs little glimpses into other people’s lives.  The girl is Rachel.  Sometimes she takes what she sees at face value, and sometimes she makes up her own fantasies and stories about what she sees.   But then, on a day that seems so much like every other day, she suddenly glimpses something shocking out the window.  Now everything has changed.  Whether it’s Rachel’s curiosity or her heroics, something compels her to get off that train and climb aboard a very dangerous ride.  Rachel is carrying her own grim baggage, wrestling with her own personal problems as the book proceeds with her involvement in a dark, mystery along the train tracks.

The author has written this book with Rachel as the primary narrator, but interspersed are chapters written with different narrating characters.  As events transpire you’ll read from these different perspectives, and you’re subject to the different character’s motivations, personalities, manipulations and weaknesses.  Some of these characters drove me wild with frustration, others touched my heart, and others intrigued me.  With this powerfully descriptive writing, they each elicited a strong response in me.  It’s up to the reader to decide who is really what they seem, and who is not, and whether you’re seeing the events described accurately?  As a reader, who can you trust?

Paula Hawkins has written a slow-building suspense mystery.  It’s like a train that starts with a jolt, slowly builds up speed, and then in the end is propelled forward to its ultimate destination.  In this case, the rider/reader will find the novel’s final ending an unannounced surprise.  The author said in an interview, “I know people like to read about serial killers and spies, but most of us will never encounter these things.  Sadly, most of the threats we encounter are at home.”  This mystery features themes of domestic violence and alcohol and drug abuse.  It asks the slippery question of whether people can ever truly know their spouses or themselves.  The author describes what makes a psychological mystery more complex than the average thriller, “the atmosphere of menace that infects the everyday.”

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

An Object of Beauty is a Joy to Read

An Object of Beauty

By Steve Martin

This smart novel is a look at the art world during the 1990’s and into the beginning of this century.  It’s a study of art collecting of that time, as well as a study of the personalities running that art world.  The narrator is a friend and admirer of the protagonist, Lacey Yeager.  She is an ambitious young woman unleashed upon the glamorous art world at the age of twenty-three with big dreams, and lots of energy.

She feels fortunate to land a behind-the-scenes job at Sotheby’s where she learns a lot.  She finds out that the employees don’t make much money, and she struggles.  She observes behind the scenes, and uses her growing knowledge to climb a social and career ladder within the art world.  Following her life choices, as described by the narrator, is intriguing.  Some choices are surprisingly ruthless and others are stunning.  Her adventures, investments, and self-made allure clearly make her an object of beauty for many who are smitten with her notorious charms.

The author’s writing is clever, at times elegant, and full of wit.  His novel is rich with descriptions that make you feel you know the people and the world they inhabit.  Both Lacey Yeager, and her narrator are unforgettable characters.  The action in the book often turns on the author’s well-chosen twist of a word or phrase.  Sprinkled throughout the book you’re treated to twenty-two color art reproductions of the art of the time that the characters refer to at auction or at sale.  As you read on you realize how very knowledgeable Steve Martin, a long time collector, is about the art world.

You’re pulled into the “market” yourself to think about - what is truly art and creativity?  What would you chase after to buy?  The 1990’s was an interesting time in the world of art.  Descriptions of the art objects were often in depth and contained interesting information about the artists and the pieces.  And then sometimes the characters reveal a very human, emotional connection to a piece that resounds as true – “I like it when the moonlight is reflected on the water.”

You’ll be fascinated by the intimate, insightful descriptions of the art, and the people handling it, and the buyers chasing it.  You’ll be surprised to find where Lacey’s career choices lead her, and her friend the narrator.  And in the end you’ll realize John Keats was right about a true thing of beauty -

“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”              John Keats

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Hit the Road in Travels with Charlize

Travels with Charlize

By David R. Gross

You’ll enjoy traveling with Charlize around the western United States.  Charlize is a lovely German shepherd rescue dog who’s all personality from the tip of her tail to the tip of her wet nose.  The author adopts Charlize after he’s lost the love of his life to cancer, his wife of almost 53 years Rosalie.

The author hit the road on a journey to find what there is left in life for him, seeking what to do with the rest of his years.  He was in search of living alone, supported by man’s best friend at his side.  It’s been said that “the world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”  Charlize is an enthusiastic friend, an excellent listener, great at fetch, and has an innate sense to comfort when it’s needed most.  A reader is reminded of John Steinbeck’s book Travels With Charley.  As John Steinbeck said, “a sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.”  Travels with Charlize is good medicine for a sad soul.

This book is a compilation of David Gross’ blogs, which makes it such a personal way to unfold his story.  The man and his dog began on their first of several journeys, from Washington State to California at the beginning of the book.  They’re off to visit family and friends towing a camping trailer nicknamed “Frog,” pulled by “Old Blue” a Dodge Ram truck.  That’s certainly a new life for a Veterinarian who also taught and did research in cardiovascular physiology for more than thirty years.

The author’s descriptive passages are entrancing and especially poignant when they include his nostalgic memories.  He compares today’s destinations with his memories of those places during boyhood and as a young man.  As a reader you’ll be surprised when the author reveals what big, visible changes time has brought.  Although their journeys are quite different, there are interesting parallels with John Steinbeck’s book, including each author’s insights into the America they see.  At one point John Steinbeck said, “I wonder why progress looks so much like destruction.”

 Like Steinbeck, our author also finds much beauty to marvel at along the way, and wonderful people.  Charlize turns out to be a natural friend maker and a magnet for attention.  Charlize is also a bit of a daredevil, at one point curiosity leading her onto the verge of unstable cliffs for a better look.  The book is dotted throughout with wonderful pictures of Charlize and of trip highlights.

None of us know what life holds around the corner.  When you have no map, and your GPS isn’t working, you’re fortunate in life if you have a loving, compassionate companion by your side.  This heartwarming tale shows one man’s search to find his way, with his tail wagging friend.

Thereby hangs a tail and a tale . . . .

The Whistling Season Tribute

The Whistling Season

By Ivan Doig

The first book I ever read by Ivan Doig was The Whistling Season.  This Big Sky author has left behind a lifetime’s work of compassionately written stories about the West and especially Montana for readers to continue to treasure.  A life well lived, and now the sorrow of his passing hits so many.

He’s an icon in the literature of the American West.  But, on his website Ivan Doig repudiated the regional inference: "I don't think of myself as a 'Western' writer. To me, language — the substance on the page, that poetry under the prose — is the ultimate 'region,' the true home, for a writer."  That poetry under prose is one of the unique aspects that frame his stories.  Rhythm, word choice, lyrical intent are the elements of his writing which comes across with a fresh, natural openness.

The Whistling Season is a charming tale of love and loss, truth and lies, and education—conventional and otherwise.  It is, like most of his books, set in rural Montana.  The narrator, Paul Milliron, is looking back almost 50 years, from the vista of 1957, back to when he was a boy.

From an interview with Ivan Doig on this novel he said, “My secret is out, sort of, kind of. Maybe more than any other character or, at least any other narrator who I have ever created, Paul has a few of my mental fingerprints. He loves language, even Latin—which I took in high school. He’s an inveterate reader of books. He eavesdrops with his eyes. He admits to a bit of a pedantic streak. He’s his own person, though.”

The Whistling Season presents Paul Milliron’s passion for isolated public schools that infuse vitality into their communities.  He narrates a loving portrait of this one-room schoolhouse.  In 1957 he’s a man at the end of a career as overseer of Montana schools.  In the era of Sputnik and modernization, he has been charged with announcing the mandated closing of the state's remaining one-room schoolhouses.

The novel’s main plot is straightforward and honest.  In 1909 Oliver Milliron, a recently widowed father of three boys, answers a newspaper ad from a widow in Minneapolis seeking employment: "Can't Cook But Doesn't Bite."   Oliver, a plain man with a love of language can't resist.  When Rose Llewellyn's train arrives, he discovers more than he bargained for; she’s brought her brother Morris.

Rose is feisty, willful and charming.  She takes over housekeeping duties, whistling all the while.  Morris, due to the sudden elopement of the one teacher, is appointed to the post.  Home life, and lessons in the classic one-room schoolhouse, continue but now changed by these spirited eccentrics.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Advice on the Game of Life from Pete Carroll

Treat yourself to the audio book on this one, it’s read by the coach himself.  You’ll experience the full advantages of hearing the charisma and sincerity of an enthusiastic professional coach.  I can see what’s really motivating his players.  Yes, Pete Carroll has developed a very successful coaching philosophy that he’s applied to college and to NFL football teams.  The big surprise is that you can also personalize this philosophy for your life.  “Twelves” and football fans will relish the anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book about specific players who are currently in the NFL.  Football fans will also enjoy learning strategies applied by teams and different coaches.  All readers will appreciate the development of a positive philosophy that they too can apply to their lives.

This book was written when Pete Carroll was on the verge of coaching in Seattle.  Besides a philosophy for self-help, this book is also a memoir.  It includes stories of his childhood and formative years in Northern California, and you can see what has shaped his coaching and how his unique philosophy developed organically from his first hand experience, and from the experience of others.  Big influences were UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, and also Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  But in this book you won’t just be learning about it, you’ll have a coach persuading you to buy in.

Winning forever is much more than winning next Sunday’s game. It’s about competing, maximizing your abilities and making the most of the opportunities in front of you, so that each player can become the best he can be, and each team can achieve its fullest potential.  “Of course we want to win every game, but winning forever is more about realizing your potential and making yourself as good as you can be,” says Carroll. “Realizing that is a tremendous accomplishment, whether it’s in football or in life.”  Does that appeal to you personally?  Does that appeal to your family as a team?  Or does it appeal to your group at work?  Or does it appeal to your volunteer organization?  How can you apply this to your life?

Winning forever is about competing to get the most out of every single opportunity – have you ever heard that life is not a dress rehearsal?  This coach is encouraging you to demand of yourself day-in and day-out dedication to achieving your fullest potential.

The coach also has a touching section of the book where he talks about his commitment to giving back to the community.  He encourages giving back what you can.  He describes efforts with youth in Los Angeles to try and get them to see a different vision for their future.  What you see is what you get, and changing the vision along with their hard work will open opportunities.  Pete Carroll does not advocate easy, he advocates hope, giving your best effort, and winning forever.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

A Glimpse Into North Korean Life

The Orphan Master’s Son

By Adam Johnson

This novel is about families living in North Korea under the dictatorship of “the Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il.  At points it’s a brutal story, and there were times I wanted to stop reading, but I just couldn’t put it down.  This novel will move you through a range of emotions as it reveals human nature at extraordinary and at terrifying moments. I think I had to keep reading as I searched for hope.

This author gives a skilled portrayal of his protagonist Jun Do, an everyman citizen of the dangerous Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).   The novel’s appeal is how well it reflects the debilitating effects of repression on everyday people.  The author said that he wanted to write about “how the tenets of totalitarianism eat away at the things that make us human: freedom, art, choice, identity, expression, love.”

A primary theme is people struggling to stand and maintain an individual identity against the relentless tide of state propaganda.  This is especially a struggle for Jun Do who is labeled an orphan.  Another theme is how people share loving relationships, when in North Korea your first loyalty and love is demanded to the state.  Priority is rigidly ordered: regime first, family second.  The author asks, “Despite dangers, can lovers share their intimate thoughts” when there is the ominous fear of betrayal to the state.

The novel is in two parts.  The first is the biography of Jun Do, and the second is the confessions of Commander Ga.  It’s a shocking twist how these two parts tie together.  Throughout the book there is a rising tension between America and North Korea.  An interesting progression of seemingly unrelated life events thrust Jun Do unexpectedly into an increasing role on this world stage.

Jun Do’s journey begins as a citizen who does what he’s told, and when he’s told, no matter the ethics, and without question.  His exposure to foreign broadcasts, and life encounters bring him to crossroads that conflict with his society.  The reader gets glimpses into the lives of a variety of characters through Jun Do including: a fishing boat captain, the first mate, a newlywed wife, prison inmates, state propaganda movie actress, army commanders, and the self-censorship and paranoia of an interrogator and his family.  Finally you also meet the Dear Leader himself.

The story is obviously a work of love by the author, who is well qualified to write on the topic.  As he described, “so much research was done to build the story including extensive interviews of Korean orphans, defectors, and revelations of prisoners’ stories.  The Pyongyang’s Workers’ Party newspaper was the source for much of the propaganda that is prominent in the book.”  In 2007 Adam Johnson was allowed by North Korea to take a strictly guided tour of Pyongyang.

I wished for the resilient, inquisitive Jun Do to feel the freedom of his own sense of purpose.  This is fiction, based on extensive research, but as the author said, “the reality is that we’ll know the true way to write a novel set in North Korea when North Korean novelists become free to tell their own stories.  I hope that day comes soon.”

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

Visit City of Illusions

City of Illusions

By Judith Works

There’s no place like Rome.  With its abundant architectural and artistic riches, Rome celebrates more than 2,500 years of history.  Judith Works’ City of Illusions has given me an exciting taste of contemporary Rome, with its historical backdrop and with its shadows of intrigue.  Et tu Brute?  This novel is an exotic work of fiction that transported me inside a beautiful culture, and a troubled marriage.  Will our heroine excavate love from among Roman ruins?

Rome was not built in a day.  Great things, great places, and great marriages are not achieved without effort and patience.  Something that looks so good on the surface you realize can be deceptive as you delve into its layers.  As the story progresses, Judith skillfully peels back those layers in each of her characters, revealing their motivations and dramas.  From the start, I’m interested in the stormy relationship shown between Laura and her husband Jake.  Just like the characters, I found myself fervently hoping that a change of scene could be arranged, and could be the way to a happily-ever-after.  And Rome is full of surprises.

This author beautifully paints the story, to match the incredible cover art on the book.  I really appreciate how generous Judith is with her description of Rome and the characters’ surroundings.  Along with the famous sites, the reader is treated to a view into the Roman culture that only expats experience.  It includes every day conversations with residents, visits in their homes, and descriptions of the wonderful meals.  That’s right, not just the food, eating is presented as a cultural event.  We also get a taste of the language scattered throughout the book in little phrases and descriptions, which is really fun.  Try reading those out loud.  It’s fascinating following our characters through their daily routines, and even more so following them as they stray from their daily routines.

Judith is the right author to imagine a novel like The City of Illusions.  She interrupted her life in process to temporarily work at the United Nations office in Rome and live there as an expat.  Her love for Rome and Italy shines through every page, and translates into a wonderful stage for this novel of adventure and intrigue.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

2015 Resolution Living a Beautiful Life

Living a Beautiful Life

By Alexandra Stoddard

As I attempt to fulfill my new year’s resolutions, I’ve discovered this book that goes beyond a resolution check list and reminds that living a beautiful life is in the daily details.  Alexandra Stoddard suggests simple ways to easily and inexpensively enhance your quality of life.

The foreword points out that many people save up to 95 percent of their money and effort to spend on 5 percent of their lives during special occasions.  Instead consider that a beautiful life is making the daily 95 percent of your life wonderful.  This can easily be done in so many small ways, if we just make a conscious effort.  Beauty encourages us; it gives us the joy and energy to care more and not to settle for less.  The key is that the beautiful details that you design bring meaning and joy especially for you.

I’m surprised at how little it takes to bring a moment of joy, and how many moments of joy can make up a day.  Beyond reducing clutter that surrounds you and causes stress, this book gives specific examples of easy ways of creating something special out of the ordinary.  You don’t have to be an artist to include artistic touches in your life.  This book spans the areas and time we spend most of our lives: the kitchen, the bedroom, and the bath.  The author also has suggestions about creating a beautiful life with others - family and friends.  Not all the suggestions will speak to you, but many will.  Some of the specifics are outdated; this book’s first edition was in 1986.  It’s surprising how most of the suggestions are timeless though, and the book is filled with so many creative thoughts that it will get you thinking of your own new ideas, that will appeal to you.  There is even space after each chapter for your own notes.

Alexandra Stoddard is a philosopher, author, and interior designer.  She is the author of many books with a similar supportive and encouraging tone offering practical advice, and everyday philosophies on enhancing life. 

Alexandra Stoddard’s unique insights reveal the small but significant things that we can do to change our attitude, heart and environment for the better.  Her books contain a positive personal philosophy of ways to live a beautiful and happy life, laced with grace and wit. She also writes about ritualizing parts of every day, raising public awareness to the importance of little celebrations and ceremonies at home. Her goal is to elevate our daily lives into an art form: we can all live beautifully, moment to moment.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .