It's book report time and once again I'm separating the fiction from the non-fiction. In all, this past year, I read 45 books, 32 non-fiction and 13 fiction (plus 10 casual re-reads). Here is the best of the non-fiction in alphabetical order by author.
1. Rinker Buck, The Oregon Trail, A New American Journey. Splendid recounting of the author's 2011 trip with mule-team and covered wagon along the Oregon Trail. He ran into great hospitality from ranchers and farmers as well as some very dicey moments when he either couldn't find the trail or found himself in dangerous navigating situations. (And that after months of preparation, trail checking, and study.) In his early 60s, he and his brother went together. Lots of good history, a good feel for the landscape, and good writing. And the mules, each with his/her own personality, add a lot to the charm of the book.
2. Susan Cain, Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. At least a third of the population are introverts ... who have been led to believe that they are somehow lesser people for not being outgoing, exuberant and for not particularly wanting to party, preferring to stay home, read, think about things, and let the mind work on answering questions and coming up with new creative ventures. And introverts, it seems, do better than extroverts in reaching solutions that are wiser and better suited to the problem. Group Think is NOT for introverts. Well written, lots of good research. A helpful read for those who are cerebral, sensitive, contemplative.
3. Anthony Doerr, Four Seasons in Rome, On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World. Engaging chronicle of a year in Rome as a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Letters with his wife and new baby boy twins. The year is 2005--when Pope John Paul II died.
4. Alexandra Fuller, Leaving Before the Rains Come. Detailed account of her life growing up in southern Africa, her marriage to an American, and her life in the U.S. with the realization that she grew up with parents and circumstances that required constant vigilance, occasional tragedy, and the expectation of disaster at any time. Introspective, wise, with an undercurrent of both that expected tragedy coupled with her humor. When she met him, she expected her husband to rescue her. In the end, she rescued him.
5. Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. I loved this inspirational little book with its step-by-step description of cleaning up your stuff which then totally changes your life by engaging in this art of restoring balance not only to your possessions but also to your outlook. Only keep those things which bring you joy. Charming (and useful) from beginning to end.
6. Don Messerschmidt, Fr Moran of Kathmandu. This was a sentimental choice as it brought back the old days in Kathmandu and two people--the author and Fr. Moran--who were part of that scene. Father Marshall Moran, an American Jesuit priest who lived from 1906-1992, became one of Nepal's very first foreign residents and established the Godavari School that thrived. He used to motorcycle around Kathmandu in his priestly garb, scarf, and beret. He was a friend to all--king and parents alike--a man with enormous energy, organization, and imagination. He was also a ham radio operator who helped people in trouble no matter whether they were in the Antarctic or on top of Everest. A splendid telling, fully researched by an ex-Peace Corps Volunteer who was a friend of his.
7. Mary Norris, Between You and Me, Confessions of a Comma Queen. Who would have thought a book about copy editing would be so much fun. The author has been copy editing The New Yorker for years and has some witty reminiscences about good old punctuation. (In the little slip for readers' comments the library sticks in each book, the reader before me wrote: "Excellent. Fun read." I agree.) As for the title, the author calls the current usage of "between you and I" (and similar phrases such as "Please contact Vicki or I") as being "one of the most barbaric habits in contemporary usage." So she gave her book that title to let people know, yes, "me" is, in fact, the proper word to use.
8. James Rebanks, The Shepherd's Life, Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape. A modern-day shepherd, living in England's Lake District, fully describes this way of life--an older kind of farming than exists across much of the world. Though one is often admonished to "do something better than one's forebears," the author feels privileged to follow its traditions. Interesting aside about Beatrix Potter's part in helping start this region's early conservation movement--she a sheep-herder, herself.
9. Stuart Stevens, Malaria Dreams, An African Adventure. The author and a companion drove by car from the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Mali to Algiers, always at the mercy of heat, ants, people who were both extremely helpful as well as extremely opportunistic. Car troubles, not having the right papers, needing diesel fuel and water all contributed to a harrowing trip, usually under terrible conditions such as driving on sand on now-dry Lake Chad with no road.
10. Abigail Thomas, A Three Dog Life. Wonderful. Her life after her husband's accident which leaves him institutionalized with a serious brain injury as she builds a new life with her three dogs. A strong compassionate voice, beautiful writing. Definitely not a downer.
(Fiction is next week.)
No comments:
Post a Comment