Let the Great World Spin - 5/5 stars
Incredible book. The story was terrific, but the descriptiveness and pace of the language is what really set this book apart for me. The book weaves through time and place and the storylines intertwine in surprising and entertaining ways. Will read more books by Colum McCann.
This Boys Life - Tobias Wolff - 3/5 stars
Enjoyable, though very frequently depressing. There is nothing particularly revolutionary or amazing about this book, it just progresses through the narrator's life as he and his mother try to do just that; live. And it isn't easy. Mostly because of men.
You can't help but find yourself slipping into the story and into the financial and social conditions that make it really hard to just "fix it."
As the title implies, this is a story about life and its ups and downs. No matter how desolate the circumstances seem, there always seem to be these small, short, moments of happiness and contentment for the son and mother, and you feel like these are well-deserved. Good to note for one's own life.
The Fifth Risk - Michael Lewis - 4/5 stars
This book was impressively readable and well-paced given the subjects matter - "Let me describe to you the most inner workings of the gargantuan US government machine". He brings the machine to live through the stories of a few dozen people, explaining the passion and optimism that brought them into public service, and then slapping down any accumulated reader optimism by describing the way in which the Trump administration is handling these people and roles. Fire the people, and then either don't fill the roles and allow the government functions to fall into disrepair. Or worse, replace them with people who actively dismantle, dis-empower, or privatize elements of these government functions for personal gain to themselves or powerful interests.
After reading this book, I feel slightly worse about the overall negative impact that the Trump administration will have on the world and its people, and I feel more positive about Obama and the culture of curiosity, excellence, and public service that he built and strengthened during his tenure as president.
Red Notice - Bill Browder - 5/5 stars
Great book. Browder profiles the rampant dysfunction within the Russian financial system and government, and gives the full story behind the Magnitsky Act. You may have heard about this in the news. This is what Trump is actually talking about any time he says that his administration is talking with Russia about adoption.
Browder is a vivid and animated story-teller throughout, and I found plenty of times where dinner, or the kids, forced me to stop reading and I kept thinking about how the current plot point was going to resolve itself.
Red Notice also provides an uncomfortable view into how American politics get done, using some compelling tales of both political courage and cowardice. It isn't pretty, but it is a hell of a lot prettier than the way these issues are handled in Russia.
Browder makes the transition from being singularly focused on making money, to being singularly focused on bringing visibility and consequences to human rights abuses. You can't help but think what the world would be like if more people made this same transition.
Throughout the book, I was continually reminded of my high school Russian History teacher telling us stories about his time in Russia, or history from way back, and explaining, "only in Russia".
If you haven't read it, read it.
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