Author Archives: beckylindroos

The Idea of Israel: A Study in Power and Knowledge by Ilan Pappé 2014 / 313 pages (Kindle) rating: 9 – historiography/memoir (!) This is an amazing book!   I decided to read it as an antidote to My Promised Land and it … Continue reading →

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of IsraelAri Shavit2013 / 464 pagesrating – ?   – memoir/history Later:  Considering the title, I took this book to be a memoir, not a history or official anything. I took it to … Continue reading →

No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA and U.S. Surveillance State by Glenn Greenwald May 2014 / 288 pages rating  8 / current events The first two chapters are riveting. Chapter 3 is jam-crammed full of very specific information … Continue reading →

Troubles by J. G. Farrell 1970 / 480 pages rating 10 / hist fiction Farrell is an under-appreciated genius in my opinion, and it’s especially apparent in this sad yet humorous award-winning novel about the time of “Troubles” in Ireland circa 1919-1921 … Continue reading →

Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty 2014 / 696 pages rating 10 (yes) / non-fiction – economics So what’s up with this new and very hot-selling economics book, “Capital in the 21st Century” by Thomas Piketty? Published in … Continue reading →

A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage 2005 / 311 pages rating 9 – history Standage is not an historian but rather he calls himself a journalist and author. He specializes in comparing historical events and … Continue reading →

Candide by Voltaire 1759/ 100 or so pages rating 10 / classic-satire The entire basis for this book is that a young man named Candide is taught by his Professor Pangloss that “this life is the best of all possible … Continue reading →

Seeking Enlightenment … Hat by Hat: A Skeptic’s Guide to Religion by Nevada Barr 2003 / 223 pages Rating: 9 / spirituality, essays This is a collection of essays dealing with the author’s ongoing path toward and life since enlightenment, … Continue reading →

The Art of War by Sun Tzu 2nd to 4th century BC (probably last revision) very short – less than 50 pages rating  10 (I guess)  – classic non-fiction, military strategy,  maybe theory translated by Lionel Giles – Interesting book, for … Continue reading →

The Ladies’ Paradise by Emile Zola 1883/ 480 pages rating 9.5  classic – French (Introduction, Notes and translation by Brian Nelson) Zola knew what he was talking about when he wrote page after page of busy and boisterous narrative about a … Continue reading →

The People on Privilege Hill by Jane Gardham 2008 (Europa)/ 196 pages rating 8 / short stories First,  only the eponymous first story in this book is related to the Old Filth trilogy.  Many of the other stories have been published elsewhere … Continue reading →

Last Friends by Jane Gardham 2013 / 213 pages rating 8.5 / contemp fiction (9.25 for the trilogy) I  have just needed to read this book ever since it came out.  I loved the prior two in the “Old Filth” … Continue reading →

The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri 2013/ 354 pages rating:  8.75 / contemp – India This looked and felt like promising from the end of the very short first chapter where it says: Certain creatures laid eggs that were able to endure … Continue reading →

Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quinlan 2014/272 pages rating 5 / romance This is a pretty “fluffy” type book for me to read, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be … otoh, it’s a … Continue reading →

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates 1961 / 355 pages rating – 8 (probably a 10 in 1961) – classic I guess this is a classic now as it’s older than 50 years – I used to say a classic was … Continue reading →

Ragtime E.L. Doctorow 1975 / 336 pages rating – 10 / classic (?) Back in 1975 this was a genre changing book and I think historical fiction was never quite the same again.  I read it when it was newly released … Continue reading →

May We Be Forgiven by A.M.Holmes 2012/ 496 pages rating 8 / contemp fiction   This  really strange (kinda bizarro) and twisty tale opens on Thanksgiving of probably “last year” when the not so All-American Silver family  attempts a traditional feast. … Continue reading →