Category Archives: 2023 Fiction

This is yet another book about Trump’s fiasco of a presidency (I’m fascinated for some reason but I need breaks between books.)    The difference here is that it’s by a solid Republican who is interested in the strategy.   … Continue reading →

Thanks to reading Snap by Belinda Bauer  (because it was on the recently released Man Booker Long List for 2018) I thought I’d look into other books by her – she has several priors.    One looked interesting and I … Continue reading →

I read (and listened to) this last night –  it’s a  very short  but excellent  warning about where the West is headed internationally if we don’t change our ways.  Most of it is about what the West should be doing … Continue reading →

This is just to take a break from thinking –  it’s a historical mystery,  first of a series,  and rather fun.   It takes place in western China,  on the eastern edge of Tibet,  in 1708.   An exiled traveler … Continue reading →

Well I was right. By the time the discussion of this book came along I’d forgot much of it and needed to read it again.  This is my own fault,  last month was so rich in good reading I was … Continue reading →

This is,  in my opinion,  the clearest and most comprehensive book on the background to the current state of affairs in the ongoing confusion regarding Russian interference in US election 2016 –  at least that I have read so far. … Continue reading →

I read this for the 4-Mystery Addicts reading group – I’m trying to alternate between fiction and nonfiction right now because reading too much about the unfolding current events gets quite draining even though I’m fascinated. ******* A Rising Man … Continue reading →

Fascinating – amazing –  book – I mean REALLY!   It’s kind of philosophically heavy but … and needs careful reading,  but it’s definitely worth it.  (I had to read many sentences and paragraphs at least twice.)   I both … Continue reading →

And this is a new (7/crime novel which caught my eye due to a glowing review and interesting description somewhere.    I need breaks from the grim nonfiction and news these days and this does it for me – and … Continue reading →

David Reich is an important scientist in the area of  ancient DNA research,  that is,  extracting and analyzing the components of the genome and its parts for information as to where it evolved and developed.  The ancient part includes analyzing … Continue reading →

The Man Booker Prize long list 2018 was published a couple days ago and there were a couple I’d read and 2 of the 13 listed (Warlight by Michael Ondaatje and The Overstory by Richard Powers -links to  my reviews).   … Continue reading →

Good, good book –  *IF*  – you’re interested in how deconstruction and other literary ideas back to Borges et al,  as well as the great propaganda machines of 20th century dictatorships as well as technology have contributed to the trouble … Continue reading →

This is the book which kinda-sorta in a way  predicted the current Russia election scandal – without specifics but with heavy duty big issues.   It’s political fiction and a thriller to boot in addition to having been published two months … Continue reading →

This is a marvelous book IF  you are interested in the Bolshevik Revolution and what happened BETWEEN February and October of 1917. This was written in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution –  October 25, 1917,  this … Continue reading →

I grabbed it when I saw it as an Audible Daily Deal not noticing it was an abridged version –  eeks!   But, oh well …   it was very cheap and made a nice break while reading China Mieville’s … Continue reading →

Nominated by me to read in the Cafe Deletterati reading group –  I was hoping I enjoyed this Ondaatje as much as I’ve enjoyed his priors (that I’ve read) and also kind of in honor of his winning the Golden … Continue reading →

The Cafe de Letterati  chose this book as it’s July 15th read-  I’ve read it before but it’s been a long time and I remember liking it quite a lot.  Published in 1980 –  I think I read it in the … Continue reading →