Book #5/2019 American Politics: A Beginner's Guide

American Politics: A Beginner's Guide by Jon Roper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent introduction to American politics for anyone who wants to know more about government and politics in the USA. Jon Roper is Professor of American Studies at the University of Swansea, UK and has formerly held positions at the University of Tennessee, the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State University. He takes us on a journey starting with the founding fathers in 1620, explores the founding principles enshrined in the United States Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He provides a sharp analysis of how history, religion and ideology have forged the way America governs itself. He discusses state politics, the original thirteen colonies on the Atlantic seaboard, the creation of the federal government, the Tea Party movement, American foreign policy - isolationism verses internationalism - and the power of lobby groups.

This is an engaging guide for anyone including readers in the United States.

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Book #4/2019 The Horseman

The Horseman by Tim Pears
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A list of some twenty-eight characters at the beginning of the book is somewhat confounding. It is necessary to get your head around these from the start, otherwise confusion will spoil your enjoyment of this gentle, pastoral novel set in Devon in 1911/1912. Composed as a calendar through the months and seasons and following the daily, hardworking lives of the Sercombe family: Albert Sercombe, a ploughman, Ruth, his wife, Fred, Sidney and Leopold (Leo), the three sons and Kizzie, their daughter. These are the central characters - in particular the twelve year old Leo - along with Arthur, Lord Prideaux, owner of the estate and Charlotte (Lottie), his only child.

A bucolic blend of Flora Thompson, Laurie Lee and Thomas Hardy, sprinkled with countryside words and events through the seasons: how to groom a Shire horse, how to plough a field, how to slaughter and butcher a pig (in graphic detail), the harvest cycle of collecting, stack-building and threshing. It's all here in forensic detail. One wonders - where is this going? Is there a plot?

Remember Leo and Lottie? Working class, humble lad and privileged daughter of landed gentry. Leo loves horses. His mind is set on working with them, one day. Lottie is at first antagonistic towards him, but at the same time intrigued by this quiet lad. They share a love of all things equine. It will take them on a journey through their age of innocence to a simple act, misinterpreted, that leads to devastating consequences. The last ten minutes of this beautiful story left me stunned...

My thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this ebook.

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Book #3/2019 Barack Obama: Quotable Wisdom

Barack Obama: Quotable Wisdom by Carol Kelly-Gangi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Passages selected from Barack Obama's speeches, interviews, essays, books, social media posts and other writings over the past twenty years. Arranged thematically the selections reveal his thoughts and feelings and even the occasional joke - about the many issues he faced during his two terms as president:
- universal healthcare
- same-sex marriage equality
- racial equality
- the threat of terrorism
to name a few

These extracts reveal a great intellect, dynamic leadership style and steadfast determination.

Edited by Carol Kelly-Gangi.




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Book #2/2019 Becoming

Becoming by Michelle Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How can I do justice in a review of this remarkable book? This huge tapestry spread over 430 large pages of small print. The story of this iconic American woman, her story, beautifully composed - full of love, hope, endeavour and achievement. An intimate, powerful and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of The United States.

From the South Side of Chicago, where she and her brother Craig shared a bedroom; where her parents Fraser and Marian Robinson raised her to be outspoken and unafraid and from whom she learned the importance of education. Michelle graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School and started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley and Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She recounts the struggle to balance her work and family with her husband's fast-moving political career, nurturing her daughters Malia and Sasha, gives a behind-the-scenes account of her family's history-making launch into the global limelight and life inside the White House, with some wonderful anecdotes about meeting our Queen Elizabeth. This alone endeared me to her.

Michelle Obama tells her story with honesty and boldness and has my unbounded admiration. I recommend Becoming without reservation.

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New Year Makeover

I just thought that it was about time that I gave my blog a fresh look. So, here it is. I might try adding some posts that have nothing to do with books, although it should be evident that I spend a lot of time reading! I also enjoy playing my Gibson Studio acoustic guitar, for personal enjoyment only I might add. Happy New Year to all my readers - feel free to comment....

Book #1/2019 The Secret of Nightingale Wood

The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful debut novel aimed at readers from age nine to the typical septuagenarian, like me - a big kid at heart! Set in 1919, a pitch perfect, hauntingly beautiful story that is quite frightening at times (young readers beware!). Henrietta is twelve years old (known as Henry), her family has moved from London to Hope House, a place full of strange secrets, a forgotten attic and ghostly figures.

Her Mama is ill and kept in her room behind a locked door (doctor's orders), her father has taken a job abroad and Nanny Jane is too busy to pay any attention to Henry and the things she sees - like her dead brother. Henry is also very concerned about the welfare of her baby sister, Roberta - known affectionately as Piglet.

All alone, at night Henrietta sees mysterious firelight that flitters in the trees beyond the garden - Nightingale Wood. When she ventures into the darkness of the wood, what she finds there will change her whole world...

There is that character you will love to hate as well. I wanted to climb into the pages of the book at times - and punch him on the nose! That's right - Dr. Hardy!

I loved this book - even though it is aimed at a young readership. It doesn't really matter how young or old you are, this is a beautifully told story.

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Book #69 The A.B.C. Murders

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I first read The A.B.C. Murders back in the 70s. Last week I watched the BBC TV adaptation starring John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot - Poirot, but not as you know him! I had to read the book again just to confirm what a travesty the BBC airing was! The book for the most part is narrated by Poirot's old friend Captain Arthur Hastings, O.B.E. who has returned in June 1935 from his ranch in South America to see to various affairs at home. He looks up his old friend who is now retired but still practiced his profession on occasion. The BBC for reasons best known to themselves completely omit Hastings from the cast list! DCI Japp figures prominently in Poirot's previous investigations and he plays his usual rôle in the book - BBC have him retired and bump him off with a heart attack in the first scene... And Malkovich? Well - he is not David Suchet!

Despite all of this, reading the book again so soon after the TV show was very rewarding. It did not spoil my enjoyment in the slightest. I won't go into the details of the plot as I am sure most of you will be familiar with it. The book really is Agatha Christie at her best. And those little grey cells? Don't get a mention on the BBC!





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