Angell, Roger, Let Me Finish, Harcourt, 2006.
It should be no surprise to someone who read the January list that I liked this entire book of essays. Insightful, sad, funny and just plain interesting, Angell’s essays are oddly comforting, especially for someone aware of aging and the passage of time. Recommended.
Block, Lawrence, “Keller the Dogkiller,” Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, May, 2008.
I love all the Keller stories, but this one in particular is quite powerful.
I’ve done a lot of reading on the Nuremberg trials, and I have always wondered if the Thomas Dodd who prosecuted the Nazi war criminals was related to Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticutt. Obviously, he was. This book, comprised of Dodd senior’s letters, will probably appeal to World War Two buffs more than anyone, but it does have some surprises. First, it was President Bush’s betrayal of rights that Thomas Dodd sacrificed a year of his life for that caused Christopher Dodd to run for president. The press never mentioned that in its “narrative” of Dodd’s campaign. Probably because most media-based reporters are ignorant of American history and don’t understand the significance of the younger Dodd’s action. The second surprise is my favorite, however. The elder Dodd wrote these letters to his wife, and the love story contained in them is just beautiful. If only everyone could have a love like that at least once.
Jones, Chris, Too Far From Home, Doubleday, 2007.
A fascinating look at the astronauts stranded on the International Space Station after the Challenger explosion in 2003. Well written, suspenseful—it reads like an excellent science fiction novel, except that it’s true.
King, Stephen, Duma Key, Scribners, 2008.
King keeps getting better and better. This powerful novel is about art and family and so many other things. Riveting and heartbreaking, it’s a do-not-miss.