July 31

The Titled Americans: Three American Sisters and the British Aristocratic World into which They Married (2004)
By Elizabeth Kehoe

As a tour guide at the Newport Mansions, I had a fascination with the era of the "dollar princesses", those wealthy American heiresses who married penniless English aristocrats, virtually trading their fathers' money for a title.  The most famous Newport "princess" was Consuelo Vanderbilt, the beautiful daughter of William K and Alva Vanderbilt of Marble House.  Consuelo married (against her wishes) the 9th Duke of Marlborough in 1996; the duke would received $2.5M annually from Mr Vanderbilt and Consuelo would became Duchess of Marlborough.  Elizabeth Kehoe's book tells the story of some of the early dollar princesses.

This is the fascinating story of the three daughters of Leonard and Clara Jerome.  Shunned by New York's elite as "new money", Mrs Jerome takes her daughters to Paris, then (following the fall of the 2nd Empire), to London where the beautiful Jennie ends up marrying Lord Randolph Churchill (1874), Clara marries Moreton Frewen (1881, known colloquially as "Mortal Ruin"), and Leonie marries Baronet Jack Leslie (1884).   Although none of the husbands were wealthy, the wives had high standards for their children and many (e.g., Shane Leslie and Clare Sheridan, not to mention Winston Churchill) were quite successful.  Jennie and Leonie were especially good writers and their family letters are remarkable.  They mingled with royalty and society, and this triple biography is a fascinating window into a bygone era.

July 30

The Wright Brothers (2015)

By David McCullough

Though not as detailed as other works by McCullough (maybe because it wasn't so much a biography as a documentary), this story filled in many of the gaps in our knowledge of the heroes of flight, considering that much of it is American legend.  Who knew that the first press coverage of the Wright brothers' historic first flights was reported not in the NY Times or even the Dayton Daily News but in a somewhat obscure journal entitled "Gleanings in Bee Culture"?  Or that a fashion style (the "hobble skirt") was born the day a female guest tied her skirt at the knees to prevent it blowing about in the breeze of the open airplane?

The author gives a good sense of Wilbur and Orville's efforts (unsupported by the US government or any research laboratory), their single-mindedness, and steadfastness - but also perhaps their obstinance and obsessiveness in reaching their goal of flight.  But they earned their stripes, they were the heroes of their era, and they deserve their prominent place in history.

July 29

The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Aged 37 3/4 (2005)

By Adrian Plass

Adrian starts his "diary" with the entry, "Saturday, December 14th.  Feel led to keep a diary."  Successive entries will chronicle how he is "led" to serve, even when he's not in the mood.  For example, he writes of the occasion when he and some fellow Christians feel led to go to the local laundromat to share their faith.  How relieved they are when no one shows up!  (Haven't we felt the same sense of relief when we don't have to share our faith?)  Sitting in church, his bored teenage son writes palindromes ("Madam, I'm Adam; nurses run); (And what do I do when my mind wanders during worship service?)  The fact is, Adrian represents a lot of believers (like myself) who want to be faithful to the Lord but find that, although the spirit is willing, the flesh is indeed weak.  He understands this uandary and, with facetious British good humor, helps me laugh at my weakness.  Of course the good thing is that we don't have to do anything in our own strength.  To quote from Paul's own experience in dealing with weakness, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  

July 28

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (2009)
By Jamie Ford

Set in 1940s Seattle during the backdrop of World War 2, this is sweet coming-of-age story is about prejudice, injustice, and friendship.  Like Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See (Feb 4), this story is told from the perspective of adolescents.  12-year-old Henry Lee is a Chinese student at a prep school where the white kids either ignore or bully him, until he meets Japanese student Keiko, with whom he develops an instant friendship.  Where adults sometimes fail to look beyond a person's appearance, Henry and Keiko have a bond that goes much deeper.  That relationship is interrupted, however, when Keiko's family is taken away to be held in a Japanese internment camp.  The book actually opens about 40 years after the preceding events, with Henry (now a widower) witnessing the opening of the old Panama Hotel, where a cache of displaced Japanese peoples' belongings, there since the war years, is found.  Henry is sure Keiko's old umbrella is among the treasures, and he starts to think about her, and wonder how he can best raise his own son to avoid the prejudice and mistakes of the pre-war years.

July 27

The Odyssey (Macmillan audiobook, read by Dan Stevens, 2014)
By Homer

In this classic tale, sequel to Homer's Iliad, Odysseus is making his way home to his wife and son in Ithaca, having fought theTrojan War.  But the gods conspire against him, especially the sea god Poseidon, and Odysseus faces all manner of challenges that prolong the voyage: He lands on a cyclops's island where several of his men are consumed by the monster, he navigates pat Scylla's island, where the 6-headed monster swallows up 6 of his men, and his crew is punished for killing someone's livestock and their ship is blown away and destroyed, with only Odysseus left floating on a broken mast for support.  Eventually the goddess Athena conspires to get Odysseus home, where he finds dozens of suitors, taking over his home, eating his food and wine, and fighting to see which one will get to marry the faithful and reluctant Penelope.

What impressed me upon rereading this story after about half a century were:
a) the generosity of hospitality offered to friends and strangers.  Odysseus, disguised as a beggar in rags is treated to food, lodging and a seat of honor in the great hall.  In all cases where a visitor shows up, he is not only welcomed, but shown genuine interest by his hosts, who want to know about his life and circumstances.
b) the interaction of the gods.  The Greeks see Zeus, Athena,a and the other gods as directing their lives, but they seems powerless to intervene, and instead only appear as victims.  In The Triumph of Christianity (July 1), Bart Ehrman lays out the culture into which the Christian faith grew, a kind of world in which the gods are seen as directing the affairs of men and women.
c) it's clear that the author really likes his characters.  Odysseus is almost always referred to by one of his admirable qualities, as are Penelope and Telemachus, and even the faithful shepherd.

Listening to the adventure on CDs, narrated by English actor Dan Stevens, really enlivens the story.  Dan's voice is clear and passionate; Odysseus character especially embodies strength, patience and wisdom.  This is the way to read Homer!

July 26

Circe (2018)
By Madeline Miller

Most high school students read Homer's The Odyssey, one of the oldest works in the western canon.  Classical scholar Miller has written an alternative ending to The Odyssey, fully developing the figure of the goddess Circe, who hosted Odysseus on her island on his long trip home to Ithaca.  Long before Odysseus enters the story, Circe is born to the gods Helios and Perse.  From her birth she is bullied for her raspy voice and homeliness.  When she finally meets someone (a mortal) who seems to care for her, he then meets Scylla, a beautiful nymph, and forgets about Circe.  Circe retaliates against Scylla, and the horrible repercussions torment her for the rest of her long life.  She is banished to the island of Aiaia, populated only by woodland creatures but full of herbs and flowers that she learns to use to concoct magical potions.  Over the centuries, Circe meets the occasional sea traveler who happens upon Aiaia, one of whom is Odysseus.  They develop a close relationship and Circe (unknown to Odysseus) gives birth to his son, Telegonas.  In his 16th year, Telegonas sets off for Ithaca to meet his illustrious father.  A tragedy ensues and Telegonas returns to Aiaia, bringing with him his half brother Telemachus and Penelope, Odysseus's wife.

The part of the story involving Odysseus and his family (about the last 1/3) probably requires that the reader be familiar with The Odyssey - at least the section regarding Circe and especially the return of Odysseus to Ithaca.  Miller raises interesting concerns about the outcome of Odysseus's treatment of his wife's suitors as well as the sedentary life of one who has spent two decades at war and fighting monsters and sea hazards.

Miller offers interesting stories about the life of the gods and goddesses, including rules about their powers, limitations, rivalries and cruel punishments (including towards siblings).  Themes of bullying and retribution, single motherhood, female empowerment and love are all part of this epic tale.

July 25

Ireland (2005)
By Frank Delaney

After a visit to Ireland in May 2010, I wanted to know more about this country of my ancestors, a place that seemed to affect me with its treeless green hills and roofless stone ruins.  What was their story?

Journalist (and storyteller) Frank Delaney tells the history of Ireland through the framework of a young boy, Ronan O'Mara, following a storyteller around the Emerald Isle.  The stories include Newgrange (a burial site much older than the Egyptian pyramids), St Patrick, St Brendan. the Battle of the Boyne, Daniel O'Connell, and all the heroes of Irish history, along with the more recent Easter  Rising of 1916 (in which the rebels surrendered - and most were executed), independence for most of the island and, more recently, The Troubles.  While Delaney takes liberties with some of the early legends, the later accounts report on actual events.  While An English Country Doctor (July 24) presents a quaint and whimsical account of Northern Ireland, Delaney's book is more of an anecdotal history of the Republic of Ireland; the storytelling framework makes for a pleasant journey (even though much of it is tragic) through Irish history.

July 24

An Irish Country Doctor (2007)

By Patrick Taylor

Author Patrick Taylor has combined his medical know-how, experience, and humor to create a delightful account of a young physician's first year out of med school.  It's the early 1960s and Barry Laverty has just accepted an apprenticeship with the crusty Dr Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly in tiny Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland.  While he is at first critical of Dr O'Reilly's manner, he comes to respect the older doctor and finds he still has much to learn, as he is exposed to new symptoms and illnesses.  Like veterinarian James Herriott, Barry finds himself getting immersed in the lives of his patients, especially a lovely young engineering student crippled by polio.

This is an enchanting book, just the kind of light reading to divert one's attention from the disturbing news of the day.  Fortunately, Taylor continues to write a number of follow-up novels: An Irish Country Village, An Irish Country Courtship, etc.

July 23

The Innocents (2012)

By Francesca Segal

While this story is inspired by Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, it stands on its own as a tale of family, faith, temptation, and commitment.  Adam Newman is the Newland Archer character, newly engaged to his childhood sweetheart, lovely Rachel Gilbert, also the daughter of Adam's employer.  Rather than being set in old New York, Adam and Rachel live in a Jewish neighborhood of modern London, surrounded by dear friends and loving relatives.  Into this close-knit community comes Ellie Schneider, Rachel's beautiful cousin who has led an unconventional life in New York City, while still trying to cope with the loss of both her parents as a young girl.  After initially resenting Ellie, Adam is asked to help her resolve a legal problem and becomes smitten, and much of the story revolves around his ambivalent feelings.  The combination of a business failure and a beloved grandmother's health crisis combine to thwart Adam's plans and, in the end, like Archer, he is faithful to his wife, but it's clear he'll never forget Ellie.

This story is told with warmth and provides good insights into Jewish traditions like Passover and Purim. One character is a Holocaust survivor, providing depth and context.

July 22

I've Been Thinking...Reflections, Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life (2018)
By Maria Shriver

If ever there were a book for today, it's Maria Shriver's I've Been Thinking.  In 50 or so entries, she shares wisdom acquired through a lifetime filled with raising four children, working as a news anchor and journalist, serving as a governor's wife, but also suffering through tremendous losses as well.  Through it all, her faith in God is her anchor, as these meditations show.  Each one begins with a quote, sometimes by a saint or faith leader, sometimes an author, sometimes Maria herself.  Her meditations cover a variety of themes and subjects: motherhood, being a woman, time, laughter, peace in our hearts and homes (to help us cope with fear and challenging times, a lifestyle of gratitude (for all of our blessings) to help us live happier lives.  While Maria makes reference to her own Roman Catholic faith, she includes quotes from leaders of other religions.  Each entry runs only 2-5 pages, just enough to jumpstart the day, and each ends with a prayer.

July 21

The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism (2013)

By Doris Kearns Goodwin

Writer Doris Kearns Goodwin has provided a great study of the dynamic friendship - later bitter rivalry - between Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, their characters and personalities, and the way they reformed government in ways that would help the poor and marginalized.  She also credits the gifted journalists who exposed much of the "muck" (e.g. monopolies and trusts) that made the rich richer and the poor poorer. Goodwin has, as usual, deeply researched the lives of both presidents, and even provided extensive backgrounds on the various journalists who covered Roosevelt and Taft.  Though extremely lengthy, I enjoyed every word of this very well-written account.

Dan Harrington just published a very interesting column comparing Teddy Roosevelt with our current commander-in-chief.  See "Teddy Trump".

July 19

Thirteen Days in September, Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David (2014)

By Lawrence Wright

Today Jimmy Carter is considered a statesman and possibly the moral conscience of our country, but sadly, many think he was among the least accomplished presidents. However, the peace treaty he brokered between Israel and Egypt was an amazing achievement. 

In 1978, Carter invited the leaders of Israel and Egypt to Camp David, the presidential retreat center in Maryland, to work on a peace accord between the two countries. He had three main objectives: Arab recognition of Israel’s right to exist, Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories, and an undivided Jerusalem. Prime Minister Menachem Begin said he would attend because of the faith he had in Carter, a born-again Christian who know the Bible well, and would know that Israel was fighting for what was written in the scriptures. 

Sadat arrived with pre-set ideas of what he wanted, as well as concessions he would make.  He seemed the more reasonable of the two men and Begin was confrontational to the end. Both groups threatened to leave at different times when they were unable to agree. Carter had to strong arm them to come to the final agreement. He let them each know, individually, that if the peace talks failed, they would be to blame, which would probably cost them their career. The final agreement was only a part of what was hoped for, and the Palestinians were completely left out of the equation. 

It is not clear why Egypt came alone; no other members of the Arab community attended. From other readings, leaders like King Hussein of Jordan was taken unaware that Sadat was going out on his own. Hussein’s goal in life was peace in a united Arab front. 

The structure of the book is a review of meetings and achievements of day-by-day, interspersed with a concise history of Arab-Israeli relations, going back to the beginning of time, as well the history of each of the three men. While many leaders come from military backgrounds, I was surprised to learn of Begin’s violent history.   

No one expected the negotiations to last so long. It’s difficult to imagine world leaders absent from day-to-day governing for a couple of days, much less two weeks. (Remember when Hillary Clinton had a cough?)

I learned much about the history of the Middle East, the bloodshed, fighting, the killings. Sadly, the Palestinians were the losers in these negotiations, and remain so. We read daily of conflicts on the borders and the death count continues to rise. It’s sometimes difficult to consider the peace treaty a success.  

Wright interviewed those still living who had attended the retreat and he also had access to the memoirs and diaries of each of the three leaders.  No one researches and writes like he does. Because he lived and taught in Egypt, he understood the mind set of the Middle East. 

While this is the telling of an important time in history, it also is a wonderful tribute to Jimmy Carter. We know him as a man of faith, but he was also a shrewd negotiator, and his goal was peace.  Where are leaders like this today? 

Guest review by Jean Warneke.  Thanks, Jeannie!

July 18

The Good Dream (2012)

By Donna VanLiere

Ivorie Walker has recently lost her mother.  Left alone with a small farm to care for, and feeling a bit like an old maid, she finally thinks she may settle down with one of the many bachelors who court her.  But as she starts to envision a life with George, a little boy, a mute and hungry victim of abuse, starts to steal vegetables from her garden.  Ivorie reaches out to help the needy child, finding him unresponsive at first, but then delighted to see him start to warm up to her. George, however, wants no part in this effort.  Ivorie is faced with a choice, and ends up finding her true calling.

July 17

The Girl from Kathmandu: Twelve Dead men and a Woman’s Quest for Justice (2018)

By Cam Simpson

I thought this book would be an interesting read about Nepal so I started reading it.  Although it is, certainly about an event that centers around the lives and deaths of persons from Nepal, and although it features a brave and, in many ways unique, woman from that country – Kamla Magar – the book is really about Justice.  It is about justice and about the practice of justice.  It is a triumph of justice and the failure of justice.

Twelve Nepali young men are murdered by terrorists as they are on their way to be laborers for a subcontractor to the US Government in the conflict in Iraq.  It sounds as though the terrorists should be the bad guys here, and they are, but the bad guys are also the network of suppliers of labor and how this network practices human trafficking (slavery) even in service to the United States of America.

This is a book about how the legal system of the United States can be twisted to serve the interests of large corporations.  It is a story of how difficult it can be for lawyers to fight for years on difficult cases where they do not have huge amounts of money to keep things going, as careers, family, and exhaustion can all divert them from what seems like a noble cause.

And, of course, it is a book about the huge chasm that exists between farm villagers in Nepal with their culture that extends back hundreds of years, and the culture and values of our country.

It is a book that makes you think.  And one that makes you cringe about being a part of all these events.

Guest review by Dewey Christy.  Thanks, Dewey!

July 16

Ike's Bluff: President Eisenhower's Secret Battle to Save the World (2012)
By Evan Thomas

While guiding the US through a very successful economic era, Eisenhower was greatly concerned about the ongoing threat of nuclear war and brought his unique experience "through feint and bluff" to preserve the peace.  Though he wasn't perfect (prone to lose his temper and probably spent too much time on the golf course), Ike subtly and courageously worked with world leaders and with his own cabinet to forge a peaceful world during a time of cold war.  The author notes Ike's parting (and prescient) words, in a speech at the very end of his administration, to be wary of the "military industrial complex", a term he introduced.  Very interesting account of a time I lived through!

A poster published (I believe) by US News and World Report offers some wise words by President Eisenhower.  He may have made his mark as the supreme military commander of WW2, but he also values the importance of human life.

July 15

Desire of the Everlasting Hills (1999)

By Thomas Cahill

Part of a 7-book series (including How the Irish Save Civilization and Gift from the Jews), Cahill again examines issues of faith.  This book provides a good look at the world into which Jesus came, interprets the four gospel writers, and generally reviews how the coming of Jesus impacted the world; it made me think through many of the truths I've known via the Bible and church history.  Compared with Ehrman's Triumph of Christianity (reviewed July 1) in which the writer sets the advent of Jesus in a world dominated by the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods, Cahill's emphasis is more on a world dominated by Jewish thought.  It's a really helpful read for the lay person, but so full of meat that it's worth another read.

July 14: Bastille Day!

Marie Antoinette: The Journey (2001)
By Antonia Fraser

The first Bastille Day or Fete de la Federation was held on July 14, 1790 as a celebration of the unity of the French national during the French Revolution.  The aim of this celebration, one year after the storming of the Bastille, was to symbolize peace.  sadly, the following years brought great upheaval to the French nation as the revolution descended into the Reign of Terror and many French people, most notably royals, lost their lives.

This well-researched and sympathetic biography by a well-respected writer really opened my eyes to the fascinating world of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution.  While she admittedly was a big spender, Marie was sympathetic and eager to please the French people, her husband, and her mother (Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress).  Marrying the Dauphin (the future Louis XVI) at the tender age of 16, she worked hard to master the French language and was initially adored by the French people.  Yet she became the scapegoat for the poor people's problems and her husband, a gentle man, was also caught up in the revolution and general paranoia.  Before her own death by guillotine in 1793, Marie also suffered the loss (by illness) of two of her four children, of her husband (by execution), and she herself gave a brave and impressive defense, although her fate had already been sealed.

July 13

Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World (1997)
By Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone

In today's world of audiobooks and kindles, it's nice to know there's still a market for the tactile, paginated, printed book - and that "used and rare" books are very collectible. This volume chronicles the authors' adventures in buying used books, from their first effort to purchase an affordable birthday gift to their forays into auctions, fairs and antiquarian bookshops in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago.  They share many discoveries regarding value and rarity of certain titles, and include lots of anecdotes about authors, booksellers, and what features make certain titles more valuable.  While other books may provide lists of collectible titles or give data on why or what to collect, the unique aspect of this "book about books" is the fun part of the chase and discovery.

The authors, who are prolific writers in a number of genres, followed up this title with two others: Slightly Chipped and Warmly Inscribed

July 12

Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life (2003)
By Queen Noor


Lisa Halaby was born to a prominent Arab-American family.  Her great-grandfather emigrated in the late 1800s and her grandfather was a successful importer and associate of Stanley Marcus of the Nieman Marcus stores.  Her father was head of the FAA under JFK and later president of Pan American Airways.  He also served as a consultant to Royal Jordanian Air as it was being built under King Hussein.  Lisa came to Jordan after graduating from Princeton, where she was in the first co-ed freshman class in the school's history.  It was through her father that she met the king, who had recently been widowed by his third wife.

A brief courtship was followed by a wedding, despite their 15 year age difference.  Traditional Muslim weddings rarely have the wife present; a male relative usually represents, but Lisa was in the room when the "negotiations" were made.  The King named her Queen and chose the name Noor al Hussein, meaning "Light of Hussein".

Thus began their 20+ year marriage and her life of service.  Noor converted to Islam and learned Arabic.  She was completely devoted to Hussein and to the Jordanian people.  Many assumed she would be a glamorous young wife, but she was no mere figurehead.  Through the Noor al Hussein Foundation, the Queen really made a difference by working on issues of women's and children's rights, the environment, education, health, Jordanian culture, and sustainable community development.  The foundation is still active today.

They were a fairly low-key couple for royals.  Noor had her own car and often drove it herself.  Hussein was an aviator and usually served as his own pilot. Once, on a state visit to Norway, they were caught unaware as Norwegians require jewels, sashes, and tiaras.  They rarely wore their royal regalia, feeling it sent a bad message to the people back home.

She described a visit to Buckingham Palace.  King Hussein and Queen Noor were in the first vehicle to approach the palace, as he was the longest serving monarch in attendance.  He remembered the time he was in the last car as an 18-year-old king, newly crowned after his father stepped down due to mental instability.  (King Talal was crowned after his father, King Abdullah, was assassinated int he presence of the young Hussein.)

Noor bore 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, and helped raise the other 7 from other wives, and one adopted, for a total of 12.  The older children lived with their mothers or were away studying at Sandhurst Military Academy (where British royals study), but this book portrays a fairly congenial combined family.

King Hussein's lifelong goal was stability in the Middle East and a united Arab front.  Noor gives a good history of the Arab lands, the 1967 war and subsequent fighting between Israel and other groups, and the occupied lands.  Both King and Queen traveled and worked tirelessly to negotiate and educate, but were frustrated by the one-sided US support of Israel at the expense of the other Arab countries.  I learned a tremendous amount about the area's history and have a better understanding of the ongoing conflict in the area.

Noor's book is many things, her personal history, a brief overview of the Middle East, women's roles in these areas, but mostly it is about her love for her husband King Hussein and his contribution to history.

Review contributed by Jean Warneke.  Thanks, Jeannie!

July 11

And the Mountains Echoed
By Khaled Hosseini

As in his wonderful bestsellers, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini continues to show his understanding of human personality and relationships.  This book opens with a fable about a family whose child must be sacrificed to benefit her family and redeem society.  Like the child in the parable, Pari becomes the pawn that brings a more prosperous life to her Afghani family, while they also suffer remorse and second thoughts.  She meanwhile goes on to a difficult childhood, but a happy and successful adult life.  In the end, her two worlds come together and she gets to see what her life might have been.

July 10

Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump (2018)
By Michael Isikoff and David Corn

I have wondered: Why does Donald Trump so publicly praise Vladimir Putin? Why does he ignore Putin's human rights abuses, his takeover of Crimea, and his cyber attacks on our democracy?  Is it all about his wish to build a Trump hotel in Moscow, and his need to obtain Putin's blessing - or is it more than that?  A recent book examines connections between Putin and members of Trump's campaign.

One reason for Trump's admiration for Putin might be Putin's dislike of Hillary Clinton. During the 2011 Russian presidential election, voter fraud was rampant: stuffing of ballot boxes, observers harassed, their websites cyberattacked.   As US Secretary of State, Clinton noted these concerns at a meeting on Afghanistan held in Bonn shortly the Russian election.  Thus, when the Russian people protested the suspicious election results, Putin appeared to place the blame (and his hatred) upon Clinton.

Yet, Putin had clearly been on the attack - against both the US, and other democratic nations. In February 2013, the chief of staff of Russia's armed forces had published an article recommending Russia adapt its military strategies to the modern world - e.g., cyberattack.  One example that played out in 2008 was Russian operatives seeding bazaars where US soldiers shopped with thumb drives embedded with malware.  Once one soldier plugged the drive into a laptop hooked up the the US Central Command network, the Russians had access to US military battle plans.  Additionally, mysterious killings and poisonings of Russian nationals in other nations (Litvinenko in UK, Timoshenko in Ukraine, etc), as well as the more obvious arrests/deaths within Russia (e.g., Sergei Magnitsky in 2009), all pointed to Putin.

Back in the US, as the presidential conventions drew near, New York businessman Paul Manafort offered his services to Donald Trump, who made Manafort his campaign manager and chief strategist on May 19, 2016.  (Manafort had maintained a very lucrative lobbying business for the likes of such corrupt foreign leaders as Ferdinand Marcos, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Jonas Savimbi of Angola.  [Savimbi, for example, has been accused of recruiting child soldiers and raping and torturing civilians.]  Manafort had met with US congressional aides and convinced them that the accusations against these leaders were overblown and that they deserved US government support.  More relevant is the fact that Manafort had also earned millions of dollars working for a Ukrainian pro-Russian political party tied to Russian oligarchs, a fact he concealed.)

Just before the Democratic convention in 2016, WikiLeaks dumped damaging DNC emails showing favoritism to Clinton, enraging the Sanders campaign.  Evidence pointed to Russia (and hacker Guccifer 2.0) as providing the intelligence to gather the DNC emails.  Closer to the election in November, WikiLeaks dumped thousands of John Podesta's emails, while Russian trolls hacked Facebook and other social media with conservative pro-Trump propaganda. (The Trump campaign mined data from Cambridge analytics, owned by Republican financiers Robert and Rebekah Mercer.)

After a lengthy investigation, the US Intelligence Community report stated that "Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election.  Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency", most likely because he blamed her for the 2011 Russian protests and begrudged comments she'd made about his years before.  The operation included cyberattacks, information dumps thru WikiLeaks, creation of phone online personas (e.g., Guccifer 2.0 and DCLeaks), use of state propaganda outlets, etc.

This book was written by two journalists and appears to be well-documented.  Perhaps we will have to await the results of the Mueller investigation to fully understand the connections (or not) between the White House and the Kremlin.  One thing is certain: our democracy, and our free elections have been attacked - and they are in danger.

July 9

Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor (1975)
By Rosina Harrison

The great houses of Newport, as well as the country houses of England, depended on armies of servants to keep them spotless and running smoothly.  Much has been written about the lives of the wealthy men and women who owned these palatial homes, but not so much about those who worked behind the scenes. Rose's account provides a good window through which to view  their lives.

Rose was born into desperate poverty in late 19th century Great Britain.  As the oldest child born into a rural family, her chores included washing, cooking,  and setting the fires; there was never enough food to go around.  Working as a servant would mean a warm bed, a roof over her head, and plenty to eat.  Starting as a washer woman in a local business, Rose worked at a number of positions, working her way up to be lady's maid to Lady Nancy Astor.  While Rose recalls that her lady could be very temperamental and difficult, she still became Lady Astor's maid, confidante, and friend for 35 years.

Many of us had an ancestor who came from Great Britain to America to work as a "domestic".  Although Rose chose to remain in the UK, she served an important role in the life of her country's first female MP.

July 8

There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolaian Church Planting Movement (2008)
By Brian Hogan

After hearing the author's amazing story in a Perspectives class, I read this account of his (and his family's) church planting adventures in Mongolia.  Brian and his wife initially ministered to the Navajo community in the US southwest before being called to serve in one of the most hostile climates on earth.  When the Hogans began their work in Mongolia, they discovered a unique similarity between the Navajo and Mongolian languages, which helped jump start the movement in Mongolia.  Once they reached a core group of believers, they helped establish small groups (like small house churches) that would meet weekly; then, once a week, all of the house churches would meet for a combined worship service.  At one point, the house churches stopped their small group meetings, putting more store in the combined, much more flashy service.  Recognizing that most of the growth takes place in the small group, Brian worked to reignite the small group ministry, while still maintaining the unified gathering, which provided a good time of praise.  Told honestly and clearly, this is the Biblical way church planting should be: get in, train local leaders, watch the Lord work, get out and let the nationals carry on.

July 7

Singing Away the Hunger: The Autobiography of an African Woman (1997)
By M'pho 'M'atsepo Nthunya

I can't recall where I heard of this story, but I was intrigued by the geography of Lesotho - a country completely surrounded by another country.  It's rare (unheard of?) to find a country that shares a border with only one other country that has no coastline.  But what really stays with me is this woman's victorious spirit despite her hardships.

Told from oral tradition, this is the story of a well-educated woman (by Lesotho standards) who deals with the tragic losses of her husband and many of her children.  Nthunya works as a cleaning lady at the University of Lesotho, where she shares her stories with a faculty member (who eventually helps get this memoir published).  The tone of the book is never self-pitying, even though it's clear Nthunya lives a very difficult life, not just because of her losses, but also due to poverty and prejudice.  While she credits her Christian faith for the power that gets her through tough times, she also sometimes consults a seer (Sangoma) when she feels she is given "bad medicine".  In one instance, she talks about a brother-in-law who cast a curse on her for refusing to marry him upon the death of her husband (as is tradition in Lesotho).  Though she has not accomplished anything noteworthy by human standards, Nthunya is nevertheless remarkable by American standards because she is a survivor, and her story has lessons for all of us.

July 6

The Painted Veil (1925)
By W Somerset Maugham

Kitty Fane is a beautiful but shallow young woman living in privilege in 1920s London.   She spurns a succession of suitors until her homely younger sister accepts a marriage proposal.  Not wanting to be a spinster at Doris's wedding, Kitty accepts the first offer that comes her way.  Walter is a serious type, a bacteriologist working in Hong Kong.  Though the two are badly mismatched, Walter is smitten while Kitty looks on him as a boring, but preferable, alternate to becoming an old maid.  When they get to Hong Kong,  a charming British government official flirts with Kitty, and the two start a tumultuous affair.   Walter finds out and confronts Kitty.  Wanting to save them both from a shameful divorce, he announces he's going to a remote area ravaged by a cholera epidemic where he will replace a missionary doctor who has just died.  Kitty fears certain death, and decides she'll divorce Walter and marry Charlie, but - alas - Charlie has no intentions of leaving his sensible wife and 3 sons.  With no alternative, Kitty heads out with Walter where he works tirelessly too stem the deadly cholera epidemic, working in his lab till late at night and treating patents of all ages.  The Catholic nuns at the nearby orphanage are charmed not only by Walter's devotion to the little ones but also by his obvious love of babies.  Kitty and a Chinese-speaking friend visit the orphanage where Kitty is suddenly struck by the great needs of these little ones and the selflessness of the sisters - as well as her own selfishness and the stupidity of her affair with vain Charlie.  Seeking a deeper meaning for her life, she asks the nuns to let her help care for the children.  Here, Kitty is totally transformed, and hoping to make peace with a husband she does not love, yet has come to respect.  An unexpected death - and an unexpected pregnancy - thwart those plans but leave Kitty nevertheless a changed woman.

July 5

A Short History of England: The Glorious Story of a Rowdy Nation (2011)
By Simon Jenkins


This is the 3rd entry entitled A Short History of England in the Rhode Island public library online catalog.  The first two were published in 1919 and 1967 (all by different authors).  Presumably, the island nation's history lengthens with each successive publication.

Knowing one's history helps to understand the present - and not repeat the same mistakes twice, according to some philosophers!

While it's impossible to cover 1000+ years of English history in 350 pages, Simon Jenkins (England's Thousand Best Houses, England's Thousand Best Churches) does a clear job of tracing the lineage of the various kings and queens and throws in many interesting facts (eg., the origin of the name "Charing" Cross, how the English acquired Manhattan Island, etc).  I was aghast at the constant wars and violence that characterize the monarchy at least through the 18th century.  Is this what it takes to retain one's role as a leader, or to maintain one's property?

July 4: Independence Day!

Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, and a Revolution (2013)
By Nathaniel Philbrick

Philbrick has written another well-researched story about legendary New England history.  I hadn't realized that the battle of Bunker Hill predated the Declaration of Independence, that George Washington had been stationed in the Boston area when he assumed responsibility of the American army (such as it was), or that a Boston physician (33-year-old Joseph Warren) was the man who led the patriots before and during the battle.  While written from an American perspective, Philbrick has also fleshed out the stories of British governors and generals (Howe, Gage) and the reader comes to see the tenuous relationship between the loyalists and patriots leading up the battle.  Many familiar towns (Dorchester, Cambridge, etc) and areas (Back Bay, the heights) figure prominently in the story.  Helpful maps and illustrations are included.

The record for this book on the Barrington Public Library website includes some bio notes on Philbrick, including the fact that he was Brown University's first intercollegiate All-American sailor in 1978, "the same year he won the Sunfish North Americans in Barrington, RI."  Interesting! - No wonder he has published so many books (not this one - but Mayflower, Sea of Glory - June 22) dealing with the sea!

Happy 4th!

July 3

The Great Courses: Churchill (2001)
By Rufus Fears

Any good book on Winston Churchill is worth reading.  Many of them are quite lengthy or multi-volumed, such as the late Theodore Manchester's The Last Lion, which reviews Churchill's entire life.   Others examine only his youth, such as Michael Shelton's Young Titan; some titles examine a specific time or relationship such as Kenneth Wiesbrode's Wartime Alliance: Churchill and the King.  Some are memoirs written by someone who knew him well, like Mary Churchill Soames' A Daughter's Tale.  (These are all titles written within the last 6 years; there are way more.)

Considered the most influential Briton of the 20th century; it's always good to examine the life and career of this brilliant man from time to time. Having recently seen the movie "Darkest Hour" chronicling the early days of Churchill's first term as Prime Minister, and his insistence (with almost no support) to stand up to Hitler, I listened to the late Prof Rufus Fears give a series of 12 lectures on the life of Winston Churchill.  Some of the takeaways from this lecture series are:

Churchill's love for his family - despite being raised by mostly absentee, uninvolved parents

Churchill's career as a writer:  From ~1926-1936 he was not serving in parliament, and turned to writing as a way to make a living.  He wrote mostly biographies (some very lengthy and all deeply researched) and works on war and politics.  He continued to write throughout the rest of his life, but was amazingly productive during this period, earning over $1M for his works (yes, that in dollars, not pounds). Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

Churchill's career as a painter: He turned to painting as a way to relax and produced many works, primarily landscapes.  Although he did not sell any paintings in his lifetime, his paintings now often sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds.

He foresaw many world events that were ridiculed in his time:

-that the USSR would become an adversary following WW2 when that nation was an ally
-that the nations of Europe should band together (the EU0
-that the nations of Europe and the United States should develop an alliance (NATO)

Oh, for that prophetic voice today!





Favorite Churchill quotes: 

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

July 2

A Gentleman in Moscow (2016) - Part 2
By Amor Towles

Picking up the story from Part 1 (May 30), the book's remaining chapters find the count employed as headwaiter at the Boyarsky, the hotel's (and Moscow's) most elegant restaurant, working alongside chef Emile and maitre d'hotel Andrey.  He has been befriended by Osip Glebnikov, a Soviet agent who seeks the count's counsel to help him learn English and better understand western culture; they meet periodically for dinner, discussions, and watching western films.  One day, the count's old friend Nina, who lived in the Metropol as a little girl, shows up unexpectedly to ask a favor.  After an 8-year absence, she has adopted a Soviet lifestyle living in a cooperative farm, been married, and is the mother of a 5-year-old daughter, Sofia, whom she asks the stunned count to watch for a "month or two" - which will turn out to be a permanent assignment.  Despite feeling totally unqualified, it isn't long before "Uncle Sasha" becomes "Papa", furnishing young Sofia with not only room and board, but also academics, cooking lessons (thanks to Emile), piano lessons (thanks to the hotel's pianist - and at which she excels) - and unconditional love.  From the beginning, Sofia is trained in the rules of civility.  When the count learns, for example, that she has not named her rag doll, Sofia asks why the doll needs a name.  "Why, so that she can be addressed.  So that she can be invited for tea; called to from across the room; discussed in conversation when absent; and included in your prayers.  That is, for all the reasons that you benefit from having a name."

While he is still confined to a hotel, the count's life is amplified by the experience of fatherhood, as he tries to make a life for Sofia.  After decades living in a hotel, the story will take an abrupt turn at the end, taking a page from the film "Casablanca".  The ending is somewhat surprising, though satisfying, and the story full of good lessons in the importance of civility.

July 1

The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World (2018)
By Bart D Ehrman

New Testament historian Ehrman posts that "the ancient triumph of Christianity proved to be the single greatest cultural transformation our world has ever seen".  The Roman world had been characterized by dominance: rulers over subjects, master over slaves, etc.  But once Christianity became dominant, it advocated an ideology of love and service.  The idea "that society should serve the poor, the sick and the marginalized became a distinctly Christian concern".

In Roman times, the leaders worshipped many gods and saw them as making their empire great.  Ehrman really makes the case for the prevalence of paganism as a way of life, something alluded to in the book of Acts (e.g., Artemis of the Ephesians) but a concept I had previously likened more to 21st century lack of interest in religion.  The pagans were often very religious and faithful to their gods.  (The early Christians' admonition to not eat food sacrificed to idols was not an "idle" mandate.) Thus, the Christian refusal to worship the pantheon of gods was seen as interfering with the well-being of the empire, thus the resulting persecutions, especially as the Christian movement gained momentum.  While Constantine's (first Christian emperor) Edict of Milan (312) did not force subjects to "become Christians", it instead gave freedom of religion to all subjects, ending the persecution of Christians.  Ehrman explains that most converts came not from Judaism but from pagan backgrounds.  As pagans, they'd be used to worshipping many gods: some related to abstract traits like hope and love, others to specific functions (childbirth, crops), some to specific towns or locations.  There was rarely loyalty to a specific god; people just assimilated as they wished.  Thus, the idea of worshipping only one god (to the exclusion of all others) was a very novel concept.  There was no such thing as "conversion" in the Roman pantheon.

Ehrman sees Paul as the most crucial person to the spread of Christianity, as he goes beyond Jerusalem - and the Jews - to preach to gentiles.  He refers to the great historian of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon, who attributes Christianity's success to its spiritual superiority and God's oversight and cites:

• the Christians' zeal
• immortality
• miracles
• morality
• strong organization

as crucial.  Ehrman also notes that the concept of one God was also common to Jews, and to some extent to Henotheists (who may revered many gods but served one above all the others)

In an afterword, Ehman recalls a trip to Athens, marveling at the glory that was Greece and focusing on the Areopagus where Paul delivered his famous sermon addressing an altar to an unknown god.  While his message probably resulted in only a few conversions, eventually Christianity took over western civilization. This paved the way for aristocrats to embrace the faith and eventually the church acquired enormous wealth, and its bishops great power, at one point giving the people the authority of an emperor.  But it also resulted in a loss of religious diversity - not just outside the Christian faith but also within in terms of strict adherence to Nicene doctrine.  But it also opened the door to policies serving the poor, weak, sick and underserved, as well as inspired art, music, literature, philosophy and government.  Truly "the most monumental cultural transformation our world has ever seen."

A helpful appendix explains the likely rate of growth - and basically how few converts  (e.g., 5% growth per year) - were needed for the faith to become the largest in the world.  Ehrman's systematic explanation suggests to me that he attributes the triumph of Christianity not to God's intervention but to a more scientific and cultural process.