Review: Call for the Dead

Call for the Dead by John le Carré
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A younger Smiley combines analysis with a bit of action, such as it is. Enjoyable for the writing and the short intro to Smiley.

View all my reviews

Review: Find Your Why: A Practical Guide to Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team

Find Your Why: A Practical Guide to Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team by Simon Sinek
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book is divided into a section on finding your personal WHY and finding a business’ WHY. I found the entire process obvious. A good reminder to rethink your purpose, both personally and throughout your organization.

View all my reviews

Review: Field of Thirteen

Field of Thirteen by Dick Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this collection of Francis’ racing related short stories. Having read most of his novels, and noting that the novels tended to have a kind of formula, I wondered how he would approach his short stories. He seemed to have dropped his formula, making these more O Henry in revolving around a twist. Instead of focusing on the hero, some of these stories revolved around the villain. You can tell Francis was having some fun trying things out, and that made these fun to read.

View all my reviews

Review: Herzog

Herzog by Saul Bellow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of those books where the writing was wonderful, but the story didn’t grab me. I think part of it was the pace. Herzog covers a lot of ground in the span of a couple days, physically. But we are always in his head, where he is thinking, and writing imaginary letters to people, at lightening speed. Another depressing bit was that this was about many different low points in life, divorces, arrests, allegations. It was a bit heavy, not what I was looking for at the time I read it. Still, quite masterful writing.

View all my reviews

Review: You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap): How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can Too

You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap): How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can Too by Tammy Strobel
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not quite what I expected. I thought this would be more a memoir of building a small house, something you could take notes on for your own journey down that path. There wasn’t really enough detail here to do that. I thought maybe, based on the title, that this would be about a woman simplifying her life. Not really – this is about a couple simplifying their lives. I’ve read a lot of life simplifying books over the years. It seems they are either a couple both doing the same thing to simplify their lives, or one does the work, with the other continuing to make the money. This felt more like the latter. When you get a couple where one takes the interesting new tact in their life while the other maintains their career, you see the value of insurance. I much prefer when there is no insurance, and a person or couple step off the deep end without visible backups. This was more relatable and repeatable, but less interesting. I’d consider this book more an inspirational book than a how-to guide. Overall, OK, but similar to others.

View all my reviews

Review: The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw

The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw by Patrick F. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m reading through most of Patrick McManus’ outdoor humor books. I was initially introduced to his work on audiobook, narrated by the great George S. Irving. Irving was a great reason to enjoy McManus’ stories, but I also find his work at times like Mark Twain. It’s the same kind of humor, condensed for today’s attention span. I find reading the books almost as funny as listening to Irving’s performances. This one was no different. The best stories were those about McManus’ younger days, with a cast of characters out of central casting. Highlights are the title story, about young Patrick camping out using an old fur coat as a sleeping bag, and Scritch’s Creek, about a first date and an apparent moonshiner. And fishing. Many of these stories involve hunting, fishing, and boat-ownership. You’ll find plenty of tales, as well as questionable advice (“A Brief History of Boats and Marriage”). Fun.

View all my reviews

Review: Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals

Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals by Ken Follett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The very short book illustrates to me two things. First, how a writer reacts to tragedy that he feels a part of. And second, how a practiced writer writes a short book, or long article, to relate a couple of heart-felt points, using distinctly different kinds of illustrative stories. A nice essay on an interesting topic.

View all my reviews