Review: The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family

The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

An incredibly detailed account of the Hemings family. Gordon-Reed places the Hemingses in the center of the narrative, how it was for them to live enslaved and without control over their life. Yet, with Thomas Jefferson some of the family had a greater degree of autonomy, they were treated better than the rest of his slaves. They were “privileged” within the slave community. Several generations of Hemings were from white masters and black slaves. Two of Jefferson’s offspring by Sally went on to live a life as a white person. All of their children were set free, eventually. It’s hard to imagine the mores of that time and place, that this was acceptable behavior.

Jefferson was careful in what was kept by his letters and writings. He tried to shape his historical image. Even at the time it was a scandal between himself and Sally, and still nothing was confirmed. Yet there are still facts, and of course now DNA evidence. He is quite the enigma.


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Review: American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest

American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest by Kyle Paoletta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While the book was okay and I’m glad to have read it, I don’t think the premise of the book held up. The author profiled a few cities in the southwest looking mainly at: Phoenix, Las Vegas, El Paso and Albuquerque, with a few other cities being mentioned. All of these places are hot desert climates, having water issues and in the last several decades huge growth. Some history about these cities were discussed.

Yet, the author described many personal stories of individuals or families that seemingly had nothing to do with the topic, other than they live in that city. The opening described the author’s upbringing in New Mexico. While one story was about a man who lost his hands in 1946 as a boy while playing with explosives. Dealing with his disability ended up giving him some fame. First a newspaper article then later working in movies. Okay, but how does this relate to that particular city and the future? (not to mention this man had moved to another state.) There are many digressions and stories like this. Interesting characters, but not all that relevant.

The last part of the book seemed to regain focus and keep on topic. Water issues are a problem and will be more so in the future. Looking at these desert and drought-prone areas is a good idea for finding solutions for the future. One interesting piece of information was that despite all the growth in Las Vegas, through their water policies the amount of water consumed has stayed at the same level. I just wish the narrative had kept this at the forefront for most of the book.

Book rating: 2.75 stars


Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Pantheon and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I read and listened to a published copy of the book.



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Review: American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest

American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest by Kyle Paoletta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: How Can My Manager Be So Stupid?

How Can My Manager Be So Stupid? by Kazumasa Hayami
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another fictional workplace book, this one about being a bookseller. Admittedly I was pulled in by the cover artwork.

The main character, Kyoko Tanihara works at Musashino Bookshop. She is frustrated with her job, the manager especially. She works in the literature department and is frustrated that publishers don’t send the books that she knows would sell. She orders the books, but they don’t arrive, or if they do only one or two copies, when they could sell many more. There are customers who complain that they want the hottest new book, but the store can’t get it. Although it’s the manager who Tanihara mainly complains about and how he runs things. His morning meetings he usually is glowing about a management book that everyone should read.

Through most of the book Tanihara is on the verge of quitting. She does have a lot of anger, but she is a book lover and is very involved in the dynamics of the job and even with an author or two. I was lukewarm through most of the book, but I liked how it ended up.

Book rating: 3.25


Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.


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Review: How Can My Manager Be So Stupid?

How Can My Manager Be So Stupid? by Kazumasa Hayami
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: The Things We Never Say

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I understand why this book has such good ratings, but it didn’t work so well for me. Some aspects of the writing really bugged me, such as foretelling what would happen to a character several years in advance. Occasionally the story got to that time period as well. This forecasting happened quite often. I can see how the book could be polarizing as it delves into politics a bit in the middle to last portion of the book. I could have done without it too, as for fiction like this I want a mini-vacation from real life.


Book rating: 2.75 stars


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Review: The Things We Never Say

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: On the Calculation of Volume IV

On the Calculation of Volume IV by Solvej Balle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Trafficker Next Door: How Household Employers Exploit Domestic Workers

The Trafficker Next Door: How Household Employers Exploit Domestic Workers by Rhacel Salazar Parreñas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: What Have You Changed Your Mind About?: Today's Leading Minds Rethink Everything – 150 Influential Thinkers on God, Love, and Evolution

What Have You Changed Your Mind About?: Today's Leading Minds Rethink Everything – 150 Influential Thinkers on God, Love, and Evolution by John Brockman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have never read anything by John Green before but have heard of him and his very popular YA books. But this book is not YA. Instead, it’s a collection of essays on topics that vary across the board. There are 49 of them, and each are fairly short.

Each topic seems to be personal to John Green, almost like a launching pad to discuss his own life, such as his anxiety or his kids. Yet they do return to the main topic. A few examples of the topics: Diet Dr. Pepper, Teddy Bears, The Internet, Sunsets, CNN, Goggling Strangers, and Plague. At the end of each essay Green then rates the topic ranging from 1 star for "Plague" and 5 stars for "The smallpox vaccine".

At the end of the book, I know a little about the author than I expected. Actually, the book is very different than what I expected, but it’s okay. It is not a book about climate change, nor about how humans have changed our biosphere and all that live upon it. Or it is about that, but also John Green. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed book 3.5 stars.

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Review: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have never read anything by John Green before but have heard of him and his very popular YA books. But this book is not YA. Instead, it’s a collection of essays on topics that vary across the board. There are 49 of them, and each are fairly short.

Each topic seems to be personal to John Green, almost like a launching pad to discuss his own life, such as his anxiety or his kids. Yet they do return to the main topic. A few examples of the topics: Diet Dr. Pepper, Teddy Bears, The Internet, Sunsets, CNN, Goggling Strangers, and Plague. At the end of each essay Green then rates the topic ranging from 1 star for Plague and 5 stars for The smallpox vaccine.

At the end of the book, I know a little about the author than I expected. Actually, the book is very different than what I expected, but it’s okay. It is not a book about climate change, nor about how humans have changed our biosphere and all that live upon it. Or it is about that, but also John Green. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed book 3.5 stars.


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Review: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: The Best American Travel Writing 2016: Illuminating Essays on Why We Travel

The Best American Travel Writing 2016: Illuminating Essays on Why We Travel by Bill Bryson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I tend to enjoy the various series of "Best American" although I have read very few of them in full. A few of the early essays felt that categorizing as travel was slightly generous. One example is the essay "How Can We Find More People Like You?" by Sara Corbett, where she discusses how Airbnb is finding it hard to expand in Japan. Or the essay The Actual Hollister by Dave Eggers discussing the town of Hollister and the Hollister clothing business. They felt more orientated towards a business than the experience of travelling.

Further in the essays move more towards what I expected. And some essays were by people living in other countries, which I think are expatriates, not necessarily a traveler. Each essay in the collection had hook which made the essay worthwhile for me to read. None were very long, as they are taken from essays previously published in magazines or journals from the prior year.

One of the last essays, “Invisible and Insidious” by William Vollman, was about radiation in Japan after the disaster in Fukushima caused by the massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The author kept visiting the area and measuring the different types of radiation, as well as talking to residents in the affected area. This essay is one that will stick with me the most.

Book rating: 3.5 stars


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Review: The Best American Travel Writing 2016: Illuminating Essays on Why We Travel

The Best American Travel Writing 2016: Illuminating Essays on Why We Travel by Bill Bryson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Biography of Silence: An Essay on Meditation

Biography of Silence: An Essay on Meditation by Pablo d'Ors
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very short book. It is a series of very short essays from the author about his experience with meditation. Overall, the book was good, but I did have some confusion as well.

He says at first he was not trained, just started doing it. But later he talks about having a teacher or meditating with others. The blub says he’s a Spanish priest and Zen disciple, but he does not come across as a priest, or at least a traditional one. Mostly it seems he talks about wanting to be a writer, not being a priest, so that’s confusing. In the end, that doesn’t matter really if he is a priest or a writer. Although having written this book he is at least a writer…

The very short essays are like vignettes into his life around meditating. Some of the short essays morph into why it is good to meditate, what can be expected, although he also says do not start to meditate with any goals in mind. The book was not about how to meditate either, although perhaps a few hints can be gleaned. The book mostly discusses how paying attention and being in oneself can enhance your life.

Book rating: 3.75 stars


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Review: Biography of Silence: An Essay on Meditation

Biography of Silence: An Essay on Meditation by Pablo d'Ors
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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