My year in Books

The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein

The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“We need you to save this country...” – From a handwritten get well card President Reagan received after his assassination attempt in 1981.

Where in the world did Ronald Reagan come from? My own recollection of him was pretty much begins with him beating President Carter in 1980. Being just a teenager I wasn’t really aware of his history and just how close he came in 1976. This book begins at that point where he seriously challenged Gerald Ford, who was the sitting President, for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1976. Rick Perlstein also attempts to paint a broad picture of our political and cultural landscape from the depths of Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War to our nation’s bicentennial and the reshaping of conservative politics.

The books journey begins just after Nixon had defeated the hapless Democratic nominee George McGovern in a landslide reminiscent of the Republican defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964 which is the subject of another Perlstein book. Just days later the Vietnam War ends and the POW’s soon come home. Trouble is brewing for Nixon though as the scandal about the “third-rate burglary” just keeps building. Also in trouble Vice President Spiro Agnew, a polarizing figure in his own right, who ends up resigning over bribery charges and tax evasion which brings us to Congressman Gerald Ford becoming Vice-President.

The Watergate scandal continues and then there is a battle over the White House tapes. The just weeks after Agnew resigns Nixon tries to fire the special prosecutor in what became famously known as the “Saturday Night Massacre” when Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resigned after refusing to follow the President’s orders. Nixon faces immediate backlash politically and from the public. Even after replacing the special prosecutor an official Impeachment Inquiry is soon started by Congress. The battle for Nixon to release the tapes rages until a final battle at the Supreme Court in the summer of 74 which forces Nixon to release all tapes in question. Among these tapes is what becomes known as “The Smoking Gun” tape which incriminates Nixon lying and coordinating the Watergate cover-up. Nixon, facing a certain Impeachment and removal, instead resigns and Gerald Ford becomes President. Soon afterward in an attempt to move past Watergate President Ford pardons Nixon which would come back to haunt him.

The book does look into the lives of both Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter but the main focus is really upon Ronald Reagan. Rick dives deep into Reagan’s youth with an alcoholic father and a resilient mother. It is later as a lifeguard where he seems to find his calling as a rescuer and the attention it gathers. Thru college and then a radio announcer he develops his persona as one who is almost always looks on the positive side of events no matter what may happen. Having only modest success a Hollywood B-movie actor host of GE Theater on TV in the 50’s he then finds success as a political speaker which is brought to national attention when he gives the now famous “A Time for a Choosing” speech on television stumping for Barry Goldwater in 1964. Reagan is surprisingly elected twice as Governor of the state of California. 

In the aftermath of Watergate the wheels of the country seem to get wobbly. President Ford, already damaged by pardoning Nixon, has to deal rising inflation, multiple attempts on his life and getting a reputation as a bumbler after tripping down stairs and bumping his head and among other things. So much so starts the tradition of being Presidents being caricatured on the new hip comedy skit show Saturday Night Live. Nationally there are also rising beef prices and a gas shortage erupts after war breaks out in the Middle East. In the midst of this, much to Ford’s dismay, Reagan emerges as presidential contender. Even though he did two years as California’s Governor, Reagan is still not taken seriously even in the Republican Party. Using his trademark optimism and persistence Reagan shocks the incumbent Ford right up until the Republican National Convention in the summer of 1976. Even after narrowly losing the nomination Reagan was still able to steal the show. Many thought this was his end but we now know differently.

At 856 pages or 39 hours of listening (which I did) this isn’t for faint of heart. Perlstein gets into a lot of details and can jump around on subjects or events that don’t seem be relevant at the moment. Sometimes it takes a little stepping back away from the figurative picture he’s creating to see where he’s going. It was interesting to learn more about this period and election as I’ve not seen it covered a lot. My earliest recollection of Reagan was him being elected 4 years later so it was interesting to see where he came from. It is worth the time and effort to dive into this book as it still hold relevance to the beginnings of today’s dysfunctional politics and the public's distrust of its government and politicians. I recently learned Perlstein is working on a follow up book unsurprisingly called Reaganland which I am already looking forward too.

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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut: silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.” - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

After watching the Netflix series last year by the same name last year it inspired me to put this classic book on my reading list. I had first been aware of the book for many years as it was mentioned by Stephen King as a major influence on his writing and lauded the book as one of the best of the horror genre. After listening to the book I can see why and agree with King it's one of the best.

The story begins as Dr. Montague is doing research into the supernatural and wanted to use Hill House as a setting due to its reputation as a haunted house and it’s somewhat sad history. We learn that on top of the somewhat tragic history of its original residents/builders the more recent residents who tried to live there seem to leave only after a short stay and without much explanation as to their quick departure. The house itself is a character all its own with its Gothic foreboding style and its unique floor plan is compared to in the book to the real-life Winchester House in San Jose, California which also had eccentric owners and history.

In the beginning the story is mostly centered around the four main characters of Dr. Montague, Eleanor Vance, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson. Aside from the very beginning and end the story is told through the perspective of Eleanor (aka: Nell) which we find out was a recluse who took care of elderly demanding mother until recently and was brow beaten by her two siblings from whom she took the family car to stay at Hill House. It was noted in her childhood her sister and her experienced the phenomenon of stones raining on their house as children, which was one of the reasons Dr. Montague invited her to the house. Stephen King fans might recognize this as an event that happened in his debut novel Carrie whose main character’s(Carrie White) house was also pelted with stones and had a domineering mother. Her main companion in the book is Theodora, no last name given, is described as living a bohemian lifestyle and perhaps is receptive to ESP. Luke Sanderson is a distant family heir to the house. He was mainly their as part of the agreement to stay at the house for their time there. He’s a bit of a playboy who never stayed at the house before.

The other characters are Mr. & Mrs. Dudley who are the caretakers of the house. Both are adamant about not staying at the house after dark. Mr Dudley is cantankerous and abrupt when meeting the visitors. Mrs. Dudley is quite rigid and humorless in her duties, so much so that in turn the guests make her the object of some light humor. No backstory is given to their relation to the house and how they became caretakers.

Dr. Montague’s wife and driver Authur Parker, who is the headmaster at a small boys school. In contrast to her spouse she has no qualms about expressing herself and taking control. Likewise Mr. Parker presents himself in an alpha male quality and even brandishes a gun for emergencies. He implies that Luke is a lightweight in his manliness on one occasion. Mrs. Montague acts as a woman on a mission to communicate with the supernatural. She tries a form of spirit writing using a planchette which seems to be channeling Eleanor.

Other happenings include doors closing by themselves, Luke and Dr. Montague chasing a mysterious dog, banging of the door to Eleanor and Theodora’s room, Theodora’s room/clothing covered in blood and writing in blood on the walls of the hallway which seems to be addressing Eleanor.

As time goes by the Hill House and Eleanor seem to be bonding together. It culminates one evening when she wakes up feeling energetic and carefree. She runs around knocking on doors waking the others as she runs and dances throughout the house. The others get up to see what is going on puzzled by this behavior. Eleanor makes her way to the library climbing a rickety iron spiral staircase that is barely staying vertical. The others that found her there are alarmed by this and beg her to stop. She seems either unaware or puzzled at why they are so frantic as she looks down upon them. Luke reluctantly climbs the staircase to implore her to come down which she reluctantly does. She is still seemingly unaware of the danger she put herself in by remarking she was just getting a book after Luke was able to coax her down.

The next morning the incident is unspoken but it is agreed at least between Dr. Montague, Theodora, Luke and the others that it is better if Eleanor leave Hill House for her own safety. Eleanor insists she does not want to leave and is very reluctant. Eleanor feels Hill House doesn't want her to leave and is sure she feels happy there. Her car is brought around already packed and being outnumbered and they were blocking the stairway to the front door. She still insists the house wants her to stay. Dr. Montague is insistent, firm although with some empathy as a parent might be with a child. After much back and forth about her leaving she finally says goodbye to everyone. As she drives away she feels a sudden rush of freedom but yet in a fleeting second just before hitting a tree and killing herself she asks herself what she is doing and why is no one stopping her.

In the end, Eleanor never really leaves Hill House taking her own life,or was it Hill House that killed her? I suppose we’ll never know. Dr. Montague goes on to write his paper to a cool reception. Theodore goes back her bohemian lifestyle. Luke is off Paris and his aunt, Mrs. Anderson, seems to be relieved that everyone had left.

After listening to this story it’s easy to see how many elements of the story have influenced the horror genre and pop culture. What would any ghost story be without it’s spooky gothic style house? I can see it’s influence in classic TV series like The Addams Family, The Munsters and even the cartoon series Scooby Doo.

It was Stephen King that introduced me to this story decades ago. He even wrote about this story extensively in book about the horror genre. The story was a huge influence on his writing. The comparisons between Hill House’s “Eleanor” and the title character “Carrie” in King’s debut novel of the same name. Both young women with over powering mother’s. The key giveaway is the stones raining down on both girls houses when the were young. Even Hill House plays a part in other King books as we have the large foreboding “Marsten House” in ‘Salems Lot” that is home the stories vampires. In “The Shining” we have the Overlook Hotel that plays a huge part of that story.

The story itself has spawned two movies and a Netflix series based on the book(which influenced me to finally listen/read the story finally. The first movie done in 1963 in England called “The Haunting” follows the original fairly well but does change some details and omit other stuff. Another version was made in 1999, also titled “The Haunting”, that I have not seen so I can’t comment much on it. The 2018 Netflix series uses Hill House but instead a family there stays there over the summer renovating to then flip the house. Many of the original characters names are used and as the original story goes Eleanor again plays the central character.

One key element of the story is that even though title includes a haunting much of the story is about what is left unseen. Doors are shut when no one is looking. Aside from a mysterious family picnicking and a quick glimpse of a dog,at least that's what it’s presumed to be, but nothing else is seen. Blood is seen in Theodore's room and writing of Eleanor’s name in the hallways are as about as much as we see physically. We hear hear banging on the door and barely audible voices. It scares you more by what is unseen.

Aside from the very beginning and end the story is told through Eleanor’s point of view. She is a bit shy and has been somewhat sheltered because she had been taking care of her demanding invalid mother until she dies. As is implied at times she harbors some guilt over her mother’s death. How much this plays into what goes on in the house is hard to tell. It at least feels as an influence on Eleanor's character. As the story unfolds it can be hard to tell how much the house is coming over her. Even in her last moments it seems as if she had no idea she was about to drive into a tree.

It is a classic story of horror that uses what is unseen as the most terrifying feature. You will also see how this story has become a blueprint for so many other supernatural stories. Isn’t it often what is unknown or unseen that is most terrifying to us? It is still a mystery what it is exactly about Hill House that has this aura of horror and terror. Whatever it may be we do know it walks alone.


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Brave Companions: Portraits in History by David McCullough

Brave Companions: Portraits in History by David McCullough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'll admit I've been a fan of David McCullough since listening to him narrate Ken Burn's Civil series. Even listening to him is a joy. Many times as I read his work I can hear in my mind as his voice which just seems to bring his stories more color and warmth. I've also read his legendary biography of John Adams and his book on Theodore Roosevelt (Morning's on Horseback) and 1776.

This book is a collection of stories which are a mixture of both famous and perhaps people you never heard of before. The more famous ones feature the likes of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Lindbergh and Theodore Roosevelt. Others contain less famous people such as explorer Alexander Von Humboldt, author Conrad Richter and photographer David Plowden. It also features the father and son team of John A. Roebling and Washington Roebling who brought us the Brooklyn Bridge. Some feature a mixture of people and places like an essay of Washington D.C., building of the Panama Railroad (predating the more famous canal) and the previously mentioned Brooklyn Bridge.
I find the only downside to the book is the stop and start nature of the style. Each story has its one arc and it’s hard for me keep start over again. It’s a challenge to start over again.

I do find David’s writing always rich in detail of not only the places or events but of the people involved too. You can always sense too his love for the each and every story. His enthusiasm certainly comes out in his words and is infectious.

For David McCullough fans this will be enjoyable but may be tough on newcomers due to some of the people or subjects are obscure and maybe tough to get into. It is still an enjoyable book for American history enthusiasts.


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When You Are Ungulfed In Flames by David Sedaris

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whenever I need lighten up my reading I usually crack open a Sedaris book. I read a lot of non-fiction and history so it tends to be serious, dry and sometimes gruesome. Although I do enjoy reading them it seems my mind needs a something bring it back to center and most recently it was this book.

The book is a collection of David Sedaris’s self-depreciating humorous look at his own life and observations. His stories can range from his encounters with a cantankerous elderly woman neighbor (That’s Amore), coughing a lozenge onto the lap of an irritable woman he had been feuding with on an airline (Solution to Saturday’s Puzzle) and ending with his battle to quit smoking in Japan (The Smoking Section).

David’s writing brand of humor can be hard to nail down. He is rarely sidesplitting funny though there are some moments. Much of it is in the form of his descriptions of not only himself but of how he sees others. His humor does have a self-depreciating quality but he often balances it at times by being unapologetic about his faults which he seems to say this is the way I am so deal with it.

Perhaps my favorite story is the longest called, The Smoking Section, at the end of the book is about him quitting smoking which starts off in France and ends up in Japan. One part I find funny though I think is not necessarily written but of the premise that he has to spend months in Japan to quit smoking like this is a luxury everyone can afford. While in Japan he is also taking a class to learn to speak Japanese which also ties into an earlier story in the book about him learning French. One of the few laugh out loud moments were when his sister was trying to help him learn Japanese:

It was even worse when Amy quizzed me,
“How do you ask someone for a cigarette?”
“I don’t know.”
“How do you say, “I tried to quit, but it’s not working’?”
“I have no idea.”
“Say ‘I’ll give you a blow job if you give me a cigarette.’”
“Just stick to the index cards.”
“Say ‘Goodness, how fat I’ve become! Can you believe how much weight I’ve gained since I quit smoking’?”
“Actually,” I said, I think I’ll just do this on my own.”

The book has David’s trademark self-depreciating humor and at times has some heartwarming moments. The stories are on the lighter side but they are not sugar sweet like a Hallmark Christmas movie either. Like I said they are nice break in between the more serious books I read and perhaps others might find it so too. So if you’re looking for a break in life from more serious stuff, and who doesn’t these days, I’d recommend this book.


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Impeachment: A Handbook, New Edition by Charles Black Jr and Philip Bobbit

Impeachment: A Handbook, New Edition by Charles L. Black Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If one is to read any book to understand Impeachment it is this one. It is split into two parts, the first written by Charles Black Jr in 1974 in the midst of Watergate, the second written in 2018 by Philip Bobbit. The book is an attempt to explain the procedures to be followed and what actually counts as an impeachable offense.

The first part unsurprising uses examples that were current at the time as it was written in the shadow of Watergate so examples like improper campaign tactics, obstruction of justice, income tax fraud and more were considered. Black also tries to give some clarity to the the terms "Treason, bribery and high crimes and misdemeanors".

The second half , written by Philip Bobbit more or less brings us up to date from the Watergate to the current administration although this was written well before the current impeachment proceeding had even started. Bobbit looks at not only the aftermath of Watergate but also looks at other Presidential crisis's like Reagan-Iran/Contra, Clinton and Gingrich, Bush and the Iraq War and even Obama and Executive Discretion. He even tries to dispel several fallacy's regarding impeachment. A couple of popular examples are whether a crime is essential for impeachment and another whether any crime regardless of seriousness is grounds of impeachment.

As I said before I do find this book essential reading if you want a real understanding of what is currently going on in our government. I recommend this for those interested in civics, current events and American history.

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SAD!: Doonesbury in the time of Trump by G.B. Trudeau

#SAD!: Doonesbury in the Time of Trump by G.B. Trudeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is only fitting that a cartoon who got it's start during the Nixon years is still around to give it's take of the Trump years so far. This is a follow up to previous Trump era book "Yuge!" that came out a couple years ago(seems like a couple of decades in the Donald era). I find that Doonesbury style humor sort of like a thinking person's type of political and society humor. Sort of the NPR or C-Span of cartoons.

The book isn't long and is separated into four parts without any particular obvious theme. They are not in chronological order although they generally start from 2015 and go to 2018. It does focus on the Trump years may of the cartoons are not just about Trump but it also comments on society in general during this era. The previous book on Trump, "Yuge!", covered him back to his early days.

Although the book was funny the humor seem to miss the mark sometimes, at least to me it did. The previous Trump themed book seemed to be a bit more coherent as this one seemed a bit all over the place. It's still a good read if you're trying desperately to find some humor about politics these days. As the author Gary Trudeau noted in his introduction "At this benighted moment, it's all we have.".



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The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater

The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry M. Goldwater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve long wondered what was inside this iconic book of American politics and conservatism. More recently I’ve seen it referenced in our culture long after it was published and even after its author, Senator Barry Goldwater, had passed away. In a recent Netflix documentary, Get Me Roger Stone, about the controversial conservative political operative Roger Stone (who has Richard Nixon tattooed on his back) who was an advisor to President Trump when he was a candidate cites this book as a life changing moment for him after he read it. What recently inspired me to read this was listening to “Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus” by Rick Perlstein which also mentions the book frequently. It was there too I learned it was actually ghost written by Leo Brent Bozell Jr. who was Goldwater’s speech writer and also brother in law to another conservative legend, William F. Buckley Jr.

Although book is only 123 pages long it paints large picture of where conservative politics and beliefs were at in 1960. It covers not only conservatism itself the book also addresses issues of the time such as states’ rights, civil rights, farmers issues, labor, taxes, welfare state and of course the Soviet menace.

He grew to what could be the prototypical Republican conservative which meant fiscally conservative, champion of states’ rights, hard-core anti-communist and champion of the individual rights and liberty. He also had a tough and gruff demeanor which was helped by him being an avid pilot and active in the Air Force reserves rising the rank of Major General. He often bucked the Republican party of the time and was even unafraid to criticize the popular President Eisenhower. He also spoke as he felt which the media of the time were quick to pounce upon his gaffes or radical thought. Ironically it was this same quality his supporters loved.

It’s hard to say what Goldwater would think or feel about the state of politics today. The political landscape has changed a lot since 1960. Although Barry would go on to lose his 1964 Presidential bid in a landslide it has been said by those like the conservative icon and Pulitzer winning writer George Will that Goldwater’s movement didn’t achieve victory until Reagan became President in 1980.

One of the more interesting chapters was “The Perils of Power” in which Barry laments “Our tendency to concentrate power in the hands of a few men deeply concerns me.” This is in contrast to today’s Republican Party who seems to be focused onto holding onto power at all costs regardless of ethics or offense towards the Constitution. It will be interesting to see if “The turn will come when we entrust the conduct our affairs to men who understand that their first duty as public officials is to divest themselves of the power they have been given.” Given the current state of American political landscape it doesn’t appear to have arrived there yet.

The book is an interesting picture into what conservatives used to stand for, at least during the Goldwater and Reagan era. I’d recommend this for political junkies and those wishing to look into the past to see how politics have changed since the 1960’s. I’d certainly be interested to hear what Barry Goldwater would think of today’s politics.

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The Last Empire: Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal

The Last Empire: Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a collection of essays written by Gore Vidal between 1992-2000. His subjects can be other writers(past or present), usually in the form of a book review. Included are historical figures like George Washington, FDR, Kennedy and Nixon. He also writes about contemporary events like President Clinton’s impeachment woes. His writing is in depth and thoughtful. His wit is legendary and biting at times but he isn’t vulgar about it.

What often is missed in Vidal’s writing though is his patrician manner of speaking and presenting himself. You can sometimes detect in his words but it has to be seen to. If one looks up his debates with William F. Buckley Jr., highlighted in the documentary “Best of Enemies” during the Presidential conventions of 1968 one can see his always cool and seemingly mocking manner in full display.

It is excellent writing though at times when he’s rambling about something or someone you know or care nothing about it can be tedious to slog through. Those instances are many times equalled out by subjects that are of interest. I also encounter this when reading other collections of essays where the subject matter can vary wildly so it isn’t a knock against his writing which is superb, thought provoking and entertaining many times over. This is a good one to hang onto a pick out stuff read individually in the future.


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The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm not sure when I first heard of this book as it's one of those that always been around for years. Of course this has been around since the early 90's so I guess it has been. Recently I read the authors memoir "If I die in a combat zone box me up and ship me home" which renewed my interest in the authors work. The clincher was seeing Tim O'Brien on the Ken Burns documentary on the Vietnam War which I found very interesting and compelling.

The book is set in during America’s war in Vietnam with no particular year or place though some are mentioned throughout the book. The initial chapter (or I’ve seen described as vignettes) is self-titled “The Things They Carried” in which following a platoon in the jungles of Vietnam. Described are the significant characters you will hear more of throughout the rest of the book. Not only do we learn of the things they carried physically in great detail but also emotionally. They may all be in the same place or situation but as we learn further they do not all carry the same things.

“The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among the necessities or near-necessities were p-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations and two or three canteens of water.” (page 2)

Some of the things they carried were unique to the individual. The Platoon Leader, LT Cross, carried photographs of a girl he pined for but she did not return the same feelings. One soldier carried extra rations of peaches. Another carried a toothbrush, dental floss and extra soap stolen from a hotel while on R&R. Another always carried tranquilizers. Another carried condoms. Another had comic books. One carried a New Testament Bible. The list goes on.

The first vignette serves as an introduction and a jumping off point to the other stories that follow. It doesn’t follow a hard plot line or flow in chronological order. One story maybe the author writing as a middle aged father revisiting Vietnam with his sometimes bewildered daughter. Then we look into the childhood of the fictional author, also named Tim O’Brien. The use of the author’s name as the focal character gives the book an impression of a memoir but it in reality it is not. I had recently read the author’s actual memoir “If I die in the combat zone” so I already knew it wasn’t but even I had to remind myself it wasn’t autobiographical. I have no doubt though the author drew upon his own experiences in writing this book.

If one is expecting hardcore details of battles or gritty hardcore close combat this will probably disappoint although many details that are gory and unpleasant but it doesn’t dwell on the bloodshed or heroics. It’s a series of vignettes using the Vietnam War as a backdrop and drawing on the different soldiers to tell a series of separate stories loosely connected. Some are more believable than others but it is fiction. One often gets the feeling of underlying themes that are not obvious on the surface and require more thought. I can see myself reading this again and seeing stuff I missed previously.

I recommend this highly. Not just for those looking for books of war or combat but of excellent writing and storytelling. It makes you dive in and think about what you’re reading and into the minds and motivations of the characters. I already look forward to reading this again.



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Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch byRuth Cowen

Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch by Ruth Cowen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I got this as an Audible free offering with my subscription. I've really only have had a passive knowledge of the Queen Elizabeth II and her personal history. This story is a short biographical summary of her life and her time as queen. It's presented in a documentary style production with a modest amount of production with dramatizations, music and other sound effects.

As I mentioned I really only had modest amount of knowledge of the monarchy even so I did find this interesting as it did piece together the stuff I did know and filled in the gaps. It was interesting to see how Queen Elizabeth grew into her role and adapted and yet remained a steady figure amidst all the turmoil, gossip and controversy's. It does give a picture of how the monarchy has changed thru the years and how peoples attitudes towards them have changed also.

This is not the most in depth biography I'm sure but this will give someone the basic history of Queen Elizabeth II's life and the monarch itself in the last hundred years. I think it gives one a good starting point if one is really interested in them.

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Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus by Rick Perlstein

Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus by Rick Perlstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Given the state of today's current volatile partisan politics this book is still relevant and does shed some light onto the beginnings of it. The book looks at the beginnings of Barry Goldwater and what led up to his unprecedented popularity and then to his eventual landslide defeat in 1964 to President Johnson.

My recent reading obsession has been the 1960's. I was born in the middle of the decade but have not recollection of it. It perhaps growing up in the shadow of this tumultuous time in our country(and the world to) that has peaked my curiosity. The more I learn of this decade the more I realize it's impact it had on our society. I'm often curious as to attitudes and the way we looked at our government before and after this era. Obviously I only have the benefit of seeing what happened afterward which may not be perceptible as I don't have anything to compare it to.

Back to the book. Before this book I didn't really have an in depth knowledge of Senator Barry Goldwater. I did get the sense he was an icon in the conservative politics. I had heard of his defeat and his famous book "Conscience of a Conservative"but not much more.

I got the sense he was popular because he had a no nonsense approach and spoke his mind with out sugar coating his ideas or speech. These days we call it not being politically correct. He tended to say what people wished to express but were afraid to. I could help but draw parallels to supporters of our current President whom often quote a similar quality. He was a pilot and often projected a tough cowboy-like image. He was loved by many but scorned by establishment Republicans of the time.

The book paints his as sort of a reluctant Presidential candidate. He would often ignore prepared remarks or speeches and go off on tangents that would give those trying to help him fits. He wasn't much interested in being a polished candidate and it would seem he'd rather lose than do compromise his beliefs. He was also reluctant to disavow extremists in his party who supported him. It was probably this stubbornness that lead to his defeat but ironically enamored him to the conservative cause.

Although the book focuses on Goldwater the author also fills us in on what is going on in society at the time. Delves into events like the turmoil in Berkeley, the Kennedy assassination, the beginnings of trouble in Vietnam and the growing conservative movement that would continue long after his inevitable defeat.

It was hard not to draw comparisons to today's political climate. It's certainly an interesting book if you're looking into the roots of today's politics and conservatives in general. This is also first of a trilogy by the author the next s called "Nixonland" which I have listened too and also recommend.

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Everything We Had by Al Santoli

Everything We Had by Al Santoli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A gripping oral history from veteran's who served in the Vietnam War. It roughly follows the war chronologically but there is a lot of over lapping of time periods. Experiences range from Green Berets, grunts, officers in the field, medics, those working for CIA, pilots, POW's and so on. Some of its heartbreaking and other times savage. An excellent book if you'd like to hear from the boots on the ground point of view of the war.

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The Final Days by Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward

The Final Days by Carl Bernstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a behind the scenes look at the final days of the Nixon Administration. A quick background summary is that in 1972 burglars were caught breaking in into Democratic National Committee located in Washington D.C. . Eventually the the burglars were connected to the White House and Nixon. Much of this is covered in Bernstein and Woodwards more well known book(and movie) All the Presidents Men.

This book picks up in mid 1974 about the time the famous tapes were an issue before the Supreme Court because Nixon had refused to turn them over. These tapes are recordings of conversations and phone calls Nixon had started recording in 1971. Nixon tried various tactics like releasing only transcripts of tapes and then only certain tapes. Finally after a fruitless battle in the Supreme Court he was ordered to release them all. It was with this final tape release the now famous "smoking gun" tape that showed he had been lying since nearly the beginning about a cover-up. It was after that his support in Congress crumbled and impeachment proceedings were being started. Rather than going thru a certain impeachment and removal from office that could take months of turmoil and distraction he resigned in August 1974.

The book has a slow pace at first as it builds up to the impending finally. It does pick up towards the end as the drama builds. Nixon spends a lot of time fluctuating whether to resign or fight until the end the last few days.

The book still feels relevant today given current political climate and talk of impeachment. This kind of gives an idea of what it may take for it to happen again. It's not quite as easy as some may think. I recommend this for political junkies and 20th century U.S. history buffs.

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The Last Chapter

 "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us"

- Gandalf(The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien)

On a free morning before work I decided to head up to "The Shire" a couple of towns over from me to look for a book I've had a hard time finding, at least reasonably priced. It's out of print and thought what better place than this used bookshop to look for it. I had only in the past five years or so discovered "The Shire" and it's wonders. It is not your normal bookstore as it's part of a long retired mill factory typical in New England that also houses a fabric store, church and other business.

Caught at The Shire.

Upon entering won can not be at the very least awed at the shear volume books almost immediately. The height, length of shelves and sheer volume of books gives it the illusion of having no end. Upon first entering one might get the impression of chaos but if one looked closely you see stuff was organized by either subject or genre into little nooks. I usually had a hard time getting ten feet past the door as immediately after entering the door was the section on local New England books which I had a special interest in.

Imagine my surprise as I walk toward the door on a hot summer day to see a small handmade sign saying closed. At first I wondered if it was a normal day closed for some reason but in another window another sign saying "Permanently closed". That got my attention. I peer in the windows and sure enough it looked like someone was in process of packing boxes in books with some shelves already gone and a two wheel dolly waiting for someone to cart a load away. I went inside the foyer and looked in the tall bookshelves that dominated the rear 2/3's of the build were still full of books but area in front looked different and was in disarray as shelves were missing boxes looked like in the midst of being packed. I saw no one inside nor any further signage telling any information or reason of closing.

I got home and I did a little research and found an article mentioning "The Shire" and found out the elderly gentleman's name whom I always working there. It was co-owned by Jack Boland and Jean Wallick. The articles I found were not current so it didn't shed any light onto the reasoning of the closing. I Googled Jack Boland's name and came up an obituary of John Boland who recently passed away. Someone mentioned "The Shire" in the guestbook and I knew I had the right one. I had feared this was reason behind the closing. 

 

The news of Jack's passing made me wonder what is the future happening to The Shire Bookstore and it's vast collection. The Facebook page and website are still up as of this writing and with no news. I will miss the smell of old books and the site tall shelves that seemed endless. It makes me wish I had visited more often than I did. I will miss Jack who's gentle manner and looks reminded me of Gandalf from the fictional Shire and Jean who once even covered a book for me cause it had a small tear in jacket cover.  It's like the old adage that you don't know how much you'll miss something until it's gone.

Huế 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam by Mark Bowden

Huế 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam by Mark Bowden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of the most intimate and intense books of American War in Vietnam I’ve ever read. It just seems now that the battle of Hue during Tet in 1968 is getting the attention it deserves. It seemed to have been just bundled in with the Tet offensive all together. Where most of the Tet offensive was over relatively short time the battle for Hue went on for over 3 weeks in what could at first be called lost in the chaos in the beginning of the offensive when all of South Vietnam. Then a denial or lack of awareness of military commanders on the seriousness of the situation in Hue where the whole city had been taken over except for two hold outs, a MACV(American) compound and a ARVN(South Vietnam) HQ in separate parts of the city. What followed was weeks of vicious street fighting for every inch of land. Of course the civilian population were not only trapped but were often caught in the crossfire and many fell victim to Communist reprisals.

Militarily Tet and battle of Hue was a defeat for North Vietnam. What made it significant was that our government had been leading the public to believe we were winning and light was at the end of the tunnel. An essential reading for those trying to understand the Vietnam War in general as it encapsulates many of elements that were prevalent such as military leadership caught by surprise, tenacious enemy that won’t quit, and our government leading us to believe the light was the end of the tunnel when in fact we were no closer than when it all started.

I did listened to this on audio(which was awesome) but I will probably get the physical book to reread as it’s that good.



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Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash's Greatest Album by Danny Robins

Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash's Greatest Album by Danny Robins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm the mildest of Johnny Cash fans but I have found his persona fascinating and his place in American popular is legendary. I remember as a kid finding this album(they were among aunts and uncles collection at my grandparents house) and had wondered why a country album was mixed in with pop and rock albums of early 70's. Honestly I've only heard a few of Cash's songs and probably most I know about Cash's career can be summed up in the movie "Walk the line"(Joaquin Pheonix as Cash) which begins and ends just as he's about to go on stage at Folsom Prison. I did read his autobiography also many years ago to after seeing the aforementioned movie.

What this turns out simply to be is another audio-documentary about the classic live album of Johnny Cash's "At Folsom Prison". It was turning point in Cash's career in the late sixties. Coincidentally Elvis Presley, a friend and musical peer, also had a similar experience with career around the same time after a TV special.

The story narrated a sometimes the overly dramatic English author loses it's charm at times. Some of the more interesting facts is that this was not Cash's first prison concert as he had done("Walk the line" movie gives the impression it's the first one) as he had been doing them before but this was the first one recorded for an album which was a hard sell to the record company at the time. It features interviews and soundbites from the album.

A major part of the story was about Glen Shurley, a prisoner at Folsom, who's song "Greystone Chapel" was smuggled to Cash and was featured in the concert/album. After which Cash lobbied for his early release a time afterward. Upon release he did record an album and tour with Cash enjoying some success but it was short lived. After a falling out with Cash he fell into obscurity and tragically took his own life in 1978.

Perhaps the biggest bit of drama is about the title song(Folsom Prison Blues) itself in which we find out the iconic cheer after the line" I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die" wasn't real and was actually added in later in production.

It's an interesting story if you want to know a bit more backstory about the iconic album, Johnny Cash and Glen Shurley. The author does play up the drama but seems a little thin on actual substance but is still interesting at times.

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P.S. At the time of this posting this audio book appear to be unavailable on Audible and I'm unable to find out what this is about. This was a free offering as part of my Audible membership as an "Audible Original". If someone knows what the issue is feel free to post about it. Thank you ahead of time.

The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis

The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unlike many other books about the Trump administration which take aim at Donald's actions and words this book instead takes a look at the inner workings of government. It paints a picture of a picture of incompetency or the very least a lack of knowledge of the what the departments in government actually do and how the benefit all of us.

The author takes an in depth look at few government departments and takes in in depth look at them. He looks at how the department of Agriculture funds food stamps and school lunch programs for families in need. Or how important it is that the Department of Energy keeps track of (and maintains) our nuclear arsenal and the materials that make them. How the Commerce Department is one of the worlds biggest collectors of weather data.

One gets the feeling that the incoming administration was caught off guard in winning and still hasn't taken seriously the concept of managing these vast departments. I think this lack of knowledge of how much our government does and either a lack of awareness or appreciation for what is being done is a pervasive outlook of a lot of Americans. In short our government does more good than you may be aware of.

The book is relatively straight forward reading style and is not too long. Although it gives relative statistics and facts it does not overwhelm you with too much information which could make for heavy reading and cause one to lose interest and attention.

As I said before this doesn't take direct aim at the President himself but takes a look at how his management style(or lack of) and how it can affect how our government is run. For gossipy tales of Trump's awfulness from former staffers , leaky aides or whoever you'll have to look elsewhere.

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The Declaration of Independence with short biographies of its signers by Thomas Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence with short biographies of its signers by Thomas Jefferson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a nice pocket sized hardcover copy of the the Declaration of Independence. It also includes short paragraph length biography's of the signers in the back. Although pocket sized I'd say it's more suitable for a handy bookshelf reference as the cover is handsome and presentable and would get wrecked it someones pocket. Besides it'd feel as if you had a piece of thin plywood in your pocket, not very comfortable. Enjoy.

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The Korean War by Max Hastings

The Korean War by Max Hastings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After finish this I could help but see this as a precursor to American War in Vietnam in flared up in the following decade. It is often the conflict that receives less attention(at least in the United States) than it should squeezed in between World War 2 and Vietnam. Perhaps because it was perceived as a draw with no obvious winner could be declared. Even veteran's were treated differently who came home. In World War 2 servicemen received ticker tape parades . Fast forward to the Vietnam veterans getting yelled or spat upon the Korean veteran's were often unrecognized or just blended back in society with little or no fanfare other than perhaps their immediate family or friends.

It also seemed that the United States learned little from the Korean War with a high industrialized nation fighting against an underdeveloped agricultural nation who just gained it's sovereignty relatively recently much like Vietnam a generation later. Also add in that both counties(Vietnam and Korea) had leadership that was barely any better than the Communists that were trying to take over.

This is a decent book that covers a war that should be more recognized. It has a blend of on the ground military action, what the General's see, what the politicians see and then the folks back home. I have to admit even being a U.S. History buff I knew little details of the war itself. The author also dives into subjects like POW's on either side, undercover action behind the lines of battle. It was also interesting to listen to it from an English perspective on what is mostly perceived (at least in America) as an American effort where the contributions from other nations especially since the action was under (at least officially) as a United Nations banner. The book in general gives a good overall picture of the war especially if you knew little of it before.



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Red House: Being a Mostly Accurate Account of New England's Oldest Continuously Lived-in House by Sarah Messer

Red House: Being a Mostly Accurate Account of New England's Oldest Continuously Lived-in House by Sarah Messer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I came across this book reading an article about, I've forgotten exactly where now, and it mentioned the my old hometown of Marshfield, Massachusetts. It is a relatively small but popular town that is now known for it's sightings of resident Steve Tyler of Aerosmith. It also caught my interest because I while living there I too was living in an old red farm house that was my grandparents. Obviously not the same house and it was on the other side of town. The author was also there around the same time but I never knew her personally as she was a grade ahead of me. It gave me a little more understanding of references to the region and town. It is located on what is known locally as the South Shore midway between the well known Boston and the historic Plymouth. If you think of it one could hardly escape American history between these well known locations of early American history. Many of our school field trips were either to Boston or Plymouth historic sites.

The book has a mixture of three story lines. First, in not in any particular order, is a personal memoir that covers the authors childhood to adulthood. Thru house fires, drug addiction, renovating the house and efforts writing the book itself. Secondly is the local geographic history of the immediate area. Third was the family history of the Hatch's,the original family that owned it, from colonial times to the present day(as of the books writing).

I did learn some interesting local history along the way that I didn't know before. It was when I was a kid living in this town and learning of local history that sparked a lifetime interest in history itself.

The book comes back to original family as the author reconnects to the original family that owned the house(child of owner who sold the house but had already passed away) which makes for a warm closure to the story.

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Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend by Tony Fletcher

Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend by Tony Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Who is the group I most identified with as a teen many decades ago. This is a must read for any fan of the group. It is quite extensive(over 600 pages) and rarely boring. Not only is this the story of the legendary and sometimes infamous Keith Moon it is also chronicle of the group that ascended to the heights of success unimaginable when they started. The group's final piece that brought them together was Keith and turned out to be key ingredient the their success. He became part of their image, sound and legend. When died the group was never the same again. They tried for several years after to continue but never regained their former glory.

Of course Keith will forever be remembered for being crazy and over the top in almost everything he did. To borrow a phrase from "This is Spinal Tap" he lived life to 11 on a scale of 1-10. He set the the standard of rock and roll excess and decadence.

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Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story by Roger Daltrey

Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story by Roger Daltrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a longtime fan of The Who it was fun to listen to Roger talk about his life in and outside of the group. He provided the bravado muscle on stage and in the music itself. The book provides the backstory of his trademark image and sound. He has that blue collar tell it like it is quality. The tough gritty character he projected on stage was what he is like in real life.

He tells us how he went from a kid building his first guitar from scrap wood to struggle and work up to being one of the most powerful rock vocalists of his time. He amazingly is still doing it today. In between are the stories of the rock and roll life. We get his perspective on all the sex, drugs and rock and roll. Of course he mentions the early death of their drummer Keith Moon whose excesses finally caught up with him. He also talks of the loss of legendary bassist John Entwistle who despite being quiet on stage loved the rock and roll life style. Of course we can’t forget the creative (and sometimes physical) battles with guitarist and the bands primary songwriter Pete Townshend.

On a personal note we find out he’s been married to the same woman since 1972 with many children. Although he and his wife seemed to have worked out an understanding about other women and being on the road which you can imagine can be controversial to some. He has seven children, one from his first marriage, three from his present marriage and three more from another mother (see the above mention of being on the road). All are included in his life currently.

It’s a great book if you are a fan of The Who. It’s not quite as intellectually or spiritually deep as Pete Townshend’s memoir “Who am I” from several years ago. It’s also not as crazy as the Keith Moon biography by Tony Fletcher, ”Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend”(which I’m still reading as of this writing). He’s down to earth and is mostly unapologetic about his views and actions. He’s comfortable with whom he is and still loves what he does which is to being a singer in a rock and roll band.


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This Is His Day

Someone to remember this day is Daniel John Dabrue. He was my mother’s cousin who was killed in Vietnam on June 4, 1968. I don’t remember him as I was only a year and half old but had heard of him as I grew older. Growing up in the shadow of Vietnam I didn’t know a lot about the war but I did have uncles who served, including one severely wounded, I looked up to them with lots of respect and honor which I still do to this day. 

So when I visited Washington D.C. last year the Vietnam War Memorial Wall was on my must visit list. Although I didn’t know him personally I thought my Mom would like it if I found “poor Danny’s” name there. It was quite crowded being a holiday week(4th of July) and despite the oppressive heat. They do have books where you can look up people on the wall. Daniel is located on Panel 60W, Line 08. I was able to locate him fairly easy. One thing I noticed is that even with huge crowds people they were relatively quiet as they walked thru. I later showed her pictures of his name and she was thrilled. 

Daniel was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts to Louis and Anna Dabrue on August 27, 1949. He also has a sister Elaine. In Boston, Massachusetts on May 31, 1967 he joined the United States Marine Corp. After basic training he arrived in Vietnam on December 9, 1967 and was assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment. June of 1968 his unit was committed to a series of combat missions in the northern Quang Tri Province. On the 4th of June his platoon was southwest of Co Ha Pat(mountain) near the Loation border. His company was probed and attacked by a NVA unit (North Vietnamese Army) with crew served weapons(machine guns, mortars etc..) and small arms fire. His unit took many casualties and PFC Daniel Dabrue was one of those killed that day by rifle fire. He was less than three months shy of his 19th birthday. He is buried in Rock Ridge Cemetery in Sharon, Massachusetts.

This is his day.

The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson

The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the behind the scenes events of the untimely death of porn star August Ames who committed suicide after a social media pile on by others after refusing to work with a male performer who had only done work with other males so she was perceived as homophobic.

Ronson then goes on a journey uncovering the stories of August's personal life and those connected with her. Some moments, even up to end, it seemed difficult to gleam exactly what the author was looking for. To add to it this style of audio-book was more or less a series on interviews with those involved between the author's narration and thoughts of his own. This made it seem like more like a podcast than a book.

The series of interviews and events opens a window into the world of porn. To some degree it confirms the perception of this industry that many of the performers and those behind the scenes are imperfect and many times have a lot of emotional baggage they bring a long.

Even at the end it was hard to define exactly what this it at story was about. It wasn't a true story nor one exclusively about social media bullying, though that did occur it wasn't the only factor. The best I could summarize was that it was tragic story of a trouble young woman, who worked in an career field that seemed ill equipped to help her because many of those around her were also fighting their own battles.

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The other Red House in Marshfield

Recently I came across a book called Red House by Sarah Messer which was about an old red house in Marshfield, Massachusetts that the author grew up in. This peaked my interest to say the least as I also grew up in Marshfield in an old red farm house that was owned by my grandparents. Ironically the author and I are about the same age but I believe we were a year apart in school so I didn't know her back then. It had still peaked my interest. I was able to procure the book thru my local library and started in on it. 

My grandfather in the mid 50's

It wasn't just the nostalgia bug that bit me but it reminded me of what many of my cousins had talked about writing about the house in Marshfield as in retrospect it had grown in legend in many storied we heard from our elders. We had often, perhaps just in passing, thought we ought to write a book or at least record these stories in some way. 

The house in the 50's judging by the car in the yard.

My grandparents had moved there from Foxboro in the mid 50's after growing out of the house they had there with 9 kids, my mother being the second oldest. Needless to say it was a house that rarely went without some type activity going with that many children running around. I remember my grandfather joking that he never knew half the kids running around the house at times. By the time we moved there in the 70's it was time for the grandchildren to take reign. Thanksgiving and Christmas we had many uncles,aunts and cousins visiting and staying over for the holiday. It was usually a fun time for most of us. It became the family central point. 

A drive by I did several years back. Back to yellow it appears.

I think at first my parents only planned on staying there temporarily but when they divorced it became permanent. As a kid was great place with a large yard and field in back(about an acre or so) and large enough inside to not be bothersome to others and have some of your own space. The inside was an interesting mishmash of design and function. Some upstairs doors had notches cut out to account for the pitch in the roof. One small bathroom in back seem to be an after thought and many times at night you'd feel like someone would peek in on you. On the second floor their was a flat spot of about 6' x 8'was  formed because it was shaped like a U as a bedroom could look over a few feet to one across from it with the upstairs bath being the bottom. It's make a great secluded deck if someone put a door to it.

  

Another with my grandfather. It was yellow then but had been painted red when I moved in.

A big part of the house were the spooky stories we were told.  My grandmother told us of giggling children(usually done when kids were suppose to be in school) turning off her vacuum and running away. A friend of the family seeing a ghostly gowned woman and running downstairs naked. My mother claims to not only have seen the same gowned woman but also one of a man standing over her bed with an ax and sometimes he even sat on the bed. Another story was of a screaming woman running from upstairs and outside to the street. My cousins thought these were great stories but we had to sleep there when they went home. 

I'm sitting by a fireplace when I was about two. I didn't move in until I was about 5 or 6. 

Perhaps I'll make this on on going series and start researching more. Thanks for coming by.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first came across this story in the form of Charlton Heston's post apocalyptic film called "The Omega Man" as I kid which as always fascinated me with the desolated city(set in 1970's Los Angeles I believe) where a lone man survives and battles against mysterious creatures by night. I didn't find out until adulthood that it was based upon this story.

The story follows Robert Neville is alone after what is speculated to be an airborne virus that if it doesn't eventually kill you turns you into something in-between that are like a vampire/zombie mix who relentlessly seek out other survivors who only venture out at night. He constantly battles loneliness and sorrow. He barricades himself at night, By day he hunts down these vampire-like creatures to kill them and also spends time trying to figure out what happened(this is where the airborne virus theory comes from). Eventually he comes across another woman survivor but it turns out she isn't exactly who or what she first says she is. I won't spoil the rest.

The book also contains other short stories that are along the horror genre. The stories reminded of reading Stephen King which isn't surprising as he's quoted on the cover as Matheson being a big influence on him which is easily apparent after reading the book. If you are a fan of King then I think you'd enjoy this book very much.

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The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed the movie for a long time but just recently read the book for the first time. The story seems to resonate a lot with me as I see a lot of Macon Leary in myself. Even more so after completing the book as it goes inside Macon deeper than the film did.

I’ll give the film credit for following the book very well. Obviously scenes or storylines were condensed or dropped completely. Many times reading the dialogue in book I remember it verbatim from the movie so I think they stayed as close to the book as possible.

Macon is the expert at avoiding anything uncomfortable or confrontational.
He keeps to himself and rarely expresses a desire or makes a tough decision for himself. Much of his life seems to be just going with the flow and letting others decide stuff.

Muriel Pritchard is pretty much the opposite. She’s open and shares everything up front. She is resourceful and hardworking. She is fiercely protective of her young boy. Her character is a slightly more harsh than the movie version but only by a little.

It is a heartwarming story with a quirky sense of humor at times. I feel like I learned a bit about relationships and life in general from. I’m sure I’ll revisit this book in the future as I seem so attached to the story.

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