Laura Hillenbrand

Her next book was Unbroken, the biography of the World War II hero Louis Zamperini, published in 2010. If you haven’t heard of Zamperini, then you’re missing out on quite the story. In his youth, Zamperini (now 95 and an international speaker) was a top runner, with a four-minute mile in his sights and an eighth place finish in the 5k at the 1936 Berlin Olympics under his belt. When the war came around, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces. He survived a crash that stranded three of the eleven aboard the plane on a raft for 47 days at sea. And let’s just say that there’s more to the story, but I’ll let Hillenbrand do the rest of the narration for Zamperini’s truly astounding tale. This is truly a story you don’t want to miss.
Hillenbrand has been living with a debilitating condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which caused her to cut her college studies short. She is rarely able to leave her home due to her CFS. When asked by the Washington Post (see the article here) to comment on the irony of writing about such physical feats given her own physical state, Hillenbrand revealed what sets her apart from other authors. Her own physical incapacity gives her the drive to escape intellectually; describing another person’s physical accomplishments is her way of “living vicariously.” So that’s how she became a storyteller of nonfiction like no other before her.

Through My Eyes

Yet, Tim Tebow would have never been such a famous figure in football without the decision first made by his parents. The book starts out with his parents’ decision to give birth to their son instead of following the suggestion of doctors to abort him. It is this beginning that has set the stage for his life.

His parents grew up on a farm; from them he received an education and learned the value of hard work, persistence, and his faith. When Tim wanted to become a quarterback, his father supported his dreams and found a team that would play him in that position. It was through his family’s support and his faith that he achieved his dream of becoming a quarterback in the NFL.

Most of the football in the book takes place during his time with the University of Central Florida Gators and his first year in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. While he wasn’t as famous as he is now during this time in his life, he already had his faith.

Perhaps, that is what makes this book so unique. Tim Tebow isn’t afraid of making faith a part of his life or revealing how it influenced him. The book isn’t preachy at all and doesn’t try to convert anyone. It is a story of inspiration and his influences in life. His faith is as much a part of as his life as football is.

That being said, there are those who won’t particularly care for a story that has tones of Christianity in it. But that is a part of who Tim Tebow is and he is not ashamed of it.

While it is a inspirational story, if you are a critic or not a fan of Christianity, than you probably won’t like this book. Otherwise, it is one you should add to your collection.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

What this book is really is a memoir of Amy Chua’s experiences raising her daughters. It recounts the parenting tactics that she used to get her daughters to practice the piano. Oddly enough, she also tells about her dogs, which makes the book a little weird. Pretty much all is about the music and the dogs. The other stuff is just background.

The main reason that this has stirred up so many comments is that she relates this style of parenting to a “Chinese parenting style” while, really, it is Amy Chua’s parenting style. This classification has drawn a lot of criticism from Chinese and Asian parents who are adamantly opposed to some of the tactics she used to get her children to practice, such as withholding dinner for an inordinately long period of time.

The book is certainly self-involved and the writing clearly reflects that. It tends to come off as self-centered and selfish at times — like when she refuses to let the children spend time with their grandmother. It also tends to be honest, and she does put herself out there.

This book will certainly insult more than a few parents, especially those of Chinese descent. While there are some good points and maybe a lesson or two to learn, the book is far too self-involved to be a parenting guide. In fact, it is more an example of what not to do as a parent than it is about what to do as a parent.

If you want to see what the controversy is all about, get a copy from the library. Other than the curiosity factor, there really isn’t much reason to add this book to your collection.

Night is a complete portrayal of Wiesel’s experiences and survival within the Holocaust. Be warned though, it is written in the first person, which effectively brings the reader into the horrors of the Holocaust as if standing right next to Wiesel in the concentration camps. It is anything but an easy read. The story begins with a short background of Wiesel’s Polish-Jewish roots, as well as his childhood. Wiesel was a particularly intelligent, motivated, and fervently Jewish young man, which is seen in his close relations with his family, community, and the synagogue in the 1940’s. As a teenager, Wiesel writes of being forcibly moved into the Warsaw Ghetto, where he began to feel the horrifying effects of the Nazi regime firsthand. Next are the absolutely agonizing chapters in which Wiesel describes the arduous train ride to Auschwitz concentration camp, and the helplessness of the Jews in the situation.

Upon arrival at Auschwitz, the horrors of selection, the gas chambers, and the crematoria are described in colorful and gut-wrenching detail to the reader. At the Buna Concentration Camp, Wiesel’s descriptions evoke feelings so strong from the reader that it may as well be happening right in front of their own eyes. Imagine watching your family, friends, and innocent children suffer the inhumanity of the camps. Wiesel survived the camps through a series of events that can be attributed to nothing more than “dumb luck.” It is amazing to read his near-death experiences, and then sit in awe at his bravery, strength, and his faith. The spiritual and emotional depth in the book are only two of the reasons why Night has become a modern classic.

Night is not an easy read, emotionally, but takes about 3-4 hours to read the entire work. Although it may not be your first choice, it is an important story that the world must never forget. It remains relevant even today, with the horrific genocides currently occurring in Africa, rivaled only by the events that Wiesel portrays in his memoir. I was required to read it for a Judaism class, but found the lessons in Night applicable to someone of any race, religion, or nationality. Wiesel wrote Night as a reminder of what humanity is capable of, and we must never forget. And although not easy “beach” reading, Night is a classic that is a must-have for any book collection. Also, it can be found for under $10 online and at most bookstores.

• What I Hate – Forget the A to Z books of the past, which were filled with animals and other friendly images. Roz Chast has put together an A to Z book with a much better subject: epic horrors and daily unpleasantries. You’ll be entertained by cartoon illustrations and appropriate supplemental text for every letter from A to Z.  Chast will help you develop a very necessary fear of abductions, rabies, tunnels, and much more.
• I Am Better Than Your Kids – If you don’t deal well with mean sarcasm, then you should stay away from this book. You will not be able to resist the urge to send this man hate mail. George Ouzounian, who goes by the pen name Maddox, spares no expense in letting you to know that your child’s poor attempts at art and the third-grade book reports you’ve saved belong in one place: the trash. You might be surprised by the hold this book can have on you. Readers love to hate Maddox.
• The Onion Presents: Christmas Exposed – The Onion Staff, a parody news organization, is always able to generate a good laugh. This Christmas, The Onion Staff brings us shocking tales of secret Santas and other wintery topics (such as the unavoidable dysfunctional family dinner), which prove to be quite illuminating (or at the very least, hilarious).
• Goodnight iPad – Goodbye moon, hello iPad. Ann Droyd‘s parody of Margaret Wise Brown‘s Goodnight Moon pokes fun at our plugged-in lives. No more do we say goodnight to our room or the cow jumping over the moon. No more do we say goodnight to our light or a red balloon. Today, we say goodnight to all of our gadgetry.
• Bossypants – Can you really go wrong with Tina Fey‘s autobiography? This book contains silly anecdotes that will draw laughter from you on every page. As a bonus, you will learn how Fey ended up on SNL and how she created 30 Rock.

A reader might equally enjoy some less recent, but equally humorous hits, such as George Carlin‘s Brain Droppings, which was published in 1997. I picked Brain Droppings up off of my neighbor’s shelf after Thanksgiving dinner and couldn’t put it down. I literally ended up taking it back home with me. Good humor never gets old.

In contrast, Boy by Roald Dahl is a darker picture of life in an English boarding school. To be sure, there are palpable differences between public and private schools, and all-boys’ and all-girls’ schools, but I think I behaved in school because I never wanted to get caned the way he did in the book.

One useful thing I learnt from Boy was that if you intend to fake appendicitis and go home for the day, the region under which your appendix is supposed to be has to feel rigid and slightly warm.

The importance of hygiene was also pointed out in the episode concerning Mrs. Pratchett the sweet shop owner, who had the filthiest, grubbiest hands you could imagine, and who would use those very same hands to dole out the sweets children came to buy from her. After all, wouldn’t you hide a dead mouse in a jar of candy just to teach her a lesson too?

I must also say that I was disappointed that I didn’t have an ancient half-sister on whose fiancé I could play pranks. Since I read (and reread) Boy, I have been on the lookout for sheep droppings with which I could use to substitute pipe tobacco. The only problem is, I don’t know any pipe-smokers, or where sheep roam around these parts.

The one thing that has stuck with me through the years, though, is how awesome it is to be given free candy and told to taste and review it. Also, if you’ve fractured your arm in a fall, check that the doctor is sober first before allowing him anywhere near you.

Released by Crown Publishers on November 9, 2010, Decision Points is not one of the absolute newest releases, but it is a book the remains relevant and insightful for any American alive during the second Bush administration. This memoir, as the title so cleverly suggests, centers on the key decisions of the Bush presidency and his insights into what he would have done differently. This is where my interest started to grow. Where the first two chapters center around Bush’s decisions in his life before presidency, such as his decision to quit drinking and his decision to run for governor of Texas in 1986, the next 12 chapters focus on the major events of his presidency, ranging from the September 11, 2001 attacks to the financial crisis of 2008.

There are some very interesting insights into Bush that I would not have expected, but there are also plenty of chapters in which Bush blatantly attempts to reshape his political legacy and correct some of the major poor decisions he made in his eight years as the “leader of the free world.” One of the mistakes in his presidency that Bush addresses is the way that his administration handled the response and relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As a New Orleanian, I knew this section would be entertaining. To “remedy” the issue, Bush simply writes, “As a leader of the federal government, I should have recognized the deficiencies sooner and intervened faster.” This is perhaps one of the least sincere, most bland attempts at reshaping a personal political legacy that I have ever seen.

The bland writing is a defect that is seen often throughout the Decision Points. It gets slightly more colorful when Bush writes that when he thinks about the Iraq War he still claims to have “a sickening feeling every time”. It is moments like this when I remember why Bush was so unpopular. The memoir is probably the most crass and informal memoir ever written by a president. While the book ends with Bush writing about picking up dog excrement, Decision Points does give key insights into why Bush made the decisions he did. To summarize the 484-page book, when it came time to make an important decision, he followed the guidance of Jesus Christ, and his own gut. This explains a lot.

Lanterns on the Levee is nothing short of elegant. The density and attention to detail of the scenes and people are impeccable. Percy describes the stratified society that he was born into. It was one of rich whites at the top, with a massive dominance over low-class whites and all blacks. He paints a vivid picture of growing up in Greenville, Mississippi, which is located on the Mississippi River, in the heart of the delta region. Throughout the novel, Percy attempts to show that the precious place that aristocracy holds in Southern society is declining before his very eyes. His usage of metaphors, as well as anecdotes conveys the point beautifully.

Percy’s views of African-Americans and poor whites are similar to those in Huck Finn, or other Southern literature of the period. He comes off as racist and pretentious frequently, but that was inevitable for a man of his class and wealth in that time period. For his time, he was even considered a raging liberal, with highly controversial views. He was a friend with Jews, and even some African-Americans. Due to this, he had many interesting interactions with the Ku Klux Klan, who loathed him. Percy, along with his father, defended African-Americans against the Klan. This is what makes the novel so interesting. Percy was an anomaly in his time period, and especially in his geographical location.

Percy also gives first hand accounts of what it was like to serve in World War I, be educated at Harvard, and even go on an expedition to Japan to simply write poetry. Percy’s jet-setter lifestyle is another unique aspect to the book. In viewing many different cultures, and receiving such a prestigious education, he had a very unique view of the South. This fact alone is enough to make Lanterns on the Levee a classic. If you are interested in history, the South, or simply reading a well-written novel, this is perfect. Not only will it take you back in time to a dark period in Southern history, it will take you back to society as it was before the modern era. Lanterns on the Levee is a window into a lost world, and is perfect for your next read. It can be found on Amazon for $5-15.

On December 9, 2008, former Governor Blagojevich was arrested by federal marshals at his Chicago home, and the state of Illinois had to face yet another governor in jail. Conveniently, I happened to be living in Illinois at the time, and was a witness to the circus that erupted from Chicago, to Springfield, and eventually around the nation. Known for his abnormally large hair, and his keen interest in plastering his name on every single project he started during his term, Blagojevich uses his book to give the reader the story from his point of view. Naturally, he begins with his colorful childhood in Chicago as the son of immigrants, and his rise to power. After marrying into one of Chicago’s biggest political families, he was elected  governor in 2002, and that was the beginning of the end.

‘Blago,’ as he is called, then takes the opportunity to explain the real story behind his arrest. He is accused of trying to sell the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama after he was elected as president. Although his self-defense is relatively poorly written and somewhat unorganized, Blago makes an almost convincing argument that he is innocent, and that the US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who is prosecuting the case, is actually out to advance his own career. So basically, Blago is trying to take the blame off of him, and place it on Fitzgerald, a typical move of the former governor.

It does not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Illinois politics, however, that another Illinois governor is being prosecuted. Let us not forget that two former governors were acquitted of crimes, and three before Blagojevich were convicted of crimes ranging from conspiracy, to perjury, to a case of giving away commercial drivers licenses for bribes. These precedents chip away at Blago’s argument. After reading the book, I am split in half, but still believe he was guilty of at least some of the charges.

Blagojevich was in fact convicted of 17 counts of fraud on June 27, 2011, and will most likely be spending some time in one of Illinois’ prisons. I recommend picking up a copy of The Governor today to decide for yourself whether the former governor was indeed a crook, or just sorrowfully misunderstood.

It is fitting that copies of The Governor can be found in “Bargain Books” bins nationwide for about $4.99 or for $2.76 new on Amazon.com.

As far as subtitles go, you can’t get much more straightforward than that! That is precisely what the memoir is about: 26-year-old David Dickerson gets a job a coveted job at Hallmark, where he realizes that his lack of life experience makes it difficult to integrate with this unique group of people. Somehow it took until I sat down in my beach chair to read it to fully process the word “true” in the subtitle and notice the “A Memoir” tag on the cover — I initially thought it was a work of fiction. That being said, I was somewhat disappointed by House of Cards. I found the protagonist annoying, which somewhat goes against the intent of a memoir. I think that if it had been a fictionalized story, as I thought it was initially, I might have enjoyed it more. However, as a memoir, I found that since I didn’t particularly care for the narrator, I had very little sympathy for him.

As David is shuffled from department to department at Hallmark, he finds that his coworkers find him odd and unpleasant to be around. Usually, the perspective of the storyteller puts a spin on the story being told. As such, the reader could expect David to defend himself. However, despite David’s apparent bafflement at these unfavorable reactions, they made perfect sense to me, even without the benefit of another’s input. He came off as a bit arrogant and narrow-minded, as well as completely oblivious to his own social awkwardness; it has the kind of awkward moments that makes the reader feel awkward as well. There are moments that I enjoyed, and I definitely thought parts were funny, but I found myself identifying more with David’s coworkers than with him.

Since I want to get into the publishing industry, I was able to find parts of the book interesting. Pitching concepts for greeting cards is fairly similar to pitching concepts for books, so the hierarchy is the same, as well as the creative energy. House of Cards has received good reviews, so maybe it was just me. I saw it described as “quirky” and “wonderfully weird,” which I suppose can mean hit-or-miss. For three dollars, it was worth a gamble.