Dec 3

Dec 3 Stephen Jay Gould's ROCKS OF AGES

History, Non Fiction, Philosophy, Religion, Science

Scientist Gould in this short book attempts to demonstrate both (a) how Science and Religion can learn to co-exist and (b) how efforts to control Science through Religion-imposed limits are prime examples of the two “magisteria,” as he refers to Science and Religion, transgressing on each other’s territory.

Sep 20

Sep 20 Stephen Alter's FANTASIES OF A BOLLYWOOD LOVE THIEF: INSIDE THE WORLD OF INDIAN MOVIEMAKI

Dennis D. McDonald

Bollywood, Movies, Non Fiction

This book is a great read if you are at all interested in the nuts and bolts of film production.

Jun 10

Jun 10 Will Eisner's THE PLOT: THE SECRET STORY OF THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION

Dennis D. McDonald

Graphic Novel, History, Non Fiction, Antisemitism

It is common knowledge that the book The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which tells about a sinister Jewish plot to take over the world, is a 19th-century fabrication that emerged in Europe during the time of the infamous Dreyfuss affair.

May 28

May 28 Chiara Frugoni's BOOKS, BANKS, BUTTONS, AND OTHER INVENTIONS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction

Beautifully translated by William McCuaig from the original Italian, this lavishly illustrated book tells the surprising story of the many important inventions that emerged from Europe during the Middle Ages.

May 28

May 28 Elie Wiesel's “NIGHT”

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, History, Non Fiction, War, Antisemitism

This short book, newly re-translated into English, is the memory of a teenage Jewish boy who is sent to a series of German concentration camps during World War II.

May 1

May 1 Michael Carlowicz and Ramon Lopez' STORMS FROM THE SUN

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Non Fiction, Science

Many years ago my dad and my brothers and I would take our telescope out to the back yard during the day and point it at the sun. Holding a white card about a foot away from the eyepiece we would watch sunspots projected on the card, the easily visible evidence of massive solar magnetic storms.

Mar 4

Mar 4 Evan Thomas' "SEA OF THUNDER"

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

This extremely well researched and written tale of World War II tells the story behind the climactic Battle of Leyte Gulf. This was the last great sea battle fought by huge opposing forces — the Americans and the Japanese — involving both battleships and aircraft carriers.

Feb 18

Feb 18 Gene Luen Yang's AMERICAN BORN CHINESE

Dennis D. McDonald

Graphic Novel

I’ve already written about how I came upon this book through a combination of new and old media usage. Now I’ve read it and I am very impressed with the book’s quality, humor, nostalgia, and sensitivity.

Jan 8

Jan 8 Freeman Dyson's “THE SCIENTIST AS REBEL”

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science

This collection of essays and reviews by the physicist/mathematician Freeman Dyson makes for fascinating reading. The range of topics is broad and the style of writing is clear and approachable. Topics include religion, hydrogen bombs, Isaac Newton, the relative roles of technology and ideas in the advancement of science, the future of humanity in space (think: comets), and the role of amateurs in scientific research.

Jan 1

Jan 1 Gerard J. DeGroot's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science, Space Program

As a longtime fan of the U.S. space program my current lack of interest in the International Space Station and the recently announced Lunar Colony comes as a bit of a surprise to me.

Dec 19
Dec 19 Arturo Pérez-Reverte's THE NAUTICAL CHART

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction

Oct 11
Oct 11 Conn Iggulden's EMPEROR: THE GODS OF WAR

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction

Aug 5

Aug 5 Patrick O'Brian's DESOLATION ISLAND

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian, War

May 29

May 29 Patrick O'Brian's THE MAURITIUS COMMAND

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian, War

The book starts out with Jack, reduced to half pay while he awaits a command, surrounded by his family (and mother in law) in a shabby English country “estate” where he is proving unequivocally that he does not have the makings of a farmer. One day his friend Steven visits and announces that Jack will receive orders and a command. Jack’s assignment: assume command of a small fleet and retake two islands in the Indian Ocean from the French.

Apr 9

Apr 9 Peter F. Hamilton's JUDAS UNCHAINED

Dennis D. McDonald

Science Fiction

I’m on page 268 of this 827 page novel. I loved the author’s Pandora’s Star but this is proving to be a real slog and I’m ambivalent about proceeeding. Here’s why:

Feb 16

Feb 16 Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS

Dennis D. McDonald

Fantasy, Fiction

I finished reading Neil Gaiman’s Hugo-winning novel AMERICAN GODS in between shoveling snow and decorating for Christmas. It’s a good but long read.

Jan 24

Jan 24 Dean King's A SEA OF WORDS

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, O'Brian, Reference

Dean King, with John B. Hattendorf and J. Worth Estes, authored this third edition subtitled “A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O’Brian.” This is a perfect example of a good “grazing book.” You can dip into it at any time and find something interesting.

Jan 1

Jan 1 Patrick O'Brian's THE POST CAPTAIN

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian

Writing about the writing in Patrck O’Brian’s splendid novel The Post Captain requires an act of humility. As an example of the potential glories of written English, this book is a nonpareil.

Oct 28

Oct 28 Suketu Mehta's MAXIMUM CITY

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, History, Movies, Non Fiction

The author, a Western educated writer who returns with his young family after 21 years away from Bombay, starts the book with a history of Bombay and some of its more unusual social and cultural aspects, such as its legacy of tenants’ rights that has stultified development and maintenance of the city’s vast population of rental units.

Aug 26

Aug 26 Patrick O'Brian's MASTER AND COMMANDER

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian, War, Medicine

What comes across in the pages of this novel is real, palpable, and authentic sounding. Reading about the friendship of Jack Aubrey and physician Maturin, with side references to music, science, medicine, Ireland, the Catalan language, courts martial, outdoor dinner parties disrupted by drunken sailors, and old Barcelona, is as vivid as history can get.