Tracks--#36 finished

An older book, published in 1980 but the adventure was in 1977 I think.  Author Robyn Davidson is a younger lady that decides she wants to take camels from Alice Springs Australia to the western coast--to the ocean, through basically the desert there.  She first has to go to Alice Springs and learn about camels, how to train & ride them and everything else to even think about the trip.  She is also basically broke, living on her part-time work in a local bar and with a farm there.  She really gets to the heart of the time and issue of the Aboriginal people & their relationship with the white people in Australia.  I remember from when Olympics were there these issues were raised about the past and how still a struggle, this book really brought it out.  Also I wasn't even aware there were camels in Australia but I guess not native, they were brought there from Afghanistan & India by the British as working animals and then basically released into the wild.  After two years learning about camels she has this knowledge but no money to make the trip happen, she meets a photographer that has her send in to National Geographic and they sponsor her trip--she has the money to buy camels & supplies but she is conflicted because she wanted to do this on her own.  She does a really good job explaining the trip & the difficulties she has to endure and people she meets on the way as well.  It just seemed though once she got to a point, the details ended and the last 3rd of trip was wrapped up in like the 10-15 pages--not really sure why so abrupt at the end.  Still an interesting read about this adventure and time in Australia.

There was 1 WL for this book & I posted it & it is accepted.  I will be mailing it off later this week with the Stephen King book and at least one other one request from my bookshelf on PBS.

Elevation--#35 finished

 A Stephen King book that reminds me of Thinner--I think that was the name one of his Richard Bachman books from way back when.  I read it on a vacation one summer.  This one the main character is losing weight but his body isn't changing to appearances so people think he is same overweight guy as always.  Throw in a lesbian couple that are his neighbors that aren't accepted in the small Maine town and at first don't get along with him either.  In the end their couple's restaurant becomes a success and they are close friends with him and when his weight is near zero he floats away.  Doesn't say what happens beyond that.  A good quick read.

This is a large print copy--bought at a library sale for whole 50 cents.  Because large print there were still WL for it & I have posted it & will be mailing off later this week.

Vertical Run--#34 finished

 A corporate VP in a high rise in New York City is targeted by mercenaries for an unknown reason.  First his boss, the CEO tries to shoot him and then the mercenaries come after him.  He is mostly stuck in the building moving between floors to get away and attack.  It is from the early 1990s so again that mostly pre-cell phone time and all the other fun gadgets that would be brought to bear if was happening today.  Still a good quick read.

I have posted it on PBS & it is the only copy.  Since older book could be a while before it moves, just never know though.

Candy Freak--#33 finished

 The author is a candy freak, says he eats candy every day but with a high metabolism so no weight problem for him.  He talks about his history with candy & then branches out into looking into scarce or regional candy bars/manufacturers.  He travels to the different companies and tastes tests the candy & tours the factory.  At times funny and interesting and other times is just kind of slogging along.  I was hooked because he talked about Twin Bings--a candy bar made in Sioux City, IA and that I grew up on in NE.  For years could not find in St Louis but there is now one gas station that carries it.  Buckys and it is close to me so I go a few times a year to get my fix.  Buckys is in Omaha and I think they try to keep this store like those and for that reason the Twin Bings are there.  I am guessing at some point they won't be and I will be sad but for now still there.

I have posted it on PBS & it is the only copy in system so hope it gets request at some point.

Russian Roulette--#32 finished

The rest of the title is:  The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump.  This book came out in 2018 but crazy how this is still an issue in today's news.  First obviously Putin with his war in Ukraine, 2nd Trump still in the news every day it seems but even minor players like Hunter Biden, Paul Manafort, Christopher Steele & his dossier, and others--names that come up in book and in the 1/6 investigation.  Just crazy.  I am glad that I read this, is a very good deep dive into the whole Putin & Trump personalities. 

This is one that I will be seeing about loaning out to friends.  Just too good and still timely to post on PBS, there is 1 copy already there anyway.

Pop Apocalypse--#31 finished

 A futuristic look at the world through the screwed up son of a multi-billionaire computer guy that came up with huge innovations that changed the world.  Terrorism and super wealthy are regular things of the day.  Capitalism and wealth building seem to flow always up for the ones already wealthy.  Lots of complete access to the web but also complete access to each individual it seems.  The story itself is just okay, the screwed up kid tries to make good but things push him to more screwed up but he saves the world in the end.  Some of the ideas in the book are interesting but overall book was meh for me.

There were not copies in system and I posted it right away & got accepted.  I will be mailing off in the next couple of days.

Evicted--#30 finished

 A really powerful and eye opening read about the struggles of people barely hanging on in life and a look at their housing situation.  The author moved into a trailer park in Milwaukee that was close to closing because of problems there with drugs, tenants and crime and that starts his journey to the story of people he meets.  Milwaukee is similar to other cities in that there was white and black sections of town and both have a poverty class as well.  The people depending on their government checks and food stamps but for issues involved do not get government housing--they spend an enormous amount of their monthly income on housing and it doesn't take much to get them behind and then evicted and what that means as far as finding the next place to live.  This could mean homeless shelters, relatives so just someone they meet.  This book really brings this struggle out and makes you hope there is a better way.  The book is closing in on 10 years old but I am not sure if much has changed since he wrote it.

There are 34 WL for this book but will probably loan out to friends first before looking to mail off.

The Book of Joan--#29 finished

This is a book about Joan Rivers by her daughter Melissa Rivers.  I grew up in the '70s & '80s so I knew of Joan Rivers as a comic and a fill in for Johnny Carson but didn't really pay much attention to her career.  Later I know she did the red carpet shows and her daughter helped out but I never really paid attention to those either.  Not really sure why I picked up this book but found used & cheap and figured would be interesting and it is.  Joan led an interesting life and a different sort of Hollywood life than many I would guess--just married once and not really a movie star but doing comedy and things on cable later.  Interesting person and enjoyable read.

I have posted it on PBS & it is the only copy in system so figure at some point it should get requested. 

Benediction--#28 finished

 A story of small town life, an older married couple in town--he has owned & run the hardware store for years, they find out he has cancer & only a little time left.  A daughter that hasn't really settled down has moved back to help with his care.  A son that left and hasn't come back or been heard from left town & family because he was gay & there was no acceptance.  Some side stories about the neighbors and one of the pastors in town, really give the reader an insight into the town but don't take away from the man nearing the end of his life.

I read another book by this author & it too was really good, I will need to search out more by him.  Maybe not happy & uplifting stories but certainly well written and true.

There are 14 WL for this book but for now will keep it.  I really enjoyed but not sure as long term keeper but might be one to loan out to friends.

The Quartet--#27 finished

 Playing some catchup today on logging in my books read.  I finished this earlier this month but not exactly sure, probably a few days since the Black Diamond book was finished.  This is a look at the roles played by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay & James Madison took to get away from the Articles of the Confederation to get the Constitutional Convention called & the creation of our new Constitution and government.  I really interesting read.  Went into the problems with the Articles and the states just sort of deciding not to do things or even really participate and how our very new country was being threatened by that.  I really enjoyed this book even though a little dry, a lot of good information that we should probably all have.

There was like 16 WL for the book so I will get it posted & mailed off at some point but no hurry for now.

Black Diamond--#26 finished

 The rest of the title is The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues.  Just a quick easy introduction into the Negro Leagues from the 1800s to Jackie Robinson and after integration.  Not much in-depth and not many stories but like I said more of a introduction.  When I saw on PBS the ages for book were more pre-teen/early teen I understand. 

I have posted it on PBS, there was 1 WL for it but not accepted yet so will have to see if it gets moved or not.

Wonder Valley--#25 finished

 An interesting fiction book that looks at different people, starting with most 6 years earlier and bringing them together later.  This is in CA and the 6 years earlier is from a sort of hippie commune type place in the desert that has many troubles and sort of falls apart.  Then some of those drift into the seedy homeless part of LA and their lives there.  An interesting read and was a little confusing trying to remember where at in the story because author jumps back and forth between the now & earlier period.  I enjoyed it.

I have posted it on PBS & it is accepted so will be mailing off this morning.  When I started reading there was 1 WL, then I saw zero, then couple days ago 2 WL.  I finished Friday & there was zero again, posted it yesterday & was accepted.  Not really sure what is going on with this book but glad to be mailing it off so soon.

Idiot--#24 finished

 This is another book--memoir about a young lady that wants to be on TV/Movies and gets caught up in alcohol, drugs & hard drugs instead while pursuing her dream.  A sad story but she does get through it and is now sober and has a family & doing U-Tube shows.  I don't know her from anything besides the book but glad to see her get through those troubles.  I read another similar book My Fair Junkie a few weeks ago and I kind of realized these two are the success stories, how many people do not get cleaned up.  Both books I think mentioned people that died from drugs or committed suicide as well--really sad to think about that these 2 are probably the exception instead of the rule.  That is where their success becomes a book and the others become footnotes or sad memories. 

There are 8 WL for this book on PBS so I will get it mailed off at some point.