100 Things They Don't Want You to Know--#112 finished

 This is my last book finished in 2023, a new record for me of read books at 112.  I don't think I will shoot for the over 100 read in 2024--want to read some longer and more classic books--at least telling myself this right now.

This is about 100 things or people or happenings that have questions about them.  They range from Jack the Ripper, to Stonehenge, Easter Island, deaths of people, and just strange happenings.  An interesting sort of quick read that touched on a lot of stuff.  Nothing deep about any of them just usually 2 short pages written up.  Nice sort of quick read to end the year on.

There are no copies in PBS system but might see if friends would like it first.

Dear Strangers--#111 finished

 An interesting sort of book.  A young couple with two younger kids--I think 7 & 9 are planning to adopt a baby and just a few weeks before this when all approved for this, the dad--a doctor--dies of a heart attack.  The adoption still goes through but after a couple weeks the wife with the help of a neighbor that is infatuated with her decides to give up the baby.  Jump ahead almost 20 years and the son and daughter are living their lives but the son can't really let go of what happened to the baby.  He is a photographer that meets another photographer girl and start dating right as he figures out who that young baby became.  An interesting premise for a book and overall the book delivers as it is an interesting story.

There were no copies in PBS & I have already posted it, I would expect it to move at some point.

Daughter of the Saints--#110 finished

 A really interesting read about the fundamentalist morman sects that still believe in plural marriage.  The author grew up in the 1950s & '60s one of many children of her dad and his several wives--7 if I remember right at that point.  He later married additional but this was several years later.  Her dad was an interesting person in that he was sort of an educated doctor but sounds like the education was in his way--I guess back in the 1930s and '40s things were a little different.  The author talks about the extended family all living together in a sort of compound with several houses at one point but then having to split up and move around.  They moved to Mexico to meet up with another group at a couple points.  Also split up into several states to avoid looking like they were plural married.  Luckily the daughter did not marry into this and married someone else that was also a morman but a regular one--if that is the way to refer to it.  Her & her husband still were in contact and in fact started open discussions with people involved and sounds like might have helped people in those situations make their own decisions.  I had read earlier books where men were marrying or committing to marrying very young, pre-teen girls to keep them roped into this life--it doesn't sound like her group was part of this but I guess can't really be sure.  A good read with a lot of information into this lifesyle.

This book has a big stain on several pages so cannot mail if off in PBS.  Might look to see if a friend is interested in it, if not will donate away somewhere.

A Year Without a Name--#109 finished

 A memoir by a young trans male, well that is not completely accurate.  The book gets a little confusing at times with the different pronouns and names of friends.  I think it adds to the confusion that the author conveyed throughout the book.  While there was a desire to become more masculine and there seemed to be a resistance to change as well.  While the book sort of jumped around and not everything was clear, it did really seem to show the struggle the author had with the changes in their life.  As a read, I would say not really easy to get through and confusing for myself but hopefully helped author get through this stage of life.

There is 1 WL for this book on PBS so will probably post & mail off next week or so, avoiding the post office before the holiday.

Bad Dirt--#108 finished

 The rest of the title is:  Wyoming Stories 2.  A good read about interesting people and times around 3 small towns in Wyoming.  Some of the stories are memorable and some just sort of read through.  I enjoy these short story books in that you can read a little and set aside for a week or two and come back and not have to play catch up.

I have already posted it back on PBS, there were 2 copies ahead of it so not sure when it will move it at all.

Alpha and Omega--#107 finished

 This is the first book I have read by Harry Turtledove, as the book jacket states, he is an alternate history type writer.  I remember seeing one of his books that was something like if the Confederates had automatic weapons in the Civil War--something like that.  It didn't appeal to me & have sort of avoided his books since.  I am thinking I found this at a library sale so for 50 cents figured give it a shot.  It was an interesting book about the Israel and Jerusalem and what happens if a bunch of biblical stuff starts coming true.  Characters seem a little too simple and incapable to in depth thought it seems.  Still interesting story and some reactions.  Not sure if I will read another of his books but was still enjoyable even if was a long long book.

There is 1 WL for this book so I will probably post soon--maybe next week.  Avoiding this week since right before holiday and post office will be too busy for me.

The Search for Omm Sety--#106 finished

 A weird sort of book and person I guess too.  Omm Sety grew up as Dorothy Eady in England and after a near death experience as a 3 year old she had a sort of opening into Egyptian history.  This sort of evolved into believing she was a reincarnated lady of a temple of ancient Egypt.  An interesting read about her life and how she came to live very simply in a poor mud hut town next to the temple of her reincarnated self.  She also talked about meeting other spirits and the conversation and other things--yes sexual too.  She never went to college but worked for Egyptian scholars and was known to be extremely knowledgable about many things.  She helped several with translations and getting published and later in life was published herself.  She was a tour guide for the temple and a sort of helper to all that came to her.  A truly remarkable woman in many senses, even if you doubt the reincarnation part of her life.  The book gets bogged down at many points talking about the research going on and almost trying to over prove many of the beliefs of her life, not the easiest to get through but still interesting in an overall sense.

There were no copies in PBS system so I posted it once I finished & it has already been requested so I will get mailed off today or tomorrow.

 

Finding the Bright Side--#105 finished

 The rest of the title is:  The Art of Chasing What Matters.  This is by Shannon Bream one of the reporters/talking heads on Fox News channel.  I used to watch Fox News but can no longer stomach the channel except in bits and pieces.  Shannon Bream and Bret Baier are two hosts that I would stop and watch if they were talking about something that interested me.  I guess that is the reason I picked up this book when I saw it at a library sale.  Her story sort of makes me worried about Fox News more, she sounds very naive in this book--it almost seems like she is afraid to really talk about her true self which maybe she is because she doesn't want to offend the people that watch her.  She has a story in that she has her law degree but only practiced for a little while before moving over to TV news--she was a Miss Virginia and a Miss Florida--Virginia in undergrad and Florida in law school so wanting to be in front of the camera makes sense.  The whole Roger Ailes thing was lightly touched on but again just seems like there is a lot missing there--he basically sexually harassed most of the women that worked for him.  The chapter about her eye problems--really series eye problem, made me wonder if she realized how lucky she was to have a great job and money as well as connections to find the doctor to treat that.  How does she feel about millions of Americans without healthcare where something like that likely goes untreated or the medical costs bury the individual if they do get treated.  Oh well, I am sure I was not part of the target audience for this book and to me it shows.  Just not something I enjoyed but at least it is a quick read.

There were 10 WL for this book but since I really didn't want this book anymore I have posted it and will be mailing off in next few days.

Tightrope--#104 finished

 Wow, what a good book and really eye opening.  I grew up in a small town--midwest vs author in northwest but able to see a lot of what he/they are talking about.  He looks at families that grew up around him, blue collar types and saw what became of them and then their children and grand children.  This is small town but more factory than agriculture there and when those blue collar jobs left, the people still there struggled with work and an identity.  Many were already hard drinkers and stayed that way and then drugs became the norm especially for the kids.  The authors went to different areas of the country too and saw similar things.  Book presented the bad or awful but also tried to show what could be done and throughout mentioned things that would made things better--things that Canada and Europe are doing but not the US.  This is one of those books that you wish more people would read.  Maybe they wouldn't agree with everything but still eye opening to the problems.

There are no WL for this book and no copies in system but this is one that I will save to loan out to friends.  One of my top books of the year.

Everybody Lies--#103 finished

 The rest of the title is:  Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet can tell us about who we really are.  This is a researcher that sounds like was one of the first to start looking into Big Data from the internet mostly.  Looking at search results from Google and other sites and try to determine different facts.  Interesting in that it really shows that people basically lie on surveys and on most everything compared to what they are saying and doing on the internet.  He and other researchers can only look at the big data--cannot drill in to individual people but given data from other sources and then this data can see stark differences.  Interesting in that a new way to do research but as he shows it is not perfect and need to look to other sources as well.  This is a book that was leftover from one of my oldest's classes she had to take.  Seems much more interesting than what I had to read back in college.

There are 12 WL for this book and will probably mail off at some point but again not in a big hurry right now.

The Match--#102 finished

 This is 2nd in series and so far only 2 books in series--not sure if more coming or not.  The first book was The Boy From the Woods.  The boy was found living by himself in the woods but was now adult--maybe late 30s probably 40s, not sure.  Anyway, he goes by Wild and is ex-military sort of spy type that did some PI work but now not really sure what living off.  First book was good and I had the 2nd so figured to jump on it.  It is about Wild trying to track down relatives to find out more of where he came from.  This tracking down family ends up with him trying to find a lost celebrity that is also the main subject in a murder investigation.  Like first book a good page turner and a decent enough story to keep you interested.  I wouldn't mind if series continues and I think it would, but never know I guess.

There are 32 WL for this book on PBS, I just mailed off that first book a couple weeks ago.  No big hurry for credits right now so figure will sit on it for a while.

All Happy Families--#101 finished

 This is a memoir but not really sure why it was written.  An interesting read that sort of revolves around the writer's wedding day in 1983, where a few days before that her father falls into a coma and dies the day after the wedding.  She talks about her family with many interesting characters and lives along with her husband's family.  Interesting to see the differences and then a few years later what becomes of his family.  Then he is no longer with them getting a divorce.  Some interesting people and things that are memorable but a more obscure point I guess in reasons for writing this book.

There were no copies in PBS when I finished & posted it right away and it has now been requested so I will be mailing it off in the next day or two.

Blue Angel--#100 finished

 Book number 100 finished already & it is not even Thanksgiving.  I finished it during last week so been a few days ago.  I was holding this book when the Texas Rangers won the World Series--this was my team growing up.  Moving to St Louis have to cheer for the Cardinals but Rangers still one of my teams too.  

This is a book about a small college professor that has a good life but is also a writer that is unable to write anything.  He falls for a talented girl he is teaching and encourages her writing and they start flirting.  He does give in to her & tries to sleep with her and then his life unravels.  A sort of twist at the end is a nice change from what I thought was coming.  Kind of a guy in midlife crisis and handling it poorly.

There were already 2 copies in PBS system and I added a 3rd.  I liked one of the other books by this author Bigfoot Dreams--don't remember much about it other than I liked it.

Brothers--#99 finished

 The rest of the title is:  What the Van Goghs, Booths, Marxes, Kelloggs & Colts Tell Us About how Siblings Shape Our Lives and History.  The author is one of the Colts, not a famous family but just his own that he includes details of their lives along with writeups about the other more famous people & families mentioned.   Really sounded like an interesting read but really gets bogged down at points.  This book was a struggle to get through.  Interesting facts and info about the other families but just too long in try to force a narrative where didn't alway seem to go.  Also left wondering about family dynamics with sisters, no real mention in this book about that.  

I have posted it on PBS, it is the only copy in system.  When I started reading it there was 1 WL for the book and I figured I would post & mail but that WL went away by the time I finished.  Oh well I figure it will go at some point.

The 716 Love & Consequences--#98 finished

 This is one that I read for something a little different.  It is a self published book and you can tell by the editing--misspellings, capitalizations wrong, a = sign where just didn't belong.  It wasn't as noticeable at the beginning of the book but the last 100 pages or so was really bad.  The story well, that also seems a little far-fetched.  It is about some young 20 somethings in Buffalo in the 1990s where most of the guys are into dealing drugs and the girls are the hottest things around.  Lots of sex and crazy living.  And by sex well it was maybe close to porno type in reading it--a sort of mature audiences only thing.  I tried to look up the author and found an Amazon listing for book with a different ISBN so maybe it got cleaned up some.  The author is a woman and that sort of changed my opinion somewhat at least on the sex scenes--more of women embracing the whole sexual revolution thing instead of a guy writing dirty sex with hot young things.  Oh well, not a very good book but some potential it seems.

I have posted it on PBS because why not, maybe someone will want it.  It is an autographed copy, not that that really matters much.  I have a copy of the self published on my PBS bookshelf but not sure how long will keep them--might have to get donated away.  I bought them a a library sale shelf so might be going back there.

Sirens--#97 finished

 An interesting read about a down on his luck police detective in Manchester, England.  He is caught stealing drugs from the evidence and is basically threatened with being off the force and prosecuted for this but is given an undercover job that is sort of off the books as a way to get back into good graces.  A lot about the drug culture and issues in Manchester which is not something I have read about so in that way it was interesting.  The story and characters were good and it kept you guessing until the end.  A good read overall.

I had posted it on PBS & it has already been requested so I will be mailing off in the next few days.  There were no WL for the book but it was the only copy until it was requested.

The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy--#96 finished

 This is a book with several writers hitting on topics dealing with the TV show The Big Bang Theory and matters of philosophy, etc.  I thought it looked interesting several years ago when I put it on my WL in PBS and a couple years ago I received it.  I finally got around to reading it and while parts were good, overall not really what I was expecting.  The articles are written after the 4th year and since I watched the show I knew there was more to it than what was being discussed.  Also most of the articles were more academic and less humor--which is what I was expecting so not really what I wanted.  Oh well.

I have posted it back on PBS, it is the only copy in system so maybe it will move at some point.

I Miss You When I Blink--#95 finished

 This is a book of stories or essays by Mary Laura Philpott.  They are essays on her life, some are a little sappy and others retrospective but overall mostly entertaining.  Her life growing up, meeting her eventual husband, having kids, moving, etc.  A nice and sometimes different perspective on things.

There are 5 WL for this book so I will post & send off at some point.

Apocalypse Never--#94 finished

A really interesting read about the whole climate change discussion.  The author looks at various issues in climate change and comes to different thoughts and conclusions that what is reported in media and other sources.  Author is a big proponent of nuclear energy and really shows how this should be used more instead of using other sources of energy--green sources and fossil fuel sources.  He talks about how groups are out there with ulterior motives in fighting new nuclear power plants and also wanting to close the existing ones.  The numbers he has from deaths from Chernobyl and then the Japanese plant seem much less than what I have heard before.  He also talks about things like saving the whales and looks at it as instead innovations in other things like palm oil probably did as much to save whales as protestors.  He also looks at 3rd world energy issues and argues they should be able to adopt using coal & other fossil fuels for their energy instead of forcing them to use green energy that is not as consistent or workable for them.  The fossil fuels will provide energy for these 3rd world countries to develop their economies which would help overall those countries combat climate change.  A lot of interesting and thought provoking ideas in this book.

There are 20 WL for this book on PBS but for now I am keeping it, will see if others want to read it.   

How Lucky--#93 finished

 A young man confined to a wheelchair with SMA, sees a girl get picked up in front of his house.  She is a student from China and was walking to her classes at University of Georgia.  It comes out that now she is missing.  The you man, Daniel, is also not verbal but is able to communicate with typing and a voice box.  The book goes through his struggles in getting this information to the police and others.  That storyline runs with just Daniel's life and how he has been successfully coping with SMA and the good people around him.  An interesting read about a character not seen much in books, at least the ones I come across.  Throw in the sort of detective story aspect as well and just adds to this book.  I did enjoy this one too.

There is 1 copy in PBS system already but I will go ahead and post this one too.  A newer book so I think could move at some point yet.

The Amazing Adventures of Aaron Broom--#92 finished

 This is the last book written by A.E. Hotchner, a writer from St Louis.  This book tells the story of a young boy--12 years old in St Louis during the Depression, that because of circumstances is on his own.  He father is arrested and being held as a witness to a murder.  His mother is in a home for tuberculosis.  Aaron the 12 year old, is locked out of their apartment and with little money.  But he is a smart kid and is able to maneuver and investigate the murder.  A good read with action moving quickly.  A fun smart read with good characters.  I enjoyed this book.

There are no copies on PBS but since a St Louis book and author, will be a keeper at least for now. 

The Boy From the Woods--#91 finished

As the title indicates, the main character was a boy found in the woods of New Jersey, not far from New York City.  The boy was a mystery in that he was living on his own in the woods but could speak and read and was overall intelligent.  No one knew really how he survived and how he learned what he knew.  The boy is now grown up and still lives in the woods.  He goes by Wilde and was in foster care through school, time in military and secret ops kind of stuff.  Investigator later and now not really sure what does for money.  His life is intertwined with a family there in town and a few from this family are part of the story as well.  He helps out on a girl that disappeared and found her and then she disappears again and also a boy of prominent parents.  A quite a few moving parts here but story is still easy to follow and moves along well.  Good read.  I have the 2nd book already, reason I ordered the first and will get to it probably sometime soon.

I will post this on PBS, there are 4 copies already in system so not sure how quickly it will move but if series takes off I think it would.

Sandhill Sundays and Other Recollections--#90 finished

This is a volume of short stories by Mari Sandoz, a NE writer that writes of times in early 1900s.  Growing up in Western NE in the sandhills is a major theme of her writing.  I really enjoyed her probably most popular book Old Jules, about her father and growing up.  A good writer and good stories.  Some of the stories brought me back to memories from Old Jules and some sort of updated things about her life.  I enjoyed this book.

This is a keeper for me like most NE books. 

The First Commandment--#89 finished

 This is the 6th book in the Scot Harvath series.  After reading it, I am not sure what the First Commandment actually is--could be don't mess with family--this is what was happening to Scot or could be follow orders from superiors--Scot wasn't doing this.  Oh well, a good action quick read story.  A little goofy in that the assassin wanted to hurt Scot and friends by Biblical plagues.  Sort of the James Bond enemies that come up with some complicated way to kill him instead of just killing him--Austin Powers movies was great about this.  Still for simple action and page turner this was good.  Also can see where Scot is getting to point where working for government might not be best for him--not sure when he jumps to private work but does at some point.  Not sure if next book is when I started up with series but think it was but I think I also have a copy so will probably read it to be sure.

Right now this series is on keeper, at least this early books.  I have mailed off the newer one as I get them read.  Will probably do something with these older ones at some point but I think there are copies in PBS so probably not bother posting them.

Hippie--#88 finished

 I thought this was a work of fiction looking back at the end of the 1960s and into the 1970s with the hippie movement.  I realized only at the end that it was non-fiction, the author looked back at this time in his life.  He grew up in Brazil and met a girl from Yugoslavia area and traveled with her in South America but after a frightening arrest & captivity in a Brazilian jail, he leaves to Europe.  In Europe he finds a girl and takes a Magic Bus that goes through Europe & into Asia dropping off in Nepal and going back.  Crazy happenings and good story.  Just a different time for sure.

This is a large print edition and no WL for it but there are for the other prints--paperback & hardback.  I will post this on PBS and would expect it to get selected but never know.

Anatomy of a Song--#87 finished

 The writer goes into the history and production of 45 hit songs that as he says, "changed rock, R&B and Pop.  An interesting dive into these songs and how songs are inspired and then put together.  A lot of the how to is beyond my knowledge, the overdubbing, recording the different instruments and songs separately and then putting together at the end, is something I guess would have to see done to actually be able to picture it.  It is a lot more to singing & song writing than I imagined.  Book has 2 Rolling Stones songs so of course like that very much--Street Fighting Man and Moonlight Mile.

This one will be loaned away to friends that are big music fans to enjoy.

Nobody's Pilgrims--#86 finished

 I thought this was a sort of straight forward type book, a couple kids steal a truck that they were riding along from a drug mule and make for east coast--CT and along way pickup a girl.  It starts along US Mexico border and the 2 boys barely know each out but both want out of their situations.  They thought was just a trip to KC but saw the old guy driving pay off an ICE agent during a stop and they realized was a drug mule.  Fearing they might be killed at end of trip, they decide to steal truck when old guy is away at a stop.  They pickup a girl in small town MO that just wants to get away from her situation as well.  The twist comes in that what is being carried in truck isn't drugs but instead a disease that does eventually get released and causes mass dying and a collapse of society.  At the end one boy and the girl are alive and preparing for a long winter and probably longer at their destination land of CT.  A weird story change for sure.

There were no copies in system so I posted it right away and it has already been requested so I will probably get mailed off later this week.

Bitch Doctrine--#85 finished

 This is a writer that lives in England, at least when most of these were written but still covered some issues in US too.  She is definitely left progressive type and a strong feminist really hitting on women's issues.  Interesting reading and certainly agree with a lot of what she was saying.  A lot of the devil in the details type of things--her overall points are good but the how to achieve this probably not so much agreement.  Still makes you think too.  The issues & topics seemed to much though in this book style for me, I was glad to get this book finished.

I was so glad to finish the book that I have already posted on PBS and hope to get mailed off in the next few days.

Stalin--#84 finished

 The rest of the title is:  Russia's Man of Steel.  This book was in 1988, right after I graduated from high school.  It threw me a little reading it because the USSR was still together at this point and we were still in the Cold War even if it was just a few years away from ending.  This book & writer couldn't tell the future like the rest of us.  This book seems to be written more at a high school or introductory type study on Stalin, quickly going through his life and the many terrible awful things.  This is a shorter kind of quicker read than a long look at Stalin.

This being an older book, it also has a cracked spine so will not be sending off on PBS.  It will go into my give away pile.

The Almost Sisters--#83 finished

 This is the 2nd book I have read by this author and both were really good.  I am drawing a blank on the first book but just remember liking it and part of the reason this was on my WL in PBS.  This is about family struggles in the South.  Main character has to travel to her family hometown where she spent several summers as a kid growing up.  Her grandmother and her friend are taking care of each other but their age and issues are catching up with them.  Throw in a few more personal issues and the story goes on.  A really good read, I enjoyed the book.

There are 21 WL for this book on PBS so I will post & mail off at some point.  Right now have enough credits not in a hurry to mail much off.

The Man Who Planted Trees--#82 finished

 The rest of the title is: A Story of Lost Groves, the Science of Trees, and a Plan to Save the Planet.  This was an interesting and enlightening read.  Really interesting stuff about our planet and how important trees our to everything around us.  With the whole climate change going on, book--written 11 years ago--talks about how trees can be used to offset some of the worse things about climate change and clean up areas of our planet.  The book also goes into some of the near death experience of the main character in the book and how angels led him to start his campaign to clone old large trees and use their genetics and ability to survive to repopulate trees on earth.  A little weird but writer presented it well and was interesting. 

This is a keeper book for me--I might loan it out but would want to get it back.  Really interesting read.

Relentless--#81 finished

 This is the next in the Gray Man series, I think it is book 10.  I haven't seen this movie yet but I think it had come out earlier this year--not sure if was an in theatre movie or just a streaming one.  Remember it being a sort of flop but I think would like it & sorry it was a Gray Man movie not for this book  Now back to this book, the Gray Man has sort of flipped in & out of favor with the US government, he is sort of in a hidden favor now but with changes is out again by end.  Middle Eastern terrorists want to ignite a war between US & Iran so they attack the US Ambassador in Berlin.  Gray Man and his helpers cannot stop it but at least lessen some of the damage & killings.  A good quick action type read.

There are 5 or 6 WL for this book so will probably post fairly soon & get mailed off.

Educating Esme'--#80 finished

 This is a journal of a first year teacher in Chicago in a poor neighborhood.  She taught 5th grade students.  She had wonderful ideas on a ton of motivation to do her job but there are plenty of struggles, especially from the principal.  It was in the late 1990s so a little different time technology wise but still kids are still basically kids.  You wish you had a school full of teachers like her but then the other question is how do you stay that motivated for 20+ years and also throw in her own family life--she was unmarried and dating someone.  Overall though you get the simple idea that teaching and teaching well is very hard.

Our youngest wants to teach Elementary Education and I am keeping this book for her to read.  She is a freshman in college and busy with classes right now so might have to wait till she has a break to read it but certainly want her to read it.

There is 1 copy in system already and this book is a little rough--some staining so will probably not post on PBS.

I'm Glad My Mom Died--#79 finished

 This is an autobiographical book but child actress Jennette McCurdy who played Sam on ICarly show.  I watched this show with my kids when they were growing up an was a sort of funny in crazy antics kind of way.  I didn't realize Jennette was already into acting for a while before this show.  Her book is really eye opening in that she basically didn't want to be in acting and was sort of forced on her by her mom.  That is just the start of several awful things her mother did over the years for her and the family.  The secret coming out after mom had died that her father is not her biological father--instead her mom was having a long term affair.  A really screwed up family life and I am sure therapy involved.  This book reads almost like a therapeutic endeavor to sort of get it out of the system.  Jennette is no longer acting but now writing and hopefully in a better place.

There are 138 WL for this book so will get it posted & mailed off at some point.

$2.00 a Day--#78 finished

 The rest of the title is: Living on Almost Nothing in America.  The authors researched people truly living on nearly nothing as far as cash in their household.  The $2.00 a day or less was per household, so a single mother with 2 kids is 3 people in household.  The looked at families in Chicago, Cleveland and Mississippi.  Lots of talk about changes in welfare over the years and how it has affected the people at the very bottom that are struggling the most.  It was published in 2015 so a few years old, not sure if much has changed though.

There are 6 WL for this book so I will post & mail off at some point.

A Small Town--#77 finished

 This is a book by Thomas Perry, I have read and enjoyed a lot of his books and this one is a good one too.  A good quick page turner kind of read.  A prison is built in middle of nowhere CO and supplies jobs for town nearby.  A group of prisoners figure out a massive breakout, where the 12 leaders get away and a hoard is launched onto the town after killing the guards.  The town is ravaged, killings, rapes, fire, theft and destruction happens.  Most of the prisoners are rounded back up but the 12 leaders are not found.  The local police all off the books sends one of their own to hunt down the 12.  Not sure why she is able to successfully track some down while FBI, etc were not but she does.  A good read even if have to overlook a few things.

There are 8 WL for this book so will post & mail off at some point.

Penny Marshall--#76 finished

 The rest of the title is:  An Unauthorized Biography of the Director and Comedienne.  This was written around 1999, just a few years after her big directing hit of A League of Their Own.  It seems like she really slowed down after this, she did a few bit parts in shows and some producing but not much more directing.  I couldn't remember if she had passed away or not & had to wikipedia her after finishing book and saw she died in 2018--that is really too soon.  I remember watching Laverne & Shirley as a kid and laughing along with I guess the rest of America at the time.  This was a nice overview and reminder of her, good read.

I have posted it on PBS & is only copy but not sure if will move or not.

Like a Charm--#75 finished

 This is a short story book put together with a theme or at least a common connection between the stories.  Like the title says, Charm, it is a charm bracelet.  Some of the stories get a little mystical--like the first one when the charms were formed I guess.  Others are good stories seemingly about the bad luck this charm bracelet brings.  This is a little different sort of short story book, a change from the single author short stories I have read.  Nice in that most stories were around 30 pages so didn't have a big time investment if story wasn't for me. 

This is only copy in PBS system but for paperback there are 2 WL, not sure that matters but might get requested at some point.  I did go ahead a post right away on PBS.

Careers for Women--#74 finished

 I had thought this was mostly going to be about women in an office in the 1950s & 1960s.  I guess I hadn't paid much attention to the cover writeup.  It started as that but added a single mother that came to New York city from upper New York state.  It bounced from her and a family in upper state to the office and a couple close friends she made in the city.  It also went over a few decades as well.  The book bounced back and forth and changed times quite a bit that made it a little confusing to follow as well.  Overall though a good story, I enjoyed it.

There are 9 WL for this book on PBS so I will post & mail off at some point.

Station Eleven--#73 finished

 A book published in 2014 about a pandemic flu that probably kills off over 90% of the people in the world.  I think this was around the time when these dystopian novels were popular and this fits into that grouping.  I am guessing the whole Walking Dead series was started around here or at least the graphic novels were from probably an little earlier.  No zombies in this, only a few survivors and their struggles.  The book jumps back and forth between the time before and the current time so gets a little confusing and the characters only sort of cross over.  Still a very well written book, it does take some time to get into it but is worth it overall.

There are no copies in PBS right now but this was a very popular book with something like 90 some ratings--people that have read the book can rate it on PBS.  A lot of my books have zero to maybe 4 or 5 ratings.  At this point, I am going to see if any of my friend group would be interested, if not will probably post on PBS. 

Confidence Man--#72 finished

 This is a book by Maggie Haberman, New York Times reporter that has been following Donald Trump for years, before he got into politics.  The rest of the title is: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.  Since I like politics and really don't like Trump, I have probably been following him too much since he was president and then the years after.  I remember watching a Donald Trump show on maybe Frontline that talked about how he was raised and then grew into his business self.  Not much of that in this book but more once he was sort of established in business in late '70s and into the '80s.  A lot of information and a lot of sourcing as you would expect from a reporter.  It still amazes me that so many people that have worked for him, especially in politics have come out & said he should never be president again but none of this gains traction with the Republican voters.  Just a crazy time we live in right now in politics.

There are like 37 WL for this book on PBS so I will probably post & send off at some point.

Okay Fine Whatever--#71 finished

 The rest of the title is: The Year I Went From Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things.  The author details her year to try difficult to her new things.  In her forties and changing roles with her job and wanting to date sort of kicked this off.  She had also lost weight and also fighting anxiety attacks were playing into this as well.  Some of what she went through was funny but lots of sex and some relationship talk here.  In the end she seemed like she was in a good relationship & healthier living overall.  Author is from Portland and hosted an NPR show and later produced it and was in process of leaving show when this book happened.  Couldn't find much of an update since book but hope she is doing well.

There are 2 WL for this book so I will probably post soon & get mailed off.

Hank Greenberg - #70 finished

 I didn't realize the numbers that Hank Greenberg put up in the majors until I checked baseball-reference after reading this book.  Really impressive with homers and RBI.  This book was more focused on the person though than so much about the baseball and numbers.  Greenberg was raised Jewish but didn't practice as an adult.  He famously didn't play on Yom Kippur one of his first seasons though and became a Jewish hero.  From reading the book, it said Greenberg had started writing his autobiography--I am guessing family probably gave these notes to this author to write up the book long after.  This was part of a Jewish Lives series.  Interesting person and interesting times in our country.

There are 2 WL for this book in PBS so will get posted & sent off at some point.

The Hammer of Eden - #69 finished

 This is an older book--written in mid 1990s.  One of those where cell phones around but not much coverage and not used that much.  A group of hippies on a commune in CA are going to be get bumped off the land they have been leasing from government in order for a river to be dammed and a power plant put in.  The leader & a few cohorts try to fight this with terrorism and making earthquakes occur.  FBI lady is lead investigator on this and tries to solve things.  An okay book, story makes sense but details and happenings sometimes just don't make enough sense.  

This is a mass market paperback that I started because needed an outdoor book.  There are too many copies in PBS already so this will go in donate pile.

Rising Tiger--#68 finished

This is the newest Scot Harvath series book by Brad Thor.  This is the series that I have started from the beginning too--I think I have gotten to first 4 books.  I am not sure but maybe started around 10th book in series--maybe earlier.  I don't plan on re-reading any so will read new ones as they come and try to get those earlier ones I skipped done too.  This one he is in India, a new place and also new for the spy novels I read--India hasn't really been touched.  He was in India but it was China as the bad guy.  Of course the lady helping is model attractive but also a police sort of officer.  A good page turner that continues the story but not much memorable here.

I think there are 17 WL for this book in PBS so I will post & mail off at some point down the line. 

A Good Day for Seppuku--#67 finished

 This is the 1st book finished in August.  This is a short story book with some good stories and a few that just sort of dragged along.  Writing at times seemed needlessly wordy, that made it hard to really concentrate on getting through the paragragh/page.  Overall though good characters and good stories.

There is 1 WL for this on PBS and like book before this, I will get this posted soon but also not rushing it out the door since already have plenty of credits.

The Family Fang--#66 finished

 A sort of comedy about a screwed up family.  The parents are performance artists and when the daughter & then son are born they are incorporated into this life.  When the kids get older, the daughter moves away to become an actress and the son moves out to write books and then magazine articles.  Both suffer career setbacks and end up back at home at same time but then parents disappear.  Kids look for parents for a long time.  End with a surprise.  It was funny at times and just sort of sad, I guess that is probably what author intended.

There is 1 WL for this book so I will probably post soon but already have enough credits on PBS so not rushing it either.

Killer Pizza--#65 finished

This one was actually finished in July but just now getting around to logging in.  I thought it was more young adult but is probably even for younger than that.  Still sort of entertaining with kids on their first job at a pizza joint also become monster hunters.  Easy to read type of kids book.

There is one copy on PBS & I will go ahead and make this the 2nd copy.  Will see if it moves.  I had grabbed it as a 2nd book from a WL offer on PBS so that could happen too. 

Northern Lights--#64 finished

 A good story about a hard luck teenager.  His mom ran out of his & his dad's life when he was young.  His dad raised him but unfortunately his dad passed away months before he graduated.  Once he graduated the uncle he was living with through him out with basically nothing.  He decides to go to the small town MN where he last heard his mother was living.  She is no longer there but he decides to stay there and continue looking for her.  He is going to college in the fall but not much else going on for him and he is basically broke.  From here he meets up with small town people that have terrible drug problems.  He does track down his mom but that is a disappointment was well. 

An interesting read but just questions that came up while reading it--did his dad have any life insurance or estate--seems unusual that uncle would throw him out penniless.  Uncle didn't like him because he had long hair & appears effeminate--finds out later is gay but wasn't sure in high school--again sort of strange here.  He does get his hair cut later when found his mom--I guess as a way to maybe fit in with her life ??--again strange that his long hair seemed to be causing troubles with people around him but gives in quick to getting cut.  All of the drug problems in this small town--sheriff is part of the story but must be a terrible sheriff to not be able to figure a few of these things out.  A small town restaurant that is bringing in good cash from catering--everyone could guess/see this was drug money, why couldn't anyone in the book see this. 

I am taking a lot of shots here but still not a bad story, just wonder what it would have been like if some of those things answered or addressed in any way.

There were no copies on PBS so I posted it and it got requested right away, reason typing this up right after finishing.  I will get it mailed off this week.

The Republic of Pirates--#63 finished

 This is a book of non-fiction which looked at the Caribbean pirates of the late 1600s and into the 1700s.  A really interesting read.  It is sort of amazing the amount of research done to be able to put together a book like this. Being about to research the lives and follow who was doing what during this time of basically chaos that ruled the seas of this area.  Growing up in midwest with ocean hours & hours away, I probably don't appreciate what it takes so sail boats especially back then when it was all wind and sails and maybe some people on the oars.  An interesting time and an interesting read.

I have had this book for years on my shelf and just now finally got around to reading it.  There are still 4 WL for this book in PBS but might set aside and see if this is one my friends might want to read.

Killing Yourself to Live--#62 finished

 This is a book by Chuck Klosterman, a music critic.  He has an assignment to go to & write about places where musicians have died and it is a road trip so plenty of time to listen to music and think.  He writes about the music and musicians and also the places and people he meets.  The main theme of this book though is about his relationships with 3 different women that he is trying to make sense of as far as deciding if he should make a real commitment to one of them.  He mentions a few times that he is not sure the people he is writing about might not be comfortable about reading about his thoughts of them in his book--which to me is a real fear of someone who would know him.  Still a mostly fun read with a touch of a real look into the author's life.

There is already a copy in PBS and I have a couple friends that are big music fans so I think this will go into the loan out pile at least for now.

The Fifth Doctrine--#61 finished

 This is the 3rd in the series about Bianca St Ives a sort of super spy/criminal sort.  It has been a fun series to read with good action, a page turner type.  The CIA developed sort of super human genetically modified babies for testing, they killed the mothers and babies then--not sure if realized shouldn't have done it or if there were problems.  The CIA hitman sent to kill Bianca and her mother, didn't do it and instead helped them live.  Eventually mother was killed but Bianca lived with this on the run CIA guy who raised her as a sort of super human girl that he used on his crime jobs.  Series is about the CIA and international groups chasing after him and then her.  Not sure if there are more books after this in series, ended sounding like there would be but has been a couple years and no new ones have shown up yet.

I have already posted it on PBS and is the only copy in system with the large print, a few other copies of paperback in system.  

The Care of Time--#60 finished

 This is an older book, published in 1980 so before cell phones, most computers and all that stuff.  It started as a sort of interesting read with a writer and former TV interviewer getting mailed a bomb that was basically a warning that he had to take a job.  He does and ends up in Italy and travels with a group to do a sort of fake interview of a middle eastern sheik while government types are negotiating behind scenes with sheik for a base deal.  I didn't buy why the main character had to be involved and then all the details that again didn't really make much sense to me.  It was I guess supposed to be a sort of spy/action novel and I just didn't buy it.  This is a mass market/pocket type book.  I had it because needed an easy carry book for out door reading and it fit that bill. 

This book is sort of beaten up so will not bother posting on PBS but will instead go in my give away pile.

The Shallows--#59 finished

 The rest of the title is:  What the Internet is Doing to our Brains.  This is a leftover book from one of my daughters college classes, I am not sure which one, maybe a communication class.  It is an interesting read because it talks about how the computer and internet is changing the way people read and think.  It also goes back in history and talks about how other break throughs have changed the way people think--printing press, typewriters, word processors and so on.  While interesting, it is sort of a cat's out of the bag thing--if that is the right expression, where the internet is not going away.  The harmful things like short blips of reading, busy screens with ads & links & general disturbances, addiction to constantly updated info, these are things that certainly haven't gone away since this book was written over 10 years ago.  Still an interesting read and does make you think about the future of people and in depth thinking.

There are 26 WL for this book in PBS but might go into my loan out pile too to see if friends would be interested. 

Gold Fame Citrus--#58 finished

 A sort of weird dystopian novel.  The whole of CA is basically waterless and people that are still there are struggling to live.  Sounds like government trying to get some to leave but others living on a sort of cola drink thing I guess.  The story follows a couple that picks up a mostly abandoned toddler girl and they fear the group that had this girl will look for them.  The couple & girl take off east through a large & moving desert.  The get split up & the lady and girl end up with the band of people living on the edge of this moving desert with a leader that is somehow able to find water to keep them alive.  Eventually the man of the three finds them after being sort of imprisoned and also finding the truth of this band.  Like I said a sort of weird story.  I liked the idea of the story I think more than the actual storyline taken. 

There are 13 WL for this book in PBS so I will get it posted & mailed off at some point.

Cruel Beautiful World--#57 finished

 This was a sad book to read.  Sisters that have already known tragedy at a young age and are now in high school with seemingly normal lives in late 1960s and torn apart.  The younger sister develops a crush on a high school English teacher and becomes a relationship on the sly.  After school is done in May, they skip town and start a new life a couple states away.  The older sister and their step-mom--who is actually also a sister, there is a lot more going on in this story than any little writeup I do could do justice--a distraught and put up posters and ads for information on her.  The younger sister struggles in her new life where she has to stay hidden until she is legal and does find a way to see some people.  It ends badly for her and then sister & step mom have to find ways to move on.  A sad story overall.

There are 4 WL for this book so I will probably try to mail off soon.  I don't need more PBS credits at this point so sort of holding off on mailings right now.

When the Stars Came Out--#56 finished

 This is a book by local author Mark Pierce about the Mississippi River Festival that was held in late '60s into late '70s.  SIUE was a brand new school and on the grounds of the school they have a natural amphitheater and they decided as a way to promote the school to have a summer music series.  It started with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra and then also brought in different types of bands, Blues, Jazz, Folk and Rock.  It brought in The Who, Eagles, Grateful Dead and many others.  It is really pretty amazing thing that was done.  I didn't live in area so had no idea & heard about this when I moved here but it had long since stopped by then.  Just one of those nuggets of history of the area.

This one is a keeper since I know the author.

Happy People are Annoying--#55 finished

This is a sort of memoir by Josh Peck a child actor that was Josh on Drake & Josh TV show on Nick or one of the kid show networks.  I remember watching the show with my kids when they were growing up & figured why not get the book & see what is up in his life.  An interesting read about his struggles with weight, then with alcohol and drugs and then trying to get back into acting.  He sort of found a niche with Vine videos that moved then to U-Tube and Tick Tock--maybe, those sort of things.  It sounds like his life is good now and is married & has a child.  A good quick type read.

There are 4 WL for this book so I will probably get it mailed off soon. 

The Moscow Deception--#54 finished

 This is the 2nd in series book about a woman criminal/spy sort.  Bianca found out at end of last book that she was genetically altered to be a more super human type & the person who she believed was her father was really a guy inside that found a way to save her & her mom.  Her mom was killed when she was young when CIA types trying to find them, Mason--the father/not father guy then raised her but with a series of boarding schools.  She is around 28 years old and owns and runs a security company in Savannah, GA as her front type place, she had also been doing criminal work with her father and gets paid very well at that.  The first book was about an attempted robbery that went wrong and then discovering people were after her.  This is sort of a continuation of that where she has to find a way to stop the people from tracking her down.  It ends with a easy storyline that will be continued to 3rd book.  I do have this 3rd book--it was actually first one I had and then had to pick up these other 2 & read to get to that 3rd book.  I will probably get this one read later in year.

I have posted this one PBS, there were already 3 other copies so not sure it will go anywhere anytime soon but figured since I have already posted 1st should post 2nd too.

Played--#53 finished

 This is a stand alone book by the author of the Rachel Gold series that I am in process on.  It is a local St Louis author and the series is located here too.  This book is also in St Louis and Rachel makes an appearance but not involved in what is going on with this story other than a real bit part.  Brothers--one a very successful lawyer and the other one was a once promising baseball player that is injured in motorcycle accident.  Baseball playing brother just sort of screwing around while trying to decide what to do in life is a lifeguard at an exclusive country club.  He meets a sexy married woman and she gets him involved with her running away from her husband but instead he gets setup by her and then her husband.  A good quick story, investigation by brother comes together quickly and police work a little shoddy.  A fun read. 

I have been keeping the books in the Rachel Gold series and was thinking about keeping this one too but really no reason to do so.  I will go ahead and post on PBS, this will be the only copy in system so should move at some point.

Dream Town--#52 finished

 This is the 3rd in series of Archer a private investigator.  This time he has made it to LA and while still sort of attached to Bay Town and his mentor Willie Dash, he is mostly operating alone.  He gets hired by a lady that said she is afraid someone is watching her and making threatening calls to her house.  She disappears and when he checks out her house a dead body is there.  It starts as a good mystery but just gets really very complicated and many moving parts.  Just can't believe that it gets put together like he does and that the bad people haven't sorted out all of the other bad people along the way.  Still a good action sort of read with some old time--1950s, detective read.  It ended with it sounding like there will be more and I will keep at it--the characters and times are interesting at least.

There are 16 WL for this book but will look to get it posted & moved soon.

The New Order--#51 finished

 This is a short story book with some really good and memorable stories.  The Three Interviews was really interesting with the lady going through the emotions of interviewing for jobs after she has been out of work so long and then the thoughts of the people that were conducting the interview--just really insightful.  Also today, the man in Pittsburgh that shot of a Jewish synagogue was convicted and one of the stories talked about 2 ladies going through their synagogue looking at escape routes, etc in case of an attack.  I don't know exactly when the story was written but guessing could have been soon after this event.  This is a good short story book.

There are 4 WL for this one on PBS and I will post and mail off at some point. 

Brother, I'm Dying--#50 finished

This is again a sort of memoir, Edwidge Danticat's parents moved to New York when she was young, she and her younger brother had to remain behind in Haiti with their uncle that raised them.  This is the story of her life growing up with her family in Haiti and mixed in with what was going in currently in her life while writing this--she is expecting her & her husband's first child and her father's health is failing.  Haiti is one of those countries that I just don't understand--it is poor and just bad things and bad leaders happen there.  There is a good sense of some of that here along with the personal touches of how her family made it through at least till the end.  A really good read, I read a book by this author before & remember enjoying it and again another good read even if sad at many points.

There is 1 WL for this book on PBS but I think this one will also go into the possible loan out pile for now. 

The Lincoln Highway--#49 finished

 A good read about a boy that was at a juvenile center that gets taken back home to his farm in NE because his father passed away and there is only a younger brother left.  Their mom had left years before.  The warden drives him back & leaves him there to sort of pick up the pieces.  There were two stowaways in the trunk of the car too from the center.  Emmett the boy returning home and his brother Billy also find out that they are losing the farm to the bank and will be forced to move on.  Emmett has a car he had bought before being sent away and also gets a stash of money left to him.  Well the other two join up and talk them into heading to New York to get one of the others inheritance so they can all start a new life.  Then the real quest begins--the other two steal the car & drive on to New York.  Emmett and Billy jump a train and with some very timely help travel to New York too.  Eventually the neighbor's daughter Sally gets to New York too--she was tired of taking care of her dad and family and decided to track down Emmett.  A good story but long at times.  Too many points were just sort of unbelievable how they catch up to each other and how things work out.  Overall though not bad but it is a long book.

There are around 159 WL for this book last I checked so I will post & mail off on PBS at some point but no hurry on this.

Jokes My Father Never Taught Me--#48 finished

 This is a sort of memoir by Rain Pryor, one of Richard Pryor's daughters.  She is about the same age as me so interesting hearing her growing up but a completely different life than mine.  Her mom & Richard Pryor were married but it didn't last long and she didn't meet Richard again till she was 4.  Her mom was a hippie sort of Jewish girl but a ton of f-bombs thrown in.  They struggled, I guess Richard didn't help them out at all--she was married to him before he became famous.  The book mentions the several wives and the countless whores that were a constant in Richard's life.  It is a sad story on several levels and even in his death it was sad.  Rain, I think, tried to present a positive spin on their lives but it just doesn't come through.  Lots of interesting stories and info that I didn't know about Richard Pryor but still a tough read overall.

There are no copies and no WL for this book on PBS but for now it goes into a pile that I might loan out to friends if someone is interested.

Jell-O Girls--#47 finished

This is a sort of memoir, the author had her mother's papers for her memoir and it sounds like incorporated those into this story which is also sort of her memoir.  The tie into Jell-O is that that a relative way back bought the Jell-O patent from it's founder/discoverer and formed it into the huge sales it became.  While it was sold off at some point, it was a huge profit and sounds like all relatives enjoy this money as some sort of trust.  This connection to Jell-O money isn't really explored in the book, there was mention of the trust fund and how her mother was fighting with her mother's brother(author's uncle) about gaining more control of the money but really only played a minor point in the book.  The book was more about a sort of curse on the family which sort of evolved into a curse on women fighting for a voice outside of the home and some sicknesses that came about.  An interesting story about a mother and daughter relationship but seems like book was striving for more and I just didn't get that.

I have posted it on PBS, there were 2 WL and it has been accepted so will probably mail off in next few days. 

A Gambling Man--#46 finished

 This is the 2nd book in a series, a guy goes by Archer becomes a private investigator.  He moved from I think more midwest in first book to west coast in this book.  He stops in Reno where action starts & then gets to CA--sounds like a made up city Bay City between San Fran & LA, where he starts training under a PI.  Good action and many moving parts.  It is also set in the late 40's early '50s time period so has a little of the old time feel to it as well.  Good story and good series.  I just got the 3rd book in series and have started on it as well.

There are already 9 copies in system so will probably not add another, will put in my donation pile instead. 

Admission--#45 finished

 This is a fiction story about the whole college admission scandal from a few years back.  While fictional, the inspiration is on Lori Laughlin and the family.  The characters in the book seem similar but the book was written before the scandal was fully played out.  The book looks at the life of this family and how a scandal affected them--I thought this was a really good read.  The senior girl that the family was cheating to get her admitted into a top school is the main character in the book and does make you think about what she was thinking while others around her were doing these things. 

There were 2 WL for this book and I have already posted it so hope to get mailed off in next few days.

Spectacle--#44 finished

 The rest of the title is: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga.  What caught my eye and reason I got this book and read it, is this person Ota Benga was brought from Africa to the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis as part of native cultures exhibits there--he was brought as pygmy with others.  This is a well researched book that is kind of amazing could get this much information.  The author writes about the person and others around him that went to Africa and brought back people from there for the World's Fair and about how Ota was basically attached then to this person.  Ota was then given to the New York Zoo where he was put on display in a cage in the monkey house and sometimes with the monkeys.  There was a outcry about this being wrong and it only lasted a month.  While it sounds like Ota wanted to return to Africa, he wasn't able to do so.  He ends up in a orphanage and then to Virginia to a school and then work.  In the end he shoots himself.  It is a sad story and just one that makes you think about what the time was like only a little over 100 years ago.

There were no copies or WL for the book so I posted it and it has already been requested so I will get it mailed off in next few days.

Dodgers--#43 finished

 An interesting story of 4 LA gang members that are given a job to drive to Wisconsin and kill a judge that was going to sentence the gang leader.  The interaction between the 4 on the trip and some of their history and then the troubles on trip make a good read.  They end of killing the judge and then things sort of fall apart--it had been already leading to this on the way--and the main character just sort of walks away.  He finds employment and starts a new life.  The end hints at him being pulled back to the gang though but seems doubtful but not sure since ended.  I really enjoyed this book.

There is 1 copy in PBS system already but I think I will set this one aside to see if friends would want to read it instead.

One Summer--#42 finished

 The author David Baldacci more of a spy, private eye type stories, wrote this one about a family going through some struggles.  At first husband is dying and they are dealing with this--his wife, three kids and her parents.  Then right before Christmas, the wife is killed in a car accident and grand parents take in oldest kid and move to AZ and wife's siblings take in the younger two.  Husband has a turnaround and lives and goes through rehab and is able to get back to health and gets the kids back.  Grand mother doesn't really believe he will stay healthy--undercurrent in story.  He moves family to South Carolina where wife grew up on the beach there and they start new lives and get to know each other better as a family.  An okay story, more of chic-lit it seems than what I expected. 

There are plenty of copies in PBS system so this will go in the give away pile instead.

Ghetto--#41 finished

 This book read more like a textbook discussing previous textbooks instead of going into more modern info on ghettos.  Gives a history of ghettos from back in Europe & the Jewish ghettos and then into the US ghettos and redlining in northern cities with the black migration north to get away from the Jim Crow laws of the south.  I wish there was more of the info on this but instead this book dealt a lot with the researchers at the time and their influences and such.  It wasn't what I was expecting and while it did show how complicated the problem was, to me the whole book was muddled down on showing their work/research more so than the information.  Overall a tough read.

I have posted it on PBS & it was the only copy in system and has already been requested so I will be mailing it off later this week.

Takedown--#40 finished

 This is the 5th book in Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series.  Since I started in middle of series and now trying to play some catch up, some characters have been introduced that I know from the future books.  This book was okay, can see where Scot will be jumping from a government job to the private sector soon but like all these good action in the story.  Is an easy to read page turner type series.

So far the books in this early part of series I have just been keeping, not sure why but just stacking them up as get through them.  Maybe post later or give away, not sure.

Fitting Ends--#39 finished

 This is a short story book by Dan Chaon, a writer from Nebraska.  Looks like grew up in way out western NE around Sidney and a lot of these stories have that feel from being out that way.  The sort of desolate sandhills of that part of NE seems to bring out writers--I enjoy Mari Sandoz and Poe Ballantine that were also writing of that area.  Some of the stories were a little out there but generally liked them--easy to read and have memorable parts in them.

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

The Rothschilds--#38 finished

 This is an older book, published in 1961, this copy printed in 1963 and is a smaller paperback.  This copy does show its wear too but still in good readable condition.  I had heard of the Rothschild family and their money growing up but really didn't know much about them.  This book certainly provided a lot of insight into them--at least into the 1950s.  Doing a quick wikipedia reading looks like they are still doing very well.  I really interesting read about how this family rose from a Frankfurt Jewish ghetto to being a dominant financial family in Europe for now centuries. 

I will keep this book for now--too old and sort of beaten up to try to put on PBS.  Still good info if ever want to refer back to it.

Strip--#37 finished

 This is a Thomas Perry stand alone book.  A good read about a guy new to LA that becomes a suspect in a burglary of a nightclub & strip club owner's bank deposit.  While the owner & his hired thugs are tracking this guy, the real robber joins up with a crazy lady and continues robbing the deposits.  Lots of things going on here too--the police are involved and there is a backstory with the lead investigator as well.  Throw in a couple girlfriend types and some background on thugs and get a good mix of characters.  Another good read, I do enjoy Thomas Perry's books.

I have posted this on PBS & is the only hardcopy in system so I would think will get requested at some point.

If It Bleeds--#36 finished

 This is a short story or maybe novella book with 4 stories by Stephen King.  None really that scary but all make you think.  Mostly the stories are good but the title story seemed to drag on and on for me.  Other shorter ones were able to keep my interest better.  Glad I read it but not close to being one of my favorite King books.  It makes me think I should re-read Different Seasons a short story book of his again & see how it ages for me too--that is one I really liked back in high school when I read it.

There are like 88 WL for this book in PBS so I will post & mail off at some point.

The Ultimatum--#35 finished

 This is 1st book in series with a female spy/international thief sort.  Bianca is sort of raised by a distance dad--she is shipped off to Europe to boarding school at young age and dad comes around to basically teach her spy/thief techniques along with pulling her into his business.  This is now her in her 20s, she has a business & is doing very well with business but also with money from the side thefts with her father & his gang.  Book starts with the last gig going wrong & she thinks her dad was killed.  A few months later emails pull her back in.  Kind of clever but mostly just good action.  A good start to the series.

There are 3 copies in system already but will probably post it anyway on PBS.  I have the next 2 in series, not sure if goes beyond that or not yet.

Ocean State--#34 finished

 I really enjoy this author, Stewart O'Nan, my favorite of his that I have read would be Last Night at the Lobster.  This is the 3rd book of his I have read and all are different but really do a good job of getting inside the characters and their motivations.  This is mostly told from a middle school girl perspective about her older sister in high school and also her mom and her boyfriends. The older sister's boyfriend cheats on her but sister is not ready to give him up and together they get a sort of revenge on the other girl and she ends up dying.  They dispose of the body and eventually the sister & boyfriend arrested and after some time they get plea bargains.  Just a lot going on in a short book but you really seem to get an understanding of these characters.

There are 13 WL for this book so will probably mail off at some point.

All the Winters After--#33 finished

 I really enjoyed this book, it was certainly something a little different.  Based in AL, a man that lost his parents & brother in a plane crash at age 18, is returning to AL now in his 30s because his grandmother is dying.  His life in TX made him a lot of money but was laid off & just sort of stopped living and his girlfriend broke up with him.  On his return to AL, he finally goes to check out the cabin his family lived in & finds a single woman living there--an Old Russian community runaway.  She has been living there with grandma's okay for 10 years, she is living off the land and never leaves the property.  Throw in an aunt in her 60s that is still trying to come to grips with her life and altogether makes a good story.

This is a hardback book but the ISBN decodes as a paperback.  Since this is an ex-library book I am guessing library got it hardbound.  There is 1 WL for this in PBS but is for a paperback so not sure if I should post or not.  Probably not because not a great shape either.  Will most likely put in give away pile.

I Feel Bad About My Neck--#32 finished

 A quick read by Nora Ephron that is just short takes or insights into her life & thoughts.  A quick and interesting read.  She lived a pretty amazing life with what she was doing and the people around her.  It was an enjoyable sort of different read.

I have posted it on PBS, there are now 5 copies in system so not sure if will move or not but will just wait & see.

Blowback--#31 finished

 This is the 4th in the Scot Harvath series.  He is still working for the US government in sort of a deep spy position with the President.  This one does a step back in history to a super powerful drug that could kill millions and he & a cute scientist type have to track down ASAP and kill a bunch of bad guys.  Throw in a bad Senator fooling around with a CIA guy that try to out Scot and the action keeps moving here.  Not as good as some of the others in series--I like the newer ones better but playing a little catch up since started series in middle.

Right now keeping this series or at least these early books.  There are copies on system in PBS so really no need to post more at this point.

Benjamin Franklin--#30 finished

 This is a book about Benjamin Franklin but is highly researched from the abundance of letters he wrote.  Unfortunately, I saw too much of the focus on this book about that research and quotes rather than giving a clearer idea of the person.  The person Benjamin Franklin gets lost in the weeds of who he was writing to and visiting with and where traveling to, etc.  Franklin is a very interesting person but this is not an interesting book sad to say. 

I picked it up used somewhere & it has a few minor stains so cannot post on PBS, it will go into my give a away pile instead. 

The Distance Home--#29 finished

 A really good story about growing up in small town South Dakota--the western and more desolate part.  Growing up in the '60s & '70s from what it sounded like and with kids that didn't really fit in with others.  Throw in parents that didn't really get along very well and some native American prejudicious and the oldest 2 being ballet dancers in a small town, well the kids are a little screwed up, at least the 2 oldest.  The youngest doesn't get mentioned much in the book but seems more like the get along with everyone type kid.  Was hard to read at points because you could see the trainwreck coming for the oldest and maybe even the 2nd too.  Their older lives only get sporadic mentions but oldest had the troubled life.  The 2nd oldest, well not really sure how she played out, seems like sort of figured things out.  I really enjoyed this book.

There are 3 WL for this one on PBS so will probably mail off at some point.

Gods of Howl Mountain--#28 finished

 I was looking for something a little different when I picked up this book.  It was that I guess, it is about mountain people in North Carolina after WWII.  The grandmother and her grandson are main characters, grandma worked in a brothel after her husband was killed in WWI and after her daughter sort of went crazy but had a son, grandma had to raise her grandson.  She went into the hills and learned the roots & medicinal ways from an old time healer and this is how she now supported herself and grandson.  The grandson is back from WWII but is missing part of his leg but has a wooden leg.  His job is to run moonshine from the mountains into the town but has to avoid the local and state police out to stop him.  A lot going on in this story but can follow the story lines, just seemed like most story lines didn't end.  Could easily be a 2nd book in here but not sure author will do this, looks like has a couple newer books out since this one.  One criticism I read on PBS was author way over did the details--I that is true at points but I enjoyed the story enough to push through.

There are 11 WL for this book so I will post at some point on PBS & send off.

Firm Ambitions--#27 finished

 This is the next in the Rachel Gold series by a local St Louis author Michael A Kahn.  Rachel is a lawyer and this is first book where she has moved back home to St Louis from Chicago.  She is living with her mom & her sister is involved in this story line as well.  The story line is a little out there but is good enough to keep action moving and overall a fun ride.  Series sort of reminds me of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series, Kinsey is a little earlier if I am remembering right--1980s while this is more early to mid 1990s at this point--not sure timelines on later books.  

There is another copy out there in PBS but since local author, I am keeping this series for now at least.

Gone for Soldiers--#26 finished

 This is a sort of prequel to the author's series--along with his dad's books--about the Civil War.  This is about the soldiers that served in the Mexican War.  The main characters are Winfred Scott and Robert E Lee but several others mentioned as well that became more famous during the Civil War.  A good read, interesting how the author is able to put this together--these are fiction books but based of what facts he can find.  Obviously conversations are all fiction but troop movements and battles are probably close to what happened in a macro sense.  This author also has books about the Western battles in the Civil War--I think with focus on what Grant was doing before Lincoln named him the overall general for the Union.

There are copies on the PBS system and since I really like this series I am keeping this and the others I have, at least for now.

Save Yourself--#25 finished

 This is a memoir of a standup comedienne that I hadn't heard of, Cameron Esposito.  A good read about her life but I still don't recognize her from anything & since I don't do podcasts it looks like that is where she has been lately.  A born and raised Catholic and she was super devoted too but eventually figured out she was gay and that changed her view on Catholicism.  Some struggles with parents with this as well.  She was in college in early to mid 2000s but had gone to I guess a very Catholic Boston College--I went to SLU in late '80s and they seemed much more open then that what she was describing at her college.  Of course LGBQT+ wasn't as much in news as then so maybe a sort of backlash thing going on.  Also she was in Boston when the whole Catholic church priest scandal came out and she mentions that as part of her getting away from the church too.  She talks about her relationships & struggles in an open manner--a good and interesting read.

There was 1 WL when I started but was at zero when I finished.  I posted it and it did get requested right away so will be mailing off in next few days.

The Philadelphia Quarry--#24 finished

 This is next in a series with Willie Black a newspaper reporter that seems to always be on the edge of getting fired.  This time investigating a newly freed man, after 28 years released for crime he didn't commit with DNA evidence freeing him.  The woman that said he did it--she was a young teenager at time--ends up getting shot & killed and the man is arrested for this murder.  Willie is on the story & this affects many of the big money people in Richmond, VA too.  I have enjoyed the couple of books read in this series--newspaper man doing investigating in a smaller city is fun.

I have already posted it on PBS, there were 2 WL for it and it has been accepted so will get this mailed off in next couple of days.

Hope--#23 finished

This is a memoir by Hope Solo, soccer goalie, it was published in 2012.  She is probably the best US female goalie ever but is certainly also outspoken and controversial.  Her home life growing up was certainly screwed up--her father, who she adored, had a shady past and lived a shady life after divorce.  Hope though once finding him stayed close to him.  At times you feel for her, what she has had to overcome but then plenty of other times she has been the cause of her problems.  I had to check the publish date of the book because I know she has been in news since.  I checked her wikipedia page and she continued to star in soccer for years after the book.  Her latest issue though is a DWI with her 2 year old kids in the car.  Just a complicated person like we all are I guess but her life is lived more in the news than the rest of us.

I have posted it on PBS, there was 1 WL for it & has already been accepted.  Will get it mailed off in the next few days.

The Altruists--#22 finished

 This is a book that mostly takes place in St Louis, so enjoyed reading about places in town.  A screwed up family but the story is not told linear--it bounces from present day back to explain some history to present day & then back, etc, etc.  Makes for a sort of jumbled reading but also you want to continue to end to see how pieces all fit & what becomes of them.  Some parts are funny but overall just a sort of sad family--the 2 kids really seemed screwed up but at very end maybe getting it figured out.  Lots of underlying things going on but not sure really buying into those as causes for screwed up kids.

There are 7 WL for book on PBS, not sure will post since does have local references.  No hurry at least, will figure as keeper for now.

How to be Famous--#21 finished

 A sort of lite supposed to be fun book about a teenager that gets a job with a music magazine in London and moves up to a larger magazine.  All while her personal life is a lot of drinking and partying.  Also big time obsessing over an older singer that is her friend but she wants more.  Throw in a scandal and her becoming friends with a all female band and it is the 1990s, well there it is.  The beginning was enjoyable getting to know her but beyond that it was too much just suspend reality and I could do that enough to really enjoy the book.  It was okay but makes me wonder with so many books I have to read why did I pick this one.  I am still trying to figure that one out.

I have posted it on PBS, it is the only copy in the system so maybe will get requested some day.

A Safe Girl to Love--#20 finished

 This is a short story book with the main characters all trans women.  With trans gender being in the news and in politics right now, this book really gave some insight into the thoughts and feelings of these women.  Some of this book is a little rough but of course their lives are sometimes rough.  The issues they face with meeting people and just being out in public can be nerve racking even just trusting friends.  A real thought provoking read and still was enjoyable--very good writing that keeps the reader wanting to keep reading the stories.

There are 2 WL for this book and while I really enjoyed it, I do want to make sure it gets passed along for others to read and enjoy as well.

Kingdom of Bones--#19 finished

 This is the next in the Sigma Force series.  This time trouble in Africa--in Congo--nation formally known as Zaire.  Back in the jungle a deadly disease/virus has started and affecting people as well as animals.  Sigma Force gets there and action starts moving.  It can't just be this virus though, it is also an easily figured out evil guy that is a billionaire mining owner that is kidnapping and killing people too.  Two groups then--one after & fighting this guy and other trying to find source of virus.  Book started interesting and enjoyed going into an area I don't know much about.  But the too easily seen bad guy--just way too formulamatic and then an even worse--the large tree complex is fighting back and started the virus.  I had read about the interconnected fir trees and the enormous mushroom/fungi complex mostly underground--so the tree thing came from those but still just way too far out there for my enjoyment.  By end was just glad to have finished this book.  Makes me wonder if I should bother with series but will probably continue.

There are 16 WL for this book but I probably won't wait too long and get it posted & shipped off.

Extraordinary Black Missourians--#18 finished

 I had picked up this book a month or so ago from Half Price Books, a used book seller.  It has probably over 100 short writeups about famous black Missourians--some born in state or others that lived here a while.  The different categories were Pioneers, Leaders, Performers, Athletes and Other Notables--really just a good introduction to many people that have played a role in MO over time.  Only about 2 pages per person so just short quick writeups.  Thought this would be a good read during Black History Month and it was.

There are no copies on PBS at this point but not posting it yet either.  Keeping as a sort of reference book at this point.

The Forever Song--#17 finished

 This is the final book in a 3 book series, I had read the first two books years ago and finally got this one through PBS to finish the series.  It was written in 2014 and series started before that during the teenage vampire time when seemed like dozens of these books were being published.  I remember enjoying the first two and this book had parts that were good too.  Just seemed too much reflection and unspoken emotions put into the pages for me.  It is a teenager/young adult book so I am not the target audience so I sort of understand.  Still a nice finish to the story.

There are 4 WL for this book so I will probably post & mail off soon too.

Honus Wager--#16 finished

Spring training is starting up for baseball so I figured needed to read a baseball book at the beginning of the year.  I had heard of Honus Wagner and had probably looked him up on Baseball-Reference a few times but didn't know much else about him.  An interesting read, a local Pittsburg family & he becomes a star in those earlier years of baseball.  Interesting time of baseball and a look at what baseball was like back then.

There is 1 WL for this book so will probably post soon & see if can get mailed off. 

The Sun Does Shine--#15 finished

 This is a book by Anthony Ray Hinton, a man that was on death row in Alabama for 27 years before finally being set free for crimes & murders he did not commit.  This is a tough story and very unfortunately true story of a poor young black man that was basically setup for this crime.  It seems no investigation went into it but rather because he was on parole and in the area he became the one the fit for the crime.  Really a harsh story about our death penalty but also about our criminal justice system.  If he wasn't on death row, he probably wouldn't have gotten the assistance to get free compared to if given life with no parole.

There are 22 WL for this book on PBS so will probably mail off at some point.

Oregon Hill--#14 finished

An older newspaper reporter with connections all around Richmond, VA solves a gristly crime and almost is killed for it by a couple people.  A good quick read.  This is the beginning of a smaller series & already have 2nd book so figured would jump on this when I got it.  It is a good read and hopefully a good series.

There was 1 WL for this book so I have already posted it & probably mail off in next few days.

Damned--#13 finished

 A funny sort of book about a 13 year old that dies & goes to hell and how she changes things.  She is a daughter of a super rich celebrity couple that are also just kind of way out there.  Lots of references & influences thrown about in the book that make it humorous in ways.  A good but very different sort of read.

There are no WL for this version of book--there are for other so I am guessing would get picked if/when I post it.

You Don't Look Your Age...and Other Fairy Tales--#12 finished

 This is a book of essays about Sheila Nevins life and I guess the people around her.  She is a top documentary producer and president of HBO Documentary Films but I hadn't heard of her before this book--I enjoy documentaries but don't pay much attention to who is making them.  I am also not a big film buff so she was outside my areas of knowledge.  The book looked interesting and it was, some really interesting stories.  Some poems too but not really what I like.  A very interesting life--I am guessing the stories are true even though some sound more fiction to me.  A good and interesting read.

I have posted it on PBS, it is only copy in system so maybe this one will move but will see.

The Human Factor--#11 finished

 This is a 1970s different sort of spy book.  The story is in England & the main character had spent time in the field as a sort of spy for England in South Africa.  While there he falls in love and has to coordinate a way to get his black lover out of the country and to England & he does this.  He is reassigned to a desk looking at incoming messages from field ops and other things passed along.  He is also passing things to the USSR because the communists helped in getting his wife out of S Africa but this wasn't clear at first.  There is an internal probe into these leaks and this is where some action starts happening.  A different time with no computers, cell phones, etc.  Lots of drinking and eating at clubs.  A good read that brings you back in time.

There were already 10 copies in system but I still went ahead and posted it, probably going nowhere but figure can leave on bookshelf for now & can always pull and give away if need room.

8 Days--#10 finished

 This is a book that has been on my shelf for more than a few years and finally decided to read.  It is from a MO author, part of the reason I got the book & have kept it. It reads more like a young adult book and was written in 2004 time so the whole world gone to hell and a few survivors--what do they do story.  An okay read, simple characters but overall sort of a positive we will pull together kind of message.  I don't understand why electricity is still running and how they are able to keep cars gassed up but can't let those details bother you too much--like I said more young adult.

I have posted it on PBS and it is the only copy in system but who knows if will move or not.

Jungle--#9 finished

 This is a true story about backpackers that are in Bolivia and that different goals or directions that meet each other & a sort of local guy and get sort of talked into going into the Amazon jungle in Bolivia.  They will fly in and backpack a ways and then get to a very isolated native village and then float down river to where would fly out.  There are 4 men doing this and while the start seems okay there are factions developing and issues starting.  Also a harsh rash on ones feet, causing questions if can do entire trip.  Eventually to decide to hike back where started and 2 will skip the isolated village but instead float down river.  The story follows the 2 down river and how they became separated.  One gets to a village while other is sort of lost but is found after weeks in the jungle--when most thought he was dead.  The other 2 sort of disappear--the guide/local guy is suspected of being a criminal sort--at least not who he said he was.  The other is lost and presumed dead.  Having no interest in doing backpacking like this I really question many of the decisions they were making but I have to understand this is not my mindset.  Interesting read overall.

There are 7 WL for the book so I will mail off at some point.

Miller's Valley--#8 finished

 I enjoy Anna Quindlen books, they tell a good story about family struggles.  This one is a NE farming valley that the Miller family lived for years.  Flooding problems continued while family struggled with family issues.  Eventually they and others had to sellout so a dam could be build at the valley flooded for a lake.  A good story and interesting characters, nothing great but still a good read.

There are 13 WL for this book, it is a large print edition so I will probably post & send off some time soon.

Cari Mora--#7 finished

 This is a new book from Thomas Harris--2019, the author that did The Silence of the Lambs books.  I saw a couple of the movies and they are plenty creepy so wasn't too sure I wanted to even bother with this one.  This has enough creepy parts that to me are just not enjoyable but overall the action kept moving and good people won in the end.  Not a bad read but probably won't search out his earlier books either.  Not sure if this will be a series or not but would probably continue if there is another book.

I have posted it on PBS there were already 3 copies in system but since a newer book and popular author figured I would post it & see if gets requested down the line.

The Unraveling of Mercy Louis--#6 finished

A book about a high school girl growing up in a rough sort of refinery town on the Gulf coast of Texas.  The girl, Mercy Louis, is a star basketball player that sort of provides cover for the other areas of life where she is struggling.  She is being raised by her grandmother--who is a sort of religious freak type--world ending in months kind of way.  Mercy's best friend is a loose cannon sort of girl with her own struggles.  In the background is the other main focus of the book, the girls team manager a shadow of a person Illa.  I wasn't so sure about this book when I started but it did manage to come together in ways at the end. Book at least makes you think about things & story kept things moving.

I have it posted on PBS already, it is the only copy in system so maybe it will get requested at some point. 

Little Weirds--#5 finished

 I wasn't really sure what I was getting with this book.  It was sort of a throw in to an order on PBS.  I didn't know Jenny Slate the author at all--I have since found out comedienne, voice & regular actress and other sort of Hollywood things.  This is a short vignette type book--not short stories but usually just a few paragraphs about some random thoughts.  I really did get this book--the thoughts, the style or much of anything.  There were a couple that I thought were interesting but otherwise mostly just disappointing for me. The book has 9 pages of advance praise of this book by various reviewers--I just don't get it.

There are like 8 or 9 WL for this book on PBS so I will get mailed off at some point probably soon.

The Dependents--#4 finished

 This is a book I started over Christmas, had taken with me to parent's house as one to start if I finished one there.  Well I did so started this.  In grabbing it I hadn't spent much time thinking about it, a kind of spur of the moment packing thing.  About a longtime married couple and the wife dies and how the husband tries to adjust to life now.  Their daughter lives on the west coast--far away distance and also far away from real communication with her father.  I was sort of surprised how much I liked the book.  Some parts & decisions seem a little out there but certainly can understand with a man in his situation being like that. 

There are around 13 WL for the book on PBS so will get it posted & mailed off at some point.

Stalingrad--#3 finished

 This is one I had been working on for some time, I think started it back in November.  A lot of good information here about the different armies involved in Germany advancing into USSR and getting stalled at Stalingrad and then the USSR surprise offensive that circled the German army and wore it down to almost nothing to where it had to surrender.  Really interesting to see the interplay between the German generals and Hitler.  The propaganda the Germans used to justify there invasion sounds in some ways similar to what Putin used to justify his invasion of Ukraine.  This is still a time and battle of such enormous size that I really can't put my head around it--just such a huge waste of life.

This book is older & a little beaten up so I will not be posting it on PBS, for now is a keeper.

The Wars of Heaven--#2 finished

This is a short story book, I had taken it along when went out of town over Christmas and started it then after finishing a book there.  This is published in 1990 so the stories are from the 1980s I guess.  The short stories then just don't seem to appeal to me much--sort of weird and abstract.  A couple of them here were good including the novella at the end--The Love of a Good Woman but overall just okay.  It is a short book and mostly a quick read.  I finished this on the 1st during afternoon.

I have posted it on PBS & is only paperback copy and there is a WL for the hardback copy but so far not being requested.  Maybe it moves but short story books don't seem to move much.  I did order it from PBS so I guess some do move--ha ha.