The Forgotten History of America--#103 finished

 The rest of the long title is: Little-Known Conflicts of Lasting Importance from the Earliest Colonists to the Eve of the Revolution.  It reads kind of like a text book but maybe not quite that dry either--been a few years since I have read a text book.  Lots of information and history about the battles between the colonists and the Indians and which tribes were friendly & which were not, which sided with the French & which sided with the English.  Basically all Indian tribes were fought against it seems at times but the Indians did get some shots in too.  Just a good reminder that there were people here before the Europeans arrived and that colonizing America was a dirty & messy business.  You can't go back and change history but remembering it is still important.

There are no copies in PBS system & no WL for the book but since has a lot of good information I think I am keeping it at this point, no reason to post it at least yet.

The Last Odyssey--#102 finished

 This is the next in James Rollins Sigma Force series.  I like that he tries to come up with theories or rumors and makes them life like in his books.  This one the Illiad & Odyssey by Homer are really true stories and there is a rich international group that wants to use this knowledge to force an end to the world so an end times and a 2nd coming or whatever comes after for their faith.  Just a little out there.  Throw in beyond ancient mechanical monsters and nuclear water and of course the Greek fire or whatever that is called too.  I read it but mostly disappointed with it.  Hopefully next in series is better.

I will be posting this & sending off, I think there are 17 WL for it but better to get it moving soon, it is a Mass Market paperback.

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls--#101 finished

This is a David Sedaris collection of writings, mostly very funny and sometimes thought provoking.  I enjoy his books & this one too.  Just his thoughts on everyday happenings are interesting and basically outside of some of the normal.  I finished this book probably 2 weeks ago but just now logging it in so details of what I read are now hazy but memory that I enjoyed it is still there.

I have been keeping the David Sedaris books, even though I might not read again but they might become ones to hand out to friends to enjoy.  Not posting at this time even though I think there are a few WL for it. 

Hadji Murad--#100 finished

 WOW, 100 books read for the year and with a month to go still.  Back in Feb or March is when I first thought of this.  I had read a book by Ben Sasse last year or maybe two years ago where he mentioned when working in George W Bush White House there were several staffers that made it a goal of theirs.  It sort of stuck with me & figure this was the year.  Since basically stuck in the house much of the Spring and not much of any social life rest of year--not that I had much anyway, this became a focus.  I am glad I made it.  I have to admit that I did avoid some longer books in order to reach the 100 read.  I don't expect to have this goal again for next year, but glad it got it done.

This is a Leo Tolstoy book that was published after his death.  A good story about the Russians fighting in the Caucasus and Chechnya areas.  The title character is a general that was fighting against the Russians but turns himself in & offers to fight for them since the leader of the rebels--for lack of better term--is a hated enemy of his.  The enemy has his mother, wives and children though and they try to negotiate for them but is unsuccessful.  Story is about the people holding him and his life.  Lot of good information and insight into their lives. 

This is a very cheaply published book, too many to count spelling errors in this, just all through this book. I will keep since it is Tolstoy but might have to look to get a better copy too.

Tolstoy books stay on my keepers so will keep this one.  Also is the 100th book read of 2020 so might keep for that reason too.

Hardware River--#99 finished

 A short story book with most of the stories from around the Appalachian Mountains with interesting characters and an attachment to the land.  The book was published in 1991 so a little dated, had to think back to that time when reading these stories.  Enjoyable reads with some memorable people and descriptions.  I do enjoy short stories as a nice change of pace.

I have already posted it on PBS, it is the only copy but not sure how fast it will move.

Don't Skip Out On Me--#98 finished

 A really powerful book about people trying their best.  A young man that never knew his father & his mother remarried and left him behind with grandma to raise.  When grandma died when he was in high school went to live with an older couple on a ranch where he was already working.  They raised him & he helped them a lot around the ranch.  They kept telling him he was like a son to them but he had to strike out on his own by wanting to become a champion boxer.  The struggles he has and the struggles the older couple has in trying to maintain their ranch are really exposed, just some great writing and characters.  A tough read because you would like the young man to make better choices but in end can see a lot of it stems from feeling abandoned by his parents.  Really good book.

There are a couple WL for it on PBS but not sure it is going to be mailed off soon but do like to pass enjoyable books along to others too, so not sure at this point.

You Might Remember Me--#97 finished

 The rest of the title is The Life and Times of Phil Hartman.  A good read, brought back a lot of good memories of shows and skits that Phil Hartman was part of.  Also a lot of how he got to where he was, interesting that he was a graphics/artist sort that paid the bills while waiting for his Hollywood shot.  Also didn't know he connection to PeeWee Herman either.  Sad end to his life, just way too soon for this talented performer.

There are a couple WL for the book so I will probably mail it off at some point.