Showdown at Shepherd's Bush--#59 finished

The rest of the title:  The 1908 Olympic Marathon and the Three Runners Who Launched a Sporting Craze.  That is basically the story--goes over some marathon history and then more in depth about the 3 main runners.  Johnny Hayes an American from Ireland, with obviously Irish Americans competing in London then was also part of the Olympic story.  Tom Longboat an Onondaga Indian from Canada who was probably the favorite--had to endure racists taunts, poor handling, etc back then.  Then Dorando Pietri from Italy who became the fan favorite even after being DQ'ed for getting assistance at the end of the race.  After the race a lot more good information about the marathon races they participated in eventually all turned pro to earn money from their racing.  Really good and interesting read.

There are 2 WL for this book on PBS but for now a keeper.  I got this book from Thrift Books too so don't feel to guilty about not putting into PBS as I do others that I get from PBS. 

Fallout--Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell--#58 finished

This is one that has been on my shelf for a long time.  It is the 4th book in a series, a series that I never bothered to track down the other books.  I finally decided it was time for me to read this one.  So I don't know if Tom Clancy wrote the first book or so in the series and then it was handed off or if was his idea and handed series off--just not sure and since book is almost 20 years old, I am not going to bother checking further into it.  A good enough typical book of a guy that was beyond the CIA and Special Forces with some amazing equipment and contacts to help him on his way.  Needle in haystack to find stuff & does find the stuff.  Just an easy read action book.

There are 8 copies in PBS system, no reason to add another.  This will go into my donate away pile.

Sunbelt Blues--#57 finished

The rest of the title: The Failure of American Housing.  This was written 2021 during the pandemic but obviously the issues with housing had been going on long before that.  The author lived in Osceola County Florida years ago and has returned a few times and now used the area as the focus on the housing issues.  This area is dominated by Disney World, both the lure of tourists, workers, land issues, etc.  A lot about the people on the fringes or those that have fallen off the fringe even and the lack of low cost housing and better paying jobs.  Full time union jobs at Disney and the employees still qualify for food stamps and other assistance but also make too much to get help with housing.  Also a lack of available housing.  Throw in many people moving into area and people that have retired or given up there too.  Motels that have become weekly/monthly rentals with quick evictions.  End of book looks at expansion of more homes that would be out of low cost price range and the environmental impact they would bring.  Just some scary stuff.  Interestingly there is a big housing bill that has passed and sounds like Trump won't sign but instead just let it slip into law.  Not sure how much of the issues in book it will address but I guess a good start and surprisingly a bipartisan bill too.

I have posted this book on PBS, it is only copy in system so maybe will get requested, will have to see.

The Celebrants--#56 finished

This is about 5 people that got together after graduating from Cal Berkeley but also were together because a 6th person Alex had died--possibly suicide--right before graduation.  All 6 were transfers into Berkeley as sophomores so were sort of assigned together and were friends from then on.  At that get together they form a sort of compact to have a funeral for each when needed--before they die--so the person will know their friends love and support them in a time of need.  Their lives go from there and a bunch of years later get the call and then another and another.  Interesting story, had a couple twists too.  Good characters and wanted to see how things turn out.

There are 21 WL for this book on PBS so will get it mailed off at some point.

David and Goliath--#55 finished

The rest of the title:  Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell.  I really enjoyed this book, he took a different perspective to underdogs and misfits and showed how their limitations actually became their positives.  People with dyslexia found ways around this and became super successful.  People in London being bombed, people that grew up without love, etc these people became successful in their fields.  Now he has obviously picked successful people to show it could happen.  He doesn't really touch on the fact that so many with these issues struggle probably their whole lives, that to me was a kind of shortcoming to this book.  But was good at keeping in mind what could be setbacks can be turned around.  Really good and interesting book.

There are no copies on PBS but at this point keeping and encouraging others to read. 

Driving the Saudis--#54 finished

This was a quick sort of easy read about an out of work or maybe looking for work in Hollywood actor/producer/screen writer, etc.  She talks about her struggles to find work and needing to pickup a job to pay rent and many other jobs.  She took a chauffeur job that mostly was at night so she could still go to auditions, etc.  While doing this a large Saudi family was coming to Hollywood and needed 30 some chauffeurs and she agreed to it--there was a sort of understanding that a large tip would be had at end.  It was basically a 24 hour 7 day a week on call job with around 7 weeks covering it.  Crazy to read about what they brought over, the servants, luggage, cash (again) etc.  Since author was only female chauffeur she drove only the women, no man would think about riding with her--except for the male hairdresser of a princess.  She got to see their shopping craziness, taking them to & from plastic surgery, running errands to pickup crazy things they wanted.  A lot of humor in here but also some serious stuff--servants that were basically indentured and maybe for life to the family.  A conversation with one of the servants that expressed hatred to Jewish people--hatred to point where Allah should kill them all.  Just an insane mindset that really makes one worry about things getting any kind of peaceful resolution in Middle East.  This book is from 2012 so while 14 years ago, can't believe much has changed either.

There are 5 WL for this book on PBS.  This was a Thriftbooks pickup for me.  Might be one I loan out first before putting on to PBS. 

A Well-Paid Slave--#53 finished

The rest of the title: Curt Flood's Fight for Free Agency in Professional Sports.  Since baseball is back into negotiating their next player deal and a lockout is assumed by all, I figured it was a good time to read this book that has been on my shelf for years.  Being in St Louis and a baseball fan, I knew of Curt Flood and that he took on the owners but not much on any details.  This book really tells the story, his background, his struggles before, during and after his lawsuit.  Just a lot of really good information about Flood as well as about all the other people involved in this.  While his numbers wouldn't get him into the HOF, he certainly belongs there as the player most responsible for gaining rights for the players.  I doubt the baseball establishment--owners, etc--not players--will not let this happen and it is unfortunate.  A very good read.

This one is staying around as a keeper.  I knew it would be a keeper and that is probably part of the reason it took so long for me to get to it--keeper books get picked up by me a little slower than others it seems--I will need to work on this.