Monday, March 18, 2024

Higher Power


I didn't love this book but I learned so much. This is never a book I would have picked up, but I'm not mad that I had to read it. Prior to reading this book, the only other book on nuclear energy I had ever read was, "Midnight in Chernobyl" which was slightly terrifying. Higher Power is not that kind of book. Broken into three parts: Higher Power has a mix of different nuclear themes. The first section is about Dowie, a religious leader/fanatic/hypocrite and the founder of the city of Zion in Illinois. The second part of the book is about the nuclear plant with twin reactors that was built in the town. The author was able to spend nearly two years there as a journalist working for the Chicago Tribune. The final section of the book is a bit of a hodge podge about the future of nuclear energy, former workers of the Zion plant, and the decommissioning process, and other nuclear disasters. It was all interesting - but a very dense read.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Dust Yourself Off

 

An engaging biography of a North Dakota farm wife who proved she was so much more than that. This reads like a love letter to Muriel Henrickson Sandhei. It outlines her childhood, her marriages and the many ups and downs that came from living off the land during the 40s and 50s. Barely making ends meet, but proud, fearless, and determined; she was a strong and passionate woman who raised several fine young children and weathered quite a few tragedies. Not only is it a look at her life and that of her families - but it is also a wonderful snapshot of Fort Ransom in the first half of the twentieth century and the Norwegian farming community that lived on the land. With an upbeat attitude Muriel took everything that was thrown at her with stride - she didn't think that was extraordinary - she thought it was expected. A moving portrait of strong woman. 

Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Other Side of Anoka


When Karen's husband dies she starts to wonder about lives lived and if she'll see him again. Her curiosity leads her to start working the ghost tours in her town and that leads her to someone who has answers. A past life regressionist takes her to "the other side" of Anoka - back to 1851. The majority of the book is through Carrie's eyes as the small settlement of Anoka grows into a bustling town. Carrie meets Jacque-Pierre, her soulmate, and starts a family of her own. Her family grows as the town does. While Carrie is the "main character" there are also many other characters, ordeals, and backstories that readers are privy too. The town itself could also be classified as the main character, because as the years pass, the buildings and population grow as well. This book would mainly fall under historical fiction although the buildings, the catastrophes, the people, and the deaths are all based on real accounts of the town. An interesting way to tell a town's history while focusing on one family. 

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Blaze


I love nearly everything written by Stephen King but I didn't love this as much as I wanted to. I don't know if it was the narration or my concern for the baby - but this book was just so so for me. The premise of Blaze a man wants to kidnap a baby so he can do one big con and be set for the rest of his life. The only issue is that Blaze is a few fries short of a happy meal after being repeatedly being thrown down the stairs by his father as a child - for years he would pull cons with his buddy George, but ever since he was stabbed during a poker game he's been on his own. He's a gentle giant and too stupid to do much without George - but George's voice is guiding him on what to do and he wants Blaze to do this kidnapping. Can he pull it off? He is a sympathetic bad guy and the story will give you complicated emotions. I'm sad I didn't like it more. 

The Irish Matchmaker


I am a sucker for inspirational historical romance - especially when it is set in Ireland. Having read Jennifer Deibel's other books, I knew I was in for a treat. While I didn't love this as much as some of her other titles, it was still a nice quick read. Catriona Daly is a matchmaker just like her father - she is too busy helping other people find their forever love that she never gets to find a man for herself. When she starts to work with Andrew Osbourne - a man of means and property she is determined to match him with herself so that she can get away from their small Irish town and be financially well off. Donal Banratty, is a single father with a barely functioning farm. He never seems to come out ahead no matter how hard he tries. When his daughter Sara begs him to go to the matchmaking festival so she can have a mother - he reluctantly agrees. If nothing else he could use an extra set of hands around the farm. He isn't looking for love - he's looking for a partner. Little do Catriona and Donal know that what they are looking for could be right in front of them. 

Friday, March 1, 2024

Taboo


Interesting look at Nino Cutraro, an entrepreneur who created some of the most iconic night clubs and restaurants in America. Nino immigrated to America with $20 in his pocket and with a little hard work and a lot of good business sense started creating iconic businesses (mainly in Detroit) that people still talk about today. All the major celebrities went to them and they became legendary even after they were closed down or rebranded. From disco clubs to Italian restaurants to dance venues to western bars; the whos who of every in America passed through the doors and Nino has the pictures to prove it. Madonna, David Bowie, Pavarotti, Stevie Wonder, Al Gore, Sugar Ray Leonard and so many more came back time and again. Nino even developed a deep relationship with Mark Whalburg and helped open up their first restaurant. This book is fun and reads like a long Rolling Stone article. A fun little coffee table book. 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Standing at the Grave


This family history took a bit to win me over. Genealogist, Gary Heyn, wanted to write about his family that emigrated over from Germany - and do it in a compelling and interesting way. To achieve that he fictionalized their thoughts, conversations, and attitudes to create a narrative story. At the heart of the story all the "facts" are true; the houses, the scandals, the marriages, births, deaths, and more - but he fleshed them out in a way that at first felt inauthentic to me. How could he possibly know how Anna felt, or if there was jealousy between brothers. At first it annoyed me. But then... I got into the story - I got into learning about this massive sprawling family and all their trials and tribulations. Normal people wouldn't be invested in just a family tree, but they would in a good story. And that's what this was. A fictionalized account of a real family. And it's interesting - it's the ultimate immigration story. I did have trouble keeping track of all the Augusts, but that's to be expected in a huge German family. An innovative way to tell family history.