Category Archives: Book Reviews

An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin; Part Two

As history, backed up by Dick Goodwin’s documentation, points out, John F. Kennedy was in the midst of overseeing many profound societal changes when he was assassinated, and Johnson, on assuming the presidency, became determined to see these initiatives through … Continue reading

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Book Review:  An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin; Part One

The third time’s the charm. On three different occasions I checked this book out of the library. The first two times I returned it without reading it. I was tempted by it, as I am by all things having to … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris

From the mid-1970s until 2012 I lived overseas in Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and New Zealand, and this kept me out of touch with much of what was happening in my homeland of the United States. Besides the … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams

This powerful expose is written by a former Facebook executive, a New Zealand national who for several years worked on government relations and global policy for the ubiquitous social network. The title comes from the novel The Great Gatsby by … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny

I finished this book with a profound sense of satisfaction. It is not only a gripping travel adventure, but it also gives a clear picture of the all-pervasive misogyny during the era in which the story takes place. It’s hard … Continue reading

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Book Review:  People Like Us: A Novel by Jason Mott

Right at the beginning of this enigmatic, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, mystifying, and surreal book, the author states that it is at least partially based on fact, but “to keep the lawyers cooling their heels,” the “whole thing has been … Continue reading

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Thoughts on Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

Another tried and proven book I brought upon the journey to Maine to reread is Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller. To be honest, I found it somewhat disappointing, but in all fairness, Miller’s words have not changed, I have. … Continue reading

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Reviews and Reflections on Books, Literature, and Writing: Volume Four Is Now Available!

My latest collection of book reviews, Reviews and Reflections on Books, Literature, and Writing: Volume Four, is now available in paperback and as an ebook at various online outlets. Links to these are below. As I wrote recently in my … Continue reading

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Thoughts on Jack London: Sailor on Horseback by Irving Stone

As I write this I’m in Orono, a town near Bangor, dog-sitting for my son while he embarks on a scientific expedition in Alaska with some researchers from the University of Maine. My thoughts have turned to Jack London for … Continue reading

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Book Reviews as Autobiography

A recent comment on one of my past book reviews points out, somewhat critically, that in the review I talk about myself as much as I do the book. By way of explanation, I offer this essay, which appeared in … Continue reading

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