THE RETURN: FATHERS, SONS, AND THE LAND IN BETWEEN

 The Return: Fathers, Sons, and the Land in Between by Hisham Matar published in 2017 is a heart-wrenching memoir.  This book is about a man who longs to find out what happened to his father, Jaballa Matar, a political dissident against the Qaddafi regime in Libya, who apparently disappeared. What the author knew was that his father had been imprisoned in Tripoli for many years.  He learned that there had been a prison massacre during which his father may have been killed. 

For more than a decade, Hisham was a well-recognized educator and scholar in London and was able to adopt British citizenship, managing to have his father’s disappearance discussed in the English House of Lords. With the fall of the Qaddafi regime and the help of one of the Lords, the author is able to return to his native Libya to make inquiries about his father.

The author’s frustration over a period of thirty years and his relentless efforts provide a tale of filial affection and inspiration that is well worth a read.

THE RAZOR'S EDGE

Published in 1944, The Razor’s Edge is one of W. Somerset Maugham’s most unusual books. He called it a novel because he said he did not know what else to call it.  Moreover, he felt compelled to write himself into the story as a character. 

The story is about Larry Darrell, a man who touched many lives in different ways. In 1914, Larry ran away to Canada, lied about his age, and joined the Royal Canadian Flying Service. At seventeen, he was flying combat in France. He loved the excitement of flight and combat until a comrade gave his life to save Larry. This had a sobering effect on him. By War’s end, Larry found himself in England where he met Isabel, a daughter of one of the wealthy American expats who now lived in London and/or Paris. Isabel, who reveled in wealth and privilege, fell in love with Larry, and they became engaged. She was anxious for Larry to find a position to make money, but Larry was in no rush. He told her he needed time to study. Eventually, Isabel became impatient and married Gray. Larry spent years wondering through Europe ending up in India in search for the meaning of life. 

During Larry’s time in India, the market crashed causing Gray to lose his job and fortune. Many of the other expats in their social circle also lost money. When Larry returned from India, he reconnected with Isabel and others in her society and was able to help some of them. 

In addition to excellent writing, I liked this book because I identified with Larry who loved flying, helped people, and who also searched for the meaning of life. I do not hesitate to recommend this novel as a good read.

 

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER

For Labor Day, I have chosen something short so it will not require much labor. It is probably my favorite short story and is not inappropriate today, since New Hampshire with its motto “Live Free or Die” is considered a “swing state”.

The story, The Devil and Daniel Wesbter, was written in 1936 by Stephen Vincent Benet.

Daniel Webster, a lawyer, an intensely patriotic statesman, and an almost mythical character, is asked to defend Jabez Stone, who had made a contract with the Devil. Resolved to come to the aid of a fellow New Hamshireman, Webster accepts the challenge.

I think, like many others, that this story is indeed a classic and may be a metaphor for our current political turmoil.

THE SOUL OF AMERICA

Yesterday afternoon I sat by the TV listening to Joe Biden introduce his running mate Kamala Harris. In this speech, and others, Joe has often referred to the “Battle for the Soul of America “.

Almost all religions believe that everyone has a soul, the spiritual part of a person regarded as immortal. In modern times, some people believe that the concept of a soul can also apply to a nation.  This concept brought to mind a book The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham published in 2018. The author points out that Abraham Lincoln often referred to the soul as “the better angels of our nature”.

Meacham, a biographer, has written several books about our presidents and other historical figures.  In this fascinating book, Meacham describes many events in detail including the “bad” times contributing to the development of our nation when Lincoln maintained “our better angels” would prevail. 

His message is one of hope. Meacham recounts the troubled times in our past as well as the brighter episodes which support the development of a stronger nation. This book is a must read for all especially for those distressed by the fury of these turbulent times!  

RIGGED

RIGGED: America, Russia, and One Hundred Years of Covert Electoral Interference by David Shimer is a must-read for anyone interested in the competition between two great powers.

When David Shimer entered Yale, he majored in History under the guidance of his Professor Timothy Snyder. The reaction of our government and the media to Russian tampering with our election in 2015-2016 piqued his interest while working as an intern for the Clinton campaign. In 2017, he went to West Germany to investigate the 1972 Russian interference in the parliamentary election.  He interviewed an East German government individual who had been involved in that process which changed the shape of the Cold War. Was there a similarity between these two events? His investigation began to take on a life of its own.

He soon focused on the mechanism of influencing the election process of a foreign country by both Russian and the U. S.  America sought to support democracy whereas Russia focused on controlling the county with communism.

Shimer graduated in 2018 with both a Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees and secured a Fellowship at Oxford University to complete a Doctorate in International Relations. He published his book in June of this year. The genius of this book reflects Shimer’s ability to “connect the dots”.

I must credit the assistance of my wife Connie in the preparation of this Blog.

THE BLACK AND THE BLUE

I selected this book, The Black and the Blue, by Mathew Horace, because I wanted to understand the frequent killing of unarmed African Americans by police. The author is an Afro-American who has spent his entire life in law enforcement.  He is concerned with the racism that has permeated the police in most cities in the United States.  Horace started his career as a policeman and rose through the ranks until he reached important positions in the Federal government, especially with Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco, that permitted him to investigate police practices in major cities. What is most revealing is how difficult it is for a Black man to be in a blue uniform. His personal experiences are enlightening and well worth your time to read. It may help you to comprehend what is going on in our country at this time.

THE GIVER OF STARS

This novel, The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes published in 2019, was brought to my attention by cousin Pam.

Jojo Moyes is a British journalist and novelist. She has published twelve novels, some of which have been made into movies. She has obviously researched the background for this novel very well.

Southeastern Kentucky, where the story takes place, is mountainous and drained by the Ohio River. It is part of a region known as Appalachia. In colonial times, the area was known as “the bloody ground of Kentucky” because of the frequent and violent confrontations with Indians. As the years passed and Kentucky became a state, its reputation for violence was undiminished. Feuds between families often lasted for generations with dead on both sides.

Kentucky is a coal mining state and wealthy men have been mining for years. Many of the mines were dangerous and tragic collapses occurred in the shafts often with fatalities. Clashes occurred between the mine owners and miners seeking unionization.

The story begins during the Depression and Roosevelt’s “New Deal” efforts like the WPA to ameliorate the hardships. The time was ripe with racism, ignorance, and corruption. What makes this novel unique is that there are five protagonists, all women. Some were trained librarians. They form a group which came to be known as the “Packhorse Librarians” since the only way to reach their distant readers was by horseback. The experiences of these women provide a fascinating tale.

The intended recipients of the books were small families living in isolated log cabins who subsisted by hunting, gardening, working in a mine, or moonshining.  Some could not read but clamored for more books. The varied reception of the librarians by these families and other challenges they endured makes for exciting reading.