The Swamp

I've been trying to find a good thriller for a while, and so far (halfway through), this one is filling the bill. It's been a while since I just had to red one more chapter, then another and another before dropping the Kobo.

(It helps that the chapters are all pretty short)

I'm almost done with this:



I picked up since I've liked the magazine/non-fiction stuff the author has done, and the book has received glowing reviews, but I'm not so sure about it. Might be because I can relate a bit too much to the parts about the post-divorce dating world.

I really liked it (just finished it this week myself), but that could be because I'm not living that.

Just finished Volker Ullrich's "Hitler: ascent 1889-1939" (sorry guys, the whole img thing frustrates the hell out of me). It's the fourth Hitler bio I've read (Bullock, Toland, Kershaw) and takes a slightly different approach. The common image of Hitler is that of raving lunatic and while he could be that, Ullrich goes to great lengths to show how very calculated he was even with his ranting. Ullrich goes into detail about daily routines, his awkward romances, the fact he loved kids and dogs etc. He portrays a man not molded by his time as some have put forward but a very methodical (and occasionally fantastically lucky) demagogue who put himself in the position he eventually found himself. The importance of this approach is to emphasize that while we look back now and ask 'how could they not have known?', to the vast majority of Germans he was an "everyman" who seemed to immediately release the German people from both the Depression and the restrictive Treaty of Versailles. He truly made Germany Great Again and even though many were uncomfortable with his racist policies, the average life was improved and worth looking past what they didn't agree with.

Is this the "best" Hitler bio? For me Bullock was best capturing man and movement but this is quite good especially if your first. Let me also stress that Hitler is humanized without sympathy. The author rightly depicts the monster he was. The book is on the dry side but it's tough to bring forward that much info in a breezy manner. This was also translated from the German and has many repeated phrases for which I blame the translator. The German language is dynamic enough I doubt the author used "paladins" as much as written here. The book is 758pp before notes but a worthy slog if interested in 20thC history.

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 5:38 pm I'm almost done with this:



I picked up since I've liked the magazine/non-fiction stuff the author has done, and the book has received glowing reviews, but I'm not so sure about it. Might be because I can relate a bit too much to the parts about the post-divorce dating world.

Finished this last week. And I HATED the ending.

Moved onto this:



Bit dry so far...

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:33 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 5:38 pm I'm almost done with this:



I picked up since I've liked the magazine/non-fiction stuff the author has done, and the book has received glowing reviews, but I'm not so sure about it. Might be because I can relate a bit too much to the parts about the post-divorce dating world.

Finished this last week. And I HATED the ending.

Moved onto this:



Bit dry so far...

But at least you know how that one ends.

I pretty much gave up on the thriller I cited above. It became a real slog, so the hell with it.

Nathan Englander is a really good writer, but without a knowledge of Judaism, his books would probably be fairly incomprehensible. (He was raised ultra-Orthodox)

This one has got me riveted -

Halfway through and it is funny and sad and full of incredible observations about filial responsibility and guilt. And did I mention that it's kind of funny too?

Keeping with my recent fascination with the 14th century.



Also, finally got around to reading this:

SC you've read A Distant Mirror, yes?

No, I haven't. But if you're recommending it, I'll pick it up to read on my upcoming trip. Lots of plane and train time.

ETA: They have it at my local library, so I'll make it so. Thanks.

Just started listening to this. Good story of the 21 day barnstorming tour Ruth and Gehrig did after he hit his 60th HR in 1927. So far pretty enjoyable.

Pruitt, I'm going to put that kaddish.com book in my queue.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:09 pm No, I haven't. But if you're recommending it, I'll pick it up to read on my upcoming trip. Lots of plane and train time.

ETA: They have it at my local library, so I'll make it so. Thanks.

Enjoy!

I actually have to reread it, haven't read it for 20 years!

bfj wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:24 pm
Pruitt, I'm going to put that kaddish.com book in my queue.

A very satisfying ending as well.

It is very rare for me to be so riveted to a book that I stay up really late reading.

This one is incredible - I had never heard of this robbery and the aftermath. It is hard to put down...

Just finished



working my way through

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. She is flat out hilarious.

I just finished 'Three Women' by Lisa Taddeo. I don't know...it was really well written, but I felt kinda creepy reading it. And felt really bad for 2 of the 3 women in it (Sloane, the woman having 3somes for her husband's enjoyment knew what she was getting into)...

Just started Colson Whitehead's 'Nickel Boys'...

Holy shit this is great.



A "novel" in name only, but linked stories on the theme of masculinity and how it changes with age. Very rare for a book to hook me from the first page...

Just got caught up on the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher. For something not my cup of tea at all, it's maybe my favorite series ever.

I'm reading the Harry Potter series, for the first time.