Published in May of 2022, “Lieutenant General James Longstreet: Innovative Military Strategist: The Most Misunderstood Civil War General” is a biography of James Longstreet during the Civil War. An argument is made that he was a greater general than history portrayed him and, if General Lee had followed his recommendations, several battles would not have been fought or would have worked out much better in the favor of the Confederacy. (E.g. Gettysburg.)
Lieutenant General James Longstreet
My Thoughts
I love a good Civil War book in general. However, this one went a little bit further in the weeds than I would have liked. He did make a compelling argument about Longstreet’s ability but I don’t have the expertise to fact check him. Still, it seemed very detailed and I enjoyed it.
First published in 1989, “Guards! Guards!” by Terry Pratchett is a fantasy novel set in the Discworld. The story follows the inept and often inebriated Night Watch of the city of Ankh-Morpork. When a secret society summons a fire-breathing dragon to overthrow the city and install a puppet ruler, it’s up to the unlikely hero, Sam Vimes, and his motley crew of guardsmen, including a naive recruit and a rather unusual librarian, to save the day. The novel is a witty and imaginative blend of fantasy and social commentary, exploring themes of power, corruption, and the absurdity of bureaucracy in Pratchett’s trademark style.
Guards! Guards!
My Thoughts
I enjoyed this book a bit more than the last. I loved the constant foreshadowing of Carrot being the true king and it never came to pass. (His sword, birthmark, birth-story, and so on.) This book went by like several of my dreams in that it was completely ridiculous but still was surprisingly unremarkable. The characters were making their decisions and living their lives just like they would if nothing was amiss. I really enjoy Pratchett’s style.
Published in 1818, “Frankenstein,” written by Mary Shelley tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist driven by his obsession with creating life. Experimenting with galvanism and chemistry, he successfully animates a creature from lifeless body parts. However, horrified by his creation’s grotesque appearance, Victor abandons the being, setting in motion a tragic series of events. The creature, rejected by society and desperate for acceptance, becomes increasingly isolated and vengeful, ultimately leading to a confrontation between creator and creation that explores themes of scientific ethics, the consequences of unchecked ambition, and the complexities of human identity and empathy. The novel raises profound questions about the limits of human knowledge and the responsibilities that come with wielding such power.
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus
My Thoughts
This is one of those books you need to spend some time reading. Not only is it over 200 years old, and the language is beginning to drift, but it is so much different than the expectations given to us by Hollywood and Halloween.
The “creature” is grotesque, inhumanly fast, and extremely articulate. Somehow it was able to acquire complex emotions, drives, and the ability to describe them in a detail a professional psychologist would envy all while keeping far distant from any human. And all it wanted was a female like himself…
Published in July of 2023, “Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse” is a book by Kim Wickens who is a lawyer who became interested in Lexington when she heard so many Triple Crown winners were descended from him. Lexington, the horse, was a legendary 19th-century American Thoroughbred racehorse known for his exceptional speed and dominance on the track. Born in 1850, he quickly gained fame as a two-year-old, winning all of his races and establishing a reputation as one of the finest racehorses of his era. Renowned for his striking appearance, impressive stature, and remarkable athleticism, Lexington continued to achieve victory throughout his racing career, earning him the title of one of the greatest American racehorses of all time. His legacy extended beyond the track, as he became a highly influential sire, passing on his exceptional genetics to future generations of racehorses, shaping the sport for years to come.
Lexington
My Thoughts
Initially, I saw the title of the book “Lexington” and the publication date of last month and thought, “Sweet! A new book on the Civil War!” Obviously, this wasn’t the case. I was very surprised the book was about an 170 year old horse. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on the context, I’m interested in everything and this was something I had no idea about.
Horses… Of all the things I’ve been exposed to in my life, horses cause the biggest allergic reaction. I can just stand downwind from a horse and find it hard to breathe. Long story short, I’ve not enjoyed them at all. I have ridden a few over the years, while heavily medicated, and just didn’t see the attraction. I would take a motorcycle over these giant smelly animals with a mind of their own any day of the week. Still, I’m certainly able to read a book and this seemed to be a good opportunity.
Almost everything about the story was new to me. I loved the tie ins to the Civil War and how Lexington and his offspring played such an interesting role. General Grant’s horse “Cincinnati” was famous in his own right and was Lexington’s colt. In fact, so many of Lexington’s children ended up throughout the United States the author makes the claim that it would be nearly impossible to find a Thoroughbred horse without being somehow descended from Lexington. We might as well call him the Abraham of horses.
“Pyramids” is a humorous and imaginative fantasy novel written by Terry Pratchett, first published in 1989. Set in the Discworld universe, the story follows Teppic, a young prince who becomes the reluctant ruler of the ancient desert kingdom of Djelibeybi. As he grapples with the peculiarities of ruling, including dealing with pyramids that distort time and space, Teppic finds himself entangled in a series of comical and absurd situations. The novel explores themes of tradition, identity, and the clash between modernity and ancient customs, all while delivering Pratchett’s signature wit and satirical commentary.
Pyramids
My Thoughts
This was an interesting take on the ancient Egypian culture and a fun riff on the metaphysical notions of healing, crystals, and so on. As always, Pratchett delivers his story with witty banter and modern innuendos (for 1989). Pratchett has a somewhat Gary Larson’s “Farside” like sense of humor which I enjoy. I particularly liked that the camel (who thinks of himself as named “You Bastard”) was the the disc’s (world’s) best mathematician.
Published in January of 2023, ““You Just Need to Lose Weight”: And 19 Other Myths About Fat People” is a book discussing the perspective of overweight people. The book talks about diets, trends, myths, and has many examples from the author’s personal life.
You Just need to Lose Weight
My Thoughts
I will say this was a very well written book. The author’s prose, vocabulary, her ability to express herself, and so on were absolutely on point. That said, this was a very angry book full of logical fallacies and nonsensical rants. It goes on the shelf of similar works of supposed oppression where there is no way the individual would be satisfied. One can’t use the term “fat” because thin people have “weaponized” it. Yet she prefers to be called fat…
The last chapter the author expands her ranting to all people or groups or whatever who have ever felt left out for any reason… Seriously, it was embarrassing.
Published in April of 2022, “Mind Your Mindset” is a self-help book that delves into the profound impact of one’s mindset on personal and professional success. Drawing from psychological research and real-life anecdotes, the author explores the power of cultivating a growth-oriented mindset over a fixed one. Through practical strategies and engaging insights, the book illuminates how individuals can shift their perspectives, embrace challenges as opportunities, and harness the potential for continuous learning and development.
Mind Your Mindset
My Thoughts
I thought I would really enjoy the book and honestly, it was a good read. However, it didn’t really have any special insights or any new way of thinking about the material presented. It feel on me like more white noise of the self-help world. Perhaps I wasn’t in the best space but it just wasn’t that great.
Recommendation
Nothing wrong with it but I didn’t get much out of it.
Published in December of 2022, “The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly” authored by Margareta Magnusson is a guide of growing older drawing inspiration from the Swedish philosophy of balanced living. Exploring various facets of physical, mental, and emotional well-being, the book emphasizes the significance of maintaining active lifestyles, nurturing relationships, fostering personal passions, and embracing mindfulness.
The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly
My Thoughts
This was an interesting book and has been part of a death themed last couple of weeks. I would classify this book as 1 part relationship guide, 1 part philosophy, and 1 part “The Art of Tidying Up.” It was particularly fun to read as the author (an octogenarian) is full of quips and old-timey sayings (even if they were Swedish).
The book made me stop and think about what I want and even had me ask my wife and kids what they are thinking about if something happens. I don’t know how productive those conversations were but I was glad to have them.
Published in 2017, “Oathbringer” is the third installment of Brandon Sanderson’s series, “The Stormlight Archive.” The novel delves deeper into the world of Roshar as the Knights Radiant and their allies face escalating challenges, including political turmoil, ancient enmities, and an impending apocalypse known as the Desolation. With intricate character arcs, sweeping battles, and revelations about the true nature of the Radiants and the greater cosmere.
Oathbringer
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the ending of the book and the plots twists that threw everything on it’s head. Such a fun book and a fitting cap to the series as a whole.
Published in 2017, “Edgedancer,” by Brandon Sanderson, is a novella set in between the events of “Words of Radiance” and “Oathbringer” in “The Stormlight Archive” series. The story follows Lift, a young and quirky thief with unique powers, as she navigates the bustling city of Yeddaw. When Lift becomes entangled in a series of mysterious disappearances, she is drawn into a web of intrigue that leads her to confront her own purpose and destiny as a budding Radiant.
Edgedancer
My Thoughts
At just under 300 pages, it’s fun that Sanderson refers to this as a “Novella” but when your regular book size is 1200 pages, I guess it fits. There was an excerpt at the end of the book which talks about how he wanted it to be smaller at first but the story just kind of grew.
This was a fun story. I don’t know that I really like Lift as a character. I do like she wants to do good and that notion was called into question throughout the book. Lift gets a starring role in the third book of “The Stormlight Archive” series but a few others weren’t quite as fleshed out. Perhaps Sanderson will elaborate more as time goes by.
Recommendation
I’m glad I read it before the third book of “The Stormlight Archive” series. It wasn’t the best in the series but it was still enjoyable.
