Rasputin's Bastard's by David Nickle

Rasputin's Bastards by David Nickle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Damn. Just damn.

Nickle has a lot going on in this book, with layers upon layers of reality and not reality, such that you should probably not do what I did and go a long period between chapters, if you want to grasp everything happening here. As it is, this novel is the sort that lends itself to re-reading because the second and subsequent readings will provide much more depth (and recollection of which character is which and the relationships among them) than the first go-round. But the result is worth the effort: Nickle weaves a fine story here that dips into everything from Cold War-era spying to the nature of reality itself. Or at least that's what I got from it -- I have a feeling that different readers will have different takeaways. Some will focus on matters of mind control, others the mystery and suspense, still others will meditate on the dangers of true believers, whether they believe in a deity, power, or simply the lining of their own pockets (or, heaven forbid, all three). And therein lies the brilliance of the book -- its complexity while nonetheless telling a fascinating tale that will capture readers attention and imagination.

In interest of total disclosure, I obtained a free e-book from the publisher via a friend who works with them.


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Feynman, by Jim Ottaviani

Feynman by Jim Ottaviani

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The combination here of evocative artwork, carefully selected vignettes from Feynman's life, and well-written text brings a spark to the story of this amazing man that would have been impossible in a text-only biography. And, to its credit, this book made physics almost understandable to me (I never took physics in high school, to my everlasting regret, because I did not want to have to do a science fair project.)



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Hope springs eternal

There may be a real chance that the Spouse will actually graduate in December. He tells me that he's gotten a high enough grade on his independent project that it will raise his GPA in addition to taking away the fail for noncompletion. Of course, I've heard similar stories before. But he's actually talking about bar prep, so it seems entirely possible.

Meanwhile, the temps dropped here overnight and brought a feel of fall. Unfortunately, it will be back up in the mid-80s by Wednesday. Bah.

Book: The Dog Who Knew Too Much

The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Another complicated and convoluted mystery involving Bernie and Chet as well as a cast of characters ranging from rural drug dealers to junior high bullies. Gave this one 3 stars because I had to skip a portion of it -- I can't stand dog trauma, even that which is short in duration and satisfactorily resolved. Maybe the new book will involve a plotline in which dear Chet isn't in frequent peril and separated from his human.



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Book: Fallout, by Jim Ottaviani et al

Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb by Jim Ottaviani

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Detailed look at some of what transpired during and after the making of the atomic bomb, as told through the perspectives of some of the key players. Ottaviani uses original documents as source material for much of the book, including the story of Oppenheimer's troubles with Communist witch hunts. Someone who isn't familiar with the Manhattan Project or the work (scientific as well as political) that preceded and followed it may be a bit lost though.



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Book: The First Days

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As far as my experience with the zombie genre (does it get its own category now?) goes, this book represents my first experience with more than one female protagonist. In this case, they are 2 women from the Texas Hill Country, who by chance end up escaping the horrors of suburbia in the throes of a zombie outbreak together. The action is good, the central characters fairly well developed, and the picture of a world descending into madness fairly plausible. The First Days is the first in a trilogy, so the story arc leaves you hanging at the end. My main concern with the book involves the romantic plotlines -- I really home this series doesn't get all mushy. It takes away from the idea that women can be something in action/dystopian novels beyond victims and lovers.



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Catching Up

OK, it's been too long since I've been on here, for book tallying purposes or otherwise. Summer in Louisiana is as draining as winter in Maine. The humidity and the heat just suck any energy or will right out of most people. (My beloved, meanwhile, gets chilly when the temps outside drop below 80.) Life has been somewhat busy, with money earning and health obtaining, not to mention hurricane avoiding and cat mending. I'm currently waiting to hear about the best opportunity to reenter Libraryland that I've had in 2 years. I've knitted a lot, and read a lot, but never enough of either.

Meanwhile, here's what I've read since I last checked in:

Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality, by Hanne Blank

Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II, 1941-1944, by Anna Reid

Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb, by Jim Ottaviani

Not surprisingly, all nonfiction. I'm sure I've read some fiction over the summer, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was at the moment. I'll have to go look at the shelves and see if anything looks familiar.