Archives

The Editor's Annual Book Review

April has finally arrived and for those who are still recovering from snow-blindness, the thought of summer vacations and longer days may still seem like a dream that will never come. But soon enough, those kickback days of summer will be upon us and some of you may find yourself looking to fill some vacant time that was used during the winter to shovel snow.

With that in mind, I present my annual recommended summer reading column where I highlight the better books I have recently come upon.

While I normally don’t recommend non-fiction books in this annual summer reading list, this year two books I read were not just informative, but were entertaining as well. So I will include them in my recommendations.

The first is Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick. The book, as you may surmise, covers the story of the pilgrim’s voyage to the new world and the establishment of their settlement in Plymouth. While nearly every American is familiar with this story from school texts, Philbrick brings a fresh, non-biased version to the reader and presents it in an entertaining and enlightening manner. The story covers the pilgrims from their formation and the hardships experienced in their native England, through the beginnings of the Plymouth Colony’s demise as the new world becomes more populated by European immigrants. Most interesting is Philbrick’s illustration of how the ardent religious fervor of the original pilgrims becomes lost with later generations who replace their parents’ devotion to God with their own devotion to greed. Mayflower is both informative and a great read that should be on your list this summer.

The second non-fiction book I recommend this year is American Creation by Joseph J. Ellis. This historical account of the formation of the United States is one of those history books that readers who know little of the founding of the U.S. will consider a great book, while those who do know much about our founding will consider it, perhaps, a little disappointing. The book is very well written and is a joy to read. The author covers all the pertinent events that transpired and central figures that played a role in establishment of our union. But the book fails to give insight into the environment and conditions that molded the thinking of early Americans. I suppose this book’s real value is in the way that it may spark the reader’s interest in learning more about our founding fathers, the everyday citizens who inhabited early America and the events that led to the establishment of a union that most people never wanted in the first place.

In the fiction category, the first book I recommend is Forever by Pete Hamill. This book requires you to suspend reality somewhat as you follow the story of Cormac O’Connor, a young Irish boy whose parents keep up the forced pretense of being Anglican Christians while secretly teaching their son the old Irish religious ways. Eventually, Cormac is forced to flee Ireland and makes his way to New York, where magic and myth converge to bring him conditional immortality. While Cormac may live forever, his mortality forces him to remain within the confines of the island of Manhatten. The novel spans the time period of 1741 through 2001 and both entertains and informs the reader of events that transpired in New York’s early years that most history texts don’t address. While the novel tends to disappoint as it rushes through the centuries, the detail to the early years devoted in Ireland and New York, coupled with a suspenseful plot, make the novel well worthy of being on your summer reading list.

Tipperary, by Frank Delaney is another novel I recommend for its portrayal of life in the heart of Ireland in the late 19th and 20th century. While many visitors to Ireland may believe that the destruction of castles and estates there was done at the hands of outside invaders, the truth is that much of the destruction was done by the Irish in rebellion of the English and Anglo Irish who inhabited those castles and large estates. Tipperary focuses on this time period in a tale of love and rebellion.

I highly recommend The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This novel tells the story of a young German girl, raised by foster parents in a small city in Germany during the rise of the Nazi government and the devastating war that follows. Obviously, the book is filled with suspense, which reaches a fever pitch when the girl’s foster parents decide to hide a Jew in their basement - a transgression that would mean death to all if they are found out. While the novel is a tragedy based upon a tragedy, the overriding theme is that good can be found in the most desperate times and in the most hopeless places. This is not only a great read for you, I also think this book would be a fine gift for a young reader, who has the maturity to handle the subject matter.

I also highly recommend The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This novel follows the exploits of a young boy growing up in a privileged household in Afghanistan as the country slowly becomes embroiled in tragic political events. The Kite Runner is a story of betrayal and redemption. It is a good story - exceptionally well told. If you have just one book to choose from those I have recommended, I would make it this book. And if you are thinking of giving a gift of a book to a young reader - make it this book.

The last book I recommend this year is Moloka’I, by Alan Brennert. This novel follows the life of a 5-year old Hawaiian girl who is taken from her family when she is diagnosed with Leprosy and forced to live within the confines of the Leprosy colony on the island of Molkai. This book is historical fiction, which accurately portrays the policies and practices of Hawaii’s government in dealing with those afflicted with a devastating disease little understood and less tolerated by society. The novel opens in the 19th century and spans forward to the late 20th century, chronicling not only the life of the heroine, but the evolution of medical practices and treatment for this ancient disease. Moloka’i is both informative and entertaining, albeit, tragic.

I hope you find some time this summer to curl up with a good book. Be it one that I recommend or something you pull from the shelves at your local library, reading is important for professionals. On more than a few occasions, I have found solutions to problems I experience at work coming from novels and other books that I read. By looking at the world from a different perspective, and especially through the words of a good book, you will find your professional life advanced because of your ability to view and analyze problems from a global perspective.

Reading not only enhances your wellbeing, reading translates into greater success in your life both personally and professionally.

Archives