If, like me, you are a listener of the EconTalk podcast but have not read Russ's book, I highly recommend fixing that. We could always do with more thinking about how to love, how to be worthy of love and how to connect that to the larger world.
This inventive and accessible mystery-adventure is full of friendship, humor, and a curious cast of characters perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series.
Leaving Cloud 9 is not an easy book to read. It tells the story of abuse, neglect, and abandonment; of PTSD, bipolar, social anxiety, divorce and depression. But it is also a story about love and redemption; about beating the odds and rising above the most challenging environment to find faith, hope and love.
The book is an excellent look at not only how two brothers coped with war, but also how the U.S. changed with the brothers as the Vietnam War dragged on. It not only recounts their exploits, but also their diverging views on the war.
It is an artful yet rather depressing novella about a family dealing with the pending death of their father. The grief brings out both love and a difficult past. The tension ratchets up the conflicts and relationships.
Instead of an amoral or detached/closed off serial killer/spy we have a central character who is painfully aware of his own weakness and need for connection. An entertaining and enjoyable read from a favorite author. Great for beach or vacation reading.
A wild, at times hilarious, at times touching, romp set during the War of 1812. Redcoats and Bluecoats face off, slaves seek their freedom, looters and pirates hope to take advantage of the chaos of war, while many people are trying to survive.
Starts a little slow but picks up by the end. It is middle grade so has a simplicity necessary for younger readers. I listened to it on audio so not sure if that impacted the way I engaged with it. I liked it but didn't love it.
Next to Washington, Lee was arguably the most important American leader in the war against the British. Drawing on original manuscripts--many overlooked or ignored by contemporary historians--Unger paints a powerful portrait of a towering figure in the American Revolution.
