Books from Around the World: 2012

Judah P. Benjamin had been a U.S. Senator for the State of Louisiana prior to the American Civil War. He was the first acknowledge Jew in the U.S. Senate. After the formation of the Confederate States, Benjamin became a cabinet member of Jefferson Davis's presidency, serving first as Attorney General, then Secretary of War and finally as Secretary of State.

Benjamin married a Catholic creole from New Orleans and made his home in Louisiana. The marriage was not a happy one. His wife left him for Europe and most of their married live was spent on separate continents.

Evans brings to live Judah Benjamin, who was called the "brains behind the Confederacy," but has been largely left to obscurity in American history. This book also bring insight into the American Civil war from both the Union and the Confederacy. It was a fascinating book, that I found hard to put down.

Read: April 14, 2012

Friday, April 6, 2012

Books Set in the United States: Seattle, Washington

Oxygen: A Novel, by Carol Cassella (2008)

Dr. Marie Heaton was an anesthesiologist at Lutheran Hospital in Seattle. During what should have been a routine surgery on an 8 year-old girl, something goes wrong and the child dies. Everything points to an error on the part of Dr. Heaton. An autopsy shows that the child had Turner's syndrome, which caused a heart condition that Dr. Heaton should have known about. (Why the child's other doctors were unaware of the condition is not explained.)

Soon after the child's death, the child's mother files a lawsuit for wrongful death. Initially, Dr. Heaton and the Hospital are joined. Then the hospital throws the good doctor under the bus. Feeling guilty and heartbroken, Dr. Heaton finds herself back in a romantic relationship with her former lover and anesthesiologist colleague. She is advised to take some leave, where she visits her sister in Texas who is struggling with her own difficulties.

After criminal charges are filed against her, Dr. Heaton returns to Seattle. She learns that the hospital believes that she has been using drugs that are meant for her practice. Dr. Heaton must track down the real culprit to clear her name.

This book is not my standard reading fare, but was one suggested for my reading group. It was a fast read and held my attention. I was not enamored by the title, however.

Read: April 6, 2012

Friday, March 16, 2012

Books Set in the United States: New England

Before You Know Kindness, by Chris Bohjalian (2004)

Read: March 16, 2012

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Books Set in the United States: Florida

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (2011)

Read: February 21, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Books Set in Europe: Hungary

The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer (2010)

Read: January 22, 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Books Set in the United States: New Jersey

One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich (1994)

Read: January 14, 2012

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Books Set in the Middle East: Israel

Someone to Run With, by David Grossman (2000; English translation 2004)

I have had a long dry spell during which I have not been reading and or finishing any books. Part of this is due to a new job that I began in late August. In addition to learning a new job, it also provided longer hours. I am hoping to get back into reading again. I have lots of books on my "to read" list. I currently have several books "in progress" that I hope to finish within the next few weeks. The first book I finished, is David Grossman's English translation of Someone to Run With. The book was originally written in Hebrew. I read the English translation. Sometimes things are lost in translation and I find some Israeli author especially difficult when translated into English.

The story begins with Assaf, a 16-year-old who has been left at home in Jerusalem while his parents are away. His father has gotten him a job in the city's sanitation department. Assaf isn't keen on his job, but when a stray dog appears, Assaf is tasked with finding its owner. The dog leads Assaf all over town where he runs into people who know the dog and its owner. Thus, is speaking with these strangers who know the dog, Assaf learns that the dog's owner is a young girl named Tamar. He also picks up tidbits about her.

The story switches between Assaf's search for Tamar and Tamar's dark adventure. She is out to find her drug-addicted brother who has been caught as a pawn in Jerusalem's drug underworld. She has changed her appearance and sets a trap to incorporate herself into the same crime circle as her brother in hopes of finding him and helping break his drug habit.

I found the story mildly interesting, but it is not one of my favorite books.

Read: January 7, 2012