Review: The Eye of Darkness

The Eye of Darkness by George Mann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't know why, but the High Republic era is just not doing it for me. I don't hate it or anything, but as I've written in nearly every review of a HRE book, I find it hard to connect. The characters feel a bit wooden, cut outs. Maybe it's just the different authors for all these books, it's hard to get a consistent voice. There isn't a lot of character development by the Jedi. Some of the side characters are often the most interesting. A lot happens, but so little actually advances.

I'm a little concerned that the conflict with the Nihil is becoming too big and too protracted. There is a tough balance in making the Nihil a threat without turning this into a major, all out war (which would seem to run against canon).

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Review: Troubled Blood

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This might be the best mystery of the series so far. I really had no clue until the reveal; there were many threads to follow, lots of red herrings covering the clues that in retrospect were right there! The narration is perfect; it really helps set the tone and mood, and helps with the characterization as well. Just like with Harry Potter, Rowling is so good at portraying fascinating characters.

Strike and Robin's relationship continues to deepen and grow. This is intriguing but I also worry how about Rowling is going to handle this as the series goes.

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Review: Central Station

Central Station by Lavie Tidhar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really interesting, and different, book. There is not much plot, it's more a patchwork of interwoven characters and little vignettes. But the characters and setting are so imaginative, so bizarre, and sometimes weird. It combines elements from many different genres, particularly fantasy and sci-fi, and has several callbacks to classic sci-fi.

I would have preferred a plot, a focus or problem that gets resolved by the characters through their choices. But this was still enjoyable because Tidhar crafts such creative settings and plays with the unfolding of future history in fascinating ways. (I was sometimes more curious about the past that is alluded to in the book, than the book!)

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Review: Rise and Kill First: The Inside Story and Secret Operations of Israel's Assassination Program

Rise and Kill First: The Inside Story and Secret Operations of Israel's Assassination Program by Ronen Bergman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing work. It is detailed and specific (where it has to be and where it can be). It covers a wide breadth of Israeli history, starting in the pre-state period and runs up through Obama presidency. At times it reads like a Gabriel Allon novel: the level of detail and narrative for some of the operations is incredible: exciting, scary, thrilling.

It is, in part, a history of Israel: a history through the lens of fighting for survival and trying to get the upper hand in its wars through covert operations. But through this lens Bergman shines a light on many facets of Israel society beyond the Mossad or other Israeli covert agencies.

But it also humbling and a difficult to process work, for a Zionist like myself. I hold no illusions of Israel's perfection: moral or technical, but it is still a challenge to look at some of those failings squarely. There were many mistakes, errors: killing the wrong person, failing to kill the 'correct' person (missed opportunities to have taken out consequential targets), killing of innocents (so-called collateral damage). There were so many points when one has to stop and wonder how history might have been different if this particular event in time had turned out differently.

The two main questions Bergman wants the read to struggle with is: Were these targeted killings effective? Were they are justified? The answer, it seems to me after reading this book, is very mixed. Some operations were both, some where justified, but failed to achieved either strategic or tactical goals; and others were not justified. Some of these latter might have been mistakes about identity, but sometimes they were from overzealousness, overconfidence, or complacency.

In the end, Bergman's answer seems to be that while Israel's killing operations where quite often tactical successes, the long-term strategic consequences have been and are ambiguous at best, but in some cases worse. Worse, not so much because of the assassination itself, but either from unintended consequences due to the assassination or from the overreliance on this tool instead of other strategies. Personally, I am not sure. Trying to figure how things might have gone, the counterfactual, can be a fool's errand: we just can't know how things would have turned it out, so it is hard to compare scenarios. But the morality of such killing is troubling to me -- though better one or two operatives than tens of thousands of conscripts on a battlefield. And many of those killed deserved what they had coming to them, but I am not sure that justifies it. I'd rather live in world where diplomacy solved everything. But we don't. We live in world where there are evil people trying to do evil things and sometimes the only thing to do is to kill such people. But that's a dangerous and perilous road.



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Review: Nine Dragons

Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lot of classic Bosch here, with some twists. Unlike most Bosch novels, a good chunk takes place outside of LA. This is also the first of the Bosch novels to bring in Bosch's daughter, Maddie, in a substantial way and we begin to see the important role she will play in his life and the books going forward. It opens up a very different side of Bosch. Even though he's had partners and love interests, he's really a lone operator. But Maddie is going to force Bosch to have to adapt. It'll be interesting to see the similarities and dissimilarities between the tv show relationship and the book relationship.

Overall the story in this was action packed, the mystery took several different turns. Some of it a bit far-fetched, but kept you guessing.

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Review: Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought

Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought by David Biale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

David Biale’s survey of Jewish secular thought is fascinating. It is wide-ranging, covering from the premodern periods into the medieval and modern eras and up through twentieth century thinkers. While Biale does bring in the various precursor traditions, most of the book, understandably, focuses on ways in which the Jewish thinkers dealt with, wrestled with, and tried to reconcile the various movements of modernity: rationalism, mysticism, nationalism, and so on. There is a way to read this book as a history of European modernity from the Jewish perspective(s). As such, much of it centers around Spinoza: his specific contributions to what becomes secular thought and also how later thinkers take and use Spinoza’s ideas for their own secularism.

The book looks at idea from philosophy, language, culture, or nationalism; and explores how Jewish thinkers responded to, innovated in, and rejected aspects of these on their paths to and through secularism. One of the themes, though not explicitly so, is that much of Jewish thought is focused on what it means be to be Jewish and to be a Jew. This takes on heightened importance in secular thought where one cannot merely point to religion, but even the religious traditions in Judaism struggle with this issue -- as evidenced in the Talmud itself. There are so many ways to be Jewish, even religiously, that this question is inescapable. And importantly, it provides the space within which secularism is born and grows.

Biale highlights key thinkers and how they deal with these issues. Some of these are more obscure, others are well known (figures such as Freud, Einstein, and Ben-Gurion). The intellectual tradition is rich and fruitful (though there are many dead ends as well). It is not a long book, though at times dense. By necessity, much is left out in order to provide the focus it needs. There are extensive notes and references for those wishing to use this as a jumping off point. I profited much from book and think it will provide a framework for future thought.




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Review: Leviathan Falls

Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Coming to the end of a book or book series that one loves is always bittersweet. It’s thrilling to see the story completed; to experience the totality of the work. But it’s sad to know it’s over: that one has to say good bye to the characters and to the world they inhabit. The Expanse series is just such an experience. The authors created indelible characters and set them in a fascinating universe. It never got dull or predictable; it balanced the small intimate moments and the cosmic level struggles. I appreciate how the characters (or at least some of them!) struggle with the ethical dilemmas and choices they face: there is a deep respect and open-eyed love for humanity in these books.

I wasn’t sure how the authors would land this plane: though I suspected something like the way it did as the only way. Nevertheless, the particulars were well-executed and helped to tie the whole series together. It is sad and tragic but also filled with hope.


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Review: Star Wars: The High Republic: Path of Vengeance

Star Wars: The High Republic: Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit, I got a bit confused/lost at times. Partly this is because this overlaps somewhat with Cataclysm, but I didn't realize that at first so there were a few times where I was like, wait, didn't this already happen? I was a little disappointed in Marda's development: she seemed to shift around a bit in what she was doing and why. The romantic angles were at times awkward. There were some interesting twists though and I think this likely helps set up some later events in the HR era. I think the variety of Jedi in Phase 2 is helpful. The Skywalker era tends to have just one kind: the warrior-monk (or fallen), so seeing the diversity of ways the Jedi existed when they were at the height provides more context. In all, I enjoyed it, though it is not the best of Phase 2.

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Review: A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland

A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland by Troy Senik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic biography of one of our more important presidents. Biographies can be tricky: finding the right balance between presenting the historical context and crafting a narrative about the subjects life is hard. The former can get dry and give the biography the feel of one damn thing after another; while the latter can fall into hagiography or squeeze everything into a overriding narrative that inevitable will ring false. Senik avoids both of these. He provides sufficient historical context without it becoming a history textbook and he gets the right balance of the narrative of Cleveland's life so that we get a real sense of the man and his character.

Some of the historical details can get a bit technical or detailed: in particular with the silver issue. Nevertheless, we get a good sense of where Cleveland stood on the issues and why.

It's unfortunate that President Cleveland, and his era, are not better known. It bears many similarities to own age, and our politicians could learn a lot from Cleveland's principled stands. Cleveland's presidency (or presidencies given his two non-consecutive terms) seem to be a pivot point for American history. The Civil War and it's issues were fading from the stage: though the consequences were of course not. (The financial issues Cleveland had to deal where likely long term consequences of paying for the war. But more significantly, the transition out of slavery and the racial issues and how to deal with them where front and center.) America was shifting how it saw itself: learning how to dealing with near international crisis: Hawaii, Cuba, Venezuela being major ones. Still a young nation, it was gaining confidence and growing in power. Cleveland was more a voice of restraint, leaning on his classical liberal principles to avoid conflict and encourage self-governance. He was less successful than he would have hoped here. He was more successful in battling the financial crises that arose from bimetal monetary policies. Pushing back against the inflationary effects silver coinage, he pushed for a sounder gold standard policy. This was unpopular in his party, but ultimately seems to have won out (until WW2).

Cleveland's classical liberalism and the importance he put on character and guiding moral principles is admirable. He is not without fault. His views on women's suffrage and race would not be popular today: though I don't think it would be fair to say he was a chauvinist or a racist. He was a man of his time, and in many ways he was ahead of his time on some of these issues.

Cleveland was respected as a man of solid principles. His steadfastness may have cost him elections but Cleveland seemed to have no (or at least few) regrets on that front. The principles were more important. And that alone makes worth remembering.


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Review: A Death in Cornwall

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Silva returns to Allon's roots in Cornwall with his latest installment. There is art restoration, art theft, political intrigue, and complex, serpentine financial arrangements at the heart of this thriller. Allon travels include England, France, Geneva, Corsica, and Monaco. My only disappointment in the book is that it doesn't involve Israel at all. The only Jewish connection is through one of the paintings. That aside, it is always fun to return to Silva's usual wit and great story-telling.

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Review: How Great Science Fiction Works

How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This lecture series was informative. I found it most useful in pointing me towards some potential new things to read: both classics and contemporary (and which ones to avoid too, though I don't think that was the intention of the lecturer!)

The series doesn't explain how great science fiction works, what ever that means. But it does give a concise history of the genre, how it developed, who the various key players where in its development, and the different modes of its development. It also discussed important themes and tropes of the genre (e.g. robots, aliens).

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Review: American Gods

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really love the premise of this novel. And Gaiman executes it masterfully. The plot is well-integrated, the characters are intriguing, and the story is wild. One of the more imaginative stories I've read without being overly fantastical. There is a lot of darkness and cynicism in the story, but overall really a story of love and hope. I just enjoyed so much the way he plays with the myths and stories of humanity.

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Review: Robert B. Parker's Grudge Match

Robert B. Parker's Grudge Match by Mike Lupica
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lupica does a good job with Sunny. It's not Parker, never will be, but Lupica captures, for the most part, the quick pace, the quirky humor, and the style of Parker's characters and stories. I do get a kick out of the little references to Spenser and the characters and events of the Spenserverse. The story itself is a classic Parker set up and resolution. All in all, I really enjoyed it.

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Review: Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die

Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die by Steven Nadler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nadler has given us a readable and concise account of Spinoza's philosophy. The focus, as can be intuited from the title, is on living and mainly his Ethics. But to understand Spinoza's views on how best to live, one has to understand his broader philosophical system. So Nadler does get into some of the more complex metaphysical, epistemology, and theological issues in Spinoza's thought, but only insofar as it is important for getting the context and basis for Spinoza's Ethics.

One of the more interesting elements for me was the connections that Nadler draws out to other philosophers. Nadler discusses the influence of Descartes and Hobbes, as well as ancient thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics. This shows the continuity of Spinoza with the history of philosophy while also demonstrating his uniqueness and his innovations. Lastly, Nadler shows how Spinoza's thoughts on how to live can be still be relevant and useful today.

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Review: Ten Years Gone

Ten Years Gone by Jonathan Dunsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad to have stumbled onto this! A classic hard-boiled mystery set in in 1940s Israel. The mystery is well done, there are several twists that keep you guessing. Lapid is a tough, intuitive detective with a heart of gold. Like classic hard-boiled detectives, Lapid lives by a strict code of morality and honor -- though not a conventional one. Willing to hurt and even kill, it always serves a kind of justice. Lapid's hardness is rooted in his past: a former Hungarian police officer, he survived Auschwitz, though his family does not. This accounts for his heightened sense of vengeance and justice; his survival ability; and his doggedness in pursuing the truth.

The social dynamics of post-independence Israel play an interesting role in the plot and characters as well.

I look forward to diving into this series.



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Review: Cataclysm

Cataclysm by Lydia Kang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first half was not as engaging, but the second half carries the rest of the book. Partly this is because there is just a lot more action with battle scenes and several surprising deaths. Much of the mystery of the Nameless is left unanswered--which makes sense given the role they played in Phase 1. Marc Thomson's reading is as always fantastic (though some of the female voices are a bit off).

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