tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36638522024-03-17T22:03:46.214-05:00Philosophy BlogThoughts about various issues in philosophy and related topics. (But mostly just book reviews)Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comBlogger695125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-91831128950596660442024-03-17T19:22:00.002-05:002024-03-17T19:23:26.518-05:00Review: Shadow of the Sith<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59149048-shadow-of-the-sith" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Shadow of the Sith (Star Wars)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1648149155l/59149048._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59149048-shadow-of-the-sith">Shadow of the Sith</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/590743.Adam_Christopher">Adam Christopher</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6294827763">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Set between TROJ and TFA, this book fills in back story for the sequel trilogy, and in particular key aspects of TROS. Lando and Luke teaming up is interesting choice, but it works. One issue I've had with several Star Wars novels is that they can sometimes get bogged down; but Christopher does a good job moving things along. There is a good balance of exposition and action. I think he does a good job with Lando and Luke, capturing those original trilogy characters well. (Though Lando could have been a bit more dashing and swashbuckler-y.) Ochi struck me as quite different from the comic books, but he's been through a lot since the setting of those books. <br /><br />Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it for Star Wars fans. I don't think this adds all that much to the wider world of Star Wars, but it does explore the latter development of two beloved characters and that makes it worth while.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-76124830634218538742024-03-13T18:03:00.002-05:002024-03-13T18:04:07.513-05:00Review: The Secret Lives of Sports Fans<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812232-the-secret-lives-of-sports-fans" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Secret Lives of Sports Fans" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356148288l/15812232._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15812232-the-secret-lives-of-sports-fans">The Secret Lives of Sports Fans</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2791944.Eric_Simons">Eric Simons</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6219951658">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Although there are some interesting parts of this book, overall, I was disappointed. In many ways, the book felt like it was really a long form magazine article (like the <i>Atlantic</i> or the like) that got stretched into book. The flow of the book is mainly a series of anecdotes punctuated by interviews with scientists and other relevant experts. In themselves these were each usually interesting or informative, but they don’t hang together as a whole in a satisfying way. And there is no non-fiction equivalent of a denouement for the various strands of theories and ideas about fandom that Simons presents in the book.<br /><br />That said, there are some worthwhile discussions of fan identity, how fans relate to each other, and how fandom intersects with other parts of our lives. And Simons and his interviewees do provide some useful social science and evolutionary biology that is relevant for thinking about fandom. <br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-6287963322963393262024-03-02T16:23:00.002-06:002024-03-02T16:23:19.199-06:00Review: Making It Home: Life Lessons from a Season of Little League<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208510671-making-it-home" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Making It Home: Life Lessons from a Season of Little League" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1708893286l/208510671._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208510671-making-it-home">Making It Home: Life Lessons from a Season of Little League</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4102611.Teresa_Strasser">Teresa Strasser</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6263597359">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
It's a cliché that baseball is a metaphor for life; and yet there is little about this book that is cliche. Teresa Strasser tells the story of her son's championship little league season and how watching the season with her father helped them both to grieve their lost loves one and deepen their own relationship. Strasser's brother and mother died within four months of each other; and so both she and her father have a lot to process. But Strasser's relationships to her brother, her mother, and her father are, shall we say, a bit complicated; and that all comes out as Strasser tells the story of her son's little league season. Each chapter is a mix of baseball and flashbacks that tell you more about these relationships and the unique Strasser family situation. This is also usually tied together with a relevant metaphor or two from baseball. There are laughs and tears throughout. Strasser reads the audio and you can hear the emotion in her voice. The memoir doesn't hold back, there is a real honesty in Strasser's narrative as she struggles with her grief, her guilt, and her anger. And before you think this is just depressing, there is a lot of joy and happiness here as well. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-53823890605606741862024-02-25T14:33:00.002-06:002024-02-25T14:33:17.895-06:00Review: The Brass Verdict<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59237957-the-brass-verdict" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Brass Verdict (The Lincoln Lawyer, #2; Harry Bosch Universe, #19)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633650709l/59237957._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59237957-the-brass-verdict">The Brass Verdict</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12470.Michael_Connelly">Michael Connelly</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6235522996">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I always enjoy Connelly's books. Haller is an interesting character. Still, he's not Bosch. But Haller and Bosch meet and work together(somewhat) in this book. Seeing Bosch in this way is different: his terse and brash personality are bit less enduring from the outside! What I enjoyed most was Haller's struggles with his own place in legal system and how to deal with the ethical dilemmas he faces.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-90457417112749422752024-02-13T22:54:00.002-06:002024-02-13T22:55:08.698-06:00Review: Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18050156-menachem-begin" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul (Jewish Encounters Series)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1384019228l/18050156._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18050156-menachem-begin">Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/103759.Daniel_Gordis">Daniel Gordis</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6238271792">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Daniel Gordis presents us with a picture of Menachem Begin as a complex, principled, sometimes paradoxical man. Gordis shows us the full humanity of Begin. Gordis shows us why Begin ought to be honored and praised as one of the re-founders of Israel, while avoiding hagiography. Equally, Gordis presents us with many reasons to be sharply critical of Begin without lapsing into vilification or demonization. <br /><br />The central theme of Gordis’ book is that Begin was deeply committed to the Jewish people and the restoration of the Jewish homeland. So much of what animated and informed Begin’s actions and decisions was Jewish history and thinking. The history of Jewish suffering and oppression was never far from his mind: he experienced all the 20th century threw at the Jews. He suffered the pogroms of Poland; the murder of his family by the Nazis, the tyranny of the Soviet Union, the restrictions and oppression of the British, and Arab hatred. Throughout it all, he remained steadfast in the need for Jewish freedom and Jewish sovereignty. These principles shaped the man and through him, they helped shape the country.<br /><br />Another interesting motif running throughout the book is the troubled relationship between Begin and David Ben-Gurion. Though they at times despised each other; the two needed each other: Begin the principled and steadfast idealist; Ben-Gurion the pragmatist single-mindedly focused on building the state. Unsurprisingly in his own biography, Begin comes out getting the better of this fraught relationship. <br /><br />Begin is sometimes and unfairly presented as harshly militant (even a terrorist). True, he did not shy from the use of force, especially when fighting the British. But he was willing to take big swings at peace (e.g. Egypt). He argued against the military administration for Israeli Arabs, engineered the rescue of Ethiopian Jews, and was the first major political figure to reach across Ashkenazi and Mizrahi lines. <br /><br />Though his legacy was permanently tarnished by the Lebanon War, Begin’s impact on Israel is uncalculatable. Gordis’ biography captures this important man’s life and historic contributions.<br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-54579968341281373892024-02-05T14:33:00.002-06:002024-02-05T14:33:20.717-06:00Review: Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17826276-empire-of-liberty" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395434369l/17826276._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17826276-empire-of-liberty">Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2124.Gordon_S_Wood">Gordon S. Wood</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6103495339">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Woods’ <strong>Empire of Liberty</strong> covers the history of the early US, roughly 1789 to 1815. Starting with the reasons for the constitution and the early years of the new government, the first part of Woods’ hefty volume covers some fairly well-trodden areas. This is not to say it doesn’t offer some interesting analysis of the reasons for the new constitution as well as how it was interpreted and implemented in those early years. It is primarily focused on the presidential politics up to the election of 1800 that sees Jefferson come to power. The general theme here is the initial power of the Federalists followed by the rise and dominance of the Jeffersonian Democrat-Republicans. For those familiar with this historical period, it is fairly standard, but laid out masterfully and deftly.<br /><br />The second half of the book is more thematic, rather than chronological. Here the chapters pick up a theme or topic and explores it. So, you have a chapter on religion in the early republic, another on the development of the Supreme Court and its power, one that looks at slavery, and one that looks the foreign policy and diplomacy of the period. Each of these provide a fascinating window into an aspect of the history of the period.<br /><br />The book ends by providing a coda for the enlightenment. That is, as the War of 1812 ends and its consequences are felt, the 18th century ends and the Enlightenment ideas that inspired and influenced so much of the ideas of the founding generation give way to both a more pragmatic approach and the new Romanticism that takes root in the 19th century.<br /><br />The overall, general theme of the book is the rising republicanism and egalitarianism in the early US. By that, it is meant that the central conflict, as it is convincingly presented by Woods, was between hierarchical, monarchial societies on one hand, and on the other, the push to individualize, democratize, and equalize society on the other. Today we think in terms of liberal and conservative, right and left. And while there are elements of that in the early republic, these dichotomies are mostly absent. The split is really primarily between those supporting more traditional social hierarchies (Federalists) and those with a more radical and flatter view (Jeffersonian Republicans). The former seeing these hierarchies as bulwarks against the ravages of both tyranny from above (kinds) and tyranny from below (mob-rule). The latter seeing individual liberty and an engaged citizenry as the real spirit of ’76. <br /><br />All in all, I think this book is a well-balanced and important history of the early Republic. While probably a bit overly focused on the political history, it does capture the broad themes of the society more generally. It is important to understand this history: if only to see that all the controversies and issues and concerns we fret about today where all there in the early Republic. We got through that. We can get through the craziness of today too.<br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-12508398748109722552024-02-04T17:03:00.002-06:002024-02-04T17:03:25.627-06:00Review: The Blade Itself<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24958072-the-blade-itself" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531231201l/24958072._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24958072-the-blade-itself">The Blade Itself</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/276660.Joe_Abercrombie">Joe Abercrombie</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6103492222">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Abercrombie has a created a fantasy world that is interesting and fresh, with deftly crafted characters, avoiding hackneyed types. The story is a slow burn, but never boring, driven by the characters and how they are dealing with the circumstances they find themselves in. The subtle world-creation is great; Abercrombie dribbles out bits and pieces as it makes sense to the characters; it is never forced or just for the sake of world-building itself. The characters are really what makes this book shine. They so well-drawn, compelling, funny, and intelligent. As for the greater story of the trilogy, and why these characters are coming together, little is revealed but there are lots of hints. The book ends with the stage set for the next round without telling us all that much.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-90827243238976356162024-01-30T15:00:00.002-06:002024-01-30T15:01:10.287-06:00Review: How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123979571-how-the-talmud-can-change-your-life" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680049812l/123979571._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123979571-how-the-talmud-can-change-your-life">How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/293993.Liel_Leibovitz">Liel Leibovitz</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6133737563">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a wonderful book. It is funny and playful, and yet profound and meaningful. Leibovitz makes relevant this ancient book (if you can call it that) and shows how its wisdom is important and needed for our lives today.<br /><br />Leibovitz starts each chapter with some contemporary and seemingly un-Talmud (even un-Jewish) like story (e.g. the friendship of Tolkien and Lewis; the spy Aldrich Ames; Billie Holiday; etc.). But then he finds a way to draw the connections between these and the stories the Talmud tells; and then ends the chapter discussing the underlying enduring truth or deep meaning convened by both the Talmud and the contemporary story. Along the way one learns about the history and construction of the Talmud, the role it plays in Jewish life, and some of the lessons it teaches. Moreover, Leibovitz demonstrates what makes the Talmud so unique. It is not just a legal text or law book; not is it just stories and myths. And it’s not just the idiosyncratic structure of the Talmud: it’s meandering style, it’s replication of the debates and arguments of generations of Rabbis, it’s commentary on itself that is contained within its own pages. It’s all of this and more that makes the Talmud unique, eternally engaging, and meaningful. <br /><br />The Talmud is able to capture something very human: we are rational beings, but also emotional and story loving beings; and it also captures the paradox of being both particularistic and universalistic (something that runs through so much of being Jewish and Jewish history). The Talmud convenes truths that are universal, but convenes them in particularistic ways of stories, parables, and disputations about arcane legal matters. <br /><br />I may never actually read the Talmud (I’ve tried; it can be a slog at times), but if I do, it’ll be because of books like this. <br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-40108112563274909082023-12-31T17:36:00.002-06:002023-12-31T17:36:32.531-06:00Review: The Ethics of Sports Fandom<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78818766-the-ethics-of-sports-fandom" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Ethics of Sports Fandom" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1673939124l/78818766._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78818766-the-ethics-of-sports-fandom">The Ethics of Sports Fandom</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22073289.Adam_Kadlac">Adam Kadlac</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6008792179">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I'll be posted a more thorough review of this book on <a href="https://sportsethicist.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">The Sports Ethicist</a> soon, so this will be short. Overall, I liked Kadlac's book. It is clearly written, free of jargon and doesn't get dragged down into minutia. It is well situated in the philosophy of sport literature on the various issues, but also personal and relatable. My main issues are that I don't think many of the arguments Kadlac makes work: that is, either I think the premises are inaccurate or the reasoning doesn't establish the conclusions he thinks they do. That said, Kadlac does a good job of balancing his arguments and conclusions with nuance and perspective: he is not dogmatic or intellectually arrogant. I'd recommend it to someone who's interested in philosophical and ethical issues related to being a sports fan. I also think it would be good as a text or supplemental resource for a class on those topics.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-42997167028703708912023-12-31T17:26:00.002-06:002023-12-31T17:27:07.592-06:00Review: A Deadly Shade of Gold<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15823241-a-deadly-shade-of-gold" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Deadly Shade of Gold (Travis McGee, #5)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1359620284l/15823241._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15823241-a-deadly-shade-of-gold">A Deadly Shade of Gold</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24690.John_D_MacDonald">John D. MacDonald</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6061034494">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I continue to develop my love for this series. McGee is such a fascinating character: the knight-errant anti-hero type. He likes to think he prefers life on his boat, taking retirement in installments; but deep down he has a need to help heal the world one piece at a time. He's not out for justice, per se, but he does tend to set things right (or more right than they were) that have gone wrong.<br /><br />This novel felt much more "noir" than earlier entries. It's darker and no one comes out better off than before(and many don't make out at all); but there is a kind of justice done.<br /><br />McGee's cynicism (and thus underlying idealism) shines through here even more than in previous books. I think he's often a lot harsher than he needs to be when passing judgment on the 1960s American society; but there is truth in there as well. There is much McGee says that could easily be a comment on our current society and politics. In many ways, not much as changed. I think that though much in the novel is dated and of the 60s, the novels have lasting power because they are at core dealing with timeless issues.<br /><br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-38542816194694273352023-12-31T17:12:00.002-06:002023-12-31T17:13:10.752-06:00Review: The Olympic Games: The First Thousand Years by M. I. Finley<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129233765-the-olympic-games" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Olympic Games: The First Thousand Years by M. I. Finley (1976-06-14)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1697831479l/129233765._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129233765-the-olympic-games">The Olympic Games: The First Thousand Years by M. I. Finley</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31343.Moses_I_Finley">Moses I. Finley</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6098612243">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
The book covers the main features of the ancient Olympic games. It doesn't get into any great detail, but covers the site at Olympia, the history and development of the program, the spectators, and officials. The authors also cover the political aspects of the ancient games and contemporaneous criticisms of the games. There are several interesting things covered: in particular, the lack of amateur/professional dichotomy moderns are seemingly obsessed with, and the deeply intertwined relationship with ancient religious rituals. It leaves a lot of questions unanswered; in particular, why do the Olympics get and then maintain the prestige and prominence in the ancient world that they do? It's a short book, but worth the quick read for anyone interested in the history of the ancient Olympics.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-80791173082032270352023-12-29T11:11:00.002-06:002023-12-29T11:12:08.072-06:00Review: Capitalism and the Jews<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19537652-capitalism-and-the-jews" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Capitalism and the Jews" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387288658l/19537652._SY160_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19537652-capitalism-and-the-jews">Capitalism and the Jews</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/259761.Jerry_Z_Muller">Jerry Z. Muller</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6061036708">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
An interesting collection of essays about European Jewry and the rise of modern capitalism. It is neither an economic history of capitalism, nor a history of European Jewry, but it does capture snapshots of both. Covering the middle ages up through the twentieth century, Muller’s essays examine the role of antisemitism and how that affected the relationship of Jews to modern capitalism. He argues that earlier religious antisemitism (large rooted in Christian theology) lead to the restriction of employment by Jews to areas of trade and commerce; and then as modern capitalism grows, the Jewish overrepresentation in trade and commerce leads to new forms of antisemitism. Muller also explores the Jewish involvement in the major social movements of nineteenth and twentieth century Europe. He shows that Jews were overrepresented in most of these movements, not just socialism and communism as is the common stereotype. Indeed, Muller argues, that only a small minority of European Jews were ever supportive of the socialist movements. And in the movements, Jews were also always a small minority. But Jewish involvement was conspicuous and tended to reinforce older antisemitic stereotypes, and so these newer antisemitic tropes develop. In one of the more tragic ironies of the twentieth century is that Jews were regarded, by the socialist left, as being evil, rapacious capitalists, but then, on the right, as being the leaders of communist vanguard. Muller also looks at the rise of nationalism and how Zionism fits into that both as a form of nationalism and a response to European nationalism.<br /><br />All the essays are clear and informative, exploring the contours of this history in interesting and often novel ways. The analysis is at a more general level; a ten-thousand-foot view if you will, rather than getting into any great detail. As such, this is a good starting place, rather than the only or final account, for understanding the complex relationships of capitalism, socialism, antisemitism, and Zionism. <br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-4698346470483540052023-12-18T17:00:00.002-06:002023-12-18T17:01:01.195-06:00Review: The Dark Horse<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5950876-the-dark-horse" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Dark Horse (Walt Longmire, #5)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1346051030l/5950876._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5950876-the-dark-horse">The Dark Horse</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/63607.Craig_Johnson">Craig Johnson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6029584505">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I enjoyed returned to Wyoming with Longmire. The characters and setting are so well drawn and interesting. My one compliant is the unfolding of the mystery itself; I liked the back and forth of the time sequence. But Walt's solving of the mystery is kind of out of no where and then the details all get explained in the epilogue. The reveal could have been better drawn out. Also need more Standing Bear. The plot seemed vaguely familiar, as this was adapted, partially, for one of the TV series episodes.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-15697897478508739232023-12-13T17:46:00.002-06:002023-12-13T17:47:57.123-06:00Review: Career of Evil<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26877849-career-of-evil" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike, #3)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444172634l/26877849._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26877849-career-of-evil">Career of Evil</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/383606.Robert_Galbraith">Robert Galbraith</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6007900671">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
The third novel in the Cormoran Strike series continues to demonstrate JK Rowling's mystery chops. This might be the darkest and most disturbing thing Rowling has written; the subject is grim and Rowling doesn't shy away from details and she's able to get into the mind of a truly evil and disturbed person. Cormoran and Robin's relationship continues to develop in interesting ways. The secondary characters, like Shanker and Wardle, grow in prominence as well. Matthew continues to be a wanker though.<br /><br />I listened to the reading by Robert Glenister which is fantastic. His performance helps bring the book to life, especially with the accents.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-32200579079466023722023-12-06T17:19:00.002-06:002023-12-06T17:19:52.764-06:00Review: Last Shot (Star Wars): A Han and Lando Novel<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41100798-last-shot-star-wars" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Last Shot (Star Wars): A Han and Lando Novel" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534319474l/41100798._SY160_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41100798-last-shot-star-wars">Last Shot (Star Wars): A Han and Lando Novel</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5137530.Daniel_Jos_Older">Daniel José Older</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5999926972">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This was a lot of fun. The story moves quickly and is interesting. There are few nice twists. It gets a little confusing at certain points as the time frame jumps around. The author does a great job, I think, of capture Han and Lando's voices and character. It feels authentically Star Wars -- even without any force.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-3950497203665206362023-11-27T22:19:00.003-06:002023-11-27T22:23:34.478-06:00Review: The Games: A Global History of the Olympics<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57273022-the-games" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Games: A Global History of the Olympics" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614721781l/57273022._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57273022-the-games">The Games: A Global History of the Olympics</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/175065.David_Goldblatt">David Goldblatt</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5954333655">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Quite disappointing. There is some interesting and useful information; especially about the early games and the 19th century context that the Olympic revival comes out of. But as it gets further on; the book suffers. Frankly, it is probably trying to do and say too much in too little space. There is no overarching theme or narrative; no through line, that connects the chapters. There are some focal points; but these are not as well developed as they could be; and sometimes forced as the author tries to shoe horn in all the games of a specific time frame into the focus. But, as often as not, these focuses get lost in the details. The author tends to spend more time on the planners (and their backgrounds) than the games themselves. The latter half is almost entirely focused on the broader sociological and economic contexts of the host cities and games with very little discussed about the games themselves. There is only a tiny bit about Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, for example, when discussing the Summer Games in 2008. A good chunk of the Rio games is taken up by a discussion of the Brazilian presidential impeachment and surrounding scandals. Also, the closer to our own era we get, the more the authors particular political biases come through, muddying the analysis.<br /><br />The subtitle of the book is the “A Global History of the Games” but it is not at clear what is particularly global about this history. Obviously, it is global, since the Olympics is global, but beyond that, I am not sure what they are trying to get at with that.<br /><br />There is also a kind of elitist aesthetics expressed throughout. Inevitable, Olympic projects, such as buildings, slogans, or mascots, are described as kitschy, banal, vacuous, or ugly. There is a lot of sneering at the consumerism around the Olympics—which seems to run counter to the author’s concerns about the IOC’s long history of clinging to 19th century amateurism. <br /><br />There are some errors as well; the most egregious being when he inexplicably labels the Christian identity nationalist, Eric Rudolph, the terrorist responsible for the Atlanta Olympics pipe bomb, a libertarian. <br /><br />Overall the author’s cynicism and elitism get in the way of the valid criticisms of Olympic projects. As this and other histories show, there are many problems and criticisms to be made, but this work doesn’t do the work necessary to develop these, explain why they are concerns, or offer much in the way of alternatives. In most cases, the reality of the games is implicitly compared to some unstated majestic and idyllic system where the Olympics could take place without these problems. <br /><br />Furthermore, as critical as the author is of the vision of Coubertin’s Olympics, the author actually seems to in a way share this utopian vision of pure sport. But since the reality of the Olympics can never live up to this vision; it gets lots of righteous scorn and rhetorical sneering.<br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-90534926990491061282023-11-27T20:08:00.002-06:002023-11-27T20:08:23.780-06:00Review: The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56898098-the-genius-of-israel" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686091970l/56898098._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56898098-the-genius-of-israel">The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3082715.Dan_Senor">Dan Senor</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5963835155">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Israel is a small country facing tremendous obstacles. It is threatened and attacked by well-funded genocidal enemies. Meanwhile the international community, such as it is, is ambivalent at best and internally, Israel is regularly rocked by protests and religious and ethnic divisions. Yet, Israel, according to various international metrics, is one of the happiest countries. This apparent paradox is what Dan Senor and Saul Singer have set out to explain. <br /><br />Looking at the different parts of Israeli society, they try to find out what makes Israel resilient and happy in the face of the many challenges it faces. This is what they mean by the “Genius of Israel”: how it is able to deal so successfully with its unique challenges as well as the problems afflicting most of the rest of the wealthy, liberal democracies. The short answer is that Israelis share a collective meaning and purpose, with a sense of community cementing that meaning and purpose. <br /><br />This ties together much of what they look at: the educational system, the military, the tech sector, the family, the sabbath, and the regional historical connections. They explore the ways these elements all connect to, create, and reinforce that purpose and community. <br /><br />They also look at the Haredi (ultra-orthodox) and Israeli Arab communities. While outliers in many ways, they also share some of the features that create that purpose and community. They point out how Israel has to do better by these two groups by incorporating them more into the mainstream. But they also show the ways that this integration is being driven internally in these communities.<br /><br />All in all, an informative and engaging exploration and explanation of Israeli society. Important to read to understand Israel.<br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-81011116707222181622023-11-23T23:19:00.002-06:002023-11-23T23:19:42.056-06:00Review: Damascus Station<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58378886-damascus-station" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Damascus Station" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624164316l/58378886._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58378886-damascus-station">Damascus Station</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21107028.David_McCloskey">David McCloskey</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5965932114">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I enjoyed, but didn't love, this spy thriller; it had an authentic feel and the plot was engaging. I really liked, or rather found interesting, some of the characters, though the central protagonist was somewhat weak. I just didn't connect to him or really get a sense of his character. The supporting characters around him where far more rich and well drawn. I cared far more for these characters than I did for Samuel. The book does a good job of showing the pressure and sense of being trapped that many must feel in a regime such as Syria's. The kind of compromises one has to struggle with just to survive. I thought it also dramatized the conflict many have between being loyal to one's country while watching the regime destroy it from within. So overall a good read.<br /><br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-69471344978056242472023-11-08T18:51:00.002-06:002023-11-08T18:51:23.386-06:00Review: Traitor's Blade<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50089301-traitor-s-blade" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Traitor's Blade (Greatcoats #1)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563913489l/50089301._SX98_SY160_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50089301-traitor-s-blade">Traitor's Blade</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7390210.Sebastien_de_Castell">Sebastien de Castell</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5941804989">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This was a delightful discovery. I don't recall who recommended this to me or how it came into my to-read pile, but thank you! A fresh story that is exciting, thoughtful, and funny. It has a good heart; the characters are interesting. It has twists and turns, keeps you on your toes, from the first to the last words. The writing is crisp and the storytelling is intricate without being baroque. de Castell spins a dark, corrupt world but rests the story on hope and honor. I'm hooked.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-28545865787582373982023-11-05T18:44:00.002-06:002023-11-05T18:45:02.143-06:00Review: The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55982654-the-wondering-jew" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606006837l/55982654._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55982654-the-wondering-jew">The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19504211.Micah_Goodman">Micah Goodman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5860580500">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A fascinating examination of the complex nature of Jewish identity. In particular, Goodman is focused on the various strands of Judaism and Jewishness that are within Israeli culture. Though primarily focused on Israeli Jewishness, it is rooted in the long intellectual and religious traditions of the Jewish People: from Beit Hillel in the Second Temple period to Maimonides to the 19th and 20th century religious and secular thinkers. I very much appreciate the insight Goodman brings into Jewish and Israeli thought; sharing with the reader many ideas that normally are not accessible (because they are in Hebrew).<br /><br />The main idea Goodman starts with is that within Israel—and because its Israel, the Jewish national homeland—there are new ways of being Jewish developing. Just as older forms developed in response to the tensions and conditions of the world they were in, being Jewish in Israel is evolving and responding to pressures and tensions in Israel. These include the interaction of tradition and modernity; community and individualism; authority and liberty. <br /><br />Many know that Israel seems to be divided into two camps: religious and secular. Goodman argues this oversimplifies things. Within each camp there are further divisions, divisions that mirror each other in the other camps. That is, there is a more strident, religious camp that holds fast to the religious laws and traditions as expressed in orthodoxy. This is mirrored in the secular camp by the strident secularists who reject and forswear religious tradition and learning. But as well, each camp has what Goodman calls “alternative” movements. There are religious Zionists who are interested in the more open and dynamic aspects of modern life. This is mirrored by the secularist Zionists who are interested in connecting to the richness of Jewish tradition. The religious are not secularizing: they are not compromising or losing faith. And the secularists are not becoming religious: they want to enrich and deepen their secularism by connecting with the ideas and texts of the tradition. <br /><br />His main argument is that these alternative threads are, or are potentially, forming a more balanced, middle way of Israeli Judaism. <br /><br />Goodman argues that that these threads, the alternative and mainline ones, have long pedigrees in Jewish history and roots his analysis in those traditions. This history deals with, in its own ways relative to its time period, the problems and tensions of tradition and modernity; community and individualism; authority and liberty. As such, there is much to learn about how these alternative stands in contemporary Israeli society might deepen and expand: enriching Israeli society, but also Jewish culture worldwide.<br /><br />And this can move beyond the Jewish world as well. The lesson is that if one is religious, they can enrich their faith with modern ideas and ideals without losing their religion; and if one is not religious, they can enrich their connections and community by exploring and learning about their traditions without having to submit to the authority of the tradition. This helps, as Goodman argues, to balance many of the tensions and values of modern life. That is, at least, the hope Goodman leaves us; and it is one I share. As a secular Jew, who loves learning about the tradition but is not likely to be observant, many aspects of Goodman’s discussion appealed to me deeply. Lastly, it is wonderfully written: clear and approachable even while condensing and articulating complex theological, philosophical, and sociological ideas.<br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-64378294842500535172023-11-02T19:49:00.002-05:002023-11-02T19:49:47.884-05:00Review: Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders' Dreams?<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112972308-impossible-takes-longer" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders' Dreams?" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676247790l/112972308._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112972308-impossible-takes-longer">Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders' Dreams?</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/103759.Daniel_Gordis">Daniel Gordis</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5912885438">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
2023 is the 75th year of Israel’s re-founding. In May 1948, the leaders of the Jewish community declared the establishment of the State of Israel. The “Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel” was read aloud by David Ben-Gurion. Broadcasted live on the radio, the text of the declaration was also sent out to the world’s media.<br /><br />Daniel Gordis takes the ideas and principles expressed in this declaration, unpacks them, and asks how well the state has lived up to the vision expressed by the founding generation of Zionists in this momentous document.<br /><br />This ingenious method of exploration Israel’s 75 years of modern statehood allows Gordis to focus in on some of the central questions about Zionism and the rationale for a Jewish State as well as the achievements and failures of Israel. By exploring the meaning of the founding principles and visions, and then looking at how Israeli society, culture, and governance have either met and surpassed that vision, or have at times fallen short of those principles, we get a clear set of themes and standards to consider and evaluate.<br /><br />Gordis provides a balanced approach, one that pulls few punches in criticizing Israel when appropriate. He does not shy away from pointing out the internal tensions in the founders’ visions and principles, and the sometimes inconsistency of the application. This allows Gordis to also express his profound love and admiration for the breathtaking achievements of Israel’s 75 years. <br /><br />This is a wonderful book that helps reiterate the purpose and need for Israel, as well as understanding Israel within the context of its founding purposes. Reading this after the pogrom of Oct 7 and subsequent explosion of world-wide antisemitism was heartening and reaffirming.<br />
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-82236960277590447252023-10-29T22:22:00.002-05:002023-10-29T22:23:10.664-05:00Review: The Overlook<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6322798-the-overlook" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Overlook (Harry Bosch, #13; Harry Bosch Universe, #17)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328308008l/6322798._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6322798-the-overlook">The Overlook</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12470.Michael_Connelly">Michael Connelly</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5931403859">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A classic Bosch; tight plotting, action driven. This was used as the basis for Season 6 of the tv show; so I roughly knew the plot but it is so well-crafted that it is still thrilling and exciting. Unlike several of the previous Bosch novels, there is less self-reflection and, for lack of better phrase, deep thoughts. It takes place over roughly twelve hours and so is primarily all chase.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-66250180040526671922023-10-23T23:59:00.002-05:002023-10-24T00:00:09.767-05:00Review: The Fallen Star<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60507407-the-fallen-star" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Fallen Star (Star Wars: The High Republic)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645987244l/60507407._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60507407-the-fallen-star">The Fallen Star</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1192311.Claudia_Gray">Claudia Gray</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5906801937">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
The third book in the Light of the Jedi trilogy might be the best, but it still has some flaws. Claudia Gray gives us much better action and character growth than previous installments. Still, I found it hard to connect to the characters -- in particular the Jedi. I like Bell and found Elzar compelling but the others seemed far too much like place holders. Some of the supporting characters were interesting, but there was just not enough focus on a single set of characters to really develop them enough. Ro is an interesting villain, but he's out of the main action for the most part. Still Gray's writing improved the series tremendously: the pacing, the action, the plot were all much better than the previous books.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-61317789531148840552023-10-13T19:10:00.002-05:002023-10-13T19:10:56.355-05:00Review: The Silkworm<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22567947-the-silkworm" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike, #2)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403490826l/22567947._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22567947-the-silkworm">The Silkworm</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/383606.Robert_Galbraith">Robert Galbraith</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5862495157">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the second novel in the Cormoran Strike series. Rowling (Galbraith is her pseudonym) follows up the first novel with a another great mystery. It kept me guessing until the very end! She does a great job with the plot and characters. She introduces several unique and interesting characters here; each with their own voice. Cormoran and Robin make a great team and I'm glad to see their relationship and connection grow in the way that it has.<br /><br />Like the first novel, I listened to this and the narration is great. The reader does a great job of capturing the story and conveying the characters.
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3663852.post-88349747727345561142023-09-21T00:14:00.002-05:002023-09-21T00:15:02.935-05:00Review: From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198189585-from-a-certain-point-of-view" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (From a Certain Point of View, #3)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1693324180l/198189585._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198189585-from-a-certain-point-of-view">From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4025591.Saladin_Ahmed">Saladin Ahmed</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5804887738">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I enjoyed these stories so much. They add such context and flavor to the Star Wars world. That said, this one was not as good as the first two. Some of the stories were a bit of stretch in terms of their connection to the movie. So many involved the same trope of a flashback that was not related to the movie itself. And I thought there were some stories that were missing: namely a story about Captain Rex and how he ended up on the Endor mission. A Hera story would have be good too.<br /><br />Still, there were some great stories that enrich the movie, the story, and the Star Wars world. Some of the stories were quite sad, e.g. The Ballad of Nanta. Others were funny or just plain weird. The sarlacc story was both of those. The Max Rebo story was not one of my favorites but I liked how the story itself had a rhythm. "Brotherhood" was poignant. The Sidious story was chilling. One of my favorites was "The Key to Remembering" about one of Jabba's droids. The idea that sentience was connected to memory was quite interesting (and points out of the leitmotifs of Star Wars: memory of the past and hope for the future).
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Shawn Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304470271355715163noreply@blogger.com