Currently reading
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments
Lone Survivors: How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth
The Kill Switch: A Tucker Wayne Novel (Sigma Force Novels)
Ten Billion (Vintage)
This might be the most TERRIFYING book about climate change, overpopulation and the impending environment horrors I have ever read. Screw politics, screw political correctness, screw religious objections - if we don't take DRASTIC action NOW (!!!)regarding overpopulation, carbon emissions, deforestation, water use, etc. I feel the conclusion of the author, Stephen Emmott, will be true:"We are fucked."
Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves
A natural history classic. Freshly out of school and newly hired by the Canadian Government - Mowat is tasked with conducting a wolf survey to demonstrate how they are devastating the caribou population...only he finds natives and trappers killing thousands of caribou while the wolves often live on small game; only culling the sick and weak from the dwindling caribou herds.
Great adventure in the far north and Mowat, as always, is hilarious.
War Journal: My Five Years in Iraq
Not just a story about an ambitious, young reporter growing into a respected award-winning journalist.Fascinating, detailed look into the ongoing problems in Iraq. Engel does a great job of interweaving the modern American invasion/reconstruction efforts with description of the history of conflict in the region - going back to the Sunni/Shiite split 1600 years ago.
USA diplomats would have been well-advised to understand these historical forces before entering into a war that destabilized the entire region.
Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book
I was particularly excited to meet Grumpy Cat's friend, the googly-eyed cactus. The pair seem to have a barrel of fun every time they are together.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Had a bit of a slow start (first couple of hundred pages), but I persisted and ended up really enjoying this book. I really liked the Lisbeth Salander character and who doesn't enjoy sticking it to wealthy, unscrupulous business execs and financial gnomes?!?! One of the best parts of this overall reading experience...discussing the book with a Swedish traveler during her visit to our Powell's at PDX (Portland International Airport) bookstore.This book is available at Powells.com
http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780307473479-33
Creation: How Science Is Reinventing Life Itself
How did life begin? And where does life "end" and technology begin? The mapping of the human genome and incredible advances in biochemistry are paving the way for unprecedented changes in medicine and industry.Interesting look into how science is blurring the lines of life and technology...creating unique organisms and inventions through genetic manipulation in ways that were, until a few short years ago, only imaginable in science fiction.
Those Darn Squirrels!
Gotta admit the illustration on pg 10 (with all the bird feeders lined up in a row) looks a LOT (!!!) like my wife's arrangement on our back porch. Buy this book at
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780547576817-0
The Last Jew of Treblinka: A Memoir
It's hard to say you 'liked' a book like this...one of the most powerful books I have read regarding the treatment of Jews in the eastern regions during WWII. Rajchman's graphic telling of his year-long experience in the Treblinka death camp is a shocking testimony.You can purchase this book at:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781605983424-0
The Hunger Games: Catching fire
Loved this book! 9 times out of 10 I find the second book of a series a let down, but Catching Fire is a great followup to Hunger Games. Fast-paced...interesting plot twists...and a completely unexpected ending. I immediately started book three. How is Katniss going to save Peeta from the clutches of evil President Snow?!?!?!You can purchase this book at:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780439023498-1
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary (P.S.)
Who would have thought a book about the creation of a dictionary would be riveting reading? Engaging story about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary; the project's leader, professor James Murray; and one of its main contribotors, Dr. W. C. Minor. What twists this tale is the discovery that Dr Minor, a veteran of the American Civil War, is an inmate in an English insane asylum following his murder conviction.
I highly recommend this book!
You can purchase this book at:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780060839789-13
Zoo Station
If you like Alan Furst you need to give David Downing a read...fast-paced, atmospheric...having visited Berlin shortly after the Wall came down, Downing's descriptions made me feel like I was back in the city.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in espionage or Germany during the lead up to WWII.
Buy this book at:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/71-9781569479711-0