Missive #78 Published 26 May 2023
The author received high marks from The New York Times but did not score as well with goodreads.com reviewers. There were some that thought it was great and some that thought she didn’t write the all encompassing business book that she should. The book is about ‘people’ and how globalization has destroyed their lives. It is also about John Bassett III and his family but that was about people as well. I liked the book and recommend it. Read the rest
Missive #75 Published 19 May 2023
I went to the VA Audiology Clinic on Wednesday to get my replacement hearing aids. I had my doubts that there would be much improvement but have been proved wrong. They are much better; I have been hearing things that were making a noise before that I didn't hear. With only limited conversation I think hearing and understanding human speech is also improved although still not great. Read the rest
Missive #72 Published 12 May 2023
This book uses a lot more geography than just the 'bootheel' of New Mexico for the story setting. It covers an area from Reserve, New Mexico in the north to near Durango, Mexico is the south. From east to west; all the border crossings from Palomas, Chihuahua to Naco, Sonora, Mexico. What made it very enjoyable for me was the mention of the many places in that overall area where I have been. The story line is very similar to the first book in the Border Trilogy. There is also considerable character conversation in Spanish so be prepared to do translations if you do not speak the language. There is also more philosophical musing in this second book that there was in the first; that made it a more difficult read for me. Read the rest
Missive #69 Published 5 May 2023
This is another good sailing-based thriller by Cornwell; retitled in the United States as Killer’s Wake. The only character in this book that was also in the first one was the policeman. I'm going to consider these books to be a series and will show this as being the second one in the series of five books. Read the rest
Missive #66 Published 28 April 2023
This is a good book that provides a lot of background that explains the opioid epidemic in the United States. There was a eight episodes TV series based on the book that was shown in 2021 which probably got more attention than the book since people in the United States get most of the information/entertainment from TV rather than books. Recommended! I plan on reading more of Macy books. Read the rest
Missive #63 Published 21 April 2023
If you have been keeping up with the economic News as presented by the MainStream Media there is little to be gained by reading this book. The author has VERY liberally quoted from many of those same sources that you have been reading. The author is very much against central banks but generally follows Western government narrative. Seems to think crypos are going to become the new 'money'. Read the rest
Missive #60 Published 14 April 2023
This is probably the best book by Dos Passos that I have read so far. The stories of those whose lives impinged on Jefferson's were stories that you never heard when studying history in school. Reccommended! Read the rest
Missive #57 Published 7 April 2023
The most sweeping account of how neoliberalism came to dominate American politics for nearly a half century before crashing against the forces of Trumpism on the right and a new progressivism on the left. Read the rest
Missive #55 Published 31 March 2023
This is not a historical fiction novel which Cornwell is known for. The first of five sailing thrillers that I enjoyed. Probably will not be more. Cornwell had this to say "I enjoyed writing the thrillers, but suspect I am happier writing historical novels. I’m always delighted when people want more of the sailing books, but I’m not planning on writing any more, at least not now — but who knows? perhaps when I retire." Read the rest
Missive #52 Published 24 March 2023
This is a much different book than were the Flashman books. This is pure history not historical fiction. It is a good companion read to Albion’s Seed by David Hackett Fischer. Read the rest