Pretty good personal account of a woman war photographer who came close to death a few times. She was in Afghanistan and other spots and was a captive in Libya. Includes some photos she took.

Also reading another book about the SF bay area.

Starting another one by Shafak that my Library has. About the poet Rumi.

Finally finished colorful book about Turkish-Armenian family connections. Some magic realism included. Has food and culture and family secrets both in US and Istanbul. Quite different from what I usually read. Will likely read more from her.

Starting a book about a modern female war photographer.

A quirky mix of stories about Chinese in America and history. I liked the part about the railroad workers the best. Sort of a hybrid of facts and legends. I haven't read anything else by the author, but I do have another history book about Asians in America I'd like to read. I was in SF last year and I thought the Liberty statue at Portsmouth Square near Chinatown was historical about Chinese in America, but it was about Tiananmen Square.

Now I will start this book and if I like it will read more of hers.

Really good apocalyptic story that continues from The Parable of the Sower. Lauren suffers much and loses her daughter but eventually is able to grow her Earthseed religion despite “Christian” foes. Much applies to now!

Starting a book about the Chinese who came to America.

Really good biography of Ernie Pyle who wrote a newspaper column during World War 2 and was a friend to both common soldiers and some big generals like Ike and Bradley. Sadly his wife suffered from mental health issues. Kind of long but well written.

This book mentions a political movement very much like MAGA on page 20 and a charismatic leader!

I will finally read the second part of this story. First one was good.

Enjoyable memoir of a girl growing up in India in a large family that was very much into English ways also. Includes recipes too!

Starting a very old biography written by a reporter colleague. Pyle was a WW2 correspondent loved by the common GIs. He was killed in Asia at the very end of the war. He had lived in Albuquerque, NM.

Starting a sequel to Brooklyn, which was good.

Well written, but rather strange story of a swamp-living family and a search for resolution after grief. Kind of blunt and somewhat off-putting in a poetic way.
Could be a little shorter too. It took me a while to read.

Pretty good semi-humorous story of a twenty-something girl with a dysfunctional family and an obsession with the book, Treasure Island. Parts are kind of gritty for a funny book, but I mostly liked it.

Could not resist starting ANOTHER book that looked appealing. I like the idea of it.

Started an autobiography of a woman from India known for cookbooks and acting.

OK story but a bit rambling. I was not sure what to expect. Had not seen any of the series which is probably a bit different. Shadow is a man who is involved with several gods in America. For those who like Gaiman.

Starting this one that was in a Little Free Library.

Pretty good superficial view of German history since Roman times. Showed why Hitler seemed to be the answer in the early '30s. Don't look for a lot of details here, but OK overview. Took me longer to read than I thought, as usual.

Parts of it were very good but so much full of self pity or focused on needless details. Sort of hard to get through. He had a kind of harsh loveless childhood. Probably why he married 5 times. I still like most of his films. He did have a genius.

Also started this one, but I haven‘t seen the series at all. Had a copy so I could not resist despite reading 2 other books.

I began a memoir from a great Swedish director. Looks like his childhood was kind of rough.

Gritty, humorous, engaging story of an alcoholic black man in the inner city who communes with his dead wife and is involved with those around him. Good reflection on racial issues too.

Fun book about Roald Dahl's further adventures as a young man. In Africa and as a RAF pilot in N. Africa and Greece during WW2.

Starting sequel memoir to Boy, which I have read.

Somewhat interesting but not really what I was looking for. I wanted more on modern A.I. and writing. Gives some background on what people have done to automate things.

Starting a German history book

A really good story that is about colonialism and language. Has quite a few side comments on specific words in various languages. Here is a quote near the end: “That‘s … what translation is …. Listening … and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they are trying to say….” Good reading!

Robin confronts Lovell about his Chinese mother.

Started a book on A.I. from a humanistic viewpoint.

Poignant graphic novel about author‘s digging up what happened with her uncle in Nazi Germany in the small town of Kuhlsheim and what Heimat means (sense of belonging.). Worthwhile if you are into Germany like me.

Started a graphic novel on reckoning with her German history.

Fun and interesting account of how special flavors have influenced American cuisine over the years, mostly with a focus on certain spices like curry, garlic, and sriracha. I am not really a foodie yet but I enjoyed it.

Excellent little book about freeing up your creativity whether in music, painting, or writing. Reminds me of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which I read many years ago. It has many quotes and some illustrations.

Also starting a historical magical kind of a chunkster. I read about it and could not resist.

Starting a book about food and basic flavors.

Interesting summaries of 50 popular books, 40 fiction and 10 non-fiction, including Gone with the Wind, The Hobbit, Da Vinci Code, and first Harry Potter, etc. Mostly accurate background, but they got Zelda Fitzgerald's original last name wrong. I've read 25 out of the 40 (22 fiction and 3 non-f.). Worthwhile. Makes you want to read.

Starting a book about books

Kind of quirky but sometimes poetic story of Laurel who loses her father and is thinking about others who are gone.

Starting a book of fiction that is supposed to be a modern classic.

Great and interesting account of Churchill and WW2 and hanging on until America came in. A lot of details I did not know.

Started a book on Art and creativity.

Great and humorous list of A to Z words and trivia. A bit naughty in parts. Reminds me of the old Joys of Yiddish. I need to read the first book now.

Going through a book I found at a Little Free Library. It‘s a sequel but is interesting so far. I learned the word Ouistiti, a kind of monkey, which is in Scrabble.

Not as funny or as interesting as I thought it would be. Usually I like Bryson.

This is more like what I read. On Churchill and WW2.