Three books this time: one a very light book for easy reading; one that is fiction based upon fact; and the third, a very topical nonfiction.
The first is HULA DONE IT? written by Maddy Hunter, one of this series she is writing about this travel coordinator. And this time, the travel group is taking a trip to Kauai, Hawaii aboard a cruise ship.
Emily Andrews is the coordinator of global excursions for a travel club from Iowa composed of varying types of seniors, and always, there are many mishaps that these “elderly” travelers encounter, including this time, the demise of another passenger. There is an excellent description of Kauai that makes you long to visit, but even more interesting is the descriptive life aboard a cruise with a group. This book comprises easy reading and one that each page will often supply a smile or a giggle.
THE ONE MAN by Andrew Gross, a writer who came to prominence co-writing books with James Patterson, has now branched out on his own. This book is one of his best as it is loosely based on the life of Denis Avery, a British soldier who was captured in North Africa, and then held in a POW camp in Poland. He snuck into Auschwitz to confirm rumors of its horrors, and then returned to tell its story to the world. And Gross also based this book on the background of his father-in-law who was from Warsaw, Poland. After becoming aware of the tragedies that would be coming to Poland, he left in 1939.
Beginning in 1944 with the encouragement of FDR and his Secretary of the Treasury, Harry Morgenthau, a young man from Poland and a member of the Armed Forces, is recruited to carry out a terrifying mission – to drop into Poland and then to become an inmate in Auschwitz. Nathan Blum’s mission is to locate and bring out a specialized scientist, one of two in the world with familiarity in nuclear science.
The descriptions of life in this horrendous POW camp are unbelievable; although many Americans are familiar with these stories, they still create a horrendous emotion in the reader.
The third book is 13 HOURS by Mitchell Zuckoff with verifying information from the remaining members of the Annex Security Team, part of the security force contractors. This book will cause one to really agonize with the remaining members as to the incompetence that prevailed from the CIA “headman” who continued to forbid instant help to the Compound and our Ambassador.
On the night of September 11, 2012 and continuing into the following morning, the U.S. State Department Special Mission Compound (known as the Compound) and the nearby CIA base called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya were attacked continually and ferociously by a murderous mob.
A long lasting battle ensued, and the decision was reached by others to save the Ambassador and his Communications expert by having them shelter themselves in an interior room. However, this was not to be as they were unable to reach that room. And they then perished due to smoke inhalation as the villa had been torched.
And still the security team was not allowed to rescue the inhabitants of the Compound.
The author continues literally from minute to minute during the first battle, and then the second which was fought from the roof tops of the Annex.
If you had seen the film, you would have received an excellent ongoing plot from minute to minute of this catastrophe. Many of us had watched the interviews with the surviving members of the security team, but without the book and accompanying maps, you did not fully grasp the enormity of this battle. The author has written the book in a narrative, and therefore it is extremely easy to follow the action. I heartily recommend this book.
We, in the Library, and our wonderful helpers are anticipating the writing and assembling of our SECOND Christmas and Holiday Recipe book. As you readers are the ones who make this possible with the sharing of a special traditional recipe and the explanation of why it is special, we look forward to receiving those recipes. Our cutoff date is the end of November, and Shirley and I can hardly wait to learn of those luscious foods that made your Christmas and New Year’s a special time of life. And we thank you very much for help.
I know I’ve used the following quote for several years, but it really makes sense: Just Think About It!
“When an old person dies, a library burns down!”
Karen Gillespie
Bless all who support our library in so many different ways; we welcome our visitors that enter here from time to time and also the many regular folks who are part of our every day joy.
