Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip by Matthew Algeo

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip by Matthew Algeo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.0/5.0 - This was a fairly interesting book where the author attempted to recreate a road trip that the former president Harry Truman and his wife, Bess, made shortly after he left office, in 1953. They were simple people who enjoyed the simple things in life, and after years in Washington, they just wanted to get in their car and travel from Independence, MO to Washington and NYC, stopping along the way to see friends and colleagues. Where the restaurants or motels still existed, the author stopped and ate or stayed there. He talked to as many people as he could find and included photos from archives of various stops, mostly of the president greeting people (a cabbie, a small child, etc.). One thing that really stood out to me while reading this book was the tremendous difference between his post-presidential life and others who followed him. At the time he left office, there wasn't a pension system in place for presidents, and he paid staff and the expenses of his office out of his own pocket. The Trumans were never well-to-do to begin with, and Harry refused to use his status to make money (charge fees to speak or join corporate boards).
The author portrayed the president as a humble, stubborn, interesting person and shared little bits of history, both of Truman's past and what was going on in America at that time, that added to the enjoyment of the story. While it wasn't a comprehensive biography, it was an interesting snapshot of a small piece of his life.

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People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - This book has two storylines. The first is Hannah Heath's story, and how she became the conservator in 1996 of the famous Sarajevo Haddagah, her family and their history. The second, more interesting storyline was of the book itself, the people who created it, cared for it, passed it along, and rescued it throughout history. That part was fascinating and well researched. It bears rereading in the future. Hannah's story was almost a distraction to me.
I started reading the print edition, when it became due, I switched to the ebook and finally finished up with the audio version, read by Edwina Wren. I highly recommend it, she does a beautiful job.

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A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope by Tom Brokaw

A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope by Tom Brokaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded to 4 stars - Tom Brokaw is in his early 70s when what he thought was a back problem turned out to be multiple myeloma (MM). This book chronicles not only his year long battle to remission, but a reflection on the many blessings in his life, his dedicated wife and family, his abundant financial resources, his excellent medical care. He shares stories about important news stories he covered, including personages such as the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela, many presidents, the Berlin Wall, and 9/11. He reflects on the increasing difficulties faced by America in the health care field, rising costs of medicines and the ability of all people to receive the care they need. He is cognizant of the fact that he is lucky to have the resources to receive treatment at some of the nation's best medical facilities, including Mayo Clinic and Sloan-Kettering.
It was interesting to hear his stories, to appreciate his strengths, and to celebrate his victory. The narrator of the audio book was excellent, as well.

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The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.0/5.0 - This was an updated 20th anniversary edition, the author added additional research. Elaine N. Aron is a research and clinical psychologist who has devoted her life to studying the trait that she calls HSP.
I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this book, on the one hand I wonder if it's pop psychology. On the other, many things the author says makes sense, and helps me to better understand a few different people in my life. The characteristics of an HSP (highly sensitive person) include keen imagination, vivid dreams, the need for alone time each day, empathy and conscientiousness, as well as the fact that noise and confusion quickly overwhelms them. (Wow, she could be describing me!)
HSPs are an understudied group, and often just described as introverts and/or shy people. And while this may also be true for individuals, these labels don't fully describe them. They are challenged with being easily overwhelmed, overaroused, and overstimulated. The book helps individuals with HSP understand this trait, how it has affected their lives, and gives tips for how to better cope with it. For example, giving presentations can be a challenge, not because they aren't prepared (they will be meticulously prepared), but because they need to feel in control. So doing a dress rehearsal can help.
The book goes beyond helping individuals and offers chapters for teachers, health care professionals and employers. This is just one of several books the author has written on the subject, she also has books aimed at helping children, parents, people in marriage, and several workbooks.

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Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - You shouldn't read too much into the fact that this is the 4th or 5th book that I've read this year that deals with aging and death. The author, a surgeon and public health professional looks at the questions of how we deal with getting older, what is important to people as they age and eventually face death, and how medical professionals are learning to address these issues. The importance of maintaining independence, living as long as possible in their own homes, and making informed choices regarding serious health issues and terminal diseases, are all examined, with different options and solutions shared. The book is compassionate, and not overly technical, and makes for an interesting read.

Book 269 of 2021

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A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5/5.0 - After reading this book on my tablet, I was inspired to buy a copy just so that I can try out some of the recipes. The author tells stories of the first three decades of her life accompanied by recipes that played an important role. She begins as a young child, sharing how she came about loving to cook through her parents, one who cooked, the other who baked. In this chapter, we learn of Burg's (her father) potato salad. She follows that up with her mother's famous pound cake. Every phase of her life from childhood, schooling, travel to falling in love and getting married is told through a salad, soup, dessert or other expression of love for simple, delicious food.

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The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty

The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5.0 stars - This is a deep, thick, meaty book. One that takes days, even weeks to properly digest. The author self-describes himself as a black, white, Jewish, gay, overweight food historian, whose life mission is to understand and share the story of his family, his ancestors, through the food that ate, where it came from, and where they came from. He interprets life of enslaved people, through their food, on southern plantations. In this book, he shares his genealogical research of many years, tracing, with the help of professionals, his ancestral roots to Senegal and Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, along with the 28% European genes, passed down through slaveholders who fathered children upon their female slaves. He also discusses the various crops, corn, rice, and tobacco, and the roles that those played in the lives of the enslaved and the food that they ate. This is really a three theme book, the crops, the food, and the various bloodlines all tied together.
This book is filled with food for thought, and in addition to his history, it makes me think of my own history, so much unknown. What brought my ancestors here, what food did they make? How would a journey such as he undertook change my life? This is a book that will linger in my mind for a long time.

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Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded to 4 stars - You can always count on Caitlin Doughty for an irreverent, funny book about subjects most people are a little uncomfortable with, but are fascinated by - usually about death.
In this book, the author provides answers to such questions as "if we eat dead chickens, why don't we eat dead people" or "why do we turn colors when we die" and the title question "will my cat eat my eyeballs"? (view spoiler)[there's a huge taboo on cannibalism, and the human body is not very nutritious anyway, and potentially disease carrying; lividity; and yes, if left alone long enough. (hide spoiler)]
Not for the weak of stomach, but if you like a little gallows humor and are curious about what happens to you when you can no longer read, this is a short, funny book you might enjoy.
Book 265 of 2021

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Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 rounded to 5 stars - I've been reading classics and plays this year, and this one was very powerful. Published in 1962, it won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play (1963) and later became a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, as a middle aged couple with a volatile marriage. Martha is the daughter of the college president, her husband, George, a professor in the history department. Martha marries the younger George, with the idea that he will be groomed to take over for her father. As the years pass and that doesn't happen, the couple becomes increasingly bitter toward each other. The play takes place over the course of twelve hours and deals with illusions in life, and games that people play.
Albee visited SUNY Brockport (college) in 1981, and in my previous life, I was able to preserve the video of the interview. It is available here: Edward Albee Writers Forum video.

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500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan

500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - I have read 7 books by this author, and this is my favorite one. It is the 3rd book in the Scottish Bookshop series, and the previous characters are worked into this book, as well. I love the description of the small Scottish town as well as the way London is contrasted to it. The characters are well written, the romance is believable. Jenny Colgan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

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The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 rounded to 5 stars - This has been on my To Read list for over a year, but I finally took a chance on it. I loved this book. It's a short little book that packs a big wallop. It's full of humor, love, forgiveness, empathy, and a unique narrator - Nana the cat.

“At that moment, we were without doubt the greatest travellers in the world. And I was the world’s greatest travelling cat.”
― Hiro Arikawa, The Travelling Cat Chronicles

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Who is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht

Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5/5.0 - Like too many books I read, this is book 1 and I have already read the second book. It was interesting to learn more about her back story, how she became CIA. The book takes place in the 1960s, and alternates between her late teen years in NYC (40%) and her CIA assignment in Argentina (60%). It was well written and the pace of the novel kept my interest. I would read further adventures of Vera Kelly in the future.

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