The Boys in the Boat -- Take 2

This was a good one.  Having now read it, I'm disappointed it took me so long to get to it!  It's an underdog/against-all-odds story in the manner of Seabiscuit or Unbroken, and told almost as well.

According to the subtitle, it's the story of Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  Really it's the story of one American, Joe Rantz, and his boat's epic quest.  Sure, there are descriptions of and passages about the other rowers and their coxswain, but it's Joe who the book really focuses on, as far as the rowers go.  He has a terribly rough childhood, which he overcomes at least sufficiently to find himself at the University of Washington.  Once there, he is confronted by privilege which he had never before seen, and had to process that while seat-racing his way onto one of the fastest crews in the country.  Which he does.  And then onto the varsity crew.  And then into the first varsity boat.  And then to the Olympics.  It's truly quite a story.

But, in my opinion, this book is, as much as anything, a love letter to George Pocock, the famous boat builder.  Every chapter starts with a Pocock quote.  Every passage about him or his boats is written with a reverence typically found only in referring to the works of great masters - Beethoven, Rembrandt, Shakespeare.  And I suppose that, back in those days at least, George Pocock was the great master of his craft.

In short, highly recommended if you want a good story with good people at the center.  It's a reminder that beauty and perfection are fleeting, and should be cherished when they appear.

What I'm Reading Now -- Jack: A Life Like No Other

I'm working on my March book for my 2022 Reading Challenge.  The pick is Jack: A Life Like No Other.

In my younger days, spurred by a number of things, not the lease of which was the movie JFK, I developed quite a fascination with the Kennedy family lore.  This book has been sitting on my shelf for years as a consequence of that, and it fits the March category: "sub-genre sound off."

I still have several other Kennedy-related books to get through once this one is finished, so maybe I'll have to find one category in every reading challenge that I can insert a Kennedy book into until they're all read!

What I'm Reading Now -- Weapons of Math Destruction

I'm inserting my latest postal book club book into the middle of my 2022 Reading Challenge.  The book is Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy.  It's K's pick.  I started it recently because my other book is a big 'ol hardcover and I didn't want to take it on my trip.  So far, readability is good and the logic seems reasonably sound.  More to follow upon completion!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Happy Birthday, E!

2022 Goals

You may have noticed that we're into February, and so far I have made no goals this year.  I think I'm going to take the year off from monthly goals.  Maybe after a few months I'll come back to them, but for now I'm just taking a little time to not worry about that.  Sound good?  Okay.

Rebecca -- Take 2

I enjoyed Rebecca.  As I said, it took me a little while to get into it.  However, once I did, I couldn't put it down.  

There is a mystery at the center of the story, to be sure.  But it's also exceptionally personal.  Our narrator, the second Mrs. de Winter, is young and lacks self confidence.  As the story progresses, she grows into herself and her new role as the wife of a well-known local figure.  Despite her initial self-doubts, she is smart and capable of rising to any occasion.  Sure, she must operate within the expected societal confines of her time, but she manages to do so beautifully, despite her internal reservations. 

And there's the mystery.  That I won't say much about, for fear of spoiling something.  But for a sizeable book with itsy-bitsy print (maybe that's why I have this headache I can't shake....), it goes very quickly.  Give it a read yourself!