I Guess We've Always Been Fighting

This is why I read. In the past, I'd only had passing conversations of British rule in India, and the ensuing "Partition". Wow--what a bland word to describe the horrors that preceded the fracturing of a nation. In Moth, the author takes us into the streets, the houses, the schools, and the minds of people hiding from the extreme violence that took thousands upon thousands of lives. Told through the voices of one Brahmin family in Delhi, this tale is gripping and tense. There were characters I liked at times, and loathed at others, but I guess that made them all the more realistic. The author also touched on some taboo topics, but only implied, so probably that would be good book club fodder. Overall, memorable, with hope edging out tragedy as the overriding theme.

Self-Published. Need I Say More?

No, but, I'm going to. I've never written a book, so kudos to old Phil for having the gumption to do this. But dude, proofread. How about basic spellcheck? How about a friend who's a reader? There's an error in the first sentence; there's an error on the back-cover blurb, and it just keeps plugging along that way. Mistake after mistake after mistake, and just plain cloddy writing. Honestly, I couldn't get past the first few pages. I tried making a game out of it by highlighting the errors, but even that got un-fun after about two pages. Seems like a worthwhile topic, and I appreciate that he cares. But man, stick to lecturing, maybe? Because writing is not your thing. Sorry.

Shhhh . . .

If you've ever felt uncomfortable in a room full of people, this is the book for you. Author Susan Cain somehow takes all the awkward moments, uncertainties, and excuses for ducking out and transforms them into a beautiful montage of wonderfulness. It explains a lot, from how our brains work, what drives people to seek out a quiet corner or commit a crime, and even just the best way to study. As a lifelong introvert with all that entails, I ate this up. Fascinating.