Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

Four-star review of The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World  by A.J. Baime

This well-researched biography about the first days of Truman’s presidency, as well as what led up to it, was interesting because I learned a lot about the man and that time in our history. I was too young at the time to appreciate the event other than being told Franklin Delano Roosevelt had died and his vice-president had taken over. It was a difficult time with World War II coming to a close in Europe but continuing in the Pacific. Truman wasn’t an insider in Roosevelt’s cabinet and had a lot to learn in a very short period of time. He’d grown up on a farm and failed at a few businesses, then served in state and federal government positions before he was unexpectedly picked to be Roosevelt’s running mate. Baime’s years as a journalist is apparent in all of the references and quotes included in this. I listened to the book on Audible.

  

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

Four-star review of The Torso in the Town: Fethering Mysteries Book 3 by Simon Brett

 

Carole Seddon and Jude are at it again when Jude is invited to one of the Friday night dinners held by Grant Roxby and his wife at their new home in Fedborough and a limbless body is discovered in the basement by the Roxby’s son. With the usual plethora of suspects both for the body and the murderer, leave it to the Fetherington neighbors to ferret out the truth. Their friendship as always is hampered by Carole’s inability to learn more about Jude’s past or even her last name. But that doesn’t stop them from working separately and together to learn more  about the secrets buried in the house.

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

Five-star review of Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor

 A fine example of African-inspired science fantasy. I’d read the first part of this trilogy before and knew I had to read it again plus the rest of the story about Binti, a teenaged girl from a somewhat subjugated group of people in a desert town where all the people have certain abilities. Binti and her father are harmonizers who create astrolabes for the people of the village and others to use. Binti’s use of mathematics to calm herself in times of stress comes in handy during her off-planet trip to Oomza University and what occurs on the journey, her experiences with others at school, and the events of her return home. There is so much to this story that I’ll have to think about to really understand her and what is happening around her. There are lessons to be learned and parallels to what’s happened in our time.