What I Read This Month – March 2024

The Last Kingdom / The Pale Horseman / Lords of the North – Bernard Cornwell (fiction, audio)

These are the first three books in the Last Kingdom (Saxon Tales) series by Bernard Cornwell. This 13-book series (to date) are historical fiction novels about the birth of England in the 9th and 10th centuries. They are told through the personal story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who was born in Northumbria and was captured and raised by the invading Danes (the Vikings). As an adult he returns to fight for King Alfred, who wises to unite everyone under one English kingdom. Cornwell does a fantastic job of weaving history into a novel full of action and adventure. The reader learns not only about the history of how Saxons and Danes came together to form England, but also about life in the Middle Ages. It is fascinating to learn about how much God and religion played a part in daily life and in momentous decisions; how oaths were considered binding, even at the cost of one’s life; how wretched were the lives of slaves and women, traded and used as objects; and daily habits, such as washing (one character was considered fastidious about his cleanliness; he bathed once a month!). Cornwell’s prose is captivating and never dull. Bottom line: This historical series is a gem, one I’m happy to have stumbled upon by chance.

Before She Was Found – Heather Gudenkaup (fiction, audio)

Three 12-year-old girls – Cora, Violet, and Jordyn – lead a typical pre-teenage lifestyle: school, petty grievances, talks about boys, etc. But one night they decide to go to the deserted rail yard, and Cora ends up being found by a passerby, with blood all over her and in a state of shock. Her friends are not with her. The small rural town is reeling from this violent attack and the investigation soon turns to Cora’s closest friends. A local urban legend about a serial kidnapper and killer features prominently in the background of what the girls did that night. The narrative moves between the present-day investigation and previous social networks chats by the girls. Bottom line: A page-turner thriller that keeps the reader in the dark until the very end.

The Crossing – Michael Connelly (fiction, audio)

In this book, Connelly brings together his two famous characters: detective Harry Bosch and his half-brother, lawyer Mickey Haller. Mickey asks for Harry’s help in investigating the murder case of one of his clients; there seems to be an ironclad case against him, but Mickey has a feeling he’s innocent. Bosch agrees and, with the help of a friend at LAPD, he uncovers the truth. As usual, he himself becomes a target during the investigation. Bottom line: Connelly at his best, with the combination of Bosch and Haller a delight for his fans (like me).

Men at Arms – Terry Pratchett (fiction, ebook)

The main characters in this book, the 15th in the Discworld series, are members of the city night watch that we’ve met before, mainly Captain Vimes, who is preparing to wed a wealthy woman who takes care of dragons, and Carrot, who was raised by dwarves and is very dedicated to his job. Because of the need for diversity, new recruits to the night watch include a woman/werewolf (Angua), a dwarf (Cuddy), and a troll (Detritus). Together they investigate several murders, allegedly perpetrated by a member of the Guild of Assassins. A talking dog accompanies them on their adventures. Bottom line: The deeper I dive into this series, the more I realize what a genius Pratchett was.

יריתי באמריקה – תהילה חכימי (fiction, paper)

An Israeli woman, working in the high-tech industry, relocates to the US and is determined to leave her complicated personal past behind. She joins her coworkers on weekend hunting trips, and the story follows the shots she fires (mostly at deer); hhence the name of the novel: Shooting in America. She develops a relationship with David, one of her coworkers, who is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Meanwhile, at work, she faces challenges and the risk of being fired. I forced myself to finish this bland and uninteresting novel. The fact that the author won a Fulbright scholarship to study creative writing makes me wonder about the selection criteria of this supposedly prestigious program. Bottom line: A story that goes nowhere, with characters that are as interesting and engaging as cardboard cutouts.

אישה נחה – מעין גולדמן (fiction, paper)

A successful TV producer is fired from her job and finds herself at home, her busy life coming to an abrupt stop. She tries various things to alleviate her boredom, all the while examining herself and her relationships with others. The constant stream of consciousness narrative is exhausting, peppered with long and winding sentences that use language that no real person would ever use, certainly not when thinking to herself. Bottom line: Another failure; both Hebrew books I read this month were disappointing (strengthening my belief that – bar a few exceptions – contemporary Israeli literature is not worth the effort).

Such a Fun Age – Kiley Reid (audio)

Alix is a successful blogger who built a career by empowering women to be assertive. She is also white. She hires a babysitter, Emira, to take care of her 3-year-old daughter, Briar. Emira is black. When Alix’s husband, Peter, makes an offhand remark in a TV interview that can be construed as racist, Alix is mortified that Emira might be offended. Especially as this happens after an incident in a supermarket, where Emira was stopped and questioned by security, suspecting she may have kidnapped a white toddler. Alix showers Emira with attention and money and gifts, thinking that would compensate for this injustice, and Emira seems to be a bit puzzled by all the fuss. When a man enters Emira’s world, and it turns out he has some history with Alix, things turn weird. Bottom line: A cleverly written novel that explores interracial relations, privilege, and the millennial mindset.

Elsewhere – Dean Koontz (audio)

Jeff Coltrane and his 11-year-old daughter Emily are given a strange object by a homeless man, who says it’s “the key to everything” but they mustn’t use it. When they accidentally activate it they realize the device allows them to move between parallel universes. Aside from solving all kind of other mysteries, one looms large: can father and daughter find Michelle, the wife/mother who moved out on them years ago and has disappeared? While looking for Michelle they also need to keep the device away from people with bad intentions. Bottom line: A classic psychological thriller from Koontz, this one perhaps a little weirder than others.

Hunting Time – Jeffery Deaver (audio)

This is the fourth book in the Colter Shaw series. Allison Parker and her teenage daughter Hannah are on the run. Allison’s ex-husband, Jon, an ex-cop who had anger issues when they were married, has been unexpectely released from jail. Allison believes his first order of business is to come after her for putting him behind bars. Colter takes the case of finding Allison and protecting her. Time is of the essence, because two thugs – apparenly hired by Jon – are also on the hunt for her. This is a quick-paced thriller which has a satisfying twist towards the end. Bottom line: Deaver rarely misses, and this Colter Shaw series is proof of his mastery of the genre.

Il Commissario Bordelli – Marco Vichi (ebook)

For years I’ve been reading the Ispettore Montalbano series by Anrea Camilleri, enjoying it very much, but also struggling with the Sicilian dialect (which, I must say, I’ve gotten used to). I wanted to try another detective series in Italian, and this one seemed to have good reviews. Bordelli is a police inspector in Firenze, so the Italian is “normal”… The story takes place in the 1960s so everything is slower and less technological. It is summer of 1966 and Bordelli is pursuing a case of a murdered old woman. At first, it appears like a natural death (she was asthmatic), but – as is to be expected – it turns out there were people who had a motive to quicken her departure from this world. Suffering from the scorching August heat (no air conditioners back then), Bordelli slowly unravels the mystery, taking an approach not dissimilar to that of famous detectives like Christie’s Poirot. Bottom line: Not as captivatig as Camilleri, but enjoyable enough; I think I’ll give this series a chance.

Rules of Civility – Amor Towles (audio)

This book is about a young woman in the post-depression 1930s in New York, and her journey into the upper echelons of society. It received some good reviews and that’s why I chose it. Very rarely do I stop reading a book halfway through; it must have happened no more than ten times in my life. This was one of them. Bottom line: Sorry, I just couldn’t get the point of this book.

Books do Furnish a Life – Richard Dawkins (audio)

Dawkins is arguably the most famous atheist alive (certainly after Christopher Hitchens passed away a couple of years ago). An evoloutionary biologist, Dawkins is most known for his books on evolution – like The Selfish Gene (which I reviewed here), and theology – like The God Delusion. This book is a collection of conversations that Dawkins had with fellow-minded scientists and journalists (among them also Hitchens), as well as essays and reviews he wrote over the years. Naturally for such a collection, there is some repetitiveness, but taken together, this is a great introduction to his lifelong work of promoting scientific and rationall thought, battling ignorance and superstition, and educating generations of students. Bottom line: Regardless of whether you did or didn’t read Dawkins’ works, this collection can serve as a good summary of his thinking.

שמואל ב׳: מלכות דוד – אמנון בזק (paper)

I’ve just finished reading/learning the book of Samuel, by studying a few minutes every morning. I did it mostly by going over the traditional commentary on the Hebrew Bible: Rashi, Radak, Malbim, Ralbag, etc. At the end of each chapter, I read the corresponding chapter in R. Amnon Bazak’s book. I have always liked his writings, because he has a keen eye in reading the text and teasing from it insights and lessons that provide fresh perpsectives and are relevant to modern-day learners. Bottom line: Anything that R. Bazak writes is worth reading, especially when it comes to Biblical commentary.

What I Read This Month – February 2024

The Escape Artist – Brad Meltzer (fiction, audio)

This is the first book in the Zig & Nola series. Zig works as a mortician at Dover Air Force base, helping put together the bodies of soldiers who died on secret missions before their families see them for one last time. Nola is the childhood friend of Zig’s now-dead daughter, whose life she once saved. Together they work to uncover a conspiracy in the army – Operation Bluebook – that dates back to the days of the great escapt artist, Houdini. Bottom line: Meltzer created a compelling duo of unlikely heroes; this promises to be a good series.

New Teeth – Simon Rich (fiction, paper)

I have read several of Rich’s books, and they are all a delight. His irreverent, wacky sense of humour rarely disappoints. In this collection of short stories, Rich tackles the world of parenthood and childhood from surprising and original perspectives. In one story, two murderous pirates find a child stowaway on board, and find themselves burdened with parenting tasks that interefere with their regular occupation, pillaging. In another, a thanksgiving dinner is arranged for the “parents” of a woman raised by wolves. And in the best story, “The Big Nap”, a two-year-old detective does his best to figure out “a world gone mad”. You are guaranteed to laugh out loud several times. Bottom line: The NYT called this book “a triumph of sustained humour”, and they are correct.

נמר מעופף – יעל טבת קלגסבלד (fiction, ebook)

I received this book as a gift from עברית, the ebook/audiobook website. It sat in my virtual library for a long time, the author unknown to me, and during a visit to Israel I started reading it. This is the story of boy who accidentally kills a friend with the gun of his father, a decorated but now disgraced officer in the Golani Brigade. The family struggles to figure out the new reality this tragedy has brought about, fraught with personal and ethical dilemmas. The story is told by the mother of the boy, who both worships and disdains the military culture that Israeli society is infused with. Bottom line: not a bad story, although the ending was somewhat of a downer.

The Lightning Rod – Brad Meltzer (fiction, audio)

Book no. 2 in the Zig & Nola series. This time, the duo investigates the murder of Lt. Col. Archie Mint, who was killed while trying to stop a burglary. A seemingly upright family man, it turns out Archie had criminal secrets his family knew nothing about. Nola uncovers a closely guarded secret: a military facility – called Grandma’s Pantry – that holds secrets dating back to the Cold War, that, if revealed, could compromise national security. Bottom line: although fast-paced, with no little measure of violence, I found this book less compelling that the first one in the series.

The Goodbye Man – Jeffrey Deaver (fiction, audio)

This is book no. 4 in the Colter Shaw series. Shaw tracks down two young men who are on the run in Washington State, accused of a hate crime. When he finds them, and one decides to jump to his death, shouting something about eternity. Shaw is intent on discovering what can push a young man to suicide. His investigation leads him to a cult that promises eternal life. He enrolls in the cult in an effort to uncover the misdeeds of its leader, Master Eli, a charismatic leader who commands terrifying loyalty from his followers. The confrontation with Eli is not late in coming. Bottom line: Deaver never disappoints; a fast-paced thriller with a satisfying ending.

The Final Twist – Jeffrey Deaver (fiction, audio)

I immediately went on to book no. 3 in the Colter Shaw series. This time Shaw is in San Francisco, following in his late father’s footsteps, a Political Science professor. Before dying in suspicious circumstances, his father was investigating the doings of Blackridge, a shady corporation that uses drugs to drive the price of real estate down in certain neighborhoods in order to pick up buildings cheap. Shaw follows enigmatic clues his father left behind, and plays a deadly cat and mouse game with Blackridge. He is on a race to save a family that is slated to die in 48 hours. Bottom line: yet another Deaver masterpiece of intrigue, action, and suspense.

A Primate’s Memoir – Robert Sapolsky (non-fiction, paper)

Sapolsky needs no introduction. Last month I read his book about free will (he believes it doesn’t exist). This book – which I picked up from my son on my trip to Israel last month – is a personal memoir of his time as a young reseracher, studying the social behaviors of baboons in Africa. And it is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Sapolsky, known for his rigorous scientific writing, is revealed here also as a fantastic storyteller, weaving personal experiences with his observations of the primates, all with a charming sense of humor. Sapolsky’s self-deprecating description of his exploits as a young, sometimes rash, (Jewish) man is endearing. The concluding chapter in the book is heart-rending, but does not spoil the enjoyment of this book. Bottom line: a great book about the adventures of a great man.

SPQR – Mary Beard (non-fiction, ebook)

When I was growing up in Rome, we often used to joke that SPQR stands for “sono porci questi Romani” (these Romans are pigs”). This old joke appears in Beard’s masterpiece about the history ancient Rome, in which she narrates the history of the city, rougly over 1,000 years, from a small village to the capital of a great empire. She does so not by laying out everything that happened chronologically, or by focusing solely on the leaders – as many historians do. Rather, she paints a broad picture of the main processes and characteristics of the period, not forgetting groups of people that are usually omitted from such narratives. And she constantly reminds us of how our perceptions and understanding of ancient Rome are tainted by Hollywood movies and by a few famous quotes (many of which are mistakenly attributed). Bottom line: one of the best books I read about ancient Rome; I plan on reading her more recent book on the emperors of Rome.

What I Read This Month – January 2024

The Last Agent, The Silent Sisters – Robert Dugoni (fiction, audio)

These two books are the second and third in the “Seven Sisters” series. Sam Jenkins, the African-American ex-CIA case officer, learns that the woman who saved his life and got him out of Russia, is not dead. She is rotting away at a Russian prison. So, he returns to Russia and, with the help of his former nemesis, FSB agent Viktor Federov, they spring Paulina out of jail. Then, it’s a long, mad, rush to safety through the Scandinavian border, chased by Russian agents. In the third book, Jenkins is back in Russia, trying to find out why an American sleeper cell – the last two sisters – has gone silent. He very quickly messes things up by killing the son of a prominent Russian mafia boss, so now it’s both the government (he’s on its kill list) and the mafia that are after him. Bottom line: Decent enough fiction, a little too heavy on action and too thin on story.

The Collector – Daniel Silva (fiction, audio)

Gabriel Allon, ex-chief of the Israeli Mossad, is now retired and living the quiet life of an art restorer in Venice. The Italian authorities ask him to look at the case of an art theft from a private collection, a Vermeer. Allon tracks down the thief, as well as the oil magnate who ordered the theft, codenamed The Collector. But while doing so, he uncovers a theft of far more threatening proportions: nuclear materials. With the help of his former employees in Israel, he now needs to track down these materials before they fall into the wrong hands. Bottom line: This is the 23rd Allon book, and it’s showing; the plot is weak and the narrative not as captivating as the earlier books in the series.

Nobody Walks – Mick Herron (fiction, audio)

This standalone novel by Herron, author of the popular Slow Horses series, sees Tom Bettany, ex-MI5 officer, living a life of exile in France, and working in a meat packing plant. He gets a phone call from England telilng him his estranged son has died, after falling off a balcony when he was allegedly high on drugs. Back home, Bettany decides not to believe the official police version and embarks on a personal quest to find out how and why his son really died. Both his former employer and some mob bosses with whom he has crossed paths before are interested in his renewed appearance in London, which makes things more complicated. Bottom line: Herron is a wonderful story teller, and his books are always enjoyable.

The Nazi Conspiracy – Brad Meltzer (non-fiction, audio)

A little known episode from WWII, thin on historic details, is the Nazi plot to assassinate the three leaders of the Allies – Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin – during their get-together in Tehran in 1943. Brad Meltzer (together with John Mensch) recounts this plot as if it were a suspense thriller, and while full with details on the background and the progression of the war, it is never dull. The book conveys very clearly the mindset and character traits of these three leaders, as well as some Nazi leaders. This is a book so intense, it can be read in one sitting, a veritable tour de force. Bottom line: One of the best books about WWII I read in recent years.

Free Agents – Kevin Mitchell (non-fiction, ebook)

Last month I read Determined by Robert Sapolsky, who sought to show why, based on scientific evidence, there is no such thing as free will. So, it was only natural for me to read this book by Mitchell seeking to show, based on the same scientific evidence, that it actually very much exists. Even though I lean strongly towards the argument that free will exists, I found Mitchell’s book too concerned with details and not clear enough about its main objective. The two books complement one another, but Sapolky is a much better writer. Bottom line: Whichever way you lean, these two books provide ample scientific data for you to choose sides.

אדם בן כלב – יורם קניוק (fiction, paper)

When this book came out in the late 1960s it caused quite a stir in Israel. Books about Holocaust survivors were not supposed to be grotesque and absurd, as this book is. The main protagonist, Adam Stein, was a comedian back in Germany, and when the Nazis put him in a concentration camp, they asked him to humor those waiting to be murdered, so that things would go smoothly. He was also designated as the camp commander’s dog, made to walk on all fours and tussle with a real dog. Now he’s a patient in a psychiatric hospital in a remote town in southern Israel, where he performs various roles and has an intimate relationship with one of the nurses. Bottom line: Kanyuk is one of Israel’s most notable writers, and this book is proof of his storytelling mastery, a wild read.

Murder Your Employer – Rupert Holmes (fiction, audio)

The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts is not a conventional school. This secretive institution teaches its students the art of murder, a “fine art”. If one can find and justify an ethical reason to murder someone, the school will admit them and teach them how to “delete” that person. To graduate, the students must get their “thesis” approved, i.e., show how they will go about performing the task of “deletion”. The book follows some of the students throughout their studies, and then during the execution of their “thesis”. Full with witty wordplays and plot twists, this is an original and innovative novel. Bottom line: Great concept, enjoyable reading, but somewhat too lengthy.

גבר נכנס בפרדס – אשכול נבו (fiction, ebook)

Nevo is one of the most successul contemporary writers in Israel. I have read many of his books and always enjoyed them. There are three novellas in this book. A young married couple goes for a walk, and when the husband steps into the forest for a nature call, he never comes back. His shirt is found during the search, but nothing more. It is a mystery that remains unsolved. Tsecond novella is about a young intern in an hospital, who is taken under the wing of a much older doctor, which makes her feel wanted and uncomfortable at the same time. The third novella is about how a man gets involved with a dangerous femme fatale, whom he met on a trip to South America. Bottom line: As usual, Nevo is a master of weaving human stories that seem simple, even simplistic, yet catch the essence of human nature.

Moonflower Murders – Anthony Horowitz (fiction, audio)

Another murder mystery by the skilled, and very prolific, Horowitz. This second novel in the Susan Ryeland series, uses the “story within a story” formal. An entire book is embedded inside the main story, and it serves to provide clues on the disappearnace of a Moonflower hotel employee. Susan is called from her new home in Greece to investigate this disappearance, and by reading the book, she manages to solve both this current-day mystery and the one narrated in the book. Bottom line: Horowitz never disappoints.

ביוטוב – אורלי קסטל-בלום (fiction, audio)

Mr. Schimell, a university lecturer in the French Studies department, is fired from his job. He lives in Tel Aviv and gradually recedes into his apartment, which he owns and sees as the only real achievement of his life. If he needs to leave home – for shopping or for walking the dog – he stays in the near vicinity. Forced to get some income, he helps new immigrants to Israel from France to acclimate in the country. When he learns that he has inherited a house in Normandy, he believes that his life has now completely changed, and for the better. He can spend his life between Israel and France, enjoying the best of both worlds. But it is not to be. Bottom line: a seemingly trivial book, but one that allows the reader to get immersed in the story, getting to know the protagonist intimately.

Time of Death – Mark Billingham (fiction, paper)

It’s been a while since I read a book by Billingham, he of the famed detective Tom Thorne series, and it was nice to get back to reading him. In book 13 in this series, Thorne helps to investigate the disapperance of two schoolgirls in a small and quiet town. Together with police office Helen Weeks, who grew up in this town, Thorne does not concur with the local police department on what happened to the girls. Family man Stephen Bates is arrested for the kidnapping (and murder of one of the girls), but Thorne is not buying it. The investigation leads Thorne and Helen deep into the life of the residents, and they uncover the real culprit. Bottom line: Billingham at his best; Thorne at his best.

Slleepyhead – Mark Billingham (audio)

From one Billingham to another Billingham. This is the first book in the Tom Thorne series. A serial killer of young women is toying with the police. Thorne discovers that the death of his victims were actually accidental, and young Allison, now hospitalized in a coma following an induced stroke, is what the killer is really after. But Thorne finds it difficult to enter the mind of this devious man. Allison holds the key to her attacker’s identification, but she is unable to communicate, except through occasional eye blinks. Bottom line: interesting story, but not the best book in the series; it looks like the Thorne series got better over time.

אהבתה של גברת רוטשילד – שרה אפרתי (ebook)

This book is the diary of Gittel Rothschild, the woman who married the founder of the famed Rothschild dynasty, Meir Amschel. In this historical fiction novel, Efrati leads us through the life of Gittel – from her teen years to her death – and through her eyes we learn about the formative years of the Rothschild empire. The first-person narrative recounts not only the successes of Meir and his sons, but also the tragedies that befell the family and the life of the Jewish community in Frankfurt in a time of harsh restrictions against Jews. I usually enjoy historical fiction, but something in the narrative of this book annoyed me. I can’t put my finger on it, but I found it difficult to follow and finish. Bottom line: good book to get to know the beginning of the Rothschilds, but perhaps not a very enjoyable book to read.

Il giocco degli specchi – Andrea Camilleri (paper)

Book number 18 in the Montalbano series, the irritable yet lovable Sicilian police inspector. In this book, Montalbano investigates two strange incidents where bombs went off in front of empty stores. One of these stores is tied to a mafia boss, a major drug dealer. At the same time, Montalbano’s fetching (and married) neighbor, Liliana, is trying to seduce him. He can’t figure out why, but he’s certain she has an agenda. In fact, it all seems to him like a “game of mirrors”, in which the images reflected do not necessarily depict reality and are there to lead him down the wrong path. When he so masterfully ties the strings together, the mystery is solved. Unfortunately, it is too late for Liliana. Bottom line: always a pleasure to read, not least because of the Sicilian dialect in which Camilleri writes this series.

What I Read This Month – December 2023

Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire, Desert Star – Michael Connelly (fiction, audio)

As I wrote last month, I decided to binge-read the rest of the books in the Renée Ballard detective series, in which retired detective Harry Bosch also makes an appearance. In Dark Sacred Night they work a cold case of a brutal murder of a 15-year-old. In The Night Fire Bosch is investigating a case from a murder book that an old colleague of his inexplicably took home 20 years ago. And in Desert Star Renée rebuilds the cold case unit at LAPD, and the first case she works on (with Bosch as a police volunteer) is the murder of an entire family. All three books are highly enjoyable and provide a very-well needed escape from current news. Bottom line: Connelly does not let go of Bosch, and builds a new heroine in the image of Ballard; may he continue to write detective books for many more years.

America’s Cultural Revolution – Christopher Rufo (non-fiction, ebook)

In light of recent events in US acamedia, highlighted by the despicable appearance of three Ivy League university presidents in congress (where they avoided condemning calls for killing Jews), I decided to read this book. Rufo, a conservative activist, is out to prove that Marxists have taken over America. Having failed with their violent revolution in the 1960s, they turned to academia with the intent of conquering it in decades-long, systematic process of intellectural revolution. Critical race theory is the prime example of how successful this revolution has been .Outside academia, this revolution has now penetrated also into American business, with the ubiquitous DEI initiatives. Rufo warns that the radical left is replacing constitutional equality with a race-based redistribution system, and that most Americans are no longer in control of their institutions. Bottom line: although Rufo seems to be attributing the left with exaggerated powers, the underlying thesis seems to be correct (and a dismal depiction of Amercian intellectuals).

Determined – Robert Sapolsky (non-fiction, audio)

Sapolsky, a professor of biology specializing in neurology and behavioral science, sets out to dispel the myth of free will. In a detailed synthesis of current scientific research (sometimes a little overwhelmingly detailed) he purports to show that everything we do is predetermined. Whether it’s neurons firing off seconds before we actually “decide” to take action, or genes determining how we behave, or societal and environments factors that make us who we are and what we “choose” to do. This combination of nature and nurture is all there is, and any sense of agency we may possess is only a product of our imagination, a fantasy. He argues that even though we have no free will, this does not mean we can throw morality and ethics out the window. He believes a recognition of this reality will actually make us all more humane. How can you blame anyone for the bad things they do if they are not responsible for doing it? Bottom line: Despite the scientific evidence, I remain unconvinced; I plan to read a book espousing free will, to counter the dismal conclusions of Saposky.

The Investigator – John Sanford (fiction, audio)

Letty Davenport, a young graduate of Stanfored, joing Homeland Security as an “investigator” and heads to Dalls to, well, investigate millions of dollars worth of stolen oil. It is not so much the stolen oil that worries the government, but rather what nefarious purposes the money from selling it might be used for by the thieves. A violent militia group with a strong anti-immigration bias is involved, and Letty must stop them. The premise of this book is good, and I liked a previous book by Sanford I read (Hidden Prey), but the story here goes nowhere. The second half of the book is pretty much all non-stop action, which isn’t bad per se if this were an acion movie, but is extremely tedious listening to after a while. Bottom line: I found it hard to finish this book; it could have been easily shortened by half.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell – Robert Dugoni (fiction, audio)

I decided to read this book after I saw a critic write that it’s “a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border.” As Irving is one of my favorite authors (and the author of my favorite book ever), it was only natural I would try this book. Sam Hill was born with red pupils, making him the target of jokes, discrimination, and fear during his Catholic school upbringing. He was called “devil boy”, and Sam Hill became Sam Hell. The main bully in school was Dave Bateman. His only friend was an African American boy, Ernie, who too suffered from discrimination. As an adult, Sam, now an eye doctor, checks Bateman’s daughter in his clinic and realizes that her father is still very much a bully. The journey comes to a full circle when Sam decides to do the right thing. Bottom line: not an Irving, but definitely “close to the border”, making this a most enjoyable read.

The World Played Chess – Robert Dugoni (fiction, audio)

I decided to continue with Dugoni. This book is another coming of age story. Vincent Bianco graduates from high school and works part-time with a construction crew, where he meets two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD. His talks with them gives him an education about life he did not receive and would not receive anywhere. Forty years later, as Vincent’s son leaves for college, the lessons he learned all those years ago are now being used to help his son navigate his own choices. Bottom line: not as good as “Sam Hell”, but a decent book nonetheless.

The Eighth Sister – Robert Dugoni (fiction, audio)

Sam Jenkins in an ex-CIA case officer, who left the agency dismayed and angry. Given his Russian language skills, he is approached years later by his former boss about a mission in Russia, to find out who is killing the “seven sisters” – Russian women who were spying for American. Apparently, the FSB was now operating an “eighth sister” who’s mission was to eliminate this ring of spies. Sam goes to Russia (he’s African American, which reminded me of the old joke about the CIA agent in Siberia) and finds out he’s been played. Barely making it out alive, he returns to American only to be put on trial for treason. He now needs to prove how a government agency has framed him, and why. Bottom line: a good story, but unfinished in this novel; so I need to read the next two books in the series.

מתום עד תום – חנוך ברטוב (fiction, paper)

This is the life story of Elisha Crook and Noga Holzberg. They fall in love and get married during the tumultous period of the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Their lives take them from Jerusalem to a kibbutz, and from there to America. On the personal level, this the story of their marriage, how it went through ups and downs, almost crumbled because of betrayals and unfaithfulness, but stayed together because of their unbreakable love. On the national level, this is the story of Israel, and how it changed in the fifty years that the novel spans. Bottom line: Bartov is a master storyteller, and his Hebrew is a pleasure to read; this is a heart-touching book.

Lords and Ladies – Terry Pratchett (fiction, ebook)

This is the 14th novel in the Discworld series, and it is fashioned after Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The three witches we’ve come to know (and love) – Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick – are back from their travels. Magrat is proposed to by King Verence, but the wedding preparations are disrupted by the appearance of crop circles, which the witches know the meaning of only too well: the elves are back. Pratchett playfully turns the image of elves in fantasy literature on its head: they are vile, smelly, and nefarious creatures. So the witches must protect the kingdom from them. Wizards and a dwarf named Casanunda (who presents a business card claiming he is the “second greatest” lover in the world – which means he tries harder) also feature in this magnificent story. Bottom line: the more I get into this 41-book series, the more I am in awe of Pratchett’s wit and unexpected sense of humor.

What I Read This Month – November 2023

Ashley Bell – Dean Koontz (fiction, audio)

22-year-old Bibi Blair is told by her doctors she’s dying from an incurable disease, but two days later she is inexplicably cured. She is convinced her life was saved so she can save the life of someone else: Ashley Bell. So she sets out to find Ashley, and finds herself embroiled in a web of crime and conspiracies. She becomes the target of the “wrong people”, but perseveres in her quest. Bottom line: not a typical Koontz, more of a dark psychological thriller, a bit drawn out.

Pronto – Elmore Leonard (fiction, audio)

This mafia thriller follows Harry Arno, a bookmaker who the Justice Department sets up to frame his old mafia boss, Jimmy Cap. When Jimmy tries to get Harry killed, he flees to Italy and holes up in a remote and picturesque village, Rapallo. A local mafia boss tries to do Jimmy a favor by offering to kill Harry for him, and the village becomes filled with people out to kill Harry or protect him. I don’t know how I got to listen this book in the first place, but I didn’t find the narrative interesting and the fake Italian accent of some of the characters was very annoying. Bottom line: not a series I will continue to read.

Around the World in 60 Seconds – Nuseir Yassin (non-fiction, audio)

When I told a friend I was listening to this book, about an Arab-Israeli who travelled around the world, filming 60-second video clips every day for 1,000 days, and uploading them to YouTube – she laughed at me for having missed the phenomenon called Nas Daily. Somehow, I totally missed this… But I enjoyed listening to Yassin describing some of the highlights of his incredible journey, and appreciated many of the insights he had to offer about the people and cultures he met on the way. Ironically, as an Arab he was unable to travel to many Arab countries, because of his Israeli passport. Bottom line: a very enjoyable listen; now I must go watch some of the videos.

Small Gods (Discworld 13) – Terry Pratchett (fiction, ebook)

The 13th book in the Discworld series is a gem, a classic Pratchett. The great god Om finds himself in the body of a tortoise, stripped of his powers. He communicates telepathically with the novice Brutha, the only one who can “hear” him. When Brutha goes on a mission with the head of the Quisition (yes, those who torture suspected non-believers), he meets philosophers for the first time, and is entranced by people who spend their time debating ideas they don’t necessarily believe in (or even understand). The adventures of Brutha and the god tortoise continue, with witty quotes throughout, Prachett-style (e.g., “Gods don’t like people not doing much work. People who aren’t busy all the time might start to think.”) Bottom line: one of the best books in the series so far; 13 down, 28 to go.

The Dark Hours – Michael Connelly (fiction, audio)

This is the fourth in the Renée Ballard series (I also read the first this month, see below). LAPD detective Ballard works with retired detective Harry Bosch to investigate the killing of a man during the New Year eve celebrations. Ballard finds out a connection between this killing and an unsolved murder from the past, one that Bosch worked on. In parallel, she also investigates the case of two serial rapists (the “midnight men”), who carefully stake out and attack women living alone. In the background is a police department that struggles with the changes brought about by the COVID pandemic, a further challenge Ballard needs to contend with. Bottom line: Connelly at his finest; he replaced Bosch with a no less endearing and likeable detective.

The MANIAC – Benjamin Labatus (non-fiction, audio)

This is a book about the Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist, and computer scientist John von Neumann. A prodigy from a very young age, von Neumann invented game theory and the first programmable computer, pioneered artificial intelligence and quantum physics, and laid the foundations for the discovery of DNA. This book has three parts (a triptych), which starts with Paul Ehrenfest and Einstein, and ends with Lee Sedo, the GO master who was beaten by artificial intelligence. It is at times hard to follow, if only for the sheer genius of the people it deals with, but it’s fascinating all the same. The last part was especially meaningful to me, after reading The Coming Wave last month, by the founder of the company that programmed Alpha GO, the AI that beat Sedol. Bottom line: a beauty to listen to, and a tribute to one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.

The Late Show – Michael Connelly (fiction, audio)

This is the first in the Renée Ballard series. A young detective, Ballard works the night shift (aka, “the late show”) in Hollywood, after she is punished for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor. One night she is caught up in two cases – the brutal beating of a prostitute, and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shootout. Against orders, Ballard refuses to hand them over to other detectives, and pursues them both to the end, by working during the day. Bottom line: I missed Connelly and his new “Bosch”; I think I’m going to binge the Ballard series now.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey (non-fiction, paper)

If I missed the phenomenon of Nas Daily (see above), I have no excuse for not having read this phenomenal book until now. I feel it’s unnecessary to write much about this book, given its huge popularity; published in 1989, Covey’s book remains one of the best self-help books of all time. Covey promotes the “character ethic” (in contrast to the “personality ethic”) and recommends three private habits (be proactive, begin with the end in mind, and put first things first), three public habits (think win-win, seek first to understand then to be understood, and synergize), and one continual improvement habit (sharpen the saw). Throughout, he gives many examples from personal life (marriage and parenthood) and business life, showing how the adoption of these habits can make us more effective. And many of them ring true and practical. Bottom line: I’ve had my share of such books in my life, and I’m usually sceptical about the advice they dispense; but this one is truly deserving of its cult status.

What I Read This Month – October 2023

Lethal Agent – Vince Flynn (fiction, audio)

Book 18 in the Mitch Rapp series. ISIS kidnap a French scientist and force him to manufacture an anthrax-based weapon. They contract a Mexican drug cartel to smuggle the weapon into the US. While the CIA is busy trying to foil this plot, Rapp discovers that it is all a ruse, designed to divert attention away from a more deadly virus, developed based on a disease in Yemen. The threat is no longer a contained, targeted attack but the triggering of a global pandemic. As usual Rapp needs to track down the mastermind and stop him, while at the same time battling Washington bureaucracy. Bottom line: another Rapp novel, good for mindless, distracted reading/listening.

Total Power – Vince Flynn (fiction, audio)

Book 19 in the Rapp series is about a plot to take down the US power grid. A disgruntled American exploits the vulnerabilities of the system and years of neglect to devise a plan to plunge the US into darkness for years. He sells the idea to ISIS who plan out the attack. It is now obviously up to Rapp to foil it on time. Bottom line: another Rapp novel, good for mindless, distracted reading/listening; perhaps not as good as previous books.

The Coming Wave – Mustafa Suleyman (non-fiction, audio)

Suleyman co-founded the AI company DeepMind and sold it to Google. He then founded another company, Inflection AI. In this book, published last month, he discusses the inevitability of a future shaped by two major technologies: AI and synthetic biology. Unlike previous technological revolutions, he warns that the impact of the convergence of these two technologies (and some others) cannot be contained and controlled, also because of the weakening of the main organ that is capable of drawing up a defense: the nation-state. He lists possible scenarios of how they will evolve and then proposes ways to try and minimize their adverse outcomes. It is not an optimistic book, and makes for some chilling and sobering reading on the future of the human race. Bottom line: a wake-up call that will likely, and sadly, go unheeded.

The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins (fiction, audio)

This psychological thriller is narrated in the first person by three women: Rachel, who catches a train into London every day, and builds a fantasy world of a house she sees when the train stops at a signal; Megan, who lives in that house, and is bored with her life as a housewife; and Anna, who is now married to Rachel’s ex-boyfriend, Tom, whom Rachel still harrasses when she’s drunk. The story unfolds as the three women tell it from their personal perspectives, with the tension (and horror) mounting from chapter to chapter. Bottom line: intriguing book, well-written; I just realized a movie was made based on it a few years ago, so need to watch.

The Night Gate – Peter May (fiction, audio)

A new novel by Peter May is cause for celebration. I have read almost all his books, and enjoyed every single one of them. This new book is no exception. It is the seventh and final installment of the Enzo McLeod series, the Scottish-French forensic detective, retired but still solving cases from the past. The body of a man shot in the head and buried in a remote French village is found decades after the murder; a week later, an art critic is murdered in a nearby house. How are the two murders connected, even though they took place 80 apart? That is for McLeod to find out, and an interview with an old lady recounting a mission to save the Mona Lisa painting during WWII helps unravel the mystery. Bottom line: a fitting finale to a great series of books.

What I Read This Month – September 2023

Forever and a Day – Anthony Horowitz (fiction, audio)

After Ian Fleming’s death, many authors took up writing new James Bond books. A few years ago, prolific English novelist Anthony Horowitz joined the fray. Forever and a Day is his second Bond book, and it serves as a prequel to Casino Royale. It is Bond’s first mission as a “double O” agent at MI6. He is in the French Riviera, investigating the drug trade by Corsican criminals, where he meets (surprise!) a beautiful woman, a former British operative known as “16”. She leads him to the head of the Corsican mafia, where Bond discovers the drug deals extends beyond he originally thought and involves an American millionaire. Bottom line: Horowitz never disappoints, and although I’m not a Bond fan, I enjoyed listening to this book.

Garden of Beasts – Jeffery Deaver (fiction, paper)

The year is 1936. Paul Schumann is a New York mobster caught by the police and offered a choice: the electric chair, or a covert operation in Germany for the US government. He chooses the latter, and is tasked to kill Reinhard Ernst, the man in charge of Germany’s clandestine rearmament program. He goes to Berlin under the cover of a sports reporter, and shacks up near the Tiergarten (“Garden of Beasts”). Schumann gets very close to executing his plan, and at the last minute he needs to make a difficult decision. A very fast-paced thriller that reconstructs intra-war Germany and the feverish excitement around the Olympic Games. Bottom line: while not historically accurate, this is a brilliant page-turner by a master of thrillers.

In the Garden of Beasts – Erik Larson (non-fiction, audio)

When a friend noticed i was reading Deaver’s book, Garden of Beasts, he mentioned this similarly named book. While Deaver’s book is fiction, Larson’s book is the real story of the first American ambassador to Nazi Germany: William Dodd. A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd needs to pave a way through both internal politics at the embassy and external politics with the Nazi regime. His daughter Martha experiences Germany in a totally different way; she falls in love with one “new German” after another, including the chief of the Gestapo. As the persecution of Jews escalates, the Dodd family can no longer ignore the path Germany is taking. They are drawn into this violence and experience it first-hand. Bottom line: an eyewitness perspective of Germany in a fateful year that changed the course of history.

One Good Deed – David Baldacci (fiction, audio)

This is the first book in the Archer series. Archer is a WWII veteran recently released from prison and on parole in tiny Poca City. He is warned by his parole officer not to break the laws: no drinking, no bars, get a job, etc. He promptly goes to a bar and gets a job: collect the debt of a local businessman. He discovers a tangled web of relationships that draws him in against his will. When a murder takes place in his presence, the police naturally view him, the ex-convict, as the prime suspect, which further complicates things. He is forced to defend himself in court, which he does brilliantly, solving both the murder and the mystery of the missing debt in one go. Bottom line: Baldacci once again shows how to write a thriller, seemingly effortlessly, by weaving a reliable and captivating story.

Order to Kill – Vince Flynn (fiction, audio)

It’s been a while since I read a Mitch Rapp novel. After Flynn passed away a decade ago, Kyle Mills continued the series of the invincible CIA assassin. In this book (15th in the series) Rapp is trying to locate some Pakistani nuclear bombs that have been taken out of their silos and are moving about the country, in a local politics play by the head of the army. Together with his trusted partner, Scott Coleman, Rapp is on a race against time to prevent these nukes from falling into the wrong hands. When he discovers that there is a plot by Russia to destablise the Middle East using some of these bombs, he goes to Iraq under the disguise of an ISIS fighter. The plan he uncovers could potentially have global implications, but Rapp being Rapp, he foils it just in time. Bottom line: by now Mitch Rapp is a legend beyond legend, the world’s no. 1 assassin that never fails to impress.

Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights (nonfiction, audio)

This book is a collection of interviews with Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore. In these interviews, published shortly before his death, he speaks about geopolitics, economics, China, the US, Japan, and much more. His ideas are presented clearly and directly, with no trace of the obfuscation politicians are known for. His opinions sometimes sound like they are from an age predating politicall correctness. For example, the US should be careful not to lose its culture in face of the hordes of Mexican immigrants. But his vision and analysis are incisive and, in most cases, make perfect sense. He never fails to see the big picture. His view of Israel and the Jews is a little stereotypical, but mostly spot on. Bottom line: a short but insightful book that covers a wide swathe of world affairs.

Enemy of the State – Vince Flynn (fiction, audio)

In book 16 of the Mitch Rapp series, the CIA operative is forced to work alone. Not in a black op this time, but in a criminal op ordered directly by the President, who needs to stay distanced from Rapp. A rogue nephew of the Saudi king is funding ISIS, which goes against the secret agreement struck between the US and Saudi Arabia after 9/11. Rapp goes to Saudi Arabia to send a clear and unequivocal message to the royal family, but his efforts are hampered by the new head of Saudi intelligence. In a nasty turn of events, and to avoid an international debacle, the president teams up with the Saudis to hunt down Rapp, who is now fighting for his survival, aided by a team of mercenaries. Bottom line: another masterpiece in the Rapp series, closely mirroring real-world events and politics.

Red War – Vince Flynn (fiction, audio)

As you can tell by now, once I get going on a Flynn novel, I start bingeing on them… Red War (book 17) starts of on a disappointing note: lots of action, but very little story. But the book gets better in the middle, when events in Russia involving the president echo familiar real-world events, thus lending credibility to all the action. Rapp teams up with an old nemesis, Grisha Azarov, to prevent Russia from invading the Baltic States in a move that is designed to bring NATO to its knees. They need to find the location of the Russian president, who has gone missing to hide the fact he has a terminal illness. Their mission is to put an end (literally) to this threat. Bottom line: once you get past the action-packed first few chapters, this book is as entertaining as any book in the series.

What I Read This Month – August 2023

The Egg and Other Stories – Andy Weir (fiction, ebook)

Last year I read a couple of novels by Andy Weir which I enjoyed very much. So when I came across this collection of short stories, dubbed as an appetizer of The Martian (or a dessert for those who read it), I immediately downloaded it. In each of these nine stories, Weir tries to surprise the reader with an unexpected twist ending. Unfortunately, he is not very successful. In almost all the stories, the ending is not suprising at all. Jeffrey Archer did a much better job. Bottom line: Weir’s novels are a treat; you can skip this so-called appetizer/dessert.

Witches Abroad – Terry Pratchett (fiction, ebook)

This is volume no. 12 in the Discworld series, which I’m ploughing my way through slowly. The quality of books changes from book to book, and this is one of the better ones. Following the death of the witch Desiderata, three witches (it seems that after Macbeth, they always come in threes) make their way to Genua to prevent a young woman from marrying the duke. Their journey is full with adventures: a village terrorised by a vampire, a werewolf, houses falling from the sky, a bull running event, and more. Once in Genua they need to contend with forces that wish to impede their mission, as well as with one of the witches’ evil sister, who does funny things with mirrors. Bottom line: another enjoyable installment in this delightful series.

אגדת ברונו ואדלה – אמיר גוטפרוינד (fiction, ebook)

The body of a beautiful woman is found in Tel Aviv, with a mysterious quote graffitied next to the corpse. Soon, other murders follow, with more graffiti. Stymied by these murders, detective Yona Merilin is helped by a young woman, an expert in the writings of Polish novelist Bruno Schultz, and by a journalist who documents graffiti in the big city. Together they solve the mystery, not before being led astray several times. The complicated relationships between the three accompanies this novel throughout and makes it more interesting. Bottom line: A delightful read by a talented Israeli novelist who passed away prematurely.

A Silent Death – Peter May (fiction, audio)

It’s been a while since I read Peter May, one of the most captivating writers of our time. Jack Cleland, a rich expat who is on the run from justice, is on a mission to kill Cristina Sanchez, the police officer who – he believes – made him kill his girlfriend by mistake. To do so, he plans to use Ana, the deaf and blind aunt of Cristina. A detective from Glasgow, John Mackenzie, arrives in Spain to help Cristina track down Cleland before he succeeds in his plan. The plot is fast, and the narrative is enticing. Bottom line: A master of thrillers, May never disappoints.

A Winter Grave – Peter May (fiction, audio)

The second Peter May novel I read this month takes place in the future, in a post-apocalyptic time after climate change has made most of the planet uninhabitable. In Scotland, a meteorologist checking a weather station discovers the dead body of an investigative reporter buried in the ice. Cameron Brodie, a veteran detective, volunteers to investigate. On the personal level, he struggles with a terminal medical prognosis and an estranged daughter. As the investigation continues, Brodie and the pathologist he’s working with find themselves threatened by the killer of the reporter. Bottom line: another great book by May.

A Wizard of Earthsea – Ursula Le Guin (fiction, audio)

Many years ago a friend reommended Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness. I’m not a fantasy fan, but that book made a strong impression on me. In browsing Audible’s library, I came across some recommendations of the Earthsea series, intended for young adults but suitable for adults (or so the reviews said). A young boy named Ged dispalys great powers, and while studying wizardry accidentaly creates a creature that haunts him. He needs to find a way to get rid of this creature. I found it hard to finish the book; perhaps it is not for me after all. Bottom line: not a series I will be continuing.

העלמה מקזאן – מאיה ערד (fiction, ebook)

I have read several of Arad’s books and enjoyed them. This one took a little time for me to get into. It is a story about a woman in her forties who is single and has decided to adopt a child, through an agency in Russia. She travels to Kazan for this and her first journey ends in disappointment. She also develops a crush on a young doctor whom her friend tries to pair her with, but he’s not interested. They both travel again to Russia, and this time she returns with a boy. I almost stopped reading this novel thinking it was too “chick lit” for me, but I’m glad I persisted, as the story grows more complex and more interesting after the first half. Arad, an Israeli author who lives in the US, knows human nature well and builds believable characters. Bottom line: a touching book about single life and what it means to be a parent.

What I Read This Month – July 2023

Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini – Giorgio Bassani (fiction, ebook)

This is the third time I’m reading this book, this time in the original Italian. Bassani paints a chilling picture of the lives of Jews in Ferrara, a city in northern Italy, on the eve of World War II. On the face of it, this is just a (one-sided) love story between the unnamed narrator and Micól, a daughter of the wealthy Finzi-Contini family. As the racial laws are being decreed by the Fascist government, the young protagonists of this book try to continue their “normal” lives, each in his/her own way. Bassani’s writing is akeen to gentle paintbrush strokes that end up painting a story with an inevitable end, without the need to spell out the horrors. Bottom line: There is a reason this book is considered one of the 20th century Italian classics.

Freud and the Non-European – Edward Said (non-fiction, ebook)

This book is a lecture Said gave about Freud’s book on Moses. As readers of Freud will know, he had a theory that Moses was an Egyptian and that Judaism is an offshoot of early Egyptian monotheism. Said takes this thesis to argue about how “non-European” Moses was and how the entire Judeo-Christian story is told through Western eyes. It’s a pathetically weak argument, and Said, being Said, once again bends everything to fit his worldview (“Orientalism”) and his scathing criticism of the West (in which, ironically, he lived most of his life and where he built his academic career). Bottom line: Don’t bother reading this drivel.

Killing Rommel – Steven Pressfield (fiction, audio)

In this historical fiction novel, Pressfield tells the story of the British Long Range Desert Group during World War II. Chapman, an enthusiastic young recruit, joins this unit in North Africa. They are tasked to track down Rommel and kill him, in the hope that this will stop the Nazi advance. The narrative is palpably alive, giving the reader a feeling of what it was like to trek through the desert for days on end, to battle the enemy, and to survive thirst and disease. The epic mission of these brave soldiers ends in failure, but it creates a fraternity and a war ethic that they will never forget, raising questions about good and bad, “us” and “them”. Bottom line: A fast-paced and realistic rendition of the actions of the LRDG in WWII.

American Ramble – Neil King Jr. (non-fiction, audio)

I love taking long walks, so I picked this book about a long walk (330 miles in 26 days) by King, from Washington D.C. to New York City. As he makes his way through historical places, he meets some outstanding people and has interesting conversations with them. He is more of a listener than a talker, which fits well with his sometimes dreamlike walk. He also shares with the reader his insights on life, some of which are interesting but some of which border on the kitschy and obvious. Bottom line: A great book to listen to on a long walk.

Of Fear and Strangers – George Makari (non-fiction, ebook)

In this book, Makari traces the history of xenophobia, the fear from strangers/foreigners. He is both a historian and a psychiatrist, so uniquely positioned to explore this common human trait. While the fear of strangers is as ancient as humanity, the term “xenophobia” is relatively recent (19th century). It started as a medical condition, then made its way into politics. Makari investigates the writing of prominent philosophers and thinkers to show how xenophobia manifested itself across the world, and helped justify horrors such as colonization and the Holocaust. Bottom line: a fascinating book about a phenomenon that has reared its ugly head in recent years.

La caccia al tesoro – Andrea Camilleri (fiction, paper)

Another Montalbano novel, which opens with a strange episode involving a demented old couple and a sex dolll, but evolves into a convoluted mystery. Someone is sending the inspector letters that point him towards a “treasure”, and he has a hard time figuring out the clues in these letters. Assisted by a young and enthusiastic student, Montalbano slowly starts piecing together the pieces of the puzzle. When a young woman is abducted, things become real, and he needs to rush to find out her whereabouts. Bottom line: how can one not fall in love with Salvo Montalbano, his love for his work, his complicated personal relationships, and his good taste in Italian food?

רווקה בניו יורק – דלית לביא (fiction, paper)

I picked this book up on a shabbat afternoon, having finished reading the latest editions of The Economist, The Atlantic, and Foreign Affairs. I needed a light read after all this heavy-going reading, and this book provided the perfect two-hour escapism. Ditti (also known as Delilah) is a young, single woman who travels from Israel to New York to help run a clothes shop for her friend, who took a holiday. She is pregnant from a boyfriend who is no longer in her life, and the weeks she spends in New York help her think about her life. She organizes fashion events at the shop and meets interesting people in the neighborhood, which help her put things in context. Not politically correct of me to write this, but this is a “girlie” book (the descriptions of the clothes were a a bit too much), but harmless to read. Bottom line: a quick escapist book, nothing much to write home about.

Conditional Citizens – Laila Lalami (non-fiction, ebook)

Lalami was born and raised in Morocco, studied in the US, and became a US citizen in 2000. In this book she explores what it means to be a “conditional citizen” in the US. In her case, a woman, an Arab, and a Muslim. By analyzing issues of allegiance, faith, borders, assimilation, tribe, caste, and inheritance, she shows how not all citizens are created equal, and how “white privilege” is deeply ingrained in US society. While not all of her examples resonated with me, she makes a cogent argument, backed with examples and experiences that one can hardly argue with. Bottom line: an illuminating, first-hand account of what it means to be a naturalized, non-white citizen in the US.

Why We Fight

On the eve of the fast of Tish’a Be’Av, which commemortaes the destruction of Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago, Israel is undergoing one of the worst crises in its short history as an independent state. Protesters have been hitting the streets weekly, sometimes several times a week, for many months now, in a bid to stop the so-called “judicial reform”. The protests have so far failed to stop the government, and yesterday it pushed through a law that curbs the powers of the Supreme Court.

Sometimes, in the heat of things, one can lose sight of the bigger picture. It is true that these protests started because of the “judicial reform”, but the truth is that there is a much deeper meaning to this unprecedented popular uprising. The “reform” was only the trigger. Israeli society is coming apart at the seams because the majority of Israelis are fed up with where the country is headed.

I wrote before about Israel’s “five classes“, to explain how some classes are more priviliged than others because they enjoy excess rights while having less obligations. The top two classes in this respect are the National Religious sector – led today by the messianic right-wing settler movement, and the Ultra-Orthodox sector (the charedim) – which operate as a closed society that contributes very little (no military service, no tax-paying jobs) while receiving excess budgets and privileges.

The majority of Israelis – who serve their country, obtain proper education, participate fully in the workforce, pay taxes, and generally behave as responsible citizens – have had enough. For years they have carried the above two sectors on their backs. Their tax money goes to fund settlements in the West Bank and to support the parasitic lifestyle of an ever-growing number of ultra-orthodox (who have the highest birth rate, by far).

These Israelis are starting to imaging what would happen if their tax money, instead of being spent on the parasitic classes, went to improving the healthcare system, the education system, infrastructure, public services, affordable housing, etc. In short, if Israel spent the hard-earned money of its productive citizens on things that really matter. Israelis have been duped for too long by the false narrative of “we are all brothers” and by the traditional Jewish compassionate attitude to help the needy. They are now realizing that these so-called “needy brothers” will be the end of them, sucking their blood until the very last drop. In a way, the current government – led by Netanyahu, but effectively controlled by the settlers and the ultra-orthodox – is a blessing. It has opened the eyes of many Israelis to the abyss the country is being driven to, and they are waking up.

It is time to say “enough is enough!” The responsible majority of Israelis needs to protect themselves against the tyranny of the irresponsible minority, to take back control of just priorities and to steer the country back on the right course. This is why we fight.