April 2022 Books




  It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis was a difficult read in many ways though it was an interesting book overall. The first few chapters offered a slow build reminding me how much writing styles have changed. Lewis examines a way it could happen here, but I have to admit I found it hard to believe it could happen as easily as it did in this book though another part of me wonders if that's just wishful thinking. For those who don't know, "it" is fascism, and "here" is the United States in this book. Lewis details how the people's desires can be used against them to achieve political means. Parts of the books seem predictive, and parts of the book seem unrealistic. While It Can't Happen Here is clearly fiction, Lewis reminds us all that the way it can't happen is here if we don't let it happen here. It Can't Happen Here definitely reads like a cautionary tale and not a book written solely for entertainment. I found it heavy but interesting. While I'm glad I read it and think it is worth reading, I would caution against reading it solely for entertainment.


Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore - I finally finished this book. It took far longer than I expected. Overall, it was an interesting look at the history of the city of Jerusalem. I often wondered if the author's biases as well as family ties affected his writing of this history in spite of his reassurances that they didn't. I continue to posit that none of the so-called leaders regardless of religion or nationality in this book come off looking good. All that said, in full disclosure, I have close ties to several Palestinians and have heard the other side of much of what Montefiore glosses over, i.e. the treatment of the Palestinians inhabiting the area. I found much of Jerusalem: The Biography interesting on multiples levels from the battles to the treatment of citizens to the interwoven dynamics of the people who have inhabited, conquered, ruled, lost, and desired Jerusalem. I learned more about  the sexual proclivities of ancient rulers than I ever wanted to know, but much of what he talks about seems to be a mix of facts, beliefs, and conjecture based on spotty historical records. (BTW, he addresses this idea early in the book.) I really can't decide whether or not I'd recommend this book. There were many interesting points, and some others that truly seemed to have an agenda. And I wasn't convinced to change my mind about Jerusalem. If anything I believe even more strongly that all this struggle and killing over a city based on religious beliefs is manmade not divine.


Ongoing:


Complete Poems of Bertolt Brecht by Bertolt Brecht is a very long book of poetry. I  continue to read a few poems each night. They are translated from German to English. The poems are always interesting even if not always pleasant. He isn't shy about taking on uncomfortable topics. I'll share more of my thoughts as I read more. I'm a little over halfway through this book. Some of the poems are incredibly intense while others are rather light. As this book is 1071 pages, expect it to show up for several months.


Get Untamed: The Journal by Glennon Doyle is a guided journal inspired by Doyle's book, Untamed. I started this journal at the beginning of March. Last month I said, the questions are simple and the answers are fairly easy, but surprisingly it's not pushing me the way I expected it to. I want to say some have not pushed me to dig a little deeper, but overall, its still not as intense as I anticipated. I think I'll leave my comments there though because I still have quite a ways to go, so maybe my reaction to it will change...


52 Lists for Calm by Moorea Seal - I started this journal, but it will take all year to complete. It's a list journal with prompts that one fills out weekly rather than daily. So far, so good.


52 Lists for Bravery by Moorea Seal - This is another list journal I started at the beginning of the year. Like the one for Calm, it is a weekly list journal with prompts. Again, so far it is going well.


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