Tightrope

Tightrope: Americans reaching for hope / Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn, 304 pgs. Read by Jennifer Garner

The authors examine many of America's ills with data and definitions but also with personal stories from people.  Many of these people are personal friends who grew up in Yamhill, the town where Kristof lived as a child and where his mother still lives.  There is something jarring about these personal stories.  These are people were on high school sports teams with the author or rode the same bus.  This personal view is interesting for the reader.  This is the first time I've heard Jennifer Garner as a narrator.  She did a wonderful job.

The book of Aron

The book of Aron / Jim Shepard 259 pgs.

A beautifully written book about an ugly topic.  Aron is a young boy in Poland whose family moves into the Jewish ghetto by the Germans who occupy Poland.  Slowly, his family is taken from him by illness, and labor camps.  He ends up in the orphanage run by Janusz Korczak but the ravages of illness, poverty and over crowding do not make for a lot of comfort.

Aron is a bit strange but is fairly self-sufficient. He joins a gang and helps to support his family with his dealings, ability to steal food and smuggle items.  All of his efforts do not prevent the horrors of the reality.  Things just keep getting worse.

Janusz Korczak is a real person and the story told here is mostly true.  It is horrible and sad and full of lice and illness.  An important work that will bring tears to your eyes.