Fables vol. 3

Fables: Storybook Love [vol. 3] by Bill Willingham, et al, 192 pages

It's not reached the point in my re-read that it's difficult to really talk about what's going on in the storyline without major spoilers. Suffice it to say that this third volume finds the fables dealing with the fallout of the Farm revolution on both macro and micro scales. This volume also finds the fables presented with the problem of a snooping reporter who thinks he has the scoop of a lifetime with quiet, self-contained community of never-aging citizens. I love their method of dealing with him, using their unique skills in unexpected ways.

Alamo in the Ardenne

Alamo in the Ardenne: the Untold Story of the American Soldiers who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible by John C. McManus  296 pp,

Dr. McManus, an expert on World War II battles chronicles the events in the Ardenne Forest in Luxembourg when vastly outnumbered and underarmed American troops held off the Germans during what was to be called the Battle of the Bulge. Events in this book are based on first person accounts and military records. The comparison to the Alamo is apt because in too many instances the Americans fought to almost the last man during these battles. And yet they managed to keep the key city of Bastogne out of German hands. The number of dead and maimed from these battles alone are horrifying and heartbreaking. I fully understand the circumstances that caused my uncle to suffer from "shell shock" (PTSD) after serving in a division that was nearly wiped out in the Ardenne. John C. McManus is a professor of history at Missouri S&T and author of a number of books about World War II.

The dime

The Dime / Kathleen Kent, 343 pgs.

Betty Rhyzyk and her girlfriend Jackie relocate from Brooklyn to Dallas.  Betty is a 5'11" police detective and Jackie is a doctor.  The book is about Betty and her work in narcotics and a specific cast that involves a lot of meth from Mexico and a brutal drug gang.  Every time they they think the case is over, something else comes up to prove that they are only getting started.  Betty keeps getting more involved but when things start getting personal, she doubles down to figure out who is responsible.  At times brutal, there is also a good depiction of the relationships of the narcotics division, Betty and her partner and Betty and her girlfriend.  A real page turner that does not lack for action.

Fables, vol. 2

Fables: Animal Farm [vol. 2] by Bill Willingham, et al, 111 pages

This second volume of this awesome fairy-tale-characters-as-refugees-in-the-mundane-world series shifts the focus to the Farm, a fable-owned property in upstate New York. The Farm was purchased when the fables first fled to our world, and was designated a sanctuary for the non-human fables. However, after centuries of being stuck on the land, the non-human fables are getting a bit sick of their gilded cage and are ready to revolt against the Fabletown management. This volume tells the story of that revolution, and sets off some of the tensions that will resonate throughout the series.

Fables, vol. 1

Fables: Legends in Exile [vol. 1] by Bill Willingham, et al, 118 pages

Every so often, I feel the need to check in with Snow White, Bigby Wolf, Jack, Flycatcher, King Cole, and the rakish Prince Charming as they navigate our mundane world, where they settled after fleeing their homelands under threat of the Adversary. The first volume is set up as a murder mystery, with Snow White and Bigby Wolf investigating the bloody disappearance of Rose Red. It's self-contained, though not at all indicative of the rest of the series (which will be reviewed here in the coming weeks). While some may claim this is the same thing as ABC's TV show Once Upon A Time, this take is far better, more complex, and fully realized. This isn't the first time I've read Fables, nor will it be the last.

The lion in the living room

The lion in the living room: how house cats tamed us and took over the world / Abigail Tucker, 241 pgs.

This book gives an overview of the science, history and culture of cats. Tucker, a self confessed cat lover, has interviewed and extensively researched the topic.  It is hard to pick out one or two favorite things that I learned while reading this book.  One theme that pops up over and over is scientists basically disproving the value of cats as companions and pets, all the while choosing to share their lives with their own pet cats.  History seems to show that instead of humans "domesticating" cats, cats pretty much s just showed up and trained the humans.  This jibes with my own personal experience  with cats who allow me to share their space, begrudgingly giving up a few petting opportunities while somehow pretty much running the house.  Cat lovers, and there are a LOT of us, will be amused by many of the chapters here.

The disappearing spoon

The disappearing spoon: and other true tales of madness, love, and the history of the world from the periodic table of elements / Sam Kean, 391 pgs.

This is a great history of the elements, those who show up on the periodic table.  You most likely last laid eyes on that in your high school chemistry class.  More than just a dry science book, this book includes tons of fun and interesting stories about the elements themselves, the scientist that studied and discovered them and the politics and intrigue behind many discoveries.  The author does a great job of giving the reader a great mix of the science as well as the people behind the discoveries.  A true multidisciplinary approach to an interesting subject.  If you are a fan of science writing in general or author Mary Roach this might appeal to you.

February Totals

Christa  15/4139

Kara  8/2512

Karen  9/3305

Kathleen  15/4696

Linda  4/1557

Patrick  4/1245

Total: 55/17,454

Grief is the Thing with Feathers

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter, 114 pages

Patrick and Christa both read and reviewed this before I did, and both seemed to enjoy it more than I did. They, I suspect, were readier for the references to Ted Hughes' Crow, and for the visceral embodiment of grief itself. I, on the other hand, was largely confused and impatient when I read it. So perhaps it was a matter of wrong place, wrong time for me.

My Own Words

My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg  371 pp.

This is a collection of writings, text of speeches, and biographical materials by and about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The writings are from throughout her career and provide a fascinating look into what makes her a great asset to the judiciary. There is much about her work as a lawyer in the cause of equal rights as well as anecdotes about her family and beloved husband, Marty. Despite her usually stern appearance, Justice Ginsburg has a marvelous sense of humor and fun. In addition to her work as a lawyer and judge she tells of her great friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia in spite of their almost constant opposition on the bench showing that it is possible for adversaries to be civil and have a loving and respectful relationship. This friendship sparked the creation of a comic opera, "Scalia / Ginsburg". Ginsburg also writes of her fellow Justices with honesty and respect. This is a wonderful insight into what makes this particular judge tick.