Books of May 2022
Since my goal has been to read books that I like more, I have stopped reading several books that I started and decided weren’t quite up to the standard of a book I was going to like. However, until this month it had been several months already since the last time I did this.
Giving myself permission to read books I like more, and by extension, not letting myself keep reading books I’m not actually enjoying, has led to many more of my books falling into the first category. It also seems to have led to me being much more honest with myself about what I actually am likely to read and enjoy, and thereby not starting or even picking out books I have little interest in. This is saving me even more time to read books that I am enjoying and is a nice side benefit.
At least partially as a result of that, I was able to get through the following 16 books this month:
One to Remember: Stories from 39 Members of the NHL’s One Goal Club - 3 Stars. Since I went to my first NHL game last month, I have been quite obsessed with hockey. As with everything else I’m obsessed with, I decided that one of the best ways to learn more is through books on the topic, and this title caught my attention right away. It was fascinating to hear from so many hockey players over the last several decades about their experiences with scoring in the NHL, but only once. Most seemed to view their goals in similar ways, and it was interesting to hear about their careers, the role that hockey continues to play in their lives (or not), and their other accomplishments. This was such a unique look into hockey and the NHL and definitely only furthered my obsession.
Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior - 3 Stars. One of the most interesting parts of books like this is seeing which information has been redacted. Although I wasn’t familiar with Ric Prado or many of the conflicts within which he was called to work, this book showed great insight into how the CIA actually operates and the brave individuals who carry out the agency’s goals. Some parts of the book were a bit tedious, and I found myself getting easily distracted, but Ric Prado has a great story and one that is definitely worth reading.
The Director: My Years Assisting J. Edgar Hoover - 3 Stars. Just as the last book provided great insight into the CIA, this book shared an interesting angle of insight into the FBI, or at least the FBI as it existed several decades ago. Few individuals had the opportunity to serve directly under J. Edgar Hoover in the way that Paul Letersky did, so it was interesting to hear about the man, and the Bureau, from someone so familiar with both. Although public perceptions and opinions on J. Edgar Hoover have varied widely in the years since his death, Paul Letersky is able to discuss the topic with appropriate perspective and great insight. I have much more respect for the man who made the FBI what it was after reading this book, despite many of the controversies that remain.
Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice - 3 Stars. This was another one of those books where I didn’t read too far beyond the title before beginning and so I was left a bit surprised by the contents. This is truly a book centered on business, particularly in the financial world, and mostly as it relates to Russia over the last several decades. The story of Bill Browder, who I will admit I was not particularly familiar with prior to reading this book, is an interesting one, and even compelling at parts. But it tends to get a bit bogged down in the details and since I found the subject matter only of peripheral interest, that seemed to bog down the book even more.
The Therapist - 4 Stars. Yet another book that reminded me of Flicker In The Dark, not that I mind since I enjoyed that book quite a bit. There were several similar elements in this story and the protagonist, too, felt very similar. I was, once again, surprised by the twist and appreciated the way the story was all brought together. Since I listened to the audiobook, there was one portion that left me quite confused, and I’m not sure it would have been the same had I read the physical book, but in hindsight, I clearly understand the reasoning behind it. Regardless, I enjoyed this thriller and the reminder of another like it.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism - 3 Stars. Since reading Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties last month, I was eager to dive into a more general discussion of cults. I enjoyed this book quite a bit but found myself disagreeing with the analysis at several points. And although the book was logically divided, it went back over similar material in several of the sections and I got confused and distracted quite a few times. I wanted to like this book more than I did at the end, particularly when the ending felt like an endorsement of innocuous cults and almost an encouragement to be involved in several so that you can balance out the influences and find meaning.
Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life - 3 Stars. Several friends had recommended this book to me, and I finally got to it on my list. Although the content was rich and deep, none of it felt too new. I appreciated hearing Tish Harrison Warren’s perspective, however, and the book was full of good reminders and encouragement for living faithfully in the day to day.
Dark Roads - 3 Stars. This book was one I knew nothing about going in but was generally pleasantly surprised. I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters and felt like they were generally unrealistic. However, despite the fact that it jumped between perspectives, a literary device I generally dislike, I didn’t mind it at all in this book. Also surprisingly, I remained engaged for most of the story but felt my attention drifting at the highest action points of the story. Although I didn’t see the twist coming, I wasn’t too surprised and I have already largely forgotten how the book ended.
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership - 3 Stars. I enjoyed reading Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust earlier this year, so I was eager to dive into this other book by James Comey. Although I don’t agree with all of his political positions or opinions, he has a remarkably refreshing perspective in both books that remains largely apolitical. I was worried this book would be largely a repeat of the other, and although it has been a few months since I read that one, I was surprised with how different the majority of the book was. Although the last few years have been crazy and much of what he writes about, despite it occurring in this decade, still feels like ancient history. Regardless, it has shaped our country and it is of vital importance that truth and justice remain at the forefront of everything that we do.
It's Not About the Gun: Lessons from My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent - 3 Stars. I have read a lot of FBI memoirs in the last several years, and while this one was good, discussing aspects of Bureau life and work I haven’t read too much about before, I felt oddly disconnected from it. Despite being written by a woman, I was not as strongly compelled by this story as I have by many before it. However, Kathy Stearman had a fascinating life and did vital work on behalf of the United States in countries around the world.
The Long Weekend - 4 Stars. This book reminded me quite a bit of The Hunting Party, another book that I enjoyed. This one had several major twists throughout, and had one moment in particular, near the beginning, when my attention was truly caught. There were a lot of characters, most of whom had pretty average names, and it took me a while to tell them apart. Add to that some of the twists coming across very unexpectedly, but also in a manner that made me unsure if I had misunderstood something much earlier (which I think was largely intentional). I didn’t connect with any of the characters very deeply, but they were well-written, and I was completely intrigued to see what would happen to them next.
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases - 4 Stars. One of the first true crime books I read was on the Golden State Killer, I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, so it was fascinating to read more about the life of one of the individuals who played a role in his identification and capture. Plus I particularly enjoyed reading more about the relationship between the author of that book and this book. Although this book also covers the rest of the life of Paul Holes, and many of the other cases he worked on, it starts and ends with the case of the Golden State Killer, and since that is what intrigued me the most, I didn’t mind at all. Paul Holes displays a lot of vulnerability as he shares his story, and although I don’t always agree with his perspective and choices, you have to admire his dedication to the people he helps through the work that he does.
The Girl In the Leaves - 3 Stars. The experience of reading the description of this book and the book itself were two markedly different things. The summary intrigued me, and while the book covered the same material, it felt much more like reading a very long news article - lots of facts and statements cut together with very little overall narrative. It also seemed a bit odd which things were given more attention than others and some things that were included that seemed unnecessary. Even the way that the book was structured, with most of the tension resolved by halfway through the book, was unusual for the genre. Regardless, this was an interesting story and you can’t help but admire the heroism of Sarah Maynard.
Obsession: The FBI's Legendary Profiler Probes the Psyches of Killers, Rapists and Stalkers and Their Victims and Tells How to Fight Back - 3 Stars, Another John Douglas book, and another good one at that. This one has a slightly different focus than many of the others that I’ve read, as evidenced by the title, although it frequently references people and facts shared in his other writings. I had not read too many books that discussed stalking, so it was interesting to read more about that topic in an official context, as well as other obsession-based crimes. This book also did a relatively good job of sharing practical information should a reader ever find themselves to be the object of someone else's obsession.
Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing - 3 Stars. I hadn’t read much about life in prison, from either the side of the guards or the inmates prior to this book. Like many of the other books I read this year, this one is a professional memoir about the time Ted Conover spent, working in Sing Sing. Oddly, this book reminded me quite a bit of A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back, with both of the authors pursuing something new (but not permanently) and with a background in journalism. Some parts of the book were a bit slow (as I imagine much of life in prison is), but overall, I appreciated the insight into a realm I knew little about. What is more, there were some hauntingly beautiful lines and ideas that I’m sure will stick with me for quite a while.
Nine Lives - 4 Stars. This is the first book I have stayed up to keep reading in quite a while, but it is also the first that has given me a nightmare for years. That’s the upside and downside, I guess. It was a fun thriller, with a somewhat unique plot, which you may be able to guess from the title. I was a bit worried at first about having to keep track of nine central characters, but Peter Swanson made it relatively easy to remember who was whom. Although I didn’t see the ending coming, a good deal of groundwork was laid which very clearly related to the background of the story, removing some of the suspense but helping it all to make logical sense. I definitely enjoyed this one and I will say, I doubt it is a plot I will forget for a long time.
I’m not sure why it is that suddenly every book I read reminds me of at least one other. Maybe it is a result of reading books I like more, maybe not. But either way, I’m enjoying seeing the connections my brain makes across genres and topics and it makes all of the books much more memorable.
It is hard to believe that summer is basically upon us! I always try to get a bit more light and fun reading in during the summer, but since I’m focusing on reading books I truly enjoy anyway, we will see if this summer continues to fit that pattern.
Either way, I’m excited for more books and more sun.
Until next time,