Book Review: The Good Earth

The Good Earth, a timeless Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece by Pearl S. Buck, follows the life of Wang Lung in 1920s China. The book, first published in 1931, was the best-selling novel in the United States for both 1931 and 1932. The author grew up in China, a child of missionaries.

Wang Lung is a farmer in a rural village and lives with his widowed father. The novel begins on the day of his marriage to O-Lan, a slave at the House of Hwang. He doesn’t really know his intended bride, but since his mother died, he needs someone to cook, care for the house, and see to his father’s comfort. Wang is a farmer, dedicated to his land. Although they are poor, it is a good marriage and O-Lan is a capable homemaker in their modest dwelling. Wang works hard on the land, often with O-Lan at his side. They begin to have children, births which O-Lan accomplishes without assistance.

The story takes us into Wang Lung’s old age, through good times, droughts, famine, trials with family, land acquisitions, and wealth. Wang learns that although satisfying, wealth has its burdens, too.

I first read The Good Earth when I was twelve years old. One Seattle summer day I walked to a nearby shopping district and, curious, went into a second-hand store. I discovered a bookcase full of old hardcover books. Among the books were Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and The Good Earth which I bought for twenty-five cents each. At that time I didn’t know what a “classic novel” was, nor had I ever heard of either book. I read both novels that summer. The Good Earth was an eye opener for me—the way of life in China those days, taking a second wife, class distinctions with the extreme poor and how they were treated, and with the extreme rich and their sense of entitlement. I treasured those books, and though I didn’t know they were “classics,” I knew they were special. Now, with this second reading, I am again impressed with the depth of The Good Earth. It is a masterpiece.

Book Review: I.M. Possible Muscle for the Mind

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”
Sir Edmund Hillary

I.M. Possible Muscle for the Mind: The Power To Achieve Success When Success Seems Impossible (The I.M.Possible Series Book 1) is a powerful guide to turning seemingly impossible situations into life-changing victories. The book is written by Jamie DeVovo with a Forward and collaboration throughout the book by Bryan Kolb, PhD, FRSC, Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience.

The goal of this book is to change situations or life challenges from the apparently Impossible to I.M. Possible, or I AM Possible. The author shares basic neuroscience information about the brain that helps us understand how we can make changes that improve our life situations. Even though the brain is really an organ, new research shows that the brain is more like a muscle—it changes and gets stronger when you use it.

The book has many inspiring quotations from well-known people who have made a difference not only in their own lives, but to all of humanity. Here’s a good one:

“I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be.”
Albert Einstein

We need to give up old defeating ways of thinking in order to bring about positive change. Negative thoughts hold us back. We need to push through fear and discomfort to achieve our goals.

Our attitudes can make a difference for ourselves and for others. I worked with the American Red Cross in New York in the grim days following 911. Before I presided over our daily meeting, I started every morning with a big smile to the staff. It was a genuine smile, one that said I was honored to serve with the American Red Cross and proud of our volunteers. In order to be there we all had taken numerous classes to train us in various capacities to help those suffering in disasters. One day a fellow came up to me after the meeting and said how much he looked forward to that smile. He said it fortified him for the day ahead.

I.M. Possible Muscle for the Mind offers persuasive methods to make life changes. It’s packed full of examples and how-to ideas to make the necessary changes to improve life as you want it to be. “What goes around comes around” can be either negative or positive. We can choose to make positive outcomes.

Book Review: The Girl from Bletchley Park

The Girl from Bletchley Park, a novel by British writer Kathleen McGurl is a highly suspenseful and intriguing story toggling between 1942 and present day England.

Julia struggles to manage her own IT business and her home life. Her husband does little to ease the strain of keeping up a business and managing the household. He rarely helps and is obviously jealous that she makes more money than he does. No matter what she does, it doesn’t seem to be enough to satisfy him. Her two sons, 14 and 12, are willing to give a helping hand, but how can she manage to juggle her dual role and her husband’s constant demands?

Toggling back to 1942, three years into World War II, Pamala, Julia’s grandmother, defers her hard-won place at Oxford to become a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. She becomes a WREN (Women’s Royal Naval Service), the women’s branch of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. Pamala meets two young men, both anxious to please her. But as her affection grows for one, even to the point of thinking of a future together, doubts begin to surface, followed by danger.

The Girl from Bletchley Park is an interesting story on several levels. Bletchley Park was once the top-secret home of the World War II codebreakers. They provided a valuable service breaking German military transmission codes, allowing Allied forces to take appropriate action. In the novel, Julia discovers her grandmother Pamala played an important role at Bletchley, making an interesting tie-in between the war years’ technology and Julia’s present day work with Information Technology.

Book Review: The Book of Charlie

The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year Old Man by columnist and editor for the Washington Post, David Von Drehie, is an amazing biography of Charles White, Von Drehie’s Kansas City neighbor.

I felt a kinship to Charles White because he was born the same year as my father, 1905. In telling Charlie’s story, the author brought me through the years of America’s history as my father experienced it, from horse-drawn carriages to the early automobile, the Great Depression, two World Wars, wireless communication, radio and television. My father passed away before experiencing what Charles did: the everyday use of computers and smartphones plus huge strides in the medical world.

As a young boy, Charles experienced a shocking tragedy and through it mastered survival strategies that served him well throughout his long life. He learned how to thrive, not just survive.

Charles, usually called Charlie, put himself through medical school by playing self-taught saxophone at college dances. He became a doctor during the Great Depression, when house calls were considered the normal form of primary care. Charlie experienced a long life as a doctor with years as a general practitioner followed by decades as an anesthesiologist.

Although his life as a physician was fascinating, I found his philosophy of life truly inspirational. His messages: live life right now, the past is beyond our influence, the future is unknown, now is the only thing we can touch so we must always be ready for opportunity. The book is chock-full of such gems including my favorite: “Life unfolds by accident, despite our hopes and plans.”

The Book of Charlie is a wonderful, refreshing story of a man who lived life purposefully. I would recommend this book to people of all ages— there’s something in it for everyone.

Book Review: Broken Bondage

Broken Bondage, a novel by Carmen Peone, the second of the “Seven Tine Ranch Romance series,” is a highly suspenseful, intriguing cowboy romance with Native American characters. The contemporary story begins on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeast Oregon.

Rita Runninghorse carries a heavy burden. She works cattle sunup to sundown on her demanding father’s ranch. Not only that, she’s a victim of abuse from Bowie Dark Cloud, her fiancé, a man her father encourages her to marry. Her life is spiraling downhill and she must do something to save herself. She flees to the Seven Tine Ranch in eastern Washington, a safe haven for women in need. But as luck would have it, the owner is on a month-long speaking tour.

Robert Elliot, the brother of the Seven Tine’s owner, has one main interest: bronc riding. The Indian National Finals Rodeo is coming up and Robert sees it as his one chance of going pro. But what is he going to do with this woman who suddenly shows up on the ranch, obviously scared for her life?

Bowie Dark Cloud is pure evil. Above all else, he intends to marry Rita. He’ll beat some sense into her—again—do whatever it takes. He has too much riding on this to give up.

Broken Bondage is a gripping story depicting the unfortunate truth of horror, violence and abuse so prevalent among Native American women. The author, who lives on the Colville Reservation with her tribal husband, speaks with authority of reservation life, about the thrills associated with rodeo competition, and about the strength to be gained from God’s promises. This story kept my rapt attention with the plight of Rita Runninghorse, of Robert Elliot’s dream to become a rodeo pro, and finally a message of hope.

Book Review: Women of the Colorado Gold Rush Era

Women of the Colorado Gold Rush Era by J.v.L. Bell and Jan Gunia is a marvelous compilation of women of the wild and sometimes violent Pikes Peak Gold Rush years.

Ten women are featured, each unique in their own way, women whose lives profoundly affected those turbulent years. Probably many of the women named are unfamiliar to the reader, but all made their indelible mark in Colorado history.

Hard work, sacrifice and dedication made these ten women remarkable with their unsung heroism. The women—Native American, Hispanic, Anglo, and African American—had one thing in common: tenacity.

Women of the Colorado Gold Rush Era is meticulously documented with annotations at the end of each featured woman’s chapter. Also, throughout the book are marvelous quotations. One of my favorite is from the section on Tsashin: Clement J. Frost, a Ute Indian, said, “The land doesn’t belong to the Indians; the Indians belong to the land.”

I was impressed with the depth of systematic investigation conducted for each subject’s life, research gleaned in books and also through state archives, museums, local historical societies and libraries. Women of the Colorado Gold Rush Era is a valuable book for anyone interested in Colorado history, or for those who appreciate the role pioneer women played in paving the way for the future state of Colorado.

Book Review: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk and translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones is an unusual murder mystery that takes place in modern-day Poland. Janina Duszejko lives in one of seven houses on a snow-covered plateau bordering the Czech Republic.

Janina, the 60-something main character, is a hard-core astrologist who calculates horoscopes. Many of the truths she believes are centered around astrology. She strongly feels that most names don’t match the person, so she refers to those around her by their defining characteristics, such as Big Foot, Oddball, and Good News.

Late one evening her closest neighbor, Oddball, asks her to accompany him to Big Foot’s house. Big Foot, their widely disliked neighbor, is dead, the cause unknown. I read with horror as they proceeded to “tidy” the body, cleaning him up and dressing him before the police came. Thus begins a chain of mysterious deaths in the small village.

Janina hates the hypocrisy of traditional religion, the superiority of humans and what they regard as their right to exploit other species. She’s greatly disturbed with the injustice of hunting for sport and questions why the killing of a human is thought of as “murder,” but the killing of a deer is regarded as “sport.”

As we watch the body-count rise, the pattern of these deaths becomes clear. Janina writes long, involved letters to the authorities with her theories, but they pay her no attention.

I enjoyed seeing the world through Janina’s eyes. She is an extremely intelligent woman, but eccentric. Janina appealed to me in a quirky way. It’s good to remember that we don’t all hold the same values, nor see situations the same way. People who like unconventional mysteries, and especially those who are interested in astrology, will enjoy this thought-provoking story.

Book Review: Where the Forest Meets the Stars

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah is a spell-binding contemporary novel about love and trust.

Joanna Teale is a survivor. She’s battled breast cancer, leaving her disfigured and unable to have children, and is still grieving the death of her mother. She turns her energy and dedication to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, renting a cabin for the summer that’s close to her work.

While conducting research—monitoring nests, finding new nests, and downloading data from nest cameras—a little girl appears from the forest. The girl, about eight years old, is dirty, barefoot and covered in bruises. She calls herself Ursa and claims to have come from the stars to witness five miracles. She’s a bright girl, full of facts about the stars and constellations. Joanna is worried about the little girl, and about how concerned her parents must be. But Ursa is adamant: she doesn’t have parents. Joanna calls the sheriff, but just as he arrives, Ursa runs away and cannot be found. After the sheriff leaves, the little girl returns. Worried and frustrated by the situation, Joanna simply cannot turn the child away.

Gabriel Nash lives on a farm next to the property where Joanna is staying. She enlists his help in trying to locate the girl’s parents. The three develop a strong bond, but both Gabe and Joanna realize they’re setting themselves up for trouble with the law for harboring a runaway child without again reporting to the authorities. Gabe has a big heart, but also harbors his own heartache.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a lovely story, full of compassion and hope. With a background working as an endangered bird specialist in Illinois, the author speaks with authority about bird habitant. She vividly describes forest scenes and their inhabitants. On the other hand, she shows knowledge about the child welfare protective system and the ramifications of harboring a child illegally. Finally, the author clearly demonstrates a gifted child’s reactions to trauma, and the ability to capture the heart of someone with compassion and the willingness to help.

Book Review: Morning in This Broken World

Morning in This Broken World, a novel by Katrina Kittle, is an amazing story of a newly widowed woman and a family desperate for a home.

Vivian Laurent grieves the death of her husband. She’s left their house vacant so that she could be with him at an assisted-living facility. But now he’s gone and she is alone.

Suddenly, the world changes with the invasion of Covid. The facility is going into lockdown. Going into quarantine, being stuck in the apartment without her husband is something Vivian can not bear.

In the meantime, Luna, a compassionate nursing assistant at the same facility, has a big problem. She and her two children are threatened with an eviction notice. Her estranged husband’s support check bounced and they are already behind in their rent. Luna has been especially kind to Vivian’s husband and Vivian and Luna’s daughter have become friends when the girl occasionally visited the facility. The eleven-year old daughter, Wren, is wheel-chair bound with cerebral palsy. Her sullen and defiant older brother, Cooper, has pretty much given up on the whole world.

Suddenly, it all comes together. Vivian leaves the facility and, together with Luna and her children, go to Vivian’s home. The housemates weather the pandemic together, but certainly not trouble-free.

How this newly-formed “family” manage is a testimony of strength born of necessity. Everyone must contribute to the well-being of all, pooling talents, accepting the bad with the good, and overcoming old prejudices.

Morning in this Broken World is a lovely novel, full of heart. I especially appreciated the natural, expressive dialog. I gained new insights into human behavior as this newly-formed family found their way. I loved Vivian’s feisty attitude and big heart. I witnessed Wren and Cooper grow in their new environment, finding the freedom and space to develop. And I watched as their mother, Luna, could finally find her own strengths without the worry of providing the basics for her family. This is a book teens and adults will enjoy and appreciate.

Book Review: I Am a Bocha Posh

I Am a Bocha Posh: My Life as a Woman Living as a Man in Afghanistan by Ukmina Manoori, and translated by Peter E. Chianchiano is a stunning memoir about a woman who dared to live a life contrary to her country’s custom.

In Afghanistan, when a son isn’t born into the family, there is a widespread practice of girls dressing as boys, a tradition that saves them the disgrace of not having a male heir. By dressing as a boy, the practice, called Bocha Posh, offers families the freedom to allow the child to shop, work, escort sisters and mother to the market, even go to school. But when the child reaches adolescence, she must revert to being a girl, dress in a burqa, marry, give birth, be subject to her husband, giving up her personal freedom.

When Ukmina approached puberty and it was time to revert to being a girl, she refused. She loved the freedom of playing ball, of going where she wanted to go, wearing jeans and tee-shirts. Her father pressured her to conform to the custom of again becoming a woman. Even the village holy man, the Mullah, said she was sinning to not conform. By this time the family had two sons, but Ukmina was adamant. She would not play the role of a woman and continued to keep her menswear.

When Ukmina was eighteen years old, Russians invaded Afghanistan. Ukmina’s prayer to Allah was “Give me the power of men and the kindness of a woman.” She made herself useful by recovering bodies. When the Russians finally withdrew, the country was in shambles, the bombed out villages nearly unlivable. But then the Taliban took control. Ukmina’s situation was again threatened with the Talibans’ strict attitude about women’s role.

Ukmina was accepted by her countrymen and became known as Ukmina the Warrior. She was elected as a council member of her province. Her life has been an inspiration and even recognized in the United States when she received the Most Courageous Woman of the Year award.

I Am a Bocha Posh is an inspirational eye-opener. It’s hard to fathom the bravery and determination of this woman. I’ve barely covered her life with this review. I encourage women and girls to read this courageous memoir.