I am well aware of the fact that my life has been filled with blessings. High on the list is my love for reading. One of the many advantages of being old and independent is the fact that I can prioritize my time and read as often as I wish. Nonetheless my pile of “must-reads” continues to grow.
My first priority is the neighborhood Book Club. We started the year by reading Shakespeare’s classic play “Hamlet”. Every visit to “Hamlet” yields brand new insight into its characters and into the vast collection of human foibles. Gregory Freeman’s “The Forgotten 500” was next. This true story of the rescue of Allied Airmen in World War II by Draja Mihailovich was greatly enhanced when author Gregory Freeman joined us remotely via Zoom and discussed it with the Club.
We also enjoyed the opportunity to attend a lecture by Amor Towles focused on his imaginative novel “The Lincoln Highway”. Next came “Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe, a disturbing description of the opiod scandal involving the Sackler family. That wasn’t deep enough for us, so we then tackled Bill Browder’s “Red Notice”, another true story involving the author’s questionable investment career in the Soviet Union.
For a change we read a thriller, William Goldman’s “Marathon Man”, a classic in its genre. The popular novel “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All” by Allan Gurganus turned out to be much too long and disinteresting for most of us – I persevered through its 736 pages stubbornly looking for some gems in it, without success. As a relief we then read the popular science fiction best-seller “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir, the tale of a one-way mission to Tau Ceti to save the Earth from Global Cooling. Once again we had the opportunity to hear the author in person discussing his work.
The Book Club has functioned continuously from its first meeting in March, 2000. Its makeup has changed down through the years; it would have a complete turnover if it weren’t for two stubborn nonagenarians. Prior to Covid we met regularly at each other’s homes; Zoom was an acceptable substitute, but we are all glad to be meeting again in person. Traditionally our December meeting is at Max’s Allegheny Tavern on the North Side. This year we will enjoy knackwurst, potato pancakes, and Spaten Munchen Lager while discussing Geraldine Brooks’ historical novel “Horse”.
I also participate in a Military Book Club, loosely affiliated with the Veterans Breakfast Club. Our selections this year included “Neptune’s Inferno” by James D. Hornfischer, an excellent description of the naval war associated with the Guadalcanal Campaign; Max Boot’s report on Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam, “The Road Not Taken”; the previously mentioned “The Forgotten 500”; and “To the Uttermost Ends of the Earth” by Phil Keith and Tom Clavin, the story of the Civil War battle between naval vessels Kearsage and Alabama off Cherbourg, France. This is a new group for me and I am eager to see what other books we will read.
At this time I am re-reading Joseph Conrad’s “Nostromo”. I remember being impressed with it when the Book Club read it nine or ten years ago. Preceded by “Moby Dick”, it is the second book in a series of “Great Books” workshops being presented at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library. “Huckleberry Finn” and “Bleak House” will follow it. The lecturer for this series is Abby Mendelson, an excellent writer and an even better teacher. It is impressive to observe the insights that an expert like Abby has while re-reading a “Great Book”.
The concept of “Great Book” is a constant subject of discussion with the Book Club. Abby identified four characteristics in his first lecture – heft (scope, expanse), characters, quality of prose, and concept (“the encapsulation of an entire culture – time, place, and way of life”). He also mentioned symbolism and plot, both of which I think are desirable, but not necessary. Many great novels have simple plots; I think complicated plots are more relevant for mysteries or fantasy.
Any time someone recommends a new book to me, I make a point of investigating it. “Holding Back the River” by Tyler J. Kelley proved to be a good example of the wisdom of this approach. Subtitled “The Struggle Against Nature on America’s Waterway”, it is an outstanding non-fiction discussion of our inland waterways (primarily the Mississippi/Ohio system) and our (we Civil Engineers) never-ending struggle to tame them for our benefit, without significantly disrupting them.
My current active list is diverse. Abby Mendelson recently published a book of short stories focused on people alienated to their situation, entitled “Reunion”. It is a remarkable example of the breadth of his rapport with contemporary society. Our trip to Valley Forge re-kindled my interest in the Revolutionary War, so I am re-reading “The Glorious Cause” by Jeff Shaara, greatly enhancing my understanding of that era. Brother Joe is transcribing the journals of our Uncle Emory Oyler; this pushed me into Paul J. Westhaeffer’s fine “History of the Cumberland Valley Railroad” (his life-time employer).
My interest in local Native Americans led me to acquire and read the impressive Pennsylvania Historical & Museum tome “The Archaeology of Native Americans in Pennsylvania”. I am still working away on Ronald S. Calinger’s biography of Leonhard Euler, the brilliant mathematician whose only confirmed link to our family is the coincidence of his last name. After we saw “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” at the Shakespeare Festival in Boulder, Colorado, I read that play and was reminded that drama too is a genre that has its own unique qualities.
Reviewing the above list merely highlights the fact that I am a combination of many trivial interests. Fortunately each of them can be enhanced by reading; I suspect that’s why I consider it such a blessing.