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blue_ant40. Kafka Comes to America by Steven T. Wax
I'm not sure that I have the right words to express how good this book was. Kafka Comes to America is part memoir, part criticism of the US government and it's practices and part exploration of freedom. It's a brilliant and exceptional book. While many non-fiction books can't get that page-turner aspect down, Wax has no problems. It helps that his topic is so intense. Wax, a public defender, gives us a first hand look at what it's like, not just about being a public defender, but what it really means to defend the people who have no one looking out for them. He gives us a chance to truly understand what the war on terror really means as he fights for justice. Wax, his coworkers and employees worked to defend an American, 'the citizen,' who was arrested in connection with the Madrid train bombings (he was innocent) and a Sudanese aide worker, 'the alien,' who was grabbed from his apartment and eventually ended up in Guantanamo (he was also innocent). While Wax's firm defended more than just those two men, they are the focus of this book. Kafka Comes to America is a study in the importance of justice, but also what it means to live in this country. I highly recommend this book to anyway (American and non) to truly understand the other side of the war on terror, the side no one talks about. Wax's voice is strong, just as strong as his desire to do what's right for his clients.
41. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The YA librarian at the rural library I work at ordered this book, which I'd never heard of until I started looking through the new YA books. I picked this one up, the cover is quite striking and started reading it. I got sucked into it almost right away, and was saddened when I put it back (it hadn't even been cataloged yet!). Eventually I got to check it out and I devoured the rest of it in about 5 hours. It was utterly brilliant. Forman's characters are beautifully written, her plot is strong and the story is gripping. Told through flashbacks, we go through Mia's life as she remembers it on what might be her last day alive. The story, while fast paced, never seems to speed along or get out of control. What it does is slip inside you and you want to will Mia along. It's a strong, lovely book and I highly recommend it.
42. On the Edge by Richard Hammond
As a fan of Top Gear (though a new fan), I'd read articles about Richard Hammond's accident, but I had no idea of the details or his recovery. I picked up his biography on a whim, I haven't read a lot of bios, but I do tend to enjoy them. Hammon's biography was no exception. It was a fantastic, easy to read book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Written after the crash, the book is in three parts, though not really divided as such). The first takes place as Richard is a child, then growing up and working odd jobs and eventually Top Gear. The middle section is about the accident. It starts with the idea of driving a jet-powered car, the execution of said experiment, and then the accident itself. In the middle, we get a new point of view, that of Hammond's love and articulate wife, Mindy. The third part details the recovery and some life after the crash. It's a highly enjoyable and strong biography and you don't really need to be a fan of Top Gear to enjoy it.
42 / 100 words. 42% done!
I'm not sure that I have the right words to express how good this book was. Kafka Comes to America is part memoir, part criticism of the US government and it's practices and part exploration of freedom. It's a brilliant and exceptional book. While many non-fiction books can't get that page-turner aspect down, Wax has no problems. It helps that his topic is so intense. Wax, a public defender, gives us a first hand look at what it's like, not just about being a public defender, but what it really means to defend the people who have no one looking out for them. He gives us a chance to truly understand what the war on terror really means as he fights for justice. Wax, his coworkers and employees worked to defend an American, 'the citizen,' who was arrested in connection with the Madrid train bombings (he was innocent) and a Sudanese aide worker, 'the alien,' who was grabbed from his apartment and eventually ended up in Guantanamo (he was also innocent). While Wax's firm defended more than just those two men, they are the focus of this book. Kafka Comes to America is a study in the importance of justice, but also what it means to live in this country. I highly recommend this book to anyway (American and non) to truly understand the other side of the war on terror, the side no one talks about. Wax's voice is strong, just as strong as his desire to do what's right for his clients.
41. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The YA librarian at the rural library I work at ordered this book, which I'd never heard of until I started looking through the new YA books. I picked this one up, the cover is quite striking and started reading it. I got sucked into it almost right away, and was saddened when I put it back (it hadn't even been cataloged yet!). Eventually I got to check it out and I devoured the rest of it in about 5 hours. It was utterly brilliant. Forman's characters are beautifully written, her plot is strong and the story is gripping. Told through flashbacks, we go through Mia's life as she remembers it on what might be her last day alive. The story, while fast paced, never seems to speed along or get out of control. What it does is slip inside you and you want to will Mia along. It's a strong, lovely book and I highly recommend it.
42. On the Edge by Richard Hammond
As a fan of Top Gear (though a new fan), I'd read articles about Richard Hammond's accident, but I had no idea of the details or his recovery. I picked up his biography on a whim, I haven't read a lot of bios, but I do tend to enjoy them. Hammon's biography was no exception. It was a fantastic, easy to read book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Written after the crash, the book is in three parts, though not really divided as such). The first takes place as Richard is a child, then growing up and working odd jobs and eventually Top Gear. The middle section is about the accident. It starts with the idea of driving a jet-powered car, the execution of said experiment, and then the accident itself. In the middle, we get a new point of view, that of Hammond's love and articulate wife, Mindy. The third part details the recovery and some life after the crash. It's a highly enjoyable and strong biography and you don't really need to be a fan of Top Gear to enjoy it.
