Author: ekkarn

October 27 – Happy World Day for Audiovisual Heritage!

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October 27, 2016  – UNESCO’s World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.
Theme: “It’s Your Story – Don’t Lose It”

I learn new things in a variety of ways.  For example, I discovered at Wikipedia this morning, that today is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. Because I didn’t know anything about the day, I went to go to its page on Wikipedia. There I discovered that…..

The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage takes place every 27 October. This commemorative day was chosen by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2005 to raise of awareness of the significance of and preservation risks recorded sound and audiovisual documents (films, sound and video recordings, radio and television programmes)

The main objectives of designating the date of 27 October were listed by UNESCO:

  • raising public awareness of the need for preservation;
  • providing opportunities to celebrate specific local, national or international aspects of the heritage;
  • highlighting the accessibility of archives;
  • attracting media attention to heritage issues;
  • raising the cultural status of audiovisual heritage;
  • highlighting audiovisual heritage in danger, especially in developing countries.

 

2016 Theme – “It’s Your Story – Don’t Lose It”

Then at the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations‘s (CCAAA) website. I discovered more about the day and the 2016 theme….

The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage has become a key initiative for both UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) to honour audiovisual preservation professionals and institutions that help to safeguard this heritage for future generations despite the many technical, political, social, financial, and other factors that threaten its survival. Audiovisual archives around the world join together annually on 27 October to celebrate their work with activities and events that not only highlight the vulnerability of this heritage, but also celebrate the often unheralded work of the heritage institutions that protect it.

The theme of the World Day this year is “It’s Your Story – Don’t Lose It”. Every culture, every country has its own story to tell. These stories remind us of our shared humanity and build connections between people. Every story we keep in our archives means that we keep memories alive. Stories should be kept safe, stories create an invaluable archive for future generations – it’s your (and their!) story – don’t lose it!

Finally at the  Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations’s (CCAAA) website.I found a list of many programs that will be presented worldwide.

Chicago’s Program – Studs Terkel Radio Archive – American Voices……

Well down the list of programs was  a program from Chicago, Illinois titled Studs Terkel Radio Archive – American Voices……

Studs Terkel broadcast a daily interview show out of Chicago for nearly fifty years.  He was fascinated by human stories and spent his career collecting and sharing them.  We’ve put together the American Voices collection to showcase triumphs and challenges of Americans during the second half of the twentieth century.

Programs:

  • Bob Dylan, 1963
  • Montgomery, Alabama citizens speak about Dr. King’s march, 1965
  • Participants at the Chicago “Be-In”, 1967
  • Chicago high school students, 1970
  • Elsa Knight Thompson, 1970
  • Hunter S. Thompson (featuring a clip of Ron Kovic), 1973
  • Ed and Marlene Sadlowski, labor leaders, 1974
  • Gloria Steinem, 1982
  • Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, 1992
  • Roger Ebert, 1996

 

You can listen to the various interviews here

The Bob Dylan, Carl Sagan interviews along with the Montgomery, Alabama citizens speaking about Dr King all seem interesting! What do you think! Anyway, I hope you had a Happy World Day for Audiovisual Heritage!

Links for the Further Exploration of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

Unesco:World Day For Audiovisual Heritage 
CCAAA: World Day for Audiovisaul Heritage
Studs Terkel Radio Archive Blog
Digital Meets Heritage:World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: let’s celebrate!

Parag Khanna’s Connectography – Explains Connectivity!

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Connectography:Mapping the Future of Global Civilization – Parag Khanna

I have always had an interest in geography. So when I first saw Connectography:Mapping the Future of Global Civilization by Parag Kahana, I knew it was a book for me! It was amazing the way Khanna took geography to a whole new level in Connectography. The Washington Post agrees and says this about Connectography….

“Incredible . . . We don’t often question the typical world map that hangs on the walls of classrooms—a patchwork of yellow, pink and green that separates the world into more than two hundred nations. But Parag Khanna, a global strategist, says that this map is, essentially, obsolete. . . . With the world rapidly changing and urbanizing, [Khanna’s] proposals might be the best way to confront a radically different future.”

….Foreign Affairs writes….

“Bold . . . With an eye for vivid details, Khanna has nevertheless produced an engaging geopolitical travelogue, unearthing the Internet cables, energy pipelines, and electrical grids that link regions together more closely than ever before and allow people to lead increasingly connected lives. In his view, connectivity is transforming conflict between states into competition for access to the world’s infrastructure of networks and markets.”

In Connectography Parag Khanna analyzes the evolving connectivity of the world. The supply chain is the driving forcing behind this connectivity. The supply chain requires the movement of goods and supplies, from raw materials to finished product, then to shipment to world-wide markets.Neil Brenner, director, Urban Theory Lab, Harvard University Graduate School of Design says this…..

“From Lagos, Mumbai, Dubai, and Singapore to the Amazon, the Himalayas, th\e Arctic, and the Gobi desert steppe, Parag Khanna’s latest book provides an invaluable guide to the volatile, confusing worlds of early twenty-first-century geopolitics. A provocative remapping of contemporary capitalism based on planetary mega-infrastructures, intercontinental corridors of connectivity, and transnational supply chains rather than traditional political borders.”

China rather than the U.S. has supplied support and money for a majority of world-wide infrastructure development. As a result, China is now the largest trading partner with more than 124 nations around the globe, This compares to 56 for the U.S.. To me this does not bode well for the future of our country. The Economist sees it sees it that way, too….

“For those who fear that the world is becoming too inward-looking, Connectography is a refreshing, optimistic vision. . . . The most convincing point in the book concerns policy prescriptions. To become part of global supply chains, Mr. Khanna argues, it is essential to invest in infrastructure. China, in particular, has built a sprawling network of ports, canals and the like across the world to acquire and transport natural resources. By contrast, rich countries, especially America, now underfund capital goods, in an attempt to reduce public spending. This short-term skimping bodes ill for future growth.”

Connectography and the United States

The following map is from Connectography.  The map illustrates how our U.S.’s lower 48 states could be realigned into seven mega-regions,

Connectivity and the United States

You can read an Op-Ed in the New York Times called Rethinking the Map to get a full explanation of the map and Khanna’s ideas.I don’t ever believe that the U.S. will ever abandon the 50 states But I do believe that we may be able to develop interstate agreements that could unite the states as shown,

One of the things that I think the U.S needs to do is to develop a high speed rail system similar to the one shown above.  The U.S. interstate highway system was built under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, during the Eisenhower Administration  Maybe these high-speed rail lines could be built under the Federal Aid High-Speed Rail Act of 2017 during the Clinton Administration!  In addition to the construction of these rail lines, the U.S. has to lot more infrastructure to repair and/or replace.

The Bottom Line:

Connectography is a thought-provoking and enlightening book in my opinion. Khanna made me realize how far behind China the U.S. may be falling as a global super-powered. I agree whole-heartedly with the quote from Former U.S, secretary of defense Chuck Hagel…..

Connectogrpahy is ahead of the curve in seeing the battlefield of the future and the new tu-of-war being waged on it. Khanna’s scholarship and foresight are world-class… A must read for the next president.”

I hope Hillary has read it! As for me,  I just requested Khanna’s How to Run the World from my library!

Links for the Further Exploration of the Writings of Parag Khanna

Author’s Website
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube: Ted Talk: Mapping the Future of Countries
Amazon

Book No. 39 of 2016.

Manitou Canyon – William Kent Krueger as Good as Ever!

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Manitou Canyon – William Kent Krueger (Cork O’Connor series #15)

Manitou Canyon is the fifteenth book in the Cork O’Connor series from William Kent Krueger. And I for one don’t think the series is slowing down at all! I have read all of the books in this series and this one holds its own with any of them.While the Cork O’Connor books are firmly planted in the  mystery.thriller genre they are also more than just mysteries. They are also books about family and cultural identity.

Lee Child says this about the work of William Kent Krueger….

“One of today’s automatic buy-today-read-tonight series…thoughtful but suspenseful, fast but lasting, contemporary but strangely timeless.” (Lee Child)

The Story Begins

When Manitou Canyon  opens it is November and the O’Connor’s are preparing for oldest daughter Jenny;s wedding. Everyone is excited except Cork. For Cork November is a painful month. In Novembers past Cork saw the violent deaths of his wife, father, and best friend. So when the grandchildren of a childhood friend John Harris’ showed up asking Cork to resume the search that had ended two days prior. Cork jumped at the chance to help. John Harris had disappeared in October while on a fishing trip with his grandchildren into the Boundary Waters. The search had turned up nothing, but Cork felt he had missed something so he wanted do whatever he could to find John.

The Search Begins

So Cork went off into the Northwoods of Minnesota to search for John. Lindsay Harris, John’s granddaughter volunteered to go with Cork, while grandson Trevor stayed behind.  Soon, Cork and Lindsay vanish just like John. The disappearance baffles the O’Connor family and the Tamarack County Police.

Throughout Cork’s life his Objibwe heritage has always been important. His spiritual guide the Mide Henry Meloux has helped Cork overcome life’s obstacles. Cork has always viewed himself as an Ogichidaa.. An Ogichidaa is one who stands evil and his people.

In this adventure Cork is pitted against men who view themselves as Ogichidaa and the losers in their battle with evil may be hundreds of citizens of a small town! If Cork and his family can’t figure out what’s going on!!

My Thoughts

Manitou Canyon was a four plus thumbs up book for me. Once again this visit to Aurora and the Boundary Waters was very, very enjoyable. You would think that in the 15th edition in a series the reader would be saying, same old same old, but that is not the case with Manitou Canyon.

William Kent  Krueger is a master storyteller and the plot of this Manitou Canyon twists and turns enough to keep you guessing about what is really happening. But also excels at creating a sense of place in his stories and he certainly makes me feel like I have visited the Minnesota’ Boundary Waters and other locations many times over the years!

He also excels at character creation and the characters he has created in Cork O’Connor and his family are a large part of the appeal of the series. Readers have watched all of Cork’s children grow into strong young adults. Jenny who became a mother to Waaboo a couple of books ago, is starting a new chapter in her life, with her marriage to Daniel English

But the minor characters are just as important. Let’s see there’s Rose Thorne, Cork’s sister-in-law who helped the family survive the loss of their mother. Then there’s Rainy, the woman who brought love back to Cork’s life and niece of my favorite character Henry Meloux. At the end of Manitou Canyon new chapters are opening in their lives too.

In Manitou Canyon Krueger has also added a new character to the family. Daniel’s great-aunt  Aunt Leah Duhling, who once thought she would marry Henry, has returned to Aurora. And it appears that Leah and Henry are about to enter a new chapter in their lives, too

With all of these new chapters opening in the lives of the O’Connor extended family I can’t wait for the 16th book in this series!! You can probably pick this book up and read and enjoy it. That is the result of Krueger’s abilities as a storyteller. But if you want to enjoy the characters created go back and find Iron Lake the first book in the series and start at the beginning!!

 

September 2016 – A Review of the Six Books I Read!

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September 2016 – Six Books Read in a Busy Month! Yeah Me!

I had a great reading month in September of 2016. I finished the five books on the above slider and they all were really good. The books I read came from a variety of genres. There was; a mystery from one of my favorite authors The Second Life of Nick Mason, a non-fiction book history book The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascom, an award-winning general fiction – Life of Pi from Yann Martell, a science fiction space opera Dark Run by Mike Brooks, and a political thriller Red Cell from Mark Henshaw. I think that a pretty good mix of genres!

I also finished a sixth book The One Plan:A Week-by-Week Guide to Restoring Your Natural Health and Happiness by Yogi Cameron Alborzian, but I haven’t written anything about it yet. The One Plan had a lot of good ideas that I plan to implement. I don’t think I’m ready to commit to many of the aspects of the plan though, The Path is a little too intense for me!

Finishing the six books brought the total number of books I have read this year to 37. In order to be on pace to read my projected total of 60 books in 2016, I would have to have read 45 books by the end of September, so I am eight books off of the pace or on pace to read 52 books which would be 1 more than 2015. I would be very happy if I reach that total, but I will still try to pick up the pace and shoot for the goal of 60 books!

 

The Second Life of Nick Mason – Steve Hamilton – The Start of a Great New Series

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The Second Life of Nick Mason - Steve Hamilton

Revision Note: Originally posted in September 2016, this review has been updated in 2026 to include the latest entries in the Nick Mason series.

The Second Life of Nick Mason  – Steve Hamilton

.I have been a fan of the novels of Steve Hamilton for many years now. The first Steve Hamilton book was Winter of the Wolf – Book #2 in the Alex McKnight series according to my records I read finished that book of Jun 7,2004. After finishing it, I quickly went to the library and checked out A Cold Day in Paradise -Book #1 in the series. I finished that book on June 12th of the same year! Needless to say I loved the books and the series ever since!!

In The Second Life of Nick Mason, Hamilton has created a great new anti-hero.in Nick Mason. Yesterday, I had lunch with an old (we are) high school classmate. We both talked about the fact that life is made up of choices. You make your choices and you live with them , always doing the best you can.

The Story

Well, Nick Mason throughout his life has made some bad choices. First to steal cars, then move unto burglary, and ultimately stealing from drug dealers. During that time, he made  a good choice, he married and had a daughter. But then the ultimate “easy” heist came along – he made the wrong decision. It was supposed to be easy heist, drive into the harbor, take on some cargo and then drive it to the new owner. Right decision! Don’t do it!  Nick’s decision do it! Of course doing it meant going against his pledge to his wife to stay clean.

But Nick decides this one caper is all he needs to make things better for his wife and daughter. Bad decision! When the heist goes south, it costs him everything, wife, his daughter and his freedom. The sentence 25 years!

After five years in prison, along comes Darius Cole, a criminal mastermind Cole is serving a double life term, but still runs his empire from his cell. He offers Nick a deal. All Nick has to do is whatever he’s told to do when the phone rings.

Nick accepts. His conviction is soon overturned and he walks out of prison a free man. But is he free, Cole says “It’s not freedom, it’s mobility!” He is given a new house, a new car and more.But soon the phone rings and he is asked to become a hitman, something totally new and abhorrent to Mason.

Soon, Nick is being chased by cops both good and bad! Nick is soon fighting not just to regain his old life, but to survive in his new life!!

Bottom Line: Highly Recommended

This book was a real-pager turner for me. I zipped through it in a day and a half and enjoyed every minute of the ride. I think Nick Mason is a terrific character, who is trapped between a rock and a hard place. He’s damned, if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. And while, what he does is wrong, he tries his damnedest it make it right! I for one was cheering for him!

Post Update 2026

Post Update 2026

Since I first wrote this post, Steve Hamilton has expanded the Nick Mason universe with two more gripping novels. Having followed his work since I first picked up Winter of the Wolf back in 2004, it’s been incredible to see how he transitioned from the Northwoods noir of Alex McKnight to this high-octane urban series.

Exit Strategy (Nick Mason #2, 2017): A relentless follow-up that proves Nick is truly “mobile, but not free.”

An Honorable Assassin (Nick Mason #3, 2024): This one felt a little different—the stakes are global as Nick is sent to target a high-level assassin. What really struck me, amidst the tension, was the interaction between Nick and the child he encounters. It reminded me why I cheer for him; despite the life he’s forced to lead, his heart is still intact.

 

Steve Hamilton - Author of the Second Life of Nick Mason

Links

Author’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads

About Steve Hamilton

Steve Hamilton is one of only two authors to win the Edgar Award for Best First Novel (for A Cold Day in Paradise) and then later for Best Novel (for The Lock Artist). Known for his atmospheric prose and complex characters, Hamilton spent years developing the Alex McKnight series before launching the high-stakes world of Nick Mason. He currently lives in upstate New York with his wife and two children, where he continues to craft some of the most compelling crime fiction in the genre.

Reflecting on Hamilton’s career, he remains one of those “second tier” masters—the kind of writer you can always depend on for a tight, emotional, and perfectly paced story. I believe I’ve read every book he’s ever put out, and while the Alex McKnight series will always be my “first love” in his bibliography, Nick Mason has earned his place right alongside him on my shelf.

September Reading Challenges Update!

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A Quick Update of Where I Stand on My 2016 Reading Challenges

So far this month I have finished three books. They are; Life with Pi, The Winter Fortress and most recently Dark Run. This brings my total number of books read in 2016 to 35 books. My lofty goal is 60 books. So right now I am way behind the pace I need (five books per month) to read to reach that goal. However, I am not that far off the pace needed to match last years total of 51 books.

Where I Stand  on My 2016 Reading Challenges

Yesterday I sat down and reviewed where I stood on my various Reading Challenges. Here’s a tabulation of where I stand right now!

Ed K’s 2016 Reading Challenges TBR Library Total Goal % of Goal
         
2016 Literature Reading Challenge
General Fiction 1 3 3 6 50.00%
Classics 0 0 0 6 0.00%
NY Times Bestseller List 0 0 0 6 0.00%
Award-Winners 1 2 3 6 50.00%
2015 Mystery/Thriller Reading Challenge
Rgrandad’s Mysteries 3 18 21 10 210.00%
Women Mystery Book Authors 1 0 2 10 20.00%
2016 Science Fiction /Fantasy Challenge 0 0 1 6 16.67%
2016 Nonfiction Reading Challenge 2 3 5 10 50.00%
 
 Total 35 60 58.33%
2016 TBR Pile Challenge 8 25 32.00%

 

Hmm, it looks like I am kicking  butt with those mysteries, but everything else is lagging behiind! Well, I guess I’m not doing too badly in the General Fiction, award-winners and nonfiction challenges, But it looks like I have my work cut out for me in several of the other categories!!

Books I am Currently Reading and Plan on Reading

Here’s a table of the next group of books I have started along with the books I am planning to read.

Currently Reading Challenge
Books to Finish
Connectography – Parag Khanna Nonfiction
The One Plan Nonfiction
Finding Family Nonfiction
New Books
The Lightning Stones – Jack DuBrul Ed K’s Mysteries
Spies in the Congo – Susan Williams Nonfiction
Redemption Road – John Hart General Fiction
The Last Dead Girl – Harry Dolan Ed K’s Mysteries

 

Maybe I should replace these two mysteries with a classic or woman/s mystery book. I could possibly even replace one with another science fiction book. I am kinda in Sci-fi mode. So maybe it won’t be hard to venture into another world. Maybe .even a sci-fi classic – something from H.G.  Wells??

Does anybody have a suggestions? Read any good books lately???

Dark Run – Mike Brooks (Keiko Book #1)

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Dark Run – Mike Brooks Leaves Me Ready for Book # 2 

Last week I checked out  Dark Run by Mike Brooks from my library. I was not looking for a science fiction book, when I spotted the book. But after reading a couple of the quotes on the back of the book, I was intrigued. This is the one that won me over…..

“Dark Run is a thrill ride of non-stop action, wisecrackery, and adventure in the vast vaults of outer space. I look forward to revisiting Ichabod Drift and the crew of the Keiko time and again” – Luke Scull author of the Grim Company

After finishing Dark Run this morning I think that the first part of this quote is a bit of an overstatement.But I do agree with Mr Scull in that I am look forward to meeting the Keiko crew again! I can do that in Dark Sky, the second book in the series.

The Story Line – Too Simple?

Overall, I thought that the story was a little simplistic. The Keiko, a ship of smugglers, soldiers of fortune, and con-artists. Each, crew member, including Captain Drift has a mysterious past. Soon Drift’s past catches up with him. He is blackmailed into delivering a mysterious load of cargo to Amsterdam on Old Earth. The cargo must arrive at a specific time and the Keiko must be unseen. It’s called a Dark Run!  But things don’t go too well and soon the Keiko is a hunted ship and crew. And they will need to use their wiles to get revenge on the man who set them up!

It often takes me some time to get acclimated to the new worlds and characters in a science fiction book. That was the case in Dark Run. I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot more than the first half. I enjoyed Dark Run a lot more once I got to know the crew members of the Keiko. The wise-cracking (which wasn’t as much as I thought it would be) also became more enjoyable,.

Bottom Line

Dark Run was a 3-star book for me. That means that I liked it, but not all that much. Like I said the story line was pretty straight forward, with not a lot of twists and turns. I liked the characters, including Captain Drift even though, like his crew, I didn’t like the secret that he had been hiding!

So I guess I will check out Dark Sky but I have about six other books, checked out of the library to read first! I tell you all about them in a little while or maybe tomorrow!

Links for the Further Explorations of the Works of Mike Brooks

Author’s Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon

 

The Winter Fortress – How Nine Norwegians Saved the World!!

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The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb – Neal Bascomb

The Winter Fortress recounts the tale of the 1942 sabotage of the Vemork hydroelectric plant in Norway. The plant was one of the few places in the world that produced heavy water. Nazi Germany wanted all the heavy water that Norway could produce.. Heavy water was a key element for the production of an atomic bomb. I never had really heard of the mission before reading the book, but now I feel that I lived through it! Bascomb did a great job researching and writing The Winter Fortress, The book reads more like an action novel than a work of non-fiction.

The Story

By 1942 Norway was and the Vemork hydroelectric plant were under the control of Nazi Germany. The Vemork hydroelectric plant was producing heavy water that was headed to German researchers. Researchers who were researching nuclear fission, which ultimately could be used in the creation of an atomic bomb  Aware of this research, the Allies knew that something had to be done. The Norwegians felt that an air attack would actually miss the parts of the plant that need to be destroyed. What would be required was a commando attack on the facility.

vemork_hydroelectric_plant_1935

The Winter Fortress in 1935. The heavy water was produced in the front building (the Hydrogen Production Plant).

The Winter Fortress tells the story of the brave Norwegian resistance fighters. Several of these fighters escaped to England. They were trained in England, and reinserted back into Norway. Where they fought bravely for their homeland.

During the months leading up to the attack the fighters faced countless hardships. While waiting for British forces and supplies, they fought the cold and near starvation. As well as, living  in fear of being captured, interrogated and/or killed by the Nazis. Finally, after a failed attempt to insert British commandos, a decision was made, that they were to be the commandos! It’s the ultimate tale of bravery and giving all for your country!

The Movie Version The Heroes of Telemark

As I read the book, I thought this would make a great action movie. the other day I was telling one of my co-workers at Target, who is actually older than me about the book. He said :”heavy water, I saw a movie about that”. While he couldn’t remember the name of the movie at the time, he did text me later. He said the movie was The Heroes of Telemark.  Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris.were the stars of the movie. The movie was released in 1966, when I was a young lad 15 years old! Fifty years ago, wow! I think it’s time for a remake! From Turner Classic Movies……

Based on a true story, The Heroes of Telemark stars Kirk Douglas as Dr. Rolf Pedersen, a scientist who’s forced to team up with a Norwegian underground leader (Richard Harris), to destroy a factory where Nazis are producing “heavy water,” a key element in the making of atomic weapons. The two men are forever at each other’s throats (just as Douglas and Harris reportedly were during filming), but they still manage to make several attempts at sabotaging the Nazi’s A-Bomb program. Read More

Bottom Line:

The Winter Fortress is very very  engrossing and well-written.The amount of research that went it writing this book was exceptional. The book provides a vivid picture of the service of these brave Norwegian resistance fighters. Here’s what some others say about the book….

“In The Winter Fortress Neal Bascomb brilliantly tells the extraordinary true story of arguably the most important and daring commando raid of World War II; how an amazing band of men on skis made sure that Hitler never got to drop the ultimate bomb”- Alex Kershaw Author of The Longest Winter

“A riveting, high-action World War II thriller with nothing less than the fate of planet Earth on the line. Just imagine the horror if Hitler had gotten the atomic bomb. Written with great verve and historical acumen, The Winter Fortress hits the mark of excellence. Highly Recommended!!” – Douglas Brinkley, author of The Great Deluge and Cronkite

I totally agree with both quotes, so check it out!! As for me, I am going to check out The Heroes of Telemark!

Book 34 of 2016 

Links for the Further Exploration of The Winter Fortress

Author’s Website
Amazon
Goodreads
Wikipedia

 

Ed K Finally Reads Life of Pi

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 Life of Pi by Yann Martel – it’s about time! (Book 34 of 2016)

I am a simple man, in more ways than one.  As such when I read, I like a straight forward story. Boy meats girl, boy cuts up girl into a thousand little pieces. Then my hero comes in and needs to figure out who the killer is before he can strike again. Another story may involve an evil person or group about to wreak havoc on the world. Again my hero must save the day! But every once in a while I visit the dark side. I read a book where the message is hidden and symbolism abounds. Such is the case with Life of Pi (book 34 for 2016) by Yann Martel. I’m confused! But I for one like the story with the animals.

For whatever reason, (oh yeah I don’t read  much literature) I have put off reading Life of Pi. Many have not only read the book, but they have seen the Academy Award winning Ang Lee movie!

The Story

.By now everyone knows the story, A young Indian boy and his family are moving to Canada on a cargo ship with animals from their Pondicherry zoo. During the early part of the trip the boat sinks leaving young  Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan a zebra with a broken leg and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The remainder of the novel tells how Pi’ survived 227 days on that lifeboat with the tiger – Richard Parker.

The Meanings

From Wikipedia

Life of Pi, according to Yann Martel, can be summarized in three statements: “Life is a story… You can choose your story… A story with God is the better story.

According to Gordon Houser there are two main themes of the book: “that all life is interdependent, and that we live and breathe via belief.”

PBS has described Martel’s story as one of “personal growth through adversity.

Ok so if you haven’t read the book or seen the movie you may want to stop reading here. Maybe you may want to go find either of the two  and either read  the book or watch the movie. Or you can just read on at your own risk.

The Main Theme of the Book?????

At the end of Life of Pi, Pi is questioned about his ordeal by two representatives from the Maritime Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport investigating the sinking of the Tsimtsum…….. Pi tells them his story as it is relayed in the book, complete with the hyena, zebra, orangutan and tiger. The investigators find the story hard to believe. So Pi tells them another story.

In this bleak story. Pi is on the lifeboat with a French cook, a sailor with a broken leg, and Pi’s mother. In turn the French cook cut off the leg of the sailor and eventually eats him. He also kills Pi’s mother. Pi i n turn kills and eats the cook and eventually his own mother.

One of the investigators immediately sees the similarities between the two stories. He sees that the zebra with the broken leg is the Taiwanese sailor, the hyena is the French Cook and the Orangutan Pi’s mother and the Tiger Richard Parker is Pi himself.

At the end of the interview Pi says this to the two investigators

“in both stories the ship sinks, my entire family dies and I suffer……

.:… so tell me since it makes no factual difference to you and you can’t prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?”

The two men both answer “The story with the animals is the better story”

Pi Patel’s response is ‘Thank you. And so it goes with God”

My Confusing Thoughts…..

So I guess what Martel is saying in our story of life, we are presented with two stories one with God (animals) and one without. Both stories will end the same we will suffer, but is the better life the one with God. And it doesn’t matter that God’s existence can not factually be proven either way.

Am I close? or is it…….that we choose to believe the stories of our religions because they help mask the realities of our lives???   Aah! I don’t know and my head hurts just thinking about it! Yes I like the story with the animals better too… so does that mean I should believe in the story of Noah’s Ark, the virgin birth or that Jesus is the son of God who the Almighty sent here to save us, just because it is a better story???  Ugh I think I am meant to read non-fiction but wait if I just read dull facts, aren’t I missing the better story!! Oh no………

Actually, I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it. It’s just that I am as I like to say “literaturely challenged”. I have trouble seeing beyond the dull factuality of books!

The World of a CIA Analyst Comes Alive in Mark Hanshaw’s Red Cell

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Red Cell – Mark Henshaw – Krya Stryker and Jonathan Burke Book 1

Mark Henshaw author of Red CellA week or so ago my wife and I completed watching the first five seasons of Homeland.So when I saw Mark Henshaw’s  The Fall of Moscow Station among the new releases at my library I was intrigued. Looking at the book, I saw that it was the third book in Mark’s series that features CIA agents Kyra Stryker and Jonathan Burke. So rather than start with the third book in the series, I found and checked out Red Cell  the first book in the series. Yesterday, Red Cell became the 32 book I have read in 2016. And now that I know Kyra and Jonathan I’m ready for their next assignment which is chronicled in Cold Shot.

About Red Cell

In addition to being the first book in the Stryker – Burke series Red Cell is also Mark Henshaw’s debut novel. And while Henshaw may be new to the world of books, he is not new to the world of the CIA. Henshaw was a CIA analyst for eleven years. He was a decorated analyst. His awards included the Director of National Intelligence Galileo Award for innovation in intelligence analysis, which he won in 2007. What does this mean for the reader, well, he knows what he is writing about!!

Here’s what some people in the know have written about Red Cell.….

“Red Cell is as smart as it is exciting, a thriller that makes you think from the edge of your seat. Mark Henshaw’s unique perspective from the inside makes it all feel terrifyingly real.”

– Howard Gordon, Co-Creator of Homeland and Author of Hard Target.

“Mark Henshaw clearly knows the terrain, from the geopolitical to the tradecraft in the shadows. I’ surprised this made it past the CIA censors. A rock-solid thriller as plausible as tomorrow’s headlines.”

-Brad Taylor author of One Rough Man and All Necessary Force

After Kyra Stryker’s  first assignment in Venezuela goes bad she is assigned to the Red Cell where she will work with the brilliant but somewhat eccentric analyst Jonathan Burke. Soon Kyra and Jonathan are smack in the middle of an international firestorm.

The firestorm is centered off the coast of China and includes a potential invasion of Taiwan by Communist China, a top CIA asset who has been discovered by the China’s MSS and a potential Chinese weapon the Assassin’s Mace that may tip power toward China. And it’s Kyra and Jonathan’s job to figure it all out and make sure everything turns out ok!!

Bottom-Line

: Red Cell is a 3.5 star book for me. The technical details concerning the operation of the CIA are certainly five-star. But for me Henshaw the first part of the book dragged and i didn’t get to really know Kyra and Jonathan until the second half of the book.

There were also a couple of things that bothered me in the second half of the book. Things happened during Kyra’s assignment in Beijing that bordered on unbelievable.

Overall though I enjoyed the book and look forward to Stryker and Burke’s next assignment. I’m sure that as Henshaw improves as a writer the books in turn will improve. I also think that as the characters are more fully fleshed out I will enjoy the books more!  Does anyone have any comments on  Red Cell or Henshaw’s books in general?