Sam Walton Biography by Vance H. Trimble

 Sam Walton, the founder of Wal Mart, was once America's Richest Man but this title didn't come easily. He worked hard, took chances, and was a strategic businessman from humble beginnings. He was fortunate that his wife was patient and went along with his ideas.

One thing I took away from his story is that a goal and hard work are what is needed for success. A dream is simply waiting for something to happen.

The biography, although not authorized by Sam Walton, was nevertheless well researched and many of those who knew Sam Walton were interviewed.

Favorite Reads of 2024

 Below are my favorite reads (in no particular order) of 2024

Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

 Jodi Picoult does an amazing job at showing a situation from different points of view and Perfect Match is no exception. In any story that involves a child harmed, this story tugs at the heart.

From the cover:

In the course of her everyday work, career-driven assistant district attorney Nina Frost prosecutes child molesters and works determinedly to ensure that a legal system with too many loopholes keeps these criminals behind bars. But when her own five-year-old son is traumatized by a sexual assault, Nin and her husband are shattered, ripped apart by an enraging sense of helplessness . . . Nina hurtles toward a plan to exact her own justice for her son - no matter the consequence.

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

 Sycamore Row is a follow up to John Grisham's A Time to Kill with many of the same characters. The town of Clanton is shocked when a well known wealthy landowner, Seth Hubbard, is discovered hanged from a tree. Before his death, he writes a holographic (handwritten) will and mails a letter to attorney, Jake Brigance, letting him know that he wishes to disinherit his children and leave a hefty sum to his housekeeper.

Puzzled by Seth's final thoughts, a will contest ensues which devolves many surprises and conflicts in true Grisham style.

Leave plenty of time to read the last few chapters because it will be difficult to put the novel down once all the secrets start unravelling.

Together Alone by Barbara Delinsky

 Together Alone by Barbara Delinsky reminded me a little of the Desperate Housewives television series. Kay, Emily and Celeste are finding their way after their children leave for college. Each has their own struggles with marriage or in Celeste's case, singleness. Interwoven into the affairs is a mystery of over a decade when Emily's son had been abducted. 

The House of Dudley by Joanne Paul

 

The Dudley family's successes and misfortunes seemed to depend on the whims of the Tudor Kings and Queen during tumultuous times. Both Queen Elizabeth and the last male member of the Dudley family died without descendants. Robert Dudley is best known for his romance with Queen Elizabeth which never resulted in the marriage he had hoped for. 

Robert's younger brother, Guildford Dudley, came to a dramatic end after marrying Lady Jane Grey who became queen of England for a mere nine days following a rebellion by her father to crown his daughter.  She was consequently unthroned by Henry VIII 's daughter, Mary. Both Guildford and Lady Jane were beheaded at the Tower of London.

Joanne Paul has many interesting historical videos on You Tube.

One Summer by David Baldacci

 I usually like David Baldacci's novels but I found the beginning of One Summer to not be realistic regarding the medical diagnosis and miraculous recovery.

From the cover:

There is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie . . .

He reunites everyone at Lizzie's childhood home on the oceanfront of South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack and his children learn to become a family once more.

Sooley by John Grisham

 

Sooley is a little different from the novels John Grisham usually writes and is based on U.S. college basketball. In particular, recruiting from other countries. 

At 17 Sooley, who has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, is plucked from the dusty and uneven "basketball courts" of South Sudan and given an opportunity to play for a U.S. college team. After he leaves his home village with the civil war raging around them, he lands in North Carolina and with the help of his coaches tries to concentrate on his game. But shortly after he leaves, rebels descend on the village,  killing the men, taking young women and leaving mothers and children to wander until they find a refugee camp.

Sooley has more than one reason to become an outstanding player, his quest for citizenship could be the only hope his family has to move from their destitute situation. 

My thoughts:

Thomas Sowell has written about the African problems for many years. Rivers that were difficult to navigate (restricting trade), civil wars and bad/power driven leadership have plagued African countries long after colonialism.

In Sooley, it shows the devastation on one family from rebel groups. Families that are hardly managing on a daily basis are dealing with their meager belongings and shelter destroyed and travelling miles on dusty roads to find help. Juxtaposed is the wealth and comfort of American families. The book also shows the kindness of those in Sooley's life trying to help him to be successful in a sport he loves and provide a path for his family to leave their squalor.

One thing I have found in immigrants who are genuinely wanting to assimilate and become part of the U.S., they work hard and are often more patriotic than those born here. Unfortunately, like the rebels in the story, there are others who bring with them violence and their desire to force their will on others, while taking advantage of benefits the U.S. has to offer. 

This would make a great book club read.

Well meaning foreign aid doesn't always help those in need. Including money to fund a Chinese opera house!

British taxpayers’ money has been directed to regions of upper-middle-income countries that are wealthier than parts of the United Kingdom, according to a new briefing paper from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

The report, Robin Hood in Reverse, authored by IEA Research Fellow Mark Tovey, reveals that UK foreign aid has been spent in affluent areas of China, Mexico, and Malaysia over the past five years. This includes Ordos in China, with a GDP per capita of £27,500 – on par with Swansea and richer than 69 other regions of the UK.

The U.S. sent funds to United Nations (UNRWA) which has been supporting terror groups.

The Price of Inheritance by Karin Tanabe

 

The Price of Inheritance by Karin Tanabe is focused on the auction industry, specifically Christie's and Sotheby's. Carolyn Everett is Christie's antique furniture specialist but, despite being a rising star, she is fired from the New York office after a scandal involving stolen furniture. She returns to her home town of Newport, Rhode Island and takes a part time position at a local antique store. While out scouting for acquisitions she comes across an artifact which she is puzzled about. Her search for the provenance leads her to a Marine Captain stationed nearby and uncovers more than she bargained for.

My thoughts:

I was intrigued with the story because I once worked for Christie's rival, Sotheby's, in London. Auctions can be exciting and Carolyn had certainly become caught up in the chase of valuable objects. However, I found the story of the bowl that might or might not be an antique and the reasons why it's antiquity was covered up by (spoiler alert) a teacher at a local university and how Carolyn discovered where the bowl was headed to based on her dealings with a furniture collector. And I'm still puzzling over why Caroline gave the pottery teacher the phone number of the teacher's ex boyfriend when Carolyn asked her to call her. That was actually one of the book club questions in the back. None of the story made sense to  me but I did enjoy the descriptions of Newport.

America the Beautiful by Ben Carson

 I'm still  going through the stack of books I purchased at the Friends of the Library book sale a few months ago and America the Beautiful is one of them. There is no doubt that Ben Carson is a patriot. He is grateful for the opportunities afforded to him and a path he was able to follow from poverty to being one of the most renowned neurosurgeons. The book was written at the end of the first Obama term and tackles many subjects such as the pros and cons of capitalism, morality, and health care to name a few. He also talks about how the country is divided which is sadly more so twelve years after the publication of the book. With an election coming up, it is a great book to read and to remind us that voting for or against personalities rather than policies and what the candidate stands for has had grave consequences in the past.

p.194-195

Many recent polls have shown that most Americans believe that we are on the wrong path as a nation. They are discouraged about our future and the future of our children. I say, be  not discouraged, for God is on our side if we really trust him, as is indicated on every coin in your pocket and every bill in your wallet. We must stop being political and start being logical. . .

It is time to set aside political correctness and replace it with the bold values and principles that founded our nation in history. It is time to stop apologizing and to start leading, because the world is desperately in need of fair and ethical leadership.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

 

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry is set in 1940 England when children were sent, during WWII, from London and major cities to rural areas for safety. Unfortunately, the name given for this exercise was Pied Piper. The Pied Piper is a poem/fairy tale where he led the town's children to the river and they all perished.

Fourteen year old Hazel and her five year old sister Flora were evacuees, sent to a small hamlet in Oxford. When Flora vanishes it is thought she has fallen into the river and drowned. Hazel and her mother continue to look for Flora. When Hazel comes across a children's book 20 years later she realizes only her sister could have passed on to the author the mystical village of Whisperwood that Hazel had told Flora many times. In 1960 Hazel begins her search again for her missing sister.

My thoughts:

Although the novel is fiction it drives me crazy when authors do not research English history. There are many things that someone who didn't grow up in London might not notice but I found it took me away from the story over and over again. One name that constantly comes up in English novels written by an American author is Brighton Beach. Brighton Beach is in Brooklyn. Brighton in England does have a beach but the name of the town is simply Brighton.

England did not have pre-schools in 1960 - they were primary schools.

The zebra crossings are not called crosswalks.

Red and white British Union Jack flags? The English flag is white with the red Saint George's Cross. The British Union Jack is red white and blue.

The London to Paris Night Train left from London Victoria Station platform 2 not Charing Cross platform 7. I used to work near Victoria Station in the 1960s and saw the train many times. And the door would not hiss open. They were opened by hand.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 

Kristin Hannah delves deeply into the Vietnam War in The Women. I was living in a different country during this era and although some of the news covered the war, we were somewhat sheltered and I didn't realize the full impact until I visited the Vietnam War Memorial with nearly 60,000 names of the fallen etched into black granite. Wars are never a good solution, but this one seemed so senseless. And sadly the women who were nurses, worked for the Red Cross and many other services were not recognized. The Women is definitely going on my list of favorite books for this year.

Twenty year old nursing student Frances McGrath was raised in the idyllic world of Southern California but when her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam she imagines a different future for herself.

Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war when she arrives in Vietnam. But when she returns home the real battle begins with protestors, people spitting and shouting at those returning home and the nightmares that follow. The novel  is about deep friendships and shines a light on women who put themselves in harm's way and whose sacrifice is often forgotten.

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

 

I haven't read any of David Baldacci's novels for a while and a friend recommended A Calamity of Souls. Apparently, having grown up in Virginia, David Baldacci had formed a story in his mind over a decade ago and finally put pen to paper. Set in the Vietnam War era, A Calamity of Souls highlights the racial divide in the south with a white lawyer fighting for his black client. It's quite a powerful novel and thought provoking. But it seems that no matter what the era, there is always a divide, black v. white, rich v. poor, and now in the U.S. it's a political divide of Democrats v. Republicans. 

From the cover:
Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are stacked against him. 

The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel

 Set in WWII German occupied France, The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel follows the story of two women: Juliette and Elise. One, because of her husband's involvement with the French Resistance, needs to flee Paris and leaves her daughter with her friend. After the war, Juliette moves to New York with her only remaining child, but Elise is still trying to find out what happened during the fateful bombing in the Paris district where many were killed. 

The story is heart wrenching on so many levels with the treatment of their Jewish friend, the bombing by the allies who hit a Renault factory, taking with it many Paris suburb homes and shops, and the choices mothers make to protect their children. 

The ongoing quest for power, fame and control affects so many lives whether it be during war or just the out of control actions of a lawless government. I wish people would just leave each other alone to live their lives.

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

 

Jodi Picoult always leaves the reader with a lot to ponder. The Book of Two Ways delves into Egyptology, views of death and the role of a present day death doula.  

After a scary situation, Dawn decides to take a trip to Egypt and recover her prior life as an archeologist and also her prior love, Wyatt. She leaves behind Brian, her husband, and her vocation as a death doula. Feeling she has two paths she could chose from and wondering what she will leave behind when she leaves this earth, the novel gives an in depth look of both lives she has to choose from.

My thoughts: I've always loved Jodi Picoult's novels, but I found it difficult to wade through all the Egyptology descriptions and explanations of archeology and scientific studies. I feel that a lot of it could have been condensed without losing the story. It's also difficult to understand the timeline as it isn't written chronologically.  Kirkus review of The Book of Two Ways had similar comments.

Meditations - Marcus Aurelius

 Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius lived between 121 and 180 AD. His death was considered the end of the Pax Romana and instability lead to the eventual fall of Western Roman Empire.

His musings in Meditations are common sense and surprisingly follows a lot of bible teachings despite his references to "the gods." He was considered a Stoic Philosopher.

Quote:

From my governor
I learned endurance of labor, and to want little and to work with my own hands and not to meddle in other people's affairs, and not to be ready to listen to slander.

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

 

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams was an interesting story but I found it didn't hold  my attention. The story is taken from the history of the Oxford English Dictionary.  James Murray (the editor) gave his children the task of sorting the slips of paper into alphabetical order. The original collection contained 10 volumes!

From the cover:

Esme is born into a world of words.  Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, an Oxford garden shed in which her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme's place is beneath the sorting table. One day a slip of paper containing the word bondmaid flutters beneath the table. She rescues the slip and begins to collect other words. As she grows up she realizes words relating to women and common folk often go unrecorded. She begins her own dictionary . . .

The Falling Woman by Richard Farrell

 The Falling Woman by Richard Farrell covers the investigation of a cross country flight. When the jet comes apart mid-air, National Safety Board Investigator, Charlie Radford, has the difficult task of finding the cause. To add to the mystery is a woman found alive in a barn and appears to be one of the passengers. But while the investigating team are trying to discover who she is, Erin Geraghty is intent on staying out of the limelight and prefers to be presumed dead.

The Litigators by John Grisham

 John Grisham always gives an in depth look into the seedy world of litigation. The Litigators novel focuses on the pharmaceutical industry and the side affects that many of the well publicized drugs might incur.

David Zinc works at a prestigious Chicago law firm but is already getting burned out when he comes across a boutique law firm operated by Wally Figg and Oscar Finley. The two get by with DUIs, divorces and an occasional break from ambulance chasing. Deciding to join the firm for a less stressful life, David instead finds himself in the thick of a lawsuit, which Wally Figg believes will make them all rich, against a large drug company. Unfortunately Wally and Oscar are not exceptional litigators and David has never tried a case in court. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was a lovely read. 

Tova, who had lost both her husband and son, works at night cleaning a local oceanside aquarium. In her 70s she enjoys meeting with friends once a week in their group called the Knit-Wits. Most of their meetings involve drinking tea, gossiping and supporting each other but when she becomes "friends" with a giant Pacific octopus, that frequently escapes his tank, she doesn't share the event with her friends even when they notice sucker shaped bruises on her arm where the octopus had "hugged" her.

After her brother dies, Tova starts to re-evaluate where she wants to spend her remaining life but she still has a nagging need to know what really happened to her eighteen year old son, lost at sea.