Saturday, March 25, 2017

The Rogue Lawyer






The Rogue Lawyer
By John Grisham

Doubleday Books
Review copy from Todd Dogherty



The Rogue Lawyer is not your typical John Grisham novel. The novel does grab you like all of his novels. But, doesn't grab you the same way he's other novels do. The novel opens up with the main character, Sebastian Rudd.  

He represents the worst of the worst in his cases. The book is like short stories about each of the client's he represents. They only connect because they are Rudd's clients. Other than that the stories are not interconnected. They are interesting stories on how he deals with his clients. In the center of it all is how he tries to get along with his ex-wife, and his daughter in the custody fight.

 He works out of a customized bulletproof van, complete with Wi-Fi, a bar, a small fridge, fine leather chairs, a hidden gun compartment, and a heavily armed driver. He has no firm, no partners, no associates, and only one employee, his driver, who’s also his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddy. He lives alone in a small but extremely safe penthouse apartment, and his primary piece of furniture is a vintage pool table. He drinks small-batch bourbon and carries a gun.

It wasn't a great read. It was a distraction with what life was dealing me during the week. 









Friday, March 3, 2017

Marjorie Morningstar


           
     





Marjorie Morningstar
By Herman Wouk



Our book club, chose to read Marjorie Morningstar for our February meeting. I was hesitant to read the book. Because it was such a long novel. We discussed how we were going to discuss a long book. But, we chose to read it in one month.

Some of the book club members have read the novel before, but years ago. Most of them read it in their teens in the 1950's.. So at that time most of the members thought the novel was relatable. But, now they have a different perspective.

Some of the members thought that Noel was a terrible perspective for a boyfriend for Marjorie. That Marjorie was a spoiled little rich girl. She was so rebellious. Did everything opposite what her parents expected.

The book takes place in the 1930's before the war. I couldn't believe the author was the same author that wrote the novel, War and Peace and other books. I never understood how he could write a romance novel. I couldn't relate to the book at all. I could not see this as timeless. Because I couldn't relate to the novel at all. Perhaps if I was a teen I could relate to it. Because a teenager I could see her being rebellious. Like any teenager. But, reading as an adult in mid life I couldn't relate. I thought she was reckless, and radical, having, and talking sex openly.

The writing is straight narrative. Now, many authors have different and varied writing styles, and have different types of skills to write a novel. For example, some authors, write using flashbacks, other write subjective, and objective writing. The modern writing styles grab you most of the time. They don't use long sentences like Mr. Wouk did.  The writing with Wouk were long and descriptive.

Also, I noticed the author using, " The Father", The Mother", as a authoritarian. Instead of using, mother, and father. I didn't like any of the characters, I think the only character I liked was the Uncle.
The only part of the novel I liked was the early part of the book. When they were at the Bar-Mitzvah, and at the camp. It reminded me of the stories of my Mom and Dad growing up. Also reminded me of Dirty Dancing.

I am glad we read the book because reading a book that was written year ago. To hear the perspective of the ladies that read it when they were younger. Was wonderful hearing their perspective of the novel. I struggled through it because it was a book club book. If I was reading it for my pleasure. I think I would have put it down.                                                                

Book Review: The Making of Donald Trump







The Making of Donald Trump
By David Cay Johnston



I was never interested in Donald Trump. Living in the metro area of New York. I used to hear the gossip and troubles, and womanizing in the 80's in the news, and on TV, and newspapers. He's wife, and lovers. I thought he was disgusting. I didn't know the half of it. There is even more in the concise biography of Donald Trump.
I was disconnected because I didn't know anything about Trump being on TV, on the Apprentice.

 I never followed politic until this year. I was a republican until this year. When I turned to the democratic party. I didn't want Hilary Clinton, but I definately didn't want to see Donald Trump. I could see right through him. Where most of my other friends, and family didn't.

 I saw him as reckless, and a dangerous man. he has no conscience, no heart, conflict of interest, what does a wealthy business man have to gain to become president? ,How does he understand the average person's problems? . He is up in Trump Tower. He is unaware of most of our daily financial problems. He has so many business interests all over the world. You are going to tell me he isn't looking out for himself? He definately is. He is going to benefit becoming president. Passing laws that benefit him and he's family. You tell me he is going to disassociate himself from his business. I can see him  at Thanksgiving dinner. He isn't going to ask his son," What's going on". He reacts before he thinks, He is so thin skin. He attacks people, etc, etc, and it keeps continuing each day. Our heads get dizzy with news or distractions It is so mind blowing.

So finally, I decided to give the benefit of the doubt to read this concise short book on Trump. I thought maybe it will give me a different aspect, WRONG!!
He's grandfather, father were pretty terrible people. Trump, and his siblings decided to sue one of his brothers. The family was contesting the suit. Saying one of the brother's didn't deserve being part of the will. So instead the family decided to stop their health insurance. Which involved the brother's baby son who was gravely ill. I told you Trump had no heart.

Donald Trump has unscrupulous business practices, reckless when dealing in business, He has no regard for others only what benefits himself. He has a lack of business ethics, and judgments in business.

Each of the chapters are made up of controversial items in his life. Whether it is unethical or criminal. The only problem is Trump seems to get away with it. He is able to find a loophole or pay someone off. It starts with him being a slum lord in the New York City projects, or taking from the government monies that he uses cheaper materials and then pockets the money. He doesn't pay people he owes for work that is done. He boasts that he just bought a million dollar project. Then reneges it, and then says the property is less. He then pays less in taxes, Trump University fiasco. Students paying large amount of money. He promises he is going to hand pick he's faculty. Which he doesn't. He then brands his property. He has someone else do the work. He proclaims he is a billionaire. But, reading it appears he doesn't. It is important to hide his so called wealth. Because banks will not simultaneously loan money to him if they realize he is not.

I realize this because, why would he not pay contractors and employees he owed money too. He also was bankrupt several times. Banks and lawyers saved his butt only because of the self interest of themselves. Realizing it was better that they give him more time to pay them back. He was involved with football leagues and tried to pull a fast one with them. He has never given to charities. If he has it is money he has given from the Trump Foundation to give back to the Trump Foundation. He knows the loopholes to get away from paying taxes for years, and the same with the Casino Commission. Ridiculous. He is basically cheating us, We the People. He is fine with cheating the government for years. Paying $0 in taxes. Piggybacking on others. How he can sleep at night. I wonder what he's children are like. I would think they would be embarrassed to know he's father did this. Or they are just like him.

 He also was involved with the mafia, gangsters,etc. He also was involved with using concrete instead steel regulations. Sounds to me like a Hoffa cover-up??! The whole book turned my stomach.And this is years ago before he was ever thinking about becoming president.  The book should have been required reading for any Trump supporter. Now, look what we got ourselves into America!

There is so much more than I discussed. The list goes on, and on... If you want to learn more, I suggest you pick up the book by Pulitzer prize winner, David Cay Johnston.

The Making of Donald Trump reads like a gotcha book. It grabs you from the first page. The book reads like a newspaper article. It is fast reading. Each chapter takes a piece of Donald Trump's controversial life. I don't know how this man can sleep at night. He evades paying taxes for years. He is proud of it. He even said at the debates, I'm smart.I got away not to have to pay taxes.

I am sharing my thoughts... The book doesn't cover anything about the presidential race, and when he becomes president. The one thing that bothered me is that he never apologized for his strategy for being divisive and dividing the country. I never heard him defend any of the minority groups. He finally says something a week ago. It's a bit too late. Then he's excuse when Israeli Prime Minister comes to Washington. A question is posed to him. He answers with the voting numbers again. Then brings up his daughter is Jewish. He's daughter is a convert. That doesn't mean he sees his daughter as Jewish. He used her marriage and her husband as a political ploy. Also when other presidents see a crisis the president steps up to the plate to decrease anxiety of the United States citizens. He doesn't.