Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Russian Roulette: Book Review




Russian Roulette
By David Corn
and Michael Isikoff

Purchased copy

Since Donald Trump announced his presidency. I have more informed By reading books, and watching TV, in politics, government, and American history.

 I have been a regular news watcher on MSNBC. After the election, I started watching Rachel Maddow. She would tells us the  news stories that no one else was reporting. Trump's  real estate in the Middle East, Trump-Putin-Russia connection,Oligarch connection,  Miss Universe, money laundering, hacking of the DNC, etc. Rachel was reporting, and kept reporting all this crazy stuff. To me, it sounded like a spy novel. The sad thing, it is TRUE!

When I learned where these stories are coming from. Then I learned these two guys were writing a book. I knew I had to buy it. I was not disappointed. I wish none of this was true. The book reads like a spy novel, think Daniel Silva.

I knew who Trump was from the 1980's from NYC. He was a slum lord. Always trying to get away with not paying contractors, swindling people, etc. He style was a big bully. Pull his weight and money around because he had lots of money. Well, there was a time he was in a lot of trouble. He lost a lot of money. Used corruption to get out of hock by money laundering.  I didn't like him then, I don't like him now. CON MAN. The sad thing is I have family, and friends that are bought into him. Brain washed!

So scary, he has become a dictator. Slowly, but surely we will slowly unravel into a fascist country. I saw it coming before he was elected, so sad.

The last straw which was reported in the book, and now is reported. That a young Russian infiltrated the NRA. She influenced our GOP Senators, and Congressmen. She was reported to go to Christian's  Breakfasts. They are giving money to NRA. This is all in the book before it came out last week.

The only thing there is a question is the "Golden Shower".  Most everything else has been proven by our intelligence agencies. No matter what Trump says. Nothing has been truly proven yet against our President.

My thought why doesn't he just tell the truth, and defend himself. He acts like a guilty man. It is hard to review the book without going on with the investigation and telling my thoughts.

Chapter 14 was the important chapter in the book. Why Obama didn't do more to attack back? Obama was afraid it was going to look like it was partisan. I think he was damn if he did, and damned if he didn't. Obama didn't want to attack Russia, and retaliate . He was afraid Russia may get into the electric grid, or even worse. I think he was overthinking, and rationalizing.  Which helped the Russian's, and Trump.

McConnell, the Senator Majority Leader didn't want to do anything. Shame on you. What I do remember hearing( not in the book) is that Obama had talked to people. That once he wasn't president any longer. He wanted the investigators to keep on uncovering. To hide that information from Trump. So there still is a paper trail and Trump can't sabotage.

I read Russian Roulette during the time of the Russian Summit. Trump is so stupid, really. Why Trump through the American people under the bus. Why he is suggesting that diplomats being interrogated by the Russians? Is he crazy?! Interrogating, you mean torture! Suggesting that we will accept Russia help with cyber security? He has not done anything to safeguard our country. Our elections are in November? The best thing would have allowed the transcriptionist to interview her. But, the  GOP doesn't want that. They apparently want the Russians to infiltrate us again. Trump walks a word back. It is three times he says, " It's a hoax". Then Sanders lies to the American people. She just tries to turn the story around. To confuse people. The reasonable people know whats going on. The Trump Cult eat
s and swallows every word. It so sad. They don't see what he is doing, Fox News( National TV), social media.

I am sorry my review turned into a rant. But, I just had to give my take on the situation. Thank you Mr. Corn, and Mr. Isikoff for informing the people what has been investigated. What we know. By the way, the reason these investigative reporters wrote the book. Because Mueller's investigation doesn't have an obligation to inform the people. It is Rod Rosenstein. The truth may never come out.

Why our country is going back in time with abortion, and our freedoms. Why our country is not separate from religion and state.
The truth has to come out. We, the American People have to fight back. Vote this November, Democrat to take back the house. Where we have check and balances. People have to have empathy,  heart, not reckless, nationalists, not divisive, and racists crazy people running around.







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Book Review: Alternate Side








Alternate Side
Anna Quindlen

Courtesy copy from
Netgalley

I have read a few books by Anna Quindlen. I was looking forward to reading the next book by her. I don't usually read books that deal with character study. That said, you will probably realize I was out of my comfort zone.


Some days Nora Nolan thinks that she and her husband, Charlie, lead a charmed life—except when there’s a crisis at work, a leak in the roof at home, or a problem with their twins at college. And why not? New York City was once Nora’s dream destination, and her clannish dead-end block has become a safe harbor, a tranquil village amid the urban craziness. The owners watch one another’s children grow up. They use the same handyman. They trade gossip and gripes, and they maneuver for the ultimate status symbol: a spot in the block’s small parking lot.

Then one morning, Nora returns from her run to discover that a terrible incident has shaken the neighborhood, and the enviable dead-end block turns into a potent symbol of a divided city. The fault lines begin to open: on the block, at Nora’s job, especially in her marriage. With an acute eye that captures the snap crackle of modern life, Anna Quindlen explores what it means to be a mother, a wife, and a woman at a moment of reckoning.
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I read Alternate Sides a couple of months ago. This was not a great read. But, I think I get the writing style of the book. The marriage of Nora, and Charlie is comfortable, They have two kids in college. They have a privileged life in NYC. They have lived there for years. Everyone knows everyone including everyone's children. The pages go very slowly, then the tension reads in the  pages after around page 100.

 A handyman takes a parking spot from one the residents. The handyman is Chicano, the neighbor and the handyman have an argument. Anger, and then a physical fight over the parking spot. The handyman ends up in the hospital for quite awhile. Each person has a different perspective. Charlie, and Nora disagree. I can see a book discussion while reading this. Who's perspective do you believe?
Why does Charlie see it different than Nora? How does the community change? Is there hope for the community? Well, yes there is. The community does heal.

The book was a slow read. But, I understand why the author wrote the way she did. The writing was smooth, and was descriptive writing. If you like reading books on character study. You will like reading. I was disappointed comparing the novel from her book years ago, Black and Blue. Which I loved.






Tuesday, July 3, 2018

One Thousand White Women: Book Review










One Thousand White Women
By Jim Fergus


I have been looking forward to reading, One Thousand White Women. Sandy, from our book club picked the book. Usually she is never wrong. The book is a re-print. He just wrote a sequel to One Thousand White Women. I thought this would be a great read. Since, I don't usually read books about the mid-west.  After reading, I think I will like to dive more in the subject of the mid-west. 

The book as you can tell is historical fiction. It is written as a journal. It is based on the story of the author's family. But, he has taken some liberties to change the story. The Federal government want to strike a deal with the Indians. They will trade American White Women for Indian goods. 

May Dodd is committed to an mental asylum because her family thinks she has married below her station and had children by the man.  May decides the best way out of the problem is to participate in the secret government's scheme. She has to leave her two children behind. She book is written in letter form to her brother, and sister. It is correspondence to them about her life. The letters are not reciprocated back and forth. 

She further complicates matters by falling in love with Captain Bourke. Then eventually marries the Chief of the Cheyennes, Little Wolfe. She lives during difficult, and  harsh weather conditions. She learns to assimilate to the Indian's ways of life. Which is not easy. Learning to get along with the other tribes. (since there is fighting against the other tribes)Making friends with the other women of the tribe, as well as the others that came with her. There is a lot she must learn from being a civilized woman to assimilate into the tribe. As well as not being naive to the American government. She learns how devious, and the American troops take the land of the Cheyenne. 

The writing style was straight narrative.There were parts of the novel that was predictable. Which I felt drifting off in the narrative. The beginning of the novel was good then it lost me. When the author started writing about the federal government, and the Indians. It finally drew me back in.Since I love reading about social justice, and the constitution. That drew the plot for me a bit. 

 The book was a bit dry. The writing had no feeling, or emotion.. There was romance in the novel, but  with no feeling. I did keep trudging on. It still kept me wanting to read, though. After I read the book I am going to do my own research about the Plain's Indians, Sioux, and Cheyennes. 

I hope to find another novel on the subject. I will be posting on our book club meeting next week. I will let you know what others said. Sandy, did tell us that the sequel is not as good. I will her advise and not go further.