Oh Melissa Bank...how I heart you...

I just finished 'The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing' by Melissa Bank. After I completed 'The Wonder Spot' and raved about it to no end; it was recommended that I read Ms. Bank's first foray into writing. Oh and what a wonderful recommendation it was. I loved every second. Not only did the short story format make the book entirely user friendly (I could finish an entire tale in a short bit of time) but each of the stories was totally charming. She has a dry sense of humor that once again had me laughing out loud, and the keen ability to present relationships and human interaction in the most raw, realistic fashion I've ever read. Jane Rosenal, the main character, was all at once sympathetic and infuriating, in her susceptibility to flights of fancy and interesting take on the world. I found myself nodding while reading about her relationships, remembering full well the personal exploration into a world of uncertainty, jealously, and undying love and devotion. The relationship she has with her family is strangely kitchy and totally enviable. Ms. Bank has quite the talent and I can only hope she will attempt another novel in my lifetime.

#'s 15, 16, and 17...moving it right along.

Well I'm not entirely sure why I waited to finish three books to blog about them, but so it is. I will write about them in the order I finished them. First up, 'Hunting Eichmann' by Neal Bascomb (also...'How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down The World's Most Notorious Nazi '). This is the story of the Israeli team (members of Mossad and Shin Bet) who tracked down and successfully captured Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi war criminal, in Buenos Aires in 1960. I read this book from a variety of perspectives; as a human being, a Jewish woman, an advocate for peace, an avid reader [voraciously eating up non-fiction and 'war stories'] and a lover of all things related to the human psyche and what drives people to do what they do. I don't know what was more profound for me...the description of Eichmann, both as a manager of genocide, and as a pathetic prisoner/kidnap victim...or the depiction of his victims and captors. What was most terrifying to read was the 'company man' mentality that Eichmann boasted and even used as a defense during his trial. As far as he was concerned he was just getting the job done as ordered. He was a brilliant strategist; never photographed or seen personally killing a Jew. However, he sat calmly at his desk and coldly planned the transport and annihilation of millions of Jewish people. What is most profound is that even after the Allies were closing in and things were coming to an end; Eichmann continued to round up as many Jews as possible to prevent their escape and survival. On the other hand, the humanity and humility and pain of the Israeli soldiers who eventually captured Eichmann, was breathtaking. It wasn't just their dedication to the cause (despite grave personal sacrifice) but their unrelenting perseverance, even when their chase seemed futile. Their observation that he was just a pitiable, small, stupid man [upon capture] made their struggles all the more painful to read about. The book was everything that a book of this genre should be. It was exciting, historically on point, moving and appalling. I felt better for knowing the story but also like I could transport myself back in time to hit this disgusting little man until my fists were bloodied. What I marveled at most of all, was how easy it was for these criminals, these distasteful pieces of garbage...to justify the most horrific, inhuman behavior with the simple explanation of 'we were just doing a job, as ordered'. It certainly gives perspective to the sacrifices we make, morally or mentally, for the sake of keeping stable work. It absolutely leads me to take a closer look at the genocide around the world that exists today, and how easy it is for it to spiral out into insanity...and how few of those monsters who 'run the show' are caught and punished for their actions. A difficult but well written book...worth the time it takes.

Another amazing fact that I knew but was painfully reminded of during 'Hunting Eichmann' was how permissive and lax other countries were, including the United States, when it came to dealing with Nazi war criminals. In fact, I consider myself a fairly patriotic person, so I found that detail most distasteful and dismaying. Therefore, it was absolutely ironic that my next book would be 'Founding Brothers' by Joseph J. Ellis; an accounting of the men and events that shaped this 'great' nation. In fact, one of the main subjects of debate between the early Federalist and Republic parties was our involvement [or lack thereof] in foreign affairs. Mr. Ellis focuses his book on a few pivotal moments in the life of the new nation through a description of the deeply intertwined lives [and relationships] of John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. He touches upon the establishment of a capital for the nation, the debate on how the nation would eradicate the [Revolutionary] War debt, the race for the Presidential seat given GW's resignation and many other events and discussions that shaped our nation as we know it today. Most fascinating for me was the idea that politics has always had this supercharged gossipy, nasty element to it. People will often refer to simpler times, and it becomes obvious in the reading of this book, that the early years in this country were anything BUT simple. Actually, an argument can be made to the contrary...that it was these men, their actions, their politics and their lives that set the precedent and foundation for American politics as we know it today. What I didn't expect was the friendships and animosities that these men shared, and how intensely their relationships impacted national and political strategy. I adored the small personal details shared about the men that I would never have learned in a typical history class (ie. Madison's diminuitive stature or John and Abigail Adams political union). I also enjoyed the bigger picture facts that eluded me in school, such as the real arguments for and against slavery. I feel as if every child in the United States should be required to read this book before graduating from high school. Not only does it provide massive food for thought but it gives the founders of our nation a humanness that I never quite considered. That is truly humbling.

And...what better to end a good run with than a completely bonkers, off-the-wall tale? 'NNNNN' by Carl Reiner was at once enjoyable with its quirky sense of humor and interesting characters, but mildly disturbing in its absolutely insanity. Nat Noland, the main character and coincidently, an author, is in the middle of a full throttle mid-life crisis when he happenstances upon his unusual and disturbing origin. Nat's visits to a Viennese analyst lead him to discover his three brothers and the possible root of his nuttiness. While most of the story was utterly fantastical; Nat's talking-to-himself incidents provided fodder for some serious laughter and after two extremely serious novels, it was a welcome relief. This book spans roughly the same number of pages as 'Founding Brothers' and yet I found myself reading this particular tale in half the time. Not the most enjoyable read I have endured, but certainly a breath of fresh air and good for a serious chuckle.