Book Review: Gang Leader for a Day

I read Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh a number of weeks ago. We found the book among others in a box in the alley. The best free book I have ever read. I had been meaning to read it for some reason or another and had actually checked it out from the library but never finished it. Finding it in the alley really pushed me to get through it.

That is not to say that it is a difficult book to get through, by any means. It is a non-fiction, subjective book on gang activity on the South-side of Chicago as told from the perspective of Venkatesh who was researching gang culture for his graduate thesis. But this book certainly tells you much more than just that.

Book Review: Game Change

I knew the 2008 election was dramatic but this books almost makes it seem like a farce. Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin certainly did not elevate my opinion of politicians, but it didn't exactly give me the warmest feeling for the authors either. The stories are repetitive and at points almost exaggerated. It was refreshing that the opinions were generally scathing all around. I didn't know much about campaigning before I read this book, but just reading about it was exhausting. These candidates have to be on all the time. And all it takes is one sound byte to set them back or potentially lose them the race. I don't know what I was hoping for in this book and I am not sure if I like what I got. Politicians are mean, scheming and selfish.

It is hard to say who got it the worst in this book, but because there was just so much "dirt" on the Clintons, and probably more people who were willing to voice their opinions it seems much of the book is focused around Hilary's campaign. While it is easy to see without the help of this book that the Clintons are not perfect, this takes it to a completely different level. It truly makes me wonder how their marriage works. It comes off as if they are more like business partners than husband and wife.

But oh did Palin get it. I don't know how much of their recount of Palin's activity in the campaign are true, but all of it is fascinating. She basically loses her mind. Completely unfit for office. And here she is two years later seemingly being groomed for the 2012 presidency. Fascinating. A fellow photographer said that he had considered moving to Denmark if she got elected. I might have him save me a seat on the plane, because by this book's account, she is completely bonkers. I mean WOW.

Overall, it definitely did not make me want to run for higher office. I don't even think I would want to run for a minor office after seeing what the candidates in this midterm election went through. 

All of the reviews of this book that I read said basically nothing except for this one: EW.com

Book Review: Olive Kitteridge

I found Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout at Myopic Books which I find humorous considering I could not find it anywhere this time last year. Sometimes I wonder how some books make their way into used book stores. Maybe this story packed too much reality in.

I did not really research what this book was about other than that it won the Pulitzer last year. I am sort of glad that I didn't. It was nice to not have preconceived ideas of where the story would go. I would hate to ruin it for anyone else that decides to read it, but it is a story about love. About relationships and how they grow and change. It is about how they are not perfect but we all ultimately need to love and be loved. 

It really made me reflect on my relationship and the relationship of my grandparents. To imagine spending 50 years with the same person. More time together than apart. I am sure if I asked my grandmother, she would say it wasn't easy, as everyone does. But somehow they managed. I have been with Aaron for going on five years. It may only be a drop in the bucket, but in five years you can learn a lot about loving someone. 

Needless to say, I thought this was a beautiful book. I thought it really captured the way a relationship works, what it feels like to love someone for a long time, and to lose someone. The characters are very well developed. The style of the book, told in short vignettes, at times unnecessarily tied back to the central character (whose relevance in some instances with quite thin), but overall gave a well round idea of the central theme. 

The character of Olive Kitteridge was quite revealing. She spoke to that judging part of everyone. The idiosyncrasies that we all have, that our partners still love us for without question. 

"His blue eyes were watching her now; she saw in them the vulnerability, the invitation, the fear, as she sat down quietly, placed her open hand on his chest, felt the thump, thump of his heart, which would someday stop, as all hearts do. But there was no someday now, there was only the silence of this sunny room."

Highly recommended.

Other reviews of this book: New York Times, Pulitzer, NPR: You Must Read This

Book Review: People of the Book

I recently finished People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. When I found the copy of the book at a used book sale, I was thrilled. Having read two other books by the same author, Year of Wonders and March, and loving them, I figured I may enjoy this one as well. And on the whole, I did. It was a simple, quick read on an interesting topic.

While I generally liked the book, there were some fundamental issues I had with the story. I could not say that I loved it or would even recommend it to someone. The main character is half way to unlikeable. The jumps in time and history are interesting and provide depth to the book, but I feel as though it was poorly researched. The realizations by the main character also seem too convenient. And the added drama of who stole the book really does not communicate so late in the book and the thief's motives are also very thin. It felt like a climax for the sake of needing a climax.

I thought the parallels of Jewish, Muslim and Christian history was its strongest asset. As a central theme, it really worked. I came away wondering more about that history and the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. However, the drama that is injected that tie the book together seems like a forced response to The DaVinci Code. 

I look back fondly on reading Year of Wonders and March for their insightful characters, in-depth history and eloquent prose. I cannot say that I will think of this book with that same regard.

Other reviews of this book: New York Times, Washington Post, Fresh Air

Saber Shooter Cyber-Borg by Aaron J. McGrath

Fall Reading List

My reading has certainly died down since finding certain paid and unpaid jobs. Nonetheless, I have read a few books lately.

I am currently reading:


It is a pretty excellent half fiction half autobiographical story. It is pretty incredible in that it tells the story with such detail through the lives of the family and friends around the main character. Expect a more detailed review once I am finished.

I recently read:


By far my favorite book of the year.



The book I had intended to read before The Namesake. A series of short stories. The first story being the best, in my opinion. Overall pretty good, gets repetitive at times.

Upcoming reads:

Summer Reading List

Summmertime is always the ideal time to catch up on my ever growing reading list. I am sure there are books on my list that I have been meaning to read since the 9th grade.

However, I have been in need of more contemporary literature, so I have been using the Pulitzer Prize winners as a book list.

Highly Recommended:



Not actually a Pulitzer winner, but the author, Geraldine Brooks writes really beautiful characters in very elegant prose.

By the same author:



Recommended:



Normally I can't stand to read books with footnotes, and actually had to put this book down after the first few pages. Once I made it through a few chapters, I found the footnotes to be full of amazing historical information about the Dominican Republic that I never knew.

Current Reading:



Great characters. Full of drama, suspense, humor and sex.

It feels really good to read. I am very anxious to get a Chicago public library and explore new territory. Summertime pictures to follow shortly.