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Reviews by Anthony Conty

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frank: sonnets
by Diane Seuss

Poetry for Non-Poets (1/13/2023)

“frank: sonnets” by Diane Seuss (no relation) has incredibly free-range, stream-of-consciousness poetry. Imagine 137 pages of quick, rambling paragraphs where the author casually mentions death and suicidal ideation, only to move on to something else almost immediately.

It …more

Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel
by Anthony Doerr

Strangely Life-Affirming (12/3/2022)

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” covers a lot of ground from the past, present, and future. It has so much ambition that you almost feel it is unfair to criticize it. However, you feel more competent when it all comes together because you “get it.” I think I got it. But, if you are the …more

Great Circle
by Maggie Shipstead

Get Swept Up In This (10/26/2022)

"Great Circle" by Maggie Shipstead weaves together two stories about a revolutionary female pilot with a troubled background and the actress selected to portray her. The author wastes no time in illuminating the horrors of incest, hypersexuality, and death. Both tales have …more a great deal of sadness, but you learn why we need to hear them together immediately. As with any story like this worth its salt, you enjoy one timeline just enough that you care but want to know what is going on in the other one.

Marian, the aspiring pilot, battles through issues like gender identity and loss. At the same time, Hadley, the actress, struggles with fame and the commitments associated with singing onto a franchise past its time. Of course, neither is perfect, but they have an added focus on them, one because of a small town and the other because of public scrutiny. Like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, you know their tendencies will lead to more problems, but you care enough to root for them.

The character development is top-notch, and you always want to know more about Hadley, Marian, and twin brother Jamie. Shipstead wastes absolutely no time pointing out how all main characters have a tough lot in life and making you doubt their success. The writer uses the storyline to show the bond between twins, the struggle of flying planes as a woman in the 1930s, and the internal conflict involved when a movie star must decide to pursue work in which they find her passion. A great deal happens in 593 pages.

"Great Circle" refers to a pilot's tight arc to travel from one end of the world to another. It has a significant double meaning as we walk through the circle of life with Marian and Hadley from incredible highs and devastating lows. My great process has had both, but Marian goes through sexual assault and an abusive relationship, and you wonder how she carries on with her life. Her ability to fly, unfortunately, remains tied to her marriage, so she begrudgingly goes along with a horrible, subservient arrangement.

Many fans could find something to love here: aircraft fanatics, feminists, World War II buffs, and twins, believe it or not, will relate to what Marian endures. The book reads like an epic but comes across as much shorter due to its considerable timeframe. When we finally transition into wartime, it simply seems just another obstacle. Still, Marian and her twin brother Jamie find ways to contribute and realize how many Americans did the same thing then. War is hell, and authors keep finding new ways to remind us of that.

(Note: often, I will take notes as I read if I have thought that could be relevant. Do not think you know the book's ending or meaning until it ends. Trust me). (less)

Firekeeper's Daughter
by Angeline Boulley

Will Keep You Guessing (10/25/2022)

"Firekeeper's Daughter" by Angeline Boulley tells the story of meth processing in the Native American community. They have a strong sense of values and history and tell their children to think seven generations ahead when making decisions.

They list the novel as "young adult, …more

A Million Things
by Emily Spurr

Hoard Copies of This (10/25/2022)

“A Million Things” by Emily Spurr takes a semi-common theme and mixes it with a new narrative style. Rae ends up “home alone” when her mother disappears, but she narrates and writes in a diary to her parent. She keeps her head down and avoids attention until her older …more

The Lincoln Highway: A Novel
by Amor Towles

Such an Adventure (10/25/2022)

"The Lincoln Highway' by Amor Towles has a lot of ambition, telling a 576-page book from multiple points of view that takes place over ten days. He also does not use quotation marks, which takes a little adjusting. However, it is, at its core, a road trip that keeps going …more

Stories from Suffragette City
by M.J. Rose, Fiona Davis

Essential Piece of History (10/25/2022)

October 23rd, 1915: "Stories from Suffragette City" has the ambitious goal of telling you 13 different stories that take place on this important day in Women's history. Think about what this meant across the span of social classes. The first entry, "Apple Season" by Lisa …more

Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro

Dystopian Brilliance (10/25/2022)

“Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro qualifies as “speculative fiction,” a giant “what-if” to a society that has pushed the limits of Artificial Intelligence and showed its limitations as well. Which parts of the human experience would escape even the most advanced …more

The Sweetness of Water
by Nathan Harris

Not What You Would Expect (10/25/2022)

“The Sweetness of Water” by Nathan Harris continues the tradition of emotionally moving novels based on the Reconstruction. It weaves together two stories, one about formerly enslaved people and another about Confederate soldiers, both scary when you consider the context. …more

The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
by Walter Isaacson

Smart but Accessible (10/25/2022)

“The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race” by Walter Isaacson takes its science seriously and dumbs down absolutely nothing. I am neither the smartest nor dumbest guy in the room, but I had never heard the term CRISPR before cracking …more this open. The gentleman at Starbucks asked me what I was reading. When I told him, he said, “Ooh! Fun with CRISPR!”. Who says the schools have failed?
The first part of the book is about competition. Many people, including our hero Jennifer Doudna, knew the potential of gene editing and manipulation, but few could agree on who deserved the credit or made the most important discovery. Next, we meander into a portion of the ethics of gene manipulation in what seems to be a different but successful novel. In another’s hands, this could have been, as one reviewer put it, “too ambitious.” This book, however, is not Isaacson’s first rodeo, so he knows what to do here.
Most will seek out this story to hear the ethical arguments that have come up over the last few decades. Isaacson, a veteran author of history, seems less concerned with establishing a narrative and more focused on demonstrating how the national argument meandered. The scientists involved constantly battled with their desire for credit and responsibility to societal ethics. Most could see both the power of technology and the need for limits. Most agreed that only life-threatening reasons required such a boost.
We all draw the line differently. What qualifies as an “enhancement” instead of a “requirement” for life? The most emotionally resonant sections interview deaf and autistic adults who do not, under any uncertain terms, recognize their conditions as disabilities. Some wanted children that reflected their culture. These arguments show how differently we think as Americans. A specific population believes that it is immoral to genetically engineer, while a nearly equal amount feel that it is terrible not to if you prevent debilitating conditions.
I wish I did not have anxiety, but the coping mechanisms have proven to me that I have more resilience than anticipated. The same goes for my eldest child but seeing them tackle their fears shows they will persevere. Our opinions do not condemn those of others.
Isaacson acknowledges a blurry line and slippery slope but does not condone those who think differently than he does. He brings together some of the most brilliant minds in science and shows that they all had different goals and visions for the potential of their discoveries. You will want to know more about them. Once we end the Coronavirus mission, we know how we need to protect these minds. (less)

The Forest of Vanishing Stars: A Novel
by Kristin Harmel

Could Be The Best of the Bunch (10/25/2022)

“The Forest of Vanishing Stars” by Kristen Harmel recommends itself to fans of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” and “Where the Crawdads Sing.” I had my skepticism, but that same book is killing it. I have read many slavery/Reconstruction novels and Holocaust/World War II …more

The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

Too Strange to be Real (10/25/2022)

"The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray continues the tradition of "Gentleman's Agreement," "Focus," or the underrated "The Human Stain," in which a character hides their ethnicity in a discriminatory environment. For anyone tired of race …more as a topic, we have an educated bibliophile who certainly wishes that people would focus on her skill, not her complexion.
Belle, our hero, has her character development based on two key features: she has keen negotiating skills and an eye for quality in literature and art. But would her boss, the wealthy (and authentic) J.P. Morgan, still acknowledge her prowess if he knew of her true ancestry? Conversely, can we blame her Black relatives for turning their collective backs on her family since the group has chosen to live as white folks?
The most challenging part of reading lies in accepting the new universe's rules into which the author tries to engross me. Of course, people like J.P. Morgan do not qualify as relatable with infinite money and resources, but Belle's struggle with her racial identity packs a punch. As she infiltrates high society, the element of intrigue always exists under the surface about whether the dignitaries know her secret or, in 1919, how much it would matter.
As historical fiction, the book describes a specific time post-Reconstruction and pre-Suffrage. Belle more than holds her own in her discussions and negotiations with wealthier and more powerful men, but she cannot escape the fears in the back of her mind. The inevitable happens when a subplot of romance appears; nonetheless, I was captivated enough with the story not to see it coming. I cared enough about the characters to feel sorry for them.
When you reach the end and figure out the author's message, you will want to know more about our heroine. How did she achieve deception for so long, and, more importantly, why was it necessary in 1910? As the story progresses and the "big reveals" do not happen or occur differently than you anticipated, you recognize this as a singular work by one of Upper St. Clair's most excellent alumnae, Marie Benedict.
(Note: I usually enjoy stories that create fiction from the kernels of truth in history. The story in the Author's Notes of how both writers united to make this happen is inspiring and not to be missed.) (less)

Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood
by Dawn Turner

Solid Non-Fiction (10/25/2022)

"The Secret Keeper of Jaipur" by Alka Joshi starts when a much-hyped theater watches its balcony collapse, and we then move backward to experience the back story. Luckily, the author provides a cast of characters like a glossary since those with limited attention spans will …more

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur: The Jaipur Trilogy #2
by Alka Joshi

A Great Piece of Culture (10/25/2022)

Lightning Strike: Cork O'Connor Mystery Series #18
by William Kent Krueger

Great Prequel (10/25/2022)

“Lightning Strike” by William Kent Krueger has outstanding storytelling and suffers only from our knowledge of other similar novels: if Native American elder Big John’s death is a suicide, we would have no story. Instead, we get meditation and explore a culture’s opinion of …more

The Magician: A Novel
by Colm Toibin

Good, but Wide in Scope (10/25/2022)

Colm Toibin's "The Magician", may target a more intelligent or informed audience than yours truly. It takes kernels of truth from the life of German novelist Thomas Mann and tells fictionalized tales from 1881-1950.

For many reasons, Germany was a tumultuous place to be at …more

The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World: A Novel
by Laura Imai Messina

Strangely Life-Affirming (10/25/2022)

"The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World" by Laura Imai Messina tells a fictional story about a real place. In Japan, someone set up a "wind phone," an unhooked device designed to communicate with lost loved ones after the tsunami.

The main character, Yui, often brings …more

Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir

Best of the Year? (10/25/2022)

"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir only suffers from comparisons to other books of its genre. If you have recently seen "Arrival" or "The Shape of Water," you expect a much different story.
Unlike most book flaps, this reveals very little to the reader before they enjoy it. It …more

Bewilderment: A Novel
by Richard Powers

A Doozy (10/25/2022)

“Bewilderment” by Richard Powers only has one flaw: it is not “The Overstory," his sweeping epic combined stories about trees to meditate on the importance of all living things. Instead, an astrobiologist must raise a son, who may be on the Spectrum, on his own and …more

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