Archive for the ‘Book Review’ Category

West Berlin Part II Update Coming Soon – Meanwhile, Some Reads for You

January 31, 2025

I’ll finish up the second part of the West Berlin post soon.  

Until then, if you are a history buff, I encourage you to check out The Autodidact Professor’s website. The website covers many topics logically grouped into the Ancient Kings: Builders of Civilization, Chronicles of the Crown, Roman Emperors, Turning Points, and Cultures and Civilizations. 

My second recommendation is to check out Pulphouse magazine. Pick up a copy, and if you like, it subscribe to it. I just finished a six-month subscription and renewed for another year. Pulphouse is one of the few magazines I’ll read cover to cover. Issue #37 showed up tonight and the title of the first story is “The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo” a very fun read. Pulphouse is not genre specific, you will never know which genres will show up in the latest issue, you will only know they are quality short stories.

In the Shade of the Slowboat Man is my pick for this week’s short story. Nominated for a Nebula in 1997. A quick read. The Amazon description summarizes the story giving nothing away. “For a vampire, saying goodbye to your mortal lover can be the hardest thing you ever have to do.” 

Happy Reading!

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Book Recommendation: The Spy Coast by Tess Gerrutsen

January 26, 2025

The Spy Coast is a fun, fast-paced thriller.

Maggie Bird, a CIA operative, retired in a small coastal town in Maine. A murder in her small town, linked to an old covert operation, pulled her back into the life she left behind. Ex-spies teamed up with Maggie to unravel secrets, while Maggie also dealt with the fallout of choices she made long ago. 

Maggie is not the typical spy. She’s older, more experienced, and carries the emotional scars from past work. The author, Tess Gerritsen, explored themes like aging, redemption, and regret, which gave Maggie depth.

The book is fast-paced but balances the action scenes with reflective moments so readers can connect with the characters. 

I recommend The Spy Coast to anyone looking for an exciting thriller that also has heart, spirit and an unforgettable protagonist. 

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Book Recommendation: Stasiland: Stories from behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder

January 25, 2025

From 1985 to 1988, I served as a soldier in the United States Berlin Brigade, which was in the American sector of West Berlin. While there, I visited East Berlin a few times. The difference between West Berlin and East Berlin stood out to me. The infrastructure, consumer products and urban aesthetic in East Berlin paled compared to West Berlin. In the East, there were visible East German Police within a block or two of each other. I always felt watched.

I stumbled on the book Stasiland by Anna Funder when I came across an article that mentioned the Stasi Archives, which became accessible to the West once the wall fell.

Funder’s book is a thought-provoking read, which balances journalism with human stories. Funder interviewed former Stasi officers and the ordinary people who had to live their life under surveillance. A society built on fear and mistrust takes a psychological toll on its citizens.

Funder’s writing is informative and although the book is about historical events, the personal stories in a historical context ensure the book is engaging. For those fascinated by the Berlin Wall or the experience of living under a centralized, dictatorial state, Stasiland is an excellent choice.

If you value freedom and truth, you may find this book relevant to events in today’s world.

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