In Furious, T.R. Ragan introduced us to Faith McMann. A school teacher and housewife, Faith is transformed when home invaders kill her husband and kidnap her children. She becomes a wrathful, dogged pursuer of justice and hunter of the people who stole her children. Furious ended with her freeing some captive abductees and taking a chunk out of a major human trafficking operation, but without her finding her daughter. The story continues in book 2 of the Faith McMann trilogy, Outrage.
Her exploits in Furious attracted a lot of attention by both the media and the crime bosses. Now she and the rest of her extended family are targets. Less determined souls would shut down the hunt and appease the offenders, but Faith won't quit until she finds her son and daughter. In Outrage her family is strained, but even at the cost of their own lives, they are willing to help her continue. Her friends from the anger management class are similarly committed. Faith even comes close to being swept up in the awful stream of sex trafficking herself. The dedication of Faith's family and friends to work together and risk everything for the sake of Faith's children is inspiring. The bad guys better watch out when Faith and her crew are on the case!
Knowing that this was book 2 of a trilogy, I was not disappointed by the lack of resolution, as I was when I finished book 1. To the contrary, Outrage builds the story and builds the anticipation for what (I hope!) will be a satisfying finish in Wrath. Fair warning, the subject matter is gritty and disturbing. Ragan practices restraint in her descriptions of the world of sex trafficking, but the reality is nevertheless hard to read. I found myself rooting for Faith and eager to grab book 3.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Bad Luck and Trouble, by Lee Child
I can't get enough of Jack Reacher. He's smart, he fights like a beast, he acts on a deep sense of justice, and he's rarely wrong. Lee Child's eleventh book in the Jack Reacher series, Bad Luck and Trouble, is one of the better ones I've read so far. Reacher gets a coded message through his ATM receipt from an old army buddy. It turns out someone is picking off members of their unit, so the surviving members gather to figure out why.
Of course Reacher figures it all out. I said he's rarely wrong. He has a couple of misses in this one, but they sure move the story along. I enjoyed the teamwork in Bad Luck and Trouble as he reconnects with his old buddies. I enjoy the fact that the bad guys get their due. I enjoy the contrast of Reacher's analytical, observant mind with his cluelessness about technology. I enjoy Reacher's simplicity; he recognizes that while his colleagues are, on the surface, more prosperous and stable than he is, he isn't missing much by being a homeless drifter.
The body count of Bad Luck and Trouble is substantial. But Reacher and his pals only off the ones who deserve it. Some of Reacher's adventures have very limited implications, like justice in a small town or for one family, but this one has huge implications as they uncover a far-reaching terrorist plot. But America is safer with Reacher on the case. After this one wraps up, he'll get a new folding toothbrush and hit the road until someone needs him again.
Of course Reacher figures it all out. I said he's rarely wrong. He has a couple of misses in this one, but they sure move the story along. I enjoyed the teamwork in Bad Luck and Trouble as he reconnects with his old buddies. I enjoy the fact that the bad guys get their due. I enjoy the contrast of Reacher's analytical, observant mind with his cluelessness about technology. I enjoy Reacher's simplicity; he recognizes that while his colleagues are, on the surface, more prosperous and stable than he is, he isn't missing much by being a homeless drifter.
The body count of Bad Luck and Trouble is substantial. But Reacher and his pals only off the ones who deserve it. Some of Reacher's adventures have very limited implications, like justice in a small town or for one family, but this one has huge implications as they uncover a far-reaching terrorist plot. But America is safer with Reacher on the case. After this one wraps up, he'll get a new folding toothbrush and hit the road until someone needs him again.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Among Wolves, by Dhati Lewis
I'm impressed with Dhati Lewis. He is pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta. I'd go, if I lived nearby. He is passionate about Jesus, especially about Christians' call to make disciples. As a black pastor serving in an urban church, Lewis says he has written Among Wolves: Disciple-Making in the City so that "my generation will be the last generation of urban practitioners forced to leave the urban context in order to be discipled."
To Lewis, discipleship is not optional, it is central to the mission of the church in the world. "Disciple-making is not A ministry of the church; is IS the ministry of the church." Discipleship is reproducing who you are in the context of the church family, through life lived together. In contrast to some models of discipleship, it "is not simply a one-on-one appointment twice a month with someone who is more mature in their faith. . . . It is not a meeting. It is not mentorship. It is not me teaching you what I know." Truth.
In the end, I was bit disappointed by the vagueness of Lewis's prescriptions. His church is called Blueprint because they want to be a blueprint from which other disciple-making churches can be built. But there wasn't much here that I could take as a blueprint to build discipleship into my Christian life and walk. I was also disappointed by the lack of "urban" emphasis. Lewis is black, and I presume the neighborhood his church is in has lots of black residents, but other than his repeated assertion that he doesn't want black Christians to be "forced to leave the urban context" for discipleship, very little was said about any unique challenges of church life and discipleship in an urban setting. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with a book about discipleship that can be applied in any church setting, but when it purports to address a unique church niche, it should live up to the cover copy.
I applaud Lewis's commitment to making disciples. I agree with his re-orientation of what we think of as disciple-making. Discipleship is a whole-life project, not a segmented part of the Christian life but intrinsic in the meaning of the church as the family of God. To make disciples, we have to be in family relationship with other Christians, and to reach people we have to do so in context. Lewis has a good word for the church to be family and to "transmit and embody the life of Jesus through the life of his followers." Amen.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
To Lewis, discipleship is not optional, it is central to the mission of the church in the world. "Disciple-making is not A ministry of the church; is IS the ministry of the church." Discipleship is reproducing who you are in the context of the church family, through life lived together. In contrast to some models of discipleship, it "is not simply a one-on-one appointment twice a month with someone who is more mature in their faith. . . . It is not a meeting. It is not mentorship. It is not me teaching you what I know." Truth.
In the end, I was bit disappointed by the vagueness of Lewis's prescriptions. His church is called Blueprint because they want to be a blueprint from which other disciple-making churches can be built. But there wasn't much here that I could take as a blueprint to build discipleship into my Christian life and walk. I was also disappointed by the lack of "urban" emphasis. Lewis is black, and I presume the neighborhood his church is in has lots of black residents, but other than his repeated assertion that he doesn't want black Christians to be "forced to leave the urban context" for discipleship, very little was said about any unique challenges of church life and discipleship in an urban setting. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with a book about discipleship that can be applied in any church setting, but when it purports to address a unique church niche, it should live up to the cover copy.
I applaud Lewis's commitment to making disciples. I agree with his re-orientation of what we think of as disciple-making. Discipleship is a whole-life project, not a segmented part of the Christian life but intrinsic in the meaning of the church as the family of God. To make disciples, we have to be in family relationship with other Christians, and to reach people we have to do so in context. Lewis has a good word for the church to be family and to "transmit and embody the life of Jesus through the life of his followers." Amen.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson
When it comes to sci-fi, the kinds of novels I enjoy most present a believable future. Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars fits the bill. First published in 1993, Red Mars is still timely, perhaps even more so today. Red Mars begins after some of the first human expeditions to Mars, starting with the first group of permanent colonists, a multi-national group of 100 scientists. The novel is epic in scope, tracing the history of Mars for several decades.
On the plus side, Robinson's literary feat in Red Mars is admirable. The details he provides and weaves into the story, from the small-scale technical details of interplanetary travel and the logistics of Mars colonization, to the large-scale early stages of terraforming and tracing Martian geography, reveal a stunning background and commitment to realism. I think current technology would make most of what he writes in the early part of the book, regarding travel to Mars and the first stages of colonization, completely doable. And the latter stages, using robotic tools and nanotechnology, is surely not that far-fetched. There were times that I thought he made things seems a little too easy, but it is fiction after all.
On the negative side, the novel dragged on for me. It's less than 600 pages, but sometimes it felt like twice that. The decades-long time span and the lack of a narrative thread made me lose interest. I started this book with the intention of reading the whole trilogy (He followed Red Mars with Green Mars and Blue Mars.), but I'm not sure I could last through the next two. I am curious about the continued terraforming process, and about what sort of political relationship develops between Mars and Earth. But there are too many other books I want to read. . . .
Robinson builds a believable future for mankind on Mars. I could see at least the beginnings of his vision being realized in my lifetime. He anticipates scientific, technological, sociological, psychological, logistical, and political problems and ramifications of the colonization and exploration of Mars. In most cases, the descriptions and solutions are eminently believable. In that sense, this is great sci-fi. But in the broader sense, I found Red Mars to be long and dull.
On the plus side, Robinson's literary feat in Red Mars is admirable. The details he provides and weaves into the story, from the small-scale technical details of interplanetary travel and the logistics of Mars colonization, to the large-scale early stages of terraforming and tracing Martian geography, reveal a stunning background and commitment to realism. I think current technology would make most of what he writes in the early part of the book, regarding travel to Mars and the first stages of colonization, completely doable. And the latter stages, using robotic tools and nanotechnology, is surely not that far-fetched. There were times that I thought he made things seems a little too easy, but it is fiction after all.
On the negative side, the novel dragged on for me. It's less than 600 pages, but sometimes it felt like twice that. The decades-long time span and the lack of a narrative thread made me lose interest. I started this book with the intention of reading the whole trilogy (He followed Red Mars with Green Mars and Blue Mars.), but I'm not sure I could last through the next two. I am curious about the continued terraforming process, and about what sort of political relationship develops between Mars and Earth. But there are too many other books I want to read. . . .
Robinson builds a believable future for mankind on Mars. I could see at least the beginnings of his vision being realized in my lifetime. He anticipates scientific, technological, sociological, psychological, logistical, and political problems and ramifications of the colonization and exploration of Mars. In most cases, the descriptions and solutions are eminently believable. In that sense, this is great sci-fi. But in the broader sense, I found Red Mars to be long and dull.
Monday, February 27, 2017
The Vessel, by Taylor Stevens
In Taylor Stevens 2013 novel The Doll, Stevens's super-heroine Vanessa Michael Munroe helps take down a human trafficking ring--that is, after she is captured by it. The problem is, she's not satisfied. One of the ring leaders is still out there. In the 2014 novella The Vessel, Munroe meticulously plots--and exacts--her revenge.
The Vessel is a stand-alone story, with enough back-story to give some context for first-time readers of Stevens's books. But it is best enjoyed in the context of the series, especially as a follow-up to The Doll. Munroe is smart and stealthy, chameleon-like in her ability to blend in and sneak around. Whether staying the background to gather intel, or slipping back into the background after amassing a large body count, she leaves no trace.
Despite her vicious, murderous, revengeful streak, I root for Munroe because she is driven by compassion and justice. Like any good action hero, she is driven by a selfless pursuit to make wrongs right, seeking no recognition or gain for herself. If you read The Doll and ended up a little disappointed that Munroe was not able to get all the bad guys, pick up The Vessel. The bad guys get what's coming.
The Vessel is a stand-alone story, with enough back-story to give some context for first-time readers of Stevens's books. But it is best enjoyed in the context of the series, especially as a follow-up to The Doll. Munroe is smart and stealthy, chameleon-like in her ability to blend in and sneak around. Whether staying the background to gather intel, or slipping back into the background after amassing a large body count, she leaves no trace.
Despite her vicious, murderous, revengeful streak, I root for Munroe because she is driven by compassion and justice. Like any good action hero, she is driven by a selfless pursuit to make wrongs right, seeking no recognition or gain for herself. If you read The Doll and ended up a little disappointed that Munroe was not able to get all the bad guys, pick up The Vessel. The bad guys get what's coming.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Big Mushy Happy Lump, by Sarah Andersen
Sarah Anderson captures the mind of the millennial, female introvert in another amusing, laugh-out-loud collection Big Mushy Happy Lump: A "Sarah's Scribbles" Collection. Covering many of the same themes as her first collection, Adulthood is a Myth, Andersen covers social awkwardness, millennial angst, periods, ill-fitting women's clothing, relationships (romantic and otherwise), and other perils of modern life.Her content is very female-oriented, millennial-focused, and introvert-directed, but as a male, extroverted Gen-Xer, I could relate. (Well, except for the period bits.) Really, whatever your age or gender, check her out. Comedy gold.
Lots of her comics are online:
tapastic.com/series/Doodle-Time
But you should still buy her books.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Friday, February 24, 2017
Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga, by Pamela Newkirk
It's hard to imagine that a mere century ago a human was on display at the Bronx Zoo in the primate house. Let that sink in. A young African man named Ota Benga was brought from the Congo to the zoo. In a cage. With monkeys. I know about racism. I know about people who view people from other races as less than human. But this shocked me. Pamela Newkirk tells Ota Benga's story in Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga.
Newkirk focuses the story on Ota Benga's life, but sheds light on the larger picture of trade with Africa, King Leopold's terrible colonial policies in the Congo, and the state of race relations in the U.S. in the early 20th century. She conveys the sense in which Ota Benga was a unwitting pawn in the lives of the traders and scientists who directed his fate for many years. I loved the fact that he asserted his independence from time to time, escaping from his enclosure, chasing zoo patrons, and even letting loose with his bow and arrow. Unfortunately, for many years his fate was controlled by his keepers, even in post-slavery U.S.
While black clergy and others in New York immediately recognized the injustice of keeping Ota Benga in a zoo enclosure, many, including the throngs who came out to gawk at him, did not. He later spent some time in an orphanage, with children half his age, then moved to Virginia, where he worked in the tobacco industry and gained some education. Despairing that he would not be able to return home to Africa, he took his own life.
I did not enjoy Newkirk's non-chronological narrative. Maybe I'm too easily confused. Other than that, Spectacle provides a nice picture of an ugly period of our nation's past. There are plenty of kind souls, black and white, who play a positive role in Ota Benga's story. The real culprit is the feeling, all too pervasive a century ago, that some humans are less human than others.
Newkirk focuses the story on Ota Benga's life, but sheds light on the larger picture of trade with Africa, King Leopold's terrible colonial policies in the Congo, and the state of race relations in the U.S. in the early 20th century. She conveys the sense in which Ota Benga was a unwitting pawn in the lives of the traders and scientists who directed his fate for many years. I loved the fact that he asserted his independence from time to time, escaping from his enclosure, chasing zoo patrons, and even letting loose with his bow and arrow. Unfortunately, for many years his fate was controlled by his keepers, even in post-slavery U.S.
While black clergy and others in New York immediately recognized the injustice of keeping Ota Benga in a zoo enclosure, many, including the throngs who came out to gawk at him, did not. He later spent some time in an orphanage, with children half his age, then moved to Virginia, where he worked in the tobacco industry and gained some education. Despairing that he would not be able to return home to Africa, he took his own life.
I did not enjoy Newkirk's non-chronological narrative. Maybe I'm too easily confused. Other than that, Spectacle provides a nice picture of an ugly period of our nation's past. There are plenty of kind souls, black and white, who play a positive role in Ota Benga's story. The real culprit is the feeling, all too pervasive a century ago, that some humans are less human than others.
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