By Donna Tartt
I went through the 771 pages pretty fast, considering I was reading other books in between! It was a very engrossing book. I am amazed at the amount of research that must have gone into writing this book: about art, antiques, drug use, crime (white-collar and otherwise), etc. [Fiction, 771pp.]
Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine
By Hussein Agha and Robert Malley
Interesting and insightful writings by two people who were deeply involved in the negotiations in this area. I am amazed how well they integrate their ideas - there is no clear division - you can't really tell who's been writing a certain paragraph, it's like the two are one. Pretty amazing, I think. I found the two penultimate chapters a little harder to get into than the other ones. Perhaps because they were more focused ideas and speculation, as opposed to stories and facts. The outlook is not hopeful (we've been trying this one things over and over and it's not working, yet we keep trying it again). But it wants us to consider alternative options that may now be viewed as impossibilities and non-negotiable. So yes, doesn't seem hopeful, but maybe one day... [non-fiction, 260pp.]
By Howard Thurman
Philosophical thoughts about what it means to be a part of a persecuted, disadvantaged group, and what it means live in a society that creates such groups, all through a compassionate lens for teachings of Jesus. [nonfiction, 106 pp., not including 2 forwards and a preface]
