The Guns of August

Author: Barbara Tuchman
Published: 1962

During the past year, I have become increasingly interested in the First World War. I decided to read this particular book because it uses a narrative style and it was readily available at my local library.

Being a narrative history, this book reads more like a novel than a textbook. Tuchman never held a degree in history, but her ability to transform historical accounts into engaging narrative is impressive. Her writing is easy to read and quite dramatic at times. However, this is not historical fiction; there are no fictitious dialogues or imagined scenes. The entire narrative is written in the past tense, and quotations are drawn from records of the events.

Tuchman covers the events, ideologies, and war plans that eventually led to the outbreak of a general European war in August 1914. She then draws the reader through a narrative of the first few weeks of the conflict. Some men stand out as leaders, even heroes. Other men seem cowardly or arrogant. Guns fire, fortresses fall, and many men lose their lives; this is an epic tale.

Tuchman attempts to present an objective perspective on the war and its causes; however, her narrative places most of the fault on Germany. I have encountered some negative remarks concerning her historical accuracy, but such complaints are common among history books. Regardless, if you are looking for an engaging historical narrative, then you would do well to read this book.

Frankenstein

Author: Mary Shelley
Published: 1818

I had always wanted to read this classic of Gothic horror. I was given the opportunity to do so when I downloaded it for free on my Kindle and read nearly the whole book during an airline flight.

Similar to other horror and science fiction works from the 19th and early 20th centuries, the narrative of Frankenstein unfolds as if the reader is being told a story by the main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his monster. I believe that most modern readers will find the text very accessible; the narrative is easy to follow and there are only a few characters. Vocabulary and grammar are not so archaic as to confuse.

The plot of this story should be familiar to almost everyone: young Victor Frankenstein gives life to a monstrous creature whom he abandons. The monster then torments his creator, asking for a companion like himself. However, it is the telling of the story that is important, and since she created this story, Shelly tells it better than anyone else. While this tale may not frighten you, it will challenge you to ponder a variety of ethical issues that confront both Victor and his monster.

If you enjoy thinking deeply about ethical issues, then there is something in this book for you. The narrative does unfold slowly, so you must be patient to appreciate this work. It is not scary in the traditional sense, but it does raise questions that may leave you feeling uneasy; this is psychological horror at its finest.

The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media

Authors: Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld
Published: 2011

I was watching The Colbert Report, and Gladstone was promoting her new book. I had never listened to her radio show, but I am interested in the effects of media on our society, so I decided to read this book as soon as possible.

Neufeld did an excellent job with the artwork; the narrative flows smoothly from panel to panel and is very entertaining. Gladstone's writing is easy to understand without sacrificing meaning or depth. Anyone should be able to read this book in an afternoon or two.

Gladstone challenges the notion that our media is influencing our thoughts and behavior. Instead, she claims that the media is a reflection of what we as a society want. Gladstone states this premise early in the book, then she recounts important events in the history of American media, from newspapers in the early days of the republic through modern developments in information technology. At times I was uncertain how some of these examples supported Gladstone's claim that society influences media focus and content. However, after finishing the book I realized how each example fit into the bigger picture.

Some of the connections between the historic examples and Gladstone's claims are subtle, so careful reading is necessary. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the interaction between media and society. Not only is this book informative, but it is also very entertaining.

Life Together

Author: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Translator: John W. Doberstein
Published: 1939, English 1954

A friend recommended that I read this book, but I never took the time to do so.  After hearing a teaching at a church conference about suffering, during which Bonhoeffer was mentioned, I remembered this book and determined to read it soon.

Bonhoeffer's writing is easy to follow, and the translation work seems well done. The vocabulary is simple. My only complaint would be that, like other Christian books I have read, the content can seem repetitive at times.

Bonhoeffer was a German theologian that opposed Hitler and was eventually martyred. During this period he wrote several books, including this book about Christian community. Each chapter deals with important aspects of Christian community, such as ministry together or confessing to one another. Much of the writing is from the perspective of a group of Christian pastors and theologians living in community, Bonhoeffer was teaching at an underground seminary in Germany, but many of the principles are applicable to Christians regardless of their situation in life.

If you are interested in gaining a greater vision for what Christian community should look like, then this book would be a great choice. More recent works would have better practical advice, but the theological truths in Bonhoeffer's work are universal and clearly stated.

Dracula

Author: Bram Stoker
Published: 1897

Nearly everyone has heard of this story; perhaps you have even seen the movie. Vampires are popular right now, and I wanted to read a more traditional vampire story. I decided that Stoker's Dracula would be the best choice.

This is an epistolary novel: the story is told through a series of letters and journal entries. Everything is written in the past tense first person from the perspective of several of the main characters. Some readers may be bothered by this style, but I enjoy it immensely. Past tense first person is the perspective used in many older science fiction novels, and it makes the story feel like something that really happened. In Dracula, you get the feeling that you are sorting through all these old documents, piecing together this strange sequence of events.

Rest assured, there are no sparkling vampires in this tale. Count Dracula himself is a terrible and crafty monster, and the protagonists are often ill prepared to deal with the supernatural threat. Certainly a horror story, yet lacking in grotesque details, anyone should be able to make it through this book without feeling queasy. However, because we have become so desensitized to horror and the mysteries of vampires, some readers may find it difficult to appreciate the style of 19th century horror and mystery.

Not everyone is going to enjoy the epistolary style and 19th century setting of this book. However, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in vampire tales and older horror stories. Even if you are only interested in the 19th century setting, Dracula offers a different type of story besides romance. It is part mystery, part horror, and even a little romance thrown in for good measure.

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

Author: Jared Diamond
Published: 1997

Patterns in history and the development of civilization interest me. I had heard about this book two years previous, but I only recently found the time to read it.

This is a book about history, geography, and even a little agriculture; however, Diamond writes well and ensures that the reader is able to follow his arguments, regardless of the reader's background. The included maps are helpful and easy to understand, and all the terminology is clearly explained.

Diamond strives to explicate why some societies in history have successfully dominated others. He explains how geography has played a major role in shaping human societies over time, influencing their exposure to disease and access to plant, animal, and mineral resources. While this perspective is deterministic, Diamond clearly states that the inevitability of European advancement does not justify the historic subjugation of other societies.

Diamond explains his theories well and even addresses some of their shortcomings. However, some of Diamond's ideas are criticized by history scholars. Regardless, I think that his arguments are well reasoned and worth reading, even if they are only part of the story of human civilization.

From the Dust Returned

Author: Ray Bradbury
Published: 2001

I picked this book up on a whim because I was interested in reading something light and something by Bradbury. I have an interest in unique fantasy, and this seemed unique.

Like some of Bradbury's other works, this is a collection of short stories arranged in a loose narrative. The details of the overarching story can be tough to grasp at times; however, it is easy enough to enjoy each short story and gain a general idea about the larger story taking place.

The general premise is that a large house in traditional mid-western Illinois is home to a very strange family... vampires, spiders, and other creeping things. The central event of the book is the short story "The Homecoming," when all the relatives come to the house for a gathering and celebration (this is depicted on the cover art). Each short story is about one or more unusual members of the family.

This book is filled with winged men, vampires, out of body experiences, and ghosts... but it is certainly not horror. It belongs in the category of weird fantasy with which readers of Neil Gaiman should be familiar. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read with some unique fantasy elements.

The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature

Author: C. S. Lewis
Published: 1964

I picked up this book because I heard that C. S. Lewis had some interesting ideas about literary criticism; I also have been thinking about reading some medieval literature, and this book seemed like a good primer for beginning that adventure.

If you are unfamiliar with medieval literature, then you may find yourself a little lost at times. Lewis brings out example after example of medieval writings with the assumption that you have some familiarity with them. However, his writing is excellent, and I was able to follow his arguments and ideas without an extensive background of my own.

Lewis describes the view of the world held by medieval authors, which he calls the Medieval Model. This model includes: the design of the universe, the different beings that inhabit the universe (from angles to humans, with fairies too), and some elaboration on medieval thought about the soul and reason. He then describes how this model influenced the writings of medieval authors.

I enjoyed this book, even if it was difficult to follow at times. I feel better prepared now to read and understand medieval literature; particularly, I feel that I can now approach medieval literature as a medieval reader would, without my 21st century perspective influencing my understanding of the author's purpose.