respublica

105 years ago today

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born.

Eric Metaxas has a new book detailing the life of this Lutheran pastor who was killed in the nazi's Flossenburg concentration camp at age 39.  Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

It would be impossible to sum up this man's life in a few sentences but foremost would have to be his view of a Christian's role in secular life.  He was one of the few Christian leaders of that era to speak out and actively resist the evils of the nazi regime.

"The Nazi injustice must not go unquestioned, and the victims of this injustice must not go unaided, regardless of their religion", Bonhoeffer wrote.

If you were asked to describe strength, don't point to the football players on Sunday, look to this meek seeming, bespeckled man.

Brave beyond comprehension to those of his day and to us today.

If you're looking for a book to read, go to this one.

She's a Lulu and she's back

Created in 1935, Little Lulu is making a come back with nostalgic comic book lovers. I read the Little Lulu comics as did most everyone I knew. Somewhere along the line she faded from view but is now so popular original books are going for nice prices.

You go girl!

The Kennedy Detail

Amazon has begun to sell a new book written by the secret service men who were with President Kennedy the day he was killed in Dallas.

Remembering that day well, I hoped to get a copy of the book only to find, once again, that it won't be released until next week.  I wish they'd wait to promote books until you can actually get them.

But, John Grisham's new book, The Confession, is finally available.  Nice day for a good read.

New Grisham

Got an email from Amazon this morning announcing some new books, one of which was John Grisham's The Confession.

Oh, good, I thought.  A new Grisham.  I'll see about putting that on the Kindle later today.

Well, it doesn't come out til the 26th. 

Another of my favorite authors was also mentioned as having a new book, David Balducci.  Well, his won't be available until November 9. 

Frankly I don't want the email til I can actually get the book.  Don't be teasing 20 to 30 days ahead of time.

Woodward returns

Ever since his book on Nixon, Bob Woodward has made a career out of insider looks at sitting White House presidents.  His Obama book will soon be out, the New York Times got the first peek, and the Times excerpts are being talked about on every news outlet.

Much of what is quoted, so far, centers on White House advisors infighting over Afganistan/Iraq.  I wonder if Woodward sat in on domestic policy discussions, a topic of much more interest to most Americans. 

If he did not, or did not write about, those issues, why not?  If he did, where are the quotes?  What were all the Obama people saying in regard to health care and the economy?  

In the same vein, shouldn't there be more news debate about the reasons Larry Summers is leaving his job as Director of the National Economic Council?  Maybe the Woodward book talk keeps the White House from having to answer tough questions about Summers and the president's economic policy.

13 books

Via the Huffington Post:  13 books many people say they've read, but really haven't.

I've read a handful, but wouldn't be embarrassed to admit I haven't read some of the others.

Kliman in St. louis

Todd Kliman, the author of The Wild Vine, the story of an American wine will be at Left Bank Books in downtown St. Louis today at 2. There will be a Norton wine tasting as well. An engrossing book covering the birth and development of a true American wine grape. A good bit of U.S. History weaves through the story.

Prolific

Does it seem like James Patterson has a new book out every 2 weeks?

Mark Twain: Exactly a century after his death...

We'll finally get to read his autobiography.

At his death in 1910 Mark Twain left behind 5000 pages of memoirs along with notes saying he did not want any of it published for 100 years.

It has now been 100 years and in November the University of California, Berkeley, where the manuscript is in a vault, will release the first volume of Mark Twain's autobiography.  This will be the first volume of what will be a auto-biographical trilogy.

Oddly, what he may have found too shocking for early 20th century sensitivities, will seem like nothing these days.

Out for delivery

I ordered Todd Kliman's new book, The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of an American Wine through Amazon yesterday after reading a synopsis in the Washingtonian Magazine.  The book's release was to be today.

I just checked my order status and the book is already out for delivery to my house.

Amazon is amazing.