Playing with the Enemy

     I recently finished reading the nonfiction book, Playing with the Enemy, and I absolutely loved it!  If you are not a fan of nonfiction, I strongly suggest you read this book.  It will change the way you feel about the genre.  This book has a little of everything for readers. . . great baseball scenes, World War II facts, strong and inspirational people, conflict, heartbreak, and joy.  It is a nonfiction book that reads like fiction!
     The book begins with information about the author and his family, especially his father, Gene Moore.  Gene was from a small town in Illinois.  His family owned and ran a farm, but what Gene really wanted to do was play baseball.  He was good at it.  In fact, he was GREAT at it.  No one in the small town he lived in had ever seen anyone as good.  When Gene was only 15 years old, a big league scout came to watch him play in one of the town's baseball games.  Needless to say, he was impressed.  This scout not only noticed the baseball abilities Gene possessed, but he also saw Gene's incredible leadership qualities and charisma. People seemed to want to follow him.
     In spite of the fact that Gene was only fifteen years old, the scout convinced the owners of the Brooklyn Dodgers to sign him.  They wanted to have him play in an industrial league until he was old enough to play in the minor leagues and eventually the major league. His talent was too good to wait.  Someone else could come along and steal him.  So, Gene packed up and headed to St. Louis to play ball!  Even though he was much younger than most of the players on the team, Gene soon rose to the top.  He was the best catcher anyone had ever seen, and he could hit the ball like no other. He had a promising baseball career ahead of him.
     Then, fate intervened.  World War II broke out, and American boys were sent off to fight.  The Dodgers didn't want to risk the lives of their future players, so they struck a deal with the armed forces.  The Dodger recruits would play exhibition baseball to entertain the troops.  So, as soon as he was old enough, Gene enlisted in the Navy and was sent to North Africa.
     While in North Africa, Gene succeeded once again on the baseball field.  He quickly earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, and fellow players.  Even though he was not on the battlefield, Gene was often in danger.  The fighting came very close to him on multiple occasions.  Eventually, Gene found himself and his teammates back in the United States guarding German prisoners of war.  It was here that Gene came up with the idea to teach the prisoners how to play American baseball and to play exhibition games for the enjoyment of the community and American soldiers.  What resulted was far more than a game.  The events that followed would forever change Gene's life . . . as well as the lives of many others.
     Read Playing with the Enemy to find out what happens to Gene, his teammates, and his dream.  You won't be sorry!

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

     I just finished reading Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, and it was a fun read!  This novel is about a young man named Clay Jannon who finds himself out of work.  To make a little money, Clay applies for a job at Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore.  He soon finds out this is no ordinary store!   
     In addition to being open 24 hours a day, this bookstore has volumes of old, dusty books full of code.  Strange and unique people visit the store in the middle of the night and borrow these code books for extended periods of time.  Clay's job is to not only run the register at the store but to also record in great detail the people who visit the store, their names, their physical appearance, their demeanor, and the books they return or check out.
     While working at the store, Clay uncovers some interesting and unusual information that leads him to believe that Mr. Penumbra is part of a strange cult.  These people are searching for the clue to an age old mystery and the code books are the key to everything.
     Along with being a fun mystery, this book takes a look at how books and technology intersect and their places in the world.  Clay meets some interesting characters while trying to solve the mystery and makes friendships that last forever. 
     If you are looking for a fun, entertaining read, check this book out.  The characters will make you chuckle out loud and you will be engrossed in figuring out the mystery behind Mr. Penumbra's bookstore.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

     The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is both a fascinating and frightening look at Chicago in the late 1800's.  At this time in history, the city of Chicago was growing rapidly.  In fact, it was America's second largest city.  After months of deliberation, Chicago was chosen as the city to hold the next World's Fair in 1893.  This was an enormous opportunity and responsibility.  The fair would bring thousands of people into Chicago, some for the very first time, and the city didn't have a sterling reputation.  It was known primarily for its hog slaughtering, filth, and crime.  The leaders of the city hoped to change that image by building a beautiful city within the city, White City along Lake Michigan.  The White City would be home to the  World's fair.
     In the book, Larkin describes the difficulties that arose while trying to prepare for the fair.  Ground had to be prepared, architects selected, buildings erected, transportation arranged, and much more.  They were literally building a city over the course of just two short years.
     In addition to describing the events that lead to the creation of the White City, Larkin also describes something very disturbing.  A serial killer, Dr. Herman W. Mudgett,  takes up residency in Chicago, right at the edge of the White City's borders.  Through cons and scheming, he gets his hands on enough money to build what he calls a "hotel" to lure people into his clutches.  Mudgett, who eventually goes by the alias H.H. Holmes, constructs a building with a basement and vaults to hide his murderous crimes.  Because the fair created many job opportunities, the city was flooded with newcomers, and that set up a perfect environment for Holmes to prey on his victims.  It is believed that Holmes was responsible for the deaths of nearly 200 people; however, he was only tried and convicted of committing nine murders because of lack of evidence.
     Larkin wrote the book in alternating chapters, each describing the events in the lives of either Daniel Burnham (the lead developer of the fair) or H.H. Holmes.  It is shoking that such an evil man as Holmes could get away with such terrible crimes right under the noses of construction crews and tourists!
   

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

     Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, is the amazing biography of Olympic athlete and World War II veteran, Louis Zamperini.  Though this book chronicles Louie's life story, it reads like fiction.  The people who come into Louie's life and the events that unfold are realistic and gripping.
     As a young boy, Louie was always on the lookout for an adventure or challenge.  He was known around town as a troublemaker because he was often seen stealing, fighting, or pulling elaborate pranks.  Unlike Louie, his older brother Pete was popular and well-liked.  He was a good student and an excellent athlete.  In fact, it was because of Pete that Louie finally found the right path in life.
     When Louie was in high school, Pete convinced the principal to allow Louie to join the track team (in spite of all of his behavior problems).  With lots of pressure from Pete, Louie trained hard.  He would run for miles and train for hours.  Soon, Louie became one of the best young runners in the country.  In fact, he was the fastest high school miler in American history!  Louie and Pete set a goal for the Olympics.  Although Louie's times were amazing, they weren't quite fast enough to make the Olympic team.  Louie was devastated, but Pete had an idea.  Louie could compete in the Olympic 5000.  However, in order to do so, Louie would have only weeks to qualify for the Olympic trials.  In spite of everything, Louie was able to qualify for the trials and made the 1936 Olympic team!
     At the Olympics in Berlin, it was clear that war was looming.  Though Germany tried to put on a nice face for the Olympic crowd, it was clear that Hitler and the Nazis were stirring up trouble.  Soon, World War II erupted, and Louie joined the American Army Air Forces as a bombardier.
     Louie and his crew mates flew many dangerous missions that nearly resulted in death.  Life as a Army Airman in World War II wasn't an easy one.  The planes were large, easy targets for the Japanese.  They were also quite unreliable.  Louie's first plane was destroyed in a Japanese attack, and his second plane crashed in the middle of the ocean.  After his plane crashed, Louie and his closest friend, Phil, spent over forty days on a life raft at sea with no food or water to speak of.  They lived off of rain water and whatever fish or birds they could capture. After losing nearly half their body weight and being shot at by Japanese planes, the men were finally captured by the enemy and taken to a Japanese POW camp where they continued to endure inhumane treatment.
      Louie's story is one of survival, determination, and the will to live.  It is an amazing story that I would highly recommend. . . especially if you are looking for an outstanding nonfiction read!
   

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

     Ashfall by Mike Mullin is an action-packed story of a cataclysmic natural disaster and its aftermath.  The supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park erupts and blankets the U.S.A. in several feet of poisonous ash.  Prior to the eruption, a teenager named Alex is left home alone as his family travels several hours away to visit with relatives.  When the eruption occurs, a molten piece of rock lands on Alex's house, setting fire to it.  Alex narrowly escapes and finds shelter in a neighbor's home.  What Alex doesn't know is that his normally safe neighborhood is going to turn into a playground for murderers and looters.  After a deadly encounter with two of those looters, Alex decides to leave his home town to find his family.
     On his journey, Alex must deal with hunger, thirst, severe coughing fits from the ash, heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.  He meets several friendly and gracious people who share what little food, water, and supplies they have with him.  However, he also meets vicious criminals who are willing to do whatever it takes to survive the disaster.  At one point, one of those vicious criminals attacks Alex, and he ends up with life-threatening injuries.  He is able to survive only with the help of complete strangers.  The story takes place over the course of several months.  Just when it seems things cannot get worse for Alex, they do.  There are challenges around every corner, but Alex never gives up. 
     Mike Mullin has definitely crafted a page turner in this novel!  His efforts to study the possible effects of a supervolcano eruption in the United States show throughout the story. The events are believable and terrifying!  In a world where humanity seems to be replaced with desperate animal-like acts of survival, Alex is a character that represents the good that remains. This book is the first in a trilogy that continues the story of Alex, his family, and his friends.

Wool Omnibus Edition

     Oh my goodness!  I finished reading Wool Omnibus Edition over the weekend, and I cannot say enough great things about it.  It is an awesome read!  The book is written by Hugh Howey, and it is fantastic!  You won't see it in most stores because the author self-published, and it is printed on demand.  Don't let that fool you!  This book has received over 2,000 ratings on Amazon and has earned five star status.  It was originally written as a series of short stories, but has since been combined into one complete story.
     This book is set in the future after a global calamity.  The characters live in an underground silo to protect them from the elements outside.  No one is allowed to even speak of the outside world.  Anyone who dares talk about it is given exactly what they want.  They are put outside.  The story is told from the viewpoints of different characters and follows them as they discover terrible secrets about their home, their leaders, and the reason they are living where they are.
     This book is part science fiction, part mystery, part suspense.  I literally could not put it down!  The characters are intruiging, and the plot keeps you guessing.  I would HIGHLY recommend this book . .  .especially to fans of dystopian literature, science fiction, and mystery.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

     This book is a difficult one to read.  It follows the life of Octavian, the son of a former African princess, who lives at a compound surrounded by philosophers and scientists.  Octavian and his mother receive education and musical training, but their lives are not their own.  Set at the time of the American Revolution, Octavian and his mother are often treated as test subjects.  The scientists living at the compound study everything from their intellectual aptitude to their bodily functions in an attempt to see if people of African descent are equal to whites.
     With tensions rising between colonists and the British, the owner of the compound becomes concerned.  There are rumors of the British promising freedom to slaves of American patriots if they betray their owners.  Wealthy American patriots become concerned, and a group of them get together and move to an isolated area in the country.  There, the owner of the compound intentionally infects the group with small pox in an attempt to inoculate them against the disease.  Many of the people infected die, including Octavian's mother.
     The turning point in the story comes when Octavian walks in on the autopsy of his mother.  It is then he finally realizes that he and his mother were nothing more than lab rats to those in charge.  Octavian escapes the compound, and he eventually joins the colonial army.  During his time with the army, he is promised freedom when America gains her independence.  However, things do not turn out the way Octavian expects.  The sequel to this book, The Kingdom on the Waves, continues Octavian's story.
     There were many parts in this novel that made me sick to my stomach.  Octavian and his mother at times are treated as animals, and Octavian's innocence and reactions to his treatment are heartbreaking.  Although it was difficult to read at times, this novel is very powerful!