True-life villains and a killer safari fill October’s book list
The nonfiction selections this month are both stunners. They get my strongest recommendation.
“American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn's Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump” by Kai Bird. A biography of one of the vilest, but impactful, people of our time. Roy Cohn was a liar and a cheater. He had no moral basement. He bribed judges, Mafia bosses, and refused to pay his taxes. His M.O. was to yell lies louder than anyone and sue everyone. His protégé was DJT. It explains so much.
“Biological War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen. Her scenario of global devastation is supported throughout by actual incidents, which make this a very real possibility. I now travel with up-to-date N95 masks and plenty of alcohol wipes. Probably not enough for a plague, but a tiny bit of preparedness. Readers will remember my suggestion of “The End of October” by Lawrence Wright, published in 2020, which was a spooky predictor of a global viral pandemic. Our enemies have biological agents that can be easily introduced into the general population. This book is frightening.
Now onto fiction.
“The Amateur” by Chris Bohjalian. A tragic accident at the driving range changes a golf prodigy’s life path. So well written, it is hard to put down, and there’s enough to discuss to make it a great book club selection.
“The Night Hunter” by Natalie Moss. If you have done a safari, the evocative descriptions of the game preserve will provide vivid memories. If you haven’t been there yet, you will still feel immersed in the hot, dry, desolate, and dangerous expanse. This is a murder mystery that will make your heart race and keep you turning pages. Promise!
“We Will See You Bleed” by Ron Currie. A violent union battle in a paper mill town in Maine. Strong characters and a story that carries you along.
“The Responsible Party” by Claire Carusillo. The wacky history of the Mounsey women from 1915 to present day. The crux of the story unfolds a murder from 1971 that is now linked to Kath, Claire’s mother, and her long-winded story of what actually occurred.
“A Tender Age” by Chang-Rae Lee. A beautifully written coming-of-age story of a Korean boy in New York City and his typical travels that build to a devastating event at camp. Guilt, innocence, naivety, and misguided choices of adolescence all come into play.
“Sunrise” by Tea Obreht. This tri-tale centered on an abandoned Wyoming town provided robust discussion for our book club. Some sections strained credulity, but I personally enjoyed the three timelines that come together at the end.
“Nearshore” by Steve Hawk. A billionaire has a plan to cause global destabilization with his homemade nuclear devices. Don’t worry about Iran – with enough money, you can hire the right people to build a nuclear weapon for personal use. Shockingly feasible.
“Crocodilopolis” by John Manuel Arias. Political and familial unrest in Costa Rica. This is a dark, menacing story centered on brothers from a legendary political family looking for power and revenge.