So its time for another quick rundown on my recent reads. Can you see a theme? Me neither. Two books both set in Russia but that's about it.
Special Assignments: The Further Adventures of Erast Fandorin
"City of Thieves" I had to read this book after reading a review. It takes place during the siege of Leningrad/St. Petersburg during WWII. This is quite an episode in history and a wonderfully bleak setting for a novel. The Germans essentially surrounded the city while the inhabitants burned every last bit of wood for heat and ate whatever they could find. Benioff includes descriptions of candy made from book glue, ration bread filled with sawdust, and instances of cannibalism. In addition to the daily struggle of survival each night brought bombings. When I was in St. Petersburg a few years ago I took a picture of myself next to a war pocked building with the warning sign: "Citizens! This side of the street is more dangerous during artillery attacks." Benioff's story is of two young men who fall into trouble with the Red Army, one for desertion and the other for breaking curfew and taking goods from a dead German soldier. A military official holds their ration cards and potential acquittal hostage in exchange for completing the impossible task of returning a dozen eggs to bake his daughters wedding cake. It's a poignant and jarring coming of age story that made me grateful to be living in a time of peace and comfort.
"Firesong" On a much lighter note, this is the final book in Nicholson's "Wind on Fire" trilogy. This was my least favorite of the series as a stand alone book but did wrap up the story well. I think Nicholson fell into a common adolescent literature trap. A first book is often written with a clear sense of the adolescent audience and remembers that in addition to creating great characters and an overarching theme to carry the series forward there should be a pace and development of more immediate events fast enough to entertain the reader. But who am I to complain, I've never written a book. I have probably read each book at least 12 months apart from the others so I don't remember a lot of the smaller details but do have vivid images of the huge villages on wheels propelled by sails and the zombie-like Zars slowly but relentlessly en masse seeking the death of their master's enemies.
Special Assignments: The Further Adventures of Erast FandorinI don't remember how I came across Boris Akunin and this series but it is one of my favorites. I recommend the "Winter Queen" if you are going to start the series from the beginning. Set in Russia during the late 1800's, Erast Fandorin is a wonderfully brilliant and hilarious detective. One part Sherlock Holmes, a dash of the Pink Panther, a pinch of Crime and Punishment, and then something else that I can't quite get my finger on. Whatever the secret ingredient, it allows this clever, quirky, lucky, and genius of an inspector to find himself at the heart of shocking crimes in a surprisingly believable way.
"Brain Rules"
As much as we have learned about the brain through an extensive
amount of neuroscience in recent years there are still many mysteries. Medina fully acknowledges that the wizard of the brain is still mostly behind the curtain but there are a few concrete and helpful things we do know. He writes specifically about 12 brain rules such as the benefit of exercise, the trumping power of vision, and the importance of sleep. Some of these are no-brainers (no pun intended) but he explains the neurological background and benefits in a detailed, fun, and understandable way. I also like the way he finishes the description of each rule and its scientific background with some practical advice on how to implement this knowledge of the brain into the environments of school and work. Some of his suggestions are a bit far fetched (treadmill working desks) but others suggest some simple changes that could make quite a difference (don't clutter your powerpoint with words). Learn more and watch some fun videos about each "Brain Rule" on his website.
As much as we have learned about the brain through an extensive
amount of neuroscience in recent years there are still many mysteries. Medina fully acknowledges that the wizard of the brain is still mostly behind the curtain but there are a few concrete and helpful things we do know. He writes specifically about 12 brain rules such as the benefit of exercise, the trumping power of vision, and the importance of sleep. Some of these are no-brainers (no pun intended) but he explains the neurological background and benefits in a detailed, fun, and understandable way. I also like the way he finishes the description of each rule and its scientific background with some practical advice on how to implement this knowledge of the brain into the environments of school and work. Some of his suggestions are a bit far fetched (treadmill working desks) but others suggest some simple changes that could make quite a difference (don't clutter your powerpoint with words). Learn more and watch some fun videos about each "Brain Rule" on his website.
"City of Thieves" I had to read this book after reading a review. It takes place during the siege of Leningrad/St. Petersburg during WWII. This is quite an episode in history and a wonderfully bleak setting for a novel. The Germans essentially surrounded the city while the inhabitants burned every last bit of wood for heat and ate whatever they could find. Benioff includes descriptions of candy made from book glue, ration bread filled with sawdust, and instances of cannibalism. In addition to the daily struggle of survival each night brought bombings. When I was in St. Petersburg a few years ago I took a picture of myself next to a war pocked building with the warning sign: "Citizens! This side of the street is more dangerous during artillery attacks." Benioff's story is of two young men who fall into trouble with the Red Army, one for desertion and the other for breaking curfew and taking goods from a dead German soldier. A military official holds their ration cards and potential acquittal hostage in exchange for completing the impossible task of returning a dozen eggs to bake his daughters wedding cake. It's a poignant and jarring coming of age story that made me grateful to be living in a time of peace and comfort. 
"Firesong" On a much lighter note, this is the final book in Nicholson's "Wind on Fire" trilogy. This was my least favorite of the series as a stand alone book but did wrap up the story well. I think Nicholson fell into a common adolescent literature trap. A first book is often written with a clear sense of the adolescent audience and remembers that in addition to creating great characters and an overarching theme to carry the series forward there should be a pace and development of more immediate events fast enough to entertain the reader. But who am I to complain, I've never written a book. I have probably read each book at least 12 months apart from the others so I don't remember a lot of the smaller details but do have vivid images of the huge villages on wheels propelled by sails and the zombie-like Zars slowly but relentlessly en masse seeking the death of their master's enemies.
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