Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan is one of the highly anticipated books for the members of the Nevermore Book Club. Aslan is an Iranian-American professor with degrees in Religion and Fine Arts. He’s written numerous articles and several books, including No God But God: The Originis, Evolution, and Future of Islam. In this new book, he examines the story of Jesus from an historical perspective, putting his life and those of his followers in the context of the times. Reviews for this book are sharply divided, so we are anticipating a lively discussion in Nevermore as members have a chance to read it.
While awaiting Zealot, some readers tried another book connected to antiquity, Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by Margalit Fox. Fox tells the fascinating story of how a single woman came close to deciphering the mysterious Linear B, the earliest known form of Greek script. Alice Kober was a classics scholar who devoted years to solving the puzzle, using scraps of paper to compile her notes during the shortages of World War II. Kober’s sudden death in 1950 at age 43 put an end to her research, leaving others to finish the job. Fox had access to Kober’s papers at the University of Texas, including some 180,000 note cards, and argues that Kober should receive more recognition for her efforts in translating Linear B. This book has been recommended by several Nevermore readers.
Engineers of Victory by Paul Kennedy looks not at the troops on the ground nor the great leaders, but at those who took the strategies and made them work, who overcame technological difficulties and found solutions. Even if you’re an avid reader of WWII books, you’ll find something fresh in this one.
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