Reported by Jeanne
Infinite Wonder by astronaut
Scott Kelly was the first book examined at Nevermore this week, much to the
delight of the group. Kelly spent a year
in space at the International Space Station where he took numerous photos of
the earth—no easy task when you consider that the planet doesn’t hold still for
a snap. There is a great deal of
training involved. The resulting photos were greatly admired.
Another book portrayed an Earth landscape that is still
alien to most of us. White Darkness
by David Grann described the 2008 expedition of Henry Worsley to Antarctica,
following the expedition of his hero, Ernest Shackleton. The text has Grann’s trademark writing (Lost
City of Z, Killers of the Flower Moon) but our reviewer was most
impressed by the incredible photographs.
The next book was Someone Like Me by Mike Carey, a
dark psychological thriller about two women dealing with dark forces. Liz is a single mother whose dark side
emerges after an attack from her abusive ex-husband, while teenage Fran is
still recovering from being kidnapped a decade earlier. Our reader said she gave up on the book
because she really didn’t like reading the point of view of someone who is
psychotic. She skipped ahead but it was
more of the same, so she gave up.
Science fiction showed up this time in the form of Kim
Stanley Robinson’s Red Moon. In
the not too distant future, China has a colony on the moon. American Fred
Fredericks is sent to work on a new communications system, but that job is
sidetracked when he is accused of murder.
Our reader enjoyed this as she has Robinson’s other works and praised it
for some powerful scenes.
Watermark by Michael Hewes is a debut thriller
set in Gulfport, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. Matt Frazier has returned to what’s left of
his home when he makes a discovery that will embroil him in a high stakes
conspiracy. Our reader thought it was
well done and especially liked the setting.
She thought he did an excellent job of taking readers through the
aftermath of the storm. Nevermore
members have read several non-fiction books about Katrina, and this one had a
ring of truth to it.
Finally, Mr. Britling Sees It Through by H. G. Wells
begins in the summer of 1914 and ends in October of 1915. It has been described as a masterpiece of
fiction about the Great War, though it was published in 1916 long before the
war ended. The main character, Mr.
Britling, is a famous author and usually viewed as Wells’ alter ego by
critics. The book itself is more an
examination of British and features three young men, an American, a German, and
Mr. Britling’s son, who may or may not survive the conflict. There’s a moral aspect to it as well; while
Wells didn’t subscribe to any organized religion, he did believe in the
possibility of personal good. The book
was a best seller in its time. Our
reviewer said, “If you love World War I, you’ll love this book,” but went on to
say that it was moving and worth reading.
Two young men just finished the walk across Antarctica -- each alone but in close proximity. I think Henry Worsley was just too old for such a project. Age is more than just a number.
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