Reader’s Diary

Bill Bryson

The Thunderbolt Kid is the superhero Bill Bryson liked to imagine himself as when he was growing up in Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950s. The kid’s life and times is a laugh-out-loud book about Bryson’s growing up years seasoned with a few bittersweet reflections on what Americans have lost since then, notably our freedom from fear and ability to have fun. As good as the book is, it’s marred by some gratuitous crude language that’s wholly unnecessary and does the author no credit.

John Birmingham

This is a fine conclusion to Brimingham’s “Axis of Time” trilogy (following “Weapons of Choice” and “Designated Targets“). World War II is brought to a conclusion thanks to - and despite - the use of 21st century knowledge. I’m a little sad to see this enjoyable series come to an end, though I’m happy that the plot lines are wrapped up without loose ends.

Bernard Cornwell

The farther back in history Bernard Cornwell sets his books, the better they are. This, the first in a series about Alfred the Great, is not set in as distant a time as his “Warlord Chronicles“, and it’s not quite as good, but the series promises to be a strong second best.

All the Cornwell touches are there: the strong main character, the occasionally over-dramatic but always vivid writing, and the stirring battle scenes. The book follows a minor noble named Uhtred from his boyhood in Northumbria to his capture by the Danes, his training under them, and his return to Anglo-Saxon culture as a fighter for Alfred’s kingdom of Wessex, the last kingdom (last to remain free from Danish conquest) of the title.

Tracy Wilkinson

The title of this book is misleading: the Vatican doesn’t have a Delta Force of exorcists ready to cast out demons anywhere at a moment’s notice. A better, though not as marketable, title would have been “Some Italian Exorcists”, for the book is really about the rtitual’s growing popularity in that country and some of its leading practitioners. Quibbling about the title aside, Wilkinson is fair and respectful and the book doesn’t strive to be sensational. Though she does describe a full-blown, movie-style exorcism, she spends more time talking about lesser cases, ranging down to simple blessings. She also delves into the ambivalence surrounding the practice, ambivalence felt by some churchmen who are required by doctrine to accept the possibility of possession but who are vary cautious about crediting the devil with particular phenomena or symtoms in specific cases.

Matt Gaffney

I was hoping for a crossword version of “Word Freak“, which I called “a fascinating mix of reporting and … memoir” but “Gridlock”, while mildly interesting was somewhat disappointing. The book has some interesting material about the few who make a living as crossword puzzle authors but overall there’s not enough people stuff. Which isn’t to say the book doesn’t have some surprises: who knew there were crossword puzzle blogs?

Bob Woodward

In “Bush at War” Bob Woodward recounted the first 100 days of what began as the “War on Terrorism” but may eventually become known as the “War of the 21st Century”. In “Plan of Attack” he chronicled the decision to attack Iraq. In the latest volume on what has become a series - “Bush at War” - that promises to be as interminable as one of Harry Turtledove’s alternate history series he tells us how the war in Iraq has been conducted. The story is so painful that the reader is left wishing that this were an alternate history

This appalling tale of Bush administration incompetence focuses on defense secretary Donal Rumsfeld, here portrayed as a big-talking bully who accomplished nothing. Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice appear weak, at best. Most appalling of all, though is the administration’s repeated willful ignorance of the facts concerning the ever-declining situation in Iraq. You have to look to 1945 Berlin to find a leader so out of touch with reality.

As usual, Woodward’s sources are excellent, but the book is limited by single reporter’s view: there is little about areas he doesn’t have so well-covered. In particular, events in the military below Pentagon general officer level and any account of goings-on in Vice President Dick Cheney’s office are missing.

The book shows signs of being hastily written, but this is a criticism of its prose, not its content. Woodward tells the story chronologically and never steps back to analyze events. When his sources give conflicting accounts of events, Woodward relates both; this is fair but I would have welcomed some guidance as to what he thought really happened.

Unfortunately for a book that uses Rumsfeld’s tenure in the Pentagon for structure, it ends - abruptly - in summer 2006, a few months before Rumsfeld’s November 2006 resignation. Sadly, I expect there will be more books in the series.