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Three Other Books I Read in November 2023

As I said in last week’s blog post in which I wrote about three books I read last month, I read a variety of genres in November. I hope you will find something of interest in the three books I’m blogging about today.

The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, by  Patricia McCormick

The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, by Patricia McCormick
The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, by Patricia McCormick

This book is a painful reminder of the evil wrought by Adolf Hitler and how a dictator like Hitler demands complete allegiance from all who live in their realm. It is specifically about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I have read quotes from Bonhoeffer, references to him in sermons, and things about him. This 150-page book pulls it all together from his childhood in the lap of luxury, to his struggles with the great questions of life and ethics, to the courage he demonstrated in the face of pure evil in Nazi Germany.

In The Plot to Kill Hitler, Patricia McCormick weaves together the many strands of history that resulted in some unlikely people finding a shared sense of right and wrong and the courage to stand up against the genocide of the Jews. Several attempts to murder Hitler failed for various reasons before the authorities put all the clues together in an effort to identify all the conspirators.

The parallels between Hitler and a recent past US president who is seeking reelection are startling and impossible to miss. I highly recommend this book.

If Patricia McCormick’s name sounds familiar to you, it might be because I wrote an entire blog post about Sold, by her, on November 13, 2023: One of the Most Banned Books in the US: Sold, by Patricia McCormick. Reading Sold prompted me to look for what else she has written.      

The Exchange After the Firm (The Firm Series Book 2), by John Grisham

The Exchange: After the Firm, by John Grisham
The Exchange: After The Firm, by John Grisham

The Exchange is the latest novel by John Grisham that all his fans are talking about. We get to re-engage with Mitch and Abby McDeere from The Firm. Mitch and Abby have tried to put the terrible memories of how things ended in Memphis behind them. Mitch swore he’d never return to that city but the head of the law firm’s health is failing and he needs Mitch to take a case in Libya. As one would expect, things do not go well. (If they did, it wouldn’t be a very interesting novel!)

If you read The Firm and have enjoyed scores of Grisham’s other novels, you’ll certainly enjoy The Exchange.

Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo’s Hidden History, by Kristina R. Gaddy. Foreword by Rhiannon Giddens

Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo's Hidden History, by Kristina R. Gaddy
Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo’s Hidden History, by Kristina R. Gaddy

I was drawn to this book for two reasons. First, I needed to learn more about the history of the banjo because there is an early African-American constructed banjo in the historical novel series I am working on. In fact, a segment on the Public Broadcasting System’s “History Detectives” years ago about the early African-American banjos was one of two initial sparks that inspired me to write the novels I’ve been working on for more than a decade.

Second, when I saw that Riannon Giddens had written the foreword, I knew I had to read the book. If you have not discovered the musical talent of Riannon Giddens, please look for her music on YouTube and her CDs. My favorite concert of hers on YouTube is with Francesco Turrisi from October 4, 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ignhso0iv9U.

Since my last blog post

I continue to hone my skills at creating memes on Bookbrush.com to use for pins on Pinterest to publicize my writing. I enjoy doing it, but it consumes more of my time than I would like. I’m trying to create enough ahead each day to enable me to schedule at least one every day through the end of December when things tend to get hectic with holiday activities. I’d rather be writing than creating memes and pins, but it seems to go with the territory. No two days are the same, which keeps me motivated.

Until my next blog post

I hope you have at least one good book to read. I’m enjoying Dangerous Women, a political thriller by Mark de Castrique. It’s the second book in his Ethel Crestwater series.

Dangerous Women, by Mark de Castrique
Dangerous Women, by Mark de Castrique

Maybe it’s just me and/or the age I am, but it seems like there’s a lot of sickness going around. I wish you well.

Remember the people of Ukraine.

Janet

26 thoughts on “Three Other Books I Read in November 2023”

  2. Those three books sound really interesting. I have written their titles to remind me to look for them, but then I think, well, I do that a lot but then after buying them I’ve no time to read them. I still have not even finished the one I started back in January 2022! Seriously, I am not having you on. And I have a book next to my bed, supposedly to read before bed that I’ve not opened! I am not proud of this but it is my reality. I used to read ravenously decades ago and now I find I’ve not the time. I think you manage your time very well for you are quite engaged with the memes and the promotional material as well as with writing. I will be out of town for most of the week as I’ve the opening of an art show in Barcelona and I am actually giving a “master class” at the inauguration of the exhibition this coming Thursday. That is something I have not done since 2008! But I am looking forward to it. And now our weather has turned somewhat warm again, in the 50’s to 60’s Fahrenheit. Unheard of in December, but gladly received… All the best Janet.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Stop beating yourself up about your reading, Francis! There are times in our lives for everything. By that I mean there will be a time, a season in your life when you are drawn back into reading. (Hopefully, that will coincide with the publication of my first novel in the year 2050 or so!) Right now you are 100% into your art and you need to take advantage of your current opportunities. Teaching a master class again… what a thrill! I sense that you are in a very good place right now with your painting. You’ve worked long and hard and you deserve all the doors that are opening to you. You can read later. I wish you the best in Barcelona. How exciting! I’ll be back in touch next week. Janet

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  10. I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth, although it might appear so. I got Covid. This is my first day touching the computer. Wishing you the best with your showing in Barcelona!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. What a nice thing for you to say, Laleh. Thank you. I hope this holiday season brings you much joy and happiness. (It brought me Covid. I think the worst is over. Please stay well!)

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Thank you so much Janet. I hope you’re feeling better and getting better soon. I don’t have COVID but a bad cold for the last two days. Take good care of yourself and the show went nicely in Barcelona.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Thank you, Laleh. I’m still testing positive for Covid even though I’m feeling much, much better. I am fully-vaccinated, so I’m thankful for that. Otherwise, it would have been worse.

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  20. I’m a work in progress, Liz. I finally had my second negative test last night, but I’m still really dragging. I haven’t read anyone’s blog in nearly three weeks, so I’m afraid I’m really out of the loop and will never catch up!

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