Book Reviews

Published in 1903, the short novel concerns the captain and crew of a steamship traveling through the China Sea when a typhoon strikes. The narrative’s focus is on the awesome and terrifying force of this storm, and the manner in which the characters deal with it.

The Japanese title of this 1990 novel is Tenjo no Ao, which means “heavenly blue.” The American translator, Edward Putzar, opted for No Reason for Murder—which sounds like a hardboiled detective novel. Not that I’m complaining; after all, it’s the English title that initially caught my attention. I doubt that I would have given a second glance at a book called Heavenly Blue. Plus, the author herself did not object (per the translator).

Thankfully Tender Mercies received the recognition it deserved. The writer, Horton Foote, won the Academy Award that year for best original screenplay (and Duvall won for best actor). 

Fleming’s book itself, which was published in 2009, is an admirable work. He handles the subject matter with keen wit, intelligence, and moral common sense. Few histories provide a more fascinating description of the main antagonisms of the Cold War.

Graham Greene (1904—1991), the famous journalist and writer, visited Mexico during the 1930s to investigate a religious persecution that was then underway. His greatest work, The Power and the Glory, was a product of that investigation.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is one of those rare books that one can keep close to and profitably peruse for a lifetime.

Not as well-known but more authoritative are three books by two real-life FBI profilers, John Douglas and Robert Ressler.

The character of Miss Brodie is a blend of bohemianism and fascism, and that latter label is not being applied in the fast and loose manner of our times. 

In terms of literary quality, both books have generally been regarded as masterpieces, but for me it’s their underlying message that counts most. 

The reading portion of this investigation was my favorite part, and the book that stands out is In Search of Dracula. McNally’s and Florescu’s book is a treasure trove of information.