Subject: A Present, a surprise book you liked

Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov

Our reader enjoys older science fiction more than the modern. The older writers seem to keep him reading.

Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel

Based on actual surviving letters of Galileo with his daughter Maria Celeste, this is a carefully crafted book about a scientist far ahead of his time who caused problems with the Catholic Church.

Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne

This book is about Quanah Parker and other stories about persons who were abducted and raised by Camanche Indians.  When freed, some refused, others went back, but had a hard time readjusting to the white settlers way of life.

The Moor’s Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie

Our reader found this in a book bin in a corner of the Arroyo Grande Library.  A witty chronicle of family life in India by the author of “The Satanic Verses.”

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith (a J. K. Rowling pseudonym)

Our reader is not finished with this book, but is enjoying it thoroughly. Robin Ellacott is a private detective who manages to get called into unusual cases. There are six books in the series, and it sounds like the quest to read them all will continue. 

Path Lit By Lightening: The Life of Jim Thorpe by David Manariss

This is a thorough and well-written book of the life of the great athlete Jim Thorpe.  Hailed by many, even today, as the greatest athlete in the world, it not only tells of his achievements, but the circumstances surrounding what happened.  He became human in this book.  The reader could not put it down.

Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life by David Truer

This the reservation life of the Objibwe tribe in Minnesota.  They were one of many tribes who moved, or were moved, west when white men expanded on the east coast.  Part family memoir, part history of people he grew up with the author gives a broad view of what happened to the native Americans and how they are surviving and attempting to retain their culture.  From survival to casinos.  It also helped explain what happened to Jim Thorpe.  Our reader was glad she read them back-to-back.

– Fran Strauser