Just A Book
Time for another book review. I decided to skip the title because the title is a loaded word.
Ahoy, Books Appear Over the Horizon!
We are amidst my favorite time of year in my book club. One of our members is feverishly beating the drum for nominations. Alas, procrastination always wins. I would expect he will receive the lion's share of the nominations in the last couple of days. Each of the forty-odd members CAN nominate up to three books. It would be a logistics nightmare if we had to wade through 120 books to pick next year’s reading list. My guess is we will end up with about 40 nominees from which we will pick next year’s twelve. Nominees are due by our next meeting on October 9th and then voting is finished by November 14th. There are a surprising number of moving parts to running a book club. For the record, I submitted my nominees for next year early on. I find the hardest part of the process to be limiting myself to three books.
Our just-completed book was “Fascism: A Warning” by Madeline Albright. I decided not to put THAT in the title or subtitle because we all have grown tired of politically charged words like fascism regardless of where your views lie. Despite all that, the book was excellent. Perhaps my avoiding the title and the cover as a feature photo was inspired by the author. I’ll get to that observation soon enough.
My only gripe with the book was Ms. Albright was unwilling to commit to whether the elephant in the room fit the definition of fascistic tendencies. I am not sure why I wanted her to commit but just felt it left the book a bit open-ended.
A book club such as ours has had ample exposure to fascists of the past. Their playbook is remarkably predictable it seems. Albright takes the reader on a journey through time and flags the unflattering patterns of fascists of the past. What is unsettling about all of it is fascist behavior seems easy to identify yet we seem to fall for it nevertheless. What is striking is most all of them are decidedly unoriginal!
We had a good turnout on a beautiful September evening. There were fifteen people ready to weigh in. I was the last to arrive and the emcee singled me out as tardy and got to share my review to start. I enjoyed the book and felt Albright was uniquely positioned as she had grown up in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The arc of her life and how it was shaped and distorted by fascism made hers a voice worth heeding. I only wish she had taken a position on recent US history. Whether I would agree with her or not was not the point, I wanted her opinion. I rated the book 7.5. Two of the fifteen in attendance did not finish the book. The consensus of the 13 voters was 8.5 out of 10.
I thought the most effective part of her writing was to offer quotes and behaviors of the past that are recycled by the practitioners of today. Such examples are powerful if your mind remains open. The examples of the rise of fascism and how societies simply wake up in its midst, powerless to change it make identifying its symptoms of paramount importance.
If any of you are moved to try a history book, here is a link to the ones we’ve read sortable by Title and Author. The list is available on my homepage if the mood suits you. Drop me a note if you are interested in a recommendation. In return, if any of you have sci-fi tips I am interested.
My sense is many of us are in an echo chamber. I would imagine the book would be valuable to people on the fence and seeking a new perspective. Alas, I think they are as rare as albino buffaloes. This finally brings me back to my love of my book club. The reading list for next year will be a compromise for all. It is often the books I didn’t consider that I enjoy the most. I like to think it is a great formula to shape and change our attitudes. Once you get used to it, changing your mind is a pretty cool thing!
The Poll & Music
I was the right age for “The Clash”. I loved their 1979 album set “London Calling”. Since today it was fascism, “Clampdown” seemed a great choice.
While I’m sure unsure of the exact content, since fall is upon us, it is time to write about food again. See you next week.
" I was born with a reading list I will never finish" Maud Casey Mark, I think ( I tell Myself this is my big chance) of a book as my rare opportunity to sit down with the author and have a one on one. Could you have coffee or lunch with Madeline Albright? Probably not. But through her book you spent time with her and know her and her ideas in different way now. Ive recently had time with Thoreau and learned he didnt stay in that little house all year long, He sometimes went into town to get some of his mothers cookies!
I’m not sure I have the fortitude to tackle this book as I’m so anxious about the fascist influences buffeting our country. The point Madeleine Albright makes about societies suddenly waking up to find fascists have taken over is utterly chilling, but one we obviously can’t afford to ignore. I’m planning to share your wonderful list with a small book group I’m part of that has taken a historical turn.
Very curious to read your upcoming food post! More cookies?