The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)

 My SIL picked this book for our family book club. Wasn't sure what to expect, but it was great!

Spoilers (and they'll really spoil it, so turn back now!):

Cormoran Strike (5 pts to Ms. Rowling for character name choices in this book) is a private dick, recently out of the British Army missing part of a leg. He's also just dumped his lying-ass girlfriend and met his newest secretarial temp by grabbing her left breast. Hard. 

All of this as intro to this character. (No fears my lovely wife, it's in 3rd person.) Robin, his accidentally molested temp, turns out to be the best thing to happen to him (no, no love story there, thank goodness), work-wise. She's bright and helps him immeasurably throughout this story.

The story? So, model-of-the-moment Lula commits suicide, or so it seems. Her brother, John, doesn't believe it, so hires Strike to investigate. I'll get the spoiler out right away and if you're reading this and don't realize I'm about to tell you who the killer is, turn away now: It's John. But he's a psychopath. So figures.

Some very convincing scenes of the lifestyles of those with f^ck-you money, like the author, so it was a bit of fun to get a glimpse. Prissy designer, drugged-up models, family law firm-multimillionaires. Plenty of possible suspects, but Strike takes it all logically, contemplatively. I really did like this character. (Which means I may read more as she's written seven of these dang novels!) 

Who I really liked was Robin. Quite smart, initially smitten with her very new engagement ring, then slowly realizing her fiancé might be a weenie. Will we see a Strike-Ellacott engagement announcement in a future book? I hope to God not; I like them both better as an investigating pair. 

Spoilers complete.

I liked it. Kinda long for our bookclub (I think our limit was 400pp and this one was 550pp) but it really pulled me in; pretty much all I did this weekend was finish it. 

More recent reads

 The Zone of Interest, by Martin Amis. I need to read more of this Amis. I've read, now, I think 3 or 4, and 5 or 6 of his dad's. All good. This one was particularly good, and in one of my favorite themes: WWII and the Holocaust. This one based on three characters surrounding a particular extermination camp. Terrible. How close to the truth?

Time for a Tiger, by Anthony Burgess. A recent post in the Evelyn Waugh Society led me to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, from which I learned about this book, part of his Malayan Trilogy. Found a great hb version of all three and read the first one. Right up my alley: British officer (police this time) overseas dealing with the locals, his leadership, drinking, women, other Brits, etc. Simply awesome and some great vocabulary. Burgess was an artist. I look forward to reading more of him. 

In Search of Schrödinger's Cat, by John Gribbin. I had read this decades ago and loved it. Decided to reread it since I'm writing again. Great ideas for my book (the Copenhagen Interpretation, for one). This Audible version includes updates in the back. 

Finally, more Revelation Space. I read Diamond Dogs, which was great, then when I finished that, the next story chronologically was "Monkey Suit," another great short story by the master, Alastair Reynolds. The next, if I can find it (in Belladonna Nights), is "Plague Music" (most likely about the Melding Plague, adrift in the Glitter Band, oy!).

About Face, by COL David Hackworth, USA Ret.

 I learned of this book years ago, maybe decades. It's a huge tome, so I decided to "read" it via Audible. I finished it relatively quick with the help of a 10-hour trip to Chattanooga this weekend.

David Hackworth was quite the U.S. soldier. Lied about his age during the end of WWII so he could join the Merchant Marines at 14. Found out and kicked out, then lied again and joined the Army at age 16. (Hired a homeless drunk for a dollar to pretend to be his father as he was enlisting at fake-age 17.) Served in Italy at the end of WWII, then served with distinction in Korea. Shot several times, the guy will end up with eight, EIGHT, Purple Hearts. Jiminy freaking Christmas.

His attempt to take out a North Korean sniper earned him a bullet wound in his head, as well as a battlefield commission. A great deal of this memoir involved Hackworth working on his bachelors so that he could remain in the Army. Even back then, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, bachelors were a thing. Hackworth has a great final section of the book where he talks about changes to his Army that he'd like to see, one of them being that a bachelors doesn't prove you can lead. Oh, so many examples in my own service. 

Hackworth was a leader. He led troops. He watched over his boys. He took care of them. But at some point during his 4 years in Vietnam, he realized we weren't waging the war to win it. Politics was involved, and the Army was no better than the politicians. He had had enough. Through Korea, he knew several reporters who he considered "studs" along with other warriors, so he took advantage of his contacts, and appeared on TV critiquing how we were prosecuting the Vietnam War and how bad the South Vietnamese fighters were. 

The Army wasn't having it, and tried to prevent Hackworth from retiring. He actually had to hide out and hire a civilian lawyer. The Army finally realized they should just let this old soldier (at 40, FFS) fade away. He spent his last years in Australia and the U.S. as a reporter. 

The man was probably the most highly decorated U.S. servicemember when he retired. His list of medals are beyond impressive, and he even mentions in this memoir that he ensured he got one removed after he was put in just for being the HQ gonk for a unit of his that did brave things. 

September 2023

 Books read this month:

• Cursed Bunny, by Bora Chung. One of the best books (short stories) this year.
• The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester. SIL's choice for family book club. Meh.
• The Ferryman, by Justin Cronin. Liked his book The Passage, great vampire book. This one completely different. Sci-fi, but you wouldn't know by the cover or even the jacket description. 
• The Prefect, by Alastair Reynolds. Continuing my chronological reading of his Revelation Space books/stories. This one was a re-read, but I didn't remember the ending until about 85% in, so that's good. 
• The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman. Wife's choice for family book club. So fun. Want to watch this on Britbox.
• Heir to the Empire, by Timothy Zahn. My choice. Thought I'd try a Star Wars book. Read one years ago in Moscow (Bloodline, by Claudia Gray, which I remember liking). This one was okay. Pretty simple and obvious story. Probably won't read any more. Like Thrawn as a character. 

Books bought this month: 

• The Zone of Interest, by Martin Amis. I'll always buy an Amis (father or son) for $1.99.
• You'll Enjoy It When You Get There: The Stories of Elizabeth Taylor. Loved her Palfrey novel. Saw this on Twitter and had to get it.
• Fixing Your Feet: Injury Prevention and Treatment for Athletes, by John Vonhof, Tonya Olson. Needed this after the Rogaine last month. Will need it in the future.
• The Thursday Murder Club.
• Angel, by Elizabeth Taylor. Love this author. Again, only $1.99.
• A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962, by Alistair Horne. Knew next to nothing about this war until I read On Leave by Daniel Anselme, which was a great read. Looking forward to reading this one.