Brave Companions

Title: Brave Companions: Portaits in History
Author: David McCullough
Genre: Historical Essays
Pages: 232
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A collection of essays about historical figures that McCullough feels make "brave companions." Included in the collection are essays on Louis Agassiz, Harriet Beacher Stowe, Alexander Von Humboldt, Frederic Remington, Theodore Roosevelt, the Lindbergh's, and the builders of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Thoughts: McCullough is easily my favorite historical author (not that I've read many others, I guess) and this is the third book of his that I've read. The subtitle "Portaits in History" is really the best description of this book, as McCullough does a fine job of painting the lives of these lesser-known figures while adding his own touch to the narrative. Each of the essays was completely intriguing to me and, even better, I came away feeling smarter than I did before at the same time! Really, I would recommend anything by McCullough; he is a master of the discriminating use of detail, which makes the history lesson read like a novel.
Disclaimer: None.

The Pit

Title: The Pit: A Story of Chicago
Author: Frank Norris
Genre: Early 20th Century Muckraker Novel
Pages: 416
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Follows the life of the protagonist, Laura Dearborne, and her relationship with her husband.
Thoughts: The description is very short because I don't want to give too much away about what happens in the plot. Suffice it to say that this is a book all about how your career can take over your life if you aren't careful. It was especially interesting to me because it is all about "the pit," which is the Chicago Board of Trade (like the game of the same title). There's something very compelling, competitive, and consuming about betting on trades in the market. This book tells the story of how the Pit almost ruined a man and his wife. It made me think about my career choices and what I really want in life.
Disclaimer: None at all.

The Magician's Nephew

Title: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Pages: 202 quick ones
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: The first in The Chronicles of Narnia series, this book was actually written after all of the others were. It gives the back story behind how Narnia came to be, and how the wardrobe become a portal to it.
Thoughts: Lewis' ideas behind Narnia are extremely creative, and the Christian allegory throughout the Narnia series definitely shows through in this book. I have to say it was highly entertaining, although I didn't find it quite as compelling as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. A great read if you are looking for something light, fast, and wholesome.
Disclaimer: None.

The Harlequin Tea Set

Title: The Harlequin Tea Set
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery Short Stories
Pages: 214
Rating (out of 5 stars) : *
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A collection of short stories by Agatha Christie. Most are mysteries, some just weird stories.
Thoughts: I try to save extreme ratings for exceptional books (good or bad), so you may be surprised I gave an Agatha Christie only one star. This was one of the few books I've begun and never finished. Most of the stories are psychotic suicides rather than your classic Agatha Christie. I really didn't enjoy any of them--they were just too gruesome, depressing, and weird. If you want to read Christie, pick a different book (And Then There Were None is highly recommended).
Disclaimer: A little grisly at times, nothing more.

When Genius Failed

Title: When Genius Failed
Author: Roger Lowenstein
Genre: Financial Non-fiction
Pages: 236
Rating (out of 5 stars): **
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: This book gives the history of the rise and fall of Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM), a hedge fund that went under in the September of 1998. LTCM was run by the brightest traders on Wall Street (two of them were Nobel Prize winners in Economics), but went under when the partners grew overconfident in their models, risked it all, and the markets went the wrong way. It gives some good insight into financial markets, leverage, risk, and the uncertainty of markets.
Thoughts: This book was interesting for me since (a) I have studied financial markets a fair bit and (b) I work for the NY Fed, which was quite involved in salvaging the whole mess. However, I felt that the author was pretty critical towards the partners, characterizing them as irresponsible, greedy villains. From an economics perspective, their theories were well-founded and, had they been able to hold on, they would have eventually come out on top. Their error was in underestimating how bad things could get before they got better, that's all. My only other difficulty with the book was that I look forward to my train-ride reading time as a break from the world of econ, and this book didn't provide that for me, obviously. Had I read it over the summer, I probably would have given it more stars. On the plus side, Lowenstein does a great job of making the book move along despite the density of the material, and I think that his insights are important for anyone working in financial markets.
Disclaimer: None.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Title: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Author: Zora Neale Hurston
Genre: Black Southern, set in Florida in the early 20th century
Pages: 240
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben and Jenn
Description: This book follows the life of Janie Crawford, a woman living in one of the first all-black towns in Florida. She repeatedly struggles to choose between following society's expectations for her (especially as a wife) versus the desires of her heart. A classic piece of black literature written in a beautifully poetic voice, Their Eyes Were Watching God shows how freedom pertains to a lot more than just slavery.
Thoughts: Jenn listened to the audio version of this book, and would highly recommend Ruby Dee's rendition. Her reading is fabulous, making the book really come alive. Overall, we both really enjoyed this book. The plot moves very quickly, and Hurston has some way of planting beautiful little gems of truth on every page. The story is really about standing for something (black/woman power!), but let it also be a self-evaluation as each page teaches something about dreaming, loving, and living. It helped both of us recognize what we're really working towards.
Disclaimer: There is a brief mention of premarital intimacy, luckily without any details. No worse than a PG -- this book was quite clean.

My Antonia

Title: My Antonia
Author: Willa Cather
Genre: Classic, set in late 19th century Nebraska
Pages: 266
Rating (out of 5 stars): *****
Reviewed by: Jenn and Ben
Description: My Antonia tells the story of a Bohemian immigrant family in the late 19th century. It catalogues the joys and struggles of early western farm life, the rich stories of immigrants, and the simplicity of growing up in an empty land. The characters are vivid and real, and they have much to teach the reader.
Thoughts: We both absolutely loved this book. More than anything, it was just a rich and nourishing book to read. Cather's depictions of life on the plains are so stunning, you can almost smell the dirt, and you feel you have met the characters somewhere before. It says a lot about how to be a good, strong person who lives and loves life.
Disclaimer: There was nothing offensive about this book.