BOOK REPORTS--

Next by Michael Crichton

Have you ever seen a half dozen mice scurrying through a complex maze at the same time.  That's how I viewed the portrayal of characters in this Crichton, five year old novel.  It's a science-fictionesq peek at folks fiddling with genetics in the never ending chase for big bucks.  It features a nearly human orangutan who turns out to be a very clever and helpful critter in the story line along with an extremely articulate parrot.  In the end Crichton treats readers with an informed group of Author's Notes which will leave you nodding your silent agreement.  It also includes a comprehensive bibliography for scholarly inclined readers.

The late doctor Crichton received his MD from Harvard Medical School.  He taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge, England and as a visiting writer at MIT.  13 of his books have been made into films; the most popular of which is likely Jurassic Park.  He died in 2008.


I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby

This is Mary-Ann's story of her family leaving the Hutterite religious community and having to adapt to "modern" ways of the time.  She had never then heard of rock-and-roll or Walt Disney or ridden a bike or tasted macaroni and cheese.  She tells of her struggles of fitting-in with her new classmates with humor and raw honesty.  Her colony of Hutterites were in southern Manitoba Canada.  The sect is Brethren-like in origin and trace their history, like Mennonites and Amish, to the Anabaptist movement during the Reformation.


Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

Outstanding read, of course.  Five fellows escape Civil War-ravaged Richmond, VA in a stolen hot-air balloon and ride hurricane-like conditions to a crash landing on an uncharted, South Pacific Island.  They are stranded there four years and, with the help of their companion with a scientific background, achieve outstanding success in domesticating their wilderness.  Remember his Journey to the Center of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?  This one is an equally marvelous read.  Don't know why it took me this long to find it.


Seal Team Six by Howard E. Wasdin

A stunning peek at the training, often horrific experiences and ultimately, life as a civilian SEAL veteran.  The book brought home our indirect experience with with a passage involving SEAL Medal of Honor recipient Tom Norris whose brother we met at the SEAL Museum in Florida last winter.  The book was published before the SEAL's recent elimination of Osama Bin Laden so it is in no way capitalizing on that event.  It's a very quick and poignant read.