**names that, "conveniently," the Vietnamese had difficulty pronouncing
"'We had to study French history in those days. We studied the French
Revolution, and we'd say, "If the French can do it, why can't we?"
That's the irony. The French inspired us how to make a revolution
against France." -- a Vietnamese man, Pham Xuan An, talking to an
American journalist living in Vietnam (pg. 83)
"On my desk was a Who's Who of Vietnam directory that covered 147 pages;
fifty-nine pages were filled with people named Nguyen, Le, or Tran."
Those being family names. (pg. 112)
One of the
important lessons of the war with Vietnam -- "that airpower alone
doesn't guarantee victory and that military might is often no match for
nationalism. As many as 2 million men walked to war over the Ho Chi
Minh Trail between 1959 and 1975." (pg. 244) One man I read about
earlier in the book said he left home in Hanoi kissing his wife and
children goodbye. He fought and returned to them after almost ten
years. He didn't see them at all during that time!
The Wheel of Life: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross,
M.D. -- my mom actually read this and recommended it to me. She said it
was good, but "a little weird" and I totally agree with that
assessment. Except some parts I'd say were very weird (to me) since I'm
not really into speaking with guides and spirits and stuff that,
frankly, I was taught was something we shouldn't do. (Look at King Saul,
for example). I do believe in a spirit world, demons, and angels, the
devil, and all that, but still struggle (?) with wanting anything to do
with them outside of the Holy Spirit. Anyway, what a fascinating woman!
The Next Better Place by Michael C.
Keith -- I was amazed at the detail this guy remembered from when he was
11 and 12 years old and went on the road with his wandering, alcoholic
father. Usually in traveling memoirs, people mention notes or blogs or
journals so I realize they can keep track of what they did and whom they
met. I find it hard to believe that a preteen boy would do such a
thing. So, I took some of these stories with a grain of salt, not
doubting that he experienced many of these situations, but maybe they
didn't happen exactly as told. And that's OK. It was a pretty good story.
The Quieting by Suzanne
Woods Fisher -- book 2 of the series mentioned above. The library had
both in the new book section. This one continued the tale of David's
family with the addition if his nieces and very meddlesome mother coming
to stay awhile.
Where Courage Calls
by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan -- Many, many years ago, I read
Janette Oke books, and when I saw some news books - actually a Return to
the Canadian West series - I decided to check them out. I guess I
don't mind hearing about teachers from the East traveling to rougher
areas in the West, and seeing how they cope with totally new
lifestyles.
The Inheritance by Tamera
Alexander -- McKenna and her rebellious younger brother Robert leave
Missouri after losing nearly everything in order to begin a new life
with their cousin and her family. Only things aren't quite right in
Copper Creek, Colorado, either. In fact, things are terrible, and
McKenna ends up having to parent another child.
A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman -- I saw this book highly recommended on Facebook by
Nancy's mom (although I'm not FB friends with her; someone tagged me in
a comment so...). This isn't a book I probably would have picked up on
my own, but apparently enough people liked it as it had a lot of holds
on it when I put it on hold at the library. I read it all in one day. A
good story. Really grew on me because during the first several pages I
was like, Huh? do I want to continue with this? But I did, and I'm
glad.
Where Trust Lies by Janette
Oke and Laurel Oke Logan -- book two in the Return to the Canadian West
series. In this book Beth returns from the year she spent teaching in
Coal Valley, and she reluctantly joins her mom and sisters on a six-week
cruise through the Maritime Provinces and to the United States.
