Outsight Book Reader Diary: May 2020

The Texas Tower Sniper: The Terrifying True Story of Charles Whitman by Ryan Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As usual, Ryan takes into the killer's head and reveals the private thoughts of victims before they are killed. Of course, this is impossible yet I forgive Green it. Why? Well, he is so good at it. Also, he has an economy of delivery that is engaging and efficient. The 4 1/2 audiobook is about 129 pages in print. Honestly, many true crime works I read feel padded out as if the publisher demanded, "At leat 250 pages and less than 400!" Green gives us the essentials that are or could be related to Whitman's mass murder, tha the victims and heroes including why they were on scene at that time.

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No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful, revealing and entertaining career memoir from Ani. It ends before parenting and much of the 21st Century, including what I wanted to know -- how did she, like me, end up in Louisiana? Hopefully, she will do a follow-up that will reveal that and more. Along with a candid and reflective consideration of abortion, relationships, and the difficulties of recording her voice and acoustic guitar the reluctant entrepreneur averse to self-marketing recalls meeting Prince, touring with Maceo Parker, the travails of touring as a solo artist, not fitting in at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and falling in love with Rome (where "ani" is rude).

arrivederci Ani!

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