Review: Muqtada

Muqtada by Patrick Cockburn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I got this back when Muqtada was prevalent in the news for his battles with Coalition forces from his HQ that seemed to lie in a mosque-cemetery complex. I did not get around to reading it then and was reluctant to pick it up now, since time has passed and Muqtada has gone from emanating an evil, rebellious auro to a political moderate.

However, Muqtada is actually minor or perhaps supporting character in this recent Iraq history focused on the Shia-Sunni divide. Not only is the background of that religious division and its regional and national implications explored but there is such helpful observations as that the appellation "Sayyid" often givens Muqtada denotes a person descending directly from the Prophet Muhammad, as does his black turban while "al-Sadr" indicates his descent from Shiite martyrs.

Still, a relevant and enlightening book on Iraq.



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Review: Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat

Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The narrator here has a funny way of pronouncing many words: "inventory" has an accent on the second syllable, and "scones" has no long vowel sound. That aside, the fork is not considered until the second half of the book, as a polticized prelude to the culture of chopsticks. (Forks were, at times, pro-Republican and anti-Christian.) Ahead of all that there is spoon, boiling puts, dogs in spit-turning wheels, and more.

Appliances, peelers, ice cream makers, and more, this is an excellent microhistory covering centuries of cultural change from the vantage point of the kitchen. However, it maybe should be called "Considering the History and Development of Appliances, Utensiles, and Kitchen Gadgets". :)



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Review: American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men

American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men by David McConnell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Hear my interview with the author on Podomatic.

McConnell takes from what would be called homosexual "hate crimes" or "gay panic" to an attempt to find how a distorted "honor" became the departure point to such violence. It seems an overt or possibly latent homosexuality is the commonality to the killers from the infamous Jenny Jones case which was a big deal up here in Michigan to John Katehis, part-time John, one-time killer. In the journey, McConnell admits to seeking "pure masculinity enraged". I am not sure if that is what he found, or if even he is, but I respect that in the annals of true crime assailed ("assay-led"?) the subject like an ardent researcher and truth-seeker.



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Review: Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat

Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



The narrator here has a funny way of pronouncing many words: "inventory" has an accent on the second syllable, and "scones" has no long vowel sound. That aside, the fork is not considered until the second half of the book, as a polticized prelude to the culture of chopsticks. (Forks were, at times, pro-Republican and anti-Christian.) Ahead of all that there is spoon, boiling puts, dogs in spit-turning wheels, and more.



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Review: A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths

A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths by Tony Fletcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A penetrating and detailed look at the quick rise and sudden disintegration of the Smiths over 633 pages. The book reveals Moz to be a petulant, self-centered, and insecure deal-breaker that while outspoken in criticism could brook no dissent or conflicting opinion. The focus is on the close and special Morrissey-Marr relationship, both artistic and business. The context tells much of the story of British post-punk pop, as well. Details on the albums, their recording and individual songs and sessions will be of interest to Smiths fans while the greater work has much to offer any music enthusiast.

Hear my interview with author Tony Fletcher from Outsight Radio Hours episode 695.



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Review: Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Seth Shostak

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I hear "meetings about meetings" and know there is an ineffectual prelude to and uncertain future. Such is with this alient-hunting literature. I love the subject, but there is really no "there" there: hoaxes, false alarms, and suppositions of what would happen if only... A good narrator and the inside story of the birth and life of SETI make this a good read.



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Review: Bluegrass : A True Story of Murder in Small-Town Kentucky

Bluegrass : A True Story of Murder in Small-Town Kentucky by William Van Meter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is a quick listen-read about a brutal, horrific college (WKU) campus crime. A woman is raped, beaten and burned to die later. Much like the classic [b:In Cold Blood|168642|In Cold Blood|Truman Capote|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873309s/168642.jpg|1940709], this book gives us background, cultural-geographical context and then lingers long over the aftermath: trial, penal, survivors. The narrator, perhaps Southern himself, does a great job with the required dialect. I especially liked the lnegthy recreations of a couple of key police interviews and witness stand testimonies.



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