Review—THE RIVER WE REMEMBER

 By William Kent Krueger

 Published by Atria Books, 2023

978-1-9821-7921-2

Mr. Krueger is well known and celebrated in the reading communities for his Cork O’Connor mystery series, and for   THIS TENDER LAND and ORDINARY GRACE. This long novel is another penetrating look into the lives of a group of small Minnesota town residents. The town of Jewel, apparently a county seat, is home to a fascinating and varied group of residents, including war veterans, foreign-born and other citizens, as well as firmly implanted Americans. The novel explores how events, history and memory influence our every-day lives.

When a prominent if not beloved wealthy farmer and land-owner is found dead on the river bank that flows near town, the circumstance of his death roil the waters of the river and the many rivers of memory and life that are found in the minds and souls of a range of characters.

The cast of this novels is large and wide-ranging from a Dakota veteran marine married to a Japanese woman, to fourteen-year old boys to a town drunk, an unmarried mother with a fraught past, to ordinary passersby. All are burdened in some way, large and small, with rivers of memory that have the constant ability to affect our actions. While the unraveling of the questions regarding the citizen’s death and discovery in the Alabaster River and the many associated events of that summer propel the narrative, it is the gentle speculation regarding the personal rivers we readers will remember that generate the adhesive of this fine novel that helps carry us to the final surprising and satisfying conclusions.

As always, the author’s attention to detail, to character and setting, to careful weaving of the net of plot, to rational thoughtful connections, will draw in readers and secure our interest to the very end.

Review--EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE

 

Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone

By Benjamin Stevenson

U.S. Edition by Mariner books, 2023

 

Most of us have probably experienced a medium-level stand-up comedian’s act. Here’s one in print. It is a crime novel containing several asides from the author. The author’s asides to readers are amusing, distracting and help him maintain his adherence to the 1929 “Rules of Detective Fiction,” as articulated by British author Ronald Knox.

The narrative tells the story of his family’s gathering after the release from prison of one of the younger members of the family. The family, in several generations has gathered in a remote Australian mountain resort, in part to celebrate that release. In a blinding snowstorm, a murder occurs with a host of ripples that affect each of the family members, as well as the host owner of the resort.

Good descriptions of the snow storm and effects of the murder an search for the culprit do engage the narrative, as do some of the characters. But while the author adheres rigidly to Knox’s rule, he has not enhanced the attraction of the novel, nor do the several factual and typographical errors.

 

Review--FAIL DEADLY

 

Fail Deadly                       

By John Baird Rogers

ISBN: 9798986244204

A 2023 release from

Gotuit Publishing

 

Even with the scientific and cultural advances we’ll experience in coming decades, the future, according to this author, will be far from calm and peaceful. Fortunately creative literary talent abounds in our future reading. In this third adventure with Louise (Weezy) Napolitani and Joe Mayfield, that jewel from the author’s mind, Olegarten rises ever higher. Here is a creation of a fine mind, a group of cyber experts loosely organized to help protect the United States against computer hackers who would destroy the nation. It is an organization with strict rules of engagement.

Weezy is a brilliant computer specialist who often thinks outside the box. Her companion and lover Joe Mayfield is a financial whiz, Together, they form an active protective duo against a complex foreign threat to the nation. It is not a task they look for but are thrown into the conflict by circumstance and proximity.

The thread of this well-written and carefully organized novel take Weezy and Joe up and down the East Coast and through the twisted halls of Washington. The story, from page one, moves apace and will often leave readers breathless. From the careful descriptions of action sites travelers would never visit, through the logic of complex communications system and computer uses, the story never flags. The plot thread never descends so deep into technology that readers will become confused, nor does it ever fray into loss of direction.

This is an excellent novel in every sense and will engage any reader who enjoys good thrillers and intense emotional roller-coaster rides. The autocar awaits.

 

DANGER IN THE OFFING

 As King Trump and his Prince, Musk, continue to wield mace and broadsword against the federal structure, here' s something to consider. A young couple, both employed by the Federal government until last week are leaving the rural state where they had a home and careers. They'll move to Europe where relatives will help them establish new citizenship.

The rural community and the state where they spent their incomes and paid their taxes will lose those taxes and that income spent for schools, for groceries, for all the other things people in rural communities buy. Many businesses in town will suffer income losses. And whatever jobs the two adults performed for our government may be lost. Now multiply the number of terminated employees by the taxes and purchases from the retail markets. The effect on our economy by the loss of millions of federal employees has not been calculated, but it is not insignificant. There is more effect to our life than has been posed by the in-artful swing of axe and sword.

THE REAL NATIONAL ANTHEM

Congratulations to the AIR FORCE  Tech Sgt who sang our national anthem at the opening for the Dayton 500 Race, today, 2/16/25. It was a rare offering. I am so tired of the personal interpretations so many "singers" make in public performances. They butcher  the original melodic line and the intent of the notes, by adding their own flawed interpretation. He sang it as it was written and intended. Good!

MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA CONCERT

 No longer able to attend concerts, I often enjoy the Orchestra concert via television. Fortunately, the Orchestra's television production staff is careful in its use of camera closeups. Friday evening, Concert-mistress Suzy Parks, clad in a loudly contrasting red wig and scarlet gown, offered up an incredible performance of G. Ortiz violin concerto.  If you can find a repeat broadcast, by all means possible, do sit down and listen to the stunning world class virtuoso presentation. The pieces is rambunctious, melodic, assertive, difficult and ultimately enormously satisfying. I'd even suggest the piece and performance was, by any definition, award-winning. In its conception the concerto is a  thorough lesson in the history of Mexico, from the earliest indigenous ruler through Spanish and now drug cartel rulers. At the same time, the beauty and complexity of the indigenous peoples, like the Mayan and prehistoric peoples, is called out in numerous subtle and complex ways. This performance of  an incredible concerto was simply mesmerizing.

CURRENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS, A RANDOM QUESTION

Well, it's early in 2025, and it's early in the news Trump administration. Most of you who read this blog know I used to be an educational or now labeled public television producer.  TV has been around a long time. There are a lot of experienced people in the field. There is also  good deal of research on how to use television effectively. Neither presidential candidate, in my not so humble opinion, used TV very effectively in the last campaign.

One example of my point here. (patience, its coming) A Senator in Minnesota makes it a practice, every year, to DO at least one appearance in every county in the state. Not a big, flag waving rally. She goes to a town or city and sits down with residents, looks them in the eyes and asks them what they need and want from Congress. Does she deliver on every need or request? Of course not.

But residents (voters) go away with a certain level of satisfaction that they are voting for a real person who 'sees' them. Yes, big rallies are fun, noisy and energizing but when it comes down to problems and solutions isn't it nice to know your candidate listened personally to you or your neighbor?

There's another thing. One on one through the TV camera can be Very Personal. Think about it. How does it feel when the candidate looks directly into the camera lens and says softly but firmly, "I'm running for this office because I want to help you have a better life."

AN HISTORIC DAY IN THESE UNITED STATES

Monday, January 20. It's an important day in America. Yes, it is the day of inauguration of our 47th president. It is also a day to honor the memory of one of the great humanists of our age. This is a national holiday to honor the memory of the Reverend Martin Luther King. He distinguished himself as one of the greatest  advocates of equal human recognition and rights for all of us. Take a moment to remember him, an advocate for ALL human equality, as we recognize the inauguration of President Donald Trump..

BITTER C0LD AND A FAMILY OF KILLERS

 It never got to zero degrees in my backyard today. Now I'm sitting at my computer in my workroom in front of a nice warm fireplace ablaze with well-dried oak. Yeah. No snow to speak of so if this low temp continues , thawing next Spring will be long and tedious. My current read is a novel from an Aussie named Benjamin Stevenson. I'm only a third of the way into this so haven't formed in-depth opinion yet. Good read so far. Karin Slaughter liked it. Title? Sure: EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE. Intrigued? Yes, I am. So far so good. Stay tuned.

PRIVACY? WHERE HAST THOU GONE?

 A little more than a year ago I purchased my first cell phone. Yes, I also have a home phone (used to be known as a land line). My home phone number is out there on my web site, has been for years, ever since I had NW Bell hook me up. They showed up less than two hours after I called to schedule service. But that was a holiday, so the tech apologized for the delay.

So I bought a cell two years ago so I could carry it as I get older. I supplied the number to a carefully drawn list of about 20 people, mostly family and a few important work associates. None of them ever call my android cell. But others do. I keep track, sometimes. Two weeks ago, between 8AM and 8PM on a single day my cell phone received 149 (!) calls. 

To be clear, I didn't answer any of them. The recorded message assures the caller I'll return the call if they leave a name and number. They don't. The calls come from all over the world. Based on my known number, I expect them to be scams; calls about the adventures of my non-existent nephew, or brother, or aunt. Or they are advertiser calls about my expiring warranties on everything including my false teeth.

My point? When your mobile phone is in your possession, you are accessible: in your home, your office or factory floor, the hospital and your doctor's office. Yes, there are laws about privacy. Ever know anybody who broke a law? 

Personally, I don't care if government or individuals can trace my movements by connecting  to my GPS or my cell. My point is that privacy except in specific treated locations, is gone. That horse has left the barn. Know that and live your life accordingly.

GOLDEN GLOBES

 After years of mistakes, missteps and slugfests, Golden Globes nailed it! Nikki Glaser is outstanding as the host. Should (will) be an outstanding show!

DARK AND STORMY DEBUTS AT ONCE UPON A CRIME

When you are in south Minneapolis, meandering along Lyndale Avenue, you pas beyond the complex interchange of freeways into a mixed commercial neighborhood. When you arrive at 26th, if you look to the east, you'll see a large imposing sign at ground level beside  a canopied stairway. The stair lead down to a basement doorway. It's the basement level entrance to one of the finest bookstores in the state of Minnesota. In fact, ONCE UPON A CRIME is one of the best bookstores in the entire nation.

I don't go there too often. I can't afford it. Their inventory which focuses on mystery and other crime fiction, would bankrupt me in thirty seconds. Tens of thousands of crime novels and anthologies by just about every good crime novelist in the English language are ready for sale and on display in their bookshelves.

This Saturday I was there for the debut a a fine anthology presented by local members of the Twin Cities Chapter of Sisters In Crime. The eighteen stories in IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, DONTCHA KNOW, by eighteen good writers will capture your attention, make you smile, laugh, nod in satisfaction, and even bring a tear to your eye. I'll have a more detailed review after I finish reading the anthology. Meanwhile, get over to ONCE UPON A CRIME. It they are new to you, you'll discover an amazing collection of careful thoughtful. excellent books for your definite reading pleasure. 

Happy Reading.

FREE SPEECH NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

 William Cooper is the author of a thoughtful examination of the structure of America, especially our "freedoms." titled "How America Works. . . and Why it Doesn't" It's worth a read in our parlous times. His column carried by a news platform called "The Fulcrum" focuses on Free Speech and the current trends, especially on educational campuses to suppress free speech. We all understand that at times we are hard-pressed to not just scream SHUT UP at what we may consider idiotic and dangerous commentary. This is particularly true today on college and university campuses where threats of riotous behavior have too frequently been successful. One can understand how an administrator, faced either way with budget considerations, might quickly decide to avoid potential confrontation. And we should all remember, if we are talking across a table with an enemy, we aren't shooting or dodging bullets from the opposition.

CHIAROSCURO QUARTET PERFORMS EASILY AT OR ABOVE STORIED PREDICTION

Not so very long ago, women were not allowed to study in the fine arts, much less perform on stages other than bawdy houses. Today, we have better understanding that women are possessed of far more richer and varies knowledge and talent than only bearing and raising children. The musical talent of women is richly and widely welcomed today, not least is a more recently formed (2005) sting quartet called Chiaroscuro Quartet. Violins, viola and cello in the very capable hands of four young well-schooled, richly talented women, the Quartet mad ea brief stop in Saint Paul to perform a concert of Mozart and Schubert as the opening in the new schedule of the Julie Himmelstrup Music In The Park series,

They played instruments carefully maintained and strung with gut strings, rather than the manufactured strings found on most such instruments these days. Rich, nuanced, multiple-interpreted scores brought to life with passion and care. The four young women demonstrated enormous talent and understanding of the music under their care. 

A young quartet, formed in 2005, the four are being scheduled across the world's concert venues and they are building a discography that is to be admired. Find them, hear them, and you will be transported to a world of classical music rare in today's world. It was a richly satisfying afternoon of some of the world's most significant instrumental music performed as it should be by this talented young quartet..

MORE DEAD BY GUNFIRE

It is my considered belief that those who resist strengthening our gun laws, those who favor allowing anybody 18 and over in age carrying loaded weapons in public, and anybody ever convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor, owning and possessing a rifle, shotgun, pistol and ammunition, is responsible for the deaths today, September 4, 2024, in a Georgia high school. It is very clear from the language of the Constitution and the language of the debate over the Second Amendment, that possession of weapons is related to being part of an organized militia, such as the National Guard and is Not designed to offer pesonal protection. Moreover, it is very clear that the possession of pistols and rifles by the civilian population contributes greatly to the random and criminal loss of life in this country. Everyone who supports the Second amendment as it is now stated IS RESPONSIBLE for every death by gun in this nation.

DOWNSIZING, SAVING, SHREDDING AND HISTORY

I read an interesting piece in The Star Tribune Monday. Freelance writer Tod Nelson writes about how to manage your records as you move into smaller facilities and possibly a simpler life.. The idea apply to young adults moving into full independence and to people making mid-life alterations. Nelson also applies his recommendations to oldsters, like me, who may be able to glimpse the terminal at the end of the line.

The one missing element in the story that I found quite disturbing, and, I suspect, is disturbing to many historians, is to at least thoughtfully consider history. It's true, most of us will live and pass out of this life without making newsworthy contributions to the fabric or the perseverance of humankind. However, the lack of documented life is a constant source of frustration to researchers, especially those who lie to include context in their work.

Perhaps its my close and long association with an assistant director of publications and research at the Minnesota Historical Society that has influenced my position here. I recall learning of a political leader who's family and staff deposited twenty linear feet of documents with the MHS! Of course, most of us won't have that kind of record, but we should all recognize that ordinary daily life provides vital context for almost all historical research, writing and presentations.

I've been present many times, listening to the the intense frustrations of historical researchers who seek well-identified photographs of local folks and local events to give depth and understanding of daily life in ordinary towns and villages. And it isn't just the big archives like the National Archives or the MHS that are interested. Local, city town and county societies  employ trained historians who may be excited to consider and evaluate what you consider ordinary and useless documents and photographs.

So, before you turn on that shredder, contact your local historical society and find out what they are interested in preserving. Do it before you find yourself traveling that path through a dim landscape into the next possible obscurity.

RUMINATION ON POLITICS OF THE TIMES

 

When I was a child courses in American History included several units on the history and construction of the Constitution and on the governance structure of the nation. Politics and political structure were barely mentioned. Today I looked at a textbook in which political structure and opweration overshadowed the organization and operation of our government.

Political organizations rule the roost. Candidates are chosen mostly as a result of technical evaluations from paid consultants, not by what they stand for. They get a political label. Media reports focus as often on their political affiliations as they do on the stated positions of the elected officials.

And we voters have largely bowed to those patterns. We have stopped choosing candidates on the basis of what they stand for (or say they do) and instead we look at their endorsement labels from a political party. In many place you can’t have your name as a candidate on an official ballot without meeting certain political party status. Party status has become more important than position on issues.

For a majority of voters, it appears to be more important what political labels you wear, than what you say you stand for. And will work for.

The real question that becomes so very important in the coming presidential election is not which political party will win the White House, but whether democracy will suffer another possibly seminal blow to its future. Presidents do not have the power of CEOs, but the Congress of these United States do carry that power and that responsibility.