Review of "A Brief History of Creation: Science and the Search for the Origin of Life" by Bill Mesler and H. James Cleaves II

How did life on Earth begin? This has been a burning question in people's minds for millennia. In this book, Bill Mesler and H. James Cleaves II provide a history of how early scholars....then natural philosophers (early scientists).....then modern scientists have addressed this question over the course of history.

The book includes brief biographies of some pertinent scholars as well as their ideas about how life arose. I'm not going to provide a summary of these big thinkers - there were too many of them.

I'll just say that, for a very long time, intellectuals from all cultures accepted the notion of spontaneous generation: the belief that living things can spring from inorganic substances. For example, ancient settlements along the Nile River were regularly flooded, after which thousands of frogs appeared in the rich soil. People just thought the frogs formed from the dirt.



Historically, humans simply accepted that some living things hatch from eggs (like birds), some are born from mothers (like pigs), and some are created from soil, old food, dirty clothes.....whatever. Natural philosophers did myriad experiments that 'proved' spontaneous generation occurred, but we now know their experiments were seriously flawed.

Whatever their beliefs, natural philosophers had to be careful to attribute life on Earth to the work of God. Any other suggestion resulted in punishment from the Church, or even death. One early researcher who published his work on spontaneous generation (apparently without invoking God) had his feet and legs crushed, after which he was paraded through town and hanged. This kind of thing probably stifled a lot of research. (LOL....but wryly.) Nevertheless scientists carried on, being infinitely curious about how life came to be.



In time Darwin proposed his theory of evolution.





This 'eureka development' led scientists to believe that a 'first living organism' (FLO) gave rise to millions of species (over eons). Darwin, who was religious, never really addressed what this FLO was, or where it came from. Other researchers, though, developed many theories about the FLO and some have attempted to recreate it in the laboratory.

One current idea about the FLO is that it originated as a 'ribozyme' - an RNA enzyme that catalyzes biochemical reactions, like protein synthesis. If ribozymes were enveloped in a 'bubble' (cell membrane)......voila, the first cell. Sounds good to me....ha ha ha.



Just for fun, I'll include a recipe for spontaneously generating mice (adapted from the 17th century Flemish chemist Jean Baptiste van Helmont).

'Put a soiled shirt and your gym socks in a bowl with grains of wheat....and put it out in your garage. After about 21 days, the dirt from the clothes will react with fumes from the wheat - and the wheat will be transformed into mice.' Ha ha ha.



The book is thorough in its coverage of an interesting subject - the evolution of ideas about life's origin. For me, though, the prose is too dry and matter of fact; it could have used more humor. Also, the anecdotes feel repetitious because many natural philosophers had similar ideas and did similar experiments. Still, I'd recommend the book to readers interested in the subject.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Written in Fire: Book Three of the Brilliance Trilogy" by Marcus Sakey

This is the third book in the 'Brilliance' trilogy. As the story opens, the United States is on the brink of a civil war between average people and 'brilliants' or 'abnorms' (humans who have superior abilities). The war has been engineered in large part by a government official who wants a good future for his grandchildren....and he'll do almost anything to achieve this goal, including things that are WAY out of his area of responsibility. 😒



In fact almost all the main characters in this series are MUCH MORE concerned with their families and/or significant others than the good of mankind in general. This trope is common in fiction, but it's selfish and short-sighted (IMO), and - in real life - would probably result in the extinction of the human race. But of course this is fiction. 🙂

The books in the series should be read in order (Brilliance, A Better World, Written in Fire) for maximum comprehension and enjoyment.

*****

As the series unfolds, 'regular' humans in the U.S. have become increasingly hostile to abnorms because the government's attempts to control the brilliants have led to severe retribution....with massive death and destruction. Now a well-armed militia of vengeful people is descending on Wyoming's 'New Canaan Holdfast' where abnorms live in a technologically advanced settlement.



Nick Cooper is a brilliant who has been trying to establish a rapprochement between regular people and abnorms, but things have gotten completely out of control and the situation looks hopeless.



Still, Nick has some strategies to pursue, and one of them involves a very dangerous terrorist named John Smith - who has a diabolical plan that's been in the works for years.



Nick's situation is complicated by the fact that he's involved with two women. One is Natalie - Nick's ex-wife and the mother of his two children.







The other woman in Nick's life is Shannon, a fellow abnorm who partners with him on important missions. 



Both females are on Nick's mind as he tries to rescue mankind from its own worst instincts.

Meanwhile, the militia and the New Canaan Holdfast are gearing up for an all out war, which could have severe consequences for both sides. This plotline revs up the suspense, but once the battles start the fighting scenes get repetitive.....and I could have done with a bit less of this.







I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll just say - considering the huge build-up - the climax of the story is a yawner. 

The epilog plays out as I expected and leaves an opening for a new direction or a spinoff  IF Sakey wants to keep going with this storyline. Thus, I'd say this 'trilogy' - which ends on a cliffhanger - may not be finished.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe" by Bill Bryson

In this book travel writer Bill Bryson wrote about a whirlwind trip through Europe that seemed designed solely to give him something to write about rather than a journey he actually wanted to take. I didn't take notes so Bryson's stops in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lichtenstein, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, etc. blended together into a continuous blur of traveling, finding hotels, walking around, looking at things, eating, drinking, and so on. I could hardly distinguish one city from another.


Leichtenstein


Bulgaria

Bryson's observations are meant to be humorous (and sometimes are) but they're almost always snide and critical. Again and again Bryson complains that the cities he visited were dirty and filled with litter; had menus he couldn't read; served bad food that cost too much; harbored surly, unhelpful or purposely obstructive service workers (clerks, waiters, hotel staff); sported poor transportation with inconvenient schedules; wouldn't accept whatever kind of money he happened to have; allowed panhandlers in the streets; sold useless merchandise; and on and on and on.


Käsknöpfle from Leichtenstein


Kachamak from Bulgaria

Bryson has a (probably well-deserved) animus toward Germany for the Holocaust and Austria for electing a former Nazi to be president - but his extreme hostility is a jarring note in what's supposed to be an entertaining romp. The book is also heavy with sexual innuendos, has numerous comments about prostitutes, describes lots of excessive drinking, and contains 'dirty' language that's off-putting in the context of a light-hearted travel story (and I'm no prude).

On the positive side Bryson's descriptions of some of the sights he sees are interesting: the northern lights, museums, parks, historic sites, artworks, and so on. Still, I had to force myself to finish and was glad when he finally went home. Not one of Bryson's best efforts.


Northern Lights

Rating: 2 stars

Review of "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: The First Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes" by Joanne Fluke

I've read other books in Joanne Fluke's 'Hannah Swensen' series so it was interesting to backtrack and read 'book one' for the first time.



Hannah Swensen - a tall, attractive baker - leaves graduate school and returns home to Lake Eden, Minnesota for family reasons. Hannah decides to stay in town and opens 'The Cookie Jar' bakery and café. Hannah's mom and two sisters live in Lake Eden and often become involved in her amateur investigations.



This book features Hannah's mom Dolores - who owns an antique shop and repeatedly tries to set Hannah up with eligible men (much to Hannah's chagrin);



and Hannah's sister Andrea - a pretty fashionista, mother, and real estate agent who's married to Deputy Sheriff Bill Todd.



As the story opens Hannah and her assistant Lisa are at 'The Cookie Jar' early, baking cookies and preparing for the morning rush. Hannah is expecting a delivery from milkman Ron LaSalle, who's late for the first time ever. When Hannah hears that Ron's delivery van entered a nearby alley she thinks he broke down and goes to help. Instead of a broken van Hannah finds a broken body....Ron has been shot dead.



Hannah's cop brother-in-law Bill is about to be promoted to detective and asks Hannah to keep her eyes and ears open - in case clues about Ron's killer come her way. Of course Hannah jumps right in and takes over the entire inquiry, keeping Bill in the loop as needed. This is a pet peeve of mine with this series..that Hannah (and whatever family members she draws in) do almost all the investigating while the cops do who knows what. I know this premise is common in cozy mysteries but it still irks me.



Between making cookies and pursuing her inquiries Hannah buys a flattering little black dress and attends the annual gala thrown by Del and Judith Woodley - one of the richest families in town.



Soon afterward another dead body is discovered and Hannah learns that this second victim was a loan shark who threatened some prominent Lake Eden residents. Could the murders of the milkman and loan shark be connected? Hannah plans to find out.

In this book Hannah becomes acquainted with the two men who form part of her (seemingly eternal) romantic triangle. First Hannah meets Norman Rhodes, described as an older, balding dentist who's taking over his father's dental practice.



Later Hannah meets Detective Mike Kingston, portrayed as a handsome, blue-eyed, blonde hunk who's just been hired by the Sheriff's Department. Both men take a shine to Hannah and by the end of the book she has two dates for the weekend. (Sounds good to me....LOL)



Hannah talks to persons of interest, collects clues, and solves the crimes - putting herself in considerable danger in the process. But Hannah is a clever, resourceful gal and things turn out okay (allowing the series to continue. LOL).

The characters in the story are generally interesting and well-drawn. It would be great to know someone like Hannah, who gives away bags of cookies wherever she goes. I also like Hannah's big orange cat Moishe, a smart fellow who watches TV, tells Hannah when he's hungry, and provides affection and comfort as needed. The book also has cookie recipes sprinkled throughout, which sound delicious.



I enjoyed this cozy mystery and would recommend it to fans of the genre. 

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "The Shadow Dancer: A Wind River Reservation Mystery" by Margaret Coel

In book #8 of the 'Wind River Reservation' series, lawyer Vicky Holden is suspected of killing her abusive ex-husband. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Vicky Holden, an Arapaho who grew up on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, recently returned to the region and set up her new law office.





After a huge public fight with her abusive ex-husband, Ben Holden, he is shot dead - and Vicky is a suspect. Other troubles are also brewing in the area. A self-proclaimed prophet named Orlando has revived the Shadow Dance religion, meant to rid the region of white people and restore the land to the Indians. Moreover, a young computer expert named Dean Little Horse is missing.

Vicky's situation is made more difficult because Ben's family and the Indians on the reservation revered Ben and thought Vicky should have reconciled with him. This was perplexing (to me) since it was known that Ben was an unfaithful wife-beater. Nevertheless, everyone is ready to believe that Vicky killed Ben, and she is taunted and harassed. Determined to clear her name Vicky investigates.



She learns that, just before he was killed, Ben had a confrontation with two Lakota Indians who stole something from the ranch he managed. Vicky feels sure they were involved in Ben's death and sets out to find them - running into various kinds of trouble along the way.

Vicky is assisted by Father John O'Malley, the priest in charge of the Catholic mission on the Wind River Reservation. Father John, who is not-so-secretly in love with Vicky, sets out to help Vicky prove her innocence, find Dean Little Horse, and shut down Orlando's cult. He's also busy trying to save the mission, which may be shut down for financial reasons.



Margaret Coel skillfully includes glimpses about the Arapaho people and culture, which was an enjoyable addition to the story. The motive for the killings made sense and the mystery - and tangential issues - were resolved in a satisfactory manner. I'd recommend the book as light reading for mystery fans.



Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Random Violence: A Jade de Jong Investigation" by Jassy Mackenzie

In this first book in the 'Jade de Jong' series, the private detective returns to South Africa after living in Britain for 10 years.





*****

When apartheid ends in South Africa, many rich white people - fearing retribution and violence - protect their homes with fences and gates. This scheme isn't foolproof, however, and Annette Botha is murdered and robbed in her driveway when a faulty gate causes her to get out of her car.



Vandalized gates are a common tactic for Johannesburg thugs, but in Annette's case her husband Piet - who benefits from her death - is a prime suspect.

Police Superintendent David Patel is thinking about the Botha case when he picks up private detective Jade de Jong at the Johannesburg airport. 

Jade had left South Africa ten years ago, after her Police Commissioner father was killed by the Viljoen brothers - and she's back to get revenge. One Viljoen brother is dead, but the other one is getting out of prison tomorrow, and Jade plans to shoot him.



Superintendent Patel, who once worked under Commissioner de Jong, knows nothing about Jade's nefarious plan and asks her to assist with the Botha inquiry. Jade agrees, and adds this to her "to-do" list. Jade also fantasizes about getting romantic with Patel, whom she's crushed on since childhood.

Jade acquires a pistol from her old friend Robbie - a gangster who runs a chop-shop and is tuned in to the criminal underground. This is helpful because Jade's investigation into Annette Botha's death uncovers several similar crimes.....but the police have 'lost' some of the files. Jade suspects a corrupt cop, and asks Robbie to sniff him out.



Meanwhile, we learn that a pasty-faced sadist called Whiteboy is obsessed with killing, real estate transactions, and rough sex with women.....and he's got his eye on Jade. Uh-oh!



All this leads to a dramatic climax and surprising revelation.

Jade is something of a flawed woman. She's smart and courageous but sometimes behaves in a questionable fashion. Still, the story is compelling and Jade is a capable heroine. I'd recommended the book to fans of thrillers. 

Rating: 3 stars