Together by Luke Adam Hawker

Together by Luke Adam Hawker with words by Marianne Laidlaw

Pages: 64

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

With beautiful, black and white sketches Luke Hawker shows how people weathered the "storm" that was COVID-19 and 2020. Using his grandfather as inspiration for his main character, that has to protect himself from a dark and dangerous storm, Luke explores feelings of isolation, both in crowds and alone. This book is short enough to be read to a child, but the thoughts and feelings evoked by the drawings and brief text, are deep enough for an adult to ponder. Hopefully, this book will help some people struggling with emotional and mental issues from COVID-19, that continues to add stress to our lives, to reach Hawker's conclusion that being together with family and friends, and surviving together as a community, culture, even world - is what is most important. 

Literary Murder (Michael Ohayon Series # 2)

Literary Murder (Michael Ohayon Series # 2) 

by Batya Gur (Dalya Dilu - Translator)

Pages: 357

Rating: 4 out of 5

Follow the investigation of one of Israel's police superintendents, Michael Ohayon to see if you can solve the murders in this complex mystery. Two murders occur among the staff of the literary department of one of Israel's top academic institutions. Luckily for the police department, Ohayon attended university and can traverse this universe as well as any grad students. His superiors, grudgingly realize the value of his formal education and cultural interests that they have previously derided. The character also asks ethical questions about the relationship between the artist and his creations and between the artist and a moral code. Not a light read. 

Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern

Kierkegaard in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on how many times I've proclaimed that I'm having an existential crisis, it seemed only appropriate that I learn more about Kierkegaard. Even though the word existentialism wasn't claimed until Sartre about 100 years later, Kierkegaard was definitely an early existentialist.

He also lived a messy, difficult life and was quite a unique individual, as a result. That's the nice way of explaining his eccentricities and uncommon mind.

It sounds as if half of what he wrote was pure rage at the world, combined with mental illness, and the other half of what he wrote was quite fascinating. I may have to try out some of his works, one from each end of the spectrum, just out of curiosity.

Book 42 read in 2018

Pages: 96