This is a gentle book, very "best of American values" and sentimental. An elderly man decides to make people happy by giving them portraits created by an artist whose work is displayed in a local coffee shop. Although some of them tell their stories, our hero, Theo, remains a mystery until the end of the book. Although not much happens, I found it quite an addictive read (all that dopamine).
Beyond the headline, there's not much more I can say about this book other than that it left me feeling glad that I'm now reading fiction again.
This is not a casual read, but it is a deeply fascinating one. Anthropology had always been a purely academic field - written from libraries rather than from experience in the field. Headed by pioneers around the turn of the 20th century, it became a new and vibrant field of study, adventure, and exploration. This book covers the work of 12 highly influential anthropologists, and what a cast of characters they are. From the humble to the insufferably proud, and from the scholarly introverts to the rebellious misfits, there is no way one can regard any of these men and women as anything other than individualists. The field of study seemed to attract a surprising number of women at a time when it was extremely difficult for them to be accepted as serious scholars. And they, in turn, are as eccentric and irrepressible as their male counterparts, and possibly more so. Together, they advocate for a new understanding of different cultures. Instead of regarding them as "savages" and somehow inferior, they advocate for understanding, tolerance, and the acceptance of all peoples as equal in potential and ingenuity. They saw their work as incredibly urgent, as colonialism and missionary work had increasingly led to people abandoning their traditions. They sought stories, songs, and ways of life, and brought their insights on what it is to be human under the spotlight. This compilation of stories, thoughts, and individual adventures is wonderful. Highly recommended.
Some of a community's most respected members are complicit in the kidnapping, assault, and murder of teenage girls. A family devoted to law enforcement fights for what's right, while hiding secrets that only the deceased know. It's a page turner that leaves you with little to think about, so oddly relaxing.
Mildly thought-provoking, very sentimental, and nicely plotted, this book offers light entertainment with a side of insight. Kind of soppy, full of engaging characters, it's a relaxing read.