Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom – Larry Miller with Laila Lacy

Posted on August 1, 2024 by J D Jung

(reviewed by Ann Onymous )

Exceptional
“Should I come clean? I was well aware of the risk of unburdening myself to the executive in a public accounting firm, but all signs indicated I was on the path to landing my first big job…I rolled out the armed robberies, my time behind bars, the community-college courses in which i excelled, living in a halfway house…”

He replied “That’s quite a story, I am so proud of you for what you’ve been able to accomplish but…”

“I would never ever reveal my prison past to anyone again….The secret was born. It has lived within me for more than three decades, corroding me from the inside, haunting me day and night, bringing me to my knees with migraine headaches and awful dreams.”

This is Larry Miller, kid from West Philadelphia, becoming the Chairman of The Jordan Brand at Nike and working with Michael Jordan is quite inspiring. As President, he took them from being a $150 million to a $4 billion dollar sports apparel behemoth. Mr. Miller revived the Portland Trailblazers NBA team from being the ‘jail blazers’ to one of the top teams in the country.

Now he serves on the Board of Directors of Self Enhancement, Inc. and he is committed to helping people learn from his own life experiences. He believes in the prison system promoting and providing educational opportunities. He serves non-profits across the country, helping countless youth.

Mr. Miller has never forgotten where he came from. He was a ‘champ’ in school and turned that “drive” to a gang, rather than school because it was no longer ‘cool’ to be the teacher’s pet. In prison, he took advantage of the classes offered and graduated from Temple University. His hard work and success at numbers took him from an entry-level accountant to the President of the company. This book is yet another book that should be available in every prison library. We can all be uplifted by reading this true story.

I really enjoyed this book because this is a life well used. Mr. Miller has taken advantage of every opportunity made available to him and has jumped forward full speed. For fans of autobiographies, this will be a joy to read. I discovered Mr. Miller when I heard him speaking in support of a particular non-profit group in Baltimore, Maryland. I had never heard of him, but now I’m so glad to have ‘met’ him via this memoir.

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Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of a Life in Marine Special Operations – John A. Dailey

Posted on July 26, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch)

Exceptional

Tough, Rugged Bastards by John A. Dailey is a memoir about the author’s experience helping to form and lead DET 1, a Marine special forces unit that was created after the 9-11 attacks. The book is refreshing and checks some important boxes for me (unlike many other warfare and combat books) specifically when it comes to humility, humor, and most importantly, humanity.

Other than simply explaining how the unit was formed and giving some background into the history of special Marine units, Dailey does a far deeper dive on the intricacies and challenges they faced while developing it. The book then brings us along on several of the missions of the newly minted DET 1 unit as they seek to prove themselves in the tight-knit spec-ops world.

Thankfully, I found that the narrative was not filled with the sort of boastful, “I (we) were bad asses! The baddest of them all!” bluster, so common in other military memoirs. Instead, it’s honesty and feelings of self-doubt are ever present as Dailey and the others under his command constantly worry about whether they are up to the task. This self-reflection is never more poignant than when Dailey shares his own feelings after killing a young man who was part of a terrorist cell.

This is a brutally honest book about the horrors of war, as well as the euphoria of being a part of something larger than yourself. I highly recommend this book for both veterans, and non-veterans alike.

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Liars: A Novel – Sarah Manguso

Posted on July 22, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

 


When Jane met her future husband, John Bridges, she was ecstatic. Since she was a writer, she was attracted to him being an artist and photographer. What she didn’t realize was that the demands of being a wife and mother take its toll, and the responsibilities and career aspirations are not shared equally. Also, neither of them was emotionally equipped to effectively live with these demands.

Liars takes us into the complexities of Jane’s fourteen-year marriage, marked by the strain of unequal burdens and thwarted ambitions. This narrative, presented through Jane’s perspective, reveals the cracks in their union and her contempt for John’s behavior.

As the story progresses, Jane realizes that John’s actions may be more than just the missteps of an artist and businessman struggling to find his place. She perceives a deliberate attempt to undermine her, to keep her dependent on him. She even doubts her own worth. At one point he maintained that he is a great artist, and she a “deranged lunatic”. This leads her to question her own sanity. However, she soon realizes that it was simply an attempt to control her.

She refers to John as feeling “entitled”, but initially I felt that she was also guilty of that. Though I was glued to every page, I thought that she was overly dramatic, and held unrealistic views of marriage and motherhood. However, as the story progressed, I realized that was not the case. I developed compassion for her and found her relatable. I don’t know if the author was intentional in creating that shift, but she succeeded masterfully.

Liars is a gripping read that will resonate with those who appreciate realism over romanticized fiction.

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Rakiya -: Stories of Bulgaria – Ellis Shuman

Posted on July 19, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung)

Rakiya is a very interesting collection of eleven short stories that feature various characters in bizarre situations that cover some of the history of Bulgaria. Each story has a protagonist
that struggles to find answers to their circumstances. Each is also well written with some of the characters coming back in later stories to enhance the narrative.

The writer describes the scenery of Bulgaria and pictures the culture and the history of a country with vivid descriptions. Each story has a different setting with some historical commentary of a country long forgotten in the modern world. Some are uplifting while some are heart wrenching.

The highlight for me is the story about “Forgiveness.” It portrays elderly 95-year-old Avraham asking for redemption from his involvement in the Holocaust. His call to the son
of an old friend to see him is filled with regret, guilt, and remorse as he tries to
ask for salvation for his sins. It is vivid, intense and gut wrenching to understand
this catastrophe.

Another story explores why Bulgaria aligned with Adolf Hitler and Germany in World War
II, and why the Army refused to send any of the 46,000 Bulgarian Jews to the concentration camps in Germany and Poland. It was unusual protocol to disobey the Nazi command and yet this story explains how it happened.

Another story is about a Tel Aviv resident working in Bulgaria who had to fly back
to attend the birth of his son. Every obstacle hit him as he tried to get to the airport
as flights got canceled but somehow, he was able to make it.

This is a nice introduction to the people and the history of Bulgaria as it has compelling
stories that will resonate long after you finish the last page.

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Blood and Mascara – Colin Krainin

Posted on July 17, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“…all the women he had known and loved, the idea of them was there in front of him…and once he had come to love then, had he not carried them about within him forever after, like open wounds?”

May 1997 -Private investigator Calvin “Bronze” Goldberg is obsessed with women and is always falling in love. Hired by a powerful political consultant to spy on his unfaithful wife, Bronze soon finds himself entangled in a series of perilous events. The discovery of a young congressman’s body sets off a chain reaction, leading to more deaths as well as the realization that Bronze himself could be the next target of a paid assassin.

While the plot is undeniably intriguing, it lacks the distinctiveness to truly set it apart from other works in the genre. The most captivating element is the protagonist’s personality. Bronze’s infatuation and obsession with women are central to his character, yet these aspects are not explored as deeply as they could be. This oversight makes the title feel somewhat misleading and underwhelming.

One of the book’s standout features is its gorgeous prose, which provides a striking contrast to the fast-paced crime narrative. The writing elevates the story, expanding the readers’ experience. The supporting characters also add depth and color, particularly like his landlady Iris, who writes romance novels under a pen name, but who’s true aspiration is to write crime fiction.

Still, Blood and Masara remains a solid read for fans of noir crime fiction. The engaging prose and memorable protagonist and supporting characters make it time well spent.

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The Coin – Yasmin Zaher

Posted on July 13, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“…in my family, America was both the key and the curse.”

Our narrator, who is from a wealthy Palestinian family moved to New York after her parents died. She was left with an inheritance of which she could only access a small portion. That is, she is only provided with a nominal, strict allowance.

However, that, along with her teacher’s salary, affords her the ability to buy designer clothes and accessories. She is obsessed with style, along with cleanliness, hygiene and a particular coin. What she cannot attain though, is control over her life. Her job as a middle school teacher in a school for underprivileged boys provides her with a certain amount of power that she craves.

We follow her through her strange and often self-destructive relationships with various people, including a trip to Paris with a homeless man, she refers to as “Trenchcoat”. However, these activities and interactions show something deeper.

I appreciate the narrative style, as the story is written as if the narrator is conversing informally with the reader. This approach allows readers to connect deeply with the narrator’s thoughts and emotions, witnessing her struggles and desires firsthand. As we observe her desire to find order and control her surroundings, we see her helplessness, though she does not see it herself. The reader will be astounded by how the story culminates.

The Coin is a quirky yet moving exploration of a woman’s attempt to navigate the intersections of heritage, order, and human connection. It is a must-read for those who appreciate character-driven stories that are as entertaining as they are enlightening.

Author Yasmin Zaher is a Palestinian journalist and I hope to read more from her.

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The Blind Devotion of Imogene: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor – David Putnam

Posted on July 10, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

 

It’s 1973, and seventy-five-year-old Imogene Taylor has just been released from the Chino Institute for Women after serving time for second-degree murder. As she returns to her home in California’s Inland Empire, readers are immediately drawn into a world marked by dark humor, quirky characters, and her constant reminiscing about her life with her late husband.

She needs to work to stay out of jail, so she gets a job at Dentco, a store that sells damaged dry goods. However, this ex-con can’t seem to catch a break.

Her parole officer is constantly on her tail just to lure her into violating her parole in hopes of sending her back to prison. There’s too much going on to keep Imogene on the straight and narrow, though. The story quickly picks up pace as Imogene becomes entangled in a series of bizarre and dangerous events.

For instance, a gangster tries to shake her down for protection money, and she helps a neighbor bury a body of a long-deceased woman. Let’s not forget that she is also in possession of a handgun. As all these events occur, she constantly hears the advice of her former cellmate in her head.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its character development and the way it plays with appearances. Imogene’s resilient spirit shines through, making her a compelling and relatable protagonist. Also, as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that people and events are not what they seem. The author masterfully weaves these twists into the narrative, yielding surprises throughout the story.

The only problem I had with The Blind Devotion of Imogene was a minor yet noticeable flaw. This occurs with the mention of serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, who were not known to the public in 1973. While this does not detract significantly from the overall story, it momentarily disrupts the historical authenticity of the narrative.

Despite this minor historical inaccuracy, the novel’s strength lies in its ability to surprise and engage, making it a fun and engaging read.

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Bad Tourists – Caro Carver

Posted on July 7, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional
In this riveting novel, three friends in their forties—Darcy, Camilla, and Kate—embark on an extravagant trip to the Maldives to celebrate Darcy’s lucrative divorce. Since their backgrounds and personalities are very different, we wonder how and why they became friends. We learn soon enough.

Twenty-two years ago, Kate witnessed the aftermath of a mass murder at a Dover hotel, an event that left her with deep-seated survivor’s guilt. However, she cannot escape this past, even with an idyllic trip to the Maldives. As she and others befriend an abused young bride on her honeymoon, memories return, as well as unsettling occurrences.

The chapters skillfully alternate between the perspectives of the four women, spanning past and present. This narrative structure not only keeps the reader engaged but also adds depth to each character’s backstory. The contrasts between their past experiences and present lives enrich the storyline, creating a suspenseful and emotionally charged read.

The lush setting of the Maldives provides a striking backdrop for the unfolding drama. The juxtaposition of the serene paradise with sinister undertones enhances the tension, making the novel a compelling page-turner.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the book is its unpredictable ending. Just when the reader thinks they have figured it out, the story takes an unexpected twist, delivering a conclusion that is both shocking and satisfying. Also, after finishing Bad Tourists, I appreciate the satirical title of the book. It is quite appropriate.

Bad Tourists is a masterful blend of psychological suspense and character-driven drama, set against the breathtaking beauty of the Maldives. If you enjoy stories that keep you guessing until the very last page, this book is for you.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen

Posted on July 3, 2024 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

The Pursuit of Happiness

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. But what did the “pursuit of Happiness” mean to the founding fathers? American legal scholar, Jeffrey Rosen uncovers what the “pursuit of Happiness” truly meant to them and others, offering a compelling exploration into their philosophical influences and personal struggles in his book, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.

Many followed the Stoic philosophers. For most, it included constantly learning and practicing daily habits that lead to character improvement and growth. This included frugality, moderation, justice, keeping one’s emotions in check, and many other traits that were thought to be that of one with “good character”. Rosen delves in depth on the teachings on writers and philosophers, such as Cicero, Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plutarch (just to name a few).

What I particularly found fascinating was what certain founding fathers had to struggle with. For instance, John Adams realized that he had to work on vanity and controlling his emotions. Frugality was one that many had problems with. That included Thomas Jefferson, who seemed to lack self-awareness. Additionally. Jefferson not only refused to free his sales even after his death, but also berated the talents of Black poet Phillis Wheatley, whereas Franklin and Washington held her in high esteem. “Jefferson’s racism was jarring even by the standards of his time.”

Rosen not only profiles founding fathers, but others such as Wheatley, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass and what the pursuit of happiness meant in their lives.

Rosen teases us briefly with conjecture on what the founding fathers might have thought of today’s populism, threats of mob rule, an extremely divided electorate, polarization in Congress, and pandering politicians. I would have liked to read more on this, but that’s a topic for another book.

The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America ” will resonate with a niche audience interested in American history, philosophy, and political theory. Rosen’s meticulous research make it a valuable addition to any enthusiast’s library, offering profound insights into the foundational principles that continue to shape the American experience. As a member of this niche audience, I eagerly anticipate further explorations from Jeffrey Rosen.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul – Michael Fanone and John Shiffman

Posted on June 29, 2024 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“What sort of American tries to overthrow democracy? What kind of man becomes so consumed by a false belief that he drives across the country, storms the Capitol, and assaults police officers?”

Those are pressing questions from Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) Officer Michael Fanone, who was almost killed by rioters as he was guarding the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. In fact, he suffered a traumatic brain injury, a heart attack and was diagnosed with PTSD. As a street cop for close to twenty years, he thought that he had experienced all “cruel indifference to human life”, but nothing compared to the hatred he saw from the rioters on that day.

This lifelong Republican describes how he was betrayed by Congress (and he reveals names), The MPD, city administration and worse, the police union. Also, fellow officers turned against him. He also feels that the media was complicit. Journalists twisted his words to fit their narrative and Fox News refused to let him speak on their network.

Michael Fanone’s memoir Hold the Line isn’t just about the January 6 insurrection, but what brought him to serve in law enforcement. He speaks of the unlikely alliances he developed while working undercover vice, like his friendship with a Black transgender sex worker. He also gives his opinions on crime, policing, and training.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began reading Hold the Line. Most memoirs that I have read tend to be filled with insignificant detail, and the authors tend to lack the ability of self-reflection. This is not the case with this one. I found each element interesting and integral to his life story. This book was difficult to put down.

Though he takes us through his life, he never forgets his mission: to bring “respect for officers who responded to defend the Capitol on January 6, and accountability for those responsible for all those involved in the insurrection.”

A “must-read”.

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