Young Benjamin Franklin (Nick Bunker)

Much has been written about Benjamin Franklin’s life, especially the parts pertaining to his inventive side and his diplomatic prowess. He was also one of the early statesmen in the American colonies and soon-to-be American republic. However, capturing the evolution of Franklin into the preeminent American requires a dive into his early life. Nick Bunker’s Young Benjamin Franklin is a fascinating and ingenious read into a man that many could argue is the poster definition of a Renaissance Man.

Bunker takes us back to before Franklin’s 1706 birth, chronicling his family through its journey from Northamptonshire, England to London to Boston. Franklin’s evolution and rise to American prominence is paralleled in some respect by the life journeys of his uncle and his father, both moving upward and beyond in order to seek a better life. It was in Boston that Josiah, Ben’s father, cobbled through a life of Puritan idealism. Ben struck out on his own, alienating many in his family for his choices, as he moved from Boston to Philadelphia to London and back to Philadelphia over a several year period. Ben ultimately became the City of Brotherly Love’s dominant printer and helped forge many institutions that have carried on to the present day.

The early Franklin’s evolution into science is also chronicled, with the voyage ending just as his well-known electricity experimentation begins. Most of us are well aware of how the rest of the story ends up. But learning about Logan, Penn, Kinsey, Hopkinson, Allen, Potts, Nutt, and many other names that carry on to the present day in streets, schools, buildings, and communities throughout Pennsylvania helps us see Franklin’s astute understanding of relationships and alliances from an early age, with that knowledge helping shape him and our early nation in the years to come. Bunker does a great  job educating the reader about life in early 18th Century America and how Franklin evolved with the colonies and the times.

MY RATING - 4

Nine Perfect Strangers (Liane Moriarty)

Wow, was I glued to this one -- but not always in the best way. Liane Moriarty has no rival in her ability to keep you reading long into the night. The problem is that when all her characters get together in Nine Perfect Strangers, it reads like the soapiest soap opera  -- or a trainwreck that I can't look away from.

The title couldn't be more perfect. Nine perfect strangers descend on a tucked-away health resort, having spent a ton of money in their quest for self help. A romance novelist, an ex-football player, a lawyer, a single mother, a couple in trouble, and a family in turmoil will all be at Tranquillum House for ten days. They will be led in their quest by Masha, and some of her methods are far from traditional.

Moriarty is slow to develop each character's past, and many of their secrets really pack a punch. This is where she excels. However, Masha is such a caricature character that I half expected her to be twirling a mustache behind the scenes. But don't let this deter you from reading Nine Perfect Strangers. It isn't my favorite by this author, but it's definitely a page turner.

MY RATING - 3.5

Marooned (Joseph Kelly)

European exploration (and exploitation) of what is now America has a long and (at times) mysterious history to it. We all know about the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, the first Thanksgiving, and the other lore that arose to help shape the American story. We were also educated on Jamestown, Pocahontas, John Smith, and the gradual rise of Virginia to colonial prominence, but many of us know little of the struggles that the Jamestown colony endured in its first years.

Joseph Kelly’s Marooned is a well-researched book that tackles the beginnings of Jamestown (and Bermuda) through the trials and tribulations of its first years, how a shipwreck helped create the first seeds for Bermuda’s founding a few years later, and how early Jamestown was marked by general incompetence, hunger, and an ebb and flow of relations with the native population. Kelly spends a lot of time talking about how many early colonists simply “melted away” into the wilderness and assimilated into the native communities that resided nearby, and how John Smith’s leadership in Jamestown was marked by a hybrid between a native chief and local warlord. None of this was the stuff of Plymouth lore or Puritan aspiration but much of it came out of necessity and in Smith’s case, because of a dash of ego and bravado.

Marooned’s strongest argument is the one Kelly puts forth at the end, stating “the truly American story is the lives of the discontents. We need to discard that image of a city shining on a hill . . . our city does not shine. It is messy. It is the nature of a free society.” From Smith to Paine to a gentleman of the name of Stephen Hopkins, Kelly shares the stories of the messy, the ugly, and often crazy early colonists who gradually became a part of our American story.

MY RATING - 3.5

Little Darlings (Melanie Golding)

There's nothing I like more than a great psychological thriller. When Melanie Golding's Little Darlings began, I was sucked right into it, but as often happens, the rest did not live up to my expectations.

Lauren Tranter is a new mother of adorable twins, Morgan and Riley. Because she has some complications, she stays in the hospital for a few days after the birth. One night, Lauren claims that a creepy woman in her room tried to take her babies and replace them with her own "creatures." Is Lauren having hallucinations? Or did something sinister really happen? Lauren continues to see the woman in her daily life until, one afternoon in the park, her babies disappear. When they are eventually found, Lauren insists they are not Morgan and Riley but are the "replacements."

Little Darlings reads like an evil fairy tale, but it just did not keep my interest after the beginning. Whether it is the detective on the case or the husband who doesn't seem quite right, the book needs more character development and fleshing out of the plot to really make it work.

MY RATING - 2.5

The Clockmaker's Daughter (Kate Morton)

I've been singing the praises of Kate Morton for a long time now, and I'm happy to say that now when I recommend her, people no longer say "Who? Never heard of her!". She's finally getting the recognition she deserves for her mesmerizing second-to-none prose. While I had a few issues with her latest, The Clockmaker's Daughter, it still told a terrific story.

A word of warning -- if you're looking for an easy-breezy read where you don't have to think too much, this one isn't for you. Morton uses multiple time periods and many characters to create her puzzle, so you're definitely going to want to turn off the TV and get the kids out of the room before you dive in. In 1862, a group of artists, led by Edward Radcliffe, turn Birchwood Manor into a retreat of creativity. Before the summer is through, however, one of them will be shot dead, and Lily Millington (AKA The Clockmaker's Daughter and Edward's love and muse) will have disappeared. This is just one facet of Morton's novel; she weaves back and forth in time until finally, at the end, we have our answer as to what really happened that summer.

Here, Morton stays true to her sophisticated, smart writing. However, while at times I was on the edge of my seat, in other instances, it was difficult to keep all the stories and time periods straight. I also thought the entire book could have been trimmed at least 100 pages. So while not my favorite Morton book, it's still a great addition to her collection.

MY RATING - 3.5

The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah)

After I finished Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, I had to sit with it for quite a few days before writing the review. It affected me deeply; every character stays with you long after the story is done.

France in 1939 -- as the readers, we know what's coming. The characters may have an inkling, but they could never guess the magnitude of what stands before them. Vianne Mauriac's husband is sent to the Front, but she never believes that the Nazis will invade France. When the inevitable happens, Vianne is forced to take in an enemy officer; every day brings one danger after another.

Vianne could not be more unlike her sister, Isabelle. While Vianne wants to keep her head down and not draw attention to herself, Isabella wants to help the resistance any way she can, no matter the consequences. She also falls deeply in love with a fellow fighter, Gaeten.

One can't even imagine all the dangers faced in The Nightingale, and it is made all the more horrifying by the fact that much of this really happened. But through Isabelle's determination to fight and Vianne's motherly desire to save her daughter at all costs comes a book that is also powerfully uplifting. I couldn't recommend it more.

MY RATING - 5

The Tyranny of Metrics (Jerry Z. Muller)

Every survey and annual performance self-review you take and each quarterly earnings report your employer releases are full of items that become metricized data. The Tyranny Of Metrics is Jerry Z. Muller’s “measured” and systematic retort to the constant barrage of data and analysis when it is misapplied.

The overarching theme of this book is incredibly valid; Muller’s central argument is that data measurement isn’t done with the best of intents and that data itself can be gamed, manipulated, or bogged down into administrative, bureaucratic hell. From increasing the numbers of “data wonks” (my term) who analyze and report on metrics to increasing the amount of bureaucrats who synthesize data, the world is drowning in information. Muller argues that while some of this information gathering has had positive impacts, it often yields to cutting corners, increased costs, cheating and gaming the system to achieve a desired result, or flat out dishonesty in the guise of ensuring the public knows how good you are. Rankings, outcomes, and other “measures of success” are called into question as Muller pulls out numerous examples to counter the want for more data and more metrics in our society.

While Muller’s passion and arguments are at their strongest, many of the examples and case studies read anecdotally. It would have been impressive to see more concrete examples of gamesmanship and corner cutting incorporated into his book, including stories where it cost organizations their reputation and more. There were some examples, especially in the financial realm, but more would have helped strengthen the case. Regardless, The Tyranny Of Metrics is deserving of consideration for all types of organizations to ensure that data gathering is done with the right purpose.

MY RATING - 3.5