Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 35: Senegal

Going into Good Friday, Christians in Senegal will prepare a dish called ngalakh which they'll eat to break the fast and over the holiday weekend. It's made with millet, nut paste (often peanuts), the fruit of the baobab tree, sugar, vanilla, and orange blossom. 

When they're not eating this dish, Senegalese are packing up containers of it to give to neighbors and friends, which is interesting as it's likely the vast majority of them aren't Christian (over 90 percent of the population follow Islam). It's not unusual in Senegal to distribute food at the end of any religious holiday, regardless of the religious background of the people you're feeding. Which is a nice reminder that we can all get along, and food probably helps.

 Book Log 2019 #11: Death's End by Cixin Liu

I'm not sure how to describe this, the last book in The Three Body Problem trilogy. Trisolaris and Earth have an unsteady peace, set when Earth threatened to broadcast the location of Trisolaris to the universe, putting them in jeopardy of being invaded by some other alien civilization. This works - for a while. And when it doesn't work, it really doesn't work. 

I think I had more moments of "what the hell is going on here" with this book than the other two, which speaks more to my ability to grasp concepts than any defect with the writing or translation (I also should have taken more time in reading, but it was hard to slow down, even when I was a bit lost). It's a fitting end to the trilogy, not a particularly uplifting one but true to the events and narrative of the whole.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 34: South Korea

South Korea has a small but significant (just under 28 percent) Christian population, so Easter is more visible than in many Asian countries but isn't a national holiday. Many of the typical Western trappings have made it over, though there's apparently an issue with decorating eggs, as most Korean eggs are brown. There is at least one effective, if not particularly eco-friendly, solution to this dilemma (though there are the occasional, more serious, problems with Easter eggs).

One thing that appears to be traditional is the large Easter service/rally at Yonsei University (a result of its heritage of Christian leadership and founding by various Protestant missionaries). I wasn't able to find too much information about the actual service, but odds are if you look at one of the "Easter around the world" slideshows you'll see either a picture of a large chorus or of large crowds outside attending the service.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 33: Sweden

Sweden's Easter celebrations are pretty similar to other Nordic countries. They have kids dressed as witches going door to door as in Finland, and those witches often bring letters to request candy, similar to what goes on in Denmark.  That being said, there are a couple of things that can make Easter particularly Swedish.

The first is going out to the country to open up the family cabin. Where Sweden is increasingly secular, there's more interest in using the long weekend to open up the summer cabin and give it a good cleaning. It also appears that what celebrations there are for Easter will happen there, as family and friends stop by for a meal and something to drink.

And the menu does include some traditionally Swedish dishes. One that stood out to me was Jansson's Temptation, which is a sort of casserole of onion, potato, and pickled anchovy. Not sure how tempting something with pickled anchovy can be, but it's a popular holiday dish (it also crops up at Christmas), so I'll take the Swedes' word for it. The other thing that caught my eye was a carbonated beverage called paskmust (which is the Easter version of julmust, the same drink but made for Christmas). It's similar to root beer in taste, but a review of the IKEA version suggests a much broader taste palate.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 32: Poland

Easter celebrations are pretty well focused on religion, which isn't surprising given that Poland is almost completely Catholic - and pretty devoutly Catholic at that. When you get to Easter Monday, though, things take a turn.

Easter Monday is known locally as Śmigus-Dyngus, or "Wet Monday." On this day, boys try to soak girls with water, using anything from buckets to squirt guns, and will also try to spank them with willow branches. Tuesday sees the roles reversed.

The origins of all this soaking and spanking is unclear. It appears that they may have been separate activities that eventually merged into one. There's also some thought that there's a pagan fertility ritual at the heart of things, with throwing water on women taking over from watering a Corn Mother doll as an offering to make crops grow. There's also some thought that it represents the baptisms of early Poles when Christianity arrived.

This tradition also takes place in a number of neighboring countries, so the idea that there's some common Slavic origin seems likely.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 31: Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's most populous Islamic country, but its colonial and trading history gave certain parts of the country a sizable Christian minority. One such location is Larantuka in the region of East Flores, whose Christian (largely Catholic) population is heavily influenced by the Portuguese sailors, traders, and missionaries who came through.

Legend has it that a statue of a woman was found washed up on shore in the early 1500s, and when the Portuguese arrived they recognized the statue as that of Mary, which fit nicely into plans to convert the local population.

Today, the statue (along with one of Jesus) is part of a notable Good Friday procession. Both statues are kept in sealed caskets, and on Holy Thursday the casket of Mary is opened, the statue washed, and then dressed in mourning clothes. On Good Friday, the statue of Jesus is taken out, and both are processed, including a segment where the statues are placed on boats and sailed around the bay. The two statues eventually join up at the local cathedral in time for mass.

This article gives a good look at some of the celebrations and activity in Larantuka's Semana Santa, though I'm not sure if the captions are all that accurate (for example, they have Holy Week running from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday).

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 30: Finland

In a tradition that I tend to associate more with fall, children in Finland dress up as witches and go door to door (either on Palm Sunday or Holy Saturday) and recite a poem asking to trade a willow branch for a treat. This apparently grew out of two separate traditions, one the use of willow branches in place of palm fronds to celebrate Palm Sunday (which is quite common in central and eastern Europe), the other the belief that witches would be about on Holy Saturday (which seems more specific to parts of Finland and Sweden). This is known in Finnish as virpominen.

Finland also has a couple of traditional puddings eaten around Easter. There's mämmi , a dark pudding made of malt and rye flour. As it can be kept for several days, it was often made ahead and eaten on Good Friday when cooking was considered off-limits. It can be eaten sweet or savory, and is apparently a bit of an acquired taste. The other is pasha (or pashka), which came over from Russia. It's a cheese or custard-based dessert, and usually served in a conical or pyramid shape.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 29: Trinidad and Tobago

While it's probably better known for its Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago does share a couple of Easter traditions with other countries. On Good Friday you have the beating of the bobolee, an effigy of Judas, which is reminiscent of the many countries that burn an effigy of Judas.  And as with much of the Caribbean, kite flying is a popular Good Friday pastime in Trinidad.

One tradition that's specific to Tobago is the Buccoo Goat Race, held every year on "Easter Tuesday." The races started as a response to horse races held on Easter Monday, which were really only open to the rich, but is now the centerpiece of a festival that attracts thousands (and now also includes crab racing).

 Book Log 2019 #10: Vengeance by Benjamin Black

Irish pathologist Quirke gets involved in another death, though this one is clearly a suicide. What's odd about it is that the deed was intentionally committed with a witness, the son of the dead man's business partner. The mystery, a question of why rather than who. A second death further confuses the issue, leaving Quirke (and police detective Hackett) to wade through the personal and professional entanglements of two families.

I was going to say I'm still on the fence about this series, but as I keep reading the books I can't be that much on the fence. The central mystery is fine, I'm still not sure why Quirke is as attractive to women as he apparently is, and I would like to spend a little more time with his family (specifically his brother, who was a significant character in earlier books but has since faded to the background). All things considered once you get five books into a series you're more or less committed.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 28: Ecuador

Ecuador has a Semana Santa similar to other countries in the Latin world, full of colorful processions (such as the procession of the Jesus del Gran Poder in Quito, as the name apparently translates to "Jesus of the Great Power," which makes him sound like one of the Avengers).

Outside of the religious traditions, the one that seems most uniquely Ecuadoran is the preparation of fanesca, a grain-based soup that can include things like salt cod, squash, fried bread, cheese, peanuts, and green banana. While the origin of the soup isn't known, many theories have it coming from Europe (either Spain or Italy), with the ingredients changing to reflect what's local.

Fanesca is a big enough deal that in Quito there's an annual competition between restaurants as to who makes the best version (though the article indicates there are other judging criteria, such as the use of sustainable ingredients), though there's widespread agreement that the best dish is made at home, typically by someone's grandmother.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 27: Greece

Many of the Easter traditions in Greece are going to be familiar to people either from that part of the world or who are familiar with Orthodox Christianity, from the preparation of red eggs (I have Greek Orthodox friends, and the quest to find the best red dye for the eggs is never-ending) to the church decorations and masses to the Easter Sunday feast featuring some sort of roasted meat (more often than not lamb).

If you want something specific to Greece, go to Corfu. On Holy Saturday, residents of that island celebrate by throwing clay jars full of water out their windows to smash on the street below. It's become a bit of an attraction, with spectators trying to get wet or hit by a (hopefully non-jagged) potsherd.

Why this is done is a bit of a mystery, though there are several theories that link it to former Venetian rulers, ancient Greek springtime practices, or Biblical references to smashing pottery.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 26: The Netherlands

The town of Ootmarsum has an unusual set of traditions centered around an Easter committee of eight men known as Poaskearls. These men are required to be born in the town, Catholic, and single. They also have to plan to remain single for four years, as once selected the person serves as a Poaskearl for four years.

They dress in a trenchcoat and hat getup that makes them look a lot like Inspector Gadget (the costume is modeled after that of a statue of eight men in the square near the church). 

The Poaskearls are responsible for collecting and arranging the wood for an Easter night bonfire and for an Easter Sunday procession that involves singing and another tradition called Vlöggeln, where, after singing the two songs that are sung during the Easter procession, eight children are raised up three times as a symbol of the resurrection.  There's a fair amount of drinking involved, and everything that happens on Sunday happens again on Easter Monday. 

This article gives a pretty in depth review of Easter in Ootmarsum and what the Poaskearls do (it's in Dutch, but the Google translation is pretty readable). What I would really love to know is how all of this got started. There is at least one reference to Vlöggeln going back to 1840, and a list of Poaskearls to 1900, but that's it. I'm also curious how the two new Poaskearls are chosen.

(And there's also this site for all of your Poaskearl needs.)

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 25: Romania

Easter in Romania is pretty similar to other countries in Eastern Europe, from the religious ceremonies to the fanciful decorated eggs. They also share traditions such as taking willow branches to church on Palm Sunday for a blessing and dousing unmarried women with water on Easter Monday.

One traditional belief with a basis in Romanian folklore involves Joimariţa, who seems to have evolved from some sort of local deity to a character in folklore. Her main interest (other than protecting the fire lit on Holy Thursday in memory of one's ancestors) was to make sure that Romanian women had been productive over the winter, with a special focus on weaving and making new clothes. Any woman who slacked off in that department runs the risk of being burned, beaten, killed, or cursed so they won't be able to do any work in the coming year (as noted here, as are several other Romanian Easter traditions).

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 24: Denmark

While Norway celebrates Easter with murder mysteries, Danes go for something less scary and more arts and crafty. Danes will write a letter called a gækkebrev, which is kind of like a cutout snowflake, but with a poem or riddle on it. It gets sent out a few days before Easter, with the sender's name represented on the letter by dots (one dot for each letter in the person's name). If the recipient can guess who sent the letter the sender owes them a chocolate Easter egg, if they can't they owe the sender an egg.

This apparently has its roots in letters sent by young people as a way of flirting (the letters would often include a flower called the snowdrop), but it's now more widely done among friends and families. This article suggests it came over from Germany as early as 1600.

 Book Log 2019 #9: Lehrter Station by David Downing

With World War II over, journalist/spy John Russell appears to finally be out, as he's escaped Germany with his girlfriend and son and looks ready to start over in London. At least until Russell's Soviet handler shows up to tell him he needs to accept an upcoming offer from American intelligence to return to Germany. Considering what Russell did for the Soviets in order to buy his way out of Berlin, he's not in a position to decline.

This wasn't the best book in the series, but I was interested to see how things would transition into the Cold War. It also does a good job of setting up the series finale.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 23: Fiji

Worshipers on the island of Viti Levu spend Holy Week on something called a Cross Walk, where they carry a replica of the cross from the capital of Suva to Nadi, a distance of about 200 kilometers (about 125 miles). It looks like the cross gets handed off from village to village, but I assume there are some especially devoted types who make the entire journey.

I've also found reference to a tradition where several islands share a cross, and it gets floated or swum between islands, but no real information on whether or not this is still done.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 22: Guatemala

In the town of Antigua, locals decorate the streets with "carpets" (or alfombras) made of flowers, colored sawdust, and other natural materials over which processions will travel during Holy Week. Preparation can take months, though the actual construction usually happens the day before (this article gives a little more info on materials and construction). That the carpet is ruined over the comparatively short duration of the procession supports the idea that their creation is a sacrificial act.

It's also not unusual for the carpets to reflect native themes, so there's a bit of a cultural mixing as part of the tradition, too.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 21: Switzerland

Three egg-related traditions from the Swiss.

1. Rather than the Easter Bunny, an Easter cuckoo brings the eggs for Swiss children to hunt. Why this is I have no idea, but the association of Switzerland and cuckoo clocks springs to mind. 

2. Heartier souls can participate in an Easter egg hunt swim in Lake Greifensee, putting a bit of a polar bear swim spin on the event. It's a fairly new event, but seems to have caught on.

3. On Easter Monday in Zurich you'll find people participating in Zwanzgerle, where adults throw 20 cent coins at eggs held by children. If the coin breaks the shell and lodges in the egg the adult wins the egg and gets their coin back. Otherwise, the kid gets to keep the money. Apparently it's pretty hard to get the coin to lodge in the egg, so it's a bit of a money-maker for the kids. 

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 20: Jamaica

Two food-related traditions from Jamaica for Easter.

The one you eat is bun, which is a bread similar to the traditional hot cross bun, except that it's made with molasses and in a loaf form. Locals eat slices of bun with cheddar cheese (the orange stuff), though no one seems to know why.

The one you don't eat involves cracking an egg into water (holy or not, I've seen both) on Holy Thursday, letting it sit overnight, and then seeing what shape the egg white took as a clue for what the coming year may hold (for example, if it looks like a heart you may find love). I wasn't able to find much of any history of this practice (called "egg setting"), but I did find this video saying it's done in Trinidad as well, so it may be something that started elsewhere but really caught on in Jamaica.

 Book Log 2019 #8: The Infatuations by Javier Marias

Every day, the main character stops at a cafe in Madrid on her way to work, and as part of her morning ritual she imagines the perfect life of the young couple who also frequent the cafe in those early morning hours. But then the husband is killed, prompting the woman to approach the now-widow. Their deepening friendship is further complicated by a new romantic relationship for our main character, with a man who may be involved in the murder.

This is the very basic synopsis of the romance wrapped around a mystery covered in philosophical inquiry that this book presents. I wanted very much to like the book based on its premise, but found it way too discursive. I got to the point where I would skim the 10 to 20 page digressions so I could get back to the story. I'm not necessarily a plot-driven reader, but there were times where it almost felt like I was reading two separate books.

The Onion's AV Club picked this as one of their best books of 2013, giving the plot as the launching point for the author's "signature digressions and ruminations," so if that's your sort of thing you'll probably like this book more than I did. Of course, the New York Times and NPR also lauded the book, so it could just be that I've gotten more lazy in my reading.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 19: Lebanon

On Palm Sunday, Lebanese Christians hold a procession called shanineh, where the clergy lead the congregation around the church, with children riding on their parents shoulders (though that may not be required, I've read a couple of sources that just say the kids process). The kids also hold candles decorated with things like ribbons and flowers. I don't know if the candles are lit, but if the kids are riding on their parents I hope not.

The other big tradition in Lebanon is the making of maamoul, a shortbread cookie stuffed with dates, nuts, or similar filling. There's a fair amount of symbolism involved in their preparation, from the wooden press used to shape them representing the cross to whether or not to dust them with sugar (not dusting them apparently represents the solemn nature of Lent). 

Maamoul isn't strictly Lebanese - it's made across the Arab world - but is apparently very traditional for celebrating Easter there. But it's also not strictly for Easter, as it's also popular during Ramadan. Honestly, any observance that ends with cookies is OK with me.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 18: Croatia

Easter celebrations in Croatia apparently have a more martial tone than you might expect. In Dalmatia, you have žudije, who guard the altar in their church from Holy Thursday until the bells toll for the Easter Vigil mass, at which point they fall to the ground in fear of the resurrected Christ. These guards could be dressed as Roman soldiers, but could also be in more contemporary military uniform or traditional dress. This is apparently a big enough deal that the men (it's always men) who serve as žudije meet in a kind of convention every year.

Another tradition is the firing of pistols called kubura. It's a practice that apparently dates back to the 16th century (this article gives a good description of the history and current practice in one town), and appears to be celebratory in nature. The kubura is a type of flintlock pistol (as seen here) that apparently is Turkish in origin and I'm guessing spread to Croatia during the Ottoman period. 

On the much less aggressive side, it's also a tradition on Palm Sunday to wash once's face in water that has fresh flowers in it, which has been going on long enough that locals also call the day Flower Sunday

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 17: The Phillipines

As a largely Catholic country with roots in Spain, it shouldn't be a surprise that Easter celebrations in many ways reflect the Semana Santa found throughout the Latin world. That being said, it's not hard to find traditions that are distinctly Filipino. And distinctly extreme.

On the less extreme side is a festival celebrating Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance. The story goes that Longinus was blind in one eye, but when a drop of blood from the lance wound got into that eye it regained sight. The festival has people dressing up as Roman soldiers (with brightly decorated masks and helmets), and culminates in Longinus himself going on the run to escape the people dressed as Roman soliders, hiding in houses and trying to lose himself in the crowd.

Which is all fun and games compared to the people who have themselves crucified. The Catholic Church officially denounced this as a form of worship, but it doesn't dissuade people from getting nailed to a cross as a sign of piety, to repay a prayer that was answered, or as penance. 

The practice is most associated with the province of Pampanga, which started hosting a Passion play in the 1950s. At some point some attendees thought it a good idea to add various mortifications to their trip (whipping themselves, making the journey in bare feet and/or carrying a life-size cross), which eventually led to actual crucifixions in the 1960s.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 16: Norway

Just in case there wasn't enough death in the Easter story, Norway has added on some extra with a tradition called Påskekrim, which literally means "Easter crime."

If you didn't click on the link, here's the short version. In 1923, a crime novel was released just before Easter, and the advertising campaign for it involved an ad in a major newspaper that used the book's title for a headline ("Bergen train looted in the night," which I imagine is catchier in Norwegian). The ad was so realistic that many people believed a train had actually been robbed, giving the book a ton of publicity. Sales go through the roof. 

Fast forward to today, and publishers plan major crime novel releases for the holiday and TV stations change their programming to lean heavy on mysteries (this article gives a little more background on how this whole thing started and how it might reflect on darker aspects of  Viking culture and the Easter story itself). Not sure how much stock put in those theories about the deeper roots of Påskekrim, but as the tradition hasn't really spread to other Nordic countries maybe I'm being too judgmental.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 15: Ghana

Most of what surrounds Easter in Ghana would be familiar to most everyone - church services, public processions, etc. Less familiar would be the national paragliding festival.

Promoted as part of an annual Easter festival in Kwahu, people now come from all over the world to enjoy what's billed as some of the best paragliding in Africa, thanks to thermal drafts that are consistent in duration and intensity.

There are apparently other things to do during the festival - the paragliding was apparently added to an older festival that was falling out of fashion - so you've got options.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 14: Uruguay

So Uruguay does things a little differently than the rest of South America. Uruguay instituted a strict separation of church and state in its 1917 constitution, and converted religious holidays into secular ones. So while other countries are celebrating Holy Week, Uruguay celebrates Tourism Week, during which time Uruguayans take some sort of trip, if not take their long vacation for the year. 

Churches do celebrate Holy Week and Easter, of course, but you won't get the sort of public spectacles that you'd see elsewhere in Latin America.

But if you are looking for something to do during the week, there are at least a couple options:

1. In Montevideo there's Creole Week, which celebrates rural Uruguay. It looks a bit like a combination rodeo and cultural festival, with a horse riding competition the main event (think bronco busting rather than show jumping).

2. For something more contemporary, you can head to Paysandú for Beer Week, sponsored by the town's major brewery. It combines a music festival with various cultural and arts and crafts displays. There are also a couple of thermal spas - one with natural salt water - so you can take the waters and relax if you're partied out.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 13: India

Christians account for a small percentage of India's religious make-up, at just over two percent. That does translate to nearly 28 million Christians, which when added to the history of colonialism means you can find Easter celebrations all across the country.

I opted to focus on Goa, a small state on India's west coast, which Portugal ruled for nearly 450 years when India annexed (invaded) it back in 1961. Even with Portugal's long history there, Goa is only about one-quarter Christian, which may be why the Easter celebrations, while more prominent than in other parts of India, is fairly similar to what you'd find back in Portugal. There is a procession called the Way of the Cross, in which locals carry a large wooden cross and an icon of Jesus through the streets as a representation of his march through Calvary, which is similar to the processions you'd find elsewhere.

One more specific tradition is a dish called sorpotel, which is a stew made of various organ meats from pigs (though it's not uncommon to find versions that don't rely on offal). I will say it looks delicious based on many of the pictures I've seen, but I think I'd ask how traditional it is before tucking in.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 12: Andorra

Like Christmas carolers, but for Easter, groups of people will stop at houses and sing songs known as caramelles, often accompanied by music and dancing. I found one reference saying the songs were often profane, but can't find lyrics to confirm that (not that I can tell, what I am finding isn't in English).  Secular songs are also becoming common.

The singers have a basket on a pole, which they raise to get food or money from the people who live in the house. Whatever the singers take in is used towards a group meal.

While I've attributed the tradition to Andorra, it's common across Catalonia as well.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 11: Ireland

Found two traditions that I liked:

1. In many towns om Easter Sunday, the local butcher would put a fish on a stick (often a herring), and parade it through the town in a mock funeral. Locals, sick of eating fish so often, would join in and often take a whack at the herring with a stick. The fish is "buried" (typically thrown back in the water), and the parade returns to town, probably to buy meat.

2. Farm kids on Easter Sunday also participate in what's called a cludog, where they gather up eggs and roast them in an area along the edge of the farmland. This apparently goes back to when eggs were included in the Lenten fast, though it's not clear why it's just kids and why the eggs are roasted rather than fried, boiled, etc.

One newer tradition (sort of) is pubs being closed on Good Friday. This was actually the law dating back to 1927, but the law was lifted last year. So for those pubs that chose to remain closed, a new(ish) tradition was born.

 Book Log 2019 #7: Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin

John Rebus is back on the force, just in time for a case from his early days to come back and haunt him. The case comes back as there's an implication that the officers who investigated it - the "Saints" of the title - weren't exactly on the up and up, which may have led to the conviction of the wrong person. Heading up the new investigation is The Complaints own Malcolm Fox, whose become a bit of a nemesis for Rebus.

There is also a new case for Rebus and Clarke to investigate, but the real interest is in seeing how Rebus handles the investigation into the old case, and if he will remain loyal to his squadmates. Or at least as loyal as Rebus can be; while he's not one to rat, he's also really only loyal to himself and Clarke.

While I always like a Rebus novel, I do have to say that I also enjoy seeing on the back end of his career, facing his new limitations as well as his past. Having Fox as a counterpoint add to the nuance of the story, especially as he and Clarke develop their own professional relationship.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 10: Papua New Guinea

Papuans do something a little different for Easter. When decorating churches, a tree is placed outside, from which sticks of tobacco and packs of cigarettes are hung. After services, the tobacco is distributed to the congregants.

Why, you ask? I have no idea, and Google isn't proving particularly helpful. Three reasons that likely contribute to this:

1. Papuans like to smoke. A 2016 accounting of cigarettes consumed per capital puts PNG 30th worldwide, with 1689 smoked per person per year.

2. Tobacco was one of the agricultural products introduced to PNG as a commercial crop, and while the country isn't one of the top producers in the world you can see where creating a domestic market for tobacco might be desired by the people who grow it.

3. Chocolate does not do well in PNG's tropical climate. Why you jump to tobacco rather than, say, jelly beans I don't know.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 9: Belgium

Starting after services on Holy Thursday, altars are stripped and bells and organs silenced in order to observe the passion, death, and burial of Jesus. It's a solemn time, and one that may need some explanation to kids who aren't used to the changes.

In Belgium (and in France and the Netherlands), kids are told that the bells are silent because they've flown to Rome to be blessed by the Pope. They return in time for Easter services, and when they come back they are filled with chocolate eggs.

It's not the worst story, and I'd be happy to forego the Easter Bunny in exchange for some nice Belgian chocolate eggs.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 8: Haiti

As a largely Catholic country, Haiti tends to celebrate Easter much like other countries in the Caribbean and Central/South America. There are processions with music (provided by local rara bands), church services, and big meals. But the most unique Easter tradition in Haiti isn't even Christian.

Practitioners of Vodou gather every Easter Sunday in Souvenance to honor the spirits (loas) by performing various rituals. These include bathing in a sacred pool, sacrificing animals, wearing white, and dancing (with more music by the rara bands). 

These rituals aren't that far off from Christian Easter traditions found elsewhere. Wearing white is common in many countries, bathing in the sacred pool evokes baptism pretty strongly, the Eucharist can replace animals at the sacrifice, and the dancing sounds a lot like the parades and processions seen around the world (just with more homemade instruments). This shouldn't be that surprising given the syncretic nature of Vodou, but it's always interesting to see how traditions cross over and are adapted into different cultures.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 7: New Zealand

New Zealand has the same problem with rabbits as Australia, but rather than try to supplant bunnies with a cute native animal, people in Central Otago go on a marathon rabbit hunt instead.

The hunt is somewhat limited - groups are mostly chosen by lottery, and are assigned areas to hunt. The carnage begins on Good Friday (which seems a little on the nose) and ends at noon on Easter Sunday, by which time up to 10,000 rabbits have been given the chance to rise again on the third day. Apparently the hunt is also a fundraiser for a local hospital (not an animal hospital), so it's kind of a win-win... just not for the rabbits.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 6: Australia

Easter in Australia is very similar to Easter in any other English-speaking country, but with one exception: you may get a chocolate bilby in your Easter basket rather than a chocolate bunny.

Rabbits aren't native to Australia, having been introduced to the continent when English settlers started arriving in the late 18th century. It wasn't until the middle of the following century, with a decline in the numbers of predatory species and natural selection producing a heartier rabbit optimized for Australia that the numbers took off.

Since then, rabbits have been responsible for widespread damage to native plants and crops, causing significant erosion problems where they've eaten away native ground cover. Attempts at controlling the population, through hunting, introducing rabbit-specific diseases, and fencing, have not had the effect that Australians were hoping for.

One of the native animals endangered by the rabbits was the bilby, a burrowing marsupial that competes with rabbits for food and living space. A story about an Easter bibly was written by an Australian girl in 1968 (but published later), which helped spark the idea that the native animal was a better symbol for Easter in Australia than an invasive species. More recently, Australian candy companies have made chocolate bilbies as a way to raise funds to both support the bilby and enhance methods for reeling in the rabbit population.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 5: Canada

For the most part, Canada celebrates Easter like most Western countries. Eggs, chocolate, church, etc. But there are a couple of Easter-related things that set Canada apart:

1. Vegreville, Alberta is home to a giant pysanka, or Ukrainian Easter egg. It may be the largest Easter egg in the world. It was built in 1975 to honor the area's Ukrainian population.

2. Montreal hosts Bal en Blanc, a rave that attracts DJs and fans from around the world, over the Easter weekend. So if you like your Holy Week with a trance soundtrack. head to Montreal.

 Book Log 2019 #6: Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman

I'll admit to not remembering much about this book (which will happen when you write your blog entry more than two years after reading it), but I do recall liking it. There's a bit of a John Le Carre vibe about it, as a newly-minted CIA agent learns some things she shouldn't have, revealing the messy (and occasionally lethal) underbelly of intelligence work, with implications that span the decades.

I've liked the two other Fesperman books I've posted about so far (Layover in Dubai, The Arms Maker of Berlin), and think I liked this one about as well.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 4: Estonia

Not surprisingly, many cultures combined local/pagan traditions with Easter traditions as Christianity spread. In Estonia, one of these traditions is the construction and use of large wooden swings. Each town or village would have one in a public space, constructed by the young men (who would get small tokens of appreciation for doing so). People swung for health, happiness, and success (for themselves, livestock, crops, etc.).

The practice is actually common in the Baltic and Eastern European regions, but I chose to mention it with Estonia given the country's passion for swinging. This is probably best seen in the sport of kiiking, which is sort of like pole vaulting, but with the athlete trying to swing around a bar rather than just clear it. Honestly, it looks a little nuts, but you do you, Estonia.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 3: Japan

As you might expect, Japan doesn't have much by way of Easter traditions, given that less than one percent of the country is Christian.

What I did find, though is that the Tully's Coffee chain does serve Easter-specific drinks. I mention this more to talk about the chain, as it has a colorful history, at least in the US.

Tully's was founded in the Seattle area in 1992, and grew to have hundreds of locations in the western US and Asia. Unfortunately for them, the period of their greatest expansion was during the recession in the 2000s, which caused cashflow problems. They raised some quick cash by selling off part of the company, but couldn't stave off bankrupty.

Here's where things get weird. The company was bought out of bankruptcy by an investment group that included the actor Patrick Dempsey. He would later pull out of the group, and file a lawsuit against one of his partners: Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti. A year ago today the chain announced it would close its remaining North American stores.

But in Japan you can still stop in, and apparently get your fix with bunny ears included.

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

Day 2: Spain

Spain takes Holy Week (or Semana Santa) seriously, which most cities having parades on the holy days that feature life-size floats of religious scenes carried on the shoulders of men from various "brotherhoods" (representing a neighborhood, or parish, or some other common bond), bands, participants in hooded cloaks (a little too Klanish for my taste), and so on. Each city has its own spin on things - where certain floats meet, or the use of certain items like candles - so there is some difference in the proceedings depending on where you are.

The tradition that most caught my eye, though, is torrijas, which is basically French toast that is fried and coated with caramelized sugar and honey. My pancreas hurts just thinking about it. But I want some. Right now.

Welcome back, Lentketeers!  Instead of plumbing the depths of hagiographies, papal flair, or social media, we're going around the world on a 40 day tour. Put your rosaries in an upright and locked position for...

Lentorama 2019: Resurrect My Globe!

The idea is that each day I'll look at an Easter tradition specific to one country (though I reserve the right to be less specific or repeat countries as needed). And to kick things off I'm flying domestic.

Day 1: United States of America

There are several traditions one could point to in the US - Mardi Gras in New Orleans being the most prominent example - but I'm going to go with the Easter parade.

In the second half of the 19th century, churches in the US took more care to decorate for holidays. For Easter, this meant large displays of springtime flowers and plants. As these became more lavish, the trend spread to department stores, and eventually to the congregants themselves. While dressing up for church wasn't a new idea, taking the time to stroll and be seen was.

Not surprisingly, the practice centered on New York. Starting in the 1870s, newspapers would comment about the crowds on Fifth Avenue, taking time to see and be seen before and after the church service of their choice. The annual event became well known, to the point where Irving Berlin wrote a musical film called Easter Parade. And while it may be less of a draw nowadays, people are still making the stroll to show off their threads.

For a more in-depth look at the Easter parade and its meaning, check out Leigh Eric Schmidt's article "The Easter Parade: Piety, Fashion, and Display" from the summer 1994 issue of Religion and American Culture.

 Book Log 2019 #5: The Perfectionists by Simon Winchester

I wasn't looking to read a book about precision engineering - I don't remember what I was looking for - but I'll take whatever happy accident led me to this book. This is one of those rare cases where the enjoyment value came in way over what you'd expect given the subject matter.

It's also a rare case where I can't find something to nitpick. I looked back at the other Winchester books I've read, and I usually either find that the book is too long (gets draggy or feels padded) or I have a gripe with specific points of view or organizing principles. I don't recall having any of these issues with this book. Maybe my complete lack of knowledge on the subject left me open to just enjoying things.

I've been playing catchup with The Hamilcast (a podcast about the musical Hamilton), and am on the series of episodes featuring the show's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. He's talking about the song "Aaron Burr, Sir," and how several of the lines rhyme the next to last syllable rather than the last one (these lines all have "sir" at the end), making it more of a feminine rhyme and not just him rhyming "sir" with "sir."

Which got me thinking. Have I been wrong all this time for mocking Kid Rock for rhyming "things" with "things" in the chorus of "All Summer Long?"

Thankfully, no:

And we were trying different things 
We were smoking funny things 

"Different" and "funny" don't rhyme, obviously. The mocking shall continue.

 Book Log 2019 #4: The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles Mann

I was very much looking forward to this book by the author of 1491, which was a tremendous account of what science, history, and archaeology can tell us about life in the Americas prior to the arrival of Columbus. Unlike that book, though, this tells the story of specific individuals - agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug and environmentalist William Vogt - and their very different approaches to how humans should use the Earth. Borlaug dedicated his life to finding ways to increase what we can get from the planet, while Vogt argued that overuse could lead to long-term problems that would threaten humanity.

The verdict is still out on which man was right, assuming that there is a right answer here. 

I will say that while I liked this book, I was a little disappointed given how much I loved 1491. I probably anticipated this one too much, with a result that it was never going to live up to expectations. It's also a very different book from 1491, being more of a historical and philosophical work. All that being said, I would say if you've not read 1491 you should do so before reading this one. Not because it will add anything to the reading experience for this book; I just think 1491 is the better of the two.

 Book Log 2019 #3: The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

The second book in the Three Body Problem trilogy, the Trisolarans are on their way to Earth, and have used a form of subatomic computers to spy on Earth and prevent scientific or technological breakthroughs that might help Earth defend itself. The book focuses on how the UN tries to get around this, eventually jumping ahead 200 years to show the first contact between the two civilizations and its aftermath. 

I really do like this trilogy, and would suggest taking your time reading the books. As with the first book, I feel like I read this one too quickly, and missed things. So take your time and enjoy this.

 Book Log 2019 #2: The Road Taken by Henry Petroski

In this book, Petroski looks at infrastructure (transportation infrastructure in particular) and, as with many of his previous books, gives its history in great detail and full of the surprising facts that often make his books so much fun to read. Better still, it avoids the trap of getting too bogged down in those facts, a problem that made The Book on the Bookshelf so hard to get through.

And as you might expect from a civil engineer, he also uses this book to argue for both increased spending to fix the things that are broken and better planning in implementing new infrastructure. It's hard to argue with either point, and I was happily surprised at the focus on making better infrastructure in the future. We don't often talk about creating infrastructure to solve (or avoid) future problems, which is how we wind up with ever-wider freeways that still fill up with traffic.

A good read on a real problem that will hopefully get more attention soon.

 Book Log 2019 #1: The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon

Faith, loss, and identity are the major themes of this novel, which sees two young college students interact with a local oddball turned cult leader, with horrifying results. The extent to which each of the characters is driven to do what they did by their past losses or current relationships is left to the reader to consider.

Reading reviews of this book I saw at least a couple of references to Donna Tartt's The Secret History, which I can see. Both books follow close-knit and often unhealthy relationships between college students, and both have tragic endings. One review also noted that the students in both books were not representative of typical college students, as they don't consume popular culture in the way that most do (and in the more recent book, a lack of texting).

That being said, I do find that this book travels much more in the real world than Tartt's book, and it is much easier to identify with the students at the heart of this book than those in The Secret History. I should also note that I hated The Secret History, and did not hate this one at all. 

Was it the most uplifting book to start the new year? No. But it's well worth reading.

 Book Log 2018 #50: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Finally, the last entry for 2018, and I will say it ended on a high note. Set during World War II, this book tells the stories of a blind French girl and a German boy adept with electronics, and how their paths eventually cross as they try to survive the war.

I had no problem getting sucked into this book, as the story is richly told with the sort of detail you'd want from a historical novel, with an additional layer of personal triumphs and tragedies for both of the main characters. I did read one review that faulted the use of modern American style and language, which I admit I didn't notice. Probably not surprising being an American and all.

I really enjoyed this, and was happy to read a World War II novel whose main characters weren't spies or doomed lovers (no offense to Alan Furst, of course, but it's nice to have a change of pace). Definitely recommended.

 Book Log 2018 #49: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

It's a murderous road trip, as Vowell goes across America to visit sites related to political killings, both to reflect on the history and how these events were used to manipulate politics and popular culture. 

This should be right up my alley, and I mostly enjoyed it, but I never fully connected with the book. Not sure why, it was interesting and often funny (moreso than you might expect from the subject), but I rarely felt like I was engaged to the level I usually am when reading. 

That being said, I do recommend it, especially if you have an interest in US history and/or politics. It's also not a particularly long book, so if you encounter the same issue I did it's easy enough to stick with it until the end.

 Book Log 2018 #48: Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin

John Rebus is finally retired - kind of.  He's working cold cases as a civilian, which isn't as exciting as his old job but gives him something to do. When a couple of current missing persons cases appear to be similar to one of the cold cases, Rebus sees his chance to get back into a real case. With his usual amount of insubordination, verbal fencing with Big Ger Cafferty, and police work that may occasionally cross the line.

I was interested to see how Rebus would operate as a retiree, and was gratified that not much had changed. But I am curious to see how much this continues in future novels (there have to be more coming, right?), and if the series ever makes a permanent transition to Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox as lead characters.

 Book Log 2018 #47: A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black

A newspaper tycoon dies from a shotgun blast, and it's up to Dublin police inspector Hackett - along with medical examiner Quirke - to figure out if it's suicide or murder, and if the latter, who pulled the trigger. Along the way they untangle the deceased's tangled web of personal and professional dealings, while Quirke also has to consider his assistant's relationship with the sister of the victim, both in light of the case and the assistant's burgeoning romance with Quirke's daughter.

I've always been a little on the fence about this series, and that feeling continued after reading this installment. The core mystery was OK if a little dull, and I still have no idea what women see in Quirke. But I'm into it enough to keep going.

 Book Log 2018 #46: Origin by Dan Brown

Everyone's favorite symbologist is at it again, as Robert Langdon goes to an event at the Guggenheim in Bilbao for a presentation that is said will change science forever... only to have it end in chaos. Langdon goes on the run with the museum's director, and the pair have to figure out a way to save this discovery from the forces allayed against them. Sound familiar?

Also familiar is the big reveal at the end, which (spoiler alert) claims to disprove that religion is a thing but isn't particularly convincing. I was able to come up with a reasonable counter-argument in about three minutes, and I am not a philosopher or theologian. Or a symbologist, for that matter. 

Probably fine for an airplane/beach/commute read where you want something that moves reasonably quickly, doesn't require a lot of thinking, and don't have any better options.

 Book Log 2018 #45: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

Elizabeth Holmes, a Stanford dropout with an interest in life sciences, founded a company called Theranos that claimed it could run dozens of lab tests and get accurate results from a single drop of blood. Hailed as a genius and a revolutionary, she attracted high-profile investors and grew the company to a valuation in the billions. 

Only problem was that the technology didn't work.

Carreyrou, who wrote on science and health for the Wall Street Journal, wrote a series of articles that questioned Holmes' claims. This would later grow into this book, which gives a comprehensive picture as to how Holmes and others at Theranos - most notably her business and romantic partner Sunny Balwani - were able to keep the secret about their technology while raising millions. Spoiler alert: it involves a lot of threats against lower-level employees.

Most notable for me in this was the way that former US Secretary of State George Schultz became so wrapped up in the company - and in personal regard for Holmes - that he ignored the warnings of his grandson, a biologist who worked at Theranos and knew first-hand that the company wasn't what it seemed.

I found this book fascinating, both for the main story about the company and all of the personal stories that intertwine with it. Holmes herself is maybe most fascinating in the "what exactly is her psychopathology" sort of way.

There's also a documentary, which I also recommend.

 Book Log 2018 #44: Potsdam Station by David Downing

Journalist turned spy John Russell is still out of harm's way, but fears for his son and girlfriend, both of whom are still in harm's way (on the Eastern Front and in an increasingly perilous Berlin, respectively). Russell tries to find a way to get back into Germany, but his plan has some unintended consequences. Which is kind of par for the course, given the number of scrapes Russell has been in while playing the Germans, Soviets, and British off of each other.

I've read a couple of reviews of the book, and tend to agree with them that the depiction of Berlin on the precipice of falling to the Soviets is much better than the actual plot lines. One of the reviews faulted the series for not depicting the main characters more richly (which holds some water, but I don't find them as one-dimensional as the reviewer did), while both found fault with Russell's ability to navigate Berlin once he returns (which I agree with in retrospect).

For all that, I do still like the series and am interested to see how the war ends for everyone.

 Book Log 2018 #43: War of the Wolf  by Bernard Cornwell

Uhtred of Bebbanberg has finally recaptured his ancestral home, But as you might expect, trouble continues to lurk, from both expected and new places.

This is the 11th book in the Saxon Tales series, and by this point you're either all in or have given up. If you're still somewhere in between, the series will apparently end with the thirteenth book, so you might as well finish.

 Book Log 2018 #42: Skyfaring by Mark Vanhoenacker

I heard about this book on Rick Steves' radio show/podcast, and was interested to read an account about flying written by a commercial pilot. I didn't expect it to be fully a tell-all/behind the scenes account, but I wasn't expecting something that was so reflective and philosophical. This actually wound up being more of a problem than you might expect, as I had a really hard time connecting with the book. Whether that was due to my expectations or that I don't have the sort of flying experience to fully appreciate the author's reflections I don't know.

Admittedly, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about flying, even when I am flying. I tend to think more about plummeting (or the continued lack thereof). I'm not a nervous flyer, but can't really sleep on planes and my brain likes to go places when it's not otherwise engaged.

In any event, I think this is probably worth checking out if you spend a lot of time in the friendly skies, either as a passenger or crew member.

 Book Log 2018 #41: I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

This is one of those rare (to almost being non-existent) cases where a book becomes its own story. McNamara, a journalist/blogger with a focus on true crime, became interest in a series of crimes from the 1970s and '80s that spanned California. She came up with the name Golden State Killer to emphasize the statewide nature of the crimes and focus the investigation into one perpetrator. She wrote and researched the cases, even getting the help of law enforcement after proving she could be trusted with sensitive information, and signed the deal to produce this book.

And then, in the middle of writing the book, she passed away unexpectedly.

This left her staff and her husband (the actor/comedian Patton Oswald) to organize her material and finish the book. In doing so they all pulled off the unexpected feat of both helping to uncover the identity of the killer and putting together a highly readable and engrossing work while mourning the loss of a friend and partner.

I don't read a lot of true crime, but liked this book a great deal and would certainly recommend it.

 Book Log 2018 #40: The Dante Chamber by Matthew Pearl

I was a big fan of The Dante Club (which I apparently read before logging books, or maybe I just forgot to log it), so I was looking forward to this sequel, which moves the action to London, where a number of murders tied into Dante lead to the fear that artist and writer Dante Gabriel Rossetti will be the next victim. A litany of English literary figures, from Rossetti's sister Christina to Browning and Tennyson are enlisted to find Rossetti and figure out who is committing these murders - and why.

I was somewhat disappointed in the book, though I have a hard time articulating why. It could be I found the first novel more to my interests (being set in the Boston area), or perhaps I set my expectations too high. In any case, it's not a bad book, and I do like Pearl's novels generally, so I do think it's worth a look. Just keep your expectations in check.

 Book Log 2018 #39: The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

This is the first book of a trilogy where we make first contact with an alien civilization, with the result that (spoiler alert) the aliens decide they want to invade Earth.  This is a very simple statement of the plot, which folds in a variety of historical, philosophical, and scientific detail. It's one of those books that I enjoyed even though I constantly felt like I was missing something.

Part of that might be due to the book being translated from Chinese. I also wonder if there's a cultural difference between Eastern and Western science fiction that might account for some of this. Of course, it could just be that the book was operating at a level above the amount of work I put in to reading it.

All that being said, if you're into science fiction it's very much worth reading.

So my younger son has been calling Columbus Day "Columbia Day," and while this seems to be a simple slip of the tongue (he still says "Orlando" whenever we see a licence place from Ontario, so he's a little malapropish), it did get me thinking. 

Columbus Day has been falling out of favor for years, especially as the impact of his trips on the native population become more well known. The rise in localities opting to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day reflects this, and has led to an expected backlash from those who want to keep Columbus on the calendar.  Why not satisfy both sides and change the holiday to Columbia Day?

Columbia Day would be dedicated to celebrating the development of the United States and the contributions of all parties. It would recognize both native populations and the explorers who brought the New World into the orbit of the Old World. People would be free to tailor their own celebrations accordingly, though they would ideally reflect the varied and rich history of human history.

It's not a perfect solution, of course. Columbia was often used in the context of manifest destiny, which didn't go so well for native populations in the west. I could also see residents of the District of Columbia co-opting this day to highlight their lack of representation in Congress and further the push for statehood. Still, it would likely irritate partisans on both sides of the issue, which suggests it may not be that bad of an idea.

In any event, let me be the first (and only) person to wish you a happy Columbia Day today!

 Book Log 2018 #38: The Secret Dead by S. J. Parris

This is a short story prequel to the series featuring the former monk and amateur detective Giordano Bruno, set just as he's taking orders.  Restless on a hot summer night, Bruno goes for a walk and stumbles upon the illegal autopsy of a young woman. Bruno pokes his nose in, learns that there is something sinister about the woman's death - and potentially other deaths - and he has to decide between seeking justice or keeping his mouth shut and advancing his career. 

I liked this story just as much as I liked the novels, and would recommend seeking it out.

 Book Log 2018 #37: 12.21 by Dustin Thomason

When a smuggler brings a rare Mayan codex into the US, he also brings something else - a deadly disease that spreads quickly across southern California.  It's up to an expert in Mayan artifacts and local doctor to put a stop to the growing pandemic by deciphering the codex.

As you might have guessed, the story (and title) of this book is based on the "end of the world" scenario that was linked to the end of a cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. The scenario was that the end of the cycle - on or around December 21, 2012 - there would be some sort of apocalyptic event or shift in the cosmos or something that would be bad news for us all. This wasn't something the Maya actually believed, but it sold a lot of merch so people just went with it.

The book is kind of meh. I had higher hopes for it as Thomason was one of the co-authors of The Rule of Four, which I really did like. You'd be better of reading (or re-reading) that book rather than taking on this one.

 Book Log 2018 #36: The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore

Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse engaged in one of the bigger industrial battles in US history, as they sought to gain the upper hand in electrifying America. This book tells that story, but through an unexpected character - young lawyer Paul Cravath, who Westinghouse hires to manage the various lawsuits Edison is using to try to put Westinghouse out of business.

Cravath is a real person, whose work for Westinghouse presaged his later law firm work representing several large corporations. He's also noteworthy for the system he developed to organize and run professional services, like law firms, which is still in use today. You see the beginnings of that here, which creates a kind of parallel story of invention. 

It's still a good book if all you're interested in is the fight between Edison and Westinghouse, but it's just that much more interesting when you throw in Cravath's story as well.

 Book Log 2018 #35: Foundation by Isaac Asimov

I'd been meaning to check this out for years, and when I finally got to it I was... underwhelmed? Not sure if that's actually it, but I did have an incredibly hard time getting into the book, and subsequently found it hard to keep the people and events straight. 

The book started out as a series of short stories, so perhaps there's a continuity issue that I couldn't quite overcome. It's probably worth taking another crack at. I did like the premise of the book - man discovers through a field of study he created that the Galactic Empire is failing, and the powers that be punish him for it - and have liked the other Asimov books I've read. The original trilogy won a Hugo Award for best all-time series, so I'm tempted to think the problem is with me. 

 Book Log 2018 #34: Exit Music by Ian Rankin

John Rebus is heading towards retirement, but in his usual way he doesn't get there easily. There are a couple of murders that appear to be tied to a visiting group of Russian businessmen, scouting out investment opportunities in Scotland. Rebus is convinced he can connect the killings to the Russians, gangster and nemesis Big Ger Cafferty, the Scottish National Party, and a local banker. It all seems too much, and as usual his investigative approach gets him suspended, but also as usual Rebus sticks with the investigation, looking for one last big solve.

With his retirement, there was thought this would be the last book in the series. It isn't. Even so, it would have been a fitting end to the series. But I'm glad it's not.

 Book Log 2018 #33: Waiting by Ha Jin

A doctor at a city hospital meets a nurse, they fall in love, and decide to get married. There is, of course, a catch. The doctor is already married, to a woman he does not love who is back in their home village, taking care of his elderly parents. He returns home for a few days each year, and when he does he tries to get a divorce. Even when his wife agrees to the divorce there are details that prevent it, and the doctor returns to the city, still unable to marry the woman he loves.

This is the main premise of the book, whose characters each experience this wait in different, and often surprising ways. The setting in communist China adds another layer to things, as all of the bureaucratic nonsense not only adds to each person's waiting, but has everyone, character and reader alike, waiting to see the changes in the country. 

I did like this book, but in case you couldn't guess it's not the best pick if you want a traditional romance. 

 Book Log 2018 #32: The Pilgrim of Hate by Ellis Peters

The victim in this installment of the Cadfael series is a knight who is a friend of our crime solving monk, which makes him even more motivated than usual to find the killer. Problem is this happens right around the feast for Saint Winifred, the patron saint of the abbey, so there are more suspects than usual. There's also the case of a young lame boy, whose desire for a miracle cure gets wrapped up in the case. 

It's pretty standard Cadfael fare, but as usual told well. 

 Book Log 2018 #31: The Code Book by Simon Singh

I remember having particularly meh feelings about this book, which looks at the history (and future) of cryptography, but I have no idea why. Did it not line up with what little I already knew about the subject? Did it repeat stories that I may not have considered historically accurate? Did its sections on the future get too fanciful? Or was I just in a mood? 

Can't say, so you might as well dip in and see if my ambivalence is justified. 

 Book Log 2018 #30: Munich by Robert Harris

Old friends from Oxford find themselves as junior members of their respective national delegations at the conference in Munich that led to the "peace in our time" agreement between the UK and Germany that, ultimately, did not prevent World War II. While they haven't seen each other in years, the two friends find themselves with very similar ideas as to whether or not this agreement is a good idea - and if there's something they can do to stop it. 

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but then I tend to like Harris' novels in general. Certainly worth reading.

 Book Log 2018 #29: Fallout by Harry Turtledove

The Cold War has turned hot, as both the US and Soviet Union have turned to using nuclear weapons against each other and their allies in the hopes of claiming world dominance. Both sides look to use these new weapons to decapitate the leadership of the other, and where they fail internal politics may wind up succeeding.

I have mixed feelings about this book (and the series in general), mostly based the mixed feelings I have towards Turtledove's more recent work. I'm also not sure this series really depicts the sorts of horrors that would have been unleashed if the Cold War really did lead to this sot of actual war (though I say this with the caveat that it's been a while since I've read this book and could be underestimating how the war is being depicted).

Is it worth checking this series out? Hard to say. I've not been clamoring to read the final book, but at the same time writing this recap makes me want to get to it. I suppose I'm at the point with Turtledove that I'm at with Steve Berry. Not exactly hate reading, but not exactly real enjoyment either.

 Book Log 2018 #28: Head On by John Scalzi

Humans are infinitely adaptable in the face of change, as seen in this series where people who contract Hayden's Syndrome - which leaves people unable to use their bodies but keeps their minds intact - learn to interact with the world through robot-like machines (threeps). Not only do those affected adapt, but the wider world does as well, creating a variety of supports and social opportunities (as well as breeding some old-fashioned discrimination).

One of those adaptations is a sport where teams of threeps compete to remove the head of an opponent and carry it across a goal line, It's violent, popular, and generally harmless to the competitors as the damage is done to the machines. But when one of the athletes dies, it's up to FBI agent Chris Shane (himself a Hayden's sufferer) and his partner to figure out what happened. 

I like this series a lot, and appreciate the ways it makes you think about disability and difference while still keeping the story first.  I'm hopeful, and a little impatient, for more books in the series.

 Book Log 2018 #27: The Secret Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

We most often think of trees as solitary plants, living mutely among its fellow plants. Wohlleben, who spent 20 years working in Germany's forestry service, makes the case that this is far from the truth. Using recent scientific discoveries and his personal experience, he makes the case that trees are social and communal life forms, providing assistance to neighbors, communicating potential dangers, and helping to raise younger plants.

In some ways this book reminded me of Charles Mann's 1491, in the way it uses new information to dispel traditional - and often uninformed - ways of thinking about the given society (pre-Columbian in that book, arboreal in this one). I do find that this book drifts a little bit into more philosophical (some may say fanciful) notions of the interconnectedness of trees to other life forms - human included - but that doesn't take away from the more engrossing notions of how trees live. Where most people - myself included - don't really think about trees beyond having to rake leaves, this book challenges you to open up your thinking, which is never a bad thing.

 Book Log 2018 #26: Silesian Station by David Downing

As Europe lurches towards war, journalist John Russell finds himself being pulled ever deeper into the world of espionage. He agrees to work with American intelligence in return for citizenship, hoping it will protect him and his loved ones. It doesn't help; the Gestapo arrests his girlfriend, forcing him to use his Soviet connections to feed them disinformation. He agrees, but then also strikes a deal with the Soviets to work for them as well.

If that's not enough, Russell also investigates the disappearance of a girl shortly after arriving in Berlin, which only serves to put him in further danger.

I'll admit to being on the fence about this series a bit - it's good storytelling, but it's difficult to buy into the idea that Russell can be a triple agent without any of his masters deciding he's more trouble than he's worth. Still, I do think it's worth sticking with. The series is an interesting contrast to Alan Furst's Night Soldiers series, mostly in how they're structured (the more tightly connected books in Downing's series versus the looser connections in Night Soliders). 

 Book Log 2018 #25: Dead Man's Ransom by Ellis Peters

The English civil war rages on, and when the sheriff is taken prisoner, a swap is arranged for a young Welsh prisoner from the other side. The sheriff is brought to the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, but is murdered before the swap is completed. Suspicion falls on the other prison, who just so happens to have fallen in love with the sheriff's daughter.

It's a pretty typical Cadfael plot, though the blurb I read about the book just now says that in helping the young prisoner Cadfael doesn't know that "the truth will be a trial for his own soul."  I didn't remember why that was, so I read a longer synopsis and, honestly, I don't think it's much of a trial. Cadfael has always been one to lean more towards natural justice than the law, and what goes down here fits that model.

 Book Log 2018 #24: The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin

The sixteenth Rebus novel moves between a murder of a rapist that may be the work of a serial killer and the death of a member of parliament that Rebus is getting waved off of as it may sully an important international meeting. You can imagine how Rebus takes that.

I was worried that the political aspect of the MP's murder would feel off, but it didn't. I do like it when Rebus bumps up against higher-level law enforcement and intelligence types. It would be weird if he was able to completely foil them, so the amount of success he does have seems realistic.

Book Log 2018 #23: Revolution for Dummies by Bassam Youssef

Bassam Youssef was a doctor in Egypt, and didn't see himself as being particularly political. All that changed during that country's uprising during the Arab Spring of 2011, when Youssef created and starred in a TV program that, much like The Daily Show and its cousins, used humor as a platform for critiquing the government and the ruling class.

Even with the changes that appeared to be in the air, doing this could get you into trouble. Youssef was charged with crimes, interrogated, and had his TV show shut down. Worried for his own safety, he fled Egypt.

These events (and more) are covered in this book, which provides both a personal history of the uprising and a look at how an authoritarianism survives, even when the people at the top change. It's an eye-opening book for those of us who live in a (somewhat) stable democracy, and who only saw the most basic coverage of what happened during the various Arab Spring protests.  It's also very funny, which makes it easy to see why the government wanted to shut him down. Bullies like nothing less than being laughed at.

Book Log 2018 #22: The Scarred Woman by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Carl Morck and his band of misfits in the Copenhagen police department's cold case division are fighting off claims that their office doesn't clear enough cases, an allegation which could close the unit down if unrefuted. 

Complicating their defense is that Rose, who has the best handle on the team's statistics, is still trying to recover from mental trauma with links to an event in her past. That event may also have links to the present in a more recent murder and a string of assaults against women, but linking them is proving difficult.

I've liked the entries in this series that delve into the lives of the supporting characters, and Rose's troubled past provides a lot of opportunity for doing so.

Book Log 2018 #21: Elegy for April by Benjamin Black

So I'm three books into the Quirke series, and still unsure how I feel about it. I still don't get a sense as to why he investigates the crimes that bring the bodies to his morgue, though I'm not sure he does, either. I'm guessing there's a similar dynamic at work with Quirke himself, as I can't quite call him a hero or an anti-hero. He's not far enough towards either extreme.

But I'm still reading them, so it can't be all bad, can it?

In this outing, a friend of Quirke's niece/daughter Phoebe has gone missing, and asks Quirke for help in figuring out what exactly happened to her (OK, in this case I do get why Quirke is involved). As with the other books, Quirke uncovers some of the less savory parts of living in 1950s Dublin, running into entrenched attitudes and powerful clergymen as is usual.

I will likely keep up with the series, even if I can't quite put my finger on why I'm doing so.

Book Log 2018 #20: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Like many people, I found my way to this book via the musical. I don't typically read biographies, but do like this era of American history and was curious to see how one would get a musical out of it.

I didn't see the musical. But I did read an engrossing story about a life critical to the foundation of this country. It's very clear from the book that without Hamilton the US becomes a very different country, and perhaps not even stay one country for very long.

It was also a fascinating look into Hamilton's personal life, especially his time growing up in the Caribbean, which understandably gets almost no coverage in the musical.

While it often reads more like a novel, there are definite stretches where the density of the material will require work to get through.  Even so, it's very much worth working through if you have the time to dedicate to it. I tend to be a fairly quick reader and read every day, and this still took me over a month to complete. Plan accordingly.