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.

Book Log 2018 #19: Vacationland by John Hodgman

I really enjoyed this collection of essays/memoir/insert genre or style of writing here, in which Hodgman leaves behind the fake trivia that filled his previous three books and talks about his life, framed by the western Massachusetts vacation home his parents owned and the one in Maine that he and his wife now own. The central theme of the book seems to bounce between "how did I grow up to become moderately famous" and "why it's weird to be an adult," but it really doesn't need a theme to hold together. The stories all have that touch of humanity and insecurity that will make them relatable, especially if you're of a certain age.

On a personal note, between Hodgman's choice of hangouts in Boston as a teen and the location of his house in Maine, I feel like there's a good chance we've crossed paths at some point. Not that it means anything, but it did add to the personal connection I felt with the book.

Book Log 2018 #18: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller

A nuclear war after World War II devastates civilization, and in order to prevent it from happening again reactionary groups (known as The Simpletons) work to wipe out whatever knowledge that may allow this to happen again.  Electrical engineer Isaac Leibowitz seeks out refuge in a monastery, and eventually forms his own order based on the preservation of knowledge (the practice of which leads to his eventual martyrdom). This book follows his order over centuries, seeing how they preserve and reintroduce knowledge, as well as dealing with the emergence of new political powers who once again threaten to cause mass destruction.

I did like this book, and appreciated that it took a long-term view to the story.  It was also refreshing to read something where science and religion weren't depicted as being irrevocably at odds. The style didn't always work for me, though I can't put my finger on exactly what it was that I didn't like.  It wasn't that distracting, just times where things felt a little off.

Book Log 2018 #17: The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black

Dublin pathologist Quirke gets pulled into another mystery, this time over the apparent suicide of a young woman that he doesn't quite believe was suicide. Quirke unravels the mystery of the young woman's life and death while dealing with similar issues in his own life.

I thought the actual mystery here wasn't as interesting as in the first book, but was more drawn in by how Quirke and his family are dealing with the events of the first book. There's enough there to almost make the mystery superfluous. Which may not be such a great thing in a murder mystery series, but it's enough for me to stick with it.

Book Log 2018 #16: Blood of Victory by Alan Furst

As Hitler is on the march in Europe, a Russian journalist is approached by the British for help with a plan to slow (or stop) that march. The goal: deny the Germans the output of the Romanian oil fields. The journalist criss-crosses Europe in the attempt, eventually winding up in Yugoslavia with plans to disrupt the barges carrying oil intended for the Nazis.

It's a worthwhile installment of the Night Soldiers series, dishing up its usual mix of wartime espionage, moral ambiguity, and doomed romance.

Book Log 2018 #15: A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin

John Rebus picks up a case of two teens killed by an ex-Army man and loner, with whom Rebus seems to identify (wonder why?). The investigation faces roadblocks both from a local MP (whose son survived the shooting) and a pair of military intelligence types, who would like to keep much of the shooter's past in the past.

Also confounding the investigation is the suspicion the Rebus was involved in the death of a local hoodlum who had been bothering Siobhan Clarke. The crook died in a fire, and Rebus just happened to go to hospital around the same time for treatment of burns. It should not surprise you that Rebus is suspended for a time while this is investigated. It should surprise you less that Rebus continues to investigate the shootings while suspended.

I think what I like the most about these later books in the series is how they tie together the threads of the past. It's not necessarily direct links - for example, I don't think any of the Army characters served with Rebus - but how the plots and characters from the early parts of the series inform what happens now. This should be expected in a long-running series, but it doesn't always happen. So if you've been reading the series, look forward to these later books. If you haven't been, you should probably start.

Book Log 2018 #14: The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neil Stephenson and Nicole Galland

I was not particularly interested in reading this book - I don't think of myself as much of a fantasy reader, and the prominent mentions of magic kind of put me off - but I am very glad I overcame my prejudices and picked this up.

The premise is that magic was once common, but as technology developed it hampered the ability to perform magic, with it dying out completely at the time of the Great Exhibition in London. It's up to a team led by the book's protagonists - a low-level university linguist and a military intelligence operative - to figure out why this happened, and if there's a way to bring magic back.  As you might imagine, as the project moves along and grows it becomes harder to manage, with both expected and unexpected results.

I liked pretty much everything about the book, and think it's well worth a read.

Book Log 2018 #13: Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

Quirke, a hard-drinking pathologist in 1950s Dublin, comes to work one day to find his brother (by adoption - Quirke is an orphan) tampering with records related to a woman who had just come into the morgue. This leads Quirke to investigate the death more closely, which leads to an even greater mystery - what happened to the woman's baby, who seems to have disappeared not long after birth? This mystery puts Quirke in some difficulty with the powerful Catholic Church, a shadowy organization that's helping them, and members of his own family.

I liked the book, both for the main whodunit plot and the twisted family dynamics, which help explain Quirke's apparent self-loathing (which I'm taking from his apparently lack of care about his physical well-being).  And while it's not a historical novel, the details of mid-century Ireland help to ground the novel, especially in reminding us how much church and state were intermingled at the time.

As a side note, Benjamin Black is the pen name for the author John Banville, whose more literary works have won a variety of awards. He's also considered a potential Nobel Prize winner, which is probably why he was the subject of a hoax phone call saying he'd won the 2019 prize.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 40: Cyprian and Justina

Cyprian was a pagan magician beset by devils. Justina, a Christian woman, used the sign of the cross to keep the devils at bay, while they were finally defeated when Cyrpian made the sign himself. Converting to Christianity, Cyprian would rise to become a bishop, while Justina would head a convent. Both were captured and tortured during the Diocletian persecutions, but did not waver in their faith. Brought to Diocletian himself,  he ordered that they be beheaded. The pair were then made saints for their piety and martyrdom.

Except maybe they weren't?

Evidence suggests that the pair didn't exist, and that this Cyprian was confused with St. Cyprian of Carthage, whose writings, acts, and martyrdom during the persecution of Valerian are all well documented.  Also, there was no bishop in Antioch named Cyprian.

The pair were removed from the Roman Martyrology (a list of saints) in 2001, but as there were five saints named Cyprian and two named Justina the idea that there was confusion as to who exactly was who isn't too far-fetched.

 So that's it for 2018! I now have 320(ish) days to figure out what to do for next year.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 39: Donatus of Arezzo

Not much is known about Donatus, but that didn't keep people from writing about him. There are at least two written accounts of his life that claim Donatus:

• Was orphaned when his family moved to Rome, where he would get religious instruction along with a boy named Julian - who, as Julian the Apostate, would become emperor and kill several Christians, including Donatus' parents... who were already dead?
• Killed a dragon who poisoned a well (no word if Donatus was able to unpoison the well).
• Brought a dead woman back to life and restored the sight of a different blind woman.
• Fixed a glass chalice shattered by pagans, but with one piece missing. The wine did not flow out of the hole, leading 79 pagans to convert.
• Was martyred, or not. 

With that much uncertainty, it's not hard to see why Donatus was dropped from the calendar. His veneration does continue in two interesting ways:

1. A church bearing his name on the island of Murano near Venice has some of his relics, including relics of the dragon he slew. 
2. He's one of two patron saints of Guardiagrele in Abruzzo, and during the festival celebrating the pair it's traditional to eat porchetta.  Given the choice between alleged dragon bones and three days of eating roast pork, I'm taking the pork.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 38: Lucius I

Another early pope who got to be a saint by being an early pope. Serving in the 3rd century, he was briefly banished from Rome but was given permission to return. He got dropped from the calendar based on his not actually having been a martyr. It was claimed that he was martyred under the persecution of Valerian, but that persecution didn't start until after Lucius' death.

One odd story about Lucius. Demons were said to be haunting the Isefjord near Roskilde, Denmark, saying that the only thing they feared was Lucius' skull. (why his skull is an open question). The skull was promptly brought to the fjord, the demons went away, and Lucius was made patron saint of Zeeland.  The skull remained in Denmark as a relic, but carbon dating proved the skull attributed to Lucius dated back to about 100 years after Lucius died. The skull did move around a little, so it's possible Lucius' skull crossed paths with another one and they were switched.

Just another example of why you should always keep your head about you.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 37: Paul of Thebes

Also known as Paul, the First Hermit or Paul the Anchorite. What we know of Paul comes from Saint Jerome, who writes that Paul fled to the desert to avoid persecution (thanks to his brother in law, who was trying to get Paul's inheritance), where he lived for nearly 100 years in a cave, living off of water and dates until a raven started to bring him half a loaf of bread every day.

I think we have a new fad diet to replace keto.

Anyway, once Paul died a monastery was started on the site of his cave, where his remains are kept.

Apparently, Paul was dropped from the calendar due to questions of the historical accuracy of Jerome's story. So while good PR is important, it can only get you so far.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 36: Hyginus

Hyginus was pope after Telesphorus, but his history is murky, to the point that his martyrdom can't be proven. He's also credited with establishing the rank for clergy and requiring all churches be consecrated, but who knows? 

Hygiuns had to deal with at least a couple of well-known Gnostic heretics - his dealings with them make up most of what passes for a biography - and there's no real discussion of how he became a saint. Other than by being an early pope, proving once again that timing is everything.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 35: Telesphorus

You may remember Pope Telesphorus coming up during Lentorama 2010 (and if you do, you should probably work on remembering more important things), but it turns out his feast day was originally created for another martyr. And apparently most of what was attributed to Telesphorus was connected to him well after his death in order to bolster the authority of the papacy. 

The pope Telesphorus has separate feast day from the non-pope Telesphorus, though it doesn't look like either of them are on the General Roman Calendar. Two for one today!

Book Log 2018 #12: Terror in the City of Champions by Tom Stanton

The 1930s were a great time to be a sports fan in Detroit, between the titles won by the pro teams and Joe Louis proving dominant in the ring. Contrasting that was the growing power of a group called the Black Legion, a white supremacist organization whose power grew along with its membership, which included several prominent citizens across the midwest.

The two themes of this book never quite connect - I don't recall that any of the athletes actually joined the Legion - but together they do illustrate an interesting time in American history, between the recovery from the Depresstion and the US entry into World War II.  There are also echoes into the present day, and how "economic anxiety" in the same part of the country helped bring Trump to power with his own particular nativist agenda.

This is one of the more successful books I've read in that Erik Larson style of weaving true crime and social history together, very much worth reading.

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 34: Dorothea of Caesarea

The earliest record of Dorothea contains three items: when she was martyred, where she was martyred, and her name and the name of Theophilus. The legend of her death says that Theophilus was a pagan who mocked Dorothea while she was on her way to her execution. She sent him her headdress, whose fragrance of roses and fruits was taken as a sign. Theophilus declared himself a Christian and was martyred for his troubles.

From that story (later embellished), veneration of Dorothea grew and she became the patron saint of gardeners. She also became associated with better known female saints, such as the group known as the Fourteen Holy Helpers.  It never hurts to have good PR.

Book Log 2018 #11: Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton

This is a book version of the website of the same name, which covers the wide variety of weird and wonderful from around the globe. You can try to read it cover to cover, but I found it better to read it in chunks. A great book for browsing, endlessly interesting and engaging. And thinking of the original purpose of this log, probably not a bad book for commuting as it's easy to start and stop (though I'm guessing the size of the book might be an issue).

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 33: Saint Placidus

Another case of mistaken (or combined) identity. This Placidus, along with 30 others, were martyred. Could have been pirates, could have been the emperor Diocletian. Definitely in Sicily. Maybe?

Anyway, jump ahead a few hundred years and a writer confuses this Placidus with another Placidus who was a follower of St. Benedict. Who, to be honest, doesn't have much of a history other than his connection to Benedict. And both men also apparently had connections to Messina. So the confusion is understandable, I guess.