The Coming of the Third Reich   Richard J. Evans
Measured, scholarly, and detailed history of the political rise of the Nazis. Starts with the political conditions in Germany from Bismarck. Surprising how unoriginal the Nazis were, just more violent and better organized. Far too many electoral demographics for my taste, but highly relevant. Excellent account of the Nazification of all levels and aspects of German politics and society primarily by the directed intimidation by unrestrained physical violence. Good use of diaries that provide a fascinating insight into areas of German society. Interested particularly in the intellectual and cultural Nazification. Excellent summation at the end. Very well done.

Exile's Return: A Literary Odyssey of the 1920s    Malcolm Cowley
Another volume on “the lost generation,” this one much more personal and impressionistic than Flowering. Really liked the brief essays on Eliot, Joyce, and Pound, and their influences on the lost generation, and the depictions of Joyce. Very interesting social history as well as literary, Cowley captures an American generation’s development as well as their literary ambitions and accomplishments. Excellent depiction of the growing corporatization of American life in the 20s. Harry Crosby’s life and death was the perfect example of the generation, as Cowley says. Very good, very well written.

Extreme Prey   John Sandford
Latest Lucas Davenport police procedural, this time he’s trying to stop a suspected political assassination down in Iowa. Procedural was a little tedious at first, but enough mayhem developed that things picked up nicely, humming by the end. As always, Camp’s prose pulls you right along. Not enough Kidd and Flowers for me, but another enjoyable ride.

Green Hell   Ken Bruen
Another deeply sad, entertaining, and, in the end, satisfying Jack Taylor novel. Introduces a fascinating new character. I forgot how emotionally brutal these books are, so I was repeatedly stunned by plot twists so cryptically presented. As always, Bruen’s, achingly spare prose was a delight. Very good, quick read.

Why Does the World Exist?: An Existential Detective Story   Jim Holt
Entertaining, journalistic examination of the philosophical question, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” Found it a little irritating that he too often has to reduce his arguments to logical notation equations, but he is from that tradition, I guess. Though unpersuaded, Holt treats the god hypotheses with too much respect. Personally, I find, and have found for some time, the quantum theory persuasive and satisfying, at least intellectually. Unfortunate, useless detour into Platonism of all things, as well as other deeply unconvincing “theories.” A moving chapter at the end on death and the return to nothing. Even though I enjoyed it, took far too long to read this, sometimes only one or two paragraphs at a time. Fun read, though.

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History   John M. Barry
Embarrassingly over-written, sensationalized account of the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic. I guess that’s what happens when you’re telling an “epic” story rather than just a history. Wasted a lot of time plowing through Barry’s verbosity. Interesting, very short, account of how viruses work, especially the H1N1, in particular. Book is at least twice as long as it needed to be. Excruciating by the end, and nearly nothing to show for it. Too bad.

A Second Flowering: Works and Days of the Lost Generation   Malcolm Cowley
Beautifully written, first-hand literary history and analysis of the generation of writers who flowered after World War I. First chapter is one of the best descriptions of WW I I’ve ever read. Also, an excellent description of the American expatriate colony in Paris in the 1920s. Made me want to re-read most of the eight authors covered, especially my favorite, Hemingway. Very well done, really enjoyed it.