Newsletter 12/12/21
Hello fellow readers! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving to start the holiday season.
Speaking of which, a big THANKS to all of you who have read WRONGFUL ACTS, and especially those who have positively commented, left a review online, or otherwise promoted the book to family and friends. Since it was launched in early July, I’ve been pretty busy myself marketing and promoting the book, including social media posts and library author talks, as well as book signings at local book stores. Of course, Alexis has also been an invaluable resource in the e-marketing efforts with her promotional posts to her extensive list of Facebook friends!
Unfortunately, all of this has delayed my Part 2 of “Reflections on Reading,” so here it is now!
Since I’ve written about my favorite sports books before, I’ll skip that genre and reflect here on several historical books I’ve recently read, including two which blend history with medical science, one that follows the early days of the tragic opioid epidemic, and one which is more contemporary and medical-social in nature.
“A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America’s First Presidential Campaign” by Edward J. Larson. A marvelous and inciteful look at politics in America’s early years and the contentious struggle for control among Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Aaron Burr. Makes you think politics haven’t changed that much, just more sensational because of the media. A great read! I know, you saw “Hamilton” on Broadway, so why read this? Read it and you’ll know. It wasn’t written for entertainment, but for an in-depth view of what really transpired between these founding fathers and the implications the election had for America’s future. No musical playlist included!
“Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The battle that shaped America’s Destiny” by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. You’ll be hard pressed to deny the contribution Jackson made to keeping America free from English rule after reading this detailed look at the battle for that great city that certainly would have been lost without his leadership, and what the victory meant for the future existence of our country.
“109 East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos” by Jennet Conant. Yes, we all know about the Manhattan Project and creation of the atomic bomb near the end of WWII, and Oppenheimer’s role in that momentous feat. But this book dwells as much on the people who worked for and with him as it does on him. What many don’t know is that Los Alamos was created de novo in the middle of the desert just for the purpose of sequestering thousands of men, women, and children while they worked on creating “the bomb.” It’s a fascinating story of the lives and work of these individuals, their leader, and the woman who ran the entire operation as a small city from the people perspective. To read a full description, go to the Simon and Schuster website. Another absolutely fascinating read!
“Spymaster” by Martin Pearce. “This is the life story of Britain’s most decorated Cold War spy and head of MI6, Sir Maurice Oldfield.” A fascinating look inside one country’s secret intelligence service, its machinations during the Cold War, and the figure who oversaw that agency’s activities, not the least of which was Britain’s involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Written by his nephew and based on extensive document research, one can’t help wondering if Oldfield was the inspiration behind Ian Fleming’s enigmatic character “M” in his James Bond book series!
“Double Cross” by Ben Macintyre. The amazing and spellbinding story of Operation Fortitude and the spies and double agents who successfully deceived the Nazis and tricked them into believing that the Allied attacks would come in Calais and Norway rather than Normandy, a key factor in the mission’s success.
“Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President” by Candice Millard. The little-known story behind the assassination of President James Garfield, and the role that medicine and science played in his death. “A staggering tale. . . . Millard digs deeply into the turmoil that got James A. Garfield elected, the lunacy that got him shot and the medical malfeasance that turned a minor wound into a mortal one.”(Amazon review by Janet Maslin)
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot documents the life of the woman who developed cervical cancer in the 1950’s and who’s cancer cells, later named HeLa, were used to develop breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, but were used without her permission or knowledge. It is a moving story which highlights a significant success in scientific research and medical treatment, but at the same time sheds a bright light on issues of race, class, gender, bioethics, and whether patients should control or have financial claims on tissue removed from their bodies. (Amazon reviews by Denise, NY Times, and Seed Magazine.)
“Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America” by Beth Macy is a definitive and tragic account of America’s opioid epidemic that “masterfully interlaces stories of communities in crisis with dark histories of corporate greed and regulatory indifference.”(New York Times) Macy takes us into the epicenter of a national drama that unfolded over two decades. From the labs and marketing departments of big pharma to local doctor’s offices; wealthy suburbs to distressed small communities in Central Appalachia; from distant cities to once-idyllic farm towns; the spread of opioid addiction follows a tortuous trajectory that illustrates how this crisis has persisted for so long and become so firmly entrenched. (Amazon review). The stories of those individuals followed in this book are nothing short of heartbreaking.
“Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande, MD. A practicing surgeon and professor at Harvard Medical School, Gawande exposes the limitations and failures of the medical profession and our society as a whole in managing the aging and dying process. He astutely identifies the societal differences between American culture and that of many European countries in dealing with aging as life draws to a close. In that respect, he points the way towards changes that can make the ultimate goal not a good death, but a good life―all the way to the very end. I personally consider this a must read for everyone involved in health care, but also an invaluable and thought-provoking treatise for us all as we and our family members move through this journey.
So that’s it for Part 2 of my Reflections on Readings. I hope you consider some of these for your reading list. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
My Blog Posts will be pretty thin over the next several months as I will be devoting my writing time to my second novel. However, I will use this newsletter format to keep you advised of my progress on that project. Be sure to let your friends know so they can subscribe to the newsletter on my website – tonysclama.com
Before I go, I’d like to wish all of you a most wonderful and peaceful holiday season.
And speaking of which, if you have any last-minute gifts to get for family. friends, or work colleagues, why not consider providing them a thrilling reading experience with a signed and personalized copy of WRONGFUL ACTS. How, you may ask? Here’s how:
1. Order your copies from my local book store, Bethany Beach Books, by calling: (302) 539-2522
2. Provide them with the name I should use to personalize each copy, and the address each copy should be sent to separately or all to you – your choice.
3. Email the same information to me – tsclama@gmail.com – as soon as you finalize your order with them.
4. I will then go to the bookstore to personalize and sign each copy, which they will mail out to the individuals separately (or all to you if you prefer).
5. One caveat: The bookstore will need to have your order no later than December 21 to process it with my signature.
6. You give them the gift wrapped book.
7. They stay up all night reading the book. (ha-ha!)
Seriously, if they like suspense and thriller novels they will hopefully enjoy WRONGFUL ACTS.
Again, Happy Holidays and New Year, and I’ll keep you updated with my newsletter.
Tony