The One with Resolve

259. Title & Author: Resolve: From the Jungles of WWII Bataan, the Epic Story of a Soldier, a Flag, and a Promise Kept by Bob Welch (302 pages) 

Genre: Nonfiction—Biography & Military 

Completed: 13 May 2013 

Summary & Review: 

When Second Lieutent Clay Conner, Jr. left for the Philippines in 1941, he expected easy duty as an army communications officer. While the war in Europe was the focus of the country’s attention, the war in the Pacific was still a specter the many thought would never happen. But, after the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the US Armed Forces in the Philippines were caught off guard and the island of Luzon was invaded 22 December. Of the thousands of US soliders left on Luzon after it fell, less than 1 in 300 elected to escape into the jungle rather than enter a POW camp. Conner was one of those who fled into the wild, untamed jungles and mountains of the Bataan peninsula. Over the course of more than two years, Conner battled disease, depression, and a ruthless Japanese enemy to survive and see the return of General MacArthur and US Troops.

There were a lot of things I really liked about this book. The story itself was pretty incredible. Plus, it was about the Philippines and World War II, two of my major interests. But, Bob Welch seemed at times more intent on bashing US occupation of the Philippines and America’s treatment of Filipinos, than telling Conner’s story. Maybe that was a reflection of Conner himself, who seemed pretty self-righteous in his journal entries. But, in this era of multicultural brainwashing, that is to be expected. Anglosphere cultures are bad and evil, while native cultures are peaceful and wonderful. Welch even said that about the Negritos (the indigenous peoples of the Philippines) that they were “peace-loving.” Then, he goes on to tell stories of these tribes constantly warring among each other.

Also, the theme of the evils of colonialism was a little tired. I lived in the Philippines for two years, and that country has some serious problems. From Conner’s descriptions of Manila during the years just before the war, it doesn’t necessarily seem like things have gotten better for the Philippines post-US occupation.

But, I did fly through the book because underneath the liberal preaching, there was an incredible story of survival and courage.

Rating: 7.0

The One with Children of the Mind

258. Title & Author: Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card (370 pages)

Genre: Fiction—Science Fiction 

Completed: 10 May 2013 

Summary & Review: 

With the Starways Congress fleet bearing down on the colonized planet of Lusitania ready to deploy the ultimate weapon, the MD device, Ender and his family and friends must find a way to save the three sentient species on their planet. With the help of Jane, the disembodied intelligence living on the philotic web of ansibles, they begin shuttling people, pequeninos, and buggers off the planet to new colonizable worlds using instantaneous star flight. Ender, however, left with his soul fractured into three parts after the first trip Outside, must use his new selves to convince Starways Congress of the error of their decision, find the source planet of the deadly descolada virus, and salvage his broken relationship with his wife. But, with his soul split into three competing bodies, Ender cannot hold on to all three lives at the same time. Something must give. 

This is the fourth and final book in the original Ender Quartet, and unless you’ve read the previous three, that plot summary probably doesn’t make much sense. Looking back, it is amazing how far the series has come since Ender’s Game. I really enjoyed this last entry in the quartet. It was still a pretty philosophical novel, but contained a lot more action than Speaker for the Dead or Xenocide. As always, Card’s prose was insightful and powerful. 

Orson Scott Card has done just an excellent job creating a coherent future universe for these stories to take place within. I remember talking with my father-in-law about why he loves The Lord of the Rings Trilogy but is not a big fan of the Harry Potter series. He felt like J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a world as if this place actually existed and he had visited it, but J.K. Rowling just made up things in her world as she went along and when they were convenient for the story. Card has done what Tolkien did. He created a world so thoroughly that nothing felt forced or contrived. Rather, it seemed completely natural and believable which greatly contributed to the stories taking place within that world. 

Rating: 8.5

The One with Tiny Lies

257. Title & Author: Tiny Lies by James Lileks (147 pages)

Genre: Nonfiction—Commentary & Humor 

Completed: 30 April 2013 

Summary & Review:

Commentator James Lileks offers pithy commentary on a collection of print advertisements spanning the late 1800s through the 1950s. Lileks explores the amazing cure-alls, magic rings, love potions, and other quackery offered to credulous patrons with his trademark humor and wit. 

First of all, I really like the writing style of Lileks. He has a regular column in National Review that is usually one of my favorite things to read in the magazine. He is very cleaver with his turns of phrase and that makes for entertaining reading. Plus, these ads were hilarious. I would be interested in learning how many of these businesses, services, and products offered in these advertisements were successful because they all so clearly screamed fraud. Then again, a lot of them were nearly identical in style, phrasing, and promises to many of the ads you see on web sites today. For example, a lot of the ads would use the words “weird” or “strange,” and I seem to see that in tons of internet ads, things like “Learn this one weird trick for burning fat fast!” The more things change… 

Rating: 6.5

The One with Hope

256. Title & Author: Hope by President Ezra Taft Benson, President Gordon B. Hinckley, President Marion G. Romney, President Howard W. Hunter, and Elders Marvin J. Ashton, James E. Faust, Russell M. Nelson, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Paul H. Dunn, John H. Groberg, Derek A. Cuthbert, J. Richard Clarke, L. Tom Perry, Neal A. Maxwell, M. Russell Ballard, Dean L. Larsen, Robert L. Backman, Gene R. Cook, Robert E. Wells, and Jack H. Goaslind (217 pages)

Genre: Nonfiction—Religion & LDS 

Completed: 29 April 2013 

Summary & Review: 

A collection of talks and sermons from twenty-one General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is presented in this volume. Each General Authority presents his words of wisdom and inspiration on the subject of hope. No matter what the cause of despair—be it ill-health, stress, family troubles, personal mistakes, &c.—a chapter in this book addresses it and provides comfort and, of course, hope. 

I read the majority of this book during the week leading up to my taking the WREBs, a dental exam necessary for licensure. I was incredibly stressed about this test, more so than I have been for any other test I can remember, even the DAT. I think it was very serendipitous that I happened to be reading this during that time because many of the authors provided valuable advice and calming words that helped me stay relatively calm and hopeful. 

In addition, I really enjoyed the chance to read chapters written by many General Authorities that I wasn’t previously familiar with. While many of the authors are still alive and I get to hear speak regularly, e.g. Elder Nelson and Elder Ballard, others have passed so this was a great chance to get to read some of their timeless words.

Rating: 8.5

The One with Seeing Calvin Coolidge in a Dream

255. Title & Author: Seeing Calvin Coolidge in a Dream by John Derbyshire (273 pages) 

Genre: Fiction—Novel 

Completed: 18 April 2013 

Summary & Review: 

What is a simple tale of love and love lost provides insight into both Chinese and American history. Chai grew up as a peasant in China and experienced all the terrors of the Communist regime driving him to brave the open ocean in a desperate swim to Hong Kong. Eventually, Chai is able to secure employment in New York, marries a wonderful woman, and becomes a father. Yet, even after two decades, the love he lost in Hong Kong still haunts him, until the wisdom of Calvin Coolidge rights his mind. 

I really liked a lot about this book. The character Chai’s backstory was fascinating and provided a lot of insight into the difficulties, struggles, and horrors of the Chinese living through the tumultuous twentieth century. Additionally, a major part of the book revolves around Chai’s fascination with the thirtieth president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, so there was a lot of information about him which added a lot to the book. The structure of the story jumped back and forth between flashbacks and the present which kept the pace of the book moving quickly. 

Rating: 7.5

The One with Dental Board Busters: WREB

254. Title & Author: WREB: The Ultimate Study Guide for Conquering the Periodontal Assessment/Diagnosis and Prosthodontics Computer Simulation Examination published by Dental Board Busters (95 pages)

Genre: Nonfiction—Dentistry 

Completed: 8 April 2013 

Summary & Review: 

This book reviews the two portions of the CSW exam for the WREBs. The first half is a review of periodontics, largely focusing on diagnosis and terminology, while the second half of the book covers prosthodontics including removable and fixed. 

The perio portion of this book wasn’t very helpful since it didn’t contain any new information that I didn’t already have from the USC clinical perio manual. But, while taking the test, it turned out you didn’t need more information that what is included here and in the USC manual. The pros portion was fine. A little brief, but a good review as long as you already had a decent foundation in fixed and removable from other sources. 

Rating: 6.0

The One with the WREB Candidate Guide

253. Title & Author: 2013 Dental Exam Candidate Guide published by WREB (115 pages) 

Genre: Nonfiction—Dentistry

Completed: 4 April 2013 

Summary & Review: 

This book contains all the official preparation information for the Western Regional Examining Board licensing exam for dentists. Included are instructions and guidelines for the operative, periodontics, endodontics, treatment planning and assessment, and CSW exams. 

Yeah, I reviewed this. I did read every page, so… 

Rating: Depends on how well I do on the exam come the end of April.