January 20, 2025

This Monday marks the inauguration of one of the most controversial presidents in U.S. history to a second term. Some of my friends are thrilled. And some are in dread. Personally, I’ve accepted that this is the president the majority of our voting populace chose. I sincerely hope we will be as pleased with our choice in two or four years. As a reader of presidential history, I find this rarely to be the case,

Monday is also the day we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. One of his close associates was John Lewis, who was bludgeoned at Selma, and went on to serve in Congress. David Greenberg’s John Lewis: A Life sits on my “to read” pile and I look forward to reading it this winter. John Lewis lived as a man of faith-inspired hope and grit who never stopped getting into “good trouble.” And he never stopped striving toward the “liberty and justice for all” that expresses one of our loftiest ideals, often unrealized. But he never gave up and I think he is a model for our times.

Finally, Monday night is the College Football championship game. Living in the heart of Ohio State Buckeye country, you must know I bleed scarlet and gray. I have championship ballcaps from 2002 and 2014 and think it time for a “hat trick.” Actually, it will be a hat trick of hat tricks for whoever wins–the ninth championship for the victor. Only Alabama has more at fourteen. I hope for a good game. Marcus Freeman, the Notre Dame coach who has done amazing things with their program, is a Buckeye alumnus. All in all, it will be a packed Monday, especially if Ohio State lofts that championship trophy at the end of the evening.

Five Articles Worth Reading

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban on Tik-Tok if it was not sold by its Chinese company to an American buyer. This has big ramifications for publishers and authors and social media influencers. “Publishers and Authors Wonder: Can Anything Replace BookTok?” explores these consequences and the alternatives to which this triad may pivot.

The Millions has become known for its book previews. Their “Most Anticipated: The Great Winter 2025 Preview” went up this week. They pick 90 books coming out over the next three months by both recognized and new authors that you may consider,

One of the books in that preview is Nobel Prize author Han Kang’s latest, We Do Not Part. which drops next Tuesday. In “Where Han Kang’s Nightmares Come From,” Judith Shulevitz explores the dark history behind her novels, and how other countries are implicated in that history.

Another book in The Millions preview is Zora Neale Hurston’s The Life of Herod the Great, which dropped this month. Ellen Wexler explores “Why Was Zora Neale Hurston So Obsessed With the Biblical Villain Herod the Great?” for The Smithsonian.

Finally. most of us associate Hannah Arendt with her trenchant thought and formidable prose. But did you know she was a poet, as well? “For the Love of the Word” introduces us to Hannah Arendt, the poet.

Quote of the Week

Robert W. Service was born on January 16, 1874. He made this statement which is an inspiration to this plodder:

“It’s the steady, quiet, plodding ones who win in the lifelong race.”

Miscellaneous Musings

It’s interesting how different readers react to the same book. I reviewed (and loved) Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake finding myself drawn into the story and its setting. Several other readers just couldn’t get into it, despite listening to Meryl Streep’s narration. I wonder if my reaction might have been different if I listened to it on audiobook. Or perhaps it’s just that no book will appeal to everyone. Probably a good reason not to read what others say you “should” read if you can’t get into it.

I also reviewed Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, a book written about the relationship of two game developers. I was not sure I would get into it–not my world–but loved the mix of characters as well as the idea behind the title. A very different book from Tom Lake, and Zevin is a very different writer from Patchett. Isn’t that the delight of books?

Two books I’m reading make me wonder why some writers make their ideas more incomprehensible than needed while others can explain complicated things simply. I suspect audience and convention are two factors. But I admire those who arrive at “the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” I suspect part of the process is living with material long enough to reach that clarity. I wonder if, in our ‘hurry up” society, we lose that clarity and incisiveness.

Next Week’s Reviews

Monday: Chad Brand & Tom Pratt, Seeking the City

Tuesday: Tom Steyer, Cheaper, Faster, Better

Wednesday, Margery Allingham, The mind Readers

Thursday: Jeffrey F. Keuss, ed., Defiant Hope, Active Love

Friday: Joonas Sildre, Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt’s journey to His Musical Language

Well, that’s The Weekly Wrap for January 12-18, 2025!

Find past editions of The Weekly Wrap under The Weekly Wrap heading on this page.