The Cold War: a new history by John Lewis Gaddis
This is a new history because of the addition of new knowledge from newly available Soviet sources and a history that can cover the Cold War from beginning to end with some excellent insights. Every section of every chapter contained information that made me think “really??? Wow!” I learned quite a lot reading this book and it was quite enjoyable doing so. Again, this stuff is dynamite. Five stars.

1984, Orwell
Gaddis’ book includes Orwell’s book in his discussion of the way the world looked to be divided up among totalitarian states in the late forties. Having that history in mind definitely added to my understanding of the book, but I also could see why it’s considered a classic: it did not seem dated or stilted in any way. It was historical and modern and a gripping read even though as a person immersed in my culture, I pretty much knew most of the Newspeak and how it was going to end. I did learn a new Newspeak term: Facecrime! Five stars.

Animal Farm, Orwell
Less amazing than 1984, but perhaps only because I knew the premise and that is mostly all there is to the book. Orwell does have some charming turns and turns of phrase, and overall I can see why the book is still read. I read it to prepare for Koba the Dread (see below, unless I don’t finish it this month). Four stars.

Koba the Dread: Laughter and the Twenty Million, Martin Amis
The last of my Soviet reading for a while, Amis does me the favor of reading a bookshelf full of firsthand accounts of Stalin’s life, rule, and atrocities. The book is searing, yet very well written (like being punched in the face very expertly). I had to take a few hours yesterday to finish it off, since reading a little bit every day was really dragging out the sad. Good summary, well structured, philosophy at the end linking it to people he knows (Christopher Hitchens and his dad Kingsley, especially). A great book that I don’t necessarily want to ever read again. Five stars.

Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze, Ellis
Global Frequency: Detonation Radio, Ellis
Excellent premises, excellent structure for an exciting adventure introducing new one-time-only heroes in each story. BUT the short format and new heroes in each means only minimal development of each character. Three stars.

Hello please!: very helpful and super Kawaii characters from Japan, Alt and Yoda
Not the characters made just to adorn your pencil case, but the more practical characters, like the Tokyo Police Department’s mascot, the character that informs you not to overload the dryer, and (my favorite) the winged kitty against government bribes. Very educational. Four stars.