Abbott, Karen Sin in the Second City: madams, ministers, playboys and the battle for America's soul Following the history of brothels in Chicago at the turn of the last century, this book explores mores, morals and politics, and the particular story of the red light Levee district and the classiest, most notorious brothel of them all, the Everleigh Club, run by two charismatic sisters with a mysterious past.
Cohan, Tony On Mexican Time A bit cool and over-carefully crafted for my taste, but fun to catch even a careful glimpse of familiar Mexican moments: the rooftop dogs, the jicama in cups, the street festivals.
Glass, Ira (ed.) The New Kings of Nonfiction - really absorbing essays. I was especially intrigued by: "Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg" by Malcolm Gladwell about those people who seem to know everyone, and how crucial they are to the fabric of community; "Among the Thugs" by Bill Buford about British football fan/hooligans; "Host" by David Foster Wallace about the business and internal logic of right-wing talk radio; "Losing the War" by Lee Sandlin about WWII & how the memory of war fizzles out & the intricacies of strategy & luck (clarified WWII events for me for perhaps the first time); and Dan Savage's "My Republican Journey" about trying to change the anti-gay Repubs from within. "Tales of the Tyrant" by Mark Bowden about Saddam Hussein was also illuminating.
Lewis, Michael The Blind Side Totally fascinating. Two stories: one about the development of the passing game in football, leading to quarterback sacks, usually by the pass rusher, leading to the increasing importance of the left tackle who guards the QB’s blind side. The other is the unlikely story of Michael Oher, a huge and athletically talented black kid (and a natural left tackle, even though he didn’t know it) who grew up destitute in the Memphis ghettos and through a weird series of events was essentially adopted by a rich white family.
Walls, Jeannette The Glass Castle Riveting memoir of four kids growing up drifting around the country with their nonconformist parents, who encouraged their talents and independence but also neglected them woefully in pursuit of painting and pleasure (Rose Mary) and drink (Rex).
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