American Prometheus - The triumph and tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
“In the first decade of the twentieth century, science initiated a second American revolution. A nation on horseback was soon transformed by the internal combustion engine, manned flight, and a multitude of other inventions.
These technological innovations quickly changed the lives of ordinary men and women. But simultaneously an esoteric an esoteric band of scientists was creating an even more fundamental revolution.”
You've seen the movie, now read the book. Okay, the movie based on this book was called Oppenheimer, but you get the picture. And the movie, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy as the titular character, won a whole bunch of awards and collected zillions of dollars at the box office. It is three hours long but well worth the watch, as is this book. Oppenheimer is often called the father of the atomic bomb for his role in overseeing the development of the first nuclear weapons.
However, this book is much more than a look at the big bomb. The biography of Oppenheimer is nearly 600 pages long, with an additional slew of notes and references.
First published in 2005, the title won numerous prizes, including the 2006 Pulitzer Prize.
What's with the Prometheus reference? In Greek mythology, Prometheus defied the Olympian gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity. My copy is from Vintage Paperbacks.
A Death At The Party by Amy Stuart
“It takes some digging to locate a pulse. I catch a sudden sob in my throat then press two fingers into his jugular notch. It's faint, fluttery. He breathes, long gaps between sharp inhales. One of his hands clenches into a fist then relaxes. I pull my phone from the pockets of my silk jump suit and unlock it. My thumb twitches, hovering over the numbers. I won't dial. I won't call for help.”
Nadine Walsh is having a summer garden party. All is going well until Nadine finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement. And that's when the fun begins. Nadine's mystery tour begins with her deciding whether or not she even wants to call for help, and then takes on a twisty tour of swirling secrets and haunted memories.
The author lives in Toronto with her husband and their three sons, and first hit prominence with her best selling trio of Still books: Still Mine, Still Water, and Still Here. This story came out in 2023 from Simon and Schuster Canada. You can learn more at www.anystuart.ca
Murder Me Tomorrow by Keith Wright
“I do not know what second it will be, what minute it will be, what hour, or even day. But it will come. You may see it coming. You may not. Regardless, I can guarantee you: there will be a moment like no other when you will draw your last breath. Like it or lump it.”
In this book, which is the fifth in Wright's renowned Inspector Stark series, tells us of Paul Masters, family man, who awakes one morning to find his wife and daughter dead. He admits to the crime, but Inspector Stark and his team have their doubts. Then, another similar crime takes place. The game is afoot!
Author Wright brings his experience as a 25-year veteran of the Nottingham police department in central England's Midlands region to these gritty stories mostly set in the city's tough inner area. He should know. He was raised in a rough area of Nottingham and had an alcoholic father who left the family when Wright was 10.
He would usually stop in at the local library on his way home from school, which led him to discover the world of literature. After signing on with the “ coppers “ he was assigned to work the area where he had grown up, which meant that on occasion he had to arrest some of his old school chums.
For all the details on Keith Wright's life and how to obtain his self-published books click over to www.keithwrightauthor.co. Yes, .co. Because it is England. To hear the author's tale in his own voice go to our and search for the talking books and stuff's podcast under Headlines on the far right. Mr. Wright is episode 157. Don't go to the podcast section because that link is broken. Sob.
