Dune Messiah / Frank Herbert / 256 p.

Dune Messiah is the 2nd novel in the Dune Chronicles series.  The first novel left the reader feeling that the Atreides were perhaps the only family with morality or basic decency in the entire empire.  This book immediately calls that belief into question.  The dreaded jihad has begun and hundreds of thousands have been killed in the name of Muad'Dib - the name Paul Atreides chose for himself when he meets the Fremen in Dune.


Dune Messiah focuses on the feelings of Paul as he is caught up in his own legend and forces beyond his control.  As the empire aligns against him, can he forge a path for himself and Chani that enables them to live peaceful lives and raise children?

Dune / Frank Herbert / 412 p.

This sci-fi epic novel includes treachery and politics, love and loss, novel inventions and familiar motivations.  Having seen the 1984 movie several times, I found this novel comfortingly familiar.  The harsh desert planet of Aracus is all-encompassing, ever-present, and water always in the thoughts of its people.  The members of the House of Atreides seem to be the only honorable people in the entire universe created in Herbert's novel.  The Harkenons are a scheming people only after power and willing to do anything to get it.  The emperor plots to have any dissenters killed.  Meanwhile Duke Leto, Lady Jessica, and their son Paul have loving relationships and the respect of their people.  Unfortunately the schemes of the larger court are determined to unseat them from the newly acquired fief of Aracus.  Has Jessica's teachings prepared her son for the challenges that await him?  Will they be able to hold this fief and give its people the paradise so long prayed for? 




Dune is the first in the Dune Chronicles series.  The next book in the series is Dune Messiah.

Settle For More / Megyn Kelly / 352 pgs

I have dying to read this book ever since I heard that it was coming out. I've been a long time fan of Megyn Kelly's because I perceived her as being one of the most independent journalists on the FOX News Channel.  I've seen her interview tons of people on various shows she has been on, and she doesn't suffer fools gladly. When Donald Trump started going after her last year, I was impressed on how she handled herself. At the same time, I was curious as to her actual political views since the liberals like to accuse her of being conservative and many conservatives like to accuse her of being liberal. To me, that seemed to mark someone who was really good at staying independent.

Her autobiography details her life growing up, her time in college, life as a lawyer, her two marriages, and learning to be a mommy. The language at first seemed stilted, like someone who is more used to writing legal reports than personal narratives, but it seemed to improve as she went along. In her book, Ms. Kelly explains that she was bullied in middle school, but as fickle kids' cliques go, she quickly went from being ostracized by classmates to becoming popular. She applied that lesson when Trump started bullying her last year. Besides talking about Trump, she addresses the issues with Roger Ailes and Gretchen Carlson. At times she names names, but often she doesn't, likely because she still works with the people on FOX, and doesn't want to embarrass them or herself.

I recommend the book for those who are fans of Megyn Kelly or would like to know more about what she calls "The Year of Trump."

Flyover Nation: You Can't Run a Country You've Never Been To / Dana Loesch / 256 pgs

In her second book, St. Louis-raised TV and radio political pundit Dana Loesch, explains how politicians on the coasts have no clue how to run a country they've never really visited or understood. Flyover Nation consists of all of those states in the middle of the country, including Missouri. The values and lifestyles of these Flyover States are completely different than the states on the coasts. Mrs. Loesch takes aim not at just one political party, but at both Democrats and Republicans, accusing both of betraying the nation's citizens.

Dana Loesch, raised both in the southern area of Missouri and in St. Louis, married and started a family in St. Louis before starting the Tea Party in the St. Louis area. After starting on 97.1 FM with a radio show, Glenn Beck hired her for his Blaze network and she moved her family down to Dallas, where she now lives and works. Her radio show has about 80 affiliates across the country.

Hillary:the Other Woman/ Dolly Kyle/ 304 pages

Hillary: the Other Woman is the first nonfiction book written by Dolly Kyle.  The bulk of the book is written in a conversation-like style and deals with Dolly's relationship with Bill Clinton.  There is little content supported by outside corroboration.  There is very little information about Hillary, and what is presented is subjective in nature regarding choice of clothing and hairstyle.  Dolly is quick to point out Bill's failures, but does not see herself and a partner in crime.  The book does present insight into the attitudes of Arkansas politics and if Dolly is to believed, those closely reflect the Chicago 'machine' of the senior Daley years.  Perhaps Hillary fit in better in Little Rock than what Dolly would believe.  There is probably some truth to what is written, but little substance to back up the claims.

Crippled America / Donald Trump / 193 pgs

As promised, I've finished reading the other current book by a presidential candidate. This is a short one and I was easily able to finish it in less than 48 hours. As before, I am not going to give you my opinion on the book or its author, and rather just post what the book is about.

Essentially, Crippled America is a campaign manifesto, published just this past November, months after Trump announced his candidacy and even after the first two televised debates took place. Therefore, Trump is able to give his take on how the first few months of the presidential campaign is shaping up. His chapters deal with the media, his views on immigration reform, health care reform, tax reform, education reform, the military and ISIS, and the economy as a whole. He includes pictures of himself growing up and many of his Trump Towers and other holdings, but this isn't an autobiography, unlike Cruz's A Time for Truth. So, if you are looking for Trump's views on politics, this is a starting point, but if you want an autobiography, you probably need to find his The Art of the Deal which I have yet to read myself.

A Time for Truth : Reigniting the Promise of America / Ted Cruz / 400 pgs

I actually read Cruz's auto-biography earlier this year, but I wanted to wait until he was out of the race before posting this. I am looking towards reading a Donald Trump book next, and then either a Sanders or Clinton (or both) book later this year. I am going to only post a summary without political commentary.

In his book, Cruz details the lives of both of his parents before Cruz was born. He then moves on to his own childhood. Cruz talks about how he changed his mind from pursuing a career in computer science (the profession of both of his parents) to law when he was in high school. After going to school at Princeton and Harvard, Cruz talks about his early career, his campaigning for George W. Bush in 2000, which is where he met his wife, Heidi, and his time as a solicitor general of Texas. The second half of the book is about his senate campaign in 2012, what he has done in the Senate since he was sworn into office in early 2013, and then ends with his vision for America in the future.