100booksyearly's reviews
317 reviews

A book to cherish

The monstrous mega-prison Israel contemplated in 1963, and then built in 1967, is fifty years old as this book comes to a close. The third generation of inmates are still there waiting for the world to acknowledge their suffering and to realize that, as long as their oppression continues, it will be impossible to engage constructively with oppression elsewhere in the Middle East, and in particular in Syria. The immunity Israel has received over the last fifty years encourages others, regimes and oppositions alike, to believe that human and civil rights are irrelevant in the Middle East. The dismantling of the mega-prison in Palestine will send a different, and more hopeful, message to everyone living in this troubled part of the world.

A rich escapism experience, I loved the meticulously crafted world.

An excerpt drawn from the pages

“And those who urge entrepreneurs to never give up? Charlatans. Sometimes you have to give up. Sometimes knowing when to give up, when to try something else, is genius. Giving up doesn’t mean stopping. Don’t ever stop. 

Luck plays a big role. Yes, I’d like to publicly acknowledge the power of luck. Athletes get lucky, poets get lucky, businesses get lucky. Hard work is critical, a good team is essential, brains and determination are invaluable, but luck may decide the outcome. Some people might not call it luck. They might call it Tao, or Logos, or Jñāna, or Dharma. Or Spirit. Or God. 

Put it this way. The harder you work, the better your Tao. And since no one has ever adequately defined Tao, I now try to go regularly to mass. I would tell them: Have faith in yourself, but also have faith in faith. Not faith as others define it. Faith as you define it. Faith as faith defines itself in your heart.”

A captivating exploration of a young Kenyan woman, Soila, as she navigates the complexities of life in New York City. 

The novel delves into poignant conversations about racism, shedding light on the distinctive experiences of Africans and Black Americans, while also intertwining elements of African and Black American history.

Soila’s journey is deeply rooted in her Kenyan identity, incorporating Maasai traditions, struggles for independence from a controlling mother figure, and the challenges of balancing love and family expectations. 

Addressing themes of belief in God, independence, and the profound impact of the 9/11 tragedy, leading to a poignant exploration of grief and self-discovery.

A perfect and surprising ending. It takes us really deep into the secrets of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. At the same time, there’s this big game deciding the fate of the whole universe, making the story even more exciting and complicated.

…After Frank Herbert’s passing, his son, Brian Herbert, along with co-author Kevin J. Anderson, have continued the Dune saga with additional books.