Month: August 2021
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Book review: Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman
Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a fascinating book about the history of Israeli intelligence and policies of targeted assassinations. The author is an Israeli investigative reporter, and the book is written originally in Hebrew. The translation is excellent,…
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Graduation 2021 and Hawaii
Two joyous events, especially in a year like this one. In mid-June, we celebrated our daughter’s graduation from Stanford (total brag: she graduated with a degree in math, with distinction, and phi beta kappa). The graduation was a limited in-person event (two fully vaccinated guests per student). Issa Rae was the graduation speaker, and she…
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Book review: Cleopatra’s Heir by Gillian Bradshaw
Cleopatra’s Heir by Gillian Bradshaw My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve enjoyed Gillian Bradshaw’s historical fiction for many many years. This book has an interesting premise: if Cleopatra and Julius Caesar’s son survived after Cleopatra’s defeat and death, what might have happened to him? Would he have tried to take his throne back? Would…