Get out the (book) vote—10-19-2012
With the general election just a few weeks away, I thought it would be fun to see if our local candidates have time to read anything besides news stories, legal journals and public opinion articles. So I asked our legislative and mayoral candidates what they’ve read lately, hoping they’d share something they enjoyed just for fun or something that inspired them in some way. Take a look at a few titles that get their vote:
Hastings attorney Les Seiler said he enjoys reading biographies and autobiographies. Les is on the ballot to be elected to Nebraska’s District 33 Legislative seat. Among his recent reads is “Eisenhower: Soldier and President” written by acclaimed historian, Stephen Ambrose.
Ambrose draws upon extensive interviews with Eisenhower and other sources to bring to life a man and a country struggling with issues as diverse as civil rights, atomic weapons, communism and a new global role. Along the way, Ambrose follows the 34th President's relations with the people closest to him - Mamie, his son John, and Kay Summersby, as well as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon and other world leaders.
Hastings resident Butch Hughes, also in the running to represent the 33rd Nebraska Legislative District, endorses a book by a local author, Kay Hughes of Geneva. (Kay and Butch share the same last name but they are not related.)
"Searching For Stanley" is an inspirational story of her family's search for their relative, Stanley Dwyer, a B-17 pilot who didn't return home from World War II. The story, which was published earlier this year, is well told by Stanley’s niece, Kay, with comments throughout from her dad, Harold E. Dwyer who is Stanley's brother.
Butch noted that he’s drawn to stories of human nature and “Searching for Stanley” demonstrates how valuable close family ties and commitment to country can be.
Busy campaigning to be Hastings mayor, Emilio M. Lianes, reads mostly current events articles that focus on our community and the surrounding area. But he did share that one of his all-time favorite and most memorable reads is “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” by the French author some call the “father of science fiction,” Jules Verne. This sci-fi classic was written in 1869, yet along with adventures of a maverick inventor of the Nautilus, emerges a submarine more advanced than any of its time. An international success, the story inspired inventors around the world to work toward making such a vehicle a reality. Emilio urges science fiction fans to read the book, and if they read it in their youth, to read it again as an adult and discover more to the story than they originally believed.
Bidding for his second term as Hastings’ mayor, Vern Powers is an avid reader. He said he currently is reading three books, “The Last Man,” “Physics of the Impossible” and “Port Mortuary.”
“The Last Man” by P.T. Duetermann is an archaeological story set in Israel. Part historical thriller, part contemporary international intrigue and combat novel, its readers will be kept guessing with a plot filled with twists and turns.
“Physics of the Impossible” ponders topics ranging from telepathy to time travel. Renowned physicist and best selling author Michio Kaku shows how impossible things are happening every day.
Get ready for chief medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta’s, 18th appearance in bestselling crime writer Patricia Cornwell’s 2010 thriller, “Port Mortuary.” Scarpetta becomes involved with solving a couple of grisly cases that seem to be related.
Elect to read! Find these books and many more candidates for your reading bliss available at your public library. Some titles also are available in large print and audio formats.
