The Young Hitler I Knew - August "Gustl" Kubizek

The Young Hitler I Knew is by far the most engrossing book I have ever read about Hitler. Gustl Kubizek was a man in a position no one else had ever been - he was Hitler's best friend from age 15-19. In all likelihood, he was also the only real friend Hitler ever had. Kubizek chronicles his early years when he and Hitler attended the opera religiously. The two soon became inseparable.

Kubizek states their friendship worked so well because of his own gentle, pliant and wholly apolitical nature, plus his ability to listen patiently to long rants. In all likelihood this is true. Even in his youth, Hitler made wild impassioned speeches, often hours long, and any topic that grabbed him. His "dear friend Gustl" was at Hitler's side throughout his decision to leave school, attempts to get into the art and architecture schools in Vienna, the death of his beloved mother and his rapid descent into poverty.

Every page brings another bizarre mental image- Hitler in a dirty apron cleaning the kitchen as his mother dies; Hitler watching his one true love, a woman he never once spoke to but dreamed of for 4 years; HItler drawing and sketching compulsively. Kubizek seems in part awed and a tiny bit amused by his friend and his grandiose ideas and impassioned rants. He recalls watching the inner battle of his friend as he debates whether to join Gustl in the music conservatory cafeteria, where Kubizek could get him cheap food. To sit with Jews (many of which are friends of Kubizek's) or to pass up the opportunity to eat nut cake.

There are some truly eerie moments in Kubizek's account. He recalls his friend making a sketch of a new bridge through their hometown Linz, which would replace the wrought-iron Victorian mess currently there. Thirty years later, the bridge was build from plans Hitler still carried in his head. It was shockingly accurate to the sketches Hitler drew up at fifteen.

Recounting his friends misery over money, the loss of both his parents within 2 years and his inability to attend architecture school, I got drawn in and automatically felt sympathy. The poor guy, what a life... But since it is a rags to riches book, I knew he would make it in the end, prevail, and - Holy Hell! - kill everyone who contradicted him!

Kubizek lost track of his friend at 19, and could have ended his book there. The final chapter is probably the most shocking - or at least was to the writer. On a whim, he wrote a letter to his old friend, now Chancellor of the Reich, essentially saying "Howdy hey." Days later he is ushered through layers of bureaucrats and guards to meet with his old friend. The two talked for hours, Hitler seeming no different than he had as a boy. Kubizek makes a concerted effort not to make any comments about things his friend promised him as a boy, knowing that with a word a great mansion would be built or he would be conducting a famous orchestra. Throughout the war, the retired conductor and small-town bureaucrat, meets with Hitler to talk as old friends. Hitler assures him all the drawings and letters (reprinted in the book) the Kubizek retains are his to do with as he wishes.

At the end of the war, Kubizek is taken into custody by the allies. He is asked why he never took the opportunity to kill HItler when he was alone with him. "Because he was my friend."

The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro

Yah, another Laurie Notaro book! If you haven't read Notaro's collections of short essays or her novel There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell get a copy in preparation of the long dark winter. No matter how embarrassing or awful the situation, Notaro makes the whole thing screamingly funny. From laser hair removal that causes her to make wounded hippo sounds to chasing someone in a Prius while having a tantrum, anything in her life is fair game. The woman is just flat out funny and fabulous.

The Year of Yes - Maria Dahvana Headley

I'm not sure what made me pick this book up. Like the musical Avenue Q, it is on the surface remarkably funny - chock full of those embrassing/funny stories that happen to frequently. However, once you look through the veneer of humor Headley's story is both sad and, at times, pathetic. Tired of dating losers and feeling like all of her life is a big "no" Headley decides to start saying "yes" to any man that asks her out (barring a few things like being married or dangerous). She chronicles her dates. Most are awful, many are shocking and a few are sweet and wonderful. I'm not entirely sure this book would bring solace or advice for someone looking for love - perhaps just a reality check on what sort of men are out there and how truly unpredictable people are.

Maxed Out - James Scurlock

Wowza, talk about a 21st century Cassandra! Written as a companion to his movie, Maxed Out, Scurlock includes the stories and data too complex for the big screen. Published in 2007 the book was written in '05 and '06. Scurlock saw the storm clouds of predatory lending, easy credit and bankruptcy gathering. His interviews are often sickening. People with mental retardation being coerced into signing up for credit cards, then losing their city-provided housing; out-of-control spending hidden from the families and ending with suicide; collection agencies and their tactics. It is all here. Scurlock interviews those being beaten down by heir debt and those trying to stop the tactics of the credit card and loan companies. His book makes everyone but a few huge banks powerless nobodies. Scary and awful.

Stuff White People Like - Christian Lander

Oh. My. God. I am so white. I mean, this shouldn't be a surprise, seeing as you can see my veins in face during winter, but damn. We had the great pleasure of seeing Lander talk at the WI Book Festival a few weeks ago. He seemed awed and overwhelmed by his journey. His blog http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com started in January as a joke. Yes, Jan '08. By Feb. he had a book deal and by July he was NY Times bestseller. And why? His lethally accurate snark.

What do white people like? We like brunch, dogs, wearing scarves, chunky glasses, ethnic food and riding bicycles. We also like knowing what is best for poor people, changing our religions, living abroad, threatening to move to Canada and trying to shame people who are inside on nice days. We like Barack Obama b/c if we didn't people would think we were racist. With laser-like accuracy Lander pounces on so many of the most cherished beliefs middle-class liberal, educated white people* have. Mostly hilarious, but with plenty of uneasy undertones. Yes, we are hypocrites but I link to think that we are at least guilt-fueled, well-meaning hypocrites.

On a side note, as he signed my book I asked Lander how my Dad could be so "white" (based on his categories) and still be so Republican he defends Nixon. Lander looked perplexed then finally said "He's being ironic." Ahhhhhh, now I see.

* Good white people, not those OTHER white people.

Do Everything Better (Urawaza) - Lisa Katayama

Urawaza is a secret or trick to do things better - life-hacking. This collection of Urawaza offers a myriad of ideas to fix and do things in a cheap and easy way - often as alternatives to a more standard way. For instance, have glass all over the floor? Don't try to sweep or mop it up, but use a piece of soft bread to gently lift up the shards. Other tips are equally practical. Cat scratching your table legs? Wrap them in rope. Candle wax in the carpet? Use layers of paper and an iron to soak the wax out. Others seem a bit more iffy. I doubt I'll stick scallions up my nose to clear congestion, nor do I think I will rub white shoe-polish on poison ivy, Fun read, fun ideas.