Book Review- Ben Coates' Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands

On my fall trip to Europe, I spotted Ben Coates’ Why the Dutch are Different at a Waterstones Bookshop in London. Just a few days later, I would be traveling with my husband via Eurostar to Amsterdam, so I thought this would be the perfect book for the second half of my trip. I even started reading it on our train journey.

If you are traveling to the Netherlands or interested in the Netherlands, Coates’ book is a fantastic dive into the history and culture of the country. I think many people know about the tulip craze in the Netherlands, but I had no idea that the Netherlands was the world’s first financial center and had the world’s first stock market. I even visited the financial area on my recent trip.

I suspect that many people have the notion that the Netherlands, specifically the city of Amsterdam, is just one big hedonistic party, but Coates explains how this image is not accurate. He shares the Dutch view of the concept of tolerance, which should not be confused for acceptance or even mean that certain behaviors are legal. For example, many tourists mistakenly believe that marijuana is legal in Amsterdam, but it is not. It is tolerated. Meaning, you can buy it at certain coffee shops and consume it specific areas, and generally, the police will turn a blind-eye to the situation, even though, technically, it is illegal. Historically, this has also been the case for prostitution, however, recent legal changes have been made to legitimize sex workers.

In the past, the concept of tolerance has also been used for religion, for example, when protestants were the dominate religious group. and it was illegal to practice catholicism. I went on a walking tour of Amsterdam, where a hidden catholic church was pointed out and we were told that in the 1600’s, catholics would attend mass here. There was a pretense of secrecy, although the hidden church was well-known amongst local protestants and tolerated, as long as the pretense of secrecy was maintained.

Coates explains the Netherland’s unique geographical position and the use of windmills to pump water and reclaim land. He explores the diverse cultures and religions that coexist in the country, including the influence of the Netherland’s former colonies. On my first trip to the Netherlands, I learned that Surinam was a former colony. People from former colony were given the choice to immigrate to the Netherlands, so today, there is a vibrant Surinamese community. On my first trip to Amsterdam, I went on a food tour and we visited a Surinamese sandwich shop. The flavors were nothing like I had ever tasted and absolutely delicious.

These are just a few of the topics that Coates explores in Why the Dutch are Different. The Netherlands is a unique country that has made a big impact on the larger world. It’s fascinating to see how the Dutch have handled changes within their culture and with their landscape, both through the centuries and in the present day.

Book Review- James Reginato's Growing Up Getty: The Story of America's Most Unconventional Dynasty

Thank you to LibroFM and Simon and Schuster Audio for a copy of James Reginato’s Growing Up Getty: The Story of America’s Most Unconventional Dynasty.

Growing up in Southern California, the Getty name was part of my landscape. I went from visiting their incredible namesake museums to having a huge preteen crush on Balthazar Getty, who is just a few years older than me. I couldn’t help but be drawn to Reginato’s Growing up Getty, and I was not disappointed.

Reginato explores the humble beginnings of the Getty dynasty, which really came to fruition through the shrewd oil investments of J. Paul Getty in the early 1900’s. His father, who was also very financially successful, gave J. Paul Getty money for his initial investments, which he in turn, grew substantially. As much as J. Paul is known for his wealth, he is also known for his five marriages. J. Paul had five sons. Reginato explores these children and their off-spring, showing how each member of the Getty family has contributed to the Getty legacy.

I learned that many members of the Getty family are quite reserved and although they have contributed money, time, and ideas to better society, they have kept out of the limelight. Of those who have been in the public eye, Balthazar is famous for his acting career and youthful bad-boy behavior, and John Paul Getty III, is famous for having been kidnapped and held for ransom. The story of the kidnapping was made into a recent film starring Michelle Williams called, All the Money in the World. Reginato’s discussion of the kidnapping attempts to refute the popular mythology that J.Paul Getty was so miserly, that he coldly refused to pay the ransom. Reginato pitches an alternative scenario, where Getty is hampered by his money, power, and fame, making it a difficult decision to cave to the kidnapper’s demands.

Reginato paints a picture of a complex family tree, with diverse interests and desires. Some are using their money to work on environmental issues, some have been sidelined by addiction problems, and some are trying to strike out on their own. Its begs the question of what would the reader do if their problems were more about how to handle a legacy, than how to financially survive? I found much to admire in many of the Gettys. I was fascinated by their family rituals and deep connections in the United Kingdoms. They live in a world that is so exclusive and elusive, that I enjoyed the glimpse that Reginato provided. A fun and utterly enthralling read.

Book Review- Taylor Jenkins Reid's Carrie Soto is Back

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Carrie Soto is Back.

Retired tennis champion Carrie Soto decides to play another season when a younger player surpasses Carrie’s Grand Slam record. In her mid-thirties and having not played professionally in years, Carrie fears that she will not only lose her Grand Slam record, but also face ridicule for trying. Carrie must fight to get back into physical and mental shape, primarily battling her own pride. Carrie must not only be better than the other players, but exceed the player she was in her youth. The public loves a good comeback story, but Carrie was also a polarizing figure, a ruthless player dubbed “The Battle- Axe,” who never develop a warmth within the tennis community.

On her side, she has her father, Javier, who is both a demanding coach and loving parent. To aid in her training, Carrie practices with fellow player and former love interest, Bowe Huntly. Like Carrie, Bowe is an older tennis player who is struggling to remain on the circuit. Unlike Carrie, Bowe is a charismatic and likable player who has the love of the audience and commentators. As they improve their skills on the court, their early tension gives way to friendship and eventually romance.

I throughly enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back. I’ve read all of Reid’s recent books and this is my new favorite. Carrie Soto is a bad-ass who fights for what she wants and knows her value. She’s tough. She also very cold and private. She’s extremely guarded, making her a difficult person for many people to like. However, as this is a novel and we can dive into Carrie’s perspective, we get to see why she is so difficult. Carrie lost her mom at a young age, devastating their family and leaving Javier to focus on raising his daughter. Javier is a former tennis star and it is his great passion, one that he wanted to pass along to his daughter, who loves tennis, but also desperately wants to please her dad. As Carrie shows skill and promise towards a future in tennis, her world grows smaller, everything is about tennis and winning. Carrie does not develop normal social skills and doesn’t have a typical childhood.

Carrie’s comeback story is one of transformation. When she retires from tennis in her early thirties, she does not know who she is or how to move forward. Plunging back into tennis allows her to regain her bearings, but she also knows that it is not going to last forever, she is getting older and tennis is a young person’s sport. This last hurrah gives her time think about life beyond tennis and what that might mean for her. It’s a fantastic set up for a very satisfying character arc. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if Carrie regains her titles or fails, it only matters that Carrie can move on. I loved this story arc. The framing of the tennis matches keeps the story exciting, but the core is about personal growth.

The connection between Javier and Carrie is beautiful and emotional. I felt this was the true heart of the story, as we get to see how Carrie’s views of her relationship with Javier change with time and perspective. She is so consumed with tennis that she does not see that her father is always proud of her. When Carrie can resolve some of the conflicts she has had with her father and her childhood, she is allowed a sense of peace. It’s lovely.

I also liked the theme of not allowing age to stop you from chasing dreams. Both Carrie and Bowe are counted-out as potential tournament threats and they know that they might not be as quick as younger players, but they also know that they have muscle memory and skills that they can use to be competitive. The themes with Carrie and Bowe are two-fold: don’t let age stop you, but also know that your whole life is not defined by a single accomplishment. There is so much more to every person. This really resonated with me.

Carrie Soto is Back is a fabulous read! You do not need to know much about tennis to enjoy it, as it is well explained. Also, you do not need to have read Reid’s previous books, although Carrie does make an appearance in her previous novel, Malibu Rising. Reid always drops in mentions of characters from her other works, more as an Easter egg for fans. It’s a fun touch.