Will's Good Idea for the Week of 8/31/25

Good Sunday Christian faithful and welcome to Stroock's Books. 

Wow, as we write this the temperature is a cold 47 degrees. Autumn has arrived early here in New Jersey. Ah...the last day of August. 

An excellent sports day at Casa d'Stroock as Mrs. Stroock's Nittany Lions walloped Nevada 46-11. Later in the day, Mrs. Stroock's Phillies beat the Braves 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th. 

Middle East news: The Israelis took out Hamas' spokes-terrorist, Abu Obeida. 

Middle East Jews: Yesterday Israeli high schoolers burned desks in a hostage deal protest. When we were in high school, we often wanted to set fire to our desk, books, etc etc. Good for them!

Middle East negotiation: Trump has some kookie ideas about what Gazans are capable of. Israel Hayom reports: 'A comprehensive postwar strategy for Gaza circulating among Trump administration officials, reflecting President Donald Trump's pledge to "take control" of the territory, would establish American trusteeship for a minimum decade while converting the area into a luxury tourism destination and advanced technology center.' When one thinks of an educated, high tech work force, one thinks of Gazans naturally. 

Middle East speculation: If Israel can assassinate Houthi leadership, then it can do the same to Iranian leadership, no? Exit question: how do the Houthis retaliate? 

Will's Good Idea for the Week of 8/31/25: We are still toying with the idea of breaking World War 1990: Thatcher's War into two novels. The idea leaves us with nothing but questions. The first novel would no longer be Thatcher's War. Then what would it be? Something else has to happen, but what? Might it just be easier to axe the 25,000 words we've written about Londonderry? Upon these ideas we shall dwell.