I hadn't planned on posting any more additions to this blog this year and then something happened.
I spent some time today with people who got their presents early this year, and they were really into them. I started thinking about all the presents I've received over the years, and which ones stood out - which ones I still remember and still think about. Most of them were received on Christmas Day, but one was early and one was a little late. Here are the stand-outs, with the years I received them, as near as I can remember. (I can add this to this blog because there are at least 2 books listed.)
1.) 2008. Some people I didn't know donated their late son's organs and I received the heart. The gift of life. You can't beat that. (This was about a month early.)
2.) 1984. My daughter was born. She has brought joy to my life. (This one was a few days late, but well worth the wait.)
3.) Anything my daughter has ever given me. Specifically, in 2005 she gave me a DVD player, and in 2007 she gave me the gadget that allowed me to hook it up to my TV. (That was OK, because I didn't have any DVDs at the time anyway.)
4.) 1983. We had just moved into the house in New Jersey in July, and money was a little tight. And yet, for Christmas that year my wife (at the time) gave me the Annotated Sherlock Holmes. A 2 volume, hard cover edition in a slip case, written by William S. Baring-Gould one of the preeminent Sherlockian scholars. It detailed all the stories, using photographs, maps, and illustrations, had loads of details, and retailed, at the time, for $50.
5.) 1974 or 1975 (?). My mom gave me an autographed copy of John Huston's autobiography. We were both fans of Huston's work and this was a really wonderful surprise. (Thanks have to go to my cousin Anne, who was working at a book store in New York and got the copy for my mom.)
6.) 1960(?). A 2-foot long submarine from my folks. The top came off, revealing the various rooms within, and it came with scale-size navy crewmen and frogmen, and fired torpedoes and missiles.
There have been lots of gifts in lots of years, but these stand out because they touched me. For the most part, they showed that someone thought about me, and got a gift that showed how much they cared. Having given one of those early presents I mentioned at the beginning of this post, and really enjoying how much that person enjoyed the gift, I can only hope that the givers of the presents I've received have enjoyed my enjoyment.
I remember these gifts, and I remember the people who gave them to me. And I'm pretty sure I always will.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Chapter Fourteen
I've been thinking today about the two sides to things. This blog entry is the Start of my second blog-year, and it's the Last for the calendar year. Today is the 30th anniversary of the Death of John Lennon, and the Birth of my first grand-nephew Thomas Anthony. One door closes and another opens.
Anyway, on to this month's and a Special Mention at the end.
Series
Irresistible Impulse - Robert K. Tanenbaum ($6.99/$.50, 434 pages, copyright 1997, paper back)
This series revolves around Butch Karp, Manhattan DA; his wife Marlene Ciampi, private detective/one-woman army type; and their family, friends and associates as they work their way through various trials, crimes, and personal crises. This volume deals with a multiple-murder trial and a deadly stalker case that start out as separate issues but wind up connected. Usually, I enjoy these but this is one of the early ones, and I found it slow going. It was OK.
Golden Buddha - Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo ($15.00/$.50, 420 pages, copyright 2003, Trade Paperback)
This is billed as "The First Novel of the Oregon Files". The Oregon is a super-secret, high tech, private spy ship hidden inside a decrepit old cargo vessel and run by a group of mercenaries. This volume involves stealing a 600 pound golden statue of the Buddha and reinstating the Dalai Lama in Tibet. It's almost like reading the script for a Mission Impossible movie. (Do you ever wonder how the work is divided between the Big Name Writer and the little name one?) I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Cold Steel Rain - Kenneth Abel ($5.99/$.50, 368 pages, copyright 2000, paper back)
Here's a crime novel set in New Orleans. The main character is a one-time Assistant DA who now serves as a bag man for a hotshot politician. There are, of course, underlying motives. AND there are problems. The two main female characters are both in law enforcement and have similar names so it gets confusing. At least one character, who I thought was going to be a major one, disappears. And if your going to set a book in New Orleans it should feel like New Orleans. Here the only weather is rain, and it could be any other inner city. Didn't really like it.
Too Close to Home - Linwood Barclay ($7.99/$.50, 500 pages, copyright 2008, paper back)
The premise here is how the murder of the family next door, impacts the lives of the neighbor family. Information comes out way too slowly, including connections among characters, and personal secrets. Not a bad book, but too long. Barclay trails a lot of strings throughout, and does tie everything up neatly, but he could've cut out 50 pages or so. It was OK.
Great Books
It's Christmas time, and I was trying to come up with a gift for a relative.Since she's always asking me about books to read, I was browsing through a local bookstore when it hit me.............
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck ($13.00, 619 pages, copyright 1939, Trade Paperback)
I've read this book at least 3 times and, to me, it is the Great "American" Novel. The story of the Joad family's struggle at home, difficult journey to and harsh reception in a "Promised Land" just resonates with the American experience. You can get a cheaper edition, of course, but this one looks good and has a picture of Steinbeck on the cover. Great Book.
Special Mention
OK, I don't watch her show, but I have to give credit where credit is due - Oprah Winfrey gets my first ever Special Mention. Why, you might ask? Well, I'll tell you. She has a Book Club. I haven't read any of her previous selections, but she is getting people to read. Also, she likes real books - yes, she has a Kindle but she says she only uses it when she travels. AND her latest pick(s) are "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. If she can get people reading the classics, more power to her. (Extra kudos for getting Penguin to issue both books in a single volume.)
That's it for now. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. And....
Keep Reading.
Anyway, on to this month's and a Special Mention at the end.
Series
Irresistible Impulse - Robert K. Tanenbaum ($6.99/$.50, 434 pages, copyright 1997, paper back)
This series revolves around Butch Karp, Manhattan DA; his wife Marlene Ciampi, private detective/one-woman army type; and their family, friends and associates as they work their way through various trials, crimes, and personal crises. This volume deals with a multiple-murder trial and a deadly stalker case that start out as separate issues but wind up connected. Usually, I enjoy these but this is one of the early ones, and I found it slow going. It was OK.
Golden Buddha - Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo ($15.00/$.50, 420 pages, copyright 2003, Trade Paperback)
This is billed as "The First Novel of the Oregon Files". The Oregon is a super-secret, high tech, private spy ship hidden inside a decrepit old cargo vessel and run by a group of mercenaries. This volume involves stealing a 600 pound golden statue of the Buddha and reinstating the Dalai Lama in Tibet. It's almost like reading the script for a Mission Impossible movie. (Do you ever wonder how the work is divided between the Big Name Writer and the little name one?) I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Cold Steel Rain - Kenneth Abel ($5.99/$.50, 368 pages, copyright 2000, paper back)
Here's a crime novel set in New Orleans. The main character is a one-time Assistant DA who now serves as a bag man for a hotshot politician. There are, of course, underlying motives. AND there are problems. The two main female characters are both in law enforcement and have similar names so it gets confusing. At least one character, who I thought was going to be a major one, disappears. And if your going to set a book in New Orleans it should feel like New Orleans. Here the only weather is rain, and it could be any other inner city. Didn't really like it.
Too Close to Home - Linwood Barclay ($7.99/$.50, 500 pages, copyright 2008, paper back)
The premise here is how the murder of the family next door, impacts the lives of the neighbor family. Information comes out way too slowly, including connections among characters, and personal secrets. Not a bad book, but too long. Barclay trails a lot of strings throughout, and does tie everything up neatly, but he could've cut out 50 pages or so. It was OK.
Great Books
It's Christmas time, and I was trying to come up with a gift for a relative.Since she's always asking me about books to read, I was browsing through a local bookstore when it hit me.............
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck ($13.00, 619 pages, copyright 1939, Trade Paperback)
I've read this book at least 3 times and, to me, it is the Great "American" Novel. The story of the Joad family's struggle at home, difficult journey to and harsh reception in a "Promised Land" just resonates with the American experience. You can get a cheaper edition, of course, but this one looks good and has a picture of Steinbeck on the cover. Great Book.
Special Mention
OK, I don't watch her show, but I have to give credit where credit is due - Oprah Winfrey gets my first ever Special Mention. Why, you might ask? Well, I'll tell you. She has a Book Club. I haven't read any of her previous selections, but she is getting people to read. Also, she likes real books - yes, she has a Kindle but she says she only uses it when she travels. AND her latest pick(s) are "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. If she can get people reading the classics, more power to her. (Extra kudos for getting Penguin to issue both books in a single volume.)
That's it for now. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. And....
Keep Reading.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
First Anniversary Issue!!!!!!!!
That's right, today - November 13th - is the First Anniversary of this blog. Actually, the first entry only laid out what I hoped to do which was to tell you of the things I've read or watched, and any other thing that piqued my curiosity. Maybe I succeeded, maybe I didn't, I don't know. I do know that I've had fun. So, first I'll go over this months books, and then I'll give you some numbers for the past year.
Series
Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay ($12.95/$.50, 288 pages, copyright 2004, Trade paperback) OK. I know that ShowTime has made a series out of this book and it's sequels but I haven't seen it. I understand a lot of people like it. Given that fact, and that the main character is a sociopathic serial killer, you'd think I'd like it too. Not so much. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but I figured out the hook early on, and that kind of ruined it for me. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes
There was a certain amount of serendipity to how this particular section came together over the last month. I had picked up the first book, then found the second, then the TV series started, and I came across the DVD. Coincidence? I think not. Holmes doesn't believe in coincidences.
Night Watch - Stephen Kendrick ($23.00/$.50, 258 pages, copyright 2001, hard cover)
Holmes and Watson in late 1902. Older, wiser, and involved in a secret meeting of the world's major religions in London. And, oh yeah, murder. PLUS FATHER BROWN, G. K. Chesterton's famous sleuth as a young cleric. I enjoyed it.
The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes - Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr (No Price/$.66, 338 pages, copyright 1952, '53, '54, hard cover)
Adrian Conan Doyle is the youngest son of Sir Arthur, and John Dickson Carr is a well-known mystery writer and a master of the "locked room" puzzle. The pedigree is there, and yet the 12 stories in this collection are uneven. Some of them are excellent, but some lack the atmosphere that Sir Arthur could bring to a damp, foggy London night or a cold country setting. Taken as a whole, they were OK.
Sherlock
A new TV series, produced by the BBC, and shown here on PBS over the last 3 Sundays. The interesting twist in these 3 90-minute episodes is that they take place in the current time. That's right, Watson is a veteran of Iraq, and writes of their exploits in his blog. Holmes' nicotine habit is seen through his use of nicotine patches. And they call each other by they're first names. As I said, there were only 3 episodes, ending in a cliff-hanger. I enjoyed them, and look forward to the second season. (For those of you who missed this, the DVD came out at the same time as the first episode was aired.)
Young Sherlock Holmes
This DVD is of a movie released in 1985. It was directed by Barry Levinson, produced by Steven Spielberg, ans some effects were done by Industrial Light & Magic. It imagines a first meeting of Watson and Holmes at a prep school, where they unravel a series of murders. A good period piece, and interesting enough, but it could have been better. Perhaps unintentionally, I kept finding visual references to earlier Spielberg productions like "ET and "The Goonies". But for a movie that's 25 years old, it holds up. I enjoyed it.
OK. Now for some Anniversary numbers. Over the last year (including those mentioned above) I've told you about:
10 Comic Book Trade Editions/Graphic Novels. I may not be covering any more, due to the rising prices of these collections.
4 individual DVDs and 1 boxed set of TV Westerns from the 1950's. I may be watching more of these since I can usually get older ones for $5.00 and I can borrow the newer ones from my daughter, who has NetFlix.
6 Sherlock Holmes books, for a cover price total of $88.85, but I spent $25.61.
18 books from various different series' for a total cover price of $178.92, for which I paid $10.50.
28 miscellaneous books/novels for a total cover price of $382.51, for which I paid $17.43.
My totals for the year are 52 books read, with a combined cover price of $650.28, for which I paid $53.54. Or 1 dollar per book per week. Not too shabby.
I have made no progress on that jigsaw puzzle I told you about back in January.
Shameless Plug: I have spent a lot of time on my other blog http://www.ramdomblogsdennyoneill.blogspot.com/ . Faction (fact and fiction) based on my true story. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Another year awaits, and I've already got some interesting reads lined up.
Keep Reading!
Series
Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay ($12.95/$.50, 288 pages, copyright 2004, Trade paperback) OK. I know that ShowTime has made a series out of this book and it's sequels but I haven't seen it. I understand a lot of people like it. Given that fact, and that the main character is a sociopathic serial killer, you'd think I'd like it too. Not so much. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but I figured out the hook early on, and that kind of ruined it for me. It was OK.
Sherlock Holmes
There was a certain amount of serendipity to how this particular section came together over the last month. I had picked up the first book, then found the second, then the TV series started, and I came across the DVD. Coincidence? I think not. Holmes doesn't believe in coincidences.
Night Watch - Stephen Kendrick ($23.00/$.50, 258 pages, copyright 2001, hard cover)
Holmes and Watson in late 1902. Older, wiser, and involved in a secret meeting of the world's major religions in London. And, oh yeah, murder. PLUS FATHER BROWN, G. K. Chesterton's famous sleuth as a young cleric. I enjoyed it.
The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes - Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr (No Price/$.66, 338 pages, copyright 1952, '53, '54, hard cover)
Adrian Conan Doyle is the youngest son of Sir Arthur, and John Dickson Carr is a well-known mystery writer and a master of the "locked room" puzzle. The pedigree is there, and yet the 12 stories in this collection are uneven. Some of them are excellent, but some lack the atmosphere that Sir Arthur could bring to a damp, foggy London night or a cold country setting. Taken as a whole, they were OK.
Sherlock
A new TV series, produced by the BBC, and shown here on PBS over the last 3 Sundays. The interesting twist in these 3 90-minute episodes is that they take place in the current time. That's right, Watson is a veteran of Iraq, and writes of their exploits in his blog. Holmes' nicotine habit is seen through his use of nicotine patches. And they call each other by they're first names. As I said, there were only 3 episodes, ending in a cliff-hanger. I enjoyed them, and look forward to the second season. (For those of you who missed this, the DVD came out at the same time as the first episode was aired.)
Young Sherlock Holmes
This DVD is of a movie released in 1985. It was directed by Barry Levinson, produced by Steven Spielberg, ans some effects were done by Industrial Light & Magic. It imagines a first meeting of Watson and Holmes at a prep school, where they unravel a series of murders. A good period piece, and interesting enough, but it could have been better. Perhaps unintentionally, I kept finding visual references to earlier Spielberg productions like "ET and "The Goonies". But for a movie that's 25 years old, it holds up. I enjoyed it.
OK. Now for some Anniversary numbers. Over the last year (including those mentioned above) I've told you about:
10 Comic Book Trade Editions/Graphic Novels. I may not be covering any more, due to the rising prices of these collections.
4 individual DVDs and 1 boxed set of TV Westerns from the 1950's. I may be watching more of these since I can usually get older ones for $5.00 and I can borrow the newer ones from my daughter, who has NetFlix.
6 Sherlock Holmes books, for a cover price total of $88.85, but I spent $25.61.
18 books from various different series' for a total cover price of $178.92, for which I paid $10.50.
28 miscellaneous books/novels for a total cover price of $382.51, for which I paid $17.43.
My totals for the year are 52 books read, with a combined cover price of $650.28, for which I paid $53.54. Or 1 dollar per book per week. Not too shabby.
I have made no progress on that jigsaw puzzle I told you about back in January.
Shameless Plug: I have spent a lot of time on my other blog http://www.ramdomblogsdennyoneill.blogspot.com/ . Faction (fact and fiction) based on my true story. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Another year awaits, and I've already got some interesting reads lined up.
Keep Reading!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Chapter Thirteen
This time around, I have the longest book I've read since I started this blog, and the "shortest". I'll explain why I have quotes around the "shortest" when I get to it.
Non-Fiction
30 Second Mysteries - Bob Moog/Jeff Pinsker ($9.95/$.25, 238 pages, copyright 2002, soft cover)
This is actually a game (complete with spinner) where you have a series of "mysteries" broken down into 4 categories - who, what, where, and why. "Mysteries" is actually too strong a word - they`'re more like situations, and there are 28 in each category. You're given a couple of paragraphs and you are expected to solve it for points. There are clues for each "mystery" which, if given, lower the point value. Some of these were pretty good, but many rely on fairy tale characters, which cheapens the game, to my mind. It was interesting.
Series
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson ($7.99/$.50, 644 pages, copyright 2008, paperback)
This is the longest book that I referred to earlier, and the first of 3 that Mr. Larsson wrote before he passed away. The main characters are a reporter hired to solve a very old missing person's case, and the young female researcher who helps him. That description in no way will prepare you for the depth of characters and the twists and turns that flow freely throughout the book. Originally written in Swedish, this translation is excellent and, outside of a few place names and phrases, made it feel as though it was situated here. I enjoyed it.
A Kiss Gone Bad - Jeff Abbott ($6.99/$.50, 404 pages, copyright 2001, paperback)
A first novel in, what I hope, will be an ongoing series. The main character is a Justice of the Peace (sort of a junior judge) in a coastal town in Texas. It starts with an apparent suicide, brings in murders, missing persons, drugs, and a little local color. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Under the Black Ensign - L. Ron Hubbard ($9.95/$.50, 121 pages, copyright 2007, soft cover)
Apparently, some one had the bright idea to publish all of Hubbard's pulp stories in brand new editions. Not a bad idea, but poorly executed and done at the expense of the reader. The story here - a typical pirate novel that evokes Errol Flynn as Captain Blood - is only 84 pages long, with blank pages between chapters and full page illustrations that lowered the page count to less then 80. The rest of the book is an excerpt from another story, a complete list of Hubbard's stories, and a biography of the author. Not bad for an old, pulp story but - really? $10? I don't think so.
OK. Next time around, I'll be writing about the First Anniversary of this blog. Maybe a recap of the whole year, but definitely some new stuff to consider. Till then...............
Keep Reading!
Non-Fiction
30 Second Mysteries - Bob Moog/Jeff Pinsker ($9.95/$.25, 238 pages, copyright 2002, soft cover)
This is actually a game (complete with spinner) where you have a series of "mysteries" broken down into 4 categories - who, what, where, and why. "Mysteries" is actually too strong a word - they`'re more like situations, and there are 28 in each category. You're given a couple of paragraphs and you are expected to solve it for points. There are clues for each "mystery" which, if given, lower the point value. Some of these were pretty good, but many rely on fairy tale characters, which cheapens the game, to my mind. It was interesting.
Series
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson ($7.99/$.50, 644 pages, copyright 2008, paperback)
This is the longest book that I referred to earlier, and the first of 3 that Mr. Larsson wrote before he passed away. The main characters are a reporter hired to solve a very old missing person's case, and the young female researcher who helps him. That description in no way will prepare you for the depth of characters and the twists and turns that flow freely throughout the book. Originally written in Swedish, this translation is excellent and, outside of a few place names and phrases, made it feel as though it was situated here. I enjoyed it.
A Kiss Gone Bad - Jeff Abbott ($6.99/$.50, 404 pages, copyright 2001, paperback)
A first novel in, what I hope, will be an ongoing series. The main character is a Justice of the Peace (sort of a junior judge) in a coastal town in Texas. It starts with an apparent suicide, brings in murders, missing persons, drugs, and a little local color. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Under the Black Ensign - L. Ron Hubbard ($9.95/$.50, 121 pages, copyright 2007, soft cover)
Apparently, some one had the bright idea to publish all of Hubbard's pulp stories in brand new editions. Not a bad idea, but poorly executed and done at the expense of the reader. The story here - a typical pirate novel that evokes Errol Flynn as Captain Blood - is only 84 pages long, with blank pages between chapters and full page illustrations that lowered the page count to less then 80. The rest of the book is an excerpt from another story, a complete list of Hubbard's stories, and a biography of the author. Not bad for an old, pulp story but - really? $10? I don't think so.
OK. Next time around, I'll be writing about the First Anniversary of this blog. Maybe a recap of the whole year, but definitely some new stuff to consider. Till then...............
Keep Reading!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Special Insert #3
Looking back, I've noticed that the previous Special Inserts have been about comic books, so I'll start this one in the same vein. Comic books have been around since the 1940's and were an offshoot of the pulp novels that preceded them. Since a picture is worth 1,000 words this made sense. At the time, they were mostly adventure, western, horror, and true love based but the Golden Age and the birth of the super heroes came quickly.
Unfortunately, in the early 1950's, someone took exception to the graphic violence and underlying sex of this form of entertainment - specifically the horror books as published by EC Comics - and created an uproar. There were comic burnings and bannings across the country, and it caused the industry to create the Comics Code and a regulating body to oversee content in order to survive. This regulating body and its "seal of approval" lasted into the 1990's when individual publishers such as Marvel and DC decided that they would regulate on their own the images, situations, and even words that they felt were appropriate to the story.
The point of this history lesson is that when the government doesn't like something - they try to ban it.
Welcome to Banned Books Week.
Banning books - even burning them - isn't new. It's gone on for centuries. The point is that it is usually carried out by totalitarian governments that suppress their citizens and regulate every aspect of their lives. This should not be done in a democracy like the United States of America.
And yet, it has been. What follows is a brief list of books that were banned at one time or another.
"1984" - George Orwell. Banned to teenagers for political reasons.
"Animal Farm" - George Orwell. Banned to teenagers for political reasons.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" - Harper Lee. Banned due to racial inequality and rape.
Slaughterhouse-Five" -Kurt Vonnegut. Banned to adults for religious reasons.
"Brave New World" - Aldous Huxley. Banned to teens for religious reasons.
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Mark Twain. Banned for social reasons.
"Of Mice and Men" - John Steinbeck. Banned for social reasons.
"The Grapes of Wrath" - John Steinbeck. Banned for social reasons.
"Leaves of Grass" - Walt Whitman, Banned for immorality.
"Ulysses" - James Joyce. Banned for obscenity.
You know what strikes me about this list? We now consider each and every one of these to be a CLASSIC.
Society changes. And its moral and ethical center varies from day to day. And every now and then, misogyny rears its ugly head. Salmon Rushdie wrote a book - and then had to go into hiding because his own people - his own religion - wanted him dead because of it. That is a sad fact, and a foreign country. This is America.
Not everything that is written is good. I'd guess very little of it is, percentage-wise. But what is is an expression of the writer, and here we have Freedom of Expression. Now don't get me wrong. Not everything that is written should be. There are laws against libeling someone by accusing them of things that can't be proven. And, I would like to think, a lot of a writer's output, upon second reading, gets trashed.
But what's written should stay written, and what's published should stay published. Even if no one ever reads it.
It takes an idea to write something. An idea so powerful in a writer's mind that he or she has to set it down on paper, has to try and share it. An idea - good, bad, or indifferent - makes us human. A shared idea makes us a community.
Keep reading!
Unfortunately, in the early 1950's, someone took exception to the graphic violence and underlying sex of this form of entertainment - specifically the horror books as published by EC Comics - and created an uproar. There were comic burnings and bannings across the country, and it caused the industry to create the Comics Code and a regulating body to oversee content in order to survive. This regulating body and its "seal of approval" lasted into the 1990's when individual publishers such as Marvel and DC decided that they would regulate on their own the images, situations, and even words that they felt were appropriate to the story.
The point of this history lesson is that when the government doesn't like something - they try to ban it.
Welcome to Banned Books Week.
Banning books - even burning them - isn't new. It's gone on for centuries. The point is that it is usually carried out by totalitarian governments that suppress their citizens and regulate every aspect of their lives. This should not be done in a democracy like the United States of America.
And yet, it has been. What follows is a brief list of books that were banned at one time or another.
"1984" - George Orwell. Banned to teenagers for political reasons.
"Animal Farm" - George Orwell. Banned to teenagers for political reasons.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" - Harper Lee. Banned due to racial inequality and rape.
Slaughterhouse-Five" -Kurt Vonnegut. Banned to adults for religious reasons.
"Brave New World" - Aldous Huxley. Banned to teens for religious reasons.
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Mark Twain. Banned for social reasons.
"Of Mice and Men" - John Steinbeck. Banned for social reasons.
"The Grapes of Wrath" - John Steinbeck. Banned for social reasons.
"Leaves of Grass" - Walt Whitman, Banned for immorality.
"Ulysses" - James Joyce. Banned for obscenity.
You know what strikes me about this list? We now consider each and every one of these to be a CLASSIC.
Society changes. And its moral and ethical center varies from day to day. And every now and then, misogyny rears its ugly head. Salmon Rushdie wrote a book - and then had to go into hiding because his own people - his own religion - wanted him dead because of it. That is a sad fact, and a foreign country. This is America.
Not everything that is written is good. I'd guess very little of it is, percentage-wise. But what is is an expression of the writer, and here we have Freedom of Expression. Now don't get me wrong. Not everything that is written should be. There are laws against libeling someone by accusing them of things that can't be proven. And, I would like to think, a lot of a writer's output, upon second reading, gets trashed.
But what's written should stay written, and what's published should stay published. Even if no one ever reads it.
It takes an idea to write something. An idea so powerful in a writer's mind that he or she has to set it down on paper, has to try and share it. An idea - good, bad, or indifferent - makes us human. A shared idea makes us a community.
Keep reading!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Chapter Twelve
This time around, I have an interesting mix of books to tell you about. AND, another in my random sampling of DVD's.
Miscellaneous
Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic - Terry Jones ($12.00/$.50, 245 pages, copyright 1997, Trade paperback)
That's right - Douglas Adams - as in A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. AND that's right - Terry Jones - as in Monty Python's Flying Circus. I have to admit I was sceptical when I picked this one up. I've read other books by other "comedians" (see past Chapters) and I've always been disappointed. Not this one! Take the greatest starship ever built, and in 3 Earthlings who, typically, don't know what they're doing, and stir in complete destruction and you get a very funny book. I enjoyed it.
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - Roddy Doyle ($10.95/$.50, 282 pages, copyright 1993, Trade paperback)
What's interesting here is that there are no chapters. Just snippets of a 10-year old boy's life in the Ireland of the 1960's. These run everywhere from a half a page, to several pages, are largely Paddy's dialog - external and internal - and always come across as accurate. They the gamut from childish pranks to how a child deals with serious issues. I don't know if any of it is autobiographical but it rings true. I enjoyed it.
The Fuck-up - Arthur Nersesian ( $12.95/$1.00, 296 pages, copyright 1991, Trade paperback)
Another "slice of life" story, this time set in New York City in the 1980's. The protagonist here is an early-20 something. A slacker with no ambition and the people who come in and out of his life. Unfortunately, to me, he has no redeeming qualities and his friends aren't any better. I couldn't finish it.
Series
The Neon Rain - James Lee Burke ($4.99/$.50, 281 pages, copyright 281 pages, paperback)
I think this is the first of Burke's novels dealing with Dave Robicheaux. Set in and around New Orleans, Burke paints a wonderful picture of the cities, towns, and bayous that surround the area. Robicheaux, at least in this one, is a police lieutenant dealing with a murder that grows into a drug case, government intervention, and family problems - and the personal demons faced by all alcoholics. I enjoyed it.
Some Danger Involved - Will Thomas ($15.00/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2004, Trade paperback)
This is the first in a proposed series of mysteries set in London in the late 1880's. The main character is down on his luck, and gets taken on as an assistant by a private detective. This one leans more toward the seamy side of London, and involves the murder of a Jewish immigrant and the possibility of religious persecution in the crowded streets of back-alley London. I enjoyed it.
DVD
Highlander
"In the end, there can be only one." Well, in the beginning, there was. This movie, in my mind, was a one-shot. Then something interesting happened, it became popular. So a sequel was made (not as good), and others, and a TV series. It became a sci-fi phenomenon. But in the beginning there was only one. Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) is the Highlander and Ramirez (Sean Connery) teaches how to be an immortal and how - for some reason - they fight with swords and behead each other until the end. A self-contained movie, and it was perfect - from the sword fights to the special effects, to the soundtrack by Queen. I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. I have more books to read and more DVD's to watch.
Keep reading!
Miscellaneous
Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic - Terry Jones ($12.00/$.50, 245 pages, copyright 1997, Trade paperback)
That's right - Douglas Adams - as in A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. AND that's right - Terry Jones - as in Monty Python's Flying Circus. I have to admit I was sceptical when I picked this one up. I've read other books by other "comedians" (see past Chapters) and I've always been disappointed. Not this one! Take the greatest starship ever built, and in 3 Earthlings who, typically, don't know what they're doing, and stir in complete destruction and you get a very funny book. I enjoyed it.
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - Roddy Doyle ($10.95/$.50, 282 pages, copyright 1993, Trade paperback)
What's interesting here is that there are no chapters. Just snippets of a 10-year old boy's life in the Ireland of the 1960's. These run everywhere from a half a page, to several pages, are largely Paddy's dialog - external and internal - and always come across as accurate. They the gamut from childish pranks to how a child deals with serious issues. I don't know if any of it is autobiographical but it rings true. I enjoyed it.
The Fuck-up - Arthur Nersesian ( $12.95/$1.00, 296 pages, copyright 1991, Trade paperback)
Another "slice of life" story, this time set in New York City in the 1980's. The protagonist here is an early-20 something. A slacker with no ambition and the people who come in and out of his life. Unfortunately, to me, he has no redeeming qualities and his friends aren't any better. I couldn't finish it.
Series
The Neon Rain - James Lee Burke ($4.99/$.50, 281 pages, copyright 281 pages, paperback)
I think this is the first of Burke's novels dealing with Dave Robicheaux. Set in and around New Orleans, Burke paints a wonderful picture of the cities, towns, and bayous that surround the area. Robicheaux, at least in this one, is a police lieutenant dealing with a murder that grows into a drug case, government intervention, and family problems - and the personal demons faced by all alcoholics. I enjoyed it.
Some Danger Involved - Will Thomas ($15.00/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2004, Trade paperback)
This is the first in a proposed series of mysteries set in London in the late 1880's. The main character is down on his luck, and gets taken on as an assistant by a private detective. This one leans more toward the seamy side of London, and involves the murder of a Jewish immigrant and the possibility of religious persecution in the crowded streets of back-alley London. I enjoyed it.
DVD
Highlander
"In the end, there can be only one." Well, in the beginning, there was. This movie, in my mind, was a one-shot. Then something interesting happened, it became popular. So a sequel was made (not as good), and others, and a TV series. It became a sci-fi phenomenon. But in the beginning there was only one. Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) is the Highlander and Ramirez (Sean Connery) teaches how to be an immortal and how - for some reason - they fight with swords and behead each other until the end. A self-contained movie, and it was perfect - from the sword fights to the special effects, to the soundtrack by Queen. I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. I have more books to read and more DVD's to watch.
Keep reading!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Chapter Eleven
Last time out, I mentioned the OMG moment that occurs when you come across a book that you didn't know about and you really want to read it. That month, I had 2 of those moments and wrote about one of the books. This month, I'll let you know about the second OMG book, as well as a couple of other interesting items.
Series
The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais ($7.99/$.50, 201 pages, copyright 1987, paperback)
I think this is the first of the Elvis Cole mysteries. It's a missing person case that - as usual - gets out of hand. Cole has a wise-ass attitude, and a tough-guy partner to step in when things need it. Gratuitous sex, violence, and jokes - what more do you want? I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead White - Alan Ryan ($3.50/$.50, 351 pages, copyright 1983, paperback)
I got pulled in by the blurbs. It's a small, upstate town that's hit by the worst snow storm ever and.."an antique circus train bringing clowns...and shadows...and death". Sounded good, and I'm a sucker for a circus/carnival horror story. The author follows the Stephen King bible - Different people head alternating chapters, very descriptive weather-related sections, and a disappointing ending. It's OK, if you like King's endings.
A Graveyard for Lunatics - Ray Bradbury ($13.00/$.50, 308 pages, copyright 1990, Trade Paperback)
This is the second OMG book that I mentioned last time. RAY BRADBURY! And it's a novel, and one that I'd never heard of! What a find! It's a mystery, set in a Hollywood studio during the heyday of the studio system, and stars Bradbury himself, and his best friend Ray Harryhausen (that's right - the great animator), but all the names are changed. The beauty and magic of Bradbury's words still rings true, but unfortunately, I figured out early who the mystery person was so, for me, the rest of the book dragged itself out. Not bad, but not Bradbury's best.
Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy - Horatio Alger ($1.50/$.50, 382 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
This is actually 2 of Alger's novels published in one volume. Originally, they were published in the mid-1800s. I'd never read anything by Alger, but everyone knows of his "plucky young poor boy who makes good" stories, and these are perfect examples of that genre. These poor boys get by on luck, and help from a better-off benefactor. In fact, Ragged Dick is the benefactor for Mark, the match boy. Kind of like an Americanized Dickens (we don't need all that descriptive stuff, just a quick, feel-good story). I enjoyed it (them).
A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon (No price/$.25, 354 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback)
This was written by the same guy who wrote "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which I enjoyed. Also, there is nothing on the cover to explain what the book is about. This made me curious enough to buy it. An English family deals with the daughter's second marriage (the father's retired and going crazy, the mother's having an affair, the son is gay, and the daughter's not sure she's doing the right thing). Things fall apart, then come back together, with some English humor thrown in. It was OK, but not my cup of tea (get it?).
That's it for now. Keep reading!
Series
The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais ($7.99/$.50, 201 pages, copyright 1987, paperback)
I think this is the first of the Elvis Cole mysteries. It's a missing person case that - as usual - gets out of hand. Cole has a wise-ass attitude, and a tough-guy partner to step in when things need it. Gratuitous sex, violence, and jokes - what more do you want? I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead White - Alan Ryan ($3.50/$.50, 351 pages, copyright 1983, paperback)
I got pulled in by the blurbs. It's a small, upstate town that's hit by the worst snow storm ever and.."an antique circus train bringing clowns...and shadows...and death". Sounded good, and I'm a sucker for a circus/carnival horror story. The author follows the Stephen King bible - Different people head alternating chapters, very descriptive weather-related sections, and a disappointing ending. It's OK, if you like King's endings.
A Graveyard for Lunatics - Ray Bradbury ($13.00/$.50, 308 pages, copyright 1990, Trade Paperback)
This is the second OMG book that I mentioned last time. RAY BRADBURY! And it's a novel, and one that I'd never heard of! What a find! It's a mystery, set in a Hollywood studio during the heyday of the studio system, and stars Bradbury himself, and his best friend Ray Harryhausen (that's right - the great animator), but all the names are changed. The beauty and magic of Bradbury's words still rings true, but unfortunately, I figured out early who the mystery person was so, for me, the rest of the book dragged itself out. Not bad, but not Bradbury's best.
Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy - Horatio Alger ($1.50/$.50, 382 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
This is actually 2 of Alger's novels published in one volume. Originally, they were published in the mid-1800s. I'd never read anything by Alger, but everyone knows of his "plucky young poor boy who makes good" stories, and these are perfect examples of that genre. These poor boys get by on luck, and help from a better-off benefactor. In fact, Ragged Dick is the benefactor for Mark, the match boy. Kind of like an Americanized Dickens (we don't need all that descriptive stuff, just a quick, feel-good story). I enjoyed it (them).
A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon (No price/$.25, 354 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback)
This was written by the same guy who wrote "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which I enjoyed. Also, there is nothing on the cover to explain what the book is about. This made me curious enough to buy it. An English family deals with the daughter's second marriage (the father's retired and going crazy, the mother's having an affair, the son is gay, and the daughter's not sure she's doing the right thing). Things fall apart, then come back together, with some English humor thrown in. It was OK, but not my cup of tea (get it?).
That's it for now. Keep reading!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Chapter Ten
I've mentioned before that there are a few drawbacks to picking up my books at the various libraries that I've found in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties. It's time to add a new one which accounts for why there are so few books in this month's chapter. Let's call it the OMG Moment. It works like this...
I had just started a new book, and was out checking some libraries when - OMG - I found a book that I really wanted to read right away! So I put down the first book and started on the second. The next day - OMG - I found another book that I really wanted to read! Thus, I have a double OMG, and now have a couple of books started that I hope make next months list.
Series
Interestingly enough, this month includes the first books in a couple of series that I've enjoyed over the years.
When the Bough Breaks - Jonathan Kellerman (432 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1985, paperback) This is the first of the Alex Delaware novels. It has the usual mix of complicated mystery and simple friendships as Alex attempts to help his friend Milo solve a murder. Alex comes across here as a little more physical then usual, and Milo more pragmatic. I enjoyed it.
A Drink Before the War - Dennis Lehane (286 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1994, paperback) This is the first of Lehane's series starring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. As in most of the others, it takes place in Boston, and Lehane does his best to convey how the two sides of the city clash and converge. Murder and politics in Boston, and my favorite character - the sociopath Bubba. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Nero Wolfe of West Thirty-Fifth Street - William S. Baring-Gould (202 pages, $6.95/$1.00, copyright 1969, paperback) This is one of the OMG books. It's an interesting attempt to treat the character created by Rex Stout as a real person. It address various aspects of Wolfe's lifestyle, as well as his friends and enemies. What drew me to it is the author, Baring-Gould, who wrote a biography of Sherlock Holmes as well as the Annotated Sherlock Holmes. AND we all know what the rumors about Holmes and Wolfe are. I enjoyed it.
Comics
Nothing read this month, but another rant, I'm afraid. While checking out the Trades at a local bookstore, I came across Spiderman:The Complete Clone Saga Epic. At the very bottom of the spine was the number 2. This means that there are at least 2 volumes one has to buy in order to get the "Complete" saga. AND how can there be a "Saga Epic"? This just doesn't seem right to me.
Something Different
While writing this, I'm watching the first several episodes of The Lone Ranger!!! Yes, that's right The Lone Ranger - Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels in glorious living black-and-white. They're part of a DVD collection called Gun Justice which I picked up at Target for $5.00. It includes The Cisco Kid, Kit Carson, Roy Rogers and others - 50 episodes in all. It may be a late Saturday afternoon in 2010 as I write this, but in my mind it's a Saturday morning 50 years ago. There's only one question to ask - Who was that masked man?
Keep reading!
I had just started a new book, and was out checking some libraries when - OMG - I found a book that I really wanted to read right away! So I put down the first book and started on the second. The next day - OMG - I found another book that I really wanted to read! Thus, I have a double OMG, and now have a couple of books started that I hope make next months list.
Series
Interestingly enough, this month includes the first books in a couple of series that I've enjoyed over the years.
When the Bough Breaks - Jonathan Kellerman (432 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1985, paperback) This is the first of the Alex Delaware novels. It has the usual mix of complicated mystery and simple friendships as Alex attempts to help his friend Milo solve a murder. Alex comes across here as a little more physical then usual, and Milo more pragmatic. I enjoyed it.
A Drink Before the War - Dennis Lehane (286 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1994, paperback) This is the first of Lehane's series starring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. As in most of the others, it takes place in Boston, and Lehane does his best to convey how the two sides of the city clash and converge. Murder and politics in Boston, and my favorite character - the sociopath Bubba. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Nero Wolfe of West Thirty-Fifth Street - William S. Baring-Gould (202 pages, $6.95/$1.00, copyright 1969, paperback) This is one of the OMG books. It's an interesting attempt to treat the character created by Rex Stout as a real person. It address various aspects of Wolfe's lifestyle, as well as his friends and enemies. What drew me to it is the author, Baring-Gould, who wrote a biography of Sherlock Holmes as well as the Annotated Sherlock Holmes. AND we all know what the rumors about Holmes and Wolfe are. I enjoyed it.
Comics
Nothing read this month, but another rant, I'm afraid. While checking out the Trades at a local bookstore, I came across Spiderman:The Complete Clone Saga Epic. At the very bottom of the spine was the number 2. This means that there are at least 2 volumes one has to buy in order to get the "Complete" saga. AND how can there be a "Saga Epic"? This just doesn't seem right to me.
Something Different
While writing this, I'm watching the first several episodes of The Lone Ranger!!! Yes, that's right The Lone Ranger - Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels in glorious living black-and-white. They're part of a DVD collection called Gun Justice which I picked up at Target for $5.00. It includes The Cisco Kid, Kit Carson, Roy Rogers and others - 50 episodes in all. It may be a late Saturday afternoon in 2010 as I write this, but in my mind it's a Saturday morning 50 years ago. There's only one question to ask - Who was that masked man?
Keep reading!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Chapter Nine
For once, I don't have any books that fall into the Series category. Although 3 out of the 5 are mysteries, or what gets classified as mysteries now. And 1 is actually, more or less, true.
Miscellaneous
Rizzo's War - Lou Manfredo ($24.99/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2009, Trade paperback)
This is another Advanced Reader Edition (which I pick up a lot of at the Metuchen Library), and it comes with the CD version read by Bobby Cannavale. This is the story of a veteran detective and his rookie partner as they handle cases in Brooklyn - some small, and one not so small. Interesting characters make this a good read. I enjoyed it.
Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz ($9.99/$.50, 364 pages, copyright 2008, paperback)
This attracted me right away - it's about a guy who undergoes a heart transplant. Me too! Although he's rich and then haunted, or hunted depending on your interpretation. Too much of the book is build up, and the payoff and ending seem rushed and don't fit the characters, in my opinion. I was disappointed.
Lieberman's Folly - Stuart Kaminsky ($15.95/ $.33, 216 pages, copyright 1991, Hard Cover)
I read a lot of Kaminsky's Toby Peters books many years ago, and enjoyed them. Although these aren't the same characters, or the same setting, it is the same style and I fell right into the situation easily. Two old cops, with their faults and families, and set in a changing Chicago of differing ethnic groups. Murder and obligations as told by Kaminsky. I enjoyed it.
Non-Fiction
The Good Rat - Jimmy Breslin ($24.95/$.10, 294 pages, copyright 2008, Trade paperback)
I remember reading Jimmy Breslin's columns in the New York newspapers back when I was in high school. Then "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight", his homage to gangsters and the Mafia. He was sort of a later-day Damon Runyon, telling stories of colorful mobsters with colorful names doing colorful things. This is a book about t mobster who wasn't colorful. In fact, he rats out the mobsters and crooked cops he worked with. It's like Breslin's farewell to his line of work. Could've been more colorful. It was OK.
Great Books
This is a new category that may crop up from time to time. I believe that there are a number of great books that no home should be without. Obviously, my opinion rules as far as this category goes. AND I will only mention those books that I come across going forward - whatever is already on my shelf will not be mentioned - at least for now.
Leaves of Grass - Walt Whitman ($12.99/$1.00, 488 pages, reprinted 1892 edition, Hard Cover)
This is considered by many to be the definitive edition of poetry written by the greatest American poet. I enjoyed what I've read so far, just sort of jumping around. I believe that good poetry should let you feel, and that's what these do. Happiness, sadness, pride, whatever, as long as you feel. I also believe that you shouldn't read straight through a book of poetry, but should slip in every now and then to enjoy it. So far, I've enjoyed this.
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
Rizzo's War - Lou Manfredo ($24.99/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2009, Trade paperback)
This is another Advanced Reader Edition (which I pick up a lot of at the Metuchen Library), and it comes with the CD version read by Bobby Cannavale. This is the story of a veteran detective and his rookie partner as they handle cases in Brooklyn - some small, and one not so small. Interesting characters make this a good read. I enjoyed it.
Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz ($9.99/$.50, 364 pages, copyright 2008, paperback)
This attracted me right away - it's about a guy who undergoes a heart transplant. Me too! Although he's rich and then haunted, or hunted depending on your interpretation. Too much of the book is build up, and the payoff and ending seem rushed and don't fit the characters, in my opinion. I was disappointed.
Lieberman's Folly - Stuart Kaminsky ($15.95/ $.33, 216 pages, copyright 1991, Hard Cover)
I read a lot of Kaminsky's Toby Peters books many years ago, and enjoyed them. Although these aren't the same characters, or the same setting, it is the same style and I fell right into the situation easily. Two old cops, with their faults and families, and set in a changing Chicago of differing ethnic groups. Murder and obligations as told by Kaminsky. I enjoyed it.
Non-Fiction
The Good Rat - Jimmy Breslin ($24.95/$.10, 294 pages, copyright 2008, Trade paperback)
I remember reading Jimmy Breslin's columns in the New York newspapers back when I was in high school. Then "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight", his homage to gangsters and the Mafia. He was sort of a later-day Damon Runyon, telling stories of colorful mobsters with colorful names doing colorful things. This is a book about t mobster who wasn't colorful. In fact, he rats out the mobsters and crooked cops he worked with. It's like Breslin's farewell to his line of work. Could've been more colorful. It was OK.
Great Books
This is a new category that may crop up from time to time. I believe that there are a number of great books that no home should be without. Obviously, my opinion rules as far as this category goes. AND I will only mention those books that I come across going forward - whatever is already on my shelf will not be mentioned - at least for now.
Leaves of Grass - Walt Whitman ($12.99/$1.00, 488 pages, reprinted 1892 edition, Hard Cover)
This is considered by many to be the definitive edition of poetry written by the greatest American poet. I enjoyed what I've read so far, just sort of jumping around. I believe that good poetry should let you feel, and that's what these do. Happiness, sadness, pride, whatever, as long as you feel. I also believe that you shouldn't read straight through a book of poetry, but should slip in every now and then to enjoy it. So far, I've enjoyed this.
Keep reading.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Chapter Eight
In Chapter Seven, I mentioned that I'd picked up some classic paperbacks at a book sale at my local library. Well, I've actually read 2 of them since then, and my opinion can be found below. I also added 2 more libraries to my weekly search, which brought in 2 more books, one of which will also be mentioned below. Finally, there are 2 new Sherlock Holmes items to discuss, so dive in....
Series
The Death of an Irish Tradition - Bartholomew Gill ($6.99/$.50, 335 pages, copyright 1979, paperback)
This is the first of the Gill series that I've read, though not the first chronologically. It features Chief Inspector Peter McGarr, and his staff of underlings, and deals with e murder tied in to the Dublin Horse Show. The descriptions of Dublin and it's environs, as well as the Irish (upper and lower class) bring it all to life. McGarr is an interesting and at times amusing character, as are his subordinates. My only beef is that there are too many "Mc" or "Mac" characters which confused things for me (although I imagine it's really like that in Dublin). I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut ($6.99/$.25, 215 pages, copyright 1969, paperback)
Billed as one of the world's greatest anti-war books (another of which "Johnny Got His Gun" was just added to The Pile), I remember reading this back in the early 70's. It is the life story of Billy Pilgrim who is unstuck in time. He lives moment-to-moment, though not in any chronological sense. The scenes about Dresden ring true, because Vonnegut actually lived them. I remember the movie, vaguely, and would like to see it again. I certainly enjoyed reading it again.
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess ($1.25/$.25, 191 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
Again, I remember reading this back in the early 70's, but I don't remember whether I saw the movie ( X Rated) first, or read the book. Whichever, I found myself visualizing the scenes as I read, including seeing Malcolm McDowell as Alex. A version of a future England, where youth and its violence meets government and its retribution. I'm pretty sure I used the glossary the first time in order to understand the slang. This time, I read it right through, picking up the meanings by the content. Either way, I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
The Veiled Detective - David Stuart Davies ($9.95/ Gift Card, 246 pages, copyright 2004, Trade Paperback)
I have to admit that I was put off by this book at first. Having read the first 2 chapters, the author, to my mind, was taking too many liberties with the Canon (the original stories). On second thought, I realized that what he's changed are aspects outside of the Canon and, therefore, fair game. The book deals with the early years, from the start of the Holmes/Watson partnership, up to "The Final Problem", giving Watson a back story I didn't like, and bringing in Moriarty too early. It's OK, but not my cup of Holmes. That said, on to...
Movies/DVD
Sherlock Holmes
There was a lot of hype about this movie when it premiered last year and being a fan of Robert Downey, Jr. and Sherlock Holmes, I almost went myself. Instead, I finally got to see it on DVD. I'm glad I waited. As movies go, it was like watching Gibson and Glover in a Victorian "Lethal Weapon". As an ACTION movie, it's enjoyable if you suspend belief for a while, which I love to do. But as a Holmes movie....? Not so much. There are references to stories in the Canon, some taken almost word-for-word. Jude Law makes for a good Watson, and Downey plays up the eccentricities of Holmes, yet he doesn't ring quite true to me. He brings out the physicality of the character, something not seen so often, but he doesn't "look" the part. The villain (Mark Strong) looks more like the Holmes that I know, which was very distracting to me. And, finally, I had trouble at times understanding him, although he did maintain his accent all the way through. I can only rate it as OK.
Keep Reading!
Series
The Death of an Irish Tradition - Bartholomew Gill ($6.99/$.50, 335 pages, copyright 1979, paperback)
This is the first of the Gill series that I've read, though not the first chronologically. It features Chief Inspector Peter McGarr, and his staff of underlings, and deals with e murder tied in to the Dublin Horse Show. The descriptions of Dublin and it's environs, as well as the Irish (upper and lower class) bring it all to life. McGarr is an interesting and at times amusing character, as are his subordinates. My only beef is that there are too many "Mc" or "Mac" characters which confused things for me (although I imagine it's really like that in Dublin). I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut ($6.99/$.25, 215 pages, copyright 1969, paperback)
Billed as one of the world's greatest anti-war books (another of which "Johnny Got His Gun" was just added to The Pile), I remember reading this back in the early 70's. It is the life story of Billy Pilgrim who is unstuck in time. He lives moment-to-moment, though not in any chronological sense. The scenes about Dresden ring true, because Vonnegut actually lived them. I remember the movie, vaguely, and would like to see it again. I certainly enjoyed reading it again.
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess ($1.25/$.25, 191 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
Again, I remember reading this back in the early 70's, but I don't remember whether I saw the movie ( X Rated) first, or read the book. Whichever, I found myself visualizing the scenes as I read, including seeing Malcolm McDowell as Alex. A version of a future England, where youth and its violence meets government and its retribution. I'm pretty sure I used the glossary the first time in order to understand the slang. This time, I read it right through, picking up the meanings by the content. Either way, I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
The Veiled Detective - David Stuart Davies ($9.95/ Gift Card, 246 pages, copyright 2004, Trade Paperback)
I have to admit that I was put off by this book at first. Having read the first 2 chapters, the author, to my mind, was taking too many liberties with the Canon (the original stories). On second thought, I realized that what he's changed are aspects outside of the Canon and, therefore, fair game. The book deals with the early years, from the start of the Holmes/Watson partnership, up to "The Final Problem", giving Watson a back story I didn't like, and bringing in Moriarty too early. It's OK, but not my cup of Holmes. That said, on to...
Movies/DVD
Sherlock Holmes
There was a lot of hype about this movie when it premiered last year and being a fan of Robert Downey, Jr. and Sherlock Holmes, I almost went myself. Instead, I finally got to see it on DVD. I'm glad I waited. As movies go, it was like watching Gibson and Glover in a Victorian "Lethal Weapon". As an ACTION movie, it's enjoyable if you suspend belief for a while, which I love to do. But as a Holmes movie....? Not so much. There are references to stories in the Canon, some taken almost word-for-word. Jude Law makes for a good Watson, and Downey plays up the eccentricities of Holmes, yet he doesn't ring quite true to me. He brings out the physicality of the character, something not seen so often, but he doesn't "look" the part. The villain (Mark Strong) looks more like the Holmes that I know, which was very distracting to me. And, finally, I had trouble at times understanding him, although he did maintain his accent all the way through. I can only rate it as OK.
Keep Reading!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Special Insert 2
I was going to hold off on this for another day or so, until I'd read a few more things, but something happened that makes me want to do this today.
Two weeks ago we celebrated Free Comic Book Day. This was the first one I visited a store on, although it's been going on for years. The publishers and their offerings were:
Marvel - Iron Man/Thor An excellent little story by Matt Fraction and John Romita, Jr. on how to deal with people who want the moon.
Dark Horse - Doctor Solar/Magnus - Two separate stories scripted by Jim Shooter bringing back some old Valiant characters for some new fans, hopefully.
DC - War of the Supermen - James Robinson and Sterling Gates bring newcomers up-to-date with what's been going on with Superman.
Dynamite - Green Hornet - Five little vignettes teasing readers with the titles currently issued by this publisher dealing with another Golden Age hero who had a TV series back in to 60's. One of these is based on Kevin Smith's script (unused) for the upcoming movie.
As you can see, they didn't dump some old reprints on us, so look forward to next year like I will.
Trade Editions
Batman R. I. P. - Grant Morrison, writer, and Tony Daniel etal, artists ($29.99/30% coupon, Batman 676 - 683 and DC Universe 0, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
I already read Final Crisis, so I knew what happened to Batman because of it. I wanted to see how the regular book handled it. A pretty good story, showing off Batman's skills and Joker's insanity, but it jumps around a lot without explaining what happened. (Come on - we all know he's nor really dead.) I enjoyed it though.
Wolverine, Old Man Logan - Mark Millar, writer, and Steve McNiven, artist ($34.99/30% coupon, Wolverine 66 - 72 and Giant Size Old Man Logan, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
There was a lot of hype about this series as it was being issued, so when it came out as a trade I was looking forward to it. I tried waiting for the soft cover, hoping to get it cheaper but no dice. It's an interesting sort of What If scenario that has the heroes having been beaten by the villains and Logan dealing with how his life in this future pans out. I won't give anything away. There are some interesting touches, some disturbing scenes, but ultimately I was disappointed. To me, it didn't live up to the hype. It was OK.
First Wave
My original understanding of these was that DC was going back to before there were SUPER people, or metahumans as they call them. The preview I saw mentioned Batman, Doc Savage, and the Spirit. I've just read the one-shot prelim and the first 2 issues each of the First Wave mini, and the Doc Savage ongoing. NOTE: Batman has been around forever, and the Spirit has been riding a recent relaunch. For all of you out there who don't know Doc Savage, or Justice, Inc. for that matter, they are products of the Pulps magazines from the 30's and 40's. There's an old saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words. That holds true for Pulps versus comics. For every illustrated panel in a comic there were at least 1,000 words in a Pulp, since the writers got paid by the word.
Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, was the ideal man - a "super" man, if you will - who was a perfect physical and intellectual specimen. He was joined on his adventures by 5 other men, each of whom had a particular field of expertise. It was kind of science-fictiony. Justice, Inc. featured The Avenger - Richard Benson - who was traumatized by the death of his family into meting out justice (in many cases lethally) to evildoers. He was gray-haired and gray-skinned, and so traumatized that he couldn't move his face or show emotion unless he was disguised as someone else.
Both of these characters were attributed to Kenneth Robeson, a House Name owned by the publisher so that they could solicit stories from anyone and every writer was expendable. Actually, Lester Dent is considered to be the main Doc Savage writer, and Paul Ernst the main one on Justice, Inc. No one is credited in the First Wave series, although Bob Kane for Batman and Will Eisner for the Spirit are front and center.
Batman/Doc Savage Special - Brian Azzarello, writer and Phil Noto, artist ($4.99)
As an intro to the miniseries, this isn't too bad. We get to see Batman meet up with Doc Savage, and get some insight into how Azzarello sees them. The "case" - a murder - isn't that interesting, though. There's also a behind-the-scenes section that introduces other characters who'll be making appearances in the mini. Very Interesting.
Doc Savage - Paul Malmont, writer, Howard Porter, artist. ($3.99)
This mag includes a backup feature called Justice, Inc. I've read the first 2 issues, and I like the Justice, Inc. story better, so far. Doc's is about someone trying to get to him and his friends. Justice, Inc. involves the kidnapping of one of the Avenger's men. All of the expected supporting characters are here, the timeline is right in that they take place in the 40's, and hopefully both story lines will improve. I do take offense at them using 5 pages from each mag to "preview" other comics, though. I feel like I'm being ripped off. Interesting.
First Wave - Brian Azzarello, writer and Rags Morales, artist ($3.99)
I've read the first 2 issues here, also, and find this more satisfying. First off, it's the whole mag, no backup story and no previews. The characters are well defined, and the supporting casts are there. They've even brought in some other characters familiar to the timeline such as the Blackhawks (though these are not your father's Blackhawks). Doc starts it off, the Spirit comes in, and Batman makes a brief appearance in issue 2. I enjoyed these.
The reason I wanted to write this now is that I just found out that Frank Frazetta passed away Monday, May 10th, at the age of 82. I owe my vision of what Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, Conan the Barbarian, and so many other fantasy heroes look like to Frank's imagination as translated by his brushes. Sometimes, it was his covers alone that attracted me to a book. Thanks, Frank, for a lot of great memories. God Speed!
Keep reading.
Two weeks ago we celebrated Free Comic Book Day. This was the first one I visited a store on, although it's been going on for years. The publishers and their offerings were:
Marvel - Iron Man/Thor An excellent little story by Matt Fraction and John Romita, Jr. on how to deal with people who want the moon.
Dark Horse - Doctor Solar/Magnus - Two separate stories scripted by Jim Shooter bringing back some old Valiant characters for some new fans, hopefully.
DC - War of the Supermen - James Robinson and Sterling Gates bring newcomers up-to-date with what's been going on with Superman.
Dynamite - Green Hornet - Five little vignettes teasing readers with the titles currently issued by this publisher dealing with another Golden Age hero who had a TV series back in to 60's. One of these is based on Kevin Smith's script (unused) for the upcoming movie.
As you can see, they didn't dump some old reprints on us, so look forward to next year like I will.
Trade Editions
Batman R. I. P. - Grant Morrison, writer, and Tony Daniel etal, artists ($29.99/30% coupon, Batman 676 - 683 and DC Universe 0, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
I already read Final Crisis, so I knew what happened to Batman because of it. I wanted to see how the regular book handled it. A pretty good story, showing off Batman's skills and Joker's insanity, but it jumps around a lot without explaining what happened. (Come on - we all know he's nor really dead.) I enjoyed it though.
Wolverine, Old Man Logan - Mark Millar, writer, and Steve McNiven, artist ($34.99/30% coupon, Wolverine 66 - 72 and Giant Size Old Man Logan, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
There was a lot of hype about this series as it was being issued, so when it came out as a trade I was looking forward to it. I tried waiting for the soft cover, hoping to get it cheaper but no dice. It's an interesting sort of What If scenario that has the heroes having been beaten by the villains and Logan dealing with how his life in this future pans out. I won't give anything away. There are some interesting touches, some disturbing scenes, but ultimately I was disappointed. To me, it didn't live up to the hype. It was OK.
First Wave
My original understanding of these was that DC was going back to before there were SUPER people, or metahumans as they call them. The preview I saw mentioned Batman, Doc Savage, and the Spirit. I've just read the one-shot prelim and the first 2 issues each of the First Wave mini, and the Doc Savage ongoing. NOTE: Batman has been around forever, and the Spirit has been riding a recent relaunch. For all of you out there who don't know Doc Savage, or Justice, Inc. for that matter, they are products of the Pulps magazines from the 30's and 40's. There's an old saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words. That holds true for Pulps versus comics. For every illustrated panel in a comic there were at least 1,000 words in a Pulp, since the writers got paid by the word.
Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, was the ideal man - a "super" man, if you will - who was a perfect physical and intellectual specimen. He was joined on his adventures by 5 other men, each of whom had a particular field of expertise. It was kind of science-fictiony. Justice, Inc. featured The Avenger - Richard Benson - who was traumatized by the death of his family into meting out justice (in many cases lethally) to evildoers. He was gray-haired and gray-skinned, and so traumatized that he couldn't move his face or show emotion unless he was disguised as someone else.
Both of these characters were attributed to Kenneth Robeson, a House Name owned by the publisher so that they could solicit stories from anyone and every writer was expendable. Actually, Lester Dent is considered to be the main Doc Savage writer, and Paul Ernst the main one on Justice, Inc. No one is credited in the First Wave series, although Bob Kane for Batman and Will Eisner for the Spirit are front and center.
Batman/Doc Savage Special - Brian Azzarello, writer and Phil Noto, artist ($4.99)
As an intro to the miniseries, this isn't too bad. We get to see Batman meet up with Doc Savage, and get some insight into how Azzarello sees them. The "case" - a murder - isn't that interesting, though. There's also a behind-the-scenes section that introduces other characters who'll be making appearances in the mini. Very Interesting.
Doc Savage - Paul Malmont, writer, Howard Porter, artist. ($3.99)
This mag includes a backup feature called Justice, Inc. I've read the first 2 issues, and I like the Justice, Inc. story better, so far. Doc's is about someone trying to get to him and his friends. Justice, Inc. involves the kidnapping of one of the Avenger's men. All of the expected supporting characters are here, the timeline is right in that they take place in the 40's, and hopefully both story lines will improve. I do take offense at them using 5 pages from each mag to "preview" other comics, though. I feel like I'm being ripped off. Interesting.
First Wave - Brian Azzarello, writer and Rags Morales, artist ($3.99)
I've read the first 2 issues here, also, and find this more satisfying. First off, it's the whole mag, no backup story and no previews. The characters are well defined, and the supporting casts are there. They've even brought in some other characters familiar to the timeline such as the Blackhawks (though these are not your father's Blackhawks). Doc starts it off, the Spirit comes in, and Batman makes a brief appearance in issue 2. I enjoyed these.
The reason I wanted to write this now is that I just found out that Frank Frazetta passed away Monday, May 10th, at the age of 82. I owe my vision of what Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, Conan the Barbarian, and so many other fantasy heroes look like to Frank's imagination as translated by his brushes. Sometimes, it was his covers alone that attracted me to a book. Thanks, Frank, for a lot of great memories. God Speed!
Keep reading.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Chapter Seven
Some interesting stuff this time around so lets get right into it..............
Non-Fiction
I decided to add this as a separate category, since I seem to be finding more and more non-fiction that piques my curiosity. I even have a biography back there in THE PILE somewhere that I'll get to eventually.
The Portable Obituary - Michael Largo ($14.95/$2.50, 273 pages, copyright 2007, Trade Paperback) Come on - who doesn't want to know how famous (and some not so famous) people died. This is an alphabetical listing of Presidents and Kings, Writers and Entertainers, and others who may be familiar to you. There's also some interesting information on how certain musicians died in similar fashions, and how TV show cast members passed on. Interesting.
One Up Trivia - Ken Weber ($9.95/$2.50, 205 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback) Here's something interesting, a book that asks the next question. For example, we all know that the Wright Brothers made the first flight but..Which one flew the plane? It's set up in several categories such as Classic Movies, Sports, Weirdness, etc., some of which attracted me immediately. Interesting.
Series
Promise Me - Harlan Coben ($9.99/$.50, 489 pages, copyright 2006, Paperback) I'm pretty sure I've written about a Coben book before. He bases all of his novels in New Jersey, and once in a while I actually recognize something he mentions. This is one of his Myron Bolitar books. Myron was a Sports Agent who had expanded his business to include other celebrities. This book has nothing to do with them. It's more a personal situation that causes Myron to reconsider what he does on the side - help other people. It raises questions about just how far a parent will go for his/her child. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Son of Holmes - John Lescroart ($14.00/$7.50, 243 pages, copyright 1986, Trade Paperback) I found this in a second-hand store in Metuchen. Not only is it about Holmes (a hobby of mine) but it's written by Lescroat who I'm a big fan of (he writes the Dismas Hardy books). This takes place in France during the early years of WW2 and involves espionage (peripherally) and murder. Once I got it - who the Son of Holmes is - the book became even more enjoyable. There have been rumors in the past. I enjoyed it.
The Sherlock Holmes Handbook - Ransom Riggs ($16.95, 221 pages, copyright 2009, Hard Cover) This book touches on all the various aspects of Holmes life and career, with the added pleasure of instructing the reader on how to use these to become an investigator on his own. I enjoyed it.
Extra Note:
My local library held a book sale over this passed weekend. I went Friday and brought home copies of The Maltese Falcon, A Clockwork Orange, and Slaugther-house Five all for a grand total of $.75. You can't beat it. I'm looking forward to reading these again.
That's it for now. Keep Reading!
Non-Fiction
I decided to add this as a separate category, since I seem to be finding more and more non-fiction that piques my curiosity. I even have a biography back there in THE PILE somewhere that I'll get to eventually.
The Portable Obituary - Michael Largo ($14.95/$2.50, 273 pages, copyright 2007, Trade Paperback) Come on - who doesn't want to know how famous (and some not so famous) people died. This is an alphabetical listing of Presidents and Kings, Writers and Entertainers, and others who may be familiar to you. There's also some interesting information on how certain musicians died in similar fashions, and how TV show cast members passed on. Interesting.
One Up Trivia - Ken Weber ($9.95/$2.50, 205 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback) Here's something interesting, a book that asks the next question. For example, we all know that the Wright Brothers made the first flight but..Which one flew the plane? It's set up in several categories such as Classic Movies, Sports, Weirdness, etc., some of which attracted me immediately. Interesting.
Series
Promise Me - Harlan Coben ($9.99/$.50, 489 pages, copyright 2006, Paperback) I'm pretty sure I've written about a Coben book before. He bases all of his novels in New Jersey, and once in a while I actually recognize something he mentions. This is one of his Myron Bolitar books. Myron was a Sports Agent who had expanded his business to include other celebrities. This book has nothing to do with them. It's more a personal situation that causes Myron to reconsider what he does on the side - help other people. It raises questions about just how far a parent will go for his/her child. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Son of Holmes - John Lescroart ($14.00/$7.50, 243 pages, copyright 1986, Trade Paperback) I found this in a second-hand store in Metuchen. Not only is it about Holmes (a hobby of mine) but it's written by Lescroat who I'm a big fan of (he writes the Dismas Hardy books). This takes place in France during the early years of WW2 and involves espionage (peripherally) and murder. Once I got it - who the Son of Holmes is - the book became even more enjoyable. There have been rumors in the past. I enjoyed it.
The Sherlock Holmes Handbook - Ransom Riggs ($16.95, 221 pages, copyright 2009, Hard Cover) This book touches on all the various aspects of Holmes life and career, with the added pleasure of instructing the reader on how to use these to become an investigator on his own. I enjoyed it.
Extra Note:
My local library held a book sale over this passed weekend. I went Friday and brought home copies of The Maltese Falcon, A Clockwork Orange, and Slaugther-house Five all for a grand total of $.75. You can't beat it. I'm looking forward to reading these again.
That's it for now. Keep Reading!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Chapter Six
Spring is here, and I've got some interesting stuff to tell you about - including a couple of Holy Crap Look What I found items.
Series
The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper - John D. MacDonald (256 pages, $4.95/$.50, copyright 1968, Paperback)
The first of the Holy Crap items - a Travis McGee novel! I haven't seen one of these in about 30 years. McGee is still the salvager with a past, who does things when he needs the money, usually. This time he does his thing for someone he once knew. He meddles, he takes his lumps, and he figures it out. And he gets the girl. I enjoyed it.
Murder on the Eiffel Tower! - Claude Izmer (286 pages, $23.93/$.50, copyright 2003, Trade paperback)
This is supposed to be the first in a series centering on a bookseller in Paris in the late 1800's, along with his oriental partner/father figure, clerk, and mistresses. The method of the murder is interesting, as is the murderer, but I would've liked a little more historical information. After all this is set during the exhibition when the Tower was opened to the public, and Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Circus were there. OK.
A Catskill Eagle -Robert B. Parker (368 pages, $4.95/$.50, copyright 1985, Paperback)
Spenser at his best. Hawke is in jail, and Susan is in trouble. All of the usual comfortable characters help them out on both coasts. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
You Don't Love Me Yet - Jonathan Lethem (224 pages, $24.95/$.25, copyright 2007, Hard Cover)
If you've been reading this blog, you may remember that back in Chapter One I enthused over Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn. This is totally different. The alternative rock scene in Los Angeles, with the band mates, their day jobs, and a Complainer. I tried for about 50 pages but lost interest, even though the way Lethem writes is very entertaining. Back on the pile.
Bored of the Rings - The Harvard Lampoon (Henry N. Beard and Douglas C. Kenney) (160 pages, $1.00/$.50, copyright 1969, Paperback)
You read that title right. This is the second Holy Crap item, a spoof of The Lord of the Rings. I read this back in 1969, after having read the Trilogy. I still found myself laughing out loud at some of the inventive things the Lampooners came up with. It does drag from time to time, since they do tend to overdo it. But then again, so did Tolkien. I enjoyed it.
Comics
Kick-Ass - Mark Millar (writer) and John Romita, Jr. (penciller) (Issues 1 - 8, $24.99/30% off coupon, Copyright 2010, Hard Cover Trade Edition)
This has been made into a movie that opens soon, so I was very curious about it. Simply, it's about the real world, and what happens when a young man attempts to become a "superhero" in it. It's very graphic, and very interesting. But it's only one man's opinion as to how the world would react. I enjoyed it.
That's it for now.
Read on!
Series
The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper - John D. MacDonald (256 pages, $4.95/$.50, copyright 1968, Paperback)
The first of the Holy Crap items - a Travis McGee novel! I haven't seen one of these in about 30 years. McGee is still the salvager with a past, who does things when he needs the money, usually. This time he does his thing for someone he once knew. He meddles, he takes his lumps, and he figures it out. And he gets the girl. I enjoyed it.
Murder on the Eiffel Tower! - Claude Izmer (286 pages, $23.93/$.50, copyright 2003, Trade paperback)
This is supposed to be the first in a series centering on a bookseller in Paris in the late 1800's, along with his oriental partner/father figure, clerk, and mistresses. The method of the murder is interesting, as is the murderer, but I would've liked a little more historical information. After all this is set during the exhibition when the Tower was opened to the public, and Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Circus were there. OK.
A Catskill Eagle -Robert B. Parker (368 pages, $4.95/$.50, copyright 1985, Paperback)
Spenser at his best. Hawke is in jail, and Susan is in trouble. All of the usual comfortable characters help them out on both coasts. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
You Don't Love Me Yet - Jonathan Lethem (224 pages, $24.95/$.25, copyright 2007, Hard Cover)
If you've been reading this blog, you may remember that back in Chapter One I enthused over Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn. This is totally different. The alternative rock scene in Los Angeles, with the band mates, their day jobs, and a Complainer. I tried for about 50 pages but lost interest, even though the way Lethem writes is very entertaining. Back on the pile.
Bored of the Rings - The Harvard Lampoon (Henry N. Beard and Douglas C. Kenney) (160 pages, $1.00/$.50, copyright 1969, Paperback)
You read that title right. This is the second Holy Crap item, a spoof of The Lord of the Rings. I read this back in 1969, after having read the Trilogy. I still found myself laughing out loud at some of the inventive things the Lampooners came up with. It does drag from time to time, since they do tend to overdo it. But then again, so did Tolkien. I enjoyed it.
Comics
Kick-Ass - Mark Millar (writer) and John Romita, Jr. (penciller) (Issues 1 - 8, $24.99/30% off coupon, Copyright 2010, Hard Cover Trade Edition)
This has been made into a movie that opens soon, so I was very curious about it. Simply, it's about the real world, and what happens when a young man attempts to become a "superhero" in it. It's very graphic, and very interesting. But it's only one man's opinion as to how the world would react. I enjoyed it.
That's it for now.
Read on!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Special Insert
Soooo, I have the use of a computer all day today and since I've read a lot of comic book stuff these last few days, I think it's time for a Special Insert.
Comics
Defenders - Keith Giffins and J. M. DeMatteis writers; Kevin Maguire, penciler. ($19.99/$6.98, copyright 2006, Hard Cover)
If you recognize the names then you know that this is the same creative team that is "famous" for the Justice League International phenomena. This Hard Cover edition includes all 5 issues of their take on the Marvel Super team. It's a typical Earth-in-danger-by-mystic-forces tale where Doctor Strange rounds up Namor, the Hulk, and tries for the Silver Surfer. What makes this one great is Namor telling Strange he sounds like bad Shakespeare, and the remarkable facial expressions that Maguire draws. I enjoyed it.
Batman: Gotham After Midnight - Steve Niles, writer and Kelley Jones, artist ($19.99/Gift Card, Copyright 2009, Trade Edition)
This edition includes all 12 issues in the miniseries. Here Batman faces off against several of his usual villains while trying to figure out who's really behind everything. A good story made better by a good part for Bruce Wayne (for a change) and an involved Alfred. I enjoyed it.
Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock - Robert Kanigher, writer and Joe Kubert, artist (for the most part) (543 pages, $16.99/30% off coupon, Copyright 2007, Trade Edition)
Included here are sort of an origin story from the January, 1959 issue of GI Combat and the Easy Company stories from Our Army At War dating from April, 1959 to April, 1962. All of these tales revolve around DC's WW2 hero. I remember them fondly, but unfortunately they tend to drag when you read them all at once. Rock finds a way out, Rock teaches a lesson, Rock overcomes wounds. That's pretty much it. It's OK, but I recommend reading a few stories at a time.
In the last chapter, 5 I think, I ran on about my problem with single issue purchasing. Briefly, I had to wait months before I was finally able to pick up the last issue of the Flash:Reborn initial story arc. I got last Thursday so I should be happy, but I'm not. The story was OK, and sets up an ongoing, but my gripe now is with the number of pages devoted to the story. I didn't look back at the first 4 issues, but issues 5 and 6 came with excerpts of other DC upcoming specials each numbering about 5 pages. This means that I got 5 less pages of story and artwork for the comic I was buying. That just doesn't seem fair.
Keep reading.
Comics
Defenders - Keith Giffins and J. M. DeMatteis writers; Kevin Maguire, penciler. ($19.99/$6.98, copyright 2006, Hard Cover)
If you recognize the names then you know that this is the same creative team that is "famous" for the Justice League International phenomena. This Hard Cover edition includes all 5 issues of their take on the Marvel Super team. It's a typical Earth-in-danger-by-mystic-forces tale where Doctor Strange rounds up Namor, the Hulk, and tries for the Silver Surfer. What makes this one great is Namor telling Strange he sounds like bad Shakespeare, and the remarkable facial expressions that Maguire draws. I enjoyed it.
Batman: Gotham After Midnight - Steve Niles, writer and Kelley Jones, artist ($19.99/Gift Card, Copyright 2009, Trade Edition)
This edition includes all 12 issues in the miniseries. Here Batman faces off against several of his usual villains while trying to figure out who's really behind everything. A good story made better by a good part for Bruce Wayne (for a change) and an involved Alfred. I enjoyed it.
Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock - Robert Kanigher, writer and Joe Kubert, artist (for the most part) (543 pages, $16.99/30% off coupon, Copyright 2007, Trade Edition)
Included here are sort of an origin story from the January, 1959 issue of GI Combat and the Easy Company stories from Our Army At War dating from April, 1959 to April, 1962. All of these tales revolve around DC's WW2 hero. I remember them fondly, but unfortunately they tend to drag when you read them all at once. Rock finds a way out, Rock teaches a lesson, Rock overcomes wounds. That's pretty much it. It's OK, but I recommend reading a few stories at a time.
In the last chapter, 5 I think, I ran on about my problem with single issue purchasing. Briefly, I had to wait months before I was finally able to pick up the last issue of the Flash:Reborn initial story arc. I got last Thursday so I should be happy, but I'm not. The story was OK, and sets up an ongoing, but my gripe now is with the number of pages devoted to the story. I didn't look back at the first 4 issues, but issues 5 and 6 came with excerpts of other DC upcoming specials each numbering about 5 pages. This means that I got 5 less pages of story and artwork for the comic I was buying. That just doesn't seem fair.
Keep reading.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Chapter Five
OK, it's been a strange month full of good news and bad. It looks like this chapter is going to fall into the same categories as well.
Miscellaneous
The London Pigeon Wars - Patrick Neate (323 pages, $24.00/$.50, copyright 2003, Hard Cover) One of the blurbs on the jacket compared Neate's use of language to "A Clockwork Orange", so I bought it. My mistake. It was interesting at first, a group of 30-something Brits bemoaning their lives meets up with a friend from 20 years passed and plan a bank robbery, interspersed by section narrated by a pigeon involved in the War. Unfortunately, it got too involved with the language, and I began to lose interest towards the end. OK.
The Worst-Case Survival Handbook - Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht (176 pages, No price marked/$.25, copyright 1999, Soft Cover) Definitely worst-case! I can't see anyone who grew up in the Bronx ever being in any of these situations. I'll help you out - in the situation involving wild animals - STAY AWAY! No opinion, since it's not a novel.
Series
PlayBack - Raymond Chandler (168 pages, $2.25/$.50, copyright 1958, Paperback) This should go under the heading of "Holy Crap! Look what I found! Philip Marlowe! What more could you want. Marlowe is the archetype for all the wise-cracking, hard as nails PIs that came after him. This one is no real mystery just classic Marlowe doggedly getting at the truth. Enjoyed it.
Downside to Library Shopping
Yes, there are two drawbacks to library shopping, and they are perfectly illustrated by the following:
Everglades - Randy Wayne White (351 pages, $7.99/$.50, copyright 2003, Paperback) To paraphrase the Stones - You can't always like what you get. I could see where this one was going after 94 pages (about 1/4 of the way through). The main character is a Marine Biologist with a past, and the action hadn't even left his boat. I've got too many other books piled up to keep struggling with one. Back on the Pile.
Person or Persons Unknown - Bruce Alexander (325 pages, $5.99/$.50, copyright 1997, Paperback) Draw back number 2. I read it already. This is part of a series, and I wasn't sure I'd read it, but I had. Nevertheless, it's a great series centered on Sir John Fielding (brother to Henry Fielding of "Tom Jones" fame), who was the blind magistrate who started the Bow Street Runners in London. Excellent period piece, and a good mystery to boot.
Comic Books
The Brave and the Bold: The Book of Destiny - Mark Waid (writer), George Perez and Jerry Ordway (pencils) ($12.99/30 percent off coupon, copyright 2008, Hard Cover) This volume includes issues 7 through 12 of the individual comic. I bought it because in addition to the usual superheroes (i.e., Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.) on the cover, there were - THE CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN -one of my favorite groups ever, and sadly underused for most of the last decade. Anyway, there were some different pairings, and some unusual situations not normally found in a team-up book. To tease you into looking for this it included The Doom Patrol, and the BlackHawks along with The Flash and Green Lantern. Enjoyed it.
Now, a reason for buying comics in Trade Editions. When I was a kid, you'd get your dose of your favorite superhero monthly. Each issue was a stand alone adventure, and it was an Event if there was a two-parter or a cross-over. Nowadays, most story lines run in 6-issue arcs. I was lucky to get the first 3 issues of the recent Flash:Reborn series from my brother. This was back in August. Now all I had to do was collect the last 3 issues of the arc, and I'd have the whole set. It's now March, 7 months later and I'm still waiting for issue number 6 - THE LAST ISSUE - to come out. The guy in the store said maybe next week. This is why I usually wait for the Trade to come out. No muss, no fuss.
ALSO, for anyone who actually reads this, I finally started the jigsaw puzzle from Christmas.
Talk to you later.
Miscellaneous
The London Pigeon Wars - Patrick Neate (323 pages, $24.00/$.50, copyright 2003, Hard Cover) One of the blurbs on the jacket compared Neate's use of language to "A Clockwork Orange", so I bought it. My mistake. It was interesting at first, a group of 30-something Brits bemoaning their lives meets up with a friend from 20 years passed and plan a bank robbery, interspersed by section narrated by a pigeon involved in the War. Unfortunately, it got too involved with the language, and I began to lose interest towards the end. OK.
The Worst-Case Survival Handbook - Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht (176 pages, No price marked/$.25, copyright 1999, Soft Cover) Definitely worst-case! I can't see anyone who grew up in the Bronx ever being in any of these situations. I'll help you out - in the situation involving wild animals - STAY AWAY! No opinion, since it's not a novel.
Series
PlayBack - Raymond Chandler (168 pages, $2.25/$.50, copyright 1958, Paperback) This should go under the heading of "Holy Crap! Look what I found! Philip Marlowe! What more could you want. Marlowe is the archetype for all the wise-cracking, hard as nails PIs that came after him. This one is no real mystery just classic Marlowe doggedly getting at the truth. Enjoyed it.
Downside to Library Shopping
Yes, there are two drawbacks to library shopping, and they are perfectly illustrated by the following:
Everglades - Randy Wayne White (351 pages, $7.99/$.50, copyright 2003, Paperback) To paraphrase the Stones - You can't always like what you get. I could see where this one was going after 94 pages (about 1/4 of the way through). The main character is a Marine Biologist with a past, and the action hadn't even left his boat. I've got too many other books piled up to keep struggling with one. Back on the Pile.
Person or Persons Unknown - Bruce Alexander (325 pages, $5.99/$.50, copyright 1997, Paperback) Draw back number 2. I read it already. This is part of a series, and I wasn't sure I'd read it, but I had. Nevertheless, it's a great series centered on Sir John Fielding (brother to Henry Fielding of "Tom Jones" fame), who was the blind magistrate who started the Bow Street Runners in London. Excellent period piece, and a good mystery to boot.
Comic Books
The Brave and the Bold: The Book of Destiny - Mark Waid (writer), George Perez and Jerry Ordway (pencils) ($12.99/30 percent off coupon, copyright 2008, Hard Cover) This volume includes issues 7 through 12 of the individual comic. I bought it because in addition to the usual superheroes (i.e., Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.) on the cover, there were - THE CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN -one of my favorite groups ever, and sadly underused for most of the last decade. Anyway, there were some different pairings, and some unusual situations not normally found in a team-up book. To tease you into looking for this it included The Doom Patrol, and the BlackHawks along with The Flash and Green Lantern. Enjoyed it.
Now, a reason for buying comics in Trade Editions. When I was a kid, you'd get your dose of your favorite superhero monthly. Each issue was a stand alone adventure, and it was an Event if there was a two-parter or a cross-over. Nowadays, most story lines run in 6-issue arcs. I was lucky to get the first 3 issues of the recent Flash:Reborn series from my brother. This was back in August. Now all I had to do was collect the last 3 issues of the arc, and I'd have the whole set. It's now March, 7 months later and I'm still waiting for issue number 6 - THE LAST ISSUE - to come out. The guy in the store said maybe next week. This is why I usually wait for the Trade to come out. No muss, no fuss.
ALSO, for anyone who actually reads this, I finally started the jigsaw puzzle from Christmas.
Talk to you later.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Chapter Four
These last few weeks saw the passing of several writers whose work will stand the test of time. Erich Segal wrote "Love Story" and the movie of the same name which was probably THE Chick Flick of my generation. Robert Parker wrote the Spencer and Jesse Stone books which were made into TV programs that were quality entertainment. J. D. Salinger wrote "The Catcher in the Rye" which is still being read by high school students who almost always identify with the main character. Each will be missed by their respective followers.
What I have for you this time are several books, only one of which was written by one of the previously mentioned, recently passed, writers.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes in America - Martin H. Greenberg, Jon. L. Lellenberg and David Stashover, Editors, (375 pages, $14.95/gift card, copyright 2009, Trade Paperback).
16 stories by various authors all dealing with the exploits of Sherlock Holmes in the New World - America. Some address his early years preparing for his career, before Watson. Some include Watson and deal with follow ups to previous recorded cases. One, in particular, is "written" by Holmes himself, and serves as a lead in to his Final Bow. Most are well-written, especially the one leading up to his Final Bow, but I must admit I was a little disappointed. Holmes should be in England, dealing with the fog, hansom cabs, and Scotland Yard. Not bad.
Series
Night Passage - Robert B. Parker (324 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1998, Paperback)
This is the first in the Jesse Stone series, and the first one I've read. It's different from the Spenser books - not as light, and told in the 3rd person. We have a flawed character in a new situation, and faced with controlling his demons in order to do his job as Chief of Police in a small New England town. I enjoyed it.
Cross Country - James Patterson (406 pages, $27.99/$2.00, copyright 2008, Hard Cover)
This is another of the Alex Cross novels that Paterson finds the time to churn out amidst his other literary endeavors. I've always liked these, and this is no exception. Murder in DC leads to a manhunt in Nigeria, and Cross' brutal realization of the realities of life in many of the countries in Africa. I thought the ending was a little too pat, and a bit rushed, however. I enjoyed it.
The Vig - John Lescroat (376 pages, $7.99/$.50, copyright 1990, Paperback)
This is one of the Dismas Hardy/Abe Glitsky novels that have always been a pleasure to read. This is one of the earlier ones in the series, and is set during the time that Hardy has left the DA's office and is tending bar. An old friend dies(?), murder threats, ex-cons, San Francisco and Mexico, and the personal lives and problems of our heroes all mixed together nicely. I enjoyed it.
The Mile High Club - Kinky Friedman (223 Pages, $13.00/$.50, copyright 2000, Paperback)
A while back I reviewed Richard Belzer's first book, and this is of the same genre. Kinky writes about himself, as he investigates a crime. We have a mysterious woman, the State Department, terrorists, and Kinky's assortment of friends/characters who circle around him at his loft in the Village. The writing started out interesting, but grew stale rapidly, as he tends to use the same phrases over and over. If you liked his past as a county music personality (Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys) you may enjoy this. I found it to be passable.
That's all for now. As Ringo says, Peace and Love.
What I have for you this time are several books, only one of which was written by one of the previously mentioned, recently passed, writers.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes in America - Martin H. Greenberg, Jon. L. Lellenberg and David Stashover, Editors, (375 pages, $14.95/gift card, copyright 2009, Trade Paperback).
16 stories by various authors all dealing with the exploits of Sherlock Holmes in the New World - America. Some address his early years preparing for his career, before Watson. Some include Watson and deal with follow ups to previous recorded cases. One, in particular, is "written" by Holmes himself, and serves as a lead in to his Final Bow. Most are well-written, especially the one leading up to his Final Bow, but I must admit I was a little disappointed. Holmes should be in England, dealing with the fog, hansom cabs, and Scotland Yard. Not bad.
Series
Night Passage - Robert B. Parker (324 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1998, Paperback)
This is the first in the Jesse Stone series, and the first one I've read. It's different from the Spenser books - not as light, and told in the 3rd person. We have a flawed character in a new situation, and faced with controlling his demons in order to do his job as Chief of Police in a small New England town. I enjoyed it.
Cross Country - James Patterson (406 pages, $27.99/$2.00, copyright 2008, Hard Cover)
This is another of the Alex Cross novels that Paterson finds the time to churn out amidst his other literary endeavors. I've always liked these, and this is no exception. Murder in DC leads to a manhunt in Nigeria, and Cross' brutal realization of the realities of life in many of the countries in Africa. I thought the ending was a little too pat, and a bit rushed, however. I enjoyed it.
The Vig - John Lescroat (376 pages, $7.99/$.50, copyright 1990, Paperback)
This is one of the Dismas Hardy/Abe Glitsky novels that have always been a pleasure to read. This is one of the earlier ones in the series, and is set during the time that Hardy has left the DA's office and is tending bar. An old friend dies(?), murder threats, ex-cons, San Francisco and Mexico, and the personal lives and problems of our heroes all mixed together nicely. I enjoyed it.
The Mile High Club - Kinky Friedman (223 Pages, $13.00/$.50, copyright 2000, Paperback)
A while back I reviewed Richard Belzer's first book, and this is of the same genre. Kinky writes about himself, as he investigates a crime. We have a mysterious woman, the State Department, terrorists, and Kinky's assortment of friends/characters who circle around him at his loft in the Village. The writing started out interesting, but grew stale rapidly, as he tends to use the same phrases over and over. If you liked his past as a county music personality (Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys) you may enjoy this. I found it to be passable.
That's all for now. As Ringo says, Peace and Love.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Chapter Three
OK, so I've got some interesting stuff this time around, including an expansion of what I've been posting so far. Not a lot, mind you, due to the demands of this past Christmas season, but some good stuff.
Trade Paperbacks
"Showcase Presents: DC Comics Presents: Superman Team-ups" ($17 bucks less a 30% coupon at Borders, Issues 1 to 26, July/August 1978 to October 1980)
Think about it, Superman - the first superhero - teamed up with other heroes from the DC Universe. Should be a no-brainer but I found these stories to be uneven, at best. The "Team mates" ran the gamut from the Flash (first 2 issues), Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (twice), to Adam Strange, Swamp Thing, and Red Tornado. Just reading this list you can see that some of these would work and some wouldn't. Come on.....Red Tornado! Authors included Martin Pasko, David Micheline, Len Wein, Denny O'Neil and others. Artist included Dan Adkins, Joe Stanton, Jim Starlin and others. Not too bad, overall, since it does run for 26 issues.
Miscellaneous
"Not Dead Enough" - Peter James (486 Pages, copyright 2007, Trade paperback, 12 Pounds 99 pence/ $.50 at the library)
That's right, 12 Pounds, 99 pence was the printed price. This is an English edition. Also, it's a pre-publication edition, so there's next to no editing and . . . it's AUTOGRAPHED. You'd be amazed what you can find at the library. A murder mystery but told in alternating chapters from the points of view of the inspector (or whatever his English title was), the killer, and the victim(s). I enjoyed it.
"High Citadel" - Desmond Bagley (295 pages, copyright 1966, paperback, $.50/$.50)
Another oddity. The price I paid turned out to be the original cover price. Of course, it was originally published in 1966 by Pocketbooks when I was a Freshman in High School (and YES they did have schools back then). This one involves a plane crash in the Andes, civilians against the communist army, and medieval weapons versus modern. I found myself "casting" the movie with Errol Flynn as the pilot, George Kennedy and Gilbert Roland as the 2 who go over the mountain, and other actors/actresses who I can visualize but can't, unfortunately, name. I enjoyed it.
"The Book of Lies" - Brad Meltzer (336 pages, copyright 2008, Hard Cover, $25.99/$.50)
This was the reason that I read "The Book of Fate" previously. I wanted to see how Meltzer wrote. I liked that one. I liked this one, also, but part of the plot seemed similar to the previous book. The protagonist (like that term?) is an easily recognizable character due to some physical abnormality, and there's a crazy guy after him. Other then that, this one had themes involving father/son relationships, trust issues, some religion, and the similarity between Cain's murder of Abel and the murder of Jerry Siegal's father. Oh, and I should mention that Jerry Siegal created Superman (WOW, a link back to the first entry this time around). I enjoyed it.
Something Different
I believe I said originally that I would be posting my likes/dislikes about books, movies, etc. on this page. Well, here comes my first movie review, although it is a DVD release. I still can't see myself going to movies by myself (Look what happened to PeeWee.).
"Star Trek"
Someone asked me if I thought it was too pat that all the familiar characters wound up on the Enterprise so easily. My answer is that this is how it happened, and it doesn't matter if it was easy or not. (At least as far as J. J. Abvrams feels.) This was great! The actors have their archetypes nailed! I thought the changes make for a more interesting dynamic amongst them. And I loved that, in the scenes set in space, there was NO NOISE! I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I hear that the next one centers on KHAN. I may actually reconsider my movie-going policy.
Brief note.
I got a gift card to Target for Christmas, ans used part of it to buy myself a jigsaw puzzle. 2000 pieces, with a final measurement of 38" by 26" (a little over 3 feet by 2 feet). It's Van Gogh's "Starry Night", which is my favorite picture. I bought it the week after Christmas, and so far, did remove the wrapper and look in the box. I need to find a place I can work on it without the cat messing it up. I'll keep you posted.
Trade Paperbacks
"Showcase Presents: DC Comics Presents: Superman Team-ups" ($17 bucks less a 30% coupon at Borders, Issues 1 to 26, July/August 1978 to October 1980)
Think about it, Superman - the first superhero - teamed up with other heroes from the DC Universe. Should be a no-brainer but I found these stories to be uneven, at best. The "Team mates" ran the gamut from the Flash (first 2 issues), Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (twice), to Adam Strange, Swamp Thing, and Red Tornado. Just reading this list you can see that some of these would work and some wouldn't. Come on.....Red Tornado! Authors included Martin Pasko, David Micheline, Len Wein, Denny O'Neil and others. Artist included Dan Adkins, Joe Stanton, Jim Starlin and others. Not too bad, overall, since it does run for 26 issues.
Miscellaneous
"Not Dead Enough" - Peter James (486 Pages, copyright 2007, Trade paperback, 12 Pounds 99 pence/ $.50 at the library)
That's right, 12 Pounds, 99 pence was the printed price. This is an English edition. Also, it's a pre-publication edition, so there's next to no editing and . . . it's AUTOGRAPHED. You'd be amazed what you can find at the library. A murder mystery but told in alternating chapters from the points of view of the inspector (or whatever his English title was), the killer, and the victim(s). I enjoyed it.
"High Citadel" - Desmond Bagley (295 pages, copyright 1966, paperback, $.50/$.50)
Another oddity. The price I paid turned out to be the original cover price. Of course, it was originally published in 1966 by Pocketbooks when I was a Freshman in High School (and YES they did have schools back then). This one involves a plane crash in the Andes, civilians against the communist army, and medieval weapons versus modern. I found myself "casting" the movie with Errol Flynn as the pilot, George Kennedy and Gilbert Roland as the 2 who go over the mountain, and other actors/actresses who I can visualize but can't, unfortunately, name. I enjoyed it.
"The Book of Lies" - Brad Meltzer (336 pages, copyright 2008, Hard Cover, $25.99/$.50)
This was the reason that I read "The Book of Fate" previously. I wanted to see how Meltzer wrote. I liked that one. I liked this one, also, but part of the plot seemed similar to the previous book. The protagonist (like that term?) is an easily recognizable character due to some physical abnormality, and there's a crazy guy after him. Other then that, this one had themes involving father/son relationships, trust issues, some religion, and the similarity between Cain's murder of Abel and the murder of Jerry Siegal's father. Oh, and I should mention that Jerry Siegal created Superman (WOW, a link back to the first entry this time around). I enjoyed it.
Something Different
I believe I said originally that I would be posting my likes/dislikes about books, movies, etc. on this page. Well, here comes my first movie review, although it is a DVD release. I still can't see myself going to movies by myself (Look what happened to PeeWee.).
"Star Trek"
Someone asked me if I thought it was too pat that all the familiar characters wound up on the Enterprise so easily. My answer is that this is how it happened, and it doesn't matter if it was easy or not. (At least as far as J. J. Abvrams feels.) This was great! The actors have their archetypes nailed! I thought the changes make for a more interesting dynamic amongst them. And I loved that, in the scenes set in space, there was NO NOISE! I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I hear that the next one centers on KHAN. I may actually reconsider my movie-going policy.
Brief note.
I got a gift card to Target for Christmas, ans used part of it to buy myself a jigsaw puzzle. 2000 pieces, with a final measurement of 38" by 26" (a little over 3 feet by 2 feet). It's Van Gogh's "Starry Night", which is my favorite picture. I bought it the week after Christmas, and so far, did remove the wrapper and look in the box. I need to find a place I can work on it without the cat messing it up. I'll keep you posted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)