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.
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