Well, here we are in December and the temperature outside is in the sixties as I write this (about 5:30 PM). This must be what Christmas in Florida is like (except most of our trees are bare). Anyway, I have something interesting this month so let's get to it.
Series
The Renegades - T. Jefferson Parker ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 392 pages, Paperback)
I picked this up because the blurbs on the back sounded interesting. The protagonist is Charlie Hood, an L. A. Deputy who transfers to an outlying precinct because of his involvement in an earlier case. He's a late-20's, ex-Iraqi War vet with a personal code of honor and here he and his partner get called out to a housing issue. On the way back, they're attacked in their car. His partner dies but he - strangely - survives. The rest of the book deals with his involvement with Internal Affairs and his investigation into his late partner's life - which wasn't as clean as everyone assumed - and why he was spared. The last third of the book barrels along, but I found the beginning - and the use of multiple voices - to be confusing. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
The Corsican Brothers - Alexander Dumas ($13.95/$13.95, written in 1847, published in 2007, 126 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Dumas, and when I came across this while Christmas shopping I couldn't resist. (As it turns out, that was a good decision since the discount sites I use say it's out of print.) I also have to say, up front, that I remember seeing various filmed versions of this story over the years (including a made-for-TV version in early '85 while rocking our newborn daughter so her mom could get some sleep) so I was excited to find it. Dumas actually acts as the narrator here, discussing his tour of Corsica and his meeting with the de Franchi family. Here he learns about the 2 brothers - Louis and Lucien - and the fact that they had been conjoined when born and now, though separated, still share an important bond. While the underlying concept of the brothers' relationship has carried through to the movies (they share each other's pain), the actual story hasn't. The book, though well written, isn't as exciting as any of the filmed versions. I did enjoy it, though.
A little explanation is due here before I talk about the last of this month's selections.
I've mentioned, over the past year, how I've come across John Dunning's books about Cliff Janeway and how I can identify with his business as a Bookman - the search for something unique and the itch for something when you find it. Well, recently I was in the library in Metuchen when I came across the following book. I read the blurbs and it sounded interesting but I didn't know the author and it was marked at $2.00. I have to admit that I try to keep my library purchases to $1.00 and under so I was going to pass. Then I noticed the small tag on the spine - "signed by author". That changed everything. I took it to the counter and the clerk took a quick glance at it and only charged me $1.00 anyway. These things happen. Now, to the book ....
The Tesseract - Alex Garland ($16.65*/$1.00, copyright 1998, 226 pages, Trade Paperback)
The story is set in Manila and is told in 3 sections. The first involves a young seaman who's waiting in a seedy hotel for a crime boss and the hope for a resolution to his current dilemma; the second revolves around a female doctor and how her life didn't turn out how she'd hoped; and the third involves a 13-year-old street kid who's hoping for the big time. Garland brings Manila and the small towns surrounding it to life, using the language and customs effectively, and depicting the heat, the crowds, and the disparity in life-styles wonderfully. And he brings all 3 stories together in a way that seems natural. There is violence here, and there is love, and there is fun but - sometimes - I had to reread a paragraph or two because I got confused by the dialog. I enjoyed it.
(* This book was actually published in England so I've had to estimate the USD price.)
So, was this a good investment? Pricewise, yes. Will it be worth something in the future? I don't know. I can say that I'm happy that I scratched that itch. Anyway, ...
That's it for this month and this year.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And ....
keep reading.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Fourth Anniversary Issue!!!
That's right, I've been posting this blog monthly for four years now, and I'm still having a good time with it, largely because I love doing it. I get to tell you about the books I've read - once in a while about a movie I've seen - and, to some extent, express my opinions on other things. So, let's get into this month's selections.
Series
The Bookman's Wake - John Dunning ($5.99/Free, copyright 1995, 432 pages, Paperback)
I've written - and raved - about this series before. Dunning's Janeway is now a book seller in Denver but he had been a cop. In this one he reluctantly takes a bail-jumper case in Seattle for an old acquaintance because he gets convinced it's a quick and easy way to pick up 5 grand and all expenses are paid. Of course, things don't work out that way. The jumper turns out to be a young woman named Eleanor Rigby (seriously) and she turns out to be a book scout (someone who spends their life scouting out books in thrift stores, yard sales, etc.) - which intrigues Janeway. That's when things spiral out of control. It revolves around the printing of books - specifically a Poe edition - and how a specific printer's editions can be more important then the actual book. To be honest, there was a lot of detail here on the printing process that I found tedious and the "big bad" turned out to be pretty mundane. They can't all be great. It was OK.
Night And Day - Robert B. Parker ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 307 pages, Paperback)
This is one of Parker's Jesse Stone books. Jesse is the Chief of Police in Paradise, a small town along the Massachusetts coast.He has a long history of failed jobs and a failed marriage. Here he's faced with a Peeping Tom case that escalates, a group of "swingers" who's actions affect their children, and a female principal who oversteps her bounds. And he's still dealing with a drinking problem and an obsession for his ex-wife. In fact, it all has to do with obsessions. Parker excels in the use of conversations, and his back-and-forth between Jesse and his fellow officers (and during his conversations with suspects/victims) are amusing and revealing at the same time. There's no real mystery here, just a good story. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
The Bormann Testament - Jack Higgins ($7.99/$.50, copyright 1962, 292 pages, Paperback)
I've mentioned Jack Higgins' books before and how I've enjoyed them. One of those even featured this book's main character - Special Agent Paul Chavasse. This one is set in 1962, and Chavasse is sent into Germany after a manuscript written by Martin Bormann ( a former Nazi official) and, possibly, Bormann himself, who disappeared after the war. He gets involved with neo-Nazis, Israeli agents, and a woman. I admit that parts of it dragged but there is a lot of action at the end. It was OK.
Beau Geste - P. C. Wren ($5.99/$3.97, written 1924, 341 pages, Paperback)
One of the earliest TV shows that I remember is "Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion" starring Buster Crabbe,which aired in the mid '50's. I have had a fascination with the Foreign Legion ever since then and have seen several TV/movie adaptations of this story (the best being the 1939 version with Gary Cooper). It's a curious mix of mystery and adventure, revolving around the 3 Geste brothers, Beau being the youngest. TV The theft of a jewel creates a family crisis and all 3 brothers windup enlisting. The bulk of the book deals with the brutal situations at a fort in the African desert, a
sadistic sergeant, and what happens when the enemy attacks. Wren brings this all to life although the language is kind of flowery and the sentences tend to run on too long, but that was the style at that time. It took a while to get through and I think that, in this case, the movie did a better job with the story. It was OK.
Recap
It's been an interesting year and I've come across some new authors and discovered some new series. Here are this year's totals. 17 Series books with a cover price of $139.81 that I paid $23.61 for. 20 Miscellaneous books with a cover price of $201.80 that I paid $30.20 for. 1 Graphic Novel with a cover price of $19.99 that I paid $5.00. And 1 Sherlock Holmes book with a cover price of $13.95 that I used a Gift Card for. The total for this year is 40 books with a cover price of $389.55 that I paid $59.31 for. My four year total is now 187 books with a cover price of $2020.00 that I paid $178.01 for.
God, I'm loving this!
Keep reading!
Series
The Bookman's Wake - John Dunning ($5.99/Free, copyright 1995, 432 pages, Paperback)
I've written - and raved - about this series before. Dunning's Janeway is now a book seller in Denver but he had been a cop. In this one he reluctantly takes a bail-jumper case in Seattle for an old acquaintance because he gets convinced it's a quick and easy way to pick up 5 grand and all expenses are paid. Of course, things don't work out that way. The jumper turns out to be a young woman named Eleanor Rigby (seriously) and she turns out to be a book scout (someone who spends their life scouting out books in thrift stores, yard sales, etc.) - which intrigues Janeway. That's when things spiral out of control. It revolves around the printing of books - specifically a Poe edition - and how a specific printer's editions can be more important then the actual book. To be honest, there was a lot of detail here on the printing process that I found tedious and the "big bad" turned out to be pretty mundane. They can't all be great. It was OK.
Night And Day - Robert B. Parker ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2009, 307 pages, Paperback)
This is one of Parker's Jesse Stone books. Jesse is the Chief of Police in Paradise, a small town along the Massachusetts coast.He has a long history of failed jobs and a failed marriage. Here he's faced with a Peeping Tom case that escalates, a group of "swingers" who's actions affect their children, and a female principal who oversteps her bounds. And he's still dealing with a drinking problem and an obsession for his ex-wife. In fact, it all has to do with obsessions. Parker excels in the use of conversations, and his back-and-forth between Jesse and his fellow officers (and during his conversations with suspects/victims) are amusing and revealing at the same time. There's no real mystery here, just a good story. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
The Bormann Testament - Jack Higgins ($7.99/$.50, copyright 1962, 292 pages, Paperback)
I've mentioned Jack Higgins' books before and how I've enjoyed them. One of those even featured this book's main character - Special Agent Paul Chavasse. This one is set in 1962, and Chavasse is sent into Germany after a manuscript written by Martin Bormann ( a former Nazi official) and, possibly, Bormann himself, who disappeared after the war. He gets involved with neo-Nazis, Israeli agents, and a woman. I admit that parts of it dragged but there is a lot of action at the end. It was OK.
Beau Geste - P. C. Wren ($5.99/$3.97, written 1924, 341 pages, Paperback)
One of the earliest TV shows that I remember is "Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion" starring Buster Crabbe,which aired in the mid '50's. I have had a fascination with the Foreign Legion ever since then and have seen several TV/movie adaptations of this story (the best being the 1939 version with Gary Cooper). It's a curious mix of mystery and adventure, revolving around the 3 Geste brothers, Beau being the youngest. TV The theft of a jewel creates a family crisis and all 3 brothers windup enlisting. The bulk of the book deals with the brutal situations at a fort in the African desert, a
sadistic sergeant, and what happens when the enemy attacks. Wren brings this all to life although the language is kind of flowery and the sentences tend to run on too long, but that was the style at that time. It took a while to get through and I think that, in this case, the movie did a better job with the story. It was OK.
Recap
It's been an interesting year and I've come across some new authors and discovered some new series. Here are this year's totals. 17 Series books with a cover price of $139.81 that I paid $23.61 for. 20 Miscellaneous books with a cover price of $201.80 that I paid $30.20 for. 1 Graphic Novel with a cover price of $19.99 that I paid $5.00. And 1 Sherlock Holmes book with a cover price of $13.95 that I used a Gift Card for. The total for this year is 40 books with a cover price of $389.55 that I paid $59.31 for. My four year total is now 187 books with a cover price of $2020.00 that I paid $178.01 for.
God, I'm loving this!
Keep reading!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Chapter Forty-six
I love October but it has always been a sort of strange month. Maybe that's because Autumn finally starts to settle in, the days get shorter and cooler, and the trees blaze with color. Maybe it's because the month ends with the creepily funny holiday, Halloween. For whatever reason, I love it.
This October I only have two books to tell you about, which is kind of strange by itself, but there's a story behind each one.
Sherlock Holmes
I read an article last month that Ian McKellen (Gandolf, Magneto) was going to play Holmes in a screen adaptation of a book. Of course I was interested and I immediately went to my favorite online discount book site. I found it and ordered it for about $3.50 (no shipping and handling). I got the acknowledgement email and they charged my account. The next day I got an email that they couldn't fill the order and would recredit my account. Oh well.
I then went to another online discount bookseller that I knew about and found the book at about $5.50 (no shipping and handling). I ordered it, they emailed a confirmation and charged my account. Two days later, I got an email that the book had shipped. Three days after that, I got another email that they couldn't fill the order and would recredit my account.
I went to Amazon. I found the book, but they charge shipping and handling. It was going to cost $7.90 but I had a gift card balance. I ordered it and they confirmed. This time I got the book.
A Slight Trick of The Mind - Mitch Cullin ($13.95/Gift Card, copyright 2005, 253 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is about Holmes at the age of 93. All of his close acquaintances are long gone, and he's living out his days at his home in the Sussex Downs with his gardens and his bees - and a housekeeper and her son. The book moves seamlessly between this life, Holmes' visit to Japan after World War 2, and his attempt to finish a manuscript of an investigation he undertook in 1902. These are all interesting in themselves but Cullin has woven a thread through all 3 about how people deal with the loss of loved ones and - ultimately - leads to Holmes' "slight trick". I have to admit that it took me longer then usual to read this because I found myself stopping frequently to consider what was going on. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
I first came across this book in the late 60's and actually got into the habit of reading it every October for reasons that will become obvious. I got out of the habit several years ago but, while rearranging some stuff to make some more room on the shelves, I found it again.
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury ($1.25/owned, copyright 1962, 215 pages, Paperback)
This is, in my opinion, the perfect Halloween book. It's the story of 2 boys - James and William - who were born two minutes apart. William at 11:59 PM October 30th and James at 12:01 AM October 31st. They are best friends and neighbors but total opposites, living in a small town in Midwest America in the late 20's. Just as they're about to turn 14 a carnival comes to town. A carnival that offers to show you what it is that you really want. It's a great story but what makes this book really work is Bradbury's ability to make you feel the crispness of an autumn day or the eeriness of a dark night. I enjoyed it.
Well, the government has decided to play nice for the rest of the year so we should have a stress free holiday season to look forward to. Enjoy it and ...
Keep reading.
This October I only have two books to tell you about, which is kind of strange by itself, but there's a story behind each one.
Sherlock Holmes
I read an article last month that Ian McKellen (Gandolf, Magneto) was going to play Holmes in a screen adaptation of a book. Of course I was interested and I immediately went to my favorite online discount book site. I found it and ordered it for about $3.50 (no shipping and handling). I got the acknowledgement email and they charged my account. The next day I got an email that they couldn't fill the order and would recredit my account. Oh well.
I then went to another online discount bookseller that I knew about and found the book at about $5.50 (no shipping and handling). I ordered it, they emailed a confirmation and charged my account. Two days later, I got an email that the book had shipped. Three days after that, I got another email that they couldn't fill the order and would recredit my account.
I went to Amazon. I found the book, but they charge shipping and handling. It was going to cost $7.90 but I had a gift card balance. I ordered it and they confirmed. This time I got the book.
A Slight Trick of The Mind - Mitch Cullin ($13.95/Gift Card, copyright 2005, 253 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is about Holmes at the age of 93. All of his close acquaintances are long gone, and he's living out his days at his home in the Sussex Downs with his gardens and his bees - and a housekeeper and her son. The book moves seamlessly between this life, Holmes' visit to Japan after World War 2, and his attempt to finish a manuscript of an investigation he undertook in 1902. These are all interesting in themselves but Cullin has woven a thread through all 3 about how people deal with the loss of loved ones and - ultimately - leads to Holmes' "slight trick". I have to admit that it took me longer then usual to read this because I found myself stopping frequently to consider what was going on. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
I first came across this book in the late 60's and actually got into the habit of reading it every October for reasons that will become obvious. I got out of the habit several years ago but, while rearranging some stuff to make some more room on the shelves, I found it again.
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury ($1.25/owned, copyright 1962, 215 pages, Paperback)
This is, in my opinion, the perfect Halloween book. It's the story of 2 boys - James and William - who were born two minutes apart. William at 11:59 PM October 30th and James at 12:01 AM October 31st. They are best friends and neighbors but total opposites, living in a small town in Midwest America in the late 20's. Just as they're about to turn 14 a carnival comes to town. A carnival that offers to show you what it is that you really want. It's a great story but what makes this book really work is Bradbury's ability to make you feel the crispness of an autumn day or the eeriness of a dark night. I enjoyed it.
Well, the government has decided to play nice for the rest of the year so we should have a stress free holiday season to look forward to. Enjoy it and ...
Keep reading.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Chapter Forty-five
Well, Summer's over and Autumn is upon us. Frankly, I like this time of year the best. The days may be shorter, but they're also cooler and the air is crisper, and the colors are brighter. Here are this months selections, which are a real mixed bag.
Series
Honor's Kingdom - Owen Parry ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2002, 407 pages, Paperback)
I've written about Parry's Abel Jones novels before. He's a Welshman who served in the English army in India, emigrated to America, and - even though embracing the Methodist way of life - joined the Union army during the Civil War. Here he's been sent to England to find out if they are really building ships for the Confederacy. Unfortunately - as is the case in these kinds of books - there is a murder that draws Jones in. Parry's strength is in the research he's done and how he conveys the time, the location, and the language (Jones' Welsh, the English upper and lower classes, and the Scotch). There are some great twists and a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it.
Pirates of Venus - Edgar Rice Burroughs ($3.95/$3.37, copyright 1932, 183 pages, Paperback)
This is the first volume in yet another series by Burroughs. The hero here is Carson Napier who,while attempting a trip to Mars, miscalculates and ends up on Venus. As is typical with Burroughs, he spends the first half of the book on the preparations, the flight, and Napier's acclimation to the people and their language and customs. Then he throws in giant spiders, slavers, pirates, mutinies, sea fights, rescues and captures - all in the second half. I'm pretty sure that Burroughs expected this
to be a series as he leaves this one with a cliff-hanger. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Pay The Devil - Jack Higgins ($7.50/$.25, copyright 1999, 294 pages, Paperback)
I wrote about another Higgins book several months ago and mentioned that I could very easily see it as a movie from the '40's. This one is even more cinematic. Colonel Clay Fitzgerald, along with his
friend and servant Joshua, leave America for Ireland after their side loses the Civil War. Clay has come into some property there and is eager to make a new start. However, nothing was simple in Ireland at that time. He finds himself caught up in the troubles between the English landowners and the Irish tenants. There's action and adventure aplenty. I could imagine Errol Flynn as Clay, Olivia
DeHaviland as the love interest, Basil Rathbone as the landowners henchman, with roles for Claude Raines and Alan Hale. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous - books That Were Made Into Movies
The Wanderers - Richard Price ($.25/$10.91*, copyright 1974, 239 pages, Trade Paperback)
This s a story about teenage gangs in the Bronx, supposedly in the early '60's. I grew up there and then and none of this rings true, but it does take place on the far side of the borough. It seems more like the late 50's and I thought it was stylized. It's really a series of vignettes that revolve around a small circle of friends and their girlfriends, and their families, and their interactions. It's well written, and Price gives the characters lives of their own. Still, there are parts of it that I couldn't associate with. It was OK.
(* This book, like one from last month, was published in England for 6 Pounds 99 pence. I've converted the price.)
That's it for September. Next up, October and the start of the year-end Holiday season.
Stay warm, stay happy, and...
Keep reading.
Series
Honor's Kingdom - Owen Parry ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2002, 407 pages, Paperback)
I've written about Parry's Abel Jones novels before. He's a Welshman who served in the English army in India, emigrated to America, and - even though embracing the Methodist way of life - joined the Union army during the Civil War. Here he's been sent to England to find out if they are really building ships for the Confederacy. Unfortunately - as is the case in these kinds of books - there is a murder that draws Jones in. Parry's strength is in the research he's done and how he conveys the time, the location, and the language (Jones' Welsh, the English upper and lower classes, and the Scotch). There are some great twists and a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it.
Pirates of Venus - Edgar Rice Burroughs ($3.95/$3.37, copyright 1932, 183 pages, Paperback)
This is the first volume in yet another series by Burroughs. The hero here is Carson Napier who,while attempting a trip to Mars, miscalculates and ends up on Venus. As is typical with Burroughs, he spends the first half of the book on the preparations, the flight, and Napier's acclimation to the people and their language and customs. Then he throws in giant spiders, slavers, pirates, mutinies, sea fights, rescues and captures - all in the second half. I'm pretty sure that Burroughs expected this
to be a series as he leaves this one with a cliff-hanger. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Pay The Devil - Jack Higgins ($7.50/$.25, copyright 1999, 294 pages, Paperback)
I wrote about another Higgins book several months ago and mentioned that I could very easily see it as a movie from the '40's. This one is even more cinematic. Colonel Clay Fitzgerald, along with his
friend and servant Joshua, leave America for Ireland after their side loses the Civil War. Clay has come into some property there and is eager to make a new start. However, nothing was simple in Ireland at that time. He finds himself caught up in the troubles between the English landowners and the Irish tenants. There's action and adventure aplenty. I could imagine Errol Flynn as Clay, Olivia
DeHaviland as the love interest, Basil Rathbone as the landowners henchman, with roles for Claude Raines and Alan Hale. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous - books That Were Made Into Movies
The Wanderers - Richard Price ($.25/$10.91*, copyright 1974, 239 pages, Trade Paperback)
This s a story about teenage gangs in the Bronx, supposedly in the early '60's. I grew up there and then and none of this rings true, but it does take place on the far side of the borough. It seems more like the late 50's and I thought it was stylized. It's really a series of vignettes that revolve around a small circle of friends and their girlfriends, and their families, and their interactions. It's well written, and Price gives the characters lives of their own. Still, there are parts of it that I couldn't associate with. It was OK.
(* This book, like one from last month, was published in England for 6 Pounds 99 pence. I've converted the price.)
That's it for September. Next up, October and the start of the year-end Holiday season.
Stay warm, stay happy, and...
Keep reading.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Chapter Forty-four
I remember August as being the hottest month of the summer but, so far, this one has been feeling a lot cooler then normal. Still, the days are long, the living is easy, and there are plenty of books out there that need to be read.
And, I have a slight twist to an old category in this chapter so let's get to it.
Series
Booked To Die - John Dunning ($7.99/$4.07, copyright 1992, 394 pages, Paperback)
Last month I told you about my first experience with Dunning's Cliff Janeway series. I was so impressed that I ordered the first volume through Thriftbooks.com (shameless plug) . Here he introduces Janeway, a Denver Detective (with a love of books) who has developed an unhealthy obsession with one particular criminal, and the murder of a small-time book agent causes him to step over the line. After that, he turns his attention full-time to books and even opens his own store. There's a lot of interaction between Janeway and the other Bookmen in town but that past murder crops up again, and some new ones strike close to home. The mystery holds your interest but, to me, it's almost secondary to the book talk and the tips on what to look for. I really enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous - Books That Were Made Into Movies
No Country For Old Men - Cormac McCarthy ($14.00/$.25, copyright 2005, 309 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm gonna tell you up front that I did not see this movie, although I did see the trailers and I probably - subconsciously - identified the characters with the actors. That doesn't really matter. It's a simple enough story. A guy stumbles on to the aftermath of a failed drug deal and walks away with the money. He winds up being hunted by a vicious killer. There's also a local sheriff trying to find him, and trying to catch the killer. I have to admit that I'm not a McCarthy fan. I've tried reading him because one of my nephews used to speak highly of him. I don't get it. McCarthy doesn't use quotation marks when he writes conversations, which I found confusing at times, and there are times when McCarthy jumps from one scene to another leaving gaps in the story. Finally, he tells the story through all 3 main characters but, with some minor exceptions, the voice doesn't change. It was OK.
The Night of The Hunter - Davis Grubb ($11.10*/$6.65, copyright 1953, 255 pages, Trade Paperback)
Does the title sound familiar? That's right, this is the book that the movie was based on. Back on August 6th I mentioned Robert Mitchum's birthday on Facebook and included a clip from this picture. While looking for that clip I found out about the book and, not being able to find it on my own, ordered in through Thriftbooks.com (another shameless plug). We learn up-front that a man is convicted and executed for a robbery/murder, but the money is never recovered. The rest of the book deals with his widow, his children, and a homicidal maniac posing as a Preacher who's after the money. Grubb gives it all that Down South/Bible-thumping feel, overlaid with just the right amount of creepiness and suspense. It comes down to a young boy's struggle to keep the word he swore to versus an adult with no regard for the Word he sways people with. It really gives depth to how Mitchum and the rest of the cast brought these characters to life. (To be perfectly clear, Grubb doesn't use quotation marks when he writes conversations either, but he makes it easy to understand.) I really enjoyed it.
(* This copy of the book was actually printed in England in 1968 and has a cover price of 3 pounds, 50 pence. I Googled the exchange rate for the time and came up with a converted price of $11.10.)
Catch the "slight twist to an old category"?
Well, that's another month down and Summer on the wane. I actually like Autumn. There's a crispness to the air, a brightness to Nature's colors, and the evenings start to get cool enough that you want to just hunker down in bed with a good book. Till next month ...
Keep reading.
And, I have a slight twist to an old category in this chapter so let's get to it.
Series
Booked To Die - John Dunning ($7.99/$4.07, copyright 1992, 394 pages, Paperback)
Last month I told you about my first experience with Dunning's Cliff Janeway series. I was so impressed that I ordered the first volume through Thriftbooks.com (shameless plug) . Here he introduces Janeway, a Denver Detective (with a love of books) who has developed an unhealthy obsession with one particular criminal, and the murder of a small-time book agent causes him to step over the line. After that, he turns his attention full-time to books and even opens his own store. There's a lot of interaction between Janeway and the other Bookmen in town but that past murder crops up again, and some new ones strike close to home. The mystery holds your interest but, to me, it's almost secondary to the book talk and the tips on what to look for. I really enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous - Books That Were Made Into Movies
No Country For Old Men - Cormac McCarthy ($14.00/$.25, copyright 2005, 309 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm gonna tell you up front that I did not see this movie, although I did see the trailers and I probably - subconsciously - identified the characters with the actors. That doesn't really matter. It's a simple enough story. A guy stumbles on to the aftermath of a failed drug deal and walks away with the money. He winds up being hunted by a vicious killer. There's also a local sheriff trying to find him, and trying to catch the killer. I have to admit that I'm not a McCarthy fan. I've tried reading him because one of my nephews used to speak highly of him. I don't get it. McCarthy doesn't use quotation marks when he writes conversations, which I found confusing at times, and there are times when McCarthy jumps from one scene to another leaving gaps in the story. Finally, he tells the story through all 3 main characters but, with some minor exceptions, the voice doesn't change. It was OK.
The Night of The Hunter - Davis Grubb ($11.10*/$6.65, copyright 1953, 255 pages, Trade Paperback)
Does the title sound familiar? That's right, this is the book that the movie was based on. Back on August 6th I mentioned Robert Mitchum's birthday on Facebook and included a clip from this picture. While looking for that clip I found out about the book and, not being able to find it on my own, ordered in through Thriftbooks.com (another shameless plug). We learn up-front that a man is convicted and executed for a robbery/murder, but the money is never recovered. The rest of the book deals with his widow, his children, and a homicidal maniac posing as a Preacher who's after the money. Grubb gives it all that Down South/Bible-thumping feel, overlaid with just the right amount of creepiness and suspense. It comes down to a young boy's struggle to keep the word he swore to versus an adult with no regard for the Word he sways people with. It really gives depth to how Mitchum and the rest of the cast brought these characters to life. (To be perfectly clear, Grubb doesn't use quotation marks when he writes conversations either, but he makes it easy to understand.) I really enjoyed it.
(* This copy of the book was actually printed in England in 1968 and has a cover price of 3 pounds, 50 pence. I Googled the exchange rate for the time and came up with a converted price of $11.10.)
Catch the "slight twist to an old category"?
Well, that's another month down and Summer on the wane. I actually like Autumn. There's a crispness to the air, a brightness to Nature's colors, and the evenings start to get cool enough that you want to just hunker down in bed with a good book. Till next month ...
Keep reading.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Chapter Forty-three
What I've got for you this month is a new find that was exciting, and a couple of favorite authors that disappointed. I guess they can't all be home runs.
Miscellaneous
Songdogs - Colum McCann ($12.99/$4.01, copyright 1995, 212 pages, Trade Paperback)
I've reviewed a couple of McCann's books before and - as anyone who reads this blog knows - I've thoroughly enjoyed them. This is his first novel - having produced a few volumes of short stories previously. Briefly, it's the story of an Irish photographer and his travels from Spain during their Civil War; through Mexico where he marries; into the American west; across to New York; and ultimately back to Ireland - all told in the third person format. This alternates with the story of his son which cycles between his return visit to his father in Ireland and his years following his father's journey in the hopes of discovering his mother- told in the first person. There are flashes of McCann's brilliance here but, ultimately, I found it hard to get through, as you might guess having just read that description. I think the weakness here was that McCann overextended himself - too many stories, too many voices, and too many locations. I was disappointed. It was OK.
361 - Donald E. Westlake ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1962, 208 pages, Paperback)
This book is published by Hard Case Crimes, who's stock in trade seems to be hard-boiled fiction. It's a tale of revenge. Ray Kelly (no relation to the NYC Police Commissioner) is just home from a tour of duty with the Air Force in Germany. His father meets him in NY and on their way back home to Binghamton, someone pulls up beside them and sprays their car with bullets. The father dies
and Ray loses an eye. The rest of the book circles around what family means, who family really is, and how to get revenge. It's a short book, and Westlake keeps it moving along at a fast clip, throwing in some surprises along the way. It's surprisingly cinematic, and I could imagine it as a 40's noir movie with John Garfield in the lead, Ralph Bellamy as one of the lawyers, and there's even a part for Elisha Cook doing his weasel act. I enjoyed it.
Series
I, Michael Bennett - James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge ($14.99/$.25, copyright 2012, 383 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is another book from the Patterson mill, and another volume in the Michael Bennett series. Bennett is a NY cop, a detective, and a widower with 10 kids, an Irish nanny, and a grandfather who's a priest. It sounds kind of strange, but the personal stuff works pretty well. In this one, Bennett is in on the arrest of a notorious Mexican drug kingpin - a crazy, homicidal one - who comes to New York for a personal reason. After that, all hell breaks loose. There are threats to Bennett's family, horrific murders, and some stunning assault scenes (even 2 in court rooms). It all moves along at a brisk pace, but (SPOILER ALERT). the authors don't resolve the story. Obviously, there was going to be another book in the series, but this is the first time that - as far as I remember - the Patterson mill didn't create a self-contained story. I was disappointed. Because of the ending, I can only say it was OK.
The Bookman's Promise - John Dunning ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 469 pages, Paperback)
This is my first of Dunning's Cliff Janeway books. Janeway is an ex-cop who owns a bookstore and spends a lot of time tracking down rare books. It's his career and his passion. He is a Bookman. In this one, Janeway makes a promise to a dying old woman to track down some rare Richard Francis Burton books that she said belonged to her. (Burton was a famous explorer/adventurer from the mid 1800's). There is a murder and, at times, Janeway's temper gets the better of him leading to more violence, but Dunning mixes these with some humor and some interesting historical facts. I don't need to tell you that I enjoy spending time in libraries and used book stores, looking for anything that might interest me. Obviously, I can't afford rare books, but I understand that passion. This is the new, exciting find that I mentioned earlier. I enjoyed it.
As Stan Laurel once said, "Lot's of weather we've been having." Brutally hot days, really high humidity, and some torrential downpours. My advice, stay inside...
Stay cool, and..
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
Songdogs - Colum McCann ($12.99/$4.01, copyright 1995, 212 pages, Trade Paperback)
I've reviewed a couple of McCann's books before and - as anyone who reads this blog knows - I've thoroughly enjoyed them. This is his first novel - having produced a few volumes of short stories previously. Briefly, it's the story of an Irish photographer and his travels from Spain during their Civil War; through Mexico where he marries; into the American west; across to New York; and ultimately back to Ireland - all told in the third person format. This alternates with the story of his son which cycles between his return visit to his father in Ireland and his years following his father's journey in the hopes of discovering his mother- told in the first person. There are flashes of McCann's brilliance here but, ultimately, I found it hard to get through, as you might guess having just read that description. I think the weakness here was that McCann overextended himself - too many stories, too many voices, and too many locations. I was disappointed. It was OK.
361 - Donald E. Westlake ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1962, 208 pages, Paperback)
This book is published by Hard Case Crimes, who's stock in trade seems to be hard-boiled fiction. It's a tale of revenge. Ray Kelly (no relation to the NYC Police Commissioner) is just home from a tour of duty with the Air Force in Germany. His father meets him in NY and on their way back home to Binghamton, someone pulls up beside them and sprays their car with bullets. The father dies
and Ray loses an eye. The rest of the book circles around what family means, who family really is, and how to get revenge. It's a short book, and Westlake keeps it moving along at a fast clip, throwing in some surprises along the way. It's surprisingly cinematic, and I could imagine it as a 40's noir movie with John Garfield in the lead, Ralph Bellamy as one of the lawyers, and there's even a part for Elisha Cook doing his weasel act. I enjoyed it.
Series
I, Michael Bennett - James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge ($14.99/$.25, copyright 2012, 383 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is another book from the Patterson mill, and another volume in the Michael Bennett series. Bennett is a NY cop, a detective, and a widower with 10 kids, an Irish nanny, and a grandfather who's a priest. It sounds kind of strange, but the personal stuff works pretty well. In this one, Bennett is in on the arrest of a notorious Mexican drug kingpin - a crazy, homicidal one - who comes to New York for a personal reason. After that, all hell breaks loose. There are threats to Bennett's family, horrific murders, and some stunning assault scenes (even 2 in court rooms). It all moves along at a brisk pace, but (SPOILER ALERT). the authors don't resolve the story. Obviously, there was going to be another book in the series, but this is the first time that - as far as I remember - the Patterson mill didn't create a self-contained story. I was disappointed. Because of the ending, I can only say it was OK.
The Bookman's Promise - John Dunning ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 469 pages, Paperback)
This is my first of Dunning's Cliff Janeway books. Janeway is an ex-cop who owns a bookstore and spends a lot of time tracking down rare books. It's his career and his passion. He is a Bookman. In this one, Janeway makes a promise to a dying old woman to track down some rare Richard Francis Burton books that she said belonged to her. (Burton was a famous explorer/adventurer from the mid 1800's). There is a murder and, at times, Janeway's temper gets the better of him leading to more violence, but Dunning mixes these with some humor and some interesting historical facts. I don't need to tell you that I enjoy spending time in libraries and used book stores, looking for anything that might interest me. Obviously, I can't afford rare books, but I understand that passion. This is the new, exciting find that I mentioned earlier. I enjoyed it.
As Stan Laurel once said, "Lot's of weather we've been having." Brutally hot days, really high humidity, and some torrential downpours. My advice, stay inside...
Stay cool, and..
Keep reading.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Chapter Forty-two
OK. So, my laptop burned out a few days ago and now I'm using a new one. Unfortunately, it's been loaded with Windows 8. This type of screen movement might be familiar to the younger generation but it's a pain in the ass to me. Plus, I lost all my pictures and notes. Anyway, here goes.
Series
The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 547 pages, Paperback)
Connelly is known more for his Harry Bosch series of books. This is the second entry in his Mickey Haller series. Haller is a defense attorney who, having taken some time off, inherits the cases of a colleague who's been murdered. One of those cases involves a Hollywood movie mogul who's accused of killing his wife and her lover. Connelly brings in Bosch as a counter-point to Haller and their relationship rings true. There are some twists and turns and an interesting ending. I enjoyed it.
Cross Fire - James Patterson ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2010, 343 pages, Paperback)
Patterson's signature character - Alex Cross, and his worst enemy - Kyle Craig. I don't want to give too much away but there's a string of murders in D. C. and Craig (disguised) gets into it with Cross. In more ways then one. As always, Patterson brings in Cross's personal life to good effect. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
This Side of Brightness - Colum McCann ($13.00/$4.11, copyright 1998, 289pages, Trade Paperback)
I ordered this book online because I loved another of McCann's books. It did not let me down. It's a family sage stretching from 1916 to 1991 and reaching from the depths of the being-dug subway tunnels to the being-built skyscrapers. McCann, being Irish, has a way with words and just continues to impress me. I enjoyed it.
So... that's it for this month. I would like to reiterate that McCann is an excellent writer and you should check him out.
Until next month...
Keep reading.
Series
The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 547 pages, Paperback)
Connelly is known more for his Harry Bosch series of books. This is the second entry in his Mickey Haller series. Haller is a defense attorney who, having taken some time off, inherits the cases of a colleague who's been murdered. One of those cases involves a Hollywood movie mogul who's accused of killing his wife and her lover. Connelly brings in Bosch as a counter-point to Haller and their relationship rings true. There are some twists and turns and an interesting ending. I enjoyed it.
Cross Fire - James Patterson ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2010, 343 pages, Paperback)
Patterson's signature character - Alex Cross, and his worst enemy - Kyle Craig. I don't want to give too much away but there's a string of murders in D. C. and Craig (disguised) gets into it with Cross. In more ways then one. As always, Patterson brings in Cross's personal life to good effect. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
This Side of Brightness - Colum McCann ($13.00/$4.11, copyright 1998, 289pages, Trade Paperback)
I ordered this book online because I loved another of McCann's books. It did not let me down. It's a family sage stretching from 1916 to 1991 and reaching from the depths of the being-dug subway tunnels to the being-built skyscrapers. McCann, being Irish, has a way with words and just continues to impress me. I enjoyed it.
So... that's it for this month. I would like to reiterate that McCann is an excellent writer and you should check him out.
Until next month...
Keep reading.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Chapter Forty-one
Well, we’re into May now but the weather hasn’t quite settled into Spring yet. Still, rainy days give me the time to read. This month, I have a very mixed group for you.
Miscellaneous
Spring Heeled Jack - Mark Hodder ($12.36/$.50, copyright 2011, 354 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is my first foray into the world of Steam Punk. I’m a big fan of books that take place in the Victorian Era and the cover makes reference to two of my favorite historical characters. Sir Richard Francis Burton, the famous explorer, is listed as the hero (along with the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne) and the title indicates that they would be involved in the Jack the Ripper case. Unfortunately, I found the inclusion of smoke-belching, steam powered machines and scientifically altered animals to be a real distraction. Perhaps if it hadn't revolved around Burton I might have tried to finish it. This one goes back in The Pile for now.
How to Become Ridiculously Well-read in One Evening - E. O. Parrott, ed. ( $4.89/$.50, copyright 1985, 180 pages, Paperback)
This was interesting……Mr. Parrott has gotten a bunch of people to do thumbnail sketches of famous books so that Mr. Joe Average, having gotten through this, can seem well-read. Not gonna happen. First of all, most of the capsules are in verse which tends to become repetitive - and, in a lot of cases, the rhymes don't work. Secondly, I’ve read a lot of the works covered here, and the entries don’t help to understand them at all. Plus, Parrott has set this up alphabetically, from Anonymous to John Wyndham, when I think it would’ve been better done in a linear fashion. I didn’t like it.
The Keys of Hell - Jack Higgins ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2001, 240 pages, Paperback)
This reminded me of one of those great black-and-white cold war movies. It’s mostly a flash-back to 1965 where a British agent, a pretty girl, and an Italian smuggler set out to bring a religious statue out of Communist Albania. I could almost see David Niven as the agent. All sorts of stuff happens - gunfights, captures and escapes, double-crosses. And it’s all bracketed by episodes in 1995 that tie-in beautifully. I enjoyed it.
The Maracot Deep - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ($.95/$.74, no copyright but written in 1929, 156 pages, Paperback)
I found this in a used book store in Colonia completely by accident (I'd gone in looking for something else). Yes, this is a novella written by the creator of Sherlock Holmes - my favorite fictional character (as you probably know by now). It’s a Science-fiction tale about 3 men who undertake a scientific expedition in the depths of the Atlantic, get into trouble, and wind up in Atlantis. It almost reads like one of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ stories. It starts out as written communications between one of the explorers and a friend, progresses nicely through their expedition, and ends with an amazing twist. I enjoyed it.
That’s it for this month. A shout-out to all you Moms out there, and a big Happy Birthday to Sarra, Luke, Giancarlo, Brian, and - the Big Six O - Kathy.
Keep reading!
Miscellaneous
Spring Heeled Jack - Mark Hodder ($12.36/$.50, copyright 2011, 354 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is my first foray into the world of Steam Punk. I’m a big fan of books that take place in the Victorian Era and the cover makes reference to two of my favorite historical characters. Sir Richard Francis Burton, the famous explorer, is listed as the hero (along with the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne) and the title indicates that they would be involved in the Jack the Ripper case. Unfortunately, I found the inclusion of smoke-belching, steam powered machines and scientifically altered animals to be a real distraction. Perhaps if it hadn't revolved around Burton I might have tried to finish it. This one goes back in The Pile for now.
How to Become Ridiculously Well-read in One Evening - E. O. Parrott, ed. ( $4.89/$.50, copyright 1985, 180 pages, Paperback)
This was interesting……Mr. Parrott has gotten a bunch of people to do thumbnail sketches of famous books so that Mr. Joe Average, having gotten through this, can seem well-read. Not gonna happen. First of all, most of the capsules are in verse which tends to become repetitive - and, in a lot of cases, the rhymes don't work. Secondly, I’ve read a lot of the works covered here, and the entries don’t help to understand them at all. Plus, Parrott has set this up alphabetically, from Anonymous to John Wyndham, when I think it would’ve been better done in a linear fashion. I didn’t like it.
The Keys of Hell - Jack Higgins ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2001, 240 pages, Paperback)
This reminded me of one of those great black-and-white cold war movies. It’s mostly a flash-back to 1965 where a British agent, a pretty girl, and an Italian smuggler set out to bring a religious statue out of Communist Albania. I could almost see David Niven as the agent. All sorts of stuff happens - gunfights, captures and escapes, double-crosses. And it’s all bracketed by episodes in 1995 that tie-in beautifully. I enjoyed it.
The Maracot Deep - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ($.95/$.74, no copyright but written in 1929, 156 pages, Paperback)
I found this in a used book store in Colonia completely by accident (I'd gone in looking for something else). Yes, this is a novella written by the creator of Sherlock Holmes - my favorite fictional character (as you probably know by now). It’s a Science-fiction tale about 3 men who undertake a scientific expedition in the depths of the Atlantic, get into trouble, and wind up in Atlantis. It almost reads like one of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ stories. It starts out as written communications between one of the explorers and a friend, progresses nicely through their expedition, and ends with an amazing twist. I enjoyed it.
That’s it for this month. A shout-out to all you Moms out there, and a big Happy Birthday to Sarra, Luke, Giancarlo, Brian, and - the Big Six O - Kathy.
Keep reading!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Chapter Forty
And so…..life goes on.
I’m a little early this month because I only have two books to tell you about (I just finished the second one), but the total page count should qualify as three. And, coincidentally, they are both fictionalized accounts of historical events. You'll see as we go along.
Miscellaneous
Devil’s Garden - Ace Atkins ($15.00/$1.00, copyright 2009, 369 pages, Trade Paperback)
What Atkins has done here is recreate the infamous Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle trial (actually, trials) for the murder of a young woman during a booze and sex filled party he held in a hotel in San Francisco in 1921. The interesting person here - to me - is the Pinkerton agent who’s hired by Arbuckle's attorney (actually assigned to the case by his boss) to find out what really happened. The agent’s name is Samuel Dashiell Hammett, who went on to become one of the greatest writers of detective fiction (think The Thin Man, Sam Spade, etc.). I won’t go into details here because it’s all a matter of public record, and resulted in the end of Arbuckle’s career but Atkins does a good job of evoking the time and place. And he gives us a Hammett at the end of his Pinkerton career with a bad case of tuberculosis, a wife and baby girl, and a fondness for booze and cigarettes. It’s an interesting book, but Atkins constantly shifts the focus to other people involved in the investigation, and there’s a subplot involving William Randolph Hearst that gets a lot of attention, all of which I found distracting. I would have liked it better if it took a more focused approach, staying with Hammett throughout. It was OK.
The Given Day - Dennis Lehane ($15.99/$4.72, copyright 2008, 702 pages, Trade Paperback)
I am a big fan of Lehane, having read all of his Kenzie/Gennaro books and, although not part of that series, I've been looking forward to reading this. It starts in 1918, and follows the lives of a young Irish cop in Boston - Danny Coughlin - and a young black man from Columbus, Ohio - Luther Lawrence. Danny is all wrapped up in the problems that the rank-and-file officers are having - too much work and not enough pay and deplorable working conditions. Through an undercover assignment he becomes involved in the burgeoning labor movement. Luther moves his pregnant wife to Tulsa - an idyllic place for blacks at the time - but gets involved in a terrible crime and flees. Ultimately he winds up in Boston. How these two men meet and interact is the core of this novel. Lehane adds the NAACP, unions, Bolsheviks, family and friends, and famous people (Babe Ruth, J. Edgar Hoover, etc.) and places them in both Bostons - The one that the haves live in and the one that the have-nots are left with. It all comes to a head during the Boston Police Strike of 1919. It’s a very involving read, and entertaining, but I found it to be a bit too long. In my opinion, Lehane could probably have cut out about 100 or so pages. Still, I enjoyed it.
One quick, personal note.....to my cousin, Monica. I'll miss you.
I already have some interesting stuff on the top of the stack for next month so I’m going to get started now. See you then and remember……..
Keep reading.
I’m a little early this month because I only have two books to tell you about (I just finished the second one), but the total page count should qualify as three. And, coincidentally, they are both fictionalized accounts of historical events. You'll see as we go along.
Miscellaneous
Devil’s Garden - Ace Atkins ($15.00/$1.00, copyright 2009, 369 pages, Trade Paperback)
What Atkins has done here is recreate the infamous Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle trial (actually, trials) for the murder of a young woman during a booze and sex filled party he held in a hotel in San Francisco in 1921. The interesting person here - to me - is the Pinkerton agent who’s hired by Arbuckle's attorney (actually assigned to the case by his boss) to find out what really happened. The agent’s name is Samuel Dashiell Hammett, who went on to become one of the greatest writers of detective fiction (think The Thin Man, Sam Spade, etc.). I won’t go into details here because it’s all a matter of public record, and resulted in the end of Arbuckle’s career but Atkins does a good job of evoking the time and place. And he gives us a Hammett at the end of his Pinkerton career with a bad case of tuberculosis, a wife and baby girl, and a fondness for booze and cigarettes. It’s an interesting book, but Atkins constantly shifts the focus to other people involved in the investigation, and there’s a subplot involving William Randolph Hearst that gets a lot of attention, all of which I found distracting. I would have liked it better if it took a more focused approach, staying with Hammett throughout. It was OK.
The Given Day - Dennis Lehane ($15.99/$4.72, copyright 2008, 702 pages, Trade Paperback)
I am a big fan of Lehane, having read all of his Kenzie/Gennaro books and, although not part of that series, I've been looking forward to reading this. It starts in 1918, and follows the lives of a young Irish cop in Boston - Danny Coughlin - and a young black man from Columbus, Ohio - Luther Lawrence. Danny is all wrapped up in the problems that the rank-and-file officers are having - too much work and not enough pay and deplorable working conditions. Through an undercover assignment he becomes involved in the burgeoning labor movement. Luther moves his pregnant wife to Tulsa - an idyllic place for blacks at the time - but gets involved in a terrible crime and flees. Ultimately he winds up in Boston. How these two men meet and interact is the core of this novel. Lehane adds the NAACP, unions, Bolsheviks, family and friends, and famous people (Babe Ruth, J. Edgar Hoover, etc.) and places them in both Bostons - The one that the haves live in and the one that the have-nots are left with. It all comes to a head during the Boston Police Strike of 1919. It’s a very involving read, and entertaining, but I found it to be a bit too long. In my opinion, Lehane could probably have cut out about 100 or so pages. Still, I enjoyed it.
One quick, personal note.....to my cousin, Monica. I'll miss you.
I already have some interesting stuff on the top of the stack for next month so I’m going to get started now. See you then and remember……..
Keep reading.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Chapter Thirty-nine
Well, it's Spring - although you wouldn't know it by the weather out there. Anyway, one of the pleasures I get out of library shopping is that, once in a while, I come across something interesting. I can take a chance on it because it’s only gonna cost me a dollar or so. Another pleasure I get is finding another book in a series I enjoy. Let me tell you about these.
Miscellaneous
Up Jumps the Devil - Michael Poore ($13.99/$1.00. Copyright 2012, 358 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is that “something interesting“ that I mentioned above. It deals with the Devil (just as the title implies) and his time here on Earth. It starts with how he - using the name John Scratch - made an agreement with a band in 1969. 3 different people with 3 different dreams who each make deals with him, and how those deals come true. Interspaced among this story is how the Devil, throughout history, kept trying to get his girlfriend to leave Heaven and stay with him. Poore even mixes in the Devil’s participation in several different American historical events - mostly wars - and meets (and tempts) several different historical figures from George Washington to JFK. At times funny, at times sad, but always with a poetic feel to it. I really enjoyed it.
Series
These two books belong to series’ that I’ve mentioned here before. Interestingly, these detectives have to deal with cases from their past and how they impact on their present.
Chasing Darkness - Robert Crais ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 391 pages, Paperback)
This is another volume in the Elvis Cole series. There’s a fire in the hills and a corpse is discovered - a suicide. Turns out that he was a suspect in a homicide several years ago, and Elvis found the evidence to get him off. Unfortunately, the police find a scrapbook with the corpse that points to the deceased being responsible for not only that murder, but several others. Crais gives us the more mature but still wise-mouthed Elvis trying to figure things out while dealing with the impact this has on his career and his contacts. Of course, the ever taciturn Joe Pike makes an appearance, although it's a brief one. There are several red herrings that Crais throws in that keep you following along to the surprising ending. I enjoyed it.
Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane ($9.99/$5.70, copyright 2010, 348 pages, Paperback)
I actually went looking for this specific book and found it in my favorite used book store in Colonia. The Crais book (above) reminded me about a review I’d seen when this first came out. Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro are detectives who, many years ago, worked a case that put them at odds with each other and actually drove them apart. (Unlike the Crais book, the previous case here was actually a previous volume in this series - “Gone, Baby, Gone“ - involving the disappearance of a little girl). Twelve years later, Patrick and Angie are married, with a 4-year old girl and a home, mortgage, etc. Angie’s gone back to school, and Patrick is trying to get a full-time position in a large investigating firm. Then the previous case comes back in a big way. Lehane puts the Kenzies through the wringer and throws in street punks, identity theft, and the Russian mob for good measure. He even brings in the Kenzies’ friend, the sociopath Bubba, for an appearance. This is a more mature, world weary Patrick and Angie but the old sense of humor and the sparks between them are still there. I enjoyed it.
That's it for this month. Hopefully, by the time I add another chapter we'll finally have some real Spring weather. Until then........
Keep reading!
Miscellaneous
Up Jumps the Devil - Michael Poore ($13.99/$1.00. Copyright 2012, 358 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is that “something interesting“ that I mentioned above. It deals with the Devil (just as the title implies) and his time here on Earth. It starts with how he - using the name John Scratch - made an agreement with a band in 1969. 3 different people with 3 different dreams who each make deals with him, and how those deals come true. Interspaced among this story is how the Devil, throughout history, kept trying to get his girlfriend to leave Heaven and stay with him. Poore even mixes in the Devil’s participation in several different American historical events - mostly wars - and meets (and tempts) several different historical figures from George Washington to JFK. At times funny, at times sad, but always with a poetic feel to it. I really enjoyed it.
Series
These two books belong to series’ that I’ve mentioned here before. Interestingly, these detectives have to deal with cases from their past and how they impact on their present.
Chasing Darkness - Robert Crais ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2008, 391 pages, Paperback)
This is another volume in the Elvis Cole series. There’s a fire in the hills and a corpse is discovered - a suicide. Turns out that he was a suspect in a homicide several years ago, and Elvis found the evidence to get him off. Unfortunately, the police find a scrapbook with the corpse that points to the deceased being responsible for not only that murder, but several others. Crais gives us the more mature but still wise-mouthed Elvis trying to figure things out while dealing with the impact this has on his career and his contacts. Of course, the ever taciturn Joe Pike makes an appearance, although it's a brief one. There are several red herrings that Crais throws in that keep you following along to the surprising ending. I enjoyed it.
Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane ($9.99/$5.70, copyright 2010, 348 pages, Paperback)
I actually went looking for this specific book and found it in my favorite used book store in Colonia. The Crais book (above) reminded me about a review I’d seen when this first came out. Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro are detectives who, many years ago, worked a case that put them at odds with each other and actually drove them apart. (Unlike the Crais book, the previous case here was actually a previous volume in this series - “Gone, Baby, Gone“ - involving the disappearance of a little girl). Twelve years later, Patrick and Angie are married, with a 4-year old girl and a home, mortgage, etc. Angie’s gone back to school, and Patrick is trying to get a full-time position in a large investigating firm. Then the previous case comes back in a big way. Lehane puts the Kenzies through the wringer and throws in street punks, identity theft, and the Russian mob for good measure. He even brings in the Kenzies’ friend, the sociopath Bubba, for an appearance. This is a more mature, world weary Patrick and Angie but the old sense of humor and the sparks between them are still there. I enjoyed it.
That's it for this month. Hopefully, by the time I add another chapter we'll finally have some real Spring weather. Until then........
Keep reading!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Chapter Thirty-eight
I'm a few days off from my usual posting date this month. I've tried to add a new chapter on or about the 21st of each month, but I have a good explanation for being a bit late. As you check through this month's books, you'll see what it is.
Miscellaneous
The Pale Blue Eye - Louis Bayard ($14.95/$1.00, copyright 2006, 413 pages, Trade Paperback)Here we start with a retired NYC police investigator, August Landor, living in a small cottage in upstate New York. He is called in to help solve the death of a cadet at West Point in October of 1830. Since he’s a civilian and limited to where he can go and who he can speak to, he requests the assistance of one of the cadets themselves - Edgar Allen Poe. The chapters are listed as Narratives of Gus Landor with several reports by Poe mixed in, and Bayard does a great job of evoking the time and place, and giving each character a distinctive voice. Another murder takes place, suspects abound, and there is a very unexpected twist at the end. It took me longer to read this particular book because, almost halfway through, I realized that Bayard had laced references to Poe’s works throughout the novel - a bust of Pallas, a reference to the beating of a heart possibly being heard by someone, etc. (sort of like Easter eggs in a video game). I had to go back and make sure that I pick up as many as possible. I enjoyed it.
Inherit the Wind - Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee ($9.95/$.25, copyright [unpublished] 1951, 129 pages, Paperback)
I came across this at a library sale in Rahway and was immediately psyched. I loved the movie with Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, Gene Kelly, and Dick York. I even liked the TV version with Jason Robards, Kirk Douglas, Darren McGavin, and Kyle Secor. This is a fictionalized version of the Scope Trial, pitting Creationists against evolution, Bryant against Darrow. It may have a slightly dated quality to it but - looking around at the current political environment - it’s still pertinent today. I don't really think there's a need to go into what happens as I imagine that you all have seen this in one form or another. I enjoyed it.
Series
Comeback - Richard Stark ($12.00/$1.00, copyright 1997, 292 pages, Trade Paperback)A month or two ago I read and reviewed a Jack Reacher book because Tom Cruise had a movie come out based on the character. I liked the book but not the portrayal, largely because Cruise didn’t fit the physicality. Recently, Jason Statham starred in the movie “Parker” , based on the character by Richard Stark and I decided to read one of these books to see how close the performance might be. Richard Stark is a pseudonym for Donald Westlake, a writer known for his comic take on crime novels. As Stark - perhaps an indication of what he intends - he strips away the comic and gives us a series based on the no-frills exploits of a professional thief. This one is centered on the theft of the take from one of those bible-thumper, arena gatherings. The theft, however, is almost incidental. What happens is the after effects - a double-cross, cops, the bible-thumper and his security people, another crew, etc. They all interact before there's a resolution. Parker is a no-nonsense kinda guy. He doesn't talk much but he knows what needs to be done, and he does it. Statham is an excellent choice to portray him. I enjoyed it.
Faded Coat of Blue - Owen Parry ($6.99/$4.72, copyright 1999, 337 pages, Paperback)
I wrote about another of Parry’s Abel Jones novels last month. I was so impressed by it that I went looking for the first book in the series and found it at a used book store on Inman Avenue in Colonia. In this one, Jones is a Captain in the Union Army working as a clerk in the War Department in Washington. General McClellan himself brings Jones in to investigate the murder of another army officer who happens to have been an avid abolitionist. About a third of the way through, Jones reminisces on his past and we learn how this Welshman’s life has brought him to America and our Civil War; about his background in the English army; about his wife; and how he wound up with a damaged leg. Parry does a masterful job of detailing how life was in Washington in 1861 -
specifically how the poor lived, how the way the Irish were treated, and the corruption rampant among the officers and suppliers. (One thing I forgot to mention last month is that these books are written in the first person, and Parry has an amazing ear for dialect, giving Jones a very unique Welsh voice). There are twists, turns, and some fascinating characters. I enjoyed it.
So, let's recap. All 4 books this month deal with a crime. 3 take place in the past. 2 have the word "Blue" in their title. And 1 is a play rather then a novel.
That's it for February and, hopefully, winter. Spring is on the way. Talk to you next month and...
Keep Reading!
Miscellaneous
The Pale Blue Eye - Louis Bayard ($14.95/$1.00, copyright 2006, 413 pages, Trade Paperback)Here we start with a retired NYC police investigator, August Landor, living in a small cottage in upstate New York. He is called in to help solve the death of a cadet at West Point in October of 1830. Since he’s a civilian and limited to where he can go and who he can speak to, he requests the assistance of one of the cadets themselves - Edgar Allen Poe. The chapters are listed as Narratives of Gus Landor with several reports by Poe mixed in, and Bayard does a great job of evoking the time and place, and giving each character a distinctive voice. Another murder takes place, suspects abound, and there is a very unexpected twist at the end. It took me longer to read this particular book because, almost halfway through, I realized that Bayard had laced references to Poe’s works throughout the novel - a bust of Pallas, a reference to the beating of a heart possibly being heard by someone, etc. (sort of like Easter eggs in a video game). I had to go back and make sure that I pick up as many as possible. I enjoyed it.
Inherit the Wind - Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee ($9.95/$.25, copyright [unpublished] 1951, 129 pages, Paperback)
I came across this at a library sale in Rahway and was immediately psyched. I loved the movie with Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, Gene Kelly, and Dick York. I even liked the TV version with Jason Robards, Kirk Douglas, Darren McGavin, and Kyle Secor. This is a fictionalized version of the Scope Trial, pitting Creationists against evolution, Bryant against Darrow. It may have a slightly dated quality to it but - looking around at the current political environment - it’s still pertinent today. I don't really think there's a need to go into what happens as I imagine that you all have seen this in one form or another. I enjoyed it.
Series
Comeback - Richard Stark ($12.00/$1.00, copyright 1997, 292 pages, Trade Paperback)A month or two ago I read and reviewed a Jack Reacher book because Tom Cruise had a movie come out based on the character. I liked the book but not the portrayal, largely because Cruise didn’t fit the physicality. Recently, Jason Statham starred in the movie “Parker” , based on the character by Richard Stark and I decided to read one of these books to see how close the performance might be. Richard Stark is a pseudonym for Donald Westlake, a writer known for his comic take on crime novels. As Stark - perhaps an indication of what he intends - he strips away the comic and gives us a series based on the no-frills exploits of a professional thief. This one is centered on the theft of the take from one of those bible-thumper, arena gatherings. The theft, however, is almost incidental. What happens is the after effects - a double-cross, cops, the bible-thumper and his security people, another crew, etc. They all interact before there's a resolution. Parker is a no-nonsense kinda guy. He doesn't talk much but he knows what needs to be done, and he does it. Statham is an excellent choice to portray him. I enjoyed it.
Faded Coat of Blue - Owen Parry ($6.99/$4.72, copyright 1999, 337 pages, Paperback)
I wrote about another of Parry’s Abel Jones novels last month. I was so impressed by it that I went looking for the first book in the series and found it at a used book store on Inman Avenue in Colonia. In this one, Jones is a Captain in the Union Army working as a clerk in the War Department in Washington. General McClellan himself brings Jones in to investigate the murder of another army officer who happens to have been an avid abolitionist. About a third of the way through, Jones reminisces on his past and we learn how this Welshman’s life has brought him to America and our Civil War; about his background in the English army; about his wife; and how he wound up with a damaged leg. Parry does a masterful job of detailing how life was in Washington in 1861 -
specifically how the poor lived, how the way the Irish were treated, and the corruption rampant among the officers and suppliers. (One thing I forgot to mention last month is that these books are written in the first person, and Parry has an amazing ear for dialect, giving Jones a very unique Welsh voice). There are twists, turns, and some fascinating characters. I enjoyed it.
So, let's recap. All 4 books this month deal with a crime. 3 take place in the past. 2 have the word "Blue" in their title. And 1 is a play rather then a novel.
That's it for February and, hopefully, winter. Spring is on the way. Talk to you next month and...
Keep Reading!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Chapter Thirty-seven
Happy New Year, everybody! Welcome to the first post of 2013. Though it may look like only three books this time, I’m claiming four, as you’ll see in just a bit. To paraphrase Monty Python… And now for some things completely different.
Non-fiction
Married to Laughter - Jerry Stiller($14.00/$.50, copyright 2000, 336, Trade Paperback)
Let me admit up front that I was never a big fan of the act Stiller & Meara. I remember seeing them on the Ed Sullivan show and thinking that they weren't very funny. Of course, I was pretty young and maybe I didn't get the humor in the Irish girl/Jewish guy thing. But having read this autobiography, I have a better appreciation of their relationship. He starts with his early years in Brooklyn and on the lower East Side, where he became fascinated by vaudeville and decided to become an actor, and where he first met Ann Meara. He pursued this choice through his days in the Army, and his time in summer stock and with Joe Papp‘s Shakespeare in the Park, and ultimately to movies and TV (he ends the book after his stint on Seinfeld and just as he gets the call for King of Queens). Through it all, his relationship with - and marriage to - Anne has proved to be his strength. He’s said that she was always the pillar and he the neurotic. It’s part success story, part memoir, part comedy, and part love story. The blurbs call it “laugh out loud” funny. I didn’t think so, but I did enjoy it.
Miscellaneous
The Complete Brigadier Gerard - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ($9.95/Gift Card, Copyright 2005, 380 pages, Trade Paperback)
OK. Anyone reading this knows that I am a fan of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. But did you know that he created other just as famous characters? This collection contains all of the Brigadier Etienne Gerard stories, published in the Strand Magazine between 1894 and 1903, (during the period when Holmes was “dead“.). These stories were originally published as two separate volumes - “The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard” -8 stories -and “The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard” -9 stories - 17 stories in all. Doyle was fascinated by the Napoleonic Wars, and had done a lot of research. These stories are historically accurate but the character is far from Holmes. For the most part, they are told in the first person, and as if by a long-retired soldier living on a pension, passing the time with neighbors. He’s a Gascon, much like D’Artagnan from the Dumas stories - which is to say that he is given to exaggerating his abilities. But, as you read the stories you get to know the character, and the times he lived in. Though Doyle, on several occasions, reduces Gerard to the level of a buffoon, he always brings him back to the survivor who lived through the Napoleonic Wars by trying his best to follow orders even though he doesn‘t always understand them. The mood of the stories run from the joy Gerard feels at riding into action to the grimness of the retreat from Moscow. There is adventure, action, some romance (although Gerard always gets the short end here) and some real comedy. At times, the stories get repetitive - given the limited time/area - but Doyle has a way with words. I enjoyed it.
Series
Bold Sons of Erin - Owen Parry ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 392 pages, Paperback)
Though not the first in the series, this was my introduction to the Abel Jones novels, which are set during the Civil War. Jones is a former sergeant from the English army who, having served in India, has relocated to America and now, as a major in the Union army, is tasked with solving murders and mysteries that may affect the outcome of the war. Abel is a short-statured Welshman - and a Methodist - with a bad leg due to a wound. In this book, he is sent to the coal mining area of Pennsylvania (where he and his family just happened to live) to solve another murder - that of a Union general on a conscription mission among the Irish miners. Parry paints as realistic a picture as possible of how life is for the Irish at that time, as well as how things were during the war. He brings in historical figures such as Lincoln and Seward in Washington, Black Jack Kehoe among the miners, and Meagher at Fredericksburg. And he doesn’t hold back from the carnage that was the Civil War, the incompetence of many of the Union officers, nor the corruption of mine owners and railroad operators. The murder turns out to have twists and turns that swing from Russians (autocrats and revolutionaries) to a parish priest and, even, witches. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As I said, some different things this month - an autobiography, some non-Holmesian Conan Doyle stories, and a mystery series set during the Civil War. Maybe, in the months to come, I'll be telling you about some other different things I've been reading. Then again....maybe not.
Keep Reading!
Non-fiction
Married to Laughter - Jerry Stiller($14.00/$.50, copyright 2000, 336, Trade Paperback)
Let me admit up front that I was never a big fan of the act Stiller & Meara. I remember seeing them on the Ed Sullivan show and thinking that they weren't very funny. Of course, I was pretty young and maybe I didn't get the humor in the Irish girl/Jewish guy thing. But having read this autobiography, I have a better appreciation of their relationship. He starts with his early years in Brooklyn and on the lower East Side, where he became fascinated by vaudeville and decided to become an actor, and where he first met Ann Meara. He pursued this choice through his days in the Army, and his time in summer stock and with Joe Papp‘s Shakespeare in the Park, and ultimately to movies and TV (he ends the book after his stint on Seinfeld and just as he gets the call for King of Queens). Through it all, his relationship with - and marriage to - Anne has proved to be his strength. He’s said that she was always the pillar and he the neurotic. It’s part success story, part memoir, part comedy, and part love story. The blurbs call it “laugh out loud” funny. I didn’t think so, but I did enjoy it.
Miscellaneous
The Complete Brigadier Gerard - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ($9.95/Gift Card, Copyright 2005, 380 pages, Trade Paperback)
OK. Anyone reading this knows that I am a fan of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. But did you know that he created other just as famous characters? This collection contains all of the Brigadier Etienne Gerard stories, published in the Strand Magazine between 1894 and 1903, (during the period when Holmes was “dead“.). These stories were originally published as two separate volumes - “The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard” -8 stories -and “The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard” -9 stories - 17 stories in all. Doyle was fascinated by the Napoleonic Wars, and had done a lot of research. These stories are historically accurate but the character is far from Holmes. For the most part, they are told in the first person, and as if by a long-retired soldier living on a pension, passing the time with neighbors. He’s a Gascon, much like D’Artagnan from the Dumas stories - which is to say that he is given to exaggerating his abilities. But, as you read the stories you get to know the character, and the times he lived in. Though Doyle, on several occasions, reduces Gerard to the level of a buffoon, he always brings him back to the survivor who lived through the Napoleonic Wars by trying his best to follow orders even though he doesn‘t always understand them. The mood of the stories run from the joy Gerard feels at riding into action to the grimness of the retreat from Moscow. There is adventure, action, some romance (although Gerard always gets the short end here) and some real comedy. At times, the stories get repetitive - given the limited time/area - but Doyle has a way with words. I enjoyed it.
Series
Bold Sons of Erin - Owen Parry ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 392 pages, Paperback)
Though not the first in the series, this was my introduction to the Abel Jones novels, which are set during the Civil War. Jones is a former sergeant from the English army who, having served in India, has relocated to America and now, as a major in the Union army, is tasked with solving murders and mysteries that may affect the outcome of the war. Abel is a short-statured Welshman - and a Methodist - with a bad leg due to a wound. In this book, he is sent to the coal mining area of Pennsylvania (where he and his family just happened to live) to solve another murder - that of a Union general on a conscription mission among the Irish miners. Parry paints as realistic a picture as possible of how life is for the Irish at that time, as well as how things were during the war. He brings in historical figures such as Lincoln and Seward in Washington, Black Jack Kehoe among the miners, and Meagher at Fredericksburg. And he doesn’t hold back from the carnage that was the Civil War, the incompetence of many of the Union officers, nor the corruption of mine owners and railroad operators. The murder turns out to have twists and turns that swing from Russians (autocrats and revolutionaries) to a parish priest and, even, witches. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As I said, some different things this month - an autobiography, some non-Holmesian Conan Doyle stories, and a mystery series set during the Civil War. Maybe, in the months to come, I'll be telling you about some other different things I've been reading. Then again....maybe not.
Keep Reading!
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