Remember last time when I said that I had an idea for something different to work a new Chapter around? Well, I hadn't quite finished working on it when I realized that the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. I intended to read several works by one of my favorite authors. These covered his entire career from his first novel to his last, posthumously published, work. These stretched over several different genres and unfortunately, I didn't count on the fact that I'd find some of them boring. I put this idea on the back burner for now and went looking for something to fill the void. I didn't find the specific book I was looking for although I'm sure it's around here somewhere but I did came across a close second.
Miscellaneous
Noble House - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1981, 1370 pages, Paperback)
Clavell is best known for his Asian Saga consisting of 6 books:
ShÅgun - Japan 1600, published 1975
Tai-Pan - Hong Kong 1841, published 1966
Gai-Jin - Japan 1862-3, published 1993
King Rat - WWII Japanese prison camp holding Allied POWs, 1945, published 1962
Noble House - Hong Kong 1963, published 1986
Whirlwind - Iran 1979, published 1986
Over the years, I've read all of them and really enjoyed them, especially "Tai-Pan" which is one of my favorite books. I'm pretty sure I've even mentioned it in a Chapter or two. Although not specifically a sequel to "Tai-Pan" this book has the feel of one. "Tai-Pan" took place in 1841 at the founding of Hong Kong and focused on Dirk Straun the master of the Noble House trading company and his adventures in the opium trade. It dealt with his feuds with the other trading companies and his acceptance of many of the oriental customs. "Noble House" jumps ahead to 1963 and centers on Ian Dunross, current heir to the Dirk Straun legacy. It takes place in a single week and what Dunross has to deal with in order to keep his business viable. It's a big book because Clavell crams in a lot of action in such a short period of time. We get the in-fighting between the still existing Trading Houses; the political activity of spies from China, America, England, and Russia; and a wide-open stock market and banking system that can be easily manipulated. But Clavell also shows us the other side of Hong Kong - the masses of local people living in poverty and deftly describes their drives, priorities, and interests. Most of the book's characters are clearly defined although many of the minor, oriental cast members are stereotypes but Clavell knows his territory and describes it beautifully. I enjoyed it and recommend it. (as I recommend the whole series.)
Now It's back to that "special project" but I'm not promising that I'll finish it by next month. I will, God willing, have a book or two that I can tell you about.
So far, it looks like the NJ clan and I will be able to spend Thanksgiving together since there are fewer then 10 of us. It's not our "traditional" get-together but it works for me. The weather has been trending colder lately as a harbinger of things to come. Hopefully December won't bring us any bad snow storms although we are all used to staying inside by now. Remember, Christmas is coming so -
Deck the Halls
Jingle the Bells
Wash your Hands
Maintain Social Distancing
Wear a Mask
If you feel sick, Stay Home
Maybe get a Covid Test and
Keep Reading.
