Looking back, I've noticed that the previous Special Inserts have been about comic books, so I'll start this one in the same vein. Comic books have been around since the 1940's and were an offshoot of the pulp novels that preceded them. Since a picture is worth 1,000 words this made sense. At the time, they were mostly adventure, western, horror, and true love based but the Golden Age and the birth of the super heroes came quickly.
Unfortunately, in the early 1950's, someone took exception to the graphic violence and underlying sex of this form of entertainment - specifically the horror books as published by EC Comics - and created an uproar. There were comic burnings and bannings across the country, and it caused the industry to create the Comics Code and a regulating body to oversee content in order to survive. This regulating body and its "seal of approval" lasted into the 1990's when individual publishers such as Marvel and DC decided that they would regulate on their own the images, situations, and even words that they felt were appropriate to the story.
The point of this history lesson is that when the government doesn't like something - they try to ban it.
Welcome to Banned Books Week.
Banning books - even burning them - isn't new. It's gone on for centuries. The point is that it is usually carried out by totalitarian governments that suppress their citizens and regulate every aspect of their lives. This should not be done in a democracy like the United States of America.
And yet, it has been. What follows is a brief list of books that were banned at one time or another.
"1984" - George Orwell. Banned to teenagers for political reasons.
"Animal Farm" - George Orwell. Banned to teenagers for political reasons.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" - Harper Lee. Banned due to racial inequality and rape.
Slaughterhouse-Five" -Kurt Vonnegut. Banned to adults for religious reasons.
"Brave New World" - Aldous Huxley. Banned to teens for religious reasons.
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Mark Twain. Banned for social reasons.
"Of Mice and Men" - John Steinbeck. Banned for social reasons.
"The Grapes of Wrath" - John Steinbeck. Banned for social reasons.
"Leaves of Grass" - Walt Whitman, Banned for immorality.
"Ulysses" - James Joyce. Banned for obscenity.
You know what strikes me about this list? We now consider each and every one of these to be a CLASSIC.
Society changes. And its moral and ethical center varies from day to day. And every now and then, misogyny rears its ugly head. Salmon Rushdie wrote a book - and then had to go into hiding because his own people - his own religion - wanted him dead because of it. That is a sad fact, and a foreign country. This is America.
Not everything that is written is good. I'd guess very little of it is, percentage-wise. But what is is an expression of the writer, and here we have Freedom of Expression. Now don't get me wrong. Not everything that is written should be. There are laws against libeling someone by accusing them of things that can't be proven. And, I would like to think, a lot of a writer's output, upon second reading, gets trashed.
But what's written should stay written, and what's published should stay published. Even if no one ever reads it.
It takes an idea to write something. An idea so powerful in a writer's mind that he or she has to set it down on paper, has to try and share it. An idea - good, bad, or indifferent - makes us human. A shared idea makes us a community.
Keep reading!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Chapter Twelve
This time around, I have an interesting mix of books to tell you about. AND, another in my random sampling of DVD's.
Miscellaneous
Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic - Terry Jones ($12.00/$.50, 245 pages, copyright 1997, Trade paperback)
That's right - Douglas Adams - as in A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. AND that's right - Terry Jones - as in Monty Python's Flying Circus. I have to admit I was sceptical when I picked this one up. I've read other books by other "comedians" (see past Chapters) and I've always been disappointed. Not this one! Take the greatest starship ever built, and in 3 Earthlings who, typically, don't know what they're doing, and stir in complete destruction and you get a very funny book. I enjoyed it.
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - Roddy Doyle ($10.95/$.50, 282 pages, copyright 1993, Trade paperback)
What's interesting here is that there are no chapters. Just snippets of a 10-year old boy's life in the Ireland of the 1960's. These run everywhere from a half a page, to several pages, are largely Paddy's dialog - external and internal - and always come across as accurate. They the gamut from childish pranks to how a child deals with serious issues. I don't know if any of it is autobiographical but it rings true. I enjoyed it.
The Fuck-up - Arthur Nersesian ( $12.95/$1.00, 296 pages, copyright 1991, Trade paperback)
Another "slice of life" story, this time set in New York City in the 1980's. The protagonist here is an early-20 something. A slacker with no ambition and the people who come in and out of his life. Unfortunately, to me, he has no redeeming qualities and his friends aren't any better. I couldn't finish it.
Series
The Neon Rain - James Lee Burke ($4.99/$.50, 281 pages, copyright 281 pages, paperback)
I think this is the first of Burke's novels dealing with Dave Robicheaux. Set in and around New Orleans, Burke paints a wonderful picture of the cities, towns, and bayous that surround the area. Robicheaux, at least in this one, is a police lieutenant dealing with a murder that grows into a drug case, government intervention, and family problems - and the personal demons faced by all alcoholics. I enjoyed it.
Some Danger Involved - Will Thomas ($15.00/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2004, Trade paperback)
This is the first in a proposed series of mysteries set in London in the late 1880's. The main character is down on his luck, and gets taken on as an assistant by a private detective. This one leans more toward the seamy side of London, and involves the murder of a Jewish immigrant and the possibility of religious persecution in the crowded streets of back-alley London. I enjoyed it.
DVD
Highlander
"In the end, there can be only one." Well, in the beginning, there was. This movie, in my mind, was a one-shot. Then something interesting happened, it became popular. So a sequel was made (not as good), and others, and a TV series. It became a sci-fi phenomenon. But in the beginning there was only one. Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) is the Highlander and Ramirez (Sean Connery) teaches how to be an immortal and how - for some reason - they fight with swords and behead each other until the end. A self-contained movie, and it was perfect - from the sword fights to the special effects, to the soundtrack by Queen. I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. I have more books to read and more DVD's to watch.
Keep reading!
Miscellaneous
Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic - Terry Jones ($12.00/$.50, 245 pages, copyright 1997, Trade paperback)
That's right - Douglas Adams - as in A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. AND that's right - Terry Jones - as in Monty Python's Flying Circus. I have to admit I was sceptical when I picked this one up. I've read other books by other "comedians" (see past Chapters) and I've always been disappointed. Not this one! Take the greatest starship ever built, and in 3 Earthlings who, typically, don't know what they're doing, and stir in complete destruction and you get a very funny book. I enjoyed it.
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - Roddy Doyle ($10.95/$.50, 282 pages, copyright 1993, Trade paperback)
What's interesting here is that there are no chapters. Just snippets of a 10-year old boy's life in the Ireland of the 1960's. These run everywhere from a half a page, to several pages, are largely Paddy's dialog - external and internal - and always come across as accurate. They the gamut from childish pranks to how a child deals with serious issues. I don't know if any of it is autobiographical but it rings true. I enjoyed it.
The Fuck-up - Arthur Nersesian ( $12.95/$1.00, 296 pages, copyright 1991, Trade paperback)
Another "slice of life" story, this time set in New York City in the 1980's. The protagonist here is an early-20 something. A slacker with no ambition and the people who come in and out of his life. Unfortunately, to me, he has no redeeming qualities and his friends aren't any better. I couldn't finish it.
Series
The Neon Rain - James Lee Burke ($4.99/$.50, 281 pages, copyright 281 pages, paperback)
I think this is the first of Burke's novels dealing with Dave Robicheaux. Set in and around New Orleans, Burke paints a wonderful picture of the cities, towns, and bayous that surround the area. Robicheaux, at least in this one, is a police lieutenant dealing with a murder that grows into a drug case, government intervention, and family problems - and the personal demons faced by all alcoholics. I enjoyed it.
Some Danger Involved - Will Thomas ($15.00/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2004, Trade paperback)
This is the first in a proposed series of mysteries set in London in the late 1880's. The main character is down on his luck, and gets taken on as an assistant by a private detective. This one leans more toward the seamy side of London, and involves the murder of a Jewish immigrant and the possibility of religious persecution in the crowded streets of back-alley London. I enjoyed it.
DVD
Highlander
"In the end, there can be only one." Well, in the beginning, there was. This movie, in my mind, was a one-shot. Then something interesting happened, it became popular. So a sequel was made (not as good), and others, and a TV series. It became a sci-fi phenomenon. But in the beginning there was only one. Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) is the Highlander and Ramirez (Sean Connery) teaches how to be an immortal and how - for some reason - they fight with swords and behead each other until the end. A self-contained movie, and it was perfect - from the sword fights to the special effects, to the soundtrack by Queen. I enjoyed it.
That's it for now. I have more books to read and more DVD's to watch.
Keep reading!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Chapter Eleven
Last time out, I mentioned the OMG moment that occurs when you come across a book that you didn't know about and you really want to read it. That month, I had 2 of those moments and wrote about one of the books. This month, I'll let you know about the second OMG book, as well as a couple of other interesting items.
Series
The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais ($7.99/$.50, 201 pages, copyright 1987, paperback)
I think this is the first of the Elvis Cole mysteries. It's a missing person case that - as usual - gets out of hand. Cole has a wise-ass attitude, and a tough-guy partner to step in when things need it. Gratuitous sex, violence, and jokes - what more do you want? I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead White - Alan Ryan ($3.50/$.50, 351 pages, copyright 1983, paperback)
I got pulled in by the blurbs. It's a small, upstate town that's hit by the worst snow storm ever and.."an antique circus train bringing clowns...and shadows...and death". Sounded good, and I'm a sucker for a circus/carnival horror story. The author follows the Stephen King bible - Different people head alternating chapters, very descriptive weather-related sections, and a disappointing ending. It's OK, if you like King's endings.
A Graveyard for Lunatics - Ray Bradbury ($13.00/$.50, 308 pages, copyright 1990, Trade Paperback)
This is the second OMG book that I mentioned last time. RAY BRADBURY! And it's a novel, and one that I'd never heard of! What a find! It's a mystery, set in a Hollywood studio during the heyday of the studio system, and stars Bradbury himself, and his best friend Ray Harryhausen (that's right - the great animator), but all the names are changed. The beauty and magic of Bradbury's words still rings true, but unfortunately, I figured out early who the mystery person was so, for me, the rest of the book dragged itself out. Not bad, but not Bradbury's best.
Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy - Horatio Alger ($1.50/$.50, 382 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
This is actually 2 of Alger's novels published in one volume. Originally, they were published in the mid-1800s. I'd never read anything by Alger, but everyone knows of his "plucky young poor boy who makes good" stories, and these are perfect examples of that genre. These poor boys get by on luck, and help from a better-off benefactor. In fact, Ragged Dick is the benefactor for Mark, the match boy. Kind of like an Americanized Dickens (we don't need all that descriptive stuff, just a quick, feel-good story). I enjoyed it (them).
A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon (No price/$.25, 354 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback)
This was written by the same guy who wrote "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which I enjoyed. Also, there is nothing on the cover to explain what the book is about. This made me curious enough to buy it. An English family deals with the daughter's second marriage (the father's retired and going crazy, the mother's having an affair, the son is gay, and the daughter's not sure she's doing the right thing). Things fall apart, then come back together, with some English humor thrown in. It was OK, but not my cup of tea (get it?).
That's it for now. Keep reading!
Series
The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais ($7.99/$.50, 201 pages, copyright 1987, paperback)
I think this is the first of the Elvis Cole mysteries. It's a missing person case that - as usual - gets out of hand. Cole has a wise-ass attitude, and a tough-guy partner to step in when things need it. Gratuitous sex, violence, and jokes - what more do you want? I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Dead White - Alan Ryan ($3.50/$.50, 351 pages, copyright 1983, paperback)
I got pulled in by the blurbs. It's a small, upstate town that's hit by the worst snow storm ever and.."an antique circus train bringing clowns...and shadows...and death". Sounded good, and I'm a sucker for a circus/carnival horror story. The author follows the Stephen King bible - Different people head alternating chapters, very descriptive weather-related sections, and a disappointing ending. It's OK, if you like King's endings.
A Graveyard for Lunatics - Ray Bradbury ($13.00/$.50, 308 pages, copyright 1990, Trade Paperback)
This is the second OMG book that I mentioned last time. RAY BRADBURY! And it's a novel, and one that I'd never heard of! What a find! It's a mystery, set in a Hollywood studio during the heyday of the studio system, and stars Bradbury himself, and his best friend Ray Harryhausen (that's right - the great animator), but all the names are changed. The beauty and magic of Bradbury's words still rings true, but unfortunately, I figured out early who the mystery person was so, for me, the rest of the book dragged itself out. Not bad, but not Bradbury's best.
Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy - Horatio Alger ($1.50/$.50, 382 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
This is actually 2 of Alger's novels published in one volume. Originally, they were published in the mid-1800s. I'd never read anything by Alger, but everyone knows of his "plucky young poor boy who makes good" stories, and these are perfect examples of that genre. These poor boys get by on luck, and help from a better-off benefactor. In fact, Ragged Dick is the benefactor for Mark, the match boy. Kind of like an Americanized Dickens (we don't need all that descriptive stuff, just a quick, feel-good story). I enjoyed it (them).
A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon (No price/$.25, 354 pages, copyright 2006, Trade Paperback)
This was written by the same guy who wrote "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which I enjoyed. Also, there is nothing on the cover to explain what the book is about. This made me curious enough to buy it. An English family deals with the daughter's second marriage (the father's retired and going crazy, the mother's having an affair, the son is gay, and the daughter's not sure she's doing the right thing). Things fall apart, then come back together, with some English humor thrown in. It was OK, but not my cup of tea (get it?).
That's it for now. Keep reading!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Chapter Ten
I've mentioned before that there are a few drawbacks to picking up my books at the various libraries that I've found in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties. It's time to add a new one which accounts for why there are so few books in this month's chapter. Let's call it the OMG Moment. It works like this...
I had just started a new book, and was out checking some libraries when - OMG - I found a book that I really wanted to read right away! So I put down the first book and started on the second. The next day - OMG - I found another book that I really wanted to read! Thus, I have a double OMG, and now have a couple of books started that I hope make next months list.
Series
Interestingly enough, this month includes the first books in a couple of series that I've enjoyed over the years.
When the Bough Breaks - Jonathan Kellerman (432 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1985, paperback) This is the first of the Alex Delaware novels. It has the usual mix of complicated mystery and simple friendships as Alex attempts to help his friend Milo solve a murder. Alex comes across here as a little more physical then usual, and Milo more pragmatic. I enjoyed it.
A Drink Before the War - Dennis Lehane (286 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1994, paperback) This is the first of Lehane's series starring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. As in most of the others, it takes place in Boston, and Lehane does his best to convey how the two sides of the city clash and converge. Murder and politics in Boston, and my favorite character - the sociopath Bubba. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Nero Wolfe of West Thirty-Fifth Street - William S. Baring-Gould (202 pages, $6.95/$1.00, copyright 1969, paperback) This is one of the OMG books. It's an interesting attempt to treat the character created by Rex Stout as a real person. It address various aspects of Wolfe's lifestyle, as well as his friends and enemies. What drew me to it is the author, Baring-Gould, who wrote a biography of Sherlock Holmes as well as the Annotated Sherlock Holmes. AND we all know what the rumors about Holmes and Wolfe are. I enjoyed it.
Comics
Nothing read this month, but another rant, I'm afraid. While checking out the Trades at a local bookstore, I came across Spiderman:The Complete Clone Saga Epic. At the very bottom of the spine was the number 2. This means that there are at least 2 volumes one has to buy in order to get the "Complete" saga. AND how can there be a "Saga Epic"? This just doesn't seem right to me.
Something Different
While writing this, I'm watching the first several episodes of The Lone Ranger!!! Yes, that's right The Lone Ranger - Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels in glorious living black-and-white. They're part of a DVD collection called Gun Justice which I picked up at Target for $5.00. It includes The Cisco Kid, Kit Carson, Roy Rogers and others - 50 episodes in all. It may be a late Saturday afternoon in 2010 as I write this, but in my mind it's a Saturday morning 50 years ago. There's only one question to ask - Who was that masked man?
Keep reading!
I had just started a new book, and was out checking some libraries when - OMG - I found a book that I really wanted to read right away! So I put down the first book and started on the second. The next day - OMG - I found another book that I really wanted to read! Thus, I have a double OMG, and now have a couple of books started that I hope make next months list.
Series
Interestingly enough, this month includes the first books in a couple of series that I've enjoyed over the years.
When the Bough Breaks - Jonathan Kellerman (432 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1985, paperback) This is the first of the Alex Delaware novels. It has the usual mix of complicated mystery and simple friendships as Alex attempts to help his friend Milo solve a murder. Alex comes across here as a little more physical then usual, and Milo more pragmatic. I enjoyed it.
A Drink Before the War - Dennis Lehane (286 pages, $6.99/$.50, copyright 1994, paperback) This is the first of Lehane's series starring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. As in most of the others, it takes place in Boston, and Lehane does his best to convey how the two sides of the city clash and converge. Murder and politics in Boston, and my favorite character - the sociopath Bubba. I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Nero Wolfe of West Thirty-Fifth Street - William S. Baring-Gould (202 pages, $6.95/$1.00, copyright 1969, paperback) This is one of the OMG books. It's an interesting attempt to treat the character created by Rex Stout as a real person. It address various aspects of Wolfe's lifestyle, as well as his friends and enemies. What drew me to it is the author, Baring-Gould, who wrote a biography of Sherlock Holmes as well as the Annotated Sherlock Holmes. AND we all know what the rumors about Holmes and Wolfe are. I enjoyed it.
Comics
Nothing read this month, but another rant, I'm afraid. While checking out the Trades at a local bookstore, I came across Spiderman:The Complete Clone Saga Epic. At the very bottom of the spine was the number 2. This means that there are at least 2 volumes one has to buy in order to get the "Complete" saga. AND how can there be a "Saga Epic"? This just doesn't seem right to me.
Something Different
While writing this, I'm watching the first several episodes of The Lone Ranger!!! Yes, that's right The Lone Ranger - Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels in glorious living black-and-white. They're part of a DVD collection called Gun Justice which I picked up at Target for $5.00. It includes The Cisco Kid, Kit Carson, Roy Rogers and others - 50 episodes in all. It may be a late Saturday afternoon in 2010 as I write this, but in my mind it's a Saturday morning 50 years ago. There's only one question to ask - Who was that masked man?
Keep reading!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Chapter Nine
For once, I don't have any books that fall into the Series category. Although 3 out of the 5 are mysteries, or what gets classified as mysteries now. And 1 is actually, more or less, true.
Miscellaneous
Rizzo's War - Lou Manfredo ($24.99/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2009, Trade paperback)
This is another Advanced Reader Edition (which I pick up a lot of at the Metuchen Library), and it comes with the CD version read by Bobby Cannavale. This is the story of a veteran detective and his rookie partner as they handle cases in Brooklyn - some small, and one not so small. Interesting characters make this a good read. I enjoyed it.
Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz ($9.99/$.50, 364 pages, copyright 2008, paperback)
This attracted me right away - it's about a guy who undergoes a heart transplant. Me too! Although he's rich and then haunted, or hunted depending on your interpretation. Too much of the book is build up, and the payoff and ending seem rushed and don't fit the characters, in my opinion. I was disappointed.
Lieberman's Folly - Stuart Kaminsky ($15.95/ $.33, 216 pages, copyright 1991, Hard Cover)
I read a lot of Kaminsky's Toby Peters books many years ago, and enjoyed them. Although these aren't the same characters, or the same setting, it is the same style and I fell right into the situation easily. Two old cops, with their faults and families, and set in a changing Chicago of differing ethnic groups. Murder and obligations as told by Kaminsky. I enjoyed it.
Non-Fiction
The Good Rat - Jimmy Breslin ($24.95/$.10, 294 pages, copyright 2008, Trade paperback)
I remember reading Jimmy Breslin's columns in the New York newspapers back when I was in high school. Then "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight", his homage to gangsters and the Mafia. He was sort of a later-day Damon Runyon, telling stories of colorful mobsters with colorful names doing colorful things. This is a book about t mobster who wasn't colorful. In fact, he rats out the mobsters and crooked cops he worked with. It's like Breslin's farewell to his line of work. Could've been more colorful. It was OK.
Great Books
This is a new category that may crop up from time to time. I believe that there are a number of great books that no home should be without. Obviously, my opinion rules as far as this category goes. AND I will only mention those books that I come across going forward - whatever is already on my shelf will not be mentioned - at least for now.
Leaves of Grass - Walt Whitman ($12.99/$1.00, 488 pages, reprinted 1892 edition, Hard Cover)
This is considered by many to be the definitive edition of poetry written by the greatest American poet. I enjoyed what I've read so far, just sort of jumping around. I believe that good poetry should let you feel, and that's what these do. Happiness, sadness, pride, whatever, as long as you feel. I also believe that you shouldn't read straight through a book of poetry, but should slip in every now and then to enjoy it. So far, I've enjoyed this.
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
Rizzo's War - Lou Manfredo ($24.99/$.50, 290 pages, copyright 2009, Trade paperback)
This is another Advanced Reader Edition (which I pick up a lot of at the Metuchen Library), and it comes with the CD version read by Bobby Cannavale. This is the story of a veteran detective and his rookie partner as they handle cases in Brooklyn - some small, and one not so small. Interesting characters make this a good read. I enjoyed it.
Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz ($9.99/$.50, 364 pages, copyright 2008, paperback)
This attracted me right away - it's about a guy who undergoes a heart transplant. Me too! Although he's rich and then haunted, or hunted depending on your interpretation. Too much of the book is build up, and the payoff and ending seem rushed and don't fit the characters, in my opinion. I was disappointed.
Lieberman's Folly - Stuart Kaminsky ($15.95/ $.33, 216 pages, copyright 1991, Hard Cover)
I read a lot of Kaminsky's Toby Peters books many years ago, and enjoyed them. Although these aren't the same characters, or the same setting, it is the same style and I fell right into the situation easily. Two old cops, with their faults and families, and set in a changing Chicago of differing ethnic groups. Murder and obligations as told by Kaminsky. I enjoyed it.
Non-Fiction
The Good Rat - Jimmy Breslin ($24.95/$.10, 294 pages, copyright 2008, Trade paperback)
I remember reading Jimmy Breslin's columns in the New York newspapers back when I was in high school. Then "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight", his homage to gangsters and the Mafia. He was sort of a later-day Damon Runyon, telling stories of colorful mobsters with colorful names doing colorful things. This is a book about t mobster who wasn't colorful. In fact, he rats out the mobsters and crooked cops he worked with. It's like Breslin's farewell to his line of work. Could've been more colorful. It was OK.
Great Books
This is a new category that may crop up from time to time. I believe that there are a number of great books that no home should be without. Obviously, my opinion rules as far as this category goes. AND I will only mention those books that I come across going forward - whatever is already on my shelf will not be mentioned - at least for now.
Leaves of Grass - Walt Whitman ($12.99/$1.00, 488 pages, reprinted 1892 edition, Hard Cover)
This is considered by many to be the definitive edition of poetry written by the greatest American poet. I enjoyed what I've read so far, just sort of jumping around. I believe that good poetry should let you feel, and that's what these do. Happiness, sadness, pride, whatever, as long as you feel. I also believe that you shouldn't read straight through a book of poetry, but should slip in every now and then to enjoy it. So far, I've enjoyed this.
Keep reading.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Chapter Eight
In Chapter Seven, I mentioned that I'd picked up some classic paperbacks at a book sale at my local library. Well, I've actually read 2 of them since then, and my opinion can be found below. I also added 2 more libraries to my weekly search, which brought in 2 more books, one of which will also be mentioned below. Finally, there are 2 new Sherlock Holmes items to discuss, so dive in....
Series
The Death of an Irish Tradition - Bartholomew Gill ($6.99/$.50, 335 pages, copyright 1979, paperback)
This is the first of the Gill series that I've read, though not the first chronologically. It features Chief Inspector Peter McGarr, and his staff of underlings, and deals with e murder tied in to the Dublin Horse Show. The descriptions of Dublin and it's environs, as well as the Irish (upper and lower class) bring it all to life. McGarr is an interesting and at times amusing character, as are his subordinates. My only beef is that there are too many "Mc" or "Mac" characters which confused things for me (although I imagine it's really like that in Dublin). I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut ($6.99/$.25, 215 pages, copyright 1969, paperback)
Billed as one of the world's greatest anti-war books (another of which "Johnny Got His Gun" was just added to The Pile), I remember reading this back in the early 70's. It is the life story of Billy Pilgrim who is unstuck in time. He lives moment-to-moment, though not in any chronological sense. The scenes about Dresden ring true, because Vonnegut actually lived them. I remember the movie, vaguely, and would like to see it again. I certainly enjoyed reading it again.
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess ($1.25/$.25, 191 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
Again, I remember reading this back in the early 70's, but I don't remember whether I saw the movie ( X Rated) first, or read the book. Whichever, I found myself visualizing the scenes as I read, including seeing Malcolm McDowell as Alex. A version of a future England, where youth and its violence meets government and its retribution. I'm pretty sure I used the glossary the first time in order to understand the slang. This time, I read it right through, picking up the meanings by the content. Either way, I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
The Veiled Detective - David Stuart Davies ($9.95/ Gift Card, 246 pages, copyright 2004, Trade Paperback)
I have to admit that I was put off by this book at first. Having read the first 2 chapters, the author, to my mind, was taking too many liberties with the Canon (the original stories). On second thought, I realized that what he's changed are aspects outside of the Canon and, therefore, fair game. The book deals with the early years, from the start of the Holmes/Watson partnership, up to "The Final Problem", giving Watson a back story I didn't like, and bringing in Moriarty too early. It's OK, but not my cup of Holmes. That said, on to...
Movies/DVD
Sherlock Holmes
There was a lot of hype about this movie when it premiered last year and being a fan of Robert Downey, Jr. and Sherlock Holmes, I almost went myself. Instead, I finally got to see it on DVD. I'm glad I waited. As movies go, it was like watching Gibson and Glover in a Victorian "Lethal Weapon". As an ACTION movie, it's enjoyable if you suspend belief for a while, which I love to do. But as a Holmes movie....? Not so much. There are references to stories in the Canon, some taken almost word-for-word. Jude Law makes for a good Watson, and Downey plays up the eccentricities of Holmes, yet he doesn't ring quite true to me. He brings out the physicality of the character, something not seen so often, but he doesn't "look" the part. The villain (Mark Strong) looks more like the Holmes that I know, which was very distracting to me. And, finally, I had trouble at times understanding him, although he did maintain his accent all the way through. I can only rate it as OK.
Keep Reading!
Series
The Death of an Irish Tradition - Bartholomew Gill ($6.99/$.50, 335 pages, copyright 1979, paperback)
This is the first of the Gill series that I've read, though not the first chronologically. It features Chief Inspector Peter McGarr, and his staff of underlings, and deals with e murder tied in to the Dublin Horse Show. The descriptions of Dublin and it's environs, as well as the Irish (upper and lower class) bring it all to life. McGarr is an interesting and at times amusing character, as are his subordinates. My only beef is that there are too many "Mc" or "Mac" characters which confused things for me (although I imagine it's really like that in Dublin). I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut ($6.99/$.25, 215 pages, copyright 1969, paperback)
Billed as one of the world's greatest anti-war books (another of which "Johnny Got His Gun" was just added to The Pile), I remember reading this back in the early 70's. It is the life story of Billy Pilgrim who is unstuck in time. He lives moment-to-moment, though not in any chronological sense. The scenes about Dresden ring true, because Vonnegut actually lived them. I remember the movie, vaguely, and would like to see it again. I certainly enjoyed reading it again.
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess ($1.25/$.25, 191 pages, copyright 1962, paperback)
Again, I remember reading this back in the early 70's, but I don't remember whether I saw the movie ( X Rated) first, or read the book. Whichever, I found myself visualizing the scenes as I read, including seeing Malcolm McDowell as Alex. A version of a future England, where youth and its violence meets government and its retribution. I'm pretty sure I used the glossary the first time in order to understand the slang. This time, I read it right through, picking up the meanings by the content. Either way, I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
The Veiled Detective - David Stuart Davies ($9.95/ Gift Card, 246 pages, copyright 2004, Trade Paperback)
I have to admit that I was put off by this book at first. Having read the first 2 chapters, the author, to my mind, was taking too many liberties with the Canon (the original stories). On second thought, I realized that what he's changed are aspects outside of the Canon and, therefore, fair game. The book deals with the early years, from the start of the Holmes/Watson partnership, up to "The Final Problem", giving Watson a back story I didn't like, and bringing in Moriarty too early. It's OK, but not my cup of Holmes. That said, on to...
Movies/DVD
Sherlock Holmes
There was a lot of hype about this movie when it premiered last year and being a fan of Robert Downey, Jr. and Sherlock Holmes, I almost went myself. Instead, I finally got to see it on DVD. I'm glad I waited. As movies go, it was like watching Gibson and Glover in a Victorian "Lethal Weapon". As an ACTION movie, it's enjoyable if you suspend belief for a while, which I love to do. But as a Holmes movie....? Not so much. There are references to stories in the Canon, some taken almost word-for-word. Jude Law makes for a good Watson, and Downey plays up the eccentricities of Holmes, yet he doesn't ring quite true to me. He brings out the physicality of the character, something not seen so often, but he doesn't "look" the part. The villain (Mark Strong) looks more like the Holmes that I know, which was very distracting to me. And, finally, I had trouble at times understanding him, although he did maintain his accent all the way through. I can only rate it as OK.
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Special Insert 2
I was going to hold off on this for another day or so, until I'd read a few more things, but something happened that makes me want to do this today.
Two weeks ago we celebrated Free Comic Book Day. This was the first one I visited a store on, although it's been going on for years. The publishers and their offerings were:
Marvel - Iron Man/Thor An excellent little story by Matt Fraction and John Romita, Jr. on how to deal with people who want the moon.
Dark Horse - Doctor Solar/Magnus - Two separate stories scripted by Jim Shooter bringing back some old Valiant characters for some new fans, hopefully.
DC - War of the Supermen - James Robinson and Sterling Gates bring newcomers up-to-date with what's been going on with Superman.
Dynamite - Green Hornet - Five little vignettes teasing readers with the titles currently issued by this publisher dealing with another Golden Age hero who had a TV series back in to 60's. One of these is based on Kevin Smith's script (unused) for the upcoming movie.
As you can see, they didn't dump some old reprints on us, so look forward to next year like I will.
Trade Editions
Batman R. I. P. - Grant Morrison, writer, and Tony Daniel etal, artists ($29.99/30% coupon, Batman 676 - 683 and DC Universe 0, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
I already read Final Crisis, so I knew what happened to Batman because of it. I wanted to see how the regular book handled it. A pretty good story, showing off Batman's skills and Joker's insanity, but it jumps around a lot without explaining what happened. (Come on - we all know he's nor really dead.) I enjoyed it though.
Wolverine, Old Man Logan - Mark Millar, writer, and Steve McNiven, artist ($34.99/30% coupon, Wolverine 66 - 72 and Giant Size Old Man Logan, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
There was a lot of hype about this series as it was being issued, so when it came out as a trade I was looking forward to it. I tried waiting for the soft cover, hoping to get it cheaper but no dice. It's an interesting sort of What If scenario that has the heroes having been beaten by the villains and Logan dealing with how his life in this future pans out. I won't give anything away. There are some interesting touches, some disturbing scenes, but ultimately I was disappointed. To me, it didn't live up to the hype. It was OK.
First Wave
My original understanding of these was that DC was going back to before there were SUPER people, or metahumans as they call them. The preview I saw mentioned Batman, Doc Savage, and the Spirit. I've just read the one-shot prelim and the first 2 issues each of the First Wave mini, and the Doc Savage ongoing. NOTE: Batman has been around forever, and the Spirit has been riding a recent relaunch. For all of you out there who don't know Doc Savage, or Justice, Inc. for that matter, they are products of the Pulps magazines from the 30's and 40's. There's an old saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words. That holds true for Pulps versus comics. For every illustrated panel in a comic there were at least 1,000 words in a Pulp, since the writers got paid by the word.
Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, was the ideal man - a "super" man, if you will - who was a perfect physical and intellectual specimen. He was joined on his adventures by 5 other men, each of whom had a particular field of expertise. It was kind of science-fictiony. Justice, Inc. featured The Avenger - Richard Benson - who was traumatized by the death of his family into meting out justice (in many cases lethally) to evildoers. He was gray-haired and gray-skinned, and so traumatized that he couldn't move his face or show emotion unless he was disguised as someone else.
Both of these characters were attributed to Kenneth Robeson, a House Name owned by the publisher so that they could solicit stories from anyone and every writer was expendable. Actually, Lester Dent is considered to be the main Doc Savage writer, and Paul Ernst the main one on Justice, Inc. No one is credited in the First Wave series, although Bob Kane for Batman and Will Eisner for the Spirit are front and center.
Batman/Doc Savage Special - Brian Azzarello, writer and Phil Noto, artist ($4.99)
As an intro to the miniseries, this isn't too bad. We get to see Batman meet up with Doc Savage, and get some insight into how Azzarello sees them. The "case" - a murder - isn't that interesting, though. There's also a behind-the-scenes section that introduces other characters who'll be making appearances in the mini. Very Interesting.
Doc Savage - Paul Malmont, writer, Howard Porter, artist. ($3.99)
This mag includes a backup feature called Justice, Inc. I've read the first 2 issues, and I like the Justice, Inc. story better, so far. Doc's is about someone trying to get to him and his friends. Justice, Inc. involves the kidnapping of one of the Avenger's men. All of the expected supporting characters are here, the timeline is right in that they take place in the 40's, and hopefully both story lines will improve. I do take offense at them using 5 pages from each mag to "preview" other comics, though. I feel like I'm being ripped off. Interesting.
First Wave - Brian Azzarello, writer and Rags Morales, artist ($3.99)
I've read the first 2 issues here, also, and find this more satisfying. First off, it's the whole mag, no backup story and no previews. The characters are well defined, and the supporting casts are there. They've even brought in some other characters familiar to the timeline such as the Blackhawks (though these are not your father's Blackhawks). Doc starts it off, the Spirit comes in, and Batman makes a brief appearance in issue 2. I enjoyed these.
The reason I wanted to write this now is that I just found out that Frank Frazetta passed away Monday, May 10th, at the age of 82. I owe my vision of what Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, Conan the Barbarian, and so many other fantasy heroes look like to Frank's imagination as translated by his brushes. Sometimes, it was his covers alone that attracted me to a book. Thanks, Frank, for a lot of great memories. God Speed!
Keep reading.
Two weeks ago we celebrated Free Comic Book Day. This was the first one I visited a store on, although it's been going on for years. The publishers and their offerings were:
Marvel - Iron Man/Thor An excellent little story by Matt Fraction and John Romita, Jr. on how to deal with people who want the moon.
Dark Horse - Doctor Solar/Magnus - Two separate stories scripted by Jim Shooter bringing back some old Valiant characters for some new fans, hopefully.
DC - War of the Supermen - James Robinson and Sterling Gates bring newcomers up-to-date with what's been going on with Superman.
Dynamite - Green Hornet - Five little vignettes teasing readers with the titles currently issued by this publisher dealing with another Golden Age hero who had a TV series back in to 60's. One of these is based on Kevin Smith's script (unused) for the upcoming movie.
As you can see, they didn't dump some old reprints on us, so look forward to next year like I will.
Trade Editions
Batman R. I. P. - Grant Morrison, writer, and Tony Daniel etal, artists ($29.99/30% coupon, Batman 676 - 683 and DC Universe 0, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
I already read Final Crisis, so I knew what happened to Batman because of it. I wanted to see how the regular book handled it. A pretty good story, showing off Batman's skills and Joker's insanity, but it jumps around a lot without explaining what happened. (Come on - we all know he's nor really dead.) I enjoyed it though.
Wolverine, Old Man Logan - Mark Millar, writer, and Steve McNiven, artist ($34.99/30% coupon, Wolverine 66 - 72 and Giant Size Old Man Logan, copyright 2008, Hard Cover Trade)
There was a lot of hype about this series as it was being issued, so when it came out as a trade I was looking forward to it. I tried waiting for the soft cover, hoping to get it cheaper but no dice. It's an interesting sort of What If scenario that has the heroes having been beaten by the villains and Logan dealing with how his life in this future pans out. I won't give anything away. There are some interesting touches, some disturbing scenes, but ultimately I was disappointed. To me, it didn't live up to the hype. It was OK.
First Wave
My original understanding of these was that DC was going back to before there were SUPER people, or metahumans as they call them. The preview I saw mentioned Batman, Doc Savage, and the Spirit. I've just read the one-shot prelim and the first 2 issues each of the First Wave mini, and the Doc Savage ongoing. NOTE: Batman has been around forever, and the Spirit has been riding a recent relaunch. For all of you out there who don't know Doc Savage, or Justice, Inc. for that matter, they are products of the Pulps magazines from the 30's and 40's. There's an old saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words. That holds true for Pulps versus comics. For every illustrated panel in a comic there were at least 1,000 words in a Pulp, since the writers got paid by the word.
Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, was the ideal man - a "super" man, if you will - who was a perfect physical and intellectual specimen. He was joined on his adventures by 5 other men, each of whom had a particular field of expertise. It was kind of science-fictiony. Justice, Inc. featured The Avenger - Richard Benson - who was traumatized by the death of his family into meting out justice (in many cases lethally) to evildoers. He was gray-haired and gray-skinned, and so traumatized that he couldn't move his face or show emotion unless he was disguised as someone else.
Both of these characters were attributed to Kenneth Robeson, a House Name owned by the publisher so that they could solicit stories from anyone and every writer was expendable. Actually, Lester Dent is considered to be the main Doc Savage writer, and Paul Ernst the main one on Justice, Inc. No one is credited in the First Wave series, although Bob Kane for Batman and Will Eisner for the Spirit are front and center.
Batman/Doc Savage Special - Brian Azzarello, writer and Phil Noto, artist ($4.99)
As an intro to the miniseries, this isn't too bad. We get to see Batman meet up with Doc Savage, and get some insight into how Azzarello sees them. The "case" - a murder - isn't that interesting, though. There's also a behind-the-scenes section that introduces other characters who'll be making appearances in the mini. Very Interesting.
Doc Savage - Paul Malmont, writer, Howard Porter, artist. ($3.99)
This mag includes a backup feature called Justice, Inc. I've read the first 2 issues, and I like the Justice, Inc. story better, so far. Doc's is about someone trying to get to him and his friends. Justice, Inc. involves the kidnapping of one of the Avenger's men. All of the expected supporting characters are here, the timeline is right in that they take place in the 40's, and hopefully both story lines will improve. I do take offense at them using 5 pages from each mag to "preview" other comics, though. I feel like I'm being ripped off. Interesting.
First Wave - Brian Azzarello, writer and Rags Morales, artist ($3.99)
I've read the first 2 issues here, also, and find this more satisfying. First off, it's the whole mag, no backup story and no previews. The characters are well defined, and the supporting casts are there. They've even brought in some other characters familiar to the timeline such as the Blackhawks (though these are not your father's Blackhawks). Doc starts it off, the Spirit comes in, and Batman makes a brief appearance in issue 2. I enjoyed these.
The reason I wanted to write this now is that I just found out that Frank Frazetta passed away Monday, May 10th, at the age of 82. I owe my vision of what Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, Conan the Barbarian, and so many other fantasy heroes look like to Frank's imagination as translated by his brushes. Sometimes, it was his covers alone that attracted me to a book. Thanks, Frank, for a lot of great memories. God Speed!
Keep reading.
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