I’m going to start this month with the book that I was still reading when I posted the last Chapter. It is the book that got me to finally decide to go online to place an order. Barnes & Noble’s carried it but not in stock so I went to one of their in-store terminals. They had it listed for $17.95 and I was going to use a Gift Card that I’d received. While looking it up, I noticed an option called Dealer Network which took me to several associated book outlets that connected to Barnes & Noble. I wound up getting it for about $4.50 (not out-of-pocket). This copy’s condition is classified by the bookseller site as “Used - Very Good”. Amazon has no Used copies of this edition listed, but does price a New copy at $120.88. Pretty good buy on my part.
Miscellaneous
The Sunlight Dialogues - John Gardner ($6.95/Gift Card, copyright 1972, 746 pages, Paperback)I’ve been looking for this book for a while - on and off - but got serious once I picked up a copy of Gardner’s "Grendel" about a month ago. I’d read this book first just after it was published, and it’s stayed with me all these years. It is set in the 1960‘s and it’s the story of the Chief of Police (Clumly) in a small town in upstate NY (Batavia) and how he deals with the disruptions caused by an eccentric character who invades his town (The Sunlight Man). Sunlight has been arrested for painting the word “LOVE“ across a road and is being held in jail pending a psychiatric exam. Revolving around this core are subplots involving other townsfolk and other crimes. Gardner brings each member of this huge cast to life - even the stereotypes - and this creates the daily life of Batavia that Clumly is trying to maintain. It’s order versus chaos, tradition versus change and Gardner does it justice. To be honest, some 35 years later, I found it hard at times to wade through some of the conversations between Clumly and Sunlight (and Sunlight‘s ramblings to others) that give the book it‘s name. I guess I’m not as idealistic as I once was. It was OK.
Castleview - Gene Wolfe ($13.95/$.50, copyright 1990, 278 pages, Trade Paperback)I picked this up because the cover illustration has a castle superimposed over a small town street, and one of the jacket blurbs references “Idylls of the King“. I thought this would be Wolfe’s attempt to merge Camelot with Midwestern America. Maybe it was. I don’t know. A family moves into Castleview (named for the apparition of a castle that appears from time to time). There’s a murder, car accidents, scenes in a hospital, scenes at a camp for girls, characters that move in and out and..oh, yes..some people die then come back. There is an attempt to explain it involving the world of fairies but there are too many situations left hanging to make any real sense of it. It’s well written, but ultimately not worth reading.
The Q Document - James Hall Roberts ($.60/$.50, copyright 1964, 224 pages, Paperback)
As I read this I couldn’t help but visualize it as a movie from the late 40’s/early 50’s. It is the story of a scholar - an educated man - with a recent tragedy in his past who is hired by a “business” man in Japan to verify a set of documents which may - or may not - topple Christianity. There are really only 4 main characters. I see a young Vincent Price as the scholar, Sidney Greenstreet as the businessman, an older Lauren Bacall as the writer, and Peter Lorre as the priest (only because of the one scene with Greenstreet). There isn’t any action, as would be expected today. Instead there is a steady increase in the tension and in how things move inexorably to the end regardless of what the scholar tries. The “revelation” doesn’t take place until the last few pages and is totally unexpected and actually sounds plausible. I thoroughly enjoyed it. (Interestingly, there really is a Q Document Theory. Similarities in the Gospels of Mark and Luke have led scholars to extrapolate that there is a missing source document containing the actual teachings of Jesus. This theory originated in Germany and "Q" stands for the german word "quelle" which means "source".)
Thanks to the Gift Card givers for the chance to pick up some books I've been looking for (you know who you are). The Holiday season unofficially kicks off at the end of the month so - Happy Halloween to all! And..............
Keep Reading!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Chapter Thirty-four
I have made a change this month. Not to what I read but to how I go about acquiring the books that I post about. Piqued your curiosity? I hope so, but you'll have to wait just a bit while I run through the following:
Series
On the Wrong Track - Steve Hockensmith ($12.95/$.50, copyright 2007, 290 pages, Trade Paperback)This is the second book in the Amlingmeyer Brothers series. They’re 2 one-time cattle drovers in the Old West of the late 1800’s who’ve taken a shine to the Sherlock Holmes stories (believing him to be as real as the Western heroes and villains pumped up in the dime novels popular at the time) and decide to do some “detectifying” of their own. Here they take jobs as railroad detectives and get mixed up with murders, train robbers, and other western stereotypes. There are gun fights and out-of-control trains to keep the plot moving at a quick pace. It’s told with an eye for detail, and an ear for a good laugh. I enjoyed it.
Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson ($14.99/$1.00, copyright 2011, 364 pages, Trade Paperback)I’ve written about Patterson's Alex Cross series before. In this one, Cross has to deal with the kidnapping of the President’s children while Washington, D. C. is being panicked by terrorist attacks. Patterson’s style holds true here - short, snappy chapters bouncing between the good guys and the bad, with a dash of domestic drama/life for Detective Cross. (And he's brought back a strong supporting character who's been missing for several volumes.) It’s a formula that has served Patterson well. I enjoyed it.
Graphic Novels
Cardboard - Doug Tenniel ($12.99/$0, copyright 2012, 283 pages, Trade Paperback)I read this graphic novel in a couple of hours, while “helping out” at a Book Fair so I didn't actually purchase it but I'm including it anyway. It revolves around an out-of-work, recently widowed construction worker (Mike) trying to keep things together while raising his young son (Cam). It’s the boy’s birthday and all the dad can afford is a cardboard box. But it’s magic cardboard. Soon they have created a cardboard man named Bill who, not surprisingly, comes to life. What follows involves a jealous, rich kid (Marcus) who steals the cardboard, monsters threatening to take over, and heroics by humans young and old (and cardboard). Of course, this is really aimed at a young audience, so good triumphs and lessons are learned, and there’s a nice twist at the end. The art work is appealing, and the dialog rings true. I enjoyed it.
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
In one of the early chapters I mentioned that I knew I could buy books online but that the thrill was in finding them on my own. Well, thirty-some-odd chapters later I found myself with three books that I knew I was never going to find on my own. But still I persisted until last month, when I got a couple of gift cards for my birthday - one to Barnes & Noble and one was a TD Bank card. Long story short...I've decided to join the 21st Century and ordered all three books online and I got good prices for them. So, here are two of them. I 'm still reading the third, and hope to have it for next month's post.
Miscellaneous
The Man Without a Country & Other Stories - - Edward Everett Hale ($4.99/Gft Card, published 1995, 175 pages, Paperback) This is actually out of print and although published by Wordsworth American Classics is no longer listed in their catalog. I am guessing at the cover price based on similar works that they carry. I’ve been looking for this one since Sept. of 2011 when I learned that Cliff Robertson died. I remembered seeing him in a televised version back in the 60's that has stayed with me all these years. It is the story of Philip Nolan who, through a mistaken allegiance and a bad temper, is sentenced to never see or hear of the United States again. I have to admit that I was surprised to find out that it was such a short story and yet I found it a powerful one. “The Man…” was written in 1863, and this volume includes other stories written between 1842 and 1866. Like any collection, some of the stories are really good and some not so much. These cover an interesting range of topics, some humorously. It’s a mixed bag. As a whole, it was OK. To me, it was worth it and I really did enjoy “The Man…”.
Comic Books
Showcase Presents: Challengers of The Unknown, Vol. 1 - Jack Kirby and others ($16.99/GC, published 2006, 544 pages, Trade Paperback) This volume starts with the first appearance of the Challengers in the January/February 1957 issue of Showcase (#6) and ends with the December 1960/January 1961 issue of Challengers of The Unknown (#17) - their own titled magazine. In all, 21 issues comprising the introduction of the Challengers to the DC Universe. I’ve been chasing this down since the end of 2009 when I came across a copy of Volume 2 in a comic book store in Oakhurst. The Challengers' philosophy of “We’re living on borrowed time.” resonated with me. (Since, at times, I’ve felt the same way.) To my knowledge, Jack Kirby - one of the true greats in comic book history - was the creative force behind the Challengers, drawing every issue up to and including Challengers #8, and writing most of the stories in their own magazine. The writing in the Showcase issues is attributed to Dave Wood, and the pencil work for Challengers #9 onward is by Bob Brown. Back then these were bimonthly publications. In every issue Ace, Rocky, Prof and Red (and sometimes June) would be faced with some scientific/alien/magical menace that would take all of their combined skills to defeat. I would recommend that these should be read over a period of time (say 1 a week/month) as they tend to get repetitive. Still, I found it very enjoyable.
That's it for now. Stayed tuned for next month when I'll tell you about the second book I ordered through Barnes & Noble's Dealer Network. Until then..........
Keep Reading!
Series
On the Wrong Track - Steve Hockensmith ($12.95/$.50, copyright 2007, 290 pages, Trade Paperback)This is the second book in the Amlingmeyer Brothers series. They’re 2 one-time cattle drovers in the Old West of the late 1800’s who’ve taken a shine to the Sherlock Holmes stories (believing him to be as real as the Western heroes and villains pumped up in the dime novels popular at the time) and decide to do some “detectifying” of their own. Here they take jobs as railroad detectives and get mixed up with murders, train robbers, and other western stereotypes. There are gun fights and out-of-control trains to keep the plot moving at a quick pace. It’s told with an eye for detail, and an ear for a good laugh. I enjoyed it.
Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson ($14.99/$1.00, copyright 2011, 364 pages, Trade Paperback)I’ve written about Patterson's Alex Cross series before. In this one, Cross has to deal with the kidnapping of the President’s children while Washington, D. C. is being panicked by terrorist attacks. Patterson’s style holds true here - short, snappy chapters bouncing between the good guys and the bad, with a dash of domestic drama/life for Detective Cross. (And he's brought back a strong supporting character who's been missing for several volumes.) It’s a formula that has served Patterson well. I enjoyed it.
Graphic Novels
Cardboard - Doug Tenniel ($12.99/$0, copyright 2012, 283 pages, Trade Paperback)I read this graphic novel in a couple of hours, while “helping out” at a Book Fair so I didn't actually purchase it but I'm including it anyway. It revolves around an out-of-work, recently widowed construction worker (Mike) trying to keep things together while raising his young son (Cam). It’s the boy’s birthday and all the dad can afford is a cardboard box. But it’s magic cardboard. Soon they have created a cardboard man named Bill who, not surprisingly, comes to life. What follows involves a jealous, rich kid (Marcus) who steals the cardboard, monsters threatening to take over, and heroics by humans young and old (and cardboard). Of course, this is really aimed at a young audience, so good triumphs and lessons are learned, and there’s a nice twist at the end. The art work is appealing, and the dialog rings true. I enjoyed it.
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
In one of the early chapters I mentioned that I knew I could buy books online but that the thrill was in finding them on my own. Well, thirty-some-odd chapters later I found myself with three books that I knew I was never going to find on my own. But still I persisted until last month, when I got a couple of gift cards for my birthday - one to Barnes & Noble and one was a TD Bank card. Long story short...I've decided to join the 21st Century and ordered all three books online and I got good prices for them. So, here are two of them. I 'm still reading the third, and hope to have it for next month's post.
Miscellaneous
The Man Without a Country & Other Stories - - Edward Everett Hale ($4.99/Gft Card, published 1995, 175 pages, Paperback) This is actually out of print and although published by Wordsworth American Classics is no longer listed in their catalog. I am guessing at the cover price based on similar works that they carry. I’ve been looking for this one since Sept. of 2011 when I learned that Cliff Robertson died. I remembered seeing him in a televised version back in the 60's that has stayed with me all these years. It is the story of Philip Nolan who, through a mistaken allegiance and a bad temper, is sentenced to never see or hear of the United States again. I have to admit that I was surprised to find out that it was such a short story and yet I found it a powerful one. “The Man…” was written in 1863, and this volume includes other stories written between 1842 and 1866. Like any collection, some of the stories are really good and some not so much. These cover an interesting range of topics, some humorously. It’s a mixed bag. As a whole, it was OK. To me, it was worth it and I really did enjoy “The Man…”.
Comic Books
Showcase Presents: Challengers of The Unknown, Vol. 1 - Jack Kirby and others ($16.99/GC, published 2006, 544 pages, Trade Paperback) This volume starts with the first appearance of the Challengers in the January/February 1957 issue of Showcase (#6) and ends with the December 1960/January 1961 issue of Challengers of The Unknown (#17) - their own titled magazine. In all, 21 issues comprising the introduction of the Challengers to the DC Universe. I’ve been chasing this down since the end of 2009 when I came across a copy of Volume 2 in a comic book store in Oakhurst. The Challengers' philosophy of “We’re living on borrowed time.” resonated with me. (Since, at times, I’ve felt the same way.) To my knowledge, Jack Kirby - one of the true greats in comic book history - was the creative force behind the Challengers, drawing every issue up to and including Challengers #8, and writing most of the stories in their own magazine. The writing in the Showcase issues is attributed to Dave Wood, and the pencil work for Challengers #9 onward is by Bob Brown. Back then these were bimonthly publications. In every issue Ace, Rocky, Prof and Red (and sometimes June) would be faced with some scientific/alien/magical menace that would take all of their combined skills to defeat. I would recommend that these should be read over a period of time (say 1 a week/month) as they tend to get repetitive. Still, I found it very enjoyable.
That's it for now. Stayed tuned for next month when I'll tell you about the second book I ordered through Barnes & Noble's Dealer Network. Until then..........
Keep Reading!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Chapter Thirty-three
Interestingly enough, the majority of the male members of my immediate family have been born in August. My late father, myself, my younger brother, two of my nephews and a nephew-by-association. By my count that leaves a brother, two nephews, a brother-in-law and a son-in-law. More then half of the males in my immediate family are August babies. How about that?
Of course, this really has nothing to do with this month's posting. It's just something that I found interesting. Much like at least a couple of the books listed below.
Series
Flood - Andrew H. Vachss ($4.50/$.25, copyright 1985, 344 pages, Paperback)
I wrote about several of Vachss’ books a couple of months ago. This is the first in that series about Burke, an ex-con and unlicensed PI who travels in the NY underworld and deals primarily with cases involving child molestation and abuse. I enjoyed the first Burke book I read (which happened to be the 2nd in the series) . The second one I read, and now this one, were somewhat unsatisfying. This one has the cast of characters dealing with a murderous child molester and a brutal pimp, but there’s nothing new here. I like the supporting cast of characters, but here they are only introduced, not really defined. Later volumes give them life. It was OK.
Non-fiction
The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson ($13.00/$1.00, copyright 1989, 299 pages, Trade Paperback)
I picked this book up because of it’s title, as anyone who knows me would understand. Then I saw the sub-title - “Travels in Small Town America”. Still, I read a few random passages, flipping pages, and I was hooked. This is one person's account of his travels through middle America, starting and ending in Des Moines, Iowa. At first, I found that his vision of small town America is described with such humor and warmth that you want to go there. Then you find that it becomes a bit repetitive. Maybe this would’ve worked best as a series of newspaper/magazine articles or a sort of Charles Kurault “On the Road” type of TV thing. I have to admit that I skimmed through the last third of it. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
Bad Men - John Connolly ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 451 pages, Paperback)
Connolly is the author of the Charlie Parker series, one or two of which I’ve mentioned here before. This is a stand-alone and combines elements of two distinct suspense novel formats. On one hand, we have the abused wife escaping her criminal husband with a lot of his money. Of course, he’s escaped from prison, gathered a gang of killers, and is hunting her down. On the other hand, we have the small island community - cut off from the mainland - that has a horrible tragedy buried in it’s past. Only a few people, including the island’s 7-foot deputy, can feel what’s happening. The two hands slam together in a great story that keeps the surprises going until the end. I enjoyed it.
Grendel - John Gardner ($10.95/$1.00, copyright 1971, 174 pages, Trade Paperback)
Put simply, this is just a retelling of the Beowulf story from the monster’s - Grendel’s - perspective. But this book can’t be read simply. Of course, if you know the Beowulf story, you know how it ends and Gardner stays true to the story, but he has a great time getting there. Grendel screams, yells, cries, and waxes rhapsodic for the length of the book, passing his judgement on Hrothgar and his Danes as representatives of all men. Good vs. evil, intelligence vs. ignorance, there's a lot under the surface here. At times funny, at times tragic, it is always entertaining. I enjoyed it.
Well. August is just about over, and September is only 10 days away. In about a month, Summer will end and Autumn will start. I don't know about you, but this year I'm looking forward to it. Till next time.....
Keep Reading.
Of course, this really has nothing to do with this month's posting. It's just something that I found interesting. Much like at least a couple of the books listed below.
Series
Flood - Andrew H. Vachss ($4.50/$.25, copyright 1985, 344 pages, Paperback)
I wrote about several of Vachss’ books a couple of months ago. This is the first in that series about Burke, an ex-con and unlicensed PI who travels in the NY underworld and deals primarily with cases involving child molestation and abuse. I enjoyed the first Burke book I read (which happened to be the 2nd in the series) . The second one I read, and now this one, were somewhat unsatisfying. This one has the cast of characters dealing with a murderous child molester and a brutal pimp, but there’s nothing new here. I like the supporting cast of characters, but here they are only introduced, not really defined. Later volumes give them life. It was OK.
Non-fiction
The Lost Continent - Bill Bryson ($13.00/$1.00, copyright 1989, 299 pages, Trade Paperback)
I picked this book up because of it’s title, as anyone who knows me would understand. Then I saw the sub-title - “Travels in Small Town America”. Still, I read a few random passages, flipping pages, and I was hooked. This is one person's account of his travels through middle America, starting and ending in Des Moines, Iowa. At first, I found that his vision of small town America is described with such humor and warmth that you want to go there. Then you find that it becomes a bit repetitive. Maybe this would’ve worked best as a series of newspaper/magazine articles or a sort of Charles Kurault “On the Road” type of TV thing. I have to admit that I skimmed through the last third of it. It was OK.
Miscellaneous
Bad Men - John Connolly ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2004, 451 pages, Paperback)
Connolly is the author of the Charlie Parker series, one or two of which I’ve mentioned here before. This is a stand-alone and combines elements of two distinct suspense novel formats. On one hand, we have the abused wife escaping her criminal husband with a lot of his money. Of course, he’s escaped from prison, gathered a gang of killers, and is hunting her down. On the other hand, we have the small island community - cut off from the mainland - that has a horrible tragedy buried in it’s past. Only a few people, including the island’s 7-foot deputy, can feel what’s happening. The two hands slam together in a great story that keeps the surprises going until the end. I enjoyed it.
Grendel - John Gardner ($10.95/$1.00, copyright 1971, 174 pages, Trade Paperback)
Put simply, this is just a retelling of the Beowulf story from the monster’s - Grendel’s - perspective. But this book can’t be read simply. Of course, if you know the Beowulf story, you know how it ends and Gardner stays true to the story, but he has a great time getting there. Grendel screams, yells, cries, and waxes rhapsodic for the length of the book, passing his judgement on Hrothgar and his Danes as representatives of all men. Good vs. evil, intelligence vs. ignorance, there's a lot under the surface here. At times funny, at times tragic, it is always entertaining. I enjoyed it.
Well. August is just about over, and September is only 10 days away. In about a month, Summer will end and Autumn will start. I don't know about you, but this year I'm looking forward to it. Till next time.....
Keep Reading.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Special Insert # Eight - Something I Don't Understand
They say that the older you get, the more you tend to think about your own mortality. Well, I'll be 61 tomorrow and, having come pretty damn close to it almost 4 years ago, I don't pay much attention to Death. And yet I find myself addressing this topic because it just hit pretty damn close to home and I realize that I have some questions.
In literature, Death has been seen differently by different people.
Emily Dickinson wrote of it:
" Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;"
Giving the impression that you can try to ignore Death but you have to accept him .
Dylan Thomas had a different take:
"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Giving the impression that although you can't ignore Death you sure as hell can fight him.
These seem to be opposing views of the same subject. What does that mean? To me it means that, perhaps Death is different for each of us, that rules can't be applied to him.
Now, let me point out a few people who I've posted about on FaceBook since the beginning of June. See if you can guess what they have in common.
June 2 - Richard Dawson, 79, TV actor/host
June 5 - Ray Bradbury, 91, writer
June 8 - Frank Cady, 96, TV actor
July 3 - Andy Griffith, 86, actor
July 8 - Ernest Borgnine, 95, actor
July 23 - Sally Ride, 61, astronaut
July 24 - Sherman Hemsley, 74, TV actor
August 1 - Gore Vidal, 86, writer
August 12 - Joe Kubert, 85, artist
That's right. Every one of these represents a piece of my life, a chip out of the bedrock of my past. These actors, writers, and the one astronaut entertained and enthralled me as I grew up. And, of course, they all died recently.
Also, every one of them has died at a fairly advanced age. They had the chance to live the lives they wanted. They had the chance to take risks, make mistakes, love and be loved.
They had the chance.
This brings me to my point. Over the weekend a member of the family died. There was no horrible accident; there had been no lengthy illness; in fact, there had been no sign of illness at all. He, simply, died.
He was 25. He didn't get to have the chance. And I don't understand.
Look at that list of names again. These were famous people. During those same 10 weeks there were hundred of others who died, regular people who were not as famous, but they had the chance. Why should this one young man on the threshold of life be the one to die, to lose the chance? Why?
I don't know.
If it had been due to an accident or an illness we would still grieve but there would be an answer. Here, we don't have one. Just a hole where a young man used to be. A son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a friend. Why?
I don't know.
As Christians - as Catholics - we're told that God works in mysterious ways. There are hymns and prayers, there will be a homily, all meant to provide comfort, to give solace. We accept the words, because we've been raised that way. Do they help? When I think of the grieving parents, I have my doubts. After all, what can you do? Kneel before the altar begging and weeping, or stand there yelling and cursing? I don't think it would make a difference. And it wouldn't change anything. I was raised in the New Testament of Faith, Hope, Charity, and Love. This seems so Old Testament to me. A test of Faith? Why?
I don't know.
I'm a parent, too. I can pretend to know what they are going through but I know, deep down, that I really can't. And, frankly, I don't want to. I don't want to lose my child. Ever. I don't know what it would do to me. But I can see what it's doing to them and it breaks my heart.
The way I see it, it comes down to this. The natural order should be that you live your life, raise your family, grow old, and when you die your children bury you. A parent should never have to bury a child. It isn't natural.
But there are no rules in Death. And those questions I have...well, there really is only one. Why? And the answer is...
I don't know.
And this will remain something I don't understand.
Rest in peace, Daniel.
In literature, Death has been seen differently by different people.
Emily Dickinson wrote of it:
" Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;"
Giving the impression that you can try to ignore Death but you have to accept him .
Dylan Thomas had a different take:
"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Giving the impression that although you can't ignore Death you sure as hell can fight him.
These seem to be opposing views of the same subject. What does that mean? To me it means that, perhaps Death is different for each of us, that rules can't be applied to him.
Now, let me point out a few people who I've posted about on FaceBook since the beginning of June. See if you can guess what they have in common.
June 2 - Richard Dawson, 79, TV actor/host
June 5 - Ray Bradbury, 91, writer
June 8 - Frank Cady, 96, TV actor
July 3 - Andy Griffith, 86, actor
July 8 - Ernest Borgnine, 95, actor
July 23 - Sally Ride, 61, astronaut
July 24 - Sherman Hemsley, 74, TV actor
August 1 - Gore Vidal, 86, writer
August 12 - Joe Kubert, 85, artist
That's right. Every one of these represents a piece of my life, a chip out of the bedrock of my past. These actors, writers, and the one astronaut entertained and enthralled me as I grew up. And, of course, they all died recently.
Also, every one of them has died at a fairly advanced age. They had the chance to live the lives they wanted. They had the chance to take risks, make mistakes, love and be loved.
They had the chance.
This brings me to my point. Over the weekend a member of the family died. There was no horrible accident; there had been no lengthy illness; in fact, there had been no sign of illness at all. He, simply, died.
He was 25. He didn't get to have the chance. And I don't understand.
Look at that list of names again. These were famous people. During those same 10 weeks there were hundred of others who died, regular people who were not as famous, but they had the chance. Why should this one young man on the threshold of life be the one to die, to lose the chance? Why?
I don't know.
If it had been due to an accident or an illness we would still grieve but there would be an answer. Here, we don't have one. Just a hole where a young man used to be. A son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a friend. Why?
I don't know.
As Christians - as Catholics - we're told that God works in mysterious ways. There are hymns and prayers, there will be a homily, all meant to provide comfort, to give solace. We accept the words, because we've been raised that way. Do they help? When I think of the grieving parents, I have my doubts. After all, what can you do? Kneel before the altar begging and weeping, or stand there yelling and cursing? I don't think it would make a difference. And it wouldn't change anything. I was raised in the New Testament of Faith, Hope, Charity, and Love. This seems so Old Testament to me. A test of Faith? Why?
I don't know.
I'm a parent, too. I can pretend to know what they are going through but I know, deep down, that I really can't. And, frankly, I don't want to. I don't want to lose my child. Ever. I don't know what it would do to me. But I can see what it's doing to them and it breaks my heart.
The way I see it, it comes down to this. The natural order should be that you live your life, raise your family, grow old, and when you die your children bury you. A parent should never have to bury a child. It isn't natural.
But there are no rules in Death. And those questions I have...well, there really is only one. Why? And the answer is...
I don't know.
And this will remain something I don't understand.
Rest in peace, Daniel.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Chapter Thirty-two
My usual routine is to read whatever number of books I can, and post an entry here, typically by the 24th of the month. Looking back, I realized that I tend to soften my opinion of a book as the month wears on. Basically, I may not like/hate it as much when I post as I did when I finished it. To change that, I've taken to keeping notes in Word so you get my honest opinion.
Miscellaneous
Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon ($14.00/$.50, copyright 2007, 206 pages, Trade Paperback)
I’ve read several of Chabon’s works in the past. They have all been different - different characters, even different genres. Here we have two disparate adventurers - Zelikman and Amram - plying their “trade” wherever the road takes them in a past time somewhere around 950 AD. True to type for these kinds of stories, they wind up involved in rescuing a member of a royal family and saving a kingdom all while trying to make a few dinars. I wanted to like this, but Chabon has a tendency towards really long run-on sentences and he comes on pretty heavy with the fact that a lot of his characters are Jewish. (Also, he dedicates the book to Michael Moorcock when he obviously owes more to Fritz Leiber. AND this was originally serialized in the New York Times so, in my mind, the cover price isn‘t justified.). It was OK.
White Sky, Black Ice - Stan Jones ($15.00/$.50, copyright 1999, 264 pages, Trade Paperback)
An interesting premise. The main character, Nathan Active, is an Alaskan State Trooper looking into a string of suicides by Eskimos. He's also a native-born Eskimo who was given up for adoption to a white couple but now finds himself serving in the town of his birth. I was hoping for some fish-out-of-water stuff, maybe some Northern Exposure stuff. Definitely some Alaskan nature/harsh weather stuff. Jones glosses over all of it. There's some interesting stuff here but I figured it out early. It was OK.
Alex Cross's Trial - James Patterson & Richard Dilallo ($9.99, $.50, copyright 2009, 392 pages, Paperback)
And the Patterson Machine keeps on rolling them out. I'm listing this one under Miscellaneous because I don't believe it should be classified as part of Patterson's Alex Cross series. In part, because he has a co-writer, in part because it is supposed to be a book written by Alex Cross about something that happened to his ancestor. It revolves President Theodore Roosevelt sending a friend, Ben Corbett, down to Mississippi to investigate reports about lynching, and what happens when he gets there. I have to admit that having read all of the Alex Cross books, I found it a bit difficult remembering that the main character wasn't black. But there are scenes involving local color, violence, and court rooms that ring true. I was reminded at times of the movies To Kill A Mockinbird and Inherit the Wind. I enjoyed it.
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith ($13.99/$5.99/Gift Card*, copyright 2010, 336 pages, Trade Paperback)
OK. I don't see how I can talk too much about this since the title pretty much tells it all. What I will say is that it is well written, mixes first and third person narratives (sometimes confusingly) to keep the story moving forward, and actually makes sense as you read through it. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree with the ending, but I did enjoy it. (*The cover price was $13.99 but it was reduced to $5.99 and I used what was left on a gift card.)
Something Special
Aaron Burr - Samuel H. Wandell and Meade Minnigerode
I'm guessing that you've noticed that there are no particulars about this work. That's because I haven't read it yet. I mention it because, once in a great while, you can find something interesting. As I've said, I usually confine myself to libraries, but once in a while I do check out used book stores. Particularly when I'm looking for something specific. I was looking for a copy of Edward Hale's "The Man Without a Country" and didn't have any luck. But I did buy this. A 2 volume, hard cover, biography of a very interesting character in early American history, copyright 1925. I paid $10.00 for the 2 of them. When I got home, I checked out Amazon. Collector's editions were selling for $75.00, used for $30.00. Not a bad investment. I hope it reads well.
Anyway, it's mid-July, it's very warm, and you should stay cool and..........
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon ($14.00/$.50, copyright 2007, 206 pages, Trade Paperback)
I’ve read several of Chabon’s works in the past. They have all been different - different characters, even different genres. Here we have two disparate adventurers - Zelikman and Amram - plying their “trade” wherever the road takes them in a past time somewhere around 950 AD. True to type for these kinds of stories, they wind up involved in rescuing a member of a royal family and saving a kingdom all while trying to make a few dinars. I wanted to like this, but Chabon has a tendency towards really long run-on sentences and he comes on pretty heavy with the fact that a lot of his characters are Jewish. (Also, he dedicates the book to Michael Moorcock when he obviously owes more to Fritz Leiber. AND this was originally serialized in the New York Times so, in my mind, the cover price isn‘t justified.). It was OK.
White Sky, Black Ice - Stan Jones ($15.00/$.50, copyright 1999, 264 pages, Trade Paperback)
An interesting premise. The main character, Nathan Active, is an Alaskan State Trooper looking into a string of suicides by Eskimos. He's also a native-born Eskimo who was given up for adoption to a white couple but now finds himself serving in the town of his birth. I was hoping for some fish-out-of-water stuff, maybe some Northern Exposure stuff. Definitely some Alaskan nature/harsh weather stuff. Jones glosses over all of it. There's some interesting stuff here but I figured it out early. It was OK.
Alex Cross's Trial - James Patterson & Richard Dilallo ($9.99, $.50, copyright 2009, 392 pages, Paperback)
And the Patterson Machine keeps on rolling them out. I'm listing this one under Miscellaneous because I don't believe it should be classified as part of Patterson's Alex Cross series. In part, because he has a co-writer, in part because it is supposed to be a book written by Alex Cross about something that happened to his ancestor. It revolves President Theodore Roosevelt sending a friend, Ben Corbett, down to Mississippi to investigate reports about lynching, and what happens when he gets there. I have to admit that having read all of the Alex Cross books, I found it a bit difficult remembering that the main character wasn't black. But there are scenes involving local color, violence, and court rooms that ring true. I was reminded at times of the movies To Kill A Mockinbird and Inherit the Wind. I enjoyed it.
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith ($13.99/$5.99/Gift Card*, copyright 2010, 336 pages, Trade Paperback)
OK. I don't see how I can talk too much about this since the title pretty much tells it all. What I will say is that it is well written, mixes first and third person narratives (sometimes confusingly) to keep the story moving forward, and actually makes sense as you read through it. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree with the ending, but I did enjoy it. (*The cover price was $13.99 but it was reduced to $5.99 and I used what was left on a gift card.)
Something Special
Aaron Burr - Samuel H. Wandell and Meade Minnigerode
I'm guessing that you've noticed that there are no particulars about this work. That's because I haven't read it yet. I mention it because, once in a great while, you can find something interesting. As I've said, I usually confine myself to libraries, but once in a while I do check out used book stores. Particularly when I'm looking for something specific. I was looking for a copy of Edward Hale's "The Man Without a Country" and didn't have any luck. But I did buy this. A 2 volume, hard cover, biography of a very interesting character in early American history, copyright 1925. I paid $10.00 for the 2 of them. When I got home, I checked out Amazon. Collector's editions were selling for $75.00, used for $30.00. Not a bad investment. I hope it reads well.
Anyway, it's mid-July, it's very warm, and you should stay cool and..........
Keep reading.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Chapter Thirty-one
A couple of weeks ago, one of my nephews posted on FaceBook that he was interested in writing, and asked for suggestions on how he should proceed. I replied with the old adage.."Write what you know". Now, that may not always be true - particularly in Fantasy/SciFi works - but, interestingly, I have recently read a few books that justify that saying. That being said, I'm going to change the format I usually post in so that I can explain this.
Series
Andrew Vachss
Vachss has been a Federal investigator, a social caseworker, and a director of a maximum security prison for youthful offenders. His life has been focused on the exploitation of children. I had the opportunity to pick up several of his books at the same time, and read two of them back-to-back.
Strega - ($11.00/$.50, copyright 1987, 293 pages, Trade Paperback)
Vachss' main character is Burke. He's a product of the "system" - no known parents, foster-raised and street-trained,with time spent honing himself in prison. He has created a family of his own among the street people and criminals that people the city. In this one, he's hired to locate a photograph of a young boy who's being abused. He does what he has to do, meeting with damaged people and dealing with the seamy underside of New York. I enjoyed it.
Choice of Evil - ($13.00/$.50, copyright 1999, 305 pages, Trade Paperback)
Burke is faced with a part of his past that he's not entirely comfortable with. His girlfriend has been killed in a drive-by that appears to be anti-gay which, in turn, leads to some serious reprisals by an anonymous killer. The consensus is that this killer is an old associate of Burke's who is supposed to be dead. I found this one to be less interesting. Burke seemed more needy, and his supporting cast less effective. It was OK.
Eddie Muller
This Eddie Muller's father was the Eddie Muller who wrote the "Shadow Boxing" column in the old San Francisco Examiner starting back in the 1930's. Boxing continued to be very big into the 1950's, actually becoming one of the major draws at the birth of TV. Eddie Junior (the author) has made his reputation on books about Film Noir - and the ways people deal with different crimes under mundane circumstances.
The Distance - ($14.90/$.50, copyright 2004, 413 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is set in a time and place I was totally unfamiliar with - the boxing scene in 1948 San Francisco as seen through the eyes of a newspaper columnist - Mr. Boxing, Billy Nichols. It starts with him stumbling into a crime scene and trying to help out a friend, and then spirals outward. Boxers, fixers, cops, dames...they're all here, and they look good in the black-and-white that they're painted in. This would've been a great movie. I enjoyed it.
I have several books - directions - to go from here. Not sure which way I'll turn. But the bottom line is - write what you feel, what pours out of you. If it makes you happy, nothing else matters.
Oh, and...
Keep reading.
Series
Andrew Vachss
Vachss has been a Federal investigator, a social caseworker, and a director of a maximum security prison for youthful offenders. His life has been focused on the exploitation of children. I had the opportunity to pick up several of his books at the same time, and read two of them back-to-back.
Strega - ($11.00/$.50, copyright 1987, 293 pages, Trade Paperback)
Vachss' main character is Burke. He's a product of the "system" - no known parents, foster-raised and street-trained,with time spent honing himself in prison. He has created a family of his own among the street people and criminals that people the city. In this one, he's hired to locate a photograph of a young boy who's being abused. He does what he has to do, meeting with damaged people and dealing with the seamy underside of New York. I enjoyed it.
Choice of Evil - ($13.00/$.50, copyright 1999, 305 pages, Trade Paperback)
Burke is faced with a part of his past that he's not entirely comfortable with. His girlfriend has been killed in a drive-by that appears to be anti-gay which, in turn, leads to some serious reprisals by an anonymous killer. The consensus is that this killer is an old associate of Burke's who is supposed to be dead. I found this one to be less interesting. Burke seemed more needy, and his supporting cast less effective. It was OK.
Eddie Muller
This Eddie Muller's father was the Eddie Muller who wrote the "Shadow Boxing" column in the old San Francisco Examiner starting back in the 1930's. Boxing continued to be very big into the 1950's, actually becoming one of the major draws at the birth of TV. Eddie Junior (the author) has made his reputation on books about Film Noir - and the ways people deal with different crimes under mundane circumstances.
The Distance - ($14.90/$.50, copyright 2004, 413 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is set in a time and place I was totally unfamiliar with - the boxing scene in 1948 San Francisco as seen through the eyes of a newspaper columnist - Mr. Boxing, Billy Nichols. It starts with him stumbling into a crime scene and trying to help out a friend, and then spirals outward. Boxers, fixers, cops, dames...they're all here, and they look good in the black-and-white that they're painted in. This would've been a great movie. I enjoyed it.
I have several books - directions - to go from here. Not sure which way I'll turn. But the bottom line is - write what you feel, what pours out of you. If it makes you happy, nothing else matters.
Oh, and...
Keep reading.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Chapter Thirty
Wow! Thirty chapters. Plus a couple of Special Inserts along the way. I guess I've been making entries to this blog for over 2 1/2 years now. And I've got enough books piled up in the other room to do another 2 1/2 without buying another volume. The old time flies/enjoying yourself thing, I guess. Anyway, let's get to it.
Miscellaneous
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga ($14.00/$.50, copyright 2008, 276 pages, Trade Paperback)
There are a lot of superlatives thrown around on the cover for this book, from sources ranging from USA Today to the New York Times. It is the "life" story of a young man in India and his path out of The Darkness to becoming a success. I was marginally aware of the poverty, crowding, and living conditions of much of India, but this book really brings it home - and with just the right touch of black humor to make it interesting. I enjoyed it.
The Threepenny Opera - Bertolt Brecht ($6.95/Gift Card, copyright 1949, 110 pages, Paperback)
Everyone remember Mack the Knife? You know, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin? Well, Mack was the main character in this play written by Brecht with music contributed by Kurt Weill. It's sort of a slice of life depiction of how the lower (read criminal) class lived in London and takes place just before a coronation. This volume includes instructions on how to stage a production which would be interesting to see. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Rasputin's Revenge - John Lescroart ($14.00/$.25, copyright 1987, 269 pages, Trade Paperback)
I wrote about Lescroart's previous Holmes-related volume - Son of Holmes - several months ago. I enjoyed that one, but this one's even better. As you can tell from the title we're dealing with pre-revolutionary Russia and the early years of World War I. Jules Giraud - the narrator of both volumes - is sent to Russia on a mission for the French war effort and encounters Auguste Lupo (the Son of Holmes), murders, court intrigue, and - of course - Rasputin. And there's a surprise appearance by a couple of interested parties towards the end. Very satisfactory. (Get the reference?)
Graphic Novels
OK. I know that I wrote previously that I would be staying away from these since the prices had gotten prohibitive, but I got these (and another volume or two) for free as "payment" for helping with a Book Fair at an Elementary School in Elizabeth. Remember, these are aimed at school children.
Sidekicks - Dan Santat ($10.99/$.0, copyright 2011, 217 pages, Trade Paperback)
The premise here is that the greatest superhero in the world is getting old, and he decides to hold auditions for a sidekick. His pets decide to try out. (I told you these were aimed at school children). We also get a super-villain to fight, and lessons on family, friendship, and how using your brain can win out over brawn. I enjoyed it.
Poe - J. Barton Mitchell (writer) and Dean Kotz (art) ($10.99/$.0, 2011, pages unnumbered, Trade Paperback)
I'm guessing that you figured out who this slim volume is about. The premise is that Poe, while dealing badly with his wife's death, helps his police-officer brother solve a series of brutal crimes. The writer brings in references to many of Poe's famous stories, but I found it at times a bit disjointed and the art work is way too dark. It was OK.
Here's wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and...
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga ($14.00/$.50, copyright 2008, 276 pages, Trade Paperback)
There are a lot of superlatives thrown around on the cover for this book, from sources ranging from USA Today to the New York Times. It is the "life" story of a young man in India and his path out of The Darkness to becoming a success. I was marginally aware of the poverty, crowding, and living conditions of much of India, but this book really brings it home - and with just the right touch of black humor to make it interesting. I enjoyed it.
The Threepenny Opera - Bertolt Brecht ($6.95/Gift Card, copyright 1949, 110 pages, Paperback)
Everyone remember Mack the Knife? You know, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin? Well, Mack was the main character in this play written by Brecht with music contributed by Kurt Weill. It's sort of a slice of life depiction of how the lower (read criminal) class lived in London and takes place just before a coronation. This volume includes instructions on how to stage a production which would be interesting to see. I enjoyed it.
Sherlock Holmes
Rasputin's Revenge - John Lescroart ($14.00/$.25, copyright 1987, 269 pages, Trade Paperback)
I wrote about Lescroart's previous Holmes-related volume - Son of Holmes - several months ago. I enjoyed that one, but this one's even better. As you can tell from the title we're dealing with pre-revolutionary Russia and the early years of World War I. Jules Giraud - the narrator of both volumes - is sent to Russia on a mission for the French war effort and encounters Auguste Lupo (the Son of Holmes), murders, court intrigue, and - of course - Rasputin. And there's a surprise appearance by a couple of interested parties towards the end. Very satisfactory. (Get the reference?)
Graphic Novels
OK. I know that I wrote previously that I would be staying away from these since the prices had gotten prohibitive, but I got these (and another volume or two) for free as "payment" for helping with a Book Fair at an Elementary School in Elizabeth. Remember, these are aimed at school children.
Sidekicks - Dan Santat ($10.99/$.0, copyright 2011, 217 pages, Trade Paperback)
The premise here is that the greatest superhero in the world is getting old, and he decides to hold auditions for a sidekick. His pets decide to try out. (I told you these were aimed at school children). We also get a super-villain to fight, and lessons on family, friendship, and how using your brain can win out over brawn. I enjoyed it.
Poe - J. Barton Mitchell (writer) and Dean Kotz (art) ($10.99/$.0, 2011, pages unnumbered, Trade Paperback)
I'm guessing that you figured out who this slim volume is about. The premise is that Poe, while dealing badly with his wife's death, helps his police-officer brother solve a series of brutal crimes. The writer brings in references to many of Poe's famous stories, but I found it at times a bit disjointed and the art work is way too dark. It was OK.
Here's wishing you all a Happy Memorial Day Weekend, and...
Keep reading.
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