Chapter Seventy-six

It's August and it's hot. I haven't had to Babysit because my Daughter didn't have to teach this month. She gets to spend the whole month enjoying time with her Daughter and I get to spend the whole month relaxing, trying to stay cool, and reading. I have this stack of books that I've been waiting to get into but I made the mistake of stopping by my local Library while they were having a Special Sale (Paperbacks for $.25) and wound up with some old favorites. Here's what I've gotten through so far.

Miscellaneous

Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck ($.25/$8.00, copyright 1937, 107 pages, Paperback)
I am a big Steinbeck fan so picking this up was a no-brainer. I read this years ago and have seen the movie and TV versions but a classic like this always deserves to be revisited. This is the story of a two men who work as itinerant farm laborers, drifting from job to job in California. Lennie is the gentle giant, physically strong but mentally deficient. George is the "smart" one who guides and protects Lennie but also depends on him for companionship. Together, they have a dream to someday buy a place of their own where they can grow crops and raise rabbits and live happily ever after. They've had some problems in the past but now have new jobs on a new farm but, as the title implies .. "The best laid plans ...".It's a short book but Steinbeck has created some memorable characters and  the ending - even though I knew what it would be - still has an impact. (My only objection is the cover price. $8.00 for 107 pages! Ridiculous.) I really enjoyed it.

The Daughter Of Time - Josephine Tey ($.25/$2.95, copyright 1951, 205 pages, Paperback)
This has always been one of my favorites. Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is recovering in the hospital when a friend gets him interested in Richard III and the death of his Nephews. Did he really order them killed in the Tower of London, or was he unjustly implicated as part of a massive smear campaign? This is different from the other Mysteries that I've reviewed before because the detective work involved is all just good historical research which I found fascinating  Tey has her opinion and she works up to it logically. I really enjoyed it.

The Black Swan - Rafael Sabatini ($.25/$1.50, copyright 1931, 217 pages, Paperback)
I have yet to read a Sabatini novel I didn't enjoy. It's the story of Charles de Bernis, an aide to Henry Morgan, Governor of Jamaica. He's sailing home to a well-deserved retirement on a ship that's also carrying the Governor's daughter when they run into the last pirate at large - Tom Leach. To save their lives he convinces Leach that he's turned against Morgan and that the lady is under his protection. What follows is an adventure fraught with peril and suspense as our hero tries to balance his story and actions against a pirate determined to double-cross him at the first chance he gets.  Sabatini again creates some memorable characters and when he describes a sword fight, you hear and see every clash, grunt and splash. I really enjoyed it.

The Osterman Weekend - Robert Ludlum ($.25/$1.50, copyright 1972, 336 pages, Paperback)
I've always thought that Ludlum's earlier books were his best so I was happy to find this one again. It's the story of John Tanner, a TV news executive who is summoned to Washington one day and told by a CIA operative that one or more of his best friends, the Ostermans, the Cardones and the Tremaynes is a traitor. They are all gathering for the weekend at Tanner's house in suburban New Jersey and Tanner's job is to get the traitors to reveal themselves so the CIA can swoop in and deal with them. Ludlum gives us an ordinary person who's thrown into extraordinary circumstances and must get by on his own wits. It's a quick and easy read, the suspense grows nicely, and - unlike most of Ludlum's other books - everything occurs in one place. I enjoyed it.

Two Years Before The Mast - Richard Henry Dana, Jr. ($.25/$2.50, printed 1964, 371 pages, Paperback)
Last month I wrote about "White-Jacket" by Herman Melville, this month I came across this. While attending Harvard as a young man, Dana found his eyesight became weak and his health declining. He decided that salt air and plain hard work would be the cure so, for two years, he served as a common sailor aboard a clipper ship, the Alert. He was given no special treatment, living in the forecastle, eating the mess of salt beef and common hardtack, risking his life and serving under a captain crueler than most. Like Melville, Dana was able to write in such a way as to re-create the life on board a sailing ship, down to the smallest details and that's what makes this book so real - you can feel the cold of Tierra del Fuego, taste the salt beef, and feel the wind and damp. I really enjoyed it.

I spent $2.00 that day so I still have 3 more books to go but next month is September and I'll be back to Babysitting. I'm planning on helping my Granddaughter with the Alphabet and some Beginning Words. Still, I'm sure I'll find the time to read a book or two for myself.

Enjoy the rest of the Summer and ...

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy-five

It's July and we're in the middle of a Heat Wave. I'm actually beginning to think that Global Warming has moved the really hot weather to July and that August will be cooler. My Babysitting duties have been cut in half this month so I had more time to read. Here's what I've gotten through.

Miscellaneous

Bronx Noir - S. J. Rozan, ed. ($15.95/$1.00, published 2007, 361 pages, Trade Paperback)
This is a collection of short stories with that dark twist synonymous with Noir. I don't usually buy collections like this but the locations being set in my home borough sucked me in. It's a mixed bag. Some stories are short and others run on too long. Out of the 19 stories, I only recognized two of the authors - the prolific Lawrence Block (Riverdale) and Ed Dee (Van Cortlandt Park). There are
 some clever twists and snappy endings but there are also several stories that I figured out the twist very early on. I have to admit that the main reason I bought this was that I was hoping to pick out familiar places based on where the index said the stories were set. I was disappointed. Only in Robert J. Hughes' "A Visit to St. Nick's" (Fordham Road) did I find something familiar - my old parish church (though no one I knew ever called it St. Nick's). It was OK.

White-Jacket - Herman Melville ($8.95/$.50, published 2002, 400 pages, Trade Paperback)
In this early title from the great Melville, we get an episodic account of the author's service aboard the USS United States, sister ship of "Old Ironsides", told in often startlingly candid detail. From the ritual floggings at the masthead to a critical grog shortage, Melville details the life of the 400-man crew of an American man-of-war based on his own experiences. Each chapter is a commentary on some facet of life aboard the ship. There are many characters but no real plot just a fascinating collection of observations laced with irony, dry humor, and - at times - outrage. I enjoyed it.

Series

I was on a Book Run early this month when I picked up the first 3 volumes in a Young Adult series.

Montmorency - Eleanor Updale ($2.99/$.50, copyright 2003, 233 pages, Trade Paperback)
Taking place in London in the late 1800's, Montmorency is the name given to a jailed thief recovering from injuries obtained during his bungled last job. As he heals from radical -- and groundbreaking -- surgeries, he formulates a plan to become a master thief. During the day, he is Montmorency, a gentlemen with a penchant for fashion and opera. At night, he's Scarper, a thief who scurries through the sewers of London, robbing the very wealthy. The first two-thirds of the book lay out how he goes about this and the various obstacles he faces. In the last third, he's given  a way to leave Scarper behind and still make a living in the role of Montmorency with a chance for societal respect. This volume is shorter (and the cover price is lower) then the following two and I think that was done intentionally by Updale so that it would attract readers. It worked for me. I enjoyed it.

That's another month done with. Next up is August and, again, I have a lot of books already stacked up. It's hot out so stay inside, crank up the AC and ......

Keep Reading.

Chapter Seventy-four

It's June - the end of June actually - and that means School's out for Summer. What that also means is that my Babysitting duties will be limited to 2 days a week in July then none in August. I'll work out some "Play Dates" with my Granddaughter over the two months and - probably - spend my extra spare time reading out of the sun.

I ended last months Post by mentioning that I had a couple of Biographies that I hoped to get through for this month. They could be considered as Part I and Part II because they are by and about the same person. I read 85 pages of the first one and just couldn't get interested in it. That happens sometimes. I put them away for now.

I did manage to read the following, however.

Miscellaneous

The Scarecrow - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright2008, 538 pages, Paperback)
I've mentioned before that I'm a fan of Connelly's Harry Bosch series but he's also created other characters in other novels (many of them, eventually, interact with Bosch). This one is a sequel to "The Poet" and is centered around newspaper reporter Jack McEvoy. (I did not list this as a "Series" because, as far as I know, there are only these two books.) As the book begins, Jack has been downsized from the Crime Beat at the Los Angeles Times and given two weeks to train his replacement. After taking a call on a seemingly innocuous crime story, Jack begins to look into things and decides to go out with a story to remember. It concerns a young man, arrested on suspicion of murder, though the young man swears his innocence. Jack finds some troubling details in the confession as well as a larger pattern that points to a potential serial killer. The twist to this scenario is that the reader already knows who the real killer is having been introduced to him early on. Connelly alternates perspectives between these two characters as Jack's deadline draws near and The Scarecrow, using technology, slowly cuts off Jack's contact with email, his bank account, etc. The story moves along at a good pace, the suspense builds, and the characters feel real. I enjoyed it.

Off The Shelf

A little explanation first. My Daughter took part in a Book Exchange on Facebook and invited me to participate. I did and wound up sending a copy of one of my favorite books to someone in Chicago. Anyway, as I decided on which book to send, I got the itch. You see, a book becomes a favorite because you enjoy reading it over and over again. So .... I did.

Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1966, 732 pages, Paperback)
I think that this is the fourth time that I've read this book and, maybe, the second time that I've posted about it. It's part of Clavell's "The Asian Saga" and - though not the longest or shortest - is, in my opinion, the best of the series. It is an engaging story about the European community in China just after the British have taken control of Hong Kong. It centers on Dirk Struan, referred to as The Tai-Pan by those around him and the most powerful trader in Asia. It is an epic story of how the British created and controlled their first stronghold in Asia. Clavell does an amazing job of creating realistic characters and incorporating facts about the time period and the culture. He gives us rival traders who will stop at nothing, plotting Russians, Pirates, Typhoons, and even a horse race.You'll find everything here - action, adventure, intrigue, violence, humor, tragedy, and even romance. I enjoy it every time I read it.

Up next is July and, like I mentioned above, I'll have a lot more free time and I've got a lot of books in different genres backed up. Maybe I'll surprise you.

Keep Reading.

Chapter Seventy-three

So far, May has been kind of a bust weather-wise. Sure, we've had a couple of really good days but it seems like it's mostly been overcast and rainy. I did manage to take my Granddaughter out for a walk a couple of times. She's 13 months old now. She's now only napping once a day while I'm there and she's walking. These changes cut into my daily reading time but I did manage to finish these.

Series

Private #1 Suspect - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ($10.00/$.50, copyright 2012, 377pages, Paperback)
I've always tried to read at least one book from all of the Patterson Factory Series'. This is the first one of the  "Private"  series that I came across. The central character, Jack Morgan, is the owner of a private security firm which is involved in several cases at once in this book - including the murder of a former girlfriend that he's accused of committing . All of these must be solved by the end of the book. As you might expect the action is continuous right up to the end (where the book starts to drag a bit, but by then, it's only a few more pages and you're done). There's nothing heavy-duty here (although Jack's having an evil twin brother is interesting) , and anyone who wants to stick with it should be able to finish it up in one day. It moves fast and held my attention. I enjoyed it.

Miscellaneous

Burr - Gore Vidal ($4.95/$.50, copyright 1973, 564 pages, Paperback)
I first read this book in Hard Cover back in the late 70's and was very happy to come across this Paperback edition at a Library Sale. This is a historical fiction novel, so the characters in the story actually existed. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton all make appearances  but the book's main character is Charlie Schuyler, a law clerk and budding journalist in the employ of the aging Aaron Burr, who is still living down his famous duel with Alexander Hamilton. The story is set in the 1830's, well after the American Revolution and towards the end of Burr's life. Schuyler has some powerful friends that want him to get Aaron Burr to admit that he is the father of Martin Van Buren, who is running for president. They hope to discredit Van Buren by linking him to the hated Burr, as well as painting Van Buren as a bastard. The whole book is Burr's recollections to Charlie about his life in the American Revolution, as vice-president to Thomas Jefferson, and his supposed attempt to split the United States and make himself emperor of Mexico. These recollections are interspersed with Charlie's relationship with Burr and with Helen Jewett, a prostitute that Charlie wants to marry. Vidal writes with passion and humor, and he brings all of the characters (real and imaginary) to life, although he doesn't hold some of our Founding Fathers in high regard. I enjoyed it.

That's it for this month. Looks like we're in for warmer weather mid-week which, I hope, will last through the Memorial Day weekend.

Up next, June and a couple of autobiographies (if I can finish them).

Keep reading!

Chapter Seventy-two

This has been a great April so far. My Granddaughter celebrated her First Birthday on the 5th and we had her big party on the 10th. It was kinda chilly that day but everyone had a great time. She's got a couple of teeth now and she's walking all over. I was lucky to get these books read during her nap times.

Series

The Reversal - Michael Connelly ($9.99/$.50, copyright 2010, 420 pages, Paperback)
This is the third entry in Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller series. He's usually a Defense Attorney but gets an unusual offer from the D. A.  to join the team as an independent prosecutor for the purpose of retrying a convicted child killer who has been granted a new trial. Haller agrees to the proposition and brings in his own people - including his half-brother, Harry Bosch (Connelly's most famous creation). The story is told in alternating chapters, one from Haller's first-person POV and the next from Bosch's third. It's not a bad book but I thought that the ending felt like a last minute change that wasn't very satisfying. It was OK.


All The Flowers Are Dying - Lawrence Block ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2005, 354 pages, Paperback)
I actually didn't know that this was part of a series. I picked it up at a Library sale about 6 months ago and finally got around to reading it. Matt Scudder is hired to do some digging on a man who may not be exactly who he says he is. At the same time, a man in Virginia is awaiting execution after being given the death penalty for the gruesome murder of several young boys. While in jail, the prisoner is interviewed by a psychologist who may not have the best of intentions. The story is broken up between Scudder and this shadowy psychologist for the length of the novel. I'm going to have to look into the rest of this series because Scudder has a great supporting cast and I'd like to see how this came about. I enjoyed it.

Today started with rain but it's warm and sunny out now. The forecast is for continuing warm weather. I'm good with that.

Until next month ..

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy-one

It's March and, as usual, the weather has run the gamut from really good to really bad. Still, Spring is here  and every day gets a little longer and, hopefully, a little warmer. This month, I found something that I didn't have and revisited something that I did.

Miscellaneous

M.A.S.H -Richard Hooker ($.50/$.95. copyright 1968, 180 pages, Paperback)

I came across this in the Metuchen Library. It's the novel that gave life to Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John, Hot Lips Houlihan, Frank Burns, Radar O'Reilly, and the rest of the gang that made the 4077th M.A.S.H. (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) what it was. Hooker gives us all of it - those martini-laced mornings and sexual escapades, and that unforgettable foray into assisted if uncompleted suicide--all of them as enjoyable now as they were before they became a part of America's culture. I loved the TV show but the movie was truer to Hooker's original version. I enjoyed it.

Off The Shelf

The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe ( $16.00/$16.00, copyright 1979, 352 pages, Trade Paperback)

Earlier this month, Astronaut Scott Kelly returned from a record-setting stay in space. That made me want to reread this book. Wolfe starts in the late 1940's, when Chuck Yeager breaks through Mach 1 and then shifts his focus to the seven initial Mercury  astronauts. He takes it from Alan Shepard's suborbital flight  through John Glenn's complete orbit. Then he brings it full-circle  with a return to Yeager and his late-career exploits. Wolfe's style is to research a subject in-depth then fictionalize it by adding dialog. It works for me. I enjoyed it.

We just passed Easter and are coming up on my Granddaughter's First Birthday. I'm also on "Spring Break" (my daughter is a Teacher) so I've got a little over a week's break from Babysitting. I'm not sure how I'll pass the time but I'm guessing that there are books involved.

Until next month ..........

Keep reading.

Chapter Seventy

January was kinda rough on me but February has been much better - so far. I'm still babysitting my Granddaughter several days a week but I'm no longer doing the early morning radiation. We haven't had any appreciable snow (although there is a storm predicted for Tuesday/Wednesday). And we've had some really cold weather but this weekend has been warm. I'm still not reading as much as I used to but I'm still able to find the time to squeeze in a book or two. Here's what I read this month.

Series

Good Night, Mr. Holmes - Carole Nelson Douglas ($4.49/$4.99, copyright 1990, 408 pages, Paperback)
I first read this book years ago and recently found out that this was the first volume in a series by finding two more at a Library sale in Metuchen. Of course, I had to reread this one first so "Off the shelf" it came.  Douglas has written a prequel to "A Scandal In Bohemia" in which we learn how Irene Adler and her personal assistant, Penelope Huxleigh, met and how they got caught up in the situation that introduced Sherlock Holmes into their lives.The pairing of the ultra-respectable Penelope, the country parson's daughter, with Irene, the convention breaking American singer, and their interaction with Godfrey Norton, a Barrister, bring a bit of lightness to the book. Also, appearances by famed historical personages (Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, and later on the Divine Sarah Bernhardt) and famed fictional personages (Holmes and Watson) make this a bit more realistic and amusing to read. I enjoyed it.

Miscellaneous


The Hot Kid - Elmore Leonard ($6.99/$.50, copyright 2005, 387 pages, Paperback)
I picked this up because I hadn't read a Leonard book before and  the time-frame interested me -1930s Oklahoma - which includes the Dust Bowl, Prohibition, Bank Robbers, and U. S. Marshals. It's not really a novel but a series of vignettes in the life of oil-well boy Carl Webster, who witnesses a crime as a child and grows up to become the most respected Marshal in the state. His nemesis is Jack Belmont, a wanna-be criminal rebelling against his millionaire dad, and the two cross paths repeatedly throughout the book. Leonard has created a cast of memorable characters and his writing captures the feel of that other time and place. I enjoyed it.

That's it for this month. I just started 2 new books in 2 different genres and we'll see how that goes. It's too early to tell. While we're waiting, the days are getting longer and warmer and Spring is on the way. Until next month ...

Keep reading!