The first three weeks of June were sort of a washout with most days being overcast and rainy. Sure, we had a couple of nice days and one good weekend but that was it. Frankly - as I said last month - it kept the pollen down. Plus, I didn't have to slather on the sunscreen. I ran a few errands each day and spent some quiet time reading.
Miscellaneous
The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin ($6.99/$4.28, copyright 1978, 182 pages, Trade Paperback)
This book is listed for Young Adults but I think a lot of older people who enjoy a good mystery with some humor will like it. The plot is pretty simple - a group of people who have been tricked into buying apartments/businesses in the same building are gathered together at a nearby mansion. They are given the chance to win a great deal of money if they can find out who killed Sam Westing, the mansions original owner. Raskin drops a lot of clues and red herrings but her strength is in her characters. They are too numerous to mention and no one actually stands out but they are all well-written, and a bit bizarre, and there's an interesting ending. I enjoyed it.
American Pastoral - Philip Roth ($1495/$1.00, copyright 1997, 423 pages, Trade Paperback)
I have noticed this book on one of my shelves on-and-off since I picked it up at a Library Book Sale about 2 years ago. I always meant to read it but there was always something new that caught my interest. Having read about Roth's death last month, I thought it was time. It's the story of Swede Levov, who's living the American Dream. He was a famous High School athlete who inherited his father's business. He married a former Miss New Jersey named Dawn and they moved into a beautiful house. They had a wonderful daughter whom they named Merry. Everything was great until 1968 when Merry helped in a terrorist act against the Viet Nam War. Roth's characters are well defined and their dialog rings true. His description of the effect that the riots had on Newark and elsewhere are brutally honest. I have to admit that I had some trouble with this book and had to set it aside from time to time but I did finish it. It was OK.
Chronic City - Jonathan Lethem ($15.95/$.50, copyright 2009, 467 pages, Trade Paperback)
I first came across Lethem when I read "Motherless Brooklyn" several years ago (I 'm pretty sure I posted about it). This is the story of Chase Insteadman, a former child star, and Perkus Tooth, who used to write about pop culture for Rolling Stone. These unlikely friends, and a whole bunch of other characters, end up on a dead end quest for something that they're looking for. They wander all over Manhattan and Brooklyn to find it but don't, although they do have some interesting experiences. To be honest, I'm not sure what it was because Lethem tends to wander around a bit narratively. I will says that he's pretty good at creating characters and writing dialog but I got bored several times and picked up something else to read before I finished this. It was OK.
This afternoon, the sun came out. According to the weather reports we're in for a heat wave starting in a couple of days. I've just picked up a few books that I'm looking forward to getting in to.
July is next ….
Keep reading.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Chapter Ninety-five
It's May but Spring seems to keep escaping us. We've had a few seasonal , warm, sunny days but - mostly - we've had to deal with overcast skies and rain. To be honest, the rain keeps the pollen down so I feel better and I've spent a lot of time reading but I do miss the sun. This month's selections were all part of an order that I got from Thrift Books a month and a half ago.( Side Note: If I'm looking for a particular book, I use Better World Books because they don't charge for Shipping. If they don't have what I'm looking for, I go to Thrift Books. Their policy is Free Shipping if your order is over $10.)
Miscellaneous
Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh ($3.25/$13.00, copyright 1976, 344 pages, Trade Paperback)
I must have read the first page of Trainspotting more than twenty times since I got it because I had some difficulty with the Scottish dialect. There's no point lying, this is a challenging novel, sometimes you have to read things twice or pause to think about them to fully understand what's being said. But, unlike a lot of books that are difficult to read, this was ultimately rewarding and once you get used to the slang words it becomes a very gritty, moving and funny read. I'm not a fan of short stories (which I didn't realize this was) but these combine to make an interesting read. Together, they tell the story about a bunch of Scottish heroin addicts (Rents, Sick Boy, and others). All the characters are oddly likeable in a way, which really says something to me about the author's talent as a writer. Welsh gives a sense of humanity to these addicts, he makes them people with unique characteristics and personal struggles that we can offer sympathy to. I enjoyed it.
The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fist Fight In Heaven - Sherman Alexie ($3.79/$14.99, copyright 2005, 242 pages, Trade Paperback)
This one I knew was a short story collections but I grew up watching The Lone Ranger and this title just grabbed me. Alexie has linked these stories into a narrative of life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. It is an exploration of the ways in which they deal with the pains and the joys of their lives - the storytelling, the dancing, the alcohol. They are told by well defined characters who are trying to live their lives and I found passion here and Alexie's affection for these people. Again, a collection like this is always hit-or-miss and, frankly, I found it very repetitive. Each story has similar characters but with different names. Maybe that's the point. It was OK.
Cannery Row - John Steinbeck ($3.79/$9.95, copyright 1945, 185 pages, Trade Paperback)
I am a big Steinbeck fan. This book takes place in Monterey, California during the Great Depression. Again, I was expecting a short novel but this is actually a series of vignettes.The simple plot revolves around Doc, who helps everyone he can so some of the locals want to do something for him. Steinbeck gives us Mack and the Boys (a group of homeless guys); Dora (the Madam with a heart of gold): and Lee Chong (a store owner who's allowed his customers to run up a lot of debt so that they could get by). Steinbeck has created a great group of characters here and their interactions ring true. I enjoyed it.
June is next. I'll be hitting the Libraries soon and I hope to find some good stuff. Til then …
Keep reading.
.
Miscellaneous
Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh ($3.25/$13.00, copyright 1976, 344 pages, Trade Paperback)
I must have read the first page of Trainspotting more than twenty times since I got it because I had some difficulty with the Scottish dialect. There's no point lying, this is a challenging novel, sometimes you have to read things twice or pause to think about them to fully understand what's being said. But, unlike a lot of books that are difficult to read, this was ultimately rewarding and once you get used to the slang words it becomes a very gritty, moving and funny read. I'm not a fan of short stories (which I didn't realize this was) but these combine to make an interesting read. Together, they tell the story about a bunch of Scottish heroin addicts (Rents, Sick Boy, and others). All the characters are oddly likeable in a way, which really says something to me about the author's talent as a writer. Welsh gives a sense of humanity to these addicts, he makes them people with unique characteristics and personal struggles that we can offer sympathy to. I enjoyed it.
The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fist Fight In Heaven - Sherman Alexie ($3.79/$14.99, copyright 2005, 242 pages, Trade Paperback)
This one I knew was a short story collections but I grew up watching The Lone Ranger and this title just grabbed me. Alexie has linked these stories into a narrative of life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. It is an exploration of the ways in which they deal with the pains and the joys of their lives - the storytelling, the dancing, the alcohol. They are told by well defined characters who are trying to live their lives and I found passion here and Alexie's affection for these people. Again, a collection like this is always hit-or-miss and, frankly, I found it very repetitive. Each story has similar characters but with different names. Maybe that's the point. It was OK.
Cannery Row - John Steinbeck ($3.79/$9.95, copyright 1945, 185 pages, Trade Paperback)
I am a big Steinbeck fan. This book takes place in Monterey, California during the Great Depression. Again, I was expecting a short novel but this is actually a series of vignettes.The simple plot revolves around Doc, who helps everyone he can so some of the locals want to do something for him. Steinbeck gives us Mack and the Boys (a group of homeless guys); Dora (the Madam with a heart of gold): and Lee Chong (a store owner who's allowed his customers to run up a lot of debt so that they could get by). Steinbeck has created a great group of characters here and their interactions ring true. I enjoyed it.
June is next. I'll be hitting the Libraries soon and I hope to find some good stuff. Til then …
Keep reading.
.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Chapter Ninety-four
We're only a couple of weeks into April and - for the most part - the weather has not been Spring-like. We haven't had any more snow but it's been overcast and chilly. Thankfully, I'm still working on the pile of books that I picked up at the Library sale a couple of months ago.
Miscellaneous
The Rhinemann Exchange - Robert Ludlum ($1.95/$.50, copyright 1974, 446 pages, Paperback)
I first came across Ludlum's work in the late '60's/early '70's and this is one of my favorites. During World War 2, the U.S. and Germany make a back-door deal to exchange industrial diamonds for a design for a new bombing element. The swap is to take place in Buenos Aires and Agent David Spaulding is assigned to the swap. The thing is, he only knows about getting the bomb part until a third party tips him off about the other side of the deal. He takes it on himself to right what he sees is wrong. Ludlum keeps the action moving at a brisk pace. He does a great job describing the locale and his characters are well defined. I enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
I still have a couple of books stacked up in the Living Room from that Book Sale and I just got 3 more in the mail from one of the Discount sites I use.
Spring is finally here so enjoy it and ....
Keep reading.
.
Miscellaneous
Freedomland - Richard Price ($15.00/$1.00, copyright 1998, 655 pages, Trade Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Price's work. In fact, I spoke about his novel "The Wanderers" a couple of months ago. A white woman, Brenda Martin, stumbles into an inner-city emergency room and announces that she has just been carjacked by a black man and her young son was asleep in the back seat. Detective Lorenzo Council - who grew up in the Housing Project that's the scene of the crime - is assigned the case. Council jumps right in to the search but he has his doubts about Brenda's story. Then a reporter gets involved and sensationalizes the whole situation causing some serious tension between the Black Inner City and the next door White Suburb and all this takes place within 72 hours. This book is big and I have to admit that I expected to hit some padding but Price really does a great job of moving it along. His characters ring true and he keeps the suspense going until the end. I enjoyed it.The Rhinemann Exchange - Robert Ludlum ($1.95/$.50, copyright 1974, 446 pages, Paperback)
I first came across Ludlum's work in the late '60's/early '70's and this is one of my favorites. During World War 2, the U.S. and Germany make a back-door deal to exchange industrial diamonds for a design for a new bombing element. The swap is to take place in Buenos Aires and Agent David Spaulding is assigned to the swap. The thing is, he only knows about getting the bomb part until a third party tips him off about the other side of the deal. He takes it on himself to right what he sees is wrong. Ludlum keeps the action moving at a brisk pace. He does a great job describing the locale and his characters are well defined. I enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
I still have a couple of books stacked up in the Living Room from that Book Sale and I just got 3 more in the mail from one of the Discount sites I use.
Spring is finally here so enjoy it and ....
Keep reading.
.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Chapter Ninety-three
March has been a tough month with 3 Nor'easters that hit within a week or so of each other. Every one of them was bad enough to keep me indoors for several days at a time - excluding how long
I was outside cleaning off my car and digging out from what the plows did. I'm lucky to live close to a few stores that I can walk to regardless of the weather and I'm happy that I have shelves full of books that I can revisit.
Off The Shelf
Noble House - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1981, 1370 pages, Paperback)
I am a big fan of Clavell's "Asian Saga" so, when I was looking for something to help me pass the time, I found this in the back of one of my bookshelves. It's 1963 and the Noble House is close to collapse. Ian Dunross is now the Tai-Pan and must figure out a way to pay off his debts and save his inheritance. The narrative takes place in Hong Kong (as expected) and covers about a week and a half of it's history including cold war espionage, bank failures, hostile takeovers, drug smuggling, kidnapping, and murder. Clavell has two strengths - his knowledge of the history of the area and his insight into the human condition especially the interpersonal. He's built on his previous books and created a family saga that is very intricate but interesting. I suppose that you could read this as a stand-alone book but I would recommend that you read :"Tai-Pan" first. I enjoyed it.
OK. I had to do it.
Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1966, 732 pages, Paperback)
This is, probably, the 5th time that I've read this book and I still enjoyed it. It's a magnificent saga of the 1840's founding of Hong Kong by powerful British trading interests. It's the story of - in my opinion - an unforgettable fictional character, Dirk Struan, founder of The Nobel House, the leading British trading combine in China. He's locked in a life-and-death commercial and family blood feud with Brock & Sons, another powerful British firm, that vies with him for primacy in the opium trade with China. Clavell brings in pirates, a Russian scheme, and some American interests to make things interesting but he's also good with dealing with his character's personal lives. Like I said, I really enjoyed t.
Four days from now it will be April. I'm looking forward to no more snow but I'm dreading the pollen. Until then ...
Keep reading.
I was outside cleaning off my car and digging out from what the plows did. I'm lucky to live close to a few stores that I can walk to regardless of the weather and I'm happy that I have shelves full of books that I can revisit.
Off The Shelf
I am a big fan of Clavell's "Asian Saga" so, when I was looking for something to help me pass the time, I found this in the back of one of my bookshelves. It's 1963 and the Noble House is close to collapse. Ian Dunross is now the Tai-Pan and must figure out a way to pay off his debts and save his inheritance. The narrative takes place in Hong Kong (as expected) and covers about a week and a half of it's history including cold war espionage, bank failures, hostile takeovers, drug smuggling, kidnapping, and murder. Clavell has two strengths - his knowledge of the history of the area and his insight into the human condition especially the interpersonal. He's built on his previous books and created a family saga that is very intricate but interesting. I suppose that you could read this as a stand-alone book but I would recommend that you read :"Tai-Pan" first. I enjoyed it.
OK. I had to do it.
Tai-Pan - James Clavell ($7.99/$7.99, copyright 1966, 732 pages, Paperback)
This is, probably, the 5th time that I've read this book and I still enjoyed it. It's a magnificent saga of the 1840's founding of Hong Kong by powerful British trading interests. It's the story of - in my opinion - an unforgettable fictional character, Dirk Struan, founder of The Nobel House, the leading British trading combine in China. He's locked in a life-and-death commercial and family blood feud with Brock & Sons, another powerful British firm, that vies with him for primacy in the opium trade with China. Clavell brings in pirates, a Russian scheme, and some American interests to make things interesting but he's also good with dealing with his character's personal lives. Like I said, I really enjoyed t.
Four days from now it will be April. I'm looking forward to no more snow but I'm dreading the pollen. Until then ...
Keep reading.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Chapter Ninety-two
February turned out to be a hit-or-miss kinda month, weather-wise. We had some really cold days, we had some snow, and we had some warm days - including one record-breaking Wednesday. I'm still sitting with my Granddaughter twice a week (for a couple of hours) and I still have some follow-ups with a couple of doctors. And, I still have a lot of books from the Metuchen Library sale last month.
Miscellaneous
When you're at these kind of sales sometimes you get lucky.
The Wanderers - Richard Price ($15.95/$1.00, copyright 1974, 239 pages, Trade Paperback)
I grew up in The Bronx in the '60's and I understand what Price was writing about. This book is sort of a coming-of-age story for a teenage street gang of the same name in the 1960's Bronx. In the first chapter, we are introduced to the world in which they live. In this world street gangs are numerous, and based on ethnic identity. There are Italian, Black, Irish and Chinese gangs. Perhaps the most bizarre of the gangs described are the Ducky Boys, a whole neighborhood of dwarf-like Irish kids who carry straight-edge razors. I was sure that this was something Price had made up, but someone from the Bronx of that time once told me there really was such a gang. The novel follows the lives of the gang members, Richie, Perry, Joey, Eugene and Buddy as they try to figure out their lives in this rough environment. These guys are really just kids trying to make the best of things in challenging circumstances and, like teenagers everywhere, they go to school, fall in love and worry about their future. There is an unusual honesty about this novel. Price lays it out in an uncompromising way with recognizable characters and the story lines don't always work out. I enjoyed it.
Series
Miscellaneous
When you're at these kind of sales sometimes you get lucky.
The Wanderers - Richard Price ($15.95/$1.00, copyright 1974, 239 pages, Trade Paperback)
I grew up in The Bronx in the '60's and I understand what Price was writing about. This book is sort of a coming-of-age story for a teenage street gang of the same name in the 1960's Bronx. In the first chapter, we are introduced to the world in which they live. In this world street gangs are numerous, and based on ethnic identity. There are Italian, Black, Irish and Chinese gangs. Perhaps the most bizarre of the gangs described are the Ducky Boys, a whole neighborhood of dwarf-like Irish kids who carry straight-edge razors. I was sure that this was something Price had made up, but someone from the Bronx of that time once told me there really was such a gang. The novel follows the lives of the gang members, Richie, Perry, Joey, Eugene and Buddy as they try to figure out their lives in this rough environment. These guys are really just kids trying to make the best of things in challenging circumstances and, like teenagers everywhere, they go to school, fall in love and worry about their future. There is an unusual honesty about this novel. Price lays it out in an uncompromising way with recognizable characters and the story lines don't always work out. I enjoyed it.
Series
When you're at these kind of sales sometimes you take some chances.
Nevermore - Harold Schechter ($6.99/$.50, copyright 1999, 465 pages, Paperback)
What if Poe's famous Gothic stories were based not on imagination but reality? This book takes the idea that Poe was involved in the investigation of hideous murders in Baltimore in his youth, murders that seemed to be related to his family. While unravelling the dark thread of these horrific murders, Poe eventually finds the inspiration that leads to some of his most famous works.Fans of Poe will enjoy matching the murders to similar events in his stories, such as The House of Usher and The Masque of the Red Death. What I found especially interesting was that Schechter brings another historical figure into the story - Davy Crockett. I admit that I found this annoying at first but in the end the partnership does work out. It was good.
Last Words - Rich Zahradnik ( $13.95/$1.00, copyright 2014, 237 pages, Trade Paperback)
Last Words
It's March of 1975 in New York and newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. When a body is brought into Bellevue, Taylor immediately knows something is off. Sensing a story, he begins to follow whatever thread he can to find out the truth. Zahradnik has created richly drawn characters, both the major ones and the minor ones. I have to say that one of the more enjoyable aspects of this book was the sense of time and place. I felt transported back to 1975, right to the streets of that time period. The political, economic and social climate of the era feels right It was an enjoyable mystery, atmospheric and suspenseful. This is one of those books I hope gets lots of attention. It enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
Coming up is March, which means St. Patrick's Day and - hopefully - warmer weather. Until then .........
Keep reading.
Last Words - Rich Zahradnik ( $13.95/$1.00, copyright 2014, 237 pages, Trade Paperback)
Last Words
It's March of 1975 in New York and newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. When a body is brought into Bellevue, Taylor immediately knows something is off. Sensing a story, he begins to follow whatever thread he can to find out the truth. Zahradnik has created richly drawn characters, both the major ones and the minor ones. I have to say that one of the more enjoyable aspects of this book was the sense of time and place. I felt transported back to 1975, right to the streets of that time period. The political, economic and social climate of the era feels right It was an enjoyable mystery, atmospheric and suspenseful. This is one of those books I hope gets lots of attention. It enjoyed it.
That's it for this month.
Coming up is March, which means St. Patrick's Day and - hopefully - warmer weather. Until then .........
Keep reading.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Chapter Ninety-one
Though the Holiday Season was busy, I was able to attend a Book Sale in Metuchen just before Christmas. I got there early and pretty much had the freedom to wander around and pick up what I wanted. I spent $12 and had to borrow a bag to carry them to the car. So many books, so many genres. Here are the one's I read this month.
Miscellaneous
Confederates - Thomas Keneally ($.50/$3.50, copyright 1979, 437 pages, Paperback)
I don't usually pick up historical fiction but this grabbed my attention. This is not your typical Civil War Novel. There are no happy endings here, and no escape from the inevitability of this nightmare. The Confederate army we meet consists of ragged and hungry teachers, musicians, small farmers, orphaned children, men in their 60's, conscripts, and even the sorely ill and walking wounded, who share their stories and simple dreams as they trudge resignedly and painfully across Virginia toward their destiny at Antietam. Keneally, from chapter to chapter, paints a compelling picture by showing us what various characters are going through while still giving us what I think is an historically accurate depiction. I enjoyed it.
The Death Of The Detective - Mark Smith ($.50/$1.95, copyright 1973. 636 pages, Paperback)
This book drew me in. On the surface the plot is very familiar: a grizzled detective named Magnuson is summoned to a friend's deathbed only to find him murdered, and he must solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice. The difference is that there is no mystery for the reader. From the opening pages we know there is an escaped mental patient looking to take vengeance on his intended victim. Magnuson, theorizes vast conspiracies and multiple suspects with imagined motives for the killing, and all the while the reader knows that he is wrong. This vast novel is full of characters, each of them has their own history that, once revealed, can change the entire way they are viewed. The character of Tanker is the best example of this but I won't get into that. he is easy to write off as a young street punk, but in the space of a few pages his back story makes him into a tragic figure. I enjoyed it.
Series
The Insidious Doctor Fu Manchu - Sax Rohmer ($.25/$.40, copyright 1913, 191 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Pulp Fiction and have a collection of Doc Savage and the Shadow. I was lucky enough to pick up several volumes of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu series at the book sale. This is the first and introduces the main characters - Nayland Smith and his good friend Dr. Petrie . Smith brings Petrie into an adventure revolving around the figure of a mysterious Chinese doctor named Fu-Manchu, the evil genius at the center of a plot to subjugate the white races to oriental domination. As the plot unfolds these two Englishmen, encounter many of Dr. Fu-Manchu's terrifying agents, including numerous representatives of a mysterious Asiatic strangler cult. I really enjoyed this.
I still have quite a few books left over so I'm ready for February.
Talk to you then.
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
Confederates - Thomas Keneally ($.50/$3.50, copyright 1979, 437 pages, Paperback)
I don't usually pick up historical fiction but this grabbed my attention. This is not your typical Civil War Novel. There are no happy endings here, and no escape from the inevitability of this nightmare. The Confederate army we meet consists of ragged and hungry teachers, musicians, small farmers, orphaned children, men in their 60's, conscripts, and even the sorely ill and walking wounded, who share their stories and simple dreams as they trudge resignedly and painfully across Virginia toward their destiny at Antietam. Keneally, from chapter to chapter, paints a compelling picture by showing us what various characters are going through while still giving us what I think is an historically accurate depiction. I enjoyed it.
The Death Of The Detective - Mark Smith ($.50/$1.95, copyright 1973. 636 pages, Paperback)
This book drew me in. On the surface the plot is very familiar: a grizzled detective named Magnuson is summoned to a friend's deathbed only to find him murdered, and he must solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice. The difference is that there is no mystery for the reader. From the opening pages we know there is an escaped mental patient looking to take vengeance on his intended victim. Magnuson, theorizes vast conspiracies and multiple suspects with imagined motives for the killing, and all the while the reader knows that he is wrong. This vast novel is full of characters, each of them has their own history that, once revealed, can change the entire way they are viewed. The character of Tanker is the best example of this but I won't get into that. he is easy to write off as a young street punk, but in the space of a few pages his back story makes him into a tragic figure. I enjoyed it.
Series
The Insidious Doctor Fu Manchu - Sax Rohmer ($.25/$.40, copyright 1913, 191 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Pulp Fiction and have a collection of Doc Savage and the Shadow. I was lucky enough to pick up several volumes of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu series at the book sale. This is the first and introduces the main characters - Nayland Smith and his good friend Dr. Petrie . Smith brings Petrie into an adventure revolving around the figure of a mysterious Chinese doctor named Fu-Manchu, the evil genius at the center of a plot to subjugate the white races to oriental domination. As the plot unfolds these two Englishmen, encounter many of Dr. Fu-Manchu's terrifying agents, including numerous representatives of a mysterious Asiatic strangler cult. I really enjoyed this.
I still have quite a few books left over so I'm ready for February.
Talk to you then.
Keep reading.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Chapter Ninety
It's December so the weather has been a little erratic. We've had some days that were above average temperature-wise and days like today (and for the rest of the year) that are below freezing. We've had a few snow falls but nothing too bad, and I had a stomach virus that kept me home for a week. It's a good thing that I can always rely on my TBR pile and my bookshelves.
Miscellaneous
Ben Hur - Lew Wallace ($.50/$1.99,copyright 1996, 382 pages, Paperback)
I'm pretty sure that I picked this up at a Library sale in Woodbridge about 2 or 3 years ago along with several other books. It wound up in my TBR (To Be Read) pile because the other books I bought were more interesting. Being stuck at home, it caught my attention. It was published in the 1880's but I think it really became popular after the 1960 release of the Charleton Heston movie. It is the story of two childhood friends who become enemies. Judah Ben-Hur and Messala spent their younger days trying to outdo each other. As tensions grew they parted ways only to meet one day - years later - under very bad circumstances. Wallace does a great job depicting how Ben-Hur's life long quest for redemption leads to salvation and conversion to Christianity and how the restoration of his name and life comes on the day Christ Himself is crucified. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
It's cold here so I just turned up the thermostat. I've thrown another blanket on the bed and stacked up a few extra books on the night table. There's snow in the forecast but I hope it won't be bad.
The New Year starts next Monday. I hope you all have a great one and that you find some time to ..
Keep reading.
Miscellaneous
I'm pretty sure that I picked this up at a Library sale in Woodbridge about 2 or 3 years ago along with several other books. It wound up in my TBR (To Be Read) pile because the other books I bought were more interesting. Being stuck at home, it caught my attention. It was published in the 1880's but I think it really became popular after the 1960 release of the Charleton Heston movie. It is the story of two childhood friends who become enemies. Judah Ben-Hur and Messala spent their younger days trying to outdo each other. As tensions grew they parted ways only to meet one day - years later - under very bad circumstances. Wallace does a great job depicting how Ben-Hur's life long quest for redemption leads to salvation and conversion to Christianity and how the restoration of his name and life comes on the day Christ Himself is crucified. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
The Source - James A. Michener ($3.95/$3.95, copyright 1965, 1088 pages, Paperback)
This book has been with me for a long time. It was an assignment for an English Class back in the mid-'60's and I've carried it with me through several moves over two different states. It's a fascinating, fictitious history of Makor, a city in Israel, from prehistory to modern times. The intro takes us to an archeological dig in the '60's that turns up artifacts in an ancient mound. Then, starting with the deepest, oldest artifact and moving forward in time, in successive chapters , Michener chronologically describes the inhabitants (who are often descendants of characters in earlier chapters) and events in and around the city over thousands of years. In this way, he tells the fascinating story of the people who populated that particular area and delves a bit into the interaction of the various, diverse religious groups. I enjoyed it.It's cold here so I just turned up the thermostat. I've thrown another blanket on the bed and stacked up a few extra books on the night table. There's snow in the forecast but I hope it won't be bad.
The New Year starts next Monday. I hope you all have a great one and that you find some time to ..
Keep reading.
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