Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen

Since my last post, I spent about a month at my Ex's house recuperating. During that time I had several different doctor visits, mostly in person but 2 were teleconferences. The Visiting Nurse would stop by once a week and the Physical Therapist would come by 3 times. I was finally strong enough to go back to my own place and I was back on the 17th. Through all of this, my Ex was there to help me and I can't thank her enough. But, let's face it, that was way too much time to impose on someone else.

While I was there, I  tried to stay out of the way and would hang out in the room they let me use. Since I had my laptop I was online a lot and - as a result - ordered a whole bunch of books. To control this impulse, I dipped in and out of several and finally settled on a couple. I've been all over the place with different genres and authors and these 2 books represent the extremes.

Miscellaneous

Actually, I didn't get this one online. When the Main Library here in Woodbridge finally opened, my Ex decided to go and I tagged along. While she spent time in the stacks, I was checking out the Sale Books. She came out with 4 books that she has to return but they didn't cost her anything. I came out with 3 books that I get to keep and they only cost me $1.50 total.  who made out better? Depends upon your point of view. Anyway, this was one of my purchases.

The Colorado Kid - Stephen King ($5.99/$.25, copyright 2005, 178 pages, Paperback)

This is Stephen King's contribution to the Hard Case Crimes imprint which includes such masters of the genre like Lawrence Block, Erle Stanley Gardner, and Donald Westlake. It reminds me of King's work under the Richard Bachman name. Stephanie McCann is from Cincinnati, Ohio and is doing a post-graduate internship at The Weekly Insider on an island off the coast of Maine. There, she's watched over by the 2 reporters/editors who run the place - Vince Teague who is 90 and Dave Bowie who is 65. Steph is writing local fluff pieces but wants to do a real story so the 2 guys tell her about the unsolved mysteries that have occurred on and around the island. One of these grabs Steph's attention. Back in 1980 or so, two high school kids found a body on the beach, a hunk of meat lodged in the throat. Further investigation showed that this was no local and James Cogan was eventually identified as the victim. However, no one could tell how or why he ended up on the East Coast, hailing from Colorado.  Who was James Cogan and what was this Colorado businessman doing in Maine? Steph digs in, with support from her 2 mentors, to uncover the truth. King has crafted an interesting story although the ending, to me, was disappointing but his characters ring true and his descriptions of the locals and the locale are spot-on. It was OK.

While the King book is short and easily carried around this next one is not. The author is know for writing lengthy novels but this one weight 5 pounds. Seriously. I weighed it myself.

 Mason & Dixon - Thomas Pynchon ($17.00/$5.89, copyright 1997, 773 pages, Trade Paperback)

I first read a work of Pynchon's back in my college days because my brother recommended it. I remember enjoying "Gravity's Rainbow" back then but I couldn't tell you what it was about now. That's the kind of work Pynchon creates. Here, he delves into Americana giving us the history of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon who surveyed the disputed boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland from 1763 to 1767 and resolved the conflict by establishing what has become as the Mason-Dixon Line. The story is told by Reverend Wicks Cherrycoke who's telling the story of his travels with the surveyors to his family in 1786. He covers everything from their time in South Africa, through their accomplishments in America, to their triumphant reception in Europe. But he tends to change things from time to time in order to lengthen his stay so you don't always know what's true. Pynchon has a way with words and has created a massive volume that is both fascinating and funny at the same time. As I said about a previous book of Pynchon's that I read - I enjoyed it but I couldn't tell you what it was about.

I haven't ordered another book in about a week. Since I'm home now I can stay out of this heat and dig into the stack I've recently piled up.

Next up is August. Hopefully it won't be as hot as July has been. Until then .....

Stay safe, stay socially distant, wash your hands, wear a mask, and -

Keep reading.

Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen

I mentioned at the end of my last post that I was headed to a Physical Therapy place for a few days. That was Thursday May 21st. Today is Saturday June 20th and I was discharged 2 days ago. It took longer and I'm still gonna have to deal with Visiting Nurses and PT trainers in my home (actually in the home of a friend who took me in for a while). I'm feeling stronger; my stamina and endurance have improved; and my appetite is back big time. The real Plus - in my opinion - is that my concentration is back. I've been reading again and enjoying it.

To celebrate my return, I went back to my younger days and read the following books that I remember enjoying. They're fairly short and I read them quickly. Plus, there's something that they have in common. I saw the movie versions before I read the books.

Miscellaneous

The Island of Doctor Moreau - H. G. Wells ($1.00/$3.98, Published 1896, 104 pages, Paperback)
I'm not completely sure since it's been so long but I think I first saw the 1933 filmed version of this book on a Saturday afternoon watching the "Million Dollar Movie" on Channel 5 (or was it 9? or 11?) with my Dad and siblings. It was made by Paramount Pictures and starred Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, and Bela Lugosi. The plot is pretty simple - Edward Prendick survives a shipwreck only to wind up on a secluded tropical island. Dr. Moreau, the local physician, befriends him and takes Edward into his compound. At first, all is well except that Edward notices that the Locals are all strange and very subservient to the Doctor. Wells describes the Locals very vividly and created a culture for them that keeps them under the Doctor's rule. Eventually, Edward learns exactly what Moreau has been doing and winds up changing things while trying to escape. Wells has written a story that is simple and, yet, is based on some complex matters. His characters are well defined and the descriptions of several of the situations Edward observes rings true. I enjoyed it.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne ($3.99/$3.98, Published 1870, 279 pages, Paperback)
Again, I'm not sure where I first saw the filmed version but I think it was on "The Wonderful World of Disney" on a Sunday night. I was  a Walt Disney Production from 1954 and starred Kirk Douglas, Paul Lucas, and Peter Lorre. Professor Arronnax is a famous French scientist who is asked to look into a strange situation - a mysterious, large, sea creature has been disrupting the shipping lanes and sinking ships. He agrees and sets out with his servant having all the confidence in the world. Unfortunately, that only lasts long enough for the ship he's on to be sunk by the Monster. Fortunately, he and his servant - along with a whaler they befriended on the ill-fated ship - discover that the Monster is, in fact, a giant submarine which then rescues them. In short order, the are introduced to the master of the vessel Captain Neo - a charming man with a sinister motivation. Verne's characters are strongly written and his descriptions of life underwater are fascinating. I enjoyed it.



Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne ($3.00/$3.98, Published 1876, 155 pages, Paperback)
I think I may have first seen this one in a movie theater when I was about 8. It's a 20th Century Fox Production from 1959 starring James Mason, Pat Boone, and Peter Ronson. This, also, is a very simple story - Professor Lidenbrock, an adventurous , geologist finds a manuscript from a 16th Century explorer claiming to have found a route to the Earth's core. He can't resist and sets out with his nephew Axl and a local Icelandic guide, Hans, into an extinct volcano where they come upon  a subterranean world of luminous rocks, ancient forests, and fantastic marine life — a living past that holds the secrets to the origins of human existence. Verne brings his characters to life and paints a vivid picture of the world our explorers discover. I enjoyed it.

Books have a way of helping us escape from the real world for a while and sometimes they let us walk down Memory Lane. Rereading these 3 books got me through my recent hospitalization and reminded me of how simpler things were when I was young.

Well, I've stacked up a lot of books lately (with 3 more coming) that cover a range of genres and I can't wait to get at them.

Today is the 1st Day of Summer and tomorrow is Father's Day. A perfect weekend to spend time with your family. Have fun and ….

Keep Reading.
.

Bookmark 4

As Robert Burns has been quoted to say, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang oft agley."

I was making headway in a few books and actually ordered and received 2 more:

"P. T. Barnum" by P. T. Barnum

"Slaughterhouse 5" by Kurt Vonnegut

The Barnum book is huge and turned out to be tedious. The Vonnegut book turned out to be a study guide ala Cliff Notes. Both went on to the TBR pile. 

I started to get very weak and my interest started to slip again. I found it difficult to concentrate but I did manage to order several more books before being admitted to the hospital. I had them delivered to a friend's house and she brought them over.

"Davey Crocket" by David Crockett (his Autobiography)

"Dracula" by Bram Stoker

"Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne

"Tales of Mystery and Imagination" by Edgar Allan Poe

"The Divine Comedy" by Dante (Not just "The Inferno" but all 3 sections in 1 volume.)

I've started the Verne book while waiting for a transfusion. Of course, between the hurry-up-and-wait attitudes of the doctors and the social isolation I find myself surfing my favorite book sites. I jut ordered:

"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

"The Portable Oscar Wilde"

"The Island of Dr. Moreau" by H. G. Wells

They just hooked me up for the transfusion so I'll go back to Verne for a while. 

I'll be heading to a Physical Therapy Center tomorrow for a couple of days and I have plenty of reading material to fill the down time.

I'll be back again so ..

Keep Reading.

Bookmark 3

I haven't had to do this in a while but I find myself having to take a step back. I finished my treatments a week and a half ago and was actually looking forward to just staying in. I've practiced self-isolation for years and I like the idea of social distanced. But now I find myself with a problem - I can't concentrate.

I have 3 books on the side of my bed:

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - Jules Verne
The Man From Hell - Barrie Roberts (a Sherlock Holmes pastiche)
A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman (not my usual thing but I read some great reviews and I like it so far)

3 books, 3 different genres.

I was enjoying jumping back and forth between them and was getting close to finishing at least 2 of them. Then, for some reason, I lost my concentration. I try but I can only do a page or two - sometimes only a paragraph or two - before I lose interest.

Is it this virus situation? I don't know. I'm not worried about it. I figure that if I was gonna get it I'd have it by now. Maybe it's because I haven't been able to see my Daughter or Granddaughter. We tried video-conferencing but the sound on my laptop doesn't work which is frustrating.

I've been through stuff before and I'll get through this. I will read my 3 books but I've gotten some more which might take precedence.

The Black Count - Tom Reiss (the story of Alex Dumas whose life became the basis for his son Alexander's The Count of Monte Cristo)
Trinity - Leo Uris
The Agony And The Ecstasy - Irving Stone
The Club of Queer Tales - G. K. Chesterton (a collection of short Detective stories with odd events and odd explanations)
The Life of P. T. Barnum - P. T. Barnum (who wouldn't want to read about the life of America's Show Man written by himself)
 
The last 3 are at my Daughter's house and I've had to use my "phone a friend" to pick them up for me.

Anyway, I'm feeling better about things. I think I'll grab something to eat, maybe do a crossword puzzle, then pick up a book and....

Keep reading.

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen

I don't think I need to go into what's going on right now - we're all living through it. My situation may be slightly different from yours because I do have to go out daily for radiation but I've been self-isolating since the transplant in late 2008 and I'm getting to like social distancing. The supermarkets are still a problem but I've started shopping at my local Quick Chek and Walgreen's for what I need. In the meantime, I've been spending more time then I should online, checking out Facebook and ordering stuff. I did manage to finish a couple of books though. No genre ones this month but two by authors that I really like.

Miscellaneous

Trans Atlantic - Colum McCann ($3.99/$16.00, copyright 2013, 300 pages, Trade Paperback)

I've read several of McCann's novels and really enjoyed them. One of the interesting things he does is that he changes his formats to fit the overall story. This one follows the way he laid out "Let The Great World Spin" - a series of what appears to be short stories that he ultimately ties together. Here he gives us 3 historical events and people, set at different times, that involve crossing the Atlantic between Ireland and America. The 1st is about 2 British airmen making the first crossing after WW1. The 2nd features Frederick Douglass who flies over for a speaking tour in 1845. The 3rd is centered on George Mitchell and his help in negotiating the Northern Ireland Peace Accord between '95 and '98. Each of these works on their own but McCann adds his connection. A young Irish immigrant girl gets to meet the pilots in Newfoundland and gets a picture. We find out that she's connected to a woman who interacted with Douglas and a woman who will be involved with the Mitchell visit. Although slightly out of chronological order McCann makes this work. Every one of these characters is clearly defined and the writing is crisp and entertaining. I enjoyed it.


Norse Mythology - Neil Gaiman ($5.88/$15.99, copyright 2017, 265 pages, Trade Paperback)

I mentioned one of Gaiman's books last month but this one is totally different. I grew up reading comic books and was there at the start of the Marvel Era. I read them all including "Thor". Over the years, the writers expended the cast and the background to include Asgard and all of the major gods. Gaiman has done the same here in one volume. We get them all - Odin, Thor, Loki, Balder,  etc. Their stories are told in detail, chapter by chapter, and lead up to Ragnarok, the Final Days. I'm not going to go into any details because it's not a novel that I need to explain. I will say that Gaiman's writing brings all the characters to life and his descriptions of the various backgrounds are great. I enjoyed it.


It's starting to get warm now although we did have rain mixed with some flakes this morning. I'm not sure what's gonna happen in April but I'm pretty sure we'll get through it. In the meantime stay home, stay safe and ….

Keep Reading!

Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen

Not to make a big deal out of it but I'm going through another round of treatments that take place early in the morning. Combined with the Insomnia side effect from the last round, I haven't read so much lately. (Of course, these things haven't kept me from continuing to order books.) Anyway, I did manage to finish a couple.

Miscellaneous

The Master Of Ballantrae - Robert Louis Stevenson ($9.95/$4.82, Published 1996, 246 pages, Paperback)
This is Stevenson's retelling of  the familiar family divided/two Brothers  against each other story. Set in Scotland during the 1745 Jacobite Revolution, he gives us the Drurie family. James, the oldest, supports the Scottish side while Henry the younger, is faithful to The Crown. James leaves home to fight for the cause and winds up fleeing to sea where he spends some time as a pirate in the French Indies. Meanwhile, Henry has taken over as the Master. James ultimately returns to demand his Birthright and begins a huge feud that takes them from their home in Scotland to the American Wilderness. Stevenson does a great job with his descriptions of the various locations and he's created some very memorable characters, especially James who comes across as very manipulative. Another plus to this book is that Stevenson uses multiple Narrators to tell the story which I found interesting. I enjoyed it.


 The Ocean At the End Of The Lane - Neil Gaiman ($7.99/$5.88, copyright 2013, 237 pages, Paperback)
I am a big fan of Gaiman and I've just ordered 2 more of his books ("American Gods" and "Anansi Boys"). This is another of his Adult books. He gives us a middle-aged man in England who returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. He decides to drive around for a while afterwards and winds up at a farm at the end of a road that he seems to be drawn to. He didn't know why at first, but as he wanders around he remembers. 40 Years ago, His Father took in a Boarder from Australia who wound up stealing their car and crashing it. When the boy went out to the site he wound up walking around and  met a girl named Lettie Hempstock who took him to her farm, fed him, and introduced him to  her Mother and her Grandmother. Then she took him for a walk and things got really strange. I can't begin to describe or explain what happens without spoiling the book. Gaiman has created some great characters here and he always paints a wonderful narrative. I enjoyed it.

It's cold today but supposed to get warmer for the next couple of days. I have to run some errands tomorrow but then I should have time to kick back and enjoy one of the books I'm juggling.

Talk to you next month. Until then ….

Keep reading.

A Belated 10th Anniversary

I tend to read more then 1 book at a time so I choose them from different genres. Jumping back and forth like that usually keeps me from getting bored. This month, however, I had a medical procedure to check on something and I've had to wait on the results. Needless to say, I haven't been able to concentrate very well. I got the results yesterday and I have to go back for Radiation but at least there's no Chemo or Surgery and the Prognosis is good.

Right now, I'm juggling a great Fantasy book by Neil Gaiman, the first of the Travis McGee Detective books by John D. MacDonald, and a book by Robert Louis Stevenson that was made into a pretty good movie starring Errol Flynn. But being a Bookie, there's always something else I want. Since Friday the 3rd, I've ordered 8 different books from 2 different Discount sites for a total of about $40. That's about $5 each but I have to say that 1 of these was about $11 and I'll explain that shortly. Some of them have come in already.

I ordered the 2 Captain Nemo books by Jules Verne, 1 of which just came in.
I ordered a Paperback copy of William S. Baring-Gould's Biography of Sherlock Holmes. I've had a Hard-copy edition since the '70's but it's easier to carry around something smaller. Shipped but still waiting for it.
I ordered what is described as an "Unauthorized Biography" of Sherlock Holmes by Nick Rennison. I don't know anything about this but it sounded interesting. This just came in.
I ordered 2 Holmes Pastiches, 1 of which involves "The Giant Rat of Sumatra". They just came in.
I ordered a copy of Steinbeck's 1st novel which is about Henry Morgan the Pirate. Shipped but still waiting for it.
Finally, I ordered a book that I had on a Wish List for about 6 months. It's a memoir of a French Pilot's experiences during WW2. It's been out of print a long time but a copy just turned up and they contacted me. This is the book that was about $11 and I hope it's worth it. Shipped but still waiting for it.

I.m looking forward to reading every one of these.

Now to the reason for this - my Totals for the 10th year of this Blog which ran from December 2018 to November 2019.

Totals                                           Face Value                          Actual Cost

Series 
14                                                        $98.82                                      $40.23

Misc
  8                                                        $64.82                                      $32.44

Pulp
  1                                                        $.75                                             $.75

Non-Fiction
  4                                                       $32.80                                       $19.67
____                                                   ______                                      ______
 27                                                       $197.19                                     $93.09

Grand Totals for the 10 years.

 380                                                     $3,642.16                               $473.38


Anyway, we've had some really nice weather lately but it's changing back to more seasonal temperatures. They say there's a possibility of snow this weekend so on my way home from my Doctor's Appointment tomorrow I'll make sure to stock up on some food.

February is up next. Say warm, stay safe and ……..

Keep Reading.