In no particular order:
1. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (may he rest in peace). My favorite of the Millenium Trilogy probably because of the amount of action involving one of the truly unique and interesting characters in recent literature, Lizbeth Salander. My post on The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest will appear after the first of the year.
2. (Blogpost pending) A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Beautifully written, funny, many thought-provoking themes, another unique character in Owen Meany. This one wins the 2009 prize for the book I'd most like to write about in a term paper.
3. (cheating) Shadow of the Wind and Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Phenomenal translations from Spanish capture these stories taking place in Barcelona, Spain in the first half of the 1900s. I anxiously await additional Zafon works translated into English.
4. Game Six by Mark Frost. My favorite sports book read in 2009 in a photo finish, Game Six actually added to the lore of the so-called greatest World Series ever played. As a lifelong Reds fan, I actually found new "stuff" in this book. Other highly recommended sports books from 2009 are two relating to Magic and Bird, When the Game Was Ours and When March Went Mad.
5. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. This work of non-fiction by the author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (post pending) (which has been named on a bunch of all decade lists) chronicles the experiences of one man and his family before, during and after Hurricane Katrina.
So that's my five. What are yours?
Live long, read and prosper.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New (Interactive) Feature: In Search Of . . .
Anybody remember the classic series narrated by one of the true actor icons of our generation (Leonard Nimoy)? The series was called In Search Of. . . and was a kind of non-fiction X Files dealing with investigations into the paranormal and into conspiracy theories. It ran in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some of it was pretty freaky.
So what's this got to do with books, you ask? Great question.
Ever wanted to sample an author but didn't know what to read? Ever want to sample a genre but not know where to start? That's where In Search Of . . . is meant to help.
I wanted to sample graphic novels about six months ago. I actually read The Watchmen (which is very good). I also started another classic graphic novel, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns but didn't love it and abandoned my graphic novel effort. After the supposedly classic The Watchmen, I had no idea what graphic novel to read. It took some research to settle on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This would have been a perfect In Search Of . . . Graphic Novels subject.
Recently, John Irving was recommended to me. I read A Prayer for Owen Meany recently (blog post pending). Another perfect In Search Of. . .John Irving. (The World According to Garp has similarly been highly recommended).
Somebody asked me about In Search Of. . .Robert Ludlom. The answer is The Matarese Circle or the Bourne trilogy (Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum--skip the books ghostwritten after Ludlom's death).
Here's one I do not know the answer to: In Search Of. . .Margaret Atwood. I've never read her but have heard that she's a terrific author. I have zero clue of what to sample. Please post suggestions.
Post In Search Of . . . requests or suggestions in comments. Hopefully, I will have a suggestion (since nobody else goes to the blog but you and me anyway).
Live long, read and prosper (See? Back to Leonard Nimoy! Nice, huh?)
So what's this got to do with books, you ask? Great question.
Ever wanted to sample an author but didn't know what to read? Ever want to sample a genre but not know where to start? That's where In Search Of . . . is meant to help.
I wanted to sample graphic novels about six months ago. I actually read The Watchmen (which is very good). I also started another classic graphic novel, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns but didn't love it and abandoned my graphic novel effort. After the supposedly classic The Watchmen, I had no idea what graphic novel to read. It took some research to settle on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This would have been a perfect In Search Of . . . Graphic Novels subject.
Recently, John Irving was recommended to me. I read A Prayer for Owen Meany recently (blog post pending). Another perfect In Search Of. . .John Irving. (The World According to Garp has similarly been highly recommended).
Somebody asked me about In Search Of. . .Robert Ludlom. The answer is The Matarese Circle or the Bourne trilogy (Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum--skip the books ghostwritten after Ludlom's death).
Here's one I do not know the answer to: In Search Of. . .Margaret Atwood. I've never read her but have heard that she's a terrific author. I have zero clue of what to sample. Please post suggestions.
Post In Search Of . . . requests or suggestions in comments. Hopefully, I will have a suggestion (since nobody else goes to the blog but you and me anyway).
Live long, read and prosper (See? Back to Leonard Nimoy! Nice, huh?)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Happy New (Recommendation System)!
There's been some confusion regarding this blog's recommendation system. The confusion is entirely my fault. I should not have gone with an A-F "grading" scale if I weren't actually "grading" books.
So, we're going to start "grading" books.
In order to accomplish the blog's goal of "recommending" books, the grading scale works out like this:
A - Highly recommended
B - Recommended
C - OK, you might like it
D - A waste of time
F - A HUGE waste of time
If a book, let's say it's a sports-themed, non-fiction book, earns a recommendation in the "A" range, the blog post will note that the book is "Highly recommended for fans of [we'll just insert the sport of tonsil hockey here as a placeholder]." In other words, even an "A" recommendation may not be a book that I suggest you read. It depends on your tastes. Certainly some books in the "A" range will be recommended to all. (Note to my son: Some books are long. Some books are bad. As a math dude, you should understand that all long books are not bad.)
I wanted to get this post in because all future posts (including posts which are in process) will utilize our new system.
One other note. I am generally a stickler for grammar and punctuation (for using made-up words like "stickler," not so much). As I've stated in various posts, I am well aware that this blog does not utilize the well-established "underline book titles" convention. There are some places where book titles are in quotes. There are other places where book titles are merely capitalized. While I apologize in advance for being such a heathen as to ignore this convention, it bothers me. It really does. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me up nights. Seriously. I decided, however, about 50 posts in that I would make the lack of consistency in the identification of book titles the consistency for the site. Therefore and henceforth, I will utilize whatever convention I want in any willy nilly fashion I see fit.
Live long, read and prosper.
So, we're going to start "grading" books.
In order to accomplish the blog's goal of "recommending" books, the grading scale works out like this:
A - Highly recommended
B - Recommended
C - OK, you might like it
D - A waste of time
F - A HUGE waste of time
If a book, let's say it's a sports-themed, non-fiction book, earns a recommendation in the "A" range, the blog post will note that the book is "Highly recommended for fans of [we'll just insert the sport of tonsil hockey here as a placeholder]." In other words, even an "A" recommendation may not be a book that I suggest you read. It depends on your tastes. Certainly some books in the "A" range will be recommended to all. (Note to my son: Some books are long. Some books are bad. As a math dude, you should understand that all long books are not bad.)
I wanted to get this post in because all future posts (including posts which are in process) will utilize our new system.
One other note. I am generally a stickler for grammar and punctuation (for using made-up words like "stickler," not so much). As I've stated in various posts, I am well aware that this blog does not utilize the well-established "underline book titles" convention. There are some places where book titles are in quotes. There are other places where book titles are merely capitalized. While I apologize in advance for being such a heathen as to ignore this convention, it bothers me. It really does. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me up nights. Seriously. I decided, however, about 50 posts in that I would make the lack of consistency in the identification of book titles the consistency for the site. Therefore and henceforth, I will utilize whatever convention I want in any willy nilly fashion I see fit.
Live long, read and prosper.
Monday, December 28, 2009
New Posts - They Are A-Comin'
Just got back from fishing.
I finished The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest before leaving for my fishing trip. I finished Owen Meany AND read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers while fishing.
And THAT'S NOT ALL! In addition to posts on these three books, upcoming posts will include:
1. A post on what people are reading on vacation (and one thing they're definitely not reading) AND
2. A New Year revision to the site's recommendation scale.
Look for all of these posts (and much much more) in the coming days.
Live long, read and prosper.
I finished The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest before leaving for my fishing trip. I finished Owen Meany AND read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers while fishing.
And THAT'S NOT ALL! In addition to posts on these three books, upcoming posts will include:
1. A post on what people are reading on vacation (and one thing they're definitely not reading) AND
2. A New Year revision to the site's recommendation scale.
Look for all of these posts (and much much more) in the coming days.
Live long, read and prosper.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Goin' Fishin'
This will be my last post for over a week as my family and I are goin' fishin'.
Book-wise, I'm HOPING to finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest before we go out on the boat because I do not want to lug the Girl with me. I do not know if the American version of the book will be thick and heavy, but the British version ("would you like a spot of tea before you get on the lift") is HEAVY. I think it has something to do with the exchange rate. . .
I'm definitely bringing A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving on the trip. It has been recommended by a couple of people, including my No. 1 sister who is goin' fishin' with us. That may be as much as I can get through on the trip, but I'll bring a provisional book (to be decided) as well.
Have a great holiday, and be sure to read Daemon and order Freedom for the VBC!
Live long, read and prosper.
Book-wise, I'm HOPING to finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest before we go out on the boat because I do not want to lug the Girl with me. I do not know if the American version of the book will be thick and heavy, but the British version ("would you like a spot of tea before you get on the lift") is HEAVY. I think it has something to do with the exchange rate. . .
I'm definitely bringing A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving on the trip. It has been recommended by a couple of people, including my No. 1 sister who is goin' fishin' with us. That may be as much as I can get through on the trip, but I'll bring a provisional book (to be decided) as well.
Have a great holiday, and be sure to read Daemon and order Freedom for the VBC!
Live long, read and prosper.
Friday, December 18, 2009
One of Bill and Ted's Most Excellent Book Blogs
"You killed Ted, you medieval dickweed!"
I am struck by this quote for two reasons. First, I refer you to Amazon's omnivoracious blog which has a bunch of "most excellent" features--book reviews, links to interviews with authors, information on kids books, information on book awards, etc.
I am also reminded of medieval times and wanted to comment on the perceived need to "retell" the Canterbury Tales. I don't get it. As a college English major, I've read the Canterbury Tales in the Middle English (I know that sounds pretentious but is not meant to be; I would hope that anyone who studied the Canterbury Tales in college read it in the Middle English). There are numerous versions for high schoolers as well. Why did we need a new one? That being said, I'm kind of interested to read this one as the Canterbury Tales is a true classic.
Live long, read and prosper.
I am struck by this quote for two reasons. First, I refer you to Amazon's omnivoracious blog which has a bunch of "most excellent" features--book reviews, links to interviews with authors, information on kids books, information on book awards, etc.
I am also reminded of medieval times and wanted to comment on the perceived need to "retell" the Canterbury Tales. I don't get it. As a college English major, I've read the Canterbury Tales in the Middle English (I know that sounds pretentious but is not meant to be; I would hope that anyone who studied the Canterbury Tales in college read it in the Middle English). There are numerous versions for high schoolers as well. Why did we need a new one? That being said, I'm kind of interested to read this one as the Canterbury Tales is a true classic.
Live long, read and prosper.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Selection No. 2
The novel selected as the second Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club (VBC) book will not be available until early January. But this one is a bit of a two-fer.
The second VBC selection is the second book in a series. The first in the series is called Daemon (and the series has its own website). There is background on how Daemon was initially published (four years after the author completed it) here.
Oh, did I mention that the author of Daemon is DANIEL SUAREZ, the namesake of the VBC? I selected this name of the VBC because: (1) virtual reality is one of the themes in Daemon and this is a "virtual book club;" (2) I read Daemon shortly before starting this blog, and (3) I'm sure that nothing to date has been named after Mr. Suarez.
Daemon is currently available in hardback (for purchase as new or used (here's one place you can buy used) or loan from your local library--purchases of used books or books borrowed come with apologies to Mr. Suarez and his publisher) and Kindle (for you Kindle snobs out there) and will be available in paperback after Christmas.
The second book in the series, Freedom, will be released on January 7. 2010. In order to give everybody time to read both, I will not post a blog about Freedom until after January 31, 2010.
I give Daemon an A-. The story and the characters are original, and the the novel is very suspenseful.
I said on an earlier blog that I couldn't give a science fiction novel anything above the B range because science fiction doesn't appeal to all readers. I actually took (welcome) criticism from one (the only?) blog reader for this. After much thought, I am revising that view. I do think that certain science fiction (and I put Anathem in this category) will not appeal to all readers and, as a result, given this blog's recommendation system, cannot receive a recommendation in the "A" range. I know readers who would be so turned off by the premise in Anathem that they would not even give it a try. And since an "A" rating is for books "Strongly recommend; if you are a reader, you should enjoy," well, a large class of "readers" won't. Just like large classes of readers do not like non-fiction, romance novels, horror novels or historical fiction.
Daemon, though, while science fiction, is more of a techno-thriller. The novel is Michael Crichton-esque in many ways. I know many non-sci fi fans who enjoyed Crichton's "Disclosure," for example. Therefore, I feel comfortable saying that most readers would find Daemon a good read and fun ride.
Live long, read and prosper.
The second VBC selection is the second book in a series. The first in the series is called Daemon (and the series has its own website). There is background on how Daemon was initially published (four years after the author completed it) here.
Oh, did I mention that the author of Daemon is DANIEL SUAREZ, the namesake of the VBC? I selected this name of the VBC because: (1) virtual reality is one of the themes in Daemon and this is a "virtual book club;" (2) I read Daemon shortly before starting this blog, and (3) I'm sure that nothing to date has been named after Mr. Suarez.
Daemon is currently available in hardback (for purchase as new or used (here's one place you can buy used) or loan from your local library--purchases of used books or books borrowed come with apologies to Mr. Suarez and his publisher) and Kindle (for you Kindle snobs out there) and will be available in paperback after Christmas.
The second book in the series, Freedom, will be released on January 7. 2010. In order to give everybody time to read both, I will not post a blog about Freedom until after January 31, 2010.
I give Daemon an A-. The story and the characters are original, and the the novel is very suspenseful.
I said on an earlier blog that I couldn't give a science fiction novel anything above the B range because science fiction doesn't appeal to all readers. I actually took (welcome) criticism from one (the only?) blog reader for this. After much thought, I am revising that view. I do think that certain science fiction (and I put Anathem in this category) will not appeal to all readers and, as a result, given this blog's recommendation system, cannot receive a recommendation in the "A" range. I know readers who would be so turned off by the premise in Anathem that they would not even give it a try. And since an "A" rating is for books "Strongly recommend; if you are a reader, you should enjoy," well, a large class of "readers" won't. Just like large classes of readers do not like non-fiction, romance novels, horror novels or historical fiction.
Daemon, though, while science fiction, is more of a techno-thriller. The novel is Michael Crichton-esque in many ways. I know many non-sci fi fans who enjoyed Crichton's "Disclosure," for example. Therefore, I feel comfortable saying that most readers would find Daemon a good read and fun ride.
Live long, read and prosper.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Selection No. 2 Coming Soon!
Check back later today or tomorrow for the big announcement of the second Daniel Suarez VBC Selection (after the first selection was an unmitigated disaster).
See this post, this post, this post and this post for information on the VBC and the first VBC selection.
See this post, this post, this post and this post for information on the VBC and the first VBC selection.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I'm a Trendsetter! And You Can Be Too!
See what you can learn from reading my book blog!
My favorite mother (mine) was, well, a little annoyed with me that I hadn't thought to include her in my whole "order the third 'Dragon' book from the UK thing" until I told her that she could borrow my copy after I had finished it (which will still be about 5 months before the book is available in the US). She was, however, impressed when she pointed me to the linked article in the NYT yesterday and called me a trendsetter.
My favorite mother (mine) was, well, a little annoyed with me that I hadn't thought to include her in my whole "order the third 'Dragon' book from the UK thing" until I told her that she could borrow my copy after I had finished it (which will still be about 5 months before the book is available in the US). She was, however, impressed when she pointed me to the linked article in the NYT yesterday and called me a trendsetter.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Feeding the Beast - UK Edition
First, a little housekeeping.
My current book is (sort of) the George Carlin biography. I know, I know I said I was next reading fiction. But for reasons detailed below, I wanted a short, quick read and the fiction candidates were too damn long.
Also, I know you're on the edge of your seats, and I am getting close to selecting books for vacation. I'm probably going to bring one "good" read and a quick read or two to read if I get through the "good" read.
OK, I blogged earlier about The Girl Who Played with Fire, the sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. As I indicated in the earlier post, the author, Stieg Larsson died in 2004 and never saw any of his books in print. The thid book in the trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is set for release in late May 2010.
OR IS IT?
I was messing around last Thursday night on the computer, minding my own business with "Suitable for All Audiences" websites, when I learned that The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is available in England. Hmmm, I say. How much would such a book cost, and more importantly, how much would such a book cost to ship (or "post" as they apparently say over there)? And where would one get such a book?
Answer: Amazon UK! I was even able to log on using my Amazon US username and password. The book was available. I bought two copies, one for me and one for a good friend. With shipping, the total order for the two books cost 27.95 pounds. That's somewhere around $46 for two copies (again, delivered to my door from freaking Great Britain). Heck, cover price in the US will be $27.95 for the book!
I ordered the books last Friday and have been very (almost maniacally so) interested in the books' progress. The package landed in Philly, PA some time this morning (TWO business days after the order), and is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. That's just crazy.
There was a bit of a stir a few years ago when one of the Harry Potter books was available across the pond before it was available here. I don't think there's going to be a stir about this, but if you're dying for the third book in the trilogy, you need not wait until the end of May 2010 to acquire a copy.
Live long, read and prosper.
My current book is (sort of) the George Carlin biography. I know, I know I said I was next reading fiction. But for reasons detailed below, I wanted a short, quick read and the fiction candidates were too damn long.
Also, I know you're on the edge of your seats, and I am getting close to selecting books for vacation. I'm probably going to bring one "good" read and a quick read or two to read if I get through the "good" read.
OK, I blogged earlier about The Girl Who Played with Fire, the sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. As I indicated in the earlier post, the author, Stieg Larsson died in 2004 and never saw any of his books in print. The thid book in the trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is set for release in late May 2010.
OR IS IT?
I was messing around last Thursday night on the computer, minding my own business with "Suitable for All Audiences" websites, when I learned that The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is available in England. Hmmm, I say. How much would such a book cost, and more importantly, how much would such a book cost to ship (or "post" as they apparently say over there)? And where would one get such a book?
Answer: Amazon UK! I was even able to log on using my Amazon US username and password. The book was available. I bought two copies, one for me and one for a good friend. With shipping, the total order for the two books cost 27.95 pounds. That's somewhere around $46 for two copies (again, delivered to my door from freaking Great Britain). Heck, cover price in the US will be $27.95 for the book!
I ordered the books last Friday and have been very (almost maniacally so) interested in the books' progress. The package landed in Philly, PA some time this morning (TWO business days after the order), and is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. That's just crazy.
There was a bit of a stir a few years ago when one of the Harry Potter books was available across the pond before it was available here. I don't think there's going to be a stir about this, but if you're dying for the third book in the trilogy, you need not wait until the end of May 2010 to acquire a copy.
Live long, read and prosper.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Guest Blogger Interlude - The Twilight Series
Introducing our first guest blogger! My 13 year old daughter!
(The following is virtually unedited. Let's just say that I find accurate spelling to be a bit of a lost art.)
Twilight. First the book, now the movies, and a rumor of a t.v. show is buzzing around. When you think of Twilight what do you think of? I think of my favorite book series!!
First off, I know what everyone thinks. I was one of the first people (that I know) to become absolutely addicted to Twilight. I first picked it up at a bookstore and was hesitant to read it because at the time, I didn't know anyone else reading it. And truthfully, I had no idea if I would like really sure I would like reading about a topic "so out there" like vampires! But, don't let the topic intimidate you.
If you didn't know, the Twilight series is about a high school girl named Bella Swan, who moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father. Bella falls deep in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.
When I picked up the first book, I couldn't put it down. I was so addicted. I read twilight really fast. And New Moon I read in a few nights. But, I had to wait for the last two books to come out from the series (Eclipse and Breaking Dawn). The books were really entertaining. Not going to lie, when I started reading Twilight, my friends were like "ewww vampires?" Now, the books are a huge hit and everyone is on the edge of their chair waiting for the Eclipse movie to come out.
As for who I recommend this book to. Mainly, I recommend this book to girls/woman (I am not saying that guys will not like this series too). This book tends to be like love story/gushy material that girls would mainly like. If you like reading in general and are ready to try something a little different, just give Twilight a try. Who knows, it could become your new favorite book. So, just pick it up! (:
(The following is virtually unedited. Let's just say that I find accurate spelling to be a bit of a lost art.)
Twilight. First the book, now the movies, and a rumor of a t.v. show is buzzing around. When you think of Twilight what do you think of? I think of my favorite book series!!
First off, I know what everyone thinks. I was one of the first people (that I know) to become absolutely addicted to Twilight. I first picked it up at a bookstore and was hesitant to read it because at the time, I didn't know anyone else reading it. And truthfully, I had no idea if I would like really sure I would like reading about a topic "so out there" like vampires! But, don't let the topic intimidate you.
If you didn't know, the Twilight series is about a high school girl named Bella Swan, who moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father. Bella falls deep in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.
When I picked up the first book, I couldn't put it down. I was so addicted. I read twilight really fast. And New Moon I read in a few nights. But, I had to wait for the last two books to come out from the series (Eclipse and Breaking Dawn). The books were really entertaining. Not going to lie, when I started reading Twilight, my friends were like "ewww vampires?" Now, the books are a huge hit and everyone is on the edge of their chair waiting for the Eclipse movie to come out.
As for who I recommend this book to. Mainly, I recommend this book to girls/woman (I am not saying that guys will not like this series too). This book tends to be like love story/gushy material that girls would mainly like. If you like reading in general and are ready to try something a little different, just give Twilight a try. Who knows, it could become your new favorite book. So, just pick it up! (:
Friday, December 4, 2009
Notes From All Around
1. I've noticed that my posts have grown in length recently, and I hope that has not turned off any of the multitude of loyal followers of this blog. To the extent you exist, you know who you are.
2. I am between books right now. I like to know what I'm reading next but haven't decided. I expected to pick up the George Carlin autobiography autobiography, but I determined that I was in the mood for fiction.
So, I went to what I affectionately call, my "pile o' books." My wife calls it, "when are you going to do something about that mess?"
A funny thing happened as I started to go through the pile o' books. I didn't recognize a bunch of them. How did they make it into the pile o' books? How did I acquire them? Many were paperbacks, so I supposed that I had found them on paperbackswap. SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY LOOKED PRETTY GOOD. PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD.
I was too tired to start a book last night, so I will have to choose tonight. I know that you are all on the edge of your seat.
Live long, read and prosper.
2. I am between books right now. I like to know what I'm reading next but haven't decided. I expected to pick up the George Carlin autobiography autobiography, but I determined that I was in the mood for fiction.
So, I went to what I affectionately call, my "pile o' books." My wife calls it, "when are you going to do something about that mess?"
A funny thing happened as I started to go through the pile o' books. I didn't recognize a bunch of them. How did they make it into the pile o' books? How did I acquire them? Many were paperbacks, so I supposed that I had found them on paperbackswap. SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY LOOKED PRETTY GOOD. PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD.
I was too tired to start a book last night, so I will have to choose tonight. I know that you are all on the edge of your seat.
Live long, read and prosper.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
When the Game Was Ours - B+
I think I've used this quote before on the blog, but I use it again now to tell anyone other than a sports fan above the age of 40 to skip to the starred paragraph below. There is not anything that will interest you between the quote below and the starred paragraph (and it's likely not worth scrolling down the starred paragraph anyway).
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along.
SO, MOVE ALONG!
I'm not sure that I knew that college basketball existed before the 1979 Finals. OK, that's an exaggeration. But the 1979 Finals catapulted March Madness (and ultimately, the NBA) into the national consciousness. For more on that, you can read When March Went Mad, another excellent book which focuses on the 1979 Finals game itself and Magic's and Bird's lives before the game.
Magic and Bird collaborated (with Jackie McMullin, a great sportswriter for the Boston Globe) on When the Game Was Ours. The book tells the stories of Magic and Bird and how their lives have been, and forever will be, intertwined. These two were not initially friends--in any sense of the word. They weren't friends when they played on an amateur team together in 1978, they weren't friends when they met in 1979 at the NCAA championship and they weren't friends in their early years with the Lakers and Celtics. I won't spoil the story about how they became friends (no spoilers, remember?), but anyone who follows basketball knows that they are close friends now.
When the Game Was Ours is not a biography, per se, of the lives of Magic and Bird. It's not even really a "basketball" biography (the authors do not tell stories about Magic's pee wee league experiences, for example). Their family backgrounds are discussed, and the action essentially picks up with their college recruiting and ends in present day.
I must confess that I was drawn to the book because my all time favorite athlete is Magic Johnson. Why? Well, there was the smile, of course, the smile that, while jovial, tells you that Magic knows something you do not (usually, that he's going to beat you). The reason that Magic continues to be my all time favorite, though, is that you knew when you watched him play that winning was the No. 1 goal. Not the personal goals, the "numbers." Not the money. Winning. Winning unselfishly. And if that meant that Michael Cooper got the shots and Magic didn't, so be it.
Bird was, of course, the same way--just not as flashy (Showtime) as Magic.
I'm old enough now that I can, unfortunately, refer to the "good old days," the days when athletes played to win--not for the fame or the money. There was a youthful aspect to watching professional sports then. Sure, the NBA was "professional" and a "business," but it was "playground," too. Sports just isn't as much fun to watch any more, and the first guys who would tell you that, I think, are Magic and Bird. If you want to read a book about the "good old days" of professional sports, spend a few hours with When the Game Was Ours. You won't regret it.
**No idea what book is next. I have a nightstand full of paperbacks and hardbacks and a wife who wants that crap cleaned up. I also have a couple of shelves of "to be read" books in our storage closet. How do any of you decide what you're going to read next? I guess that, when I get home tonight, I'll see what I'm in the mood to read. Not an exact science, but hopefully, it'll be a good one.
Live long, read and prosper.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along.
SO, MOVE ALONG!
I'm not sure that I knew that college basketball existed before the 1979 Finals. OK, that's an exaggeration. But the 1979 Finals catapulted March Madness (and ultimately, the NBA) into the national consciousness. For more on that, you can read When March Went Mad, another excellent book which focuses on the 1979 Finals game itself and Magic's and Bird's lives before the game.
Magic and Bird collaborated (with Jackie McMullin, a great sportswriter for the Boston Globe) on When the Game Was Ours. The book tells the stories of Magic and Bird and how their lives have been, and forever will be, intertwined. These two were not initially friends--in any sense of the word. They weren't friends when they played on an amateur team together in 1978, they weren't friends when they met in 1979 at the NCAA championship and they weren't friends in their early years with the Lakers and Celtics. I won't spoil the story about how they became friends (no spoilers, remember?), but anyone who follows basketball knows that they are close friends now.
When the Game Was Ours is not a biography, per se, of the lives of Magic and Bird. It's not even really a "basketball" biography (the authors do not tell stories about Magic's pee wee league experiences, for example). Their family backgrounds are discussed, and the action essentially picks up with their college recruiting and ends in present day.
I must confess that I was drawn to the book because my all time favorite athlete is Magic Johnson. Why? Well, there was the smile, of course, the smile that, while jovial, tells you that Magic knows something you do not (usually, that he's going to beat you). The reason that Magic continues to be my all time favorite, though, is that you knew when you watched him play that winning was the No. 1 goal. Not the personal goals, the "numbers." Not the money. Winning. Winning unselfishly. And if that meant that Michael Cooper got the shots and Magic didn't, so be it.
Bird was, of course, the same way--just not as flashy (Showtime) as Magic.
I'm old enough now that I can, unfortunately, refer to the "good old days," the days when athletes played to win--not for the fame or the money. There was a youthful aspect to watching professional sports then. Sure, the NBA was "professional" and a "business," but it was "playground," too. Sports just isn't as much fun to watch any more, and the first guys who would tell you that, I think, are Magic and Bird. If you want to read a book about the "good old days" of professional sports, spend a few hours with When the Game Was Ours. You won't regret it.
**No idea what book is next. I have a nightstand full of paperbacks and hardbacks and a wife who wants that crap cleaned up. I also have a couple of shelves of "to be read" books in our storage closet. How do any of you decide what you're going to read next? I guess that, when I get home tonight, I'll see what I'm in the mood to read. Not an exact science, but hopefully, it'll be a good one.
Live long, read and prosper.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Harry Potter - An Interlude
First things first. I have asked a potential guest blogger to blog regarding the Twilight series (guest blogger answer pending). I know zero about these books (haven't read word one) other than their covers and the fact that young girls apparently go crazy for certain boys in the movies. I was recently in Joseph Beth Booksellers buying a book in the Clique series for my daughter (I interrupt "first things first" to my interlude for the following aside: the Clique series is awful--not that I've read the books because I haven't read word one of this series either. But the books have all the themes you'd want your kids to avoid. The book I picked up for my daughter is called, PS I Loathe You. Seriously. That's what it's called. They all have titles like this. Why do I let my daughter read such books? Two reasons. First, unless someone convinces me otherwise, I think that any and all reading is a good thing. Second, it's our job as parents to teach values to our kids, so if they're picking up bad social habits from what they read, I can't blame the books, I have to blame myself. End of aside.), and my son was with me. I said to my son in front of the saleswoman, "You sure you want to read this?" The saleswoman laughed. My son, for the 1000th time in his life, wished (aloud I think) that he'd been born into another family. The saleswoman then said, "It's like all those husbands who buy the Twilight books 'for their wives.'"
Anyway, the Twilight series and Harry Potter series are arguably the most influential book series of the last decade. New novel releases were events. And, of course, the movies. Talk about events.
I love the Harry Potter series--not because I think that the books are the best stories ever told or the best written novels of our generation. My love for the series is entirely personal: I read each novel out loud to my son. I couldn't get my daughters interested in the books. My son and I must have started when he was 6 or 7. With breaks, we read the books straight through until having to wait about nine months for the last novel in the series to be released.
I picked up HP1 (I won't use titles here--hopefully you've already cracked the code--"HP" for "Harry Potter" followed by the number indicating the book in the series starting with HP1 and ending with HP7) when my oldest daughter was 3 or 4. I was curious and wanted to be prepared when she reached the age when the HP books might interest her. I loved HP1. So, I thought, "hey, the writing is somewhat simple for my tastes, but the story is pretty good, I'll try HP2."
Mistake. To this day, I think that HP2 is, far and away, the worst in the series. I could not finish HP2.
My son showed an interest in first or second grade. I read HP1 to him. We took a break. Then, we started HP2. Even 4-5 years later, I still hated HP2. This one was a struggle--for my son and for me. But we fought through HP2. Then, we took a break.
We thought that HP3 was outstanding, and it had to be to re-energize us in the series. We read each of HP3, HP4, HP5 and HP6. We took breaks between each book because reading them aloud meant less reading by my son. At some point, he became able to read the HP books on his own. But he didn't want that (and I wanted it even less). As I think I blogged in an earlier post, reading the HP series with my son is one of my parental highlights to date.
After HP6, we were months away from the release of HP7. We ordered the book on Amazon for delivery on the release date. By now, my son could read HP every bit as well as I could. Fortunately, he wanted me to read it to him as much as I wanted to read it to him.
Again, do I think that the HP series is the best written series of all time? No. Is it the best story? Some people would tell you that it's not even the best series for kids involving wizards (personally, and I understand that this will be blasphemy to some, I find the Lord of the Rings trilogy overrated and unnecessarily verbose).
The HP series continues, though, to introduce young readers (and their families) to a reading "experience." Any book that interests kids and, more than that, any book that results in discussion between parent and child or between children is a good thing, a very good thing.
There are other great series out there for kids. There are books out there for all kids--even for kids who don't love to read. There was a NYT article in the last year discussing how to get young boys to read (I couldn't easily find it--if anyone is out there and is familiar with the article, please let me know). The article mentioned books with "gross" topics, sports topics, etc. Again, there's something for everyone.
I still mist up a little when I think of the "one more chapter?" plea as I read HP with my son. Understand that the plea was posed by my son only some of the time; many times, I posed it.
I think that I've finally settled on a sign-off phrase. I like this one. I just decided to add a comma and one word to the Vulcan salute.
Live long, read and prosper
Anyway, the Twilight series and Harry Potter series are arguably the most influential book series of the last decade. New novel releases were events. And, of course, the movies. Talk about events.
I love the Harry Potter series--not because I think that the books are the best stories ever told or the best written novels of our generation. My love for the series is entirely personal: I read each novel out loud to my son. I couldn't get my daughters interested in the books. My son and I must have started when he was 6 or 7. With breaks, we read the books straight through until having to wait about nine months for the last novel in the series to be released.
I picked up HP1 (I won't use titles here--hopefully you've already cracked the code--"HP" for "Harry Potter" followed by the number indicating the book in the series starting with HP1 and ending with HP7) when my oldest daughter was 3 or 4. I was curious and wanted to be prepared when she reached the age when the HP books might interest her. I loved HP1. So, I thought, "hey, the writing is somewhat simple for my tastes, but the story is pretty good, I'll try HP2."
Mistake. To this day, I think that HP2 is, far and away, the worst in the series. I could not finish HP2.
My son showed an interest in first or second grade. I read HP1 to him. We took a break. Then, we started HP2. Even 4-5 years later, I still hated HP2. This one was a struggle--for my son and for me. But we fought through HP2. Then, we took a break.
We thought that HP3 was outstanding, and it had to be to re-energize us in the series. We read each of HP3, HP4, HP5 and HP6. We took breaks between each book because reading them aloud meant less reading by my son. At some point, he became able to read the HP books on his own. But he didn't want that (and I wanted it even less). As I think I blogged in an earlier post, reading the HP series with my son is one of my parental highlights to date.
After HP6, we were months away from the release of HP7. We ordered the book on Amazon for delivery on the release date. By now, my son could read HP every bit as well as I could. Fortunately, he wanted me to read it to him as much as I wanted to read it to him.
Again, do I think that the HP series is the best written series of all time? No. Is it the best story? Some people would tell you that it's not even the best series for kids involving wizards (personally, and I understand that this will be blasphemy to some, I find the Lord of the Rings trilogy overrated and unnecessarily verbose).
The HP series continues, though, to introduce young readers (and their families) to a reading "experience." Any book that interests kids and, more than that, any book that results in discussion between parent and child or between children is a good thing, a very good thing.
There are other great series out there for kids. There are books out there for all kids--even for kids who don't love to read. There was a NYT article in the last year discussing how to get young boys to read (I couldn't easily find it--if anyone is out there and is familiar with the article, please let me know). The article mentioned books with "gross" topics, sports topics, etc. Again, there's something for everyone.
I still mist up a little when I think of the "one more chapter?" plea as I read HP with my son. Understand that the plea was posed by my son only some of the time; many times, I posed it.
I think that I've finally settled on a sign-off phrase. I like this one. I just decided to add a comma and one word to the Vulcan salute.
Live long, read and prosper
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Under the Dome by Stephen King - C-? D+? C-? D+?
From Poltergeist (the original): "Do NOT go into the light. Stop where you are. Turn away from it. Don't even look at it."
In the movie Poltegeist, little Carol Anne is drawn to the light. Her mother implores her to stay away. Ultimately, Carol Anne does stay away, returns to her family, happy ending (other than with respect to the Poltergeist curse which claimed the life of both the actress who played Carol Anne (at age 12) and the actress who played her sister, Dana (at age 22), but I digress).
I probably should have stayed away from the light. But per my earlier posts on the works of Stephen King, I was drawn to the light.
Under the Dome is about a transparent dome that descends on a small Maine town. The dome seems impenetrable. Cut off from the rest of the US, sides form as some seek rescue and others embrace anarchy--after all, "old" rules don't apply to the new reality, and there's power to be had.
Under the Dome is not a horrible novel. As usual, King has created some excellent characters. Unfortunately, many of them are are cheap imitations of King's classic characters. The "Chef" is no "Tick Tock Man" though readers of (WINNER BY KNOCKOUT AND STILL CHAMPION OF THE WORLD) The Stand will see the similarities, and the Chef just doesn't measure up.
Similarly, in most ways, Under the Dome just doesn't measure up. The problem with reading a good portion of King's works is that characters and plots recur. You can see bits and pieces of prior (better) works in each of Cell (not good), Duma Key (good nonetheless) and Under the Dome.
One other major gripe with the novel--many of the underlying themes are unnecessarily political and, like the dome, transparent. A Cheney mask? Really? The town newspaper which reports the "truth" called "The Democrat"? CNN lauded; Fox ridiculed? I have no issue with the political sentiment, but is that why people actually read Stephen King? We read him to get away, to escape. Injecting blatant politics cheapens the novel rather than enriching it. I find it a shame because there are plenty of great bad guys here without the unnecessary rhetoric.
Ok, at the end of the day, I have to give this novel a C-. ESPECIALLY if you, like me, bought the novel for $9. I did spend about 10 days of my reading life on the book, so it can't be all bad. I recommend Under the Dome only for the most avid Stephen King fans. I was, however, overcome by many "Ay yi yi, why did I stick with this for 1,070 pages" moments as I neared the end of the novel.
Remember, a good book is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
In the movie Poltegeist, little Carol Anne is drawn to the light. Her mother implores her to stay away. Ultimately, Carol Anne does stay away, returns to her family, happy ending (other than with respect to the Poltergeist curse which claimed the life of both the actress who played Carol Anne (at age 12) and the actress who played her sister, Dana (at age 22), but I digress).
I probably should have stayed away from the light. But per my earlier posts on the works of Stephen King, I was drawn to the light.
Under the Dome is about a transparent dome that descends on a small Maine town. The dome seems impenetrable. Cut off from the rest of the US, sides form as some seek rescue and others embrace anarchy--after all, "old" rules don't apply to the new reality, and there's power to be had.
Under the Dome is not a horrible novel. As usual, King has created some excellent characters. Unfortunately, many of them are are cheap imitations of King's classic characters. The "Chef" is no "Tick Tock Man" though readers of (WINNER BY KNOCKOUT AND STILL CHAMPION OF THE WORLD) The Stand will see the similarities, and the Chef just doesn't measure up.
Similarly, in most ways, Under the Dome just doesn't measure up. The problem with reading a good portion of King's works is that characters and plots recur. You can see bits and pieces of prior (better) works in each of Cell (not good), Duma Key (good nonetheless) and Under the Dome.
One other major gripe with the novel--many of the underlying themes are unnecessarily political and, like the dome, transparent. A Cheney mask? Really? The town newspaper which reports the "truth" called "The Democrat"? CNN lauded; Fox ridiculed? I have no issue with the political sentiment, but is that why people actually read Stephen King? We read him to get away, to escape. Injecting blatant politics cheapens the novel rather than enriching it. I find it a shame because there are plenty of great bad guys here without the unnecessary rhetoric.
Ok, at the end of the day, I have to give this novel a C-. ESPECIALLY if you, like me, bought the novel for $9. I did spend about 10 days of my reading life on the book, so it can't be all bad. I recommend Under the Dome only for the most avid Stephen King fans. I was, however, overcome by many "Ay yi yi, why did I stick with this for 1,070 pages" moments as I neared the end of the novel.
Remember, a good book is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
On Thanksgiving - The (American) Classics Never Die - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
When many think of "the classics," they think of some dusty room filled with "old" books that aren't really classics--they're their father's (or grandfather's) classics. "That book can't possibly appeal to me. It's old."
My experience is that most kids are introduced to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer before Huck Finn. The classic fence whitewash scene sticks with kids. When urged to read Huck Finn, they think it will be more of the same and resist it.
I've read Huck Finn twice. Once in high school and again in college. I have an old illustrated, hardback copy that is displayed prominently in a common area of our house. The only other classic that I own in hardback that means as much to me is my very, very old copy of Winnie the Pooh. If you didn't read that to your kids before they turned about 7, you missed a great experience.
Anyway, my 11 year old came home the other day with an assignment to read a "classic." While I didn't read Huck Finn until later, I think he's at a great age where the book will appeal to him. I pulled my copy off the shelf (I knew exactly where it was). He was initially overwhelmed by its length as this particular copy has 448 pages. But there are some illustrations, the print is large and the pages are fairly short. He can handle it.
I actually felt a little jealous that he was reading the book. There's an excellent chance that I'll read it again after him.
Have a great Thanksgiving. A good turkey is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
My experience is that most kids are introduced to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer before Huck Finn. The classic fence whitewash scene sticks with kids. When urged to read Huck Finn, they think it will be more of the same and resist it.
I've read Huck Finn twice. Once in high school and again in college. I have an old illustrated, hardback copy that is displayed prominently in a common area of our house. The only other classic that I own in hardback that means as much to me is my very, very old copy of Winnie the Pooh. If you didn't read that to your kids before they turned about 7, you missed a great experience.
Anyway, my 11 year old came home the other day with an assignment to read a "classic." While I didn't read Huck Finn until later, I think he's at a great age where the book will appeal to him. I pulled my copy off the shelf (I knew exactly where it was). He was initially overwhelmed by its length as this particular copy has 448 pages. But there are some illustrations, the print is large and the pages are fairly short. He can handle it.
I actually felt a little jealous that he was reading the book. There's an excellent chance that I'll read it again after him.
Have a great Thanksgiving. A good turkey is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Stephen King - An Interlude
I'm not going to defend Stephen King. Or my not-insignificant man love for his books. If you think he's schlocky, I won't argue. He's my guilty pleasure and has been for almost 30 years.
Most people who try to defend Stephen King--say that he's a better writer than he's given credit for, say that his ability to "spin a yarn" is superior--aren't really defending Stephen King. They are defending the fact that THEY LIKE reading Stephen King. I don't feel the need for any such defense. I enjoy his books, and I'm proud to say so--even if you think less of my tastes as a result.
There are definitely best, better and okay Stephen King books. I haven't read all of them. And I'm not one of those crazy fans who has not only read everything he writes but also has a cupboard full of old VHS copies of items including The Stand miniseries and Kingdom Hospital series. I've read about 30 of his novels, short story collections and non-fiction books.
There have also been some good movies made or adapted from works. The best I've seen include Misery, the Shawshank Redemption (many don't know that was adapted from a novella entitled "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" in the book Different Seasons), The Shining (the original with Jack, of course, which, I'll add, Stephen King himself hated, which is why he inexcusably cast Steven Weber from Wings fame in his remake that I refused to see), the Green Mile and Stand By Me (also adapted from a novella found in Different Seasons entitled The Body). And, at 16 my cousin and I had to bribe some guy to buy us tickets to see Christine. Then there's Carrie which may be the one most likely to scare the bejeesus out of you or make you giggle watching John Travolta--take your pick.
My favorites, in no particular order, include: The Stand, It, Dark Tower novels (1-5 only; 6 and 7, not so much), The Talisman, Night Shift (short story collection), Different Seasons (four novellas) and On Writing.
Others that I greatly enjoyed though wouldn't rank among the "best": Misery, Christine, Duma Key, Dead Zone, Firestarter and Pet Sematery.
Those not on the top of the list: Dark Tower novels 6 and 7 (Song of Susannah and The Dark Tower), Cell and Thinner.
That's obviously not all that I've read. There are a few of the early classics that I haven't read--The Shining and Carrie among them. Nowadays, I read all that come out (like Under the Dome which is in progress) and pick up an oldie but goodie once or twice a year (last year I read The Dead Zone and Desperation).
OK, if this all sounds a little maniacal to you, I don't apologize. Those of you who know me know that my sense of humor is a little twisted, so the whole Stephen King thing likely doesn't surprise you.
If King's not your tastes, no problem. If you have dismissed him out of hand, though, as crap without trying, I suggest at least sampling something. You can dip your toe in the water and read a story or two from Night Shift, Just After Sunset or Skeleton Crew (the story The Mist, from which the movie was adapted, was in Skeleton Crew). You could avoid a horror novel and read one of his adventure novels like The Talisman or the first book or two of the Dark Tower series. You could read a suspenseful book like Misery. Or, you could jump in with both feet and read The Stand or It.
I WILL finish Under the Dome by the end of Thanksgiving weekend (I keep repeating that to myself). Because, you know, a good book is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Most people who try to defend Stephen King--say that he's a better writer than he's given credit for, say that his ability to "spin a yarn" is superior--aren't really defending Stephen King. They are defending the fact that THEY LIKE reading Stephen King. I don't feel the need for any such defense. I enjoy his books, and I'm proud to say so--even if you think less of my tastes as a result.
There are definitely best, better and okay Stephen King books. I haven't read all of them. And I'm not one of those crazy fans who has not only read everything he writes but also has a cupboard full of old VHS copies of items including The Stand miniseries and Kingdom Hospital series. I've read about 30 of his novels, short story collections and non-fiction books.
There have also been some good movies made or adapted from works. The best I've seen include Misery, the Shawshank Redemption (many don't know that was adapted from a novella entitled "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" in the book Different Seasons), The Shining (the original with Jack, of course, which, I'll add, Stephen King himself hated, which is why he inexcusably cast Steven Weber from Wings fame in his remake that I refused to see), the Green Mile and Stand By Me (also adapted from a novella found in Different Seasons entitled The Body). And, at 16 my cousin and I had to bribe some guy to buy us tickets to see Christine. Then there's Carrie which may be the one most likely to scare the bejeesus out of you or make you giggle watching John Travolta--take your pick.
My favorites, in no particular order, include: The Stand, It, Dark Tower novels (1-5 only; 6 and 7, not so much), The Talisman, Night Shift (short story collection), Different Seasons (four novellas) and On Writing.
Others that I greatly enjoyed though wouldn't rank among the "best": Misery, Christine, Duma Key, Dead Zone, Firestarter and Pet Sematery.
Those not on the top of the list: Dark Tower novels 6 and 7 (Song of Susannah and The Dark Tower), Cell and Thinner.
That's obviously not all that I've read. There are a few of the early classics that I haven't read--The Shining and Carrie among them. Nowadays, I read all that come out (like Under the Dome which is in progress) and pick up an oldie but goodie once or twice a year (last year I read The Dead Zone and Desperation).
OK, if this all sounds a little maniacal to you, I don't apologize. Those of you who know me know that my sense of humor is a little twisted, so the whole Stephen King thing likely doesn't surprise you.
If King's not your tastes, no problem. If you have dismissed him out of hand, though, as crap without trying, I suggest at least sampling something. You can dip your toe in the water and read a story or two from Night Shift, Just After Sunset or Skeleton Crew (the story The Mist, from which the movie was adapted, was in Skeleton Crew). You could avoid a horror novel and read one of his adventure novels like The Talisman or the first book or two of the Dark Tower series. You could read a suspenseful book like Misery. Or, you could jump in with both feet and read The Stand or It.
I WILL finish Under the Dome by the end of Thanksgiving weekend (I keep repeating that to myself). Because, you know, a good book is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Vacation Books
Books for vacations always present a particular quandary for me.
It used to be that I'd never bring enough books. I'd bring the book I was reading plus one more. Then, two thirds of the way into the vacation, I'd be without a book. Me, on vacation, without a book to read is a nervous me.
I also used to "save" books for vacation. I remember the "Beach Music" vacation up east during the summer of 1995. Going back even farther, I remember "The Aquitaine Progression" (Robert Ludlum will be the subject of a future post) vacation in Aruba in 1984.
Traveling with kids (and the inordinate amount of "stuff" that accompanies this), coupled with recent checked baggage weight restrictions, put a crimp in my desire to bring hardback books on vacation. And, as I've blogged before, I have not yet embraced an e-reader which is, of course, the perfect vacation book companion (as long as you don't get it wet or sandy).
So, for the last several trips, I've scoured the house for paperbacks that I haven't yet read. Or, I've gone to paperbackswap.com and obtained paperbacks "on my list." The last couple of vacations, I've actually brought more than I could read. (I've recently loaded up on paperbackswap.com recommendations from others which I have not yet read)
We are taking a family vacation a warm weather climate at the end of December. I'm already strategizing over (1) what books to take and (2) how to space my reading list.
I'm 200 pages in to Under the Dome, and it's fast reading. My post on that book will be more expansive than a normal book post because I will couple the post with a general Stephen King post (I can't call Stephen King a man crush of mine because the dude is so freaky looking, but I wouldn't mind hanging with him). My goal of reading Anathem (Check!), Superfreakomics (Check!), possibly sneaking another in (Game Six-Check!) and Under the Dome by Thanksgiving is actually on course. I plan to make this goal (though by "Thanksgiving" I may mean "Thanksgiving weekend").
The next books on my list are non-fiction books which are en route. The first is "When the Game Was Ours" about Bird and Magic; the second is "Last Words" about George Carlin (aka the best stand up comic in history not named Richard Pryor).
Anyway, as I scour the house for my upcoming vacation books, I may blog for additional advice.
Remember, reading a book is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
It used to be that I'd never bring enough books. I'd bring the book I was reading plus one more. Then, two thirds of the way into the vacation, I'd be without a book. Me, on vacation, without a book to read is a nervous me.
I also used to "save" books for vacation. I remember the "Beach Music" vacation up east during the summer of 1995. Going back even farther, I remember "The Aquitaine Progression" (Robert Ludlum will be the subject of a future post) vacation in Aruba in 1984.
Traveling with kids (and the inordinate amount of "stuff" that accompanies this), coupled with recent checked baggage weight restrictions, put a crimp in my desire to bring hardback books on vacation. And, as I've blogged before, I have not yet embraced an e-reader which is, of course, the perfect vacation book companion (as long as you don't get it wet or sandy).
So, for the last several trips, I've scoured the house for paperbacks that I haven't yet read. Or, I've gone to paperbackswap.com and obtained paperbacks "on my list." The last couple of vacations, I've actually brought more than I could read. (I've recently loaded up on paperbackswap.com recommendations from others which I have not yet read)
We are taking a family vacation a warm weather climate at the end of December. I'm already strategizing over (1) what books to take and (2) how to space my reading list.
I'm 200 pages in to Under the Dome, and it's fast reading. My post on that book will be more expansive than a normal book post because I will couple the post with a general Stephen King post (I can't call Stephen King a man crush of mine because the dude is so freaky looking, but I wouldn't mind hanging with him). My goal of reading Anathem (Check!), Superfreakomics (Check!), possibly sneaking another in (Game Six-Check!) and Under the Dome by Thanksgiving is actually on course. I plan to make this goal (though by "Thanksgiving" I may mean "Thanksgiving weekend").
The next books on my list are non-fiction books which are en route. The first is "When the Game Was Ours" about Bird and Magic; the second is "Last Words" about George Carlin (aka the best stand up comic in history not named Richard Pryor).
Anyway, as I scour the house for my upcoming vacation books, I may blog for additional advice.
Remember, reading a book is better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Game Six by Mark Frost - B+++
Now THAT'S a baseball book.
After the disappointment that was The Machine, I was wary of Game Six. Why did I read The Machine before Game Six? I assumed that The Machine was about my Reds (and was written by a former Reds beat writer) and that Game Six was written more about the Red Sox (having won Game Six--if I spoiled the ending, this is not the book for you). Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Listen, I've been reading books on The Big Red Machine since 1975. Even my wife said to me, "Haven't you read enough about that?"
I gave Game Six a B+++ because I'm never going to get a non-baseball fan to read it. But if you're a baseball fan, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Frost packs an incredible amount of history into this book, along with a pitch-by-pitch account of game six of the 1975 World Series. He discusses the origin of baseball, the world series and the current American and National leagues; labor strife; the advent of free agency; mini-biographies of all of the major and minor players involved in Game Six (Luis Tiant gets much deserved attention); mini-bios of the two managers, Sparky Anderson and Darrell Johnson; and much more (how about how Dick Stockton met his wife, Leslie Visser?).
In addition, Frost shies away from dwelling on some of the more provocative story lines taking place after 1975--like Pete Rose's banishment from baseball. Like all of the other significant players, Pete's post-1975 life is chronicled (his 44 game hit streak in 1978, becoming the hit king and, yes, his gambling and banishment), but Frost doesn't make Pete's future "the story."
And, if you ever asked yourself the question, "Hey, whatever happened to Pat Darcy?"--the answer is here.
Again, I strongly recommend this book to any baseball fan--young or old, Reds fan, Red Sox fan, fan of neither team.
It may be a couple of weeks before I finish my next book, "Under the Dome." I started it last night after finishing Game Six, but it is almost 1,100 pages. I'll find some filler to blog this week.
A good book is better than a stick in the eye.
After the disappointment that was The Machine, I was wary of Game Six. Why did I read The Machine before Game Six? I assumed that The Machine was about my Reds (and was written by a former Reds beat writer) and that Game Six was written more about the Red Sox (having won Game Six--if I spoiled the ending, this is not the book for you). Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Listen, I've been reading books on The Big Red Machine since 1975. Even my wife said to me, "Haven't you read enough about that?"
I gave Game Six a B+++ because I'm never going to get a non-baseball fan to read it. But if you're a baseball fan, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Frost packs an incredible amount of history into this book, along with a pitch-by-pitch account of game six of the 1975 World Series. He discusses the origin of baseball, the world series and the current American and National leagues; labor strife; the advent of free agency; mini-biographies of all of the major and minor players involved in Game Six (Luis Tiant gets much deserved attention); mini-bios of the two managers, Sparky Anderson and Darrell Johnson; and much more (how about how Dick Stockton met his wife, Leslie Visser?).
In addition, Frost shies away from dwelling on some of the more provocative story lines taking place after 1975--like Pete Rose's banishment from baseball. Like all of the other significant players, Pete's post-1975 life is chronicled (his 44 game hit streak in 1978, becoming the hit king and, yes, his gambling and banishment), but Frost doesn't make Pete's future "the story."
And, if you ever asked yourself the question, "Hey, whatever happened to Pat Darcy?"--the answer is here.
Again, I strongly recommend this book to any baseball fan--young or old, Reds fan, Red Sox fan, fan of neither team.
It may be a couple of weeks before I finish my next book, "Under the Dome." I started it last night after finishing Game Six, but it is almost 1,100 pages. I'll find some filler to blog this week.
A good book is better than a stick in the eye.
Monday, November 9, 2009
I Lied
So, per my post yesterday, I was going to "take a reading break" until Stephen King's latest magnum opus, Under the Dome, arrived in my hot little hands. I had planned on resting my weary head for a few days before starting Under the Dome.
I must have an illness. I knew I had one illness. Well, two. I know that I have Diet Cokeitis and Bad Jokeitis (interesting that "coke" and "joke" rhyme, but I digress). I have learned that I also have needtoreadabookitis.
You may recall that I read "The Machine" about the 1975 Reds a few weeks ago. I was disappointed because there was absolutely nothing new to me in the book.
As I was getting ready to watch some of the Dallas-Philly football game last night, I spied "Game Six" by Mark Frost on my nightstand which I has purposefully NOT READ after The Machine. I decided to take it for a short spin.
I learned more about Sparky Anderson in the Introduction than I learned from The Machine in its entirety. I didn't realize that Sparky's mentor was a legendary USC Trojans baseball coach. I found that, and the story behind it, very interesting.
Now, the hard part. Getting through Game Six before Under the Dome arrives.
RIF
I must have an illness. I knew I had one illness. Well, two. I know that I have Diet Cokeitis and Bad Jokeitis (interesting that "coke" and "joke" rhyme, but I digress). I have learned that I also have needtoreadabookitis.
You may recall that I read "The Machine" about the 1975 Reds a few weeks ago. I was disappointed because there was absolutely nothing new to me in the book.
As I was getting ready to watch some of the Dallas-Philly football game last night, I spied "Game Six" by Mark Frost on my nightstand which I has purposefully NOT READ after The Machine. I decided to take it for a short spin.
I learned more about Sparky Anderson in the Introduction than I learned from The Machine in its entirety. I didn't realize that Sparky's mentor was a legendary USC Trojans baseball coach. I found that, and the story behind it, very interesting.
Now, the hard part. Getting through Game Six before Under the Dome arrives.
RIF
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Superfreakonimics - C-
Sorry that this post is a couple of days late. While I finished Superfreakonomics on Friday, I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan with my No. 1 (and only) son for the weekend. The game was no good, but I'll digress with a few non-book blog tidbits from the weekend.
1. I was heartened that Max got to see the average UM fan who is far more intense than I am. Sherri had led him to believe that I was abnormal (about this in particular).
2. College kids don't really change--just their toys do. Lots of cellphones. Lots of sex and drinking talk in line at Blimpy Burgers from the four kids in front of us. Fortunately, it went over Max's head.
3. Along the lines of No. 2, weird sights from the weekend include a nose ring--ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE NOSE HORIZONTALLY--and (it must have been a pledge) a kid in a teletubby costume carrying another kid on his back with the rider slapping the teletubby guy like a horse.
On to Superfreakonomics. I was disappointed. It was more of the same from Freakonomics with subjects that just weren't as compelling--though this might be because it was more of the same.
I was turned off early in the book. In the introduction, the authors discussed drunk driving. There were stats about the total number of miles driven annually in the US and the percentage of miles driven drunk.
Then, the authors presented the number of miles walked each year and ASSUMED that the percentage of drunk miles walked to total miles walked was identical to drunk miles driven to total miles driven. Based on this, the authors made a conclusion about the relative safety of walking. vs. driving drunk.
On the one hand, let's not take this too seriously. The whole point of the Freakonomics books is to confirm conventional wisdom or turn conventional wisdom on its head. To make you think. On the other hand, this type of "analysis" is not exactly compelling.
In this entry, Levitt and Dubner take on global warming, prostitution, the effect of tv on crime and other topics.
The book is a very quick read--only about 220 pages from start to endnotes. If you loved Freakonomics, you will enjoy Superfreakonomics. Just make sure you read the original first.
I'm taking a very short break. My copy of Under the Dome arrives later this week. I am not going to pick up a book in the interim, and this will be the first time in almost two years that I will be between books for more than a day.
RIF
1. I was heartened that Max got to see the average UM fan who is far more intense than I am. Sherri had led him to believe that I was abnormal (about this in particular).
2. College kids don't really change--just their toys do. Lots of cellphones. Lots of sex and drinking talk in line at Blimpy Burgers from the four kids in front of us. Fortunately, it went over Max's head.
3. Along the lines of No. 2, weird sights from the weekend include a nose ring--ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE NOSE HORIZONTALLY--and (it must have been a pledge) a kid in a teletubby costume carrying another kid on his back with the rider slapping the teletubby guy like a horse.
On to Superfreakonomics. I was disappointed. It was more of the same from Freakonomics with subjects that just weren't as compelling--though this might be because it was more of the same.
I was turned off early in the book. In the introduction, the authors discussed drunk driving. There were stats about the total number of miles driven annually in the US and the percentage of miles driven drunk.
Then, the authors presented the number of miles walked each year and ASSUMED that the percentage of drunk miles walked to total miles walked was identical to drunk miles driven to total miles driven. Based on this, the authors made a conclusion about the relative safety of walking. vs. driving drunk.
On the one hand, let's not take this too seriously. The whole point of the Freakonomics books is to confirm conventional wisdom or turn conventional wisdom on its head. To make you think. On the other hand, this type of "analysis" is not exactly compelling.
In this entry, Levitt and Dubner take on global warming, prostitution, the effect of tv on crime and other topics.
The book is a very quick read--only about 220 pages from start to endnotes. If you loved Freakonomics, you will enjoy Superfreakonomics. Just make sure you read the original first.
I'm taking a very short break. My copy of Under the Dome arrives later this week. I am not going to pick up a book in the interim, and this will be the first time in almost two years that I will be between books for more than a day.
RIF
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Amazon's Top 100
I had some dental work done yesterday and wasn't in a mood to troll for such things, but I see that Amazon posted its Top 100 books of 2009 yesterday.
I haven't had a chance to digest the list, yet. I'm cynical about any such list released by anyone with a business interest in the outcome. I'm made more cynical by seeing The Girl Who Played with Fire in the top 10--hey, it was a good read, don't get me wrong. I find it difficult to believe that it was one of the top 10 books of the entire year, though.
Thoughts?
RIF
I haven't had a chance to digest the list, yet. I'm cynical about any such list released by anyone with a business interest in the outcome. I'm made more cynical by seeing The Girl Who Played with Fire in the top 10--hey, it was a good read, don't get me wrong. I find it difficult to believe that it was one of the top 10 books of the entire year, though.
Thoughts?
RIF
Monday, November 2, 2009
Anathem by Neal Stephenson - B-
Yesterday, I finally finished Anathem by Neal Stephenson, our first Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Selection. I know of no one else reading the first VBC selection as the one person who was reading it put it down about 120 pages in. We'll try again in a couple of months with this so-far failed experiment.
I had to look through my recommendation system to arrive at a B- for this book. I couldn't give it anything in the A range because it's science fiction, and a recommendation in the A range necessarily means that "if you're a reader, you should enjoy." As I told my mother, who is a huge reader, yesterday--"you'd hate it." And she would. She hates science fiction, and the whole premise of this particular novel would turn her off. Since I can't not recommend this excellent, dense, thought-provoking book, anything below a B- would be inappropriate.
Why a B- and not a B or B+? Only because this novel is work. You're not going to start and finish this book effortlesslessly, and I didn't want to imply that the novel was for everyone who likes science fiction. Ergo, B-.
I call this a "you get out of it what you put into it" novel. You cannot read Anathem solely for the story (which is a good one). There are countless themes here. I could have spent three times as long as I did reading this novel and still missed a bunch. I could have taken notes. I could have had my trusty highlighter on me at all times (though given that I borrowed the book from the library--as always, with apologies to the publisher and author--the highlighting thing would have been particularly bad form).
I did have two bookmarks for this book. One for my place in the book and one for the first page of the glossary at the back. You're going to need that glossary at times.
Anyway, here's a general synopsis (those of you who have read Anathem know why providing a synopsis is particularly difficult here), and feel free to jump to the New York Times review if you want more background.
One of our few blog readers, Josh, who was responsible for the recommendation that I read Anathem, commented on Anathem earlier on the blog, and I couldn't have said it better myself (so I'll let him say it):
"Anathem can be read on two levels: as a SciFi story set on an alternate world, or as a brilliant metaphor for the history of philosophy (from the Greeks to modern times). But if you read it for the former, which by itself is a good story though plot and character development isn't what you read Stephenson for, you can't help but pick up on most of the points of the latter because the book is so rich."
Again, you get out of Anathem what you put into it, and starting the novel is making a big commitment on your part--a big time commitment and a big brainpower commitment. If you want a light, quick or effortless read, this isn't the book for you. If you want to be challenged and tested, I highly recommend Anathem. I finished it last night, and my head still hurts.
Superfreakonomics is next, and I expect to complete it by the weekend. I know some of you out there are reading it or have read it.
RIF.
I had to look through my recommendation system to arrive at a B- for this book. I couldn't give it anything in the A range because it's science fiction, and a recommendation in the A range necessarily means that "if you're a reader, you should enjoy." As I told my mother, who is a huge reader, yesterday--"you'd hate it." And she would. She hates science fiction, and the whole premise of this particular novel would turn her off. Since I can't not recommend this excellent, dense, thought-provoking book, anything below a B- would be inappropriate.
Why a B- and not a B or B+? Only because this novel is work. You're not going to start and finish this book effortlesslessly, and I didn't want to imply that the novel was for everyone who likes science fiction. Ergo, B-.
I call this a "you get out of it what you put into it" novel. You cannot read Anathem solely for the story (which is a good one). There are countless themes here. I could have spent three times as long as I did reading this novel and still missed a bunch. I could have taken notes. I could have had my trusty highlighter on me at all times (though given that I borrowed the book from the library--as always, with apologies to the publisher and author--the highlighting thing would have been particularly bad form).
I did have two bookmarks for this book. One for my place in the book and one for the first page of the glossary at the back. You're going to need that glossary at times.
Anyway, here's a general synopsis (those of you who have read Anathem know why providing a synopsis is particularly difficult here), and feel free to jump to the New York Times review if you want more background.
One of our few blog readers, Josh, who was responsible for the recommendation that I read Anathem, commented on Anathem earlier on the blog, and I couldn't have said it better myself (so I'll let him say it):
"Anathem can be read on two levels: as a SciFi story set on an alternate world, or as a brilliant metaphor for the history of philosophy (from the Greeks to modern times). But if you read it for the former, which by itself is a good story though plot and character development isn't what you read Stephenson for, you can't help but pick up on most of the points of the latter because the book is so rich."
Again, you get out of Anathem what you put into it, and starting the novel is making a big commitment on your part--a big time commitment and a big brainpower commitment. If you want a light, quick or effortless read, this isn't the book for you. If you want to be challenged and tested, I highly recommend Anathem. I finished it last night, and my head still hurts.
Superfreakonomics is next, and I expect to complete it by the weekend. I know some of you out there are reading it or have read it.
RIF.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
More Bests of 2009
As we enter the last 60 days of the 2000 decade (was the Year 2000 hubbub actually 10+ years ago?), we also enter the last 60 days of 2009. And lists of the "best books" of 2009 will not be far behind.
I blogged on the Man Booker Award Winner, Wolf Hall, recently.
Here's Publisher's Weekly's Top 10 books of 2009. I have only read one of them--The Lost City of Z. I enjoyed the book--I'd give it a solid B. I must have liked it because I read it on my now long gone Kindle.
I blogged on the Man Booker Award Winner, Wolf Hall, recently.
Here's Publisher's Weekly's Top 10 books of 2009. I have only read one of them--The Lost City of Z. I enjoyed the book--I'd give it a solid B. I must have liked it because I read it on my now long gone Kindle.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
"Open: An Autobiography" by Andre Agassi
First of all, I didn't read this book. I only read an excerpt in Sports Illustrated.
Second, I warn anybody who read past my first sentence that this post may be more of a sports blog than a book blog.
Why am I bogging on it then? I was inspired. And I was looking for blog filler. And I did read that excerpt.
Agassi grew up playing tennis. He went to Nick Bollettier's tennis academy as a kid. Like a lot of those kids, when he emerged as a pro he was a bit of a punk. As a player, he had some success in tournaments and would disappear in others.
At some point during his career, though, Andre Agassi transformed himself from resident tennis "punk" to elder statesman. It seemingly happened overnight. I trace it back to when he shed his formerly-trademark locks. All of a sudden, the guy was an adult. He had matured. Or at least that's how his public persona evolved.
For most of his career, he single-handedly made American tennis relevant. When I was a kid, American tennis was always relevant. Players like Connors, Evert and McEnroe made it relevant. Sure, the end of Agassi's career coincided with the end of the career of arguably the best tennis player of all time--Pete Sampras, another American. Because Sampras' public persona was very different than Agassi's--Sampras was basically an automaton who showed little or no emotion on the court--Agassi was the soul of American tennis.
American tennis hasn't been relevant since Agassi's retirement.
That brings me to "Open." Does the world need an autobiography on Agassi? Personally, I think not. And some of you have undoubtedly read portions of the book that have been released. Did we really need another overbearing father book? Really? Did we really need an "I took [insert drug name here--crystal meth in Agassi's case] but escaped punishment because I was a celebrity and never had to take responsibility for my actions" book? Again, I think not.
Listen, maybe the book was cathartic for Agassi to write. If this is the case, he can be forgiven. I hope he didn't write the book to make a buck or because he was tired of being "irrelevant" or because he wanted forgiveness for his transgressions.
No matter his motivation, do you really think there's anything here that we haven't seen or heard before? Lest you not be confused, I do not mean to trivialize Agassi's life, his upbringing, his challenges in life. I have no doubt that his life stories are authentic. But his audience can't identify with the typical overbearing father, drug experimentation and life difficulties of a famous wealthy world class athlete. So the only reason to read the book is to watch a train wreck, and there are better train wrecks to watch. Save your $$ and google "Open Andre Agassi" about a week from now, and you'll get all you need out of the book in about 15 minutes.
RIF
Second, I warn anybody who read past my first sentence that this post may be more of a sports blog than a book blog.
Why am I bogging on it then? I was inspired. And I was looking for blog filler. And I did read that excerpt.
Agassi grew up playing tennis. He went to Nick Bollettier's tennis academy as a kid. Like a lot of those kids, when he emerged as a pro he was a bit of a punk. As a player, he had some success in tournaments and would disappear in others.
At some point during his career, though, Andre Agassi transformed himself from resident tennis "punk" to elder statesman. It seemingly happened overnight. I trace it back to when he shed his formerly-trademark locks. All of a sudden, the guy was an adult. He had matured. Or at least that's how his public persona evolved.
For most of his career, he single-handedly made American tennis relevant. When I was a kid, American tennis was always relevant. Players like Connors, Evert and McEnroe made it relevant. Sure, the end of Agassi's career coincided with the end of the career of arguably the best tennis player of all time--Pete Sampras, another American. Because Sampras' public persona was very different than Agassi's--Sampras was basically an automaton who showed little or no emotion on the court--Agassi was the soul of American tennis.
American tennis hasn't been relevant since Agassi's retirement.
That brings me to "Open." Does the world need an autobiography on Agassi? Personally, I think not. And some of you have undoubtedly read portions of the book that have been released. Did we really need another overbearing father book? Really? Did we really need an "I took [insert drug name here--crystal meth in Agassi's case] but escaped punishment because I was a celebrity and never had to take responsibility for my actions" book? Again, I think not.
Listen, maybe the book was cathartic for Agassi to write. If this is the case, he can be forgiven. I hope he didn't write the book to make a buck or because he was tired of being "irrelevant" or because he wanted forgiveness for his transgressions.
No matter his motivation, do you really think there's anything here that we haven't seen or heard before? Lest you not be confused, I do not mean to trivialize Agassi's life, his upbringing, his challenges in life. I have no doubt that his life stories are authentic. But his audience can't identify with the typical overbearing father, drug experimentation and life difficulties of a famous wealthy world class athlete. So the only reason to read the book is to watch a train wreck, and there are better train wrecks to watch. Save your $$ and google "Open Andre Agassi" about a week from now, and you'll get all you need out of the book in about 15 minutes.
RIF
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Mission Somewhat Accomplished
Reason No. 3 for this blog (You can find it RIGHT ON THE BLOG. Yes, it's here. Look on the right side. About halfway down the page. Yeah, that's it.)
"3. I, too, want book recommendations from those I trust (so I may or may not read your recommendation). From this blog, you can see what I've liked--you may not like my taste, may never come back to the blog--that's ok. If, though, you like some or all of what I like, tell me. And, more importantly, tell me what else I'd like!"
I have read two (almost three) books that I wouldn't have read if not for the blog:
1. Blindness by Jose Saramago.
2. American Pastoral by Philip Roth (like I said, I had never finished it. . .)
3. (70% through) Anathem by Neal Stephenson.
All have been (or are) great reads. So, MISSION SOMEWHAT ACCOMPLISHED, right?
I suppose. I'm not sure if anybody has read or not read a book after seeing it on the blog.
I did want to provide a compendium of books/authors that/who have been recommended by others--either on this site or via email or other medium--to me. Some I've read, some not, as indicated:
In no particular order
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (haven't read it; always want to make his last name "Gladstone" like he's a Flintstones character; haven't read The Tipping Point either; both on my long list)
Blind Side by Michael Lewis (outstanding)
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (OK, so Dave Eggers also did the script for the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" and recently published a novel entitled "The Wild Things." [Interlude:
Well, on the old set you could slide the men up and down the ice, and now all they do is spin around. It was more like real hockey the old way. Why did they change it?] A virtual Diet Coke to she/he who first identifies the movie)
Other Novels by Jose Saramago
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Ghostwritten (and others) by David Mitchell
Keep up the good work and, remember, RIF
"3. I, too, want book recommendations from those I trust (so I may or may not read your recommendation). From this blog, you can see what I've liked--you may not like my taste, may never come back to the blog--that's ok. If, though, you like some or all of what I like, tell me. And, more importantly, tell me what else I'd like!"
I have read two (almost three) books that I wouldn't have read if not for the blog:
1. Blindness by Jose Saramago.
2. American Pastoral by Philip Roth (like I said, I had never finished it. . .)
3. (70% through) Anathem by Neal Stephenson.
All have been (or are) great reads. So, MISSION SOMEWHAT ACCOMPLISHED, right?
I suppose. I'm not sure if anybody has read or not read a book after seeing it on the blog.
I did want to provide a compendium of books/authors that/who have been recommended by others--either on this site or via email or other medium--to me. Some I've read, some not, as indicated:
In no particular order
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (haven't read it; always want to make his last name "Gladstone" like he's a Flintstones character; haven't read The Tipping Point either; both on my long list)
Blind Side by Michael Lewis (outstanding)
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (OK, so Dave Eggers also did the script for the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" and recently published a novel entitled "The Wild Things." [Interlude:
Well, on the old set you could slide the men up and down the ice, and now all they do is spin around. It was more like real hockey the old way. Why did they change it?] A virtual Diet Coke to she/he who first identifies the movie)
Other Novels by Jose Saramago
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Ghostwritten (and others) by David Mitchell
Keep up the good work and, remember, RIF
Monday, October 26, 2009
Long Overdue Post
The obvious flaw in a blog such as this is that I can only read so much and so fast. Consequently, when I'm in the middle of a long novel like Anathem, I'm going to struggle for material without some input from my terrific reader(s).
I am 60% through Anathem. I am hoping (fingers crossed) to be finished by the end of next weekend. Then, I will have time to breeze through Superfreakonomics before Under the Dome arrives. I might even be able to sneak a second (short) book in.
Another problem with reading a long book for big readers is backlog. My nightstand runneth over--which puts my wonderful wife over the edge. Sure, some of my book purchases stay in the trunk of my car (until I have to empty my trunk to go to Costco--let's just say that some books "magically appeared" yesterday). I hide away other books in other parts of the house. For the most part, I remember where I put them. Every once in a while, though, I see one and say, "Oh, I was wondering where that was."
And, the problem with backlog, is that some books get lost in the shuffle. I forget exactly what motivated me to buy certain books. Did someone recommend it? Did I see a review in a newspaper? Seriously, sometimes I don't know--just like I don't know how books appear on my Barnes & Noble wish list. Then, when that book makes it to the top of the pile, I'm not as interested in reading it as I must have been when I first acquired it.
Anyway, I know that there's not much real substance here. As promised earlier, I still intend to post a compendium of all book recommendations received to date from blog readers.
Until then, RIF.
I am 60% through Anathem. I am hoping (fingers crossed) to be finished by the end of next weekend. Then, I will have time to breeze through Superfreakonomics before Under the Dome arrives. I might even be able to sneak a second (short) book in.
Another problem with reading a long book for big readers is backlog. My nightstand runneth over--which puts my wonderful wife over the edge. Sure, some of my book purchases stay in the trunk of my car (until I have to empty my trunk to go to Costco--let's just say that some books "magically appeared" yesterday). I hide away other books in other parts of the house. For the most part, I remember where I put them. Every once in a while, though, I see one and say, "Oh, I was wondering where that was."
And, the problem with backlog, is that some books get lost in the shuffle. I forget exactly what motivated me to buy certain books. Did someone recommend it? Did I see a review in a newspaper? Seriously, sometimes I don't know--just like I don't know how books appear on my Barnes & Noble wish list. Then, when that book makes it to the top of the pile, I'm not as interested in reading it as I must have been when I first acquired it.
Anyway, I know that there's not much real substance here. As promised earlier, I still intend to post a compendium of all book recommendations received to date from blog readers.
Until then, RIF.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
E Readers
So, Barnes & Noble officially launched its Nook e-reader yesterday. The Nook is available for pre-order and will begin to ship on November 30. Sony has a couple of E-Readers as well. And, of course, there's the Kindle.
I tried the Kindle (Kindle 1). I wasn't a fan. Here were my three biggest complaints, and I'm not sure whether these complaints are specific to the Kindle 1 or are applicable to all e-readers as I haven't tried any others.
1. I often have a bite-sized window to read a chapter or a portion of a chapter of a book. I like to sit down, page through my book and see, "Can I get to the end of the chapter? Is there a good place to stop if I cannot?" I couldn't do that with the Kindle. Screens obviously don't load anywhere near as quickly as you can flip them in a physical book.
2. I have no conception of "pages" on the Kindle 1. Even if I could easily figure out how many "screens" there are until the end of a chapter, I have no conception of what that means. I have around 35 years of reading experience and have come to understand the concept of, "Honey, I'll turn off the light soon--I have five pages until the end of the chapter." I know, based on the book, how long that's going to take. "Honey, I'll turn off the light soon--let me see--counting screens--still counting [See 1 above]--OK, I have 22 screens" just isn't helpful.
3. I like paging back. Sometimes, I want to remember a character's name or a reference from earlier in a book. I can generally picture in my mind approximately where in the book I need to look and where the reference appeared on a page. On the Kindle 1, I could bookmark a page, but usually I don't know that I am going to want to go back there until much later. And, as the Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club book is Anathem, complete with a glossary beginning on page 890, it's nice to be able to easily flip to and fro without having to press a bunch of numbers.
My other problem with e-readers in general is that I cannot figure out what books, magazines and newspapers I can get on what e-readers. Each manufacturer says something different about what's available. I am assuming (though do not know for sure) that items like best selling books are available on all e-readers.
If anyone can enlighten me here, please comment. I have met many Kindle lovers who have few, if any, complaints--all of which are outweighed by the convenience of the Kindle.
Remember, Reading is Fundamental. I know that because that's what they used to say on Saturday mornings.
I tried the Kindle (Kindle 1). I wasn't a fan. Here were my three biggest complaints, and I'm not sure whether these complaints are specific to the Kindle 1 or are applicable to all e-readers as I haven't tried any others.
1. I often have a bite-sized window to read a chapter or a portion of a chapter of a book. I like to sit down, page through my book and see, "Can I get to the end of the chapter? Is there a good place to stop if I cannot?" I couldn't do that with the Kindle. Screens obviously don't load anywhere near as quickly as you can flip them in a physical book.
2. I have no conception of "pages" on the Kindle 1. Even if I could easily figure out how many "screens" there are until the end of a chapter, I have no conception of what that means. I have around 35 years of reading experience and have come to understand the concept of, "Honey, I'll turn off the light soon--I have five pages until the end of the chapter." I know, based on the book, how long that's going to take. "Honey, I'll turn off the light soon--let me see--counting screens--still counting [See 1 above]--OK, I have 22 screens" just isn't helpful.
3. I like paging back. Sometimes, I want to remember a character's name or a reference from earlier in a book. I can generally picture in my mind approximately where in the book I need to look and where the reference appeared on a page. On the Kindle 1, I could bookmark a page, but usually I don't know that I am going to want to go back there until much later. And, as the Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club book is Anathem, complete with a glossary beginning on page 890, it's nice to be able to easily flip to and fro without having to press a bunch of numbers.
My other problem with e-readers in general is that I cannot figure out what books, magazines and newspapers I can get on what e-readers. Each manufacturer says something different about what's available. I am assuming (though do not know for sure) that items like best selling books are available on all e-readers.
If anyone can enlighten me here, please comment. I have met many Kindle lovers who have few, if any, complaints--all of which are outweighed by the convenience of the Kindle.
Remember, Reading is Fundamental. I know that because that's what they used to say on Saturday mornings.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Getting Interactive (Well, a Little)
A blog reader (ok, she's my sister and she almost HAS to read the blog because, well, SHE'S MY SISTER!) suggested that I do a "blog review" of books recently discussed on the blog in case somebody wanted to refer back to the posts. I'm going to do that here, and I'm also going to list some books that are "on my list."
Readers (to the extent they exist) of this blog know that the first Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club selection, Anathem by Neal Stephenson, is my current read. I crossed the 300 page threshold over the weekend and am picking up steam. This will still take a minimum of another week--more likely closer to two. I WILL BE FINISHED BY THE TIME THAT MY COPY OF UNDER THE DOME ARRIVES!
On to the recap. . .
Recent Blog Posts for Recommended Reads:
Adderall Diaries (September 25)
Zeitoun (September 8)
This is Where I Leave You (August 21)
Shadow of the Wind and Angel's Game (August 13)
Girl Who Played with Fire (August 10)
Recent Blog Posts for Reads that I Couldn't Exactly Recommend:
American Pastoral (October 10; enjoyed the book but felt that I couldn't add anything to the Pulitzer committee stamp of approval)
Blindness (September 19; enjoyed the book but found it a read that would not be enjoyed by all)
Recent Blog Posts for Non-Fiction Reads that Require Special Interests:
The Machine (September 29; if you love the Reds and grew up in the late 80s, read it; if you grew up in the mid-70s or before, there's nothing new here)
Blood in the Cage (August 20; about ultimate fighting)
Joker One (August 19; about a marine platoon in Iraq)
Recent Blog Posts for Reads You Should Skip:
South of Broad (August 29; read only if you've read everything else Pat Conroy has written and can't resist reading his new one.
On my list:
Anybody who has read the blog knows that after Anathem, my next two books are Under the Dome and Superfreakonomics.
While I expect these three books to take me close to Thanksgiving, here are some current books which are on my list, and I'm interested if anyone has read any of them:
Wolf Hall - I've said before that historical fiction isn't my thing, but this looks enticing to me. The book just on The Man Booker Prize as well, but I have to tell you, I don't know what the hell The Man Booker Prize is exactly.
Here are the 2009 National Book Award finalists. Of these, Far North interests me the most. Far North is apparently compared to The Road, and I've referred to The Road and two other post-apocalyptic novels--The Stand by Stephen King and Swan Song by Robert McCammon--in prior blog posts. American Salvage looks good, too, but also looks depressing (which is ok). Let the World Spin looks like something I'd like as well. Of the other two, one is apparently a "coming of age" novel and interests me very little without an independent recommendation. The last finalist takes place in feudal times and sounds a little too historical fiction-y for me.
Remember, RIF.
Readers (to the extent they exist) of this blog know that the first Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club selection, Anathem by Neal Stephenson, is my current read. I crossed the 300 page threshold over the weekend and am picking up steam. This will still take a minimum of another week--more likely closer to two. I WILL BE FINISHED BY THE TIME THAT MY COPY OF UNDER THE DOME ARRIVES!
On to the recap. . .
Recent Blog Posts for Recommended Reads:
Adderall Diaries (September 25)
Zeitoun (September 8)
This is Where I Leave You (August 21)
Shadow of the Wind and Angel's Game (August 13)
Girl Who Played with Fire (August 10)
Recent Blog Posts for Reads that I Couldn't Exactly Recommend:
American Pastoral (October 10; enjoyed the book but felt that I couldn't add anything to the Pulitzer committee stamp of approval)
Blindness (September 19; enjoyed the book but found it a read that would not be enjoyed by all)
Recent Blog Posts for Non-Fiction Reads that Require Special Interests:
The Machine (September 29; if you love the Reds and grew up in the late 80s, read it; if you grew up in the mid-70s or before, there's nothing new here)
Blood in the Cage (August 20; about ultimate fighting)
Joker One (August 19; about a marine platoon in Iraq)
Recent Blog Posts for Reads You Should Skip:
South of Broad (August 29; read only if you've read everything else Pat Conroy has written and can't resist reading his new one.
On my list:
Anybody who has read the blog knows that after Anathem, my next two books are Under the Dome and Superfreakonomics.
While I expect these three books to take me close to Thanksgiving, here are some current books which are on my list, and I'm interested if anyone has read any of them:
Wolf Hall - I've said before that historical fiction isn't my thing, but this looks enticing to me. The book just on The Man Booker Prize as well, but I have to tell you, I don't know what the hell The Man Booker Prize is exactly.
Here are the 2009 National Book Award finalists. Of these, Far North interests me the most. Far North is apparently compared to The Road, and I've referred to The Road and two other post-apocalyptic novels--The Stand by Stephen King and Swan Song by Robert McCammon--in prior blog posts. American Salvage looks good, too, but also looks depressing (which is ok). Let the World Spin looks like something I'd like as well. Of the other two, one is apparently a "coming of age" novel and interests me very little without an independent recommendation. The last finalist takes place in feudal times and sounds a little too historical fiction-y for me.
Remember, RIF.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Feeding the Beast; and I Need Some Help!
I wanted to pass on some information regarding the the Amazon/Walmart price war. I'm not sure how long it will (or can) last, but I'd take advantage of it if there's a book (like the new Stephen King book Under the Dome) that is impacted by the war. I just ordered my $35 copy of Under the Dome for $9.54 (free shipping all by itself) from Walmart (Amazon would have charged $3.99 for shipping--it lost the battle). The only pain in the butt was that Walmart would not let me ship the book to my address. I got an error that there was a "state restriction" (whatever that is). Fortunately, Cincinnati is close to the OH/KY border, and one of my most nicest partners who lives in KY was willing to accept the responsibility of receiving the package and bringing it to me. I will pass along more information on this price war as it becomes available.
On another note. . .
I need some post ideas for use when I'm in the middle of a book. Particularly when I'm in the middle of a long book--as I am now.
I am enjoying Anathem; I'm just not making the progress I would like because it is a difficult read. I'm hoping to be able to report that I've made a significant dent in the book by Monday, but I'm not certain.
My initial hope when I set up this blog was that I'd get some post ideas and guest postings from followers and others who read the blog. Of course, since nobody reads the blog, that's proved difficult.
I kind of see myself as the Jodie Foster character from the movie, Contact. Remember Contact? The Jodie Foster character basically spends all day, every day monitoring radio signals trying to find proof of extraterrestrial life. SPOILER ALERT: One day she thinks she finds evidence!
Well, one day I hope to find evidence that somebody is reading this blog. Even if nobody is, I will continue to blog--every couple of days whether I need it or not.
Remember, RIF.
On another note. . .
I need some post ideas for use when I'm in the middle of a book. Particularly when I'm in the middle of a long book--as I am now.
I am enjoying Anathem; I'm just not making the progress I would like because it is a difficult read. I'm hoping to be able to report that I've made a significant dent in the book by Monday, but I'm not certain.
My initial hope when I set up this blog was that I'd get some post ideas and guest postings from followers and others who read the blog. Of course, since nobody reads the blog, that's proved difficult.
I kind of see myself as the Jodie Foster character from the movie, Contact. Remember Contact? The Jodie Foster character basically spends all day, every day monitoring radio signals trying to find proof of extraterrestrial life. SPOILER ALERT: One day she thinks she finds evidence!
Well, one day I hope to find evidence that somebody is reading this blog. Even if nobody is, I will continue to blog--every couple of days whether I need it or not.
Remember, RIF.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Random Musings - And I Mean RANDOM
1. Yesterday, the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book came out. My 9 year old LOVES these books. She initially wanted to pre-order it online, but I knew that her "instant gratification" bent would lead to the following discussion which would have occurred yesterday:
Her: Dad, why isn't the book here?
Me: Honey, it was just RELEASED today so it was sent today. It will be here Thursday.
Her: But my friends already have it.
Me: [With no place to go but an unhelpful "I told you so."] I told you that would happen three weeks ago.
Her: Well, can we go BUY the book today and return the other book on Thursday?
Which is what probably would have happened. So, I successfully fended off her suggestion to pre-order. We went to buy the book yesterday. For some reason I cannot fathom, the Greatest Store on Earth (some of you call it Costco) wasn't carrying the book. Also, my daughter's aunt (my sister in law) had freaked my daughter out that the book would be sold out everywhere (how this could possibly be is beyond me, and how it gets my house riled up is also beyone me). They only had, oh, 75 copies in a display at the front of Barnes & Noble and another, oh, 50 copies in a display right by the check out line.
2. The two members of the Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club started Anathem over the weekend. One of us is 100 pages in. The other is intimidated by the timeline at the front of the book, the glossary at the back and the fact that (and I quote from an email) "There was so much made up language [vs. the Lord of the Rings trilogy] (I also spent too much time on the timeline) that I had little reference for what on earth they were talking about." Dude, they're not on earth; that's part of your problem.
3. While it is confession time (see my previous post), as I may have alluded to in earlier posts, I wasn't as dedicated a reader in high school. Well, that's not entirely true--there were plenty of nights that I was up late reading Pet Sematery (not a favorite) or Christine (a surprisingly excellent book given the ludicrous premise of a haunted or possessed car). But Grapes of Wrath? Not so much. Let's just say that in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 I received holiday cards from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (you know them as the publishers of Cliffs Notes--and despite my intimate knowledge here, I don't know who "Cliff" is).
4. I've blogged about paperbackswap.com, good bookstores, etc. If you want great used book options, the site to use is Alibris.com. Alibris.com is an online marketplace for independent sellers of new and used books, music, and movies. I especially like the site because I often prefer hardcover copies of books (which is a big reason why I am a library consumer for books which have been out a while), and used copies can often be purchased for under $10 (even after paying shipping). Like borrowing from the library, though, make sure that you apologize to Mr. Publisher and Mrs. Author as these books have been bought and paid for--your purchases will not result in any royalties. However, you will be helping some terrific used and rare bookstores throughout the country.
What are you reading? Remember, RIF.
Her: Dad, why isn't the book here?
Me: Honey, it was just RELEASED today so it was sent today. It will be here Thursday.
Her: But my friends already have it.
Me: [With no place to go but an unhelpful "I told you so."] I told you that would happen three weeks ago.
Her: Well, can we go BUY the book today and return the other book on Thursday?
Which is what probably would have happened. So, I successfully fended off her suggestion to pre-order. We went to buy the book yesterday. For some reason I cannot fathom, the Greatest Store on Earth (some of you call it Costco) wasn't carrying the book. Also, my daughter's aunt (my sister in law) had freaked my daughter out that the book would be sold out everywhere (how this could possibly be is beyond me, and how it gets my house riled up is also beyone me). They only had, oh, 75 copies in a display at the front of Barnes & Noble and another, oh, 50 copies in a display right by the check out line.
2. The two members of the Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club started Anathem over the weekend. One of us is 100 pages in. The other is intimidated by the timeline at the front of the book, the glossary at the back and the fact that (and I quote from an email) "There was so much made up language [vs. the Lord of the Rings trilogy] (I also spent too much time on the timeline) that I had little reference for what on earth they were talking about." Dude, they're not on earth; that's part of your problem.
3. While it is confession time (see my previous post), as I may have alluded to in earlier posts, I wasn't as dedicated a reader in high school. Well, that's not entirely true--there were plenty of nights that I was up late reading Pet Sematery (not a favorite) or Christine (a surprisingly excellent book given the ludicrous premise of a haunted or possessed car). But Grapes of Wrath? Not so much. Let's just say that in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 I received holiday cards from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (you know them as the publishers of Cliffs Notes--and despite my intimate knowledge here, I don't know who "Cliff" is).
4. I've blogged about paperbackswap.com, good bookstores, etc. If you want great used book options, the site to use is Alibris.com. Alibris.com is an online marketplace for independent sellers of new and used books, music, and movies. I especially like the site because I often prefer hardcover copies of books (which is a big reason why I am a library consumer for books which have been out a while), and used copies can often be purchased for under $10 (even after paying shipping). Like borrowing from the library, though, make sure that you apologize to Mr. Publisher and Mrs. Author as these books have been bought and paid for--your purchases will not result in any royalties. However, you will be helping some terrific used and rare bookstores throughout the country.
What are you reading? Remember, RIF.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
American Pastoral by Philip Roth
Confession time. Before yesterday, I had never finished American Pastoral. I had started the book at least twice. The paperback version that I own is 423 pages. I thought that, perhaps, I had gotten 100 pages in to the novel in the past. The dog ear on page 194 begged to differ with me.
As I passed page 194, I wondered what had caused me to put the book down so far into it in the past. Many questions arose. Was I bored? Did something happen? Did a new book I really wanted to read come out? Did I take a vacation and plan to go back to the book? Who invented liquid soap and why? (Bonus points for the somewhat obscure movie reference for the last question)
American Pastoral is a dense, rich, excellent read. Many, many themes. The novel traces much of the life of Seymour Levov, the Swede. The Swede was a high school sports legend. A Jew who looked to have the world by the gonads--smart, athletic, heir to a family business, married to a Miss America contestant. As Philip Roth's literary alter ego, Nathan Zuckerman, says, ''Swede Levov's life, for all I knew, had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore just great, right in the American grain. . . I was wrong. Never more mistaken about anyone in my life.''
Swede Levov endures a family tragedy, a parental nightmare. And Roth (well, Zuckerman), imagines a plausible construct before, during and especially after the tragedy which is used as a vehicle to show the cracks in the foundation that could have fortold the tragedy or at least given a glimpse into Swede's world--a world that clearly wasn't what it seemed from the outside. Many themes--capitalism, anti-war, Jewish issues, anti-semitism, interfaith marriage, appearances vs. reality, appearance vs. substance and that's just a start.
I cannot recommend/not recommend a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. American Pastoral won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and again, I do not feel qualified to second guess. Not that I would in this case, as American Pastoral is, again, a great read.
Remember, RIF.
As I passed page 194, I wondered what had caused me to put the book down so far into it in the past. Many questions arose. Was I bored? Did something happen? Did a new book I really wanted to read come out? Did I take a vacation and plan to go back to the book? Who invented liquid soap and why? (Bonus points for the somewhat obscure movie reference for the last question)
American Pastoral is a dense, rich, excellent read. Many, many themes. The novel traces much of the life of Seymour Levov, the Swede. The Swede was a high school sports legend. A Jew who looked to have the world by the gonads--smart, athletic, heir to a family business, married to a Miss America contestant. As Philip Roth's literary alter ego, Nathan Zuckerman, says, ''Swede Levov's life, for all I knew, had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore just great, right in the American grain. . . I was wrong. Never more mistaken about anyone in my life.''
Swede Levov endures a family tragedy, a parental nightmare. And Roth (well, Zuckerman), imagines a plausible construct before, during and especially after the tragedy which is used as a vehicle to show the cracks in the foundation that could have fortold the tragedy or at least given a glimpse into Swede's world--a world that clearly wasn't what it seemed from the outside. Many themes--capitalism, anti-war, Jewish issues, anti-semitism, interfaith marriage, appearances vs. reality, appearance vs. substance and that's just a start.
I cannot recommend/not recommend a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. American Pastoral won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and again, I do not feel qualified to second guess. Not that I would in this case, as American Pastoral is, again, a great read.
Remember, RIF.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Kids Reading - An Interlude
When I was a kid, we didn't have remote controls for the tv's. We kids WERE the remote control!
And when I was a kid, we had the Hardy Boys. I read 50+ of those books. Why? That's pretty much all you had.
Sure, there were other books but nowhere near the selection that kids have today. If your child is a sports nut there are several series of books, for different ages, your child can read. Like horses? Books. And, if your child likes magic and wizards? Books, books and more books.
My kids are pretty big readers, mainly because, when they were younger, we always read to them at night and then transitioned them to reading every night. [We're pretty sly, huh?] Now, it's just part of the routine.
What made me think of posting regarding kids books and reading to your kids? My Anathem-reading buddy reminded me of the following Princess Bride quote as he is reading an abridged version of The Three Muskateers to his 9 year old:
"Has it got any sports in it?
Are you kidding? Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles.
It doesn't sound too bad. I'll try and stay awake.
Oh. Well, thank you very much. It's very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming."
[I read all seven of the Harry Potter books out loud to my son. As a parent experience, that one is going to be tough to beat. We started when he was probably about 7, and we were able to pretty much read them straight through Book 6 (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). We had to wait almost a year for the last book. By then, he could have read them on his own, but we still did it together.]
[Contrast this with my girls who, when they were very young, ALWAYS selected the longest, most boring book to read EVERY night. You couldn't even skip pages because, well, did I mention that WE READ THE SAME BOOK EVERY NIGHT! My son loved Go Dog Go. We read that a bunch, too.]
As far as book recommendations for kids--well, I'm not equipped. They should ask their friends about what they read. And, of course, the teachers know. My oldest daughter LOVES sad books. ["I was reading this book about a little girl, and she got kidnapped, and the kidnapper stole her kidney for his son, and then she got rescued, but her other kidney went bad, and she needed a kidney donor, and it turned out that she got a kidney donor who was the daughter of the kidnapper, and they became great friends, but the kidnapper's daughter died during the kidney transplant, and they she got close to the son who had her first good kidney, and she married him, and they had a little girl but she died in childbirth. Isn't that great?]
I will post about American Pastoral in the next day or two. I will not "recommend" or "not recommend"--I'm not anywhere near worthy second-guessing the Pulitzer people.
Remember, RIF.
And when I was a kid, we had the Hardy Boys. I read 50+ of those books. Why? That's pretty much all you had.
Sure, there were other books but nowhere near the selection that kids have today. If your child is a sports nut there are several series of books, for different ages, your child can read. Like horses? Books. And, if your child likes magic and wizards? Books, books and more books.
My kids are pretty big readers, mainly because, when they were younger, we always read to them at night and then transitioned them to reading every night. [We're pretty sly, huh?] Now, it's just part of the routine.
What made me think of posting regarding kids books and reading to your kids? My Anathem-reading buddy reminded me of the following Princess Bride quote as he is reading an abridged version of The Three Muskateers to his 9 year old:
"Has it got any sports in it?
Are you kidding? Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles.
It doesn't sound too bad. I'll try and stay awake.
Oh. Well, thank you very much. It's very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming."
[I read all seven of the Harry Potter books out loud to my son. As a parent experience, that one is going to be tough to beat. We started when he was probably about 7, and we were able to pretty much read them straight through Book 6 (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). We had to wait almost a year for the last book. By then, he could have read them on his own, but we still did it together.]
[Contrast this with my girls who, when they were very young, ALWAYS selected the longest, most boring book to read EVERY night. You couldn't even skip pages because, well, did I mention that WE READ THE SAME BOOK EVERY NIGHT! My son loved Go Dog Go. We read that a bunch, too.]
As far as book recommendations for kids--well, I'm not equipped. They should ask their friends about what they read. And, of course, the teachers know. My oldest daughter LOVES sad books. ["I was reading this book about a little girl, and she got kidnapped, and the kidnapper stole her kidney for his son, and then she got rescued, but her other kidney went bad, and she needed a kidney donor, and it turned out that she got a kidney donor who was the daughter of the kidnapper, and they became great friends, but the kidnapper's daughter died during the kidney transplant, and they she got close to the son who had her first good kidney, and she married him, and they had a little girl but she died in childbirth. Isn't that great?]
I will post about American Pastoral in the next day or two. I will not "recommend" or "not recommend"--I'm not anywhere near worthy second-guessing the Pulitzer people.
Remember, RIF.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
First Virtual Book Club Selection Announced! And my next three books. . .
Since one (ONE!) person has agreed to read Anathem by Neal Stephenson, the selection of OUR FIRST DANIEL SUAREZ VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB selection (hardcover 960 pages; mass market paperback 1008 pages) was OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED. With, as always, apologies to the publisher, I'm borrowing Anathem from the library.
I'm still reading American Pastoral by Philip Roth and don't expect to finish it until later this week (about 100 pages left--dense book--not much dialogue--great book, too). If it's only two of us reading Anathem, I see no reason to set a reading deadline. If, however, anyone else has interest in joining the VBC and the ensuing expected spirited discussion, let me know. I'd expect that it will take a couple of weeks to get through Anathem.
Two books are on my radar to follow Anathem (I have both on order from BN.com. While I link from this site to Amazon, I generally buy from Barnes & Noble. No real reason other than the fact that I am a Barnes & Noble member and get the member discounts. Plus, I get additional cash back if I buy through my Chase Visa. OK, so I guess there is a real reason. Also, repeat after me: Paying shipping is for suckers. Yes, Super Freakonomics--see below--comes out on October 20 and my copy won't be shipped until November 10 with Under the Dome--see below--because I needed to spend $25 for free shipping. But what of it?)
The first will be released on October 20 and is the follow up to the Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner non-fiction book entitled, "Freakonomics." The sequel is aptly named, Super Freakonomics. Freakonomics discusses apparent mysteries of everyday life and how they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. One of my favorite discussions related to the effect of home sales agents on the market prices for homes. Freakonimics is a recommended read even for those who may not or will not agree with the authors' methodology or analysis. The book is thought provoking, and I expect nothing less from Super Freakonomics.
Meanwhile, on November 10, 2009, shortly after my birthday, Stephen King's upcoming magnum opus Under the Dome will be released. This one is 1080 pages. Even with Super Freakonomics' manageable 288 pages, that's 2,348 pages accounted for. I'm thinking that I'll need until November 30 or so to get through all of that which means upcoming fluff posts if I can't get any new material from readers.
Remember, RIF.
I'm still reading American Pastoral by Philip Roth and don't expect to finish it until later this week (about 100 pages left--dense book--not much dialogue--great book, too). If it's only two of us reading Anathem, I see no reason to set a reading deadline. If, however, anyone else has interest in joining the VBC and the ensuing expected spirited discussion, let me know. I'd expect that it will take a couple of weeks to get through Anathem.
Two books are on my radar to follow Anathem (I have both on order from BN.com. While I link from this site to Amazon, I generally buy from Barnes & Noble. No real reason other than the fact that I am a Barnes & Noble member and get the member discounts. Plus, I get additional cash back if I buy through my Chase Visa. OK, so I guess there is a real reason. Also, repeat after me: Paying shipping is for suckers. Yes, Super Freakonomics--see below--comes out on October 20 and my copy won't be shipped until November 10 with Under the Dome--see below--because I needed to spend $25 for free shipping. But what of it?)
The first will be released on October 20 and is the follow up to the Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner non-fiction book entitled, "Freakonomics." The sequel is aptly named, Super Freakonomics. Freakonomics discusses apparent mysteries of everyday life and how they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. One of my favorite discussions related to the effect of home sales agents on the market prices for homes. Freakonimics is a recommended read even for those who may not or will not agree with the authors' methodology or analysis. The book is thought provoking, and I expect nothing less from Super Freakonomics.
Meanwhile, on November 10, 2009, shortly after my birthday, Stephen King's upcoming magnum opus Under the Dome will be released. This one is 1080 pages. Even with Super Freakonomics' manageable 288 pages, that's 2,348 pages accounted for. I'm thinking that I'll need until November 30 or so to get through all of that which means upcoming fluff posts if I can't get any new material from readers.
Remember, RIF.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Random Musings - Kurt Vonnegut - Update on Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Selection
I don't know what made me think of Kurt Vonnegut recently. It's not like I saw Back to School on cable or anything.
I know that some kids had a tendency to go a little Vonnegut crazy in high school. I didn't go Vonnegut crazy, though I read Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle each twice (Cat's Cradle is by far my favorite). I also loved Breakfast of Champions and read a couple of others that I don't remember as much as I remember these three.
I always enjoyed Vonnegut's sense of humor, I liked his style--a little different. Yes, the Slaughterhouse Five time traveling and the Cat's Cradle sci fi theme were right up my alley as well.
One of my favorite lines from a book comes from Breakfast of Champions where Vonnegut says something like (I remember the gist but not the exact quote), "In 1492, Columbus discovered America notwithstanding the fact that ________ indigenous people had been there for _____________." While not as striking for an adult, the quote proved memorable for a 10th grader.
I will unveil the first Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Selection tomorrow--so if you have any last minute recommendations, let me know. The emails have been flooding in (if you describe zero emails as a flood).
Remember, RIF.
I know that some kids had a tendency to go a little Vonnegut crazy in high school. I didn't go Vonnegut crazy, though I read Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle each twice (Cat's Cradle is by far my favorite). I also loved Breakfast of Champions and read a couple of others that I don't remember as much as I remember these three.
I always enjoyed Vonnegut's sense of humor, I liked his style--a little different. Yes, the Slaughterhouse Five time traveling and the Cat's Cradle sci fi theme were right up my alley as well.
One of my favorite lines from a book comes from Breakfast of Champions where Vonnegut says something like (I remember the gist but not the exact quote), "In 1492, Columbus discovered America notwithstanding the fact that ________ indigenous people had been there for _____________." While not as striking for an adult, the quote proved memorable for a 10th grader.
I will unveil the first Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Selection tomorrow--so if you have any last minute recommendations, let me know. The emails have been flooding in (if you describe zero emails as a flood).
Remember, RIF.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Classics Never Die - Animal Farm
As I'm in the midst of a book that I likely won't finish for a while, I thought it appropriate for another installment of The Classics Never Die.
I was all ready to write this post about Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (an all time favorite of mine that I haven't read in years). I always pair Brave New World with 1984 by George Orwell. And when I think about 1984, I think of Animal Farm. And, then, when I thought of Animal Farm, I thought of one of my all-time favorite lines from any novel, which is discussed below. So, we'll put off Brave New World for a while.
(While there are a bunch of these lists all over the place, here's a link to the Modern Library best 100 novels--as selected by its Board and by its readers. Animal Farm is No. 31 on the Board list and No. 20 on the Readers List. I do have some lists bookmarked, etc. If you have any lists that you could post or send to me, that would be great. I will then do a blog entry listing these. The lists can be fiction, non-fiction or even a particular type of fiction or non-fiction. Here's a sci fi list, for example.)
Back to Animal Farm. I've read this book at least twice though not in many years. There are many levels to the book. Of course, the book is about ANIMALS on a FARM. If that's all you got from the book, stop reading, you missed it.
It's also an allegory for the Communists coming to power in Russia-USSR-Russia. On a third but related level, it's about how power corrupts. I'm sure there are more.
My favorite part of the novel has always been the Animal Farm Constitution and how it "evolves." I had to google it (I didn't do this from memory), but here's the initial Animal Farm Constitution:
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill another animal.
7. All animals are created equal
Now, to refresh your recollection of the story, this Constitution is drafted after the animals "overthrow" the evildoer humans (which consisted of a FARMER and his wife. After all, the story takes place on a FARM). Gradually, of course, the animals in "power" on the ANIMAL FARM begin to eliminate or modify one after another of the items in the Constitution ("No animal shall sleep in a bed WITH SHEETS").
My favorite line from the novel has to do with the modification to Item 7 which, after a while, becomes, "All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal."
I urge you to re-read a favorite classic--especially if you haven't read it in many years--or pick up a new one. It may not be a page turner, and it may not be an especially good read. But it's a classic because it has something to say--something that, I guarantee you, survives to this day even if the book was written long ago--Animal Farm was published in 1945!
Remember, Reading is Fundamental.
I was all ready to write this post about Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (an all time favorite of mine that I haven't read in years). I always pair Brave New World with 1984 by George Orwell. And when I think about 1984, I think of Animal Farm. And, then, when I thought of Animal Farm, I thought of one of my all-time favorite lines from any novel, which is discussed below. So, we'll put off Brave New World for a while.
(While there are a bunch of these lists all over the place, here's a link to the Modern Library best 100 novels--as selected by its Board and by its readers. Animal Farm is No. 31 on the Board list and No. 20 on the Readers List. I do have some lists bookmarked, etc. If you have any lists that you could post or send to me, that would be great. I will then do a blog entry listing these. The lists can be fiction, non-fiction or even a particular type of fiction or non-fiction. Here's a sci fi list, for example.)
Back to Animal Farm. I've read this book at least twice though not in many years. There are many levels to the book. Of course, the book is about ANIMALS on a FARM. If that's all you got from the book, stop reading, you missed it.
It's also an allegory for the Communists coming to power in Russia-USSR-Russia. On a third but related level, it's about how power corrupts. I'm sure there are more.
My favorite part of the novel has always been the Animal Farm Constitution and how it "evolves." I had to google it (I didn't do this from memory), but here's the initial Animal Farm Constitution:
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill another animal.
7. All animals are created equal
Now, to refresh your recollection of the story, this Constitution is drafted after the animals "overthrow" the evildoer humans (which consisted of a FARMER and his wife. After all, the story takes place on a FARM). Gradually, of course, the animals in "power" on the ANIMAL FARM begin to eliminate or modify one after another of the items in the Constitution ("No animal shall sleep in a bed WITH SHEETS").
My favorite line from the novel has to do with the modification to Item 7 which, after a while, becomes, "All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal."
I urge you to re-read a favorite classic--especially if you haven't read it in many years--or pick up a new one. It may not be a page turner, and it may not be an especially good read. But it's a classic because it has something to say--something that, I guarantee you, survives to this day even if the book was written long ago--Animal Farm was published in 1945!
Remember, Reading is Fundamental.
Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Suggestions
As expected, the volume of suggestions for the VBC (Virtual Book Club) was underwhelming. (Actually, can it be both "expected" and "underwhelming"? I think so.)
Right now, the options are:
Anathem by Neal Stephenson and
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (an oldie but apparently a goodie).
I'm still taking other suggestions before finalizing. I know that I have one blog follower (the poor speller who suggested the VBC in the first place) who will read the selection no matter what it is, and I won't even post as a suggestion anything that I am unwilling to read.
In other words, if you follow this blog and you are a good speller, you can pretty much write your own ticket and suggest any book that makes sense.
Currently, I am reading American Pastoral by Philip Roth. I have not read much of Roth, but I have had this book on the pile for, well, years, and it's time I read it. The VBC book will follow.
Remember, Reading is Fundamental.
Right now, the options are:
Anathem by Neal Stephenson and
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (an oldie but apparently a goodie).
I'm still taking other suggestions before finalizing. I know that I have one blog follower (the poor speller who suggested the VBC in the first place) who will read the selection no matter what it is, and I won't even post as a suggestion anything that I am unwilling to read.
In other words, if you follow this blog and you are a good speller, you can pretty much write your own ticket and suggest any book that makes sense.
Currently, I am reading American Pastoral by Philip Roth. I have not read much of Roth, but I have had this book on the pile for, well, years, and it's time I read it. The VBC book will follow.
Remember, Reading is Fundamental.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Machine by Joe Posnanski - C-
The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds by Joe Posnanski.
I know no one will read much further than this (if they even got this far), but I digress.
If I recommended books based on nostalgia alone, you'd be looking at an A+. The summer of 1975 wasn't the best for me personally. I was 8 years old, and I spent 13 days in Children's Hospital in August. The magical season of the Reds was something that a kid that age could hold onto, though. I remember where I was when the first Reds lineup of 1975 featuring Pete Rose at Third Base was announced. You know how some people think of characters on tv as their friends? Well, Pete, Joe, Johnny, George, Tony, Ken, Davey and Cesar were my friends that summer. 1975 was special for me, and it was special for the whole city of Cincinnati.
All that being said, this isn't a good book. If you are too young to remember the Big Red Machine, you will probably enjoy the book because many of you think of Pete Rose as the guy who bet on baseball and Joe Morgan as the guy who does Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and Johnny Bench as the a**hole he is now (and was then). You may not even know who Cesar Geronimo is or that Ken Griffey Senior was actually pretty good or that, if Sparky Anderson hadn't given George Foster some PT, Foster never would have hit those 52 HRs in 1977 when "52 home runs" really meant something.
The problem with The Machine is that there's really nothing new here. Mr. Posnanski tells a story in his Afterward about getting pulled over for speeding in Indiana while doing research for the book. The police officer sees all these books on the Big Red Machine in the back seat and asks what that's all about. Mr. Posnanski says that he's researching for a book on the 1975 Reds and got off with a warning.
Well, maybe I've read all of those books he had in his back seat. Because, again, there's nothing new here. I could have written a book ALMOST as good and comprehensive without interviewing a single person. And I, unlike Mr. Posnanski (who is the same age as I am), don't travel in sports writing circles.
Maybe there will be something new in Game Six. I had planned to read one right after the other, but I don't have the strength. Maybe after the World Series.
Remember, Reading is Fundamental.
I know no one will read much further than this (if they even got this far), but I digress.
If I recommended books based on nostalgia alone, you'd be looking at an A+. The summer of 1975 wasn't the best for me personally. I was 8 years old, and I spent 13 days in Children's Hospital in August. The magical season of the Reds was something that a kid that age could hold onto, though. I remember where I was when the first Reds lineup of 1975 featuring Pete Rose at Third Base was announced. You know how some people think of characters on tv as their friends? Well, Pete, Joe, Johnny, George, Tony, Ken, Davey and Cesar were my friends that summer. 1975 was special for me, and it was special for the whole city of Cincinnati.
All that being said, this isn't a good book. If you are too young to remember the Big Red Machine, you will probably enjoy the book because many of you think of Pete Rose as the guy who bet on baseball and Joe Morgan as the guy who does Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and Johnny Bench as the a**hole he is now (and was then). You may not even know who Cesar Geronimo is or that Ken Griffey Senior was actually pretty good or that, if Sparky Anderson hadn't given George Foster some PT, Foster never would have hit those 52 HRs in 1977 when "52 home runs" really meant something.
The problem with The Machine is that there's really nothing new here. Mr. Posnanski tells a story in his Afterward about getting pulled over for speeding in Indiana while doing research for the book. The police officer sees all these books on the Big Red Machine in the back seat and asks what that's all about. Mr. Posnanski says that he's researching for a book on the 1975 Reds and got off with a warning.
Well, maybe I've read all of those books he had in his back seat. Because, again, there's nothing new here. I could have written a book ALMOST as good and comprehensive without interviewing a single person. And I, unlike Mr. Posnanski (who is the same age as I am), don't travel in sports writing circles.
Maybe there will be something new in Game Six. I had planned to read one right after the other, but I don't have the strength. Maybe after the World Series.
Remember, Reading is Fundamental.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Adderall Diaries - Stephen Elliot - B
Let's start with a couple of apt movie quotes that came to my mind in reading this book. A virtual diet coke to the first person who, without the aid of google or any other search engine, movie database, etc., identifies both movies.
Quote No. 1:
Can l speak frankly? No holds barred?
Please.
That is one messed-up little dude.
Quote No. 2: There's something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us.
The Adderall Diaries: A Memoir of Moods, Masochism and Murder by Stephen Elliott is unlike any book I've read before. Part true crime non-fiction, part memoir. Mr. Elliott includes vignettes from his life history as he tells a story of his attempt to break through his writer's block by writing a book about the trial of a man accused of killing his estranged wife.
I was not familiar with Mr. Elliott before I stumbled upon his book at The Book Loft in Columbus (again, well worth a trip) (Though I did borrow this book from the library. Again, sorry Mr. Elliott and Mr. Publisher) (On another side note, you will notice from this and posts in the recent past that I conquered my inability to insert hyperlinks into the posts! Of course, I should re-name this blog the "If a man blogs in the forest, and there's no one around to hear him. . . Blog"). Ironically, Dave Eggers, author of Zeitoun (as previously discussed on this blog) edited one of Mr. Elliott's earlier books, Happy Baby.
As the two movie quotes at the top of this post indicate, Mr. Elliott is not quite right. He had a troubled childhood, and his sexual proclivities and drug use are discussed, almost in stream of consciousness form.
The book is difficult to read for a couple of reasons. First, while the events relating to the crime and trial are related chronologically, the autobiographical background woven into the book is not. Mr. Elliott has spent a great part of his life as a bit of a vagabond, meeting and having relationships with many people. It's difficult to keep people straight--particularly as Mr. Elliott jumps between time periods and locations.
Second, many will find the less savory aspects of Mr. Elliott's life shocking and perhaps even revolting. There have been a number of books about damaged people, most notably the (outed as fiction) book A Million Little Pieces by Stephen Frey and another book Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction. I have not read either, by the way, but the latter is on my list. I cannot tell you where this particular book "ranks" with some of the others, but I'm sure that the level of detail is similar.
I do recommend this book, but not for all readers. It does read like a novel--a disjointed novel, but a novel nonetheless. So if you are primarily a fiction reader, you may still find The Adderall Diaries a good read.
RIF - Reading is Fundamental (remember your Saturday morning commercials??)
Quote No. 1:
Can l speak frankly? No holds barred?
Please.
That is one messed-up little dude.
Quote No. 2: There's something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us.
The Adderall Diaries: A Memoir of Moods, Masochism and Murder by Stephen Elliott is unlike any book I've read before. Part true crime non-fiction, part memoir. Mr. Elliott includes vignettes from his life history as he tells a story of his attempt to break through his writer's block by writing a book about the trial of a man accused of killing his estranged wife.
I was not familiar with Mr. Elliott before I stumbled upon his book at The Book Loft in Columbus (again, well worth a trip) (Though I did borrow this book from the library. Again, sorry Mr. Elliott and Mr. Publisher) (On another side note, you will notice from this and posts in the recent past that I conquered my inability to insert hyperlinks into the posts! Of course, I should re-name this blog the "If a man blogs in the forest, and there's no one around to hear him. . . Blog"). Ironically, Dave Eggers, author of Zeitoun (as previously discussed on this blog) edited one of Mr. Elliott's earlier books, Happy Baby.
As the two movie quotes at the top of this post indicate, Mr. Elliott is not quite right. He had a troubled childhood, and his sexual proclivities and drug use are discussed, almost in stream of consciousness form.
The book is difficult to read for a couple of reasons. First, while the events relating to the crime and trial are related chronologically, the autobiographical background woven into the book is not. Mr. Elliott has spent a great part of his life as a bit of a vagabond, meeting and having relationships with many people. It's difficult to keep people straight--particularly as Mr. Elliott jumps between time periods and locations.
Second, many will find the less savory aspects of Mr. Elliott's life shocking and perhaps even revolting. There have been a number of books about damaged people, most notably the (outed as fiction) book A Million Little Pieces by Stephen Frey and another book Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction. I have not read either, by the way, but the latter is on my list. I cannot tell you where this particular book "ranks" with some of the others, but I'm sure that the level of detail is similar.
I do recommend this book, but not for all readers. It does read like a novel--a disjointed novel, but a novel nonetheless. So if you are primarily a fiction reader, you may still find The Adderall Diaries a good read.
RIF - Reading is Fundamental (remember your Saturday morning commercials??)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Daniel Suarez Virtual Book Club Experiment
I’ve never been in a book club. I’ve never been asked to join one, and I’ve never felt motivated to start one. The other problem, of course, is that the National Institute of Book Clubs (NIBC) Comprehensive Survey (2009) shows that 92% of all book club members are female. I, in fact, have never met a man who is in a book club. I obviously do not think that reading or discussing books is only for women. [The Survey also shows that only 26% of book club meeting time is spent discussing the book. A staggering 57% of the time is spent discussing the libations at book club (with the remaining 17% comprised of various discussions—most notably 9% spent complaining about spouses/boyfriends/girlfriends). Also, while the Survey shows that 82% of book club members actually read the book, these statistics are likely unreliably high (and often includes those who claim to have read the book but who have either seen the movie or read the Wikipedia entry).]
Of course, each and every statistic in the preceding paragraph is made up (as is the NIBC).
A very good friend of mine (also one of the poorest spellers I have ever met, but I digress) suggested that, in order to make this blog more interactive (with the unreasonable assumption that the blog is “active” in the first place), we consider a virtual book club. We are going to give this a try. The worst thing that will happen is that I will end up being the only one who reads the book club selection, but I can live with that. Here’s how it will work:
1. Between now and Friday, October 2, I will accept suggestions for books. If we do not receive multiple suggestions, I will suggest a few books. I'm going to throw this book out as a suggestion for the first selection. I suggest this because (1) it's been on my list for a while and (2) since this is a "virtual" book club, a book where one theme is "virtual reality" makes some sick sense.
2. I will post 2-4 suggested books on October 3 and seek feedback (none expected). If anyone who wants to participate has already read a suggested book, the book will be disqualified from consideration (unless the person wants to re-read the book—hey, if I get ANOTHER person to participate, and he/she has already read the book, you think I’m passing on my golden opportunity???).
3. I will post the first book club selection some time after October 3 (depending on feedback) and give everybody 2-4 weeks (depending on book length) to read the book. If anybody finishes early, they may not comment on the book on the site. You may email me comments that I will post after the deadline.
Then, we’ll see if there is any give-and-take, if people like the book and the idea, etc. If there’s the expected zero interest, we’ll kill it.
Also, if you are in a book club and want to read the same book to serve dual purposes, please let me know. In other words, if I can get one more person to read the selection (even if they’re not reading it for OUR book club), it’s worth it to me.
Remember, reading a book is better than a stick in the eye.
Of course, each and every statistic in the preceding paragraph is made up (as is the NIBC).
A very good friend of mine (also one of the poorest spellers I have ever met, but I digress) suggested that, in order to make this blog more interactive (with the unreasonable assumption that the blog is “active” in the first place), we consider a virtual book club. We are going to give this a try. The worst thing that will happen is that I will end up being the only one who reads the book club selection, but I can live with that. Here’s how it will work:
1. Between now and Friday, October 2, I will accept suggestions for books. If we do not receive multiple suggestions, I will suggest a few books. I'm going to throw this book out as a suggestion for the first selection. I suggest this because (1) it's been on my list for a while and (2) since this is a "virtual" book club, a book where one theme is "virtual reality" makes some sick sense.
2. I will post 2-4 suggested books on October 3 and seek feedback (none expected). If anyone who wants to participate has already read a suggested book, the book will be disqualified from consideration (unless the person wants to re-read the book—hey, if I get ANOTHER person to participate, and he/she has already read the book, you think I’m passing on my golden opportunity???).
3. I will post the first book club selection some time after October 3 (depending on feedback) and give everybody 2-4 weeks (depending on book length) to read the book. If anybody finishes early, they may not comment on the book on the site. You may email me comments that I will post after the deadline.
Then, we’ll see if there is any give-and-take, if people like the book and the idea, etc. If there’s the expected zero interest, we’ll kill it.
Also, if you are in a book club and want to read the same book to serve dual purposes, please let me know. In other words, if I can get one more person to read the selection (even if they’re not reading it for OUR book club), it’s worth it to me.
Remember, reading a book is better than a stick in the eye.
Monday, September 21, 2009
I "Just Say No" to Oprah (Well, Sort Of)
I have a couple of confessions to make.
The first is that I'm not, and have never been, an Oprah fan. I am certainly not a hater or anything like that. I just find Oprah to be at the pinnacle of our "celebrity society" in that people feel that they need to buy what Oprah buys, see movies and listen to music that Oprah likes and read books that Oprah suggests.
The second confession is that I have never read an Oprah Book Club Selection. I've read books that have become Oprah Book Club Selections (if you haven't read it, I strongly recommend The Road by Cormac McCarthy). My wife, who is an avid Oprah fan, suggested that I read A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. [I'm not a big self help book kind of guy. I'm pretty set in my ways. Even if I need help, I'm unlikely to seek or implement it unless necessary. Plus, have you seen how the author spells his name? OK, is the "h" silent or not? Why is the "c" there at all--serves no purpose. And don't get me started on the last name. He either doesn't need the two "l"s or the "e."] I actually bought the book at Costco (aka, the most wonderful place on earth--like it how I worked "earth" back into this??) and tried to read it. I gave it a valiant effort for almost ten whole minutes.
Which brings me to last week's "big announcement" of Oprah's newest book club selection: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan [is it me or does he look like Joe Morgan?].
I see nothing inherently wrong with the Oprah Book Club. In fact, I think that it's likely that a number of adults started to read books for pleasure or accelerated the pace of their pleasure reading as a result of Oprah's selections.
I'm just not one of them.
Do not, for a second, think that I think that I am above our "celebrity centric" culture. I am absolutely not. I care way too much about who famous people are dating. I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly. I read my wife's People magazine (it's a single poop mag while, for me, Sports Illustrated takes days of poops). I begrudgingly do not hate the pop music my daughters listen to. I do not watch reality tv shows--not because I am above it but because I fear, nay I know, that each and every one of them will suck me in like the spineless entertainment jellyfish that I am.
I don' t "know" Oprah. Her selections are "one size fits all." That's ok, I would probably like all of her [non self-help] selections. I, in fact, have liked all of her selections that I actually read.
But I definitely have a reluctance to read her books, buy her products, eat her foods, watch her movies [I can't stand Tom Cruise any more--the whole scientology "attitude" (I have NOTHING against scientology or any other religion--just don't preach to me, ok? And I won't preach to you) doesn't help]. She cannot possibly be that all-knowing, can she?
Well, some people think she is. And some people are just suckers. My wife wants to buy her new selection. If she reads it and likes it, I'll probably read it also. Ok, ok, I am one of those suckers.
The first is that I'm not, and have never been, an Oprah fan. I am certainly not a hater or anything like that. I just find Oprah to be at the pinnacle of our "celebrity society" in that people feel that they need to buy what Oprah buys, see movies and listen to music that Oprah likes and read books that Oprah suggests.
The second confession is that I have never read an Oprah Book Club Selection. I've read books that have become Oprah Book Club Selections (if you haven't read it, I strongly recommend The Road by Cormac McCarthy). My wife, who is an avid Oprah fan, suggested that I read A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. [I'm not a big self help book kind of guy. I'm pretty set in my ways. Even if I need help, I'm unlikely to seek or implement it unless necessary. Plus, have you seen how the author spells his name? OK, is the "h" silent or not? Why is the "c" there at all--serves no purpose. And don't get me started on the last name. He either doesn't need the two "l"s or the "e."] I actually bought the book at Costco (aka, the most wonderful place on earth--like it how I worked "earth" back into this??) and tried to read it. I gave it a valiant effort for almost ten whole minutes.
Which brings me to last week's "big announcement" of Oprah's newest book club selection: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan [is it me or does he look like Joe Morgan?].
I see nothing inherently wrong with the Oprah Book Club. In fact, I think that it's likely that a number of adults started to read books for pleasure or accelerated the pace of their pleasure reading as a result of Oprah's selections.
I'm just not one of them.
Do not, for a second, think that I think that I am above our "celebrity centric" culture. I am absolutely not. I care way too much about who famous people are dating. I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly. I read my wife's People magazine (it's a single poop mag while, for me, Sports Illustrated takes days of poops). I begrudgingly do not hate the pop music my daughters listen to. I do not watch reality tv shows--not because I am above it but because I fear, nay I know, that each and every one of them will suck me in like the spineless entertainment jellyfish that I am.
I don' t "know" Oprah. Her selections are "one size fits all." That's ok, I would probably like all of her [non self-help] selections. I, in fact, have liked all of her selections that I actually read.
But I definitely have a reluctance to read her books, buy her products, eat her foods, watch her movies [I can't stand Tom Cruise any more--the whole scientology "attitude" (I have NOTHING against scientology or any other religion--just don't preach to me, ok? And I won't preach to you) doesn't help]. She cannot possibly be that all-knowing, can she?
Well, some people think she is. And some people are just suckers. My wife wants to buy her new selection. If she reads it and likes it, I'll probably read it also. Ok, ok, I am one of those suckers.
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