Posts
Call of the Wild
Jack London
read 12/1/08
I picked this up at the book sale. I recall my Dad talking about this. I didn't realize until I started reading it that the story is all from the dogs point of view. It is the story of a dog who is kidnapped and sold as a sled dog in the Yukon, and how this brings back his privative instincts of being a dog.
A quick and enjoyable read.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Water For Elephants (34)
Water For Elephants
By Sara Gruen
read 11/20/08
This is a book my wife read and really liked. It is the story remembered by an old man, of his younger days with the circus during the great depression. He examines all parts of the life from the working men to the star performers. It is an excellent book and it gives you a sense of how desperate things were during this time. It is an excellent story, with several sub plots. I did enjoy this book, although (without giving anything away) I think it was a bit too easy the way a few of the problems were cleared up. But overall it was an enjoyable book
By Sara Gruen
read 11/20/08
This is a book my wife read and really liked. It is the story remembered by an old man, of his younger days with the circus during the great depression. He examines all parts of the life from the working men to the star performers. It is an excellent book and it gives you a sense of how desperate things were during this time. It is an excellent story, with several sub plots. I did enjoy this book, although (without giving anything away) I think it was a bit too easy the way a few of the problems were cleared up. But overall it was an enjoyable book
Friday, November 21, 2008
Life Laughs (33)
Life Laughs
Jenny McCarthy
read 11/20/08
I didn't expect much from this.. but it was less than I hoped for. More just a collection of little essays each about 2 pages long, and nearly all of them telling you how hard she is working as a mother and under appreciated. Over all I will pass on this one.
Jenny McCarthy
read 11/20/08
I didn't expect much from this.. but it was less than I hoped for. More just a collection of little essays each about 2 pages long, and nearly all of them telling you how hard she is working as a mother and under appreciated. Over all I will pass on this one.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Playing With The Grown-ups (32)
Playing With The Grown-ups
Sophie Dahl
read 11/18/08
I really enjoyed this book. It is hard to describe.. basically the story of a young girl growing up as her mother, an artist, keeps moving around and changing her life. It is oddly engaging and I could not put it down.
It is written by Sophie Dahl, who's grandfather wrote Charlie & The Chocolate factory etc. But this book is loosely based on her own life.
Highly recommended.
Sophie Dahl
read 11/18/08
I really enjoyed this book. It is hard to describe.. basically the story of a young girl growing up as her mother, an artist, keeps moving around and changing her life. It is oddly engaging and I could not put it down.
It is written by Sophie Dahl, who's grandfather wrote Charlie & The Chocolate factory etc. But this book is loosely based on her own life.
Highly recommended.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Exterminators (31)
Exterminators
Christopher Golden
read 11/13/08
This is another Justice Leagues book that takes comic book characters and puts them in novel form. I have a love hate relationship with these books. It gives you more depth than a comic book you get more into the heros feelings and motivations. But in the end the stories largely describe action and are not very deep. There is the great threat... the great battle.. then it is over... I like a little more understanding of the problems and solution.
In the book they get dozens of minor characters involved, many of which I have never heard of... the switch from battle to battle where people I dont know are fighting the monsters...
The book was o.k. but I guess not really my style. So far I read Batman (good), which is what got me into the series, then Flash (poor), next was Wonder Woman (ok). There are 2 more books in this series.. Superman and Green Lantern... I will get through those and I can say I read the series. Maybe they will be better?
Christopher Golden
read 11/13/08
This is another Justice Leagues book that takes comic book characters and puts them in novel form. I have a love hate relationship with these books. It gives you more depth than a comic book you get more into the heros feelings and motivations. But in the end the stories largely describe action and are not very deep. There is the great threat... the great battle.. then it is over... I like a little more understanding of the problems and solution.
In the book they get dozens of minor characters involved, many of which I have never heard of... the switch from battle to battle where people I dont know are fighting the monsters...
The book was o.k. but I guess not really my style. So far I read Batman (good), which is what got me into the series, then Flash (poor), next was Wonder Woman (ok). There are 2 more books in this series.. Superman and Green Lantern... I will get through those and I can say I read the series. Maybe they will be better?
Welcome To the Monkey House (30)
Welcome To the Monkey House
Kurt Vonnegut
read 10/25/08
This is a collection of short stories by Vonnegut. I have been reading it off and on over the summer. On this weekend I forgot the book I was reading, so I finished this off.
I had never read Vonnegut, but really enjoyed this book. A lot of the stories are SciFi inspired and they are well done. They make you think like a good short story should.
I have been looking for more books by Vonnegut....
Kurt Vonnegut
read 10/25/08
This is a collection of short stories by Vonnegut. I have been reading it off and on over the summer. On this weekend I forgot the book I was reading, so I finished this off.
I had never read Vonnegut, but really enjoyed this book. A lot of the stories are SciFi inspired and they are well done. They make you think like a good short story should.
I have been looking for more books by Vonnegut....
I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This (28)
I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This
Bob Newhart
read 10/18/08
I didn't even know Bob Newhart had written a book! He is one of my favorite comedians, my father was a big fan of his routines, and I also enjoy them. The book is a look at how he came to be a comedian, but not really a biography. The book contains the text of many of his famous skits, along with how he came up with them, or experiences from his career.
Overall an enjoyable book if you like Newhart the comedian.. others might enjoy it also if they are not familiar with his dry wit.
Bob Newhart
read 10/18/08
I didn't even know Bob Newhart had written a book! He is one of my favorite comedians, my father was a big fan of his routines, and I also enjoy them. The book is a look at how he came to be a comedian, but not really a biography. The book contains the text of many of his famous skits, along with how he came up with them, or experiences from his career.
Overall an enjoyable book if you like Newhart the comedian.. others might enjoy it also if they are not familiar with his dry wit.
Brave New World (27)
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley
read 10/11/08
I love the dystopian books, and this is one of the classics. I read it first in the early 90's, and have read parts of it recently, but finally sat down and read the whole book. It paints a dark future where people are in pursuit of consumption, and paid in drugs.. and every body is happy... well almost.
Like 1984 this book ends in death.. but it does not seem to have the same punch as 1984. I think the description of the new world is more vivid than 1984, but the actual story suffers a bit. Still a great book and well worth reading.
Aldous Huxley
read 10/11/08
I love the dystopian books, and this is one of the classics. I read it first in the early 90's, and have read parts of it recently, but finally sat down and read the whole book. It paints a dark future where people are in pursuit of consumption, and paid in drugs.. and every body is happy... well almost.
Like 1984 this book ends in death.. but it does not seem to have the same punch as 1984. I think the description of the new world is more vivid than 1984, but the actual story suffers a bit. Still a great book and well worth reading.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Horse Under Water (24)
Horse Under Water
Len Deighton
One of the early Deighton books written in '63. This is part of the un-named "Harry Palmer" books. This one concerns diving for a sunken U-boat off the coast of Portugal. Per normal you don't know what is going on and the true purpose of everything is not evident until the end. Also deals heavily with everybodys involvement in the war.
Two interesting items for Deighton fans. One part of the book deals with people in Britian who were sympathic to the Germans, and who would hold high posistions in the puppet government after Germany defeated England. I wonder if these are the same people who appear in SS-GB Deighton dystopian book about the German occupation of England. Also toward the end of the book there is a 'new guy' in the office name Bernard that runs a few un-important errands... Is this Bernard Sampson??
Len Deighton
One of the early Deighton books written in '63. This is part of the un-named "Harry Palmer" books. This one concerns diving for a sunken U-boat off the coast of Portugal. Per normal you don't know what is going on and the true purpose of everything is not evident until the end. Also deals heavily with everybodys involvement in the war.
Two interesting items for Deighton fans. One part of the book deals with people in Britian who were sympathic to the Germans, and who would hold high posistions in the puppet government after Germany defeated England. I wonder if these are the same people who appear in SS-GB Deighton dystopian book about the German occupation of England. Also toward the end of the book there is a 'new guy' in the office name Bernard that runs a few un-important errands... Is this Bernard Sampson??
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Shopgirl (22)
Shopgirl
By Steve Martin
read 9/4/08
This is written by actor Steve Martin and is the story of Mirabelle and her life and affair with an older rich man. The interesting thing about the book is there is almost no dialog. It is mostly what the characters are doing and the background... about how they visualize things, and how their experiences have impacted them.
It is a really interesting book in a very different way... It is engaging, not so much in what the characters are doing, as that is fairly predictable but more in the through process.
By Steve Martin
read 9/4/08
This is written by actor Steve Martin and is the story of Mirabelle and her life and affair with an older rich man. The interesting thing about the book is there is almost no dialog. It is mostly what the characters are doing and the background... about how they visualize things, and how their experiences have impacted them.
It is a really interesting book in a very different way... It is engaging, not so much in what the characters are doing, as that is fairly predictable but more in the through process.
My Life in High Heels (21)
My Life In High Heels
Loni Anderson
Read 8/30/08
This is an auto-biography, largely in response to her then divorce from Burt Renyolds. But it is not a tell-all type book. It starts with her life before she became famous and how family and friends were important to her.
There are a lot of names.. and at times it seems like she is name dropping the celebs she knows but she does it for the whole book, and I think it is more to share the spot light with others in her life. It is a lot of movies and shows she worked on, people she worked with. Blah, Blah, Blah... then toward the end a bit about Burt and his mood swings and handfuls of pills.
Seems like a nice enough person, and not a great book but mildly interesting.
Loni Anderson
Read 8/30/08
This is an auto-biography, largely in response to her then divorce from Burt Renyolds. But it is not a tell-all type book. It starts with her life before she became famous and how family and friends were important to her.
There are a lot of names.. and at times it seems like she is name dropping the celebs she knows but she does it for the whole book, and I think it is more to share the spot light with others in her life. It is a lot of movies and shows she worked on, people she worked with. Blah, Blah, Blah... then toward the end a bit about Burt and his mood swings and handfuls of pills.
Seems like a nice enough person, and not a great book but mildly interesting.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Cat Chaser (20)
Cat Chaser
Elmore Leonard
3 weekends, and 3 book... I have finally found a way to get my reading back a bit... sitting outside reading on weekends. This weekend was Elmore Leonard, my favorite author. This set in Flordia, a hotel owner becomes involved with a married woman, who's husband was a general in charge of the secret police of Dominican Republic. There is a back plot about a host of characters who want to rob the general of the millions in cash he is rumored to keep in his home. As I read more of the Leonard books I notice a pattern in them. You have the likeable anti-star who is laid back and calm... they often take place in or near hotels. There is often infidelity, and almost always lots of drinking and an uncontrollable drunk or drug addict. There is a street person, and a gee whiz country boy type. The main victim is often a powerful but distant person.
While there are similarity, the stories do not seem to be written on a template like many of Lawrence Sanders books (although he is also one of my favs). The stories are different enough that you only notice the pattern after reading many of the books. As with all of Leonard's books it is the characters that drive the stories, and what makes them so enjoyable.
Elmore Leonard
3 weekends, and 3 book... I have finally found a way to get my reading back a bit... sitting outside reading on weekends. This weekend was Elmore Leonard, my favorite author. This set in Flordia, a hotel owner becomes involved with a married woman, who's husband was a general in charge of the secret police of Dominican Republic. There is a back plot about a host of characters who want to rob the general of the millions in cash he is rumored to keep in his home. As I read more of the Leonard books I notice a pattern in them. You have the likeable anti-star who is laid back and calm... they often take place in or near hotels. There is often infidelity, and almost always lots of drinking and an uncontrollable drunk or drug addict. There is a street person, and a gee whiz country boy type. The main victim is often a powerful but distant person.
While there are similarity, the stories do not seem to be written on a template like many of Lawrence Sanders books (although he is also one of my favs). The stories are different enough that you only notice the pattern after reading many of the books. As with all of Leonard's books it is the characters that drive the stories, and what makes them so enjoyable.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Stori Telling (19)
Stori Telling
Tori Spelling
I picked up this autobiography of Tori Spelling, actress, daughter of famous producer Aaron Spelling. I like everyone else watch 90210 in the 90's although I was not a big fan of it. I sort of remember her from that show and thinking she was there because of her father.
The book was quite interesting... she talks about her childhood and what it is like to grow up as not just rich, but super rich... she has an interesting take on it... she thought it was normal.. becuase when you are a kid you don't know any different. She does apoligize for being rich. Perhaps the most interesting thing is that she had no idea how to manage money. Spend much of it on a boyfriend that was clearing taking advantage of her.. and never gave any thought to the money. She worked on a sucessful series for 10 years and did numberous movies.. yet found herself in her early 30's $200k in debt. When her father died he left she and her brother $800k each... she got rough 1/2 that after taxes.. he told her this would 'set her for life'. The man was worth nearly $500million, it just goes to show you that even if you have money you may not understand it.
In spite of the money, sucess, all she really wanted was to be happy. She is very open about her failings and the difficulty she had communicating with her mother (most conversations were by email, or through her business manager). In the end she has found a new husband and is happy, perhaps for the first time in her life.
The one thing that stuck me about this book was that she is actully quite funny. She has a sharp and sarcastic wit that comes through in unexpected places in the book. She has a way of being able to laugh at herself and some of her mistakes that is refreshing.
I picked up this book mostly out of curiosity, but actually enjoyed it more that I expected.
Tori Spelling
I picked up this autobiography of Tori Spelling, actress, daughter of famous producer Aaron Spelling. I like everyone else watch 90210 in the 90's although I was not a big fan of it. I sort of remember her from that show and thinking she was there because of her father.
The book was quite interesting... she talks about her childhood and what it is like to grow up as not just rich, but super rich... she has an interesting take on it... she thought it was normal.. becuase when you are a kid you don't know any different. She does apoligize for being rich. Perhaps the most interesting thing is that she had no idea how to manage money. Spend much of it on a boyfriend that was clearing taking advantage of her.. and never gave any thought to the money. She worked on a sucessful series for 10 years and did numberous movies.. yet found herself in her early 30's $200k in debt. When her father died he left she and her brother $800k each... she got rough 1/2 that after taxes.. he told her this would 'set her for life'. The man was worth nearly $500million, it just goes to show you that even if you have money you may not understand it.
In spite of the money, sucess, all she really wanted was to be happy. She is very open about her failings and the difficulty she had communicating with her mother (most conversations were by email, or through her business manager). In the end she has found a new husband and is happy, perhaps for the first time in her life.
The one thing that stuck me about this book was that she is actully quite funny. She has a sharp and sarcastic wit that comes through in unexpected places in the book. She has a way of being able to laugh at herself and some of her mistakes that is refreshing.
I picked up this book mostly out of curiosity, but actually enjoyed it more that I expected.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
La Brava (18)
LaBrava
Elmore Leonard
My reading has slowed a lot, which is unusual because usually it picks up in the summer. I have been busy and just have not made the time to read a lot. I AM reading just not much, and I currently have 3 books going.. I started and read most of this over the weekend, just finishing it up yesterday. A good Leonard story.. cross, double cross... and a surprise in the middle that I did not see coming. As always a cast of interesting and colorful characters. Set in South Beach Miami a former Secret Service man becomes involved in the life of an actress who is a friend of his elderly boss. Add a character from the swamps of FL and a cuban hustler and you have got a story - lol
Elmore Leonard
My reading has slowed a lot, which is unusual because usually it picks up in the summer. I have been busy and just have not made the time to read a lot. I AM reading just not much, and I currently have 3 books going.. I started and read most of this over the weekend, just finishing it up yesterday. A good Leonard story.. cross, double cross... and a surprise in the middle that I did not see coming. As always a cast of interesting and colorful characters. Set in South Beach Miami a former Secret Service man becomes involved in the life of an actress who is a friend of his elderly boss. Add a character from the swamps of FL and a cuban hustler and you have got a story - lol
Time Machine (17)
Time Machine
HG Wells
Read 7/7/08
I have seen several of the Time Machine movies, although not the most recent. I was interesting to read the original story. For being over 100 years old it was quite readable and still an excellent story. I was surprised how closely the movies actually followed the book.
HG Wells
Read 7/7/08
I have seen several of the Time Machine movies, although not the most recent. I was interesting to read the original story. For being over 100 years old it was quite readable and still an excellent story. I was surprised how closely the movies actually followed the book.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Don't Bend Over In the Garden, Granny - You Know Them Taters Got Eyes (16)
Don't Bend Over In the Garden, Granny - You Know Them Taters Got Eyes
Lewis Grizzard
So.. it appears this is the only book I read in June. I started this book and got distracted. I had sinus surgery in the middle of the month and that slowed me down some. I didn't read or do much of any thing for over a week. Then I lost this book, so I started another one until I came across this.
I see this author a lot, he is a humor writer from the South. This book was ok, with lots of corny jokes and cute stories. Nothing to serious, but somewhat entertaining. I was surprised to see that this author had died in 94, he was 49 years old. Seems he had a heart problem. I think I have another book or 2 of his that I picked up, I will get to them some day.
Lewis Grizzard
So.. it appears this is the only book I read in June. I started this book and got distracted. I had sinus surgery in the middle of the month and that slowed me down some. I didn't read or do much of any thing for over a week. Then I lost this book, so I started another one until I came across this.
I see this author a lot, he is a humor writer from the South. This book was ok, with lots of corny jokes and cute stories. Nothing to serious, but somewhat entertaining. I was surprised to see that this author had died in 94, he was 49 years old. Seems he had a heart problem. I think I have another book or 2 of his that I picked up, I will get to them some day.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Factotum (15)
Factotum
Charles Bukowski
read 5/28/08
Another Bukowski book, I am half way though his novels now. This book roughly picks up with his life where Ham on Rye leaves off. It follows him as he travels back and forth across the country working, drinking, living. There isn't much suspense in the book you know what will happen.. he will get drunk and get fired then look for another job, repeat. But it is told in a compelling way that you just can not put down the book. I think what the book does well is capture a point in time (early to mid 40s) that does not exist any more. Rooming houses, moving in and out of meager jobs, roaming around the country.. you just can not do this in todays world.. as these things do not exist in the same fashion today. A realistic look at the gritty world that nobody talks about.
Charles Bukowski
read 5/28/08
Another Bukowski book, I am half way though his novels now. This book roughly picks up with his life where Ham on Rye leaves off. It follows him as he travels back and forth across the country working, drinking, living. There isn't much suspense in the book you know what will happen.. he will get drunk and get fired then look for another job, repeat. But it is told in a compelling way that you just can not put down the book. I think what the book does well is capture a point in time (early to mid 40s) that does not exist any more. Rooming houses, moving in and out of meager jobs, roaming around the country.. you just can not do this in todays world.. as these things do not exist in the same fashion today. A realistic look at the gritty world that nobody talks about.
The Ipcress File (14)
The Ipcress File
Len Deighton
read 5/23/08
This is Deighton's first book with the un-named Harry Palmer character. Like so many of Deighton's book (and spy books in general) it is a bit tedious in the beginning, not much going on, and you can't really see where it is going. Then all of a sudden something happens and they all the pieces fall together. The ending of this one was nice, and even better he goes through all of the other parts (while talking to another character) and explains the significance of them, incase you missed it. A worthy start to the Deighton legacy.
Len Deighton
read 5/23/08
This is Deighton's first book with the un-named Harry Palmer character. Like so many of Deighton's book (and spy books in general) it is a bit tedious in the beginning, not much going on, and you can't really see where it is going. Then all of a sudden something happens and they all the pieces fall together. The ending of this one was nice, and even better he goes through all of the other parts (while talking to another character) and explains the significance of them, incase you missed it. A worthy start to the Deighton legacy.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Hard Living on Clay Street
Hard Living On Clay Street
Joseph T Howell
read 1/9/06
Back in January 2006 I read Hard Living on Clay Street. A book I had for nearly 20 years and is about 2 blue collar families in the 1960s. It was an interesting book, and I finally picked up the 1991 reprinting of the book, that includes an update on the families. Most surprising 2 of the 4 principals had died shortly after the book came out. Barry drowned in a boating accident, and June died of liver diease. It went on to talk about the other children. Some did well, other did about as you would expect. I was interesting to revisit this again.
Joseph T Howell
read 1/9/06
Back in January 2006 I read Hard Living on Clay Street. A book I had for nearly 20 years and is about 2 blue collar families in the 1960s. It was an interesting book, and I finally picked up the 1991 reprinting of the book, that includes an update on the families. Most surprising 2 of the 4 principals had died shortly after the book came out. Barry drowned in a boating accident, and June died of liver diease. It went on to talk about the other children. Some did well, other did about as you would expect. I was interesting to revisit this again.
Ham On Rye (13)
Ham On Rye
Charles Bukowski
read 5/10/08
My second Bukowski novel, and I am hooked, unfortunately he only wrote 6 novels, so I am 1/3 of the way through them. This is about his childhood growing up in LA during the depressions. Parts of it seem tragic, parts seem unbelievable. But mostly I think it just shows the passage of time. I don't think there is anything unique to his story, I just think that it was a lot different during the depression. He talks about everybody being angry.. he talks about his own lack of ambition and generaly hopelessness. In the other book I remarked on how detached he seemd from his own life, I think this book does a lot to explain why he felt this way. Perhaps my favorite line of the book is: "Getting drunk was good. I decided that I would always like getting drunk."
Charles Bukowski
read 5/10/08
My second Bukowski novel, and I am hooked, unfortunately he only wrote 6 novels, so I am 1/3 of the way through them. This is about his childhood growing up in LA during the depressions. Parts of it seem tragic, parts seem unbelievable. But mostly I think it just shows the passage of time. I don't think there is anything unique to his story, I just think that it was a lot different during the depression. He talks about everybody being angry.. he talks about his own lack of ambition and generaly hopelessness. In the other book I remarked on how detached he seemd from his own life, I think this book does a lot to explain why he felt this way. Perhaps my favorite line of the book is: "Getting drunk was good. I decided that I would always like getting drunk."
Big Trouble (12)
Big Trouble
Dave Barry
read May 12, 2008
Dave Barry wrote an actual novel.. and it is just what you would expect from Dave Barry, lots of slap stick. I read somewhere between a movie script and an Elmore Leonard novel. Lots of off beat characters and development similar to Leonard, but it seemed a lot like a movie. Not the best, but enjoyable none the less.
Dave Barry
read May 12, 2008
Dave Barry wrote an actual novel.. and it is just what you would expect from Dave Barry, lots of slap stick. I read somewhere between a movie script and an Elmore Leonard novel. Lots of off beat characters and development similar to Leonard, but it seemed a lot like a movie. Not the best, but enjoyable none the less.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
The secret life of Henry Ford (11)
The secret life of Henry Ford
by John Côté Dahlinger as told to Frances Spatz Leighton.
read 4/20/08
When he was in his 60s Henry Ford fathered another child. The boy, John was raised with his mother and "father" but Henry Ford was always hanging about the Estate. Both parents worked for FMC, and the book is him memories of Henry Ford.
The book is a fairly straight forward look at the Mr Ford by someone who was around him a lot. The book is more a loose collection of stories. It is illustrated by his parents journals and his memories. It seems pretty subjective, and his views seem very much in line with the other books I have read on Ford (including his existence). He tends to gloss over some of the more controversial points including Mr Ford and the jews. But does talk a lot about Edsel and his mistreatment at the hands of his father.
This was an interesting good, but does not really add a lot to the insight of the life of Henry Ford that is not already covered by one of the other biographies available on him.
by John Côté Dahlinger as told to Frances Spatz Leighton.
read 4/20/08
When he was in his 60s Henry Ford fathered another child. The boy, John was raised with his mother and "father" but Henry Ford was always hanging about the Estate. Both parents worked for FMC, and the book is him memories of Henry Ford.
The book is a fairly straight forward look at the Mr Ford by someone who was around him a lot. The book is more a loose collection of stories. It is illustrated by his parents journals and his memories. It seems pretty subjective, and his views seem very much in line with the other books I have read on Ford (including his existence). He tends to gloss over some of the more controversial points including Mr Ford and the jews. But does talk a lot about Edsel and his mistreatment at the hands of his father.
This was an interesting good, but does not really add a lot to the insight of the life of Henry Ford that is not already covered by one of the other biographies available on him.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Bold Women In Michigan History (10)
Bold Women in Michigan History
By Birgina Law Burns
Read 4/20/08
This is a collection of 13 short stories detailing famous women in Michigan History. Starting with Marie-Therese Cadillac, wife of the founder of Detroit to a present day labor crusader. This is a book I have been reading off and on since last summer.
Two stories that stick in my mind are of Grace Eldering and Pear Kendrick who worked in the state lab in Grand Rapids and were the first to come up with a sucessful vaccine for whooping cough. http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_19271_19357-137301--,00.html
We take some of these childhood diseases for granted now and forget that not long ago they were devastating to families.
The other was about Genevieve Gillette who was instrumental in establishing the Michigan State Park system. Since one of my great loves (and my other blog) is to go camping, I especially appreciate her contribution to Michigan
By Birgina Law Burns
Read 4/20/08
This is a collection of 13 short stories detailing famous women in Michigan History. Starting with Marie-Therese Cadillac, wife of the founder of Detroit to a present day labor crusader. This is a book I have been reading off and on since last summer.
Two stories that stick in my mind are of Grace Eldering and Pear Kendrick who worked in the state lab in Grand Rapids and were the first to come up with a sucessful vaccine for whooping cough. http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_19271_19357-137301--,00.html
We take some of these childhood diseases for granted now and forget that not long ago they were devastating to families.
The other was about Genevieve Gillette who was instrumental in establishing the Michigan State Park system. Since one of my great loves (and my other blog) is to go camping, I especially appreciate her contribution to Michigan
Flash Stop Motion (9)
Flash: Stop Motion
Mark Shultz
read: 4/19/08
This is another JLA book, basically it is a comic strip turned into a novel. I first read the Batman book and liked it, because it gives you more about the characters thinking and emotion that you get in a comic book.
This book was not the best.. it was slow to develop, and while some of it did apply later in the book it was weak. The book did take a turn for the better toward the end where we learn about the true nature of the alien threat to the Earth.. but the ending wasn't memorable.
A book for the true fan, not the casual reader.
Mark Shultz
read: 4/19/08
This is another JLA book, basically it is a comic strip turned into a novel. I first read the Batman book and liked it, because it gives you more about the characters thinking and emotion that you get in a comic book.
This book was not the best.. it was slow to develop, and while some of it did apply later in the book it was weak. The book did take a turn for the better toward the end where we learn about the true nature of the alien threat to the Earth.. but the ending wasn't memorable.
A book for the true fan, not the casual reader.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Pagan Babies (8)
Pagan Babies
Elmore Leonard
read 4/14/08
My first Leonard novel of the year.. and not his strongest work. An odd ball bunch of characters, but you don't get real attached to any of them. A cool twist on this, but some of the details seem to come out too fast, then you wonder where this is going.. everybody had their own angle, but somehow this just doesnt work for me. I hate to say it, but not one of his better works.. it was enjoyable, just not as much as some of his other books.
One intersting twist.. Dutch is keeping up on Detroit in his books.. worked the MGM Grand into this one. You can see the history of Detroit in his books from Hudsons and the Book Cadillac in Swag, to modern day Detroit with the MGM.
Elmore Leonard
read 4/14/08
My first Leonard novel of the year.. and not his strongest work. An odd ball bunch of characters, but you don't get real attached to any of them. A cool twist on this, but some of the details seem to come out too fast, then you wonder where this is going.. everybody had their own angle, but somehow this just doesnt work for me. I hate to say it, but not one of his better works.. it was enjoyable, just not as much as some of his other books.
One intersting twist.. Dutch is keeping up on Detroit in his books.. worked the MGM Grand into this one. You can see the history of Detroit in his books from Hudsons and the Book Cadillac in Swag, to modern day Detroit with the MGM.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Post Office (7)
Post Office
by Charles Bukowski
read 4/8/08
This book was suggested by a co-worker as someone who is "real". The dedication page reads "This is presented as a work of fiction and dedicated to nobody."
It is the thinly veiled biography of the author. He works at the Post Office but does not like it, spends is off hours chasing women and drinking.. lots of drinking. The lives with various women, married, divorced, children, good times and in bad.. the one constant in his life seems to be the Post Office. The thankless job with sadistic supervisors and impossible work loads.
What struck me most was his indifference to everything. Especially his relationships, he is just along for the ride. At one point he develops a system and starts winning at the track. Here he lives the good life.. where every day he goes to the track, drinks, wins, then finds a quiet restaurant to have a big steak and a motel to sleep at. Next day repeat.
At one point he runs into a woman he knows at the track. He tells her he is blue because he attended a funeral of a friend that day.. 3rd funeral in 2 years. Both is parents, now this friend (who was actually a former common-law wife). This is the only mention of the family, yet he spends the next several pages explaining his horse betting system and the calls of each race and how he wins.
The ending of the book has a nice twist to it, while not completely accurate with his life, is none the less a great ending.
The book is interesting not for what he says, but for what he doesn't say, or just hints at.
by Charles Bukowski
read 4/8/08
This book was suggested by a co-worker as someone who is "real". The dedication page reads "This is presented as a work of fiction and dedicated to nobody."
It is the thinly veiled biography of the author. He works at the Post Office but does not like it, spends is off hours chasing women and drinking.. lots of drinking. The lives with various women, married, divorced, children, good times and in bad.. the one constant in his life seems to be the Post Office. The thankless job with sadistic supervisors and impossible work loads.
What struck me most was his indifference to everything. Especially his relationships, he is just along for the ride. At one point he develops a system and starts winning at the track. Here he lives the good life.. where every day he goes to the track, drinks, wins, then finds a quiet restaurant to have a big steak and a motel to sleep at. Next day repeat.
At one point he runs into a woman he knows at the track. He tells her he is blue because he attended a funeral of a friend that day.. 3rd funeral in 2 years. Both is parents, now this friend (who was actually a former common-law wife). This is the only mention of the family, yet he spends the next several pages explaining his horse betting system and the calls of each race and how he wins.
The ending of the book has a nice twist to it, while not completely accurate with his life, is none the less a great ending.
The book is interesting not for what he says, but for what he doesn't say, or just hints at.
Digital Fortress (6)
Digital Fortress
by Dan Brown
read 4/5/08
This is an earlier work by the author of DaVinci Code. Not one of his stronger works. It has the deep mystery like the other books, but it is written like a made for TV movie, constantly cutting back and forth between characters to present un-natuarl suspense.
The premise of the book is that 'Digital Fortress' is an un-breakable encryption process. The out-going head of the NSA is determined to break this, get the glory and the girl. In the end his own ambition is his undoing. The book is clever on how the plot is set up.. but the idea.. to change the code and re-release it un-noticed... I don't think that would work.. the MD5sums would be different.. Yes I know this is fiction, but the basic premise of the story should at least be believable.
Anyway.. the book was just OK.. He is a good writer, but you can skip this book.
by Dan Brown
read 4/5/08
This is an earlier work by the author of DaVinci Code. Not one of his stronger works. It has the deep mystery like the other books, but it is written like a made for TV movie, constantly cutting back and forth between characters to present un-natuarl suspense.
The premise of the book is that 'Digital Fortress' is an un-breakable encryption process. The out-going head of the NSA is determined to break this, get the glory and the girl. In the end his own ambition is his undoing. The book is clever on how the plot is set up.. but the idea.. to change the code and re-release it un-noticed... I don't think that would work.. the MD5sums would be different.. Yes I know this is fiction, but the basic premise of the story should at least be believable.
Anyway.. the book was just OK.. He is a good writer, but you can skip this book.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Secrets Of The Tomb (5)
Secrets Of The Tomb
By Alexandra Robbins
Read 3/27/08
My reading speed is coming up a bit. I stated this book on Monday and finished it on Thursday, not bad, especially considering I wasn't that thrilled with the book.
I think I first heard about the Skull & Bones Society in about 1992 when Geroge HW Bush was running for re-election. I remember reading a short article in Time about it. Somewhere along the line I heard about this book and added it to my book list. I had read Pledged by the same author some years ago and it was OK. The book wasn't the best... It dealt a lot with Yale history and how secret societies came to be. And a lot with how ordinary they are and dispelling myths and such. The book obviously written mainly about the Bush's released in time for the 2002 Election has a pic of both Bush and Kerry (both Bonesmen) on the cover. There is a section about the Bush's and all their connections. And a lot about people in the late 1800's which didn't mean much to me. There was also a confusing section about the author's induction into a secret society (although not mentioned, she was in Scroll & Key). Confusing because I was trying to figure out what it had to do with the rest of the book.
Don't read this and expect to learn much about the Skull and Bones aside from a few stories and traditions. One thing I did find interesting is it is quite small.. they only take 15 people, and it is a Senior Society, so they only server for 1 year. So that means at any given time there are only about 800 living members... Seems like an awful big fuss for such a small group.
By Alexandra Robbins
Read 3/27/08
My reading speed is coming up a bit. I stated this book on Monday and finished it on Thursday, not bad, especially considering I wasn't that thrilled with the book.
I think I first heard about the Skull & Bones Society in about 1992 when Geroge HW Bush was running for re-election. I remember reading a short article in Time about it. Somewhere along the line I heard about this book and added it to my book list. I had read Pledged by the same author some years ago and it was OK. The book wasn't the best... It dealt a lot with Yale history and how secret societies came to be. And a lot with how ordinary they are and dispelling myths and such. The book obviously written mainly about the Bush's released in time for the 2002 Election has a pic of both Bush and Kerry (both Bonesmen) on the cover. There is a section about the Bush's and all their connections. And a lot about people in the late 1800's which didn't mean much to me. There was also a confusing section about the author's induction into a secret society (although not mentioned, she was in Scroll & Key). Confusing because I was trying to figure out what it had to do with the rest of the book.
Don't read this and expect to learn much about the Skull and Bones aside from a few stories and traditions. One thing I did find interesting is it is quite small.. they only take 15 people, and it is a Senior Society, so they only server for 1 year. So that means at any given time there are only about 800 living members... Seems like an awful big fuss for such a small group.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Paul Delvaux
My reading has slowed considerably this year, but I am still reading. I am also looking through a lot of art books, that I don't really consider reading because they are not novels, but I will include them in my blog with some information on them.
First one is Paul Delvaux, Graphic Work
I have seen Delvaux's work in a Surrealist book, and a few other art references. This book was entirely of etchings he did in the 1970's They all look like line drawing and are mostly model studies that do not have some of the rich settings of his painting. Additionally these were in black and white with the occasional that had color added. The book was a further disappointment as it was a catalog, just listing number of prints, how signed etc. No information on the actual art. So this wasn't quite what I was hoping for, and mostly it looks like these were done quickly for commercial release and many of the models had the same look. Will continue to look for other works of Delvaux.
First one is Paul Delvaux, Graphic Work
I have seen Delvaux's work in a Surrealist book, and a few other art references. This book was entirely of etchings he did in the 1970's They all look like line drawing and are mostly model studies that do not have some of the rich settings of his painting. Additionally these were in black and white with the occasional that had color added. The book was a further disappointment as it was a catalog, just listing number of prints, how signed etc. No information on the actual art. So this wasn't quite what I was hoping for, and mostly it looks like these were done quickly for commercial release and many of the models had the same look. Will continue to look for other works of Delvaux.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
3001 (4)
3001
Arthur C Clarke
read 3/19/08
A co-worker is a sci-fi fan and loaned me this book. It is the last installment of the 2001 saga.. and I have to be honest I had to look up to see if Arthur C Clarke was still alive. So it is ironic that he passed away on the day I finished the book. I was not familiar with 2001 in 1982 when I saw the 2010 movie.. I liked it but didn't follow a lot of the story. At the time my father was in the book of the month club.. where you have to send in the cards if you DONT want the book. He forgot once and received 2010. After seeing the movie I read the book and it made more sense. In time I saw 2001 and last year read the 3rd book in the series... it sort of leaves you hanging at the end, so it was nice to read the final installment. Clarke has an easy style of writing that is fun and quick to read. The book is worthwhile, especially if you have read the others, and if you are not familiar with the whole saga, start at the begining.
Arthur C Clarke
read 3/19/08
A co-worker is a sci-fi fan and loaned me this book. It is the last installment of the 2001 saga.. and I have to be honest I had to look up to see if Arthur C Clarke was still alive. So it is ironic that he passed away on the day I finished the book. I was not familiar with 2001 in 1982 when I saw the 2010 movie.. I liked it but didn't follow a lot of the story. At the time my father was in the book of the month club.. where you have to send in the cards if you DONT want the book. He forgot once and received 2010. After seeing the movie I read the book and it made more sense. In time I saw 2001 and last year read the 3rd book in the series... it sort of leaves you hanging at the end, so it was nice to read the final installment. Clarke has an easy style of writing that is fun and quick to read. The book is worthwhile, especially if you have read the others, and if you are not familiar with the whole saga, start at the begining.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Dali (3)
Dali
Robert Radford
read 3/10/08
Hmm.. I seem to be on the schedule of a book a month, I need to pick that up some! This book was a biography of Dali, and it was neither good nor bad. It was not a lot about Dali.. but a look at his work in the context of what was going on around Dali at each time. It covers his entire life from birth to death but does not go into a lot of detail on any part.. save the Surealist movement which it gives a lot of detail on.. more about the movement itself then Dalis part of it. The book is filled with wonderful images and it speaks about the times in his life that he created them. The book is good for that and includes some works I was not familiar with, and many personal photographs. I did not learn much more about Dali that I did not already know, but it was worthwhile, none the less.
Book is more for the person familiar with Dali who want to see a perspective of his work.. not so much for the casual fan.
Robert Radford
read 3/10/08
Hmm.. I seem to be on the schedule of a book a month, I need to pick that up some! This book was a biography of Dali, and it was neither good nor bad. It was not a lot about Dali.. but a look at his work in the context of what was going on around Dali at each time. It covers his entire life from birth to death but does not go into a lot of detail on any part.. save the Surealist movement which it gives a lot of detail on.. more about the movement itself then Dalis part of it. The book is filled with wonderful images and it speaks about the times in his life that he created them. The book is good for that and includes some works I was not familiar with, and many personal photographs. I did not learn much more about Dali that I did not already know, but it was worthwhile, none the less.
Book is more for the person familiar with Dali who want to see a perspective of his work.. not so much for the casual fan.
Funeral In Berlin (2)
Funeral In Berlin
Len Deighton
Read 2/12/08
My first real book of the year is Deighton, one of my favorites. This book, one of his early works with the un-named anti-hero is a great example of his work. I enjoyed this book.. and it underlines the weariness of the cold-war spy.. how pointless a lot of the work seems and in the end.. you are part of something much bigger and your part has little to do with the eventual outcome.
A great book.. by one of my favorite authors!
Len Deighton
Read 2/12/08
My first real book of the year is Deighton, one of my favorites. This book, one of his early works with the un-named anti-hero is a great example of his work. I enjoyed this book.. and it underlines the weariness of the cold-war spy.. how pointless a lot of the work seems and in the end.. you are part of something much bigger and your part has little to do with the eventual outcome.
A great book.. by one of my favorite authors!
Diego Rivera : science and creativity in the Detroit murals
Diego Rivera : science and creativity in the Detroit murals
Dorothy McMeekin
Read 1/1/08
Started off the year by finishing a book. This was an indepth look at the Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts. I was planning on going there and wanted to read some more of the background first. It is amazing the details and realistic things he puts into his murals. To actually see the murals is ... amazing.. I am at a loss of words to describe it.
This is probably a good book to start on as I have become very interested in art and thus starts my education into the subject. Education is probably the wrong word. I am interested in Surealist most of all Dali.. but I will be sampling others works.
I have left my evening job and my reading has slowed considerably. I just need to make the effort to read, as I do enjoy it.. and I love reading a LOT of book.
Dorothy McMeekin
Read 1/1/08
Started off the year by finishing a book. This was an indepth look at the Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts. I was planning on going there and wanted to read some more of the background first. It is amazing the details and realistic things he puts into his murals. To actually see the murals is ... amazing.. I am at a loss of words to describe it.
This is probably a good book to start on as I have become very interested in art and thus starts my education into the subject. Education is probably the wrong word. I am interested in Surealist most of all Dali.. but I will be sampling others works.
I have left my evening job and my reading has slowed considerably. I just need to make the effort to read, as I do enjoy it.. and I love reading a LOT of book.
Books for 2007
Here are the books I read in 2007:
1/8/2007 The Joy Of Work Scott Adams
1/16/2007 George Burns: Hundred Year Dash George Burns
2/1/2007 The Mammoth Hunters Jean M Auel
2/15/2007 Ford, The Men And The Machine Robert Lacey
2/21/2007 Lansing Unlimited Arthur Russell Lauder
3/3/2007 Setting The Pace Helen Jones Early and James T. Walkinshaw
3/4/2007 The Essential Salvador Dali Robert Goff
3/11/2007 Hunting With Hemingway Hilary Hemingway and Jeffrey P. Lindsay
3/19/2007 In Our Time / Nick Adams Stories Ernest Hemingway
3/29/2007 The Plains of Passage Jean M Auel
4/5/2007 The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
4/12/2007 Cat's Eye Margaret Atwood
4/16/2007 Cannery Row John Steinbeck
4/18/2007 Ernest Hemingway Fished Here Larry Wakefield
4/20/2007 Whiff of Death Isaac Asimov
4/28/2006 Treasure Clive Cussler
5/2/2007 Sole Survivor Dean Koontz
5/9/2007 Rose Martin Cruz Smith
5/14/2007 Eaters Of The Dead Michael Crichton
5/28/2007 The Naïve and Sentimental Lover John LeCarre
6/3/2007 The Billion Dollar Brain Len Deighton
6/6/2007 Get Shorty Elmore Leonard
6/10/2007 Be Cool Elmore Leonard
6/11/2007 A Coyote's in the House Elmore Leonard
6/14/2007 The Bounty Hunters Elmore Leonard
6/27/2007 Manhattan Nocturne Colin Harrison
7/5/2007 Sin City Harold Robbins
7/13/2007 Sahara Clive Cussler
7/16/2007 The Eighth Commandment Lawrence Sanders
7/19/2007 Nighfall Isaac Asimov
7/24/2007 Rising Sun Michael Crichton
7/26/2007 No Shirt. No Shoes.. NO PROBLEM! Jeff Foxworthy
8/7/2007 The Seventh Commandment Lawrence Sanders
8/15/2007 Yesterdays Spy Len Deighton
8/17/2007 Map And Compass Cliff Jacobson
8/22/2007 Hitler's Secret Life Glenn B. Infield
8/27/2007 Touch Elmore Leonard
9/6/2007 Stalins Ghost Martin Cruz Smith
Wheels Arthur Hailey
Svelenta Martin Ebon
Decent From Xanadu Harold Robbins
Murder On The Grand Christopher Meehan
9/25/2007 The Mediterranean Caper Clive Cussler
10/11/2007 Main Street Sinclair Lewis
10/21/2007 Sphere Michael Crichton
In the Shadows of the Net Patrick Carnes
Hoolies True Yooper Tales Jim Hoolie Decalire
The Storyteller Harold Robbins
12/3/2007 The Perfect Spy John LeCarre
12/12/2007 Killshot Elmore Leonard
JLA Wonder Woman Mythos Carol Lay
12/31/2007 Where the Lilies Bloom Vera Cleaver
I did something different with my reading this year and tried to concentrate on longer books rather than sheer quantity of book. I got though the Jean Auel books and a few other long ones I had. My total was way down.. and mostly because my reading dropped off at the end of the year.
As I look over the list nothing really leaps out at me.. there were some good book including the new one by Martin Cruz Smith.. perhaps the best surprise was Wheels by Huxley... even though it is 40 years old it was still very on point.. and very good in his insight to what did happen in the auto industry in the 80s.
1/8/2007 The Joy Of Work Scott Adams
1/16/2007 George Burns: Hundred Year Dash George Burns
2/1/2007 The Mammoth Hunters Jean M Auel
2/15/2007 Ford, The Men And The Machine Robert Lacey
2/21/2007 Lansing Unlimited Arthur Russell Lauder
3/3/2007 Setting The Pace Helen Jones Early and James T. Walkinshaw
3/4/2007 The Essential Salvador Dali Robert Goff
3/11/2007 Hunting With Hemingway Hilary Hemingway and Jeffrey P. Lindsay
3/19/2007 In Our Time / Nick Adams Stories Ernest Hemingway
3/29/2007 The Plains of Passage Jean M Auel
4/5/2007 The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
4/12/2007 Cat's Eye Margaret Atwood
4/16/2007 Cannery Row John Steinbeck
4/18/2007 Ernest Hemingway Fished Here Larry Wakefield
4/20/2007 Whiff of Death Isaac Asimov
4/28/2006 Treasure Clive Cussler
5/2/2007 Sole Survivor Dean Koontz
5/9/2007 Rose Martin Cruz Smith
5/14/2007 Eaters Of The Dead Michael Crichton
5/28/2007 The Naïve and Sentimental Lover John LeCarre
6/3/2007 The Billion Dollar Brain Len Deighton
6/6/2007 Get Shorty Elmore Leonard
6/10/2007 Be Cool Elmore Leonard
6/11/2007 A Coyote's in the House Elmore Leonard
6/14/2007 The Bounty Hunters Elmore Leonard
6/27/2007 Manhattan Nocturne Colin Harrison
7/5/2007 Sin City Harold Robbins
7/13/2007 Sahara Clive Cussler
7/16/2007 The Eighth Commandment Lawrence Sanders
7/19/2007 Nighfall Isaac Asimov
7/24/2007 Rising Sun Michael Crichton
7/26/2007 No Shirt. No Shoes.. NO PROBLEM! Jeff Foxworthy
8/7/2007 The Seventh Commandment Lawrence Sanders
8/15/2007 Yesterdays Spy Len Deighton
8/17/2007 Map And Compass Cliff Jacobson
8/22/2007 Hitler's Secret Life Glenn B. Infield
8/27/2007 Touch Elmore Leonard
9/6/2007 Stalins Ghost Martin Cruz Smith
Wheels Arthur Hailey
Svelenta Martin Ebon
Decent From Xanadu Harold Robbins
Murder On The Grand Christopher Meehan
9/25/2007 The Mediterranean Caper Clive Cussler
10/11/2007 Main Street Sinclair Lewis
10/21/2007 Sphere Michael Crichton
In the Shadows of the Net Patrick Carnes
Hoolies True Yooper Tales Jim Hoolie Decalire
The Storyteller Harold Robbins
12/3/2007 The Perfect Spy John LeCarre
12/12/2007 Killshot Elmore Leonard
JLA Wonder Woman Mythos Carol Lay
12/31/2007 Where the Lilies Bloom Vera Cleaver
I did something different with my reading this year and tried to concentrate on longer books rather than sheer quantity of book. I got though the Jean Auel books and a few other long ones I had. My total was way down.. and mostly because my reading dropped off at the end of the year.
As I look over the list nothing really leaps out at me.. there were some good book including the new one by Martin Cruz Smith.. perhaps the best surprise was Wheels by Huxley... even though it is 40 years old it was still very on point.. and very good in his insight to what did happen in the auto industry in the 80s.
Where The Lilies Bloom (52)
Where The Lilies Bloom
Vera & Bill Cleaver
Read 12/31/07
I grabbed this at the library book sale one day. I vaugly remember this as a movie.. The book is somewhat interesting. Basically a young family.. the mother has died a few years earlier, and the father is now dying. He makes the 14 yr old daughter (second oldest) not to let the family get broken up.. Which basically means not to let anybody know that the father died. Also to make sure the oldest daughter who is 18 does not marry the middle aged neighbor man.
The family tries to stick together and make due in the snow and cold with little money. They do their best to keep the people at bay and not let them know they are alone.
The book was interesting but wraps up very quickly in a tidy happy ending. What I wonder most is if this is based on a true story, or if it is all fictional.
Vera & Bill Cleaver
Read 12/31/07
I grabbed this at the library book sale one day. I vaugly remember this as a movie.. The book is somewhat interesting. Basically a young family.. the mother has died a few years earlier, and the father is now dying. He makes the 14 yr old daughter (second oldest) not to let the family get broken up.. Which basically means not to let anybody know that the father died. Also to make sure the oldest daughter who is 18 does not marry the middle aged neighbor man.
The family tries to stick together and make due in the snow and cold with little money. They do their best to keep the people at bay and not let them know they are alone.
The book was interesting but wraps up very quickly in a tidy happy ending. What I wonder most is if this is based on a true story, or if it is all fictional.
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