IMAGO by Octavia E. Butler

 Finished Th 7/16/26

I bought a collection of books {THE XENOGENESIS TRILOGY} by Butler from Amazon and they arrived on April 29, 2026. 'IMAGO' is the final book in the series. 

Earth is 'saved' by an alien interstellar race. In order to 'move forward' alien DNA must be introduced to the human genetic condition. Some humans resist and others welcome the change. 

From AI Mode:

"The narrative follows Jodahs, the first Ooloi (a genderless, gene-trading third sex) born to a human mother. As Jodahs goes through its dangerous metamorphosis on a detoxified, alien-dominated Earth, it must learn to control its potent genetic and biochemical powers before becoming a living plague.

Ethical Unrest: Because Ooloi use biochemical pheromones to seduce and secure their mates, some reviewers note that this dynamic sweeps aside human autonomy. Fans find this an unsettling but brilliant way for Butler to challenge traditional concepts of romance and consent.

The Alien Dilemma: The series explores the concept that human children can only inherit the universe if they lose what makes them fundamentally human. Reviewers on platforms like Medium appreciate the first-person perspective, as it brings you directly inside the headspace of a creature reshaping human experience."

I've got more by Octavia Butler and I look forward to her novel point of view.

The book was a little hard to follow, but the issues were excellent. It had nothing to do with today's issue of men changing their sex to win medals in women's competitions. 

ROUGH MIX by Jimmy Bowen & Jim Jerome

 Refinished Fr 7/10/26

This was one of my old hardbacks and I bought the book at the library book sale on Sa 1/22/04 {it was frigid and 1/2 inch of snow). Finished on Mo 1/31/05 and again on Su 7/7/13.

A profile of a true 'mover & shaker' in the American popular music scene. Fun Fact: He gave Elvis's song, 'In The Ghetto', to Sammy Davis Jr., but he passed on it.  

From Kirkus:

"Bowen, a man who made millions of dollars, and seemingly as many enemies, with his ruthless management style (Jerry Lee Lewis purportedly wanted to kill him), describes his life in this candid, if self-aggrandizing, autobiography. Bowen is best known for his role in facilitating the recent resurgence of country music. He started his career as a bass player but quickly found greater success as a producer, working with Frank Sinatra and his ``Rat Pack.'' He displayed what was to become his signature manic drive when he created a hit for Sinatra out of ``Strangers in the Night,'' a song that had already been recorded by another singer and was about to land in stores. Bowen recorded, pressed, and delivered Sinatra's version within a nerve-wracking 24 hours, beat out the competition, and gave Sinatra's career a major mid-1960s boost. Ambition (and a perpetual yearning for new challenges) drove Bowen from one record label to another. He was almost always successful, sometimes spectacularly so. He managed six Nashville divisions—including those of Warner and MCA—in just over a decade. Whenever he took over a label, he would fire and replace much of the staff, update recording techniques (he was an early proponent of digital recording technology), and encourage artists to take responsibility for the direction and production of their music. The book provides wonderful flashes of music history throughout, including Bowen's shrewd assessments of the sprawling, frantic music business and of major rock and country singers. Country music fans will also find interest in the measured jabs aimed at Bowen's business nemesis, Garth Brooks, one of country's biggest stars. Though an unauthorized biography might be more revealing, Bowen is honest enough with his audience to scare: It's like watching a Great White from inside a shark cage—readers will be fascinated, but happy they aren't closer."

A FAN'S NOTES by FREDERICK EXLEY

 Finished Mo 7/6/26

I received this trade paperback from Amazon on Sa 6/27/26. It was a recommendation from Sam Morrill and it was a great pick.

From AI Mode:

"Frederick Exley's 1968 classic, A Fan's Notes, is widely celebrated as a tragic, brutally honest, and masterpiece of the "literature of failure". Subtitled "A Fictional Memoir", this semi-autobiographical novel traces a self-professed failure's nightmarish descent into alcoholism, mental institutions, and profound personal despair. The central framework of the book balances Exley's devastating personal unravelling with an intense, parasocial obsession with the New York Giants and their star halfback, Frank Gifford."

"Lyrical, High-Minded Prose Style: Despite depicting extreme degradation, bars, and shock treatment rooms, Exley employs a ponderous, esoteric, and fiercely eloquent vocabulary that creates a sharp, dark humor.An Anatomy of the American Dream: Critics frequently note that the book serves as a devastating critique of 1950s and 60s consumerism. It explores the heavy psychological toll placed on ordinary men who fail to achieve societal expectations of grand success."

A charcter is called 'Patty The Duke'- He's an Irishman with an upperclass demeanor. It's a pun on the 'Patty Duke Show' (I think).

Explanation of 'Insulin Shock Therapy'

So many great scenes and the 'hero' is completely unreliable. I loved the book. 

THE MOSQUITO COAST by Paul Theroux

 Finished Su 6/28/26

This was an ancient paperback that I'd read and finished Fr 12/3/93. I bought this at 'Books On Belmont' in Chicago. The first time through I skimmed to the end, and this time I read it cover to cover. A great book and I'd love to see the film. It's not available for streaming and maybe the library had a DVD. 

From AI Mode:

"The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux is widely considered a masterpiece of modern American literature. Maintaining a strong 3.88 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, this 1981 novel tracks the dark, spiral descent of Allie Fox. Fox is a brilliant but fiercely paranoid inventor who uproots his family to build a utopian society in the Honduran jungle."

"A Masterclass in Character Study: Reviewers are uniformly transfixed by Allie Fox. Readers describe him as one of fiction's most memorable, infuriating patriarchs—combining absolute genius with megalomania and domestic tyranny.The Power of the Narrator: The story is told through the eyes of Allie's 14-year-old son, Charlie. Critics note this first-person perspective is essential; watching Charlie's perspective shift from absolute worship of his father to profound horror creates immense emotional weight.Lush, Atmospheric Prose: Theroux’s extensive background in travel writing shines. Readers frequently remark that you can practically feel the oppressive heat, stickiness, and buzzing insects of the Honduran jungle."  

I will definitely read more by Theroux.

ADULTHOOD RITES by Octavia E. Butler

 Finished Fr 6/12/26

I skimmed 'DAWN' by Butler which was the first novel in the series. 

From AI Mode:

"Adulthood Rites by Octavia Butler is the highly acclaimed 1988 science fiction sequel to Dawn, tracking the coming-of-age journey of Akin, the first male human-alien hybrid born on a rehabilitated Earth. Critical consensus on platforms like Goodreads sits at a strong 4.19 out of 5 stars, with readers praising its brilliant exploration of bodily autonomy, colonialism, and what it truly means to be human."

"Deep Philosophical Questions: Reviewers appreciate how Butler expands on the "human contradiction" (intelligence paired with hierarchical aggression). It forces readers to think deeply about consent, compromise, and assimilation. Nuanced Gray Morality: Unlike standard alien invasion tropes, the conflict is not black-and-white. The genetic-trading Oankali aliens are paternalistic but calculated, while the "Resistor" humans are fiercely independent yet prone to self-destruction. Fascinating Perspective: Shifting the narrative away from Lilith (the protagonist of Dawn) to Akin allows readers to witness the world through an entirely different biological lens. Akin has an adult's cognitive capacity trapped in an infant's body, utilizing a sensitive tongue to read DNA at a molecular level."  

I will definitely finish this series and read more by Octavia Butler.