STRANGE FITS OF PASSION by Anita Shreve

 Finished Th 2/23/23

This is one of the books that The Brandenburgs gave me for Xmas, 2022.

This is a superior novel about domestic violence during the 70's.

A woman is married to an abusive husband so she abandons her life and flees with her infant to a small village on the coast of Maine. She meets a sympathetic man (crab fisherman) and has an affair, but her husband finds her and she kills him. The story is a flashback and it is the author giving the novel to the infant daughter who is now grown. 

I found the book insightful and moving. The author is an excellent storyteller. 

From the book's page at Amazon:

"Everyone believes that Maureen and Harrold English, two successful New York City journalists, have a happy, stable marriage. It's the early '70s, and no one discusses or even suspects domestic abuse.

But after Maureen suffers another brutal beating, she flees with her infant daughter to a coastal town in Maine. The weeks pass slowly, and just as Maureen settles into her new life and new identity, Harrold reappears, bringing the story to a violent, unforgettable climax.

Nearly nineteen years later, a cache of documents regarding Maureen English is given to her daughter by a journalist. The truth should lie within them, but the papers raise far more questions than they answer..."   

Link to the author's page at Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Shreve

Anita Shreve wrote 'THE PILOT'S WIFE' and when Oprah Winfrey selected the novel for her 'book club' Shreve's novels took off. Both 'THE PILOT'S WIFE' and 'THE WEIGHT OF WATER' were made into big budget, Hollywood films. 

STRAIGHT LIFE- by Art Pepper & Laurie Pepper

Finished Su 2/19/23

This is a trade paperback that I bought for my birthday. Art Pepper was a jazz sax player that was featured on the album that was supposed to be 'faves' of Harry Bosch, Michael Connelly novels. 

This is one of the best biographies that I've ever read. It was really a 'warts & all' portrait. I was surprised to read his very racist worldview, but you could see how he got there.

Patti- First wife who left him for another jazz artist when Art was in jail

Diane- A woman from the Philippines who was a fan. She was very loyal, but crazy.

Christine- This woman fancied herself a jazz singer and once she punched Art and almost killed him.

Laurie- Another 'fan', but this woman stuck with him.

SYNANON- a crazy 'therapy/ religion' that is based on Alcoholics Anonymous, but once you join the group, you never leave. They believe that once you are an addict you can never be strong enough to live unassisted. This group is no longer allowed in the US, but it's pretty big in Germany. 

When he made 'ART PEPPER MEETS THE RHYTHM SECTION' he was strung out and his horn had not been disassembled after he last used it and the cork seal was crumbling. Red Garland/ Philly Joe Jones/ Paul Chambers. 

The picture on the cover of the book was taken when he was junk sick. 

The best book I've ever read about what it would be like to do hard time in prison (San Quentin).

The most realistic portrayal of what it's like to be an addict. 

From the book's page at GoodReads:

"American jazz musician noted for the beauty of his sound and his improvisations on alto saxophone, and a major figure in the 1950s in West Coast jazz.

Pepper in his teens played in Los Angeles bands led by Lee Young and Benny Carter, then joined the Stan Kenton band briefly before serving in the U.S. Army (1944–46). He returned to Kenton in 1947 and remained until 1952, the year he began leading recording groups. Narcotics addiction and drug-related prison terms interrupted his freelance career in the 1950s; after a remarkably productive period of recording, 1956–60, he spent most of 1961–67 in prison. Physical ailments and a three-year period of rehabilitation in Synanon resulted in only intermittent performing until the late 1970s, when he resumed frequent recording and touring.

Pepper had been influenced by both swing musicians, especially Carter, and bop-era musicians such as Charlie Parker and Lee Konitz. He played alto saxophone with a brilliant, pure tone, stating even small note values with clarity, and he also played clarinet and tenor saxophone on occasion. He constructed his solos with broken phrases and asymmetric accents and formed melodic lines with rare, compelling tension. In contrast to the cool jazz aesthetic that prevailed among other white West Coast jazz musicians, Pepper’s improvising was intensely emotional at all tempos, and he was a sensitive interpreter as well, as in Hoagy Carmichael’s 1956 recording of “Winter Moon.”

Among his major recordings are his 1956 “Besame Mucho” and the albums Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (1957), The Way It Was (1960), and Smack Up (1960). Influenced by John Coltrane’s music by the 1970s, Pepper recurringly incorporated modal material, cyclic forms, and dissonant, sheets-of-sound elements into his soloing, which continued to be outstanding at the end of his career."

 

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND by Robert Heinlein

 Finished Fr 2/10/23

When I finished 'THE SECOND SON' by Charles Sailor it reminded me so much of the theme of Heinlein's novel that I had to reread it. I looked for my copy, but it was nowhere to be found. I got this for the Kindle and it was only five bucks. 

This was also a novel that dealt with a 'new messiah'. 

Sailor's book was more about how the existing institutions (religions & government) would deal with a new manifestation of 'god' and Heinlein's theme was about how people's lives would change after this cosmic occurrence. 

I liked both books, but 'STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND' is the better novel. I can't believe that Heinlein wrote and released this book in 1962. It is truly before its time. 

I think Heinlein did not identify with his main character, Valentine Michael Smith, as much as he did the character of Jubal Harshaw. The gruff, no-it-all, older gentleman who has 'seen and done it all' is more how the author probably viewed his own life.  

How Jubal treats the women in his life would cause a huge backlash if the novel had been released today. It seems that the role for women in 'STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND' is to be sexy, available, and instantly take the advice and counsel of the men in their social and professional circles.  

The sections of the novel that dealt with 'the Fosterites in Heaven' seemed like they didn't even belong in the story. It just made the whole thing seem unnecessarily odd. 

From the novel's review at The Guardian:

"Heinlein said he wanted to slaughter "the biggest, fattest sacred cows" of western society — chief among which is monogamy. Certainly the challenge Michael presents to conventional mores is provocative — and must have seemed especially so in 1961 — and it's all presented in an appealingly gentle way (with the exception of the fact that Jill, one of the lead characters, is prone to homophobia and saying things like: "nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped it's partly her fault"). The lovey-dovey joy of Michael and his followers also provides an effective contrast with the more sharply barbed satires on religion and the media.

So yes, it's daft, but it's also thoughtful and generally good fun. Heinlein does have a tendency to lecture and harangue, but generally does an excellent job of making palatable some challenging ideas. You have to be a particular type of person to take these ideas entirely seriously, but as "an invitation to think — not to believe" (as the author once described it) Stranger From A Strange Land is a resounding success."

THE SECOND SON by Charles Sailor

 Finished Tu 1/31/23

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read.

It's a fascinating story of what it might be like if 'a new messiah' came to the planet.

Governments and churches would clamor to get the 'new son' to promote their vision of mankind's relationship with the divine. The Catholic Church would be at the head of the line to control the narrative.

Joseph Turner is a welder working on a high rise in NYC. One day he falls twenty-four stories while trying to save another man. He hits the ground and is perfectly fine. A couple of days later he runs into a burning building and saves two children. Then, he becomes 'the new son of God'. Although Turner is not convinced of his divinity, he tries to do the 'right thing'. He 'preaches' a philosophy of  'why can't we all get along' and 'the power is within you'.

He is told that his powers would only last until the next Good Friday. When that day arrives, he goes back to the scene of his 24 story fall, and disappears, but his followers are still with him in spirit. 

It was an easy and enjoyable read, but not as interesting as 'STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND' by Robert Heinlein. I ordered that novel from Amazon on Kindle the day I finished 'THE SECOND SON'.

About the author at his page on Amazon:

"New York Times Best Selling Author, screenwriter, and actor. Novels: The New York Times Best Seller “The Second Son”, which had an unprecedented 1.2 million copy first printing, and his newest novel “The Man Who Rode the Tiger.” Charles Sailor is the author of more than forty scripts for television programs, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “Kojak,” “Rockford Files,” “Switch,” “Chips,” “Bronk,” “Get Christi Love,” and television pilots including “The Bureau”, and “Nu Deli”; and scripts for television films, including “The Devils of Hell Week,” “Shock Team”, “Death With Total Security”, and “The Hostage Heart.” He has also been credited under the pseudonym Alexander Stewart.

Worked as actor in motion pictures, stage productions and television programs, including “Return To Peyton Place”, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About But Were Afraid to Ask,” “Medical Center,” “General Hospital,” Blue Knight,” and “Katherine” Member: Writers Guild of American West, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild."

MIRACLE CURE by Harlan Coben

 Finished Tu 1/24/23 (On the day of my colonoscopy)

This is a book that Janny loaned to me several weeks ago.

A small research clinic in NYC seems to have developed a cure for HIV. A conspiracy of government people and a corrupt, right-wing preacher try to suppress this breakthrough. The bible thumping pastor thinks that AIDS is 'God's Will'.

Actually, the conspiracy is to keep secret the fact that they have NOT developed a cure. Kind of a silly resolution, but unexpected.

The night before my colonoscopy I must have read 150 pages waiting for the laxative to take hold.

The pace of the story was electrifying, yet the characters are kind of shallow. This is typical of most of his books. 

From the book's page on Amazon: 

"They’re one of the country’s most telegenic couples: beloved TV journalist Sara Lowell and New York’s hottest basketball star, Michael Silverman. Their family and social connections tie them to the highest echelons of the political, medical, and sports worlds—threads that will tangle them up in one of the most controversial and deadly issues of our time.

In a clinic on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a doctor has dedicated his life to eradicating a divisive and devastating disease. One by one, his patients are getting well. One by one, they’re being targeted by a serial killer. And now Michael has been diagnosed with the disease. There’s only one cure, but many ways to die..." 

DETOUR by Cheryl Crane (daughter of Lana Turner)

 Refinished Fr 1/20/23

This is one of my ancient hardbacks that I purchased at the main branch for $1.00 on Sa 5/13/95 and I finished it on Fr 5/19/95.

This was far better than I expected and I really enjoyed the book.

Cheryl Crane had six step fathers and four step mothers before she was 19 years old. 

It struck me how much of how we feel about Motherhood, Family, and Siblings were crafted by watching our 'heroes' on the silver screen. Yet when you peel back the propaganda, these people were deeply flawed individuals.  

Good Friday, 1958 Cheryl stabbed and killed her mother's boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, a bodyguard and personal assistant to Mickey Cohen (Los Angeles mobster).

Studio executive said: "Take away her sweater and what have you got"?

This was kind of a 'beach or airport' read, but I really liked it. 

A KISS BEFORE DYING by Ira Levin

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I first completed on We 8/11/93 and I refinished Mo 1/16/23.

There was an interesting note on the flyleaf. It said that the night that I first finished the novel I rented and watched the movie from Thrifty Video. I can't remember where Thrifty Video was located. Maybe near the old Wilkerson's Repair at Monroe and Chatham?

I loved the book, but only 'liked' the ending. I expected something a little more 'unexpected'.

A young man is obsessed with becoming rich and he sees that the easiest way would be to marry a woman from a 'well connected' family. He becomes involved with a wealthy young woman, but he gets her pregnant and he immediately realizes that her father will not continue to support her if she is 'with child' before the wedding. 

His solution is to kill his bride and make it look like a suicide. This works and then he looks to her other sister to try the same plan.

***To get his bride to write a suicide note was a tough problem and he provides an interesting solution. He writes the suicide letter in Spanish and says that he needs it translated to English.   

A Kiss Before Dying not only debuted the talent of best-selling novelist Ira Levin to rave reviews and an Edgar Award, it also set a new standard in the art of psychological suspense. It tells the shocking tale of a young man who will stop at nothing―not even murder―to get where he wants to go. For he has dreams; plans. He also has charm, good looks, intelligence. And he has a problem. Her name is Dorothy; she loves him, and she's pregnant. The solution may demand desperate measures. But, then, he looks like the kind of guy who could get away with murder.

The final showdown at the copper smelter was kind of a letdown. I guess it was more cinematic. 

***The film is no longer at Netflix disc and it is not available on any streaming service.