BLUE CALHOUN by Reynolds Price

Finished Mo 1/5/26

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read. However, this was one of the finest novels that I've read in a long time. 

In broad strokes the story is about a 35 year old musical instrument salesman who falls madly in love with a sixteen year old girl. The disruption caused by this action has ramifications that affect his family forever.

The book is Blue (the guys name) explaining his life to his granddaughter. 

He has a 13 year old daughter who he worships and his wife his 'long suffering, yet forgiving'. Mom and daughter are both Catholics and the family lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is also Reynolds Price's home. Luna is the sixteen year old girl who is far older than her years. Her mother is a childhood friend of Blue's. 

The reveal is that his daughter's husband (the storyline moves ahead thiry) might be having some kind of sexual interaction with Blue's granddaughter, Lyn. Dane, her father commits suicide when Blue witnesses what he thinks is a sexual encounter with the young girl. 

The story is told in a very southern, almost 'decorous' style. 

From the book's page at KIRKUS:

"Written in the almost buttery style that Price has favored since Kate Vaiden (1986), this melodrama concerns an ex-alcoholic music salesman, Blue Calhoun, living in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the 1950's. Having sorely tried his wife and daughter and old mother by his drinking (he's sober now), Blue at last seems level. But then into the downtown music store where he works comes an old acquaintance from high school and her 16-year-old daughter, Luna. Blue is tempted and again falls; Luna (an incest victim) is a taste of freedom and possible redemption. He tries giving her up once, and is taken back by his family, but the leukemia death of an old bachelor friend re-involves Blue with Luna (in a not terribly credible plot-thickening). This second lapse is more serious, and, in sorrow, his long-suffering wife, daughter, and mother send him away. Blue will get still another chance (the story is boned with second and third chances), but his flaw has affected three—and ultimately four—generations of Calhoun women permanently. Only their patience and grace-in-pain reconstitute him. Price, in his recent books, has been assembling a kind of humane moral iconography: variously posed portraits of the utterly human sinner, no better and no worse than people can be; and strong versions of the Blessed Woman. Here, though, in the soapy re- curlings of the style (``I understood I'd failed completely, now today if never before in my long mess. I knew I was locked in the trough of it too, out here lost on a girl's hot tether, awaiting her will''), the icon seems merely air-filled. The characters speak to each other in conspicuously sad/wise parables; themes are paired too smoothly; and a certain gooey smugness—in the classical self- condemnatory/self-congratulatory mode—lurks everywhere."

 

THE HUNGER by Whitley Strieber

 Finished We 12/24/25

This was one of my ancient paperbacks that I first finished on Fr 12/6/19. I remembered the small detail that Miriam, the vampire used a soap that embalmers use on dead bodies to ward off the smell of decomposition. 

This is one of the better Vampire themed novels and introduces a bit of science to the subject. The key to 'Vampire-ism' might have something to do with the human body's need for sleep. Although vampires and humans are two entirely different species, there seems to be some connection via sleep. 

From the book's page at Publishers Weekly:

"Most readers know Strieber for his bestselling books about his alleged contacts with aliens (Communion, etc.). Yet before he met the saucerians, Strieber wrote immensely popular horror novels, some of them filmed (as was Communion which, nonfiction or not, is a horror classic). The most imaginative was The Hunger (1980), which posited an ancient race of vampires that created humanity and has directed our species' history. In his first novel in seven years, Strieber returns to the opulent, ferocious world of Miriam Blaylock, the beautiful, powerful and rapacious vampire who dominated The Hunger (and was played by Catherine Deneuve in the film version). It's time again for the vampires' centennial conclaves, and Miriam is in Thailand, hoping to find a mate at the Asian gathering. Instead she encounters a possibly mortal enemy, Paul Ward, a CIA operative heading up a hush-hush team dedicated to wiping out the vampires. The novel's first two-thirds offers a tour de force of mythmaking (as Strieber redefines the world through vampiric eyes) and emotionally intense action (as Ward's team stalks Miriam and her ilk). The last third, set in Manhattan, is less successful, as Miriam, intent on destroying Paul, lures and seduces him and then falls in love, as does he with her. This turn doesn't quite convince, and the contrived ending shrieks sequel. There's much here to admire, not least Strieber's expert modulation of tone and dialogue as POV shifts from Miriam (fluid, refined) to Paul (muscular, slangy). While not as original as its parent, this bloody, lush and gripping novel trumpets a welcome return to fiction by Strieber and could win award nominations."

The novel is lurid and trashy and I loved it and the next morning (Christmas Day, 2025)  I watched the film on Tubi. 

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST by Nikos Kazantzakis

Finished We 12/17/25 

This was one of my ancient trade paperpacks that I had never read. The premise of the story was familiar (Jesus's hallucination of a life that he might have had), but I think that I remember that from the movie. 

The book is a somewhat fictional account of the end of the life of Jesus. The disciples were all behind 'the savior' when he promised that they would become 'kings of the earth'. But when things got dangerous, they folded. 

Judas is a red headed blacksmith who was a member of The Zealots (with Barabas) who went around attacking people who were not 'following the laws of Moses'. Jesus's message was that he was 'the next covenant' and that he had come to replace those laws. Thomas was a merchant, Peter a fisherman, Mark a publican which means a pub owner or a tax collector, Nathaniel was 'slow' and a cobbler. 

When Jesus is put on the cross he hallucinates a life with two wives (Mary & Martha) and numerous children. In this life he lives to be an old man, but deeply regrets that he did not 'bear the sins of mankind on the cross'. 

 From Kirkus reviews:

"This is a retelling of the story of Christ which has created a stir of controversy abroad and is bound to be received with mixed feelings in this country. Kazantzakis is the greatest modern author Greece has produced and those who are familiar with his work will recognize the conflict between flesh and spirit which he has explored again and again in both his novels and philosophical writings. Here Kazantzakis follows the Gospels in accepting the miraculous events they relate. Where he deviates is in the psychological make-up of the Christ who is portrayed as a reluctant Messiah moved by the calling of God but also drawn toward living a normal life among men. The last temptation is in fact a vision which comes to Christ on the cross in which he sees himself married and as an old man surrounded by a loving family. Orthodox Christians may also be disturbed by the characterizations of Mary, Mary Magdalene and Judas who is portrayed sympathetically. Mary is a troubled mother worried about her son's strange behavior, and she would like nothing better than to see him living a full normal life. She is terrified by the mission he has undertaken and vainly tries to save him from self-destruction. Mary Magdalene was to be betrothed to Christ and in her disappointment over his rejection turns to prostitution before she is reborn to a higher understanding of love. And Judas is pictured as a rebellious zealot of the period who believed that the Kingdom of God should be brought about on earth by violent means if necessary. He is drawn to Christ's teachings but he cannot understand his passivity. In the end he betrays him unwillingly..... Kazantzakis is a powerful writer and this is a powerful book. The setting is again Mediterranean- the land and the people he understands so well. There is no doubt that the book will draw wide comment and, after all is said, it should prove to be one of the most important of the year."- August, 1960    

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT by Larry McMurtry

 Finished Su 11/30/25

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read. I had seen the movie (decades ago), but I didn't remember a thing.

The book is very different from the film. The novel could have easily been made into a play. Most of the action takes place in Aurora's kitchen. 

I loved the maid character and in the film she is barely mentioned. And, the astronaut character is not even in the novel. 

I'm glad I read the book, but the movie was infinitely better. 

My favorite joke from the book made it into the film. Aurora says that she hates the nickname 'Flap' because it reminds her of a loincloth. 

MERCEDES NIGHTS by Michael D. Weaver

 Finished Mo 11/24/25

This is one of my ancient hardbacks that I had never read. It's a clever idea, but hard to grasp and a bit confusing.

The Basics: Mercedes Nights is a famous female movie star and she is cloned by a sex service. "For $10,000 a night you can sleep with the most famous star in the world".

The kink is that each clone believes that she is the 'real' Mercedes Nights. Mayhem ensues. 

Although it was a confusing read, it was like PK Dick and I want to get another by this largely unknown author. He's got one on Amazon for a couple of bucks and I think that I'll pick it up. 

BODIES ELECTRIC by Colin Harrison

 Finished Su 11/16/25

***No wonder it was slightly familiar. I read it back in June of 2021. It's an entry in the blog. 

This was one of my ancient trade paperbacks that is an 'uncorrected proof'

A terrific Corporate Thriller/ Star-Crossed Lovers Tale

A rich NYC executive is dealing with the tragic murder of his pregnant wife when he meets a young Dominican woman and her four year old daughter. He thinks he has found his 'true love' and 'profound' meaning in his life, but what to do with her hot tempered Peurto Rican husband?  All three of the people involved in this toxic love triangle are nuanced characters.

 I really liked this novel and it would make a fantastic movie. 

From KIRKUS REVIEW:

"Harrison (Break and Enter, 1990) returns with the story of a 35-year-old widower who takes in a fleeing wife and her four-year- old daughter—at the same time that he's fighting for survival at the top of a communications conglomerate. Jack Whitman's rise to the near-top of a Time-Warneresque corporation was swift and well-rewarded. His personal life was equally successful until his pregnant wife was shot and killed by a drug dealer aiming at nearby rivals. Alone in his big Park Slope brownstone, Whitman now nurses his reflux-ravaged esophagus through the night, and protects his career from attacks on all sides during the day. His company is poised to merge with a German-Japanese conglomerate, an alliance that may take Jack to corporate nirvana or put him on the street. Taking the subway home one night, he meets a beautiful but exhausted woman who, with her little daughter, may be homeless—and after several days, a very tentative Dolores and her much less tentative daughter Maria enter his life. Dolores, a Dominican, has fled her Puerto Rican husband—she's not looking for a relationship, she just needs to stay off the streets. But Jack is clearly and powerfully attracted to her. When the husband picks up Dolores' trail and begins to threaten Jack, Jack hides her and the girl in his house, where she begins to carve out a home for the three of them. Meanwhile, Jack's professional life gets more and more frightening. He's been assigned the suicidal task of convincing the corporation's powerful chairman of the wisdom and inevitability of the megamerger, and the chairman is quite as dangerous as the maniacally vengeful husband.... Intelligent and totally absorbing. What might have been a routine corporate-basher becomes, in the hands of the very skillful, wisely observant, and profoundly moral author, a novel to remember. Walt Whitman haunts the story throughout and to great effect."

THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware

 Finished We 11/12/25

This is a trade paperback that Janny loaned me. I was partway through the novel when I realized that I had just seen the movie. It starred Kiera Knightley and I wasn't that impressed with the film or the novel. 

A young travel reporter is asked to cover the virgin cruise of a lavish passenger boat off the coast of Norway. The premise is that the billionaire owner of the ship is trying to use the cruise to cover the murder his wife and then claim that she left the cruise and disappeared. What happened is that he brought his lover on board to pose as his wife. That's where I thought it was a bit hard to believe, but I guess it was slightly possible. The  young female travel reporter heard someone going overboard, but nobody on the ship believes her. 

The level of writing was about what you would expect- James Patterson, Agatha Christie or Jonathan Keller. It's not bad, and very readable, just not very memorable. 

From 'AI Overview':

"In The Woman in Cabin 10, travel journalist Lo Blacklock sees a woman thrown from the luxury cruise ship's cabin 10, but all passengers are accounted for. She becomes obsessed with proving a murder occurred, while facing skepticism and being targeted by those who want her to drop the investigation. The plot follows her attempts to uncover the truth behind the disappearance, revealing a complex conspiracy involving the ship's owner and a look-alike meant to impersonate the heiress."