Finished We 2/27/13
A book about American politics that moves like an Action/Adventure Thriller, and makes the presidential election of 2008 seem like blockbuster entertainment. Even I can remember back to the Democratic primary of that year, and Barack Obama wasn't a 'long shot', but much more of a 'no shot'. And, this delightful book delineates just exactly how Hilary Clinton lost her bid for the party's nomination, or how Obama took it from her (depending on your point of view). The book is not a partisan diatribe 'for' or 'against' any political point of view, but delivers a very nuanced examination of the people involved, and at the end of the book I felt that I had a much better understanding of the candidates and their election teams.
GAME CHANGE is compelling and informative, and although many of the conclusions are probably based on opinions that don't allow for fact-checking, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. I highly recommend it!
My notes-
This is a movie by HBO that Lannie told me about when I was in Phoenix, Feb. 2013. We were talking about Netflix and she was under the impression that they did not carry HBO films, and I showed her that this was not the case. The movie is only about The McCain/Palin Election Race, but it was an excellent film, and I saw it before I got the book.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
GOSSIP by Beth Gutcheon
Finished We 2/20/13
February 2013 Selection for The Contemporary Book Club, Springfield IL.
This is the story of three female 'baby-boomers' who met in boarding school, and remained close over the next fifty years. The author, Beth Gucheon, includes a rather antiquated definition of the title word, however the novel is driven by rumor, malicious talk, and light, indiscreet chatter, in fact, the tone of the novel is downright, 'gossipy'. The three women become more-or-less very prominent fixtures in Manhattan's High Society. Dinah writes several newspaper columns and becomes an authority on all that's 'hip', Avis becomes an astute and reticent fixture in the rarefied world of Art, and Lovie French, the narrator of the tale, is the owner of a trendy fashion boutique, and renown for her impeccable taste. However, all of them seem to be trapped in lives that are governed and dictated by other people's false impressions of them. Jim Morrison claimed in one of his songs that, 'No one here gets out alive', and it seems that Gucheon's novel makes the point that 'No one here gets out free from the negative opinions of others'.
The novel is written in a light and breezy style, and filled with wonderfully written scenes. It's kind of a 'Thinking Man's, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY.
My post on Good Reads-
A Thinking Person's---THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY, written in a light and breezy style, filled with wonderfully written scenes.
This is the story of three female 'baby-boomers' who met in boarding school, and remained close over the next fifty years. The author, Beth Gucheon, includes a rather antiquated definition of the title word, however the novel is driven by rumor, malicious talk, and light, indiscreet chatter, in fact, the tone of the novel is downright, 'gossipy'. The three women become more-or-less very prominent fixtures in Manhattan's High Society. Dinah writes several newspaper columns and becomes an authority on all that's 'hip', Avis becomes an astute and reticent fixture in the rarefied world of Art, and Lovie French, the narrator of the tale, is the owner of a trendy fashion boutique, and renown for her impeccable taste. However, all of them seem to be trapped in lives that are governed and dictated by other people's false impressions of them. Jim Morrison claimed in one of his songs that, 'No one here gets out alive', and it seems that Gucheon's novel makes the point that 'No one here gets out free from the negative opinions of others'.
February 2013 Selection for The Contemporary Book Club, Springfield IL.
This is the story of three female 'baby-boomers' who met in boarding school, and remained close over the next fifty years. The author, Beth Gucheon, includes a rather antiquated definition of the title word, however the novel is driven by rumor, malicious talk, and light, indiscreet chatter, in fact, the tone of the novel is downright, 'gossipy'. The three women become more-or-less very prominent fixtures in Manhattan's High Society. Dinah writes several newspaper columns and becomes an authority on all that's 'hip', Avis becomes an astute and reticent fixture in the rarefied world of Art, and Lovie French, the narrator of the tale, is the owner of a trendy fashion boutique, and renown for her impeccable taste. However, all of them seem to be trapped in lives that are governed and dictated by other people's false impressions of them. Jim Morrison claimed in one of his songs that, 'No one here gets out alive', and it seems that Gucheon's novel makes the point that 'No one here gets out free from the negative opinions of others'.
The novel is written in a light and breezy style, and filled with wonderfully written scenes. It's kind of a 'Thinking Man's, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY.
My post on Good Reads-
A Thinking Person's---THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY, written in a light and breezy style, filled with wonderfully written scenes.
This is the story of three female 'baby-boomers' who met in boarding school, and remained close over the next fifty years. The author, Beth Gucheon, includes a rather antiquated definition of the title word, however the novel is driven by rumor, malicious talk, and light, indiscreet chatter, in fact, the tone of the novel is downright, 'gossipy'. The three women become more-or-less very prominent fixtures in Manhattan's High Society. Dinah writes several newspaper columns and becomes an authority on all that's 'hip', Avis becomes an astute and reticent fixture in the rarefied world of Art, and Lovie French, the narrator of the tale, is the owner of a trendy fashion boutique, and renown for her impeccable taste. However, all of them seem to be trapped in lives that are governed and dictated by other people's false impressions of them. Jim Morrison claimed in one of his songs that, 'No one here gets out alive', and it seems that Gucheon's novel makes the point that 'No one here gets out free from the negative opinions of others'.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
TENDER IS THE NIGHT by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Finished Sa 2/16/13
February selection for The Springfield Classical Book Group
The story-line is fresh and original, chock full of brilliant descriptive writing, yet several plot points are confusing and vague. The book could have been riveting, but, in the end, it's only mildly interesting. The overall theme of the book seems to be that 'changing fortunes'. Dick Diver begins as a prominent socialite and successful psychiatrist who is married to a very troubled and neurotic Nicole. By the end of the novel, Dick has lost it all and become crippled by alcoholism, and Nicole has moved on, remarried, and seems to have taken control of her life. And, all of this matrimonial turmoil takes place in the most lush and ritzy locations of post WWI Europe with rich and influential characters based on prominent people who helped popularize The Jazz Age.
However, the novel is marred by a clunky presentation. When you read the book pay close attention to these confounding yet pivotal plot points. What did Mrs. McKisco see in The Diver's bathroom? What was the reason for the murder of the black man who ended up in Rosemary's bed? Who did it, and why? What precipitated the Nick's drunken cab fight in Italy? These key points seemed needlessly confusing, and really marred the flow of the novel. Also, several times Fitzgerald includes sections of dialog in French without translation which I found exceptionally irritating.
February selection for The Springfield Classical Book Group
The story-line is fresh and original, chock full of brilliant descriptive writing, yet several plot points are confusing and vague. The book could have been riveting, but, in the end, it's only mildly interesting. The overall theme of the book seems to be that 'changing fortunes'. Dick Diver begins as a prominent socialite and successful psychiatrist who is married to a very troubled and neurotic Nicole. By the end of the novel, Dick has lost it all and become crippled by alcoholism, and Nicole has moved on, remarried, and seems to have taken control of her life. And, all of this matrimonial turmoil takes place in the most lush and ritzy locations of post WWI Europe with rich and influential characters based on prominent people who helped popularize The Jazz Age.
However, the novel is marred by a clunky presentation. When you read the book pay close attention to these confounding yet pivotal plot points. What did Mrs. McKisco see in The Diver's bathroom? What was the reason for the murder of the black man who ended up in Rosemary's bed? Who did it, and why? What precipitated the Nick's drunken cab fight in Italy? These key points seemed needlessly confusing, and really marred the flow of the novel. Also, several times Fitzgerald includes sections of dialog in French without translation which I found exceptionally irritating.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
WALKING THE PERFECT SQUARE by Reed Farrel Coleman
Finished Sa 2/2/13
My post to Good Reads-
This is my first 'Moe Prager' novel, and I was only familiar with Coleman's stand-alone novel, GUN CHURCH. The two novels are as different as can be, but both are well worth a look. WALKING THE PERFECT SQUARE is a rather complicated story with dozens of characters that keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the final page. A young man disappears, and disabled cop, Moe Prager, is approached by the family to locate the boy, but is he being played for a patsy? Lots of great locations in NYC and Brooklyn.
I can't wait to get another Moe Prager mystery.
August 6th, 1998- The present in the story, and also the 18th birthday of Prager's daugher, Sarah.
Patrick M. Maloney- The young man who disappears. He left his family because he was living in the shadow of his dead, sainted brother, Francis Maloney Jr. who was shot-down and killed over Vietnam.
Francis Maloney- He is the racist, hard-headed, and unlikable head of the family. He's an ex-cop, but makes his power as a fund raiser for the party. He was kicked off the force for beating up and sodomizing a transvestite.
Katy Maloney- Daughter of Francis, brother of Patrick. She falls in love with Moe. They marry, but this isn't really covered.
THE REVEAL-
Moe realizes that the bartender at Pooty's, Jack, must be Patrick's boyfriend. He confronts Jack, and they agree that Patrick will resurface in a few days, but that never happens. And, for twenty years neither Jack or Moe can be sure if he ran away or something happened to Patrick.
In the final pages of the novel it is revealed that a group of low-level dope dealers from Brooklyn were in lower Manhattan, and one of these kids told his boss that he was fondled by a gay guy. They went to NYC to find him, and they arbitrarily find Patrick and kill him and bury him in the same cemetery that holds Harry Houdini. One of the boys that was part of the kill team tells Moe as the man is on his death bed in a Catholic hospice dying of cancer. Francis Maloney dies, and had kept the parka that Moe was given back in 1978 to prove that Patrick was still alive. He hated Moe so much, that he left this coat to tell the rest of the family that Moe had not done his job, and might have had something to do with the disappearance. Katy and Moe separate because she can't accept the fact that Moe didn't tell her everything regardless of the unpleasant nature of the true facts.
My post to Good Reads-
This is my first 'Moe Prager' novel, and I was only familiar with Coleman's stand-alone novel, GUN CHURCH. The two novels are as different as can be, but both are well worth a look. WALKING THE PERFECT SQUARE is a rather complicated story with dozens of characters that keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the final page. A young man disappears, and disabled cop, Moe Prager, is approached by the family to locate the boy, but is he being played for a patsy? Lots of great locations in NYC and Brooklyn.
I can't wait to get another Moe Prager mystery.
August 6th, 1998- The present in the story, and also the 18th birthday of Prager's daugher, Sarah.
Patrick M. Maloney- The young man who disappears. He left his family because he was living in the shadow of his dead, sainted brother, Francis Maloney Jr. who was shot-down and killed over Vietnam.
Francis Maloney- He is the racist, hard-headed, and unlikable head of the family. He's an ex-cop, but makes his power as a fund raiser for the party. He was kicked off the force for beating up and sodomizing a transvestite.
Katy Maloney- Daughter of Francis, brother of Patrick. She falls in love with Moe. They marry, but this isn't really covered.
THE REVEAL-
Moe realizes that the bartender at Pooty's, Jack, must be Patrick's boyfriend. He confronts Jack, and they agree that Patrick will resurface in a few days, but that never happens. And, for twenty years neither Jack or Moe can be sure if he ran away or something happened to Patrick.
In the final pages of the novel it is revealed that a group of low-level dope dealers from Brooklyn were in lower Manhattan, and one of these kids told his boss that he was fondled by a gay guy. They went to NYC to find him, and they arbitrarily find Patrick and kill him and bury him in the same cemetery that holds Harry Houdini. One of the boys that was part of the kill team tells Moe as the man is on his death bed in a Catholic hospice dying of cancer. Francis Maloney dies, and had kept the parka that Moe was given back in 1978 to prove that Patrick was still alive. He hated Moe so much, that he left this coat to tell the rest of the family that Moe had not done his job, and might have had something to do with the disappearance. Katy and Moe separate because she can't accept the fact that Moe didn't tell her everything regardless of the unpleasant nature of the true facts.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
HOME SAFE by Elizabeth Berg
Finished We 1/30/13
"Ann Tyler Lite"
Helen Ames has been a widow for almost a year, and she is rather unsuccessfully dealing with her loss. Dan handled all of the practical details of their marriage, and tended to coddle Helen. Now, Helen tries to make her adult daughter, Tessa, the focus of her life, but a surprise 'beyond the grave' gift from Dan introduces radical change.
One of the themes of Elizabeth Berg's sentimental novel is similar to O. Henry's 'Gift of The Magi'. Both Dan and Helen secretly acknowledge each other's deepest desire for life after retirement. However, Dan doesn't make it quite that far.
Berg writes in a highly conversational style, and it's almost impossible not to like her characters or their situations. But, nothing gets 'dark' enough, and it seems that any level of emotional pain is quite bearable. This is something that never happens with an Ann Tyler novel. Her characters can be overwhelmed by problems, and her books, as a result, seem more reality based.
(Dan dies at the breakfast table, and Helen is at the sink with her back turned. She hears a coffee cup crash to the floor, and without turning, exclaims, "Dammit Dan, I just bought that cup"! Her last words to her loving husband of twenty-five years.)
Dream Home with a tree house.
Lighted astrological signs on the master bedroom ceiling
Tiny rooms, room-sized closets
"Ann Tyler Lite"
Helen Ames has been a widow for almost a year, and she is rather unsuccessfully dealing with her loss. Dan handled all of the practical details of their marriage, and tended to coddle Helen. Now, Helen tries to make her adult daughter, Tessa, the focus of her life, but a surprise 'beyond the grave' gift from Dan introduces radical change.
One of the themes of Elizabeth Berg's sentimental novel is similar to O. Henry's 'Gift of The Magi'. Both Dan and Helen secretly acknowledge each other's deepest desire for life after retirement. However, Dan doesn't make it quite that far.
Berg writes in a highly conversational style, and it's almost impossible not to like her characters or their situations. But, nothing gets 'dark' enough, and it seems that any level of emotional pain is quite bearable. This is something that never happens with an Ann Tyler novel. Her characters can be overwhelmed by problems, and her books, as a result, seem more reality based.
(Dan dies at the breakfast table, and Helen is at the sink with her back turned. She hears a coffee cup crash to the floor, and without turning, exclaims, "Dammit Dan, I just bought that cup"! Her last words to her loving husband of twenty-five years.)
Dream Home with a tree house.
Lighted astrological signs on the master bedroom ceiling
Tiny rooms, room-sized closets
Monday, January 28, 2013
THE EMPTY GLASS by J.I. Baker
Finished Mo 1/28/13
My post on Good Reads-
James Ellroy could have taken this concept, and knocked it out of the park!
THE EMPTY GLASS is a fictionalized account of the death of Marilyn Monroe, however many of the events and character interactions actually happened, but unless you are an authority on the life of the actress, you can't separate 'Fiction' from 'Reality'. The novel is told from the perspective of Ben Fitzgerald, an employee of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, and it seems that he is being interviewed in some kind of a sanitarium after Monroe's death. The plot is exciting and moves along at a fast pace, but I really didn't learn anything about the actual case since the author never made any attempt to differentiate between using 'real' facts from speculation or invention. He treated all of his plot elements and characters with equal veracity.
From Amazon-
In the early-morning hours of August 5, 1962, Los Angeles County deputy coroner Ben Fitzgerald arrives at the home of the world's most famous movie star, now lying dead in her bedroom, naked and still clutching a telephone. There he discovers The Book of Secrets - Marilyn Monroe's diary - revealing a doomed love affair with a man she refers to only as "The General." In the following days, Ben unravels a wide-ranging cover-up and some heartbreaking truths about the fragile, luminous woman behind the celebrity. Soon the sinister and surreal accounts in The Book of Secrets bleed into Ben's own life, and he finds himself, like Monroe, trapped in a deepening paranoid conspiracy. The Empty Glass is an unforgettable combination of the riveting facts and legendary theories that have dogged Monroe, the Kennedy's, the Mafia, and even the CIA for decades. It is an exciting debut from a remarkable new thriller writer.
My post on Good Reads-
James Ellroy could have taken this concept, and knocked it out of the park!
THE EMPTY GLASS is a fictionalized account of the death of Marilyn Monroe, however many of the events and character interactions actually happened, but unless you are an authority on the life of the actress, you can't separate 'Fiction' from 'Reality'. The novel is told from the perspective of Ben Fitzgerald, an employee of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, and it seems that he is being interviewed in some kind of a sanitarium after Monroe's death. The plot is exciting and moves along at a fast pace, but I really didn't learn anything about the actual case since the author never made any attempt to differentiate between using 'real' facts from speculation or invention. He treated all of his plot elements and characters with equal veracity.
From Amazon-
In the early-morning hours of August 5, 1962, Los Angeles County deputy coroner Ben Fitzgerald arrives at the home of the world's most famous movie star, now lying dead in her bedroom, naked and still clutching a telephone. There he discovers The Book of Secrets - Marilyn Monroe's diary - revealing a doomed love affair with a man she refers to only as "The General." In the following days, Ben unravels a wide-ranging cover-up and some heartbreaking truths about the fragile, luminous woman behind the celebrity. Soon the sinister and surreal accounts in The Book of Secrets bleed into Ben's own life, and he finds himself, like Monroe, trapped in a deepening paranoid conspiracy. The Empty Glass is an unforgettable combination of the riveting facts and legendary theories that have dogged Monroe, the Kennedy's, the Mafia, and even the CIA for decades. It is an exciting debut from a remarkable new thriller writer.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
GUN CHURCH by Reed Farrel Coleman
Finished Fr 1/25/13
My post on Good Read-
Kip Weiler was a 'superstar' author of the 80's, but that was a few decades ago, and now he is teaching writing at a fourth-rate community college. He's sleepwalking through life until he meets Jim and Renee, and they induct him into the radical fringe of the gun culture.
The characters are well-written, and the story is powerful and compelling. And, this novel begs(Please!Please!Please!)to be made into a film. It would be like Rupert Pupkin joins FIGHT CLUB.
Kenneth James 'Kip' Weiler was a 'writing superstar' of the 80's but blew it all in a haze of alcohol and drugs. Now he teaches at third-rate Brixton County Community College in a mining and lumber town. Frank Vuchovich holds students hostage.
Renee Svoboda (St. Pauli Girl)- Kip's beautiful and much younger girlfriend. She is Jim Trimble's ex, and he is the instigator of nearly all of the action.
BEATNIK SOUFFLE
CURLY TAKES FIVE
GUN QUEER
CLOWN CAR BOUNCE
THE DEVIL'S UNDERSTUDY
ROMEO VS. JULIET
Kip holds on to Frank's revolver and prevents the cylinder from turning so Frank can't fire.
Jim invites Kip to shoot out at an abandoned air force base. These sections of the book are like FIGHT CLUB. Jim's father was an abusive colonel who used to beat him. Jim is completely crazy, yet idolizes and knows most of Kip's works by heart. He gets Kip in shape by running.
"Do you believe?" "I will be blessed by gunfire." "Then be blessed."
Terry McGuinn is a character in 'the novel within the novel'. This novel is in italics and is called GUN QUEER. Kip is confused and thinks that McGuinn is his alter-ego.
Stan Petrovic- Ex-football player and works at the local diner. He hates Kip and also a member of the 'shooter's club'.
Amy- Kip's artist ex-wife who he still loves. She married a man, Peter Moreland, who was Kip's friend and did it just to get back at him for all of the Hell he put her through. Deep-down, she has always loved The Kipster.
Meg is Kip's lesbian agent who always believed in him, but never trusted him. He just burned too many bridges.
My post on Good Read-
Kip Weiler was a 'superstar' author of the 80's, but that was a few decades ago, and now he is teaching writing at a fourth-rate community college. He's sleepwalking through life until he meets Jim and Renee, and they induct him into the radical fringe of the gun culture.
The characters are well-written, and the story is powerful and compelling. And, this novel begs(Please!Please!Please!)to be made into a film. It would be like Rupert Pupkin joins FIGHT CLUB.
Kenneth James 'Kip' Weiler was a 'writing superstar' of the 80's but blew it all in a haze of alcohol and drugs. Now he teaches at third-rate Brixton County Community College in a mining and lumber town. Frank Vuchovich holds students hostage.
Renee Svoboda (St. Pauli Girl)- Kip's beautiful and much younger girlfriend. She is Jim Trimble's ex, and he is the instigator of nearly all of the action.
BEATNIK SOUFFLE
CURLY TAKES FIVE
GUN QUEER
CLOWN CAR BOUNCE
THE DEVIL'S UNDERSTUDY
ROMEO VS. JULIET
Kip holds on to Frank's revolver and prevents the cylinder from turning so Frank can't fire.
Jim invites Kip to shoot out at an abandoned air force base. These sections of the book are like FIGHT CLUB. Jim's father was an abusive colonel who used to beat him. Jim is completely crazy, yet idolizes and knows most of Kip's works by heart. He gets Kip in shape by running.
"Do you believe?" "I will be blessed by gunfire." "Then be blessed."
Terry McGuinn is a character in 'the novel within the novel'. This novel is in italics and is called GUN QUEER. Kip is confused and thinks that McGuinn is his alter-ego.
Stan Petrovic- Ex-football player and works at the local diner. He hates Kip and also a member of the 'shooter's club'.
Amy- Kip's artist ex-wife who he still loves. She married a man, Peter Moreland, who was Kip's friend and did it just to get back at him for all of the Hell he put her through. Deep-down, she has always loved The Kipster.
Meg is Kip's lesbian agent who always believed in him, but never trusted him. He just burned too many bridges.
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