a valuable story - miserable and tedious to read

Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I picked up "Look Homeward, Angel" because it was on one of my "must read" lists, and because i found it referenced in a Ron Rash novel I recently read. "Look Homeward, Angel" is the early life biography of Thomas Wolfe, told as fiction (character name Eugene Gant), changing the names to protect both the innocent, and the not-so-innocent. The story, being firmly rooted in fact, not only lends us personal insight into the roots of one of America's respected authors, but it also gives insight into life in Asheville North Carolina, and the Carolinas in general circa the beginning of the 20th century. The bulk of the story takes place from 1900-1920. The place names have been changed, but having lived in NC for over 30 years, are easily recognized.

Altamont = Asheville
Pulpit Hill = Chapel Hill
Exeter = Durham
Sydney = Raleigh

The Asheville culture portrayed is grim on many levels. The relationships within the Gant family are often strained, resentful, and combative. Illness, both mental and physical are prevalent both within the Gant family and throughout the community. Many people died very young before the widespread practice of vaccination, a fact we easily forget in our age of modern medicine and healthcare. Altamont served as a "sanitarium" for people from other climates suffering from TB and other common and serious maladies. Not a pretty picture. All in all, the story is depressing, yet instructional from the standpoint of history, both general and related to Thomas Wolfe.

So here i am a month later, have finished reading it and find myself wondering "why?". At the risk of sounding disrespectful of a very widely respected author, i found his story telling in "Look Homeward, Angel" too cluttered with extra words and phrases. While much of this "extra" verbiage may be nicely worded, it distracted significantly from the story being told. It is not just length that bothered me. I have read 1400+ pages in the unabridged "Les Miserables" and never got the feeling of pages and pages of extra unnecessary words. This story is overwhelmed with extra, unneeded and confusing material. Much of the time, i got the feeling that he was writing just to "hear himself talk". To me it made a valuable story miserable and tedious to read. I do not recommend this book, it is too much.

http://www.nchistoricsites.org/wolfe/

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Google Fiber - still waiting

It has been over 12 months since the fiber installers working on behalf of Google Fiber came through our neighborhood, digging up front yards and cutting gas lines in order to bury their fiber infrastructure. We have been waiting over 12 months for our invitation to sign up for Google Fiber gigabit ethernet service. But we have received none. I don't know what the holdup is, but it does not bode well for our hopes of service and support if and when it ever gets hooked up. Does anyone know what the heck is going on with Google Fiber in Durham NC?

https://fiber.google.com/cities/triangle/
https://twitter.com/googlefiber

Jan 18, 2017 - digging

and digging

Fire department and gas company respond to severed gas line.

Jan 19, 2017 - Still all we have to show for Google Fiber.

Feb 17, 2018 - Google Fiber reply via Twitter.
https://support.google.com/fiber/answer/6124985?hl=en

Feb 18, 2018 - still waiting :( 

Wow!

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This may end up being one of the BEST books i'll read in 2018! It is going up on my shelf with 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451. The tale told in this book seems all too possible with our present day theologically-laced politics in which a right-wing authoritarian regime is in control of our nation, and has the unconditional support of the evangelical christian machine. Today, the U.S. is ripe and fertile (no pun intended) for a Gilead-esque movement to take power and assume a form as described in this book. But what really astounds and impresses me with this authors prophetic vision is that this story was published in 1986! The accuracy with which she paints the future, which is our today and tomorrow, is frightening. Looking forward to reading more from Margaret Atwood, and to checking out the movie that was filmed in Durham, as well as the recent Hulu series on this story. This is truly a must read.

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debut novel for Ron Rash

One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the debut novel for Ron Rash, whose writing i have come to appreciate. This is a story of family secrets which lead up to a tragic event, the details of which become what may be the final family secret, perhaps never to be revealed. The story is told from the viewpoint of the four major characters, each adding their own perspective and motives to the tale. This story gives insight into personal issues surrounding small town Appalachia preceding the impending flooding of land and town by the Duke Power dam which created Lake Jocassee.

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A brilliant exploration of the depth and breadth of what it means to be human

The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A handful of strangers, thrown together for 24 hours by chance circumstances, discover themselves and each other as none of them imagined possible. The bus on which they are traveling breaks down, not once, but twice, creating a dynamic mixing of events and personalities, which probe and reveal some of the deepest aspects of who they are, who they want to be, and why. A brilliant exploration of the depth and breadth of what it means to be human, both alone, and in a chance community formed by fate. Steinbeck remains one of my favorite and most respected authors for the realism and depth with which he paints his characters. This is a great story of life's real journey, covering so much of what life is about.

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some pretty wild tales

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Norse Mythology is a creative and enjoyable retelling of exactly what the title says, Norse Mythology. I picked it up because it was by Neil Gaiman, not knowing how accurate the title was. After reading it, it reminded me that some of the first mythology that caught the interest of the young C.S. Lewis was that of the Norse. These are some pretty wild tales, retold by an excellent author. Well worth the read to get a taste of the myths included in this collection.

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a wonderful tribute

The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far: Why Are We Here? by Lawrence M. Krauss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having worked as an Electrical Engineer, analyzing semiconductor physics and designing analog integrated circuits, i thought i knew a decent amount about atomic physics and quantum theory. After reading this brilliantly written book, however, i now realize i know next to nothing. This story is truly a great story, a wonderful tribute to the brilliant and tenaciously hard working physicists, mathematicians, scientists and engineers and their astounding discoveries as they probe and poke at the very nature of matter, energy, of life as we know it, and life as we never even imagined it to be. Despite my graduate degree in applied physics (Electrical Engineering) specifically semiconductor circuits and design, technically speaking, i was lost after the first few chapters. But even as completely over my head the subject matter of this book is, the way that Dr. Krauss presents this amazing and ongoing tale is both engaging and accessible, even without understanding the esoteric field of science it is about. This is a worthy tribute to the fantastic intellects who worked together to help us understand our world, and our very existence better. A great book!!!

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a great story!

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

OMG, what a great story! La Belle Sauvage is another wonderfully written tale by Philip Pullman. It is fast moving, immediately engaging, with rich characters and deep and moving themes and plot. I found it hard to put down, anticipating each new chapter. I am excited that this is the first of another trilogy by Philip Pullman, and i'm looking forward for this story to continue.

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worst book i'll read in 2018?

Artemis by Andy Weir
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After reading and loving "The Martian", i guess my expectations for this book were too high. "Artemis" is a mediocre story, with some cool science facts sprinkled in, told in a "voice" similar to the narrator of "The Martian" - except it is a different protagonist. It did not work for me. This will probably be in the running for the worst book i'll read in 2018. My advice is read "The Martian" again, and skip this one altogether.

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why i read books

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sing, Unburied, Sing is a wonderful story. I don't even know how to describe it other than it connects me with what it means to be human, both good and bad, on so many levels - which is one of the main reasons i read books - to experience life through others that i cannot experience first hand. This story is rich and deep and shares the best and the worst of what it means to be human, as a person of color, in Mississippi; both today and in the past. If you get a chance, read this book, you will be richer for it. Looking forward to Salvage the Bones.

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Great story telling by Ron Rash

The Risen by Ron Rash
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Risen is a story of family secrets, friendships, betrayal, coming of age, success and failure, the dedication and love of brothers, and the dark underbelly under the pillars of a community. Set in a small Appalachian town in the mountains of NC, the events of a fateful summer play out with lifelong consequences for all involved. Great story telling by Ron Rash.

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cute collection of recollections

In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute collection of recollections of the adult Ralphie Parker about his depression era childhood. A favorite holiday movie, A Christmas Story, is based upon this book. The author is the narrator of the film.

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Wendell Berry documentary on Netflix

http://civileats.com/2017/12/21/farmer-poet-wendell-berry-is-the-quiet-narrator-of-this-new-documentary/

rich and compelling story

Serena by Ron Rash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Serena is another excellent story by Ron Rash. It details through historical fiction the forces working against each other in the Depression era mountain forests of North Carolina, later to become the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Showing clearly that today's fight between big business, their lobbyists and the advocates for our environment and our planet has been going on for over a century. Ron Rash includes much history in this tale, filling in the missing details with fictional, but realistic characters. The story telling is rich and compelling, and makes it difficult to put the book down, especially in the second half when the true character of the players emerges and the plot vectors toward a certain, yet unknown outcome. Empathy is evoked for many of the characters, both major and "minor". The devastating nature of the timber barons and their logging "machine" was deadly for both the environment and for the people consumed in the process. We are lucky to have recovered so much of their devastated land to preserve and enjoy today.

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interesting

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A priest, a chance eyewitness to a deadly accident, explores the lives of the five victims, seemingly linked only by the accident in which they died, discovering the mark and memories they left behind.

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a very cool collection of stories

I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very cool collection of stories. The title novel "I Am Legend", creative and significant when it was published in 1954, has been adapted to film four times, as well as being the inspiration of the classic "The Night of the Living Dead". The rest of this book contains some excellent short stories which have the flavor of some of the best Twilight Zone episodes. This is a great collection, well worth the read.

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truly a must-read

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully written tale of one man's terrifying and difficult journey in a world turned upside down and sideways. What was once thought to be good has become evil, condemned, and treason. What once appeared black and white has become every shade of gray. In this story, there are no good or bad characters, just very deeply human and flawed ones. As the protagonist (is he really?) is hunted down by the idealistic authority figure, i am reminded of Les Mise'rables and how the very foundations of what is good and evil are examined and questioned, and we see the supernatural yet very human struggle between law and grace.

This book appears on multiple must-read lists, and rightly so. This is a wonderful story, truly a must-read.

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very weird yet very creative

Ubik by Philip K. Dick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is one very weird yet very creative story. I read it because it was on the Time Magazine 100 list and because i've read a couple of his other books, which are really good. This is a pretty cool story, with lots of plot twists and turns.

http://entertainment.time.com/2005/10/16/all-time-100-novels/

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Excellent - worth a listen!

Excellent - worth a listen! @ThisAmerLife episode 603: "Once More, With Feeling" https://t.co/WbN6fwQLiz

— Kevin Routh (@KcRouth) November 23, 2017

helpful perspective

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this book because it was on my bookshelf and it appears on several "must-read" lists i have. This is a cool story that offers insight into pre-modern African culture, and also some perspective on how western influences of the 20th century affected their society. It is sad to read yet another story of the western white man coming in with supposedly superior religion and culture and imposing it on the native peoples in the name of progress and "salvation". The characters are especially interesting in that we see how very much alike they are to us "moderns", even though on the surface they seem so different. I'm glad i read this, but i feel that much of its acclaim probably has as much to do with when it was written as with its content. I see that it may have influenced Barbara Kingsolver in her The Poisonwood Bible, which is a much better book, IMO.

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