the guitar master

Clapton's Guitar: Watching Wayne Henderson Build the Perfect Instrument by Allen St. John
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We learned about Wayne Henderson over two decades ago (1998) by seeing some of his instruments displayed in the Visitors Center Museum at Grayson Highlands State Park. We finally got to see and hear Wayne at Merlefest last year (2019) when he presented and played an amazing workshop and old time music jam session as part of the festival. At some point, the story of Eric Clapton's Henderson guitar came up, after which i started looking for this book. Just the other day i found it on our local library book sale shelf and i nabbed it!

"Clapton's Guitar" is a somewhat rambling but interestingly and warmly told, well written tale of the making of two guitars by Wayne for Eric Clapton. But even more, it is a story of Wayne Henderson, one of the greatest guitar builders in the world. The reader can't help but feel and experience the colorful persons in this story, especially Wayne. And as a bonus, this story is full of interesting information about the history, theory, and building of guitars. As a non-musician, i really enjoyed learning so much about guitars, and other stringed instruments. But the real center and jewel of this story is Wayne himself. I hope to meet him at Merlefest THIS year (2020) and maybe stop by to see his shop on my next camping trip to Grayson Highlands.

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Wayne Henderson's instruments, Grayson Highlands State Park visitors center, July 1998

wild and crazy, colorful and human.

Last Go Round by Ken Kesey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Last Go Round" is a historically based, folklore embellished tale of rodeo in Pendleton OR about 100 years ago, complete with photos of the actual persons and events described! The life and times are wild and crazy, and the real life characters are colorful and human. It is a fascinating "inside" look at what life was like in the rodeo circuit of the West. The Pendleton event is still held to this day, and is known as the Pendleton Round-Up ( https://www.pendletonroundup.com/ )

This author caught my eye because of another more widely know book that he authored and i've read: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (of movie fame).

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better the third time through!

The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one is even better the third time through! I had forgotten just how much happens and is revealed in this one, and especially enjoyed the details that I missed in the first readings. And was reminded how much i love the Aiel! On to one of my favorites, "The Shadow Rising".

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classic book by Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was pretty cool to read the source story for the beloved film. The film represents well the tale told in this classic book by Baum. I did miss the original illustrations, which are missing from this edition.

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colorful and interesting characters and clever dialogue

Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Pudd'nhead Wilson" is a fine, albeit dark, tale by the classic Mark Twain, told with his unique wit and wisdom. I really enjoyed this one, with its colorful and interesting characters and clever dialogue.

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sloooow fiber this evening :(

definitely an issue with our @googlefiber this evening! Wired - very slow downloads but uploads are normal pic.twitter.com/rZ118uKRHb

— Kevin Routh (@KcRouth) February 7, 2020

useful delusion or useless truth

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Underground Railroad is a tragic and heartbreaking story that is beautifully written. Colson Whitehead's prose are among the best i've read. The story told is the damning truth of slavery, and the history, philosophy and culture of the American nation and people - how this nation was built, and the brokenness and systemic evil so key to its building. Through imagination and creativity, this story communicates not hard facts, but the undeniable truth about America. Sadly the truth illustrated here in a 19th century context have survived into the 21st century today, and must still be confronted and fought.

One quote that seems key to the story, and the truth it communicates is:

"We can't save everyone. But that doesn't mean we can't try. Sometimes a useful delusion is better than a useless truth."

Sometimes delusion, rather than the cold hard facts, is what we hang on to in order to be saved. But just below the above passage we find this:

"And America, too, is a delusion, the grandest one of all. The white race believes - believes with all its heart - that it is their right to take the land. To kill Indians. Make war. Enslave their brothers. This nation shouldn't exist, it can't exist. This place must be a delusion, too. Yet here we are."

To whom does the useful delusion of America belong? Here we are indeed. Looking no further than the current occupant of the White House and his rabid followers, ranging from the factory and farm all the way to the halls of Congress, we see that the delusion that in America is alive today, and must still be confronted and fought, for the sake of every person. Everyone. FOR ALL.

interview with the author:

https://www.npr.org/2016/08/06/488969873/new-novel-takes-the-underground-railroad-beyond-the-metaphor


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