We love you, Black Lillies

Article about one of our favorite bands The Black Lillies - we hope they feel the love from all their fans, and wish them strength and faith as they come back stronger than ever. We love you, Black Lillies. smile emoticon

http://nodepression.com/article/trouble-texas-black-lillies

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moving, powerful, deep, and profound

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, i just finished this story. This IS one of the best stories I've ever read. Wow., so moving, powerful, deep, and profound. I loved it, it is a "must read". If you haven't already, find this book and read it now. it is as relevant today, 25 years later, as when it was written. Read it! :) I can't wait to read some other works by Mr. Irving.

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excellent and fascinating

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey in anticipation of seeing Stanley Kubrick's film version next weekend at The Carolina Theatre RetroEpics series ! This book is every bit as excellent and fascinating as the film that it accompanied. I am so looking forward to seeing it on the big screen! This is a fantastic tale.

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shock and awe seem appropriate

Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass by Dale Maharidge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having just finished this amazingly written and illustrated book, the words shock and awe seem appropriate to describe how it has impressed me. The writing and the photography in this book are excellent, top notch. It is no wonder that these authors went on to win a Pulitzer for the third in this series of journalistic volumes. I read this because it is a book that deeply impressed and inspired Bruce Springsteen as he was working on his masterpiece album "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Both Bruce's album and this book draw from John Steinbeck's classic "The Grapes of Wrath". What i did not realize is that the desperate conditions that were experienced in the Great Depression by both Steinbeck's Joad family and my ancestors are still at work today. For various economic and political reasons, hard working people are falling victim to circumstance and are being discarded from our society like disposable plates and napkins. These people, who have done everything right are finding themselves sliding off the margins of our communities into a dystopian nightmare of life and death survival. We read the stories of the depression with the distance of time keeping it at arms length from us, but in reality, the desperation continues into present day, and is getting worse. More and more blue collar and even white collar workers are falling off the grid of humanity through no fault of their own, only to find themselves fighting to stay alive until they are rescued, or until they run out of steam and are lost forever. This book portrays the horrific situations in a most beautifully written and photographed manner. As terrible as the subject matter is, just as wonderful is the way in which it is presented. This is a must read. I cannot wait to get my hands on the two follow on books in this series, the third of which won a Pulitzer prize. Excellent book. Outstanding!


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Bruce - in HIS OWN WORDS!

Talk About a Dream: The Essential Interviews of Bruce Springsteen by Christopher Phillips
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This collection of interviews is an outstanding, exceptional overview of Bruce's thoughts and feelings over the course of his career to date. It spans over 40 years, from 1973 to 2013. Much insight into Bruce's life experience and the feelings and motivation that went into both his song writing and his performance over the years are contained in this wonderful collection of interviews - and it is all in HIS OWN WORDS! This is an undeniable MUST-READ for any Springsteen fan. I found myself captivated through the entire book, reading the stories and circumstances behind many dozens (hundreds) of songs that have literally been the soundtrack of my life for nearly 40 years. This is an excellent collection. Fantastic. I loved it. I met the author at The Regulator Bookshop a few years ago when this collection was published.

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Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun story. It is an interesting twist on a future dystopian world in which conditions are so bad for so many people that they choose to live most of their waking hours with in a world of virtual reality cyber games. It started to say video games, but they are so much more,due to the advanced VR technology available. In this tale pitting the individuals against the huge corporate evil, our heros are forced to literally battle to save their virtual world in the dimension of VR cyber games. The story in interesting, and i especially loved the ending, in which . . . you'll have to find out. The book was more than generously ordained with 1980's culture references, not just limited to video games of that era, but also references to music, books, and films. I enjoyed all the cultural name-dropping except that it was excessive in parts. The references to the games of the era were almost totally lost to me, because, although i am of the same generation, i was never into computer and video games. But it was fun getting glimpses into the games i missed during my sheltered adolescence. Anyone who was interested in video games back in the 80s will probably find this book a delightful trip down memory lane, in addition to the adventure that it is. It is not one of my favorites, but it was a good time.

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a wild ride!

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, what a crazy bunch of characters! I can definitely see hints of the Palace Flophouse crew from Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday in this band of friends. Tortilla Flat is a wild ride through the lives of an extended group of friends, revolving around their "leader" Danny. There is never a dull moment for these characters in their zany lives in and around the Tortilla Flat area of Monterey CA in the early 1900s. Being Steinbeck's first widely received novel, there are definitely hints of his later characters in this bunch! A fun read! I'm looking forward to seeing the 1942 film based upon this book.

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Steinbeck - rich and delightful

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just returned from a vacation in California in which we visited both Cannery Row in Monterey and the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. I picked up a copy of Cannery Row from a merchant on the Row, and got this copy of Travels with Charley at the Steinbeck Center, reading it upon returning. This travelog of Mr. Steinbeck's trek across the US is rich and delightful to read, and i savored every word and phrase. I love his writing, and this is one of the my favorites. We were also able to experience the big timeless trees in Sequoia National Park and i found Steinbeck's section on the big redwoods especially moving and profound, wonderfully describing the awe these majestic trees inspire when among them. This entire account is a beautiful experience, and well worth reading. The many people he met along this journey, and the places he chose to visit, are described as only John Steinbeck could. This edition includes for the first time an Appendix that he wrote for the book that was not published previously. This is a wonderful and enjoyable book.

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Zero History for this story

Zero History by William Gibson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this third of the Blue Ant trilogy, many interesting ideas are touched upon, but nothing in this story goes very deep. The interesting ideas that are introduced and flirted with are never developed with enough detail to captivate me as a reader. The characters for the most part were shallow and uninteresting. Milgrim, who was one of the most dysfunctional of the cast of characters, was most interesting to me. Many of his thoughts, comments, and actions added some of the only depth i felt. Mr Gibson remains one of my favorite authors, but this story, and the Blue Ant trilogy in general, just did not reach me, therefore i don't recommend them. This is a significant departure from the previous two trilogies by the author, The Sprawl Trilogy, and The Bridge Trilogy, both of which were exciting and captivating to read. I really enjoyed those, but not so much for The Blue Ant series.

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A fun read

Spook Country by William Gibson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

an interesting, fast moving story of both large and small people each playing a significant role in an elaborate plot. An exciting and enjoyable read.

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outrageous

The Napoleon of Notting Hill with Original Illustrations from the First Edition by G.K. Chesterton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Napoleon of Notting Hill is another outrageous, well articulated yet dated book from GKC. I'm guessing it had some relevance in the early 20th century when it was published, but i'm not sure what to take away from it 100 years later except that it's a fun story to read.

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The Walking Dead, Vol. 01

The Walking Dead, Vol. 01: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After watching the AMC series, it is cool to read the graphic novel that started it all. This is a really well done volume, and i'm looking forward to reading further into this series.

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What the Dog Knows: Scent, Science, and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World by Cat Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"What the Dog Knows" was a pleasant surprise. We met the author at our local library, and heard her talk about the book. It is a very well written memoir of the author's dog Solo, and his life as a working search dog. Adding to the personal story of Ms. Warren and Solo, the author includes much information about search dogs and their handlers in general, and more specifically about Solo's career as a cadaver search dog. Many stories are included about the training process, and the skilled and passionate network of trainers and fellow handler and dog teams. In addition, a good summary of the history of search dogs is provided, as is many accounts of the wide range of their application in our society. This is a heartwarming and interesting account based in Durham NC and in the state of North Carolina, yet reaching out throughout various parts of the U.S. I think most dog lovers will enjoy this fascinating and enjoyable account.

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Pigs in Heaven

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great story from Barbara Kingsolver. "Pigs in Heaven" is the sequel to "The Bean Trees" and wraps up the story quite nicely. It does a good job of showing the uncomfortable inside of many of the issues facing some of the poor and disenfranchised people in this country. While the first book dealt with immigration, this book largely deals with native American status and contemporary culture, and the threat of the larger so-called American culture on it. The characters are rich and endearing, invoking concern and empathy from the reader. I have fallen in love with Barbara Kingsolver's stories, and more are on my future reading list :)

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my favorite so far

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful story of humanity and love. It is moving and inspirational and challenges the reader to look deeper at each person to see their wonderful precious humanity. I had a hard time putting this story down before it was completed. I think this is my favorite so far by Barbara Kingsolver! I'm excited to find that it has a sequel, Pigs in Heaven, which i'll be starting immediately. It is a serious shame that the issue of immigration which is central to this book, is still as much an issue today as it was in 1988 when it was published. As a society, we just don't get it.

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Prodigal story

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Prodigal Summer is a heartwarming tale of three families and how their stories weave together though life and death, love and resentment, giving and receiving, humans and nature - all taking place in a beautiful and bountiful summer in the mountains of Appalachia. I loved this story. And there are GOATS in the story, and blackberry pie! I am left wanting to read more of Kingsolver, reading The Bean Trees next!

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a truly great man's faith

Living Faith by Jimmy Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have had this book on my shelf for quite a while, but had never gotten around to opening it up. Sadly, Jimmy Carter in the news recently reminded me of it. In this book, President Carter gives a great overview of his Christian faith and how it has informed and affected him over the course of his many careers. Although his beliefs are a bit traditional and dated for me, i came away from this book with a great respect and reverence for how he translated his faith into action and good, instead of dogma and judgement. Despite mixed reviews of the Carter presidency, I'd be proud to have another person like him in the White House. His character and ethics are what once made this nation great, and are probably the best hope of saving it today. My heart goes out to Jimmy Carter for who he is and how he lives.

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time, space, life

For the Time Being by Annie Dillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Annie Dillard is one of my favorites. This book of reflections starts with what seems to be random pondering but quickly turns into a deep, profound and moving meditation on time, space, life, and the meaning thereof. Ms. Dillard's style is difficult for some, but well worth taking the time to savor. This is a great collection, i recommend it.

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loving Annie Dillard

I am loving Annie Dillard: 

"Of course, God wrote no scriptures, neither chapter nor verse. It is foolish to blame or quit him for his admirers' claims, superstitions or otherwise."

Annie Dillard

An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Starting out reading Annie Dillard's "An American Childhood", I thought "this is not my childhood". But the further i read, the more fascinating this story became, and the more i felt Ms Dillard's story shared with mine. Growing up in a 1950s Pittsburgh society family, the author shares her perspectives and experiences of the 1950s, and of Pittsburgh and American culture during that time. I especially enjoyed the author's views and feelings about the ever expanding world around her as she increasingly engaged it and lived into it. Annie Dillard is the Pulitzer prize winning author of "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" which she wrote only a few short years after the events in this story. "Pilgrim" is beautifully and thoughtfully written, imparting wisdom well beyond the author's young age. This book helps give a picture of how, when, and where Ms. Dillard came into her wealth of knowledge and wisdom. I loved this book, and, as with "Pilgrim", found myself savoring every beautifully written word.


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