weird

Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This young adult story is a combination of the Jewish flood myth and the theory of relativity, with some ethics, politics, sexuality, social science, and ecology mixed in. Some interesting thoughts, as well as some pretty weird ones. Not sure what the author was smoking. The merging of the story of Noah with modern physics felt forced. Oh, and i forgot to mention the angels and fallen angels that are behind much of the weird goings on, when they are not masquerading as animals. Strange.

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our diverse and lovable city

27 Views of Durham: The Bull City in Prose and Poetry intro by Steve Schewel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very nice collection of prose and verse about our city, Durham NC. This little book contains a variety of articles which have whet my appetite for a deeper dive into the history of Durham. There were even details of some happenings over the past 30 years that we had missed while living here. And the book ended with a song by Rebecca Newton entitled "One Square Mile", which you can listen to here - All in all, this book is a must read for residents of our diverse and lovable city.

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a beautiful collection

BLUE HIGHWAYS Revisited by Edgar I. Ailor III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The authors of this book present a beautiful collection of photographs along the original path of William Least Heat-Moons' journey in "Blue Highways" (30 years later). Quotes and page numbers from "Blue Highways" are included to tie the photos to the original book, in many cases including original black and white photos for comparison. In addition to visiting the places, the authors track down many of the people interviewed in the original book. It is both interesting and inspiring to see the paths these lives have taken as time has changed their circumstances, their work, and the places they call home. This book is a great tribute to Blue Highways, and a perfect follow-on volume. I'm still looking forward to the remaining books in Mr. Heat-Moons' travel "trilogy".

map: http://www.bluehighwaysrevisited.net/The-Route.html

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farsickness

Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. The author, William Least Heat-Moon leaves Columbia MO in 1978 to embark on a trip literally around the entire continental US (map here)  in a 1975 Ford Econoline van (the van he named Ghost Dancing) .  I arrived in Columbia as a freshman engineering student the following year, 1979. His plan was to follow the secondary roads rather than the main highways (blue on the map, interstates were red), hence the title "Blue Highways". This account of his journey is filled with history, real people and places, and a depth and authenticity in the telling of these peoples stories that allows the reader to experience the interaction that the author is sharing with us. The places visited, and people encountered and interviewed on this journey are fascinating and offer a rich cross section of the US. Historical depth is provided, sometimes by the author, but most often by the people interviewed. This account bears a similarity to another travelogue I recently read by John Steinbeck entitled "Travels with Charley". Both of these books are excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

I couldn't help but feel like embarking on a journey of this kind myself. Maybe that feeling is what is referred to as "wanderlust"? The Wiki article suggests that a better term may be "farsickness". Whatever it is called, I felt it, and also am reminded of a trip my wife and I took 2 years ago. After a family reunion in Colorado, we kept the rental van, and spent 2 more weeks driving around Colorado and New Mexico, just seeing what we could see. It was but a small taste of what this wonderful book shares, but a taste nevertheless. I'm jumping into the companion volume "Blue Highways Revisited" which is a pictorial journey over the same route some 30 years later. In addition I'm in search of the remaining 2 books of the so-called travel trilogy by William Least Heat-Moon
1. Blue Highways
2. PrairyErth
3. River-Horse

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Follow your bliss

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the companion book (although not identical) to the 6-hour 1988 PBS miniseries of the same title. It is a fascinating journey as Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell chat about "The Power of Myth". Not only does this volume provide explanation of what myth is, and how it fits into our society and species, but it gives a multitude of illustrations from prehistory up through recorded history to the modern age in which we live. This book was great follow-on to the Karen Armstrong book i just previously read "A Short History of Myth". I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the relationship of myth to religions over the ages, and to the religions with which we are familiar in this century, and also the contrast of myth with religion, and the effects religion has on myth. Myth draws on many aspects of our lives, and in turn feeds many aspects of our lives. This is a great discussion, and i'm looking forward to watching the PBS series on DVDs which i checked out at our local library. I love Joseph Campbell's personal worldview, and how inclusive and really true it is, to himself, and to those around him, and to his world. He offers the same to all of us, if we each just, as he instructs us "Follow your bliss".

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How true, how true.

A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great summary of the history of mythology. I enjoyed the overview, and am looking for some more detailed books to follow with. I especially liked the last chapter "The Great Western Transformation" which discusses the place of myth in our modern society and religious teachings. A favorite quote, related to the modern era in which we live: "It has been writers and artists, rather than religious leaders, who have stepped into the vacuum and attempted to reacquaint us with the mythological wisdom of the past." How true, how true. I really enjoyed this short but information filled volume.

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Another great installment in The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead, Compendium 2 by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great installment in The Walking Dead "parallel universe" that is the book series.

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another Steinbeck masterpiece

The Pearl by John Steinbeck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

John Steinbeck's The Pearl is an absolutely beautifully written retelling of the biblical parable "the pearl of great price". Differing from the gospel account, Steinbeck's version is firmly rooted in the human condition, and the realities of our world and our species. The writing is fully Steinbeck and flows beautifully yet simply, with his brilliant economy of words. Once again, i walk away from a Steinbeck tale with a sense of awe and wonder, yet also a deep feeling of connection to my humanity and to our community that is the human species. This is a must-read, and I can't wait to savor it again.

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MORE Lisbeth please!

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of Stieg Larsson's Millennium series. I am a bigger fan of the heroine of the series, Lisbeth Salander. She makes these stories special. I am glad that the Millennium series has been continued by David Lagercrantz after the untimely death of Mr. Larsson. This continuation of the series from a new author measures up quite well. At the center of the story is a little boy with autism. His story is combined with computer (in)security, encryption and decryption, corrupt corporations and national security agencies, and some really rotten Russian gangsters! What a great story! My only complaint is: not enough Lisbeth! I want more. She is a fascinating and compelling personality. She is strong, incredibly smart, and completely dedicated to righting injustice and corruption using her most unorthodox means. She is a master hacker and coolest heroine i've read about for some time. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series - with MORE Lisbeth please :)

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many layers of narrative

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one fun book to read. I enjoyed Mr. Goldman's writing style, irreverent witty, fun. I loved getting the inside story of a great film "The Princess Bride". But I also loved the back stories of the characters, from every level of the story. I don't think I've ever read a story written with so many layers of narrative. The central plot of the book is obviously a tale of fiction, of make believe that we are all familiar with from the film. But the enclosing layers of the storyline which the central story is wrapped within bounce about between fact, fiction, and the gray region somewhere in between to such a degree that the reader (at least this reader) is never quite sure where the facts leave off and the fiction begins! What a fun way to write, and to read, a story. Bravo. :)

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a great story

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my favorite so far of the Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet. I love the story arc and the fascinating concepts and message of the story. I was somewhat confused by all the jumping between generations in time, and didn't come away with a solid grasp of all the generational relationships between the characters, but I loved the story enough to be willing to re-read it to get a better handle on all the interrelationships. It has a strong message that what we do in our time makes a difference to future generations - something too often forgotten as we chart our course through our lives. This is a great story :)

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The Moon Is Down

The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The U.S. government commissioned this work from Steinbeck as part of his contribution to the Allied war effort during WW-II. The resulting story paints a compelling picture of the human aspects of occupation in a real and palpable way. Reading this story, one becomes acquainted with both the victor and the conquered. In so doing, the reader finds that the captors are as human as the captives, and as they become part of a merged society together, we see that "It is always the herd men who win battles and the free men who win wars." This story was translated into at least 8 languages during WW-II and copied and distributed throughout the underground resistance to the Nazi occupation of the nations in Europe. The message and inspiration of this story played a significant role in the lives of the occupied peoples of Europe. This is a moving and memorable story, and i'm looking forward to reading it again, to experience it again in a deeper way.

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South Carolina results

I'm just seeing the South Carolina results. I believe in democracy, and i assume it's at work in SC, so i'm left again asking the questions - "Is this really what America wants? Is this what we have become? Is this who we want to be in this world?" I'm trying to keep these questions in the rhetorical status because i'm afraid of what the literal answers probably are.

"The Walking Dead" in a parallel universe

The Walking Dead, Compendium 1 by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

very good, more gruesome than the TV series (believe it or not) and with many differences - like "The Walking Dead" in a parallel universe :)

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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

Help out here: https://rally.org/theblacklillies

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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