No Lesser Plea, Robert K. Tanenbaum
This is the first book by Tanenbaum and the first book in the Butch Karp series, which I am intending to read from beginning to current next. I have read several of them before, but not all of them. I really like them, and I really like the characters involved. Karp, in this book, is employed as and Assisstant District Attorney in the New York City DA's office. In this book, he meets the woman to whom he will be married in the future, Marlene Ciampi. The book was written in 1988, but it is set in the early 70's. I feel like I would enjoy seeing it as a movie. Maybe as the series goes on I will be able to develop the cast. Rereading it this time, I found it to be a little more blue than I remembered. Not that that bothers me at all. There was also less violence than I thought. Somewhere between Robert B Parker and James Patterson. Nothing really profound in the book, but it is a fun read. Or at least, I thought so.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Marx in Soho
Marx in Soho
Steve gave this book to me, either this Xmas or last, and I have been a little daunted by it's apparent high intellectual requirements. However, I think it was wonderful and not nearly as dense as I feared. It was really good. It is a one man play, penned as though Marx had been "sent back" and given the opportunity to address some of the criticisms launched at him by various critics. It also afforded him the opportunity to scoff at those who equated his beliefs with those of Communist Russia and to decry the notion of the "death" of his ideas. It was very well written. I am anxious to enjoy some more Howard Zinn, having read this one. I also would like to see Jack or Jay, Jack's Neo-Doppleganger perform this at the Neo Futurama on my next trip to Chi-Town. I highly reccommend this and I am now anxious to read both more Marx and more Zinn. Thanks again for the book, bro.
Winner of the 2000 Independent Publisher Award for best visionary fiction.
Steve gave this book to me, either this Xmas or last, and I have been a little daunted by it's apparent high intellectual requirements. However, I think it was wonderful and not nearly as dense as I feared. It was really good. It is a one man play, penned as though Marx had been "sent back" and given the opportunity to address some of the criticisms launched at him by various critics. It also afforded him the opportunity to scoff at those who equated his beliefs with those of Communist Russia and to decry the notion of the "death" of his ideas. It was very well written. I am anxious to enjoy some more Howard Zinn, having read this one. I also would like to see Jack or Jay, Jack's Neo-Doppleganger perform this at the Neo Futurama on my next trip to Chi-Town. I highly reccommend this and I am now anxious to read both more Marx and more Zinn. Thanks again for the book, bro.
Winner of the 2000 Independent Publisher Award for best visionary fiction.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Salaryman's Wife
The Salaryman's Wife, Sujita Massey
This was an award winning mystery, given to me by Steve prior to my first trip to Japan. I had not ever gotten around to it, but on my return flight from my latest trip, I finally got to it. I can't say it was worth the wait. It took a while to get into. I also had a hard time keeping track of the character's emotions. It felt like I was supposed to gain a lot of information from the bits of dialogue. But, I often found myself wondering why somebody was leaving mad, only to assume that the line I read must have been delivered in a different manner than what I expected. The mystery aspect was one that was left open, with lots of questions and red herrings, pointing fingers one way or the other. But, I knew whodunnit very early. My image of the book was not helped by the concluding Scooby Doo factor, complete with the actual use of the word "meddling", as in, I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for your meddling (or you meddling kids). Turns out this was an introductory book for a series around these characters, and, while I could imagine enjoying them, I just don't think I will be drawn to try them again. There were some cool Japanese references though, places, words I knew, products, etc.
This was an award winning mystery, given to me by Steve prior to my first trip to Japan. I had not ever gotten around to it, but on my return flight from my latest trip, I finally got to it. I can't say it was worth the wait. It took a while to get into. I also had a hard time keeping track of the character's emotions. It felt like I was supposed to gain a lot of information from the bits of dialogue. But, I often found myself wondering why somebody was leaving mad, only to assume that the line I read must have been delivered in a different manner than what I expected. The mystery aspect was one that was left open, with lots of questions and red herrings, pointing fingers one way or the other. But, I knew whodunnit very early. My image of the book was not helped by the concluding Scooby Doo factor, complete with the actual use of the word "meddling", as in, I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for your meddling (or you meddling kids). Turns out this was an introductory book for a series around these characters, and, while I could imagine enjoying them, I just don't think I will be drawn to try them again. There were some cool Japanese references though, places, words I knew, products, etc.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Pottys
Today I finished the Harry Potter Series, by JK Rowling. I highly reccommend it to any of you 
who haven't read it. It is, I think aimed at teen-readers, but I have really enjoyed it over the last several years. It is not crazily complex, there are many characters, but is not difficult to keep track of the main ones. There are often small details that turn out to be important later in the story, giving the reader the opportunity to make the connections before the author does, which I often find enjoyable. There are moments to determine if you agree or disagree with the conclusions the characters make, and you are later able to determine the right answers. All of these kinds of things are fun for me. When I delve into the world of fantasy, I am usually more interested in the Tolkien style, which is fairly limited in the magical realm, residing primarily in the swords and creatures area. However, I really liked this series anyway. Reading the seventh today, I was nearly brought to tears a couple of times, empathizing with some of the characters. I think the politics are fairly good, championing the rights of all, not just a priveleged few, valuing people for who they are and what they do, not where they are from, or what kinds of families they come from. It also places a large value on the importance of sacrifice and selfless acts. Those are all things that appeal to me. It has been a long ride, but a fun one. I hope you also enjoy it.
who haven't read it. It is, I think aimed at teen-readers, but I have really enjoyed it over the last several years. It is not crazily complex, there are many characters, but is not difficult to keep track of the main ones. There are often small details that turn out to be important later in the story, giving the reader the opportunity to make the connections before the author does, which I often find enjoyable. There are moments to determine if you agree or disagree with the conclusions the characters make, and you are later able to determine the right answers. All of these kinds of things are fun for me. When I delve into the world of fantasy, I am usually more interested in the Tolkien style, which is fairly limited in the magical realm, residing primarily in the swords and creatures area. However, I really liked this series anyway. Reading the seventh today, I was nearly brought to tears a couple of times, empathizing with some of the characters. I think the politics are fairly good, championing the rights of all, not just a priveleged few, valuing people for who they are and what they do, not where they are from, or what kinds of families they come from. It also places a large value on the importance of sacrifice and selfless acts. Those are all things that appeal to me. It has been a long ride, but a fun one. I hope you also enjoy it.
A New Blog's Beginning
The idea here, I think, is to talk a little about the books I'm reading, keep track of the series I am keeping up with, as I am quite the sucker for the serial, keep track of some authors I like, and perhaps make and receive some reccommendations from my reader or readers, should there ever be any. I don't expect there will be posts on this all the time, I intend to say a little something about each book or series I complete. Hopefully, I will also be able to put some dates on here to help remind me of some books that I am eagerly anticipating. So, that's the plan. Come back if it sounds interesting.
Just one note regarding the List fo Series/Authors, it is not complete by any means, yet, I will be adding to it for a while, I suspect. But, the series in bold are series that I have completed. The authors in parentheses are authors I am not necessarilyfollowing, the ones separated by a "/" I am attempting to pay attention to. For the record, I hate putting Tolkien in that way, LOTR is probably among my favorite series of all time, but things like The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin and Farmer Giles of Ham also have his name on them, and I do not imagine I will ever read those things, so...
Anyway, that's the gist of it.
Just one note regarding the List fo Series/Authors, it is not complete by any means, yet, I will be adding to it for a while, I suspect. But, the series in bold are series that I have completed. The authors in parentheses are authors I am not necessarilyfollowing, the ones separated by a "/" I am attempting to pay attention to. For the record, I hate putting Tolkien in that way, LOTR is probably among my favorite series of all time, but things like The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin and Farmer Giles of Ham also have his name on them, and I do not imagine I will ever read those things, so...
Anyway, that's the gist of it.
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