I do not consider this to be the best of Stephen King's story collections. The depth and breadth of the tales is impressive and the writing itself is I do not consider this to be the best of Stephen King's story collections. The depth and breadth of the tales is impressive and the writing itself is stellar as usual from King, but too many of these tales simply drift off into vague endings for my liking (truth be told, this is why I prefer King's longform tales). There are four stories here that did have me 100% engrossed from beginning to end...
The Moving Finger: One of King's all-time best. What would YOU do if a finger beckoned from your sink drain?!
Sorry, Right Number: Basically a Twilight Zone episode--even in similar screenplay format!
Umney's Last Case: A writer reckons with his fictional creation--but who ends up with the upper hand?
Head Down: A nonfiction essay that captures the essence of small-town Little League baseball like no other.
Like I said, I can give this collection an "it's okay" 3-stars for it's imagination, but when only four tales really stood out to me that's about as far as I can go....more
The one thing everyone can agree on regarding NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is that he is a tremendous signal-caller—truly one of the all-time greatesThe one thing everyone can agree on regarding NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is that he is a tremendous signal-caller—truly one of the all-time greatest to ever do it. Everything else about him? Seemingly up for massive debate or speculation. Is he an egotist—or just extremely confident? Is he a political wackadoodle—or just an independent thinker? Is he a jerk to his friends/family—or just intensely private about who he lets into his inner circle? In “Out of the Darkness”, author Ian O’Connor cannot, of course, put a definitive answer to any of those quandaries. But O’Connor does give the requisite background from which to glean an informed opinion on the matter.
Notable from the jump in “Out of the Darkness” is how Rodgers made himself available for some interviews while also putting few (if author O’Connor is being truthful) restrictions on who could be contacted during the authorship/writing process. This quells—at least to me—any sentiment I may have had about the book being a “hatchet job” or absurdly pro-Rodgers.
There are times in “Out of the Darkness” in which Rodgers is painted as an extremely generous friend and co-worker—in contrast to many others in his profession (especially the QB he succeeded in Green Bay—Brett Favre). High school and college peers have almost nothing but praise for his performance on the field and demeanor off it, while only a handful of later-career figures have roundly criticized him.
There are other times where Rodgers can come off as quite strange in his interactions with family, close friends, and the outside world. Not “crazy” or “out of bounds”, but simply—strange. One day you may be his closest friend—the next day exiled for days, weeks, or even years. Many of his public interactions like press conferences and podcasts have produced rhetoric that has gotten him in much hot water—almost all of his own accord. There are enough of these stories in the book that it lends credence to Rodgers being a bit of an enigma.
Add it all up and it makes “Out of Darkness” an extremely interesting read. Clearly Aaron Rodgers is a thoughtful individual who is perhaps sometimes too eloquent for his own good—a delightfully mad mix of “sometimes extremely confident” and “other times extremely insecure/petty”. These are people with real lives we’re dealing with, of course, so there’s no right or wrong answer to anything here (which may annoy some, but that’s simply reality). But O’Connor lays out the facts—from his own interviews/research & from the source himself—in a way that is extremely thought-provoking....more
I hate to give this book a negative review because I enjoy listening to La Velle E. Neal III on the radio and on podcasts. He's an engaging speaker & I hate to give this book a negative review because I enjoy listening to La Velle E. Neal III on the radio and on podcasts. He's an engaging speaker & storyteller who always has keen insights into the Minnesota Twins. Sadly, however, this tome is plagued by two pretty substantial issues that render it below-average.
First and foremost, roughly 80-90% of the material here is "generic Twins history". If you've read one other book about the history of the Twins you'll have heard almost all the tales here before. La Velle does include some original content/interviews--and I wish that was the whole book! Instead, this was made for the most generic audience possible and also suffers from the overlapping coverage downfall--where a chapter on Tom Kelly and chapters on 1987 & 1991 will cover the same material two or even three times.
Secondly, "The Franchise" contains more than its share of spelling/grammatical errors, typos, or downright misinformation in stats/facts. A couple of such blunders I can overlook--but not as many as are present here. Again, very sad considering Neal is so good in newsprint or over the airwaves.
Overall, though, I was disappointed in this Twins tome. Free of errors I could have given it a right-down-the-middle 3/5 star ranking, but as-is 2 stars is all I can muster....more
With time-travel fiction being a favorite genre of mine, I decided to finally re-read The Time Machine for the first time since high school. While theWith time-travel fiction being a favorite genre of mine, I decided to finally re-read The Time Machine for the first time since high school. While the prose of H.G. Wells is a little too flowery/descriptive for my personal tastes, the short novel touches on some extremely interesting concepts that hold up today and were likely utterly revolutionary at its 1895 publication.
For a very basic overview, the Time Machine tells the story of a Victorian-era scientist who creates a time machine that takes him close to 900,000 years into the future. In a story told to fellow colleagues upon his return, the scientist describes a world bifurcated into the above-ground "haves" (the Eloi), and the below-ground "have-nots" (the Morlocks) that he must navigate and make logical decisions to decipher.
I am not one much for flowery or overly-descriptive prose, so Wells' details about the geography of future-Earth or intimate description of the two "species" largely passed me by. That's the biggest reason The Time Machine does not draw a 5/5 star ranking from me.
But the story does posit and philosophically banter about some very interesting notions about the fate of humanity. Setting the explained action so far into the future as to never be overtaken by the passage of modern time is a stroke of genius, as it allows for rampant speculation and commentary without worry of obsolescence. As such, the separate nature of the Eloi and Morlocks are endlessly fascinating as the world seems to continually move in that direction (an elite class and a working class with little "middle class"). I can only imagine how revolutionary that idea was in the late 19th century, much less 2024.
So, overall I can easily give The Time Machine a solid 4/5 star rating. Fans of descriptive imagery may rank it even higher, but either way it brings enough plot/musings to the table to be interesting all the way through....more
This is the fourth or fifth Keith A Pearson time-travel novel I've read, and for the most part I've enjoyed his work (anywhere from "pretty solid" to This is the fourth or fifth Keith A Pearson time-travel novel I've read, and for the most part I've enjoyed his work (anywhere from "pretty solid" to "extremely engaging"). Unfortunately, In Lieu of You failed to grab me because of how little it actually focuses on the time travel aspect of the proceedings.
For a very basic overview, Lieu starts off like most Pearson joints: a young couple drifting apart and on the brink of divorce. In this case, Gary and Clare Kirk are seeing their future plans (romantic and financial) go up in smoke as the divvying begins. Realizing he'll be wiped out when all is said and done, Gary is despondent--until a mysterious woman named Edith Stimp gives him the improbable opportunity to return to 1996 and extricate himself from the relationship with Clare before it begins.
With Pearson's time-travel works, I generally tend to prefer when most of the action takes place in whatever alternative time period is being explored (like, say, the '86 Fix series). Yes, the stories are always about something a little deeper than simply skipping through time, but the timey-wimey aspects always speaks to me best.
That is not the tack taken in Lieu. While readers get the obligatory "astounded by a return to an earlier time period" material, here it comprises a very slim portion of the text. Instead, this is really a novel about relationships and unrequited love with time-travel only the conduit to such character development. A unique approach from this author, to be sure, but one that left this reader a bit disappointed in terms of what I was looking for or enjoy based on previous works....more
As far as self-help books for those with primarily mind-related maladies are concerned, Why Smart People Hurt is a really solid tome. I can see why soAs far as self-help books for those with primarily mind-related maladies are concerned, Why Smart People Hurt is a really solid tome. I can see why some may have issues with it, however, as it does not necessarily provide a satisfactory "answer" to the question posed in its title.
My guess is that most people will pick this book up for roughly the same reason I did--because they consider themselves intelligent and want to better understand why such a self-assessment doesn't necessarily mean an automatically happier life. The problem, of course, being that such an answer is impossible to achieve in any-sized book. But what IS here turns out to be pretty interesting and provides much "food for thought".
Basically, the approach that author Maisel takes here is that the human brain is not perfectly programmed--or even close to it--for modern problems. It would take thousands of years of brain evolution to, say, develop an "off switch" for a racing mind that once protected us from danger and now often over-runs in the face of more commonplace issues. As such, it is a very fallible problem-solving instrument not always up to the task no matter how much faith we put in our mental capacities. I found that a good summation and extremely interesting.
Maisel also spends a decent amount of time carefully explaining the "sequence of intelligence", so to speak--that being that humans (like, say, a litter of kittens) are born with inherent varying intelligence levels. Then, environment plays an enormous role in shaping how intelligence is utilized (or stagnated, in many cases). Finally, each individual has the ability to affect their will on themselves to at least some extent. That mix is a little bit different for quite literally every individual roaming this planet. Again, a great breakdown of how intelligence works.
Overall, Maisel trumpets the notion of meaning-making and/or coming to terms with unsolvable cognitive dissonance. For example: let's say an individual is at a job that pays well and has great benefits, but also is unfulfilling. That individual can live in a continuous state of fret "caught in the middle" of constant dissonant, unsolvable thoughts on the matter--or resolve that being able to "think his/her way out" isn't going to work and meaning must be formed instead within those constraints.
So, if you are expecting a feel-good pat on the back for "suffering from smartness", this isn't the place to find it. But along the way, there are a lot of interesting nuggets here that can help those with oft-racing minds, the highly-observational, and the resulting anxiety/depression....more
From Home Alone to City Slickers to The Wonder Years, Daniel Stern has had his share of iconic entertainment roles. "Home and Alone" is his memoir--anFrom Home Alone to City Slickers to The Wonder Years, Daniel Stern has had his share of iconic entertainment roles. "Home and Alone" is his memoir--and it is about as unhinged as any of those roles.
The good: Stern certainly has some great stories to tell. From discovering theatre and his early film roles to shenanigans on the sets of his well-known flicks, there are interesting tidbits here to be sure. His USO tour to Iraq and having Iraqis shout "Marv! Marv!" is a particular highlight. His late-career work as a sculpture artist is also fascinating.
The bad: Stern wears his politics on his sleeve and it gets in the way of certain anecdotes. Nothing too horrible, but it's noticeable to be sure. Also, on a few occasions, Stern absolutely calls out fellow actors or directors in profanity-laced rants. I do not think either of these threads belong in a memoir.
I might give "Home and Alone" 3.5 stars if able, but it is most certainly a "round down" rather than "round up" endeavor. While interesting and engaging in fits and spurts, it fails to fully engross the reader in the way that, say, Patrick Stewart's recent memoir does....more
I have seen all 69 installments of the Columbo mystery series--so the fact that I can only give "Shooting Columbo" 3/5 stars is a little problematic. I have seen all 69 installments of the Columbo mystery series--so the fact that I can only give "Shooting Columbo" 3/5 stars is a little problematic. Truth be told, it struggles a bit with minutiae and is a bit too detailed to take in all at once. But it does some unearth some interesting anecdotes about the four-decade show.
For a very basic overview, "Shooting Columbo" tells the story of the series by relaying tales from each individual episode. The bad here is that much of this work focuses on deleted scenes or script-changes--impossible to really wrap one's mind around unless the episode is fresh within in. A lot of skimming on my part was done here. It would probably be better to use this book as a a complement by watching an episode and then referring to David Koenig's musings.
That being said, Koenig does relay some interesting nuggets I hadn't known about the long-running series, such as...
-Peter Falk's perfectionism and "difficult to work with as an actor" reputation. -The struggles to keep the early season afloat on NBC and then the scattered (in timing and quality) ABC specials. -How much Patrick McGoohan meant to the entire production--his episodes routinely being great (I also didn't realize he did some directing/writing for the enterprise). -Falk writing a "Columbo's Last Case" episode that ultimately wasn't picked up because of dwindling post-millennium ratings and Falk's onset of senile dementia.
Overall, I'd give "Shooting Columbo" 2.5 stars but will round up because of its in-depth information. It's difficult to read in "one fell swoop" and should be viewed as more of a reference work than overall narrative, I think....more
I cannot myself claim to be a huge fan of The Brady Bunch. I was more interested in this tome as "cultural/TV history" as opposed to intense fandom. AI cannot myself claim to be a huge fan of The Brady Bunch. I was more interested in this tome as "cultural/TV history" as opposed to intense fandom. As such, I know some of the insider details were lost on me--but I still found it interesting enough to be enjoyable.
In "The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch", author Kimberly Potts spins a soup-to-nuts tale of how and why the specter of The Brady Bunch remains to this day a symbol of American TV pop culture. From its original (relatively unpopular) run to its re-discovery in syndication to the various spinoffs and reboots, Potts has it all covered here.
In terms of covering every aspect of Brady-ness, it would be tough to imagine another book doing better. Instead of just focusing on the original run, Potts covers the spin-offs, one-offs, reunions, movie reboots, stage plays, and even pornographic satires with equal gusto.
Granted, while such a deep dive may very likely thrill more knowledgeable fans, amateur Brady historians like myself might find it a bit too filled with names, dates, and details. I kept looking for a little more narrative here--but in large part that isn't what "The Way" is. That isn't to say it is "just the facts, ma'am", but less space is given to the "why" of it all and far more given to the "how".
Overall, though, I'd give this book 3.5 stars if able. It held my interest all the way through even when it did, at times, get a little technical in terms of "production talk" or references to specific show tropes/episodes. I have few doubts that fans with higher I.Q.'s of the 117 episodes will take a lot more out of this one than I ever could....more
I am usually extremely wary of books like this—social/philosophical examinations of pop culture topics. More often than not, they are a sort of “bait-I am usually extremely wary of books like this—social/philosophical examinations of pop culture topics. More often than not, they are a sort of “bait-and-switch” to hook the reader in with a shiny cover and a reference to a beloved topic—and then an excuse to examine deep philosophy that creeps further and further away from the promised topic. Fortunately, author David J. Brokaw finds the perfect balance with “Monsters on Maple Street”, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that its subject—The Twilight Zone—continues to hold up to every analysis thrown upon it.
What Brokaw mainly does here is examine the tenets of post-WWII America (1950s/60s)—family units, rise of the teenage generation, threat of nuclear warfare, neighborhood gentrification, etc.—through the lens of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone. Each chapter takes a few similarly themed-episodes and discusses them in their era context. A few examples…
-“It’s A Good Life” and “Living Doll” representing a fear of how consumer culture was affecting the parent/child relationship.
-“The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” and “The Shelter” as examples of “othering” and how quickly “civilized neighbors” may turn on each other in a crisis.
-“He’s Alive” showing that the ideas of hate or fear-mongering were not entirely snuffed out with the Third Reich’s demise.
-“Brain Center at Whipple’s” and “A Stop At Willoughby” illustrating the seemingly uphill plight of the working man coming into a new advertising and technological era.
Of course, one must understand reading a book like this that not every TZ episode utilized here was expressly put together using the underpinnings discussed. Censorship and production decisions comprise as much the final product as “pure story”. But it is remarkable how well the episodes hold up to any and all themes layered upon them—a true testament to Serling’s unique brilliance in writing for the TV medium....more
A book like this is difficult for me to come to terms with.
On one hand, I agree with many of author Nicholas Parisi’s assertations and analyses. PresA book like this is difficult for me to come to terms with.
On one hand, I agree with many of author Nicholas Parisi’s assertations and analyses. President Donald Trump was a figure unlike any other in the Oval Office—the type that Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone perhaps presaged (and decried) in its socio-political commentary through science fiction. I also think it fairly important to document, so to speak, such a time period so as not to lose perspective of it.
At the same time, America’s Twilight Zone feels a little “late to the party”. Had this been released in, say, 2017-2019 I think I may have hailed it as spot-on commentary. While the quality of Parisi’s musings isn’t the issue in 2024, to be clear, I’m not sure the “after the fact” approach is best in this case. It has become obvious that logical arguments against Trump as a political figure simply do not work—as Parisi himself states, Trump still commands a wing of an entire political party and is as popular as ever despite numerous ongoing legal entanglements as of this writing. In short: a book like America’s Twilight Zone will almost certainly not change any hearts or minds on the subject.
I can give this slim tome 4/5 stars because it does intelligently connect Trump’s presidency to Serling TZ warnings/messages—but there’s a gnawing part of me that feels Trump-baiting (or even thoughtful analysis) is futile at this point, and thus perhaps more harmful than useful....more
I've now read Faithful twice--once when it was new and now again 20 years later. Both were 5-star experiences for different reasons.
Basically, FaithfuI've now read Faithful twice--once when it was new and now again 20 years later. Both were 5-star experiences for different reasons.
Basically, Faithful is a chronicle of the magical 2004 Boston Red Sox curse-breaking season by noted authors Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King. This isn't an "after the fact" job, either--instead, a stream-of-consciousness journey from '04 spring training to the World Series and a little beyond.
The first time I read Faithful, it was so close to the events covered that it functioned almost as a prolonged instant replay of the action. There is enough blow-by-blow coverage here for that to be a viable approach.
But re-reading again in '24, I found myself smiling at very different aspects. I consider '04 to be perhaps the last truly great baseball season when the sport could be called "America's Pastime" and be meant. It is wonderful (if a little disconcerting for a hardball die-hard like me) to remember the sport when it was at-or-near the top of the professional sports pecking order. Even the banter between O'Nan & King represents an era in which each game could be deconstructed. This was before Congressional hearings on steroids and only the very early goings of Moneyball/analytics--a far more innocent time for baseball to be sure.
Overall, the coverage of the '04 season here holds up due to its in-the-moment (not looking-back) nature, and even when 20 years later the details of each individual contest mean a little less, the banter and perception of the sport is refreshing and nostalgic for those who lived through it....more
A book like The Children’s Blizzard is an example of my favorite sort of historical fiction. It takes a unique/interesting event (not an over-covered A book like The Children’s Blizzard is an example of my favorite sort of historical fiction. It takes a unique/interesting event (not an over-covered one), impeccably researches it, and creates relatable characters/arcs from that study. Author Melanie Benjamin balances all that excellently here.
For a very basic overview, The Children’s Blizzard tells the story of the legendary winter storm that blew through the “Dakota Territories” (parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, & Iows) in January 1888. Dubbed the “Children’s Blizzard” because it hit right as school was letting out, an enormous dumping of snow followed by rapidly dropping temperatures claimed the lives of 235 documented individuals—and likely a great deal more.
As the title and subject matter would suggest, Benjamin indeed describes the harrowing weather event, including life-or-death decisions made by 16-18 year old schoolteachers, families deciding whether to venture out to search for others, and the early stages of “meteorology on the prairie”. All very compelling material.
But what makes The Children’s Blizzard such an engrossing read is how Benjamin’s research translates into compelling characters before and after the storm. Readers are first given an understanding of how/why homesteaders were arriving by the bushel at this time in history and the challenges they faced in “taming the prairie”. Then, the fallout (in terms of lives, careers, and motivations) from the blizzard is examined and characters are followed many years after the event. I found every character in this novel to be endearing and was keenly anticipating their ultimate fates.
So, I can give Melanie Benjamin’s The Children’s Blizzard the highest grade with ease. It not only chronicles a singular event from many vantage points, but also tells a much larger-scope story at the exact same time—filled with characters you’ll almost certainly fall for....more
Even as a collaboration with fellow author Andrew F. Sullivan, The Handyman Method provided me everything I’ve come to expect—and enjoy!—from a Nick CEven as a collaboration with fellow author Andrew F. Sullivan, The Handyman Method provided me everything I’ve come to expect—and enjoy!—from a Nick Cutter novel: a Stephen King-ian don’t-read-in-the-dark horror mixed with interesting characters/themes. Only a slight lack of cohesion within those themes prevents this from being a full five-star novel for me.
For a very basic overview, The Handyman Method tells the story of a pretty normal middle-class suburban family: husband Trent, wife Rita, and son Milo. After moving into a new house, however, Trent begins to become obsessed with home-repair projects, being egged on by a YouTube account promising him all the answers (and throwing in some extracurricular marriage/life advice to boot). As Trent spirals into this new persona—and the effects are wrought on his family—he finds something in the basement that is beyond the horrors of this world.
In terms of overall quality of writing, this is as compelling of a tome as I’ve ever picked up. Cutter & Sullivan expertly balance visceral horror imagery with deep character themes. There is also a twist—which I won’t spoil here—at about the one-third mark that recontextualizes the story in a very intriguing way.
The Handyman Method is also filled with insightful plots/imagery as they refer to modern societal themes such as what “being a man” really means and the passing down of generational trauma via an unwillingness to stop the cycle. Do all those themes perfectly coalesce? Not exactly—which is why I dock one star (I’d go 4.5 if able) from my rating. But the fact that such nuance exists in a suspense/horror tome to begin with is quite impressive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Cutter continues to cement himself atop my “favorite authors” list....more
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, broadcaster Vin Scully was one of the most important figures not just to baseball but to the medium as a whole. In terms oBeyond a shadow of a doubt, broadcaster Vin Scully was one of the most important figures not just to baseball but to the medium as a whole. In terms of longevity, mastery of his craft, and personal integrity, there will never be another Vin. Here, Tom Hoffarth compiles a number of brief tributes to Scully following his death in August 2022.
Probably the most amazing aspect of Perfect Eloquence is the wide swath of individuals that Vin touched emotionally over his broadcasting career. These aren’t just “baseball insiders” presenting tributes, but rather people from all walks of life. Each section of the book focuses on a particular theme (broadcasting style, religion, general composure, baseball stories, off-the-field life, etc.) but all the tributes tend to gravitate towards the same theme: Vin’s impeccable character and his ability to be a constant baseball companion to generations of fans through his anecdotes and historical tales.
Truth be told, the harmoniousness of the snippets here are actually why I settled on a 4/5 rating (would be 4.5 if able). By about halfway through Perfect Eloquence, you’ll begin to realize that each individual here is saying basically the same thing in a slightly different way: struggling to put into words just what exactly Vin meant to them. While not a fault of anyone and if anything a true testament to Vin’s character, it does make for a reading experience that is pretty much the same from beginning to end—the only difference being the figures paying the tributes.
Overall, though, Vin Scully deserves a book like this after his passing, if only to allow the figures within it to cathartically memorialize him for a wider audience who likely had similar experiences when it was “time for Dodger baseball”....more
In many ways, Baseball: The Movie is a Venn diagram of two of my life's passions: baseball and film! For the most part--albeit a few slip-ups along thIn many ways, Baseball: The Movie is a Venn diagram of two of my life's passions: baseball and film! For the most part--albeit a few slip-ups along the way--author Noah Gittell combines the two seamlessly in examining the history of the "baseball movie" in all its various forms.
The hallmark of Baseball: The Movie is Gittell's intelligent analysis of why/how the baseball flick has fit into so many different generations. It could be an old-Hollywood studio film (Pride of the Yankees, The Stratton Story). It could be a counter-culture treatise (The Bad News Bears). It could be Boomer nostalgia (The Natural, Field of Dreams, Bull Durham). It could be for kids (The Sandlot, Rookie of the Year, Little Big League). It could be socially/racial meaningful (A League of Their Own, 42). It could represent divides in thinking about the game itself (Moneyball, Trouble with the Curve). Gittell provides interesting material on all those films (and others) in chronicling the history of baseball on the big screen.
For the most part, Gittell is fair in his criticism or praise of various films. But on a few occasions his socio-political commentary overruns the baseball narrative and becomes noticeable. This is especially apparent in his section on The Sandlot, which is savaged beyond reason. Also, towards the end of the book when racial/cultural issues are much-discussed, there exists some pretty scathing commentary that doesn't exist in earlier portions. I'd give Baseball: The Movie 4.5 stars if able, but for these reasons I have to round down rather than up.
Overall, though, Baseball: The Movie is a fun and thoughtful jaunt through the history of baseball cinema. Even when overreaching a time or two, I appreciated Gittell's commentary approach as opposed to just a listing of facts or well-worn anecdotes about these flicks....more
Sometimes it is easy to think of people we only see in black-and-white photos existing "out of time" and not real-life individuals. Tim Manners (editiSometimes it is easy to think of people we only see in black-and-white photos existing "out of time" and not real-life individuals. Tim Manners (editing Waite Hoyt) upends all that with the magnificent "Schoolboy"--a tome that spectacularly shows how even folks who lived 100 years ago still struggled with many of the same issues we do today.
Long story short, Manners had the good fortune to be presented a found-in-the-attic unpublished autobiographical manuscript from Hoyt himself! Hoyt, of course, was a star pitcher for the Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig-led New York Yankees baseball squads of the 1920s.
For Deadball Era baseball fanatics, this is an incredible historical find, as Hoyt regales readers with stories of the Bambino, Larrupin' Lou, George Sisler, Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb, and even Honus Wagner. Because the material was written so close to the source of the events, it seems imbued with a sense of no-nonsense truthfulness without legendary embellishments. It certainly helps that Hoyt seems intellectually and philosophically head-and-shoulders above the generally more rough-and-tumble early 20th century crowd. Hence the schoolboy moniker.
But the hallmark of "Schoolboy" is how forthright Hoyt talks about all aspects of his life. How much his parents sacrificed to allow him to chase a professional baseball dream--his disgust at the crude hazing procedures upon entry to MLB--his anxious thoughts about performing for a living--his lifelong love or art and poetry. Swap out a few words here and there and this story could be any number of professional athletes (or just individuals) in the here and now. There is not one iota of material here that feels dated or out-of-touch.
All things considered, I consider "Schoolboy" to easily be one of the best baseball books I've read this year! Hoyt-edited-by-Manners will not only delight baseball historians, but also biography devour-ers looking for glimpse back at humanity a century ago....more
Alongside the likes of Justin Verlander & Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw may well be the last of an era when it comes to MLB starting pitchers--the typAlongside the likes of Justin Verlander & Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw may well be the last of an era when it comes to MLB starting pitchers--the types who viewed success as much in terms of length as quality and who took the ball regardless of the situation or their health. In "The Last of His Kind", author Andy McCullough not only chronicles Clayton's on-field career, but also gains a peek behind Kershaw's notoriously walled-off personal life to help explain his successes (and failures).
What will rope all baseball fans--and not just of the hard-core variety--into "Last of His Kind" is how McCullough begins by drawing you into Kershaw's personal story. This includes a childhood fraught with familial anxiety--even in the affluent Texas suburbs--and how his longtime girlfriend/wife Ellen helped him channel that from destructive to focusing. While not as outrightly hostile as, say, a Madison Bumgarner, the "affable grumpiness" of Kershaw is well-known and thus the perfect "way in" (explaining how that came about) to his story.
From there, McCullough tells Clayton's baseball story, from his battles with minor league coaches over pitch selection to his Koufax-like MLB success and his postseason foibles that were ultimately exorcised in the most unlikely of seasons. At each step of the journey, figures from Kershaw's life (wife, past buddies, fellow MLB players, etc.) give their thoughts on what makes Clayton tick.
If there is an overriding theme of "Last of his Kind" it is Kershaw's five-day routine between each start. Not only is it regimented down to the minute at certain times, but whereas Kershaw is the affable, joke-cracking "life of the party" and engaged father/husband on days 1-4, Day 5 brings a type of focus that eschews nearly all outside input. McCullough draws some very interesting material from this routine, most notably that Kershaw's stubbornness towards change is what makes him so great while also potentially keeping him from being a little smarter about his overall acumen.
Overall, this is a wonderful baseball tome that is as well-written as it is insightful about its subject. A must-read for anyone who followed baseball in the "Clayton Kershaw Era"....more
By sheer chance, the start of the 2024 MLB season just so happened to be a really good time for a new Pete Rose examination to drop, what with the allBy sheer chance, the start of the 2024 MLB season just so happened to be a really good time for a new Pete Rose examination to drop, what with the allegations of gambling theft levied at Shohei Ohtani's interpreter. In Charlie Hustle, author Keith O'Brien doesn't re-invent the wheel by any means, but he does provide an excellent summation of the entire career and gambling ordeal of Rose (especially for relative newcomers like myself).
This is a pretty standard bio piece on Rose, starting with his childhood and progressing all the way to the present day (2024). It eschews really deep dives (which I appreciate in bios--I don't necessarily need to know his entire ancestral tree) but provides the key pieces of info: relationship with his parents (especially his father), early-career popularity based on his hustle, stardom with the Reds & Phillies, and of course (all along the way) his propensity for gambling that ultimately led to his banishment from baseball in the late-1980s.
If you are already very familiar with the Pete Rose biography, I don't know how much new information is within Charlie Hustle. But most (if not all) of these events took place before I was born, so I really appreciate this concise--yet deep enough to be meaningful--summary. With the advantage of hindsight, O'Brien is able to call out certain areas of Rose's life and career that speak heavily to the mess he ultimately found (and still finds) himself in.
The only critique I have of Charlie Hustle regards the final few chapters, in which O'Brien tries to compare Rose's gambling scandal against the Steroid Era. In a book that largely eschews opinion in favor of cold, hard fact this felt a little odd, out-of-place, and frankly an unequal playing field for comparison.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this tome and would highly recommend it for anyone who wants a refresher on the Rose story in light of the Ohtani mess....more
Despite reading the Superman in the Sixties comic collection and being disappointed in the quality of the stories chosen, I decided to give Batman a sDespite reading the Superman in the Sixties comic collection and being disappointed in the quality of the stories chosen, I decided to give Batman a similar opportunity. I'm glad I did, as Batman in the Sixties is a far stronger and interesting compilation.
The aspect I noticed right off the bat (pardon the pun) in this Rick Taylor edited tome is how closely many of these stories hewed to the feel of the late-60s Adam West TV series. It was fascinating to see entire storylines--sometimes right down to even words of dialogue--that were ultimately utilized by that camp series.
There was also an overall strength-of-story here not present in the similar Superman volume. While the issue with the Kryptonian is inventing baddies he cannot defeat (leading to wild deus ex machina), Batman's flesh-and-blood nature presents more opportunities for an interesting rogue's gallery of villains. We're not talking about the height of sophistication in these stories, of course, but they are far less eye-rolling here in Gotham City than in Smallville or Metropolis, to be sure.
Overall, I solidly enjoyed this collection of stories about the likes of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Robin/Dick Grayson, Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, and the solid Joker-Penguin-Scarecrow-Riddler (plus more!) lineup....more
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