This is book two in the Repairman Jack middle years trilogy. One more to go, and then I guess we'll be done with Jack's story. That makes me sad, but This is book two in the Repairman Jack middle years trilogy. One more to go, and then I guess we'll be done with Jack's story. That makes me sad, but I know that all good things must come to an end, and F. Paul Wilson has almost told all he seems willing to tell about Jack.
After reading the later years' stories (when Jack has been the Repairman for quite some time already), it's been a treat to read his early years growing up in the Pine Barrens in New Jersey, and now this trilogy as he morphs into the "fixer" of later years. Seeing his relationships with Abe and Julio build is wonderful, and you can already see him developing his sense of justice and learning how to set up a "fix."
Repairman Jack is one of the best literary characters in all of fiction. Jack always delivers.
Merged review:
This is book two in the Repairman Jack middle years trilogy. One more to go, and then I guess we'll be done with Jack's story. That makes me sad, but I know that all good things must come to an end, and F. Paul Wilson has almost told all he seems willing to tell about Jack.
After reading the later years' stories (when Jack has been the Repairman for quite some time already), it's been a treat to read his early years growing up in the Pine Barrens in New Jersey, and now this trilogy as he morphs into the "fixer" of later years. Seeing his relationships with Abe and Julio build is wonderful, and you can already see him developing his sense of justice and learning how to set up a "fix."
Repairman Jack is one of the best literary characters in all of fiction. Jack always delivers....more
Another book about my summer obsession, Roxy Music.
This was a thorough dive into their formation and their music and I found it really interesting. IAnother book about my summer obsession, Roxy Music.
This was a thorough dive into their formation and their music and I found it really interesting. It added quite a bit to my knowledge. I thought the author did a little too much "armchair analysis" of Bryan Ferry, which is never fair or fully accurate. But it was obvious that the author is a fan (as is his wife, apparently).
This might be a little too in-the-weeds, but as someone who can play the piano (although not technically well), I found it fascinating. Producer Chris Thomas showed musician Ian Burden of The Human League the secret of how Ferry writes his tunes. Basic chords have three notes: the root note, played with the thumb, and the third and fifth notes. Ferry played with two fingers, leaving out the middle note. That is the note that determines whether the key is major or minor, so the rest of the band could decide what they wanted to do with it. The early Roxy songs were mostly in a major key but minor inflections often made their way in there. I'm not sure why that fascinated me, but it did! I immediately sat down at my keyboard and played around with that and was amazed at how the sound changed.
It's that kind of experimentation, especially early on, that made Roxy Music such an innovative and influential band to so many musicians that followed. ...more
This is an excellent history of Roxy Music, or at least their backgrounds and how they came to be. It ends in 1972, when their first album was releaseThis is an excellent history of Roxy Music, or at least their backgrounds and how they came to be. It ends in 1972, when their first album was released.
What a fascinating convergence of art and music! Some of the members were art school graduates; Andy Mackay, the oboe/sax player was the only classically trained musician (as well as English literature). Bryan Ferry, the lead singer/keyboardist/main lyricist, studied art under Pop artist Richard Hamilton at Newcastle. Hamilton was known for collage-type art; Roxy's music is often itself a collage, with wildly differing parts within one song. Ferry's vision of melding art and music was extraordinary; the music and the members were themselves part of the art. It's not every day you see a band come together and invent a new sound. Roxy did that.
It talks about the scene in London towards the end of the '60s. What an amazing and creative time that must have been for all involved. The music, the fashion, the image...it was all part of making oneself into what one wanted to be. These mainly working-class kids decided they wanted to be part of "society," so they invented their own place in the British aristocracy. I think that's called "fake it till you make it."
Barriers were smashed. There has been much discussion about how Roxy Music was one of the precursors to punk rock. As I continue to learn, it's not so much about the music; there are a few elements of punk there, but Roxy was mainly a camp sendup of a rock band. The true punk connection comes from Roxy's DIY attitude. Much of the British press reviled them at first because they hadn't "paid their dues" by doing the grind of years of club work. They had a vision, especially Ferry, and they basically invented themselves as stars. The audacity! Their first album was a smash hit in the UK. Their very first album! Just remarkable.
This is a well-written and well-researched book that includes interviews with most of the band members, as well as various artists and designers who had an influence on the band. Really a fascinating history. A must-read for any fan of the band or anyone who is interested in rock music in general. ...more
Continuing my deep dive into the groundbreaking band Roxy Music, this was my second book.
As disappointing as the first book and its tabloid fodder waContinuing my deep dive into the groundbreaking band Roxy Music, this was my second book.
As disappointing as the first book and its tabloid fodder was, this one more than made up for it. There is a timeline of the band's history, including significant events and tours, and even better, there is a detailed analysis of every song on every album. It really helped me understand the instrumentation, the lyrics, and the members of the band, as well as additional players they used.
Although not as detailed, there is also discussion of the various solo projects and albums of the mainstays of the band, Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, and Phil Manzanera. (Brian Eno, as well, although he left the band after two albums.) I'm more familiar with Ferry's solo works, but it's fun to explore that of the other members. I have many, many hours of happy listening ahead of me!
The author is obviously a long-time fan, but he doesn't hesitate to criticize when he feels it is due. I suppose some of it was fair, but when I go full fangirl, I go all the way, so I frequently thought, "No, that's mean, I love that song!" (This is why I could never be a critic; if I love an artist, it is impossible for me to be impartial.)
This book took me a while to finish, because there was so much listening involved. That is not a complaint! It opened new horizons for me. It's odd to become a rabid fan of a band over fifty years after their inception, but that's the thing: music never dies, nor does learning new things, listening with a new ear to songs you already know, and understanding the significance of a band that had a massive influence on so many later artists.
I enjoyed learning about the band's inception and the various players involved, and feel like I learned a lot about them.
What was totally off-puttingI enjoyed learning about the band's inception and the various players involved, and feel like I learned a lot about them.
What was totally off-putting to me was the author's fascination with front man Bryan Ferry's romantic relationships. Utter tabloid fodder. It provided a little understanding to some of his lyrics and the circumstances behind them, but it was just shabby, gossipy junk.
What I found rather interesting is that the author (now deceased...Bryan Ferry has outlived him by over a decade) seemed to dismiss Roxy as outmoded, outdated, and washed up. This book was published in 1982, and some of Roxy Music's and Bryan Ferry's biggest successes were yet to come, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. They are widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands in rock and roll.
Informative, but the salacious gossipy tone was absurd. No one really cares about Bryan Ferry's relationships except for maybe Bryan Ferry. Most of us just want to learn about the music. ...more
Instead of a novel, this spring Stephen King released another collection of short stories.
I've found that some of his short stories can pack an emotiInstead of a novel, this spring Stephen King released another collection of short stories.
I've found that some of his short stories can pack an emotional wallop that's a little more...distilled than his novels. Such was the case here, as I found myself absolutely sobbing over the final story in this collection, titled, "The Answer Man." Was it because I read it on D-Day? Was it because of the recent passing of my husband? I'm not sure, but wow, did that ever hit me hard.
But I'm not complaining. Far from it. One of the things I love about Stephen King is that he sometimes finds that one little bruised spot in our psyche and just pushes on it. Not in a way to hurt, but in a way to make us feel. And feel deeply.
A few of these I'd read before, because they were published in various magazines, but the majority were new to me. It's an enjoyable collection, as always.
One of the most striking things to me was in King's Afterword. It struck my sister, too, so much so that she read it to me over the phone. He wrote:
"Horror stories are best appreciated by those who are compassionate and empathetic. A paradox, but a true one. I believe it is the unimaginative among us, those incapable of appreciating the dark side of make-believe, who have been responsible for most of the world's woes."
I don't know how true that is and there is certainly an argument to be made against it. It made me feel quite a bit better about my love for horror tales, though. "See? I'm not weird. I'm empathetic!" Ha!
I honestly don't know of any writer of history who can make it so compelling. This book chronicles what takes place between LincLarson does it again!
I honestly don't know of any writer of history who can make it so compelling. This book chronicles what takes place between Lincoln's election and the first shots at Fort Sumter, which was the beginning of the Civil War in the United States.
He provides so many rich details that make you understand these historical figures a little better, things that I didn't know before, even about President Lincoln. He also brings to life the atmosphere in the country at the time, including the North's easy dismissal of the Southerners' fervor and hatred of the Yankees (proud Yankee, here!), and the often frivolous day-to-day lives of the Southern "aristocracy," which was called the chivalry.
There are no extensive details about the four-year war. This is focused on the events leading up to it, and the immediate aftermath. There are anecdotes about the "famous" Mary Chesnut, she of the diary. I found her rather abhorrent, to be honest. Certainly a product of her times and place.
Lincoln is one of our most beloved presidents, and for a reason. Some of his attitudes and actions were flawed, but the humanity and grace of the man comes through loud and clear in this book.
Some 20-30 years ago, I read quite a few books about our Civil War, but one I'd neglected was James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, considered to be one of the best chronicles of that war. I'll remedy that soon.
The Demon of Unrest is a very, very good book. Highly recommended! ...more
Another book with a great premise that didn't quite deliver. Mysterious, unfinished movie (filmed on the highly flammable silver nitrate medium), NaziAnother book with a great premise that didn't quite deliver. Mysterious, unfinished movie (filmed on the highly flammable silver nitrate medium), Nazis, occultism...fun elements, but it never quite gelled for me.
It was a very slow start and I wasn't enchanted by any of the characters. The final showdown was pretty good, but then it fizzled out with a lame romantic ending.
This novel revisits Hill House, the famous and creepy haunted house from Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.
I'm a horror veteran and it takThis novel revisits Hill House, the famous and creepy haunted house from Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.
I'm a horror veteran and it takes a lot to creep me out. Zombies, vampires, axe-murdering psychos, demonic possession...none of that fazes me much. I know it's fake, so I just have fun with it. Haunted houses are a different story. Not because I believe in ghosts—I don't—but because I think we all know how it feels to be awakened in the night by a strange sound. A scrape on the window, a rustling in the wall, a thud in the basement, a loud boom from the neighborhood. It can be quite unsettling.
I can't say that this book scared me, but it did give me some heebie-jeebies! There was definitely an insidious undertone to it all. What kept it from being truly scary for me, as with many horror novels or movies, is the irritation I feel at the people who act like all the strange things happening are nothing to worry about. The moment I saw or heard some of the odd occurrences that take place in this book, I'd be out of there so fast I'd leave a sonic boom in my wake!
But all in all, this was a fun read, and a genuinely decent homage to Jackson's terrifying novel. In the acknowledgements, the author mentions that Jackson's son was a part of her writing this novel, and the Jackson estate was also involved. It was good to learn that that approval was there.
Also, bonus points for a reference to one of my favorite bands, The Psychedelic Furs, and their excellent song "Sister Europe." ...more
I started this book a couple of times before and for some reason, I just could not get into it. That's unusual, because I usually devour Stephen King I started this book a couple of times before and for some reason, I just could not get into it. That's unusual, because I usually devour Stephen King books in record time.
Apparently, third time was the charm, because this time I was into it immediately. Isn't it strange how that works? I enjoyed the story and became invested in many of the characters.
Strange things start happening halfway around the world and things get even stranger in a small Appalachian city. A meth addict and dealer is brutally murdered by a beautiful and mysterious woman, and around the world, women become enveloped in cocoons when they go to sleep. The results are disastrous when anyone tries to remove the cocoons.
This proves to be an extra problem at the women's prison in town. How will they protect the inmates when men decide that the sleeping women are a danger? And how will the prison psychiatrist, Dr. Norcross, protect the mysterious and strange woman who seems to be at the center of this? The one woman who is able to sleep and wake normally when every other woman in the world becomes engulfed in a waxy cocoon?
It's a fun tale, one that has plenty to say about the patriarchy, anger issues, and men's treatment of women. I especially liked this line:
"...[L]ove is a dangerous word when it comes from men. Quite often they don’t mean the same thing as women do when they say it. Sometimes they mean they’ll kill for it. Sometimes when they say it they don’t mean much of anything. Which, of course, most women come to know. Some with resignation, many with sorrow."
I enjoyed this a lot and I'm glad I was finally in the right frame of mind to enjoy it! ...more
Another book about the '70s music scene, as Jane Quinn and her band The Breakers try to make it big.
This one didn't have quite the emotional impact oAnother book about the '70s music scene, as Jane Quinn and her band The Breakers try to make it big.
This one didn't have quite the emotional impact on me that Daisy Jones & The Six had, but it's still pretty good. Jane navigates skeezy record producers, love found and lost, addiction, and the general dickish patriarchy of the record industry. It was infuriating to read the condescension in the things the record executives say to Jane. I appreciated her independence and stubbornness as she learns hard lessons along the way. She comes from a matriarchal family and the women in her life are wonderful and supportive.
Jane has some secrets and the revelation of that was something I did not see coming. It was devastating and explained a lot about Jane's choices and attitudes.
My main quibble with this book is when the author attempts to describe Jane's songs. I was reminded by Stephen King's take on it: "The road to hell is paved with adverbs." There were so many adjectives, adverbs, and metaphors that I found myself rolling my eyes.
But it's a good story and it had a surprise twist. ...more
Imagine, if you will, an America in which all abortion is illegal and a Personhood Bill has passed so that in vitro fertilization is also illegal. An Imagine, if you will, an America in which all abortion is illegal and a Personhood Bill has passed so that in vitro fertilization is also illegal. An America in which women traveling to Canada for either procedure are apprehended at the border, prosecuted, and sentenced to prison for manslaughter or attempted murder.
[listens to earpiece] What? Say again. [listens]
Ahem. I have just been informed that this fictional book, published in 2018 pretty much nailed it. While our reality is not yet as extreme as what happens in the book, it's obvious the direction things are going if some have their way.
It's a disturbing premise for a book, but it doesn't quite hit the landing. It follows the fates of four women in a small Oregon town. Their experiences are all different but they are connected in various ways. The common thread is that far too often, and for hundreds of years, women's lives have been dictated and directed by men. This attempted subjugation takes place in a myriad of ways, but it all comes down to one thing: if you happen to be a woman, you are not allowed to have control over your own body. ...more
I became a fan of Amor Towles after reading his latest book, The Lincoln Highway. This was his first novel, published in 2011.
While it didn't pack quiI became a fan of Amor Towles after reading his latest book, The Lincoln Highway. This was his first novel, published in 2011.
While it didn't pack quite the punch for me that The Lincoln Highway did, his writing in this novel already showed many flashes of the beautiful and evocative writing that I've come to love. In this novel, we follow Katie and the various characters she meets in New York City in the years just prior to America's entry into WWII.
I love this line: "We launched ourselves into the evening like satellites and orbited the city two miles above the Earth, powered by failing foreign currencies and finely filtered spirits."
But this beauty is the one that really got to me, and anyone who has seen the Manhattan skyline from the Bay will understand: "For however inhospitable the wind, from this vantage point Manhattan was simply so improbable, so wonderful, so obviously full of promise—that you wanted to approach it for the rest of your life without ever quite arriving."
I think I need to read every single one of his books, and it seems that he has a new one coming out soon. ...more
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