75 Books Challenge for 2016 for ralphcoviello
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1ralphcoviello
All,
Greatly enjoyed participating during 2015 in the 75 Books Challenge for the first time. Started off like a house on fire last year then tapered off in mid-year before rallying to edge over the halfway mark with 38 books read by the end of December. One of the best aspects of 2015 was participating in the sub-group of the British Author Challenge which I plan to engage with again and highly recommend to any first-time participants. Here's to a great 75 Books Challenge for 2016 for one and all!
Best,
Ralph
Greatly enjoyed participating during 2015 in the 75 Books Challenge for the first time. Started off like a house on fire last year then tapered off in mid-year before rallying to edge over the halfway mark with 38 books read by the end of December. One of the best aspects of 2015 was participating in the sub-group of the British Author Challenge which I plan to engage with again and highly recommend to any first-time participants. Here's to a great 75 Books Challenge for 2016 for one and all!
Best,
Ralph
3ralphcoviello
British Author Challenge 2016
January - SUSAN HILL & BARRY UNSWORTH January thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/211144
February : Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple
March : Ali Smith & Thomas Hardy
April : George Eliot & Hanif Kureishi
May : Jane Gardam & Robert Goddard
June : Lady Antonia Fraser & Joseph Conrad
July : Bernice Rubens & H.G. Wells
August : Diana Wynne-Jones & Ian McEwan
September : Doris Lessing & Laurie Lee
October : Kate Atkinson & William Golding
November : Rebecca West & Len Deighton
December : WEST YORKSHIRE writers
Wildcard : Rumer Godden and George Orwell
January - SUSAN HILL & BARRY UNSWORTH January thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/211144
February : Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple
March : Ali Smith & Thomas Hardy
April : George Eliot & Hanif Kureishi
May : Jane Gardam & Robert Goddard
June : Lady Antonia Fraser & Joseph Conrad
July : Bernice Rubens & H.G. Wells
August : Diana Wynne-Jones & Ian McEwan
September : Doris Lessing & Laurie Lee
October : Kate Atkinson & William Golding
November : Rebecca West & Len Deighton
December : WEST YORKSHIRE writers
Wildcard : Rumer Godden and George Orwell
4ralphcoviello
Book 1 is mission accomplished in launching the 75 Book Challenge for 2016 by reading Old Mars which was edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois with contributions by James S. A. Corey, Phyllis Eisenstein, Matthew Hughes, Joe R. Lansdale, David D. Levine, Ian McDonald, Michael Moorcock, Mike Resnick, Chris Roberson, Mary Rosenblum, Melinda Snodgrass, Allen M. Steele, S. M. Stirling, Howard Waldrop, and Liz Williams.
The book opens with an introduction by George R. R. Martin outlining the premise of the book as a return to viewing Mars as a world of adventure haunted by an ancient past and human heroes trying survive its dangers and pierce its mysteries. As George points out he grew up reading tales set on the Red Planet and dreamed of adding his own to those written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury, Leigh Brackett, Robert A. Heinlein and Roger Zelasny among others. The dream version of Mars as a living world with ancient civilizations centered around a global canal network died when NASA's Mariner missions reached orbit and sent back data and eventually images that made it clear this was a dead and desolate orb.
One thing to understand is that this is not a single vision of Mars, past, present or future, so with over a dozen authors contributing to the book it contains a wide range of tales. These are not all retro adventures, in fact many are progressive and forward looking, some with only a nod to their taking place on Mars. There is an interesting theme in several stories, which appears to be coincidental, examining possibilities of immortality and connections that transcend death itself for generations. These are all great tales of imagination that bring Mars back to life!
Speaking of bringing Mars back to life Kim Stanley Robinson author of a transforming Mars trilogy Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars offers his recommendation of 10 Mars set novels that reflect the changing perceptions and scientific knowledge of the Red Planet at My 10 Favorite Mars Novels.
The book opens with an introduction by George R. R. Martin outlining the premise of the book as a return to viewing Mars as a world of adventure haunted by an ancient past and human heroes trying survive its dangers and pierce its mysteries. As George points out he grew up reading tales set on the Red Planet and dreamed of adding his own to those written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury, Leigh Brackett, Robert A. Heinlein and Roger Zelasny among others. The dream version of Mars as a living world with ancient civilizations centered around a global canal network died when NASA's Mariner missions reached orbit and sent back data and eventually images that made it clear this was a dead and desolate orb.
One thing to understand is that this is not a single vision of Mars, past, present or future, so with over a dozen authors contributing to the book it contains a wide range of tales. These are not all retro adventures, in fact many are progressive and forward looking, some with only a nod to their taking place on Mars. There is an interesting theme in several stories, which appears to be coincidental, examining possibilities of immortality and connections that transcend death itself for generations. These are all great tales of imagination that bring Mars back to life!
Speaking of bringing Mars back to life Kim Stanley Robinson author of a transforming Mars trilogy Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars offers his recommendation of 10 Mars set novels that reflect the changing perceptions and scientific knowledge of the Red Planet at My 10 Favorite Mars Novels.
5ralphcoviello
Book 2 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 is a collection of poems considered a classic of the beat generation A Coney Island of the Mind by Lawerence Ferlinghetti.
I confess my utter ignorance and inability to review and appraise poetry with my own rating being 3 out 5 stars and is strictly based on my own experience as a reader and not remotely reflective of the classic status of this collection. The author is the remarkable Lawrence Ferlinghetti who is a poet, author, bookseller, publisher and still going strong at 96 years of age! I did have an appreciation for some of the language and especially references connected to New York City.
An appraisal for a special 50th Anniversary edition by Oscar Villalon can be found at the National Book Critics Circle on their blog Critical Mass.
I confess my utter ignorance and inability to review and appraise poetry with my own rating being 3 out 5 stars and is strictly based on my own experience as a reader and not remotely reflective of the classic status of this collection. The author is the remarkable Lawrence Ferlinghetti who is a poet, author, bookseller, publisher and still going strong at 96 years of age! I did have an appreciation for some of the language and especially references connected to New York City.
An appraisal for a special 50th Anniversary edition by Oscar Villalon can be found at the National Book Critics Circle on their blog Critical Mass.
6ralphcoviello
Book 3 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 is a marvelous philosophical mathematical historical overview covering the evolution in thought from Aristotle to Albert Einstein expicated clearly and concisely in Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife.
As someone who eventually became a history major in college I was always about facts instead of figures while growing up. Any step-up in math was always a challenge, so it was with interest and some trepidation I picked up this book to read. Somehow this is a perfect summary of my understanding of mathematics in examining its development through the lens of Zero and infinity both of which Aristotle prohibited! I really wish I had a better grasp at an earlier age of the historical enshrinement of mathematics with philosophical thought. Time and again Seife illustrates how even men of great learning sought to align their calculations with their religious beliefs.
In a remarkable coincidence I was reading the last chapters of this book which cover Einstein and his great breakthroughs as the gravitational waves he predicted in 1916 where finally confirmed with the observations reported by LIGO. An article "Gravitational waves: How LIGO forged the path to victory" can be found at Nature.
As someone who eventually became a history major in college I was always about facts instead of figures while growing up. Any step-up in math was always a challenge, so it was with interest and some trepidation I picked up this book to read. Somehow this is a perfect summary of my understanding of mathematics in examining its development through the lens of Zero and infinity both of which Aristotle prohibited! I really wish I had a better grasp at an earlier age of the historical enshrinement of mathematics with philosophical thought. Time and again Seife illustrates how even men of great learning sought to align their calculations with their religious beliefs.
In a remarkable coincidence I was reading the last chapters of this book which cover Einstein and his great breakthroughs as the gravitational waves he predicted in 1916 where finally confirmed with the observations reported by LIGO. An article "Gravitational waves: How LIGO forged the path to victory" can be found at Nature.
8ralphcoviello
Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli is Book 4 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016. I really cannot say how this inventive graphic novel first came to my attention, I just know I have had it on a mental TBR since coming across it and I am glad to have experienced it at last.
Experienced it is really the term, maybe for all graphic novels, however especially in this case with its non-linear narrative working on multiple levels with clever word play, visuals that shift to illuminate story, character, and memory. You ultimately absorb this character study which becomes a voyage of discovery of self for both us the readers and Asterios the title character.
A central aspect is the unfolding of the relationship between Asterios and Hana, he a renown 'paper' architect with a towering ego who is hailed as a genius even though he never builds anything, she a shy talented artist who creates constantly with found objects. As the above image illustrates this is a meeting of opposites who somehow connect despite contrasting styles and personalities. I really tried to savor this book by only reading a section or two at a time. Yet, suddenly I found myself racing to the book's conclusion which is a testimony to how the story, the visuals and Asterios Polyp's character come into sharp focus. The ending found me a bit breathless as it concludes on a bittersweet note that had me reflecting that the right endings are not always the ones you wish for.
The talented comics theorist, author and illustrator Scott McCloud whose recent work The Sculptor was widely praised offers some valueable insights into Asterios Polyp on his Scott McCloud Journal.
Experienced it is really the term, maybe for all graphic novels, however especially in this case with its non-linear narrative working on multiple levels with clever word play, visuals that shift to illuminate story, character, and memory. You ultimately absorb this character study which becomes a voyage of discovery of self for both us the readers and Asterios the title character.
A central aspect is the unfolding of the relationship between Asterios and Hana, he a renown 'paper' architect with a towering ego who is hailed as a genius even though he never builds anything, she a shy talented artist who creates constantly with found objects. As the above image illustrates this is a meeting of opposites who somehow connect despite contrasting styles and personalities. I really tried to savor this book by only reading a section or two at a time. Yet, suddenly I found myself racing to the book's conclusion which is a testimony to how the story, the visuals and Asterios Polyp's character come into sharp focus. The ending found me a bit breathless as it concludes on a bittersweet note that had me reflecting that the right endings are not always the ones you wish for.
The talented comics theorist, author and illustrator Scott McCloud whose recent work The Sculptor was widely praised offers some valueable insights into Asterios Polyp on his Scott McCloud Journal.
9ralphcoviello
Book 5 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 is an Early Reviewers book I received in January 2016 The North Water by Ian McGuire.
The novel's surface details may seem to be those of a shipboard adventure, however the author McGuire paints a vivid portrait of this harsh environment bringing out the cruelty and greed that drives many men. This is a bitter tale set in the biting cold of the arctic about the fate of the men sailing on the whaling ship Volunteer. The story is particularly focused on two men Henry Drax and Patrick Sumner. It opens by introducing the murderous Henry Drax, a harpooner on the ship and then Patrick Sumner, a surgeon, recently returned from India who signs on as ship's doctor. Over the course of the novel Sumner will come to see Drax's vile depths and to find his own civilized, aspirational, and intellectual aspects stripped away. At the outset of the story the whaling industry is in decline and the machinations, of the ship's owner Baxter and Captain Brownlee, will reverberate across its pages. As fine a job as McGuire does of describing this distant time, place, and even the thought processes of these men there where a number of moments when a turn of phrase would strike me as so anachronistic as to pull me right out novel's grip.
Still, this is a well written and engaging tale as men face off against the environment, greed and ultimately themselves in a battle for survival.
The novel's surface details may seem to be those of a shipboard adventure, however the author McGuire paints a vivid portrait of this harsh environment bringing out the cruelty and greed that drives many men. This is a bitter tale set in the biting cold of the arctic about the fate of the men sailing on the whaling ship Volunteer. The story is particularly focused on two men Henry Drax and Patrick Sumner. It opens by introducing the murderous Henry Drax, a harpooner on the ship and then Patrick Sumner, a surgeon, recently returned from India who signs on as ship's doctor. Over the course of the novel Sumner will come to see Drax's vile depths and to find his own civilized, aspirational, and intellectual aspects stripped away. At the outset of the story the whaling industry is in decline and the machinations, of the ship's owner Baxter and Captain Brownlee, will reverberate across its pages. As fine a job as McGuire does of describing this distant time, place, and even the thought processes of these men there where a number of moments when a turn of phrase would strike me as so anachronistic as to pull me right out novel's grip.
Still, this is a well written and engaging tale as men face off against the environment, greed and ultimately themselves in a battle for survival.
11ralphcoviello
Book 6 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 is another Early Reviewers book which I received in February 2016 Stockholm Noir edited by Nathan Larson and Carl-Michael Edenborg.
A recent addition to the globally minded Akashic Noir Series this collection features 13 gripping stories exhuming the darker aspects underlying Sweden's capital city. Each tale is set in a different Stockholm neighborhood or outlying suburb and the book even includes a map of the area marked by the bodies of the innocent and not so innocent victims. The book opens with an introduction from the editors and is divided into three sections Part I: Crime & Punishment, Part II: Fear & Darkness, and Part III: The Brutality of Beasts. I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range the authors demonstrated with stories evoking a variety of fiction types including detective, satirical, police procedural, thrillers, and even fairy tales while remaining true to the darkness promised by having 'noir' in the title. All the stories are good while for me highlights included 'Black Ice' about an elderly woman increasingly gripped by fear and paranoia and 'The Splendors and Miseries of a Swedish Crime Writer' which satirizes the mania for reading and writing crime fiction in prosperous low crime Sweden.
The book concludes with photos and brief descriptions of all of the contributors including the authors and translators. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys taking a vicarious walk on the dark side of town in our global village.
A recent addition to the globally minded Akashic Noir Series this collection features 13 gripping stories exhuming the darker aspects underlying Sweden's capital city. Each tale is set in a different Stockholm neighborhood or outlying suburb and the book even includes a map of the area marked by the bodies of the innocent and not so innocent victims. The book opens with an introduction from the editors and is divided into three sections Part I: Crime & Punishment, Part II: Fear & Darkness, and Part III: The Brutality of Beasts. I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range the authors demonstrated with stories evoking a variety of fiction types including detective, satirical, police procedural, thrillers, and even fairy tales while remaining true to the darkness promised by having 'noir' in the title. All the stories are good while for me highlights included 'Black Ice' about an elderly woman increasingly gripped by fear and paranoia and 'The Splendors and Miseries of a Swedish Crime Writer' which satirizes the mania for reading and writing crime fiction in prosperous low crime Sweden.
The book concludes with photos and brief descriptions of all of the contributors including the authors and translators. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys taking a vicarious walk on the dark side of town in our global village.
12ralphcoviello
Time to cross the Scottish highlands on a classic adventure in Book 7 of the 75 Book Challenge 2016 with Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.
The story of David Balfour a 17 year old recently orphaned who decides to make his way in the world. Although raised with little means in simple village in the Scottish lowlands David has been given a gentleman's education by the minister Mr. Campbell. As he sets out the minister gives him a letter of introduction to Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws an uncle David did not know he had. There are ominous indications as he approaches the House of Shaws which play out in his time there with David being deceived by his Uncle. David is kidnapped on a ship bound for America where he is to be sold into servitude. Luckily for David the ship does not sail immediately for America instead following a course along the Scottish coast. Along the way the ship picks up Alan Breck Stewart and when David overhears plotting against the new arrival they join forces to fight the captain and his crew. A stormy sea wrecks the ship with David washing up on a stark islet. Eventually he reaches the mainland and after some solo journeying reunites with Alan Breck under dangerous circumstances. They both witness the murder of the King's tax collector and are branded assassins. As fugitives they flee the redcoat soldiers across the highlands with the goal of both staying alive and returning David to Edinburgh to confront his uncle and claim his fortune.
Apparently the reputation of Robert Louis Stevenson and Kidnapped have waxed and waned much like his protagonist David Balfour's fortunes. The story was popular out of the gate when it was serialized in magazine form before being published as a book. Contemporary authors such as Henry James recognized that Stevenson was using vivid descriptions of his characters, environments, and sufferings in ways that were new and exciting. Sadly for a long time Stevenson and Kidnapped were categorized dismissively as being just for children. Fortunately today author and book are rising in literary esteem with Kidnapped being listed as number 24 among the great novels in the Guardian.
Kidnapped is a great read with an extremely strong sense of time and place as you feel you are alongside David and Alan Breck adventuring across the Highlands of Scotland.
The story of David Balfour a 17 year old recently orphaned who decides to make his way in the world. Although raised with little means in simple village in the Scottish lowlands David has been given a gentleman's education by the minister Mr. Campbell. As he sets out the minister gives him a letter of introduction to Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws an uncle David did not know he had. There are ominous indications as he approaches the House of Shaws which play out in his time there with David being deceived by his Uncle. David is kidnapped on a ship bound for America where he is to be sold into servitude. Luckily for David the ship does not sail immediately for America instead following a course along the Scottish coast. Along the way the ship picks up Alan Breck Stewart and when David overhears plotting against the new arrival they join forces to fight the captain and his crew. A stormy sea wrecks the ship with David washing up on a stark islet. Eventually he reaches the mainland and after some solo journeying reunites with Alan Breck under dangerous circumstances. They both witness the murder of the King's tax collector and are branded assassins. As fugitives they flee the redcoat soldiers across the highlands with the goal of both staying alive and returning David to Edinburgh to confront his uncle and claim his fortune.
Apparently the reputation of Robert Louis Stevenson and Kidnapped have waxed and waned much like his protagonist David Balfour's fortunes. The story was popular out of the gate when it was serialized in magazine form before being published as a book. Contemporary authors such as Henry James recognized that Stevenson was using vivid descriptions of his characters, environments, and sufferings in ways that were new and exciting. Sadly for a long time Stevenson and Kidnapped were categorized dismissively as being just for children. Fortunately today author and book are rising in literary esteem with Kidnapped being listed as number 24 among the great novels in the Guardian.
Kidnapped is a great read with an extremely strong sense of time and place as you feel you are alongside David and Alan Breck adventuring across the Highlands of Scotland.
13ralphcoviello
Having enjoyed the The Rough Guide to Horror Movies, as part of the 75 Book Challenge for 2015, I was more than eager to dive into The Rough Guide to Gangster Movies 1 by Lloyd Hughes as book 8 of the 75 Book Challenge for 2016.
As before this series provides us with an excellent guide this time with Lloyd Hughes serving as our consigliere. This book follows a similar structure to the Horror volume as an Introduction is followed by Say Hi To The Bad Guy: The Origins, Once Upon A Crime: a history of gangster cinema, The Canon: 50 essential gangster movies, The Icons: dons of gangster cinema, Tools Of The Trade: the archetypes, The World Is Yours: global gangsters and concludes with Wiseguy Wisdom: the information. As with the Horror volume this book is a great start point for anyone who wants an introductory overview of gangster movies. As before the book is bound in the distinctive square shape that marks The Rough Guide reference series with nice clear graphics, many black & white photos and capsule asides on many pages covering a personality or factoid related to the movie under discussion.
The book surveys a wide range of gangster cinema including its global and historical development such as the films pictured above Get Carter - British, Scarface - American, City of God - Brazilian, and Bonnie & Clyde - American. As with the Horror guide American readers need to keep in mind is that the author and publishers are British which leads to a slightly different perspective on how some of the films are selected and described including a distinctive type of British gangster called a spiv. Again it is great to have a book like this that comes with a distinctive cultural and authorial voice and not just more of the same! I am looking forward to seeing more of the films highlighted as well as reading the Sci-Fi Rough Guide book in the near future!
Another consideration and caveat the authors are upfront in advising that in addition to the evaluation process as to what are the best films, which films to even include in the gangster genre can differ, additionally this guide was originally published in 2005, so for a different top 50 which includes another decade worth of cinema read Time Out's The 50 Best Gangster Movies Of All Time.
As before this series provides us with an excellent guide this time with Lloyd Hughes serving as our consigliere. This book follows a similar structure to the Horror volume as an Introduction is followed by Say Hi To The Bad Guy: The Origins, Once Upon A Crime: a history of gangster cinema, The Canon: 50 essential gangster movies, The Icons: dons of gangster cinema, Tools Of The Trade: the archetypes, The World Is Yours: global gangsters and concludes with Wiseguy Wisdom: the information. As with the Horror volume this book is a great start point for anyone who wants an introductory overview of gangster movies. As before the book is bound in the distinctive square shape that marks The Rough Guide reference series with nice clear graphics, many black & white photos and capsule asides on many pages covering a personality or factoid related to the movie under discussion. 
The book surveys a wide range of gangster cinema including its global and historical development such as the films pictured above Get Carter - British, Scarface - American, City of God - Brazilian, and Bonnie & Clyde - American. As with the Horror guide American readers need to keep in mind is that the author and publishers are British which leads to a slightly different perspective on how some of the films are selected and described including a distinctive type of British gangster called a spiv. Again it is great to have a book like this that comes with a distinctive cultural and authorial voice and not just more of the same! I am looking forward to seeing more of the films highlighted as well as reading the Sci-Fi Rough Guide book in the near future!
Another consideration and caveat the authors are upfront in advising that in addition to the evaluation process as to what are the best films, which films to even include in the gangster genre can differ, additionally this guide was originally published in 2005, so for a different top 50 which includes another decade worth of cinema read Time Out's The 50 Best Gangster Movies Of All Time.
14ralphcoviello
As a movie fan whose interests swing high & low and around the globe I have enjoyed all of Quentin Tarantino's films. However, Kill Bill his martial arts, spaghetti western, & revenge film mash-up, an epic so big it had to be split into Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2 hit a particular sweet spot with me. Recently I watched the two volumes back to back and then took the ride through their creation with The Kill Bill Diary: The Making of a Tarantino Classic as Seen Through the Eyes of a Screen Legend by David Carradine as book 9 of the 75 Book Challenge for 2016.
This is a loose and enjoyable view of the film-making process which offers a simultaneous insider and outsider perspective which is as it should be with David Carradine. Carradine's life and career followed an erratic trajectory with many highs and lows in a pattern remarkably similar to that of his father John Carradine. Both father and son appeared on stage, screen, and television in roles ranging from lead to bit player in productions that ran the gamut from Shakespeare to the pulpiest of pulp. Like his father David Carradine's life involved substance abuse that affected his career and relationships including multiple marriages and children. However, when the diary opens his personal life is in a happy place living with his partner Annie and their children while his career is at a low ebb. Carradine's greatest fame and acclaim took place in the 70s when he starred in the landmark TV series Kung Fu and as folk music legend Woody Guthrie in the film Bound for Glory. This of course made him a perfect reclamation project for Quentin Tarantino whose previous films had featured career revivals for John Travolta in Pulp Fiction and Pam Grier & Robert Forster in Jackie Brown.
It is hard to believe the role of Bill, which seems perfectly tailored for David Carradine, nearly was filled by Warren Beatty since he was considered more of a box-office name in Hollywood. Fortunately, a series of events outlined in the diary thrust David into the title role of Bill he was so clearly meant to play. While the book is not the last word on the entire production of Kill Bill, the diary provides real insight into Carradine's process as an actor and the film-making process in general as well as his experience of Tarantino's directing in particular.
There is a tinge of sadness in reading some of David's optimism for his life and career going forward when one is aware that he died in 2009. There is a nice brief piece on David Carradine's life and its end to be found at All About Martial Arts.
This is a loose and enjoyable view of the film-making process which offers a simultaneous insider and outsider perspective which is as it should be with David Carradine. Carradine's life and career followed an erratic trajectory with many highs and lows in a pattern remarkably similar to that of his father John Carradine. Both father and son appeared on stage, screen, and television in roles ranging from lead to bit player in productions that ran the gamut from Shakespeare to the pulpiest of pulp. Like his father David Carradine's life involved substance abuse that affected his career and relationships including multiple marriages and children. However, when the diary opens his personal life is in a happy place living with his partner Annie and their children while his career is at a low ebb. Carradine's greatest fame and acclaim took place in the 70s when he starred in the landmark TV series Kung Fu and as folk music legend Woody Guthrie in the film Bound for Glory. This of course made him a perfect reclamation project for Quentin Tarantino whose previous films had featured career revivals for John Travolta in Pulp Fiction and Pam Grier & Robert Forster in Jackie Brown. 
It is hard to believe the role of Bill, which seems perfectly tailored for David Carradine, nearly was filled by Warren Beatty since he was considered more of a box-office name in Hollywood. Fortunately, a series of events outlined in the diary thrust David into the title role of Bill he was so clearly meant to play. While the book is not the last word on the entire production of Kill Bill, the diary provides real insight into Carradine's process as an actor and the film-making process in general as well as his experience of Tarantino's directing in particular.
There is a tinge of sadness in reading some of David's optimism for his life and career going forward when one is aware that he died in 2009. There is a nice brief piece on David Carradine's life and its end to be found at All About Martial Arts.
15ralphcoviello
For years, I have been aware of the talented author Neil Gaiman going back to his writing the groundbreaking comic series The Sandman. Gaiman, of course, has now written many books for both children and adults that have been given TV and film adaptations, several of which I have seen and enjoyed including Coraline and Neverwhere. Earlier this year I saw and delighted in one of the film adaptations on DVD and have now finally read the book which inspired it Stardust as book 10 of the 75 Book Challenge for 2016.
On the surface the story is one that is as old as time with a young man setting out on an adventure to prove himself and win the girl of his dreams. Any young boy or girl could read and enjoy Stardust as the classic tale it is as the hero Tristran leaves his home on a quest to find a fallen star to bring back to the girl he is sure he loves in his hometown of Wall. However, Gaiman offers much more as he gently deconstructs the traditional tropes of a fairy tale with charm and wit. Note that the edition I read included some notes in the back about the development of the story and that Gaiman had different story set in the present day in mind when first imagined the village of Wall adjacent to the world of Faery. He includes a short opening chapter from that initial effort and leaves it open as to whether or not he will return to write the book based on the original concept. I hope he does write it someday and I look forward to reading that as well as reading, listening, and viewing more of this prolific author's creative endeavors!
Rachel reads offers an enthusiastic endorsement of both book and movie in this brief video comparing them Stardust - Book vs. Movie.
Author Neil Gaiman offers a wealth of information on his multitude of creative activities on his self named website Neil Gaiman.
On the surface the story is one that is as old as time with a young man setting out on an adventure to prove himself and win the girl of his dreams. Any young boy or girl could read and enjoy Stardust as the classic tale it is as the hero Tristran leaves his home on a quest to find a fallen star to bring back to the girl he is sure he loves in his hometown of Wall. However, Gaiman offers much more as he gently deconstructs the traditional tropes of a fairy tale with charm and wit. Note that the edition I read included some notes in the back about the development of the story and that Gaiman had different story set in the present day in mind when first imagined the village of Wall adjacent to the world of Faery. He includes a short opening chapter from that initial effort and leaves it open as to whether or not he will return to write the book based on the original concept. I hope he does write it someday and I look forward to reading that as well as reading, listening, and viewing more of this prolific author's creative endeavors!
Rachel reads offers an enthusiastic endorsement of both book and movie in this brief video comparing them Stardust - Book vs. Movie.
Author Neil Gaiman offers a wealth of information on his multitude of creative activities on his self named website Neil Gaiman.
16ralphcoviello
Hal Higdon has training programs that can take anyone from zero to hero or couch potato to race finisher and you learn about this from the man himself in Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training. I have personally used Hal's training programs previously, so I was enthused to receive an early reviewer's copy which I read as book 11 of the 75 Book Challenge for 2016.
If you are a beginning runner please do not be intimidated by the title "Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training" go ahead and pick-up this book! Hal Higdon is one of the most generous and engaging authors on the topic of running and he has training plans and advice for people at all levels and all stages of their running life. The book gives some history on both Hal and the development and growing popularity of the half marathon as a racing distance in the United States. Most importantly Hal writes about running in an engaging manner that is positive and encouraging without devolving into hype for running as a solution to all things. The book includes practical training plans for all levels from novice to advanced and includes guidance for those who walk a half marathon to those who want to go beyond the half and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Whatever your preference or level Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training is a wealth of expert guidance and friendly encouragement that can get you to the finish line of your first race or re-energize your running enthusiasm to achieve that PR!
Hal Higdon provides training guides for all levels and all races at his self named website Hal Higdon.
If you are a beginning runner please do not be intimidated by the title "Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training" go ahead and pick-up this book! Hal Higdon is one of the most generous and engaging authors on the topic of running and he has training plans and advice for people at all levels and all stages of their running life. The book gives some history on both Hal and the development and growing popularity of the half marathon as a racing distance in the United States. Most importantly Hal writes about running in an engaging manner that is positive and encouraging without devolving into hype for running as a solution to all things. The book includes practical training plans for all levels from novice to advanced and includes guidance for those who walk a half marathon to those who want to go beyond the half and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Whatever your preference or level Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training is a wealth of expert guidance and friendly encouragement that can get you to the finish line of your first race or re-energize your running enthusiasm to achieve that PR!
Hal Higdon provides training guides for all levels and all races at his self named website Hal Higdon.
17ralphcoviello
I will circle back to comment myself once I finish The Sandman multi-volume set by Neil Gaiman and many contributing artists.
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 12 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 13 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 14 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 15 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 18 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 22 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 25 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 8: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 26 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 27 in 2016.
Some interesting analysis of this collection found at Comparative Geeks.
Author Neil Gaiman offers a wealth of information on his multitude of creative activities on his self named website Neil Gaiman.
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 12 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 13 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 14 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 15 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 18 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 22 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 25 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 8: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 26 in 2016.
The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman for 75 Books Challenge as Book 27 in 2016.
Some interesting analysis of this collection found at Comparative Geeks.
Author Neil Gaiman offers a wealth of information on his multitude of creative activities on his self named website Neil Gaiman.
18ralphcoviello
Book 16 of the 75 Books Challenge 2016 hit a real sweet spot with me combining my interests in history, books, and movies in a single volume with The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend by Glenn Frankel.
The author Glenn Frankel, being a former Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and current director of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, is the perfect guide to examine this multi-faceted story that has blended fact and fiction from the outset with a narrative that has been shaped and shifted to fit the needs of each generation. The story blended fact & fiction, myth & legend, fear & prejudice all of which has echoed through the history, novel, and film it inspired. Frankel starts out by telling the story of the tragic collision on the Texas frontier between the pioneering Parker family and Comanche Indians. The massacre at Fort Parker lead to the killing and capture of several members of the Parker family and while Frankel illuminates several of their stories the main focus is on Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah who eventually became a Comanche chief.
Frankel then introduces us to Alan Lemay author of many novels including The Searchers. Lemay's story is also our first foray into Hollywood where he labored as a well-paid screenwriter who could never quite breakout to be a successful producer or director. In fact the writing of The Searchers came directly out of his retreat from Hollywood and determination to do a work of quality and without interference.
Lemay was so done with Hollywood that when his book was sold he made it clear he was not interested in adapting it himself. Thus the book came to be developed into a film by director John Ford for his star John Wayne. Frankel gives an excellent overview of John Ford's career which was marked by his creative genius and destructive personality. John Wayne knew The Searchers was one of his best films with an intense performance, yet while the film was well received and successful it was initially viewed as just another western starring the Duke.
Somehow this story that started on a tragic day in 1836 has been powerfully received and often misunderstood, yet it generated a film classic that has seen its reputation soar since its debut in 1956 to the ranks of the greatest films of all time.
The author Glenn Frankel, being a former Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and current director of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, is the perfect guide to examine this multi-faceted story that has blended fact and fiction from the outset with a narrative that has been shaped and shifted to fit the needs of each generation. The story blended fact & fiction, myth & legend, fear & prejudice all of which has echoed through the history, novel, and film it inspired. Frankel starts out by telling the story of the tragic collision on the Texas frontier between the pioneering Parker family and Comanche Indians. The massacre at Fort Parker lead to the killing and capture of several members of the Parker family and while Frankel illuminates several of their stories the main focus is on Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah who eventually became a Comanche chief.
Frankel then introduces us to Alan Lemay author of many novels including The Searchers. Lemay's story is also our first foray into Hollywood where he labored as a well-paid screenwriter who could never quite breakout to be a successful producer or director. In fact the writing of The Searchers came directly out of his retreat from Hollywood and determination to do a work of quality and without interference.
Lemay was so done with Hollywood that when his book was sold he made it clear he was not interested in adapting it himself. Thus the book came to be developed into a film by director John Ford for his star John Wayne. Frankel gives an excellent overview of John Ford's career which was marked by his creative genius and destructive personality. John Wayne knew The Searchers was one of his best films with an intense performance, yet while the film was well received and successful it was initially viewed as just another western starring the Duke.
Somehow this story that started on a tragic day in 1836 has been powerfully received and often misunderstood, yet it generated a film classic that has seen its reputation soar since its debut in 1956 to the ranks of the greatest films of all time.
19ralphcoviello
Book 17 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 is a delightful, if slight, novella The Game by Diana Wynne Jones.
Following in the footsteps of the Oxford Dons she studied under, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, Diana Wynne Jones blazed her own unique path in the world of fantastic fiction. Many of her works gently satirize the tropes of fantasy with the loving eye of an intimate member of the family. The Game centers on Hayley, a small girl who has been orphaned and raised in a restricted manner by her grandparents. Suddenly sent to visit her cousins, Hayley finds herself overwhelmed by the chaos of her extended family. It gradually becomes clear that Hayley and her family are not ordinary people as her cousins introduce her to the secret game they play in the mythosphere, which is made up of all the stories, theories and beliefs, legends, myths and hopes generated on Earth. Wynne Jones gives the characters names and attributes that hint at who they may be and just in case you do not guess their identities she provides a helpful guide at the end of the book. This is a fun read which engages with well-known myths and characters caught-up in a sort-of mundane family feud which ends with a wink and a warm smile.
Sadly Dianna Wynne Jones passed away in 2011, fortunately during her life she was an immensely productive writer and left us with a wonderful collection of stories. You can find a warm appreciation for her talent and some guidance on where to start among her many books at Tor.com with the article Where To Start With Dianna Wynne Jones.
Following in the footsteps of the Oxford Dons she studied under, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, Diana Wynne Jones blazed her own unique path in the world of fantastic fiction. Many of her works gently satirize the tropes of fantasy with the loving eye of an intimate member of the family. The Game centers on Hayley, a small girl who has been orphaned and raised in a restricted manner by her grandparents. Suddenly sent to visit her cousins, Hayley finds herself overwhelmed by the chaos of her extended family. It gradually becomes clear that Hayley and her family are not ordinary people as her cousins introduce her to the secret game they play in the mythosphere, which is made up of all the stories, theories and beliefs, legends, myths and hopes generated on Earth. Wynne Jones gives the characters names and attributes that hint at who they may be and just in case you do not guess their identities she provides a helpful guide at the end of the book. This is a fun read which engages with well-known myths and characters caught-up in a sort-of mundane family feud which ends with a wink and a warm smile.
Sadly Dianna Wynne Jones passed away in 2011, fortunately during her life she was an immensely productive writer and left us with a wonderful collection of stories. You can find a warm appreciation for her talent and some guidance on where to start among her many books at Tor.com with the article Where To Start With Dianna Wynne Jones.
20Oregonreader
I just discovered your thread and find your reading selections very interesting. I'll be adding Zero to my TBR list. I was an English major who discovered the beauty of mathematic only recently. I am always looking for books that explain concepts to the amateur.
21ralphcoviello
Thanks for the kind words Oregonreader! I have eclectic interests plus I have tried to stretch myself the last few years with some of my reading selections. I think you will find Zero very accessible as I did being math-challenged!
22ralphcoviello
As book 19 in the 75 Book Challenge it was a very serendipitous selection to read Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane close on the heels of Diana Wynne Jones' The Game both because he cites her as an influence and inspiration as well as both books being fable-like stories of children in the midst of peril and discovery.
Whereas The Game is more of a romp through mythology The Ocean at the End of the Lane is much darker and deeper. The book is framed as a journey into the past when the narrator and protagonist of the story returns home for a funeral and drives by his old home. As he journeys further down the lane his memory starts to stir as he approaches the Hempstock farm. He is welcomed by Old Mrs Hempstock and then sits by the pond in the back and returns to his 7 year old self and the summer he became friends with Lettie Hempstock an 11 year old girl. Friendship, fun and all manner of horrors ensue, especially when a new nanny Ursula Monkton comes to live at the boy's home. The nature of reality and memory are very much in doubt by the end of the story as we are returned to the narrator in his middle-aged present. This is a marvelously written book where instead of the fun myth references of the Jones book Gaiman touches on ur-myths of creation and existence with the value of a human life being left in the end as an open question although also one of hopeful possibilities.
Author Neil Gaiman offers a wealth of information on his multitude of creative activities on his self named website Neil Gaiman.
Whereas The Game is more of a romp through mythology The Ocean at the End of the Lane is much darker and deeper. The book is framed as a journey into the past when the narrator and protagonist of the story returns home for a funeral and drives by his old home. As he journeys further down the lane his memory starts to stir as he approaches the Hempstock farm. He is welcomed by Old Mrs Hempstock and then sits by the pond in the back and returns to his 7 year old self and the summer he became friends with Lettie Hempstock an 11 year old girl. Friendship, fun and all manner of horrors ensue, especially when a new nanny Ursula Monkton comes to live at the boy's home. The nature of reality and memory are very much in doubt by the end of the story as we are returned to the narrator in his middle-aged present. This is a marvelously written book where instead of the fun myth references of the Jones book Gaiman touches on ur-myths of creation and existence with the value of a human life being left in the end as an open question although also one of hopeful possibilities.Author Neil Gaiman offers a wealth of information on his multitude of creative activities on his self named website Neil Gaiman.
23ralphcoviello
Book 20 in the 75 Book Challenge took me back to the hard boiled detective genre with Ross Macdonald's The Far Side of the Dollar.
Ross Madonald is considered one of the big three in detective fiction along with Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler taking inspiration from each of them and developing the genre further with introduction of Freudian and family dynamics to his novels. Ross Macdonald was actually a pseudonym for Kenneth Millar which he took to distinguish his genre work from his writings as a university academic. Ironically his pen name was initially John Macdonald and was changed to avoid confusion with New York writer John D. Macdonald who would later become a significant player in detective fiction with his character Travis McGee. Identity is apparently a significant theme in Ross Macdonald's work and it is central to 'The Far Side of the Dollar' which is a fast moving mystery featuring Ross Macdonald's central character detective Lew Archer. Set in motion when Archer is called in to find Tommy, a boy missing from a private school for troubled youth, as usual things are rarely as simple as they initially appear. While there where times I felt I was a little too far ahead of the plot the characters and incidents are never less than engaging. Ultimately Macdonald throws in some twists that I did not see coming to make the resolution both expected and surprising at the same time. One of the things that I found really distinguishes Macdonald from his predecessors is that the people and situations feel more real and connected to a reality that resonates in the present day as much as it would have at the time of publication. I am glad I have finally read Ross Macdonald and I look forward to reading more of his works especially those involving detective Lew Archer.
Detnovel is a fantastic resource for anyone interested hard boiled detective fiction and film noir, here is a direct link to their mini-bio of author Ross Macdonald.
Ross Madonald is considered one of the big three in detective fiction along with Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler taking inspiration from each of them and developing the genre further with introduction of Freudian and family dynamics to his novels. Ross Macdonald was actually a pseudonym for Kenneth Millar which he took to distinguish his genre work from his writings as a university academic. Ironically his pen name was initially John Macdonald and was changed to avoid confusion with New York writer John D. Macdonald who would later become a significant player in detective fiction with his character Travis McGee. Identity is apparently a significant theme in Ross Macdonald's work and it is central to 'The Far Side of the Dollar' which is a fast moving mystery featuring Ross Macdonald's central character detective Lew Archer. Set in motion when Archer is called in to find Tommy, a boy missing from a private school for troubled youth, as usual things are rarely as simple as they initially appear. While there where times I felt I was a little too far ahead of the plot the characters and incidents are never less than engaging. Ultimately Macdonald throws in some twists that I did not see coming to make the resolution both expected and surprising at the same time. One of the things that I found really distinguishes Macdonald from his predecessors is that the people and situations feel more real and connected to a reality that resonates in the present day as much as it would have at the time of publication. I am glad I have finally read Ross Macdonald and I look forward to reading more of his works especially those involving detective Lew Archer. Detnovel is a fantastic resource for anyone interested hard boiled detective fiction and film noir, here is a direct link to their mini-bio of author Ross Macdonald.
24ralphcoviello
Book 21 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 is an over-sized, yet slim, illustrated volume Shakespeare: His Work and His World by Michael Rosen with illustrations by Robert Ingpen.
I am currently acting as a docent and tour guide for Shakespeare's First Folio which is being hosted during October 2016 in New Jersey at Drew University in observation of the 400th anniversary of his death. In preparation I have been picking up books on Shakespeare to read or scan through in order to broaden my understanding and I am quite please to have come across this book as part of this process. The text and the illustrations flow together to illuminate different aspects of the world Shakespeare inhabited. This combination helps to provide clarity and insight for the reader in grasping how different that world was from our own. I would strongly recommend this volume, especially for a precocious child interested in Shakespeare and his plays.
You can learn more about Shakespeare's First Folio and its tour at First Folio Tour.
I am currently acting as a docent and tour guide for Shakespeare's First Folio which is being hosted during October 2016 in New Jersey at Drew University in observation of the 400th anniversary of his death. In preparation I have been picking up books on Shakespeare to read or scan through in order to broaden my understanding and I am quite please to have come across this book as part of this process. The text and the illustrations flow together to illuminate different aspects of the world Shakespeare inhabited. This combination helps to provide clarity and insight for the reader in grasping how different that world was from our own. I would strongly recommend this volume, especially for a precocious child interested in Shakespeare and his plays.
You can learn more about Shakespeare's First Folio and its tour at First Folio Tour.
25Oregonreader
What an interesting project for you. There is always more to learn about WS and his times.
26ralphcoviello
Thanks Oregonreader! It was a great experience in both learning for myself and getting to share what I learned with others. Very fulfilling and enriching.
27ralphcoviello
Book 23 for the 75 Book Challenge 2016 selected as a beach read for my cousin's wedding in Mexico was Mission to Paris by Alan Furst.
I have to say upfront that I found this book quite disappointing as I had heard good things about Alan Furst and his string of suspense novels set in and around WWII. This book seemed to be in a sweet spot for me combining Hollywood, history and European intrigue in Paris during a tension filled 1938. The set-up is interesting with second tier Warner Bros star Fredric Stahl formerly Franz Stalka happily accepting an assignment to work for Paramount on a French film in Paris. It is a return to where he got his start in the 20's as an actor after leaving Austria following The Great War. Gradually Fredric is pulled into intrigues involving French, American and Nazi characters all while working on the film “Après la Guerre”. Unfortunately this great set-up gets fumbled in a number of ways. First of all Furst's writing is very fluid, except he constantly throws in lines that over-explain whatever is going on or what a character is thinking (it really is as heavy handed as that Monty Python sketch 'nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean, know what I mean'), instead of trusting the reader to interpret and understand. Then there are details that might seem clever, even though they make no sense. Such as an american character commenting how odd it was to see John Wayne being dubbed into French. The only problem is John Wayne was minor performer making low budget westerns at Republic, such as the series "The Three Mesquiteers", he did not start to be considered a star until John Ford's "Stagecoach" in 1939. That type of mistake makes me question all the other details Furst includes where I less personal knowledge. I really appreciate the unique atmosphere that our surrogate Fredric is plunged into where an innocent declaration to a journalist in favor of peace can be twisted to make him seem a Nazi sympathizer. In the end maybe I expected too much from my chosen beach read, however I cannot help but feel a bit let down by this book.
I have to say upfront that I found this book quite disappointing as I had heard good things about Alan Furst and his string of suspense novels set in and around WWII. This book seemed to be in a sweet spot for me combining Hollywood, history and European intrigue in Paris during a tension filled 1938. The set-up is interesting with second tier Warner Bros star Fredric Stahl formerly Franz Stalka happily accepting an assignment to work for Paramount on a French film in Paris. It is a return to where he got his start in the 20's as an actor after leaving Austria following The Great War. Gradually Fredric is pulled into intrigues involving French, American and Nazi characters all while working on the film “Après la Guerre”. Unfortunately this great set-up gets fumbled in a number of ways. First of all Furst's writing is very fluid, except he constantly throws in lines that over-explain whatever is going on or what a character is thinking (it really is as heavy handed as that Monty Python sketch 'nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean, know what I mean'), instead of trusting the reader to interpret and understand. Then there are details that might seem clever, even though they make no sense. Such as an american character commenting how odd it was to see John Wayne being dubbed into French. The only problem is John Wayne was minor performer making low budget westerns at Republic, such as the series "The Three Mesquiteers", he did not start to be considered a star until John Ford's "Stagecoach" in 1939. That type of mistake makes me question all the other details Furst includes where I less personal knowledge. I really appreciate the unique atmosphere that our surrogate Fredric is plunged into where an innocent declaration to a journalist in favor of peace can be twisted to make him seem a Nazi sympathizer. In the end maybe I expected too much from my chosen beach read, however I cannot help but feel a bit let down by this book.
28Oregonreader
Don't give up on Furst yet! I have read several of his novels and really enjoyed most of them. My favorite is Night Soldiers. My main criticism is that there is a certain similarity in setting and tone because they are all in Eastern Europe at the beginning of WWII. But I do appreciate his writing style.
29ralphcoviello
Thanks for the encouragement. I need to let the disappointment from this one fade and then I will give Furst a second chance someday, maybe with your favorite Night Soldiers. I appreciate your recommendation.
30ralphcoviello
A rousing run of adventures are to be found in Rogues Book 24 of the 75 Book Challenge for 2016 which was edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois with contributions by Gillian Flynn, Phyllis Eisenstein, Neil Gaiman, Joe R. Lansdale, Joe Abercrombie, Daniel Abraham, David W. Ball, Paul Cornell, Bradley Denton, Matthew Hughes, Scott Lynch, Garth Nix, Cherie Priest, Patrick Rothfuss, Steven Saylor, Michael Swanwick, Lisa Tuttle, Carrie Vaughn, Walter Jon Williams, Connie Willis, and concludes with one from George himself.
This gallery of rogues is introduced by George R. R. Martin who reminds that a rogue can be a lady as well as a gent and are not always to be trusted, which is of course a big part of the fun! That sense of double-dealing and adventure carries through all of the tales in this very enjoyable and very large book (800+ pages). I was a little uncertain what to expect when I cracked open this tome and that could have been frustrating, however it instead pays off with a rewarding sense of discovery with the introduction to each new story and its roguish characters. The writers have run with this broad mandate taking us into worlds of fantasy and magic as well as a very real group of teenage thieves (stealing music instruments from their high school!) and a substitute teacher who is not all he seems.
It took me much longer than I would have liked to read all of these stories. The funny thing is I sort-of forgot my original motivation grew out of my Neil Gaiman kick and my desire to read his story on the Marquis de Carabas (originally introduced in his novel & TV program Neverwhere) which was great fun when I got to it! This is a nifty aspect as in addition to Gaiman several of the writers' stories involve characters they have in other works such as Patrick Rothfuss, Joe R. Lansdale, Phyllis Eisentstein and of course GRRM.
By reading Rogues you will have an intriguing time and maybe even find an author or character has stolen you attention for which you will be grateful!
This gallery of rogues is introduced by George R. R. Martin who reminds that a rogue can be a lady as well as a gent and are not always to be trusted, which is of course a big part of the fun! That sense of double-dealing and adventure carries through all of the tales in this very enjoyable and very large book (800+ pages). I was a little uncertain what to expect when I cracked open this tome and that could have been frustrating, however it instead pays off with a rewarding sense of discovery with the introduction to each new story and its roguish characters. The writers have run with this broad mandate taking us into worlds of fantasy and magic as well as a very real group of teenage thieves (stealing music instruments from their high school!) and a substitute teacher who is not all he seems.
It took me much longer than I would have liked to read all of these stories. The funny thing is I sort-of forgot my original motivation grew out of my Neil Gaiman kick and my desire to read his story on the Marquis de Carabas (originally introduced in his novel & TV program Neverwhere) which was great fun when I got to it! This is a nifty aspect as in addition to Gaiman several of the writers' stories involve characters they have in other works such as Patrick Rothfuss, Joe R. Lansdale, Phyllis Eisentstein and of course GRRM.
By reading Rogues you will have an intriguing time and maybe even find an author or character has stolen you attention for which you will be grateful!
31PaulCranswick
Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.
2017.
Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!
32ralphcoviello
Thanks Paul!
Happy New Year!!!
Best wishes on 2017 fulfilling even a small part of your list!
Happy New Year!!!
Best wishes on 2017 fulfilling even a small part of your list!
33ralphcoviello
Discover thrills that can last a lifetime with Thrillers: 100 Must Reads edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner book 28 of the 75 Book Challenge for 2016.
First I recommend this book as both a reading experience and a resource, however let me tell you what this book is not before getting into what it is. It is not a collection of short stories and definitely not a 'best of list', instead the book is comprised of essays on thrillers by authors of thrillers in chronological order from the earliest to one of the biggest of the 21st century. Each essay usually opens with a brief bio of the author of book under discussion and concludes with a summary of who the essay writer is. Those contributors include some of the biggest names in publishing Lee Child, R.L. Stine, Joe R. Lansdale, David Baldacci, Tess Gerritsen, J. A. Konrath, Sandra Brown and more. The choices are often personal and the essays sometimes take the form of a discussion as to why the book they chose was important to them and the development of the thriller. I found most of the essays entertaining and informative, although be warned that some are quite spoilery! Also, I noticed a few errors the editors should have caught including in one of their own essays!
You may not agree with all their choices, however you will be excited to add some of the books to your 'to read wish list' as well as the works of authors highlighted both as the subject and writer of the essays. Maybe you will even be inspired to write a thriller yourself!
The genesis of this book came out of the International Thriller Writers organization a group organized to develop and promote the reputation and art of the thriller. You can learn more about the organization at ITW.
Here are links to a couple of blogs the first Todd Mason's Sweet Freedom has a more detailed review and George Kelley's Forgotten Books George Kelley was the source of the list below.
Thriller essays in chronological order in the book:
Theseus and the Minotaur (1500 B.C.) / Lee Child
Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey (7th century B.C.) / William Bernhardt
Beowulf (between 700 and 1000 A.D.) / Andrew Klavan
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (1605-1606) / A.J. Hartley
Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719-1722) / David Liss
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus (1818) / Gary Braver
James Fenimore Cooper’s The last of the Mohicans (1826) / Rick Wilber
Edgar Allan Poe’s The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) / Katherine Neville
Alexandre Dumas’ The count of Monte Cristo (1845) / Francine Mathews
Wilkie Collins’s The woman in white (1860) / Douglas Preston
H. Rider Haggard’s King Solomons mines (1885) / Norman L. Rubenstein
Robert Louis Stevenson’s The strange case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1886) / Sarah Langan
Anthony Hope’s The prisoner of Zenda (1894) / Michael Palmer
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) / Carole Nelson Douglas
H.G. Wells’s The war of the worlds (1898) / Steven M. Wilson
Rudyard Kipling’s Kim (1901) / Tom Grace
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The hound of the Baskervilles (1901) / Laura Benedict
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of darkness (1902) / H. Terrell Griffin
Erskine Childers’s The riddle of the sands (1903) / Christine Kling
Jack London’s The sea wolf (1904) / Jim Fusilli
Baroness Emma Orczy’s The scarlet pimpernel (1905) / Lisa Black
Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Tarzan of the apes (1912) / W. Craig Reed
Marie Belloc Lowndes’s The lodger (1913) / James A. Moore
John Buchan’s The thirty-nine steps (1915) / Janet Berliner
E. Phillips Oppenheim’s The great impersonation (1920) / Justin Scott
Richard Connell’s “The most dangerous game” (1924) / Katherine Ramsland
W. Somerset Maugham’s Ashenden, or, the British agent (1928) / Melodie Johnson Howe
P.G. Wodehouse’s Summer lightning (1929) / R.L. Stine
Edgar Wallace’s King Kong (1933) / Kathleen Sharp
Lester Dent’s Doc Savage : the man of bronze (1933) / Mark T. Sullivan
James M. Cain’s The postman always rings twice (1934) / Joe R. Lansdale
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938) / Allison Brennan
Agatha Christie’s And then there were none (1939) / David Morrell
Eric Ambler’s A coffin for Dimitrios (1939) / Ali Karim
Geoffrey Household’s Rogue male (1939) / David Morrell
Helen Macinnes’s Above suspicion (1941) / Gayle Lynds
Cornell Woolrich’s “Rear Window” (1942) / Thomas F. Monteleone
Vera Caspary’s Laura (1943) / M.J. Rose
Kenneth Fearing’s The big clock (1946) / Lincoln Child
Graham Greene’s The third man (1950) / Rob Palmer
Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a train (1950) / David Baldacci
Mickey Spillane’s One lonely night (1951) / Max Allan Collins
Jim Thompson’s The killer inside me (1953) / Scott Nicholson
Ernest K. Gann’s The high and the mighty (1953) / Ward Larsen
Jack Finney’s Invasion of the body snatchers (1955) / James Rollins
Hammond Innes’s The wreck of the Mary Deare (1956) / Matt Lynn
Ian Fleming’s From Russia, with love (1957) / Raymond Benson
Alistair MacLean’s The guns of Navarone (1957) / Larry Gandle
Richard Condon’s The Manchurian candidate (1959) / Robert S. Levinson
Len Deighton’s The IPCRESS file (1962) / Jeffery Deaver
Fletcher Knebel & Charles W. Bailey’s Seven days in May (1962) / James Grady
Lionel Davidson’s The rose of Tibet (1962) / Milton C. Toby
Richard Stark’s (Donald E. Westlake’s) The hunter aka Point blank (1962) Duane Swierczynski
John le Carré’s The spy who came in from the cold (1963) / Denise Hamilton
Wilbur Smith’s When the lion feeds (1964) / W.D. Gagliani
Evelyn Anthony’s The rendezvous (1967) / Sandra Brown
Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda strain (1969) / Josh Conviser
James Dickey’s Deliverance (1970) / Terry Watkins
Frederick Forsyth’s The day of the jackal (1971) / F. Paul Wilson
Brian Garfields’s Death wish (1972) / John Lescroart
David Morrell’s First blood (1972) / Steve Berry
Trevanian’s The Eiger sanction (1972) / Lee Goldberg
Charles McCarry’s The tears of autumn (1974) / Hank Wagner
Peter Benchley’s Jaws (1974) / P.J. Parrish
William Goldman’s Marathon man (1974) /Hank Wagner
James Grady’s Six days of the condor (1974) / Mark Terry
Jack Higgins’s The eagle has landed (1975) / Zoë Sharp
Joseph Wambaugh’s The choirboys (1975) / James O. Born
Clive Cussler’s Raise the Titanic! (1976) / Grant Blackwood
Ira Levin’s The boys from Brazil (1976) / Daniel Kalla
Robin Cook’s Coma (1977) / CJ Lyons
Ken Follett’s Eye of the needle (1978) / Tess Gerritsen
Ross Thomas’s Chinaman’s chance (1978) / David J. Montgomery
John D. MacDonald’s The green ripper (1079) / J.A. Konrath
Justin Scott’s The shipkiller (1079) / Lawrence Light
Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne identity (1980) / Linda L. Richards
Eric Van Lustbader’s The ninja (1980) / J.D. Rhoades
Thomas Harris’s Red dragon (1981) / Bev Vincent
Jack Ketchum’s Off season (1981) / Blake Crouch
Thomas Perry’s The butcher’s boy (1982) / Robert Liparulo
Tom Clancy’s The hunt for red October (1984) / Chris Kuzneski
F. Paul Wilson’s The tomb (1984) / Heather Graham
Andrew Vachss’s Flood (1985) / Barry Eisler
Stephen King’s Misery (1987) / Chris Mooney
Nelson DeMille’s The charm school (1988) / J.T. Ellison
Dean Koontz’s Watchers (1988) / Lee Thomas
Katherine Neville’s The eight (1988) / Shirley Kennett
Petrer Straub’s Koko (1988) / Hank Wagner
Johns Grisham’s The firm (1991) / M. Diane Vogt
R.L. Stine’s Silent night (1991) / Jon Land
James Patterson’s Along came a spider (1992) / Mary SanGiovanni
Stephen Hunter’s Point of impact (1993) / Christopher Rice
Johns Lescroart’s The 13th juror (1994) / Karna Small Bodman
Sandra Brown’s The witness (1995) / Deborah LeBlanc
David Baldacci’s Absolute power (1996) / Rhodi Hawk
Gayle Lynds’s Masquerade (1996) / Hank Phillippi Ryan
Lee Child’s Killing floor (1997) / Marcus Sakey
Jeffery Deaver’s The bone collector (1997) / Jeffrey J. Mariotte
Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci code (2003) / Steve Berry
First I recommend this book as both a reading experience and a resource, however let me tell you what this book is not before getting into what it is. It is not a collection of short stories and definitely not a 'best of list', instead the book is comprised of essays on thrillers by authors of thrillers in chronological order from the earliest to one of the biggest of the 21st century. Each essay usually opens with a brief bio of the author of book under discussion and concludes with a summary of who the essay writer is. Those contributors include some of the biggest names in publishing Lee Child, R.L. Stine, Joe R. Lansdale, David Baldacci, Tess Gerritsen, J. A. Konrath, Sandra Brown and more. The choices are often personal and the essays sometimes take the form of a discussion as to why the book they chose was important to them and the development of the thriller. I found most of the essays entertaining and informative, although be warned that some are quite spoilery! Also, I noticed a few errors the editors should have caught including in one of their own essays!
You may not agree with all their choices, however you will be excited to add some of the books to your 'to read wish list' as well as the works of authors highlighted both as the subject and writer of the essays. Maybe you will even be inspired to write a thriller yourself!
The genesis of this book came out of the International Thriller Writers organization a group organized to develop and promote the reputation and art of the thriller. You can learn more about the organization at ITW.
Here are links to a couple of blogs the first Todd Mason's Sweet Freedom has a more detailed review and George Kelley's Forgotten Books George Kelley was the source of the list below.
Thriller essays in chronological order in the book:
Theseus and the Minotaur (1500 B.C.) / Lee Child
Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey (7th century B.C.) / William Bernhardt
Beowulf (between 700 and 1000 A.D.) / Andrew Klavan
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (1605-1606) / A.J. Hartley
Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719-1722) / David Liss
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus (1818) / Gary Braver
James Fenimore Cooper’s The last of the Mohicans (1826) / Rick Wilber
Edgar Allan Poe’s The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) / Katherine Neville
Alexandre Dumas’ The count of Monte Cristo (1845) / Francine Mathews
Wilkie Collins’s The woman in white (1860) / Douglas Preston
H. Rider Haggard’s King Solomons mines (1885) / Norman L. Rubenstein
Robert Louis Stevenson’s The strange case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1886) / Sarah Langan
Anthony Hope’s The prisoner of Zenda (1894) / Michael Palmer
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) / Carole Nelson Douglas
H.G. Wells’s The war of the worlds (1898) / Steven M. Wilson
Rudyard Kipling’s Kim (1901) / Tom Grace
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The hound of the Baskervilles (1901) / Laura Benedict
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of darkness (1902) / H. Terrell Griffin
Erskine Childers’s The riddle of the sands (1903) / Christine Kling
Jack London’s The sea wolf (1904) / Jim Fusilli
Baroness Emma Orczy’s The scarlet pimpernel (1905) / Lisa Black
Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Tarzan of the apes (1912) / W. Craig Reed
Marie Belloc Lowndes’s The lodger (1913) / James A. Moore
John Buchan’s The thirty-nine steps (1915) / Janet Berliner
E. Phillips Oppenheim’s The great impersonation (1920) / Justin Scott
Richard Connell’s “The most dangerous game” (1924) / Katherine Ramsland
W. Somerset Maugham’s Ashenden, or, the British agent (1928) / Melodie Johnson Howe
P.G. Wodehouse’s Summer lightning (1929) / R.L. Stine
Edgar Wallace’s King Kong (1933) / Kathleen Sharp
Lester Dent’s Doc Savage : the man of bronze (1933) / Mark T. Sullivan
James M. Cain’s The postman always rings twice (1934) / Joe R. Lansdale
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938) / Allison Brennan
Agatha Christie’s And then there were none (1939) / David Morrell
Eric Ambler’s A coffin for Dimitrios (1939) / Ali Karim
Geoffrey Household’s Rogue male (1939) / David Morrell
Helen Macinnes’s Above suspicion (1941) / Gayle Lynds
Cornell Woolrich’s “Rear Window” (1942) / Thomas F. Monteleone
Vera Caspary’s Laura (1943) / M.J. Rose
Kenneth Fearing’s The big clock (1946) / Lincoln Child
Graham Greene’s The third man (1950) / Rob Palmer
Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a train (1950) / David Baldacci
Mickey Spillane’s One lonely night (1951) / Max Allan Collins
Jim Thompson’s The killer inside me (1953) / Scott Nicholson
Ernest K. Gann’s The high and the mighty (1953) / Ward Larsen
Jack Finney’s Invasion of the body snatchers (1955) / James Rollins
Hammond Innes’s The wreck of the Mary Deare (1956) / Matt Lynn
Ian Fleming’s From Russia, with love (1957) / Raymond Benson
Alistair MacLean’s The guns of Navarone (1957) / Larry Gandle
Richard Condon’s The Manchurian candidate (1959) / Robert S. Levinson
Len Deighton’s The IPCRESS file (1962) / Jeffery Deaver
Fletcher Knebel & Charles W. Bailey’s Seven days in May (1962) / James Grady
Lionel Davidson’s The rose of Tibet (1962) / Milton C. Toby
Richard Stark’s (Donald E. Westlake’s) The hunter aka Point blank (1962) Duane Swierczynski
John le Carré’s The spy who came in from the cold (1963) / Denise Hamilton
Wilbur Smith’s When the lion feeds (1964) / W.D. Gagliani
Evelyn Anthony’s The rendezvous (1967) / Sandra Brown
Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda strain (1969) / Josh Conviser
James Dickey’s Deliverance (1970) / Terry Watkins
Frederick Forsyth’s The day of the jackal (1971) / F. Paul Wilson
Brian Garfields’s Death wish (1972) / John Lescroart
David Morrell’s First blood (1972) / Steve Berry
Trevanian’s The Eiger sanction (1972) / Lee Goldberg
Charles McCarry’s The tears of autumn (1974) / Hank Wagner
Peter Benchley’s Jaws (1974) / P.J. Parrish
William Goldman’s Marathon man (1974) /Hank Wagner
James Grady’s Six days of the condor (1974) / Mark Terry
Jack Higgins’s The eagle has landed (1975) / Zoë Sharp
Joseph Wambaugh’s The choirboys (1975) / James O. Born
Clive Cussler’s Raise the Titanic! (1976) / Grant Blackwood
Ira Levin’s The boys from Brazil (1976) / Daniel Kalla
Robin Cook’s Coma (1977) / CJ Lyons
Ken Follett’s Eye of the needle (1978) / Tess Gerritsen
Ross Thomas’s Chinaman’s chance (1978) / David J. Montgomery
John D. MacDonald’s The green ripper (1079) / J.A. Konrath
Justin Scott’s The shipkiller (1079) / Lawrence Light
Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne identity (1980) / Linda L. Richards
Eric Van Lustbader’s The ninja (1980) / J.D. Rhoades
Thomas Harris’s Red dragon (1981) / Bev Vincent
Jack Ketchum’s Off season (1981) / Blake Crouch
Thomas Perry’s The butcher’s boy (1982) / Robert Liparulo
Tom Clancy’s The hunt for red October (1984) / Chris Kuzneski
F. Paul Wilson’s The tomb (1984) / Heather Graham
Andrew Vachss’s Flood (1985) / Barry Eisler
Stephen King’s Misery (1987) / Chris Mooney
Nelson DeMille’s The charm school (1988) / J.T. Ellison
Dean Koontz’s Watchers (1988) / Lee Thomas
Katherine Neville’s The eight (1988) / Shirley Kennett
Petrer Straub’s Koko (1988) / Hank Wagner
Johns Grisham’s The firm (1991) / M. Diane Vogt
R.L. Stine’s Silent night (1991) / Jon Land
James Patterson’s Along came a spider (1992) / Mary SanGiovanni
Stephen Hunter’s Point of impact (1993) / Christopher Rice
Johns Lescroart’s The 13th juror (1994) / Karna Small Bodman
Sandra Brown’s The witness (1995) / Deborah LeBlanc
David Baldacci’s Absolute power (1996) / Rhodi Hawk
Gayle Lynds’s Masquerade (1996) / Hank Phillippi Ryan
Lee Child’s Killing floor (1997) / Marcus Sakey
Jeffery Deaver’s The bone collector (1997) / Jeffrey J. Mariotte
Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci code (2003) / Steve Berry
34ralphcoviello
Well my intention was to bookend the 75 Book Challenge 2016 with the sister volume to Book 1 Old Mars which is Old Venus also edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois!
Unfortunately, with 2016 over and done I find myself with 1/3rd of the book remaining to be read! However, this does fit a theme for my reading intentions (much more generous than plans) for 2017 where I look forward to finishing that tome along with several others in my TBR pile. So, formally or informally, I will be following the ROOTS (Read Our Own Tomes) program in 2017 and on the agenda will be the balance of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman as well as part II of Don Quixote!
While I did not come close to 75 books in 2016, I probably read 75 stories this year with the collections I dove into and the genius of Neil Gaiman's multi-layered stories within stories known as The Sandman!
Happy reading in 2017 to all!
Unfortunately, with 2016 over and done I find myself with 1/3rd of the book remaining to be read! However, this does fit a theme for my reading intentions (much more generous than plans) for 2017 where I look forward to finishing that tome along with several others in my TBR pile. So, formally or informally, I will be following the ROOTS (Read Our Own Tomes) program in 2017 and on the agenda will be the balance of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman as well as part II of Don Quixote!
While I did not come close to 75 books in 2016, I probably read 75 stories this year with the collections I dove into and the genius of Neil Gaiman's multi-layered stories within stories known as The Sandman!
Happy reading in 2017 to all!
