Thursday, May 27, 2004
Book #57
Dave Eggers
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
2000, 2001: Vintage
Begun: May 27, 2004
Finished: June 15, 2004
Picked it up at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. I've heard about it, but never saw it for cheap. Because I'm a cheap so and so.
Pretty funny, so far.
Dave Eggers
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
2000, 2001: Vintage
Begun: May 27, 2004
Finished: June 15, 2004
Picked it up at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. I've heard about it, but never saw it for cheap. Because I'm a cheap so and so.
Pretty funny, so far.
Book #56
The House on Mango Street
Sandra Cisneros
1984: Cisneros...reading the 1991 Vintage edition
Begun: May 26, 2004
Finished: May 27, 2004
Re-reading it. It's extremely lyrical. When I read something like this, I can't help being a little jealous. Cisneros paints pictures with words.
The House on Mango Street
Sandra Cisneros
1984: Cisneros...reading the 1991 Vintage edition
Begun: May 26, 2004
Finished: May 27, 2004
Re-reading it. It's extremely lyrical. When I read something like this, I can't help being a little jealous. Cisneros paints pictures with words.
Book #55
State by State, with the State: An Uninformed, Poorly reasearched guide to the United States
by, the cast of The State
1997: Hyperion
Begun: May 21, 2004
Finished: May 27, 2004
This was my bathroom reading.
Remember the State? Had a sketch comedy show on MTV in the mid 90's that kicked all kinds of ass? Had a CBS one-shot near Halloween in 1995?
I got the book a long time ago, but haven't picked it up for a couple of years.
Stuff on all 50 states. Good, short. Excellent for the toilet.
A bit on South Carolina:
State by State, with the State: An Uninformed, Poorly reasearched guide to the United States
by, the cast of The State
1997: Hyperion
Begun: May 21, 2004
Finished: May 27, 2004
This was my bathroom reading.
Remember the State? Had a sketch comedy show on MTV in the mid 90's that kicked all kinds of ass? Had a CBS one-shot near Halloween in 1995?
I got the book a long time ago, but haven't picked it up for a couple of years.
Stuff on all 50 states. Good, short. Excellent for the toilet.
A bit on South Carolina:
For a taste of the Ol' South, try this quaint little bed n' breakfast just off I-95, Exit 17, which offers something truly unique: It's run by a family of ugly little trolls. Never dangerous but perpetually creppy, the trolls cater to your every need. Expect to see Ma Troll standing over you with a steaming plate of delicious biscuits and gray as soon as you open your eyes in the morning. And Junior Troll will be there, thwoel in hand, when you step out of the shower (don't worry, Junior's farsighted). With secret tunnels connecting every room and the trolls' blinding speed, service is yours at a moment's notice from anywhere in this vacation lair. Tourist info, laundry facilities, cable TV, free hard candy--all available. Pa Troll even carries your bags up to your room on his wide, hairy head, whistling away, before scampering under your bed. He's there until you leave, so don't be afraid to have him fetch you a midnight snack! The hospitality is truly southern, except that the staff doesn't talk and they're short mongrel-like creatures called "trolls."
Pets are welcome, but if you love them, we suggest you do not bring them anywhere near the house.
Book #54
The Twilight Zone: the Original Stories
edited by Martin Harry Greenberg, Richard Matheson and Charles G. Waugh.
1985: MJF Books
Started: May 17, 2004
Finished: May 25, 2004
A collection of short stories that inspired Twilight Zone episodes. I was reading this before I went to bed each afternoon.
Lots of Richard Matheson stories. Right around half. Which is cool, I guess, since I like Richard Matheson.
Probably the best (and most recognizable) stories are Ray Bradbury's "I Sing the Body Electric!", and my favorite short story of all time, Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Also notable are Matheson's "Mute" and the story the became my favorite Twilight Zone episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet."
The Twilight Zone: the Original Stories
edited by Martin Harry Greenberg, Richard Matheson and Charles G. Waugh.
1985: MJF Books
Started: May 17, 2004
Finished: May 25, 2004
A collection of short stories that inspired Twilight Zone episodes. I was reading this before I went to bed each afternoon.
Lots of Richard Matheson stories. Right around half. Which is cool, I guess, since I like Richard Matheson.
Probably the best (and most recognizable) stories are Ray Bradbury's "I Sing the Body Electric!", and my favorite short story of all time, Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Also notable are Matheson's "Mute" and the story the became my favorite Twilight Zone episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet."
Book #53
Screwball
David Ferrell
2003: William Morrow
Started: May 17, 2004
Finished: May 21, 2004
Screwball's a funny book. I'll say that first. There were a couple of times I laughed out loud. I enjoyed the book very much in that respect.
Screwball's a baseball book. David Ferrell's a newsman and a sportswriter. He has a lot of respect for the game, and doesn't let its players become one-dimensional, as someone not associated with the game might. I enjoyed the book very much in that respect, with a couple of exceptions.
I'm going to dwell on this. I liked the book. But these parts bugged me, and I'm going to spend an irrational amount of time on them.
The day-to-day goings on of the Boston Red Sox, in the pennant chase, are pretty entertaining. Watching manger Augie Sharkey deal with the many volatile, crazy personalities, and keep them moving forward, especially in the face of all the lunacy going on in the book, is entertaining.
But when big things start happening for the team, stuff that in the baseball world would be huge, huge news, it's just kind of given a three line paragraph, and left at that.
One of the characters, early on, pitches a perfect game. I don't know. The excitement and the rush of the accomplishment didn't seem to translate very well. It's telling was kind of like the reading of a grocery list. Didn't do a lot for me.
Screwball
David Ferrell
2003: William Morrow
Started: May 17, 2004
Finished: May 21, 2004
Screwball's a funny book. I'll say that first. There were a couple of times I laughed out loud. I enjoyed the book very much in that respect.
Screwball's a baseball book. David Ferrell's a newsman and a sportswriter. He has a lot of respect for the game, and doesn't let its players become one-dimensional, as someone not associated with the game might. I enjoyed the book very much in that respect, with a couple of exceptions.
I'm going to dwell on this. I liked the book. But these parts bugged me, and I'm going to spend an irrational amount of time on them.
The day-to-day goings on of the Boston Red Sox, in the pennant chase, are pretty entertaining. Watching manger Augie Sharkey deal with the many volatile, crazy personalities, and keep them moving forward, especially in the face of all the lunacy going on in the book, is entertaining.
But when big things start happening for the team, stuff that in the baseball world would be huge, huge news, it's just kind of given a three line paragraph, and left at that.
One of the characters, early on, pitches a perfect game. I don't know. The excitement and the rush of the accomplishment didn't seem to translate very well. It's telling was kind of like the reading of a grocery list. Didn't do a lot for me.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Book #52
Robert Cowley, ed.
The What Ifs? of American History: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been
2003: Putnam
Started: May 8, 2004
Finished: May 11, 2004
Read this while going to sleep. Essays, and a bit of speculative fiction, on what would have happened if certain historical figures had made different decision, or what would have happened if some particular event had not transpired.
My favorite bit was a look at what might have happened had communication during the Cuban Missle Crisis broken down, and nuclear war ensued. Essentially, a soviet sub commander fires a nuclear torpedo on his own authority, after a breakdown in communication. Missiles are then fired from Cuba, one of which explodes over Washington. In retaliation, America fires its arsenal at the Soviet Union, turning Russia into a wasteland.
The result is a ruined environment, and America becomes a pariah in the world community.
I also liked Jay Winik's speculation on what might have happened if Andrew Johnson had been assassinated along with President Lincoln, and also what might have transpired if the south had engaged in a full-on guerilla war, as Jefferson Davis wanted, instead of surrendering at Appomatox.
A fun read, and it's got the benefit of some quality minds putting their thoughts to paper for it.
Robert Cowley, ed.
The What Ifs? of American History: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been
2003: Putnam
Started: May 8, 2004
Finished: May 11, 2004
Read this while going to sleep. Essays, and a bit of speculative fiction, on what would have happened if certain historical figures had made different decision, or what would have happened if some particular event had not transpired.
My favorite bit was a look at what might have happened had communication during the Cuban Missle Crisis broken down, and nuclear war ensued. Essentially, a soviet sub commander fires a nuclear torpedo on his own authority, after a breakdown in communication. Missiles are then fired from Cuba, one of which explodes over Washington. In retaliation, America fires its arsenal at the Soviet Union, turning Russia into a wasteland.
The result is a ruined environment, and America becomes a pariah in the world community.
I also liked Jay Winik's speculation on what might have happened if Andrew Johnson had been assassinated along with President Lincoln, and also what might have transpired if the south had engaged in a full-on guerilla war, as Jefferson Davis wanted, instead of surrendering at Appomatox.
A fun read, and it's got the benefit of some quality minds putting their thoughts to paper for it.
Book #51
Stephen King
Skeleton Crew
1984: Putnam
Started: May 3, 2004
Finished: May 12, 2004
This is what I read on my lunch breaks at work. I picked something I'd already read before, because I'm constantly getting interrupted at work. This way, I won't lose my place.
A collection of short stories. "The Mist" and "The Jaunt" are a couple of my favorites, but I'd forgotten all about "Survivor Type," which is a nice cannibalism tale.
Stephen King
Skeleton Crew
1984: Putnam
Started: May 3, 2004
Finished: May 12, 2004
This is what I read on my lunch breaks at work. I picked something I'd already read before, because I'm constantly getting interrupted at work. This way, I won't lose my place.
A collection of short stories. "The Mist" and "The Jaunt" are a couple of my favorites, but I'd forgotten all about "Survivor Type," which is a nice cannibalism tale.
Book #50
Edward Wright
Clea's Moon
2003: Putnam
Started: May 1, 2004
Finished: May 6, 2004
A fun read. An obscure actor's search for redemption. Reminds me a lot of Elmore Leonard, only Clea's Moon isn't necessarily dialog put into prose form.
Edward Wright
Clea's Moon
2003: Putnam
Started: May 1, 2004
Finished: May 6, 2004
A fun read. An obscure actor's search for redemption. Reminds me a lot of Elmore Leonard, only Clea's Moon isn't necessarily dialog put into prose form.
