Steve Jetton
Okay, I’ve written this see that I am a windbag. Sorry. I did donate to the drive to keep this website going, I believe a quarter or whatever change was jingling in my pocket. So ….
Mikie (am I making you think of your aunt Gertrude?), when I was reading the online news this morning I ran across a book review of Erik Larson’s new one about the sinking of the Lusitania called Dead Wake. The event was 100 years ago, coincidentally. Or wait a minute, maybe not a coincidence. In any case, made me recall your post the other day about looking for new stuff to read. Everything I’ve read by Larson has been good; you’ve pretty much not wanted to put it down. The Devil in the White City is probably the best.
Carl Hiaasen is a hoot. Writes these comic crime novels situated in Florida. I read Bad Monkey last year. Must’ve been decent because I don’t waste my time finishing a book I don’t like.
Michael Connelly, the Harry Bosch stuff. First in a series of a dozen or so was The Black Echo.
Gone Girl was a book that hooks most readers. Better than the movie (which was good).
I would say – at risk of sounding like a literary critic – that everybody ought to read Huck Finn at least two or three times. A fun read and some say THE Great American Novel.
Pretty much of all of Charles Dickens is enjoyable if you don’t mind a long book. S**t, now I’m probably losing my credibility and sounding like a teacher or critic. I think David Cooperfield is the best but that’s a debate. Back in high school I am sure I resorted to the Classics comic book, because due to faulty wiring in my brain I thought anytime sometime gave me an assignment or told me that I should do something, they really meant “no damn way this is right.” Matter of fact, some things never change.
Another one of those old lengthy warhorses that I read – and loved - within the past year or so was The Count of Monte Cristo. An easy read. I mean, kids read it. Gotta get to Les Mis but you need to be ready for a commitment when looking at 1500 pages.
Fordlandia. Can’t remember the author but it’s about Henry Ford setting up a rubber plantation in Brazil to save money on tires. Fascinating. If you don’t read the book, look up Fordlandia on the interent.
Doc …. A fictionalized account of Doc Holiday I read last year by an author named Mary Russell. That got me into looking at other westerns a little bit.
I haven’t found anything great this year so far. Kim Philby, A Spy Among Friends was pretty interesting though. About the double agent for the Ruskies, but a sidebar that got me was what a bunch of drunks and renegades those early era British intellegence guys were. Maybe in the US, too but I don’t know for sure. Hope it’s gotten better.
Oh, Jeff Shaara writes historical fiction about the Civil War and the World Wars.
Okay, more than enough. Hope Mike or somebody else stumbles on something they like. I know reading is a matter of taste but not necessarily my taste.
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