I finally took the plunge into a Quan Millz book. This could only be described as writing in the vernacular. I give it an extra star because it was laI finally took the plunge into a Quan Millz book. This could only be described as writing in the vernacular. I give it an extra star because it was laugh-at-loud funny at times, like a Chester Himes Harlem novel, but there were so many plot inconsistencies as to make it annoying. The dude is learning to write at your expense and, no, he isn't white....more
All the action of The Grand Banks Café takes place, for the most, in the café of the title and the mysterious events surrounding the recent trip of thAll the action of The Grand Banks Café takes place, for the most, in the café of the title and the mysterious events surrounding the recent trip of the fishing trawler Océan, which was deemed by its crew to be cursed.
Not one of the Maigret’s best and not a lot of action....more
I think the back story of A Confederacy of Dunces leads many a critic to overhype the book. I also suspect there might be more than a bit of autobiogrI think the back story of A Confederacy of Dunces leads many a critic to overhype the book. I also suspect there might be more than a bit of autobiography in the novel, especially in regard to the character of Ignatius Riley's mother.
There's a very telling exchange in the final chapter, in which Myrna Minkoff finally makes her appearance to rescue Ignatius from his mother:
He tried to drag her out the front door, but she said, “Don’t you want to pack anything?”
“Oh, of course. There are all of my notes and jottings. We must never let them fall into the hands of my mother. She may make a fortune from them. It would be too ironic.”
That's, of course, exactly what Toole's own mother did with his work....more
I've shelved Addie Pray as hardboiled crime though the only crime in it are con games. The story follows a man and his young daughter in the mid-1930sI've shelved Addie Pray as hardboiled crime though the only crime in it are con games. The story follows a man and his young daughter in the mid-1930s as they plan more or more elaborate cons, eventually teaming up with another grifter in a long con that promises to net them millions of dollars, and this, in the midst of a Depression.
The book was filmed in the early 70's as Paper Moon, but it only uses the first half of the book. It's a great movie, starring Ryan O'Neil and daughter, Tatum, and faithful adaption of the half of the it uses. Although the framework of delivering Addie to her aunt in St. Joseph, Missouri is unique to the movie....more
It’s always amazing to me how well Gilbert Fox could write about any sex act without being explicit. If there was any doubt in the minds of men in 196It’s always amazing to me how well Gilbert Fox could write about any sex act without being explicit. If there was any doubt in the minds of men in 1962 on how to really make love to woman, this book makes it as clear as was possible then. Hint: lesbians are, of course, experts on making love to women....more
For Women Only is one of the few Beacon lesbian books that was actually written by a woman, in this case, Ann Erb. It is also one of the better lesbiaFor Women Only is one of the few Beacon lesbian books that was actually written by a woman, in this case, Ann Erb. It is also one of the better lesbian novels. Interestingly, the main character is not the wife, who is living two separate lives—one as a society wife and the other frequenting lesbian bars with her lover—but her husband....more
The Gales of November is about as definitive a history of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald as one could ask for. It covers previous maritime disasThe Gales of November is about as definitive a history of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald as one could ask for. It covers previous maritime disasters on the Great Lakes as well as the history of the great ship itself and then, finally, about many of the individual crew members. Recommended reading especially anyone interested in the Great Lakes and the Northern Midwest....more
Bedroom on Wheels is another quick read from Beacon Books, which had as a favorite sub genre, Trailer Tramps and subject, nymphomaniacs. This has bookBedroom on Wheels is another quick read from Beacon Books, which had as a favorite sub genre, Trailer Tramps and subject, nymphomaniacs. This has book is both....more
After reading Her Woman I tracked down who the author was behind the Richard Villanova pseudonym and was stunned by what I found. This book about a biAfter reading Her Woman I tracked down who the author was behind the Richard Villanova pseudonym and was stunned by what I found. This book about a bisexual white woman was written by a black man! The book rang so true to me that I would have guessed that it had actually been written by a woman, masquerading behind a male pseudonym.
Richard Villanova was actually Art Aveilhe, best known for cowriting Mamie Van Doren's autobiography, Playing the Field and Players magazine editor in the 1970s....more
A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever is a reference to a line in the 1984 film This is Spinal Tap a mockumentary about a fictional band of that name,A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever is a reference to a line in the 1984 film This is Spinal Tap a mockumentary about a fictional band of that name, which embodies every cliché of 80s rock bands. It was so subtle in it’s humor and so true to life even in it’s outlandishness, that much of the audience in it’s original theatrical release thought it was a real documentary.
You actually get two books in this volume: a history of the movie This is Spinal Tap from it’s inception and production to its afterlife and its impact on popular culture and an oral history of the fictional band and its members....more
Great contemporary hard-boiled crimes novel set on Florida’s Gulf coast. There’s a parallel story of sexual tension in Mad Dog Barked that keeps it inGreat contemporary hard-boiled crimes novel set on Florida’s Gulf coast. There’s a parallel story of sexual tension in Mad Dog Barked that keeps it interesting, oftentimes more interesting than the main plot, through which it is interwoven....more
Surprisingly well-written and engaging. In The Book of Sheen, Charlie Sheen is brutally honest in this tell-all book of his struggles with his variousSurprisingly well-written and engaging. In The Book of Sheen, Charlie Sheen is brutally honest in this tell-all book of his struggles with his various demons. It rockets out of the gate: “On September 3, 1965, in New York City, at 10:58 p.m., I was born dead.” and continues at break-neck speed until his ultimate come-to-Jesus moment....more
Tonight in Jungleland is a beautifully written account of the making of the Springsteen album Born to Run, which was released fifty years ago in AugusTonight in Jungleland is a beautifully written account of the making of the Springsteen album Born to Run, which was released fifty years ago in August. It chronicles the production of the album from the release of the previous album, The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle through to the week in October of 1975, when Springsteen was on the cover of both Time and Newsweek....more
I hadn't heard much about Josh Harris, since most of his notoriety in New York City and Silicon Alley, specifically, came after I had left the city foI hadn't heard much about Josh Harris, since most of his notoriety in New York City and Silicon Alley, specifically, came after I had left the city for good in 1997. This book, Totally Wired, is, at times chaotic as Harris' lifestyle jumping as it does between the past and the present and between the specifics of what was going on with Harris' businesses and with Silicon Alley in general. All of which was interesting, but I don't think the average reader would be as fascinated with Harris as the author seems to be....more
