I have been really rolling through books since the beginning of the year. And I have smoothly also not written about any of them. I mentioned before that I would do a review a day. Guess I over estimated my abilities. But on that note, there are reviews coming. I have the following books to review:

Books

• Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon
• Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer by Michael Moorcock
• The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
• Shelf Monkey by Corey Redekop
• Pinball Theory of the Apocalypse by Jonathan Selwood
• Strange Skies by Matt Marinovich
• A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

Of course, there are also 4 Audiobooks as well that I have listened too on the way to and from work. Geez. I am way behind.

Books and Beer
The last one mentioned - A Spot of Bother- my Brother-in-law Scott and I are reading at the same time to get together and discuss over beer. The beer will be brought to reflect something in the book. Should be interesting.

Beer
And on the beer note, Brian and I bottled the Honey Oatmeal Stout on Sunday morning. A repetitive but simple task that seemed to go without problem. Brian seems to think so too. Here I am in all my production line glory:

More Beer

Brian also judged and faired rather well this past weekend at the War of the Worts XIII with his Tripel placing 2nd and his Imperial Stout - known as Vader - placed 3rd. NICE!

Michael Chabon’s Yiddish Policemen’s Union continues to break them rules. His alternate-history detective novel The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is the first novel ever to get nominated for an Edgar award (for mysteries) as well as a Nebula (for science fiction.)

I have finished the “Magnum Opus” of Mr King and I am glad I spent the time in midworld.

This is the final installment of the 7 book series by Stephen King. The book itself is quite the quest and following the style of the last book, this one is as much about Roland as it is about Stephen King himself.

There are spoilers..lots of them

I liked the book. No series is going to answer every question or 100% satisfy you. And I am glad for that too. If you know every piece of the story ahead of time, and mysteries do not remain - really why bother. I think this book , and series, can be looked at in 2 way. And my pal Jason was the one who really let me in on this thought first; the story is about Roland and then there is everything else.

If looking at the story of Roland - it is redeeming, exciting and the level of sacrifice and difficulty was mesmerising and overwhelming at times, as it was for Stephen King. He has well documented - in nearly every volume as a matter of fact - the difficulty of writing Roland’s story. The character of Roland and the scribe of Stephen King, who appears as a character, have their fates intertwined in a way that is both destiny driven and even physically tied together. I found this tie both interesting and slightly disappointing. The reason for the disappointment was basic: Stephen King almost always has a character that is a writer in his works, and this became no different. I thought this was ok, but just seemed to short change the Dark tower series because it seemed to come closer to his other works. It is not like his others, per se - more later on that. The fate of the characters even brings about the end of other major characters.

The other half of this 2 part look is looking at “everybody else” and the ends of some of these characters, some of which we have spent 7 volumes with, is disappointing and at time comes across of having loose ends and no means to truly solve them. The one that really bothered me was the end of Walter, or Flagg (as some may know). It was a bail out. I wanted and waited for the final fight - the confrontation - heck! I wanted a stand-off in the “OK Corral” - theme music even! And we get none of that. That was a let down. The other was the Susannah story line. Her “dream” and multiverse (thank you Michael Moorcock) views were interesting but at the end, when she exits it makes most of her commitment to the quest be secondary. It seems odd that she sacrifices so much and goes so far only to leave. Of course, I thought the exit tool was logical but the way it was created was at first interesting but I wanted more depth to the character that created the exit and helped Roland defeat the Crimson King.

I also found the death of Jake interesting. I am not sure it was great but it is for sure symbolic. The first thing about it is his death in saving Stephen King, which brings us back to the character of Jake as a whole. He is the most complex and interesting character besides Roland in my opinion. His relationship with Roland, his multiple deaths, and his fact that he saved Roland in the first book, and thus Stephen King.

I found the world, or multiverse, that he created very interesting. It basically suggests that many of his works are tied into this world, even more with that last three books of the series.

Another thing that has come out of the Dark Tower series, is that Stephen King has shown the tie in to his other works, and there are lots. I have gone and “read” ‘Salem’s Lot since then and the story of Father Callahan . from Wolves of The Calla, is much more compelling now. And some of the tie-ins are minimal and others more. It is brought up directly in this work, with Insomnia being presented directly to Roland. I think the tie in is cool, I think the level of meta-fiction it the work at times bogs down the quest. As I said - 2 views, the Roland view and “everything else”.

One big thing that came out of this is my admittance that I am a Stephen King fan. It is over, I have taken the blue pill and it is all downhill from there. As a result I have bookmooched many works of his. And will be diving in to the pool.

Word has it the Coen Brothers have signed on to write/direct the file version of Chabon’s alternative history/mystery The Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Coolness.

I have mentioned before my involvement in Bookmooch, a book trading site. Yesterday I received a hardback copy of Pattern Recognition by William Gibson. That is cool. It is in great shape - even better. But the real kicker - it is signed by William Gibson. Here are the photos as exhibits A and B

Reviews? Remember you promised…

I sure did. I also had work get the better of me yesterday and I am writing a longer review so that is also slowing my down. Soon.

You gotta know when to hold ‘em, Know when to fold ‘em
I have decided to change books. Thunderstruck was going along fine but about 30 pages in I realized I was not in the mood for a turn of the century, murder style book. It was just not the reading road I wanted to be on. So I am switching. I started Shelf Monkey last night, lent to me by Scott. So far, it is closer to what I want to read right now. Snarkey and cynical and of course, I am having fun memories of working at Borders.

Wordpress updated - security patch
The wordpress people have released a minor upgrade that fixes a security issue. Please grab the latest. Or you can just grab the patched file and over write that. (Note to all that I help with sites: you have been updated )

Back in the fall I finished this book, and it took 2 copies to do so!

Summary:

When Margaret Lea opened the door to the past, what she confronted was her destiny. All children mythologize their birth… So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter’s collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself — all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune, but kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, at last she wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter’s story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized.

The work is the first book by Diane Setterfield and is told in a variety of first person views. Our main character, Margaret, is our main voice but we constantly get Vera’s story recounted in her voice. There is one other excursion into another character, but I will leave it at that to keep plot points as much out as I can.

The writing style is fluid and classic and you can tell the books Ms Setterfield is truly in love with: The Jane Erye, the Pride and Prejudice; The Bronte’s and Austen’s of literature. The book unfolds as a story that shift gears because of the narrative voice changes and the mystery of the story along with the tension of if and what will be finished. The character of Vera is very fleshed out and more and more is uncovered, like a mystery novel in that way. The plotting, once you get into the story and its legs are under it, is well done and solid, never ripping ahead and never caught in its own self-righteousness.

For the most part, her writing is good and you can tell a lot of time was placed crafting this book. I am presuming from the way the book is crafted (and promoted) that the editing and effort from the publisher was pretty serious. The book’s website is very extensive and is beyond your typical “First Author” project. Of course, unless you are deemed “the next big thing”.

I have two complaints, one is there are times where you “catch her writing” , you can feel the constructs and thesaurus and theory getting applied. It makes certain passages seem awkward. It is more prevalent in the early parts of the book. I think she is more comfortable with the Vera parts. The other is the “ending”. I will leave it at that but there is a certain level of “plot convenience playhouse” happening.

It is a very enjoyable read and I can see the appeal and why the success. Because of its classic leaning, there is an entire group of people that would be a “target audience” for it.

Doing my civic duty
As you read this, I am upholding my duty as a member of the community and a tax paying citizen; I am at Jury Duty. This will be my first time actually being there, though I have been called 2 times prior. The first time I was a college student and in Delaware, that gets you out of jury duty. The second time I had just moved to PA and declared residency in PA and Delaware sent a summons. Not being a resident of the state any more got me out. I will recount, I am sure, with great fondness my day of being a part of a jury of peers. Or not if I get home for my anti-religion, anti-gun, anti-anyone-who-is-not-Irish, pro-firearms stance. Or if they will buy that.

In the mean time, you can read Jason’s very humorous recounting of a day of jury duty.

UPDATE: Guess what - no jury duty. There is a hot line and there was not enough jury trials today so I did not have to attend. I am back in the pool, but not the normal long return time, most likely in the next year. I am “recalled” if that happens.

Reviews…reviews…reviews

I have a bunch of reviews to post and will have one out every day starting on Tuesday Feb 5. I believe it will be 2 weeks straight, 10 business days because you know the internet takes weekends and major holidays off (Presidents’ day is around the corner!)

On that note, I am reading a non-fiction book right now called Thunderstruck (insert AC/DC song here). Looking forward to breaking out of the mold of stuff I have been reading as of late.

Super Bowl
Don’t know, don’t care, didn’t watch it.

I finished this tome some time ago and my lazy butt is writing the review now. Isn’t that special!

The book is another of discworld, though less so than others. This is/was Terry Pratchett’s first Young Adult novel of the disc. It is like a gateway drug for discworld. Not truly addictive, but enough potent ency to make you want to consider coming back to the “pusher man”.

The book is a take on the Pied Piper folktale so we get a two-for-one on the fantasy/folklore scale, more bang for your buck if you will. The story follows Maurice, the amazing cat who is the master mind behind the money making scheme, which is basic but effective. They - Maurice, the rodents and the boy piper - go from town to town and bring their “plague”, which the piper can “relieve” them and they all split the money from this “public service”. The plan is going along merrily but there is discord as the rodents and boy decide they are ready to retire. Maurice convinces them they need one last scam and they can move on. And the last town is where all the fun unfolds.

This is the first Discworld book especially targeted at younger readers. What does this mean as compared to say typical Discworld fare?? It means 2 things to me:

1. Less wordplay/puns - Though they are still there, the references to oddball spellings and grammar or social references are toned down. I think this is ok, appropriate and matches the need of a YA book. It does not mean the Pratchett word skillz are not there - just the opposite - in my opinion. By being constricted to a YA frame, he has to uses his sizable arsenal of vocabulary to still play tricks with out references being lost. But like a great Looney Toon, there are nuggets for the “grown-ups” here (who are you looking at?)
2. Less Discworld back references - This is also wheeled WAY back. As I said above, this is like a Discworld gateway drug. The references here are mild and in theory the book could almost exist in its own world. What is interesting though is that the core of this book is referenced in Reaper Man by Pratchett (though Maurice is called Keith there).

The word play in the book - one of the great things about reading and even looking at a Pratchett novel - is based around the book more than the world. The rats have great names. Darktan, Dangerous Beans, Peaches, Hamnpork, Sardines - all of which were things that they read when they became “aware” before they knew what they were and like what they sounded like.

The book has some dark and frantic stages at the end that I found surprising for a book that was YA. Again though, and I am admitting my own bias here, the word adult does appear in that category. Mr. Pratchett also does a great job of laying out the landscape and you can see the “fairy tale/folklore” being poured out before you. I really enjoyed that.

I would be misrepresenting the book if I was not to mention the references or tribute or perhaps ripped-off (in theory at least - sorta) of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Though the stories are not similar at all, the rats have very similar traits. It has been some time since I have read the book and watched the film, known to all of you as the Secret of NIMH (where the main character’s name is Mrs Brisby because of concerns over trademark with Frisbee - go figure!). Jonathan from NIMH and Darktan seem very similar to me. (note to self….rent movie….wallow in the days of when Don Bluth was “sayin’ something”)

The book does not truly lock into the Discworld saga in a way that is essential but it is a nice starter book, but I would recommend others first (Reaper Man is my favorite).

On a personal reading note, Terry Pratchett has revealed he has rare, early-onset Alzheimer’s. As he states - he is not dead - but why someone with a mind as sharp as his gets this horrid disease is a real imbalance in the “cards you are dealt” game of life.

Joel directed me to the not so good news.

Folks,

I would have liked to keep this one quiet for a little while, but because of upcoming conventions and of course the need to keep my publishers informed, it seems to me unfair to withhold the news. I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer’s, which lay behind this year’s phantom “stroke”.

We are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism. For now work is continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals. All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible, future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers. Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there’s time for at least a few more books yet :o)

Terry Pratchett

PS I would just like to draw attention to everyone reading the above that this should be interpreted as ‘I am not dead’. I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else. For me, this maybe further off than you think - it’s too soon to tell. I know it’s a very human thing to say “Is there anything I can do”, but in this case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry.

Link

Does this solve my Library Problem? It is worth a read as a lot of effort went into this.