Film Fanatic That Loves To Read

Robert R. McCammon has only reinforced the knowledge that Southern writers have a great command of the language. And his masterpiece "Boy's Life" is proof. What a great read. Yeah, it took me a couple of months (hey, I got a job at the end of October and it has taken up my unemployment-reading time), but this book will stay with me probably for the rest of my life (I'm 54 by the way). Great prose, characters, and situations. Though it took me a few months due to real life getting in the way, I can assure you that once you start this book, you won't quit. I can't recommend it enough.

And it's not just because I'm from Whittier, and that Whittier is referenced throughout the book. This book was a very, well, fun read. Yes, it was edgy, but always fascinating - even when portions became too wordy. I'm sure as heck recommending it.

A great 500 page novel compacted down to barely 100. This is Paul Yoon's second published work and alls I can say is that damn, I'm sure looking forward to more from him. A great read.

Finally finished it. On the one hand it's easy to see why it's considered a classic with it's mixture of absurdist humor and human tragedy. And I'm sure in time this will grow on me. The more I think about it, the greater this story will become, and eventually I will read it a second time.

Now with the introduction of Major Major Major Major, book is now starting too. And it's a fun ride so far…...

So far, so good.

Finished. It was challenging getting used to the writing style, but once I did, alls I could say is "wow". What a story. If you are having really big issues, I suggest you read this book - trust me, you don't have problems compared to these people……..

I turn 54 next month, and for years and years have heard how this is a lot of people's favorite book - I know one who read it three times. I guess it's time for me to see what all the fuss is about………..

Down to the last 50 or so pages and can't believe now that I've gotten this far into the story, the previous pages are catching up to me making this one of the creepiest intense books I've read in ages. Forget any Zombie Apocalypse. THIS would be the end of the world - at least you can outrun a zombie…….

SLOWLY but surely getting it done. Less than 100 pages to go - and it still feels like I will never get there….but the story is amazing just the same…...

A Great Read. One of the best ever for me. Sorry it all had to end.

What I thought was just going to be a straight forward-story about Zorba is in fact a very philosophical story about all things: religion, politics, and life in general. Why I'm this surprised is a mystery - Nikos Kazantzakis was a philosopher and all, but either ways, I'm two chapters from finishing it. Will be sorry when it ends. It's a great read.

Being I was only 3 when JFK was murdered in Dallas, the books that came out immediately afterwards were mostly adulatory accounts. He was a man on a shiny white horse who was going to make the world a better place. He did make a few mistakes, but he learned from them, and got better control of his power, showing he had absolute potential greatness, and was tragically cut down. So that is what I believed.

Then came the revisionism.

And the JFK portrayed in the revisionism was a no good dirty politician, he cheated on his wife, was a crappy president, couldn't do one damn thing right, and got what he deserved in Dallas.

Oh come on, really? Who was telling the truth here? I simply didn't know who to believe.

But Richard Reeves' 1993 biography on the JFK presidency is undoubtedly the most three-dimensional that JFK has ever come off. He is simply a human being - and a complex one. Though JFK's womanizing has been well known for many years, it was this book that told us just how sick JFK really was. I don't mean a slight headache type of sick. I mean some SERIOUS stuff wrong with him - stuff that would have ended his career if known. it is a minute-by-minute account of what he knew and when, showing that he reacted great to some circumstances, and not so good with others. He comes into office with such a "can do" attitude, only to be hit with the reality of just HOW complex the job really is.

It only covers his presidency, so I can't say it's a complete history of the man. But it's as close as anybody is going to get to the real JFK (reportedly - so I don't know if it's true or not - Jackie bought 2 copies of the book for John and Caroline to read). Definitely worth your time.

It's now been 31 years since Karen Carpenter left us, and trust me when I tell you, I remember it like yesterday. This was one celebrity death that came soooo left field. The Carpenters, who were the rage in the early 1970s, were seemingly clean-cut, and had no real shadows on their lives. But like the rest of us, well, of course things weren't what they appeared to be.

As just about everybody now knows, Karen's means of self destruction stood out from the rest. Instead of drugs or alcohol, her's was a disorder that was only then becoming familiar with people, and that was the eating disorder known as Anorexia Nervosa. When the affects of her disease were very obvious, many people thought she was fighting cancer. It did not occur to anybody that she had any eating disorder cause that was not really heard of yet. When I heard of her death at age 32, I simply could not believe it - it seemed so unreal. Her? THAT Karen Carpenter? That just didn't seem possible.

Randy L. Schmidt has done a remarkable job of bringing Karen back to life to the point where you almost forget she has died. The Karen presented here is way more complex than that clean image would ever lead you to believe. She was funny, earthy at times, always polite, but could be temperamental and stubborn. Where she was known for being upfront and honest, she lied big time over her disorder. But ultimately she is a tragic character. Her mother, who comes off the most unflattering than any person in this book, is obsessive-compulsive, is a nag, and a bigot to boot, while her father is gentle and hen-pecked. All along it was her older brother who was beng groomed to be the superstar, then Karen joins the band. She has this remarkable voice nobody knew she had. They scrounge for work like any other band for a short period of time before being signed by A & M. Their first album is a very very modest success, but their first single "Close To You" explodes, putting The Carpenters into a level of success that nobody predicted. They are the hottest act at that time. Richard picks the songs and arranges them, but it's Karen's singing that gets all the attention, causing some amount of resentment. They are hated by the critics, they are made fun of for their image. In other words, fame was NOT what they thought it would be. Only when The Carpenters have peaked, THEN things really get bad.

Richard Carpenter would not cooperate with Schmidt, but he made it clear he wasn't going to stop him from writing the book either. So as of right now, this is the most definitive account of Karen's life we'll get for a while. And it's a compelling and unputdownable work. Highly recommended.