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[paul secor]

Deirdre Madden: Time Present and Time Past

Deirdre Madden is an Irish author whose books are not well known in the U.S., but they should be. This one is wonderfully moving and I highly recommend it.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

13 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

A big Lee Child fan here, but I disagree with Dave James' "completely and totally mindless." While Reacher's near implacable, highly honed physical skills are a key given, especially in that few of his antagonists are aware that they're facing in him not just another very big/muscular guy, every Reacher novel I recall turns not only (and not really that much)  on his ability to be effectively violent but also (and I would say primarily) on his ability to think through/figure out what is always a very puzzling/"what the heck is going on here?" initial situation -- and things typically remain quite puzzling for a good while.. Without the "thinking" Reacher, the bashing Reacher would be up a creek. Further, the bashing Reacher is, I would say, quite thoughtful in his bashing. As is emphasized time and again, he knows exactly how to rapidly muster his immense physical skills to fit the given situation, (we're usually told just how he scopes things out along those lines), while his antagonists typically do not know how to effectively muster the force that's available to them. They're out-thought as much as they're out-fought.

I tend to agree that there is a lot of mindful bashing. And the bad guys are so deserving of the bashing/killing that you really have no sympathy for them. Guilty pleasure, really.

I am starting book 5 - I bought a box set of the first 6 books - and so far, I have been able to decipher some things well before Reacher. For instance, in the 3rd book, "The Visitor", I figured out that the victims were being hypnotized by the FBI agent about halfway into the book. (highlight the previous text to see the spoiler). It was one of those books where you close the book and say out loud, "You idiots!! It's right in front of you!"

I do enjoy a good action/mystery/adventure book and these are well written. I can see myself going through this series pretty quickly. Heck, I've already gone through 4 of them on two weeks.

[Dave James]

With respect to the two Reacher films, the first one is actually quite serviceable (the fight scene outside the bar with the five smart-ass punks is really well done)...while second is a real dud. Cruise is surprisingly effective in the title role in spite of the significant physical differential.  Lee Child has said that if there is a third Reacher film, Cruise will not reprise his role.  That begs the question, who among today's actors could most effective play Reacher?  I don't see The Rock doing this...but perhaps you disagree.  Something kind of fun to consider.  

FWIW, I have also heard that the third film would be based on "61 Hours" which, IMO, is the best of all the Reacher books.    

 

 

[Brad]

19 hours ago, Matthew said:

I've been eyeing that Douglas bio also -- so many good books to read, so little time. Though, when I think of that, I always remember the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith, Ack!!!!

That is a great episode.  Yes, there is so little time and I find buying books even more addictive than buying CDs. 

Edited February 12, 2019 by Brad

[kinuta]

[paul secor]

Tom Lubbock: Great Works - 50 Paintings Explored

One of the finest books on art that I've ever come across.

[Larry Kart]

Been enjoying the Archer Mayor police procedural series, set in Vermont, about Joe Gunther --  police chief in Brattleboro, later connected with the VBI (Vermont Bureau of Investigation). 

 

The Joe Gunther Series

“Archer Mayor’s Vermont police procedurals are the best thing going…” —New York Times Book Review

Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther detective series, 26 books in all, is one of the most enduring and critically acclaimed police procedural series being written today. For years, Archer has integrated actual police methodology with intricately detailed plot lines into novels that The New York Timeshas called “dazzling,” and Booklist has said are “among the best cop stories being written today.” Whereas many writers base their books on only interviews and scholarly research, Mayor’s novels are based on actual experience in the field. The result adds a depth, detail and veracity to his characters and their tribulations that has led The New York Times to call him “the boss man on procedures,” and the Arizona Daily Star to write, “Few deliver such well-rounded novels of such consistent high quality.”

The Joe Gunther detective series began in 1988 with Open Season, and now includes Borderlines, Scent of Evil, The Skeleton’s Knee, Fruits of the Poisonous Tree, The Dark Root, The Ragman’s Memory, Bellows Falls, The Disposable Man, Occam’s Razor, Marble Mask, Tucker Peak, The Sniper’s Wife, Gatekeeper, The Surrogate Thief, St. Albans Fire, The Second Mouse, Chat, The Catch, The Price of Malice, Red Herring, Tag Man, Paradise City, Three Can Keep A Secret and The Company She Kept.

The Los Angeles Times featured Scent of Evil in its 1992 year-end list of recommend readings and proclaimed The Skeleton’s Knee “one of the best ten mystery books of the year” in 1993. That book also prompted The New York Times to call Mayor “one of the most sophisticated stylists in the genre,” and in 1997, to proclaim The Ragman’s Memory one of only eleven “Notable” mysteries of the year—an honor it repeated in 2002 with The Sniper’s Wife.

Me again: I can vouch for "Bury the Lead," "The Catch," "The Ragman's Memory," and "Borderlines."

 

The Joe Gunther Series

• 29. Bury the Lead (2018)
• 28. Trace (2017)
• 27. Presumption of Guilt (2016)
• 26. The Company She Kept (2015)
• 25. Proof Positive (2014)
• 24. Three Can Keep a Secret (2013)
• 23. Paradise City (2012)
• 22. Tag Man (2011)
• 21. Red Herring (2010)
• 20. The Price of Malice (2009)
• 19. The Catch (2008)
• 18. Chat (2007)
• 17. The Second Mouse (2006)
• 16. St. Albans Fire (2005)
• 15. The Surrogate Thief (2004)
• 14. Gatekeeper (2003)
• 13. The Sniper’s Wife (2002)
• 12. Tucker Peak (2001)
• 11. The Marble Mask (2000)
• 10. Occam’s Razor (1999)
• 9. The Disposable Man (1998)
• 8. Bellows Falls (1997)
• 7. The Ragman’s Memory (1996)
• 6. The Dark Root (1995)
• 5. Fruits of the Poisonous Tree (1994)
• 4. The Skeleton’s Knee (1993)
• 3. Scent of Evil (1992)
• 2. Borderlines (1990)
• 1. Open Season (1988)

[Ted O'Reilly]

I've enjoyed the Slough House series by Mick Herron (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/OHN/slough-house).  Great fun! I await reading the 6th in the series.

I'd love to see a movie or HBO-type TV series featuring the gang, with Jackson Lamb played by Timothy Spall.

[GA Russell]

Ted, quite some time ago I picked up eBook of Slow Horses.  You've just decided what my next read will be!

[T.D.]

My brother strongly recommended Herron to me. I read and enjoyed Slow Horses, mean to continue with the series, but keep forgetting. Once read a Herron non-Slough House novel (Down Cemetery Road), which was OK but less good than S. H.

I liked Joseph Heywood's Woods Cop series, set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Series ended in 2011, don't know if Heywood is still writing.

Bill James's (Welshman, not the sabermetric guy) lengthy Harpur and Iles series is excellent, but it's best to start at the beginning and I fear those books are hard to find.

Two other long-running series I've always enjoyed are Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder books (NYC) and Loren D. Estleman's Amos Walker series (Detroit).

Edited February 13, 2019 by T.D.

[kinuta]

Finally got round to giving Jack Reacher a try.

[GA Russell]

kinuta, my sister gave me that for my 2015 birthday.  I guess I ought to read it too!

[kinuta]

3 hours ago, GA Russell said:

kinuta, my sister gave me that for my 2015 birthday.  I guess I ought to read it too!

2/3rds through and it's a fair, easy read.

Rather more plot driven than I expected but with predictable tough guy stuff too.

As of now , I'd say it's worth a look.

3 hours ago, GA Russell said:

 

 

Edited February 17, 2019 by kinuta

[ejp626]

Wrapped up The Aeneid and Atwood's Penelopiad. 

Now for something significantly different

Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.  This is a fairly new translation (2012) that restores all the edits they were forced to make under Soviet censorship.  The original inspired Tarkovsky's Stalker.

[ghost of miles]

[paul secor]

Kazuo Ishiguro; Nocturnes

A big disappointment

[kinuta]

I've been looking forward to reading this for a while.

........................................

Just finished. This is an epic account of all aspects of the film.

I thought I knew a fair amount about the background, but now realise I really hadn't a clue.

Recommended as a very fine companion work that truly expands appreciation of Kubrick's masterpiece.

Edited February 23, 2019 by kinuta

[jlhoots]

Rachel Kushner: Telex From Cuba

[Matthew]

The Collected Poems of Denise Lerertov. Levertov is a new discovery for me, the first poem I read of her's was six months ago, and I fell in love with her writing from the first line . I've been strolling through this book at a very leisurely pace (about half-way done), soaking in her greatness. That is what's great about reading, there's always an unexpected discovery waiting around the bend.

Late PS: Reading Levertov, who was a great friend of Robert Duncan, made me feel a pang of sadness that David Gitin is no longer with us. 

Edited February 23, 2019 by Matthew

[ejp626]

Decided to take the plunge and start in on Musil's The Man Without Qualities.  So far I am enjoying it (much more than Proust at any rate), though I can see there might be a point where I lose momentum, particularly in the 2nd volume which has 600+ pages of unfinished material...

[T.D.]

I read a review of The Man Without Qualities that piqued my interest, flipped through a used copy of Vol. 1 at a bookshop, but the novel's length scared me off.

[ejp626]

4 minutes ago, T.D. said:

I read a review of The Man Without Qualities that piqued my interest, flipped through a used copy of Vol. 1 at a bookshop, but the novel's length scared me off.

It does seem to be a bit of a commitment...

[ghost of miles]

On 2/18/2019 at 4:40 PM, kinuta said:

I've been looking forward to reading this for a while.

........................................

Just finished. This is an epic account of all aspects of the film.

I thought I knew a fair amount about the background, but now realise I really hadn't a clue.

Recommended as a very fine companion work that truly expands appreciation of Kubrick's masterpiece.

Picking this up for my dad as an early Father’s Day present (he took me to see the movie when it was re-released to theaters in the late 1970s) after reading a New Yorker article that drew heavily upon it. 

Staying with Smiley for now:

[Brad]

57 minutes ago, ghost of miles said:

Picking this up for my dad as an early Father’s Day present (he took me to see the movie when it was re-released to theaters in the late 1970s) after reading a New Yorker article that drew heavily upon it. 

Staying with Smiley for now:

Excellent.  Any thoughts of buying him the DVD set. I've had it for years and usually watch it once a year. 

[kinuta]

On 23/02/2019 at 1:02 AM, Brad said:

Excellent.  Any thoughts of buying him the DVD set. I've had it for years and usually watch it once a year. 

Yes, the original BBC dvd's of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People are definitive and endlessly replayable.

It's a shame they never got round to doing The Honourable Schoolboy and completing the trilogy.

       .....................................

Just finishing up Solaris by Stanislaw Lem.

I've seen both of the films but never got round to the book.

The same themes shown in the films are present, the conundrum of dealing with something emotionally dear and seemingly real but in truth an alien conjured artifact.

The book spends much more time describing the nature of the planet, and all in all presents one of the more captivating portraits of what a totally alien lifeform might be like.

Well worth the read.

.............................

Finished. The interminable passages describing the surface conditions of the planet finally had a deadening effect, making it a slog to finish. If I had to choose from the two films and the book, I'd pick the Soderberg version.

Heretic, I know.

Edited February 24, 2019 by kinuta