Summer Reading
I can't believe that I've actually found the time to read so many books this summer, but I have and, fortunately, they've all been worth my time. 'Manhunt: The 12 Day Hunt for Lincoln's Killer' by James L. Swanson is a riveting historical account of John Wilkes Booth's dastardly deed, his escape, and the efforts made by authorities to catch him. It reads like a thriller but is enlightening at the same time. It was interesting for me to discover how law enforcement worked in those days, the mindset of the American people following Lincoln's assassination and to get insight into Wilke's personality.
I read Grael Marcus' 'Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan at the Crossroads' in one week while on vacation. This is wonderful book for both fans of Bob Dylan and anyone interested in the painstaking process involved in creating a great work of art. As the title implies, the book details the making of one of rock's most revolutionary songs and perhaps Dylan's best- 'Like A Rolling Stone'. Marcus examines how the song helped to changed both the public and music industries perception of what a pop single could be, it's importance in the history of rock 'n roll and its influence on songwriters both past and present.
'This Land Was Made For You And Me: The Life And Songs Of Woody Guthrie' by Elizabeth Partridge is an excellent biography of America's greatest folk singer. From his childhood hardships growing up in the Oklahoma dustbowl to his final days suffering from Huntington’s Disease in New Jersey, 'This Land' is a thorough and detailed account of Woody Guthrie's both tragic and inspiring life. I really enjoyed this one.
After so many historical and factual books, (although none were 'heavy' reads), I opted for something different for my next book. I'd never read any of Dean Koontz's immensely popular novels, but my wife is a huge fan. After reading some decent reviews for his latest, 'The Husband', and knowing how much my wife enjoyed it, I decided to make it my one guilty pleasure for the summer. A real pleasure it is! Fast-paced and exciting, 'The Husband' is a movie waiting to be filmed. The premise is intriguing; a middle-class landscaper's wife is kidnapped and held for 2 million dollars ransom. Even though the husband is a man of limited finances and few resources, the kidnappers insist he come up with the money in 3 days or his wife will be killed. Taking off from that seemingly simple set-up the book veers into some very dark territories, with a few totally unexpected and even shocking plot twists. This is indeed a fun, quick read and actually a perfect book for the long days of summer when television is so bad that it's hardly worth turning on.
I read Grael Marcus' 'Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan at the Crossroads' in one week while on vacation. This is wonderful book for both fans of Bob Dylan and anyone interested in the painstaking process involved in creating a great work of art. As the title implies, the book details the making of one of rock's most revolutionary songs and perhaps Dylan's best- 'Like A Rolling Stone'. Marcus examines how the song helped to changed both the public and music industries perception of what a pop single could be, it's importance in the history of rock 'n roll and its influence on songwriters both past and present.
'This Land Was Made For You And Me: The Life And Songs Of Woody Guthrie' by Elizabeth Partridge is an excellent biography of America's greatest folk singer. From his childhood hardships growing up in the Oklahoma dustbowl to his final days suffering from Huntington’s Disease in New Jersey, 'This Land' is a thorough and detailed account of Woody Guthrie's both tragic and inspiring life. I really enjoyed this one.
After so many historical and factual books, (although none were 'heavy' reads), I opted for something different for my next book. I'd never read any of Dean Koontz's immensely popular novels, but my wife is a huge fan. After reading some decent reviews for his latest, 'The Husband', and knowing how much my wife enjoyed it, I decided to make it my one guilty pleasure for the summer. A real pleasure it is! Fast-paced and exciting, 'The Husband' is a movie waiting to be filmed. The premise is intriguing; a middle-class landscaper's wife is kidnapped and held for 2 million dollars ransom. Even though the husband is a man of limited finances and few resources, the kidnappers insist he come up with the money in 3 days or his wife will be killed. Taking off from that seemingly simple set-up the book veers into some very dark territories, with a few totally unexpected and even shocking plot twists. This is indeed a fun, quick read and actually a perfect book for the long days of summer when television is so bad that it's hardly worth turning on.
posted by Jerry Kirk at 4:41 AM
2 Comments:
Jerry, I think you meant to say "Woody Guthrie" -- not "Woody Allen"
You are correct, anonymous. Somehow I can't see Woody Allen singing about the plight of migrant workers. The error has been corrected. Thanks!
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