Category Archives: Books

Books I’ve read lately, in the past or about the authors.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Here’s to the book that derailed my 2023 resolution to read over 10 books in the year, it ended up being six. This heavily researched tome about Lincoln and a few of his cabinet members is pretty amazing. Too bad … Continue reading

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Something more Italian to celebrate today!

I finally caught up with Austin’s Conversational Italian club! It was at Kick Butt Coffee of all places. They gathered somewhat early (before noon) to have breakfast, converse and to see Lorenzo Vignando (above) perform with his ukulele and promote … Continue reading

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The overdue explanation for the June ’23 Header: Finale

Today, I conclude with the last book which I think overlapped into the school year. Even then I was a slow reader! I had numerous distractions over the Summer of 1983, namely the arcade and I did have people to … Continue reading

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The overdue explanation for the June ’23 Header: Part Two

Today, I will pick up where I left off with novel number two… The Mercenary by Jerry Pournelle was initially deceptive thanks to its Boris Vallejo cover. Yet it became the novel to aid my understanding of Traveller by teaching … Continue reading

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The overdue explanation for the June ’23 Header: Part One

Yikes! June is almost over and I need to explain why this month’s header is three random paperback Sci-Fi novels! Forty years ago, a co-worker gave these to my Dad who then gave them to me. I figure the co-worker … Continue reading

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Moonraker by Ian Fleming

Twenty-five years ago, I read my first James Bond novel but it was not written by Ian Fleming, it was Raymond Benson, the former Prez of the US fan club. He did a great job too. His Zero Minus Ten … Continue reading

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Well…duh! Then again, certain people do…

…like Elon Musk, he definitely enjoys his own farts as much as he does his shitty bully humor on Twitter. Joke is on him though since the service is now worth a third of what he paid for it.

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They Want to Kill Americans by Malcolm Nance

Woo hoo! Book number four and I finished it in March, I think. I just got around to getting the review on to the site’s docket. My public library had this too, saved some money. After reading Belew’s Bring the … Continue reading

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The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Finally got around to reading a novel that inspired the authors I enjoy! Although James Ellroy is rather critical of Chandler (I’ve read in interviews) and I’m confident Walter Moseley would have some choice words for the racism of a … Continue reading

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Generation of Sociopaths by Bruce Gibney

The first in what I hope will be a trilogy of books I will be finishing about the end of the Baby Boomers/Boomers overstaying their welcome in about every aspect of American life. Entertainment, I can live with. Music? Depends. … Continue reading

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Bring the War Home by Kathleen Belew

One major New Year’s Resolution I made for 2023 was to read 10 books this year and here’s number one! Home is a frighteningly well-documented account and update to what I was reading 30 years ago, United They Hate; all about the History … Continue reading

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The Exploding Detective by John Swartzwelder

Holy Crap! I’ve finished two books this year! It’s more amazing how I got Detective read entirely within the same year as Guns, Germs & Steel took over a year. I have a quick, serious question for the experts on human learning and … Continue reading

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Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

I finally finished a book! We all (including myself) thought I’d get a bunch read during Covid. No luck. I was really guilty of starting a few, then getting bogged down, forgetting to continue and then losing all the momentum … Continue reading

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RIP Barbara Ehrenreich

Barbara was a great writer and activist who told it like it is! Like most, I never heard of her until she published Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America which came out in 2001. Even then, Barbara was … Continue reading

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RIP David McCullough

Sad to hear the passing of David and it was weird to be notified via the mailing list of a publishing company. Normally I find out through Twitter or the newspaper sites. Still a major loss to the world because … Continue reading

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