I just finished the novel, Sharpe's Tiger, which was the first in a large series of novels following the adventures of Richard Sharpe, a member of the British Army during the early 1800's. This first adventure follows our hero's instrumental role in the siege of Seringapatam during the British campaign in India during the Napoleonic wars. It is fast paced, seemingly historically accurate, and the character of Sharpe is an enjoyable rogue. The writing style is modern and very easy to read, and the exciting storyline, interesting characters, and well detailed battles make for an excellent summer read.
In the wide world of cinema I recently saw the film Edmund, which I found to be a harder edged Falling Down with William H. Macy replacing Michael Douglas in the lead role. There are some nice dialogues about the unnecessary social games we play and niceties we abide by because we are afraid of how others will perceive us; however, I would have liked to have seen a bit more from the director showing us some hope or suggestion for social change, rather than just showing how our protagonist's anticonformist actions lead him into the most terrible of decisions and situations. Still, the film is worth watching just for Macy's performance.
I also had the chance to finally check out the 1969 best picture Midnight Cowboy. I really liked this film. The performances by John Voigt and Dustin Hoffman were both top notch, and the directing had a lot of surreal moments alongside the bleak hyper-realism that was so popular in the early 1970's. The film is famous for being the only film rated X (although not rated X by today's system) to win the Oscar, and after watching it I do feel that it is one of the more cutting edge films to have won an Oscar. One of those rarer moments when a really good and challenging film gets its due.
And if you are looking for something to massage the ears, I suggest checking out the band I'm From Barcelona. Their album, Let Me Introduce my Friends, plays like adult indie, and the lyrics seem as though they are written about all the things that would be important to you in middle school. The result is pleasant and slightly poppy with a great depth of sound created by the 29 members of the band. Speaking of large bands, I also like the new stuff I am hearing from the Polyphonic Spree...very different than what I had heard from them a few years back. The more I hear the new Bright Eyes album, the more I like it...it has more of a folk influence, which really suits the writing style on this body of work.
Quick Picks:
Blonde Redhead - 23
Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby; Everything is Average Nowadays
I'm From Barcelona - Collection of Stamps
Bright Eyes - If the Brakeman Turns My Way
...and for something with a bit of a beat check out stuff by LCD Soundsystems, or !!!.
This week's single that will not get out of my head: Once and Never Again, by the Long Blondes...I love this woman's voice.
Same to Same,
Capt. Patrick Hendry
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Sprint to get this Print
With Memorial Day upon us, so begins the summer season according to the powers that be. Therefore this is a perfect time to get your summer reading list together. I don't know that the books below are necessarily considered to be especially geared for the beach or for the lazy, hazy days of hot weather and flip-flops, but they are my favorite four books, and I thought I would throw them out there.
Dracula by Bram Stoker: That's right, Dracula. Price of the undead, vampire extraordinaire, long fangs, pale skin, night owl. I originally was turned off by the fact that the book is written as an epistolary, which is to say that all the chapters in the book are diary entries or letters written to other people or even newspaper articles; but in retrospect, this style of writing almost makes this supernatural tale feel more like a memoir of real events. Even in this day and age, this book is chilling. There are people I know who couldn't keep reading this book at night because they were being instilled with feelings of dread. If you think you know the whole story from seeing countless (well, there is always at least one Count) screen adaptations, think again, for few movies come close to touching upon all the major plot points, or even characters, in the novel. Lastly, don't be afraid that this novel is simply cheap, paperback horror writing, it is as beautiful a piece of literature as any I have read, which I am sure accounts for it being deeply embedded in our culture.
Catch 22 by Joesph Heller: I was never assigned to read this book in high school or college, and I count that among my blessings. When I tackled this book as an adult, I felt that I was probably better able to appreciate the black comedy and irony that saturates nearly every paragraph of this WWII surreal experience. Trying to describe this book is almost a waste of time, it is something that needs to be read to really understand; but, I promise you comedy, tragedy, action, stagnation, logic, nonsense and above all...satire. This book empowers its reader by fine tuning your mind into an instrument that can recognize the inherent hypocrisy and sheer silliness in the extremes of love, life and war.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein: This novel can be found in the science fiction section of your local bookstore, but don't let that turn you off it that is not your scene. This book is more social commentary than Star Wars. Heinlein merely uses the fantastic nature of the genre to create situations above and beyond the norm; these in turn give him the chance to show us the kind of world we could live in. Emotionally engaging, and often dealing with the ever complicated world of our sexuality, this book will challenge the way you approach relationships with people, and gives the reader a chance to look at society from a fresh pair of eyes for awhile. Time Enough for Love and I Will Fear No Evil are two other works of his that I find equally successful critiques of some of the more sensitive areas of our social norm.
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson: Ok, so this is really a series of three novels following the adventures of a myriad of characters both fictional and real. It takes place in the late 1600's and is the most entertaining and informational history course I have ever taken. I think I learned more about the origins of modern science, theories of economy and currency, and European history than my combined years of knowledge leading up to my reading of this trilogy. That being said, it is by no means boring. Stephenson is sharp as a tack and makes me laugh out loud. His characters, even those based on real historical figures, are driven by the most outrageous (and sometimes depraved) motives. If you can muscle your way through the intimidating size of this body of work, and embrace his sometimes longer than necessary tangents, you will find yourself rewarded at the end with a breadth of knowledge and a satisfying adventure. To try the author on for size in a smaller piece of work, I also recommend Cryptonomicon or Snow Crash.
None of these appeal to you? Here's the short list of some things I've read over the past year or so:
Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist: Nice thriller set in England during the 1800's. One part science fiction, one part adventure.
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks: Disturbing little read about the strange, isolated existence of a young serial killer who has more secrets than even he knows.
Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forrester: Adventure on the high seas. Quick reads with plenty of smart action.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Suzanna Clarke: What if there were actually a wizard or two in England trying to bring back the practice in the 1800's. This book is not simply Harry Potter for adults.
So get your mind out and about this summer, and pick up something to read...and if you have some time, let me know what else I should be looking to read.
Same to same,
Capt. Patrick Hendry
Dracula by Bram Stoker: That's right, Dracula. Price of the undead, vampire extraordinaire, long fangs, pale skin, night owl. I originally was turned off by the fact that the book is written as an epistolary, which is to say that all the chapters in the book are diary entries or letters written to other people or even newspaper articles; but in retrospect, this style of writing almost makes this supernatural tale feel more like a memoir of real events. Even in this day and age, this book is chilling. There are people I know who couldn't keep reading this book at night because they were being instilled with feelings of dread. If you think you know the whole story from seeing countless (well, there is always at least one Count) screen adaptations, think again, for few movies come close to touching upon all the major plot points, or even characters, in the novel. Lastly, don't be afraid that this novel is simply cheap, paperback horror writing, it is as beautiful a piece of literature as any I have read, which I am sure accounts for it being deeply embedded in our culture.
Catch 22 by Joesph Heller: I was never assigned to read this book in high school or college, and I count that among my blessings. When I tackled this book as an adult, I felt that I was probably better able to appreciate the black comedy and irony that saturates nearly every paragraph of this WWII surreal experience. Trying to describe this book is almost a waste of time, it is something that needs to be read to really understand; but, I promise you comedy, tragedy, action, stagnation, logic, nonsense and above all...satire. This book empowers its reader by fine tuning your mind into an instrument that can recognize the inherent hypocrisy and sheer silliness in the extremes of love, life and war.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein: This novel can be found in the science fiction section of your local bookstore, but don't let that turn you off it that is not your scene. This book is more social commentary than Star Wars. Heinlein merely uses the fantastic nature of the genre to create situations above and beyond the norm; these in turn give him the chance to show us the kind of world we could live in. Emotionally engaging, and often dealing with the ever complicated world of our sexuality, this book will challenge the way you approach relationships with people, and gives the reader a chance to look at society from a fresh pair of eyes for awhile. Time Enough for Love and I Will Fear No Evil are two other works of his that I find equally successful critiques of some of the more sensitive areas of our social norm.
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson: Ok, so this is really a series of three novels following the adventures of a myriad of characters both fictional and real. It takes place in the late 1600's and is the most entertaining and informational history course I have ever taken. I think I learned more about the origins of modern science, theories of economy and currency, and European history than my combined years of knowledge leading up to my reading of this trilogy. That being said, it is by no means boring. Stephenson is sharp as a tack and makes me laugh out loud. His characters, even those based on real historical figures, are driven by the most outrageous (and sometimes depraved) motives. If you can muscle your way through the intimidating size of this body of work, and embrace his sometimes longer than necessary tangents, you will find yourself rewarded at the end with a breadth of knowledge and a satisfying adventure. To try the author on for size in a smaller piece of work, I also recommend Cryptonomicon or Snow Crash.
None of these appeal to you? Here's the short list of some things I've read over the past year or so:
Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist: Nice thriller set in England during the 1800's. One part science fiction, one part adventure.
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks: Disturbing little read about the strange, isolated existence of a young serial killer who has more secrets than even he knows.
Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forrester: Adventure on the high seas. Quick reads with plenty of smart action.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Suzanna Clarke: What if there were actually a wizard or two in England trying to bring back the practice in the 1800's. This book is not simply Harry Potter for adults.
So get your mind out and about this summer, and pick up something to read...and if you have some time, let me know what else I should be looking to read.
Same to same,
Capt. Patrick Hendry
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