Anyway, Jo and I went out for lunch after and we also played 6 games of Sequence, finishing 3 - 3. Whew. Finished with a shopping trip to Quality Foods and now I'm biding my time until I make our Greek Salad for dinner.
So books... I've got a few new ones since my last update. There was a sale sponsored by the Rotary Club. I didn't even buy that many this year. I'm being quite good about not purchasing too many books. 😁 So lets take a look at the books I've read so far in May and plus what I'm reading next and the synopses of the newest books.
Just Finished
"Sunset Gun: Poems by Dorothy Parker is my 3rd collection of poetry by American poet, screen writer, movie critic Parker. I say this every time, but here goes again as an intro to my review of a book of poetry. I don't always get poetry but I keep trying. I have enjoyed Parker's work, her humor, her take on life. This collection was no exception.
There is much about love and life in this collection, sometimes what seems a very negative view of both.
"Rhyme against Living
If wild my breast and sore my pride,
I bask in dreams of suicide;
If cool my heart and high my head,
I think, 'How lucky are the dead!"
But as you read through the collection, I think you find that when it comes to life, Dorothy prefers a wild, tempestuous life or love, rather than a calm, mild one. She loves adding a twist or an unsuspected ending to a train of thought. That makes you go... Oh yeah!
"Surprise
My heart went fluttering with fear
Lest you should go, and leave me here
To beat my breast and rock my head
And stretch me sleepless on my bed,
Ah, clear they see and true they say
that one shall weep, and one shall stray
For such is Love's unvarying law....
I never thought, I never saw
That I should be the first to go;
How pleasant that it happened so!"
I don't always get her thoughts, but it's fun trying to. She's definitely worth trying if you want to explore the world of poetry. (3.5 stars)"
"I found this graphic novel, This Place: 150 Years Retold, a collection of short stories by Canadian indigenous authors, at one of my local book stores. I've read other graphics by indigenous authors; The Reckoner trilogy, the Girl Called Echo series, If I Go Missing, plus Michelle Good's novel Five Little Indians. Now I realize it makes me sound like I'm bragging, but that's not my intent. I only list these because I have found them both depressing & optimistic, thought - provoking and a picture into the darker side of Canada's heritage, its dreadful treatment of its indigenous population.
This Place takes a look at incidents in the history of Canada's indigenous peoples and provides a timeline at the beginning of each story, detailing how the specific tales took place in the specific history of Canada. Each of the ten stories is written by a different author, two of whom I'm familiar; David A. Robertson and Katherina Vermette but I will look up the others to see their other work.
The stores cover various locations; west coast, middle of Canada, the far north, etc. and different historical periods; the 1850's and Canada's expansion West and its taking over of Metis lands; early 1900's and a spiritual story about Wendigos and the differing perspectives between white colonists and indigenous treatment of what seems to amount to possession. It covers the gamut of our history and an overriding theme of how the colonists broke treaties and treated indigenous populations as less than human. It's a sad part of our history but one that needs to be told if Canada can be one whole complete nation. There needs to be conversation / dialogue but, more importantly, we need to listen to the stories, understand them.
From a strictly graphic novel perspective, the artwork is clear and crisp, beautifully colored and in each story provides different writing and inking styles. It's a beautifully presented work. It should be checked out for the stories and also enjoyed for the beautiful pictures. A sad collection of stories but also each provides some hope, some optimism. (4.0 stars)"
"Since I finally discovered Patricia Highsmith, I've read six of her books, including Small g: A Summer Idyll, originally published in 1995. I've got mix emotions about her books. I can't say I 'like' her books, but there is something about her style and story-telling that draws me in and keeps me reading. I started with Strangers on a Train, after watching the Alfred Hitchcock movie version and have then picked through various others, all mysteries of a sort... but not necessarily. Confused you muchly?
Small g is set in Switzerland. The story starts off with the murder of Petey Ritter, killed outside the local bar, fondly known as the Small g, or more commonly as Jacob's, a popular bar frequented by the gay community. His death brings together Rickie, a gay advertising artist, and Luisa, a seamstress. Luisa works for Renate, who is training Luisa and therefore has a hold on her. Renate hates the gay community and has many other issues, including possibly some feelings of love for Luisa?
The murder of Petey isn't a major factor in the story, rather it's always in the background and seems to contribute to the actions and feelings of the other characters. There are other characters who interact with the main three, Teddie, a young well-to-do man and budding writer, to whom Rickie is attracted but who likes Luisa. There is Dorrie, a lesbian store designer, who frequents Jacob's and takes Luisa under her wing. You've also got Willi Biber, a mentally challenged man who is under the thumb of Renate and may have been involved in the death of Petey and a later violent act.
It's an intriguing kind of story, mostly concerned with the lives of Rickie, Luisa an Renate and their acquaintances. The gay aspect is there, Rickie has AIDS, but not really a factor in the main story... whatever that is. It's basically a story of people. living their lives, dealing with their own issues and their interactions. Does a lot happen? Yes. But it's the resolutions of these situations that make the story interesting. I have a few other books on Highsmith sitting on my shelves to try. Looking forward to it. (4.0 stars)"
Currently Reading
"L.A.P.D. Lt. Luis Mendoza and his colleagues couldn't remember ever having been beset by such a varied and baffling series of crimes..."
"Contents:
· The Terminal Beach · nv New Worlds Mar ’64
· A Question of Re-Entry · nv Fantastic Mar ’63
· The Drowned Giant · ss *; ; as “Souvenir”, Playboy May ’65
· End-Game · nv New Worlds Jun ’63
· The Illuminated Man · nv F&SF May ’64
· The Reptile Enclosure [“The Sherrington Theory”] · ss Amazing Mar ’63
· The Delta at Sunset · ss *
· Deep End · ss New Worlds May ’61
· The Volcano Dances · ss *
· Billenium · ss New Worlds Nov ’61
· The Gioconda of the Twilight Noon · ss *
· The Lost Leonardo · ss F&SF Mar ’64"
n that lasts for 15 years-- the Earthmen have neighbors: the humanoid hilfs, a nomadic people who only settle down for the cruel cold spell. The hilfs fear the Earthmen, whom they think of as witches & call the farborns.
But hilfs & farborns have common enemies: the hordes of ravaging barbarians called gaals & eerie preying snow ghouls. Will they join forces or be annihilated?"
A slender, realistic story of a young man's coming of age, Very Far Away from Anywhere Else is one of the most inspiring novels Ursula K. Le Guin has ever published."
"UFOs in Mooseville? Rumors abound that a missing backpacker has been abducted, and it looks like Jim Qwilleran's sedate summer may be interrupted by an investigation -- with the help of his own little aliens, Koko and Yum Yum. And when the backpacker's body turns up -- and transplanted Floridian Owen Bowen is found dead soon afterward -- the search for intelligent life turns into a close encounter with a killer..."
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