Skip to main content

Bibliofile - March


Didn't get through many books this month. Just 3. I know, I know. One might think I was slipping but one of the books was close to 2400 pages - Lawrence In Arabia. This Lawrence isn't quite as romantically portrayed as in that David Lean film from the 60s. Author Scott Anderson portrays this Lawrence as a calculating individual who never listen to his superiors. The book provides a fascinating overview of how the modern-day Middle East came into existence due to the World War I efforts of Britain, France, Germany and the United States. It was a long read but a fascinating one.

Another book I read this week - All The Light We Cannot See - was a wonderful World War II tale by Anthony Doerr - involving a young French blind girl's story on the one hand and a young German soldier on the other. What brings them together near the end of the story is woven neatly into the tale. I really enjoyed this.

The third book - Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon - was a complex, yet humorous, tale about a doper detective in 60s California. Pynchon very accurately catches the drugs and culture of the times. The book has recently been made into a movie which is why I picked it up. Pynchon has a certain way of writing that can distract the reader but I nevertheless enjoyed it.

So, 3 books in March which brings my yearly total to 17. It was hard to read more this month, having been tempted by videos and On Demand where I binge-watched such great shows as The Affair, Sports Night and Seasons 1 and 2 of House of Cards. The latter is far darker than the British version and Kevin Spacey is simply amazing to the point you want to punch him in the neck.

So what are you reading or watching? Any recommendations for me?
Labels:

Comments

Bryan G. Robinson said…
I'm at 17 books for the year too, but my books are a (heck of) a lot shorter. I'm always amazed at the length (and quality) of the books you read. I wish I had the stamina, but I like to read my books in short chunks of time, usually getting one done in one sitting or maybe two sittings, depending on the book or the amount of time I have. Eventually, we'll get to House of Cards, the American version, but I think what was putting us off is because we really enjoyed the British one. Well, at least, putting me off. Kim's ready to go ahead and watch it without me, which she might end up doing.


As for what I'm reading and watching, right now I'm reading a science fiction book called The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu, which is pretty good so far. Watching? The Detectives? No...Kim and I have been making our way through Friends...and soon I will be making way through Cheers (again) as I just saw, as I opened another tab for Netflix to remind myself of what else I've been watching there, that they have that now. I've also been watching the new Hawaii Five-O and as always, Criminal Minds and CSI: NY, although the latter I haven't been watching as much of lately but I'll return soon.
2 April 2015 at 10:17
nonamedufus said…
I really got sidetracked from my reading this month with TV series and movies. Apart from House of Cards, I have to say my highlight was Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night. So well crafted, great acting and exquisite writing. You can see where The Newsroom came from, for sure. I also just watched a fascinating documentary called The Wrecking Crew about the group of studio musicians who play on most of the 60s and 70s musical hits from the Beach Boys to the Byrds.
2 April 2015 at 14:12
nonamedufus said…
really got sidetracked from my reading this month with TV series and movies. Apart from House of Cards, I have to say my highlight was Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night. So well crafted, great acting and exquisite writing. You can see where The Newsroom came from, for sure. I also just watched a fascinating documentary called The Wrecking Crew about the group of studio musicians who play on most of the 60s and 70s musical hits from the Beach Boys to the Byrds.
2 April 2015 at 14:19
Otto Mann said…
I gotta lotta thots and stories in our 22 blogs…

and I’m mmmore than happy to share

and give to you what God has granted me steward!

Why not?

Aren’t we all in the same family made by God?

Faith, hope, and love -

the greatest of these is love:

jump into faith...

and you'll see with love.

Doesn’t matter if you don’t believe

(what I write);

God believes in you.

God. Bless. You.

Meet me Upstairs where the Son never goes down…



MyLoveLetterToJanetIrene.blogspot.com
29 April 2015 at 14:36
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Polka Dot Door

A long time ago, when I was 22, my first child was born.  That kid grew up on a little Canadian kid's show called Polka Dot Door, produced by the TV Ontario network.  And Dad, more often than not, sat through those shows with his little one. Nine or so years later when a brother, and a year after that when a sister came along number one son was moving on to Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard.  But there was a nice overlap where his siblings picked up where he had left off with Polka Dot Door.  And Dad was right there to welcome them. So you're looking at a Polka Dot Door veteran.  The show began in 1971 and ran to 1993.  I didn't watch the full run but I did get in my fair share.  The formula was pretty simple.  A young male and female host, which seemed to change every week, sang songs, told stories, made crafts and generally did their best stimulate little brains.  The show opened as follows... Imagination Day!  Oh boy!  You know what happens on Imagination D
41 comments
Read more

My Back Pages - November

I know, I know, I know I should have reported in before now. But sometimes real life just gets in the way. I attempted 5 books in November. I say attempted because I slapped a big DNF (did not finish) on Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. I just can't seem to get into this guy. It's the second or third of his I've given up on, Not so the other four, starting with a biography of Stephen Stills called Change Partners. This followed by a hilarious biography of the guy responsible for National Lampoon called A Stupid and Futile Gesture - How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever. I ended the month reading yet another biography, this one of the man behind Rolling Stone magazine,. It was called Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine. A fascinating read. So last month I hit the magic number 50 I'd imagined for myself back in January. If I roll this month into my yearly total I'm at 54 books. And I still hav
Post a Comment
Read more

30 Days of Photos III #4 Sour

Check out Ziva's Inferno for the rest of today's photos.
53 comments
Read more