Okay, I get it...yes, I did what I consider the unpardonable, skipping a book in the series. However, it may have saved me time in the long run, by not going back and reading it. I read the first in Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series, The Bone Collector and loved it...gushed over it, which I can do from time to time. Gave it four stars only because I'm so stingy with five stars...saving them for the best of the best.
The Bone Collector was what a great mystery should be, had all the elements for a best seller and was rated four and five stars by most reviewers. So perhaps I was expecting too much when I began reading this number three in the series. (One best-seller, four-five star review, in my mind, does not automatically makes a second one in that ranking.)
The first word that comes to mind is contrived. The entire book seemed contrived and just made-up as it was written. Bad guy, turns into good guy, in the next chapter. The deep down nature of who a person really is...just changes two chapters ahead because it's convenient to the story. That just goes on and on from beginning to end.
And so many characters...ok, was he with so-and-so or was he with the other guys? Got tired of trying to figure them out but continued on because, because...it's Jeffery Deaver for crying out loud!
Not the worse book I've ever read but it sure wasn't up to Deaver's usual great storyline and character development.
Fought with myself on the number of stars and just looked...three, maybe two (two being 'it was ok') so I opted for two.
It was ok but can tell you, I'm not as anxious to read another Deaver as I was before I read this contrived mess of a book. Deaver needs to redeem himself in my eyes because I know he writes better than this.
Notice any difference between the first four chapters and the remaining 37 chapters of the book? It's well known that the first four were written by Raymond Chandler and the remaining 37, were written by author Robert B. Parker creator of the Spenser series which I've been reading for a few years. Chandler, for those of us who love hard-boiled, noir and the such, needs no introduction. And Parker is known to have loved Chandler's writing and his books. But honestly, I didn't see that much of a difference. Perhaps if I had studied it more closely, I would have but I just read this book like any other Parker book (or Chandler, for that matter.)
The book opened with Marlowe being married to a rich heiress whose father (the benefactor) was still alive. But, of course, Marlowe being Marlowe, he's not changing a whit continuing his detective work even if it is in upscale Poodle Springs.
It's my belief that Chandler had something else in mind for Marlowe when he started the book. Perhaps his wife, Linda, was a cover, they really didn't marry. I don't know, just guessing. I just cannot for the life of me, see Marlowe married unless there is a backstory...he was drugged, rip-roaring drunk in Vegas or something!
I'm not a writer, needless to say, but I've read enough Marlowe to know he's "not the marrying kind." And he knows he's not the "marrying kind" much less marrying a woman who is worth $10 million.
But Parker does a fairly good job, in my mind, of finishing the novel.
By the way, glancing through some reviews before I started the book, I read where a college professor had students read the first four chapters for the express purpose of letting them know that even the more revered writers can have an "off" day or two.
I agree with her. Chandler's writing was trite and not at all the fine-tuned stringing of words and phrases that is considered his trademark. (While I didn't 'study' the writing style, this was quite easy to observe.)
Take these few lines: ...darting tongue, then it was a long sigh, and two people as close as two people can get. B-O-R-I-N-G.
Talking about their marriage, her being a multi-millionaire and Marlowe being a paycheck to paycheck gumshoe, "What are we to do, Phil?” “We (Marlowe says) have to ride it out. It's not always going to be easy. But I am not going to be Mr. Loring.” Linda (Loring Marlowe) says "I'll never change you, will I? (And Marlowe) “Do you really want to make a purring pussycat out of me?" V-E-R-Y B-O-R I-N-G.
With that said, Parker didn't have a great beginning for finishing the novel and Chandler being Chandler, no one dared throw these typewritten papers into the desert wind of Poodle Springs (which was by the way, vaguely disguised as Palm Springs. Not dirty, gritty LA.)
Finishing a series is somewhat important to me unless the series ‘goes south, much too south’ for me, then I just quit.
That hasn't happened with Parker and I’m savoring the thought of reading the last couple of books written by Chandler. One, I think, has the prequel to the Linda Loring story, so maybe when I read that, Poodle Springs and their marriage will make more sense. I certainly hope so.
This book has been on my shelf for years and now I wish it would have remained there for another couple of years.
Well, who am I to pass up a free Kindle read? Mostly, if not all, softball questions and the answers which may or may not have been prepared. Who knows?
Not much new here and given an opportunity as David Blum was, I would sit down with the POTUS, too! Not sure that I would have asked about the same things that Blum asked. I would have gotten a bit more personal, such as what do you like to read? Do you keep track of what you read?
All this was a rehash (Q&A) but gives the flaming Republicans another forum to bash the President of the United States. It really doesn't matter what the bashing is about...it's about anything and everything and has been since 2008. (I still contend they don't like the color of his skin although my Republican friends say "no, that's not it." I know my friends very well, and that's it regardless of what they say. But cannot say the same about any Republicans reading this.)
Noticed on Amazon though, as of right now, there re 561 reviews...some long, some short. Of the 561, 242 gave it one star and there are some (a lot of) rants thrown in. 198 gave it five stars...78 with four stars. The remaining ones, two to three stars.
When I read Amazon reviews (mostly on political books) mostly there are rants on something and I always check to see if they've reviewed any other books. Looked on one review of one-star rant and the last thing reviewed was for the stock of some rifle...no surprise there. Needless to say that I hold very little credibility in Amazon reviews of just about everything.
Yes, I supported and worked for OFA in both campaigns but still, not much new here and wouldn't have bought it. (Well, except maybe to offset an Amazon reviewer who said she got it and read it to write review, to put in her two cents in about a president who was not born in the United States of America anyway.)
Get my drift here? Want to borrow it, let me know...or it's still free on download, now. But same, same if you watch the news. (BTW, unemployment is down again to 7.4% which tells me things ARE getting better.)
I'm not wasting my time. Far too many good books out there to read. If I want sci-fi, there's plenty to read.
Might read the last few chapters before I turn in to library though, just because. Glad I borrowed it...I would be doubly pissed mad had I bought it.
I'm just amazed at the ability of James Lee Burke to create characters who have such depth as Ivy Paret the ex-con who served his time in Angola (Louisiana) and is trying to begin a new life far away from his home town. All of Burke's guys, his characters, think about right and wrong; about trying to find their way in a complicated world and how to make the best of everything they're dealt. Sometimes bad luck just happens, life happens and rising above it all takes perseverance, sometimes more than people have, unfortunately.
I was a bit concerned because most of Burke's books which I've read have been in the lushness of southern Louisiana and south Texas and I loved the his description of the southern part of the U. S.
Burke's second home is in Missoula, Montana, and is the site of this stand-alone.
Silly me, I was concerned that Burke couldn't include his lovely landscape description...it's Montana, for crying out loud. (I admit, I know nothing about Montana never having been there.)
However, there's just no way that Burke can leave out his lyrical landscape descriptions. He could probably describe the North Pole in such a way that I would want to be there and I hate cold.
I just came across this quote which speaks for itself. But I immediately thought of Burke and his finely drawn and unique characters and the burden they carry including one of my favorites, Burke's Dave Robicheaux.
"In the N.Y. Times Book Review for Feb. 2, 2012, critic Olen Steinhauer was writing about a John D. MacDonald contemporary, Elmore Leonard, but what he had to say about the best crime writers, that: “Our best crime writers are sometimes our most astute social novelists, concerned as much with our country’s ills as they are with sensational homicides.”
I certainly put James Lee Burke in that category which is, in my mind, a very small club of writers.
**********
Daniel brought me back to this review and when glancing through it, I could not remember the plot. The book was five stars, so I should have written a bit about this five star stand alone featuring Iry Paret.
Iry's a musician from Louisiana, just served two years in Angola and needs to start a new life. A friend, Buddy Riordan, a fellow he met in prison and was released earlier, invited Iry to Montana where his father owns a farm and Iry can begin again. His parole officer is watching to see if Iry can stay afloat on this side of the law. Iry knows that anything close to illegal can put him in handcuffs and back to Angola; manslaughter and murder are against the law in Montana, just like in Louisiana.
Unfortunately that cloud hanging over Iry's head follows him to Montana. Without trying, Iry is back walking the line between turning a blind eye to some troublemakers and the trouble they cause to Riordan's family or getting even and protecting his new family.
Always a presence, the finishing of a song he's started and heading back to Angola. Iry is walking a tightrope hoping he doesn't fall.
Great character, Iry, and don't know if I'll see him again, but would enjoy a second book. Of course, I admit, I'm easy when it comes to Burke...I'll read anything he's written.
World War Two: A Short History calls for a short review.If you don't know world geography both before 1938 and after 1945, save yourself time and print out world maps to refer to in order to save time.
Some interesting information I had never read before
U. S. General Mark W. Clark "...decided his name should be in lights as the take of Rome, and he even arrested British officers who broke his ban on their also entering the city.
Jews remaining who had not been "pushed out" of western Europe and considered a "bad influence" faced "endless humiliations both petty and major, such as the prohibition if birdseed for pet birds or on parcels from abroad, but they could not exactly be murdered." Then, that is.
Churchill "...warned the world that if the Nazis won, there would be a great darkness of perverted science." "Orwell (George) made the same point when he said that the Hilterian vision of the future was just of 250,000,000 blond people reproducing themselves.
All in all, a great overall history of how every country in the world was affected by this "perfect storm" of a war; some, of course, more than others but the world afterward was a different place with major shifts in power.
Just know your world geography well, since it included only three maps and at least ten would have helped to make this an "afternoon read" as one reviewer stated.
H&G is book number two in the trilogy of the Charlie Hardie series by Duane Swierczynski who I had never heard of until recently. DS is quite an interesting guy...comic book creator, writer for Marvel comics and magazine editor among other things. My GR friends "harped" (in a good way) that I must read him so I did and book one, just blew me away. Fast reading and fast paced, and a solid four stars teetering towards five. I'm chintzy with five stars, ask my good friend Jackson Burnett GR author and reviewer who wrote The Past Never Ends...which was great, by the way. (Read it, you'll like it!) Jackson knows I'm chintzy with the magical five.
This one, book number two, I didn't like so much. It was ok but wasn't one of those books which I love...hating to put it down and hurrying to pick it back up to continue reading. That's one reason it took more than two days to finish.
Three-quarters of the book was set in a strange ass prison. Not your 'run of the mill' kindof prison. Never had any personal prison experience but prison life here just seemed repetitious and a bit boring. (Guess it is that...but who wants to hear the same, same for a book?)
Maybe not boring for Charlie Hardie, I guess, but there seemed to be some sci-fi and/or fantasy elements but not sure because I don't read much of either genre. It just didn't seem to be much of a mystery and/or thriller to me...and noir, not much of that either in my mind. (Couldn't say the same for the first in the series, Fun & Games. Noir and mystery, for sure.)
Glad it's finished finally, so I can get to the last one in the trilogy which will I will begin shortly. Sure hope it winds up with a bang...time invested and such. If not, so be it. I'm not embarrassed to put books down any longer. Life's too short to read a book I'm not enjoying. My new (old) mantra.
My "go-to" place for everything Travis McGee is D.R. Martin's blog Me and Travis McGee. When I discovered D.R.'s site, I had read the entire 21 book series twice so I wasn't (and didn't) worry about spoilers. But going through some of D.R.'s entries (a synopsis of each book) and related comments, I noticed that readers had a 'takeaway' from the books that I had never thought of and in all sincerity, rather shocked and frankly annoyed me.
There were some comments about Travis being a misogynist and had no respect for women. In fact, some even said he treated them (my words) as throw-a-ways, simply using them for his own gratification and pleasure...using them as play-toys. Who and what are THEY, THOSE people talking about?
With that said, I decided that I would take note of just how Travis felt about women and boy did I hit on a gold mine in The Quick Red Fox for insight, in Travis' own words, his feelings about women.
Taking a look, here are some direct quotes:
Travis says to actress Miss Dean “Affection, understanding, need and respect. You can be sarcastic about that too, if you want. Bed is the simplest thing two people can do. If it goes with a lot of other things, it can be important, and if it goes with nothing else, it isn’t worth the time it takes.”
Leaving Travis said, “Love you, I said. It doesn’t cost a thing. Not when you do.” Travis sounds in love.
Travis and D... talking: “Don’t do that to yourself, D... You are implausibility…astoundingly, unforgettably great. And I don’t mean just in a…”
D...replies: I know. It isn't me, and it isn't you. Let’s not talk about it. It’s the total of us, the crazy total. I’m not going to talk about it or think of what comes after. Okay? Okay, darling?’
No talk. No analysis.”
And later: “We are kind of beautiful,” she said. It’s enough to know that, I guess. Alone I’m just …sort of efficient and severe and a little heavy-handed. Defensive. Alone you’re just sort of a rough, wry opportunist, a little bit cold and shrewd and watchful. Cruel, maybe. You and your sybarite boat and your damned beach girls. But we add up to beautiful in some crazy way. For now.”
“For now, D…?” replies Travis (Trav in love?)
Obviously a woman's body is just that, hers to love and admire without categorization into the "perfectly sized" woman. (Whatever THAT is!) Travis says: ”In the bathroom, in fading light of day, her body bore the halter marks of the long sunny ride, her broad flat breasts pale, responsive to soapy ablutions cooperatively offered.”
Travis thinks “…and I wondered if, when his (referring to a book character) physical resources began to flag he would stimulate himself by corrupting her. A woman to him would be something owned, to use as he wished.”
Just to be fair, I did find one comment which surprised me and seemed to me, to objectify women; Travis said “The Swedes grow some of the finest specimens of our times.” But Travis can be forgiven by me, out of 160 pages written in 1964, he was still far beyond some men I know today and this is almost 50 years later.
Also, I noted a few comments and words of introspection by Travis which I particularly enjoyed and I've included them:
“I was not a very earnest nor constructive fellow.”
"And I have locked myself into this precarious role of the clown-knight in the tomato-can armor, flailing away at indifferent beats with my tinfoil sword. A foible of the knight, even the comic one, is the cherishing of women, and perhaps even my brand of cherishing is quaint in this time and place.”
"I get this crazy feeling. Every once in a while I get it. I get the feeling that this is the last time in history when the offbeats like me will have a chance to live free in the nooks and crannies of the huge and rigid structure of an increasingly codified society. Fifty years from now I would be hunted down in the street. They would drill little holes in my skull and make me sensible and reliable and adjusted.
“Violence is the stepchild of desperation.”
I've said my peace and offered support of my position that Travis McGee is not a misogynist. He treats women with respect and equality which was, in my mind, was unheard of in the '60's. If you disagree, watch Mad Men on TV, or offer your own support of your position.
Enough said. Oh, the book. The book was great, a bit slim on the storyline, but who cares? It's Travis McGee, so says me and Travis is and always will be my guy!
 - John D. MacDonald)
4.5 Stars Rounded up to FiveHarry Roolaart, my Goodreads friend Harry, said Jo Nesbo is a must read for me and he was right. However, I didn't enjoy Harry Hole (pronounced, per Harry R. as Hoo-leh) near as much as "our Harry." But then, I'm not sure anyone loves and enjoys Nesbo's writing and his character Harry Hole, as much as "our Harry." (Harry Roolaart is from the Netherlands and he IS cosmopolitan. I'm not. I'm southern.)
Yes, Harry, yes, I enjoyed this book and enjoyed it a lot. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it more than the first one I read, The Redbreast.
With that said, "our Harry" wrote an excellent review and I agreed with all he said excepting these few sentences:
But perhaps the most compelling reason why Harry Hole has such a following is Nesbo's devastating characterization of what exactly comprises a flawed hero. Upon reflection, American hard-boiled writers don't come close to accomplishing the same. This is not too dissimilar to the way Nesbo sees himself. (My boldface.)
Many American readers may disagree with that comment. I do. The first "flawed hero" who comes to my mind is Dave Robicheaux although as readers, we know he is married and less a loner than Harry Hole; another comes to mind, Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch.
I'm sure others have their own suggested "flawed heroes" who were created by American authors and may disagree with Harry's statement.
Other than that, please take a look at Harry's review...it's thoughtful and articulate and you can read the admiration Harry has for Jo Nesbo and his character, Harry Hole. Harry's review of The Redeemer is here.
My one complaint, and it's purely my personal problem, is the Norwegian names. They drive me crazy and yes, I know they can't be Tom, Dick and (oops, sorry, Harry) Harry. But from the names in Nesbo's books, I can't tell if the person introduced is a man or woman. So I'm reading along, and in my mind it's "he this" and "he that" then, come to find out, it's a woman! Crap...have to go back and re-read it with a a woman in mind.
Take a look at these names and see if YOU can absolutely, positively tell if they are a man or a woman. And no, I don't have the answer.
(I'm not by myself either on this. Reading some reviews of The Redbreast some time ago, a fellow was complaining about the names as well and asked "what's with those tiny zeros above some letters? And the slash through the "o's"...what's with that?" Poor guy has a point...what's with that? Damned if I know.)
Here we go....Jørgen Juve (George Juvie?); Ole Solskjær (Helloooo and one strange letter(s) of the alphabet combining a&e? huh?); Tore André Flo (feminine last name, I think); Stine Bredal Oftedal (what?); Pål Grotnes (Pal with tiny "o's" above the "a" and last name Grotnies?); Jan Åge Fjørtoft (sounds feminine to me); Odd Iversen (sounds odd to me); Marit Malm Frafjord (a woman?); Olav Nilsen (clueless); Ase Birkrem (how to pronounce that, ass?); Øyvind Leonhardsen (huh?)...get my drift?
No. Up front, no, I am not cosmopolitan needless to say. But I'm trying. Never mind, I've given up already. I speak southern. But will read another Nesbo. Strange names and all...it was a fantastic book.
Thanks, Ed...thanks, Harry.
 - Jo Nesbo)
Aptly named Fun & Games, I loved this book because it was just that, fun and games FAST times two. It was also a Shamus winner. Now that should catch some eyes for those of us book nerds who follow such award nominations and winners. It wasn't high octane either, it was jet fueled and at times I thought the book was going to jettison out of my hands it went so fast.
Haven't had this much fun reading since Laurence Shames and Joey's move from New York City to Key West to romp in the sun and surf. And yes, to live. Yeah, just like most Florida residents these days. Read all of Shames' books non-stop a few years ago and loved each and every one because...because they had humor and mystery. Magical words for me.
As my friends know, I love humor and humor with a good mystery is a double bonus. So that is what I got with this author, Duane Swierczynski, who is now a new author on my list of favorites. An aside, Duane and his brother Gregg were named after The Allman Brothers. Sense of humor as a family trait, perhaps.
Duane is a writer of comic books. Hummm, comic books; I thought that was interesting. He's from Philadelphia and his bio indicates this is one multi-talented guy, maybe the most talented guy I never heard of until now. Besides the Shamus Award, his books have been nominated for the Edgar and Anthony Awards.
Let me think now who said I've got to read this book, this writer; it was Col, I think, or Jim Thane, or Harry, Shawn or Viccy or Ed, Pete, or Leon. All these guys know my love of fun in reading mysteries. So it was one or maybe all and I'm giving them all credit for sending DS my way, and my new favorite guy, a dark horse, Charlie Hardie.
In Fun & Games there's a slice of noir and hard-boiled threaded throughout, not overwhelming but enough to satisfy me. That noir really goes a long way with me, too, and Charlie's story set in LA atmosphere helps a bit. Oh, fun, too, in that it's set in what...a 24-hour period...if not, not much more than 24.
Can't wait to dig into the second of this trilogy of ex-cop contract cop? turned couch potato house-sitter Charlie Hardie. He's to be trusted (he's an ex-cop remember?) and will fly to sit, waiting only for the next Jim Beam bottle with a comfortable couch and a big screen plasma TV, thank you very much.
It was JB wasn't it? Well, with Charlie, any bourbon in the cabinet will do.
One friend said he read it one sitting and sure wish I could have done that. I wanted to after the first chapter, believe me.
Charlie Hardie, a fun fellow who trouble follows. I'm coming, Charlie, I'm coming back soon! We're not finished yet, Charlie, not quite yet! Wait for me, Charlieeee. I'll be right back.
Happy 125th Birthday Hotel Ponce de Leon HotelBuilt by Henry Flagler, co-founder of Standard Oil Company, the hotel was opened in 1888 with Louis Comfort Tiffany as the hotel's decorator, Thomas Edison's most ingenious device of direct current dynamos providing electricity, therefore lights, and running water throughout the massive structure.
The elegant hotel was decorated with imported marble, carved wood, monumental sized vases and furniture, paintings in ornate frames, oriental carpets and tiled floors throughout.
Cover of El Escribano -2012
Normally I wouldn't enter this publication from The St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS)but this yearly edition is special in that it's devoted entirely to the Henry Flagler, the hotel with one article about Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church built by Flagler. Flagler, his first wife, Mary Harkness, daughter, Jennie Louise and her infant, are in a mausoleum in the church along with Flagler, of course. He died in Palm Beach but he wanted to be buried in St. Augustine where he began his successful second career in developing Florida.
The yearly publication El Escribano began distribution as a newsletter for members of the society and this year it is 58 years old. For more information on the SAHS, the link is below.
With the 125th year celebrating the final construction and opening of the grandest hotel in the south, this edition has four articles devoted to the hotel and one article on Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The articles are as follows: Opening Season for the Hotel Ponce de Leon; Fine Dining in St. Augustine; Souvenirs of the Ponce de Leon Hotel; and Flagler-Era Stage Entertainments.
Since I collect St. Augustine memorabilia, including postcards dating from the 1900 to 1930's and beyond, I thought I would include a picture of my "hotel fan" as described below. A picture does not do it justice; it's so bright and colorful and I love it. It's pretty rare, too, another reason it's my favorite piece. And also, it was in the book.
My paper fan (opens to 25" X 13 1/2") and left to right, alligator, San Marco Hotel (wooden structure burned in 1897), Hotel Ponce de Leon, Casa Monica (renamed Cordova), Alcazar and Castillo de San Marcos
While taking these pictures yesterday, I picked up a brochure with some interesting facts:
Artistic oak woodwork by Pottier and Stymus of New York
Architectural Terra Cotta by Perth Amboy, Terra Cotta Company
Hydraulic elevators Otis Elevators (powered by turbine water-wheel)
4,100 light bulbs
300-400 workmen on site
Tanks in each of the towers (four, I think, no mention) held 8,000 gallons of water
79 Windows by Tiffany Glass Company
300 Bedrooms
500 Bottles of imported French wines in Wine Room
145,000 Terra cotta roofing tile
150' X 53' Dining Room
1,000 Windows
300 bedrooms and lastly,
Four U. S. presidents stayed at the Ponce: Grover Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding and William McKinley, as governor of Ohio and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Alcazar Hotel (Owned by City of St. Augustine,where I worked), Basilica (Cathedral) of Diocese of St. Augustine (where I never worked) and to the far right, old Exchange Bank Building (24 Cathedral Place the tallest building in the city and the county, I'm pretty sure and where I worked on the sixth floor for years) and the original poured concrete (with coquina) fence with spiked balls surrounding the hotel
Check back and I'll have added more captions to the pictures.
For more information go to The St. Augustine Historical Society
Hope you enjoyed your short tour around St. Augustine, founded in 1565 and the Oldest City in the United States. By the way, the Hotel Ponce de Leon, is now Flagler College.
St. Augustine, I'm proud to say is my native city. It's so beautiful founded by the Spainish and still has that European flavor and ambiance. At times I must stop and look around and admire how beautiful a city we live in.
Happy 125th Birthday Hotel Ponce de Leon HotelBuilt by Henry Flagler, co-founder of Standard Oil Company, the hotel was opened in 1888 with Louis Comfort Tiffany as the hotel's decorator, Thomas Edison's most ingenious device of direct current dynamos providing electricity, therefore lights, and running water throughout the massive structure.
The elegant hotel was decorated with imported marble, carved wood, monumental sized vases and furniture, paintings in ornate frames, oriental carpets and tiled floors throughout.
Cover of El Escribano -2012
Normally I wouldn't enter this publication from The St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS)but this yearly edition is special in that it's devoted entirely to the Henry Flagler, the hotel with one article about Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church built by Flagler. Flagler, his first wife, Mary Harkness, daughter, Jennie Louise and her infant, are in a mausoleum in the church along with Flagler, of course. He died in Palm Beach but he wanted to be buried in St. Augustine where he began his successful second career in developing Florida.
The yearly publication El Escribano began distribution as a newsletter for members of the society and this year it is 58 years old. For more information on the SAHS, the link is below.
With the 125th year celebrating the final construction and opening of the grandest hotel in the south, this edition has four articles devoted to the hotel and one article on Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The articles are as follows: Opening Season for the Hotel Ponce de Leon; Fine Dining in St. Augustine; Souvenirs of the Ponce de Leon Hotel; and Flagler-Era Stage Entertainments.
Since I collect St. Augustine memorabilia, including postcards dating from the 1900 to 1930's and beyond, I thought I would include a picture of my "hotel fan" as described below. A picture does not do it justice; it's so bright and colorful and I love it. It's pretty rare, too, another reason it's my favorite piece. And also, it was in the book.
My paper fan (opens to 25" X 13 1/2") and left to right, alligator, San Marco Hotel (wooden structure burned in 1897), Hotel Ponce de Leon, Casa Monica (renamed Cordova), Alcazar and Castillo de San Marcos
While taking these pictures yesterday, I picked up a brochure with some interesting facts:
Artistic oak woodwork by Pottier and Stymus of New York
Architectural Terra Cotta by Perth Amboy, Terra Cotta Company
Hydraulic elevators Otis Elevators (powered by turbine water-wheel)
4,100 light bulbs
300-400 workmen on site
Tanks in each of the towers (four, I think, no mention) held 8,000 gallons of water
79 Windows by Tiffany Glass Company
300 Bedrooms
500 Bottles of imported French wines in Wine Room
145,000 Terra cotta roofing tile
150' X 53' Dining Room
1,000 Windows
300 bedrooms and lastly,
Four U. S. presidents stayed at the Ponce: Grover Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding and William McKinley, as governor of Ohio and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Alcazar Hotel (Owned by City of St. Augustine,where I worked), Basilica (Cathedral) of Diocese of St. Augustine (where I never worked) and to the far right, old Exchange Bank Building (24 Cathedral Place the tallest building in the city and the county, I'm pretty sure and where I worked on the sixth floor for years) and the original poured concrete (with coquina) fence with spiked balls surrounding the hotel
Check back and I'll have added more captions to the pictures.
For more information go to The St. Augustine Historical Society
Hope you enjoyed your short tour around St. Augustine, founded in 1565 and the Oldest City in the United States. By the way, the Hotel Ponce de Leon, is now Flagler College.
St. Augustine, I'm proud to say is my native city. It's so beautiful founded by the Spainish and still has that European flavor and ambiance. At times I must stop and look around and admire how beautiful a city we live in.
WOW WOW and WOWAndrew Vachss fan (or not) pick this up and begin reading.
All Eddie wants to be is a respected getaway man. It's easy to root for this anti-hero.
And the ending, well,
After reading two books about Zora Neale Hurston I discovered that she was a member of the Works Projects Administration or earlier, the Works Progress Adminstrtion renamed in 1939 the Works Projects Administration. (From Wiki: the Work Projects Administration, WPA was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unemployed people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects,[1] including the construction of public buildings and roads. In much smaller but more famous projects the WPA employed musicians, artists, writers, actors and directors in large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects.)
Curious about the project and slavery in especially Florida, I found this book and was happily surprised when the pages were actually typewritten verbal accounts from the writers who interviewed men and women at the time who previously were slaves.
There were so many surprises for me and reading through the accounts of 23 previous slaves, it occurred to me that many of the events about slavery which was found in Gone With the Wind, were fairly accurate.
Many of the old slaves, some of who were in their 90's and some even more than 100 years old, had similar remembrances in what they ate, how they cooked, what they wore, and how they were treated with regard to family ties, and particularly how they were punished.
The names were of interest to me also since as we know in all probability, the family, first or last names, were not known. (Reading a bit about black genealogy, it's called "hitting the wall" when research comes up with nothing, up to the time their ancestors landed on the shores of America in slave trading boats. The names that intrigued me were Florida Clayton, Norfork Virginia and Mama Duck who were all interviewed. Norfork, she said, changed her name when she became an adult.
My favorite interview was with Arnold Gragston who visited a relative who was affiliated with Robert Hugerford College, Eatonville, FL.
"Cover of the book Slave Narratives Here are some interesting excerpts from Gragston. He was in the minority knowing when he was born which was Christmas morning and said he was a grown man "when I finally got my freedom." "Before I got it, though, I helped a lot of others get theirs. Lawd only knows how many; might have been as much as two-three hundred."
He was born into slavery and belonged, he said to "Mr. Jack Tabb in Mason County, just across the river in Kentucky." Without looking on a map the Ohio River separates Kentucky and Ohio with Ohio being a free-state at the time therefore freedom by crossing a river.
What Gragston did as a slave himself, was to be a connection in the underground railroad. When the first slave was brought to him (although he was "owned by Tabb") he took just one pretty young woman over at night to a light set up on the other side of the shore. Then as time went on, he made more trips in just one night with up to 12 slaves seeking freedom.
Spoken in his own words as dictated to that WPA writer, Gragston's story is fascinating.
"What did my passengers look like? I can't tell you any more about it than you can, and you wasn't there." He went on to say..."the only way I knew who they were was to ask them; "What you say?" and they would answer, "Menare." I don't know what that word meant---it came from the Bible. I only know that that was the password I used, and all of them that I took over told it to me before I took them."
According to Gragston's story, Tabb seemed to have an inkling of what he did at night but looked the other way because apparently he did not feel strongly about slavery and in fact, let his neighbors know his feelings. In return they would not speak to Tabb for days and weeks at a time.
Another neighbor of Tabb, John Fee, made his anti-slavery feelings be known. Gragston said that Fee stated "...that God didn't intend for some men to be free and some men be in slavery." And "mostly they (Fee's neighbors) hated the sight of John Fee."
Fascinating stories about slavery coming directly from the mouths of the men and women who lived through the period and remembered (most of them) when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
I haven't enjoyed reading a book this much in a long time. It was like reading a diary and was so moving to me. My only regret is that there weren't any Hurston's interviews. Oh, my, guess I'll have to get the same book for Georgia, the reason I got Florida is quite obvious, being a native. Fascinating, just fascinating; even amazing, therefore the five stars.
Please Note: The names of places and excerpts taken from the book were written exactly as they came from the book.
After reading two books about Zora Neale Hurston I discovered that she was a member of the Works Projects Administration or earlier, the Works Progress Adminstrtion renamed in 1939 the Works Projects Administration. (From Wiki: the Work Projects Administration, WPA was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unemployed people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects,[1] including the construction of public buildings and roads. In much smaller but more famous projects the WPA employed musicians, artists, writers, actors and directors in large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects.)
Curious about the project and slavery in especially Florida, I found this book and was happily surprised when the pages were actually typewritten verbal accounts from the writers who interviewed men and women at the time who previously were slaves.
There were so many surprises for me and reading through the accounts of 23 previous slaves, it occurred to me that many of the events about slavery which was found in Gone With the Wind, were fairly accurate.
Many of the old slaves, some of who were in their 90's and some even more than 100 years old, had similar remembrances in what they ate, how they cooked, what they wore, and how they were treated with regard to family ties, and particularly how they were punished.
The names were of interest to me also since as we know in all probability, the family, first or last names, were not known. (Reading a bit about black genealogy, it's called "hitting the wall" when research comes up with nothing, up to the time their ancestors landed on the shores of America in slave trading boats. The names that intrigued me were Florida Clayton, Norfork Virginia and Mama Duck who were all interviewed. Norfork, she said, changed her name when she became an adult.
My favorite interview was with Arnold Gragston who visited a relative who was affiliated with Robert Hugerford College, Eatonville, FL.
"Cover of the book Slave Narratives Here are some interesting excerpts from Gragston. He was in the minority knowing when he was born which was Christmas morning and said he was a grown man "when I finally got my freedom." "Before I got it, though, I helped a lot of others get theirs. Lawd only knows how many; might have been as much as two-three hundred."
He was born into slavery and belonged, he said to "Mr. Jack Tabb in Mason County, just across the river in Kentucky." Without looking on a map the Ohio River separates Kentucky and Ohio with Ohio being a free-state at the time therefore freedom by crossing a river.
What Gragston did as a slave himself, was to be a connection in the underground railroad. When the first slave was brought to him (although he was "owned by Tabb") he took just one pretty young woman over at night to a light set up on the other side of the shore. Then as time went on, he made more trips in just one night with up to 12 slaves seeking freedom.
Spoken in his own words as dictated to that WPA writer, Gragston's story is fascinating.
"What did my passengers look like? I can't tell you any more about it than you can, and you wasn't there." He went on to say..."the only way I knew who they were was to ask them; "What you say?" and they would answer, "Menare." I don't know what that word meant---it came from the Bible. I only know that that was the password I used, and all of them that I took over told it to me before I took them."
According to Gragston's story, Tabb seemed to have an inkling of what he did at night but looked the other way because apparently he did not feel strongly about slavery and in fact, let his neighbors know his feelings. In return they would not speak to Tabb for days and weeks at a time.
Another neighbor of Tabb, John Fee, made his anti-slavery feelings be known. Gragston said that Fee stated "...that God didn't intend for some men to be free and some men be in slavery." And "mostly they (Fee's neighbors) hated the sight of John Fee."
Fascinating stories about slavery coming directly from the mouths of the men and women who lived through the period and remembered (most of them) when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
I haven't enjoyed reading a book this much in a long time. It was like reading a diary and was so moving to me. My only regret is that there weren't any Hurston's interviews. Oh, my, guess I'll have to get the same book for Georgia, the reason I got Florida is quite obvious, being a native. Fascinating, just fascinating; even amazing, therefore the five stars.
Please Note: The names of places and excerpts taken from the book were written exactly as they came from the book.
BEWARE...READ BOOK COVERBEWARE...BOOK COVER MAY BE DECEIVING
BEWARE...BOOK TITLE GIVES A STRONG HINT OF WHAT'S INSIDE
BEWARE...BOOK WRITTEN BY LAWRENCE BLOCK NOT JILL EMERSON
Preface
Okey dokey, folks. I own up to the fact that I am not an authority on pornographic literature; however I'm taking a stab at this one, this review. So proceed with caution. I am, (proceeding with caution), I promise.
Lawrence Block is one of my favorite authors and it will take the rest of my lifetime to read everything he’s written. I was introduced to Block with the Matthew Scudder series where I'm up to #5 out of 17 books.
Loving pulp like I do, the cover of this book caught my eye at the library because it's "pulpy" looking, if that's a word. Then I noticed it was written by LB.-----Sold!
Agreed? Anyone who knows pulp would think this as pulp. Honest mistake which I could make again.
Of course, I didn't bother to check any other reviews because I'm so familiar with LB, no need to and I rarely look at other reviews when I've chosen a book to read.
LB is a master, in my opinion at storylines, dialogue and the development of characters. I do love his writing and give him mostly four stars. (I've been told that I am a tough reviewer with handing out stars and yes, I admit to that.)
By the way, Block has been writing since what...1958. Good lord, he's 74 years old and this book was published in 2011. Also, he's written under a multitude of pen names since his first book was published in '58.
Review
Reading the first 20 pages or so where there was sex, fairly explicit sex in my opinion, I'm thinking to myself, where's this heading? Where's the storyline?
Coming close to 100 pages, I said to myself, if a storyline doesn't appear, I'm closing the book. Got to page 100 and it occurred to me then to check Goodreads and see what other readers say and think.
To my surprise my friend, Jeff Keeten had read the book so I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that his bookshelf is a bit similar to mine in that he loves mysteries, too. (He likes every genre.) And Jeff writes remarkable, spot-on reviews. Here's Jeff's review: Getting Off.
Jeff gave the book 3.5 stars and he rounded it up to four stars. Reading his review, which of course was excellent, I decided it was worthwhile to finish the book and that there was indeed a story here.
And yes, there is one but the storyline is setup with all the groundwork at the beginning of the book. With me, it did not seem clear (the plot) until somewhere in the middle. Up to that point, there are nicely written descriptions of sex positions, sex toys, sex what to wear, sex atmosphere, manipulation for having sex...am I missing anything here to describe what entails sexual experiences? If so, just let you imagination take over to wander and wander...you will not be off course, I promise, anywhere your mind wanders.
Sweet 74 Year Old Lawrence Block...who would guess he can write great erotic porn?
The protagonist who starts with the name Kit, is one hot and bothered woman whose full name is Katherine Anne Tolliver. About her high school diploma, she says some idiot misspelled it, leaving the "E" off her middle name. The guy lucked out. Apparently she didn't know his name otherwise she would have seduced him then killed him. That Kit. She’s something else. She sure can hold a grudge mostly with knives.
Nice stilleto. Folds neatly under mattress not to be seen during sex
Sometimes Jeff and I are in total agreement, sometimes not and neither of us care about the other when it comes to rating. But I'm with Jeff on this one. It was better than three, but not quite a four, so I'm rounding up, too.
The ending...well, let me just say that it ends with a bang.
So in my mind, the remaining question is whether this is soft or hard porn. My guess is that it's somewhere in between and to find out definitively, you'll have to read the book. But what a hot ride you'll have. I’ll wait for your review.
And if you haven't had enough of Kit, she's got five more old positions books in her playtoy bag.
*****************
Here's his blog and he sends it out every Wed but he just went on vacation so it will be later this summer. (WHAT! A vacation! Well, after 50 years of writing, more than one book a year sometimes, guess he's entitled.)
There's a lot of info about him though and his pen names and such. He's very accessible to his fans/readers, answering their questions personally, I believe. Certainly sounds like it. LB Blog
Author, friend, fellow reader and reviewer Jim Thane who wrote No Place to Die read and reviewed LB (aka Jill Emerson) Getting Off. Another excellent review and Jim wrote on his blog May 10, 2011, about the relationship of LB and Donald Westlake. Excellent, just excellent. Two Masters in Their Formative Years. It was fun to real about their early relationship and the books they wrote together.
 - Lawrence Block, Jill Emerson)