SPEAKING OF BOOKS, May 2009 To view August 08 to April 09 click here To view June 09 (Swan Song) click here Cyber Book Club hosted by Glenda Burns Minniece
August 08 to June 2009
Favorite Authors
Sometimes an author is so readable that we read as many of his/her works as we can. Here’s my list. Would like to know who you love to read.
Mystery / Spy -
This is my favorite genre. The love for mysteries undoubtedly started with the Nancy Drew stories my sister and I collected and read when we were children. Or maybe I just like it because these stories are a form of puzzle, something that must be solved. Authors that I’ve loved and read extensively are Rex Stout, Raymond Chandler, Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers, Ellis Peters, Elmore Leonard, Sue Grafton, Josephine Tey, and - well, as I said, this is my favorite genre, so there are lots more. Tops on my list of mystery authors are:
- Tony Hillerman - He's my favorite! His most popular mysteries are set on the Navajo Indian Reservation with Tribal Policemen Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee as his detectives. The Blessing Way was his first (1970) of the Leaphorn-Chee mystery series, with The Shape Sifter being his eighteenth and last (2006). Hillerman went to his reqard this past October (2008)
- Margaret Frazer – The Dame Frevisse mysteries feature a nun in 15th century England. She also writes a series about a medieval actor named Joliffe.
- H. R. F. Keating – He’s an Englishman who set his delightful detective stories in Bombay, India with Inspector Ghote as his detective. He has also written Agatha Christie: First Lady of Crime, a biography of the most famous mystery writer.
- Colin Dexter – From 1954 to 1966 he was a teacher but had to quit because of deafness. Fortunately for him and for us, he had a gift for writing. Inspector Morse is his creation. Last Bus to Woodstock was his first and The Remorseful Day was his last prior to his death.
- Lillian Jackson Braun – The Cat Who . . . mysteries, while very light reading, are fun, although I prefer the first few of the series. These books feature Qwilleran, a newspaper man who reshapes his life after losing everything because of a drinking problem. He adopts, or is adopted by, a cat that seems to have a sixth sense.
- John Le Carre – Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy; The Honorable Schoolboy, and Smiley’s People compile the George Smiley trilogy although Smiley was first introduced in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Le Carre has a large body of work.
Fiction:
If it’s not a mystery, I generally prefer histories and biographies, although I do read fiction, of course. Like me, you’ve probably read Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Graham Greene, Joseph Conrad, Bernard Cornwell, James Michener, Chaim Potok, Pearl Buck, etc. But the three authors below are my personal favorites, and I’ve tried to read everything of theirs:
w Mark Twain – Among his many novels, I may be partial to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I also had a collection of his essays, lost, alas, in a flood. I have a small book of his pithy quotes. One example: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
w W. Somerset Maugham – Maugham was a master of the short story (perhaps the most famous being Rain) as well as of the novel (e.g., Of Human Bondage, Cakes and Ale). Here’s a quote of his that I love: “At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.”
w Amy Tan – She drew on the experiences of her family for The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God’s Wife, and The Bone Setter’s Daughter. Can you tell that, like Larry and Kathy Bass, I like quotes? Here’s one of hers: “If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.”
Humor:
w Leon Hale – Sure, a lot of us read his column in the Houston Chronicle or his on-line blog. Several books are compilations of his articles, and I also loved Supper Time which contains his favorite down-home recipes.
w Patrick McManus – Karla’s husband, Ed, turned me on to this very funny author about outdoorsy activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. My belly-laughs have been the source of some annoyed looks from John, which of course only make me laugh more. Real Ponies Don’t Go Oink and They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They? are just two of the five I’ve read so far.
w P. J. O’Rourke – All the Trouble in the World and Age and Guile and others. He was scheduled to come to Brazos Bookstore in October 2001, but after 9/11 . . .
w James Herriott – This working British veterinarian wrote All Creatures Great and Small which was a huge success worldwide, and he went on to write many books, including those that finished out the hymn: All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All. I recently read a biography about him: The Real James Herriott: A Memoir of My Father by Jim Wight.
w Dave Barry – A prolific author! Dave Barry’s Money Secrets might be useful (or not) for these worrisome times.
w Bill Bryson was mentioned in the November blog. You outdoorsmen would enjoy A Walk in the Woods. Linguists would enjoy The Mother Tongue and Made in America.
I'd like to add a P.S. to the November issue in which I wrote about audio books. I've just finished "Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent" by Fred Burton. Excellent. If you're interested in learning more about the perilous times we're living in, this would be a good read (or listen).
Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | January 21, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Some people may have read this, but people outside the Houston area might be interested in this Chronicle story:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/arts/theater/6221607.html
Posted by: Glenda Burns Minniece | January 22, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Thanks, Laura, for the article on Larry McMurtry. Wouldn't it have been great to see and hear him in person!
I followed Laura's link - above - and then heard a news blip about this same author/speaker on a national radio program the same day. One of the points he makes is that with modern technology so prolific and invasive, there might come a day when books as we have known them will be obsolete.
Certainly I have been a part of that cultural revolution (even non-techie that I am) as I discarded my way-out-of-date encylopedias and decided not to replace them - knowing that the most current info could be found online. I have almost stopped using my dictionary and Home Health Guide - previously well worn editions! I have the Bible on Tape in several versions, as well as an e-version that offers wonderful features for finding favorite or related passages quickly and for copying and pasting text into a lesson outline when I am teaching, etc.
Oh, how my bookstore owner father would grieve with this news. Not just because he made a living selling books, but because he had such a love of handling books. We had MANY well-worn leather volumes in our home, but we also learned from him to cherish and collect valued books of any type.
I grieve to imagine that future generations would never experience the joy of seeing a bookcase full of books or holding well-loved books in their hands as the pages fell open to favorite passages. As for the Bible, I have almost every well-worn and marked up copy of both my mother and father - and my own. I wouldn't take anything for thoses precious treasures.
And favorite children's books! That's a whole other topic. Educators talk about the importance of lap reading to future reading success for children. How can a mother (or father) hold a young child in their lap and read a virtual book on the computer or handheld screen? What joy is there in THAT!?!?!
That last image gives me hope. Surely we can enhance our love of books by using technology, without losing forever the beauty and emotion of real books we can cherish and hold in our hands. Karla
Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | February 01, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Hoping to go to Archer City sometime later this year to see McMurtry's book store for myself. It takes up four buildings in that town! Laura
[KD here: Laura is referring to this comment in the article she cited above: "McMurtry also continues to operate Booked Up, his massive used- and rare-book shop in his hometown of Archer City."
Within the Q&A he affirms:
"Q: You’ve been quoted as saying Booked Up is going to stay in business as long as you’re alive.
A: Well, as long as I can afford it. I hope it’s as long as I’m alive. Actually, business has picked up in the past six months. I don’t know how seriously, but any little bit is welcome."]
Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | February 08, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Have you been reading the monthly installments of "Speaking of Books: A Cyber Book Club"? If not, you are missing a real treat. Glenda Burns Minniece hosts this blog feature in an extraordinary fashion. The current month’s installment is the second post on the blog each month – right after the "Features" post. You can just scroll right down to it. From there you are linked to a page with all of the previous monthly installments. Our friend Glenda is quite a prolific reader, as well as an artful writer.
Let me tell you what Glenda has done for me. I – the daughter of a bookseller and an English major in college – I am not an avid reader. I have often wished someone would give me a stack of books guaranteed to please me. Then I would set to it with enthusiasm. Well, Glenda has done that. I asked for and received four of her recommendations for Christmas. Two I have already read (on trips) with great delight - "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" and "84 Charing Cross Road". Next will be "Up the Down Staircase". These three feature story development through letters – a fascinating read. I love them!!! The fourth book I received from Ed is "A Confederacy of Dunces" – looks both amusing and intriguing.
From the February installment I am sure to ask for "Love in an Envelope: A Courtship in the American West". Of course, I have the advantage of already having future installments on my computer so my list is growing. But I’ll wait to let Glenda introduce those topics and books to you.
The only thing that could make this feature better is if more of you would add your response or additions to Glenda’s selections. Surely there are other readers out there! Karla
Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | February 08, 2009 at 03:36 PM
A couple of sad results from Hurricane Ike:
Midsummer Books, the only bookstore that sold new books in Galveston, was destroyed and will not be coming back.
The Rosenberg Library, Texas' oldest public library, was heavily damaged, losing its entire children's collection. Still cannot accept book donations, as the software for cataloging them was destroyed (will accept money). Checks out books on a request basis, but the stacks are still not open to the public.
Posted by: Glenda Burns Minniece | April 06, 2009 at 08:42 PM
Karla - You seem to like books written in letter format. Me, too! A cousin recently introduced me to "The Ginger Tree" by Oswald Wynd. It is written as diary entries and letters. The story is about a young Scots woman who goes to China to marry a British soldier and ends up leaving him for a Japanese soldier. The book follows her story from 1915 until late WWII.
The author is every bit as interesting as the story. He was born in Tokyo in 1913 of Scottish missionary parents, grew up speaking both English and Japanese, became a British soldier, and was a Japanese prisoner of war in WWII. During his prisoner of war days, he began writing. After the war he returned to Scotland and lived until 1998. He also wrote thrillers under the name Gavin Black. I haven't read any of those yet, but I plan to.
Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | April 07, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Thanks for the recommendation, Glenda. I have read more books in the last few months (as a result of your SOB blog post) than I have read in years! I'll have to put this one on my wish list.
When I was a kid I was always disappointed when I opened presents from my folks because they were almost always books - after all, the bookstore was the family business. Nowadays, we all treasure the books we give each other on special occasions. My folks would feel gratified.
I really am enjoying the letter format of fiction. I read in a recent Newsweek review about a book entitled "Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry". Yep - that's the title of a work of fiction by Leanne Shapton. I am intrigued and plan to put that on my wish list too. I have a birthday in a few weeks.
"The book looks exactly like an auction catalog, with photographs and brief yet detailed descriptions of the 332 lots for sale. Think of it as a love story told by a curator instead of a narrator." (quote from Newsweek). The plot involves the break-up of a 4 year romance and the dissolution of the detritus of their relationship. I can't wait to read the book - as much to enjoy the craft of the author as the unfolding of the romance and its demise.
Thank you so much, Glenda, for broadening my literary horizons. Prior to your reviews, my favorite letter-format books were The Screwtape Letters of C. S. Lewis and a children’s book – The Jolly Postman. I’ll bet you are familiar with those, too.
Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | April 07, 2009 at 08:17 PM
The epistolary novel goes back a long way, to the 15th century, in fact. Probably someone has already begun a novel made up of e-mail posts.
Posted by: Glenda Burns Minniece | April 07, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Yep - I loved the Screwtape Letters. That would be a good one to reread. The Jolly Postman is, of course, a classic children's book and a treasure. Thanks, Laura, for telling us about the origin of epistolary novels. I imagine you know what the first one was? As to the email posts novel, I can see it all now - what with scandals involving emails. That would be one take on it.
Actually, I had thought the first one in English was Richardson's Pamela, but according to Wikipedia it goes back further; in English to Aphra Behn's Love-Letters Between an English Nobleman and His Sister (1684), but the very first one they list is in Spanish, Carcel de amor (Prison of Love) by Diego de San Pedro, 1485.
Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | April 20, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Is anybody out there? There has not been a comment on this blog since April 8th - that's almost two weeks ago. I am getting lonesome in here all by myself. Actually, the management site shows lots of daily visitors, just no comments. So I guess I'll have to add another...
Look back 4 comments to mine of April 7th, where I mention a few books I requested for my birthday. One was "The Ginger Tree" by Oswald Wynd (written as diary entries and letters and recommended by Glenda) and the other was "Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry", a work of fiction by Leanne Shapton (an auction catalog, with photographs and brief yet detailed descriptions of the 332 lots for sale… a love story told by a curator instead of a narrator.")
I got both books for my birthday. YEA!!! I have been sick for several days – right through my birthday – but happily that has given me several days to investigate these new treasures. I am simply fascinated by the auction catalog cum Romance Novel and can’t wait to digest it all. I am hoping for a happy ending as the preface hints at the possibility.
I am saving “The Ginger Tree” for next weekend when we will go to League City for Ed’s 50th High School reunion (Clear Creek High School class of ’59). I will have some down time in our B&B cottage while Ed helps set everything up and transition from one locale to another. His involvement (and mine, as I have pitched in some with the planning and detail preps) sure does make us appreciate the work our Milby 1960 Reunion Committee does on our behalf.
Now it's your turn. Please, please, please leave a comment on any post, page, or topic!!! It can be high brow, low brow, or any brow in between. (Alas! I have been reduced to begging!!!) KLD
I have been reading the three books being considered for the Galveston Reads project this year. Galveston readers are supposed to vote on the one to be selected. So far I have read The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer and The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh and would have a hard time choosing between them. Next on my list is Rocket Boys by Homer Hickman. The film October Sky -- which I enjoyed very much -- was made from this book, so I have a feeling I won't be able to express a preference among the three.
A few comments ago I mentioned some SOB recommended books I requested for my birthday: "The Ginger Tree" and "Important Artifacts and Personal Property …” . I received both books and have already read them. I actually got both going at the same time. Can you imagine that? I never read a book, and then I read two at the same time? See how Glenda has influenced me!?!?!?!?!
Last weekend (April 24-25) we went to Seabrook/League City area for Ed’s 50th High School reunion (Clear Creek High School class of ’59) and I finished reading them when I had some down time in our cottage B&B. Ed was out doing preps for each venue of the reunion. Sure does make us appreciate the work our Milby 1960 Reunion Committee does on our behalf.
Incidentally, Ed’s reunion was a huge success. I enjoyed being the “bride on the side”. Although I was kept busy doing some logistical hostess duties (freeing Ed up to visit) I got to observe the crowd from the outside looking in. I think 50th reunions must be the very best. There was a lot of love in that room. And my suspicions were confirmed when one of the committee said to me, “This is unbelievable – some of these people never spoke two words to each other in high school – would never be caught hugging – and here they are expressing genuine love for each other!” What a healing experience for some! I can’t wait for ours!!!
FYI - note that this is now the MAY SOB post. April has been moved to the "Previous Installments" page. http://milby1960.typepad.com/milby_class_of_1960/speaking-of-books-.html Be sure to scroll to the top to read Glenda's new submission, and then make a comment of your own related to books.
Posted by: Sheila Steele Howard | May 05, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Glenda, in the mystery aisle also look for Martin Cruz Smith. Another is Ed McBain (Evan Hunter)especially his 87th precinct series. Most books I keep and reread every year or so. Can do that since my recall abilities are a little rusty. I learn something new almost each time I reread a book
Hi Sheila - Would you believe that I actually have an Ed McBain mystery on my bedside table right now: Poison. On your recommendation, that's the next book I will read. Am glad to know, too, about Martin Cruz Smith. There are so many mystery writers that it's hard to choose without a recommendation. I've read several authors that I've bought because their books LOOK delicious, but I was disappointed.
When I mentioned Margaret Frazer's mysteries, I neglected to mention that Dame Frevisse is supposedly Geoffrey Chaucer's granddaughter, and all of the books are titled "The Nun's Tale" or "The Widow's Tale", etc, not unlike Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Hello folks,
I have been running so much and have not taken the time to get on the computer and do much but delete bad stuff. I will try to take time tonight and get the computer turned on and read and write some. Got to go help a neighbor with cows right now. Fences are not replaced yet in a lot of places. I heard from one source that somewhere around 1500 to 3000 miles of fence were destroyed by Ike.
Later, Herbert
Just want to recommend an epistolary novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows. This is set right after World War II and deals with the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands. There are grim aspects to it, of course, but it is basically a romance and full of comic moments. Anyway, I liked it a lot.
Posted by: Laura Burns | September 27, 2009 at 03:31 PM