Salinger. He’s a bit bent. And that’s why I like him. Those last two paragraphs. That last line taking a story on a violent ride in a new direction while it ends right in your face or fragile mind. You … Read More
Read: Killing Commendatore
Sometimes we are caught off guard, even when we think we might know someone or something. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read from author Haruki Murakami but none of these prior books really prepared me for Killing Commendatore. This book starts … Read More
Read: Deep South
Paul Theroux is famous. He has literally fame. And he writes his ass off. you might know The Mosquito Coast, or Dark Star Safari or The Great Railway Bazaar. There are many, many more. Deep South should be added to … Read More
Read: My Salinger Year
Loved this book. Truly. Buy the paper version. Such a fun read. Funny and depicts an industry I find endlessly fascinating. Literary publishing. And in this case, an “agency” steeped in traditions that have NOT faded. No computers, no email, … Read More
Read: Gold Fever
Turns out, there is gold in them hills, probably a lot of it. The hard part? Well, like all kinds of luck, finding it tends to be a real bear. I loved this book which was a good blend of … Read More
Read: The Nature Fix
This is a wonderful book. Yes, preaching to the choir in my case, but I consider that one of the most fortunate aspects of my entire life. I had a father who knew what untouched wilderness was all about and … Read More
Read: Black Edge
It’s rigged. It really is. And the bad guys don’t go to jail, mostly. And, at this point, the government isn’t really interested in stopping illegal financial activity. It’s as simple as that. Oh, and sometimes the government lawyers quit … Read More
Read: The People in the Trees
Fiction. Ahhhh, fiction. Hello, my old friend. Fiction is so relaxing. Just looking for a good story, and I found one. Hanya Yanagihara’s “The People in the Trees,” is an odd story but one that runs parallel to many of … Read More
Read: Hero, The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia
This was a BEAST of a book. I mean a real beast and in the best possible use of that word. Over forty pages of notes, more than any book I’ve read. And I could have created many more. If … Read More
Read: Into The Land of Bones
Want to know a really easy way to get your ass kicked? Invade Afghanistan. Yep, guaranteed ass whipping. The British tried it, twice. The Soviets. Same for us. But it wasn’t just modern folk who tried to tame Bactria. This … Read More
Read: The Next Species
I checked out this book BEFORE the world began to fully experience a global pandemic, but I could not have chosen a more fitting book. “The Next Species,” by Michael Tennesen is a wonderful book about history, Earth, humans, our … Read More
Read: Top Ten Reads
I’m talking all-time you crazy people. All-time. Top ten. These are the books I reread on a yearly basis. Most of them anyway. Some are behemoths, the literary equivalent of the tar pit. Some of these might be on your … Read More
Read: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Intimacy. Observation. If I had to sum it up, there it is. This book has often been compared to the classics of nature writing, and I can see those connections clearly, but this book is one enormous lesson that we … Read More
Read: The Dinosaur Artist
Quite a story but one that left me with as many questions as answers. On a recent podcast, I made a joke about the fact I finally realized that Indiana Jones was basically a thief. Sure, much of what he … Read More
Read: No Surrender
First, imagine going to war. Now imagine being given an assignment that will most certainly end in death. Now go fight for your country and do what you were trained to do. This is what Hiroo Onoda did. And what … Read More
Read: Blues for Cannibals
I have to thank my friend Scott for turning me on to Charles Bowden all those years ago. If you are interesting in Latin parts then “Down by the River,” and “Murder City” are a must. Bowden was the guy … Read More
Read: The Stranger in the Woods
I loved this book. Just from this book alone I now about a dozen OTHER books I need to read, all of which were sourced from this story and subsequent back-matter. And this story actually went down. Let me explain. … Read More
Read: To Shake The Sleeping Self
Guy rides his bike solo from Oregon to Patagonia. What’s not to like? Okay, he didn’t ride solo but he thought about it. “To Shake The Sleeping Self,” from Jedidiah Jenkins, which is a cool name, by the way, is … Read More