What good book have you read lately? (New or old)

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

I have heard this is a good book and that the film Simon Birch is
based on it, by I hear tell it's really quite different, which is why he
requested the same title not be used.

^^ Interesting Lyle, I might look into that, just to see what the differences are -- we were thinking this would be a very hard book to adapt into a film

What a coincidence; I bought a copy of that in a book sale yesterday, part of my cache of reading matter for when I have my knee replacement operation at the end of the month. With a reccommendation from you Ellen, I shall look forward to reading it even more.

Janjo it is a long book but very, very worthwhile to read to the end.  Sorry about your knee, but you'll be in good company inside this novel.  

[janjo]

Oh don't worry about that, I am a compulsive reader...........I love long books. I can't say I am looking forward to getting the knee done because I understand it is extremely painful at first, but after having a limp and not being able to walk properly for eleven years, since I smashed up my tibia in a hiking accident, I am certainly looking forward to recovering from it and getting back to a normal active life.

[kathy]

I recently finished such an excellent book: "Errol and Olivia - Ego and Obsession in Hollywood's Golden Era" by R. Matzen.

The research is excellent; the pics are excellent.  I just couldn't put the book down and wanted to continue reading.
It is really a sad story about two people who loved each other their entire lives; however for various and personal reasons only they know, never married - though both wanted it.  They had a final break in 1942 (they met to test for "Captain Blood" in 1935) and neither ever spoke about it.

Errol went on to self-destruction IMO after he was 'charged' by the LAPD on false "rape" charges by two lying little tramps.  It was a political move by the notorious LAPD.  He was such an excellent actor, we know this now; noone could play those roles as he could; as well as being one of the most beautiful men who ever lived, but hard times later began and never left, and it showed on his face and body.  Olivia went on to win two Oscars, and marry and divorce twice. 

In summary, the author has the certain opinion they should have married, never got over each other, and always loved each other.  I feel that way too.  An additional unhappy example of legendary stars who should have married from the start, but unhappily did not.  I found it to be very sad for both, but especially for Errol.  His unhappy eyes made me weep for both.

kathy 

[Ennis Del Mark]

Sounds interesting, Kathy.  When was it written?  I've never heard of it.  Is it fiction or true?

I have read often that Flynn was in love with Olivia and she once said the same about him, but "he would have ruined my life."  I think she was smart not to let him break her heart.  

Bette Davis wrote that of all the many women Flynn chased it was Olivia who he truly loved.

Mark

[kathy]

Oh, yes, this is true Mark.  The author is Robt. Matzen and the research is terrific.  The book was printed last year - not sure what month - and I was bound to get to it as soon as I could because I've always been intrigued by the Errol-Olivia relationship and that they loved each other very much.  It certainly didn't disappoint me; I couldn't wait to turn the page.  (And - Bette was correct in what she said).   

It is non-fiction.  There are pics in there that are worth a thousand words.  Of course it is my opinion, but whatever happened in early 1942 between them that caused the final split must have been very important.  After all, they had been on and off for 6-1/2 years, he kept asking her to marry him, and she thought it would turn out great once he obtained a divorce from a hasty earlier marriage.  But...

Olivia consistently talks about Errol to this day and even though she once said "it's a good thing I didn't marry him" and things of that sort, IMO (and the author's opinion) she always loved him; he always loved her, and both sincerely regretted many things.  It is a sad story, sad for Errol who finally self-destructed, and sad for Olivia too who married and divorced twice.   

kathy   

[Jeff Wrangler]

"Errol and Olivia - Ego and Obsession in Hollywood's Golden Era" by R. Matzen.

I'm going to have to look for that one. I love the films they made together.

[Jeff Wrangler]

It is non-fiction.  There are pics in there that are worth a thousand words.  Of course it is my opinion, but whatever happened in early 1942 between them that caused the final split must have been very important.

FWIW, according to Wikipedia, that was the year he was accused of statutory rape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Errol_Flynn

[kathy]

I'm going to have to look for that one. I love the films they made together.

I do too; always have.  I couldn't recommend it more highly; and the book itself details their yrs. long love in relation to their films but does continue on with many more unknown facts and pics never seen before.  The false claim of rape brought against Errol by two lying little sluts was bogus .  Yes -  false.  It was brought on by an unscrupulous D.A. who was out to get J. L. Warner for not paying $$$, as the studios too often did.  Besides, Errol never had to chase anyone - they chased him. 

Errol was never the same after those lying underage little tramps and the D.A. did this to him; he always heard the slurs, insults, and sneers.  IMO his self destruction began soon after [and after the final split from Olivia], though he did marry twice more and had 3 more children.  Sadly two of his children have died: Sean (mother: Lily Damita) in Vietnam - his bones recently found - and Arnella (mother: Patrice Wymore).  His children by wife #2, Nora Eddington, survive (Rory and Dierdre). 

I have to admit this book brought tears to my eyes more than once; it's a damned shame that two people who loved each other all their lives just didn't marry.  Whatever brought the final split in 1942 must have been a bad situation.   But only they know; neither one ever spoke of it.   

kathy

[Lyle (Mooska)]

It was previously mentioned, on this thread I believe, that the Pulitzer committee decided not to award any prize for literature this year.  Here's the first part of an article about that from one of the jury members that selected the finalists for the committee to consider.  The article talks about what happened on the jury, but the committee's final decision is something that, he writes, will not ever be known.     

Letter from the Pulitzer Fiction Jury: What Really Happened This Year
by Michael Cunningham

http://www.newyorker.com/online/

[bubba]

I always forget this thread.  I just started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale


so far so good!

[janjo]

I went to a book sale recently at a nearby library where my friend works, I got lots of things that look interesting, including two Dalziel and Pascoe crime novels by Reginald Hill, who died this year.
I have read some of the earlier ones some time ago, and always enjoy them.
I finished reading one today, A Cure for All Diseases, and enjoyed it.
The reason I mention it here is that perhaps surprisingly, for crime thrillers that have been written over a good twenty year period, Dalziel and Pascoe's sergeant Edgar Wield is gay and happily in a relationship with a bookseller.
When these books were dramatised for TV the sergeant was not an important character at all, as he is in the books, and no mention of any relationships he may have had were ever mentioned.

[brokebacktom]

The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks

In a world where everyone wants to be in control, there are differing viewpoints and groups of people. The Tabula, or The Bretheren as they call themselves, seek to control the world under the guise of making things more orderly and crime free. They want everyone to have identification chips embedded in their bodies and have scanning equipment around the world so that each individual person can be tracked and monitored at all times. Super computers will record monetary and other moves that people make. Meanwhile, there are Travelers. These people have the ability to leave their human bodies and travel to other realms or dimensions. The Tabula do not want these people to exist and have worked to exterminate them because the Travelers do not act consistently with the concept of monitoring everyone. Finally, there are Harlequins. These unique fighters exist for the sole purpose of protecting Travelers at all costs.

Maya was raised by her father, one of the fiercest Harlequins. As an adult she decides to reject the ways of her father and assume a life in the "regular" world. She lives on the grid, holds a regular job, and lives in an apartment in London. But she finds herself unable to ignore a final plea from her father that leads her to America in search of two brothers that could possibly have the potential to be Travelers. This mission becomes complicated by the fact that the Tabula is searching for these brothers as well.

Michael and Gabriel Corrigan have lived their entire lives differently from other children. Their parents told them bizarre stories and kept them isolated from the community at large. Each have coped with this in different ways - Michael wants to be part of the larger community and finds the warnings of his family to be baseless and ridiculous. Gabriel is always searching for a way to feel free and soar apart from the real world. When the Tabula and Maya enter their lives nothing will ever be the same again. Who is truly good and who is truly evil? Will good conquer evil? And will Maya be able to keep her emotions in check so that she may successfully protect the Traveler?

This first in a series of novels has an interesting premise, but moves slowly. The characters are fairly one dimensional and difficult to relate to. Although the story has potential, it never quite gets there. It remains as a kind of "who cares" throughout and does not leave you on the edge of your seat for book two. Great concept, weak execution. Perhaps book 2 and 3 are better. But I will not read them, unless I find them on sale. Like I said it does have potential, it like 1984 meets The Matrix by the way of Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

[tfferg]

I went to a book sale recently at a nearby library where my friend works, I got lots of things that look interesting, including two Dalziel and Pascoe crime novels by Reginald Hill, who died this year.
I have read some of the earlier ones some time ago, and always enjoy them.
I finished reading one today, A Cure for All Diseases, and enjoyed it.
The reason I mention it here is that perhaps surprisingly, for crime thrillers that have been written over a good twenty year period, Dalziel and Pascoe's sergeant Edgar Wield is gay and happily in a relationship with a bookseller.
When these books were dramatised for TV the sergeant was not an important character at all, as he is in the books, and no mention of any relationships he may have had were ever mentioned.

Interesting, Jess. I've seen quite a few episodes of Dalziel and Pascoe on TV here. There was one episode that included a bit of a focus on Wieldy's sexuality, though there was no mention of a partner. Wieldy never looks happy. Not that the happiness of other characters ever lasts long.

A TV series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries was screened recently on the ABC based on the novels of Melbourne writer, Kerry Greenwood, who wrote them in the 1990s. They are set in Melbourne in the 1920s, but the themes are very up to date. Phryne Fisher is an independent and progressively-minded private detective, played by a very good actor, Essie Davis.  Phryne is heterosexual who has interactions and relationships with rather good-looking men, but her best friend is a lesbian doctor and she is accepting of same-sex relationships. After one episode where Phryne's remarks on the subject made me wonder if the scriptwriters had developed the dialogue in the light of gay marriage being such a hotly contested issue in Australia this year, I read the The Green Mill Murder, I found the TV episode is very close to the original novel.

(A bit of a bonus is the appearance in several episodes of Miriam Margolyes as Phryne's very conservative and snobbish aunt.)

[janjo]

Wieldy is never happy, and he is supposed to have a face like an ugly brick wall!
In the books though it is more of a trio situation, Dalziel, Pascoe, and Wield.
He is more prominent in some books than others, and I remember one I read years ago where he got together with his partner Edwin Digweed an antiquarian bookseller.
No fuss at all is made about the fact that the character is gay, he is a policeman, and a good one, and just gets on with it, which is very refreshing.

In some ways I think the TV series missed a trick here, but perhaps when it was made the time wasn't right.

I haven't come across Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, but anything with Miriam Margolyes in is OK with me!

[gattaca]

Currently reading The Progress Principle   Thus far is packed full of common sense backed by facts and figures...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Progress-Principle-Engagement-Creativity/dp/142219857X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343490023&sr=8-1&keywords=the+progress+principle

I'll summarize when I finish.   Later, V.