Odds and Ends
Books I finished reading in the last week
On Writing by Stephen King - Part memoir, part how-to-write tome. King has a bit of a potty mouth, which is a put-off. King even says in the book profanity is lame and ignorant, but uses it anyway. Go figure. You might guess, from his battle with alcohol and drugs, and that his family background is kinda screwy. Still, the writing advice is good, though perhaps not anything I haven't read before.
An End to Evil by David Frum/Richard Perle - This book takes a look at American's vulnerabilities and weak spots in the War On Terror, and gives remedies. The book is especially hard on the FBI, and how it dropped the ball in several ways in not vigorously pursuing leads that might have uncovered the 9/11 plot. The CIA comes in for its share of criticism too. And the State Dept gets a sound drubbing.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - Thought I'd read it and see what all the fuss was about. The writing is hackneyed. He uses a number of writing cliches, such as characters looking in mirrors so the reader can see what they look like, characters getting "odd" expressions on their face to clue the reader they should pay attention, using the same word perhaps too often (in one spot the word "slowly" is used twice in about 10 lines), and some others.
One howler was a favorite of mine. On the third page of the prologue, there's this phrase, "staggering to his feet...". Then, only 7 lines down, there's this, "he pulled himself to his feet". Huh?
The book gets a number of things wrong about Christianity, and others have found other errors in the plot about other things. I don't know if Brown got his homework wrong, or if he just made things fit for his story.
All that said, it is a very entertaining read. It never drags, almost every chapter ends in such a way to keep you reading. It is full of puzzles and hidden meanings and interesting historical details (Again, some of which may not be true.) It is worth reading for a quick pulpy reading snack.
The kids
The other night I took the kids to a nearby park (Palmer Park, near the golf course designed by Arnie Palmer.) We were playing Big Bad Wolf. Or, as Hanna pronounces it, "Bee Baa Wolf". They were the pigs, I'd chase them around the playground, and say "Open the door and let me in". John responded properly, "Not by the hair of our chinny-chin-chin". Hanna, though, was more matter-of-fact. She'd say "We can't, it's not open right now." Oh. Well, that momentarily threw the Wolf off his game.
Last night at bible story time, I said the kids should pick short stories, as it was getting late. John said no, he wanted to pick "tall" stories.
On Writing by Stephen King - Part memoir, part how-to-write tome. King has a bit of a potty mouth, which is a put-off. King even says in the book profanity is lame and ignorant, but uses it anyway. Go figure. You might guess, from his battle with alcohol and drugs, and that his family background is kinda screwy. Still, the writing advice is good, though perhaps not anything I haven't read before.
An End to Evil by David Frum/Richard Perle - This book takes a look at American's vulnerabilities and weak spots in the War On Terror, and gives remedies. The book is especially hard on the FBI, and how it dropped the ball in several ways in not vigorously pursuing leads that might have uncovered the 9/11 plot. The CIA comes in for its share of criticism too. And the State Dept gets a sound drubbing.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - Thought I'd read it and see what all the fuss was about. The writing is hackneyed. He uses a number of writing cliches, such as characters looking in mirrors so the reader can see what they look like, characters getting "odd" expressions on their face to clue the reader they should pay attention, using the same word perhaps too often (in one spot the word "slowly" is used twice in about 10 lines), and some others.
One howler was a favorite of mine. On the third page of the prologue, there's this phrase, "staggering to his feet...". Then, only 7 lines down, there's this, "he pulled himself to his feet". Huh?
The book gets a number of things wrong about Christianity, and others have found other errors in the plot about other things. I don't know if Brown got his homework wrong, or if he just made things fit for his story.
All that said, it is a very entertaining read. It never drags, almost every chapter ends in such a way to keep you reading. It is full of puzzles and hidden meanings and interesting historical details (Again, some of which may not be true.) It is worth reading for a quick pulpy reading snack.
The kids
The other night I took the kids to a nearby park (Palmer Park, near the golf course designed by Arnie Palmer.) We were playing Big Bad Wolf. Or, as Hanna pronounces it, "Bee Baa Wolf". They were the pigs, I'd chase them around the playground, and say "Open the door and let me in". John responded properly, "Not by the hair of our chinny-chin-chin". Hanna, though, was more matter-of-fact. She'd say "We can't, it's not open right now." Oh. Well, that momentarily threw the Wolf off his game.
Last night at bible story time, I said the kids should pick short stories, as it was getting late. John said no, he wanted to pick "tall" stories.
3 Comments:
At Tue Oct 04, 01:00:00 AM, johngrif said…
Yesterday's Boston-Yankee game saw Stephen King roosting in his box and watching.
From Joe Morgan's sly tongued sidekick came this observation: 'He looks like someone who would write horror stories.'
Indeed.
For the humane work of another popular writer, see
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051002/OPINION/510020306/1046
John Grisham has generously contributed to the rebuilding of his state.
At Tue Oct 04, 06:56:00 PM, Jeff said…
Yeah, I've seen King at Sox games too, and I've thought the same thing. Heh.
Neat column by Grisham. And good for him and his relief work.
Why was he in Biloxi? Does he live there, or was he just seeing the damage?
At Wed Oct 05, 09:08:00 AM, johngrif said…
Jeff,
Grisham, as I understand it, was a undergrad at the University of Mississippi, perhaps pre law. Teachers and associates saw him as not particularly distinguished.
That's a plug for all kids, isn't it?
Each has a unique identity; don't think contemporary society does very well in this regard.
We parents, educators, neighbors really have no idea where God is taking a child. But we are here to help.
.
Grisham has kept the Mississippi tie, with visits to the University.
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