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When I'm not moving around or putting up the web page, you can be reasonably
sure I'm in the middle of a good book. Here are the latest.
BOOKS
- Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer
Krakauer's writing is always interesting. I've gobbled up his mountain
and wilderness stuff and enjoyed it. This book takes a look at an
entirely different subject: Mormons and Mormon Fundamentalism. It's
centered around the key players in a gruesome double murder in 1984. The
participants serve as an anchor as he tells the story of Mormonism's
beginnings and history. He weaves in and out of the past both distant
and recent discussing both the events and the theology that drives them.
I found it to be an insightful and fascinating book. Mormons may take
exception to it; but to Krakauer's credit he is always respectful of Mormons,
their beliefs, and their lifestyles. There are no damning conclusions
drawn just facts and history. It's as much an investigation of religion
in a broad sense and American history as anything else. And it's very
well done.
- Blackbox
This is a fascinating novel. It's 840 chapters, some of which are as
short as "...", literally. It's an exploration of the 6 degrees of
separation notion, life, death, love, and flying. While at times the
events are hard to reassemble in the proper time sequence or the characters
are hard to place and recall, the book is griping and enjoyable.
- Grift Sense; Funny Money, James Swain
What a great little discovery! The main character, Tony Valentine, makes
his living helping casinos catch cheats. I love this stuff.
There's a great deal of realistic recounting of the grift and cons people will
try. Throw in some wonderful sidekicks (Mabel a neighbor who places the
funniest personal ads you can imagine; Kat a female wrestler and love
interest) and you have books worth taking a bet on!
- The Heat Islands; Sanibel Flats; The Man Who Invented Florida; Captiva;
North of Havana, The Shark River; Mangrove Coast; 12 Mile Limit,
Randy Wayne White
READ THIS SERIES, IT'S AMONG THE BEST YOU'LL EVER FIND!!!
White's principle character Doc Ford is outstanding. He's an all around
good guy marine biologist who just happens to have spent years with the NSA
doing covert work in the 3rd world. His sidekick, Tomlinson, has got to
be one of the best foils I encountered. The plots are great, well
thought out, never excessively fanciful. One of the best things is that
White has clearly taken the time to set-up the surrounding cast of characters;
they weave in and out of the stories in a way unmatched by almost all series
authors. Throw in a dash of well though out but subtle political
commentary and you have a winner. He's the best of the Florida writers.
Start reading these books!
- Naked Prey, John Sandford
Lucas Davenport is one of the great characters in modern mystery fiction.
A former cop turned software millionaire turned cop again. Violent and
testy at times, insightful and compassionate at times, bewildered by women
most of the time. The new married and fatherly Davenport is a bit of a
change but he's still captivating. Sandford's plots are always top
flight and this one is no different. Read the whole series. (Like
Sandford? Check out Chuck Logan, especially the Phil Broker books.)
- Off the Chart, James W. Hall
Thorn is one of the better Florida characters around (along with Travis Magee,
Doc White, and Skink). The plots in the last few books have been a
little thinner than the early works, but ok. They do seem to be a bit
more topical -- and for me piracy is about as timely a subject as I could
imagine. I like the book.
- Clockers, Richard Price
When I finish it, I'll write more. But as it stands I like his stuff.
It's the literary equivalent of HBO's The Wire: extraordinarily solid
character development with solid plots involving drug sales in the projects.
- World Cruising Handbook, World Cruising Routes, Jimmy
Cornell
Necessary reference books for my journey.
Movies
- Matchstick Men
Nicolas Cage should get a best actor nomination for this. He's simply
great.
The plot is interesting, but the big twist is pretty visible even early in the
film. Still, it kept me interested and enthralled. I enjoyed it
and recommend it highly.
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