LVA Book Club, January 2011

I had a little time recently to put the sword to several books.

Joseph Wambaugh's recent series that began with "Hollywood Station". I've enjoyed Wambaugh's work. The Onion Field is a classic. Hollywood Station is Wambaugh's return to LA. It reads like an Ed McBain Precinct series or like Hill Street Blues. Lots of little vignettes. It’s clear he’s spent a lot of time with LA Cops of late – surprised because I know he lives in San Diego and hangs with some cops down there. The opening of the book is one of the strongest, must unsettling, openings I’ve read in awhile. And is typical with Wambaugh he captures what is right and wrong, good and bad, with police.

What’s wrong with the book is that these are characters, they’re caricatures. He paints with primary colors. Also, I’m left with a feeling that the plot was secondary to creating a canvas where he could splash all the little anecdotes of Hollyweird where they “keep it real”. Still worth reading. I enjoyed it and will continue the series.

Michael Connelly’s “The Overlook”. A Harry Bosch book. Not the best Bosch. This book is short, and the investigation unfolds almost on its own. Felt a little cheated. I expect more from Connelly.

Laura Lippman’s “Baltimore Blues”. I mentioned Laura Lippman in a previous post. She’s won more awards than perhaps anyone else. I’m not in love with her books, but they’re good. I’ll continue reading and see if I can appreciate Tess Monaghan as much as Kinsey Milhonne.

One last book: one that’s been on my shelf for sometime. Threw it into a bag to read while on a LONG train ride. Short book, written back in the late 80’s / early 90’s when someone could write a book of only about 60K words. What I can’t believe is that the book was published and actually part of a series. It’s filled with unrealistic people, unbelievable schemes, impossible science, and clichés. My favorite: the protagonist is captured by the antagonist for the second time (both times because of bad procedures on the part of the protagonist). Here’s a snippet of dialog from the book:

“You won’t get away with this.” I’d said it twice before. I was dumb enough to say it again.

It’s true! The character did say it twice before. I couldn’t believe it either time. To have a character utter to the villain, as the villain has the hero tied up, “you won’t get away with this” not once, not twice, but three times! And then, as an author declare it to be “dumb”. OMG!

Not sure where I’m heading next with my reading.

I believe those in the trade call that "lampshade hanging."

So what's the book?

- Jeff

Reading " Love and Other Impossible Pursuits"
a novel by Ayelt Waldman

I am enjoying real nice discriptive sentences. Here's one..

The sky is grey and thick w/ clouds, the kind of clouds that menace the city, threatening not Christmas postcard snow or a downpour of cold clean rain, but bitter needles that immediately melt the snow, so that it feels like what is coming from the sky is actually yellow-grey slush.
The sidewalks are banked by mounds of black-fringed snow and every step off the curb is a Russian roulette which might end with glacial black water sloshing aound your ankle, soaking your sock and shoe.
The trees in the park seem particularly bare; they poke at the dreary sky with lifeless branches that have lost not just their leaves but the very hope of leaves.

The book doesn't matter. Long out of print by an author that is now obscure.

Never heard of "Lampshade Hanging" -- however, I don't think that was the point. In lampshade hanging, the author is admitting they've got a problem with a plot point. But in my above example, there is no plot point -- at least that was my interest. It was the inane utterance of "You won't get away with this." Completely unnecessary. And to have the author call our attention to bad writing is even worse writing. And that's what I think it was. Bad writing.

I can see why.

Anyway, a while ago it hit me just how deficient I was in certain areas (and eras) of European history. So I poked around the library for a casual-but-broad overview of the subject. After a few failed picks, I wound up really liking "Europe 101" by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw.

The book has a similar approach as the Rick Steves shows (which I enjoy also): It views history largely via the art and architecture it left behind. It only briefly touches on those parts of history that aren't of much interest to the vacationing traveller, focusing more on the things that will add to the enjoyment and significance of a European visit. The authors fully admit that this could be considered a shallow approach by "real" historians, but they make no apologies for it.

It's 500+ pages, and is tough to get through before the due date, even with renewals. Also I figured it would make a nice reference to have on hand besides. So I wound up buying my own copy.

Just finishing up with the Rennaissance now...

- Jeff

For European history, I'd check out the Great Courses. I like their stuff. They've done a lot on history. You can often find them at your local library -- at least my mine has most of them. Though, I bet Rick Steves is pretty enjoyable. I like his shows.

As to cliches, they can bother me more than other problems.
Years ago I was reading a series and the author would use in a book at least once, if not twice, the phrase (in some variation) "Lives hang in the balance". It got to the point where I could see it coming. If I read or hear that phrase now, I laugh.

I avoid cliches like the plague.

- Jeff

Iam not a big reader but I did get three good books for Christmas. Titanic Thompson, The Man Who Bet On Everything by Kevin Cook was great. I had never heard of Titanic Thompson. I thought they were going to say this was fiction while I was reading it,but it's a true story. Surviving The Mob was from LVA. Hail,Hail,Euphoria is for Marx Brothers lovers.

fvenis: Thanks for the recommendation of Titanic Thompson. It sounds like an awesome book. I'm going to get a copy. Here's a review from Amazon.

This review is from: Titanic Thompson: The Man Who Bet on Everything (Hardcover)
My wife, Latrice Thomas, and I both think this is the best book ever written about my dad, Titanic Thompson, [Alvin Clarance Thomas]....True insight into the life of a professional gambler. The interviews bring to life the amazing feats of my dad that in the natural would seem impossible. I was with him when he made three hole in ones on par three golf courses while in his early seventies. Being a professional gambler and card shark for 32 years I can tell you that in the world of gambling there has never been anyone like him. When you read about his life and the amazing things he did you will escape into a time in America that was made to order for the life of Titanic Thompson.

Tommy Thomas
howtobeattheodds.com


I'm also going to look into the Hail, Hail, Euphora book.
Books... they're so worth reading.