Saturday, November 18, 2017
After 100 Years, This Entire Forest Will Be Turned into Mystery Manuscripts
After 100 Years, This Entire Forest Will Be Turned into Mystery Manuscripts: Hike through Norway’s future library, currently in the form of baby trees
The Gun That Made the Twenties Roar
The Gun That Made the Twenties Roar: In the United States, the decade of the 1920’s, aka the ‘Roaring Twenties’, was the time of the Jazz Age, Art Deco, flappers, the Charleston, the Scopes Monkey Trial, a runaway bull stock market, birth of the NFL, Babe Ruth, first widespread use of the automobile, the beginning of airline aviation, Prohibition, bootleg liquor, Al Capone, speakeasies, gangsters, Eliot Ness and the Untouchables, and what was perhaps the single most iconic object of that era – the Thompson Submachine Gun (TSMG).
The Real Frank James
The Real Frank James The glorified outla...: The glorified outlaw, and why he shed his criminal skin after the death of his younger, and more famous, brother.
2017 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
2017 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced: ROCHESTER, New York—The mystery has been solved! The simple, soaring paper airplane; game-changing Wiffle Ball; and murder-mystery favorite Clue today became the latest inductees to The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame. The honorees were selected from a field of 12 finalists that also included: Magic 8 Ball, Matchbox Cars, My Little Pony, PEZ Candy Dispenser, play food, Risk, sand, Transformers, and Uno.
Andy Weir: By the Book - The New York Times
Andy Weir: By the Book: The author of “The Martian” and, most recently, “Artemis” has never read Frank Herbert’s “Dune”: “Yes, I know. I’m the worst sci-fi fan in the universe.”
Friday, November 17, 2017
Forgotten Books: A Winter Spy -- MacDonald Lloyd
This is being posted late, and it's a repeat. I've been dealing with some fairly serious health issues this week, and just getting the blog done at all is a challenge. I'm afraid the Wednesday Bonus FFB won't appear again, and there may be more reruns. We'll just have to see how long I can keep things sort of going along.
Okay, I'll admit it. I'm cheating on this one. Someone's already written about it. What's that you say? You've read every single Forgotten Book blog post, and you don't remember this one? Well, before you go on, click here. Read the post (with which I wholeheartedly agree), and come on back. I'll wait for you.
Back so soon? You didn't cheat, did you? If you didn't, you might be scratching your head and thinking I made a mistake. After all, the link takes you to a review of Isle of Joy by Don Winslow, published in England in 1996 by Arrow books, whereas the photo on my blog is of A Winter Spy by MacDonald Lloyd. It was published in the U. S. by Signet Books in 1997.
And it's the same book as Isle of Joy, though there's no mention of that title anywhere on the cover or copyright page, just as there's no mention of any previous publication. The copyright page does mention Don Winslow, but this book's not included in the bibliography on his website (Isle of Joy is). I don't know what the deal is, but I thought it was interesting. Maybe you don't, but, after all, it's my blog. Also, it's my excuse for talking about the book. It's the same one, all right, but then again, it's got a different title and author's name. It's also a lot easier to find and a lot cheaper to buy than Isle of Joy.
Winslow is one of my current favorites, and this book is extremely good. It's a Cold War spy novel, set between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, 1958, back in the days before the world changed. Walter Withers has left the C.I.A. and joined a big private investigations firm. He's asked to bodyguard Madeleine Keneally, the wife of presidential candidate Joe Keneally. You can read the Kennedys into this easily enough. There's no question about who the characters "really" are, and plenty of other familair folks appear. Some of them even go by their own names. J. Edgar Hoover comes to mind, along with Carroll Rosenbloom. (Winslow's description of the NFL Championship Game of 1958 between the Colts and the Giants is both entertaining and highly cynical.)
Winslow takes his time in this book, introducing the characters, setting up the situation, and describing New York City. (The book is a love story in more ways than one. But one of them is about Walter Withers' love for the city. Anybody who lived in New York around 1959 should really like this novel.) By the second half of the book, everything comes together in a series of dazzling single, double, and triple crosses. Winslow has so many balls in the air that you wonder how he'll ever manage them, but he does, with the help of a bit of coincidence here and there. Mostly, though, we learn that, as Freud said, there are no accidents. Everything was planned from the start, or at least set in motion.
One thing I particularly liked was Withers' occasional reading to the very ill wife of one of his colleagues. The book Withers chooses is One Lonely Night, which is an entirely different sort of Cold War novel, the antithesis of A Winter Spy, and I love this comment: ". . . the G-men . . .had little to do until Mickey Spillane alerted them to the communist menace and Hoover started to do his Michael Palmer impersonation and saw Red spies everywhere." This is the first time I've seen Spillane blamed for the Red Scare, and of course Winslow's kidding. At least a little bit.
Why didn't this book sell a ton? I have no idea. Great writing, wonderful characters, loving recreation of a time and a place, a love story, a spy thriller, and more. What do people want, anyway? I know, I know. They want James Patterson, but they're missing a heck of a great read.
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Why is the Real Mrs. “Wild Bill” Hickok Almost Totally Forgotten?
The Other Woman: Why is the Real Mrs. “Wild Bill” Hickok Almost Totally Forgotten?
A Day in the Life of a Rock 'n' Roll Librarian
A Day in the Life of a Rock 'n' Roll Librarian: It’s not all finding secret notes from Keith Richards… but some of it is.
The World Through Jack London's Eyes
The World Through Jack London's Eyes: When most people hear the name Jack London, they think of one of the most widely read American writers who produced 50 books including Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf; some may also know him as an adventurer or social activist. But most don't realize that Jack London was a prolific photographer producing nearly 12,000 photographs during his lifetime, ranging from the poignant images of the ragged homeless living in London's East End; images of the Russo-Japanese War while he was on assignment for the Hearst Syndicate; sensitive images of the South Seas islanders during his voyage aboard the Snark to the 1906 San Francisco earth quake devastation.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Digit Books -- Covers Galore
Digit Books: Digit Books were one of a series published by Brown Watson first appearing in 1956 with the first 160 or so being unnumbered, numbering started with D139 April 1958.
Mostly Fiction and reprints although some were originals, genres included Science Fiction, Crime, Battle, Horror, Romance, Esoteric with a few Westerns plus about 20 Juvenile Delinquent titles mainly reprints of American titles which included the very scarce copy of Junkie by William Lee pseudonym of William S Burroughs 1957, this was the first time printed a a stand alone novel originally published in the U.S. as an Ace Double with Narcotics Agent by Maurice Helbrant Ace Books D-15, 1953.
The world's ten largest cities
The world's ten largest cities: The Big Picture: 518 million people (7% of the global population) now live in megacities of 10 million or more people. That's a tenfold increase from four decades ago, and it's radically changing the way people live, work and view the world.
Bonus FFB on Wednesday: A Room to Die In -- Ellery Queen (Jack Vance)
I'm not at all sure how much of a hand Fred Danny had in these work for hire books under the Queen name. I've heard that he provided detailed outlines for some of them, but I don't know if that's true. Whatever the case, this one by Jack Vance does have one of the earmarks of a classic Queen case, a locked room.Ann Nelson finds it hard to believe that her father committed suicide, even though his body is found in a room locked tightly from the inside. The police detective, Thomas Tarr seems convinced of the suicide, but Ann can't let it go. Anyone who's read a few mysteries knows that she's right and Tarr is wrong.
Ann has never been close to either of her parents, but her father leaves her all his considerable (for the time) fortune. Her cousin, Edgar Maudley isn't happy about that. Martin Jones, an unpleasant contractor, doesn't seem to like anyone, and neighbors Alexander and Jehane Cypriano have plenty of secrets.
Vance didn't use his lush style for this novel, but the writing is fine, anyway. The solution to the locked room problem is a tad far-fetched, and the police investigation is going to raise some questions with a lot of readers, but I really enjoyed this book.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Jim Rivera, R. I. P.
'Go-Go' Chisox outfielder 'Jungle Jim' Rivera dies at age 96 - NY Daily News: "Jungle Jim" Rivera, an outfielder on the 1959 "Go-Go" White Sox pennant-winning team, has died.
He was 96.
The team says he died Monday night in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The AL leader in triples in 1953 and steals two years later, "Jungle Jim" played for the White Sox from 1952 to 1961. He was part of the 1959 team that — led by Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and Early Wynn — captured the franchise's first pennant since 1919.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
The team says he died Monday night in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The AL leader in triples in 1953 and steals two years later, "Jungle Jim" played for the White Sox from 1952 to 1961. He was part of the 1959 team that — led by Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and Early Wynn — captured the franchise's first pennant since 1919.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Sleuth Fest 2018
SleuthFest is a writers’ conference sponsored annually by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. 2018 will be its 24nd year.
2018’s Keynote is Andrew Gross, the Forensic Guest of Honor is Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D. The Guest Authors are James R. Benn, Hallie Ephron, Kristy Montee (PJ Parrish), and Hank Phillippi Ryan.
All the Guests of Honor will be giving intensive workshops and participating in panels and other sessions.
While SleuthFest’s emphasis is on writing mystery/thrillers/suspense, over the years, it has become known as one of the best (if not the best) conference for writers of all genres and abilities. There are four tracks of workshops, presentations, and panels in writing craft, business & marketing, and forensics.
Other features are the annual Freddie Awards for Writing Excellence - given at the Friday night banquet, and our famous Author Auction – where attendees can bid on one-on-one sessions, critiques, and character namings from our Guests of Honor and agents and editors. There are cocktail parties, a raffle, pitch sessions with top agents and editors, and many other features.
For many writers, SleuthFest is where they met their agent or editor, which resulted in their books being published. Unique to SleuthFest is the Strategy Sessions with an editor. Attendees may arrange for one-on-one time to ask about any issues they have with their manuscript, whether it’s characterization, pacing, plotting, etc. It’s a great opportunity and a lot of fun.
SleuthFest 2018 will take place March 1-4 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Boca Raton, Florida. More information can be found on the website at www.sleuthfest.com, or contact Victoria Landis & Michael Joy, our Co-Chairs, at Sleuthfestinfo@gmail.com.
2018’s Keynote is Andrew Gross, the Forensic Guest of Honor is Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D. The Guest Authors are James R. Benn, Hallie Ephron, Kristy Montee (PJ Parrish), and Hank Phillippi Ryan.
All the Guests of Honor will be giving intensive workshops and participating in panels and other sessions.
While SleuthFest’s emphasis is on writing mystery/thrillers/suspense, over the years, it has become known as one of the best (if not the best) conference for writers of all genres and abilities. There are four tracks of workshops, presentations, and panels in writing craft, business & marketing, and forensics.
Other features are the annual Freddie Awards for Writing Excellence - given at the Friday night banquet, and our famous Author Auction – where attendees can bid on one-on-one sessions, critiques, and character namings from our Guests of Honor and agents and editors. There are cocktail parties, a raffle, pitch sessions with top agents and editors, and many other features.
For many writers, SleuthFest is where they met their agent or editor, which resulted in their books being published. Unique to SleuthFest is the Strategy Sessions with an editor. Attendees may arrange for one-on-one time to ask about any issues they have with their manuscript, whether it’s characterization, pacing, plotting, etc. It’s a great opportunity and a lot of fun.
SleuthFest 2018 will take place March 1-4 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Boca Raton, Florida. More information can be found on the website at www.sleuthfest.com, or contact Victoria Landis & Michael Joy, our Co-Chairs, at Sleuthfestinfo@gmail.com.
The Old Gibson Guitar Factory – Kalamazoo, Michigan
Atlas Obscura: Although the classic Gibson guitar, used by such greats as Prince, Keith Richards, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King, might bring to mind its current Nashville home, the guitar’s roots are actually in the Michigan city of Kalamazoo. Built in 1917, the Gibson Factory there created some of the most iconic guitars ever made. But beyond the instruments, the factory was also home to the “Kalamazoo Gals,” a group of over 200 women who kept the guitar manufacturer going during World War II.
Bobby Doerr, R. I. P.
Bobby Doerr, Red Sox Hall of Fame second baseman, dead at 99 - NY Daily News: Bobby Doerr, the oldest living major leaguer who enjoyed a 14-year Hall of Fame career with the Red Sox, died on Monday, the team announced. He was 99.
Doerr, the second baseman known as the "silent captain" on the Red Sox teams of the 1940s and early '50s, is the only member of the Hall of Fame to live to be 99 years old. Though his playing career was cut short in 1951 at the age of 33 due to a back injury, Doerr went on to work for decades around the diamond.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Doerr, the second baseman known as the "silent captain" on the Red Sox teams of the 1940s and early '50s, is the only member of the Hall of Fame to live to be 99 years old. Though his playing career was cut short in 1951 at the age of 33 due to a back injury, Doerr went on to work for decades around the diamond.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Overlooked Movies: Great Balls of Fire!
I've been listening to a lot of Jerry Lee Lewis music lately, and it's hard to avoid news stories about Roy Moore in Alabama. The two men are entirely dissimilar except in one disturbing way, or at least Moore is alleged to have liked girls a lot younger than he was. Anyway, all that stuff reminded me of this movie. It's not a great movie, maybe not even a very good one, but it's still fun.Let's start with Dennis Quaid's performance as Lewis. He's great. People who think he's over the top have never read any of the many Jerry Lee Lewis biographies or seen films of Lewis in performance (I've seen him only on TV). Quaid nails him. Lewis was always larger than live and over the top, and Quaid gets it all just right. I don't know about Jimmy Swaggart, but Alec Baldwin turns in a good job as Jerry Lee's cousin. Winona Ryder is the 13-year-old cousin that Jerry Lee marries, and she's okay.
The movie never quite finds the right tone. Sometimes it's almost a comedy, and at others it's serious. I don't think comedy is the right tone for this story. Lewis might seem like a clown to some people, but he was never that. He was serious about his music, and while the movie gets a little of that across, there's a lot more there than we're shown. Judy and I saw this film on the day it opened, what with both of us being big Jerry Lee fans. We weren't disappointed. You might be, but why not take a look and find out.
Monday, November 13, 2017
The True Story Behind ‘Alias Grace’
The True Story Behind ‘Alias Grace’: At the center of the case was a beautiful young woman named Grace Marks. But was she really responsible for the crime?
Celebrities pick their favorite books of 2017
Omnivoracious: Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 2017 Celebrity Picks: We like books. And like we've done the past several years, we've collected reading lists from celebrities-turned-authors who supplement their incomes as actors, politicians, politicians' daughters, chefs, TV personalities, historians, newspeople, and comedians. There are even a few contributors who became famous through writing.
11 Beautiful Vintage Book Covers
11 Beautiful Vintage Book Covers: In The Illustrated Dust Jacket, 1920-1970, Martin Salisbury, professor of illustration at Cambridge School of Art, discusses the life and work of more than 50 artists and illustrators who created some of the most enduring dust jackets of the century, and includes a selection of their work. Salisbury picks 11 of his favorite dust jackets from the era.
Forgotten Hits: November 13th
Forgotten Hits: November 13th: "Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock is the new #1 Record in America.
Lots of info and a SuperCharts.
Lots of info and a SuperCharts.
Liz Smith, R. I. P.
The New York Times: Liz Smith, the longtime queen of New York’s tabloid gossip columns, who for more than three decades chronicled little triumphs and trespasses in the soap-opera lives of the rich, the famous and the merely beautiful, died on Sunday at her home in Manhattan. She was 94.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Chips Off the Old Block?
Chips Off the Old Block?: If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like growing up in Stalin’s shadow or whatever happened to Napoleon’s son, here are their (almost always) tragic stories.
Richard Prosch Interview
PAUL BISHOP ~ WRITER: SPALDING GETS HIS GROOVE ON: Spur award-winning writer Richard Prosch is a master of short-story and novella length Westerns and crime stories with a vicious twist in the tail. He also writes the adventures of sassy twelve-year old Jo Harper set in 1910, Wyoming, which are a delight for all ages. Richard is currently debuting his new contemporary series character, Dan Spalding, in the short-story Spalding’s Groove and a new novel, Answer Death.
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