It’s been nearly 50 years since the last helicopters of Americans, and Vietnamese evacuees, left Vietnam and closed that chapter. Well, not exactly. Stories of that time and place continued to be told, and here is quite a riveting tale of compassion and heroism. Beginning of the end timeline: January 1968: The Tet Offensive. March … More Getting Out of Saigon by Ralph White (book review)
I can’t believe that singer Lucinda Williams is 70 years old! Thankfully, she is showing no signs of slowing down, and she’s just released her memoirs. Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You (2023, Crown Publishing) has just been released and it’s as introspective and haunting as her music. “Too country for rock and … More Lucinda Williams’ Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You (book review)
David Baldacci is an extraordinary printing press. On average, two new novels a year. He’s prolific and sells millions of books. I’ve been reading him for twenty years, and most of his books have been highly enjoyable and thrilling. See my related Baldacci blogs for more. Simply Lies starts off with great promise. The central … More Simply Lies, a new mystery by David Baldacci (2023)
Jim Bouton was an average baseball pitcher, although he had a couple of very successful years. He had once been a member of the proud New York Yankees, where he won 21 games in 1963, and appeared in two World Series, even winning two game in the 1964 series. He won 18 games in 1964, … More Ball Four: The groundbreaking 1970 book about the game of baseball
The Book of Love. Sorry, that’s a misleading title. This blog is about several books, and while it’s certainly about love, it’s more a question about our understanding of love and whether we work at love or just expect it keep us all aglow. What’s the subject of most songs? Love. Why? Love is a … More The Book of Love
The Talking Heads were one of the biggest and most influential musical groups from the late 1970s to the late 1980s, essentially a decade of mostly innovating and provocative music. Once again, we get into labeling issues because this band mixed several genres and infused their own style. Post-punk, New Wave, indie, world music – … More Talking Heads, Chris Frantz’s book and the New Wave era
Part three in my series of recently read mysteries. Winter is the perfect time for indulging in a mystery. A warm beverage, a blanket and soft music on the hi-fi. No, you haven’t traveled back to 1965, but if your book was written by Agatha Christie, it might seem so. Livid (2022) is Patricia Cornwell’s … More And Still More Mystery Fiction (old and new)
Bono, much like Bruce Springsteen, can sell a ton of records and tour stadiums around the world, but is maligned by many for his views and activities. Is he just another rich, liberal rockstar whose solution is to throw other people’s money at countries that can’t solve their own problems? Bono is certainly an activist … More Bono: Surrender, 40 Songs, One Story (book review)
I needed a second blog to list the great new mysteries I can recommend. I still mourning the loss of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone. A Song of Comfortable Chairs (2022) Alexander McCall Smith. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is back, and there is trouble close to home. Mma Makutsi is the center of the … More More New Mystery Fiction (book reviews)
“This book came out of the struggle to try and explain it all to my kids. I want to leave some kind of record that sets things straight, pokes holes in the mythology that’s sprung up around me, destroys some of the legends, and keeps the piranhas off. Something that documents the time I was … More Paul Newman’s Memoir: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man (book review)
Ticket 2 Ride 
You must be logged in to post a comment.