Black Sabbath's Master of Reality: 33 1/3 by John Darnielle

For those who are not familiar with it, 33 1/3 is a series of short books published by Continuum. Each book focuses on a different rock album. The subject of this book is, you guessed it, Black Sabbath's classic "Master of Reality."

I haven't read any of the other 33 1/3 books but, from what I've read about them, most take the form of either critical essays or rock journalism on the making of the record in question. John Darnielle, who is himself a musician being the singer, songwriter and principle member of a band called The Mountain Goats, has crafted something entirely different and ultimately more satisfying. "Master of Reality" is a short novel about a troubled teen in a psych ward who is a devoted fan of Black Sabbath.

Darnielle chooses to tell the story from the perspective of his main character, who's name is Roger. The first half of the story is Roger's journal while a 16 year old patient at a psych ward in 1985. Later, the story is picked up in the form of a letter from Roger to one of his therapists, written ten years after the main events of the story took place.

Although the character in the story was several years younger than me (five to be exact) and I never spent any time in a psych ward, it was impossible for me not to empathize with his passion for music in general and Black Sabbath in particular. In many ways, I think that Black Sabbath's role has always been to speak to the troubled teenager that many of us once were and that still seems to live inside. His passionate pleas to his therapist, whom he assumes is reading the journal, to give him back his Black Sabbath tapes, or at least "Master of Reality," made me think of the hours and hours I spent as a teenager listening to and talking about music. For that matter, it made me think of the huge amounts of time I still spend in these endeavors as an adult.

To put it simple, this little book blew me away. It is a very quick read but I wanted to turn back and reread it as soon as I had finished. In the reading and rereading, I found myself thinking about periods of my life that I hadn't thought about in a long time. Like Roger, I have changed greatly since my misspent youth as a troubled teen but, also like Roger, I look back on that time of my life with a complicated mixture of pain and affection. In this wonderful little book, John Darnielle has perfectly captured the complexity of those feelings while also conveying the dark masterpiece that is Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality."

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

This is a book that I probably would've never picked up on my own but, Amazon offered it briefly as a free download so, I decided to check it out. It is a fairly standard serial killer thriller but, don't let that dissuade you from reading it. "The Surgeon" is gripping suspense and Gerritsen is a gifted story teller.

The story centers around a serial killer in Boston who performs living dissections on his female victims. At times, the story is extremely grizzly but the juxtaposition of descriptions of the Surgeon's exploits with those of a female surgeon, who is the focus of the killer's wrath, give the novel a context that is often missing in suspense fiction.

It is unfair to compare the writing in a mystery or thriller to that of a more "literary" genre, however, it is Tess Gerritsen's writing which propels this story. The believability and vulnerability of her characters pulls the reader in and the sections of the book told from the perspective of the killer border on tortured genius. "The Surgeon" had me clicking through the pages as fast as I could read them and at the end of the day, that is the job of a successful suspense novel.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (with an introduction by Robert DeMott)

Like most people, I first read Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" in high school. It was one of four books that we read in a class called "20th Century Literature." For most of the class, it's very length and breadth made the reading of the book a daunting task. I was the geek in the corner who literally lapped the class, reading the entire book twice in the time that everyone else read it once.

Although this isn't my first time to re-read this classic, I was drawn to it this time by all of the correlations that are currently being made in the media between the Great Depression and today's financial crisis. First and foremost, "The Grapes of Wrath" is the quintessential dust bowl ballad of American literature. Steinbeck was able to capture the struggle of the migrant farm worker in 1930s America in a way that makes it not only accessible but also resonant to readers far removed from the events of the novel.

In this reading, which is either my third or fourth reading of the book, I can't remember for sure, I was struck more than ever by the power of the expositional or background chapters, which alternate with the narrative chapters on the plight of the Joad family. In his fascinating and informative introduction, Robert DeMott compares these chapters to jazz riffs, which is as appropriate a comparison as I can think of. The writing throughout the book is powerful and moving but, it is in these "interchapters," as Steinbeck called them, that the author really flexes his muscles as a writer.

I was also moved by the never ending resolve of the Joad family in the face of what amounts to a constant assault on their human dignity. There is an underlying goodness to most of the characters in the book that, while it may be old fashioned, is a powerful assessment of the ability of human beings to rise to an occasion or at least to band together in defeat.

"The Grapes of Wrath," is by no means a happy story and the ending is probably as far from the classic "happy ending" as could be imagined. It is, however, a story that is often moving and at times inspiring. If it's been awhile since you've read it, you should revisit this masterpiece of American literature. If you've never read it, then stop fooling around on the Internet, get yourself a copy of this book and read it.

Vote For Barack Obama (If You Haven't Already)

I spent yesterday afternoon hanging around on the mall in downtown Cleveland, waiting to hear Barack Obama speak. Four years ago, I spent most of the night before the election in the same place waiting to hear John Kerry make his final pitch for the presidency. While there was a sense of deja vu to yesterday's event - thousands of democrats, Bruce Springsteen performed etc., - the differences couldn't have been more palpable.

Both crowds felt like rock concert crowds but Kerry's crowd felt like a Springsteen concert while yesterday's rock star was the candidate, Barack Obama. There were vendors wandering about selling t-shirts, buttons and rally towels. Near where I was standing, dozens of parents cheerfully boosted their children up on top of what appeared to be a very wobbly structure for a better look. I don't condone putting children in danger but it did say something about the historic nature of the event. There was a sense of this being something that we've never seen before.

I don't remember seeing a more diverse crowd at any event I've ever attended. There were old people, young people, white people, black people, Hispanics, Asians, hippies, preppies, gays, straights and even a few football fans spilling over from the Browns game. I don't believe that his ability to unite diverse groups of people is reason enough to elect Barack Obama president but I think it's a start. There has never been a president or public figure in my lifetime that has galvanized the American population in this way.

So, if not for his ability to unite diversity, why should you vote for Barack Obama? Because it's time for America to take the plunge. To put our money on the horse that has the most potential instead of the one who has been in the game the longest. A vote for John McCain is a vote in support of the politics of misdirection. We must, once and for all, repudiate the idea that half truths and outright lies are just part of a so called "tough campaign." The attempts by the McCain campaign to characterize Barack Obama as a terrorist who hates America or a Socialist are at least as repugnant as the legendary Willy Horton incident that sunk the campaign of Mike Dukakis back in 1988. The difference is that this time they don't seem to be working.

So if you haven't already voted, get to the polls early tomorrow and stand in whatever length of line you need to and cast your vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. It's time to have a president who can inspire us to actually be the greatest country in the world instead of merely mouthing those words that we've been told since childhood. Use your voice to cast a vote for leadership over cynicism, hope over fear, ideas over character assassination and hope over anger.

Trials of the Monkey: An Accidental Memoir by Matthew Chapman

Matthew Chapman is a screenwriter who also happens to be the great-great grandson of Charles Darwin. In this, his first book, he set out to write about the legendary Scopes Monkey Trial, which occurred in Dayton, TN in 1925, and wound up writing what he accurately calls "An Accidental Memoir."

The centerpiece of the book is an annual re-enectment held in Dover on the anniversary of the original trial. He makes two trips to Dover, one for some background and the other to cover the re-enactment. Hilariously, Chapman gets his date confused and makes his return trip to Dover the week AFTER the mock trial.

Intertwined with with accounts of his two trips to Dover are glimpses from Chapman's life growing up in England, his early exposure to writing and his career as a Hollywood screenwriter. This makes for a fascinating read that tells as much about the author as it does about the legendary creationism vs evolution trial and Christian fundamentalism both past and present.

I've also read Chapman's second book, "40 Days and 40 Nights," in which he covers the more recent intelligent design vs evolution trial in Dover, PA (see my post elsewhere on this blog) and am finding that he is becoming a favorite among current authors. His tendency to inject himself into the story and his ability to find something to like about almost everyone he comes in contact with, regardless of whether he agrees with them or not, make his writing endlessly interesting. He also has an ability to laugh at himself that is a crucial element in any memoir.

Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs

I don't know if it's a new thing but, there seems to be a developing genre of authors who's focus is on their own lives, which have been tortured by mental illness and any number of substance abuse problems. Actually, when I stop to think about it, maybe this style has been around longer than I think. Jack Kerouac? Ernest Hemingway?

Whether it is a new genre or not, Augusten Burroughs' writing falls squarely in this realm. "Possible Side Effects" is a collection of hilarious but also often sad essays on Burroughs' life both past and present. His delivery will keep you laughing out loud but the pathos that lies beneath most of his writing will, at times, have you concerned for his safety.

In a lot of ways, Burroughs' reminds be of his fellow gay humorist, David Sedaris but, as hard as this may be to believe, I think Sedaris is more comfortable in his own skin. There is a dangerous edge to most of the writing in "Possible Side Effects" that makes it as powerful, thought provoking and compelling as it is funny.

I really can't say enough good things about this book. When I finished it, I had to resist the urge to simply turn back to the beginning and start again.

Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion, and the Battle for America's Soul by Edward Humes

I just realized that I am WAY behind on my goal of writing about all of the books that I read this year. I actually finished this book back in August, have read two more since and am almost finished with a third. So, without further adieu:

If you've been following my blog this year, you know that the battle between evolution and intelligent design has become something of an obsession for me. It started with Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" which, I think, lays out a very compelling case that there is in fact no evidence of the existence of God and that the theory of evolution isn't controversial at all. It is settled science.

In "Monkey Girl," Humes does an excellent job of reporting on the 2005 trial in Dover, PA. If you're unfamiliar with the case, the Dover school board had adopted a policy of "teaching the controversy" between intelligent design and evolution and was successfully sued by the parents of several students within the school district. The judge in the case found that intelligent design is not science at all. Instead it is merely creationism with a new name and therefore has no place in science class.

Having read Matthew Chapman's excellent "40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania," I was already very familiar with most of the story told by Edward Humes. However, Humes book focuses more on the facts of the trial and the impact on the community where Chapman's focus is more on the individuals involved in the story. "40 Days and 40 Nights" reads more like a memoir where "Monkey Girl" is a piece of journalistic reporting.

Both books are excellent and both are crucial to understanding this important trial in American history. Why do I think it's so important? Because science matters. This is a free country and we have the right to believe whatever we want but a fundamentalist reading of the bible that chooses to ignore established scientific fact, for example that the earth is much older than ten thousand years, isn't faith it is ignorance.

Subject To Debate

I am excited to announce a new blog that I will be writing with my friend John Bertosa. For as long as I've known him, I've thought of John as my "conservative friend." Not that I only have one conservative friend but, John and I have always been able to have interesting, intelligent conversations about politics without devolving to the usual level of "You're wrong!" "Oh yeah, wel YOU'RE stupid!"

After a recent converstation about the presidential election, John and I decided that it would be fun and interesting to start a blog in which we would debate politics from our respective viewpoints. Check it out if you are so inclined.

http://subjecttodebate.blogspot.com/

My Top 10 Albums of All Time! (yes, I am in fact a geek)

A friend and I recently decided to compile our lists of Top 10 Records of All Time which is, sadly, not even the geekiest thing that I've ever done. Anyway, since I spent the last month listening to tons of music to come up with this list, I thought I'd write about it here.

Before I delve into the list itself, I have to say that this was more difficult than I expected it to be. Like most people, my taste in music covers a very wide range of eras, styles and artists and I found it very difficult to crystallize which records are, in my opinion, the best or most important.

I should also mention that the phrase "Top 10 Records of All Time" is inherently ridiculous. Let's not kid ourselves here, if I made this list once a year for the rest of my life, it would probably be a very different list from year to year. Music sometimes has a tendency to come and go in my life.

After careful consideration and much deliberation, I went with the music that had the most impact on me as a listener, as a musician and just as a person. Once I came up with this parameter, I was able to narrow the list down to my definitive top ten, at least for today.

As you would expect, a lot of this music came on my radar in late high school and early adulthood. I've always thought that this is the period when people are most likely to form their musical identity. Everything we hear after that is shaped by those seminal listening experiences. Having said that, there are a few albums that are more recent and there were a lot of near misses that were released in the past ten years or so.

Okay, without further adieu, here, in order, is my Top 10 Albums of All Time:

1) The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies (1971)

This one was actually an easy choice. It's one of those records that has always spoken to me. I remember hearing it for the first time, the day my brother brought it home from the store, and thinking that I didn't really need to hear anything else. I could just play this glorious album over and over for the rest of my life. It's combination of blues, country and British rock influences has probably shaped me as a songwriter more than anything else I've ever heard.

2) Muddy Waters - Hard Again (1977)

I was around twelve years old the first time I heard this record and it completely fucked me up. I was at once terrified, confused and inspired. Up to that point, I really had no idea what "The Blues" was. A few months earlier, I had convinced my mother to buy me a harmonica and an instruction book by Tony "Little Sun" Glover called "Blues Harp: An Instruction Method for Playing Blues Harmonica." I'd spent the time in between pouring over the book and trying desperately to figure out what it all meant and who all of these people - Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters - were. Wandering through my local library, I happened to notice a section of the record racks labeled "Blues" and "Hard Again," which was new at the time, was the very first record on the stack. I checked the album out of the library, took it home and proceeded to blow my mind for the next two weeks. People often talk about music or literature or films that changed their lives, this album, more than any other, did that for me. It's the reason I started playing music and in the blues, it gave me the style of music that has always defined me as a performer and songwriter.

3) Bob Dylan - Desire (1976)

For years, my favorite Dylan record was always "Blood On The Tracks" but, at some point this album took over my consciousness. It includes some of Bob's strongest songwriting which, given his incredible track record, is really saying something. "One More Cup of Coffee," "Joey," "Isis" - every song here is a masterpiece. Interestingly, the Bob Dylan album that came the closest to knocking this one off this list was "Modern Times," which is also his most recent work.

4) The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street (1972)

I almost didn't include this album on the list because I think it occupies a space that is, sonically speaking, very similar to Muswell Hillbillies. But how could any self respecting fan of rock music not include this album? Mick and Keith and company were firing on all cylinders and the music has a depth of feeling that has rarely been approached by anyone else. I should note that this album is by far best enjoyed in it's original vinyl format. The Stones did an amazing job of arranging each of the double album's four sides as if they were self contained entities. That vibe gets lost a bit when you don't have to pause to flip the record over.

5) Johnny Cash - The Sun Years (recorded as singles in the 1950s)

I don't know whether to rave about the breathtaking quality of songs like "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk The Line," "Mean Eyed Cat" and "Big River," or about the guitar playing of Luther Perkins who, along with Carl Perkins (no relation) and Scotty Moore, was among the first true guitar heroes in rock and roll. Yes, I said, rock and roll. Johnny may be primarily known as a country artist, but this music is rock and roll plain and simple. More than fifty years after it's release, it still sounds dark and brooding and, most of all, dangerous. When Johnny says he killed a man "just to watch him die" we not only believe him, there's no guarantee that he might not do it again. No artist has worn his demons on his sleeve more than the great Johnny Cash and these recordings are where it all started.

6) Neil Young - On The Beach (1974)

For some reason, this has never been one of Neil's most famous albums and it never seems to get the credit it deserves. It's dark mix of blues, country and stoned rock is at once comforting and extremely unsettling. "Revolution Blues," "For The Turnstiles," "Vampire Blues" - even the song titles are dark and mysterious. Every time I play this album, which is often, I want to cover a different song from it. I keep wanting use cliches like "dark masterpiece" because I really don't have words to describe how much I love this record.

7) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (1996)

In the mid 1990s, Johnny Cash made an appearance at the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas and chose Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds as his impromptu backing band for the occasion. This may be all that needs to be said about Nick and his gang of dangerous men and women. I bought this album in the late 90s, after buying, and loving, it's follow up "The Boatman's Call." At that point, I'd been listening to music for over twenty five years and I really didn't think anything could shatter my preconceptions like this album did. If you don't already own it, stop what you're doing right now and go buy this record. Then buy everything else Nick Cave has ever done.

8) The Who - Who's Next (1971)

As a kid I played this album so much that I actually wore out multiple copies of it. Even after hundreds, possibly even thousands of plays, it still hasn't lost it's appeal. I'm listening to it as I type this and it still moves me in new and different ways each and every time I hear it. As much as I love rock music, much of it is nowhere near as important in the scheme of "great art" as we'd all like to believe. "Who's Next" is one of the exceptions. If you needed an album to give to an alien race as an example of just how good rock music of the late 20th century could be, this would be your best choice.

9)Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Last DJ (2002)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are the great American rock and roll band and this is quite simply their crowning achievement. Taking aim at the decline and fall of rock radio in particular and the music business in general, Petty conjures the finest songs of his career. The record is nothing short of a bitter sweet masterpiece. Songs like "Dreamville" and "Blue Sunday" are as powerful as any that the genre has ever produced.

10) Bob Marley & The Wailers - The Complete Upsetter Singles (recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s)

While I love all of Bob Marley's music, these sides, which pre-date international stardom by a year or two, are the most powerful music in his considerable cannon. Virtually all of these songs found their way onto later Marley albums but these raw recordings, produced by Jamaican mastermind/crazy person Lee "Scratch" Perry, are his greatest moment. Much like the Elvis Presley records of the 50s, they witness the birth of a new music, in this case reggae. Bob was writing songs constantly and hearing his excitement, passion and joy as this music literally unfolds before his ears is as close to a religious experience as music is probably capable of.

What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception by Scott McClellan

When I heard that the former White House press secretary had written a "tell all" book on his years with the Bush administration, I was interested in much the same way that rush hour drivers are interested in an accident on the other side of the freeway. I knew that McClellan had been press secretary through some of the most harrowing days of the Bush administration and felt a bit sorry for him because I believed that he had been lied to on numerous occasions by the President himself as well as the inner circle of the administration. I didn't expect the book to be enlightening but I found myself wanting to read about the carnage.

It was no surprise that this book was ruthlessly attacked by those within and close to the Bush administration. The book was mostly characterised as an angry response by a bitter former employee. At first, this actually made some sense to me. But then I thought about the interviews that McClellan had given around the time he resigned from his post. At that time, he seemed like a loyal Bushie who had simply reached burnout. So why would he change his tune a year or so later?

The reasoning became more apparent when I read the preface to "What Happened." According to the author, it wasn't until he began the process of reflection that the writing of a memoir requires that he began to formulate the views he chose to include in the book. This felt honest to me so, I decided to plunge in and see what he had to say.

The crux of this book, which I think is being left out of much of the discussion surrounding it, is the concept of the "permanent campaign" and it's negative effects on our government, society and citizens. McClellan recounts his political career prior to the White House and his years in the Bush administration from the perspective that we have gone horribly wrong in our approach to government. By treating every issue as if it were a campaign and making governing decisions entirely based on the way they will play to a particular political base, we have lost sight of the true function of government.

Although his writing isn't always as eloquent as I'd like it to be, I think Scott McClellan makes some very important points in this book. There are a lot of voices shouting for the end of bipartisanship and the removal of money from politics but, McClellan speaks to these issues with a unique inside viewpoint that gives his message and it's ability to add to the dialogue an added resonance. The fact that McClellan is, for the most part, a political conservative, helps to enforce his point that the "permanent campaign" reaches far beyond ideas of liberal or conservative, republican or democrat. It is, to steal a phrase from the Nixon era, a cancer on the heart of our political system.

The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America by David Hajdu

Some of my favorite comic books are the horror anthology comics published by EC Comics in the 1950's. This book focuses on that era of comics and specifically on how a wave of hysteria built up to the point that government forces pushed many of the publishers, writers out of the business for good.

Although the two are probably inextricable, I was more interested in the history of the comics from that era than I was in the story of their downfall. David Hajdu, in a writing style that can best be described as "dry," chooses to emphasise the latter, in exhaustive detail.

While the book was interesting, it was also, at times, a bit tedious and therefore took me a very long time to get through. I found it to be almost textbook like in it's approach. All in all, not a terrible book and possibly of great interest to those looking to learn more about 1950's comic books and their place in our culture. It just wasn't quite the book I set out to read.

Ten Books In Four Months

I don't know if ten books in four months is anything to brag about but, I feel good that I've read that many and actually kept up with writing about them here. You may have noticed that I write about the books in spurts. That's because I tend to read them faster than I can write about them. Well, faster than I am writing about them anyway. If you look at the past few entries, it looks like I've read three books in a week but, in actuality, I've ready three books since the end of March.

Looking back through the books I've read so far, it's interesting to me how much science fiction I've read. I generally read a wider variety of fiction types but, I guess sci fi is just what I'm gravitating towards at the moment. I also think it's interesting that there seems to be a balance between social commentary/politics and fiction. I'm not really sure what that means but, it must mean something I guess.

Anyway, I hope people are enjoying reading about what I'm reading. I'd love to see more comments so, don't be shy. Also, I will be doing more of the other writing that I've done here, particularly the automatic fiction which I find particularly rewarding.

Galaxy Blues by Allen Steele

This book was originally serialized in Azimov's Science Fiction Magazine, which is where I read it. Instead of reading it in the four monthly installments, I waited until all four issues had been published and then read the entire book.

I was completely unfamiliar with Allen Steele's writing and found this book to be, for the most part, an enjoyable sci fi diversion. I tend to lean towards more thought provoking science fiction but occasionally, a good old fashioned adventure story is a welcome change.

One of the best elements of Steele's writing is his emphasis on character development. Often, so called, "hard" science fiction spends too much energy on the technology and world building aspects of the genre and nowhere enough time on the characters who are living through the story. Obviously, strong characters are almost always an essential part of good fiction but, sadly, this is sometimes overlooked by modern science fiction writers.

The only flaw to this book is that the actual adventure itself gets a little boring and predictable at times. For the most part, Allen Steele's story telling instincts and the likability of his characters manage to hold the book together and make it worth reading.

"Galaxy Blues" seems to be part of or related to a series of books that Steele has written about a fictional planet called Coyote.

The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby

Dismayed by the rapid decrease of reading, writing and intelligent discourse in America, Susan Jacoby has crafted an engaging, at times humorous, often depressing and always thought provoking book on the present, past and future of intellectualism in America.

I came into this book thinking that the author would be "preaching to the choir" and was surprised to come away looking hard at my own life for ways to change. Although I am an avid reader and consider myself, probably quite pompously, to be an intellectual, when I really started looking at how I spend my time, I found that there is room for improvement. Like most Americans, I still spend far too much time watching television, playing video games and surfing the web and nowhere near as much time as I'd like reading, thinking, creating or engaged in thought provoking conversation.

I have begun to make some changes in how I spend my free time but, as I read this book I kept thinking, "How can we change this trend?" The answer isn't so simple but, like fighting global warming, doing something is better than doing nothing. So, I hope anyone reading this will consider cutting by one third the time they spend each day watching television, reading more books, experiencing more life and, most important of all, doing all you can to encourage and help the children in your life to do the same. If you have children of your own, read to them every day and when they are old enough to read themselves, take them to the library every week. Make reading and talking and thinking the central aspects of your family life.

No, I haven't completely forsaken television or video games and this blog is proof that I still see the Internet as part of my entertainment/information mix. However I am trying to recommit myself to not only being an intellectual but to celebrating intellect and reason. I hope you will do the same and reading Susan Jacoby's book is as good a place to start as any.

At the beginning of this year, I made the decision to write about the books I read on this blog. My reasons at the time were to create a record, for me as much as anyone else, of the books that I read and what I thought of them. I also hoped it would cause me to read more books than I ordinarily would. I don't know if that's happened or not but, after reading "The Age of American Unreason," I feel like I have a new reason for writing about books in this space. As much as anything else, blogging is about the exchange of ideas, which gives us a unique opportunity to further the dialogue in this country. Here's hoping my little corner of the blogosphere can achieve that goal in some small way.

The Man In The High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Outside the circles of serious science fiction fans, Philip K. Dick is mostly known as the author of the books that the movies Blade Runner and Minority Report were based on. Science fiction fans know him as one of the most inventive and best writers in the genre. I would go a step further and say that he is one of the most important writers of his era, which is the early 1960s through the early 1980s.

It has always been a bit of a puzzle to me that science fiction authors are always thought of as being a bit "minor league" by the literary establishment. Writers like Dick, Ray Bradbury and Robert Silverburg belie this theory.

"The Man In The High Castle" is widely viewed as Philip K. Dick's masterpiece. Originally published in 1962 it is one of the first of the now prevalent alternate history sub genre and it's basic premise is that America came out on the losing end of World War II and is now under the split control of Japan and Germany.

Like most of Dick's best work, this is a thought provoking work of social commentary and solid fiction writing that left me with as many questions as it did answers. I had to resist the urge to immediatly go back and read it again.

The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records by Ashley Khan

Impulse records, the final and perhaps definitive, record label of John Coltrane, was the premier jazz record label from the late fifties through the late sixties. This carefully researched book traces the history of the label up through its demise in the mid seventies (although it would return later and still exists as a functioning label today), with particular focus on the influence of John Coltrane.

Like most books about music or musicians, the most interesting part is the early days when Creed Taylor created the label (then part of ABC records) and handed off the reins to Bob Thiele who produced such classics as Coltrane’s "A Love Supreme" and "Crescent" while ushering in the glory years of Impulse.

Ashley Khan's knowledge and understanding of jazz and his unabashed love for the Impulse sound and look make this book interesting reading. I particularly liked the thirty or so sidebar pieces that focus on specific releases, which are important to the history of the label and, for that matter, the history of jazz. He also spends considerable time on the very distinctive LP sleeve design characteristics that made these records stand out from the rest of the pack. Impulse records are great to listen to AND to look at.

The only caveat that I will give you regarding this book is that it may cause you to have an expensive jones to purchase some Impulse vinyl records. I know it did that to me.

40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania by Matthew Chapman

This book popped up on my Amazon recomendations, probably as a result of Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion." It is the story of the 2005 Dover, PA Intelligent Design trial and, interestingly enough, it was written by Charles Darwin's great-great grandson, Matthew Chapman. When I read the description, or for that matter the subtitle, I was intrigued and the book didn't dissapoint.

Chapman has an easy going, irreverant style that makes the story a quick read. His empathy with the plaintiffs in the case, who were suing the school board for introducing Intelligent Design into the Dover school science curriculum, isn't surprising however, his ability to get to know and like the defendents is part of what makes the book so special. As I said, his approach isn't exactly scholarly but his strong sense of character development makes this read at times like a novel and at other times like a memoir.

I am fascinated by the proliferation of Intelligent Design as a scientific concept. It's very difficult for me to get my head around the idea that there are educated, intelligent people who somehow still believe that Darwin's theory of evolution is not settled science. They seem to get caught up in the word "theory," which is often used in common language to put forth an opinion about the truth of a given subject (I guess in science that would probably be a hypothesis). In science, theory is used to describe a concept that is proven by a series of facts. As I understand it, a scientist first makes a hypothesis, or best guess, and once he has proven that hypthosis, it becomes a theory.

Matthew Chapman also has a book about the Scopes evolution vs creation trial of 1925 that I really want to read. There is also a book called "Monkey Girl" by Edward Humes that is also about the Dover, PA case. I'm thinking of reading that as well. Like I said, I find this subject both perplexing and fascinating.

Storm Front (The Dresden Files Book 1) by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden, the central character of sci-fi/fantasy author Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, is a sort of wizard for hire/private detective. The concept sounds a little silly but Butcher makes it work by invoking the style of the great Raymond Chandler, creator of probably the most compelling and certainly the best written private dick in all of literature, Philip Marlowe.

Like virtually all detective stories the premise of "Storm Front" is a basic murder mystery. Well, almost. In this case, the murder, which soon becomes a series of murders, was done via magic, with the victims hearts spontaneously bursting from their chests. Pretty grizzly stuff but I have to admit it got my attention.

The first few chapters read like a classic detective story however, the book falls off the rails slightly when Dresden starts performing magic. Some of the scenes that involve magic are entertaining in a Harry Potter fashion, while others are just plain hokey. Overall though, I found the book interesting enough to keep me turning the pages and the central, and seemingly reoccurring, characters were likable enough to make me want to read the next book in the series, "Fool Moon."

It also made we want to revisit the works of the great Raymond Chandler which, are required reading for anyone interested in fiction. Chandler was truly one of the great writers of the twentieth century. Jim Butcher is by no means in Chandler's league but "Storm Front" is an entertaining and fun story.

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

If you are unfamiliar with Richard Dawkins, he is a fairly famous evolutionary biologist and an even more famous atheist. The God Delusion is his complex inquiry into the existence of God.

I was drawn to this book after hearing an interview with Dawkins on NPR and, for the most part, found the it compelling. There were, however much I hate to admit it, sections of the book that were a bit over my head or at least more complex than what I signed on for. I'm sure that the author felt like he was explaining Darwin's theories of evolution as if speaking to a child but, he still managed to lose me a few times.

Overall though, the book was an interesting read and I'd have to say that I recommend to anyone who has ever seriously contemplated the existence of God. My personal feeling on the issue has always been that it really doesn't matter whether there's a God or not. The existence or lack of an "after life" holds no motivation for me in my behavior. In this book, Dawkins makes a good case that the tendency of human beings to "be good" if you will, is rooted in Darwin's theories of evolution.

No matter what your religious beliefs, I think anyone with an open mind could learn something from reading this book. Will it make believers into atheists? I doubt it, but it does late out a compelling argument that any believer should be willing to see and respond to.

Born Standing Up: A Comics Life by Steve Martin

Okay, I know you're probably thinking, "how the f-ck did he read all these damn books in three or four days?" Actually, I've read them all since January 1st and I started the Bill Littlefield book in December. I just finally got around to writing about all of them.

This book is significant for a couple of reasons, first I was a teenager when Steve Martin rose to fame as a stand up comic and I have fond memories of listening to his records and watching him guest host Saturday Nigh Live. Secondly, this is the first book that I read on my Kindle. Don't know what a Kindle is? It is a new ebook reading device from Amazon that is better by leaps and bounds than any that has ever come before it. I don't really have time to go into a rant about how incredible it is and how it has effected my reading habits but, if you are interested in ebooks at all, you may want to check it out for yourself at Amazon.

As to the book itself, like Martin's two short novels, "Shop Girl" and "The Pleasure of My Company," this book is written in a slightly melancholy, self deprecating style that I find infinitely compelling. I think that his obvious talents as a comic actor, screenwriter and director overshadow just how good his prose writing is. The narrative of "Born Standing Up," which, after a brief chapter or two on the author's childhood, focuses entirely on his years as a stand up comic and the author's bittersweet voice has the reader rooting for him, and crying with him, every step of the way.

I vaguely knew that, prior to his breakout success in the late 70's, Steve Martin had spent some time writing for television. However, I was unaware that he had toiled in obscurity for ten years or so before having success as a stand up comedian. The section of the book that focuses on those early lean years is the most satisfying to read. This is partly due the fondness with which he looks back on a time that he quite obviously hadn't thought of in years and partly because the development of his ground breaking stand up comedy style makes for fascinating reading.

There is a veil of sadness that hangs over the entire book, particular the section covering Martin's unprecedented, rock star like fame. His complicated relationship with his family, particularly his father, and his natural inclination to be a loner often seems to have made the road a sad and lonely place for Steve Martin. When his career as a comedian finally comes to an end, there is a huge sense of relief from the writer as he moves into a phase of his career that seems much happier for him.

I guess we'll have to wait and see if he eventually writes another book about the later phase of his career but, really, I just hope he continues gracing us with the occasional short novel or memoir so that we can continue to enjoy his writing.

Mr. Monk Goes To The Firehouse by Lee Goldberg

Admittedly, writing about a book based on a television detective won't do much for my literary credibility but, I said I was going to write about all of the books I read this year and this was the second one I read. I think you'll find as the year goes by, assuming that I keep this up, that I read a lot of different types of books and that there is nothing that is either too lo or too high brow for my attention.

I'm assuming that anyone reading this is probably at least a little familiar with the USA network TV series, "Monk," which is about the exploits of a San Francisco private detective who just happens to be obsessive/compulsive. The show is quirky, hilarious and well crafted as is this book, which appears to be the first in a series.

I don't know whether Lee Goldberg wrote this book before he began writing for the series or vice versa but he has captured the tone of the show beautifully. It is written from the perspective of Natalie Teager, Monk's long suffering assistant and de facto baby sitter, and he writes in her voice perfectly. The story if full of neurotic asides that give the reader an insight into Natalie's thinking in an endearing way. Her character is likable from the first page of the book, which is crucial because Monk, in all of his mentally damaged glory, isn't always the most likable character.

Books that are based on characters from a television show are generally light fair and this book is no exception. However, Goldberg's firm grasp on the personalities and intricacies of those characters make this a quite pleasant if not exactly thought provoking read. There is, after all, artistry in simplicity.

It's Only A Game by Bill Littlefield

Every year I think about keeping a running log of the books that I read as the year goes by. Not anything too in depth maybe just a few sentences to say what I thought of the book etc. I think it could be a cool thing to look back on. Also, I like the idea of keeping a running tally of how many books I've read all year. Something of a contest with myself I guess. So, here goes the first book I read for the year.

Bill Littlefield is the host of the National Public Radio program "It's Only A Game," which is a sort of intellectual, slightly irreverent, often very funny sports show that airs early Saturday mornings in my area. This book is a collection of essays and poems that spans the history of the show. Much like the show, the book is often hilarious, sometimes very poignant and occasionally transcendent.

Littlefield often reads poetry on the radio show and I have to say that, for the most part, they work better in an audio format than they do on the written page. Not to say that all of the poems in the book are crap but, some of them suffer a bit because it's hard to find the natural rhythm of Bill's voice, which is such a big part of his poetry.

The essays are the strongest part of the book. His writing is always honest and observant in a way that sports writing rarely is. The best way to describe it is that his sports writing is never macho in any way. Nor for that matter is the radio show. Littlefield writes for those of us who grew up frightened in every locker room situation we were ever in but still somehow found a way to love sports.

You can both order this book and check out podcasts of Only A Game by visiting their website.