Thursday, June 29, 2006
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Edwina Crews introduced me the lazy town of Maycomb, Alabama in 12th grade literature class. While we had to read several books that I absolutely despised at the time, this one somehow broke through my dislike of reading. Now that I think of it, this was probably the very first "real" book that I read from cover to cover. Since high school, I've probably read it least four or five times. The amazing thing, though, is that it gets better with every reading.So much has been written about this book that I feel completely inadequate offering any insight and observations. So, therefore I won't offer any except this: To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best books ever written for two reasons. First, it takes on the subject of racism and prejudice in both a subtle and overstated way. The two storylines (the comical accounts of the kids and their dealings with Boo Radley and the trial of Tom Robinson) are really the same story with different endings. Second, the construction of the book is pure genius. If you want a great time of literary analysis, just google the title. I'm sure that people have gotten Ph.D.'s examining this book.
I'll take a risk and assume that you've read the book (watching the movie doesn't count.) If you haven't, you really should. So, working on the the assumption that you've read it, here are my top five favorite reasons I like this book so much.
5. Atticus Finch is the absolute personification of fatherhood.
4. There was a place down the road from my childhood home that sound eerily similar to the Radley house.
3. I laugh out loud every time I think about the lie that Dill told to as to why Jem lost his pants.
2. The thought of Scout beating the daylights of her cousin at Christmas.
1. The idea of Scout cussing as a way to persuade Atticus to let her stay home from school.
Simply put, one of the best books of all time.
Rating: 3 Stars
Sunday, June 04, 2006
The Broker by John Grisham
One of three things happened to Grisham with this book.
1. He hit a dry spell. I suppose that after thinking of every conceivable plot involving corrupt lawyers and politicians, he simply took a drive on the dry side. Everyone has them, so I can give him a mulligan on this one. After all, no one hits a home run every at bat.
2. He has run out of gas. See above. Except this...if this is what we can expect from Grisham from now on, he needs to stop typing out mediocrity and go back into the courtroom to find some new material.
3. He mailed it in. When you have sold a gazillion books and made more cash than you can spend, it is only human nature to let your standards slide a bit. Understandable, but not excusable.
What ever the case, the latest installment from the Courtroom Master is well below his standards to say the least. It varies slightly from the usual formula in that he delves into international espionage. Actually, I read an interview with him where he said that he threw a dart at a map, went to Italy for a couple months of "research" (translation: vacation), and set the novel there. That much becomes painfully obvious as much of the book reads like a travel log and Italian language lessons.
So, here's my message to Johnny G-man...
Dear John,
I'm a longtime devoted follower and reader. However, I'm not a brainless lemming who's going to follow you into literary mediocrity. You're much better than this.
If you just duffed this one, here's your mulligan. If you think this was a good novel, then you seriously need to hire an editor who will look you in the eye and say, "This is crap: redo about half of it and resubmit it." If the tank is empty, then make like Mitch McDeere and take the money and run to the Caribbean. No one wants to watch a 50 year old player stumble around the outfield (or read anything he's written.)
Consider yourself warned.
Rating: 1 star.
