My Favorite Reading in 2014

These are in no particular order because each one is special in its own way.  To see a few of my comments, visit my Goodreads page: www.goodreads.com 

Literary Fiction

1.       All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

2.       Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson

3.       Nora Webster by Colm Toibin

4.       The Paying Guests by Sara Waters

5.       A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

6.       Girls in Their Married Bliss by Edna O’Connor

Mysteries

7.       The Son by Jon Nesbo

8.       Police by Jon Nesbo

Short Stories

9.       Dear Life by Alice Munro

Memoir and Biography

10.   Country Girl by Edna O’Brien

11.   Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher:  The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan

What Happened When I Judged a Book By Its Cover

The Big Crowd
by Kevin Baker      February 2014                

 

It was the book cover, a watercolor depiction of New York City skyscrapers, that drew my attention to "The Big Crowd." As I stood in the aisle of the bookstore reading the inside jacket, I realized the story was about former New York City Mayor William O'Dwyer and his younger brother Paul, a noted New York attorney. I knew I had to get the book because of the O'Dwyer link to my own family.

The O'Dwyers were friends of my grandfather, all of them from Bohola, a small town in County Mayo, Ireland. I recalled my mother telling me about the visits Bill made to their home on Madison Street in Brooklyn in the years before he became mayor.

"The Big Crowd" is historical fiction about the years between 1940 and 1953 when corruption was rampant throughout the city, and when the names of Murder, Inc. criminals filled the pages of the newspapers. This is a look at how sometimes the good guys make accommodations with the bad guys in order to get things done. I was young during these years but I do remember how Bill O'Dwyer fell from grace when corruption rumors surrounded him and especially when he married the fashion model Sloan Simpson(Slim Sadler in the book.).

In the 1980s, I happened to mention to a friend, a writer for the Irish Echo, that my sister and I were planning a trip to Ireland and, of course, would visit Bohola. He told me to call Paul O'Dwyer at his Wall Street office to let him know. I didn't see why, but I called anyway and left a message. A few days later Paul O'Dwyer called my home. He encouraged me to visit a group home for the disabled that he helped to establish in Bohola. Of course, I would. Then he went on to tell me he remembered my grandfather and an uncle who had moved to Cleveland and established an insurance firm. I was amazed at his memory for such details.

So it was with these memories that I turned the pages of this book. There are many familiar names here, some of whom, like Cardinal Francis Spellman, do not fare well. And Robert Moses, credited for the area's highway system who seems like an unpleasant person to do business with. "The Big Crowd" is historical fiction, but the barebones are accurate and a good history lesson.

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“It will cost you an arm and a leg.”

 July 23, 2018 Note:  I am able to resuscitate my blog because by twists and turns I've discovered how to give it life again. To test this out, here's an entry I wrote about a trip I took to Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania on February 13, 2014



Certain common phrases entered our vocabulary in an interesting way. Take, for example, “It will cost you an arm and a leg.”

I learned its origin a while ago on a trip to the Brandywine Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. As the docent led the group through the home and studio of the famous Wyeth family – illustrator N. C. Wyeth, his artist son Andrew and artist grandson Jamie, she stopped at a portrait done during the 19th century by a possible Wyeth ancestor.

 The portrait showed only the man’s head and shoulders. The docent explained that in those days if a client wanted an artist to paint a fuller depiction of himself, he would have to pay more. If he wanted his arms shown, there would be an additional charge and a full-length painting would increase the cost considerably. Therefore, the suggestion of a higher price – “It will cost you an arm and a leg.”

If you’re a word detective or know the origin of a common phrase, I’d love to hear from you.

Book List for 2013

I don't think it's the number of books you read; it's the amount of enjoyment that comes (or not!) from delving into a novel or a book of nonfiction. Some people want to reach their goal of 50 books each year. I didn't set a goal - never do - but I spent many good hours with novels and nonfiction this year, 43 in all. Here are a few of the books that I enjoyed most in 2013.  If you care to see my entire list, go to www.goodreads.com.

Someone by Alice McDermott
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
Transatlantic by Colum McCann
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty by Sebastian Barry
Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
Beyond the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Benediction by Kent Haruf
Fools of Fortune by William Trevor
I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson
And the Mountains Echoed by Khalid Hosseini
Strapless, John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X by Deborah Davis
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell


Here are a few that failed to meet expectations:
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwen
The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwen
The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Ekphrasis and Bildungsroman

While you’re reading do you always stop at an unfamiliar and look up its meaning right away?  Or do you jot it down on a handy piece of paper and say to yourself that you’ll find its definition later? Perhaps you just read on and figure out its meaning from its context?

 

While reading a review of Donna Tartt’s novel “The Goldfinch” in the New Yorker I came across “ekphrasis,” a word I’d never seen before.  I scribbled it on a piece of scrap paper and laid it aside.  Here it is a few weeks later and I have finally decided to see what it means.  

From www.merriam-webster.com a definition of ekphrasis:  “a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art.”  I don’t know if I’ll ever use “ekphrasis” in writing or in conversation, but at least I’ll remember what it means if I come across it again.

Like “bildungsroman.”  Because I don’t come across it very often I have to stop for a second to recall that it means a novel that charts the development of the main character’s mind and character from childhood through various experiences into maturity.  A few examples of a bildungsroman: “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” (Betty Smith), “The Catcher in the Rye” (J.D. Salinger), “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (Stephen Chbosky), “Someone” (Alice McDermott), and “Portnoy’s Complaint” (Philip Roth).

Every year at this time people select books for gift-giving and many a bildungsroman will be among them.  Word-A-Day calendars also make the gift lists.  I’ll check but I doubt “ekphrasis” will be among the pages.

 

 

 

Fashion Plates and Spinsters
 

Whenever I stop to consider the derivation of certain words and phrases, I often wonder why I’d never thought before how they came to be part of our English language.  “Fashion plate,” for example.  

I knew, of course, that the term refers to someone, usually a woman, who is dressed in the latest style. Recently I learned its derivation while reading “Strapless,” a book written by Deborah Davis about the artist John Singer Sargent and his model for the painting Madame X.  In the book Davis describes the life of upper-class women in Paris in the 1880s. She explains that new dress designs were pressed onto plates which were then printed in the local fashion magazines and newspapers. 

And then last week during a lecture on the history of American women, I learned about spinsters. During the 19^th Century, when the women who worked in mills as spinners of fabrics reached a certain age, usually thirty, they were regarded as being beyond the age of marriage. These “old” women were then referred to as “spinsters.” 

It’s a different story today as “unmarried” has replaced “spinster” which earlier in this century brought to mind an old woman with wrinkled hands sitting in her rocking chair. Today you may call a woman a fashion plate and you’ll be met with a smile.  Call her a spinster and she might hit you with her AARP card.

  

Who needs a summer reading list?

When I see a list of books suggested for summer reading, I'm glad I’m able to delve into books of my choosing year-round. To me “summer reading” is an anticipated pastime for students released from mandatory book reports and for those who relish a vacation away from the office. 

Because a classroom and a five-day work week are part of my past, I feel lucky that I may browse through a library, roam the aisles of a book store or select a book from the pile waiting for me on my bedside table.  My question is always “what’s next?”  After I’ve turned the final page on a book, I usually look for a different type of experience.  I just finished “The Woman Upstairs,” a psychological novel by Claire Messud in which an angry and disillusioned woman is betrayed by a friend and I was looking for something in a different vein.

A recent interview of the British author John le Carre, master of spy thrillers, steered me to “Our Kind of Traitor,” published in 2010.  After this book, I’ll look for something lighter.  Perhaps I’ll find something as delightful as “An Uncommon Reader,” a novella by Alan Bennett which tells the story of a bookmobile stationed outside Buckingham Palace.

Like some of my friends, I keep an annual list of the books I read. Every year I try to include at least two or three classics.  In the past couple of years I’ve enjoyed Ernest Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast,” John O’Hara’s “Appointment in Samarra,” and Willa Cather’s wonderful novels of American pioneers.

“So many books, so little time” is an apt expression.  It’s easy to find books that please. For me, life is too short to waste time on books that aren’t satisfying in some way, whether it’s the good writing, great depictions of characters, an interesting plot or a book that teaches me something about the world. 

And genre isn’t that important as I discovered a few years when I was part of the craze that enjoyed Stieg Larsson’s trilogy that began with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”  Soon I found other Scandinavian writers including Per Petterson who writes wonderful novels. But my newest fascination is the Norwegian mystery writer Jo Nesbo and his series about Harry Hole, a detective on the Oslo police force.

What’s on your reading list? How do you decide what book to read next?  Do you listen to word-of-mouth recommendations from friends?  Do you consult the best seller lists? Or do you return to your favorite genre or a particular author?

Whether you’re off to the beach, the backyard or a living room chair, the best companion is a book that keeps you interested and entertained.

 

  

Reading List 2012

 

Favorites

1. No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin   A great book! And a wonderful way to understand history.
 

2. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schalbe    Wonderful!

3. Destiny of the Republic, A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard   Excellent!  Enlightening and the way I like to learn history…via personalities.

4. Snowdrops by A. D. Miller

5. The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje

6. The Round House by Louise Erdrich     Marvelous novel. Told from view of 13-year-old boy who seeks revenge for his mother’s brutal assault. A good look at the injustices endured by our Native Americans.

7. The Devil’s Star by Jo Nesbo

8. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

9. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo

10. Phantom by Jo Nesbo

11. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn   The big mystery hit of the year and deservedly so.

12. The Sojourn by Andrew Krivak    Loved it! Finalist for the National Book Award.

13. It’s Fine By Me by Per Petterson  What is it with these Scandinavian writers? Another wonderful book. I  also read Petterson's “Out Stealing Horses” and became an admirer.

                                                                Classics:

14. My Antonia by Willa Cather

15. The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford    Supposedly a classic but I found both the plot and the writing annoying.

16. Washington Square by Henry James  The classic that became “The Heiress.” Wonderful!

17. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

18. Howards End by E. M. Forster

                                                                  Others:

19. Prague Winter by Madeleine Albright     Not really an autobiography since Albright was a little child at the beginning of WWII. I especially was taken with her chapter on the camp Terezin since I had been there. Those memories will never fade.

20. Nemesis by Jo Nesbo    I love Jo Nesbo but this is not his best.

21. Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson

22. The London Train by Tessa Hadley

23. Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog

24. And Furthermore by Judi Dench

25. Blue Nights by Joan Didion

26. Then Again by Diane Keaton

27. Empire of the Summer Moon – Quanah Packard and the Rise and Fall of the Commanches, The Most Powerful Indian Tribe in History by S.C. Gwynne  Although I am very interested in the settling of the American West and the lives of Native Americans, I did not find this book very compelling.

28. What Remains by Carole Radziwill    Didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Very compelling look at illness from the viewpoint of a caregiver.

29. How It All Began by Penelope Lively

30. Canada by Richard Ford

31. Homer and Langley by E. L. Doctorow   The true story of the Collyer Brothers, hoarders who lived in a Fifth Avenue mansion.

32. This Side of Brightness by Colm McCann  A very interesting tale of a generation of sandhogs.

33. Desperate Characters by Paula Fox   A selection of the NY Times “Big City Book Club.”

34. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

35. Care of Wooden Floors by Will Wiles What a surprise this was! Quirky, original and very entertaining.

36. Felicia’s Journey by William Trevor  I chose to read this because it was mentioned in Schwalbe’s book. Creepy story but well done.

37. This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz  Despite the hoopla, I didn’t enjoy it that much.

38. The Forgotten Man – A New History of The Great Depression, Amity Schlaes

39. The Likeness by Tana French

                                                     Not Up to Expectations:

40. Books– A Memoir by Larry McMurtry

41. The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

42. Nocturnes– Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro

43. Show More

44. Show Less

45. Mission to Paris by Alan Furst

46. How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran    Crude, crass and not worth its time. I actually threw it in the garbage.

The End of Your Life Book Club

I was very moved by Will Schalbe's journey with his mother Mary Anne as she underwent treatment for cancer. As the two of them sat waiting at Sloan Kettering and doctors' offices they discussed their recent book selections. While book lovers will definitely enjoy their thoughts about a variety of books, no one will come away without an understanding of the remarkable woman and the son who loved her very much. Although it covers two years, you know the ending before you start. Just as Mrs. Schwalbe did...she always read the end of the book first.

I was delighted to receive this book from my niece Kathie for my 75th birthday and just as delighted that her sister-in-law Sue Carswell asked her friend Will Schwalbe to autograph it for me. It's one of those books that you keep.

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

This is a powerful story of injustice told through Joe, a thirteen-year-old Ojibwe living on a North Dakota reservation in 1988. He and his three friends search for answers when his mother suffers a brutal rape. Historic questions of whether the act was committed on federal, state or tribal land hinder the investigation.

The events in the book are loosely based on actual cases and stories.

Erdrich's compelling tale is emphasized by the realization of the long history of mistreatment of Native Americans. This is a book that stays with you. Highly recommended.   

Washington Square by Henry James

Every once in a while, it's time to forego the best seller list and reach into the past for a good book.  So if you're looking for a reason to read (or re-read) a literary classic, the Big City Book Club has chosen Henry James's "Washington Square" as its next selection.  The choice is in conjunction with "The Heiress," a 1947 play currently on Broadway.

"James's short, potent novel about a wealthy doctor, his plain daughter and the young man of highly dubious ambitions who comes between them is a classic tale of New York social climbing," says the New York Times, which sponsors the Big City Book Club.

The date and time of the BCBC discussion will be announced soon. To become a member and receive updates about future chats, send an e-mail with "Join" in the subject line to bigcity@nytimes.com.

The current cast of "The Heiress" includes Jessica Chastain, David Straithairn, and Dan Stevens.  Oldtimers will recall Olivia DeHavilland, Ralph Richardson and the incomparable Montgomery Clift in the roles.

A Vote for the Second Syllable

Is it as jarring to your ears as mine when you hear the word electoral pronounced e-lec-tor'-al rather than the standard e-lec'-tor-al? I don't recall commentators during the last election season choosing to accent the third syllable of the word.

I wondered if it were simply another case of "You say to-may-to and I say to-mah-to." But it isn't so.  I checked the American Heritage, the Oxford, and the Macmillan websites and they agree that the accent in electoral should be on the second syllable, not the third.

Those who know me know that things like this can drive me nuts. In case you're muttering that I should "get a life," you have to know that my feet are planted firmly in the old school when it comes to language and grammar.

My guess is that the misguided commentators who say "e-lec-tor'-al" are influenced by the sound of the word "electors," the people who comprise the electoral college. 

Of course, during this electoral season, there is so much more to be concerned about. So, I'll wait like the rest of America to see how the electors in the electoral college elect the next president. 

 Even if science fiction isn't your usual genre

On Wednesday, May 16 from 7 to 10 p.m., the New York Times Big City Book Club will hold a live discussion of one of my all-time favorite books -Time and Again by Jack Finney. Although science fiction has never been one of my usual genres I was drawn to the 1970 novel about time travel in 1995 when I learned that the setting was Manhattan in the 1880s.

The plot concerns advertising artist Simon Morley being chosen to take part in a secret U.S. government project where he would travel back in time to 1882 New York City -- just to prove it could be done. Soon Morley steps out of his twentieth-century apartment right into the winter of 1882. He finds himself living in an apartment building which Finney modeled after the Dakota on Central Park West.  These were the years when the Dakota and the Museum of Natural History were the only two main structures on Central Park West.

Imagine the days when horse cars and carriages caused traffic jams or when gaslights illuminated the streets at night; when El trains took shoppers to the Ladies Mile, the main retail center in the area around Broadway and 23^rd Street.  

Finley complements his intriguing plot with historic photos and drawings supposedly done by Morley to show the leaders of the secret project.  It’s a fascinating book, some consider a “classic.”

To join the New York Times Book Club and take part in the online conversation on May 16^th, go to bigcity@nytimes.com and put “Join” in the subject line.

Book Review: Destiny Of The Republic: A Tale Of Madness, Medicine And The Murder Of A President

Destiny Of The Republic: A Tale Of Madness, Medicine And The Murder Of A President by Candice Millard

Had he not been gunned down a few months following his inauguration as president of the United States, James Garfield might have been considered among one of our greatest presidents.  Born into poverty in Ohio, Garfield became a college professor, president of Williams College, a Civil War hero and finally a reluctant candidate for the presidency.

A decent and extremely intelligent man, Garfield tried to rise above the divisive political schemes of his day. Political machinations, a deranged assassin, and the inadequacies of medical care make this a very interesting and informative contribution to presidential history.

The question - and obvious answer - is that it wasn't the gunshot that killed Garfield but the actions of his doctors who deliberately ignored the discovery by Joseph Lister that germs and lack of cleanliness lead to infection which ultimately causes death.

Alexander Graham Bell also features prominently in the book. Shortly after the success of his telephone, he began working on a device which would have determined which area in Garfield's body the bullet would be found.  Instead, doctors wasted precious weeks ignoring Bell and furthering the demise of the president.

If you like your history told from the perspective of individuals' lives rather than from dry and stodgy historical data, you will find this a fascinating book. Before reading this, I would  not have been able to tell you anything about President James Garfield.  And I would guess I'm not alone.

2011 Reading List

For a long time I've kept track of all the books I've read between January and December. This year I've categorized the 2011 list into favorites, both fiction and nonfiction, the classics, crime and mysteries, and those that failed to meet the expectations set by critics and book reviewers. 

My 2011 favorite fiction:

1. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is a stunning book about how time affects our memories. Are our memories accurate or has time modified the truth? Tony Webster, now retired, reflects on his youth, his friendships and his actions, in particular to Veronica who is a difficult person to understand.  Barnes's writing is eloquent, giving the reader pause to reflect.  Winner of this year's Man Booker Prize, this is a must-reread book which I plan to do.  I found it absolutely wonderful and the best book I've read this year. 

2. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles is the story of a young woman living in Manhattan in 1938 who rises from the secretarial pool to the upper echelons of society. Greenwich Village, the jazz age, New York at its most glamorous are depicted wonderfully. In less talented hands, this first-time author's excellent writing, characterizations and plot might have subjected the book to the "chick lit" pile.

3. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson is a delightful story. Better than I'd anticipated!

4. Room by Emma Donoghue is a haunting  story narrated by a child.

5. The Master Builders Singing Club by Louise Erdrich is a beautiful story of the life of a German immigrant living in North Dakota.

My 2011 favorite non-fiction:

1. Literary Brooklyn - The Writers of Brooklyn and the Story of American City Life by Evan Hughes.  This terrific book combines my fondness for the borough and the city where I grew up and my love of books. This is one book I'll cherish. 

2. In the Garden of Beasts - Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson. This close-up of Berlin in the 1930s conveys all the aspects of a spy novel with the terrifying aspect of its reality. 

3. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, published posthumously in 1964, is his classic memoir of Paris in the 1920s.  Although I was never a Hemingway fan, this book invites me to reconsider.

4. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. Did you know that Samuel Morse, aka the originator of the Morse Code, was primarily a painter?

5. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. Even those who seldom, if ever, frequent haute cuisine restaurants will enjoy the author's adventures in some of New York City's best dining spots.

Mysteries and Crime

1. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo.  First, Stieg Larsson introduced Lisabeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, to the world; now there's Swedish writer Jo Nesbo whose compelling crime dramas feature Detective Harry Hole. (The list of Scandinavian crime writers also includes Henning Mankell who's on my 2012 to-read list.)

2. Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom is a hypnotic thriller by a Swedish journalist and an ex-criminal who combine their talents in a masterful tale.

3. Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva. Since my trip to Moscow in 2010, anything Russian catches my attention.  This book had me reliving the wariness I felt as I wandered around the streets of Moscow streets and boarded the crowded Metro. A good thriller!

4. The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer is the second installment in The Tourist spy series about Milo Weaver, who works in an undercover CIA agency called Tourists. (Don't confuse the book with the movie of the same name.  No relation.)

2011 Books that failed to meet my expectations:

1. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

2. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht

3. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

4. 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson

5. The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst

Classics read this year:

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

2. The Dubliners by James Joyce

3. O Pioneers by Willa Cather

4. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

And all the rest:

1. The Bay of Noon by Shirley Hazzard

2. The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin

3. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

4. The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty

5. Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

6. The Empty Family by Colm Toibin

7. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

8. Liars and Saints by Maile Meloy


9. The Monster of Florence, A True Story by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi

10. My First New York: Early Adventures in the Big City by various authors

11. On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry

12. Strangers by Anita Brookner

13. Talk Show by Dick Cavett

14. When Will There be Good News by Kate Atkinson

Please feel free to add comments or your list of favorites read this year.

"Mad as a Hatter"

While vacationing this past summer I came across an interesting book called Endangered Phrases, Intriguing Idioms Dangerously Close to Extinction by Steven D. Price.  It came in handy this past Halloween when my granddaughter appeared as the Mad Hatter.

If you've read Alice in Wonderland you know that Lewis Carroll named his character the Hatter, not the Mad Hatter. The new name took hold not only because of the character's eccentric behavior but for the fact that during the time the book was written hatters often went mad due to mercury poisoning.  In the 1800s when hat manufacturers used a mercury solution to turn fur into felt, the hatters breathed in the highly toxic vapors. An accumulation of mercury often led to trembling or "hatters' shakes."

 Interesting, isn't it, how a child's Halloween costume can lead to new information?

Words from Occupy Wall Street

The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in Zuccotti Park used words from the U.S. Constitution, from Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and others to express their anger, frustration and intentions. You can find many websites which explain the demonstrators' motivations. Here are some photos taken by Nancy Brennan the other day. We found the demonstrators mostly young, articulate and polite. Or as one young man said, "We're a ruly crowd, as opposed to unruly."

Immersed in Scandinavia

From my window in the Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya in St. Petersburg, the Gulf of Finland looked like a serene blue lake. But standing at the water's edge I recalled some of the harrowing scenes in Stieg Larrson's Millennium trilogy - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest: crimes involving human trafficking and drug deals carried out among characters in Tallinn, Estonia, across from St. Petersburg on other side of the Gulf of Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden, to the west across the Baltic Sea.

Having never paid much attention to the history, politics or daily lives of Swedish citizens, Larrson's books were eye-openers. Acts of violence and corruption in high places are certainly not unusual plots for mystery writers, but when the setting is somewhere unfamiliar to the reader a new dimension is added.

There are several rewards when I combine my interests in travel and books. One, of course, is learning about a particular place or region. Second is the new direction that leads me to other books of that time or place. Or, the reward might be discovering a new genre.

Stieg Larrson led me to Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom who combined their talents to write Three Seconds. Roslund is a journalist and Hellstrom is an ex-criminal. It's Hellstrom's knowledge of criminal life and the inside of a prison that adds much of the tension to this exciting novel. The novel won the Best Swedish Crime Novel in 2009, the same award previously won by Stieg Larrson and Henning Mankell. Three Seconds extends the plot's geographic boundary to Warsaw where members of the Polish mafia run a drug cartel.

Next I found myself among Norwegian criminals. Jo Nesbo is receiving a lot of press lately for his new thriller The Snowman. Since it features Detective Harry Hole, I decided to read The Redbreast where Hole makes his first appearance. This is an intricate and well-written mystery that originates in 1944 when Norwegian soldiers turn their backs on their homeland and fight instead for Germany on the Russian front. Although the Neo-Nazi movement plays a role in the novel, it is the mystery behind five traitors that forces the story forward to the present day.

I've learned that mysteries and thrillers, though never high on my reading list, can be extremely satisfying if they're well-written, have interesting characters and a suspenseful plot. Though I don't think I'll travel back to the time of Agatha Christie, I will be on the alert for more good thrillers, especially if they're set in a place that's new to me.

Just wild about Harry

When the first Harry Potter book came out, I read about 75 pages just to see what all the fuss was about. It was the newest publishing phenomenon and I wanted just a taste. After all, J.K. Rowling had written the book for children, not for adults. Yet Rowling's style and tone and especially her unwillingness to simplify or downgrade the language for a young audience impressed me. Rowling became a hero to young readers around the world as they devoured the tales of fantasy and adventure. Sales of the book reached astronomical heights and Harry Potter and everyone at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ignited the imaginations of millions of children and converted them into book lovers.

When I spotted the full set of Harry Potter books at a friend's home recently, she said she'd read them all even though there are no young children in her life. I would guess she's not alone, just one of many adults who've become fans of the series.

With the release of the eighth Harry Potter movie last week, newspapers and magazines devoted a lot of ink to the Harry Potter phenomenon. It's enticing and I feel myself drawn to the world of Harry, Ron, Hermione and the colorful cast of characters at Hogwarts. In addition, I'm intrigued by the effect of the books' language on the general population. "Muggle," for example. Rowling's word for a person without magical abilities has now become synonymous with persons who have no obvious skills. And, looking down the road, in the next year or two my granddaughter will probably venture into this world and I’d love to share it with her.

I think these are good reasons to join Harry Potter's world. I’m just wondering how many adults who are reading this blog have also read one or more of the books. I’d love to hear from you. You may post a comment here or email me at barbara.backus@yahoo.com.

"It's Only Language"

If you were lucky enough to catch The Dick Cavett Show when it aired back in the 1960s-1970s, you were witness to intelligent, humorous and interesting in-depth conversations with guests that ranged from writers to politicians to actors, even to Cavett’s philosophy teacher at Yale.   Cavett, to my mind, is unquestionably one of  the most intelligent and entertaining of talk-show hosts.

Four years ago, Cavett accepted an offer from the New York Times to write a regular column. His new book, Talk Show,  is a collection of his columns from February 2007 to 2010. It’s a wonderful read. 

His first column appeared on February 4, 2007 and is called “It’s Only Language.”  
 Even if you’re a wordsmith or a true lover of the English language and never need any type of correction, you’ll enjoy Cavett’s writing and his examples of incorrect written and spoken English (and a few French words , too).

He points out Bush’s “nuke-you-lur” of course, but also the prevalence of misused words such as “literally” and “momentarily.”  When he addressed the words “loathe” and “loath” I decided this blog would be an apt place to note the difference between the two.

“Loath” is an adjective meaning “unwilling.” It ends with a hard th and rhymes with growth or both.  (Ex: He was loath to admit that he had lied to his friend.)
“Loathe” is a verb meaning “to hate intensely.” It ends with a soft th like the sound in smooth or breathe.  (Ex:  She loathes spiders.)

Here I’d like to quote Cavett’s last paragraph: “I don’t see the future as bright, language-wise. I see it as a glass half empty — and evaporating quickly. Almost daily irritants, like the dumb cluck’s beloved, “between you and I” will never be expunged, it seems. “Loathe” and “loath” will continue to change places, and “phenomena” and “phenomenon” will still be used interchangeably. But, finally, what the hell? It’s only language. It’s only what we live by.”