BOOK REVIEW: Tallywhacker Troubles

(Originally published 2010, Paperback edition 368)

Mr. Young's explanation of how John Edwards went from being the Democrat's political darling to pariah rings true when compared to other versions; especially the cockamamie stories given by John Edwards and his late wife, Elizabeth. The author's confessional also doesn't exactly place him in a favorable light. He pulls no punches about how he was complicit in the Rielle Hunter cover-up and Edwards' other indiscretions. However, Mr. Young also takes pains to very plausibly explain how he got deeper and deeper into helping a narcissistic liar.

The problem with reading any historical book is that a reader breezes through someone's life in a short period of time. We have the luxury of being able to analyze events or actions that spanned many years and shake our heads in holier-than-thou judgment that we wouldn't have done the same thing. And keep in mind, most of the characters in this political farce were highly intelligent people. How in God's creation could Senator Edwards risk it all for a space cadet like Rielle Hunter? How could Elizabeth Edwards stay so long with and blame others for her husbands sins? What the heck was Andrew Young thinking to go to such depths at the expense of his own family? The author makes a commendable attempt to explain without expecting exoneration from the reader.

It is ultimately a story about power and how people can become corrupted by its influence. Mr. Young's narrative is straightforward and compelling. The reader gets a good feel of what it must be like to be a close assistant, known as a body man, to a powerful politician. The Founding Fathers were correct in distrusting power. None of us are immune to such forces. In the whole scheme of things, John and Elizabeth Edwards are small potatoes, but their implosion is a wonderful example of how power corrupts. Mr. Young's memoir depicts the Beltway's continual ability to easily strip a person of their humanity in the pursuit of power. And what is it with powerful men and their pee pees? Be it politicians, business executives, religious leaders, you name it, and they frequently seem to have problems keeping their "little hombres" in their pants. I swear, speaking as a guy, I sometimes think eunuchs should be the only males allowed to run for office. Mr. Young's memoir is a sad, shocking, entertaining but important story well worth reading.

(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #301)

BOOK REVIEW: Enduring A Myopic Gauntlet

(Originally published 1980, Paperback Edition 498 pages)

Mr. Conroy, a graduate and basketball player of the Citadel, wrote a disclaimer at the beginning of "The Lords of Discipline" stating it does not represent "one school or set of individuals in particular." The book was published in 1980. However, "My Losing Season", his excellent memoir published in 2002, has quite a few examples which match "The Lords of Discipline." I'm hardpressed to believe his fictional book does not primarily depict the brutal culture of the 1960s Citadel. Having been born, raised and lived my entire life in northern New England, Southern culture's mindset is difficult for me to understand. Despite spending decades studying the region's overly romantic views of war, the importance of class and heritage as well as their attitudes about race and gender, the regional beliefs still seem odd; even silly to me. There is no way in God's creation I would have been cut out for such an environment.

The author's protagonist, Will McLean, is a sarcastic, funny, risk-averse liaison to the "Institute's" (read Citadel's) first black cadet. Set in the 1966-67 academic year and despite it being an insular environment, the Vietnam War is raging and racial tensions hang over the young students. Mr. Conroy takes pains to describe what students have to endure in pursuit of a degree and the hallowed graduation ring. The book is written in the first-person narrative and the author does an excellent job of conveying McLean's hopes, fears and mixed emotions of being a boy struggling into manhood under such a barbaric system. The only part of Mr. Conroy's book that felt forced was the romance between Annie Kate and Will McLean. Most of the dialogue between them had me rolling my eyes at its melodramatic nature.

Many English instructors have urged budding authors to write about what they know. Mr. Conroy did just that. He is a wonderful writer and has a knack for describing the feel of a military academy and Southern culture. The book is interesting and entertaining. It forces the reader to question the use or abuse of power, individuality vs the needs of the collective as well as what it means to be a patriot? "The Lords of Discipline" is great fiction and well worth your time.

(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #300)

Oh, Dear!

Sun Block

Tanning Mom, Patricia Krentcil, is looking to get a reality TV show. If that doesn't work out, how about a movie? ~~She'd be perfect in a remake of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in the role of "Leatherface!"

Sea Food

BOOK REVIEW: iControl Freak

(Published 2011, Hardcover edition 571 pages)

Mr. Isaacson has done a wonderful job about covering the key aspects and events of Steve Jobs' life. However, I don't believe the author realized that his subject matter was more than just one of the 20th Century's greatest businessmen and a grade-A A-hole. Due to our family situation, my wife happened to attend a lecture by Temple Grandin at the same I was completing Mr. Isaacson's biography. Ms. Grandin had no bones about correctly claiming that Mr. Jobs had high-functioning autism also known as Asperger's Syndrome. Because our family is well educated in this area and there are so many aspects of the Apple founder's personality that fit, I'm surprised it didn't become obvious to the author.

The book could be broken down into two parts. The first half focuses more on Steve Jobs' personality and the second half follows his amazing list of accomplishments. Because of Mr. Jobs' success, many people were willing to bend over backward to justify his horrible behavior towards others. He truly revolutionized society in so many ways it is difficult to believe one man did all this. Without a doubt, he will be known a hundred years from now in the same business pantheon as Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. However, there is no way in God's creation I could have worked for such a bombastic jerk. His nasty actions towards others can not be excused despite the fact he was an Aspie. On the other hand, his absolute need to control every part of his life, managing pigheaded engineers who are notorious for being mostly Aspies and his dickish personality were likely the only way such revolutionary products as the personal computer, visual graphics, computer animation, the iPod, iPad, iPhone and iCloud could have come into fruition. Also, his great design sense of simplicity being the ultimate sophistication made technology accessible to all.

Steve Jobs was brilliant, cruel, charismatic, impatient, a talented marketer, manipulative, not very ethical, a perfectionist, obnoxious, an artist and a visionary. His famous "reality distortion field" (a Trekkie label that could apply to most Aspies,) would not have served him well in a leadership position outside of the business field. Despite his skewed adherence to Zen Buddism, Mr. Jobs would have probably been one, seriously nasty dictator. I admire the man's tremendous accomplishments, but as a empathetic human being... yuck. The author has done a commendable job by writing a warts-and-all, entertaining biography. As usual, Mr. Jobs' genius for picking the right people has given the world another wonderful product. Mr. Isaacson's biography meets up to the late SOB's high standards. Enjoy.

(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #299)

Picture This (May 14)

Super Dad

Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them, and some of us just wish for eight decent hours of uninterrupted fucking sleep.

Picture This (May 11)

Emotional Distress

Tonight, at our local Middle School, I demonstrated cartooning tricks to some 4th-grade Cub Scouts. At one point, I drew six circles on a sketch pad and asked them to give me some emotions to draw.

What's the first emotion that comes to your mind? Sad? Happy? Mad? Ya know, the regular responses I get from even adults.

The very first emotion a 4th-grade Cub Scout blurted out was 'delusional.' That was a first. I never had someone request that emotion before.

After struggling and completing a delusional expression, I asked for another one. A Cub Scout yelled 'constipated.'

What the fuck? Delusional? Constipated? At that point, I asked the kids how old they friggin' where?

George Carlin And Stupid Expressions

Picture This (May 9)

Out Of Tune

(A FATHER-AND-SON MOMENT WHILE DRIVING TO GORHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL)

Jon (age 12) asked, "Dad, waaaay back in the sixties, would they have had a song with the words 'I can do whatever I like. I'm white?'"

(LONG PAUSE) "What. The. Hell. Do. You. Mean. By. Waaaaaaaay back in the sixties?"

BOOK REVIEW: Life Imitating Art

(Originally published 2003, Paperback edition 421 pages)

Mr. Pearl's debut novel is quite an accomplishment. Beyond Dante's trip with Virgil through whatever numbered circles of Hell, I knew nothing about "The Divine Comedy." "The Dante Club" takes place in 1865 Boston, shortly after the death of President Lincoln and a country still coming to grips with the horrors left behind because of the Civil War. The story told in the third-person narrative is a heavily male-driven enterprise. Women have but brief cameos in this dark, contemplative work. If you're hoping for a few chuckles from this baby, you're going to be disappointed big time. The author has a knack for fleshing out the central characters and making them come alive on the page. Even the murderer's motivations are explained.

The four main protagonists, Henry Wadsworth Longellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell and J.T. Fields, are scholars who immerse themselves in the belief that "great" art such as Dante's "The Divine Comedy" will change society for the better. However, the relationships are occasionally strained due to different temperaments, personal issues and outsized egos. They have a high-minded passion and artsy attitude that is somewhat delusional and rings true to me in my dealings with many artists. A warning must be also be given about the flavor of Mr. Pearl's story. Within the first ten pages, my stomach did a backflip at the nature of the death of the first victim. To say the antagonist put his heart and soul into recreating Dante's punishments is putting it mildly. After each murder, I never failed to mutter "holy crap" at the utter brutal nature of the victims' demise. If you have a weak stomach and a vivid imagination, walk away... walk away now.

At heart, Mr. Pearl has done an excellent job showing the conflicts which arise between art and religious piety as well as the scars left behind by war. Even the issue of race and equal rights is covered. The book is not only a murder mystery and an introduction into a masterpiece of literature but a deep examination of the human condition. The story was entertaining and thought-provoking. That's about as good as any book can get.

(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #298)



Sweet Tooth

Monique opened the refrigerator door and said, "I want something sinful."

I slipped my arm around her waste and replied, "Oooooh aaaalrriiiiight... Let's go upstairs."

Zac (age 13) said, "Hey, do you mind? I'm right here."

Picture This (May 4)

Glory, Glory, Be!

(6th-Grade Track Meet - May 3 in Portland, Maine)

Photo and text I placed on Facebook. My son, Jon, is the African-American in the maroon shirt.

"During the 200-yard, Jon was so far ahead of all the other runners because, as you can see, God bathed him in holy light."

Gunning for First Place

(6th-Grade Track Meet - May 3 in Portland, Maine)

Photo and text I placed on Facebook. My son, Jon, is the African-American in the maroon shirt.

"Holy crap! Jon's fast! He blew the other runners away in the 100-yard dash! I mean it! He shot every fucking runner! There's blood everywhere!"

Picture This (May 3)

In a Barbie World