Hunter S. Thompson - The Rum Diary, A Review

In old Puerto Rico. . .a journalist came to write

Cover, The Rum Diary, by Hunter.S. Thompson

Paul Kemp, the main character of this novel, arrives in Puerto Rico to claim a job with a local English newspaper. This is a time when men hustled to get in on the booming travel trade in Puerto Rico. The Yanqui presence is becoming a nuisance. Expatriates sit and wait in the bars, and tourists in the hotels pretend they are somewhere more exotic.  Locals are just starting to recognize labor unions and most of the local police are unreliable.

Kemp spends part of his time at the local beer and burger bar, a gathering place for the more eccentric of the journalists. He needs to work. The main setting for the story is the newspaper office, where most of the writers are 'on the edge', erratic, and unpredictable. It's no wonder, as the newspaper resembles a sinking ship.

This is very much the masculine tale related by a sharp mind. Excessive drinking is a daily occurrence in this story, and women are treated as an aside, in minor roles. A couple of intimate scenes do show up in the novel, but are written with a heavy-handed approach consistent with the times. Thompson is better at the hard-hitting manly stuff.

American literature includes many who don't fit the established mold, but yet they manage to make a ripple in the publishing world. Thompson ruffled some and annoyed others, but he amused a lot of his readers.

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Hunter S. Thompson, in his twenties when he wrote The Rum Diary, was an author who changed our perception of everyday life and politics in the USA. His publisher was Simon and Schuster. Thompson wrote for several newspapers in his early days and began writing fiction in the mid-1960s. Gonzo journalism was his specialty.

'Gonzo' reporting is a style of journalism that doesn't claim to be strictly objective, but rather is a more personal/subjective viewpoint, often written in first person. Use of sarcasm, wit, and irreverent attitudes is encouraged.

Thompson is best known for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas...a look at the failure of the 60s counterculture movement from his viewpoint. The story was serialized in Rolling Stone (magazine) and released as a film in 1998 with Johnny Depp as Thompson. Depp shadowed Thompson to study his mannerisms and speech patterns, the details that made the man.

The author died from a gunshot wound to the head, February 20, 2005, in Woody Creek, Colorado at his private compound. He was suffering at the time from several medical conditions, and adjusting to a hip replacement. RIP, Hunter S. Thompson.

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Have you read any writing by this controversial author? Have you heard of Thompson and his Gonzo journalism style? Did you know Hunter wrote for the Rolling Stone magazine? Or that the Doonesbury cartoon strip called him 'Raoul or Uncle Duke' in its character depiction of the man?

Please share in the comments, and thanks for stopping by!

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson The author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rum_Diary_(novel) The Rum Diary wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzo_journalism Gonzo journalism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas_(film) The J. Depp movie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Duke About the character

PARIS - The 'Little Details'

A Carousel in the City

When traveling in your home country or abroad, notice the little things, the fine touches, the attention to craft. Little details enhance an object and help us retain that memory, but only if we notice it. Craft excellence can be seen in objects as well as in writing. Learn to observe the world around you.

A Les Halles Carousel Closeup, Paris, by DG Hudson

Carousels and merry-go-rounds are good examples of decorative details that embellish the whole object. Some carousels in France have two levels, others are smaller with one level. Both styles are lush with embellishments. Bright colors, lots of lights and music are part of the packaging. We saw two, one near Les Halles, and one at the bottom end of the Trocadero Fountains.

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Paris Cobblestones (Street detail)

When older buildings, like the Bastille, were dismantled, the bricks were recovered and used for paving the streets. The bricks shown in the photo below are laid with an overlapping curved pattern. Cobblestones differ in size. Those bricks shown below are smaller than the square cobblestones in Pere Lachaise Cemetery. We walked up a few of the cobblestone streets and entranceways in Montmartre, the Marais, and at Versailles.

Cobblestones in Paris, Fr. by DG Hudson

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Fontaines de la Concorde

The detailed fountain shown below is a popular photo opportunity location in Paris. Small and large spouts of water encircle the fountain, and the statues are embellished with gilding.  Remember the old movies of the past with shots of the fountains of Paris? This is another one of those meeting spots where people like to congregate and get their bearings, and it's a cooling spot when the weather's hot.

Fontaines de la Concorde, Paris Fr., by DG Hudson

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The Dome

Observing the dome rising behind the arched entrance in the photo below, I was reminded of Victorian styling and attention to detail, much of which is incorporated in 'steampunk' design. Can you imagine the view from that round window, and what about the room behind the window? This building is situated behind the 'walking' statue of General Charles de Gaulle on one of the main thoroughfares in Paris.

Detail of Dome and Arch on Building, by DG Hudson

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Our Lady of Paris, Notre Dame de Paris

The delicacy of detail in the architecture of Notre Dame is something to behold. Considering when it was built, the feat is impressive.

Notre Dame Cathedral Detail, Front, by DG Hudson

Our Lady of Paris, Notre Dame, has endless details and embellishments in its Gothic arches and sculptures. I didn't climb the 400 stairs inside the church, the lineup was a long and winding road. Next time, perhaps. I can't help thinking of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, who peered between these stone decorations to watch the people below.


Details make the difference in how we remember a place. In our writing, we can inject that information to bring the reader closer to the scene or location being described.
Record those descriptions on location by whatever method suits you. I keep a travel journal, with notes, sketches and observations for further research on my return.

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Note: the excessive use of a certain word is intentional to make a point.

Any cobblestone streets in your city or town? Buildings with ornate or steampunk/Victorian designs?
OR
Can you name one item with 'little details' that you recall from any travels? Why do you remember it?
Please share in the comments and thanks for stopping by!

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References:

Want more information and photos on Paris? Check the Paris Posts or the Paris, Etc tabs at the top of the page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountains_in_Paris Fountains in Paris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel more info on carousels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_Paris Notre Dame in Paris


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E.L. Doctorow - 'Homer and Langley' - New York Stories

A tale of two brothers

Born into privilege in a stately house in New York's Fifth Avenue district, Homer and Langley are the Collyer Brothers. This novel details how their lives descended from being socially adept to being unacceptable recluses in a world of their own making.

Cover, Homer and Langley, E L Doctorow

HOMER and LANGLEY

How does one become a hoarder? It starts with a purpose that requires the collection of something. The Collyer brothers were more than mere hoarders. They had principles, the kind that liked to fight repression of the individual, especially against City Hall. Money wasn't the issue. Langley, the older brother, fought every grab at squashing their independence. Homer, the musician, trusted in the brother who tried to care for him, and never questioned his ideas.

A blind man, and a gas-damaged war veteran battle against the city of New York. Others came and stayed in their house and their lives for a short time: untrustworthy hired help, male and female, old-style gangsters and opportunists who saw an advantage. When their attempts to fit into society failed, the two brothers withdrew into their own world and collected things they might need.

At one point, near the end, Homer meets French journalist, Jacqueline Roux, a writer for Le Monde. She is trying to 'get' the flavor of America, and tells Homer he is a hero in France. She encourages him to write about the life he and his brother have lived. Amazed but interested, Homer begins to relate what he remembers. It's a fascinating tale.

By the end of the book, the media has manufactured interest in the brothers and the civil fights begin to take on a deadly ominous air. Our narrator, the blind brother, can do little to stop the progress of their slide into destruction.

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Historical fiction is something I enjoy. This was the first of Doctorow's work that I read, but I remembered hearing about the story of the Collyer Brothers.  I was highly entertained, even cheering for the brothers in certain spots.

Doctorow imagined this story based on the real life of the Collyer Brothers. For more information on the brothers and the house, see the link below. This article shows a photograph of the Collyer brownstone. The setting needs to be seen so you get the scope of the hoarding.

http://www.harlemonestop.com/organization.php?id=1047


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Edgar Lawrence, or E. L. Doctorow, born in 1931 is an American author, named for 'Edgar' Allan Poe. He writes unique works of historical fiction. He is also the author of Ragtime, written in 1975 and also set in NY city.

A clarification:
Cory (Efram) Doctorow is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author. Some readers may be more familiar with Cory, but these two writers are similar only in surname and their facility with words.

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Do you wonder how many other disabled out there exist like these two brothers? Have you read anything by E.L. Doctorow? Ever been to New York City? Do you read literary authors or stick with genre authors?  (I like both.)

Had you heard of the Collyer Brothers before? Please share in the comments.

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._L._Doctorow American Author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Doctorow  Canadian Author and Blogger

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/books/review/Schillinger-t.html?_r=0
NY Times review.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers - Wiki

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The Bear with Two Shadows by Roland Yeomans - A Review

For Hibbs, The Bear with Two Shadows, nothing is as it seems.




The Bear with Two Shadows, R. Yeomans

The Bear with Two Shadows
by Roland Yeomans

In this tale based on Native lore, we meet a young bear who must learn patience, humility, and tolerance. He must learn who to trust. The reader will meet mythical and ethereal creatures and characters in this story who appear in later novels. We watch as Hibbs stumbles at times, but recovers. He learns slowly, but he doesn't forget. His companions might disagree with that, but they give their allegiance to him.

The Turquoise Woman, aka 'Grandmother', Surt, and Little Brother, protect and aid the innocent, but innately powerful bear. His enemies gather on another front, taunting and testing him. Hibbs is tossed from one time period to another, where he must recover through his wits and generous heart. He has a confrontation looming and he doesn't like to kill. Will this be his Waterloo? Will he kill to help his mates? Read to find out how he copes.

If you like stories based on Native American lore and legend, try reading The Bear with Two Shadows. Also available in audio format. These are stories fascinating in their composition of mythology, native lore, and social issues. Don't forget to visit Roland's blog, Writing in the Crosshairs. Check out the right sidebar for samples of his writing and his prolific production of stories that will enchant you. His ordering information can be found there.

Roland Yeomans writes in New Orleans, a city with a history and a dark past that won't let us forget what it's endured. He writes of the stories he remembers and creates his own universe in an old part of the city. His native stories and his paranormal tales include a bit of romance, a lot of suspense, literary referencing, and delightful interludes/snarky comebacks between the characters. Roland also offers some of his titles/stories in audio format and as serials.

BTW - If you haven't sampled his Victor Standish series, you should. Many literary characters drop in at Meilori's, the jazz bar, to see what's happening after dark.

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Are you familiar with stories similar to these, based on old legends or lore? Are there stories you remember from your childhood, told in legend or lore form? Have you read any of Roland's books or stories?

I'd love to hear about your own stories or memories. Please share in the comments, and thanks for dropping by.

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References:

http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.ca/

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Immaterial Evidence - Milo James Fowler

If you like mysteries and illusive villains, look at Milo's latest. . .

Cover, Immaterial Evidence, Milo James Fowler

A detective with a price on his head. An invisible criminal with nothing to lose...

The vault door never opened. The bank went into lockdown in less than a minute. Yet the security footage was unmistakable: a hundred silver bars had simply vanished.

 

Ever since the city’s most dangerous crime boss put a price on his head, private investigator Charlie Madison has lived as an exile in Little Tokyo. But now an old friend and police sergeant has lured Madison back into the city to hunt down an invisible criminal—if he can.

As Madison makes his clandestine return, high-profile people start disappearing. And when federal agents swoop onto the scene to take matters into their own hands, they offer Madison a deal he can't refuse—as long as he agrees to work with them. With Japanese freedom fighters and refurbished killing machines threatening to take the world to the brink of nuclear holocaust, the United World government needs all the help it can get.

 

Embroiled in an unimaginable mystery, one private eye must rely on his wits to solve a case where the evidence is immaterial, and the odds are stacked high against him at every turn.
 

IMMATERIAL EVIDENCE - Check this link to Musa Publishing!

 

A Milo James Fowler Release

 

Milo James Fowler writes to intrigue and entertain. I've never been disappointed in one of his stories, and now he has a novella which offers a bigger bite of Milo's writing. Good Luck with this new venture, Milo!

Milo's Blog, In Media Res, be sure to visit!
 

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Are you familiar with Milo's short stories? Do you like detective noir, especially in the Big City where many things can hide. . .?

 

Please share in the comments and don't forget to check the link. And lock your windows. Just in case. Thanks for dropping by!

 

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Get Healthy Blog Hop

Do you spend a lot of time sitting at a computer desk in your study, or at your work desk?

 
Can an apple 'help keep the doctor away'? Yes, the juice from the apple is said to disinfect the mouth of harmful bacteria. Changing your diet can reduce the number of times you get sick as you boost your immune system. What you eat does matter.


THANKS to our Hosts:  Stephen Tremp, L. Diane Wolfe, Michael DiGesu and Alex Cavanaugh who have teamed up for the Get Healthy Blog Hop. Participating is one way to jumpstart a change in your habits and in your mindset. Our hosts have asked us to contribute our best tips on health and what we do to maintain it. What could you do to make 2013 a healthier year?



The Trigger that got me started. . .
 
After a car accident, I started a weight training program to help counter the pain I felt in my upper body. I suffered nerve trauma in my right arm and one of the neck vertebrae from bracing for the impact of a rear-ender. I needed to strengthen the muscles of the shoulders, arms, back and neck to prevent constant pain. When I returned to work, I went to the employee gym.

What helped me: a full-body 45 minute weight-training workout five days a week at lunch. I used cable resistance machines, free weights, exercise balls and I walked. This plan was created by an instructor at the gym specifically to work around my injuries. Within a few months, I could sleep without pain and had less headaches. (NOTE: This type of full-body workout which tones is different from a body-building routine where the objective is to build bulk.)


What can you do to keep yourself healthy and prevent illness?

Start with the little things. . .
 
Walk every day or as much as you can. This helps keep joints flexible and improves circulation.
 
Motivate yourself with a class, a new routine or discipline, or get a friend to join you

'Clean' your diet by changing a few things for the better. Reducing salt or sugar is a start. Eating more veggies, greens, and fruits is another healthful change that's easy to do.

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Do you work around a health issue? Have a favorite way to stay in shape? What do teachers do with all those apples?
Please share in the comments, and thanks for dropping by!

To continue reading health tips and stories, refer to the list at Get Healthy Blog Hop.

 

Topiary sculpture on Burnaby Mtn, Vancouver, by DG Hudson 

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The Book, by Jessica Bell - A Review

A child's viewpoint is simple, unfettered and direct. . .if something causes pain, then you cast it out. Bonnie, at five years, senses much more than her parents know. She hears, she sees and watches the adults each in their own worlds, and wonders at what she doesn't understand.

Cover of The Book by Jessica Bell

Initially, the book comes into being as a journal for the young child, an attempt to tell the child about her parents, who both write in it. It evolves into a entirely different creature, spawning emotions from all who touch it. In a split family, we watch a child in distress, intelligent beyond her years in the ways of adults and how they say one thing and do another. She's not sure who to trust, since she loves them all. But not the book, never the book.

It's coming - The Book Blog Tour by Expresso June 2013

Bonnie resists, in every way she can. She knows adults can be fooled. She reaches out to the adults, but withdraws when they don't measure up. An engaging story, The Book should be read by anyone who deals with children, but especially parents. It's important to recognize the intellectual jumps some children can make by observing those closest to them.  In Bonnie's mind, The Book is the cause of the discord wrecking her family.

When families break apart, it's not easy to pick up the pieces. Four different people, each with a different yearning. I finished my review copy of The Book today, and by the last page, my emotions were in turmoil. You have to read it to find out why. This is a book that will grip your heart and not let go. Bravo, Jessica, I felt this one in my core.
Highly recommended.

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Author Jessica Bell



Jessica Bell, Author of The Book

An Australian-native, the smiling beauty in the photo currently resides in Athens, Greece. She is a contemporary fiction author, poet and sing/songwriter/guitarist, whose literary inspiration often stems from songs she's written. Jessica is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal and runs the Homeric Retreat and Workshop on the the Greek Island of Ithaca.

For more information, please visit her website: www.jessicabellauthor.com



If you don't currently follow Jessica's Blog, The Alliterative Allomorph, give it a preview. She features The Artist Unleashed-a series of guest posts, news about the self-publishing world, and what to do or what to avoid, when submitting to Vine Leaves Literary Journal.

For information about The Book Blog Tour in June and to see the trailer, visit Jessica's site. Jessica's books can be found on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Kobo, and Goodreads.

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Are you familiar with Jessica Bell's writing? Own any of her other books? Are you intrigued by the viewpoint of a small child?
Please leave a comment, I'm interested in what you have to say, and thanks for dropping by.

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References:

http://www.jessicabellauthor.com/ The Author, Jessica Bell website

http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.gr/ The Alliterative Allomorph Blog

http://www.jessicabellauthor.com/books.html  Books by the Author


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