Carl Deuker -- Books, Movies, TV

Religious devotion at war with the body.  General sense of pent-up power, frustration that can come out in violence, in religion, in sex. Densely written in the best way.

Catholic religious guilt Jewish religious guilt Black religious guilt John is terrorized by his "religious" father who is violently in love with the Lord and violent toward his children and wife.  Probably autobiographical--what a miserable childhood.  He's about 14 now, feeling the stirrings and confusion of sex.

Your review of  Travels in Siberia by  Ian Frazier p. 170 of 529 (32%) update status last update: Part two describes Frazier's trips to Leningrad and to the Diomede Islands, the western and easternmost parts of Siberia. Interesting items: corruption rampant; Mongols (Genghis Khan) barbaric, terrifying; English and Americans in the 19th century go on amazing explorations. For example, three different men from Ohio--in the space of five years--visit Siberia and return and write books about it.  Frazier lists all the various and surprising people who visited Russia in the 19th century. He also details the errors of Americans (Henry Wallace, vice president of FDR stands out) who fell for the Soviet propaganda of the happy workers in Siberia. Now that Frazier has touched the extremes, his next goal is to cross Siberia by car.  Part Three But first, Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

Earthworm as all-good . . . not at all The worms can eat at the terracing in mountainsides used by rice farmers.  Erode the terraces away, create holes, make it difficult to plant anything but rice.  Closer to home, worms are not natural to many forests.  When introduced, via humans (cars, bait, boots) the worms can pull the undergrowth down into the earth leaving the forest floor bare.  That spongy feeling gone, and the wildflowers, small trees, birds that depend on that spongy earth lose their habitat.  Minnesota forest prime example of earthworm is invasive species.  Redwood forests???? Could they be next. Australia Giant Worms--two feet long . . . Korumburra hosted a worm festival (Australia) . . . Worms a bit like physics Shrodinger's Cat--there is no way to count them without harming them "Chemical fertilizers may feed the plant, but organic fertilizers feed the soil." "More and more, I was starting to believe that earthworms may, in fact, be ...

25% finished--very enjoyable, informative, interesting book. Darwin as main figure in appreciation of earthworms.  Detailed notes and observations in the latter years of his life lead to a book on earthworms that is ridiculed by some at the time but which is now seen to have rightly pinpointed the value of worms.  "The key to Darwin's genius was the ability to stretch his imagination to encompass geological time--thousands of years, thousands of centuries." "Worms through their actions, substantially change the earth. Tehy alter its composition,increase its capacity to absord and hold water, and bring about an increase in nutrients and microoranisms.  They work alongside humans, extracting a life from the land. They move the earth, a remarkable accomplishment for a creature that weighs only a fraction on an ounce." "They evaluated, they experimented, they made decisions." Darwin Earthworms as distinguishing the best side to pull needles by, th...

"Travel out to the fish camp. . . . Fear that some Russian-Yupik's have died in storm . . . traveling companions wonder what they're getting for their $3000. . . Frazier informs them it goes mainly for bribes. . . . Sleep in cheap tents . . . poor food until they catch salmon . . . Frazier's good humor serves him well . . . wild mushrooms . . . monument to whalers in the middle of nowhere" "little boys throw stones at them for fun . . . joke about Pushkin makes them laugh and makes Frazier delighted . . . Yupiks saved by American coast guard . . . Upon exiting, Frazier's companions check on him. They ask a Russian official: Did most of our money go for bribes. The officials says, "Why, yes, of course." Terrific.  Taking a break now; will come back to trip # 2 after an earthworm book."

Provideniya Bay with a group . . . parody of guided tour . . . guide missing . . . excursions missing . . . room missing . . . a fellow traveler asks for a low cholesterol meal . . . Russian colors different . . . Russian smell different . . . "tea bags, cucumber peels, wet cement, chilly air, currant jam." . . . watching Bill Murray movie with apt. manager . . . Yupik boatmen feared dead in storm . . . his problems pale.

Frazier's first solo trip to Siberia . . . wonderful description of his time at the Nome Nugget Motel and of his time in Nome. . . enjoyable depression . . . architectural tour includes as -- not to be missed -- the two trees in Nome, neither more than shrubs. . .  not the end of the road because no roads make it that far . . . diesel  fuel . . . longish retelling of Pushkin story of a duel . . . recounting of strange visits to Russia made from Nome . . . Mexican walking . . . cold water swimmer . . . wild schemes for tunnels from US to Russia

Chapter Four recounts the life and adventures of a remarkable man, George Kennan. small town (Norwalk, Ohio) boy . . . elementary school education.  . . telegraph business sends him to Siberia for two years . . . book results, TENT LIFE IN SIBERIA in which he describes his many near encounters with death . . . back in America, and bored, lost, unable to settle. . . return to Siberia to write, for the Tsar's government, a book about the horrible traitors imprisoned in Siberia . . . Instead he becomes enamored with these convicts (some of whom were simply terrorists.)  SIBERIA AND THE EXILE SYSTEM is the book describing this part of Kennan's life.  Kennan is related to the later George Kennan, political advisor to presidents and a way who say clearly (Vietnam, Iraq) when others failed. Remainder of chapter describes how the imprisoned rebels George Kennan sympathized with led, eventually, to Stalin and Lenin.

by Ian Frazier Enjoying this very much.  It's like being at a dinner party and hearing a adventurous traveler spin tales.  No hurry, enjoy the details. Great moments in 1 to 3. Description by his friend Katya of women's bathroom in Moscow with a woman washing her dishes, pots, pans in the sink.  "Where could she have come from?  I have no idea. She is scrubbing away.  There are chicken bones by the edge of the sink." Book to read:  John Reed, 10 Days that Shook the World.  Plane in remote airport sitting out on the runway for lengthy period of time, passengers quietly waiting until someone shows up to get them off. Giant head of Lenin in Ulan-Ude:  "The first time I saw the head I thought it creepy, like a sci-fi symbol that ranks of drone soldiers would goose step before." Food of Ulan-Ude is primarily horsemeat.  "You can buy canned pony year round in Ulan-Ude." Resort:  "I was made a bit nervous by the resort's manager...

This book was a gift from my sister for Christmas.   Nice, relaxed opening. Siberia as land of exile for Lenin. Natural resources. Permafrost. Cold! Western economists advise Russia to abandon Siberia--too costly.    Mammoths frozen whole, not as fossils.   This one will take some time to finish.

Really enjoying this book.  A very plain, straightforward style.  Easy Rawlins is an interesting character. Just when you think you've got him pegged as the "tough guy who really has a heart of gold," he doesn't have such a heart of gold.  Great basic plot. To get out of a serious problem with the IRS, Easy agrees to spy on Chaim Wenzler, a Jewish communist who is doing charity work, organizing work, and probably espionage. Easy quickly realizes he likes Chaim, so he's in the position of being a traitor.   "Chaim and I were partners working for the poor and elderly.  Of course, I was trying to hang him, too." The basic plot is augmented by a number of subplots:  infidelities, poor parenting, theft--no glamorizing the underclass here.  Mouse is a great character.  "You talk to my boy for me, get him on my good side, and I'll kill your enemies for you.  Deal?" Particularly interesting book for a white guy to read.  Every once in awhile,...

James Baldwin God gave Noah the rainbow sign, No more water but fire next time. Black man writing on race--never a bad thing for a white guy to read. Here's what I took away new. Looked at through an economic or power lens, white America controls black America. But Baldwin points out that looked at from a truth lens, black Americans know more than whites about the true nature of our country. They aren't deceived by platitudes about American virtue because they live American vice. White America has blinkers on, like horses that see only straight ahead. Black America sees the whole picture. Section on Elijah Muhammad is interesting. You can feel Muhammad's great appeal to Baldwin; you can feel Baldwin's reluctance to be sucked into anything resembling groupthink. I read Giovanni's Room at 20 and was absolutely amazed by the novel--topic first of all, and then power of writing. So powerful an experience that I don't think I'll reread for fear a re...

Gun Street Girl (concluded) The novel is based on the Oliver North Iran-Contra affair.   I didn't recall this aspect of the scandal, but North attempted to buy missiles through Ireland. The whole thing failed and he returned to America to pursue other nefarious means. Because the book is based on facts, the ending is a letdown.   The bad guys are the suspected bad guys; the final shoot-out is cut and dried. The soldiers on the side of the good guys are incredibly well-trained and make short work of the smugglers.   Duffy is offered a promotion (or more correctly a career change) into M15, but the woman who offers him the job—along with a cadre of M15 operatives—are killed in a helicopter crash.   Again, real life.   Definitely worth reading another McKinty novel .   Just a few false moments in the entire novel:   a strange fight with competing cops that ends up in a buddies-at-the-bar scene, and would Duffy tear up at the death of the bad ...

Enjoying this very much.  Duffy continues to pursue an ever-thickening plot.  Kelly, who is the supposed murderer of his parents, has killed himself by jumping to his death. Now Kelly's girlfriend of a few months, supposedly distraught by his death, kills herself (CO).  No, no, no. Duffy goes to London.  Kelly's roommates and posh clubs at Oxford.  Wild party, girl dies of heroin. Kelly and German friend stay to talk to the police.  Well connected friend leaves and avoids publicity.  Oxford, English police also seem to be covering up . . . something.  Gun Street Girl, actually M16 operative, offers Duffy a job, sleeps with him, tells him not to waste time on an "unimportant" murder investigation. Duffy makes a deal with the roommate of the girl who killed herself.  She gets off on an assault charge by giving him information about a man who she saw near Kelly's girlfriend the day she "committed suicide."  Coroner finds chloroform in h...

Author:  Adrian McKinty Setting:  Northern Ireland in mid 1980's Basic plot:  Elderly couple murdered in their home.  Their son, with whom the father has been arguing, is missing.  Suspicion falls on him and seems to be confirmed when Michael Kelly (the son) seemingly kills himself.  Case closed.  But then Kelly's vague girlfriend also kills herself.  She hadn't seemed all that serious a girlfriend having only known Kelly a few months.  Did she know something that the real killers were afraid she'd reveal to the police? Characterization:  Sean Duffy, smart Catholic working as an Ulster policeman with only protestant co-workers.  Drug/alcohol abuser.  Charismatic.  Takes up with girl who is reporter for Belfast newspaper. She works the woman's page but is ambitious for more. Background turmoil:  Catholic - Protestant troubles.  Riots of 1985 brought about by Thatcher proposals for changes in the way NI is r...

Filth, at the end, wanders about revisiting his cousins from his earliest childhood days in England, Babs and Claire. Through various memories and discussions, it is revealed that he played a part in the death of their foster mother--a mean woman--Ma Didds. (The children cut off a chicken's head. Ma Didds, rushing up the stairs to beat one of them, is stopped by Filth. She falls and dies, though she also had cancer and would have died anyway. Albert Ross--his Chinese friend--dies in 9/11 attack. Filth decides to return to Singapore. When he gets off the plane, he feels home. Clearly set up for a Part Two as the reader learns very little about Filth's time in Hong Kong in part one. I will read the other books, but not immediately. Beautiful writing and characterization. Plot wanders quite a bit . . . not the point, at least not yet.

Feathers is forced to go to his father--an evacuee from the war. He is humiliated--he's too old.  Pat Ingoldsby, his best friend, is killed in the war.  He learns happenstance on the plane. His two aunts who have been "taking care" of him are delighted to see him go so they can marry.  He meets up with Albert Ross (Haka Chinese) on boat to Singapore.  While en route, Japan attacks Singapore and takes it over. A mess!

Teddy revealed through flashbacks    Pat Ingoldsby as moody friend    War time -- Teddy's father insists he return to Asia rather than fight     Teddy meets up with Babs (cousin) who tries to  seduce him--he flees     Teddy's wife dies   He's surprised she is mourned by others   No children   No sensuality\   Cold marriage After her death, Teddy goes on various pilgrimages. He meets up with an old lawyer, has dinner with him, then they part . . . barely able to discuss anything of significance.  He goes to see Babs who is a music teacher.  She seems eccentric to him; he flees from her again.  Next he's off to cousin Claire who is more hospitable.  She has a son Oliver who has a significant other.  Teddy gives them all of Betty's jewelry--they think they are getting recipes and are flabbergasted, but end up keeping the jewels. Journey to try to make sense of his life . . . not too succe...

FILTH = Failed in London, Try Hong Kong Old Filth is actually quite respectable and not at all filthy. Book opens with 80 year-old Old Filth (Edward Feathers) back in England.  He was a lawyer, then judge, in Hong Kong.  Wife is dead; no children. He lives in a semi-remote area in Dorset, England, so it is amazing when, Terry Veneering, an old enemy from Hong Kong moves next door. The two do not speak for years. Filth, in a snowstorm, locks himself out of his home and finds himself obliged to go to Veneering for help. Surprisingly to both, they hit it off and arrange to meet again. Kotakinakulu    Edward as boy.  Mother dies in childbirth. Remote father turns him over to Malays to be raised.  Abruptly wrenched from Malayasia and returned to England at 4 1/2.  At 8, a stammerer, he is off to prep school in Wales.   "Sir," his teacher, is all life and good spirits.  A modern teacher; learning as pleasure. He meets Ingoldby. The Donhead...

Giovanni's Room, which I read in college, is a book that floored me. I didn't know writing could be so raw. I have never reread it for fear that I would lose that sense of the book. Time does change one. So far, Go Tell It on the Mountain is excellent. No pretense. Young JB as preacher, hiding from street, taking on father, learning power of words . . . confused about his place in the world. Honest.  0 minutes ago

Not surprisingly, the section dealing with the sinking is riveting.  Capt. Turner blamed by many in England, including Churchill, but exonerated (rightly, Larson argues) by two courts of law.  German U-boat has luck on its side--Lusitania turns to give perfect shot.  Lusitania is carrying some munitions--but hard not to look on this as, by today's vocabulary, a terrorist act by a state.  1200 dead; 750 survivors.  125 Americans dead. Children roaming the deck when torpedo hits--parents frantic to find them.  Life jackets kept in rooms; people don't know how to put them on.  Crew of limited skill--best British crewmen are in the Navy. Calm seas keep death toll down.  Any kind of storm and many more would have died. America doesn't immediately enter the war.  Wilson still tries to find way to keep USA out. Churchill angry--by trying to save lives, Wilson allowed more lives to be lost.  More sinkings bring more verbal protests from Wils...

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."  Larson puts out as a possibility the chance that the Lusitania was knowingly sent to its destruction as part of a conspiracy to draw America into the war.  However, he also makes it clear that a confluence of events brought about its doom, most of them based in stupidity. For example, the British admiralty knew that the Lusitania and German submarine(s) had a good chance of crossing paths near Liverpool.  They also knew that a German u-boat had sunk two liners the day before the Lusitania reached those waters.  However, the warning they sent Capt. Turner left out the information about the sinkings. Also, no British escort was provided for the Lusitania even after the sinkings of the other boats, in spite of the fact that British warships were in the vicinity and could have easily provided protection.  That Winston Churchill was otherwise occupied also led to the lack of firmness in t...

This is my third Erik Larson. I greatly enjoyed Devil in the White City (serial killer during Chicago World's Fair)  and Isaac's Storm (Hurricane in Galveston).   I was less enthused about In the Garden of the Beasts (Berlin, rise of Hitler). Technique of Part I is to break the narrative into three strands:  Lusitania, Washington, Room 40 (spy room where German messages are being cracked). It's a great technique for the book, but not for a blog whose point is to help me when I look back at books I've read, so . . . Lusitania sections to page 110 Lusitania is greyhound of sea.  25 knots, 30 mph.  Commissioned by the British Navy for duel purpose, a passenger ship that could be easily converted into a fighting ship.  The fighting part never worked out, though it's twin (Mauritania)  functioned as a troop transport ship. More than 20 passages across the ocean.  2000 passengers per voyage. Lots of famous names, Larson introduces a female archite...

Not really a surprise ending.  One of the (literally) rotten guys turns out to be the main villain.  Dave R. metes out vengeance to the underlings.  His partner is, as partners are often, corrupt--but with a good reason.  The love interest (Annie) just sort of fades into the background.  I thought she was a goner.  I don't like tricky endings, but this was a little bit of a plodder. Memorable lines:  "I didn't understand then who the Nazis were, but I imagined them as dark-uniformed, slit-eyed creatures who lived beneath the water and who could burn and murder people of goodwill whenever they wished." Mortality:  "I left the (hospital) room quietly with the sense of both guilt and relief that we feel when we're allowed to walk away from the bedside of someone who reminds us of our mortality. Life:  Did I pitch the best game I could, even though it was a flawed one, right through the bottom of the ninth. Louisiana:  A place that n...

Up to page 200 or so.  Will finish tomorrow  Fitzpatrick, the ATF agent who is also involved in the case, dies in a staged accident. Dave Robicheaux miraculously survives the same accident, but falls off the wagon. Alcoholism:  Burke shows all the negatives--ruins relationship with Annie; should lose job; risky, stupid behavior.  But there's also the glamor of it, the surrender to the dark forces is always a little glamorous.  Dancing with the devil. Passages of note: Bad guy gets eaten by pigs.  Drug addicted, high 20 year old:  "That's gross. Shouldn't you take him to a funeral parlor or something. Yuk." Life's byways:  "Your honor, I have no idea how I got from there to here." On middle class DUI's in the slammer:  "expected to be treated with the courtesy due good Kiwanians." "copacetic"  Slang word for "excellent."  Never heard it, odd "slang."

Pages 1-140 James Lee Burke in gritty New Orleans. Dave Robicheaux, unhappy at the slapdash way the murder of a black prostitute is handled, gets himself involved in a much more serious case than he imagined.  Nicaragua, Sandinistas, drug money, ATF agents (Fitzpatrick), sadists, a sketchy partner (Cletus)--lots going on, and all of it handled deftly.  Burke is not your spare writer.  He goes for broke with everything--plot, character, language, setting.  I generally prefer the sparse writing style, but you've got to admire the way Burke puts it all out there:  "This is what I've got; all of it. I'm not hiding with implied anything ." On tourists: "Families strolled down Bourbon Street, cameras hanging from their necks, as though they were on a visit to the zoo." Exchange with bad guy:  "I'm the guy you never thought you'd see, just a vague figure in your mind you could laugh about getting snuffed.  I've sort of showed up like a ba...

Chapter 13:  Rooster Alveranga finally drifts to land in the Marshall Islands.  He shows incredible patience, staying with his boat until he is nearly ashore. He is fearful he will be eaten by cannibals.  He thinks that he will need to get a job to earn money to get back home. Rain.  Exhaustion. Chapter 14:  Who is this wild man Discovered by Emi and Russel Laikidrik. Russel is wary, but Emi senses A. needs help. Food.  Alveranga eats everything he can.  Pancake dish. Shown himself in a mirror, Alveranga throws it down in disgust and breaks it--only tension between the Laikidriks and Alveranga. Police come to take him to a larger island for questioning and care.  Alveranga fears he's being arrested. He's terrified of getting back in a boat. He feels the boat trip is 24 hours; it is actually 15 minutes.  Agoraphobic.  Language difficulties. Chapter 15:  Found but lost  & Chapter 16: Cockroaches Confusion, lots of quest...

Ch. 7 A Fight for Life :  Cordoba gives up.  Asks A. not to eat him when he dies.  After he dies, Alvarenga talks to him for a while.  Finally Cordoba, essentially a mummy, is gently buried at sea. Depression for A. Ch. 8 Swimming with Sharks :  A. hones his hunting skills; flock of birds on board.  Cruelty of boats.  He sees them repeatedly, but they don't see him.  No flares, no matches. Risky, stupid swim to Styrofoam. Styrofoam's whiteness lures more birds to his boat and to his stomach. Swimming strategy to avoid sharks:  when the smaller fish are relaxed, he is relaxed.  When they panicked, he got back on board. Ch. 9   Encounters with a Whale --huge creature, several times longer than his boat; eye as large as A.'s head;  whale shark--30,000 pounds; talks to the gentle giant; carries whole ecosystem with him. Whale Shark leaves, baby takes it's place.; rowdy, smashes boat.  3mph drift is faster!  Moonless n...

5.0% "Background. Flight from El Salvador. Bravery as fisherman and as rescuer of others. Marijuana, alcohol, danger of winds and currents, Hemingway life." 04/01 page 50 17.0% "Remarkable book--very clean, beautiful prose. Ch. 1: Sharkers--background on Alvarenga. San Salvador . . . threat of death . . . move to Mexico . . . large personality . . . great skill as fisherman in Costa Azul. Ch. 2 Stormy tribe: Ray, regular helper, unavailable . . . threat of storm . . . self-confidence . . . need . . . hires Còrdoba . . . skill at sea . . . Còrdoba overmatched Ch. 3 Ambushed at sea:" 04/01 page 55 19.0% "Ambushed at Sea: huge storm . . . Alveranga incredible skill . . . motor dies 15 miles from coast . . . fish catch dumped . . . "pinball game" with storm tossing them about. Ch. 4 Search and No Rescue: Alveranga's status leads to desire to rescue him despite danger . . . early stories of Alverenga: "I saw him with a bowl of dog p...