Me and HDT

At the beginning of the summer, I made some reading plans that included spending quality time with Henry David Thoreau. Well, it took me almost all of August but I finished! 500 pages of biography and 300 pages of rambles and rambling later and I am safely on the other side. My verdict: I'm on the fence about Thoreau the writer but Thoreau the man was well worth meeting.

I started with Henry David Thoreau: A Life by Laura Dassow Walls and read through his childhood and young adult years, up until his sojourn into the wilderness ... one mile away from his parents' house.

I then spent a ridiculously long time reading Walden. I couldn't get through more than a few pages a day because his writing and thoughts were so dense. It certainly wasn't as tedious as I remembered from high school though. It was just grounded in a strong knowledge of the classics and world religions and those were things that I hadn't been exposed to at the time. But many of his thoughts were simply truisms, like this bit from the chapter called Reading --

It is not all books that are as dull as their readers. There are probably words addressed to our condition exactly, which, if we could really hear and understand, would be more salutary than the morning or the spring to our lives, and possibly put a new aspect on the face of things for us. How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.

After Thoreau's two year, two month, and two day experiment ended, I headed back to the biography and that's when I really started enjoying myself. Thoreau's views on slavery, war, Native Americans, and evolution were all progressive and his actions were sometimes just as brave. When he escorted escaped slaves to trains bound for Canada or when he was the first to speak out nationally in support of John Brown after the Harper's Ferry uprising, he showed his true character. And when his first thoughts after reading Darwin's Origin of the Species were that all men truly were created equal and that the ranking of the races had no actual basis in nature (as was claimed by pro-slavery jerks), I couldn't help but become one of Thoreau's biggest fans. His thoughts on conservation and natural spaces and even hunting were just the icing on the cake. I'll admit to shedding quite a few tears when he died at the age of 44 from tuberculosis. He could have done so much more with the other half a lifetime that he was denied.

I am very happy that I decided to take on this project this summer and I will read more of Thoreau's writings, especially Civil Disobedience, in the future. And I can cross another book off my high school dislike list too! Dare I try a reread of The Grapes of Wrath next?! Haha.

With inspiration,
K

Tesla, Tesla

The Last Days of Night is a newish release by Graham Moore, best known for his debut book, The Sherlockian. It explores the dawn of the electrical age by following the lawyer, Paul Cravath, who defended George Westinghouse in his battle with Thomas Edison over the lightbulb and direct versus alternating current. Because Nikola Tesla, after leaving the employ of Edison, spent some time working with Westinghouse and ended up selling him his AC patents, this ends up mostly being a tale of the relationships between Cravath, Westinghouse, and Tesla. There is also a love story for Cravath and a glimpse into New York high society.

At the end of the book, Moore calls it a "dramatization of history", a "Gordian knot of verifiable truth, educated supposition, dramatic rendering, and total guesswork". I thought it was fascinating and a fun read ... and it led me to finally pick up my next read from the TBR, where it has languished for years.

Tesla: Man Out of Time by Margaret Cheney is considered the definitive biography of Nikola Tesla. It is technical and mostly covers his inventions and patents but also veers into his social life and unique mental abilities. I only wish that it had been updated after the 1981 publication date because one of the most interesting parts was the discussion of how modern scientists are now putting some of Tesla's more "far-fetched" ideas to use. I know that there have been even more researchers and corporations in the last 35 years that have come to see the light about Tesla's ideas, so to speak, and it would have added even more strength to the narrative of his genius. Sometime soon I'll read Tesla's own short autobiography, maybe when I take delivery of my electric car later this year!

Plugging in to history,

K

Women In Science

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky is one of the books that is showing up everywhere right now. I see it recommended for kids and adults alike and the brief summaries and bright colors make that possible. It both highlights women's contributions to science AND the obstacles that they faced as they did so, giving readers knowledge and food for thought.

I did have two complaints about this book -- one is that there were too many spelling and "autocorrect"-type mistakes in the text and artwork. As a scientist, this lack of precision was off-putting. The second thing is that two or three of the scientists' bios mentioned worked on the atomic bomb and their work was described in ways that basically praised the end product. I have a problem with this kind of talk no matter what the gender of the scientist is. To have it right next to the bio of someone like Rachel Carson, whose hard work and dedication led to things like the formation of the EPA, is not cool. All science is not equal.

Still, this is a great book for showing the variety of professions that make up the sciences and the struggles that women have had over time in being allowed to work in them and to also have their work recognized. Hopefully more in-depth biographies of many of these women will be written by young people who read this book and other youngsters will be inspired to pursue studies in the sciences.

Never pipetting by mouth,
K

#RIPXI : 8, Poe: A Life Cut Short

I wanted to be sure and get some non-fiction reading in during this RIP season and what better than Peter Ackroyd's Poe: A Life Cut Short, one of his Brief Lives books. I found this to be a totally sufficient biography for any casual reader. It begins with Poe's death and then goes back through his orphaning, his tumultuous relationship with his "adopted" father, his tendency to move around frequently, and, as expected, his turn to drink throughout his life. Ackroyd is very good at separating out facts from heresay and exaggeration. He doesn't put Poe on a pedestal either, even broaching the subject of Poe's views on slavery, which I haven't really seen covered before in other brief biographies. All in all, this is a great little volume to have around if you are interested in the life and tragic death of Edgar Allan Poe.

Mastering the brief review,

K

Spending Time with Neil

As the first casting decisions for the upcoming miniseries came out, I decided it was time to reread American Gods and to see what Neil decided to add back in to the Author's Preferred Text edition. I liked this story much more than I did when I first read it almost five years ago. At that time, I had just gotten started with Neil with books like Coraline and Good Omens and didn't really know to expect sex or violence in his stories. But now that I know him and his work better, there was nothing unexpected in the book and I was more able to focus on the details of the story and the mythology. I can't find where but I know I've seen Neil himself say that his fans can be divided into two groups, those who love American Gods and those who hate it. It is definitely a divisive book, dark and brooding with just a touch of redemption at times. This time through I appreciated the crafting of the characters and the vivid sense of each place that Shadow found himself in. Anyway, the casting decisions so far have been stellar and I'm really looking forward to watching the miniseries hopefully late this year.

The Art of Neil Gaiman is a comprehensive review of almost everything Neil has done in comics, novels, film, and children's books by Hayley Campbell, a young family friend who a journalist and the daughter of illustrator Eddie Campbell. She had access to all of the stray papers in his attic and to him and his memories. It was really interesting to read how his career evolved, which things he loved working on and which were more like "work", and what things he would possibly like to write in the future. This is a book for diehard Gaiman fans and it was a fascinating inside look.

Worshipping at the altar,
K

New Release: Wilkie Collins

I was very excited to be offered a copy of Peter Ackroyd's new Ackroyd's Brief Lives entry, Wilkie Collins. 'Tis the season where one cannot help but choose one of Wilkie's brilliant stories to indulge in as the wintry gloom approaches. And what better way to preface a Collins read (mine was The Law and the Lady this year) than by learning more about the man himself.

Small in size (not unlike Collins himself), this book nevertheless covers Wilkie's life, including so many scandals and illnesses. It was an easy read and I appreciated the opportunity to flesh out those things I already knew about one of my favorite authors. It was obvious while reading that he is also one of Ackroyd's favorites and it produced a feeling of veracity about the facts in the book -- both from faith that Ackroyd was diligent in his research and also trust that he viewed Collins' actions in a more sympathetic light that some other biographers.

I have really enjoyed Ackroyd's non-fiction (including London Under) and fiction (featuring an RIP read from five years ago) and look forward to picking up his Brief Lives volume about Poe (and eventually getting back to the very large London: The Biography).

Solving the mystery,
K

New Release: Hollywood Stories

I'm sure you've gathered from my recent posts that I'm a pretty big fan of film, especially classic film.  I'm also a shameless television watcher so I was definitely looking forward to reading Stephen Schochet's Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies!  Schochet is a Hollywood tour guide and radio program host who has spent years gathering anecdotes about actors and the business.  This book has an incredibly large number of stories about a wide variety of actors, actresses and directors -- from George Lucas to Jim Carrey.

This is definitely a book for hardcore fans but there's also something for just about everyone who loves Hollywood.  As opposed to a lot of the news out of Tinsel Town, this isn't filled with sordid tales of drugs or affairs.  It's good, wholesome fun!  The only small complaint I have is that it skews toward the older days of film and television and doesn't have many modern stories.  There's a wealth of information about everyone from Laurel and Hardy to Arnold Schwarzenegger but young readers might not recognize many of the names in the book unless they are media junkies.  But, even skipping the entries that I wasn't really interested in, there was plenty to interest me.  This would be a great gift for a film buff or gossip hound.

In the know, you know,
K


Support our site and buy Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies! on Amazon or find it at your local library.  We received a copy for review from the author.

New Release: In My Father's Shadow

I don't read memoirs and I certainly don't read celebrity biographies. And yet, a few years ago I read Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography by Victoria Price and loved it. When I saw In My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles by Chris Welles Feder in the Algonquin Books catalogue I was hoping for the same sort of experience and so I requested a copy for review. Unfortunately, Welles was not the type of man that Price was and didn't have an entirely healthy relationship with his daughter.

Chris Welles Feder--named Christopher by her somewhat eccentric father--was the product of two show business parents. They split while Chris was young and while Orson was around, he was usually busy working. While always calling Chris his "darling girl", he would forget to turn up for lunch dates and be away on movie shoots for months at a time. Chris grew up idolizing her father and idealizing him because of his genius even though he was sometimes unkind to her in little ways. Through two more wives and two more daughters, Chris remained the most important woman in his life for many years until they had a falling out. When she reunited with him years later, he was living with a mistress -- the true love and partner of his life who he remained with for twenty years until his death.

This was a very difficult book to read. Orson Welles was a genius in many ways but not in his personal relationships. Chris endured many things and they all affected her and her development. This memoir has a depressing tone throughout most of it but it was honest and believable. Still, her love for her father comes through and she certainly always wished the best for him as he apparently did for her. As this was really Chris' memoir, there is not much biographical information on many of the players. I think this book is most appropriate for someone who has already read an Orson Welles biography and for those curious about the pitfalls of being in a celebrity family.

Separating the too human man from the genius,
K


Support our site and buy In My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles on Amazon or find it at your local library. We received an ARC for review from the publisher.

Origins

I had to write a second post today since it slipped my blogging mind that it is Charles Darwin's 200th birthday! It's Darwin Day in the UK and The Guardian has some Darwin-related videos up.

In honor of Darwin this year, I am going to finally stop procrastinating and will read On the Origin of Species. I found a beautiful illustrated version that includes some of his sketches and journal entries from the Beagle voyage along with beautiful color photographs. He didn't formalize his theory in this book until he was 50 years old. As a science student, Darwin always amazed me in the sheer variety of topics he was able to study and understand -- geology, zoology, biology and botany to name a few. He was dedicated to study and learning and his impact on science is undeniable. The world is a better place for having had him in it.

Happy birthday Mr. Darwin,
K

(And no slouch himself, today is also Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.)


Buy On the Origin of Species: The Illustrated Edition on Amazon or find it at your local library.

"We Interrupt This Broadcast ..."

When I agreed to review the updated 10th Anniversary edition of We Interrupt This Broadcast by Joe Garner, I knew that it would be an emotional experience but I had no idea to what degree. This is a 200 page coffee-table book that documents 46 historical events through our tradition of late-breaking headlines on radio and television. The book has over 200 black and white photographs that document each story and a few pages of text that give background information and some short quotes. It is a very handsome book and the photos are well-chosen.

The real gem of this set are the three accompanying CDs, narrated by the well-known Bill Kurtis. He gives background and commentary for each event and then we hear original recordings from radio or television. Most of us have some of the famous quotes from these events in our social consciousness, perhaps without even knowing the specific incidents that inspired these statements. For example, "Oh, the humanity!" came from a broadcast as journalist Herb Morrison stood watching the unexpected explosion of the airship Hindenburg. As Morrison's voice cracks and he tells us that he can no longer continue speaking, we understand the intensity and unbelievable sadness of this disaster.

There are a few joyous occasions in this book such as the end of World War II, the moon landing and the fall of the Berlin Wall but unfortunately we are also asked to remember far too many assassinations, wars, and mechanical and natural disasters. Of course, most of these broadcasts are of a tragic nature because this was the type of event that needed to be communicated immediately to the American people. I will admit that I was not looking forward to listening to some events like the Kennedy and MLK Jr. assassinations and I stopped before the September 11 broadcasts. I am not yet ready to revisit that terrible day.

These are incredibly moving historical milestones and I will admit to choking up and even shedding some tears as I listened to the audio tracks. I am too young to have experienced most of them but of course I studied them in school. The first breaking news event that I can remember in my lifetime that is covered in this book is the shuttle Challenger explosion. I was in the 4th grade and, before our eyes, the celebration of the first school teacher in space turned into an unbelievable tragedy. I still remember the feelings of shock and sadness as I watched the deaths of those brave seven astronauts, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe. It was comforting, though, to hear the words of Ronald Reagan again, reminding us that in order to have progress, we must be prepared for setbacks.

We Interrupt This Broadcast would be a fantastic gift so keep it in mind for anyone with an interest in American history. The book and CDs are of the highest quality and the emotional experience is profound.

Experiencing our living history,
K


Buy We Interrupt This Broadcast with 3 CDs: The Events That Stopped Our Lives...from the Hindenburg Explosion to the Virginia Tech Shooting on Amazon or find it at your local library.

"Gentlemen: Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books."

Recently, in all of the talk about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, another book was mentioned that I have wanted to read and so I picked it up at the library. That book was 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. This is a collection of letters between New Yorker Hanff and the employees of the Marks and Co. bookstore in London, especially with one Frank Doel. For twenty years, Hanff orders old and rare books from London and becomes friends with Doel, his co-workers and his family. She sends them care-packages of meat and eggs when they are suffering through rations after WWII. She sends friends to visit the bookstore when they travel abroad. But unfortunately Hanff is never able to save enough money to take her own trip to England to meet these friends.

This is a very short book, only 97 pages, but it is so incredibly sweet and funny that it is worth the time reading it. It gives insight into some everyday lives that we otherwise would never know about. I highly suggest reading this book if you haven't yet.

Wanting to find the England that I dream of,
K


Buy 84, Charing Cross Road on Amazon or find it at your local library.

Reading Something of Value

When I was a kid, one of my favorite sets of books were the ValueTales. I learned about Louis Pasteur and pasteurization, about Marie Curie and radium and Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. I liked reading about people who did real things whose influence I could still see in the world. Helen Keller was brave and hard-working. Benjamin Franklin was curious and inventive. Abraham Lincoln was honest and intelligent. And all of these people were once kids like me -- wanting to know more about their world and wanting to make a difference. A lot of the colorful, enticing non-fiction books for kids today seem to be about things rather than people - trucks and animals rather than Ghandi and Florence Nightingale.

Apparently, there are "New" ValueTales. I'm not sure what they changed -- it just says "revised art, and updated text" -- but I hope that they give the kids the same feelings of hope and empowerment that they gave me.

Feeling nostalgic,
K