Book Review: "No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugarman & Jerry Hopkins.

Book Review: "No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugarman & Jerry Hopkins.

For many people the 60's died in 1971 with the final death in the "Holy Trinity of Rock," Jim Morrison. The other 2 being Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix who died the year prior. In fact after Janis's death Jim was known to say "You are with number 3."

The times were wild and experimental to say the least and Jim Morrison was one of the most experimental. Calling himself more of a poet than a rock star Jim Morrison would create social experiments at each of the Door's concerts. The book, "No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugarman & Jerry Hopkins, chronicles the life of Jim Morrison as seen through the eyes of Danny Sugarman and Jerry Hopkins. As far as biographies go, there is nothing really revealing in this one. Jim Morrison's life remains a mystery even after reading this book. I think what the authors tried to do with this book is to immortalize Morrison by making him some sort of god, maybe a Dionysus of the 60s. The book is full of anecdotes that just perpetuate that myth. Nothing about the man himself or what made him create what he did.

Even when they talk about the death of Morrison they perpetuate the myth by giving several possibilities of how Morrison died or even that he may still be alive. Maybe a little resurrection story going on here?

So, if you are looking for an interesting chronicle with no substance this is the book to check out the book. What it lacks in real substance, it does give the reader a nice brief history of The Doors and Jim Morrison.
If you are looking for a GOOD biography of Jim Morrison, one that has some substance and emotion, a better read would be "Light My Fire, My Life with the Doors" by Ray Manzarek. Now that's a good informative and emotional book.

Books I am currently reading (and will be reviewing soon):

"Deception Point" by Dan Brown

"Water for Elephants: A Novel" by Sara Gruen

"The Frog King" by Adam Davies

You won't believe this

Hi,

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With your help, we can make real change. Please join me by signing this petition:

http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/accountability/ftqnql

Thanks!

CDF Katrina Project Needs Books

Democrats.org has a post called "CDF Katrina Project Needs Books" that's worth checking out...

The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Katrina Project partners with community based organizations, service agencies and universities in the Cleveland, Columbia and Jackson, MS areas to provide after-school programming each day public schools are in session for children in families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Book Review "Bushwhacked, Life in George W. Bush's America" by Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose

Okay, if you are a corporation or support corporations not having to pay taxes or to clean up their own toxic messes, this book is not for you, because you are already receiving all the good stuff you paid the President to do for you. Now if you are a concerned American that believes that the people govern and not the corporations, then this book will let you know the error in your ways. Now before I get into the review I should start by telling you that the authors, Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose, wrote a book exposing "Dubya" back when he was Governor of Texas. That book was called "Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush." The opening to the book "Bushwhacked" pretty much says If you would have read "Shrub" they wouldn't have to write "Bushwhacked."

The first half of this book is about how big business bought and paid for the presidency. No, It wasn't hanging chads that determined our fate it was Enron, Harken, Baker Botts and many more. Before I go any further I want to point out 2 things: 1.) The authors have cited all their sources and have them listed in the book if you want to check the facts. 2.) Not until this book, and some research of my own, did I realize how Enron's Kenneth Lay and George W. were such good friends. You wouldn't have known it after Enron was exposed.

"Bushwhacked" then goes on to point out how all of what "Dubya" is doing now in the White House, he tried and failed in Texas. Everything from poor environmental policy to destroying children's lives through budget cuts and faith based intitiatives. It's amazing that I even still eat meat after reading this book and the Eric Schlosser book "Fast Food Nation." Yep, "Dubya" even has his hands in the tainted meat industry.

Then we get to the really fun stuff the bait and switch of getting us into Gulf War II. The authors provide a section listing all of the reasons "Dubya" cited when getting us into the war. This section leads to my "favoritist" quote in the book. The quote is from Paul Freundlich: "All right, let me see if I understand the logic of this correctly. We are going to ignore the United Nations in order to make clear to Saddam Hussein that the United Nations cannot be ignored. WE're going to wage war to preserve the U.N.'s ability to avert war. The paramount principle is that the U.N.'s word must be taken seriously, and if we have to subvert its word to guarantee that it is, then , by gum, we will. Peace is too important not to take up arms to defend. Am I getting this right?"

So no matter where you stand on the Gulf War II or the Bush Presidency you need to read this book. It will either open up your eyes to let you know what you may be getting screwed out of.

It is hard to read this book, for one reason, I kept having to retreive it from across the room. After many chapters it would go flying.

Let me know what you think of the book...and oh yeah, go out and vote.


Books I am currently reading (and will be reviewing soon):

"Deception Point" by Dan Brown

"No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins

"The Frog King" by Adam Davies

Review: "A Series of Unfortunate Events,Book the Second: The Reptile Room" by Lemony Snicket.

Lemony Snicket got better. This second book in the 13 book series seems to be a lot funnier than the first. I guess with the first book he had some introductions and got those out of the way. Now, I do have the advantage of reading these books one after another and have that advantage of fresh knowledge of the previous book, but I'm taking a short break away from the series after this one. I just have some other books to get to.

Anyhow, back to the Reptile Room. Here we find the Baudelaire children or rather Baudelaire orphans being shuffled off to their next next-of-kin. This "uncle" is a herpetologist (studies snakes) and is a fun character. Too bad he gets killed off. Oh, come on now, I didn't give anything away. In fact all throughout the first part of the book the author is telling us that "uncle" Montgomery Montgomery will not live. So now that you have that oh-my-gawd-he-spoiled-the-ending look off your face, let's talk about the book.

Mr. Snicket, or as we learned in the first review Mr. Handler, continues with his defining of words that are not used in normal speech or that may be advanced vocabulary, but this time around he has a lot more humor in the definitions. Because of this fact alone this book was alot more fun to read. Another fun part of the read is the section when he talks about morals in stories, like the boy who cried wolf or little red riding hood. He comes up with the morals of those stories (something I deduced when I was 10 years old) is don't live near wolves. I laughed out loud and had to look around and make sure someone wasn't looking at me.

This book was filled with fun moments like the names of many of the snakes. My favorite was the Virginia Wolf-snake, which you should never, under any circumstance, let near a typewriter. Now with all the fun for the reader keep in mind the Baudelaire orphans still don't have anything good going for them, at least not for too long. "Uncle" Monty's assistant has mysteriously quit and disappeared so he gets a new assistant. Well the orphans and the reader know immediately it's Count Olaf. Yes, he's back to steal the Baudelaire fortune. I won't tell you what happens, other than "uncle" Monty dies. But I will give you a hint: This is only book 2 of a 13 book series.

Happy reading.




Books I am currently reading (and will be reviewing soon):

"Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose

"Deception Point" by Dan Brown

"No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins

Review of "The Accidental" by Ali Smith

"The Accidental" is a very creatively written book. Each chapter or section is written by a different point of view of the characters involved. And they are written as stream of thought, to clarify this, stop for a second and examine all the thoughts going on in your head and the interruptions that occur and then what thought(s) you go back to and start again. This is the way this book is written. At first I thought this might have been too gimmicky...but I easily lost myself in the book and the style, so it definitely worked.

The story follows a British family on holiday for the summer. Eve Smart, a writer of a series of historical-fiction what-if books that are making her and her publisher some pretty good money, but she has hit the wall with ideas and whether or not to keep writing these books. Her 2 children; Astrid, a twelve year old who I think is the wisest in this book is obsessed with video, Magnus the 17-year-old son, who has a guilty conscious after he showed some guys in school how to crop a picture of a fellow girl student's head on the body of a nude model, the girl committed suicide after the picture was e-mailed out to all the classmates. Then we have Eve's Husband Michael (step-father to Astrid and Magnus). Michael is a professor who along with teaching English, has extra-curricular activities with his female college students and a few others he meets along the way. By the way, Eve knows this, but Michael doesn't know she knows.

Now with this much dysfunction, you would think that would be enough for a good story. But in comes the catalyst, Amber. Amber is a free-spirited 30ish woman that shows up and everyone in the house thinks she's there for someone else. For example, Eve thinks she's one of Michaels "girls," but wonders why she's so much older than the rest. Michael thinks she's helping with Eve's book. So Amber gets free reign over the house with great hospitality. We soon discover Amber has some strange motives. She's constantly pointing out where Eve's life went wrong, she does everything to not be "picked up" by Michael, has sexual relations with Magnus, and shows Astrid that life is not what you record and remember, but what it could be.

And this is really only the beginning of the story. The point-of-view storytelling works great, especially when pointing out how each family member sees the same scene. While the reader has to relive the same scenes over and over the point-of-view is so different it makes for separate stories.

There is some great literature in this book. I call this one my newest Classic. I'll have to check out the other books by Ali Smith.




Books I am currently reading (and will be reviewing soon):

"Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose

"A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book The Second: The Reptile Room" by Lemony Snicket.

"No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins

"Deception Point" by Dan Brown

Review: "A Series of Unfortunate Events,Book the First: A Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket.

Okay I sat down and decided to read the "Series of Unfortunate events" Books. (I make my best decisions sitting down.) After all I got the books once for my step-son to read, and then my step-daughter started reading them and they weren't wrong about Harry Potter, so I'm giving this series a chance. Besides, this October Mr. Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler author of "Watch Your Mouth","The Basic Eight" & "Adverbs") will be ending the series with book 13.

Okay first of all if you've seen the movie...you should have read the books first, at least, that's what I'm finding out. The movie has bits and pieces of the first 3 books all scrambled to make the movie.

In this first book we find the unfortunate Baudelaire children, who once led happy lives, have lost their parents and their home. They are then shuffled off to live with some distant relative they had never heard of, Count Olaf. Well the Count is only after their fortune. So he comes up with a brilliant plan to marry the 14 year old violet, thus giving him control over the fortune. Hmmmm something strange about an old man marrying a 14 year old girl. But they have many unfortunate encounters...notice they are never bad...just unfortunate.

Without just retelling the story, I'll just say this that anything good that happens to these kids doesn't last.

Now the storytelling in this book and I'm sure like the rest of the books in the series, is written in a very cynical/ironic voice. When something bad happens the author will say, or rather ask you to stop reading and constantly tell you nothing good happens to the orphans. At the same time these books are great for children ages 8 - 16, not only for great reading but also because the author teaches with his writing. In a unique tool, which allows for several asides to the reader, the author also defines some words that definitely help to increase a young reader's vocabulary. Now as an adult I found some of this irritating...defining words I already knew the meaning of, however he found ways to define some of the words to fit within the story.

Get those kids to reading. There are 12 and soon to be 13 books in this series, so they can stay interested for a while.

I'm cutting this review short because I'm going to start on the next book in the series "The Reptile Room" and may provide some more info in that review.


Books I am currently reading (and will be reviewing soon):

"Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose

"The Accidental" by Ali Smith

"A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book The Second: The Reptile Room" by Lemony Snicket.

"No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins

Review "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown.

I decided to go back and read an earlier book by Dan Brown after Reading "The DaVinci Code." And Mr. Brown did not let me down. (Hmmm, maybe I should write poetry.)

Anyhow if you've read "The DaVinci Code" or even saw the movie,(after all there were millions of you)then you know of the treasure hunting adventure Robert Langdon is capable of leading. "Angels & Demons" is no exception.

In this earlier story of Robert Langdon, we go on a great tour of Rome, especially Vatican City. But before that we find out that a top scientist and his beautiful physicist daughter (there has to be some sort of love interest for Mr. Langdon right?)have discovered how to create a universe in a lab and the side product is anti-matter. Thus possibly combining science and religion. When that scientist is murdered and a container of anti-matter is stolen the adventure begins.

Oh by the way, at the same time the Pope has died and the college of cardinals must elect a new pope. But the antimatter is somewhere around the Sistine Chapel and the battery powered cannister is losing power. What that means is; when the power that is keeping the anti-matter from touching matter a great explosion will occur destroying most of Vatican City. While all the "top" cardinals are voting. Thus destroying the Catholic church.

And who is doing this? Well Dan Brown introduces to us yet another secret order "the Illuminati." And the adventure begins. 4 Cardinals are to be murdered in 4 different churches through Rome. Robert Langdon must solve puzzles and historical riddles from the likes of Galileo, artist Bernini and the path of enlightenment.

The great thing about Dan Brown's writing is that you can trace the steps on a map. In fact the writing pretty much compels you to look up a map of Rome and trace the path, and use Google find the actual statues with the clues. (btw, on the author's website he has done this for you.) This page turner is a really great read and has the constant twists and turns of a great mystery. I will not give away everything but there is a great twist at the end.

This book was yet another exciting adventure. Check it out. Let's hope for more from this great adventure/mystery writer. Eventually I'll get to "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point."

How many cults can Dan Brown come up with? As long as there are conspiracy theorists I think Mr. Brown will have more material to write from.

okay a preview of upcoming reviews:
Now reading:

"Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose (Still going on this one, It's one you read, get mad, put down and then like an accident on the highway, you have to look, so you pick up again.)

"The Accidental" by Ali Smith (So far it is a realy good read, the writer has a great skill with writing in train of thought of a character)

"A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book The First: The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket. (I bought this series for one of my kids a few years ago and they loved it. Well they were right about Harry Potter so I'm gonna check these books out. Besides, it's good to find out what your kids are reading.)

Book Review "The Bad Place" By Dean Koontz and more

Okay I said after reading "Velocity" I would give Mr. Koontz another chance. (In case you missed it: Velocity is a let down.)

Anyhow I went back to an older book by him "The Bad Place" This is some good stuff. It's got teleporting brothers, hermaphrodites, anti-hermaphrodites, psychic Downs-syndrome patients, erotic twins that invade the minds of animals, someone who can blow up inanimate objects with their hands, serial killers who drink blood and a husband and wife detective agency.

Now I know Stephen King wrote about a psychic Downs-syndrome patient in the book "Dreamcatcher" and I forget which Clive Barker book had a serial killing hermaphrodite, but Koontz blends them all.

Dakota and Dakota detective agency take on the case of a man that can't remember anything about himself other than his name and that when he goes to sleep he wakes up with bags of cash, rare red diamonds and a bug that is genetically engineered. The case becomes more mysterious when it is observed that their client, Frank Pollard, teleports in his sleep...but doesn't seem to be putting himself back together the right way.

Now this book has velocity. Not only did I stay interested and couldn't put it down, but it had a twist and turn every 5 minutes. (or should that be 5 pages). Plus Mr. Koontz created characters that in the totally unreal setting seemed real. My favorite is the employee of Dakota and Dakota, Clint. He's rugged and has a hidden since of humor. I could see Vin Diesel playing him in the movie. Not too bad of a book. If you like adventure and the paranormal this is your book.


Okay that was short...but I didn't want to give away any of the twists / turns or the end.


Here are the books I'm reading now:

"Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins & Lou Dubose (As if I weren't pissed of at the gubmint enough)

"The Accidental" by Ali Smith (Should be interesting)

"Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown ( I loved "The DaVinci Code" it was a great adventure story...so I had to go and read an earlier Dan Brown book.)

As soon as I finish each book I will post a review. And I promise that the review will be longer. It's just so hard to review a book without giving away the mysteries :)

Reading and audio books.

Well once again I'm reading, oh wait I never stop.

I finished reading:
1.  "Velocity" by Dean Koontz  If you are a Dean Koontz fan you'll probably like this one.  I found it very much of a let down.  It was advertised as being a high paced book.  Well actually it was quite boring in some parts.  This is a Koontz book that doesn't involve the paranormal so a little different from the few I have read.  It is a good whodunit novel..but remember not as intense as advertised.

2.  "The World As I See It" by Albert Einstein.  This is a collection of lectures, essays and letters from the ole E=MC2 guy himself.  Some were boring, to put it bluntly.  I did find his politics surprising.  I was hoping for more physics, though.




I'm now reading:
1.  "The Bad Place" by Dean Koontz...yeah I'm giving him another chance.  when he writes about supernatural/paranormal it's good.

2.  "Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins....as if I weren't pissed of at the gubmint enough.

I'm getting ready to listen to an audio book of "No One Here Gets out alive"  by Jim Morrison.  When I was in Kansas City, I used to take the bus to work and listen to books all the time...but have slacked off.  If you can get the unabridged works on tape/cd or mp3 it makes for great reads/listens.  And yes I believe that and audio book is the same as reading...I dare you to defy me on that one.  Any how I have also found a cool service online AUDIBLE.COM you can download books and listen on your computer or transfer to your mp3 player (wow, they are even compatible with my old Rio mp3 player.) or you can burn to cd.  They have a great selection of books and stuff.  They even have free downloads of radio shows and presidential speeches.  
If you click on the link I have provided below you can receive a trial membership and 1 free download.  It's really cool check it out.
http://www.audible.com/bzz

Movies & Books

Let's start out with the books.
Finished
"Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock...well you have to read this book.  But I recommend doing it in a specific timeline.
First read "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser
 

This will give you the inside skinny (no pun intended{besides, it wouldn't work here} on the fast food industry and the food processing industry.  WARNING: you may not ever touch meat again after reading it. 

Then rent/buy the dvd "Supersize Me"


Don't forget to check out the extras.  

Then read "Don't Eat This book"



And you may become the healthiest person on the planet.  Better than the Atkin's diet.  I think I've lost about 20 pounds thanks to Mr. Schlosser and Mr. Spurlock.


Also finished reading:
"How to Know God"  by Deepak Chopra. 

This book talks about the stages of spirituality and self enlightenment.  It's weird how Physics and religion are both right...They just need to get together.

Okay for movies this week  is saw:

Batman Begins.  You know Christian Bale ain't so bad as Batman.  This movie explains how and why Bruce Wayne became and is Batman.  And the really cool part is that it makes sense and fits...in fact it seems obvious. 

Mighty Aphrodite.  A Woody Allen movie that could have been better.  The use of the Greek Tragedy Chorus is a very neat tool.

The Accidental Tourist.  This movie was good but the quirkiness of Geena Davis' character seemed too quirky.

Made In Heaven.  Very neat idea of heaven and death.  I'll warn you: it is a very 80's movie.  But the cameos by Neil Young, Tom Petty and Rick Ocasek are fun....here's an added test see if you can tell me which character is played by Debra Winger.

Well that's enough for now....get to reading...share your comments and ideas.


Right now I'm reading "Velocity" by Dean Koontz...so far it's pretty good. Not as intense as I'd hoped.



and "The World As I See It" by Albert Einstein. I never realized how politically oriented he was until this book.

Rules of the Blues

1. Most Blues begin "woke up this morning."

2. "I got a good woman" is a bad way to begin the Blues, unless you
stick something nasty in right away: I got a good woman"with the meanest face in town.

3. Blues are simple. After you have the first line right, repeat it.
Then find something that rhymes. Sort of.
I got a good woman"with the meanest face in town.
I got a good woman"with the meanest face in town.
She got teeth like Margaret Thatcher and she weighs 500 pounds.

4. The Blues are not about limitless choice. You stuck in a ditch, you
stuck in a ditch; ain't no way out.

5. Blues cars are Chevies, Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Other
acceptable Blues transportation modes include Greyhound buses and
southbound trains. Walkin" plays a major part in the Blues lifestyle. So does
fixin" to die. Blues don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or SUVs. Jet aircraft and
state-sponsored motor pools ain't even in the running.

6. Adults sing the Blues. Teenagers can"t sing the Blues. They ain't
fixin' to die yet. In the Blues, "adulthood" means old enough to get the
electric chair when you shoot that man in Memphis.

7. You can have the Blues in New York City, but not in Brooklyn or
Queens. Hard times in Vermont, Tucson, or North Dakota are just depression. The
best places to have the Blues are still Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
You cannot have the blues in any place that don't get rain.

8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the blues. A woman with male
pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg while skiing is not the blues.
Breaking your leg when your broken-down pickup truck rolled over on it
is.

9. The following colors do not belong in the Blues: violet, beige,
mauve (unless you"re truly desperate for a rhyme).

9. You can"t have the Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The
lighting is just plain wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.

10. Good places to have the Blues: the highway, a jailhouse, an empty
bed, the bottom of a whiskey glass. Bad places to have the Blues: ashrams,
gallery openings, weekends in the Hamptons, golf courses, Tiffany's,
and Ivy League institutions.

11. No one will believe it"s the Blues if you wear a suit, unless you
happen to be an old black man"and it"s an old black suit.

12. Do you have the right to sing the Blues?
Answer "Yes" if:
a. your first name is a southern state"like Georgia
b. you"re blind
c. you shot a man in Memphis.
d. you can"t be satisfied.
e. you're older than dirt
Answer "No" if:
a. you once were blind but now can see.
b. you"re deaf
c. the man in Memphis lived.
d. you have a trust fund or an IRA.
e. you have all your teeth
f. you were once blind but now can see

13. Blues is not about color, it's about bad luck. Tiger Woods cannot
sing the blues; Gary Coleman could. Ugly old white people got a leg up on
the blues. Julio Iglesias and Barbra Streisand will never sing the Blues.

14. If you ask for water and baby gives you gasoline, it"s the Blues.
Other acceptable Blues beverages are: wine, whiskey, muddy water, beer, black
coffee. Blues beverages are NOT: mixed drinks, kosher wine, sparkling
water, Snapple, Starbucks Frappuccino, or Slim Fast. Although Rubber Biscuits
and the Wish Sandwich are famous blues snacks, better stick to common blues
grub like Greasy Bar-b-que, Fatback and beans, and Government cheeze. Blues
food is never: Club sandwich, Sushi, or Cr"me brule.

15. If it occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it"s a Blues
death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is a Blues death. So is
substance abuse, the electric chair, or being denied treatment in an emergency
room. It is not a Blues death to die during liposuction or from tennis elbow.

16. Excellent names for female Blues singers: Sadie, Big Momma, Bessie,
or Fat River Dumpling. Excellent names for male Blues singers: Willie,
Joe, Little Willie, Lightning, or Big Willie. Singers with names like Muffy,
Sierra, Auburn, Alexis, Gwenyth, Sequoiz, Brittany or Rainbow are not
permitted to sing the Blues, no matter how many men they shoot in
Memphis.

17. The Build Your Own Blues Singer Name Starter Kit:
a. Name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, Asthmatic)
b. First name (from above lists) or name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Kiwi)
c. Last name of a U. S. president (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.)
Examples: Blind Lime Jefferson, Cripple Kiwi Fillmore, etc. (Okay,
maybe not "Kiwi"")

18. I don't care how tragic your life; if you own a computer, you
cannot sing the Blues. You'd best destroy it. Fire, a spilled bottle of Mad Dog, or shotgun. Maybe your big ass woman just done sit on it. I don't care

19. Hey there, you can READ! This too be a big ol' problem. Most folks
singin' the Blues ain't never had much a chance for education. In the Blues" the three R's stand for Railroads, Runnin' and Rehab.

20. It gots to be dark to sing the blues, preferably after midnight.
Singin' da blues at noon is forbidden.

21. If none of the above works, try one last, pathetic stab at
authenticity: name your guitar. Remember, Lucille is taken.

22. Epitaph on a blues musician's tombstone: "I didn't wake up this
morning"

Reading Redux and some movies

Just posting more of what I'm reading

Finished:
"My Friend Leonard" by James Frey. Once again I read another James Frey book and I say to you who cares if he elaborated. (that is not a question). It is a good read great look at the struggles of people. This book is the continuation of "A Million Little Pieces," when we join James this time he is in county jail doing his time for the crimes and waiting to get out and meet Lilly and start his life. Now, if you read the end of "Pieces" you would know that Lilly committed suicide before James got to get back with her. This book shows how he dealt with her death and what he needs to move on. He becomes a delivery person for Leonard. And their friendship blooms. He really knows how to describe the emotions of a moment no matter how large or small. READ IT.

"7 Spiritual Laws of Success" Deepak Chopra. Some great lessons here also. This is a feel good book that the entire population of Earth should learn and practice.

Still Reading:
"Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock...this book makes me sad...It's amazing how the fast food industry has bamboozled us.

New Read:
"7 Spiritual Laws for Parents" by Deepak Chopra. This book takes the 7 spiritual laws and applies them to raising children.

I think I will also start blogging the movies I've watched ...I watch a lot of movies as well as read.
Within the last 7 days
"Amelie" This movie is hilarious and poignant. Amelie starts to change peoples lives to make them better but when it comes to her own...well that's the hard part. If you've seen the Gordon the Garden Gnome commercials for Travelocity, then you'll have had seen an idea stolen from "Amelie"

"La Dolce Vita" I kept hearing it's a classic and a must see. Well, ...I could have gone without. Basically a gossip columnist type reporter hanging out w/ paparazzi and getting the type of stories that reflect what we would have seen today w/ Britney and company. Anyhow he wants to become more cultured but sees that the cultured even have problems.

I'll be telling you more later.

Awright, back to readin'

Well, I finished the "Tao Te Ching" but I will always be carrying a copy w/ me. Basically you get everything you want, or rather, need by not doing anything.
COOL!

Right now I'm reading:

1. "Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock. Hopefully you all have seen the movie "Supersize Me" In which Morgan subjects his body to McTorture by eating only McDonald's for one month. Well, this book is the follow up to that movie. It has some more inside scoop on the most dangerous industry in America; FAST FOOD. If you have read "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser then this would be a great follow up.

2. "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey. This is the "sequel" to "A Million Little Pieces." I'll let you know how it is when I'm done.

So, WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Life Lessons

Finished:
"Kiss & Makeup" by Gene Simmons. Yep Gene's biography and the formation of the "hottest band in the land.....KISS!!!" You find out that Gene is arrogant and cocky...but you get to find out why and that, well believe it or not there's a humble side to him.

"The Frenchman" by Elizabeth Hand. This is a novelization of an episode of Millennium. I never did get to watch much of the series. But this "novelization" was a thriller.

Now Reading:
"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tsu translated by David Hinton.. I guess if you were to ask me what religion I am, I would have to say Taoist. At least the Taoists aren't responsible for the Dark Ages, the Inquisition, the Crusades or any other "holocaust" destroying anyone different from themselves. And best of all the Taoists aren't protesting "The DaVinci Code".

I've also started listening to a couple of tape series by Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer. Not sure if these count as reading a book ...but counts as attending a lecture.

So, what are you doing in your spare time?

Now reading:

Now reading:

"Kiss & Makeup"  by Gene Simmons.  Yep Gene's biography and the formation of the "hottest band in the land.....KISS!!!"



"The Frenchman" by Elizabeth Hand.  I was looking for another book by her, I forget which one now, and found this one it's a story written as a side from the TV series Millennium.  It looked interesting.





Finished

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris.  This book is great.  It's hilarious the different stories will make you laugh outloud.  He talks of his life experiences from getting speech therapy at school to finding a large turd in a toilet at a party.  I found myself laughing out loud several times reading this book.





"The Te of Piglet" by Benjamin Hoffs.  I had to follow up "The Tao of Pooh".  This book gets a little more preachy compared to the "Tao of Pooh"  but in a good way, kind of a save the planet thing.  





also still reading the "World of Pooh" this is on my son's time.

Michael Hayden

After yesterday's hearings, it's obvious that Michael Hayden's involvement in the NSA's domestic spying program disqualifies him from heading the CIA. His answers to questions from Congress and from the press have been evasive at best and downright false at worst. The Bush administration's chronic pattern of misleading the American people about the full extent of its domestic spying activities was on full display yesterday, and the American people deserve better.

When the Senators meet to decide on Hayden's confirmation, they must hear the voices of their constituents. We want to deliver the voices of 100,000 Americans who oppose this nomination. Add your name now...

http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/hayden/fqqifg

With your voice, we all can be heard.

C'mon, Am I the only one reading?!?

Finished

-"Gil's All Fright Diner" ...the sad part is that Gil Wilson dies...the good part is that you get to read about 2 rednecks...one is a vampire and the other a werewolf.



-"The Tao of Pooh" It is so cool to have read this at the same time I'm reading "The World of Pooh" to my son.

Now Reading:

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris. Someone recommended this to me. It seems so far to be a collection of essays in memoir style...and some are quite funny.

"The Te of Piglet" by Benjamin Hoffs. I had to follow up "The Tao of Pooh".
also still reading the "World of Pooh" this is on my son's time.

What are you reading?

Yet another reading blog

Finished:

"Moby Dick" I DID IT!!! That was pretty much why I read it ....just to say i did. It was fun at times.

"Feast of All Saints" by Anne Rice. Ok, it's not a vampire or witch book and in my opinion kinda boring. Now if you are interested in bi-racial "copper-skinned" folks in New Orleans during the slavery era, it may interest you.

Now Reading:
"Gil's All Fright Diner" by A. Lee Martinez I had to read this, the "main character" is named Gil Wilson.

I'm also revisiting "The Tao of Pooh" By Benjamin Hoff. I read this 10 years ago and figured I need a refresher. It explains a simple way of life "Taoism" in fun terms...through Winnie The Pooh.

What are you reading?

ONE

Within the next 2 weeks the U.S. Senate is poised to slash billions of dollars from President Bush's plan to fight AIDS and poverty. This is an outrage - and it can be stopped. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) have written a letter to their colleagues in the Senate asking them to stop these devastating cuts in funding for the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty.



With just 30 seconds of your time, you can send a quick note to your Senators asking them to support this funding and add their signature to this important letter. Please join us in speaking out right now.



Click Here to send your message