Misc. Thoughts, Book Thoughts #12 and #13

Book Thoughts

Early in the year I was hoping to read a book a week. So far it hasn't worked out that way.

But none the less, I had a feeling that it would come out. I am speaking of Michael McGarrity's new novel "Slow Kill". McGarrity is a former New Mexico police officer who started writing novels. The protagonist of his novels is one Kevin Kearney. Currently Kearney is Santa Fe's chief. I commented to some friends that this novel appears to be set in Calfornia (gasp was their response), but as you read along, you end up back in New Mexico (whew). I also tell them part of the narrative. Kearney has gone to California to buy horses for his new ranch...and he ends up finding a dead person. I asked my friends, "Can you believe that?" Like there always seems to be bad things happening around Kearney. My friend's wife played along good naturedly, and agreed, yeah, how come that always happens?

Along with keeping us up with the life and times of Kevin Kearney, McGarrity's plot takes us into the realm of the celebrity criminal "persons of interest". And we see a glimpse of how the police attempt to handle these situations. Anyhow a "slow kill" apparently is a murder that occurs over a long period of time, in this case a poisoning. I heard that at one point in the history of our nation, that half the books purchased (published?) were mysteries. I think that this was the 1930's, when we had some great detective novels. Well, the genre is still alive and well. But the added charm of McGarrity is that it is set in my back yard, New Mexico.

"For US The Living" is a novel that I'm close to finishing. Its by Robert A. Heinlein. The other Heinlein books that I've read are "Stranger in a Strange Land", and "Starship Troopers". "For US The Living" subtitled a 'Comedy of Customs' is a posthumously published novel. It is said to have been written sometime from 1937-39, and contains some Heinlein ideas that I have read before. The plot involves a naval flier/engineer (which I read Heinlein happened to be) in 1939 who wakes up in 2086. So this guys is like a 'stranger in a strange land'. The introduction to the book describes this novel as more of a series of lectures on what Heinlein envisioned that a Utopian society should be. Some similar themes that I am picking up with the other two novels I've read are:

• Only military personnel should be allowed to vote (this is seen in "Starship Troopers")
• Women make better pilots (Starship Troopers)
• (The rest I recall in "Stranger in a Strange Land")Religion sucks
• Tele-evangilist are creepy.
• Sex need not be in the sphere of marriage.

I remember talking to someone older about "Stranger in a Strange Land" and they commented how it changed their life at the time, but they could not recall how. I wonder if it was the ideas of free love? The fascinating thing is that many of his insights into our future are here, and I sence that if this book was published back in the forties that it would be somewhat groundbreaking...but I also wonder if people were influenced from his writings to bring about all these changes in society? Well, perhaps that is far fetched to say that Heinlein ushered in the sexual revolution. Perhpas it was just the zeitgeist of that time. I am thinking of numerous writers who addressed the issues of their time which made people think about how they live.

Miscellany
I'm on my intersession. Two weeks of vacation, and I find myself doing "school stuff". But I'm headed out to Austin this weekend, and next week going to Dallas. When we get back to school, its nine weeks and then Christmas break! Check out more thoughts on my Xanga at www.xanga/mezuzah.

Xanga...Blogger...Xanga...Blogger

And the "Oscar Goes to...(dramatic pause) a PERSON OF INTEREST". How PC was that last statement? Well, today we had a half day...the first of the school year. It was our so-called District Celebration. I figure its to balance the calender because we have a half day in November, I think.

I got back from Barnes and Noble which is a real vice for me. I buy books like its the end of the millenium. Y'know back when we bought home food and water in bulk. I think I secretly want to just get snowed in, and tackle not just one but several books at a time. So I picked up the new Micheal McGarrity novel. I had a feeling that one was due. McGarrity writes mysteries that are set in the Southwest US. I also picked up two Haruki Murakami books. Perhaps in nostalgia for my Austin International Book Club Days. Murakami is a "trip", he's a post-modern virtuoso that brings various genres together between the cover of a single novel. Well, I don't know what I mean by post-modern, but perhaps I should say that he captures the zeitgeist of the current era.