6/30/10

Words have a power of their own. They can make or break. One word that is quite powerful and has a troubled history is the one known as the "N-word." And I have been reading a book about it that I finished. "Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word" by Randall Kennedy. Kennedy gives the linguistic history of the word, how it evolved into the power it got, and the controversies which has given rise. It was a hard read but I am very glad that I had the chance to read it. I will review this book with other book about racism that I have already read.

The life of Sammy Davis, Jr. Is a sad, but fascinating story. It is the story of a man who was judged by the color of his skin. From the age of two to the age of sixty-four, at his death, Sammy Davis , Jr. made his living as an entertainer. He did not have a normal life, no childhood and no education. I am now reading "Gonna Do Great Things: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr." by Gary Fishgall and it is a very fascinating read. Gary Fishgall is a good biographer and this biography is another good read.

6/28/10

I find a book in my collection, that I am rearranging, that I had forgotten about and began reading it and was so entranced by it that I read it all the way through. This book is "Get a Shot of Rhythm and Blues: The Arthur Alexander Story" by Richard Younger. Alexander was a singer and composer of R&B and was part of the Muscle Shoals group at the beginning of it in the fifties. Being black in Alabama during that time he had to struggle. But his fame consumed him and by the 1990s was mostly forgotten. Among the legends who recorded his songs were the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. A very well written biography that I am looking forward to reviewing.

6/27/10

I finished reading two books today. Two that I had started reading some time ago and then put down only to pick up and finally finish.

The first one finished continues my fascination with trivia "Inventing the American Dream: A History Of Curious, Extraordinary, and Just Plain Useful Patents" by Stephen van Dulken which I'll review with other books I have on trivia. The other book I finished reading was "Lincoln Steffens: A Biography" by Justin Kaplan. Lincoln Steffens was, back in the early twentieth-century America, was one of the muckrakers who took on corruption in business and politics as a journalist. He would also go on to report on World WAr One and the Russian Revolution. This was a very good read and gave some good insight to the times of Steffens and to his life.

I am now reading "Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie" as told to Albert Murray. Count Basie was one of the legendary jazz men who really popularized the Kansas City sound and played in Kansas City during the heyday of jazz in K. C. I found this memoir at Half Price Books and was quite delighted to add it to my collection. I am p,annoying to review it in issue 178. That should be a cool issue!

6/25/10

I put together two hundred bookmarks and have put them in the envelope and have addressed it in care of the San Diego Comic Con which takes place next month. It is all encompassing con which covers all parts of comic books which is why I am sending out so many bookmarks. I am hoping to send these bookmarks out before the end of this month.

There are two other conventions next month that I am planning to send bookmarks too: Readercon in Boston, MA. and PulpFest 2010 in Dayton, OH. For each of those conventions I am thinking of sending one hundred bookmarks each.

In August are some other conventions that I want to send bookmarks to, but I'll prepare bookmarks for them next month. I've decided to reduce the number of bookmarks I send to conventions based on the number of bookmarks taken at past conventions. The reduced number of bookmarks sent out to conventions I believe is more realistic.

I love sending out bookmarks to conventions and libraries to publicize my web site!

I have put together the final ten sets of bookmarks which means that I have prepared bookmarks for the months of May, June, and July. Now to go on and do other things.

6/23/10

I have finished reading "The Circus Kings" by Henry Ringling North and it was a very good historic read as it chronicles the life and times of the Ringling family from the start of their circus in 1871 to Henry's leaving the circus in 1958. He chronicles his growing up in the circus environment, how his uncles created their circus and kept it operating, and how he and his brother fought to keep the circus going after World War II as American society changed. A good memoir and a chronicle of an American circus.

And also today I mailed off five more sets of bookmarks to five libraries. When I put together ten more sets of bookmarks I'll have three months completed (May, June, July).

6/22/10

At the time I found the biography of W. C. Fields in my book collection I also found a memoir written by Henry Ringling North, "The Circus Kings" Our Ringling Family Story" by Henry Ringling North & Alden Hatch in which Henry North chronicles how five brothers started a circus and how he and his brother kept it going after the brothers had passed away. A good look about the triumphs, tragedies, successes, and failures of a legendary circus and the family that kept it running despite the odds. I a have been reading this memoir since yesterday and have found it very fascinating.

I mailed off thirteen sets of bookmarks today. Just keep putting them out.

I had to go to Topeka today and after the doctor visit I went over to the Topeka Public Library and put out fifty bookmarks. But I didn't find any books.

6/21/10

I mailed off twenty more sets of bookmarks today to twenty libraries. Since I started mailing off sets since the beginning of the month I have mailed out sixty three sets and just need to mail off twenty-seven more sets to reach my goal of ninety sets out. And when that is done I can begin to write reviews.

I finished reading a delightfully fascinating book today. "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession" by Allison Hoover Bartlett. This is the story of John Gilkey who wanted to own a rich man's library in the worst way and to achieve that goal he engaged in credit card scams and how Ken Sander's brought him down through years of investigation. This book is also a good insider's look at the antiquarian book trade.

6/20/10

I had to go to KCMO today. So while in the area I put out fifty bookmarks at the Glenwood Fine Arts Theatres.

I then went over to Half Price Books where I got two books. "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession" by Allison Hoover Bartlett and "Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie" by William Bassie & Albert Murphy. Both should be delightful reads.

I did finish reading two books this weekend. "Ginseng Dreams: The Secret World of America's Most Valuable Plant" by Kristin Johannsen. Which is the story of the American ginseng which has been exported from the Appalachian Mountains to China since 1716. A very interesting read about something I knew very little about. It should make for a good review. "Ziegfeld: The Man Who Invented Show Business" by Ethan Morden which is the biography of Flo Ziegfeld who made show business what it was. I have now read three books about Ziegfeld and his career and have decided to put all three books together and created an issue about his career and impact. That should be interesting.

6/19/10

I am now reading "Dan Rice: The Most Famous Man You've Never Heard Of" David Carlyon which is the biography of the 19th century showman. Rice was a master showman who was a pig presenter, strongman, lecturer, comic singer, black face performer, talking clown, and operator of circuses and museums. This all back in the 19th century when the entertainers traveled to the audiences. During his time he was a very popular performer, but toward the end of his life he was mostly forgotten and that has remained so. But this biography recreates the life and times of Dan Rice and is thus far a very good read.

6/18/10

I mailed off forty-two sets of bookmarks to forty-two libraries today. I am caught up for last month and should be able to take care of this month and next month.

I finished reading "Wrestling With Moses" which was an excellent read. Now all I need to do is read Robert Caro's biography of Robert Moses and review them together to make an issue.

I am now reading "The Search For God and Guiness: A Biography of the Beer That Changed the World" by Stephen Mansfield. This is a biography of how Guiness beer came about and a biography of the Guiness family and how they have used their millions for the good of the people of Dublin.

"The Search for God and Guiness" has been a read which I have finished read. I am planning to review it with Bill Yenne's excellent book about Guiness and put them together in a issue.

6/16/10

I am at KCMO Central Library for a book talk and signing by Anthony Flint about his book "Wrestling With Moses: Hoe Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City." Since the 1930s Robert Moses had transformed the city of New York with his many projects of bridges,n parks, and highways and had amassed enough power that by the 1950s no one could challenge him and his projects. But when Moses wanted to put a superhighway through Greenwich Village, which would had meant that the neighborhoods would had been destroyed and the people displaced, Jane Jacobs organized the neighborhoods to save where they lived. And when Moses and his people tried to put through another superhighway in SoHo, Jacobs organized the people of those neighborhoods and again thwarted Moses. Not only was Robert Moses brought down but Jacobs inspired citizens across the country to protest destructive projects in their own communities.

I have been reading "Wrestling With Moses" since yesterday, when I got it, and I have been totally captivated by it. Anthony Flint has done an excellent job in putting together the narrative and has made the book one incredible read. I am looking forward to telling him how much I am enjoying reading the book and how much I am learning!

The talk and book signing was excellent and I got the chance to let Anthony Flint know how much I am enjoying reading this book.

6/14/10

I've had this book in my collection for a number of years and really didn't know if I would get around to reading it. But yesterday, after realizing that it would go perfect with the book about minstrels, I started reading it and finished reading it and found it to be very fascinating. The book that I finished reading is "Mammy and Uncle Mose: Black Collectibles and American Stereotyping" by Kenneth W. Goings. I also have a book about the history and meaning of the word "nigger" which I plan to read and review in the same issue.

At dialysis I am reading "Ginseng Dreams: The Secret World of America's Most Valuable Plant" by Kristin Johannsen. Which is the story of the American ginseng which has been exported from the Appalachian Mountains to China since 1716 and is today revered today by over a billion people. And Johnannsen describes the plant's past and future. Just an interesting read.

I am also reading a book that I got today "100 Vegetables and Where They Came From" by William Woys Weaver. With a book that describes the origins of certain vegetables, I knew that I just had to get it and read it. I am planning to review this book with two other books I have on gardening and title it "In the Garden."

6/13/10

I have put together forty sets of bookmarks ready to be sent out to forty libraries. All I need to do is get the envelopes stamped and they will be ready to go.

6/12/10

I got a really neat book today which I am planning to review an issue about engineers. The book is "Eiffel: The Genius Who Reinvented Himself" by David I. Harvie and is the story of Gustave Eiffel who created some incredible structures out of iron , some of then well known, and then suffered a fall through is involvement with the ill-fated French Panama Canal. Should be a good read.

I finished reading a really neat book today "The Real Rudolph: A Natural History of the Reindeer" by Tilly Smith and it was a very fact filled and interesting read indeed. I learned things about raindeeer and their interactions with humanity that I had never known about. Which made it a good read.

6/11/10

I finished reading "Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession" and it was a very good read. Not only an excellent book about the history of baseball and the collecting of baseball cards but also about the folly of investing in baseball cards and all the things associated with that bubble. It reminded me much of the comic book bubble. Just a great read indeed.

I also finished reading "Twenty-Five Thousand Sunsets: The Autobiography of Herbert Wilcox" by Herbert Wilcox. Which is his memoir of his life the British film industry, as producer and director, from the twenties to the sixties and what an incredible career he had. This memoir was an excellent read about the British film industry and his life in it. Just fascinating.

I am very much behind in sending out sets of bookmarks to libraries. In fact, I didn't send out any for last month and I still haven't for this month. So remedy that today I have been addressing envelopes to libraries for the past few days and have actually addressed ninety envelopes to libraries in the states of California, Vermont, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. And today I actually put together thirty sets of bookmarks and all they need is stamps to be sent out. Now all I need to do is put bookmarks in sixty more envelopes and stamp them and send all of them out and I will be caught up and actually ahead.

I got a hardcover copy of the biography of John Reed "Romantic Revolutionary: A Biography of John Reed" by Robert Redstone which I will review with a biography of Upton Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis, and Lincoln Steffens.

I am now reading the biography of Lincoln Stefens which arrived yesterday and It is proving to be a very good biography. The book is "Lincoln Steffens: A Biography by Justin Kaplin who is a very good biographer.

6/9/10

What a delightful read "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and his Revolutionary Comic Strip" was. I finished it today and found it to be an excellent read. Nevin Matell did and excellent job at chronicling the artist and his creation and Watterson's attitude to the comic strip industry. Just an excellent read.

I also finished reading "Raymond Loewy" by Paul Jodard which is the biography of Raymond Loewy who, in the twentieth-century rose to fame as a designer who redesigned everything from cars to refrigerators to locomotives. He was one of the design heroes who helped to created the design profession. I will review this biography with the biographies of Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller and put them in issue #312 with the review of the biography of Harley Earl.

I am now reading "Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession" by Davd Jamieson. Jameieson chronicles the fascinating history of baseball cards from the years after to Civil War when tobacco companies started slipping baseball cards into cigarette packs to the 1930s when baseball cards helped gum and candy makers survey the Great Depression to the 1980s and 1990s when baseball cards became an investment option and then went bust. Much like the other "collectible" bubbles like comic books.

6/8/10

The biography of W. C. Fields, "W. C. Fields: His Follies and Fortunes" by Robert Lewis Taylor was a very good read. I am planning to add the review of it to issue 203. Which will complete the issue.

I am now reading "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and his Revolutionary Comic Strip" by Nevin Matell. This biography is the life story of Bill Watterson and how he created his extraordinary comic strip that became a legend in its own time and then walked away from all the fame and fortune to engage in a new life. When I am done reading this biography I am planning to review it with the biographies of Charles Schulz, Charles Addams, and Bill Mauldin. That should make for a good issue.

6/6/10

I have had this book in my collection, a biography of W. C. Fields that I just started reading and I am finding it to be a well written about about one of the masters of comedy and just had a hellish life. The biography is "W. C. Fields: His Follies and Fortunes" by Robert Lewis Taylor. The author does a good job at chronicling he life of Fields and his career as an entertainer.

6/5/10

I finished reading today "The Story of James Dole" by Richard Dole & Elizabeth Dole Porteus and I found it to be a very good read about an businessman in the food industry who brought pineapples to the public did it successfully. I have plans to review this biography with other biographies of food businessmen who changed out diets.

6/3/10

"Brought to You By" Postwar Television Advertising and the American Dream" really did explain how we have the consumer driven society that continues to dominant our lives to this day. I am so glad that I had a chance to read and finish this amazing book.

6/4/10

I got a book the other day that I am very pleased that I got as it is turning out to be a very good read. This book is "The Story of James Dole" by Richard Dole & Elizabeth Dole Porteus. This is the biography of James Dole who traveled to Hawaii and successfully brought the commercial growing and selling of pineapples to the Hawaiian Island. His determination to grow pineapples commercially in Hawaii is making for a very good read.

6/2/10

I just couldn't put down "Beef: The Untold Story of How Milk, Meat, and Muscle Shaped the World" and have finished reading it. What a great read. From prehistoric times to today's factory farms. Points well made in this book.

I have started reading "Brought to You By: Postwar Television Advertising and the American Dream" by Lawrence R. Samuel which chronicles the history of television and commercials in the early days and how both have shaped the consumer society that we have to this day.

6/1/10

I got a book today that I have started reading and it is turning out to be a very captivating read. "Beef: The Untold Story of How Milk, Meat, and Muscle Shaped the World" by Andrew Rimas & Evan D. G. Fraser which chronicles the story of the most industrious animal in the world which has been central to human existence since time began. Cattle have played a vital role in our history not only as a source of food, but also as a mean of labor. This book chronicles the captivating history of an animal whose relationship with humanity has shaped the world as we know it.

(c) copyright 2010 by William Tienken