3/31/11

I finished reading "Bombay Anna: The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the King and I Governess" by Susan Morgan and is the incredible story of Anna Leonowens who was born a poor, mixed-race army brat in India who proceeded to reinvent herself. She truly led an incredible life going from a poor background to become a teacher to a royal family, becoming a writer and lecturer, a supporter of women's rights and the rights of others, to be owing the anchor for her family. Anna Leonowens was one incredible woman and this one a well written biography.

I am now reading "As Seen on TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950s" by Karal Ann Marling which is an examination of all the cultural factors that made up the decade of the 1950s. This book will go perfect with "Atomic Home: A Guided Tour of the American Dream" By Whitney Matheson to make up an issue I may call "Fabulous Fifties."

3/29/11

I went up to KCMO to the Central Library tonight for a talk and book signing by Randy Roberts. I have a book he wrote that I got signed, "Joe Louis: Hard Times Man," an excellent biography of the boxer, the field of boxing, and the times he lived in in the United States in the days of the Jim Crow laws. It was a very good read and Randy Roberts talk was very good. I am planning to look for his other books now.

I went over to Half Price Books on Metcalf Avenue after the book signing and found a Randy Roberts written biography, "Papa Jack: Jack Johnson and The Era of White Hopes." I am looking forward to reading this biography.

3/28/11

I found a delightfully lighthearted pop culture book in my collection that I had forgotten I had and I began reading it and finished it in one reading session. And it was a very good read. "Atomic Home: A Guided Tour of the American Dream" By Whitney Matheson and chronicles what was inside and outside of the new postwar suburban homes built in the new suburbs from the futuristic designs of the appliances to the garish colors on everything. The story of living in the fifties after the Great Depression and World War II.

After a long struggle I finally finished reading a sad, tragic, fascinating, and compelling biography of a couple named F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham. This biography is "Intimate Lies: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham" by Robert Westbrook. In Scott Fitzgerald's final years (1937 to 1941) he was living in Hollywood trying to make a living while his literary career had stalled and his wife was in an mental institution, his alcoholism was in control, and his daughter was in college when he met Sheilah Graham who had arrived from England to be a syndicated gossip columnist. Like Fitzgerald she had many secrets, but somehow they connected and became lovers. As I said a sad, tragic, fascinating, and compelling read which will be part of an issue of duo literary biographies.

I am now reading "Bombay Anna: The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the King and I Governess" by Susan Morgan and is the incredible story of Anna Leonowens who was born a poor, mixed-race army brat in India who proceeded to reinvent herself and go on to extraordinary adventures throughout the wold in the Age of the Empire. Just a compelling read!

3/27/11

I went up to the KCMO Metro area, actually spent most of my time on Metcalf Avenue area. While in that area I put out fifty Bookview cards in Whole Foods and fifty Bookview cards in Glenwood Fine Arts. I had lots of fun this weekend.

And I finished reading a book today that had been in my collection for some years. I am glad that I found it as it was a very good read. "Art Carney: A Biography" by Michael Seth Starr chronicles the life of Art Carney who was one of the first legendary superstars spawned by the age of television. Although he became best known of Jackie Gleason's sidekick on Fifties television, Carney had a long acting career that started on radio, went to television, then to Broadway, and in the seventies won an Academy Award. He had a very full career despite his battle with the bottle and being typed as Ed Norton. A very good biography about a sometimes tragic man.

3/26/11

I drove down to Hutchinson as I had planned to go over to the Cosmosphere for the talk and book signing by Alan Glines. His book, "A Kansan Conquers the Cosmos or, Spaced Out All My Life" is his memoir of growing up in Independence, Kansas at the beginning of the Space Race between the USA and the USSR and how that inspired him to get his degree in Electrical Engineering and go to work for NASA. A career that started with the Gemini mission and lasted to the space shuttle Enterprise and after that with the European Space Authority to private industry to retirement. His talk was very good and I got my copy of his book signed. It was a good trip.

Although I wasn't able to put out as many bookmarks as I had planned, as some of the regional libraries between Hutchinson and Wichita closed at 1 pm on Saturdays (!), I was able to put out bookmarks. Fifty bookmarks were put out at the Cosmosphere, fifty at the Hutchinson Public Library, fifty at the Main Wichita Public Library, and fifty at the Sedgwick County Museum.

The museum was a good one to tour chronicling the history of the county from the days of the Native Americans, to the cattle drives and the Wild West, the farming industry,the oil boom, to becoming the "Cradle of Aviation," and the rest of the history of the city and county. What took me so long to get to this delightful museum?

3/25/11

I finished reading "Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio and TV's Adventures of Superman" by Michael J. Hayde today. What a delightful read. A very well written chronicle that covers the history of Superman from the 1940s to the 1950s when radio was king and the Golden Age of Television. A very good historical look at Superman and how it became such a mass-media phenomenon. "Flights of Fantasy" is such an excellent read with many behind-the-scenes information of Superman on radio and television.

3/24/11

I got a book today that I am very pleased to have gotten, "A Kansan Conquers the Cosmos or, Spaced Out All My Life" by Alan Glines which is his memoir of working at NASA and the space industry. He will be giving a talk and signing his book at the Cosmosphere this Saturday and I am planning to go. I missed his talk at KU a few weeks ago. I read this book in one setting and it was very fascinating. I am planning to review this book with memoirs of others who worked in the space industry. It should make for a delightful issue.

I am now back to reading "Intimate Lies: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham" by Robert Westbrook and it is a sad, tragic, fascinating, and compelling read. It is sad to see how Scott Fitzgerald pissed away his life and his talents.

3/23/11

Tom Dardis is an excellent biographer and the book of his I began reading today and finished reading today proves that Tom Dardis is an excellent biographer. "Some Time In the Sun: The Hollywood Years of F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Nathanael West, Aldous Huxley, and James Agee" by Tom Dardis chronicles the scriptwriting career of five famous writers in the classic era (the thirties and forties) of Hollywood and shows how movies were written in that time and how the writers gave up their independence for a paycheck. A good history of the motion picture industry in its Golden Age.

3/22/11

Way back in the 1970s I read a fascinating book "Superman: From Serial and Cereal" that chronicled the history of Superman in the movies and television. I have always wished that it would be reprinted in trade edition for the current generation. But I am now reading a book that is a very good history of Superman: "Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio and TV's Adventures of Superman" by Michael J. Hayde. This book covers the adventures of the Man of Steel through his days on radio and then on television in the 1950s. How Superman was presented on radio and what George Reeves went through appearing on television and Reeve's mysterious death. Also chronicled are the other formats Superman appeared in--comics, boos, films, and merchandising-- and the pilots that never went anywhere. A very well written book.

3/20/11

I like reading pop culture related books, and the one I got today is just perfect. I have a pop culture book about cigarettes and a pop culture book about coffee. With the one I got today I have the perfect issue. " Glazed America: A History of the Doughnut" by Paul R. Mullins chronicles the unclear origin of the doughnut and how doughnuts cross the lines of gender, class, and race like no other food item in North America. And how this combination of soft dough, hot oil, and sugar coating is the favorite food of ao many. This will make a delightful issue.

3/18/11

I'm feeling much better today. I am able to use my right hand so much more and I'm not in as much pain. Moving one nerve and cutting another seems to have been the right thing too do.

I am now reading "Intimate Lies: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sheilah Graham" by Robert Westbrook and is the story of the brilliant author Scott Fitzgerald and the young gossip columnist Sheilah Graham who met in Hollywood in 1937 and became lovers. Both had troubled and haunted pasts and yet they became lovers. So far a compelling read.

This is the third literary couples biography and if I can find the Hamment and Hellman duo biography I'll have quite an issue.

317/10

I had a delightful evening tonight as I went up to the KCMO Plaza Library for a talk and book signing by Jasper Fforde. Although I don't read fantasy books anymore, I've heard Fforde speak before and he is a delightful talker and is very humorous. Unlike some writers I've met, Jasper Fforde truly seems to like his fans. And I was able to get a photograph with him. Most delightful.

While at the Plaza Library I put out fifty bookview cards a the checkout counter and fifty bookmarks at the Truman Forum. Did well.

3/15/11

I finished reading two books about comedians whose careers stretched from the silent films to the sound films. I am planning to review both with Annette D'Agostino Lloyd's biography of Harold Lloyd. And amazingly enough all three books were published by BearManor Media!

"Vern Dent: Stooge Heavy" by Bill Cassara the second banana to the silent film comedian Harry Langdon and the Three Stooges but have a much fuller career than that in both silent and sound films and in television. Mostly forgotten it great to see a biography of Vern Dent who had a full career. A great read.

"Another Fine Mess: The Laurel & Hardy Story" by Raymond Valinoti, Jr. explores the lives and careers of Laurel and Hardy. Both their solo careers and their partnership that fans still delight in.

Both very good books about classic comedians that sill continue to delight.

3/14/11

I just finished reading a funny light read "The Joys of Smoking Cigarettes" by James Fitzgerald which includes the history of smoking cigarettes with a treasure trove of memories, fascinating facts, and tantalizing trivia. Fitzgerald also chronicles the end of the days of TV tobacco ads, airplane and movie theater smoking sections and all the other places smokers could light up in these days of the dangers of second hand smoke. A good pop culture book.

I also read another funny light book that has been in my collection for some awhile. I am so glad that I found it and got to read it. "Funny Face: An Amusing History of Potato Heads, Block Heads, and Magic Whiskers" by Mark Rich & Jeff Potocsnak which chronicles the history of funny-face toys from Changeable Charlie and Wooly Willy to Mr. Potato Head who went from advertising on TV in the fifties to appearing in the Toy Story movies. A nice toys' history book that was a very fun read!

3/13/11

I finished reading "Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild" by Lee Sandlin a delightful book that brought the past history of the Mississippi River so much alive. I love the last chapter that chronicled Mark Twain's return to the river in the 1870s. A very touching and perfect ending to this incredible book about the river.

3/11/11

I went over to the Lawrence Public Library today and put out 100 books. Fifty in one spot and fifty in another spot.

I'm still reading "Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild" by Lee Sandlin. Didn't get much of it read yesterday but today the reading is going better and what a read it is. Lee Sandlin has done an excellent job at preasenting the economic history of the Mississippi River for the young country and how river boat technology changed to meet the deamands and how the coming of the railroads and the Leads Bridge at St. Louis changed the importance of the river. An excellent read.

3/10/11

I'm still feeling a little groggy and in some pain, but that didn't stop me from starting to read another book. I am now reading "Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild" by Lee Sandlin which chronicles the Mississippi River history and folklore in the 19th century when the river was unique. The history of the Mississippi River does fascinate me and I do enjoy reading books about the Old Man River.

3/9/11

I had my operations today. My right hand, at the thumb, and my right arm, at the elbow, were operated on. One nerve was cut and one nerve was moved. What this means is that if all went well I can finally get back to writing reviews. Which would be great!

But before the operation I did finish reading a book. Way too doped up to start another book.

Thanks to the waiting for the operation to begin I was able to finish reading "A Movable Feast: Ten Millennia of Food Globalization" by Kenneth F. Kipple which was a very good read and quite fascinating how plants have been able to move around the world and change diets. A well done book.

3/7/11

Back in my childhood in the 1960s one of the Saturday morning cartoon shoes I watched was Popeye. And I remember reading a Popeye comic book. But I don't remember reading the Popeye cartoon strip. And I enjoyed all the Popeye cartoons and had many Popeye-related toys and other items. But even with all that I never knew the origin of Popeye.

Some time ago I got a book a book about how Underdog came to be. It was a great read that me thinking about other cartoon shows from the 1960s which led me to thinking about Popeye. So I went onto Amazon and found two books about Popeye. One that I got today and read it all today.

"Popeye: The First Fifty Years" by Bud Sagendorf, published in 1979, chronicles the sixty years of "Thimble Theater" and fifty years of "Popeye." And is written by Bud Sagendorf, who started off as Elsie Segar's assistant and then after Segar's death took over the strip and other responsibilities. He writes about Segar's boyhood in Chester, Illinois and how he became a cartoonist. Sagendorf also chronicles how Popeye first appeared in Thimble Theater, ten years after it's creation, and became the star of the strip. A very book from which I learned much about Popeye and Segar's that I never knew.

I am now reading "A Movable Feast: Ten Millennia of Food Globalization" by Kenneth F. Kipple in which the author chronicles how various food plants have been able to travel the world and influence the diets of people worldwide. A most fascinating account of plants and people.

3/5/11

I have been reading a biography of a magician that I finished reading today and it was a very good read. I finished reading "The Last Greatest Magician In the World: Howard Thurston Versus Houdini and the Battles of the American Wizards" by Jim Steinmeyer that is the story of Howard Thurston who had a remarkable career in show business and in his time became on of America's most renowned vaudeville stars. And after leaving vaudeville he expanded his show into an extravaganza with more tan forty tons of apparatus and costumes and for thirty years of an American institution. Just one amazing read about a man who had a very full life. Jim Steinmeyer has written another excellent biography about a larger-than-life entertainer. Just an excell"Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild" by Lee Sandlinent read and delightful too!

3/3/11

I finished reading "Joe Louis: Hard Times Man" by Randy Roberts which was an excellent read as it was an excellent biography of Joe Louis, the times he lived in, and the history of the brutal sport of boxing in the United States. Randy Roberts explores the racism and Jim Crow laws that Joe Louis and other blacks lived under and the brutality of boxing and what happened to Louis as a black, a boxer and then after retirement. Roberts presented a very full view. I have two other biographies of boxers, Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey, that I plan to read and review with the Joe Louis biography. It will make for an interesting issue.

I am still reading "The Keys of Egypt: The Obsession to Decipher Egyptian Hieroglyphs" by Lesley & Roy Adkins which is the biography of Jean-Francois Champollion and his obsession to breaking the code of the ancient Egyptian texts in the troubled political times in France that Champollion lived in. An enlightening read about a gifted scholar that unlocked the words of an ancient civilization.

I had planned to attend a book signing at KU today, but thanks to my health problem I was unable to attend. How depressing it is. I am having an operation on my right hand that should help me with my writing and with some of my health problems. It will be good to have some better days.

3/1/11

I got two books today which are about the history of the Mississippi of which I will probably put together with the other books I have read about the Mississippi River and make an issue. The books I got are:

"Sultana: The Worst Maritime Disaster In American History" by Alan Huffman and is the account of what happened on an April night in 1865, when the paddlewheel Sultana slowly moved up the dark Mississippi its overtaxed engines straining under the weight of an estimated twenty-four hundred passengers, more than six time the number it was designed for. Most were weak, emaciated Union soldiers, recently released paroled from Confederate prison camps on their way home. But that night three of the Sultana's four boilers exploded and within twenty minutes it went down in fire and water, taking an estimated seventeen hundred lives. A mostly forgotten part of Civil War history that will now be remembered.

"Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild" by Lee Sandlin which chronicles the Mississippi River history and folklore in the 19th century when the river was unique.

(c) copyright 2011 by William Tienken