5/31/10

I went over to the always delightful Local Burger in Lawrence today where I put out fifty bookmarks. That went well.

I didn't mail off the library bookmark sets today so I'll do it next month and so will be sending off two sets of library bookmarks.

I went over to Half Price Books where I got the book "Ziegfeld: The Man Who Invented Show Business" by Ethan Morden and is the biography of the life and times of entertainment king Flo Ziegfeld who lived large and was indeed an American legend. I'm looking forward to reading this book and putting together an issue about entertainment kings.

At present I am reading "So Short a Time: A Biography of John Reed and Louise Bryant" by Barbara Gelb. This is an excellent biography of two legendary radical journalists and their lives before being together and then during. I'm not sure what type of an issue create with this book.

5/29/10

It was with some surprise that I realized that I have been keeping a journal for ten years! And what an achievement that has been. For ten years I have recorded events in my life concerning doing my book reviews. From what I have read, am reading, where I have traveled to get books or put out flyers or bookmarks, and just how things are going. I feel very lucky that I decided to do a journal and have kept at it for so long. Just amazing.

I finished reading "Naked in Badged: The Iraq War as seen by NPR's Correspondent" by Anne Garrels. It was a very good account of her time in Iraq before and during the invasion in 2002. I have read some other memoirs by journalists who were in Iraq during that time and I may put them together to make an issue.

5/27/10

I went up to Boulevard Brewery in KCMO for their delightful tour toady and it was most enjoyable. The beers were very good too. It is a tour that I always enjoy going on. While at the brewery I found two places in which to put out bookmarks. I put out fifty bookmarks in the Visitor's Center and then fifty bookmarks in the Meeting Hall.

After that I went over to the American Jazz Museum and Negro League Baseball Museum, on 18th & Vine, and put out fifty bookmarks. After that I went over to a Johnson County Library on Shawnee Mission Parkway and put out fifty bookmarks. Did good.

5/25/10

I went up to KCMO's Central Library this evening for a talk and signing by art historian and scholar Henry Adams about his new book "Tom and Jack: The Intertwined Lives of Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock." Although the art of Pollock and Benton is polar opposite, it is a little known fact that Jackson Pollock's first and only formal training cameos from Thomas Hart Benton in New York. And that Benton became Pollock's surrogate father and that they would have a highly charged and close relationship up to Pollock's death. A vert insightful book.

While at the Central Library I got two books: "Naked in Badged: The Iraq War as seen by NPR's Correspondent" by Anne Garrels and it is her account about the October 2002 war. And I also got a hardcopy, coffee table sized, version of "An Autobiography" by Ansal Adams which is filled with many of his dramatic nature photos along with text chronicling his life

A book I ordered came today and it looks like a fascinating read. The Archaeologist Was A Spy: Sylvanus G. Morley and the Office of Naval Intelligence" by Charles H. Harris III & Louis R. Sadler. This is the story of Sylvanus Morley's contribution to Central American archaeology and to the American intelligence operation in Central America during World Was One. A remarkable story of the early days of American intelligence.

I finished reading the biography of William Jennings Bryan, "A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan" by Michael Kazin and it was a very good read. I really had no idea how much of an impact he had had on the Democratic Party or the fact that he earned a sizable income as a speaker or that he had a weekly newspaper that was very successful or that he had been a Colonel in the Nebraska Volunteer Guard during the Spanish-American War and is buried at Arlington Cemetery. A very good read and very informative.

Went to Topeka today for a look at my left arm. It's looking better and I am feeling better.

5/24/10

I've decided to send out bookmarks this month after all. Thirty sets to thirty libraries. I've addressed envelopes for the states of Indiana and Louisiana. Next month West Virginia.

5/23/10

I am now reading "A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan that is the chronicle of one of the most famous politicians of his time who brought many changes in American society, that still affects us to this day but is sadly forgotten about.

5/22/10

Still recovering. My left arm is healing and I am reading again.

I finished reading "Rube Goldberg: His Life and Work" by Peter C. Marzio the biography of cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor. He had quite an interesting career. A much fuller career than I had realized. I am so glad that I had the chance to read this book!

5/20/10

I seem to be slowly but surely recovering. The chills and fevers are gone. And the sight of the surgery seems to be healing. I am still weak and just can't concentrate long on anything. Just so tired.

5/18/10

Thanks to a whole lot of bureaucratic medical bullshit today I was left to totally exhausted and was unable to attend Nathaniel Philbrick's book talk and signing. I am so pissed off!

I was, however, able to finish reading a book that I had just started reading. And this book was "The YUGO: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History" by Jason Vuic (and this is one tittle that is not an exaggeration!). The author chronicles the saga of the short, unhappy life of the Yugo. The people who built it, the men who exported it, and the decade that embraced and discarded it. The Yugo was introduced in America in 1985 and soon became a world wide punchline.

This book reflects the times in which the Yugo came about. An excellent read.

5/16/10

Back on April 28th I had surgery on the upper part of my left arm. Shortly after that I developed an infection that went undiscovered until this Friday. I was then admitted ion the hospital for treatment which will continue now that I am home. At least I now know why I've felt so awful!

5/13/10

I finished reading an excellent book today, "LEGO: A Love Joy" by Jonathan Bender. Which is good as I am up at the KCMO's Central Library to hear Jonathan Bender talk about the Lego universe and get his autograph on my copy of his book.

I am now reading "Tom and Jack: The Intertwined Lives of Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock" by Henry Adams. This is the story of trailblazing abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock and Americana Thomas Hart Benton and the close and highly charged relationship they had dating from Pollack's days as a student under Benton. Pollock's first and only formal training came from Benton, who was a surrogate father to Pollock. This should be a fascinating and excellent read!

I went over to Half Price Books on Metcalf where I got two interesting books. "Rube Goldberg: His Life and Work" by Peter C. Marzio the biography of cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor. And the other book I did is "A Girl Like Life" by Anita Loose her memoir of her life as a writer of many screenplays, novels and short stories, and Broadway hits.

Before going to KCMO I had to go over to Topeka to have my operated left arm looked at and was told it was is looking better. But I don't feel better. I'm glad that I had the book event after the Topeka trip.

5/11/10

Some years ago I read and reviewed a biography of Harland Sanders (issue 185, 2002), the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and discovered that Colonel Sanders had written his memoir. I looked hard for it and never could find a copy. And then on May 6, 2010 I found copy of "Life As I Have Known It Has Been Finger Lickin' Good" and began to read it. I finished reading it today and that memoir was a very good read. I knew that his life had been a struggle that only got better after he turned sixty-five, but reading his own account of his life was a very deep read.

I am now reading "LEGO: A Love Story" by Jonathan Bender and it is his account of the subculture of adult fans of LEGO, fans who construct many fascinating things with LEGOs, attend conventions, have online sites dedicated to their love, and have amazing collections. Bender also visit and explores the LEGO headquarters in Denmark and writes about the history of LEGO and the interactions of the company and the fans.

Having been involved in the fandom of science fiction and comic books, it doesn't surprise me that their are adult fans of LEGO who have created their own universe. I see nothing wrong with that and I am enjoying Jonathan Bender's account ot this world. So for a delightful and educational read. Never have had LEGOs this book is really fascinating.

Before attending the talk and book signing at KCMO's Central Library for T. J. Stiles I went over to Half Price Books on Metcalf and found some delightful books. That made the trip driving from Topeka well worth it.

I am here at the KCMO's Central Library for at talk and signing by T. J. Stiles for his excellent book "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt" that chronicles Vanderbilt's life from his humble birth on a Staten Island farm to his rise through the business mastering the transportation industry from ferries to steamboats to railroads becoming the richest man in America. A monumental read indeed!

I went back to Topeka for more probing of my left arm that is not healing well. May have to have another operation. Sigh.

5/9/10

The story of the American oil industry is a fascinating lesson in history. And today I got two books that chronicle the American oil industry in Texas alone! These books are: "The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes" by Bryan Burrough in which he chronicles the story of the Big Four Oil dynasties and the personalities that created them and destroyed them. The other book is "Giant Under the Hill: A History of the Spindletop Oil Discovery At Beaumont, Texas, in 1901" by Judith Walker Linsley, Ellen Walker Rienstra, and Jo Jo Stiles. This book focus on the Lewis Gusher od 1901 and the events leading up to it and the immediate aftermath. A story of the excitement and the people. Both the stories of the transformation of Texas and the entire oil industry.

5/7/10

I'm back in Topeka for more probing on my left arm. Jusy so tiring. and it looks like that will continue into next week!

When I got home there was a book waiting for me that made me very happy. The book is "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend" by James S. Hirsch and is the biography of one of America's greatest baseball players who went from the Negro League to the National League. A player who survived the racism and became great.

I have read the excellent biography "Satchell: The Life and Times of an American Legend" by Larry Tye and am planning to review both biographies in the same issue. They will go together perfectly.

5/6/10

It has been a very hectic day as I have spent most of the day in Topeka having the arm which was operated on examined. It has been very painful still and seems to be ginning me problems. i am still hoping to get up to KCMO's Central Library tonight for a book talk and signing. Just have to wait and see.

It is 5pm and I am ay KCMO's Central Library for a talk and signing by Terry Teachout. I have with me two of his books that were very enjoyable reads. I am looking forward to letting him know how much I enjoyed reading them. The books are "Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong" that tells the life story of one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century and a giant of modern American culture. Aman who survived and thrived in an America that judged him by the color of hi skin. A very dramatic read. The other book I have is.

The event went very well and not only did I get the books signed, but I did get to talk to the author. The library does an excellent job at these book events. I was also able to put out fifty bookmarks at the library. Which is always nice

Before going home I stopped over at Half Price Books in Westport and found a copy of Harland Sanders memoir that I had given up ever finding. Happy me. The memoir is "Life As I Have Known It Has Been 'Finger Lickin' Good" " by Col. Harland Sanders and is the story of the struggles of his life from the childhood poverty to his various jobs to his development of his chicken to the Kentucky Fried Chicken chain. It promises to be a good read.

5/5/10

I haven't been doing much reading lately as I have been in so much pain since the operation. But I still have been on the outlook for books and found one such today.

"Reds: McCarthyism in Twentieth-Century America" by Ted Morgan is his story of the rise of Communism in the United States that started way back in the 1920s under the cover of a Soviet trade mission and its zenith under Senator Joseph McCarthy and HUAC. This should be an excellent read about a troubling time that almost destroyed our country.

5/3/10

I went over to Dusty Bookshelf in Lawrence today and found a book that I know will be a compelling read! This book is "The YUGO: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History" by Jason Vuic and is the story of the Yugo and how it became a world wide joke!

5/1/10

I started reading this book yesterday and I have finished reading it today. It was a very captivating read, "Cradle of Gold: The Story of Hiram Bingham, a Real-Life Indiana Jones, and the Search for Machu Picchu by Christopher Heaney. This was a very good read that chronicles the story of Hiram Bingham from his birth in Hawaii to his time as an archeologist, and "discovering" Machu Picchu, to his career as a politician. A very full biography of a man who has sparked controversy. I am glad that I was finally able to read a biography of Bingham.

A book I got today appeals to my notion of the romantic age of aviation. This was the time of the flying boats that traveled over the large bodies of water delivering passengers throughout the world. Although this age of flying boats was short, it was never the less fascinating. The book I got today is "Pan American Clippers: The Golden Age of the Flying Boats" by James Trautman and is a very detailed book about the beginning and ending of an amazing age.

(c) copyright 2010 William Tienlen