Jeffrey Penn May

The Bartender by Brian O’Sullivan is a page-turner, a fast easy read leading to a satisfying conclusion. O’Sullivan deftly alternates several first-person viewpoints forming a tight, cohesive narrative. The characters know they are attractive and do not hesitate to say so. But they come across more as statements of fact, integral to the plot. I guess if we were looking for theme or lessons from The Bartender, we could say that surface beauty rarely reveals … Continue reading →

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There’s no question that Carl Hiaasen’s writing skills are excellent and Lucky You a fast read, making you want to turn every page. In that way, I can highly recommend it. But everything about it seems dated, firmly entrenched in the 1990s, and the characters seem shallow and stupid.  After the last page, I soon began to feel as if I’d eaten rancid cheesecake. Rating a book like this is difficult. I’m sure many of … Continue reading →

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Written at the beginning of the new millennium, these reflections provide a refreshing view of America, full of the sort of optimism sorely needed 20 plus years later in 2023. We get short descriptions of events like the Battle of New Orleans, and Ambrose’s experiences writing about Theodore Roosevelt, Grant, Nixon, and Eisenhower.  He lets us in on his personal reflections about his work as a distinguished historian, his effort to be impartial while at … Continue reading →

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Richard Brautigan is the only writer I know of who could effectively write marijuana thoughts. Many of us can recall wanting to write down funny and profound beliefs only to discover the next day that they aren’t so funny after all. The dialogue betrays an earlier time, when marijuana was “dope,” a mysterious and dangerous “narcotic.”  However, the highly original, distinctive Brautigan prose makes A Confederate General From Big Sur well worth reading. The sexism, … Continue reading →

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Fascinating first-hand account transcribed from Seventh Calvary’s Sergeant Charles A. Windolph, a six-year veteran of the Seventh Cavalry. Published in 1947, this book provides a multi-layered history lesson. The somewhat misleading and lengthy title tells you that it’s the story of the last survivor. But there were no survivors of Custer’s Last Stand. The Seventh Cavalry was split into three “groups,” Major Reno, Colonel Benteen, and General Custer, all of which were to attack the … Continue reading →

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The Sympathizer by Viet Nhanh Nguyen is both horrific and brilliant, the narrative so strong it carries you along as if the writing were effortless, and its stylish quirks become strengths. Once settled into this “confession” I became mesmerized, unwilling to stop reading despite the unflinching, razor sharp description. The main character’s dual nationality and opposing political positions force him to repress his humanity while at the same time trying to realize and celebrate it. … Continue reading →

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A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life by Ayelet Waldman was a fast fun read, excellently written and often humorous, extolling the potential benefits of microdosing.  Ayelet’s approach to discussing “drugs” with her children is based in truth and seems healthy. She is also brutally honest with herself and makes me glad I didn’t marry someone like her. Her husband is the writer Michael … Continue reading →

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Aside from Rinker Buck’s strained effort telling us how great he is, what a fantastic job he did, and the repetition of info, especially the joke about the river sucking your underwear off, this was an enjoyable read. Ironically, he almost comes across as the sort of braggart he doesn’t like much. For him it seems more an aggressive need for validation of his efforts. As someone who’s spent lots of time travelling downriver, to … Continue reading →

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Old Glory was a particularly interesting read for me because of my own river experiences floating an oil-drum motor raft with a small motor to Memphis from St. Louis 1968, a Jon boat from St. Louis to New Orleans 1973, and working as towboat deckhand in 1977. However, even if you haven’t spent time on the Mississippi, Raban brings his 1979 experience to life with his excellent writing, and pulls off an ending that isn’t … Continue reading →

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While I am astonished at Merlin Sheldrake’s breath of scientific knowledge and admire his ability to communicate it in “Entangled Life,” the writing itself, the style and voice did not bring that knowledge to life. Entangled Life read like a textbook. If you want to study fungi, then it’s almost essential. I wouldn’t be surprised if college professors are already making it assigned reading. Philosophically, however, for me it broke no new ground, expressing themes, … Continue reading →

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