Guns & Magic

 

Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis. The book begins with a cliché and moves into the derivative. I’ll see how it goes. Might even finish it.

 

Today I also read the Nikon D700 Users Manual. Not sure I’ll count it, though.

 

-David

 

The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett.

 

-David

 

The Moon and Sixpence by Somerset Maugham. Portrait of the artist as a cad.

 

-David

 

God’s Little Acre by Erskine Caldwell. An odd little book that I wouldn’t find remarkable but that it seems people have remarked on it a whole helluvalot.

 

Here’s one thing that stands out to me–but not about the book. About the commentary about the book. I had to read the forward (which I never read until after I finish a book; usually too many spoilers) and the blurb on the back (which I also don’t read until I’m finished or nearly finished) to discover that the character Will Thompson was important to the story. And some kind of tragic hero.

 

Really? I guess he did impress the women in the book. And he did get shot. But tragic hero? He was a loser who couldn’t help losing. He had months and months to do what he finally did (and got shot for), and he spent the time doing … nothing. Just complaining. And drinking. And sleeping with as many women as he could find. But not on screen. When he was doing his nothing–except for the sometimes endless talking about what he would do, someday–another character had the viewpoint and Will was nowhere around.

 

I didn’t see much “pro-labor” thought in the book either. To go by the book, the working men and women of the world suck it up and take what they’re given. When the striking mill workers finally take a chance and do something, one death ends it and they all go meekly back to their lives of starving desperation. Even the real main character of the book, Ty Ty, when faced with the death of one son and the suicide of another, just goes back to digging in his holes. Neither can change who they are: timid mill workers and stupid farmers.

 

Here is what I find somewhat remarkable: The women characters start out as rather strong. But by the end of the book, they are all weak. Just another example, I guess, of how people can’t change who they are.

 

It’s a bleak book. And mean-spirited. It doesn’t glorify the struggles of the poor. It pokes fun at them.

 

-David

 

Bits du Jour will be offering The Journal on Friday 11 July 2008 at the dramatically reduced price of $19.95. The normal purchase price for The Journal is $39.95! (This $20 off applies to any bundle of The Journal and add-ons so long as they are purchased through Bits du Jour.)

 

If you have any friends or family members who might be interested in The Journal please let them know about this sale.  I can’t afford to offer this kind of discount often, and it will only be available on Bits du Jour for a single day. Just tell them to visit http://www.bitsdujour.com on Friday 11 July, 2008 to get The Journal for $19.95. If you visit Bits du Jour right now you can click the ‘Notify Me’ button and you’ll be sure not to miss the deal.

 

The Journal on Bits du Jour:

 

-David

 

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

 

Probably the last Hammett I’ll read. Though I must say that The Glass Key is tempting.

 

-David

 

Heard about this today:

 

It’s $35 to register, which isn’t too rough, and everyone will write in at least 2 rounds, which is cool.

 

I’ve pretty much decided I’ll participate. But I won’t be registering right away.

 

-David

 

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett.

 

Hammett rather kicks ass with dialogue.

 

-David

 

Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett.

 

-David