Havana Nocturne

49. Havana Nocturne: How The Mob Owned Cuba – And Then Lost It to the Revolution by T.J. English. 396 p. Published June 2008.

In 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew General Batista to take control of Cuba. But for almost 30 years prior, Cuba’s political strife and corruption served as the perfect atmosphere for organised crime to make a profit.

After the end of prohibition, mobsters knew they needed to diversify and find other sources of income. Gambling soon became one of the most profitable ventures for most gangsters, but increasing regulation and government pressure loomed in their future. Two mobsters, Meyer Lansky and Charles “Lucky” Luciano, foresaw the need for a base of operations outside of the U.S. - setting organised crime and North American politics on a collision path.

What most people know of the mob’s involvment in Cuba comes from the second Godfather film. And all of it comes down to myth and suposition. In Havana Nocturne, English composes dozens of accounts and testimonials to formulate the facts and reality of the Havana Mob’s rise to power. In doing so, English reveals Lansky’s vision for Cuba – an island of pleasure, gambling, and graft – and the steps he took to stear others toward that goal.

I found this book to be an amazing and in-depth look into the mob’s heyday and a great read for anyone who enjoys true-crime or politics.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed

48. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I’ve Learned by Alan Alda. 240 p. Published September 2005.

This is the autobiography of Alan Alda, an actor famous for a number of roles, including M.A.S.H.’s Hawkeye and host of Scientific American Frontiers. Mr. Alda has always been a favorite of mine, so reading this book presented me with the opportunity to learn about the man behind the mask.

Alan Alda was born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo. His father, an outstanding actor in his own right, collaborated with Alphonso to use the stage name ‘Alan Alda.’

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed begins with Alda’s childhood, where he watched his father’s performances with growing interest. Gathering inspiration from them, Alan vowed to one day become an actor himself. However, as he groes older and more aware of reality, both Alan and his father must come to terms with his mother’s increasingly obvious case of schizophrenia.

Following Alda through college, his acting career, and his personal life, this book provides a glimpse of the man behind the actor. From the start, Alda is remarkably straight forward, criticizing his own actions and perceptions. This slow progression toward an understanding of himself begins to reflect in his status and skills as an actor.

The name of the book illustrates Alda’s message. As a boy, his dog died, and instead of burying it, he entreated upon his parents to have it taxidermied. The dog becomes a twisted and macabre reflection of itself, haunting Alda with its glassy gaze. So to, Alda strives to show how the things in life must come and go, and to hold on them past their time twists them into something they aren’t. Rather, it is better to enjoy the moment and use it to grow.

With the wit of a practiced writer and the candor of a philosopher, Alda provides a glimpse of the human condition. At times I marveled how well Alda visualized what were obviously trying periods in his life, conveying his pains and pleasures with equal clarity and emotion. As the biography comes to a close, it’s remarkable how humble Alda is despite his fame and popularity.

Rating: 4 out of 5

August ‘08 Wrap Up

I know this is a few days behind, but it’s just been that kind of month. I thought I’d get more reading done in August, but… that didn’t happen. A change in my work schedule didn’t leave much time for reading, and my vacation last week was far more active than I expected (though I don’t regret it). On the bright side, it seems like August was a pretty slow month for everyone.

In July I read 5 books, totalling 2,882 pages and 8 graphic novels. August was a bit slower (I blame Dreamsongs, that book took forever to finish):

1. Hell’s Faire by John Ringo

2. The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller

3. If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell

4. Dreamsongs, Volume 1 by George R.R. Martin

Number of Books: 4
Number of Pages: 1,993

To add to this meager total, I read 3 graphic novels (Suburban Glamour, The Lost Ones, and The Middleman).

I’d say the only things that really stood out about this month are the fact that I didn’t participate in a single Weekly Geeks (just far too busy), Fyrefly’s discussions on our mutual reviews, and being quoted as part of a review involving the rise in post-apocalyptic YA fiction.

I’m hoping September will provide a better balance between work and reading. The first couple of books are non-fiction, but I expect some big name fiction to grace my shelves by the end of the month. Of course, if you have any recomendations or wish to discuss the books I’ve reviewed, feel free to comment here or on any of the posts.

The Middleman

GN 21. The Middleman: The Collected Series Indispensability by Javier Grillo-marxuach. Illustrated by Les Mcclaine. 336 p. Published July 2008.

I will admit, I never heard of this series until the television adaptation began. With wacky characters and zany antics, the TV show hooked my roomates and I. So when I saw this at one of my local comic shops I just had to pick it up.

Wendy Watson is an artist living in an illegally subletted apartment with her rather attractive roomate, Lacy. Wendy temps to pay the bills. As it happens, one day while answering phones A.N.D. Laboratories, one of their experiments goes wrong and Wendy is attacked by a giant nuclear-vomit spewing butt cheek. While Wendy seems to have the situation in hand, she is soon rescued by The Middleman, an independant contractor specializing in special problems.

Wendy loses her job as a result of the attack, but is soon hired by The Middleman’s cover organization as a Middlewoman-in-training. Together, Wendy and The Middleman battle gangster gorillas, luch libre villians, and  assorted evil hellbent on destroying/ruling the world.

With over-the-top cult references, a penchant for cheesy schemes, and enough hair-ball science to melt MIT into slag,  The Middleman reads like some teenage boy’s wetdream. This graphic novel is the satirical thriller of the comic book world, rife with shoddy plots, inexplicably complex characters, and plenty of vein-pulsing action. Grillo’s ability for wit and satire are truly extraordinary, developing a world so convoluted that it just might work.

On a side note, the first episode of the TV series is an almost word-for-word adaptation of the first piece of the graphic novel. The entire first season is available free on the official website, or for pay on iTunes.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Lost Ones

GN 20. The Lost Ones by Steve Niles. Illustrated by Morning Breath, Dr. Revolt, Gary Panter, and Kime Buzzelli. 78 p. Published in 2008.

The Lost Ones is a collaborative art effort hosted by Microsoft’s Zune Arts. It brings Steve Niles, author of 30 Days of Night, together with “a horror-genre revivalist, a grafitti legend, a skate art duo, a fashion designer, and the king of punk art.” Together, they tell the story of Duncan, Roxy, Cynthia, and Rasheed – four people looking to take extreme sports to new heights.

Looking to create a new sport, our four intrepid heroes develop a technology for “extreme planet jumping.” But instead of finding themselves on another planet, our four pioneers become lost in a twisted parrallel of our own universe, where life has taken a shocking turn from reality. Running from cowboy-inspired aliens, the group jumps from reality to reality, each one more disturbed than the last. As they continue to jump around searching for their own earth, the group must come to terms with the nature of creativity and reflect on their lives.

While the story of The Lost Ones isn’t all that original, its eclectic artwork provides a wholly unique dimension. Each chapter, while drawn by a different artist, pulls from the work before it. This collaboration culminates in providing a revolutionary work of graphic art.

I recieved my copy of The Lost Ones free from my local comic shop, but it can also be read for free or downloaded from the Zune Arts site.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Suburban Glamour, Vol 1

GN 19. Suburban Glamour Vol. 1 by Jamie McKelvie. 104 p. Published February 2008.

Astrid Johnson is trying to get through being a teenager in high school. Homework, boys, and not being understood are the usual priorities, but things are starting to change. Suddenly visited by imaginary friedns from her childhood, Astrid finds herself submerged in a world of fairie and monsters. Not knowing who she can trust, Astrid is left vulnerable while ancient beings battle over her destiny. But whomever they think they are, these fairie never considered the challenge a teenage girl could pose to their plans.

I found Suburban Glamour to be more about McKelvie’s unique artisitc vision than about the story. The plot in this first volume is rather weak, and his characters, while possessing depth, take a back seat to the comic’s design. That said, this comic is a pleasure if you’re looking for a light read, and would have been perfect for A Midsummer Night’s Challenge if I had know of it at the time.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Dreamsongs, Volume 1

47. Dreamsongs, Volume 1 by George R.R. Martin. 683 p. Published October 2007.

Dreamsongs is composed of the collected early works and short stories of Author George R.R. Martin. As such, this book is some heavy reading, taking me two and a  half weeks to finish, though this is due more to style and content than complexity.

Divided into sections, this first volume of Dreamsongs takes us first chronologically and then thematically through Martin’s career. Each section is forewarded by Martin himself as he reminisces on his youth and the early days of modern Sci-Fi/Fantasy. As such, Dreamsongs provides an uparralleled insight into the process and development of a budding bestselling author. We progress through Martin’s early works finding familiar settings and hints of more contemporary material in a barren ice fort, a fantastic dragon, enchanting children, and dire responsiblities. Further in, Martin’s stories turn to science fiction and horror, providing a backdrop for experiments with characters and suspense.

While Dreamsongs’ tales don’t dance and shimmer effortlessly across the mind’s eye, and may not be spun of angeldust or purest gossamer, they do possess an element of the fantastic. Within this volume lies hope and dream, joy and sorrow, failure and victory. And in them we find the innocence and passion of youth, and follow along as it begins to age, darken, and mature into storytelling of the finest vintage.

However, keep in mind that reading anthologies and collections like Dreamsongs takes longer than a normal book of comparative size (at least for me). With characters, scenery, and even the laws of reality being reshaped in each chapter, the reader must constantly break from their flow. That being said, I feel this book was worth it.

If you so wish, you may find a synopsis of each story in Fyrefly’s review of the audiobook version. However, please note that there are some stories missing, as the audiobooks are composed of three parts, while print copies of Dreamsongs have 2 volumes.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other reviews of Dreamsongs Volume 1: Fyrefly’s Book Blog