A Post Break

We're closed on Monday...so no post.

Have a thoughtful and restful Memorial Day weekend

Enjoy the parade

Go to a picnic

Laugh with family and friends

More importantly......
Remember a vet...thank a vet...thank a vet's family

Bone Fire by guest blogger Steven Head

I had just finished World War Z, the science fiction book by Max Brooks, son of Mel, about the world war against Zombies, when Bone Fire by Mark Spragg appeared in the mail. But you need to know the entire story. Last September I was in Wyoming doing research on a writing project and was joined by a college roommate, a great friend who has been encouraging my efforts and providing library assistance. He picked up a copy Bone Fire on the trip, primarily because it was by a Wyoming author and it sounded interesting. He liked the book and sent it on to me.

I am not entirely sure how to categorize Bone Fire. It is a character driven novel with a sheriff, a gruesome death, and a lot more. But it is not a mystery. The lot more is the intertwined lives of folks living in the Big Horn mountains in northern Wyoming. There is Griff, the 19 year old girl, taking care of her almost blind grandfather, her mother who is the alcoholic 2nd wife of the sheriff, the neighbor and his step-son who's mother is the sister of Griff's boyfriend. Like I said, intertwined lives.

The conflicts propelling this novel include the discovery by the sheriff he has ALS like his grandfather, the arrival of Griff's grandfather's sister who is willing to become her brother's caregiver, the struggling romance of Griff and her boyfriend, Griff's scholarship to study ceramics that may be revoked if not used soon, and the solution to who committed the murder.

Although the book is a short 244 pages, by the end I felt like these are people I know. Complex individuals facing everyday problems, disappointments, and regrets. Of course they still have secrets and unseen tendencies, but the thoughts and feelings in realistic settings led me to care about what happens next. And there is some delightful humor to balance the pathos.

So I recommend this book. But let me tell you a little about World War Z. I was having lunch and zombies came up (don't ask), and then the loan of WWZ. This book is told in 'oral history' fashion by the survivors of the world wide conflict between the living and the living dead. Although Brooks is a comedy writer, this is a serious science fiction book. And there are more than enough battles, close calls, and ruthless decisions to give you nightmares.

On one level this book is escapism, unless you believe the dead can be reanimated. The zombies can also symbolize the events we believe won't happen to us. Things like tornadoes, floods, power outages, fires, and epidemics. And the need to be physically and mentally prepared. I am not proposing building bomb shelters and acquiring automatic weapons, but simple things like having enough food and water on hand for a few days and a battery operated radio. Although after finishing WWZ there may be a few other items on your to do list.

See you at the bookstore.


UPDATES! If you have been reading posts by our mystery man, and faithful blogger, Steve, I have a little news item for you. Steve is retiring. I happen to know that he is a painter, and gifted writer, so this will him time for more research and writing. I hope that in the future we will have a Steve book on our shelves.

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  What am I reading? Just finished Hemingway's A Movable Feast, and moved on the The Queen's Babysitter - oops- I mean Governess, by Karen Harper. After closing the cover on a Papa Hemingway memoir, Harper's historical fiction feels lightweight. But, I have dedicated myself to watching BBC America's rerunning of The Tudors mini series, although there is nothing mini about it. The Harper book is filling the void between weekly episodes.

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  Here's a Heart-A-Rama FYI...two HAR workers were recently nominated for a community service award, and both respectfully declined on the basis that said award cannot possible be presented to a single individual. Over 200 individuals who work to make that gig happen. The two nominess would also have been pitted against each other in the process, and that would have been uncomfortable for them...but I guarantee that whoever would have gotten it would have brandished the engraved paperweight frequently and annoyingly, while enjoying bragging rights in the other's presence for years to come.

• And a bit of news for Harry Potter fans....Daniel Radcliffe had a say in whether an eighth book in the Harry Potter series would be written. According to USA Today, Radcliffe "frantically" fired off a late-night text to J.K. Rowling when he heard rumors about a new Potter book.
  
  Radcliffe admitted he "was worried!... I said, 'Look, is this true? Are you writing another book?!' She wrote back that she was so pleased with my performance in Harry Potter 7: Part 1 that as a reward, she promised to never write another book about Harry."
  

Beautiful Accordions

This is my Monday post which I'm launching on Saturday so if you look for soemthing new on Monday, you're out of luck. Just pretend this is Monday and everything will be just ducky. My original plan was to write about Piccadilly Jim, by P.G.Wodehouse, and to publicly chastise myself for not discovering this author sooner. Woodhouse created the Wooster and Jeeves book series. PBS has been running episodes for a while starring Hugh Laurie of "House" fame, but I have never watched it. Piccadilly Jim has convinced me that I am missing out on a fun writer and a fun TV series.

Instead, I have to give a big thanks to the Heart-A-Rama directors who worked so dang hard this season. An accordion sextet is far more rewarding than applause, a pat on the back, a dozen roses, or a big paycheck, don't you agree? There were changes in show leadership this year, and that can cause unrest and distrust, be it deserved or not...just a natural, human reaction. Change just doesn't sit well with some, while others thrive on it. Ellen has been directing for a couple years now, but this year she took on even more responsibility. Tom and Brad both did double duty, Tom as general co-chair and director/performer, and Brad as co-producer, and director/performer. Lisa, Paula, and Jim were new to directing this year, but not new to Heart-a-Rama.

With Brad , I co-produced the show, which basically means that we coordinated the directors, and facilitated what needed to be done to get the show up on stage. Believe me, it's a small job compared to the work done by many,many others who chip in to make the the event hum.

I do not have a sufficient amount of praise for our directors. Many of them were overwhelmed with the workload-they all have personal lives and jobs! - but no one complained, or wimped out. Instead, they worked and worked and worked, pouring their hearts into their portions of the show. I realized on the night we cast the show, that we had a creative team, eager to take on challenges. It was evident that Heart-A-Rama has a wonderful talent base to escort it to it's 50th year. This will also most likely be the group that sees HAR's contribution to the American Heart Association reach 3 million dollars. Not bad!

Thanks to everyone who rolled up their sleevesfor this show. Whether you gave us one night of your time, or a full year of planning, your contribution is a necessary part of this huge organization. What began 41 years ago as a two-night gig raising a little over $100, has grown to this enormous, annual, much anticipated hullabaloo.

I am privileged to have been associated with this rambunctious group of do-gooders, who check their egos at the door each night, and wear their hearts of their sleeves for a worthy cause.

Hey, I have a suggestion for all you HAR volunteers. Since we seat more people at the Two Rivers venue, allowing us to cut back from nine nights to six, well, how about we pack our bags and take our circus on the road. Just think, a Heart-A-Rama franchise. How about it? A six accordion salute to any takers. Now, who can you resist that?

(Steve, are you still out there?)

My book group's selection for May has me somewhat baffled, but I will say I am so glad it's an easy read. Attempting anything too cerebral during Heart-a-Rama...well, it just wouldn't happen, and I would look even more vacant than normal when we get together to discuss.

This little book has been around for a while, getting lots of print endorsements, and some air time for the author. Janzen begins with a light-hearted discussion of her hysterectomy. Oh joy! She could have let us get to know her a little better before discussing her nether regions with us. Much of the book is filled with simple storytelling, the kind of stuff families share as they sit around drinking coffee after a holiday - too stuffed to move. But, just as I was being lulled into thinking this would be one step removed from Little House on the Prairie, she drops in a surprisingly lurid detail that needs to be read twice to be believed.

The sharp contrast in Janzen's book are jarring at times, and I find myself wondering if she bought her PhD from some on-line university. Rhoda Janzen is first and foremost a poet. As a reader, I would say that creative non-fiction is not her strength.

Jeeze Louise...gotta stop. I'm rambling. Maybe in two week, when I am less sleepy and more focused, I will feel differently. I can't wait to hear how others in our book group feel.

So....do you have your Heart-A-Rama tickets yet? If not...why not?