The Black Nail

In a perfect world I would have the time and wherewithal to write
a review of every book I’ve read.

This is not a perfect world.
I lack time.
I lack wherewithal.

What I can do is post from time to time a list of books I’ve recently read
and books I’m currently reading.

I have the ability to be into 4 or 5 books at a time. I liken it to how people
can follow 4 or 5 different TV shows per week. Putting aside the fact that
it takes longer to get through and is much more satisfying.

It irks me to no end when I hear comedians or lay-folk go on about how
funny they think it is that they haven’t cracked a book since high-school,
and even then how it was only the cliff notes the day before the paper was due.
Continuing on with comments like,
“If the book is any good they’ll make a movie, and I’ll just see that.”

I would like to bite my thumb at them and call them a bafoon.
But I remain silent because after all – the loudest in the room is the weakest.

Enough about that.
More about this.

Here are the last 5 books that I have read with a brief descripto.

The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson:

I received this as a gift from Cameron’s family this past Christmas.
Great read stocked with plenty of history. I recently viewed a
documentary detailing the same killer, H.H. Holmes.
The book interestingly pairs that story with the architect who
designed the World’s Fair in Chicago, 1893.
Genius on the part of both men; one used for good – the other bad.
It’s incredibly hard to understand how one person can be so evil.

Intriguing read.

The History of Love – Nicole Krauss:

Also a gift, from my friend Allie – for my birthday, this is a book
to remember and revisit. I had forgotten that it was on my bookshelf
until another friend of mine, Michelle, had asked if I had read it.
I recently read it in about 4 sittings. In the later sitting I tore through about
150 pages. For me, the pacing seemed a bit sporadic, at first, but once
I established the rhythm it was beautiful.

To find love and have it stick so deep for so long without anything
to fuel it and no fruit bearing from it shakes you to the core.

Incredible story, incredible.

The Year I Got Everything I Wanted – Cameron Conant:

Yet again, a gift. This one from the author himself.
I have been friends with Cameron for the last 2 years and had never
read his books (of which there are two). Upon his leaving for Africa
he gave me them to read. I finally picked this one up and read it in
one sitting on a Sunday afternoon. Knowing him made it that much
better of a read. Cam’s crafting of a story has grown to be a favourite
of mine and I can’t wait to see what he has to offer the world post
Peace Corps. Ignore the ridiculous review on Amazon by an obvious
juvenile drinking hater-ade.

This is the story of one mans journey through his post-divorce life
as he attempts to re-establish himself and once again discover purpose.

You will enjoy this read.

Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis:

This is probably my 4th time all the way through this book. I find
comfort in Clive’s perspective of how the faith of Christianity was designed.
I felt the need to re-read this as I am currently so fed up with the way the
Christian movement has headed in the last few decades. Trying not to
“lose my religion” entirely, yet redefine it personally. Some might say that
his approach is a bit “over-the-head”, as a ‘King James Bible’ or a writing of
Shakespeare; I tend to disagree. My 12 year-old nephew sat with me
listening to the audio version on a four hour road trip last month and said
to me (completely unprovoked), “He actually makes a lot of sense.
It seems like that’s the way life should be.”

12 years old.

Then again, the kid has a collection of Shakespeare books because he
wanted it and loves to read them.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter – Seth Grahame-Smith:

Ah, vampires.

This is a beautiful book to read as a rebellion against the pop culture
vampire sap phenom. I was with my friend Nat in New York City this past
March, we saw the book and were laughing at how clever it was.
I couldn’t resist picking it up on a layover in DC on my way back to Nashville.
I read it in a few sittings and loved it so much that I started it again.

Seth is the same author that cleverly mashed ‘Pride & Prejudice’ with zombies.
That one I have not read, for fear of losing my head, yet this story was irresistible.
He takes the life and times of Abe Lincoln and adds a beneath-the-surface story line
which tells us that Abe was actually hunting down and killing vampires to protect
the innocent; much like his Mother whom he lost (death by vampire, of course).
The writing is so well crafted that if you didn’t know any better you would think that
this was truly a historic account.

I explained it all to my Father who rarely reads. He then went out, picked up the book
and loved it.

Now I wait with fanged breath for the film adaptation by none other than Tim Burton.
Giggity.

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There are 5 books that I am currently in the middle of reading.
They are as follows:

Shakespeare The World As Stage – Bill Bryson
The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
Burton on Burton – Tim Burton
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson

Reading furnishes the mind only with materials for knowledge;
it is thinking that makes what we read ours.
~ John Locke

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him,
for what he reads as a task will do him little good.
~ Samuel Johnson

What I like best is a book that’s at least funny once in a while…
What really knocks me out is a book that,
when you’re all done reading it,
you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours
and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.
That doesn’t happen much, though.
~ J. D. Salinger

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.
~ Austin Phelps

Outside a dog, a book is man’s best friend.
Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.
~ Groucho Marx

Readers are plentiful: thinkers are rare.
~ Harriet Martineau

If you believe everything you read, better not read.
~ Japanese proverb