The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Audiobook)

In general, I've come to believe that as great as some notable novels written through the decades by talented authors are (and I've only read a small bit of them), often fiction can pale next to real-life accounts of little examined historic events. Sure, there are numerous volumes dedicated to the grand stage that are monumental wars and epic political struggles throughout millennia for readers and history buffs like me to sample. But sometimes it is the intimate story of one important individual, and the people and effects surrounding her, that continue to ripple through time in unexpected ways and have an ongoing impact in the lives of many. Such is the case for author Rebecca Skloot's close chronicle of an African-American woman who died young in 1951, but who will outlive those of us breathing today.

This post has been updated and moved to my current blog, which can be found here.

Miscellany (and Hot) Monday

Now that we're officially into Fall, and before we hit The Slide, I thought I'd mention a few things.

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Every year, seemingly since I began reading in earnest, I've taken on historical and non-fiction works on a regular basis right along with my thriller, sci-fi, and crime/mystery novels. And annually I encounter at least one or two books which are so sobering that it makes you sit up straight while it weighs on your mind for some time after. Two years ago it was Jane Mayer's The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals. Last year, it was Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman and Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. This year it is 13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown by Simon Johnson and James Kwak. While it may have a bias (and you'll have defenders and opponents of Wall Street taking sides here), the book's strength is its straightforward history of banking and its influence over the years on government and federal policy that brought about a ruinous recession (likely the deepest downturn since The Great Depression) and gave cover to those who caused this calamity. The same group who are likely teeing up another of these since they're fighting tooth and nail (with taxpayers money) to defeat the needed changes to the current freewheeling structure now in place. Whether you agree with it or not, it is well worth reading.

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Author John Kenneth Muir has in his examination sights the most universally cherished Trekker film in the canon - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Whether you're a fan of this series (or not), or someone who is familiar with such literary classics like A Tale of Two Cities, Paradise Lost, or Moby Dick (and want to discover what the parallels are here), don't miss this one.

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Keeping to that science-fiction tendency of mine, this is DS9 Week over at Secure Immaturity. Of course, I'm referring to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A show that was criminally ignored by much of the Trekker and sci-fi faithful during its initial run. It is finally getting its due, as many in the blogosphere can now attest. Site owner, blogger and writer, Will, said it best in his opening essay:

"Now let’s not get all down in the dumps here. While DS9 did deal with many dark concepts, it’s realism on the war/politics front also translated well in it’s descriptions of family, friendship, love, and, oddly, business (see Ferengi, but that’s another post). To start, unlike the much more beloved TNG, family wasn’t simply an idea that was seen in the background with extras or in brief visits to Earth: family was a central piece to the development and goings on in the universe. Sisko and his son Jake: love between a father and son. Quark and his brother Rom: love between siblings. Odo and his people, the Founders: love in absentia, Keiko and O’Brien: married love, Worf and Dax, Bashir and Ezri, Sisko and Kasidy, the list could go on. Picard, Riker, etc. . . sure, they’d have a random romantic encounter, but what happened on DS9 stayed on DS9: relationships couldn’t be forgotten once someone left the port of call."

I'm so looking forward to this week specifically because of this blogathon (and it has nothing to do with the fact that I contributed something to it... really). And then there's my friend J.D.'s John Carpenter  Week at RADIATOR HEAVEN next week! These are going to be great.

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Last year, mainly due to blogging friends Corey, Pop Culture Nerd, and Jen convincing me (after awhile), I discovered the entry of one new and exciting writer. Sophie Littlefield and her A Bad Day for Sorry debut were something special to be introduced to. This year, that role is to be assumed by one Hilary Davidson. Her debut novel (which comes out tomorrow), The Damage Done, is already gathering high praise. Today, Pop Culture Nerd had another of her fine interviews (and giveaways) with the author. Jen, of Jen's Book Thoughts, also offered a praise-worthy review of the novel, recently. Since Hilary won the initial Watery Grave Invitational short story contest, at least I won't be late to this party.

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If you don't know it, it is Banned Books Week, too! Flickr is presenting a gallery of display pictures from various bookstores. Yesterday's OIF Blog had a great one from Fulton High School in Knoxville, TN:

All rights reserved by ala_oif

All rights reserved by ala_oif

"Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States."

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"... Los Angeles is a desert community."

"In the middle of a drought and the water commissioner drowns! Only in L.A."

We're only 24 degrees above our average normal temperature for this date. That's all.

Blogger's Note: strike that last part. L.A.'s normal average for September 27th is 82º F. With today's record high of 113º F in the basin, we were officially 31º above that.

Worth Reading: Steven Hart & The Last Three Miles

To say the least, writer and journalist Steven Hart has a way with words. A good example of that is how he used them for the bio on his personal website:

“I was abandoned as an infant and raised by wolves in the New Jersey countryside, taking shelter by day in the undergrowth of highway medians and traffic ramps. A kindly farmer found me in one of his snares and brought me back to his house, where he taught me to read, speak and write my name with a firm but crooked hand. After that, there was nothing to do but send me to Rutgers University, where despite my best efforts I graduated with a degree in English. I live with my family midst amber waves of condos and shopping malls, enjoying a quiet life, except on moonlit nights when my four-legged brothers and I range the countryside in search of prey.”

This post has been moved to my current blog, which can be found here.

Muy Bruen

With the encouragement of my friends Jen and Corey, I've finally taken the plunge and dived into a novel by author Ken Bruen. I reserve the right to insert and jump the order in my TBR stack, at anytime. So, I don't feel bad that I've preempted the next in Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series. And I'm so glad I listened. In this case, I jumped into my introduction to Irish crime fiction with the first in the Jack Taylor series, The Guards.

This post has been moved and updated to my current blog, which can be found here.

THE FIRST RULE Book Signing at Book Soup

Last night was the third day, and fourth stop, in THE FIRST RULE book tour by author Robert Crais. Luckily, blogger Pop Culture Nerd clued me in to the launch party here at the Book Soup bookstore. It certainly was more than just a regular book event. The place was packed, food and drink were all about, and many long-time friends of the author, including PCN and fellow author Gregg Hurwitz, were there. And, great time was had by all of those who attended (me, included). Below are some of the photos taken (if you wish to see the whole set, please go to this Flickr photostream).

Needless to say, Gregg Hurwitz, PCN, Carol the Webmaster, and Deb are some of the nicest, and most fun people I've come to meet at this or any such event. I still have an ache on my side due to the laughter cramp I developed because of a particular impromptu incident that came about late into the proceedings (however... I can say no more about it).

As usual, author Robert Crais was "on"; his quick wit and entertaining stories had everyone laughing and enthralled throughout the evening. The man is gracious and very generous to his fans (how else can you explain his good nature when some folk do a guerrilla photo drive-by's like the one above). By the way, for our friends in the state of Ohio, RC has asked that if you're brave enough to admit you know me, he'd like you to mention this to him when he comes to Dayton on the 24th of this month [I can't promise he won't haze you for this, though ;-)]. I don't know what is it about the guy, but it seems these days his fans are getting younger and younger.

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The Power of the Dog: Winslow's Opus

At one time, I read my share of historical novels. I'm thinking it's a phase for many readers, but don't quote me on that. James Clavell's Shogun and Tai-pan, a Michener or two, and The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, to name a few, are some that have come my way. I still dabble in them, from time to time - I have Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels somewhere on the audiobook stack, patiently waiting. What I didn't realize was author Don Winslow was going to sneak one through ahead of it without me being aware. Ever since last spring's Festival of Books and the Robert Crais moderated panel with DW, Joseph Wambaugh, and T. Jefferson Parker, I started my gallivant of the San Diego-based author's work. First with The Winter of Frankie Machine, then on to The Dawn Patrol. Fun, enthralling standalone reads that showcased the man's talent in storytelling. The way he writes his characters, and their manner of speaking, both novels have that distinct characteristic of a writer very comfortable with the type of people and situations unique to the Southern California lifestyle (including his passion of surfing), crime, and the genre fiction of both.

This post has been updated and movie to my current blog, which is found here.

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Richard Matheson's I Am Legend

My recent first time visit to the West Hollywood Book Fair, a couple of weeks back, seemed to re-ignite my interest in author Richard Matheson's seminal novel (an intriguing mix of horror and sci-fi) on vampire mythology in the modern world. When I arrived at the fair, I first stopped at one of the comic shop booths before heading over to the initial panel (Ghost & Goblins: Exploring the Supernatural in Mystery Fiction) that featured author Charlie Huston. Among all of their wonderful comic book offerings, there was one particular graphic novel that stood out - the I Am Legend compilation of Steve Niles and Elman Brown comic series from the early 90's of the Matheson work. I'd heard of it, but I hadn't seen this adaptation in graphic form. Simply...wow. Between looking at its terrific illustrations and seeing how the artists constructed and re-told the author's tale, it was no wonder I was late to that book panel (I was so caught up in it).

Then upon finding and reaching said panel, what were Charlie Huston and moderator Leslie Klinger discussing at that very moment? Yep. That same novel, which they then directly credited for being the impetus for much of the written work their panel was discussing that day. Alright... Synchronicity, strike two. Finally last week, Film and TV blogger John Kenneth Muir noted in a post (and directly linked to blogger B-Sol's The Vault of Horror's said list), titled The Cyber Horror Elite's Reading List: The Greatest Horror Literature of All-Time, the results from a panel of distinguished bloggers and authors listing their favorite horror lit. [and kudos to both of them for that, too.*] And what was at 15th rung? Nuff' said... strike three! I had to put something down in a post regarding this all-time great novel (and since it was published the same year I was born, 1954, let's add that coinkydink to the mix). And besides, it is now the month of Halloween. So here it is, along with some of my thoughts towards its varied adaptations.

* that top 30 list drew such an interest-piquing response, B-Sol also posted the remaining novels, short stories, and poems that did not make it onto there or the honorable mentions list.

The Book

I think the author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson ~ Stephen King

It's been over three decades since I first heard of this novel. I'd estimate I first read it during the early 1970's - and likely in response to seeing the first couple of its film adaptations. The story is about one man, Robert Neville, and his fight to survive in a world that's been decimated by a 70's viral pandemic (eerie to me then, and strangely apropos to me now). As much as he knows, he's the last uninfected man living on earth, and he's doing so among what's left of the population: the infected vampire horde wandering the Los Angeles nightscape. A couple of parallels are fairly obvious when reviewing the work. The Robinson Crusoe tale seems evident - especially when he's boarded up at night in his (desert island-like) reinforced and hardened home (with his stash of food, drink, and classical music LPs to keep him company). His Man Friday could be the seemingly uninfected woman, the biblically named Ruth, too. As well, the Cold War paranoia and fear track of the 50's permeates the tale. His story comes to light in a unique mix of flashback, science-fiction, mythological horror, and ultimate irony. The fact that Matheson imagined a world (and my hometown), some twenty years beforehand, that people even in the 21st century, upon reading it for the first time, would still recognize, proves the author was prophetically dead-on (so to speak) with this novel.

Matheson's clever use of flashbacks appears to use time (and its passage) as a interesting device in storytelling and as a tool for leveling the distance between the moment in time the reader takes it in and into the prescient world the author imagined. It's all too easy for the reader to simultaneously imagine Neville's plight of the damned, and whatever future pandemic (natural or man-made) that yet could come. It's considered the first of the modern vampire novels with its prominent use of science to explain away old vampire lore and subjugate religion's treatment and links in ancient mythology. The novel also seems so influential in so many other authors work. It's hard to imagine many of today's modern blood-sucker tales (with the intertwining vampire and humans storylines) coming about without this one novel breaking through and mixing myth and science (or our own use of standards and technology to explain things). Even George Romero's unique zombie and apocalyptic series (that began with the equally seminal Night of the Living Dead film) would seem difficult to conjure without this novel's direction and power.

Film Adaptations

The Last Man on Earth (1964)

I remember my brother telling me he'd seen this movie on some TV broadcast in the late 60's and trying to explain the story to me. What can I say? Early teen recall is not worth the hormones they are imprinted with. And it wasn't until the decade turned (a few years later) that I caught up to it on another late night showing. This Vincent Price feature, an Italian production, did have Richard Matheson write its original screenplay. But the changes and re-writes made to it had him pull his name from the film. However, it does seem to come closest to the story and spirit of the author's novel (but it suffers in its low cost production values and poor dubbing). I would say it's my sentimental favorite since it's the first telling of this story I ever saw (along with the next film) on celluloid. Additionally, these first two pushed me to actually read the book that it was based upon.

The Omega Man (1971)

This was the first film adaptation that I saw in an actual movie theater. This Charlton Heston vehicle (along with the subsequent one decades later) began to shift this tale to more of an action/sci-fi film in its execution and bearing. Gone are the plague aspects of the original work, along with the demythologized vampire text. Enter that period's introduction to the biological warfare scares as imagined by the screenwriter's adaptation in the midst of the Cold War. That, and homicidal mutants (meh). Although, the film does make great use of its L.A. setting and locations (like that originally used in the novel) - and is the only one among the film conversions to do so. Unfortunately, this film feels the most dated (hey, it's the 70's). Still, it was entertaining (as long as you let go of the superior narrative in the novel). The film's best moments are Heston being Heston (in his own inimitable way) and any of the scenes that have Rosalind Cash in them (I always admired this actress and she was never in enough movies, for my liking).

I Am Legend (2007)

This century's adaptation was the third film version, but the first to use the original title of Matheson's novel. It also returns to the concept of a viral pandemic in this re-telling. And it has two of the most charismatic performances among all of these screen adaptations. Will Smith and Alice Braga, you say? No. Will Smith and Samantha the dog (and Will was hard pressed to beat her out). [note: Ms. Braga does indeed look better than the dog, but Sam acted better] Unfortunately, the film seems to emphasize its special effects and action over the story's tenets - plus it has the worst use of CGI characters in any of the big budget, high profile film releases of late. Let alone the use of an ending (theatrical or alternate ending included on the DVD release) that seems the antithesis of the novel's. And unfortunately, it made a lot of money at the box office. So much so, the studio is preparing for something that should be abhorrent to anyone who appreciates the original book: a prequel. Coming in 2011, I Am Legend: Awakening. [don't get me started on this]

Audiobook

Also in 2007 (in conjunction with the late year release of the above film), the original novel was re-issued (yet again) by a book publisher. And for the first time, Blackstone Audio published an unabridged audiobook for the groundbreaking work. The high profile nature of the then upcoming film, and the importance of bringing a pioneering novel to the spoken word form, necessitated the studio managers bring out one of its big guns for this first audio treatment. Narrator Robertson Dean, he of the "sonorous, classically disciplined bass-baritone" voice, was selected. As one of my 2008
reads/listens, all I can say is it was one of the best audiobooks I heard last year. His superlative reading gave a voice to that of the character of Robert Neville that I hadn't imagined. And since it all comes from the original novel by author Richard Matheson, without abridgement or adaptation, I'd recommend it hands down to anyone who wishes to hear his legendary words and story. And this would include any of the aforementioned film versions (I'm sorry to say).

This is a masterpiece of modern fiction by one of the true pioneers of books, television and film. The man wrote novels of mystery, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and believe it or not, westerns. Name a writer's award, and he's probably won it (the Hugo, Edgar Allen Poe, Golden Spur, and the Writer's Guild awards to name a few). And if I were to pick just one of his works to be emblematic of his skill and genius at writing, I don't think I could do better than naming this novel to represent that. And, it's a pity that the film treatments of it don't really come close to the words put down over half a century ago. And since I can't do better than those words, I'll let the final ones in the novel close this post out (to hear Robertson Dean say them, click here):

Robert Neville looked out over the new people of the earth. He knew he did not belong to them; he knew that, like the vampires, he was anathema and black terror to be destroyed. And, abruptly, the concept came, amusing to him even in his pain.

A coughing chuckle filled his throat. He turned and leaned against the wall while he swallowed the pills. Full circle, he thought while the final lethargy crept into his limbs. Full circle. A new terror born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever.

I am legend.

Full Disclosure for the FTC: not one bit of compensation was had during the writing of this post (sadly enough). In fact, author Richard Matheson is one of the few people I'D PAY to have his autograph. And, no animals were harmed during the making of this movie. So there!

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Response to The Mist

Earlier today, one of my favorite bloggers, Nordette Adams, posted a very good, fun and insightful piece that examines spoilers (and the need of warning of their existence) for those who write about books or movies on the web. And I agree with many things she has to say concerning the storylines/expectations of genres and series. Plus, it has a very funny Buffy meets Twilight vid that's worth seeing. However, she brought up an item that caused me to react on a written work:

Remember Stephen King's movie/story The Mist? Despite it being horror, despite it being King, people were still pissed because they wanted a more pleasant, hopeful ending, a Hollywood ending.

This article has been updated and moved to my current blog, which can be found here.

The One Day Read

The late Michael Crichton, besides being a very successful author and one of the first progenitors of the hybrid genre known as the techno-thriller, holds one other unique distinction for me. He wrote the first book I read, no--consumed, in a one day period. I believe every avid reader, early in their genesis, collided/merged/plunged into that one book (like no other before it) and could not break away till it was read to the last page.

That one novel/hardcover/paperback became for the individual their first black hole experience in readership. For me, the event horizon came with Mr. Crichton's first published book (at least under his real name), The Andromeda Strain. There have been others, but this one was my first (did that make me a virgin to that point? No, don't answer that.)

I remember it fondly, still. It was early 1970, and I was home sick from high school (10th grade). I lived at that time with my maternal grandmother, along with her youngest, my uncle. He was a reader, like his sister, my mother. I was bored being home and went looking for something to peruse and found this 1969 hardcover. I started it around 10:30 in the morning, and finished it just after 11 PM (I did take fitful breaks, but it kept pulling me back in). If my wife reads this, she's gonna complain that I'm being nostalgic once more (but, so what?).

So, my questions to you:

1. what book was it for you?
2. when was it?
3. fiction or non-fiction?
4. hardcover or paperback?

"I told them a story. You play games, I told them a story."

With the wife still at work due to today's train accident in Chatsworth, I put Three Days of the Condor into the DVD player while home alone with the kids. Maybe it's because I'm currently listening to James Grady's latest on audiobook, Mad Dogs, that I brought this disc out of my library and into the player. Or, perhaps I didn't want to dwell upon the inane tragedy and aftermath of two trains meeting head long on the same track. Or, that a hurricane is bearing down on the gulf coast, and all readily available for those watching TV, and I sought refuge in a movie. Too bad it's fleeting. I never read the book it's based upon, Six Days of the Condor, but heard it was quite good. I also know that they changed the story's premise from Vietnam and drugs, to oil for the screenplay. Remember, this came out in 1975. Watergate, oil shortages, and paranoia were actively shaping the boomers of my day -- with the aftereffect and outlook still felt among us.

Regardless, it is still a quite effective thriller and exposition of that decade. Robert Redford always did work well for his most frequent collaborator, the late director Sydney Pollack. And while Dunaway, Cliff Robertson and others give solid supporting roles, the viewer to drawn to Max Von Sydow's freelance assassin, Joubert. While the plot has the CIA and its Operations directorate behind it all for the audience of that day, it's the fleeing book reader/analyst and detached assassin that offer the best contrast in the film, especially over time. Joe Turner's (Redford) dilemma in the story is the sense of betrayal -- the symbol for that decade. For Joubert, he cannot be betrayed since he believes in neither side. He cares not about the 'why' for any of his jobs (sometimes the where and indeed the how), but always about the 'how much' -- which seems to be something very perceptible for those of us around during the 90s to now (at least as of the date of this posting). Additionally, the film's ambiguous ending for the protagonist turned out to be the standard plot point for films from the turbulent 70s. Paradoxically, that would work out for us, today.

Lastly, this film's effective use of New York City as a backdrop is what really brought the blog post out of me in the gloaming. The crisp, wintery cityscape in which the story was shot, plays out well for the people caught in the story's intrigue and the sanctum they seek from the cold. Cinematographer Orrin Roizman provided what turned out to be some truly haunting visuals, especially for those taking the film in, years later, post 9/11. City central in this screenplay (and for the CIA) are the Twin Towers -- a made-up plot point about the Agency by the author that turned out to be true from the original novel. The visuals that Roizman catches and puts on display for the WTC are those from now historic and well remembered (and recorded) perspectives. Twenty years later (in 1995), I flew directly over those towers on a commuter flight from Hartford to Newark to catch a long flight back home from a business trip. The only time I ever saw the WTC in person, and the view of them was stunning, then and now. And since yesterday was the 7th anniversary of that infamous day, the irony and coincidence is not lost on me tonight.

Blogger note: since the time of this writing, I have read the original book. I've come to realize that Corey Wilde was right. The film is definitely more enjoyable than the book.