i finished the novel by C.S. Forester a week ago or so, but i just didnt have the time to write about it until now. well, that and i forgot. i was so super busy with the office move just before the thanksgiving day holidays and then the ’settling in’ is still settling. well enough of the excuses. its my blog anyway, i can critique what i wish when i wish. i really dont need to go into self admonition.
a little back history of myself for those that may or may not know. i am an avid fan of 17th – 19th century naval adventures. pirates, napoleonics, etc. tall ships and sails have always had a soft spot for me. the Horatio Hornblower series has been a favourite, though i only ever read a couple of the books. the movie with gregory peck is always a staple in my library. i never read the ‘first’ novel in this series. over all and with all the bias that i can bestow upon it, i feel that this novel is very top notch. i really had a hard time putting it down and i was quite disappointed with work interrupting my usual reading times.
i give the book 5 out of 5 stars!
i am currently reading (a modern novel for a change) the kite runner by Khaled Hosseini. it too is a great read and i am nearly all the way through it. but i shall give my review when i am actually finished.
It’s a little bit funny this feeling inside
I’m not one of those who can easily hide
I don’t have much money but boy if I did
I’d buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun’s been quite kind while I wrote this song
It’s for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen
i was strolling through my earth, wind and fire collection and ramsey lewis – a well renowned and talented jazz musician – popped in my mind. i looked him up on google to see if there was any information about him out there. i happened upon his blog and i read the linked article which was a response to the WSJ article about jazz being a dying art form.
i want to make a few points here in response to the article. jazz is not dead nor is it dying. it is very much alive and listened to by many people; young people. i am under 40 and i have loved and enjoyed jazz my whole life. i am a very big fan of the cool era and my favourite artists are herbie hancock and dave brubeck. i have known many young people (ages 5 to 45) that love jazz. diverse people with no other similarities other than the love of jazz.
terry teachout of the WSJ points out the attendance at live jazz concerts has dropped significantly. he uses percentages and statistics to explain his point of view. he may have asked survey takers and pollsters, but i doubt he actually walked up to a young person and asked ‘hey, do you like jazz? what do you think of miles and coltrane? do you like the swing or are you more of a bop person?’
statistics are nice and informative, but like computer programs, they only give you the information asked for. statistics never give you more than exactly what you think you are looking for. sometimes you have to ask other questions in order to get the facts. many people stop looking once they get the figures they were looking for never realizing there is more to life than 13.5% are this and 12.98% are that.
you cannot quantify feelings and expressions. jazz isn’t a statistic. jazz is colours, jazz is movement. jazz is art. jazz is life. jazz is soul.
i finished reading perfume a few days ago. i just didnt have the time or want/need to talk about it. although i enjoyed reading the book as it is very well written and an interesting read, i have not been in my right mind the past week to really come and talk about it. i still really dont.
i give the book 4 stars out of 5.
my next read will be Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C S Forester. its a favourite of a dear friend of mine.
this morning was an interesting one. the sky was split in twine by daylight to the north and heavy dark clouds to the south. i had the radio on to the new local classical station. south florida never had a classical station since ive been here, so to have one now is a treat. one of the community announcements they had on was about the florida grand opera.
when i got to work i quickly looked it up and see that they are performing two operas i would love to see: Il barbiere di Siviglia and Carmen. i am so excited to find something worth while out here to go to. i am tired of the superficial and hollow culture. where the only fun to be had is to drink and be seen at a local club. people acting as though they are famous celebrities worthy of our worship. not my idea of fun or intelectually stimulating.
currently i am reading a book called “the club dumas” by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. i decided to post the books that i am currently reading and give a review. i am as of now nearly done worth it and i would like ot say that it is a wonderful book full of intrigue. it is not a dumb man’s book at all. this has much in the way of thinking and i would recommend it to most people, especially to those that love a good mystery book dripping with a dumas flair of a fantastic story.
i give this story 5 out of 5 stars!
~adieu
next book: well i am currently undecided, but i think “perfume” by Patrick Süskind.
I wanna love you and treat you right;
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We’ll be together with a roof right over our heads;
We’ll share the shelter of my single bed;
We’ll share the same room, yeah! – for Jah provide the bread.
Is this love – is this love – is this love -
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
Is this love – is this love – is this love -
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
I wanna know – wanna know – wanna know now!
I got to know – got to know – got to know now!
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I – I’m willing and able,
So I throw my cards on your table!
I wanna love you – I wanna love and treat – love and treat you right;
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We’ll be together, yeah! – with a roof right over our heads;
We’ll share the shelter, yeah, oh now! – of my single bed;
We’ll share the same room, yeah! – for Jah provide the bread.
Is this love – is this love – is this love -
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
Is this love – is this love – is this love -
Is this love that I’m feelin’?
Wo-o-o-oah! Oh yes, I know; yes, I know – yes, I know now!
Yes, I know; yes, I know – yes, I know now!
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I – I’m willing and able,
So I throw my cards on your table!
See: I wanna love ya, I wanna love and treat ya -
love and treat ya right.
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We’ll be together, with a roof right over our heads!
We’ll share the shelter of my single bed;
We’ll share the same room, yeah! Jah provide the bread.
We’ll share the shelter of my single bed
The rain is falling upon my window.
I am alone.
Thunder crashes and rumbles through the dark sky.
I am alone.
Lightning charges up the night.
I am alone.
The day we meet again
I’ll be waiting there
I’ll be waiting there for you
Cos the years have been so lonely
Like a dog without a home
Its dangerous when you find out
Youve been drinking on your own
The day we meet again
We will walk in peace
Thru the garden down the road
Where the mist of time is lifting
See it rising in the air
Like the shadow I was chasing
When I looked it wasnt there
Oh no
But just in case youre wondering
What was really on my mind
It wasnt what you took my love
Its what you left behind
And just in case youre wondering
Will it really be the same
You know were only living for
The day me meet again
So hold on – and dont let go
Time heals – you know – I know
The day we meet again
I’ll be waiting there
I’ll be waiting there for you
Cos the years have been so lonely
Like a dog without a home
Its dangerous when you find out
Youve been drinking on your own
The day we meet again
We will walk in peace
Thru the garden down the road
Where the mist of time is lifting
See it rising in the air
Like the shadow I was chasing
When I looked it wasnt there
Hold on baby dont let go
