Musings from Brian J. Noggle
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
 
Aside (I)
Every generation must live through its own 1970s. After a decade of an unpopular war, opposed by reflex and not because you might be drafted to fight it, so now we'll have this generation's Carter.

Hopefully, it will only be that bad.


- posted by Brian J. @ 9:52 AM   1 comments
Monday, November 03, 2008
 
Book Report: Crossword Poems Volume One selected and introduction by Robert Norton (2000)
When I bought this book, I bought it on title alone, so I expected some sort of collection of crosstic poems or something, maybe poems based on crossword puzzles. As a matter of fact, it's a collection of poems whose lines appear in crossword puzzles a lot. The introduction indicates that the editor thought there was a time where schoolboys new the poems enough by heart to get the poems from quoted lines in the clues, but alas, those days are passing, so here's a collection with the pertinent quotes highlighted in red.

Regardless of the motivation behind it, this is a nice little anthology that reprints a number of often-anthologized poems from English literature, including works from Herrick, Keats, the Brownings, Drayton, et al. Who couldn't use an excuse to reread some of them? Also, at 64 pages, it's compact and not very daunting to start or to carry around.

I guess since this is entitled Volume One, the series includes more. They might be worth a pick-up, but I wonder how they could top this small selection.

Books mentioned in this review:


- posted by Brian J. @ 4:33 AM   0 comments
Sunday, November 02, 2008
 
The Bocephus Endorsement
Hank Williams, Jr., will appear with Governor Palin in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Because, face it, the national Democratic Party doesn't have room for his sort of people. It has massed other, more powerful tribes, it thinks.


- posted by Brian J. @ 6:52 PM   0 comments
Saturday, November 01, 2008
 
Book Report: True Grit by Charles Portis (1968)
As you know, I read the sequel, of sorts, to this book earlier this year. So when I found the actual novel upon which the movie True Grit was based, I snapped it up. A two-fer of sorts; I like paperback movie tie-ins/source novels for some reason.

This book is exceptional. The book relies on a double-effect narrator, an elderly spinster recounting her trip into Choctaw country to find the man who shot down her father. At the time, she's 14 and rather precocious, although let's not forget that there was a time when 14 was an adult for all intents and purposes. She hires Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn (the John Wayne role) to lead her into the hostile territory to find the man. A Texas Ranger joins them, and together (reluctantly, it must be said--the men don't want a little girl along) they encounter the bad men.

The voice of the book, through the double-effect narration (telling the story through first person, but with the passage of time), really makes it work. Throughout, the character displays primmishness and vulnerability; she's not as tough as she's putting on, but she's tough enough. Additionally, there are a lot of educational asides and a couple suggestions for Bible reading, but it doesn't get in the way of the action and the girl's response to it. Well-played.

I need to read more Westerns, but this does represent the second I've read this autumn. As our world and country changes, I'd like to hearken back to a time where it wasn't how it is now or will be in a couple years.

Books mentioned in this review:


- posted by Brian J. @ 2:56 PM   0 comments
To say Noggle, one first must be able to say the "Nah."