The Rise of Universities

I picked up The Rise of Universities by Charles Homer Haskins after seeing a recommendation on Amazon. I was looking for other books related to higher education and its history when I saw this book. The title intrigued me and I thought it might be an interesting read.

The book is a rather quick read, primarily based off of three lectures given by Haskins, a Harvard professor. The first chapter focused on the earliest universities, giving attention to Bologna, Paris, and Solerno. The second chapter provided insight into the mediaeval professor, focusing on textbooks teaching, and academic status. The third chapter focused on the mediaeval student, giving attention to sources of information, funding, letters, poetry, etc.

The book was interesting and provided a lot of a anecdotal information related to mediaeval universities. I regret reading it after the conclusion of the semester, as some of the information contained within would have been useful in one of my papers focusing on the residential college model. This book could have provided some interesting facts related to the mediaeval colleges.

The Rise of Universities

Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning

I received a copy of Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning by Jose Antonio Bowen from my friend Eddie Watson, after a lively discussion related to a research project on which we are working. Eddie serves as the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning here at UGA. We were having a discussion about pedagogy and Eddie suggested the book, which was written by a recent guest speaker on UGA's campus.

As the title implies, the book is focused on providing college professors strategies for removing technology from the classroom in order to improve student learning. Bowen is by no means anti-technology, and actually advocates for its use in education, but he believes it should be used outside of face time with instructors. Essentially, Bowen's argument is to "flip" the classroom, using technology and digital media to deliver information that might otherwise be delivered through a lecture while students are away from the class. This allows in-class time to be dedicated to group work, attempting problems, and asking reflective questions. The book provides numerous strategies for positive implementation of this approach.

This book would be of interest to anyone interested in reading more about technology in higher education or student centered learning environments.

Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning

Changing Places

I received David Lodge's Changing Places as a gift last Christmas from Terry Papillon, Director of University Honors at Virginia Tech. Terry has a tradition of giving the Honors staff specially selected books during the winter holiday party each year. He indicated that he selected this particular book for me as he knew I was about to pursue my PhD in higher education. He told me he thought as it was a novel about higher education, that I should read it.

I'm glad that Terry shared this book with me. I found it to be rather entertaining, from several different levels. At times, Lodge's writing reminded me of Douglas Adams' satire, a form I greatly enjoy. I found myself laughing frequently. Additionally, Lodge uses different styles of writing during the various sections of the book, with the conclusion written as a screenplay. Finally, Lodge also shows his knowledge of varying campus typologies and his description and comparisons are equally humorous.

Set in the 1960s, the plot of the book focuses on two professors of English, one from a small university in England and the other from a large state university on the West coast, who swap positions for a semester. This changing of posts at the university ultimately impact more than just their academic careers and the resulting antics are what make up the meat of the novel.

This would be a good read for anyone who works at or studies institutions of higher education and is looking for a laugh.

Changing Places

State of the Union

I picked up Brad Thor's State of the Union in the bargain section of Barnes & Noble. I was intrigued by the cover of the book, which depicted a double headed eagle on some form of crest. It looked to somehow combine Masonic imagery with that of the American government. I did not read the description on the back, but as I enjoy political action/suspense novels, I purchased it without much other thought.

It took me a few months to get to it on my queue, but I finally found time to read the novel. Now that I am in my doctoral studies, I am aware that my time for pleasure reading will be significantly diminished. However, a colleague from Virginia Tech, who is a part-time doctoral student, advised me that finding time to occasionally read for pleasure is a gift to myself. As such, I thought that this would be a fun and accessible pleasure read.

I great enjoyed this story. I do not believe I have read any other novels by Brad Thor, and I was not aware that this was the third book in a series, but I found it easy to quickly become interested in the narrative. This story follows Agent Scot Harvath as he works to quickly stop a terrorist plot that threatens to severely cripple the United States as a player on the global scene. Harvath travels all over the globe in his efforts to do so. The book is full of action and adventure. I found it to be an enjoyable, and consequently quick, read.

State of the Union

Satan is Real: The Ballad of the Louvin Brothers

I'm not sure where I first heard about Satan is Real: The Ballad of the Louvin Brothers by Charlie Louvin with Benjamin Whitmer. It was likely while looking at other music (auto)biographies on Amazon. However, I know I had recently been listening to some Louvin Brothers on Pandora, so thought it would be a nice compliment to the music. And, as those who have previously read this blog will know, I am a fan of biographies about music or artists.

I found Satan is Real to be a rather interesting read. It is arranged mostly chronologically as Charlie Louvin recounts how the Louvin Brothers got their start. He recounts interesting stories of growing up on their parents' cotton farm, learning how to sing from his mother and at church, and sneaking out to see Roy Acuff. The narrative continues and provides detailed stories of the brothers' music careers. There are also interesting stories about Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis, and Hank Williams. I found this to be one of the more fun and interesting autobiographies I have read lately.

Satan is Real: The Ballad of the Louvin Brothers

Riding the Rap

Those who know me know that I am a fan of FX's show Justified, about US Marshal Raylan Givens as he returns to his childhood stomping ground of Harlan County Kentucky and deals with numerous outlaws in the area. As such, it should be no surprise that I read another of Elmore Leonard's books featuring Raylan. This time, the novel is Riding the Rap. This book features Raylan Givens investigating the kidnapping of his "friend" Harry Arno. The novel features some incredibly interesting characters including a Latino gardener turned bounty hunter, a Caribbean man who used to pretend to belong to the Nation of Islam, and a psychic. As usual, Leonard's dialogue is gritty and real. The book was a fun read.

Riding the Rap

The Everything Home Recording Book

I picked up The Everything Home Recording Book by Marc Schonbrun after Eddie and I made plans to do some demo recording in his basement. While recording studios and project studios are topics and concepts I am familiar with from my undergraduate education, it has been about 7 years since I have done anything hands-on with them. I wanted something that could easily job my memory and hopefully refresh my knowledge. And, Eddie has ProTools, with which I do not have a lot of familiarity.

The book served its intended purpose, at least from my perspective. Admittedly, it is written for beginners with little-to-no experience with recording, so hopefully I would understand it after studying it in college for four years. It presented the various concepts with clarity and helped to refresh my memory about microphones, recording technique, and effects usage in the recording process. Of course, nothing actually tops hands-on experience in recording, but I now feel that I can handle some basic recording with relative ease.

This is a great book for those interested in learning about home recording, or like me, who wish to refresh their memory.

The Everything Home Recording Book

Bad Luck and Trouble

Bad Luck and Trouble  finds Jack Reacher called to Los Angelos to investigate the death of a close friend and member of his Military Police Unit. Reacher teams up with Neagley (featured in another one of the stories), as well as two other friends to look into the mysterious circumstances surrounding their colleague's death. The story brings up memories from the past, as well as demonstrates the bonds Reacher still has with old comrades. The story focuses on the team unraveling the mystery, as well as dealing out some renegade vengeance.

It's worth a read.

Bad Luck and Trouble

One Shot

Lee Child's  One Shot  is another novel in the Jack Reacher series. It is the novel on which the Jack Reacher movie (starring Tom Cruise) is based. This novel finds Reacher investigating a killing spree in a small Indiana town perpetuated by a sniper who is believed to have been someone Reacher knew in the Army. There are a number of interesting twists to this novel, which made it rather fun to read. It has some differences from the motion picture, which I saw first, but is a definite thrill ride. I found this to be one of the stronger novels in the series. I definitely recommend the book for fans of the series, the film, or action/mystery novels in general.

One Shot

Start With Why

I starting reading Simon Sinek's  Start With Why as part of a reading group within the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech. A number of staff members from various units within the Division gathered to read  and discuss one section of the book every other week. The book had previously been read as a staff development tool by some other departments and the Division of Student Affairs brought Sinek to speak to the staff.

I found the book to have some similar characteristics to other "self-help" or "personal development" books, but it also had a number of useful ideas related to leadership. Sinek's entire premise is that business needed to start with the "why" of what they do. He argues that too many businesses focus on "what" they do and "how" they do it. He clearly is a fan of Apple and Harley-Davidson as companies who understand their "Why." He uses them as examples throughout the book.

Overall it is a good book for someone who wishes to refocus on the "why" of what they do.

Start With Why

Life

I picked up Life by Keith Richards after hearing several of my friends speak highly of it. I picked up the book and put it on my queue, but it took awhile to actually read it. Having now read it, I regret not picking it up and reading it sooner. This is probably one of the most interesting rock (auto)biographies I have read in quite a while. Richards is a brilliant raconteur, spinning captivating stories that keep the reader engaged.

Richards tells of his early life growing up in post-war England, the formation of the Rolling Stones, his love life, friendships with various stars, and stories about being on tour. He pulls no punches, chronicling his drug use, fights with Mick Jagger, and frequent run-ins with the law. The stories are witty, irreverent, funny, and charming. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially as Richards described his love of music and the almost spiritual connection he has with it.

This is definitely worth a read for any music fan, even those who are not fans of the Rolling Stones.

Life

The Haunted Hillbilly

I came upon The Haunted Hillbilly by accident. I came across an album called Songs from the Haunted Hillbilly, which was an alt-country soundtrack to a musical. The songs were witty and rather interesting, so I wanted to read the book which inspired the songs and musical. The book, written by Derek McCormack, is quick read. The story is basically told through short vignettes or scenes that carry the plot along. The story is a retelling of the life of Hank Williams, as he is manipulated by a vampire tailor named Nudie. Obviously, the characters in the book are based on historical characters in country music world. McCormack, however, takes artistic liberty in this macabre comic book narrative.

Overall, the book was a fun read, even if it was a bit unsettling at times.

The Haunted Hillbilly

Inferno

The choice to buy and read Dan Brown's Inferno was an easy one to make. Having read and enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. Based on previous browsing and purchases, Amazon alerted me to the release of Brown's latest release.

Inferno is the fourth installment of Brown's Robert Langdon series. This novel once again follows the fictitious symbologist as he follows a series of clues and riddles hidden in ancient art. This time, he is in Florence, following a mystery related to Dante's Inferno and racing the clock to stop a severe threat.

While this was an enjoyable book, I did not find it as intriguing as the previous Robert Langdon stories. There did not seem to be as much depth in the clues and riddle in the art and architecture of the story. However, this might have had a more twisted plot line than some of the previous novels and did manage to stray from the formula that Brown had started to create for the series.

Overall, it was fun and certainly worth a read.

Inferno

On Stranger Tides

I bought  On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers because of it's shared title with the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. And, while it does share some components, Blackbeard and the search for the Fountain of Youth, the books is largely different from the movie of the same title.

This book is, however, still a great work of pirate fiction. There is plenty of magic, reminiscent of  Pirates of the Caribbean. The books focuses on a young man named John Chandagnac, who is captured by pirates and takes the name Jack Shandy. The story follows Shandy as he becomes one of the pirate crew and becomes acclimated to his new surroundings in the Caribbean. Throughout his adventures, Shandy tangles with Blackbeard, British authorities, other pirates, and magicians.

Overall, it is a rather entertaining book and well worth the read, if you are a fan of pirate novels.

My Word is My Bond: A Memoir

I picked up My Word is My Bond: A Memoir by Sir Roger Moore from the online bargain book bin at Barnes & Noble. I've always been a fan of the James Bond franchise and it looked like it might be interesting. Admittedly, I've never been a huge fan of Roger Moore films, as I have found them to be rather campy. I tend to prefer the Sean Connery films and the newer Daniel Craig movies. However, I thought that this may be an interesting book.

I'm glad I picked the book up. It turned out to be a rather fun and interesting read. Moore is a conversational story-teller. He is good at spinning a great story and making it somehow relatable. The book provides some incredibly interest stories about Moore's childhood and rise through stage acting. He then recounts his early film and television career, which was actually rather robust. I, for instance, had no idea that he starred in the televisions series The Saint and Maverick. Moore proceeds to tell about his experiences as the world's most famous secret agent. Finally, he tells about his involvement with UNICEF, which started because Audrey Hepburn asked him to join. Throughout all of these stories, Moore share tales about his fellow stories, some of which can be a bit risque. He shares stories about practical jokes he played while on set and misadventures that happened while on location. It was a fun read.

I would imagine that anyone who is a fan of the Bond franchise would enjoy this book. It would also be enjoyable to anyone interested in the golden age of film.

My Word is My Bond: A Memoir

Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947-1977

This marks the third time I have read Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947-1977 by James Miller. As with the last time I read it, it was for class. This is the final textbook for my class "Black, White, and Blue: Race Relations in the U.S. through the Blues." And yes, while this book does cover rock and roll, it also does a fine job of discussing race and the development of rock and roll out of the blues.

Miller takes an interesting approach to this book by breaking it into various sections that offer vignettes on various songs, artists, or milestones in the creation and rise of rock and roll. Some favorites on which Miller focuses are Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. One of the things I like about this book is that Miller takes time to also describe what is happening socially in addition to what is happening in the world of music. Sometimes these descriptions are rather brief, but they are important in providing context around the music and musicians.

This is a great book for anyone interested in reading about rock and roll and the progression of the music industry. Miller does a great job of bringing some important figures in the world of rock to life and can also make the reader wish to revisit some of these old songs.

Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947-1977

Silverfin

I don't recall exactly how I heard of Silverfin by Charlie Higson. I know that it was somehow related to James Bond, but whether it was on Amazon or Wikipedia, I am uncertain. Regardless, I was intrigued about the Young Bond Series and decided to order the book. I am a big Bond fan and do enjoy reading juvenile fiction from time to time, so I thought it might be a fun read.

That's almost exactly how I would describe the book: fun. It didn't have the deepest of plots, nor the most developed characters. It wasn't the most well-written book I have ever read, and it was rather far from the worst. It was just purely fun.

The novel finds young James Bond starting his first year at Eton. The novel mentions that he is a thirteen year old schoolboy, so he is certainly a far cry from the dashing spy we know from Ian Fleming's novels and the 007 film franchise. However, elements of the character are present. Through the book, and presumably the rest of the series, one is able to discern traits that will develop into the Bond with which we are all familiar.

The story deals somewhat with young Bond finding his place among his peers at Eton. However, most of the adventure takes place in Scotland, his father's home country. James is visiting his aunt and uncle on Easter break and get involved in a web of intrigue that leads to several exciting adventures. The villain's plot deals with science gone-awry and is not too far from something that might have existed in the Roger Moore-era films.

All in all, the book was a fun adventure with a new take on a familiar character. If one is willing to read juvenile fiction, it might be worth a read. If one is looking for stories similar to those of Fleming, I would avoid this book and series. Silverfin

The Prophet

I picked up The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran because it consistently popped up on "must-read" lists next to another of my favorite books, The Alchemist  by Paulo Coelho. The Prophet seemed to have rave reviews and often was also mentioned near books related to the Middle East. So, I bought the book on Amazon and then put it on my pile of books that are in the queue. The book caught my eye the other day and I decided to read it.

The Prophet is an incredibly short book and a rather quick read, but is nonetheless very deep. I would consider it to be a secular gospel. It is full of short lessons related to the wisdom of life. One of my favorites is on the topic of love and reads,"Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself." The book is full of this incredibly beautiful prose providing these deeps lessons, all loosely wrapped around the story of a prophet's farewell speech before departing a city. It is poignant and beautiful. 
 
The Prophet

The Templar Salvation

The sequel to Raymond Khoury's The Last Templar, The Templar Salvation once again finds FBI agent Sean Reilly and archaeologist Tess Chaykin involved in international plot involving terrorism and religious history. After an Iranian terrorist involves Reilly in a plot to infiltrate the Vatican archives, Reilly must hunt him down before the terrorist tracks down centuries old secrets that could dramatically change history and the Western world. The secrets in question deal with ancient church history and have been protected by the Knights Templar. The quest takes Reilly and Chaykin on a hunt through history in what is modern-day Turkey.

This book is a fairly well-written thriller involving questions of history and faith. The characters are believable and the action is captivating. I particularly enjoyed the book because of its settings. The first location is the Vatican, a place a would very much like to visit. The second locale the provides the setting for the story is Turkey, one of my favorite places to visit. Much of the action takes place in Istanbul, what is likely my favorite city in the world, as well as Cappadocia, which is a beautiful, interesting part of rural Turkey.

The Templar Salvation

Segregating Sound: Inventing Folk and Pop Music in the Age of Jim Crow

This marks the second time I have read  Segregating Sound: Inventing Folk and Pop Music in the Age of Jim Crow by Karl Hagstrom Miller. Both times have been for a class I teach on the blues and race relations. I find this book to be rather interesting and something that challenges the students in my course to think critically about race relations and social context.

Miller takes a scholar's critical look at folklorism and it impact on the way we think about music, particularly that which is pure or authentic. The book primarily focuses on the late 19th and early 20th century. Additionally, as the title implies, the book examines Southern music and our understanding of it. Miller traces the origins of "Race music" and "Hillbilly music," more so in title than in the influences of either genre. There is also an intense discussion of what constitutes pop music and what constitutes folk.

This book would be of interest to anyone interested in Southern music, the blues, race relations, or folklorism and the understanding of folk art.

Segregating Sound: Inventing Folk and Pop Music in the Age of Jim Crow

Off the Record

I picked up the novel Off the Record by David Menconi after reading his book pseudo-biography Ryan Adams: Losering, A Story of Whiskeytown. In the latter book, Menconi makes mention of Off the Record and indicates that he based one of the characters off of Ryan Adams and another musician from the Raleigh, NC area. I wanted to read the book and see how he portrayed a fictional rock band.

I enjoyed Off the Record quite a bit more than Ryan Adams: Losering, A Story of Whiskeytown, for the simple fact that David Menconi is not in the book. Unfortunately, in the Ryan Adams book, Menconi decided to make himself a figure in the history of the band Whiskeytown. Those who read my review of that book may note that I criticized Menconi for his determination to share his opinion, reviews of records, iPod playlists, and other extraneous trivia as though it was part of the band's story.

However, in this novel, he describes the rise and fall of the Tommy Aguilar Band (TAB). The story revolves around the members of the band, as well as a newspaper music critic (surprise, surprise), a bar owner/manager, and a crooked concert promoter. The story does a good job of describing the music business - at least how it looked in the later nineties and early two thousands.

Overall, the book was rather interesting and kept me engaged. The characters were all flawed, which made them believable. I think this book would be of interest to anyone who enjoys rock music, reading about the music business, or just enjoys a good story.

Off the Record

The Enemy

The Enemy is the eighth installment of the Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child. This book, unlike the others thus far, takes place while Reacher is still employed by the U.S. Army. In this book, Reacher has been relocated to Fort Bird in North Carolina and is the major Military Police presence on the base. After the mysterious death of an army general, Reacher is pulled into a mysterious web of intrigue that involves more murders and plenty of deceit. Reacher approaches this investigation with his usual no nonsense, devil-may-care attitude and makes plenty of enemies along the way. The real question, of course, is who is really behind the mystery.

This book is rather intriguing as it provides some insight into Reacher earlier in his career. Typically, his military career is told in flashback and in this novel, we get to see some of it unfold over the course of the narrative. I found it particularly enjoyable for that reason, and because Reacher interacts with his mother and brother, Joe. This is definitely a must read for anyone who is a fan of the series or is interested in Reacher as a character.

The Enemy

Conclave: The Politics, Personalities, and Process of the Next Papal Election

I ordered Conclave: The Politics, Personalities, and Process of the Next Papal Election by John L. Allen, Jr. after Pope Benedict XVI made his announcement to step down from the papacy last month. In fact, it was a month ago today that the announcement was made. I have long been fascinated with the process by which Popes are elected. It has also seemed to be a secret and somewhat romanticized process to me. Admittedly, most of my most recent knowledge regarding conclave comes from the opening scenes of Dan Brown's novel Angels & Demons. Upon realizing this, I decided I wanted some more accurate information regarding the process, especially given how important this next election may be for the Roman Catholic Church. Those who have been around me recently are likely aware of how excited I am for this particular election.

I rather enjoyed the book, as Allen provides some clear information about the process. He starts off by providing information about the role of the Pope and describing what the position is actually responsible for, both inside and outside of the church. Allen then details the various issues about which the voting cardinals will be concerned when considering who to elect into the Papacy. Next, the author describes the actual process of conclave, starting with the announcement of the Pope being ill. Clearly this book was written prior to our present situation, so the author does not discuss the process for when a Pope resigns. Next, the book describes the various political parties within the college of cardinals and the affiliations along with they vote. Finally, the author describes the likely candidates for the Papacy; however, the book was written about a decade ago, so it is currently out of date. However, interestingly, the author did not pick Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) as a likely candidate.

Overall, it was a very interesting read. I enjoyed learning about the process of the Papal election and I look forward to watching the new media report on Conclave over the next week. I believe that as a result of reading this book, I will better understand the process as it unfolds.

Persuader

Persuader is the 7th book of the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. I have returned to this series, after a brief hiatus in which I have been reading books for class or other books about the blues.  

Persuader finds Jack Reacher collaborating with the DEA to go undercover to investigate a suspected drug dealer. The suspect in Reacher's investigation is also potentially working with a mysterious figure from Reacher's past. The narrative of this book takes place in the present, but is also peppered with flashbacks.

This proved to be a pretty fun book with a strong story. I think this is one of the stronger books I have read from the series. Fans of the series will likely find this to be an enjoyable read.

Persuader

Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose

I received the  Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose by Matthew Kelly from the pastor of my parents' church and my home parish. I received it sometime over a year ago. While I was somewhat curious to see what was included in the book, it never really made it to the top of my queue of books to read. However, with the arrival of Lent and the resignation of the Pope, it seemed like an appropriate time to start reading the book.

I will admit, it took a while for the book to engage me. The first couple of chapters used some good metaphors to explain the need for a deeper exploration of religion in the modern era. However, the beginning of the book sounded rather like a self-help book. I don't necessarily have anything against self-help books, but they often seem to be too simple and a bit pedantic.

However, Chapter 8 started to interest me. Kelly explores the lives of five Catholics he believes are worthy of emulation. Following that, the author really caught my attention in Chapter 12 when he begins to explain what he refers to as the seven pillars of the Catholic faith: confession, daily prayer, the mass, the Bible, fasting, spiritual reading, and the Rosary. These prove to be rather interesting chapters focused on some of the core sacraments and practices of Catholicism.

Throughout the book, Kelly provides a fair share of self-disclosure about his own understanding of the faith and his personal journey. While not all of the book resonated with me, the sections I have just mentioned proved to be thought-provoking and prompted some reflection. This is certainly a useful book for Catholics who are seeking ways to engage more actively with their faith.

Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose

History of the Blues: The Roots, The Music, The People from Charley Patton to Robert Cray

This marks the second or third time I have read The History of the Blues: The Roots, The Music, The People from Robert Johnson to Robert Cray by Francis Davis, having used it to teach class last year. I am again using the book as a textbook for the Honors Colloquium I am teaching this semester, title Black, White, and Blue: Race Relations in the US through the Blues.

Davis provides a survey of the Blues, starting from the Mississippi Delta and the migration to Chicago and beyond. He places heavy importance on figures such as Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Son House, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf. Davis also does a great job of providing brief descriptions of the social context surrounding the Blues milestones on which he is focusing. Davis also provides insight into his own thoughts and theories surrounding important events. While not intended to focus on race relations, given the history of the Blues one cannot help but think about the topic.

Overall, I enjoy the book. I gain new interests and insights each time I read. This time, I found myself running to my computer and the iTunes store to listen to song he was referencing in the text, especially those that might be useful in illustrating certain points to my students.

The History of the Blues: The Roots, The Music, The People from Charley Patton to Robert Cray

Elwood's BLues: Interviews with the Blues Legends & Stars

I received Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends & Stars by Dan Aykroyd and Ben Manilla as a gift from a colleague, Michael Blackwell. He found it at a YMCA book sale and thought I might enjoy it due to the class I am teaching about the Blues this semester.

I wasn't sure what the quality of the book was going to be, as its title was derived from a character from the Blues Brothers. However, the book has some really great interviews with some really important figures in the world of the Blues. These include: Luther Allison, Junior Wells, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Little Milton, B. B. King, and more. The book also includes interview with icons from the world of rock who trace their path in music back to the Blues.

The interviews actually come from Elwood's House of Blues Radio Hour, but they highlight Aykroyd's deep understanding of appreciation for the Blues. While I was initially hesitant about this book, it turned out to be a great find.

Elwood's Blues: Interviews with the Blues Legends & Stars

Without Fail

Without Fail is the sixth novel in the Jack Reacher series, a collection of books I have been reading lately. This time, Reacher is up against a group of covert assassins bent on killing the Vice President of the United States. He's paired up with an old army buddy, the Secret Service, and his brother's ex-lover. While working to stop the assassins and save the VP, Reacher deals with the ghost of his brother.

This was not my favorite of the Reacher books that I have read so far, but it was still a good story. It hooks you at the beginning and there are some interesting characters on the periphery. It's also interesting to see Reacher, a loner and sometimes-vigilante, work alongside a bureaucratic government agency. For anyone who enjoys this type of books, it's definitely worth a read.

Without Fail

Wilco: Learning How To Die

I picked up Wilco: Learning How To Do by Greg Kot sometime over the past year. My guess would be that it was probably around June or July, either in preparation for or response to seeing Wilco in Charlottesville, VA. I pretty into them, picking up live concert DVDs, their documentary and this book. I picked it up a couple of days ago and read it pretty quickly.

The book reads like a fan's platonic love letter to singer-songwriter Jeff Tweedy, following his musical start in Belleville, IL with the Primitives. The Primitives morphed into fan favorite Uncle Tupelo, who are credited with the start of the alt-country movement. It then follows the disbanding of the group and  the Tweedy's new group, Wilco (the subject of the book). It also focuses on Tweedy's involvement with Golden Smog and Loose Fur. Kot chronicles the hiring and firing of various band members. He also devotes a good amount of time to detailing the various Wilco recorded up until A Ghost Is Born (the album most recently released at the time of the book's publication). It is clear that Kot admires Tweedy; throughout the book, he is written in a mostly positive, or at least sympathetic, light. Even during passive-aggressive firings of band member, during which you know Tweedy's performance was less than admirable, the singer-songwriter comes out in a positive light.

While the book is described as the story of Wilco, it is really the story of Jeff Tweedy, focusing mostly on the front man. However, to be fair, maybe Tweedy is Wilco and the stories are one in the same. Either way, it was an interesting and mostly enjoyable read.

Wilco: Learning How to Die

Echo Burning

Echo Burning is the fifth of the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child. This book finds Reacher back on the road, hitchhiking down in Texas. He is picked up along the road by the alluring and somewhat mysterious Carmen Greer, a mother who tells Reacher a tale of domestic abuse. Along the way, Reacher encounters her abusive husband and his relatives, a small town filled with secrets and scandals, and a plan larger than anyone can imagine.

This book, like others in the series, tells several different stories that eventually weave together into an intriguing plot. Some Reacher novels rely on his investigative skills, while some rely on his brute strength and iron will. This novel uses both for the resolution.

Overall, it was an intriguing tale and an enjoyable read.

Echo Burning

Running Blind

Running Blind is the fourth book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. The series continues to be enjoyable and provides compelling action-based mysteries. In this novel, Reacher digs himself a whole in which his only option to get out is to assist the FBI as they investigate a series of murders in which the murderer exhibits a strange MO. The FBI is baffled and the agents believe there is involvement with the Army, so Reacher's experience and skills prove helpful in the investigation.

I have found this to be one of the more enjoyable novels in the series. The story is interesting with quite a few twists. Additionally, the novel explores Reacher's relative unease at being tied to one specific geographic location. He continues to be an intriguing character, a man of absolutes who does not quite fit into regular society.

Running Blind

Crazy Heart

I saw the film adaptation of Crazy Heart a couple of years ago, long before I read the book. I think I watched it with my folks the weekend I graduated from my master's program at UGA. I remember liking the film, starring Jeff Bridges and being a fan of the soundtrack. It was a good story and I liked its focus on country music. The soundtrack popped up on my iTunes a couple of weeks ago and I decided I wanted to read the book.

 Crazy Heart by Thomas Cobb is the story of aging country music star Bad Blake. Bad is the epitome of a has-been. He tours the American Southwest in his van, playing gigs in bars and bowling alleys, eating road food and living in cheap motels. He's a hard-drinking, hard-living working musician in his late fifties. The novel centers around Bad as he deal with his mortality, contemplates his career, and tries to build and save several relationships. In some ways, the novel provide more insight into Bad's character than does the movie, and yet the novel also misses some of the charm the film provided through its music. In the end, Bad is a lovable loser who just can't seem to tame his crazy heart.

Crazy Heart

Tripwire

Tripwire is the third book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher novel. I have been reading the series at the suggestion of my friend and colleague, Tricia. The beginning of this book finds Reacher digging pools in Key West. This is disrupted when a private investigator, and later two hired thugs come looking for him. These disruptions force Reacher to return to the mainland. The following adventure is one that becomes incredibly personal and has many twists along the way.

While this novel was good, it is not my favorite from the series. The writing style seemed a bit different from the preceding books and the resolution seemed to happen far to quickly. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read. Reacher continues to be an interesting and complex character, who grows incredibly more deep with each novel.

Tripwire

Die Trying

Die Trying is the second Jack Reacher novel written by author Lee Child. I was introduced to this series by my friend Tricia, who has become rather obsessed with the novels. This was another fast-paced, action adventure novel starring an intriguing lead character.

The novel starts with Reacher getting kidnapped along with injured FBI agent Holly Johnson. What follows is an interesting story dealing with kidnappers, militia separatists, and would-be terrorists. As in other novels, Reacher must use his background as a military investigator to save Holly and himself, while simultaneously attempting to thwart the schemes of the villains.

Child has created an interesting character in Jack Reacher. He is a man of absolutes, laden with personal rule and plenty of mystery. This series has provided inspiration for the new Tom Cruise movie, Jack Reacher.

I would definitely suggest this story to anyone who enjoys action, adventure, and/or suspense novels.

Die Trying

 

Blues from the Delta

I bought Blues from the Delta by William Ferris after purchasing another book by him. Dr. Stephens sent me a picture of a book he saw in a bookstore because he thought it may interest me. That book was Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues, also by William Ferris. After scanning that book briefly and looking at some footage from the accompanying DVD, I decided to order  Blues from the Delta.

Blues from the Delta is the book that came out of William Ferris' dissertation, and at times, really reads as such. However, it has a lot of great insight into the blues from musicians who are living and playing in the Mississippi delta. It is evident that Ferris truly cares about this style of music and the people associated with it. He takes an ethnographic approach to his study, spending time with the musicians, getting to know them and talking about their life as it relates to the blues. As such, Ferris is able to provide some great insight into the lyrics, lifestyle, musicianship, and racial tension associated with the blues.

While not a book I will use as one of the textbooks for my course, it certainly has a lot of information that I will likely use as supplementary material.

Blues from the Delta