Friday, May 14, 2010

More Fun Fiction...

Dry Ice (Alan Gregory, #15) Dry Ice by Stephen White


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great read. The thing I like best about Stephen White is how the psychologist in him is revealed in his narratives. The analysis of his characters' motives and thoughts, as detailed by Alan Gregory, makes him unique as a story teller.

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Life of Pi Life of Pi by Yann Martel


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of the best books I've ever read. Can't stop thinking about it.

There are two main stories in this novel. The first is about Pi and his tiger on a boat together trying to survive, lost at sea. It is a metaphor for how difficult life can be with the inuendo that we can find hope and joy in the process. The second story is a revised version of the first, making the former seem like a walk in the park, by comparison. Same awful circumstances but no hope or joy.

The message, combined with a great read, is that even though life is inevitably difficult, there is joy and hope to be found in the process...if we choose the first story.

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

GREAT, GREAT FICTION!

The Messenger (Gabriel Allon, #6) The Messenger by Daniel Silva


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
490 pages that I couldn't read fast enough. (Which is a problem, since I'm not a fast reader.) Just superb. Silva is my latest "favorite" author.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Native Tongue Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Feeling generous with the three star rating. Had to trudge through this one although I did laugh out loud several times late in the book. I get a little tired of the same characters and themes with Hiassen. This one wasn't one of his best; or was it me?

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Thursday, October 8, 2009

WOW!

My Antonia My Antonia by Willa Cather


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A magnificent book if I don't say so myself. I just read this again in order to prepare to speak at a Willa Cather event in Lincoln. As a grandson of Anna Pavelka, the heroine of the novel, it is beyond meaningful.

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Saturday, October 3, 2009

Husker Dan Doesn't Understand

Dan McGlynn, aka "Husker Dan" from his HuskerPedia column, indicates he doesn't understand my most memorable play selection during the Husker home sellout streak of 300 games. Here is what he writes:

KP'S MOST MEMORABLE
During the PPV broadcast of the game, sideline reporter, Kent Pavelka, revealed his Top 10 Most Memorable Plays of "The Streak". I agreed with most of them, but putting Gayle Sayers' 99 yard touchdown run of 1963 at the top of his list, left me scratching my head. It's almost sacrilegious (!) to pick an opponent's play as your top choice. Surely, there are many Husker plays more deserving.

And for the record, during Sayers' three years at Kansas, the Jayhawks never beat the Huskers. Oh, and stop calling me Shirley.


I sent the following reply:

Dan,

I read that you don’t understand why I picked the Sayers play as my most memorable during the 300 game sellout streak at Memorial Stadium. First of all, it’s certainly not what I would rank as the best, most exciting, or most important play. It is absolutely not my favorite play. It is my most memorable play. Those are important distinctions.

I was 13 years old and standing ten yards away when I watched Sayers peel off that run back in 1963, Dan. That play and that game, in a way, gave birth to my life-long love affair with Husker football. I had seen plenty of Nebraska games before that day. But that play is one of the first specific and most dramatic memories I have. It’s the most indelible and enduring in terms of years gone by. I guess I really don’t know exactly why. It just is.

In many ways, the seminal events of our lives choose us. We don’t choose them. That my most memorable play in the 300 straight sellouts centers on an NU opponent doesn’t bother me. I wish it didn’t bother you, my friend.


I hope this clears up Husker Dan's concern about my judgement and/or loyalty. These things are quite personal for all of us; including some of Dan's most memorable moments during the streak. Read about some of his at www.huskerpedia.com/huskerdan.

By the way, kudos to Dan for his efforts in supporting U.S. soliders via his organization, Husker Dan's Army.