Books, Reviews

Down the Road, by Cameron Miller

I usually only read self-published books when the author is someone I know or someone I know points the book out to me. Cameron Miller’s Down the Road was pointed out to me and I decided to give it a chance.

Down the Road is a short horror novel about two boys making their way through the ghettos of some city. It reads as if the author is new to the craft. There were a lot of sentences that had more words than necessary. I saw some misused words. There were structural problems in places and at times I felt the pace was too fast.

But, if you can ignore the flawed writing and just pay attention to the story, you might see that Miller has promise. Storywise, I thought Down the Road was pretty good. I was especially impressed with Chapter Three. Miller detailed the fire at the inn and the reaction to it so convincingly that I thought he must have experienced a house fire himself.

The rest of the story was interesting and entertaining enough, and the ending wasn’t bad. With more editing, I think Down the Road could be a great book.

Books, Reviews

Suck & Blow, by John Popper

I’ve made it no secret how much I love Blues Traveler. Their music really speaks to me and I can relate to several of their songs. When I found out John Popper had a book out, I promptly added the title to my to-read list.

You know, I always thought I would like John Popper as a person. After reading Suck & Blow, I think that if Popper and I ever found ourselves in a conversation, we would agree on almost anything we discussed. It seems that Popper and I have a lot in common, socially and politically.

Suck & Blow is about Popper’s life. Growing up, discovering the harmonica, the creation of Blues Traveler and the road to success, and the ups and downs that come with the territory, his relationships and so on. In some ways, the book gives me hope.

The Mountains Win Again is one of my favorite songs. It was written Bobby Sheehan, the only Blues Traveler song he wrote entirely on his own. It’s about a girl he was in love with, but their relationship didn’t last.

Books, Reviews

Neither Wolf Nor Dog, by Kent Nerburn

I remember when I was in school, we were learning about the Bering Strait and how it was the land bridge that Indians traveled over to settle the continents of North and South America thousands of years ago. I remember expressing to my teacher that Europe has its own race of people, so does Asia and Africa. North and South America are huge continents, why wouldn’t they have their own race of people too? Why is it that the Natives of America had to have come from somewhere else?

It didn’t make sense to me. I think my teacher said something about how there are a lot of people who would agree with me on that.

The Bering Strait and the ridiculous notion that its how the Indians found their way to America is just one of the things Dan talks about in Neither Wolf Nor Dog.

Dan is an elderly Lakota man, almost eighty years old. He wants to write a book about the life he has known, but he feels he doesn’t have the means or the time to make it happen. So, he’s calls in Kent Nerburn to write the book for him.

The entire story is in Nerburn’s point-of-view. Nerburn records his own experiences and Dan’s long talks., as well as the accounts that Grover, another Lakota, inserts. There are accounts from other people Nerburn meets while working with Dan. The story takes us from the reservation Dan and Grover live on and goes to Wounded Knee.

The chapter on Wounded Knee really got to me. I always knew these things had happened, but I never before felt the depth of pain and outrage that Indians feel. Dan expressed that he wished he knew why it happened the way it did.

Neither Wolf Nor Dog is a very well-written book. Nerburn held true to the promise he made Dan. He did a good job.

Football, NFL, On Writing, Sports, Writing

Frybrain

I spent hours cleaning up a short story. I think this one is my first children’s story, but I’m not positive. I’ve written so many stories, I can’t remember them all. I’m proud of this story and I hope it does well.

I’m waiting for Monday Night Football to start. I’m going to watch the hell out of it. Vikings and Bears. I’m pulling for the Bears in this one. You?

Guns, Political

Yeah

Some of those who compare Trump to Hitler are the same who want to disarm us.

EDITED TO ADD
This is what I told my cousin Bonnie on Facebook where I posted the same “Some of those who compare Trump to Hitler are the same who want to disarm us” observation. You might not agree with me, but this is how I see it.

On Writing, Writing

I Guessed Correctly

The other day, I posted about the mail carrier leaving a slip in my mailbox, because someone who sent me something didn’t purchase the right amount of postage. So, the post office wants me to pay the postage before they’ll leave the package.

Although I figured it could be a contributor’s copy along with payment from one of the markets I submitted to, I didn’t know that for sure. I didn’t want to pay the postage until I knew what I was paying for.

I emailed the post office asking for more details about the package. The post office sent me a picture of a large envelope with clear addresses displayed. The envelope is from one of the markets I submitted to.

I’m annoyed that the publisher didn’t cover the entire postage amount. But, I guess I’ll pay it. If my payment for the story is in the envelope, it’ll be much more than the due postage amount.

Hunting, Misc

Back from the Hardware Store

Up until recently, the hardware store was owned by Dave, my firearms dealer. I had gotten to know Dave and I was familiar with his staff. When I’d go in to buy my hunting license, it was a quick, easy process. They knew what they were doing and they knew what I was asking for.

But Dave recently sold the store. The store is still in business, but it’s a different owner and a different staff. Today was my first time back in there since Dave moved out.

It was a very awkward and slow process. But finally they got the right hunting license printed up. I hope so, anyway.

Then, when I was paying, it took the guy a long time to work out everything on the register before he could slide my card through.

Well, I’ll be forgiving. I don’t know how long it has been since the new owner and staff took  over. Maybe they’re still getting the feel for things. I might be the first person who came in to buy hunting license since they took over. Maybe next time it’ll be easier going.