Reading log: September 2010

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Books acquired: “Following the Equator,” Mark Twain; “1000 Record Covers,” Michael Ochs, ed.; “The New York Times Essential Library: Jazz,” Ben Ratliff; “The Innocents Abroad,” Mark Twain; “Exploring Form: John Edward Svenson, An American Sculptor,” David Svenson.

Books read: “The Good, the Bad and the Mad: Some Weird People in American History,” E. Randall Floyd; “The God of War,” Marisa Silver; “A Deadly Shade of Gold,” John D. MacDonald; “Gentleman Junkie,” Harlan Ellison.

Greetings, gang. Welcome to another installment of my monthly Reading Log, this time chronicling a month in which all four books I read had a G-word in the title. Goodness to gracious, what kind of a system am I working under? One with a sense of humor, I guess.

“The Good, the Bad and the Mad” is an intriguing but disappointing series of short profiles of classic nutty Americans, from Stonewall Jackson to Emperor Norton; “The God of War” is a very good coming-of-age novel about guilt and family bonds; “A Deadly Shade of Gold” is the fifth Travis McGee mystery, a bit long and convoluted but stylishly written as always; and “Gentleman Junkie” (subtitled “And Other Stories of the Hung-Up Generation”) is a compelling 1961 collection by the acclaimed fantasy writer, except these are gritty urban tales without fantasy elements.

“God of War,” by the way, was published in 2008, a rare 21st century outing for your classically minded blogger.

As for how and when the books came into my hands, “Good” came off the discount table at the Chino Hills Barnes & Noble earlier this year; “God” was found at Powell’s in Portland this summer; “Gold” was bought used at (I think) Brand Books in Glendale last year; and the ’70s Pyramid paperback of “Gentleman” turned up at Bookfellows in Glendale maybe three years ago. (I’ve also owned an ’80s Ace paperback of “Gentleman” for more than 25 years, unread. Nice to finally cross this off my list.)

These constitute books 39 to 42 in my quest to again read at least 50 this year. Next month I expect to focus on books with an F in the title. Should be, dare I say it, fun.

Enough about me. Have you read any of these? What are you reading?

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