What Are You Reading ?

[Jerome]

Pulitzer Prize winner about America's biggest foreign policy blunder. Painful for me to read about the stupidty of my government's decisions. I can laugh at the small stuff, but when it comes to human lives, not a laughing matter. John Paul Vann was one of the first american advisors that went to the country in the early 60's to "help them" resist the communists. We all know how that worked out. John was in the country on and off for about 10 years before his chopper went down in '72 and he was killed. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetary with full military honors. The book is not so much about him as our involvement in that conflict. Title refers to the lies told by the military to the policy makers that kept us there. Specifically that we were winning, when that was never the case. I find it hard to blame the man at the top (Johnson/Nixon), when they are being fed lies from the people at the bottom. George Bush anyone?

Grade - A

next up - Washington D.C. by Gore Vidal

Simple fact of the matter is that all our respective governments have screwed up at one time or another. And all lie. It's part of the job description. I lived in South Africa for many years and we were brainwashed day and night via media etc. Now I live in Ireland and it's no damn different. This is supposedly a first world country but in reality is far from it. In fact in many ways it's way behind SA. The crime here is just a whole lot 'cleaner' and very few of the really big criminals ever end up in jail (bankers, accountants & judges as well). And even the poor sods who do go to jail get let out for their Xmas jollies! At least in the USA you are held accountable for your actions. That's one thing the States does correctly.

[SteveO]

Do they allow abortions now ?... the country is so Catholic!

[Music Head]

Do they allow abortions now ?... the country is so Catholic!

regulated by the states, and all allow to some extent

[Jerome]

Do they allow abortions now ?... the country is so Catholic!

The bill was passed by Michael D Higgins this morning believe it or not. And only in limited circumstances.

[Music Head]

The bill was passed by Michael D Higgins this morning believe it or not. And only in limited circumstances.

lol
sorry J
thought Steve was talking to mebut I did stumble on the country is so Catholic statement
I was like did I miss something

[Music Head]

Says this is the final in a series of six volumes of something called the American Chronicle Series. Didn't know that until now, as my book has no jacket on it. Picked it up at the library sale. Not sure if the books are connected. Couldn't tell it by reading this one. And this one does not make me want to read the other five. Political novel set in D.C. starting with the second FDR term and running through Eisenhowers early days. Other real characters pop in to be talked about, but the main people are fictional. Focusing on a senator who has his aim at the presidency. All the politicians are crooked, with a lot of bribes and affairs and even incest and homosexuals. Didn't now those existed in the 40's. Only interesting part for me was the McCarthy hearings, where they rooted out the commies. Quite a waste of time here.

Grade - D

next up - Cuba And Castro by Teresa Casuso

[Music Head]

Not very well written but it sure was interesting. Written by one of Castros sidekicks back in his early days. She knew him when he was a struggling terrorist. She was close to being one herself, due to some hate being built up for Batista. Of course one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. Some good history starts this off telling how previous Cuban dictators came to power. Then along came Castro to save them. He and his hombres were hiding out in Mexico when Teresa hooked up with them, gave them a place to stay and to hide their gradual build up of arms and ammo. It wasn't until after his revolution that she figured out these might not be the right guys to have control of the country. Shortly after he started executing his opposition. Woops, too late. The book ends way too early of course, as the man had only had power for a couple of years. Teresa got the message after she saw Castro hosting Kruschev. She departed the country for good and wrote this book.

Grade - B

next up - The Prize by Irving Wallace

[Music Head]

One of my favorite pop fiction authors maybe 10 years after this one. Had not read this early work and picked it up cheap somewhere. Based on the Nobel Prize selection process. Focusing on the current year at the time. Follows the nomination process and the lives of those nominated from the time they received their announcement. Characters are fictional but have to assume there is some factual elements to the story. Some sleazy people, including nominees to keep it interesting. Odd that the year written about, there is no prize for the biggie, the Peace Prize. Thought that was strange, but the other four categories are represented. This was made into a movie starring Paul Newman, but I don't recall seeing it. Would like to now.

Grade - B

next up - No Peace, No Honor by Larry Berman

[C_woldt]

Heroin Diaries is one of the best books i have ever read. INcredible how far he comes through the course of the book.

[Music Head]

Another notch in my Vietnam War reading. The most interesting non-fiction work I read. This one is not so much on the war itself, but the 4 year long negotiations leading to it's conclusion. They were as much a failure as the actual war. Maybe not for the commies, they got just what they wanted. Love this quote, "we bombed them into accepting our concessions". That sums up what it took 4 years to achieve. The book starts with Johnson in office then quickly gets into the Nixon era. More focus on Kissinger than anyone else, as he headed those peace talks. A problem for me keeping the vietnamese names straight, as far as who was representing north and south. Imagine how the South Vietnamese must have felt knowing the end was near. Not saying we should not have bailed, just a sad ending. How many years can you prop up a failed government? It had to end at some point.

Grade - B

next up - Mr. Ive's Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos