Author Archives: Lopaka

Roadwork

08 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by in Reading, Thriller

≈ 1 Comment

Roadwork by Stephen King
1981 /410 pgs.  Thriller

Barton, oh poor Barton Dawes.  The world is falling all around him.  Due to eminent domain laws, his house and the surrounding neighborhood are scheduled to be torn down for a highway extension.  Also, the very business that he worked at and knew the founders, an industry laudrey center, is being torn down for the same reason.

Barton needs to find a new house for him and his wife while negotiating for a new warehouse to move the laundry business.  However, not all is sane for Barton.  He has been talking to his son, his dead son, Charlie (he calls Freddy).  The death of his son, which was only a few years prior, haunts him.  He never got over it.  His wife moved on, yet Barton didn’t.  In his head, Freddy still talks to him, arguing with him about right and wrong.  For Barton, the very place that Charlie died can’t be torn down, not for a highway extension.

Being guided by forces that he doesn’t understand, he purchases guns for an unknown plan.  He can’t explain why he got them.  He is determined that the city is not going to get his house.  He was very loyal to the laundry company founders. They paid for his college and took care of their people; he feels the corporation that runs it now only cares about the bottom line and not the people.  He doesn’t want any change, yet it will come.  What happens? What will happen when the highway comes?

Roadwork is the third Richard Bachman novel.  It went in a direction that I wasn’t suspecting for three-quarters of the book.  It made it an exciting read.  Once the plot starts to roll out, the rest is just reading to see how it plays, predictably out.

Not on top of the King list, nor really in my recommend list.  Not a bad read, though.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka


The Long Walk

08 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by in Dystopian Future, Horror, Reading

≈ 2 Comments

The Long Walk by Stephen King
1979 /312 pgs.  Horror/Dystopian Future

The Long Walk is the second of the Richard Bachman novels.  It was a delicious read and a frightening story to think that society would allow it and encourage it.  It is a dystopian America in the future with the military is running the government. 

A game show called The Long Walk is only played once a year.  However, it raises $2 Billion in profits in betting. One hundred healthy boys between 16-18 start a walk from the Canadian-United States border in Maine and are required to keep walking, not dropping below four miles per hour.

Alongside the road runs a half-track with soldiers that watch and monitor the boys on their journey.  A man, known as The Major, rides along in a Jeep, appearing in various spots on the path as he encourages the boys. 

For the boys, the prize at the end, a large sum of money, and any “prize” they want is what awaits the final boy to survive the walk.  They can have all the water they want. However, they get a belt with food every morning at 9 am.  If they stop, for example, to take a dump, they get a warning every thirty seconds, up to three warnings.  They can walk off each warning after an hour without any warning.  Thirty seconds after the third warning, they pay the price for dropping under four mph; the soldiers eliminate the violator.  

The last boy walking wins the prize.  However, do they truly win?

It’s not at the top of the Stephen Kings classics.  It still is a wonderful story that I couldn’t put down.             
Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

A World Undone

29 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in History, Military and War, Reading

≈ 1 Comment

The World Undone The Story of the Great War by G. J. Meyer  
2006 / 658 pgs. History/ Military and War

What a monster of a book!  It took me over a month to finish this masterpiece.  It is a very well-researched and detailed chronicle of the first world war.  Also, it is more than just belligerents going to war.  There is much more in this than all the key battles.  It is a wonderful narration about the war and its impact on the world.

The book is laid out in the same manner as many historical chronicles.  A section for each year is broken into chapters explaining a battle or significant event.  What makes this narration more interesting is the humanity that Meyer tries to add to the narration.  At the end of each chapter is a background that goes into details that add more seasoning.  Many of them are fascinating, especially about some of the biographies of world leaders or generals.   

The impact on humanity is illustrated with challenges citizens experienced after the destruction of cities and forced enlistment of men and boys by many nations—Germany, for example, enlisted in 1917 those born in 1900. 

Meyer paints an outstanding picture of the overall war.  While going into delicious details, naturally, he couldn’t feature every event like the Germans’ surrender on Fochs train car and how Foch walked off at the negotiations.  This event played a small but impactful historical role in the French surrender to Germany in 1939.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely!  I enjoyed every minute I was able to read this book.  At 658 pgs, it’s not a monster for page count, but a different demon for depth.  It is number 2 on my W.W.1 books, after the Guns of August. 

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a wonderful book!

Lopaka

The Time Machine

21 Saturday Aug 2021

Posted by in Reading, Sci Fi

≈ 2 Comments

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
1895  / 92 pgs. Science Fiction

The Time Machine is the first novel by H.G. Wells and is considered a science fiction classic and the start of the time travel subgenre. 


Drawing from his pipe, the time traveler sits in his smoking room and narrates his adventure of the last six days.  His time machine took him to 802,701 A.D.  What wonders and evolution of man he hoped to see.  The utopia that communism promised, alas, was not.

In this time, man has evolved into two races, the Eloi, a short beautiful people who wear robes and frolic playing and making love throughout the day.  They don’t clean or tidy, let alone work—just happy people.  They are vegetarians as there are no animals around for meat. However,  at night, they gather in a group and sleep in the same dormitory.  Not for comfort, because of their fear of the dark.

The other, those that live underground, the Morlocks  They supply the food and clothing for the Eloi.  Their world is machinery and loud.  They fear the light. They have evolved into Ape/Spider humans who come to the surface only at night to gather their meat, the Eloi. 

The traveler has an adventure trying to get his machine back and understand the evolution of man in the year 802,071. He narrates his adventure to his astounded and skeptical friends.  There is a lot of symbolism in The Time Machine, as Wells portrays what he believes society will evolve into under Capitalism.  The symbolism is better understood if you think of the Eloi and the privlidge and the Morlocks as the lower class.

Yet, if you read the story just for the narrative, it’s a quick, fun story.  One could read it in a few hours.  As this is the only H.G. Wells book I’ve read, I would recommend it.  I do have in my reading queue War of the Worlds and The Island of Doctor Moreau.        


Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a wonderful book!

Lopaka

The Guns of August

20 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by in History, Military and War, Reading

≈ 2 Comments

The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
1962  / 511 pgs. History/Military and War

The Guns of August is a historical masterpiece!  While I was reading, I never wondered how much longer I have to go or when it is going to end.  I just wanted to read more without looking up the key players to discover what happens to them.

The Guns of August is about the first and most critical month of World War One.  It starts with a narrative of events before the war—specifically, the planning of operations and treaties that were signed between nations before the conflict.  Also, very fascinatingly, the joint planning between the British and French military for contingency plans in case Germany attacked France through Belgium.  The riveting detail was these plans were started in early 1900’s.  Also, both the French and British planners understood the critical need for a combined commander of all forces on the Allied side if hostilities started.  Yet, in the first critical month, the BEF Commander in Chief refused to allow the BEF to fall under the French leadership of Joffe.

The assignation of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by the Black Hand, the single event that changes the face of Europe and power in the world, is just mentioned briefly in the book.  The month that all the critical decisions that led to the war’s start are a simple sentence.  If you are hoping for details about that month, this is not the narrative to read.  The focus of this narrative is the first month of the war.

After Austria declares war on Serbia, the main focus turns to the French and German military’s execution of Plan 17 and the Schlieffen plan.  How the Joffe’s refusal of deviation of Plan 17 even when the situation called for moving of forces to counter the German offensive. Molke’s changes to the Schlieffen offensive before the conflict. His melancholy during August and the lack of secure communication that would play critical roles in the German offensive that would prevent the Schlieffen plan from being executed and even a complete German victory within just over a month. 

Overall, this is a fantastic read.  It is definitely on my top five list for history books, along with At Dawn We Slept.  I’m already looking forward to reading more by Barbara Tuchman.  For anyone interested in reading about the start of World War I, I would highly recommend The Guns of August.       

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a wonderful book!

Lopaka

Incredible Victory

24 Saturday Jul 2021

Posted by in History, Military and War, Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Incredible Victory: The Battle of Midway by Walter Lord
1967  / 268 pgs. History, Military and War

Incredible Victory is a Walter Lord history classic. It’s a detailed account, very similar to Miracle at Midway, of the planning and attack from both sides of the battle of Midway.  There are a few minor details between both books that are interesting; however, they don’t change any of the impacts of the fight. 

A fascinating point illustrated in both books is the “fog of war.” The in-validness of accounts as told by those that fought in the battle.  Both sides paint a different picture that makes a historian’s job more challenging trying to chronicle events.  Also, the written history by both nations after the battle and official reports.  When comparing the reports, there are very vast discrepancies on both sides.  However, it’s understandable that no one has time to write down precise information on what happened when in battle.   They leave that to the historian to sort out through logs, diaries, and interviews. 

Walter Lord pointed this out at the end of the book in a final section, mentioning that many U.S. Navy pilots swear they properly identified the Carrier based on the location of the Island.  However, the island location wasn’t the proper one for the Carrier they believed they attacked.  Also, taking in the official records of the first wave, the Akagi and Kaga were attacked, and no one bombed the Soyru.  The infamous “fog of War.”  

Overall, this is a beautiful read and easy to follow.  For anyone interested in reading about Midway’s Battle, I would recommend either Incredible Victory or Miracle at Midway.        

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a wonderful book!

Lopaka

The Forward Collection

20 Tuesday Jul 2021

Posted by in Fiction, Reading

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The Forward Collection
by Various Authors 2019  / 272 total pgs. Fiction

The Forward Collection is six short stories written by authors from an idea thought of by Blake Crouch.  Amazon shows them as six different books.  The longest story is 74 pgs, and the shortest is 27 pgs.  They are all quick reads.  For the sake of brevity, I’ll post them as one book.  Also, I won’t give away the whole plot.         

Ark by Veronica Roth  39 pgs   

The Earth is near the end as an Astroid is about to collide with it.  Only scientists that are identifying plants from the seed stations are left.  At the final minute, they will depart with the last two rockets and seeds from the stores.  Only one of them has a different plan.

Summer Frost by Blake Crouch 74 pgs

During the development of the video game Lost Coast, a minor NPC starts to act independently and think beyond its original programming level.  Its creator, Sam, wants to explore its potential and what could be the first true A.I.      

Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin 32 pgs

Many years ago, humanity left the Earth because it was becoming inhabitable.  Now, one has come to a planet with a special mission to collect cell samples needed back on the new Earth.

You have arrived at your Destination by Amor Towles 45 pgs

Sam and Anne need an IVF to have children.  Sam is given three different presentations with future potential plans at the clinic to choose their ideal child.

The Last Conversation by Paul Tremblay 55 pgs

You wake up not knowing where you are or why you are there.  A lady walks in and starts helping you in your recovery.  You have many questions, and she has a few answers.

Randomize by Andy Weir 27 pgs

A husband and wife come up with a scheme using computers to win over $700,000 in Kino.    

Overall, these short stories were fun to consume.  Ark, Summer Frost, and Emergency Skin were exciting.  You have arrived at your Destination was interesting, not thrilling.  Last Conversation and Randomize were O.K. It’s a beautiful collection to get introduced to new authors.  I will be interested in Crouch, Jemisin, and Towles books in the future. 

Enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book.

Lopaka

The Prince

13 Tuesday Jul 2021

Posted by in Politics, Reading

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The Prince
by Niccolò Machiavelli 1532  / 96 pgs. Politics

The Prince is not a story. It’s a political thesis.  Machiavelli analyzed historical leaders and used their success and failures as examples of how a prince should rule their kingdom.  Machiavelli looked at two ways a prince may rise to power eventually to lead a territory, by force or inheritance.  Machiavelli’s analysis is once one gains power, these are the steps to retain it.

The Prince shows how politicians, even today, utilize their ability to retain and use power.  The most famous point in the thesis for a leader is “it’s much easier to be feared than loved.”  When a Prince is feared, it’s easier to enforce control.  Leaders should always be saying they are working to make citizens’ lives better; however, they are ready to take down any question to their power.  Another way is Politicians can’t be honest and must use whatever tactic, included making promises they never intend to keep, to gain and retain power.  The immoral method is the only method of a politician.    

The Prince almost reads like a guide for Dictators.  However, understanding that when Machiavelli wrote The Prince, he was in exile from his beloved Florence.  He was a politician for 14 years, and after the government was overthrown, he was tortured for conspiracy.  While he was away, he wrote several books and The Prince.  Understanding why he was exiled could also mean The Prince is a warning to citizens of tyrannical rulers’ tactics to obtain power and influence and keep it.         

The Prince is an essential political thesis.  It is short, only 96 pages, however, very dense.  It took me four days to finish reading it.  If you want a book to get lost in, this isn’t it.  If Politics/Government/History is your cup of tea, I would highly recommend it.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and get lost in an excellent book,

Lopaka

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

09 Friday Jul 2021

Posted by in Biography, Reading

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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
by Benjamin Franklin 1791  / 151 pgs. Biography

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is listed as a must-read for great American works.  It doesn’t disappoint.  Franklin was writing it in the last ten years of his life and was unable to finish it.  He started writing it in 1771. Beginning in 1720, when he was 14 and moving through his last entry for 1757, it covers his earlier years.  Naturally, many would like to read about the years not written as Franklin died in 1790 at 84.

However, the book still gives an excellent view of Franklin’s fascinating world and how he thought and created his political and business viewpoints.  Most know of the stories that he was a founding father of the United States, the United States Minister to France during the Revolution, printer, and scientist.  Naturally, those are the highlights in U.S. history books.

What this biography shows is how truly a renaissance man he was.  In 1733, he taught himself French, then Italian, Spanish, and Latin.  He was a lover of books and didn’t enjoy drinking throughout the day.  His first son died of Small Pox.  Franklin could have gotten him inoculated and regretted not getting the procedure completed.

Franklin founded an Academy for poor children to gain a higher education for free called the Academy and College of Philadelphia and was its First President.  Today the Academy is called the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin’s biography goes into much of his early life. It’s not a fast read as there is much information in each paragraph.  The way it’s written makes the reader sometimes forget they are reading an Autobiography.  After finishing it, I now understand that Franklin kept vastly detailed journals.  I was sad to discover what I desired to devour, his insights and thoughts from 1760-1788, were never finished as he died before he could complete them.  However, I wasn’t disappointed by any of this book.  I would recommend it if you want to learn about how Franklin developed himself into the man we know in today’s history books.       
              

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and get lost in an excellent book,

Lopaka

Next Read – The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

A Night To Remember

28 Monday Jun 2021

Posted by in History, Reading

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A Night to Remember
by Walter Lord 1955  / 164 pgs. History

A Night to Remember is the narrative of the sinking of the most famous ocean liner in history.  It is considered the holy grail of the sinking of the Titanic.  Mr. Lord interviewed 63 survivors, utilized maps, newspaper articles, and memoirs to retell that infamous night of 14 April 1912.  A Night to Remember (1958) and Titanic (1997) used Walter Lord as a consultant and the book as guide for the narrative.

The story the moment, 11:40 p.m., when Lookout Fleet spots the Iceberg and radio’s the bridge of the infamous words “Iceberg right ahead.” From there, the narrative plays out, as many have seen in the movies.  A 300-foot gash is torn through the hull of the ship and starts flooding the first five compartments.  Mr. Andrews, the ship’s designer, is summoned and, after inspecting the damage, states the Titanic will flounder.  The truth then comes to light, the Titanic only carried enough lifeboats for 1,178 people, and there were 2,207 on board. 

From this moment, the narrative of the events starts with passengers being loaded into the lifeboats, the infamous women and children first.  Also, the story of the Californian and why she didn’t respond.  The CQD sent from Titanic via morse code and changed to S.O.S, telling all available ships to come to her aid.  From the moment the Iceberg hit the boat to her going under is half of the book.  The other half is the survival of those on the lifeboats and the rescue by the Carpathia.  The narrative of what the Carpathia did to come to the aid of the survivors is thrilling to devoir.  Finally, the story ends with the arrival in New York and the truth of the disaster being told.

This book is a fast read as I finished it in about 4.5 hours. It’s a grand narrative of what happened including the thoughts of many of the passengers and how they believed events played out that night, bringing a different perspective of the sinking.

I would recommend this for anyone to enjoy reading about A Night to Remember.                     

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and get lost in an excellent book,

Lopaka

Next – The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin