A Study In Scarlet

17 Friday Dec 2021

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
1887 / 176 pgs. Detective

Our first introduction to the super gumshoe Sherlock Holmes was the story that started it all. A Study in Scarlet, which was the name of the case that he investigated in this story. Also, our first background on how Dr. John Watson, a veteran of the Anglo-Afghan wars, is Holmes’s confidant. Through Watson, Holmes gives his enigmatic thoughts, allowing the reader to see inside Holmes’s line of deduction. Watson is the narrator, chronicler of Holmes cases.

How they end up living together is detailed in this story. All the juicy elements that we know of Holmes, smoking the pipe, the violin, and even the infamous use of the magnifying lens when investigating a scene are on full display. This narration is the first and excellent image of Sherlock Holmes.

Even the format of the story is exciting. We are first introduced to Dr. Watson, who is looking for a place to live after returning from the War. He is presented to Holmes, who requires a roommate to share the rent at 221B Baker Street. After introductions and moving in, Dr. Watson discovers Holmes is a consulting detective. His study of past murders, his infamous observations, attention to minute details, master of forensics, and even knowledge of past murders shows up in his logical reasoning for the who done it. A case came to Holmes that he initially didn’t want because detectives Gregson and Lestrade always receive the credit for Holme’s work is what this story leads into. After probing from Dr. Watson, Holmes picks up the case and correctly arrests the killer in the first seven chapters.

Section two is where the story takes a twist because for the following six chapters; it’s the background of the murderer, the why. Instead of a cold-blooded killer, this is a revenge story for lost love. After the murderer finishes his story, in the last chapter, Holmes explains to Watson how he discovered the murderer with all the clues that he deducted from the crime scenes. Dr. Watson naturally chronicles every detail in his journal as he finishes the narration of the story,

A Study in Scarlet is a short and fast read—exciting and simple fun. Never did I feel that the story drone on. When section 2 started, I thought it was another story. I wondered if it was a Holmes story, only to see the bigger picture once the key characters were introduced. Overall, it’s a delicious tale that I would recommend. It isn’t the most famous Sherlock Holmes book, The Hound of the Baskervilles, but it is a great introduction.
Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

Cujo

13 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by Lopaka in Horror, Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Cujo by Stephen King
1983 / 309 pgs. Horror

Another Mr. King classic. Many know the story. A lady and her son get stuck inside a broken-down Ford Pinto. Outside watching them, a rabid Saint Bernard named Cujo is ready to attack. A famous scene from the movie of the mother and son inside the car with a large dog slamming the door, trying to get inside the car and kill them.

Like all Stephen King stories, this will not end the way you hope. That, for me, is what makes reading Mr. King so interesting. You honestly don’t know how the book will end as they don’t end on a bright spot many times. This story is no different. What is fascinating is the narration from inside the dog’s thoughts. Mr. King takes us inside Cujo and tries to understand why the dog is attacking and killing the people he once loved.

At times, the story does drag on, although I did love the ending and not because I reached the novel’s end. Many times in the book, I kept looking at my time, wondering how much longer I had to read. The different plots were necessary for the overall story; sadly, the book drone on for many passages. The best subplot central to the book is with Donna, her husband, Vic, and their son Tad. Donna and Tad are stuck with a large dog waiting outside in the car. Also, Vic and his work partner Roger are also pivical to the story as it builds the human element. It changes the perspective of what is essential and not. The other subplot brings no meaning to the story; this is of Charity and Brett, who owns Cujo. Although much of the book is about them, there is no importance to the main plot; this is the drag on the whole book, the parts that made me look at the clock. The rest of the book is incredible. The entire segment of Donna, Tad, and Cujo is outstanding. It hits hard if you have kids of your own. It makes reading the narrative worth it.

Overall the story is good when you can bear through the rough sections. It’s not on my top 5 King books; however, it’s still a good read. I wouldn’t say avoid it. Understand, there is a lot of fluff in the book. If one can survive reading Moby Dick, one can enjoy Cujo!

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

Moby Dick

02 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by Lopaka in Classic, Fiction, Reading

≈ 2 Comments

Moby Dick by Herman Melville
1851 / 378 pgs. Classic Fiction

“Call me Ishmael,” the infamous beginning of Moby Dick. The great American classic in literature. Countless great quotes come from this single book. Iconic characters that today play tropes in today’s entertainment. Specifically, Ahab, the monomaniacal Captain of the whaling ship Pequod. An individual is so focused on finding and killing the whale that he is willing to sacrifice everything, the ship, crew, and even his own life. Today, many people who have an obsession for anything at the cost of all are Ahab’s trope.

Many famous lines come from this classic novel, “Aye, aye! and I’ll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition’s flames before I give him up.”. While reading this line, my inner geek remembered Khan and his variance of the quote “He tasks me! He tasks me and I shall have him! I’ll chase him ’round the moons of Nibia and ’round the Antares Maelstrom and ’round Perdition’s flames before I give him up.”. However, the keen eye knows he read this book because it can be seen on the Botany Bay book shelf. Yes, Star Trek II, is a modern telling of Moby Dick.

To write all the quotes would be my entire review. However, that is not why you are here, dear readers. Moby Dick is a narration by Ishmael, a sailor that desires to experience the Whalers’ life. In the beginning, Ishmael tells his story as a sailor and how the sea is always calling to him. Throughout his narration, he gives the story of many of the characters on the ship. The most infamous is Ahab, and how Moby Dick took his leg, and this is the seed for the fire that burns inside the Captain to hunt down the white whale obsessively.

Like many classics of the time, Melville describes and brings the reader into the world of whaleship warts and all in long narration. He describes in nauseating detail how a whale is dismembered, what parts are the most important, and those discarded after the grisly task is complete. It even goes into minute details about how a whaleship is run and the crew’s make-up.
Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

NOTE: A little-known fact, Melville built the foundation for this book from the true story of Essex. That story is even more dark and gruesome than Moby Dick.

Frankenstein

06 Saturday Nov 2021

Posted by Lopaka in Classic, Reading, Sci Fi, Thriller

≈ 1 Comment

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
1818 /240 pgs. Classic/Thriller/Sci-Fi

No castle, no digging up bodies and putting them together, and no lightning! Igor is not even a character in the story. Don’t allow all this to fool you; this is a thriller, and when it was written, it could also be a horror story or even a gothic novel.

Victor Frankenstein had visions of a possible future as he was creating the experiment. He wanted to cure all diseases and even cheat death. Studying pseudoscience and current scientific theories of the time, he discovered how to reanimate flesh. He worked long and created his man, and when he brought it to life, he realized the horror of his creation.

The entire story is told as a dictation. First, a ship’s captain letters to his sister in the U.K. and his current status of ship and crew stuck in the ice for the winter. Then, after witnessing a very large man on a dog sled going past his boat and following was a very frail man. After sickly Victor boards the boat, the captain proceeds to listen to his tale. In the middle of Victor’s story, the creation of the monster and the death of Victor’s young brother, William, Victor then reviews the tale that the demon tells Victor, a narration of a narration.

The tale continues, and Victor at first complies with the request of the monster to create a mate. Victor continues with philosophical thinking and internal debates that cause him to destroy the monster’s mate before she is complete, which, naturally, causes the monster to go in a rage. Then he exacts his revenge against his creator. Victor finishes his narration of the nightmare that the monster causes, and then the final words are from the captain to his sister.

Not what I was expecting. Although, it was a very delicious read. It doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat and is a little predictable in places, and I was still curious about how it would end. I would definitely recommend this for a good read. A final note: Frankenstein is the name of the creator, the thing that we know as Frankenstein is called the demon or monster in the book.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book

Lopaka

War of the Worlds

29 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by Lopaka in Classic, Reading, Sci Fi

≈ 1 Comment

War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
1897 /287 pgs. Classic Sci-Fi

The Martians have arrived, departing Mars for a planet to colonize because the resources of their home are diminishing. They attack the U.K., taking out a small village and working towards London for occupation.

War of the Worlds is a good read, it’s very descriptive, and H. G. Wells builds a great plot with foreshadowing the instant conclusion of the war. Even the description of the Martians and why they evolved into their current form is a form of foreshadowing if you catch it. Wells Martians are not tall skinny, oval heads with big eyes like we envision Aliens today. They are more like large oval heads with a large orifice for an ear, big eyes, and tentacles that they use to move around and eat.

The Martians destroy mankind’s defenses and take over London and many parts of the world in the book. Civilization fights back; however, our weapons compared to the heat ray are minimal. The invasion was going bad for the human race when word arrived that the Martians were building a flying device. Once that was complete, the destruction of the human race would only be a matter of time.

The sudden ending, the disease that infects and kills the Martians, something that we have built an immune over time for some people in our current time, would seem a quick way out. However, in our history, disease from Europe almost wiped out many native tribes in the Americas. His use of the Red Weeds’ eventual demise builds for the conclusion that doesn’t killjoy the ending.

It’s a fun read; however, not a grip-you-by-the-throat-page turner. I would absolutely recommend it.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

Lies My Teacher Told Me

22 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by Lopaka in History, Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen
2007 /464 pgs. History

What a fantastic read. Dr. Lorwen shows what has been missing in high school history classes for many years. How textbooks are just a memorization of facts, or lies as the title says, and doesn’t show the ugly side of American History.

When I was in school, I wondered why sections about Slavery, Reconstruction, even World War 1 and others are glanced over. We didn’t even reach Vietnam in my history class, and I’m sure that would have been a lesson that it was a bad war. Heck, even the US Constitution isn’t required reading anymore. I started learning how America truly was when I was in graduate school. It was eye opening!

It reads like American is the greatest nation and has no warts at all. We don’t really want to dwell on anything bad in our History, just the good. Even our heroes are without faults. We’ve all read the lie about Washington and the Cherry tree. Our great leaders never did have any bad thoughts or committed any bad actions.

Thomas Jefferson, who authored “all men are created equal,” owned over 300 slaves. However, is it taught in our history classes? Or do we still revere Jefferson as the 3^rd president and important founding father that didn’t own any slaves?

This book is not an all-encompassing Lies book, there are many more that he doesn’t mention, and he even admits it in his second edition. The book’s point is we genuinely are not educated our youth, who will leave school and make decisions about the future of this nation based on false information.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in an eye-opening view of a few of the challenging issues that we face in today’s society. However, be forwarded, you might get a little squeamish if you think America’s perfect.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and an excellent book!

Lopaka

Roadwork

08 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by Lopaka 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 Lopaka 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 Lopaka 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 Lopaka 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