Between Flops: A Biography of Preston Sturges by James Curtis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well written book of Preston Sturges and his life and films. The balance is not only good, but excellent in view of recent efforts that I try to dip into and find politics and a sick spotlight on sexual whatever. This is realistic and keeps the home life mostly home and unravels the mess Sturges stirred while stumbling into the film world.

Truly is remarkable Sturges got anything done known today due to Sturges inability of self control. That is well documented here to the point that, as Sturges comes up with another project, I cringed to learn what was to come next. In a sense, the book is a nail biter.

I really like the layout of the book. Gold stars for noting dates throughout, something 99% of recent books can’t get right.
I would’ve liked to read more of the aftermath of Sturges after his death.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.

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The Writer’s Crusade: Kurt Vonnegut and the Many Lives of Slaughterhouse-Five by Tom Roston
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The entire packaging of this book is misleading and can be very confusing as the deeper in the book one goes, the more finds a journal of post-traumatic stress disorder, aka ‘PTSD’, and a general analysis of the theory. THAT should be a part of the cover, back cover, advertising, etc., etc.

Vonnegut’s life is examined, but nearly in the backseat as the author drones on and on and on about ‘PTSD’. That would be fine, IF that is why I was intrigued to read the book. I am familiar with the psychological theory and, though interesting, not something I wanted to read about.

I have extensively studied Vonnegut. Even had a college course all about Vonnegut. I’m pretty knowledgeable of Vonnegut and wanted to read another view. That is missing as the author desperately tries to tie Vonnegut to ‘PTSD’. Considering all I’ve studied, I disagree that ‘PTSD’ is a worthy set of letters for Vonnegut. I didn’t find the author altering my view.

The author was too hung up with the theory and works through the book to make that plug into Vonnegut and have a light come on. The energy wasn’t there, I found.

There are some worthy pieces in the first half of the book, but the rest is for those interested in the ‘PTSD’ subject.

Bottom line: i don’t recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

Note: i got to read an advanced copy via NetGalley.com.

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Here’s the illustration I drew live Saturday during Ha-ba-Da-Bee off the top of my head of a squirrel family cookin’ some vittles! Hope you all have a family cook out soon! Psst! leave a few bites for the squirrels while yer at it! 🙂

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What a messy story. A slew of mysteries declared, large amount of deaths and significant destruction all while the “hero” Qwill seems lost as he meanders from one oral history interview after another. The diamond key in the story is glossed over, though in the title and pops up and ignored throughout the book until the last couple of pages. Should be obvious for those who know.

Seems Braun bit off more than she could chew and got lost along the way. I can see her base foundation of the story, after reading the book. I believe she started with that and went backward to create the story. While doing that, she dumps characters, new and old, into the plot and destroys structures only to back her base. Then doesn’t back any of that up with realistic reaction as her focus is the base, not a consistent story. Main characters has losses in this book and never seems to care.

Except he is always obsessed with the cats. I believe I’m a bit obsessive about cats, but his losses here are Huge and personal and he just doesn’t care. That’s ridiculous.

I love the intent of her base foundation of the story, but she badly botches the execution.

Bottom line: i don’t recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

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The Cat Who Played Brahms by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another of the clunky Braun tales. Drawn out prose wrapped up too quickly and too neatly and too unbelievable. Odd reading these as I run the ‘Midsomer Murder’ series that has the same formula. The HUGE plus of these books are the cats that Braun knows how to write better than any other I’ve read.

The characters are still a bit much with settings loosely written. A plot that should be tighter. The writing done very well.

Still a good story and fun little asides. Also, I’m now writing for a publication and this motivates me more to get the typing done. Something the main character has trouble doing in this volume.
I’ll continue to the next.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

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