Part of a political cartoon I’m working on right now!

Inking was mostly a PITT Medium pen. A little Kuretake brush.

An inked choo-choo for a project I’m working on.

Used a bunch of pens. From Prismacolor brush, Kuretake brushes, Pitt Medium pen, Precise 7, etc.

#‎INKtober‬ #24 – Been doing the caricature thing here in Downtown St Cloud for a wedding! Found a fellow who’s also a big old movie buff. Especially the gangster flicks.

This woman is AMAZING! She and her husband raised 10 children – 6 adopted while both having full time jobs AND volunteering for organizations!!! She and her husband moved to our state of Florida and, unfortunately, her husband died. Now in retirement, she finds herself still in the mode of her earlier life filling all of her time volunteering and still raising two of her children. Here’s a mother of the century nominee! — at Downtown St.Cloud.

The Intercept by Dick Wolf
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I hated the writing in this book. The dialogue is written more as some illiterate types a “text”. At one point, as I started reading the book, I was going to mark the horrible bits of dialogue. It took little time for me to realize I would likely spend more time marking the book, than reading it. It’s even more unfortunate when distinct voices are not part of the dialogue. Most all in the book have a similar banter. Trying to follow stunted sentences and unclear descriptions had me often lost in this simplistic novel of espionage.

Why an editor didn’t scrap this is beyond me. The dialogue alone is a reason to do it. Then there is the rest of the book. An over written, over described, under dialogued mess deserves editing. The writer obviously is not skilled in writing an actual novel. A hand full of paragraphs does not a chapter make. Especially it’s all drawing out to the inevitable. This book could have been 200, maybe 300 pages less, stream lined and focused.

There is a mystery embedded in all of this, which should have been the actual book. The biggest success I can tag the author with is that this contemporary novel’s bad guy I didn’t guess. The rest of the novel is so formulaic, the mystery is the only thing I didn’t know would happen at the end. I will add that the medium used and how it is used was a welcome surprise in the book.

Something else I liked was the written reasons why the bad person was after certain people near the very end of the book. Showed an understanding of the field involved that is rarely explored in espionage novels.

Bottom line: I do not recommend this book. 3 of 10 points.

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In northern Georgia and just finished drawing at a wedding reception in a great barn setting. Really feels great up here! Nice and chilly! Her are a few drawings!

 

Here’s the inked art for tomorrow’s Swampy’s Florida cartoon.

The Story Pole by Sherman Yeary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For what is basically a self published book, this is excellent. Yeary writes very well. The focus is steady and the book is broken into chapters to help that.

There are some excellent photos included that really help illustrate much written.

I really liked Yeary’s description of growing up in 1920s-30s in a point by point way that is readable and very educating. Wish Rawlings and most others could so clearly present early life in a rural setting.

For someone just recording his history, Yeary does an outstanding job of starting at a point in life and building to the next turn, which becomes another chapter. Too many best selling author’s books get published without a cogent reason for a chapter break.

Probably the worst part of the book is the cover, as can be seen above. There is also not a map in the book. If the reader does not know Ocala, they will be lost.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of 10 points.

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Citra – Home of the Pineapple Orange by Faye Perry Melton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Considering there is likely never to be a specific book about the history of the little community of Citra, this book is a Godsend. It has a ton of information for a shorter book. Lots of photos and documents copied in it.

Due to the rarity of Citra history, I really can’t complain about the mish mash approach to laying this book out. There are also hard to see reproductions and various typography used.

The history is well written and I like how each chapter-type covers specific points of Citra history.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of 10 points.

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The history of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park, and the surrounding area by Albert Wass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is what a history book should be. Builds the history and reflects and refers back to keep the narrative in context. Through this book the author will break down a new occurance back to it’s origination. The reference is not done endlessly. Just enough to remind the reader where they are and what went on before. Especially helpful as so many generations of names of people are unfolded. How I wish all history books did this.

The writing is very good. I really like how certain folklore of the area has been completely separated from the factual history.

Drawbacks: As usual, maps would be extremely helpful. There are also only a few photographs included. I’m not going to mark against what’s missing considering the size of the book. How good it is trumps the drawbacks.

Bottomline: I recommend this book. 9 of 10 points.

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Today would have been Groucho’s 125th birthday and I am a fan! Have been since I was a wee child. I’ve seen all the films, listened to or watched most all of the radio and television programs. Got most all of the books (including different editions). Even Groucho toys! A photo of a small part of my Groucho collection below.