OK, I completely missed a blog post last
week and today it’s getting pretty late and I haven’t come up with an
intriguing topic yet. A few weeks ago I finished ‘Roughing It’ by Mark Twain
and thoroughly enjoyed the read. I love the way he thinks and writes. If there
is a chance to digress into another topic than the one at hand, Twain will go
for it with gusto. I suppose I love that style so much, because it fits exactly
the way my brain works. Having a twenty minute conversation with me can leave
you confused and wondering just exactly what we began talking about. I would
have loved the chance to sit down with ole Mark and have a visit, but then it
could have taken us months to completely converse on one small topic.
Anyway…’Roughing It’ is his memoir of
sorts about his big excursion to the West. Nevada in particular during the boom
days of silver mining in the Carson City area. I love that part of the country,
especially Lake Tahoe and have visited there more than once, therefore, many of
the things he discourses on are familiar. His dry wit evokes downright hilarity
in extreme situations.
The final chapters of ‘Roughing It’ are
dedicated to his travels to the pacific islands that now make up the state of
Hawaii. The descriptions of various attributes of the tropics, particularly the
insects are exact and fantastically funny, at least to someone like me who
currently resides in the tropics and has no choice but to laugh at the
predicaments you can get into involving bugs.
Most of you are probably familiar with
Mr. Twain’s characterizations of Tom and Huck and their antics, but if you
haven’t read ‘Roughing It’ and been a little more ‘up close and personal with
ole Mark Twain himself, I highly recommend it.
Next up with a little book that was far
more frivolous and profane but another up close and personal look at a man,
including his relationship with his
father, ‘S#*! My Dad Says’ by Justin Halpern. This was some light reading that
only took me a few hours to finish. There are some awkward moments for Justin
with a father who is blunt and profane about everything, but by the end I definitely
had the feeling that he wouldn’t have missed a minute of it. Although, Dad is a
tough old bird who tell it like it is, there is no doubt that he loves and is
proud o his family, Justin in particular. This is a light read that you might
enjoy while waiting in the dentist office to have a root canal, but be careful
least others worry about you because at times it is just plain laugh out loud
funny.
So, when I opened this blank page I hadn’t
intended to write a review of anything let alone two, but it’s just how my
brain works. Blank pages – start typing – see what is hidden in the recesses of
my mind. Give ‘em a try. Start with ‘Roughing It by Mark Twain and finish out
the day with “S#*! My Dad Says’ by Justin Halpern. I think you’ll might like
them both.
