"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are."
---Mason Cooley
I love Cooley's quote! Books have always been my drug of choice...my escape from a momentary reality that disturbs me. I bring my iPad mini, and its collection of hundreds of books , everywhere I go. It has actually helped my claustrophobic tendencies and saved my marriage. Poor Arthur used to dread car trips that provided the slightest chance of a bumper to bumper tie up. I would become very anxious and annoyingly verbal. Now I pull out my Ebook and my uncomfortable surroundings fade away. Even my fear of being stuck in an elevator has eased a bit. I figure I can crawl in a corner and read until all the air is sucked from my tight surroundings. So yes, for me technology is a wonderful tranquilizer that easily beats drugs and alcohol in the race for relaxing my mind.
Of course everything good has the potential for abuse, and I am truly disgusted as I watch people lose all social skills when they have access to their iPhone or iPad. Sitting in a restaurant with a friend who spends most of the meal checking email, messages, weather or random information on his/her phone is not a treat. When every conversation is interrupted with the sound of an incoming message that is immediately tended to, I start to doubt my importance to my meal companion, and just because we have access to every bit of information known to mankind, doesn't mean we need to check it immediately.
I was at a Tom Rush concert last week (for those who don't know...a folk music legend) and was horrified at the disrespect of the man who sat two rows from the stage reading his email while Tom sang. First of all buddy, the light on your phone reaches beyond your eyes. It was like a beacon calling to all of us who paid to see a performer, not a light show. Secondly, it was a small, personal venue, and the performer was aware that you chose angry birds over his guitar. Why did you bother leaving your man cave to venture out with people?
The worst however, are the parents who come to their children's plays, concerts, etc. and unless their own child is performing, spend the time reading the news or playing a game on their electronic devices of choice. I realize that these shows aren't mesmerizing, but do you know the amount of time and heart that went into them? What are we teaching our children about common courtesy when we can't get over ourselves long enough to appreciate their efforts?
Okay, I am going to stop my rant now and tell you that I read/reviewed two great legal thrillers this week. James Grippando, long one of my go to authors, brings lawyer extraordinaire Jack Swyteck back in this Miami based thriller, Gone Again. The writing is consistent, the plot is exciting and Jack is as captivating as always.
Between Black and White by Robert Bailey also kept me reading into the wee hours. His ability to share southern culture while telling a great story made this book stand out from its competition. Law is practiced at a different pace in the south, and there is a bit of history to combat as the defendant in Bailey's novel is a lawyer accused of killing the man who lynched his father years ago.
While different in style, both of these authors know how to weave a story and keep us wanting more. March will be a great reading month for you...enjoy.
As always, complete reviews will follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
---Mason Cooley
I love Cooley's quote! Books have always been my drug of choice...my escape from a momentary reality that disturbs me. I bring my iPad mini, and its collection of hundreds of books , everywhere I go. It has actually helped my claustrophobic tendencies and saved my marriage. Poor Arthur used to dread car trips that provided the slightest chance of a bumper to bumper tie up. I would become very anxious and annoyingly verbal. Now I pull out my Ebook and my uncomfortable surroundings fade away. Even my fear of being stuck in an elevator has eased a bit. I figure I can crawl in a corner and read until all the air is sucked from my tight surroundings. So yes, for me technology is a wonderful tranquilizer that easily beats drugs and alcohol in the race for relaxing my mind.
Of course everything good has the potential for abuse, and I am truly disgusted as I watch people lose all social skills when they have access to their iPhone or iPad. Sitting in a restaurant with a friend who spends most of the meal checking email, messages, weather or random information on his/her phone is not a treat. When every conversation is interrupted with the sound of an incoming message that is immediately tended to, I start to doubt my importance to my meal companion, and just because we have access to every bit of information known to mankind, doesn't mean we need to check it immediately.
I was at a Tom Rush concert last week (for those who don't know...a folk music legend) and was horrified at the disrespect of the man who sat two rows from the stage reading his email while Tom sang. First of all buddy, the light on your phone reaches beyond your eyes. It was like a beacon calling to all of us who paid to see a performer, not a light show. Secondly, it was a small, personal venue, and the performer was aware that you chose angry birds over his guitar. Why did you bother leaving your man cave to venture out with people?
The worst however, are the parents who come to their children's plays, concerts, etc. and unless their own child is performing, spend the time reading the news or playing a game on their electronic devices of choice. I realize that these shows aren't mesmerizing, but do you know the amount of time and heart that went into them? What are we teaching our children about common courtesy when we can't get over ourselves long enough to appreciate their efforts?
Okay, I am going to stop my rant now and tell you that I read/reviewed two great legal thrillers this week. James Grippando, long one of my go to authors, brings lawyer extraordinaire Jack Swyteck back in this Miami based thriller, Gone Again. The writing is consistent, the plot is exciting and Jack is as captivating as always.
Between Black and White by Robert Bailey also kept me reading into the wee hours. His ability to share southern culture while telling a great story made this book stand out from its competition. Law is practiced at a different pace in the south, and there is a bit of history to combat as the defendant in Bailey's novel is a lawyer accused of killing the man who lynched his father years ago.
While different in style, both of these authors know how to weave a story and keep us wanting more. March will be a great reading month for you...enjoy.
As always, complete reviews will follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
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