Serial Killings, etc.

I'm afraid my reading had a theme lately. My lunch time friends had been discussing the Showtime series, Dexter. I had liked the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter, so I knew this "loveable" serial killer. Last week I got the DVD and watched the first season all weekend. It's well done. You never see all of what he is doing. What you do see is creepy enough. Adrian is enjoying it as well. We both agree that we like the supporting characters as much as Dexter himself.

I got the next book in the series at the same time from Amazon. Yes, I still know how to read books. I don't have to have all my books read to me. There are differences. Some of the characters on the TV show were killed off in the first book. Horrible things happen to others in this book. I understand from those friends who have Showtime that the new season of Dexter isn't at all like the book. I can understand why. This might be named Terribly Troubling Dexter. The sociopathic nature of these killers is, of course, sub-human and troubling. I'm not sure that I will pursue this series. The good thing about it is the perspective of the narrator. How the story is told is very interesting.

So is the story in Hit Man. I got this because Audible had a book sale and this was one of the sale items. I didn't really think about it being about a hitman. Duh. This guy is as bad as Dexter. But he seems more human. I don't know which is more troubling. He gets paid by this nice lady on Long Island and her boss to kill whomever, where ever. He goes out and does the deed. It's like short stories. He travels to the location, decides what to do and how to do it. That takes most of the short story, lots of local color. Thenhedoesit. All that happens in a sentence. Back to Manhattan to wait for the next assignment. I like the writing, but it kind of bothered me that I was following a trend. I think my next book will have to be non-fiction and not about anatomy classes. I guess it's time to finish This is Your Brain on Music.

My family has been busy. My nephew is a firefighter in San Diego. I saw this picture on The Times website of firefighters in that area who were caught in a firestorm. They have some protective cover they wrap up in during those circumstances. All the guys in this picture were okay when the fire moved on. The pictures on the website are amazing. The faces of these men and the action shots are more moving than video. I just don't know how they do what they do.
My sister wrote that Natalie and Maggie were on the front page of their local paper a couple of weeks ago. I was able to find the photo through some fancy Googling. These Campbells are very active politically. I admire their energy. I'm not sure what Natalie was thinking when this picture was taken. I'm glad the precious Maggie has good health care and doesn't need it. Maybe that was what Natalie was thinking.