Traveling Music

I traveled from California to Virginia with Eric. Then we drove to Cass in West Virginia to ride a train. Then we took our trip to Maine. We listened to books for much of that time. I did learn something very interesting about Eric while doing that. Yes, he loves his mysteries, but he really likes non-fiction, too. I learned that when we had finished 61 Hours by Lee Child. That was a pretty discouraging book. Not just because it was a bad book, but Lee decided to split his book into two parts. It ended very abruptly in the audible book version. They failed to mention that there would be a second part printed some time in September. Naughty. You should really read the one star reviews on Amazon. HI-larious. And all so true. Funny thing is, I'll still read the one coming out in September.

After that disappointment, we were left with non-fiction, which I love. It seems that Eric is also fond of it. The Big Short was as depressing as Reacher, but for different reasons. This was very well written and ended when it should - when none of us had any more money. It's about the idiots who helped end a world economy as we knew it. It wasn't malicious, honest. Just making a bit of money here folks, nobody was meant to be hurt. Michael Smith does a very good reporting job. I may be tempted to read Liar's poker by him, but, well, depressing.

We also started to listen to Write it When I'm Gone. The full title include "Remarkable off-the-Record conversation with Gerald R. Ford." Remarkable. Really? Remarkable? I didn't make Eric listen to the end. Yikes. Trivial. Really boring. "I had this great access, and I promised him I wouldn't print this detritus until he was dead, and now he's dead, so, I guess, well, I said I'd print it, right?" Think about that time. Nixon resigned, Ford who had been named VP was now named President and surely other stuff was happening in the world. Surely. It would have been wonderful to read all about it. All the secret bits that we never knew as well as the out there bits that we have forgotten. I'd say a remarkable waste of his access and my time.

Better for the sheer joy of listening was The Truth (with Jokes) by Al Franken. This is the third of his books I've read. AND it was read by him. Nothing better than hearing his irony-dripping voice reading his own work. It was written before he actually ran for and won the senate seat from Minnesota. But you can hear him edging to that decision. This is his take on the 2004 election. Man, I loved this book. But I am part of his constituency. Wouldn't like him as President, but I sure like a skeptical person sitting in the Senate. Are my glasses too rosy? Would I see him pandering to special interests like most of Congress if I was in the same room? Would I miss seeing him ... fill in the blank; my mind is too full of the stupid things our politicians do. Golly gee, I think I'm going to take back America, when our politicians were honest. When was that again?

Anyway, I liked that book.

Then there is Nothing to Envy by Los Angeles Times reporter, Barbara Demick. Wowser, this is a mighty fine book. I've linked all these books to their Amazon pages. Almost nobody didn't love this book (although you should read the only one star review.) Hum, speaking of writing - almost nobody didn't? Nearly everybody loved this book. That includes Eric and me. Demick lives in South Korea, but met with many people who have migrated to there from North Korea. This is their story. And what a story to tell because it includes the deterioration of the poor, misguided country. That little troll keeps stirring the pot, we should all know what's going on there. Bravo. Read this book. Please.