Jim Plumb

Assembling My Father by Anna Cypra Oliver was an interesting read. Anna’s father committed suicide when she was young. Later, as an adult in her 20s, she decided to find out who he was and in the process gained an understanding of not only her father but of herself as well. Generally, well-written and interesting.

This is an amazing story about the people in the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. It’s based on survivors tales, transcripts from rescue personnel and some careful surmisings about what happened. There were truly some heroic as well as, unfortunately, stupid decisions and actions made that morning. Heroic being some of the Port Authority workers who made selfless rescues to the stunned and injured on the upper floors. Stupid in the decision to have people RETURN to their offices. All in all, the rescue effort went as well as it could under the circumstances. The biggest problem of course was the communications system. FDNY could not communicate with NYPD vice versa. This was critical when an NYPD chopper, investigating the burning sections of one of the towers could see that it would fail. They were able to get this information to the police but not the firemen. This book is highly recommended. I believe there is a movie in progress or in the planning stages.

I needed something to read and a relative had just given us a bag of books, so I spotted Good Faith by Jane Smiley. This novel takes place during the 80s in what appears to be a fictional town on Long Island somewhere, inhabited by some very interesting and likeable characters. The main character is Joe Stratford, a realtor and popular guy about town. In one of his real estate deals Joe gets mixed up with an ex-IRS agent, who you know is just going to screw him over. Joe, divorced, also gets involved with Felicity, married woman in a dead-end marriage, truly a desperate housewife if there ever was one. In any case, the story rolled right along and I enjoyed the read.

Just started reading a book I originally heard about while listening to NPR a few months ago. The book is Downtown: My Manhattan by Peter Hamill. Pete’s a lifelong New Yorker, having been raised in Brooklyn and has a long career in the NY newspaper bidness. So far it’s a blend of his history in NYC as well as NYC’s history, especially “downtown” NY, which for Pete, runs from the Battery up to an area between Times Square and Central Park. Interesting so far. Will report when done.

I’m still reading this River Horse book. It’s gotten a lot more interesting since he and his fellow companions are now traveling up the Missouri River during the spring. The lower Missouri is at flood stage and they go through several tight situations. As they go further upstream, the water is more controlled now because of a series of dams. Not the same as Lewis & Clark found it, to whom the author frequently compares his trip. Speaking of Lewis & Clark, a great book to read is Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. Ambrose is a terrific history writer.

I just finished reading the latest Spenser novel, Cold Service by Robert B. Parker. I’ve read all the Spenser books, many more than once or twice. I’m a fan of the earlier ones. The later books have just become a little too “preachy” and full of psychoanalysis. I’d rather Spenser work out his “issues” on his own time. The witty banter though, keeps me coming back. Well, Cold Service gave me hope that the old Spenser is back. Hawk has been shot in the back by some Ukrainian thugs while trying to protect some bookie (who was killed) and any issues that have to get worked out are Hawk’s as he has lost some serious face. Only Hawk’s way to work them out are simple, revenge, and a find a way to insure support for the son of the murdered bookie. That’s Hawk, a murderer with the heart of gold. In any case, the book is worth reading. I don’t buy all the posturing tough guy stuff but it’s good to see Hawk is once again at peace with the world as he sees it :).

A quick note to get going. I’m currently reading River Horse by William Least Heat-Moon. However, it’s been so busy lately that I haven’t been reading much. Mr. Heat-Moon wrote previously about a trip he made around the country: “Blue Highways”. River Horse is a journey across America as well, only this time it’s by boat, more specifically, a 22′ C-Dory. His intention is to sail (or motor) from the Hudson River in NY Harbor, across the country, through rivers and lakes, and end up at the Pacific. This is definitely a worthwhile book to read if you’re the least bit interested in American history It’s also quite an adventure. At times the book drags a bit, just as his journey did I’m sure, but I love his commentary as he progresses first, up the Hudson and then through the Erie Canal, etc. He brings out many nuggets of local lore and goes over the history of the areas he travels. I can picture the times before roads when the rivers were the superhighways, the freeways, the commercial arteries of the country.