The Jefferson Key  by Steve Berry

The story centers around a letter of Marque granted by none other than George Washington and the second continental congress.  This letter of Marque allegedly legitimized piracy or at least that’s what it sounds like to me by elevating the lowly pirate to a privateer.  By definition a privateer is a private citizen authorized by a government, in this case the United States government, by letters of marque or a government license to attack foreign shipping during wartime.  It is, according to this book, backed by the constitution.  In the old days it was a way of mobilizing ships and sailors without the government paying for ships and men. A Privateer got to keep the spoils of his efforts but was required to pay the government twenty percent of their profits. Yeah right a pirate, excuse me a privateer who takes great pleasure in capturing ships and pilfering cargo is really going to give twenty percent of their take to anyone. In the early days of the government these letters of Marque protected these privateers from wrong doing.  In other words, free pass to steal.

The Story starts just outside the Capitol Building in January 1835 when a man attempts to assassinate Andrew Jackson.  Luckily for Jackson, it was raining and the two pistols this man had got wet preventing the gun from shooting properly.  Andrew Jackson got lucky.  He also got pretty made  Wouldn’t you if someone tried to shoot you?  He had a pretty good idea of who was behind this attempt on his life.  It was a group made up of four families who had named themselves the commonwealth.  Not to be confused with the Commonwealth of Virginia. So mad was Jackson, he rips the pages that granted this group a letter of Marque out of the record books. This made what they did technically unsanctioned.  He sent them a letter basically telling them to rot in you know where and attaching a page that had a cyphered code made up of nine lines written by none other than Thomas Jefferson and his buddy Patterson telling him where he put those pages.  And much to the chagrin of the commonwealth until present day no one was able to decipher the code.  In steps a modern day code cracker and his fabulous computer and software and you guessed it, the code is cracked.  People want this deciphered code bad.  No one more than the four families of the commonwealth because the government is breathing down their backs saying they owe a bunch of taxes on their stashed booty. All parties invloved will do whatever it takes to get the cracked code. There are a lot of people and govenment agencies involved and it is really hard to tell who is the good guys and who are the bad ones. There are a lot of twists and turns.  There is an attempt of the Presidents life and a trail of bodies.  It is a very interesting thriller. Try it, you'll like it.



 

Calico Joe  by  John Grisham

Growing up in New York, baseball wasn’t a sport it was THE sport.  After all we had two teams the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.  My grandfather was a huge baseball fan and I was a huge fan of my grandfather.  In fact, as far as I was concerned the moon revolved around him.  He use to sit on the couch listening to the game on a small transistor radio and I was right next to him.  As I grew up I got the chance to see the game in person which was so much better because as many of you know the pace of a baseball game can be really slow.  But in person it really was an experience.

In those days my best friend lived right next door and it felt like I was in her house more than mine.  Therefore, I adopted her two older brothers and they would occasionally take us to Shea Stadium to watch the Mets.  I love you guys for that.  I actually got to meet Number 7 Ed Kranepool granted it was after he had left the Mets but who cares.  Even though the Mets lost more than they won it was still neat to be there.

The Yankees were a different story.  Everyone loved the Yankees in New York, even when they were not having the best season.  I remember going to a twilight double header with my youth group and when I walked into the stadium it felt so incredibly alive.  And it was not the fans that had shown up that evening. When you were in Yankee Stadium you could feel the presence of those who were there before you.  The Old Yankee Stadium was a living breathing history museum.  Baseball back then was all about the fans, the players and the game. I mourn the loss of the old stadium.

Recently I went to see the Yankees play the Orioles at Camden Yard.  Camden Yard is a beautiful venue but it just didn’t feel the same.  The spirits of the men who played and made the game great are just not there and I miss them.

Anyway John Grisham has written a book called Calico Joe that I feel captures the essence of baseball the way it was.  It is a departure from his usual legal thrillers like The Firm and the King of Torts.  The book centers on this young boy Paul, his father a pitcher for the New York Mets and a young ball player who the Cubs bring up from the minors. Joe Castle or Calico Joe as he was affectionately named became the boy wonder of baseball setting all kinds of records.   When Paul’s Dad pitches a game Calico Joe plays, things get cracking and I really can’t tell you more or I will give away the entire story.  All I can say is that I read the book in a couple of hours and liked the story. If you grew up loving baseball I think you will enjoy this book.

The Lace Reader   by Brunonia Barry

This is an intricate story that is set in the town of Salem, Mass.  Giving the setting, one immediately thinks about witches and yes this novel does delve into that subject.

Towner Whitney receives a package from her Aunt Eva with a note asking her to come home to Salem along with her lace making pillow.  Aunt Eva was very adept at making and reading lace and would not normally part with her pillow.  But she wanted Towner to come home.  Towner had not been back to Salem since the untimely death of her twin sister.  In fact, when her sister died she had suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized.  When she was released she went to California where she hoped to put the past behind her and for that matter Salem as well.

The day after receiving this package she gets a call from her brother informing her that Eva was missing and presumed dead.  She is then forced to go to Salem where once again she must face painful memories and past demons.  She must find out what happened to her Aunt Eva and her sister’s death.

Luncheon of the Boating Party  by Susan Vreeland

Recently I blogged about an article published in the Washington post regarding paintings and artifacts that can be found in various museums all over the District of Columbia. One item I did not discuss that was mentioned in this article was the painting by Renoir’s entitled “Luncheon of the Boating Party”.  This is part of the Phillips Collection and is one of the paintings that are always on display.

The painting is a collection of people. Several of the subjects in the picture where friends of the artist.  One of the women in the picture was eventually to become his wife.  Seeing a picture like this makes you think who are these people? what are they like?  Apparently Susan Vreeland felt the same way because she wrote an entire book and created stories and dialogue around each of them.  So she took interpretation of the painting a couple of steps further than usual. The characters came alive under her narrative.

 

How Curators Decide What’s not on Display by John Pancake

The Washington Post dedicated an entire section to museums this past weekend as it should.  The D.C. area is home to a plethora of museums dedicated to many different interests.  And here is the best part about these museums, many have no admission fees.  I will say that again many have no admission fees.  So if you are planning to come to D.C., plan on spending a whole day museum hopping.  You will not be disappointed.

My favorite museums of all times are The National Museum of American History and the National Gallery of Art.  The National Museum of American History has 3 million artifacts in its collection. It is interesting to note that the Ruby Red slippers worn by Dorothy or Judy Garland to be more accurate in the Wizard of Oz  will be departing from the Museum to be displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London starting October 9, 2012.  But do not despair, they will return on November 21, 2012 in time for holiday visitors.  I have seen these slippers up close and personal and can’t help but remember the scene when the wicked witch makes her entrance trying to get those precious slippers off of Dorothy’s feet.  Fat chance lady!

According to the article the city’s curators have roughly 140 million things to choose from.  What is more interesting is not what they display but what they choose not to display or what to remove from display. So only about 1% of all items are displayed. The rest are packed away to preserve them for future viewings.  At the Corcoran the rule of thumb is a photograph on display for six months must go back in storage for six years.  That is a long time not to display something.

If you would like to check out the article for yourself, here is the link.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/at-washingtons-museums-theres-plenty-thats-not-on-display/2012/10/04/5527d934-09ab-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_story.html

 

 

Benjamin Franklin’s waist coat use to be a deep plum but is now a brown.  It is 230 years old and is being rotated off of display.

 

 

 

 

The Next Chapter  By Patricia Sullivan Washington Post

 

TGFL.  Thank God for the Library.  I am a very heavy user of the library system.  As you know I love to read and when I am in super reading mode I read 2 – 3 books a week.  Some are worth mentioning, some are not.  I give a book around 50 pages if I can’t get past that I don’t bother to finish and I don't bother talking about them. 

As many of you know, I have an e-reader, it’s a kindle and between amazon.com and the library I am constantly downloading books.  As good as the library is with their e books I often find that I am one of many waiting for a book to download.  So I find myself turning back to the printed version of the books.  Oh how I missed the feel of books in my hands so it is nice to mix it up between digital media and an actual book.  I find between digital downloads, actual books and of course purchases made at Amazon.com and other retail establishments my book needs are very well satisfied.

Today, Thursday I read the article in the Post entitled The Next Chapter  which was all about the library and everything it has to offer.  It was a really interesting article.  As everyone well knows the library has evolved from a place that you can check out a book to one that is a source of various forms of electronic media.  The article points out that 4.4 million people used the internet and other resources at the library to help them with their job search.

The Library is the perfect partner for our public schools.  Actually in many cases it is an extension providing resources for research.  Working in the computer field and teaching end users, I have to say kudos to the librarians who are making the effort to learn the skills needed to use and show patrons how to use the various electronic media.   Marian the librarian from the Music Man days is long gone. Many librarians today train extensively in elctronic media.

For some the library is a weekly ritual.  I know it has always been that way for my parents.  Often after dinner our family room became a reading room.  My parents are so pro library that they did a public service announcement for their library.  It made it onto you tube.  It’s goofy but it is from the heart. Check it out. Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGcP4i1quoI

Many kudos to the library for keeping up with the times and providing materials in some of the “newer” formats.  I know that many patrons of our library system find it difficult to physically go to a library. Downloading books or audio books is a great way for them to still enjoy reading.  I love the fact that many senior citizens I have spoken with said that their kids gave it to them during the holiday season and they like them.  It’s funny they always seem surprised. 

  New Kindle fire HD

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