The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

                                                                     

The Daughter of Time is armchair history at it's best. Tey's series detective, Alan Grant, is laid up with a broken leg. Having plenty of downtime, he investigates the allegations of murder laid by history against Richard III.

Grant proceeds logically through the evidence, aided by an able-bodied researcher. This is a great novel that draws you into the mystery. This is the best kind of mystery because you can do further research and make up your own mind. Historians are still arguing about the guilt of Richard III.

If you like historical mysteries then you should check this book out. When you've finished it and want to know more, and you will, check out the Richard III Society, both the UK and American branches. They both have huge amounts of information available.

As always, you can contact me at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com or on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

Books I Read as a Kid - The Great Brain Series

                                                                    


I loved these books as a kid. They told the stories of J.D. Fitzgerald, generally involving his precocious brother, Tom, the "Great Brain" of the title, his other brother Sweyn and their friends. The were set in the fictional town of Adenville around the turn of the century. It was a time when the West was still somewhat wild and the boys have many adventures, including rafting down a river and bringing the sport of basketball to their town.

Tom was generally scheming to make money and it generally got him into trouble. My favorite of the series is The Great Brain at the Academy in which Tom is sent away to boarding school. He gets into quite a bit of trouble there and runs a brisk trade in bootleg candy.

I would recommend these to anyone with young readers. They are great fun to read tell stories that will keep kids interested. For those looking to learn more there is a wonderful website called Finding Fitzgerald as well as a blog of the same name.

Feel free to drop me a line at jeffsemonis@yahoo.com or on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

Hotel Babylon by Anonymous & Imogen Edwards-Jones

                                                                     

Hotel Babylon is another of the sub-culture books that I love so much. It's a behind the scenes look at the luxury hotel industry, with the best stories of an industry veteran condensed into one 24-hour nightmare shift. I did learn a great deal about the hotel industry although I've never stayed in a hotel of that caliber.

The book is packed full of anecdotes about the outlandish things that people do when they stay in hotels. There are stories about many celebrities and the author isn't afraid to name names. It's set in London but I imagine that the mindset is the same  in hotels all over the world.

The author has several other "confidential" books; I haven't read any of the others but I am intrigued by Air Confidential.  There is also a Hotel Babylon series on the BBC network. Fans of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential will enjoy this one as will anyone who is curious about the high end hotel industry.

As always, feel free to drop me a line at jeffsemonis@yahoo.com or find me on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

Interview with Robert Sullivan

Robert Sullivan graciously agreed to answer a few questions and you can find the interview below. If you've not had a chance to read his book, Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants, I strongly urge you to pick up a copy. It's fascinating, both for the facts and stories about rats but also for the history that you pick up along the way.

1. What was the most interesting thing that you learned while researching Rats?

Probably that Jesse Grey, a community organizer that I profile in the book, helped organize the largest rent strike in the history of the United States in the late sixties. It's not something that history books spent a lot of time on, renters right.

2. Have you been back to the alley in recent years?

I was there last week, during the day, and I saw that the Irish bar/ restaurant had closed. Also there is a new building there. It looks cleaner, though I sometimes hear from people that there are still rats.

3. Are there any topics from the book that you would like to update people on?
I can't think of any.

4. What are you working on right now?
 
A book about the American Revolution that has to do with landscape and history, especially in New York, which, I argue, was the first Middle American. I started thinking about New York during the Revolution when I wrote Rats, since rats came to American —the gray rat, anyway--at the same time that the Revolution began. It is called My American Revolution. http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780374217457-0


5. Have the film rights to Rats been optioned?
I think someone is making a documentary of sorts.
 
 
That's all for this update. I hope the documentary comes to fruition as it would be a great film.  You can also listen to the author discussing the book in an NPR interview here.  As always, feel free to email me at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com, or find me on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

On Writing by Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is half-memoir and half-writing manual from the legendary author. He begins by telling about his childhood and the experiences that later informed and influenced his writing career. The latter portion focuses on writing, both the nuts and bolts as well as more inspirational stuff.

I've read many books on writing and this is by far the best. For one thing, it's written by someone that you've heard of and who has demonstrated success in the field. He worked hard and became one of the best selling authors ever. His telling of the events surrounding the sale of his first novel, Carrie, is particularly interesting.

If you're a fan of Stephen King's works then you should read this book. I learned many things about his life that I didn't previously know. He writes openly about his problems with drugs and alcohol as well as his near fatal encounter with a van while walking along the road.

If you want to write professionally then you should also read this book, regardless of whether you like Mr. King's work.  He writes with a great deal of skill and humor about the craft of writing.

I'm a big fan of Carrie as well as The Stand but he has many wonderful books. I can also personally recommend Heart-Shaped Box by his son, Joe, writing as Joe Hill. It is one of the scariest books that I've ever read.

As always, you can reach me at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com or on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

Interview with Jason Kersten

Jason Kersten was kind enough to answer a few questions about his book The Art of Making Money. There are very minor SPOILERS to be aware of but nothing that would affect your enjoyment of the book.



What was the most astonishing thing you learned while researching the book?

When I interviewed Art Williams for the Rolling Stone article, he held back a great deal, partly because he knew there wouldn’t be space, but mostly because telling his whole story involved passing through an emotional minefield. The most dramatic revelations that came with the book concerned his family. I had no idea that his mom was schizophrenic, that his sister had tried to kill herself twice in one day, or that his father had abused his sister. Art had never told anyone these things, and he had very specific, traumatic memories that are in the book. On one level, the most astonishing thing is that Art turned out relatively functional. I emphasize relative, because many of the people surrounding him are far more damaged.

As far as counterfeiting goes, one the most extraordinary discoveries I learned had to do with the color-shifting ink used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on our bills. To replicate it, Art used an automotive spray paint. When I researched the paint more, I discovered that it utilized the same patented technology that the BEP did. In other words, the company that invented the security ink for our currency went ahead and sold a watered-down version the same technology to the mass market. So he accessed through a back door that was left wide open. I don’t know why that should surprise me so much, given that a lot of technology used by our government has a civilian correlative sold by the same contractor, but it did.

Are there any updates on the story since the book came out that you would like to share?

I could have added at least another chapter with what has happened since the book was published. Art’s son got arrested and convicted for counterfeiting himself and is now also in prison. In an incredible twist that no one would believe if I had made it up, they are actually now cell mates. (It’s really tragic the way criminality perpetuates itself within families. Our prisons are filled with people who come from multiple generations of convicts). They’re trying to look at it positively—a chance to improve their relationship. It’s horrible to say it, but they now have plenty of time for each other.

How do things stand with the film adaptation right now?

There was a lot of hype when Paramount first bought the project. It made the cover of Variety and there was talk about fast-tracking it. Chris Pine was signed to play Art, which I think was a good casting move. Of course, that’s Hollywood. They talk a lot, then they get caught up making Transformers 22 and you’re lucky if you’re a grandfather by the time anyone remembers that you have an original story worth making. My book got fantastic reviews, but it was never a national best seller. If it had been, it would have been made already.

More important to me than when it’s made is how well they make it, how true to the story they remain. With any story, especially a crime story, there’s always the risk that Hollywood will turn it into a C or D crime movie where people are whipping out guns and chasing each other in cars in other every other scene. Hollywood dreads originality and a lot of career screenwriters are encouraged to pump up the clichés and violence. Art came from a violent past, but he wasn’t a gunslinger. He hated guns. The world he came from, which I tried my best to capture in the book, was filled with inimitable events and characters better than anything Hollywood could ever make up. And they don’t have to, it’s all right there in the book. They just have to commit to a nuanced portrayal. If they do, I will be pleasantly surprised.

What are you currently working on?

Looking for my next book and writing magazine articles, my usual hustle. I wish I was more prolific when it came to books, and that stories as good as Art’s fell into my lap all the time. I’m very picky when it comes to writing books. With true crime, it’s tricky because so many stories get overexposed by the Internet. And of course the crimes I like to write about are a bit boutique—they’re not about serial killers or rich people murdering each other or dead or missing white women. (Not that I wouldn’t write a book about one of those things if somebody offered me a pile of money). But I like crime stories that, for lack of a better term, aren’t just about the sensationalism of the crime. I like stories that offer an entry point into ourselves or an aspect of society, into fascinating worlds. My first book was about a murder, but it was really an exploration of moral ambiguity and friendship. The Art of Making Money is about a gifted counterfeiter, but it’s also about how he and the people around him change when they realize he’s basically this walking mint. When I encounter a rich, untold story that works on multiple levels like that, I know I have a book.


Thats all for this update. You can read the original Rolling Stone article on the author's website here.
Please feel free to comemnt below, email me at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com or reach me on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis

Word Freak is the story of Stefan Fatsis' ascent into the world of competitive Scrabble. I love subculture books and this is a great one. Fatsis ends up reporting on the subject from the inside out as he becomes a tournament player and fights to increase his ranking.

The subject offers a myriad of eccentric characters competing at the highest level. Everyone has played Scrabble but few have played it like this, with seven letter bingos flying onto the board. It isn't an instructional book per se but if you want to compete at Scrabble you would be advised to read this book.

Whether you're a living room player or a tournament competitor you should read this book. If you could care less about Scrabble but like psychology or memoirs then you should read this book. It's a subculture book of the highest order and I can't recommend it more highly.

There are many instructional books on Scrabble. I personally like Everything Scrabble by Joe Edley but that is only my opinion and there are many others out there.

As always, fell free to comment, drop me a line at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com or on twitter @jeffsbookcase.

Interview with Steve Hamilton

I'd like to thank Steve Hamilton for agreeing to answer a few questions about The Lock Artist:

1. What kind of research did you do for The Lock Artist and what was the most interesting thing that you learned?


I worked with a really good expert for the lockpicking and combination lock stuff – he’s somebody I had known from corresponding over earlier books. For the safecracking, though, that’s a whole world of its own and I tried to seek out a real safecracker. I ended up finding Dave McOmie, one of the best in the world. He’s not a criminal, mind you. He’s a legitimate safe technician who flies all over the world opening up problematic safes. The most interesting thing I learned was that there really are no great criminal safecrackers right now. The main reason? It’s too hard to practice. Dave gets to open a different safe every day, but a would-be criminal just can’t get that experience!


2. Have you ever picked a lock yourself and what did you think of the experience?

I have tried it, and in fact, when I was working on the book, I had a practice lock sitting right by the computer and I’d play around with it whenever I was just sitting there. It’s a good way to keep the front of your mind busy while the back of your mind is coming up with what happens next in the story. It really is an amazing feeling, when you finally get those pins just right and the whole thing turns at once. It made me start to appreciate what that feeling would mean to young Michael.

3.How did you decide to do this book as a stand alone novel?

Well, I had done seven books in the Alex McKnight series, and then one standalone about a probation officer (Night Work). That first standalone did okay, not great, so any normal sane person would have gone back to the series. But I just had this crazy idea about a young safecracker in my head, and I couldn’t get rid of it. So I decided to just follow the thread and see where it went. I had no idea it would take so long to get there. At times, I honestly thought it was a huge mistake, and I ended up turning in the book like a year and a half late. I can look back at it now and realize it was all worth it, I guess, but it was a tough trip.

4. How are things looking with the movie adaptation?

Announcement coming any day now. Until then, I’m sworn to secrecy! (But in the meantime, thing about how challenging that script is going to be. Thirty years ago, you’d have a lot of voice over – you know, close up on Michael’s face, then we hear his thoughts in his head. Right now, that would probably feel like a cheat. But are you actually going to go two hours straight without ever hearing his voice? It’s gonna be interesting…)

5. What are you currently working on?

Die A Stranger, the next McKnight book, comes out in July 2012. Actually, that’s already done, so right now I’m working on one more McKnight book, and then after that, I’ll definitely do something different! (Possibly a sequel to The Lock Artist? Maybe. It depends a little on the status of the movie thing…)


Thanks again to Steve Hamilton for the interview. Be sure to check out The Lock Artist as well as his Alex McKnight series if you haven't already. I really hope there is a movie because this book would make a great one. I vote for Rosario Dawson and Lizzy Caplan as two of the female leads. What do you think?

As always feel free to comment, drop me a line at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com, or find me on twitter @jeffsbookcase

The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain

                                                                   

The Nasty Bits is a collection of Bourdain's shorter works, centered on food but taking in other topics as well. Most, if not all, were previously published, although several are from foreign markets.

Many of the essays focus on Bourdain eating, often in foreign locales surrounded by locals. In many he writes about experiences encountered while filming his tv shows as well as a little behind the scenes info. While the food essays are great, the best ones are those that leave food behind and let him talk about other things, such as his love for New York City. My favorite is "A Life of Crime", in which he discusses his obsession with crime, criminals, and crime writing.

As you can see from the header picture I'm a huge fan. If you have not read Kitchen Confidential then you need to stop reading this blog and go acquire a copy. You can listen to an NPR interview of him promoting the book here. Heat by Bill Buford is another great food memoir.

As always, feel free to comment below, email me at jeffsemonis at yahoo.com, or on twitter at @jeffsbookcase.