Richard Bist

Writer

[richardbist]

Nature Moment - Early Fall in My Backyard

The shift from summer to fall is beginning here in North Florida. Not that we get a proper fall here. There's a slight transition from hot to cool, but that's about it until winter kicks in. However, my yard is still seeing some remnants of summer. Late blooms, a few mushrooms, and wildlife looking to bulk up before hiding away from the cold. Around fifteen years ago, I got the idea that I needed to spread some mushroom compost on my lawn. I'm not a fan of chemical fertilizers and I was looking for a eco-friendly alternative. I discovered a place on the other side of town that would fill the back of my old pickup truck (R.I.P., now long gone) with fresh mushroom compost for $20. Not a bad deal.  The compost did the trick and my yard and garden areas have been thriving ever since. However, an unexpected side effect is that I get all sorts of mushrooms popping up here and there. Of course, I'm not a fungus expert, so I'm not willing to take a chance at sampling any of these, but they are beautiful to look at. 

These yellow ones showed up on an old pine tree stump in the backyard. They weren't there one day, then bam, bright yellow the next. My understanding is that they help with the decomposition of the wood. Hopefully, they'll dine well and the stump will be gone by next spring. Earlier this summer, we had a section of our front yard cleared of trees and underbrush. It was a divider between our yard and the neighbors, but we wanted to clear it out to allow for more sunlight. I'm guessing these gray mushrooms - an army of them -

decided to get to work on what was left of one of the tree stumps. The person we hired did a good job of clearing everything out, but there must have been just enough of a stump left for these guys to feast on. Much like the yellow mushrooms, they appeared overnight and seem to be quite happy in their location. Then there's this red thing that looks like it escaped from a Mario World (it's a video game reference). I have no idea what it is,

but I do know that, in nature, red generally means "don't touch". It's an interesting-looking fungus, though. Weirdly, it only lasted a day. When I went to look at it the day after this photo was taken, it looked like it had disintegrated into mush. I guess it has a short life cycle. Or maybe Mario stopped by to get a power-up.  And I was surprised to see some late-season growth from one of my pitcher plants. A handful of new

pitchers sprung up (probably due to all the rain we've had lately). I was on the patio the other day with the dogs and noticed a lizard hiding along the spine of one of the new pitchers. I assume he was hoping to grab an unsuspecting insect before it ventured into the trap. The little guy was doing a good job of camouflaging himself.

I've also had a morning glory vine appear on the south side of my yard. It seems to really like the new privacy fence we had built a few months ago. I've been debating on whether or not to pull the vines or let them grow. On one hand, they may take over the fence and become a nuisance. But on the other hand, they do have beautiful flowers. I think I'll let them go for now and make a decision next spring. Finally, here is a closeup of one of the mushrooms I found growing in a wildflower bed I have in the back. The mushroom itself wasn't very interesting to look at - just a typical fungus - but it warranted an up-close shot. I found the texture of the skin to be interesting and I think I may try to use this as inspiration for a painting. I think it sort of looks like one.

Wherever you are, I hope you get a chance to get outside soon, experience nature, run your hand along the trunk of a tree, smell some wildflowers, and maybe forget the daily stress for a little while. And if you like any of my photos, please let me know in the comments.  RB     Read the full article

[richardbist]

Nature Moment - Early Fall in My Backyard

The shift from summer to fall is beginning here in North Florida. Not that we get a proper fall here. There's a slight transition from hot to cool, but that's about it until winter kicks in. However, my yard is still seeing some remnants of summer. Late blooms, a few mushrooms, and wildlife looking to bulk up before hiding away from the cold.Around fifteen years ago, I got the idea that I needed to spread some mushroom compost on my lawn. I'm not a fan of chemical fertilizers and I was looking for a eco-friendly alternative. I discovered a place on the other side of town that would fill the back of my old pickup truck (R.I.P., now long gone) with fresh mushroom compost for $20. Not a bad deal. The compost did the trick and my yard and garden areas have been thriving ever since. However, an unexpected side effect is that I get all sorts of mushrooms popping up here and there. Of course, I'm not a fungus expert, so I'm not willing to take a chance at sampling any of these, but they are beautiful to look at. These yellow ones showed up on an old pine tree stump in the backyard. They weren't there one day, then bam, bright yellow the next. My understanding is that they help with the decomposition of the wood. Hopefully, they'll dine well and the stump will be gone by next spring.Earlier this summer, we had a section of our front yard cleared of trees and underbrush. It was a divider between our yard and the neighbors, but we wanted to clear it out to allow for more sunlight. I'm guessing these gray mushrooms - an army of them - decided to get to work on what was left of one of the tree stumps. The person we hired did a good job of clearing everything out, but there must have been just enough of a stump left for these guys to feast on. Much like the yellow mushrooms, they appeared overnight and seem to be quite happy in their location.Then there's this red thing that looks like it escaped from a Mario World (it's a video game reference). I have no idea what it is, but I do know that, in nature, red generally means "don't touch". It's an interesting-looking fungus, though. Weirdly, it only lasted a day. When I went to look at it the day after this photo was taken, it looked like it had disintegrated into mush. I guess it has a short life cycle. Or maybe Mario stopped by to get a power-up. And I was surprised to see some late-season growth from one of my pitcher plants. A handful of new pitchers sprung up (probably due to all the rain we've had lately). I was on the patio the other day with the dogs and noticed a lizard hiding along the spine of one of the new pitchers. I assume he was hoping to grab an unsuspecting insect before it ventured into the trap. The little guy was doing a good job of camouflaging himself.I've also had a morning glory vine appear on the south side of my yard. It seems to really like the new privacy fence we had built a few months ago. I've been debating on whether or not to pull the vines or let them grow. On one hand, they may take over the fence and become a nuisance. But on the other hand, they do have beautiful flowers. I think I'll let them go for now and make a decision next spring.Finally, here is a closeup of one of the mushrooms I found growing in a wildflower bed I have in the back. The mushroom itself wasn't very interesting to look at - just a typical fungus - but it warranted an up-close shot. I found the texture of the skin to be interesting and I think I may try to use this as inspiration for a painting. I think it sort of looks like one.Wherever you are, I hope you get a chance to get outside soon, experience nature, run your hand along the trunk of a tree, smell some wildflowers, and maybe forget the daily stress for a little while. And if you like any of my photos, please let me know in the comments. RB

[richardbist]

Review - Town and Country by Carl Parsons

The ten stories in Carl Parsons’ short story collection, Town and Country, focus on the people of the Mid-Ohio Valley, a region that overlaps with the northwestern part of Virginia and eastern Ohio. It’s mostly known for charming towns, historical sites, and natural beauty. The stories revolve around the people who live and work here, and showcase their lives, loves, and the importance of community.The first part of the book is titled “Stories from the Town” and keeps the stories inside city limits and highlights the humor and drama of town life, as well as those who both escape it and those who never do. The opening story, “Regrets”, is one of the latter. Joe returns home a widower, coming back to face the regrets he left behind years ago. He finds himself a stranger in his hometown as everyone he knew has moved on, so he ends up alone with his thoughts. Author Carl ParsonsOther stories, like “Judith and Philip”, offer an interesting twist. This story plays out like a love story, but there’s more happening under the surface. Much like most lives in small towns, there is drama going on behind the scenes. “Jocelyn’s Romance” highlights this, with an attractive married woman who is constantly being hit on by other men in the community. Some even go so far as to lie about who they are just to get close to her. The second half of the book is titled “Stories from the Country” and shifts the focus to the rural communities, the isolated farms and country folk. The four stories here feel like they change in tone to match the setting and show that no matter where one may live, there is always going to be a story to tell. Overall, the collection of stories in Town and Country carries the themes of rural and small-town life like the rumors and gossip, the helping hands and close communities, and the people who try to leave and the ones that stay. Parson does a great job of capturing all this on the page, in the characters, and in the dialogue. I recommend this collection for readers who enjoy comfy stories that focus on people and relationships. There’s no action here, no explosions or car chases. It’s simply down-home fiction that shows life in the Mid-Ohio Valley. This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.RB

[richardbist]

Thoughts After Hurricane Helene

Well, that was terrifying.I think this was the first Category 4 hurricane I’ve ridden out. I’d have to go back and research all the storms I’ve been through, which is a lot. Can’t live in Florida and not have hurricane experience. Helene was a scary one, though. Big, strong, and barreling toward the Florida Big Bend with ill intent.To make matters worse, it was a night storm. It made landfall around 8:00 p.m. Thursday night and things started going downhill from there. We live about 25 miles inland, which sounds like it would offer a buffer, but for a storm this powerful, it didn’t temper the winds and rain we saw. There were also reports of tornadoes in the area. A weather double-whammy.Early predictions had Helene making a beeline toward Tallahassee. Then on Thursday morning, the reports said it would pass through “the center of the county”, which means just to the east of the city. I was watching the radar on my phone when it made landfall and saw the eye make a weird jog to the east. It was just enough to spare us the brunt of the storm. Image of Hurricane Helene, courtesy of NASA.My partner and I, along with our two dogs, camped out in the hallway of our home. Not much space, but we piled up blankets and comforters, a couple of battery-operated fans, and hunkered down. She fell asleep, of course, because she can sleep through anything, but I was too wired to close my eyes. Our younger mutt, Peppa, curled up beside me and she and I listened to the wind roaring outside, the tree branches and who knows what else hitting the roof, and the aluminum shutters rattling on the windows. My main concern was the trees. Tallahassee is known for its abundance of trees. Huge live oaks and tall, spindly pines cover the city. It’s beautiful to see but poses a real threat when a storm comes along. Luckily, I never heard the sound of one coming down around us. It’s a distinct sound, a cracking and deep rumble. It’s not easy to forget. Sort of like hearing a tornado.Eventually, the winds died down, but the rain continued. When I checked my rain gauge this morning it showed over five inches had come down. If nothing else, my garden will be happy for the next few days. I know other parts of town didn’t fare as well, and the neighboring counties to the east were hit extremely hard. In fact, this is the third hurricane to pass through the area in the past two years. They barely have time to recover before another one comes ashore. Part of the price to pay for living along the coast.I feel very lucky to have gotten through this in one piece. We lost power, which means we’ll lose some stuff in the refrigerator and freezer, but that’s a small price to pay. Others in the area have it much worse.Now it’s time to clean up and put away the supplies until the next storm arrives. RB

[richardbist]

Music Moment - Mule Variations by Tom Waits

Singer and songwriter Tom Waits has had several interesting career shifts, but none so resonating as when he recorded his 1999 album, Mule Variations. It ended up winning him a Grammy award for "Best Contemporary Folk Album" and a nomination for "Best Male Rock Performance".The album is a culmination of his previous work and experiments. Waits started as a jazz-influenced ballad singer, then had a brush with mainstream recognition after writing the soundtrack for the Francis Form Coppola film, One from the Heart. He reinvented himself in the mid-1980s in order to be more experimental, delving into a variety of non-traditional instruments, rhythms, and songwriting styles. He also began to incorporate influences from everywhere - jazz, blues, cabaret, folk, country, avant-garde, and world music. Tom WaitsI've been a Waits fan for many years and the 25th anniversary of this recording felt like a good time to pick it up on vinyl. Yes, I only had this in digital format. I think vinyl is really the best way to appreciate his music. It's more raw than digital and feels like it fits his voice and musical style. He brought in an interesting variety of musicians to bring the music to life. Les Claypool and Les LaLond from Primus, blues harmonica maestro Charlie Musselwhite, and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat, to mention a few. The different styles and musical backgrounds give the songs an interesting vibe. They don't sound like anything I've heard before.This is a double album, so there's a lot to unpack here. A few of my favorites include the opener, "Big In Japan", which sounds like a mash-up of Captain Beefheart and some unearthly Americana. I also enjoy "Get Behind the Mule", "The Eyeball Kid", and "Chocolate Jesus". The truth is, however, I really love the entire album.If you aren't familiar with Waits, this may not be the best introduction to his discography. I'd say his earlier work is more accessible to a general audience. But if you enjoy an artist who pushes the boundaries a bit, Mule Variations is a good place to start.Here's the official audio for "Big In Japan" and I've posted the lyrics beneath. I got the style but not the graceI got the clothes but not the faceI got the bread but not the butterI got the winda but not the shutterBut I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan But heh I'm big in JapanI got the house but not the deedI got the horn but not the reedI got the cards but not the luckI got the wheel but not the truckBut heh I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan I'm big in JapanI got the moon I got the cheeseI got the whole damn nation on its kneesI got the rooster I got the crowI got the ebb I got the flowI got the powder but not the gunI got the dog but not the bunI got the clouds but not the skyI got the stripes but not the tieBut heh I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan I'm big in JapanHeh ho they love the way I do itHeh ho there's really nothing to itI got the moon I got the cheeseI got the whole damn nation on their kneesI got the rooster I got the crowI got the ebb I got the flowI got the sizzle but not the steakI got the boat but not the lakeI got the sheets but not the bedI got the jam but not the breadBut heh I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan I'm big in JapanI'm big in Japan, I'm big in Japan.------------RB

[richardbist]

Review - Born in Space by Jeremy Clift

Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny by Jeremy Clift is a throwback to the great science fiction of the 1960s and 1970s. The story revolves around seven artificially created infants who were bred as part of an experiment. Their mother (who supplied the eggs) is the captive of a global mining company whose head is hungry for power and resource control. An unethical doctor has genetically tweaked the infants to make them more adaptable to space colonization, but at what cost? Things ramp up with the discovery of an ancient alien artifact that may hold secrets to the greater universe. The plot is complex and powerful, with strong female characters and dubious villains that clash on an epic scale. It takes place in a future where the Earth is becoming uninhabitable. Orbiting space stations offer respite from the darkness below, but only for the privileged. The story also takes place over the span of decades, with each chapter jumping months or years into the future. Author Jeremy CliftAs with all good science fiction, the story feel prophetic. The corporations are only interested in money and anything tied to it, like the discovery of new technology or other advancements, is used only for the purpose of profit. I particularly enjoyed the characters and how they developed through the story arc. They are three-dimensional and have compelling reasons for their actions. It’s somewhat unusual for science fiction to give female characters depth and power, but Clift does a great job of making the entire cast feel real and relatable. The one thing that might take getting used to is the time jumps. Each chapter advances the story a few weeks, months, or even a year or so into the future. I ended up appreciating it, though, because it felt like it eliminated some of the ‘filler’ that authors sometimes use to beef up a novel. Instead, Clift keeps the narration tight and focused, which in turn keeps the story moving at a brisk pace.For fans of classic science fiction, engaging characters, and original storytelling, “Born in Space” is a must-read. I think you’ll find it satisfying and thought-provoking. This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.RB

[richardbist]

Fighting Back Against Censorship

On Friday, August 29, six major U.S. publishing houses, along with several bestselling authors, filed suit against the State of Florida over recent legislation that has resulted in book bans across the state. The challenge is that the law allows the banning of books based on sexual or pornographic content “without consideration of the book as a whole, as the Supreme Court requires." It's also, obviously, a First Amendment issue.As a Florida resident, I've been reading about the book bans on a regular basis. Everything from The Diary of Anne Frank to books by Stephen King has been pulled from shelves, often based on a single complaint. The reason for the quick reactions from the libraries and schools is that the penalties can range from fines to loss of licensure. I'd share a full list of the books currently banned in Florida, but I don't have enough space (unless you're willing to scroll for an hour or so). In addition to the ones I mentioned above, a few other titles include For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, and The Once and Future King by T.H. White. I've written about book bans in the past and I find them to be ridiculous. The argument for them is that it's to protect children, but I think that's just a smoke screen. It's more about controlling ideas and dulling critical thinking skills. A questioning child isn't necessarily a child who will do and think as they are told.The way I look at it, if someone doesn't want their child to read a particular book, then tell them not to. If they still get a copy and read it, then that's between the parent and child. That's not the fault of the librarian, the teacher, or the bookseller.The responsibility falls on the parent to monitor what their child hears, reads, and sees. If you don't want them to read Brave New World in their high school literature class, then home-school them. There's no need to restrict the reading of all the students just because one parent is afraid their child might actually think for themselves. Coincidently, Banned Book Week is just around the corner. From September 22nd through the 28th, the American Library Association will be celebrating freedom of speech and open access to information. I'll be posting more about that in a week or two. In the meantime, show your support for the cause by reading a banned book, contributing to a First Amendment organization, or simply thanking a teacher or librarian for their hard work.RB

[richardbist]

Acrylic Painting - Playing with Modeling Paste

I've been wanting to experiment with more texture in my painting projects. Not that I don't appreciate a smooth canvas, but adding a little something more appeals to me. So I picked up a small container of modeling paste from a local art shop and tried a few experiments to see what I could come up with.If you aren't familiar with it, the modeling paste can be mixed with acrylic paints and applied to a canvas with any tool. I used palette knives and a drywall knife. Once it dries, it's nearly as hard as concrete. Although, a bit nicer to look at.What I like about it is that I can mix different colors into it and, once dry, it doesn't buckle the canvas. While it's still wet, I can carve into it, spread it around in different ways, or even sand it down. It gave me a lot of options to try.This first canvas is a mix of brush and palette knife. I painted the background, then used the palette knife and some of the modeling clay to create the yellow texture slashing across the canvas. I like the mix of colors, angles, and movement.The next one is an interesting mix. I first used black acrylic and some of the past to create a solid background, then went over that with titanium white and past. Once that dried, I went over it again with a mix of colors using a short palette knife. It's both bright and dark, and the texture rising up from behind gives it a cool effect.This one was a "don't think, just throw whatever on the canvas" experiment. I was attempting to capture movement and a bit of a rainbow effect. I painted a dark red background (crimson, I believe), put plain modeling paste on the canvas, then used a couple of different knives to both etch arcs into the paste and create the color swipes. Nothing fancy, but it was fun.I was trying to capture fire in this last practice piece. I used phthalo blue with a lot of water as the background, then played around with mixing a few different luminescent colors into the paste and swiping them onto the canvas. I really like how this turned out. Sort of ethereal, I think, and the colors pop against that dark background.I hope you enjoyed my acrylic experiments. There will be more soon as I'm also experimenting with collage and alternative painting tools. RB

[richardbist]

Review - Forever is Too Long by John Posner

For Jake Sullivan, vice president at ASHORE, dealing with immortality is all in a day’s work. His company supports the transition of human minds into a digital platform, thus giving people a form of immortality. The Mindars, as they are called, get to live in a multiverse that can contain all their loved ones, the things they loved about their mortal lives, and experiences no humans can touch. Author John PosnerThe technology has advanced so much that Mindars can even inhabit bioforms so they can interact with humans in the real world. It all sounds wonderful, except that the AI systems maintaining both the human and Mindar environments are beginning to act out against each other. The human population is also bearing the brunt of ASHORE expansion as they seek additional power to run their systems. Things aren’t what they seem and things are beginning to unravel. Forever is Too Long takes a hard look at the potential of AI and the repercussions, both good and bad, of giving them too much control. When humans allow algorithms to make decisions, they may not always like where things end up. John Posner’s novel is densely layered with questions and scenarios that, with careful consideration, should make the reader pause and consider what our future holds. Other issues Posner explores are the question of whether humans should transition to a digital consciousness, the ramifications of doing so, and the toll it may take on those still flesh and blood. One of the things I appreciated is how the Mindars basically have access to their wildest dreams in the AI-generated multiverse, yet so many of them choose to don bioforms so they can interact with living humans and walk in the world they left behind. Sometimes you really don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Posner also touches on topics such as genetic enhancement, decisions about life and death, and the divide between the haves and the have-nots. There is a lot to unravel here and the story may warrant a second read to fully understand the philosophical threads that run through the various storylines. Forever is Too Long is definitely a book for lovers of thoughtful science fiction and those who like to think about what they’re reading. The realistic characters, the hard decisions, and the underlying themes all make this a solid read.This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.RB

[richardbist]

Writing Fiction - Dealing with Rejection

Oh, I've had my fair share of rejection over the years. Being a writer means you have to develop thick skin. I've dealt with feedback I've disagreed with, bad reviews, publications that didn't like my stories, and people who disparaged my choice of profession. Yet, I persist. When I first started to submit my stories to magazines and publishers, I expected to be rejected. In fact, the very first thing I submitted was a poem to The New Yorker magazine. I figured that if I was going to be rejected, I wanted my first one to be from one of the best magazines out there. And they obliged. I received a form rejection a few weeks later. I tacked it to the corkboard in my office. That corkboard ended up being my Wall of Rejection. I tacked rejection after rejection to it. They were badges of honor. Proof that I had been in the trenches. Eventually, the board became so full that I couldn't see the frame around it. I was actually a little concerned that it might fall from all the weight. Truth be told, I had acceptances mixed in there. Not that I tacked those to the wall. To me, the rejections that were initially demotivating became a source of inspiration. They pushed me to continue writing, to push myself to be a better writer, and to think outside the norms. To me, these rejections showed that I was trying and I wasn't giving up. I embraced them. I think that's the best way to deal with any disappointment: embrace it, accept it, own it. Letting rejection get me down wasn't going to motivate me. Sure, it was disappointing to see the "Thanks, but no thanks", but at least I knew I gave it a shot. And really, the rejections gave the acceptances more meaning.Of course, print fiction magazines are slowly fading and many of those that rejected me are no longer around. There are online publications, but in the age of AI, many of them limit submissions due to the overwhelming onslaught of computer-written fiction. Now I focus on self-publishing. It probably means I reach a smaller audience than I would in a national magazine, but I'm okay with that. And I still have all those rejections in a folder. I pull them out every so often to look through. Fond memories of a time when writers strove to get published in print magazines.Maybe I should donate them to a museum. Artifacts of days gone by.RB

[richardbist]

Review - The Undines by Laura Albu

Most people look at cruise ships as floating resorts. There’s endless food, drink, activities, and exotic ports of call. Very few pay much attention to the people who make the cruises happen, much less what they go through to ensure the guests have a pleasant trip.Laura Albu’s The Undines: Volume 1 gives readers an uncensored and raw look at the lives of the support staff. While guests dine on excellent food and enjoy comfortable accommodations, the Undines, as the employees are known, live almost sparse lives while traveling the seas. It’s a difficult life, but for some, it’s better than what they had.The story follows Carla, a young woman who desperately wants to own her own home and control her own destiny. Her job doesn’t pay her enough to qualify for a loan, so she makes the decision to seek employment on a cruise ship. Every step of the way is filled with obstacles, but she begins to learn how to navigate the treacherous waters.She finally gets a contract to join the staff of a ship and become an “undine”. In Greek mythology, undines are water spirits. The staff, because their quarters are below the water line in the belly of the ship, feel an affinity to these spirits. “Although they live in the water, “Albu writes, “their activity takes place on the surface…” Author Laura AlbuWhile this is based on real life, the story unfolds like a work of fiction. The protagonist, Carla, begins the story somewhat naive and unsure of herself, but begins to grow and become more self-assured. What struck me the most was how brutal the conditions are for these workers. The cruise line isn’t mentioned or alluded to, but the working conditions are slave-like. The food is poor, the staff are treated like animals, and there is a great deal of emotional abuse and sexual harassment. What I thought would be a story about a wonderful experience ended up being an education about how badly working-class people can be treated.Carla’s story is interesting and plays out like a soap opera on the high seas. She encounters both friends and enemies, learns to cope with pain and discomfort, and even finds hope and love. The one caution I have for readers is that this book is translated from Romanian. That being said, I’m not sure if the writing style and broken English are on purpose or if it is due to a rough translation. It may take some getting used to.The Undines is a book I’d recommend to people who are interested in learning more about what goes on below decks on a cruise ship. It’s dramatic, heartfelt, and shows what people are willing to do to achieve their dreams.This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.RB

[richardbist]

A Road Trip for Literature Fans

I'm sure this will only appeal to book nerds like me, but Literary Hub (a fantastic website for all things related to books and literature) posted a literary roadmap of the United States. If you've ever been curious about famous books and authors from your state, or even famous literary landmarks and great places to relax and read, this post is for you.In my state, Florida (not insanity!), everyone is aware of Hemingway House and the great stories written there. Few, I bet, are aware of the Zora Neale Hurston house in Fort Pierce. She was a Florida native, born and raised in Eatonville, Florida, which was one of the first incorporated Black communities in the nation.I found this to be a rabbit hole of information and it makes me want to plan a months-long trip to travel the country and visit all these places (and read the books, too!). The author did a great job of compiling this piece, but now it makes me wonder if there should be a literary roadmap for every country or region. Imagine how cool it would be to take a train around Europe checking off all the cool literary stops along the way. Or maybe a trip around Japan to see where some of their great writers lived and worked. Or Cameroon. Or Brazil. Check out the link above and see the interesting literary stops you can visit. RB

[richardbist]

Review - The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada

I've been enjoying my exploration of Japanese fiction, and my latest read was a fun trip. The Factory is a surreal novel that felt like I was reading a mash-up of Franz Kafka and Willam S. Burroughs. Think Metamorphosis meets Naked Lunch. The author, Hiroko Oyamada, does a brilliant job of creating this otherwordly experience. The story takes place in and around a massive factory. It's so massive that it's basically its own city. There are restaurants that serve just about anything you might be craving, employee housing (both fancy and low-end), rivers, parks, and commuter busing. The thing is, no one really knows what this factory does. Author Hiroko OyamadaThere are three main characters, each new hires at the factory, and each wondering why they are doing the job they've been assigned. Yoshiko is a communications major who recently graduated is hired to work in print services. Oddly, her job ends up being a paper shredder. Just feeding endless carts of paper into a machine.Next is Yoshio, a university student who is offered a job at the factory as a Moss Specialist. Basically, they want him to study moss on the factory grounds and develop a way to use it as a roofing material. There is no plan in place, they ask him what he needs, put him up in employee housing, and leave him alone. Years pass, but the Factory leadership, whoever they are, don't seem to care whether or not he makes progress.Finally, there is Yoshiko's brother, who is never named. He loses his job in IT and ends up working at the factory as a proofreader. The thing is, the materials that he proofs make no sense. They are instructions for things that aren't defined, random lists, and other odds and ends. What I found interesting about this book is how the author tells the story. Time passes, approximately fifteen years over the course of the story, but there's nothing in the narrative that specifically states that a period of time has passed. It's done with nuance and gives the story a dreamlike quality.Also, there are jumps of perspective and time in the middle of a paragraph or between paragraphs with no delineation to mark the change. I found that I needed to pay close attention and, on a few occasions, I re-read paragraphs to make sure I didn't miss anything. This also feeds into the dreamlike feel of the story. The mood of The Factory is somewhat dark and ominous, but at the same time, the surreal aspect of it almost feels comical. It's sort of like a Dali-esque version of the show, The Office. The work the characters perform is pointless and repetitive, and the fact they are being paid to do it is ridiculous. To me, it felt as if it was also a satire of massive corporations and how easily it can be to get lost in the machinery. I found this to be a fun read. It's also a short read, coming in at 116 pages. If you enjoy surreal fiction, I highly recommend The Factory. It's a delightfully twisted read.For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.RB

[richardbist]

Review - The Velvet Hammer

Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. Not everyone is cut out to be a judge, but it takes a special kind of person to be a Chief Judge. In The Velvet Hammer, Belvin Perry, Jr. tells us of his classic success story. Raised by a single father, Perry and his two siblings didn’t have things handed to them. His father, a police officer, exposed him to the legal system at a young age, and over the years his early fascination with the law became his passion.Despite having to deal with institutional racism, Perry was able to get a job in the Florida State Attorney’s office, then later ran successfully for Chief Judge. Over the course of his career, he was involved in numerous murder trials - both as a prosecuting attorney and as a judge - and here he explains the crimes, the trials, and the verdicts. Most famously, the Casey Anthony trial where a young mother was charged with murdering her daughter.Perry and his co-author, Amy Mitchell, tell an engaging tale of his upbringing and his journey into the legal profession. His memoir, however, is interspersed between retellings of the trials he was involved with. For the casual reader, the details of the crimes - all murders - may be too much. Perry and Mitchell go into almost exquisite detail when describing the actions of the killers. However, for the fans of true crime novels and podcasts, these details may be just what you’re looking for.The other thing to keep in mind is that Perry also uses these murder trials as a means to justify the death penalty. From his point of view, that’s understandable. As a prosecutor and judge, Perry has had a front-row seat to some of the most heinous murders in Florida. No one can repeatedly be exposed to those situations without being affected by them. But if you are against the death penalty, you’ll find yourself disagreeing with his arguments and justifications.The Velvet Hammer is a well-written and engaging combination of memoir and true-crime collection. The narrative alters between Perry’s life and the legal system, offering dissections of his cases and the reasoning behind his legal decisions. I found it insightful, a bit morbid, but overall a fascinating read. This review was originally posted at Reader Views. For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my Reading List page.RB

[richardbist]

The Hurricane Debby Experience

We had our first (and hopefully last) hurricane of the 2024 season. Debby crept by just to the east of us. While we were spared the worst of the winds, we did get a few strong gusts that knocked branches out of nearby trees and took out our power. Big storms like this fascinate me. A part of me loves the sound of the rain falling and the wind whistling through the tree branches. But the other part of me knows that hurricanes are no joke. I've ridden out quite a few over the years. I've seen the damage they cause, the trees knocked over onto cars and houses, the flooding, being without power for weeks at a time, and the slow rebuilding.I caught this bit of video as the first outer band passed over. It was no worse than the average tropical storm, a steady wind with gusts of around 30 or 40 miles per hour. The rain would pick up and slow down, but it was incessant. I think it rained for a solid twelve hours here. My rain gauge, which goes up to five inches, was overflowing. Now it's time to dry out, clean up the debris, and get ready for the next one.RB

[richardbist]

The Hurricane Debby Experience

We had our first (and hopefully last) hurricane of the 2024 season. Debby crept by just to the east of us. While we were spared the worst of the winds, we did get a few strong gusts that knocked branches out of nearby trees and took out our power. Big storms like this fascinate me. A part of me loves the sound of the rain falling and the wind whistling through the tree branches. But the other part of me knows that hurricanes are no joke. I've ridden out quite a few over the years. I've seen the damage they cause, the trees knocked over onto cars and houses, the flooding, being without power for weeks at a time, and the slow rebuilding.I caught this bit of video as the first outer band passed over. It was no worse than the average tropical storm, a steady wind with gusts of around 30 or 40 miles per hour. The rain would pick up and slow down, but it was incessant. I think it rained for a solid twelve hours here. My rain gauge, which goes up to five inches, was overflowing. Now it's time to dry out, clean up the debris, and get ready for the next one.RB

[richardbist]

Music Moment - About Face by David Gilmour

For his second solo album, About Face, guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour brought in a slew of outside talent. The list includes Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Jon Lord (Deep Purple), vocalist Roy Harper, and Steve Winwood. To top that off, Pete Townsend supplied lyrics for two tracks. Gilmour, who is best known as the guitarist and co-vocalist of Pink Floyd, wanted to "make a really good album", and in my opinion, he did. While his first outing, the self-titled David Gilmour, is a great collection of songs, it was his first time handling things on his own and it shows some rough edges. This time, with Bob Ezrin (of The Wall fame) co-producing, he created a polished and tightly arranged tracklist.If you haven't heard any of Gilmour's solo work, don't expect it to sound too much like his Pink Floyd work. The guitar tone is there, as are his vocals, but the songs are more radio-friendly, less angsty, and feel more accessible to a general audience. Not to say there isn't a recognizable Floyd influence. Also, unlike his previous solo outing that had three instrumentals, About Face only has one, "Let's Get Metaphysical". I take it as a tongue-in-cheek response to Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" which contained the refrain, "Let's get physical...". Who knows? Maybe Gilmour is a fan of her music.While all the songs on this album are excellent for repeat listening, it's the second cut on side one that is my personal favorite. "Murder" wasn't released as a single, which I found surprising since it's possibly the most Pink Floyd-sounding song in this collection. The song was Gilmour expressing his horror at the killing of John Lennon a few years earlier. And while the lyrics are eerie and haunting, it's the instrumentation that blows me away. The song starts slow, soft, and invokes an almost dreamlike air. But as it progresses it becomes, much like the lyrics, more aggressive. Finally, it reaches this crescendo where Gilmour layers on what seems like four or five different guitars, all playing something different, like competing rhythm and leads, acoustic and electric. It's a great example of his phenomenal guitar playing.It's so incredibly well done and the song fades out on these guitars calling and responding. Every time I listen to it I wish it went on for a bit longer. I've posted the song and the lyrics below, so give it a listen and let me know what you think. Some of them standing, some were waiting in the lineAs if there was something that they thought they might findTaking some strength from the feelings that always were sharedAnd in the background, the eyes that just staredWhat was it brought you out here in the dark?Was it your only way of making your markDid you get rid of all the voices in your head?Do you now miss them and the things that they said?On your own admission you raised up the knifeAnd you brought it down ending another man's lifeWhen it was done you just threw down the bladeWhile the red blood spread wider like the anger you madeI don't want this anger that's burning in meIt's something from which it's so hard to be freeBut none of the tears that we cry in sorrow or rageCan make any difference, or turn back the page-----RB