Len Gutman (Author of Giving Time)

Len is currently reading:

Last Man in Tower
by Aravind Adiga

My rating:

Len gave

to:

Calico Joe
by John Grisham (Goodreads Author)

recommended for: baseball fans

read in May, 2012

My rating:

This novel is not going to win any prizes, especially not for writing, but if you are a baseball fan and/or a father or a son it's a fun little read. I give Grisham credit for not making it too predictable even if it was a bit cheesy.

Len marked as to-read:

A Hologram for the King
by Dave Eggers

My rating:

Len gave

to:

The Log from the Sea of Cortez
by John Steinbeck

read in May, 2012

My rating:

Interesting but very slow.

Len made a comment on Whitney's review of Little Bee

"Looking forward to your thoughts on this one...it has been on my to-read list for a while. "

Len made a comment on Carol's review of State of Wonder

"Wonderful book, huh? I read it right when it came out because Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors. I loved State of Wonder and rank it second a...more "

Len gave

to:

1Q84
by Haruki Murakami

read in May, 2012

My rating:

I absolutely loved 1Q84. I knew I was in trouble when I started reading it and a few hundred pages in I got sad that it would soon end -- even though it was more than 1,000 pages on my nook! I don't know about you, but sometimes when I've read a real...more

Len marked as to-read:

Canada
by Richard Ford

My rating:

Len gave

to:

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood
by Jane Leavy

read in March, 2012

My rating:

My annual March baseball read this year was The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood and it didn't disappoint. Jane Leavy is a tremendous sportswriter who really nailed this portrait of Mickey Mantle the man rather than the base...more My annual March baseball read this year was The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood and it didn't disappoint. Jane Leavy is a tremendous sportswriter who really nailed this portrait of Mickey Mantle the man rather than the baseball player. Sure, she sprinkled in baseball highlights but this was a book about Mickey.

Truthfully I didn't know much about Mickey Mantle having never seen him play. Sure, I knew about his baseball prowess and I knew he was a drunk who died of cancer related to liver issues. But I had no idea the extent to which is childhood and father issues led to his drinking, nor did I have any idea just how horrible his disease was. Mantle was a man who drank to excess nearly every day of his life until he sobered up at the end and his drinking effected everything but his playing (somehow). He was a womanizer and an asshole and his poor fathering led to the demise of his children to drugs and alcohol as well. He cheated on his wife regularly and even had live-in girlfriends while his wife stayed home to raise the kids.

He was a tortured soul. Not that any of that excuses his behavior, but it does explain it. The guy was a hero on the field because of the way he played and how he played hurt most of his career. He was a great teammate and throughout his life he quietly did good deeds for fans and friends. But his off-the-field life was a disaster of epic proportions. It was hard to read.

Leavy is a brilliant writer. She grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium and Mickey was her hero, but when she finally got to spend time with him to write about his life he was a mess who even while she asked him about his wife and kids he drank to the point where he hit on her just before passing out on her lap in an Atlantic City bar. Good lord. This must have been a hard book for Leavy to write, but it was so well done. Her book about Sandy Koufax is one of my favorite baseball books ever.

This is a book for baseball fans, but it's also a book for anyone who has lived with alcoholism in their life. Sad but well told tale.(less)

Len gave

to:

I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution
by Craig Marks

read in March, 2012

My rating:

Very enjoyable and entertaining read, especially given the impact MTV had on my life. I still remember when it launched, and I remember when it jumped the shark. MTV changed the music industry and it was fun to hear the details and stories from those...more

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Len is currently reading: Last Man in Tower by Aravind Adiga	My rating:
May 29, 2012 10:07pm
Len gave to: Calico Joe by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) recommended for: baseball fans read in May, 2012	My rating:
This novel is not going to win any prizes, especially not for writing, but if you are a baseball fan and/or a father or a son it's a fun little read. I give Grisham credit for not making it too predictable even if it was a bit cheesy.
May 29, 2012 09:32pm · see review
Len marked as to-read: A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers	My rating:
May 29, 2012 08:14am
Len gave to: The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck read in May, 2012	My rating:
Interesting but very slow.
May 28, 2012 03:05pm · see review
Len made a comment on Whitney's review of Little Bee "Looking forward to your thoughts on this one...it has been on my to-read list for a while. "
May 28, 2012 03:03pm · see review
Len made a comment on Carol's review of State of Wonder "Wonderful book, huh? I read it right when it came out because Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors. I loved State of Wonder and rank it second a...more "
May 16, 2012 02:02pm · see review
Len gave to: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami read in May, 2012	My rating:
I absolutely loved 1Q84. I knew I was in trouble when I started reading it and a few hundred pages in I got sad that it would soon end -- even though it was more than 1,000 pages on my nook! I don't know about you, but sometimes when I've read a real...more
May 06, 2012 06:48pm · see review
Len marked as to-read: Canada by Richard Ford	My rating:
Apr 09, 2012 08:03pm
Len gave to: The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood by Jane Leavy read in March, 2012	My rating:
My annual March baseball read this year was The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood and it didn't disappoint. Jane Leavy is a tremendous sportswriter who really nailed this portrait of Mickey Mantle the man rather than the base...more
Mar 25, 2012 11:15am · see review
Len gave to: I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution by Craig Marks read in March, 2012	My rating:
Very enjoyable and entertaining read, especially given the impact MTV had on my life. I still remember when it launched, and I remember when it jumped the shark. MTV changed the music industry and it was fun to hear the details and stories from those...more
Mar 03, 2012 12:49pm · see review

Len Gutman

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