Warren Bull's Blog, page 2
May 12, 2017
Waking Up White by Debby Irving: A Review by Warren Bull
Waking Up White by Debby Irving: A Review by Warren Bull I suppose I am like many other people in the majority in this country in that I don’t consider myself racist. However, I have learned over time that I participate in a society that favors Caucasians over people of other races. Without even being aware of it until recently, I have taken full advantage of the privileges granted to white people and males
throughout my life. Debbie Irving in writing Waking Up White takes the reader along for her twenty-five year odyssey of learning about race. She learned that race is an invention of society and not biology. She is remarkably honest in revealing her lack of awareness that as a white person she is a member of a race. She also talks about how as a “good person” she tried to help people of other races and why her attempts so often failed.
Once started on the path toward enlightenment, she persisted despite false starts and failures along the way. What she discovered opened her eyes. She woke up to the reality.
I cannot do justice to the ideas covered in her book in this brief review. Besides the author writes so clearly that I’m not sure I could express myself as well as she did. I give this book my very highest recommendation.
throughout my life. Debbie Irving in writing Waking Up White takes the reader along for her twenty-five year odyssey of learning about race. She learned that race is an invention of society and not biology. She is remarkably honest in revealing her lack of awareness that as a white person she is a member of a race. She also talks about how as a “good person” she tried to help people of other races and why her attempts so often failed.
Once started on the path toward enlightenment, she persisted despite false starts and failures along the way. What she discovered opened her eyes. She woke up to the reality.
I cannot do justice to the ideas covered in her book in this brief review. Besides the author writes so clearly that I’m not sure I could express myself as well as she did. I give this book my very highest recommendation.
May 5, 2017
At One Fell Swoop by Stuart Palmer: A review by Warren Bull
At One Fell Swoop by Stuart Palmer: A review by Warren Bull
Published in 1951, At One Fell Swoop is one of a series of book with Hildegarde Withers, a retired maiden schoolteacher as an amateur sleuth and her friend and antagonist police detective Oscar Piper. He puts up with her schemes but benefits in the end from her insights. The pairing lasted through fourteen novels, three motion pictures and a made-for–television movie.
Palmer has a deft hand at writing. The plot is tight with a justified, satisfying ending. It plays fair with the reader. The heroine is caustic and comedic. The hero is amusingly frustrated and aware of Miss Wither’s ability to unravel riddles. The novel zipped along with action, humor and surprises. Palmer was considered one of the best writers of the time. One year he was the president of Mystery Writers of America.
His characters and writing stands the test of time. I highly recommend this mystery.
Published in 1951, At One Fell Swoop is one of a series of book with Hildegarde Withers, a retired maiden schoolteacher as an amateur sleuth and her friend and antagonist police detective Oscar Piper. He puts up with her schemes but benefits in the end from her insights. The pairing lasted through fourteen novels, three motion pictures and a made-for–television movie.
Palmer has a deft hand at writing. The plot is tight with a justified, satisfying ending. It plays fair with the reader. The heroine is caustic and comedic. The hero is amusingly frustrated and aware of Miss Wither’s ability to unravel riddles. The novel zipped along with action, humor and surprises. Palmer was considered one of the best writers of the time. One year he was the president of Mystery Writers of America.
His characters and writing stands the test of time. I highly recommend this mystery.
April 28, 2017
Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie: A Review by Warren
Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie: A Review by Warren Bull Alexie uses the form of a mystery/thriller to write about the issues of identity and racism. A serial murderer in Seattle terrorizes the city by hunting and killing white people. The crimes set off waves of hatred and violence directed at Native Americans. The characters in the book include John Smith, a Native American raised by white parents who knows very little about his heritage, Jack Wilson, an ex-cop and novelist who wants so much to be Native American that he imagines a heritage in the group, Dr. Clarence Mather who teaches classes about Native Americans and thinks he knows more about them than his Native American students. Also present are Truck Smith, a radio show host who vents bigoted rants against Native Americans that keep adding pressure to the community and Marie Polatkin, a Native American activist who struggles against the prejudices and ignorance of those in power. Alexie writes clearly and vigorously giving readers a grim, realistic picture of being a minority in a predominately white society. He shows how racism and ignorance affect both majority and minority people. That this book is written like a mystery is not important. What matters is what Alexie writes about. For a greater understanding of what Native Americans face in our society, I recommend this highly.
April 21, 2017
Abraham Lincoln in Court & Campaign
Amazon Customeron April 15, 2017
Warren's sories of Lincoln fascinate me because many of the problems he faced dealing a divided congress are similar to those of today. He describes how the lawyer defended a friend's son who was accused of murder and we see what thorough and clever defender he was as a man seeking justice. The story pulls you along because it is interspersed with detailed accounting of each of the the Lincoln- Douglas senate debates. The reader will see how politics can pull and change a politician who, in a push to win, will lie about his opponent to put him on the defensive. Overall, I highly recommend the book for those interested in civil war conflicts as well as those glued to today's angry environment.
Warren's sories of Lincoln fascinate me because many of the problems he faced dealing a divided congress are similar to those of today. He describes how the lawyer defended a friend's son who was accused of murder and we see what thorough and clever defender he was as a man seeking justice. The story pulls you along because it is interspersed with detailed accounting of each of the the Lincoln- Douglas senate debates. The reader will see how politics can pull and change a politician who, in a push to win, will lie about his opponent to put him on the defensive. Overall, I highly recommend the book for those interested in civil war conflicts as well as those glued to today's angry environment.
World Book Day
Reading changes lives
World Book Day - Sunday April 23, is all about celebrating reading and books.
Reading paves the way for intellectual and emotional growth throughout our lives. Studies show that there are many benefits to reading — from helping us overcome stress to keeping our brains sharp.
Books nurture our imaginations and our empathy, take us places we've never been, and introduce us to ideas and people we might never have otherwise encountered. Literacy skills can help empower people, positively impact communities and enrich lives.
Happy World Book Day!
Join us in supporting literacy
The charities below work to provide books and reading resources at home and around the world.
Worldreader - their mission is to create a world where everyone is a reader.
Room to Read - a focus on improving literacy and gender equality in education in the developing world.
First Book - provides new books, learning material and other essentials to children in need.
Amazon dot com is also donating and accepting donations.
World Book Day - Sunday April 23, is all about celebrating reading and books.
Reading paves the way for intellectual and emotional growth throughout our lives. Studies show that there are many benefits to reading — from helping us overcome stress to keeping our brains sharp.
Books nurture our imaginations and our empathy, take us places we've never been, and introduce us to ideas and people we might never have otherwise encountered. Literacy skills can help empower people, positively impact communities and enrich lives.
Happy World Book Day!
Join us in supporting literacy
The charities below work to provide books and reading resources at home and around the world.
Worldreader - their mission is to create a world where everyone is a reader.
Room to Read - a focus on improving literacy and gender equality in education in the developing world.
First Book - provides new books, learning material and other essentials to children in need.
Amazon dot com is also donating and accepting donations.
March 30, 2017
Book Review
Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey: A Review by Warren Bull
Image from Getty Images
Miss Pym Disposes, written by Josephine Tey, was published in 1948. It was the third of Tey’s novels. Of course, Elizabeth MacKintosh AKA Josephine Tey, had previously written under the name of Gordon Daviot, best known as a playwright. Once Tey entered the world, Daviot faded away.
The novel is a demonstration of excellence in writing. The novel is set in a girls’ physical education college, rather than somewhere exotic. The observer is the writer of a popular psychology book who gives a lecture at the request of an old friend who is now Principal of the college. Tey takes the reader along at a leisurely pace, giving her reader the chance to get to know and care about students and staff. The everyday events held my interest because of the quality of the writing. The murder happens well past the mid point of the book. It is even more shocking than if it had occurred early on.
Each character is fleshed out and interesting on her own. I was concerned about every one. I give this novel my highest recommendation.
Image from Getty Images
Miss Pym Disposes, written by Josephine Tey, was published in 1948. It was the third of Tey’s novels. Of course, Elizabeth MacKintosh AKA Josephine Tey, had previously written under the name of Gordon Daviot, best known as a playwright. Once Tey entered the world, Daviot faded away.
The novel is a demonstration of excellence in writing. The novel is set in a girls’ physical education college, rather than somewhere exotic. The observer is the writer of a popular psychology book who gives a lecture at the request of an old friend who is now Principal of the college. Tey takes the reader along at a leisurely pace, giving her reader the chance to get to know and care about students and staff. The everyday events held my interest because of the quality of the writing. The murder happens well past the mid point of the book. It is even more shocking than if it had occurred early on.
Each character is fleshed out and interesting on her own. I was concerned about every one. I give this novel my highest recommendation.
March 29, 2017
Finding and Losing My Father: The Most Meaningful Writing I Have Ever Done
Finding And Losing My Father: My Most Meaningful Writing
What is your most meaningful writing?
For me, there is a definite answer - Writing about my father.
At my father’s request, phrased – “You wouldn’t be willing to help me write my autobiography would you?” I assisted him in writing a memoir he wanted to leave for his descendants. (In the process I learned he asked my mother for a first date by saying, “You wouldn’t want to go out with me, would you?” She said, “Yes.” He hung up thinking she had refused. She had to call him back.) By the time in his life he asked for my help, my father had suffered heart attacks, strokes and been declared clinically dead twice.
He had a realistic expectation that he would not live much longer. There were things he wanted to tell his grandchildren and great grandchildren about his life. He wanted them to be able to tell their descendants. He seemed surprised that I immediately answered that I would be delighted to help.
We started with face-to-face interviews. Later he sent me tapes with long phrases I could not make out either because of his slurred speech or because He let the microphone drop far enough from his mouth that the tape recorder did not pick up his soft speech. I would write what I could understand, send him a copy, ask questions and make corrections based on his feedback to me. He communicated by left-handed writing that he developed after his stroke. His dominant right hand remained nearly useless.
My poor health slowed the process. I needed a bone marrow transplant to treat my multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer.) It was at least six months before I could continue the work.
The most difficult part for my father was recalling his experiences as a combat infantryman. For several years after coming home from the war, my dad had nightmares about what happened to him. Bringing up memories he had tried to forget brought back those nightmares.
To me, my father had always been an imposing figure. As a child I knew nothing about the effect of trauma or posttraumatic stress disorders. I only knew that my father became angry easily and had limited tolerance for noise and disorder. He was brilliant, impatient and ambitious. I had no doubt that he loved me, but frankly, he scared me at times.
As he reviewed and relived his days, I came to better understand the boy and then adolescent who became my father. In my father’s voice and face I found the young man torn from a safe existence and sent to Europe to kill or be killed. Stories about his experiences in the army I’d heard from my childhood acquired different significance as I learned details my father had omitted to protect his children.
Dad was impatient to finish his story. Long before it was as polished as I wanted, he told me to make one last revision. I made a last effort and sent it back as he asked. It was his story to tell. He had it typed up and bound at a local copy shop. Maybe he knew something I did not. It was not long after that when he started to show symptoms of dementia. Eventually he could no longer tell the story of his life . He liked to introduces m to his friends saying, “Warren wrote my autobiography.”
He is gone now and I miss him. If I had not been a writer, I would not have the opportunity to know my father as I came to know him while helping him write his memoir. I doubt if anyone outside the family will ever read his memoir. Believe me, as a writer I know how flawed and incomplete it is. Still, to me it is the most important writing I have done. I learned things about him I would never have known otherwise.
What is your most meaningful writing?
For me, there is a definite answer - Writing about my father.
At my father’s request, phrased – “You wouldn’t be willing to help me write my autobiography would you?” I assisted him in writing a memoir he wanted to leave for his descendants. (In the process I learned he asked my mother for a first date by saying, “You wouldn’t want to go out with me, would you?” She said, “Yes.” He hung up thinking she had refused. She had to call him back.) By the time in his life he asked for my help, my father had suffered heart attacks, strokes and been declared clinically dead twice.
He had a realistic expectation that he would not live much longer. There were things he wanted to tell his grandchildren and great grandchildren about his life. He wanted them to be able to tell their descendants. He seemed surprised that I immediately answered that I would be delighted to help.
We started with face-to-face interviews. Later he sent me tapes with long phrases I could not make out either because of his slurred speech or because He let the microphone drop far enough from his mouth that the tape recorder did not pick up his soft speech. I would write what I could understand, send him a copy, ask questions and make corrections based on his feedback to me. He communicated by left-handed writing that he developed after his stroke. His dominant right hand remained nearly useless.
My poor health slowed the process. I needed a bone marrow transplant to treat my multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer.) It was at least six months before I could continue the work.
The most difficult part for my father was recalling his experiences as a combat infantryman. For several years after coming home from the war, my dad had nightmares about what happened to him. Bringing up memories he had tried to forget brought back those nightmares.
To me, my father had always been an imposing figure. As a child I knew nothing about the effect of trauma or posttraumatic stress disorders. I only knew that my father became angry easily and had limited tolerance for noise and disorder. He was brilliant, impatient and ambitious. I had no doubt that he loved me, but frankly, he scared me at times.
As he reviewed and relived his days, I came to better understand the boy and then adolescent who became my father. In my father’s voice and face I found the young man torn from a safe existence and sent to Europe to kill or be killed. Stories about his experiences in the army I’d heard from my childhood acquired different significance as I learned details my father had omitted to protect his children.
Dad was impatient to finish his story. Long before it was as polished as I wanted, he told me to make one last revision. I made a last effort and sent it back as he asked. It was his story to tell. He had it typed up and bound at a local copy shop. Maybe he knew something I did not. It was not long after that when he started to show symptoms of dementia. Eventually he could no longer tell the story of his life . He liked to introduces m to his friends saying, “Warren wrote my autobiography.”
He is gone now and I miss him. If I had not been a writer, I would not have the opportunity to know my father as I came to know him while helping him write his memoir. I doubt if anyone outside the family will ever read his memoir. Believe me, as a writer I know how flawed and incomplete it is. Still, to me it is the most important writing I have done. I learned things about him I would never have known otherwise.
March 24, 2017
In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes: A Review by Warren Bull
In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes: A Review by Warren Bull
In a Lonely Place was published in 1947. In 1949 it was made into a noir film staring Humphrey Bogart, which is considered by many to be a classic even though the film deviated considerably from the novel.
In a Lonely Place was one of the first novels told from the point-of-view of the criminal. In my opinion it is successful in conveying the story from that point-of view. It is chilling without being gory. None of the actual murders were described as they happened. But the book maintains an atmosphere of menace. I am reminded of the shower scene in the movie Psycho. In that scene the viewer never sees the knife make contact with the victim, but it is shocking nonetheless.
By the way, if you are interested in the development of crime fiction over time, Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me, another excellent work from a murderer’s point of view, was published in 1952.
Dortohy B. Hughes gives a believable account of the criminal’s thoughts and emotions. As a reader I felt the drive the criminal feels toward committing murder. I did not find the killer likeable, but I could understand, at least at a sminimal level, the actions that he took.
This is not a who-done-it. It is more of a how-are-they-going-to-catch-him book. It is very skillfully written. The tension builds throughout. If you want to understand how to write suspense, this would be a good book to study. I recommend it highly.
In a Lonely Place was published in 1947. In 1949 it was made into a noir film staring Humphrey Bogart, which is considered by many to be a classic even though the film deviated considerably from the novel.
In a Lonely Place was one of the first novels told from the point-of-view of the criminal. In my opinion it is successful in conveying the story from that point-of view. It is chilling without being gory. None of the actual murders were described as they happened. But the book maintains an atmosphere of menace. I am reminded of the shower scene in the movie Psycho. In that scene the viewer never sees the knife make contact with the victim, but it is shocking nonetheless.
By the way, if you are interested in the development of crime fiction over time, Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me, another excellent work from a murderer’s point of view, was published in 1952.
Dortohy B. Hughes gives a believable account of the criminal’s thoughts and emotions. As a reader I felt the drive the criminal feels toward committing murder. I did not find the killer likeable, but I could understand, at least at a sminimal level, the actions that he took.
This is not a who-done-it. It is more of a how-are-they-going-to-catch-him book. It is very skillfully written. The tension builds throughout. If you want to understand how to write suspense, this would be a good book to study. I recommend it highly.
March 17, 2017
Blueprint for Murder by Roger Bax: A Review by Warren Bull
Blueprint for Murder by Roger Bax: A Review by Warren Bull
Published originally in 1948, Blueprint for Murder was written by Paul Winterton using the penname of Roger Bax. The author also wrote under the names Andrew Garve and Paul Somers.
The novel starts with Arthur Cross trying to escape from a Russian offensive in World War II. Although he wears a German uniform, when Cross decides Germany is doomed he immediately tries to shed the uniform and assume the pose of having been a British prisoner of war held by the Germans. The author grabbed and held my interest by describing Cross moving alone at night, trying to avoid military forces, seeking food and water by any means possible. He also established that Cross would do anything, including robbery and murder, to stay alive.
Once back in his native England, Cross continues to act in ways that serve his interest at the expense of everyone. Learning he is a beneficiary of his uncle’s will, Cross begins to plot how to kill his uncle without getting caught. The author’s depiction of Cross’ utterly cold-blooded planning is chilling.
The extended sea chase at the end of the novel is also engrossing. Technically, the writing is good to excellent. However, one aspect of the novel bothered me — the relationship between the hero and his love interest. The woman is a medical student, daughter of a physician, who wants to become a surgeon. She demonstrates her skill and ability to think clearly in a crisis. In 1948 that was an unusual goal for a woman. Initially, I thought the author had developed an interesting character. However, the hero, in his attempt to sweet-talk her, says he does not think she should become a surgeon, doubting that a woman would have the necessary strength and endurance. He refers to her suspicion of the villain as women’s intuition, discounting her intelligence and reasoning. In response the woman just accuses him of being old fashioned. Neither character seems to find it strange that the hero completely discounts the intelligence, abilities and persistence of the heroine.
Sections of the book, especially the beginning and ending, showed both excellent writing and descriptions of events that I had not read about before. Those parts qualify as highly recommendable. The plotting is clever and realistic. However, the hero’s chauvinistic behavior bothered me. It detracted from my enjoyment of the book. For me this is an illustration of how a single element of a mystery that rings false can result in an unsatisfying read.
Because of that one element, I recommend Blueprint for Murder as an example of good writing. However, there are many other well-written books I enjoyed more than this.
Published originally in 1948, Blueprint for Murder was written by Paul Winterton using the penname of Roger Bax. The author also wrote under the names Andrew Garve and Paul Somers.
The novel starts with Arthur Cross trying to escape from a Russian offensive in World War II. Although he wears a German uniform, when Cross decides Germany is doomed he immediately tries to shed the uniform and assume the pose of having been a British prisoner of war held by the Germans. The author grabbed and held my interest by describing Cross moving alone at night, trying to avoid military forces, seeking food and water by any means possible. He also established that Cross would do anything, including robbery and murder, to stay alive.
Once back in his native England, Cross continues to act in ways that serve his interest at the expense of everyone. Learning he is a beneficiary of his uncle’s will, Cross begins to plot how to kill his uncle without getting caught. The author’s depiction of Cross’ utterly cold-blooded planning is chilling.
The extended sea chase at the end of the novel is also engrossing. Technically, the writing is good to excellent. However, one aspect of the novel bothered me — the relationship between the hero and his love interest. The woman is a medical student, daughter of a physician, who wants to become a surgeon. She demonstrates her skill and ability to think clearly in a crisis. In 1948 that was an unusual goal for a woman. Initially, I thought the author had developed an interesting character. However, the hero, in his attempt to sweet-talk her, says he does not think she should become a surgeon, doubting that a woman would have the necessary strength and endurance. He refers to her suspicion of the villain as women’s intuition, discounting her intelligence and reasoning. In response the woman just accuses him of being old fashioned. Neither character seems to find it strange that the hero completely discounts the intelligence, abilities and persistence of the heroine.
Sections of the book, especially the beginning and ending, showed both excellent writing and descriptions of events that I had not read about before. Those parts qualify as highly recommendable. The plotting is clever and realistic. However, the hero’s chauvinistic behavior bothered me. It detracted from my enjoyment of the book. For me this is an illustration of how a single element of a mystery that rings false can result in an unsatisfying read.
Because of that one element, I recommend Blueprint for Murder as an example of good writing. However, there are many other well-written books I enjoyed more than this.
March 15, 2017
The Snake that Rattled My Life
The Snake that Rattled My Life
During the first year of graduate school a friend and I went hiking in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Foolishly, we got off the trail to walk up the side of a steep hill through the brush. It turned out that the hill was already occupied. I found out by disturbing and almost stepping on a rattlesnake.
I heard the rattle clearly. I saw part of the body of the snake. It looked as wide as a fat bike tire. My knees literally buckled. I sat down involuntarily, slid down the slope for about a foot, disappearing from the snake’s view. In a few moments, that seemed like hours, the snake stopped rattling. When my shaking lessened enough that I was able to stand. My friend and I retraced our steps.
Until that point in graduate school I had been worried that I might not make it through. I might fail classes. I might not succeed at the many steps of writing a dissertation. I had not worried about getting bitten by a poisonous snake.
The real danger of the snake made my imagined disasters look like what they were — creations of my anxiety. They might never occur. If they did happen, they would be setbacks but not catastrophes. Almost every one could be corrected. If I tried and failed obstacles in school, I would find something else to do for a living.
That snake gave me the gift of seeing things in proportion. Going into tests, planning my research, gathering data and writing a dissertation were still possible failures. Faced them one at a time. Each time I felt anxious. Each tine I told myself, “I might fail, but I’m not going to be bitten by a rattlesnake if I do.”
I still remind myself of the snake when I need to.
During the first year of graduate school a friend and I went hiking in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Foolishly, we got off the trail to walk up the side of a steep hill through the brush. It turned out that the hill was already occupied. I found out by disturbing and almost stepping on a rattlesnake.
I heard the rattle clearly. I saw part of the body of the snake. It looked as wide as a fat bike tire. My knees literally buckled. I sat down involuntarily, slid down the slope for about a foot, disappearing from the snake’s view. In a few moments, that seemed like hours, the snake stopped rattling. When my shaking lessened enough that I was able to stand. My friend and I retraced our steps.
Until that point in graduate school I had been worried that I might not make it through. I might fail classes. I might not succeed at the many steps of writing a dissertation. I had not worried about getting bitten by a poisonous snake.
The real danger of the snake made my imagined disasters look like what they were — creations of my anxiety. They might never occur. If they did happen, they would be setbacks but not catastrophes. Almost every one could be corrected. If I tried and failed obstacles in school, I would find something else to do for a living.
That snake gave me the gift of seeing things in proportion. Going into tests, planning my research, gathering data and writing a dissertation were still possible failures. Faced them one at a time. Each time I felt anxious. Each tine I told myself, “I might fail, but I’m not going to be bitten by a rattlesnake if I do.”
I still remind myself of the snake when I need to.
