Mark Lieberman's Blog: Mark Lieberman's BOOK REVIEWS , page 7

The Wild Robot – by Peter Brown

Niko’s teacher has been reading this book to the class, and last weekend, we saw the movie. This is the first time Niko has seen a movie based on a book, and he was impressed on how the movie portrayed some of the events from the book. I did tell him that books are always better than the movies as they have more room to fill. His favorite character was Fink the Fox.

The only downside was, his class didn’t finish the book. So, no biggie for us! That evening, he found where they left off, and I finished reading it to him. The next night, he read a few chapters by himself and he finished it again!

As we were reading it, I stopped a few times to see if he was following along so he could see what was missing from the movie. Towards the end of the book were some artists drawings of what he thought everything would look like.

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The House of Cross (Alex Cross #33) – by James Patterson

After I read the James Patterson autobiography in 2022, I was interested in seeing if I could into the Alex Cross books (as it’s not my preferred genre), and I was hooked after I read Along Came a Spider. Yeah, when I saw a new book in April of this year, I was ready and couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Alex Cross and company! I enjoyed the plot, the suspense, and as always, all the characters (even a bad guy from prior books).

I have read a few other books by Patterson: Lion & Lamb, House of Wolves, 12 Months to Live (Jane Smith #1), Hard to Kill (Jane Smith #2), and Holmes, Marple, and Poe (#1). Number two for Holmes, Marple, and Poe comes out in January.

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The Legend of Red Klotz: How Basketball’s Loss Leader Won Over the World—14,000 Times – by Tim Kelly

This book was referenced in the book I just read about Abe Saperstein, and I was intrigued. You may not know the name, but if I tell you Red Klotz was a player, coach, and owner of the Washington Generals, you will now know who he is. Red won championships in high school, college, his professional barnstorming teams, and even the NBA.

He was hired by Saperstein after his non Generals teams almost beat The Harlem Globetrotters a few times, and it was mostly due to his shooting and his small stature. Later, when Red was a player/coach for the Generals, they did defeat them once. Red preached to the Washington Generals that we always try to win, but we also need to allow the Globetrotter entertainment to be top notch. Red even put himself in a lot of the fun things the Globetrotters did, and never got tired of hit. He just loved being able to the play the game of basketball. He played till the age of 68!

Klotz grew up in Philadelphia, and during that time, Eddie Gottlieb was a legend in the making for basketball. Gottlieb gave Red one of his first jobs as a player/coach of the Philidelphia Sphas. I saw a book about Gottlieb and I have put that on my To Be Read list.

One of the best quotes about Red was from Wilt Chamberlain, who played for the Globetrotters. “With Red, you lose on all counts. You’re supposed to pick on somebody your own size, you must always respect your elders, and you can never hit a man with glasses.”

Unlike some other biographies I have read, where the subject doesn’t want anything to do with this book, Red was heavily involved in this one and I really enjoyed all of his stories.

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Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports – by Mark Jacob and Matthew Jacob

I have had this book in my Goodreads Want to Read list since August 31st when I saw a Tweet from @SprtBookReviews about it. I was immediately intrigued as in 2022, I read Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters by Ben Green.

So, I was already familiar with the team, but was looking forward to reading about the man behind the team, Abe Saperstein.

I didn’t know how much influence Abe had during his lifetime for bringing the world together and not giving a care in the world about the color of somebody’s skin. I didn’t know he helped bring Larry Doby and Satchel Paige to the Cleveland Indians baseball team in 1948 with the magnificent, Bill Veeck, as the owner. I have read a few books on Bill Veeck, and wasn’t surprised to see Abe and him having a positive business relationship.

I didn’t know it was his idea to bring the three pointer to basketball.

I didn’t know how much there tours overseas helped bring more awareness to basketball and improved relations with those countries. He even had portable basketball courts stashed overseas for those appearances.

He was a pioneer in everything he touched and grew the team into a powerhouse. Remember, this was during the 1930’s to 1960’s. The Great Depression, wars, racism, with no social media to spread the positivity of Abe and the Globetrotters. The Globetrotters barnstormed throughout the country and the team they played against were considered to be the best, and Trotters won! They even defeated the Minneapolis Lakers twice during there George Mikan time.

All the gimmicks and hijinks throughout the games made it fun and the variety acts he had for halftime, were a perfect fit. Just look at an NBA game today, and you can see Abe’s influence, although you may not know it.

He was inducted after his death to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, and the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

It was an amazing read and purview in to Abe’s life. I really enjoyed it. There were references to books, newspaper articles, and sports writers throughout the book. One book, in particular, caught my eye. It’s The Legend of Red Klotz: How Basketball s Loss Leader Won Over the World 14,000 Times, which I have just finished and am working on the review now.

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The Answer Is No: A Short Story – by Frederick Backman

As a reader, I am definitely on the Frederick Backman bandwagon as I have read most of his books. I like his style of writing. When I saw this book in my Kindle as something I might like, I was intrigued and threw it in my To Be Read list. A few minutes later, I went back to look at it again and even though it said the publishing date is 12/1/2024, I saw a button that said read now, and I clicked it and guess what? I got the book.

In typical Backman style, it was humorous and the characters were interesting. It was a quick read for me and I enjoyed it.

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Earth to Moon: A Memoir – by Moon Unit Zappa

I didn’t even know Moon wrote a book, until my wife sent me a text about it. I was definitely intrigued as I know she is Frank Zappa’s older daughter, and I sort of figured because of that, she must’ve had an interesting life.

I will admit and tell you I gave this book two chances, the first, I just couldn’t get into it and the second a few days later, I dove in and plowed through it. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would as her life was a bit awkward and depressing. For one thing, she referred to her parents as Gail and Frank throughout the book, and another thing was a lot of people would visit the house and Frank would court the ladies. It also was a household where Frank was distant because of his music and Gail was trying to keep the house from falling down with everything on her plate.

I did enjoy her stories about her life, family, music, relationships, acting, and the struggles of being a “Zappa.” Yes, she did talk about Franks death, Gails death, her marriage, her child, and the legal issues of the Zappa Estate.

I skimmed the last few chapters of the book, as I was ready to be done reading it.

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Robert B Parker’s Lullaby – by Ace Atkins

This is the first Spenser book written after Parker’s death. For his other books where other authors have continued his characters, I couldn’t tell a difference in the writing style. I guess that is good, and it was the same for this one.

Spenser is hired by a 14 year old girl who needs his help to track down the person who murdered her mother four years earlier. Of course, Spenser figures it out with the help of his friends.

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Spenser #1 through #40 – by Robert Parker

After I finished all the Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall books, also by Robert Parker (and others after he passed away in 2010), I started the first book in the Spenser series in January of 2024. Flash forward to today, and I have now read all the Spenser books that were written by Parker. All three are in the same realm so there are returning characters from the Jesse and Sunny series in the Spenser series. I was like, oh awesome, I know that person already. I can see the finish line for the books, and am even excited that a brand new Spenser book is being published next month by Mike Lupica.

I have watched the Robert Ullrich and Joe Mantegna Spenser movies, and I even watched Mark Wahlberg as Spenser on Netflix (out of book order, and I didn’t realize it). I have watched some of the television series with Robert Ullrich. I know there are Hawk television shows, and I would like to watch those. I didn’t like Joe Mantegna as Spenser, but Ullrich and Wahlberg easily pull it off. As I read the books, I picture Robert Ullrich!

Don’t laugh, but I have the Spenser Wiki site saved, so I can know what book is next!

I do read them while I am waiting for my 8-year-old son to fall asleep, and he sometimes reads over my shoulder and asks me what’s happening. So, I tell him (unless it’s a part where it’s too mature for him). 

Besides Spenser, my favorite characters in no particular order are: Hawk, Vinnie Morris, Susan, Detective Quirk, Detective Belson, Detective Farrell, and Pearl the wonder dog.  I like how Spenser and Susan discuss the cases and often times, she helps him out with her Harvard PHD thoughts!

The books are written in first person, and of course, the narrator is Spenser. I like the detail Robert Parker provides us and you can tell that Spenser notices everything.

I also like that I have been able to read most of the them for free through the library and I can finish them in a few days. I have only reviewed a few of them, but have given all of them 5 out of 5 stars!

Don’t spoil anything for me in the books I haven’t read!

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Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption – by Michael Ray Richardson

I got this book from Netgalley, so I can read and review it before it’s published. I am a fan of the NBA, but I will admit, that I have never heard of Michael Ray Richardson. So, when I saw this in the Netgalley catalog, I was intrigued and checked it out.

Michael was a 4-time All-Star when he played for the New York Knicks (legend Willis Reed was the one who saw him and wanted him), and won several championships as a coach. He played in the NBA from 1978 to 1986. He came before Magic, Larry, Michael, and Isiah, and he played against those greats. He also played against Dr. J!

I am looking at the 1978 NBA draft where Richardson was drafted 4th. Larry Bird was picked at number 6 (but, he came to the Celtics the following year), Reggie Theus was picked at number 9 by the Bulls, Maurice Cheeks was picked in the 2nd round, Michael Cooper was picked in the 3rd round, and the number 1 was Mychal Thompson who went to Portland. Pretty amazing draft, and back in those days, it wasn’t as popular and televised like it is now. Richardson was in his dorm room at the University of Montana where someone yelled to him that Willis Reed is looking for him. Michael than ran down the street to his coach’s house where he got to talk to Willis. How different would the NBA had been if the Knicks drafted Larry Bird and the Celtics picked Michael? Or even if the Bulls picked Larry or Michael.

He was a trash talker on the court, but was able to back it up with his offensive and defensive skills. He made a few all defensive teams during his NBA career.

He did get banned from the NBA after 8 seasons because of the “three strike rule for failing a drug test”. But, after two years, he was reinstated, but he never returned to the NBA as he took playing overseas for a several teams and then when he retired from playing, he coached in the minor leagues also for several teams. Michael has no regrets about what he did, and is now sober. He made a stupid decision, and he persevered. He is very open about it and nothing is left untouched. He also talked about his marriages and divorces, and all of his kids. He takes care of everybody.

I really enjoyed reading about his life, and enjoyed all the stories he told, the friendships he made with his teammates, his overall love of the game, and wanting to help bring awareness through basketball camps.

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Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1) – by Robert Parker

While I was waiting for Spenser, book number 36 at the library, also by Robert Parker, I decided to start another of his series. I have already read all the Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall books, and I like his style of writing.

Appaloosa is a western town where the police Marshall has been shot and killed by a bad guy named Bragg. Cole and Hitch arrive to restore order, and are very savvy with their guns. They are not afraid to use them, and have made a good name for themselves cleaning up towns like Appaloosa. They make sure the laws they create are followed.

I liked the characters of Cole and Hitch as they seem very confident about their abilities, and I liked their background as well.

This one was also made into a movie starring, Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renew Zellweger, Lance Hendrickson, and Jeremy Irons. Yes, I am going to watch it.

I am looking forward to reading more as there are several more books.

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