Peter Wilson's Blog, page 2
February 6, 2013
The Will To Win
If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it
If only desire of it
Makes you quite mad enough
Never to tire of it,
Makes you hold all other things tawdry and cheap for it
If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,
If gladly you’ll sweat for it,
Fret for it, Plan for it,
Lose all your terror of God or man for it,
If you’ll simply go after that thing that you want.
With all your capacity,
Strength and sagacity,
Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity,
If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
Nor sickness nor pain
Of body or brain
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,
If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You’ll get it!
– Berton Braley
February 4, 2013
November 5, 2012
Book Review: The Westies
The Westies: Inside New York’s Irish Mob by T.J. English
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you enjoy true crime and mob stories The Westies is a must. There seem to be two main staples in the true crime genre, Italian Mafia and bikers. The Westies is a different take. The book is about the Irish mob in Hell’s Kitchen through the 70s and 80s. They were just as, if not more, ruthless than they’re Italian counterparts and had the same great ‘characters’ leading their outfit. There are other books that cover The Westies but to me this is the most detailed and tells the story the best. This is the real deal, big city crime and serious consequences. One thing that struck me about ‘The Westies’ were their volatility. They were not bound by ‘a code’ or had to pay tribute to the old country. Their viciousness and unpredictability stunned the police. This book throws a lot of facts, names and dates at the reader, like most non-fiction, so if you find that distracting best to move on. It is not overtly violent but does accurately describe their exploits. If you’ve heard of The Gambino’s you will want to hear about The Westies.
View all my reviews
October 29, 2012
Book Review: Lunar Park
Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bret Easton Ellis exercises some of his own demons in Lunar Park. The story reads like a ‘faux’ autobiography which if you are a fan of Ellis or his works’ nuances are easy to recognize. This book has everything that a reader would want in a Bret Easton Ellis book, satire and hyperbole deeply rooted in reality. All the segments with the Terby (Ferby) doll I found hilarious. But at the heart of the story is a cautionary tale about parenting. There is no measure of the negative impact that a careless parent can have on their kid. Ellis seems to recognize the vicious cycle that can be perpetuated by bad parenting and bring up his late father often. Lunar Park is eerie and entertaining. Ellis himself said the book is a homage to Stephen King, and it is not difficult to feel that tone throughout the book. The references to Ellis’ actual life do not come across as pretentious but critical. If you enjoy Bret Easton Ellis, Stephen King or have an interest in a less than ordinary family life Lunar Park is for you.
View all my reviews
October 26, 2012
October 23, 2012
Book Review: A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Clockwork Orange may be the toughest book to review and describe to interested readers. If you are frustrated by slang or a completely unique narrative voice I would avoid this book but it may change your mind. At first I was distracted by the language but by the end I was understanding it as well as plain old English. That is not to say that the book is difficult to read, quite the opposite. To fully appreciate and enjoy this book you may have to consistently remind yourself that it was published in 1962. Most things in the book are so unique and well achieved they are sometimes forgotten as original. Another thing I found enjoyable were ‘the messages’ or ‘point’ of the book. It really speaks to how complicated and incredible machines human beings are, for better or worse. The sex and violence, among other things, may offend readers but in my opinion it is not glorified. But if you must find a singular reason to read this book it is the narrator. A Clockwork Orange is the opportunity to shake hands and meet Alex, perhaps the most likable and sympathetic psychopath ever.
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October 15, 2012
Book Review: Omerta
Omerta by Mario Puzo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Omerta tends to get overshadowed, perhaps rightfully, by The Godfather. If you enjoyed The Godfather you will enjoy Omerta and vice versa. It is the third ‘Mafia story’ by Puzo, The Sicilian being the other. Puzo crafted a novel about ‘his favorite’ subject that arguably suited his writing the best. The characters stay with you. You care for them, you try and see all the angles before things take place and you often don’t end up seeing the curveballs which makes it entertaining. If you have a young adult you are trying to get to read and the appeals of young adult fiction seem below them, then I would recommend Omerta. It has all the maturity, sex and violence, without being over the top. This was the first Mario Puzo book I read and I went on to read his entire works. I must say compared to everything else he did this is right in the middle. But as far as Mafia stories go I would say this is at the top. He so effortlessly achieves the setting and code of behaviors that you cannot help but get into the world. Omerta may get the silent treatment from some critics, that’s a pun, but people need to know about this thrilling work.
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October 8, 2012
Book Review: The Boy Who Loved Batman
The Boy Who Loved Batman by Michael E. Uslan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you have ever had a hobby or passion that didn’t really meet up with your environment or wasn’t embraced by the world around you, The Boy Who Loved Batman will bring an immediate smile to your face. The power of reflection is what really drives this book and makes it interesting. You can’t look forward, you can only look back. Seeing how things turned out, events that shaped Uslan and the value of the comic books he purchased in todays market is what make the book fun. This is as motivating as a memoir can get. Where sheer blind passion and talent meets opportunity and success. If there is a thesis of the book it is ‘life is a journey not a destination’ and sometimes despite our best efforts we cannot see our path until we are standing on it. For any creative person the insight into the difficult landscape of the entertainment industry is another level of intrigue for the book. Uslan dispenses his advice with a thankful approach that never comes across as a lecture. If you have any interest in Batman or are having trouble finding a new level of determination The Boy Who Loved Batman is and excellent bet. Please check out my first published work
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October 3, 2012
Book Review: American Psycho
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
American Psycho could be the most mainstream misunderstood and polarizing novel of the last thirty years. What do you get when you have a satire that completely encapsulates the feelings of a certain setting and time? People get offended. This book is all that you have heard about and more. Those talks of the gratuitous violence and explicit hedonism you hear about are true. But what I think people found the most shocking and a quality I found the most redeeming is the style. It is so effortless and eerie that the severity of the events in the book will make even the most desensitized reader squirm. This books power is its ability to make the reader re-asses and re-consider society. Patrick Bateman is an original sociopath. He takes you on a literary pop ride that is not for the faint of heart. This book has the potential to and should haunt you. The essence of American Psycho to me is best summed up by this quote from Bret Easton Ellis, “My work is really about a culture that pisses me off, and a world that we live in that values all the wrong things.” Please check out my first published work
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September 30, 2012
Book Giveaway
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Defenseless
by Peter Wilson
Giveaway ends October 15, 2012.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
