E. L. Doctorow

E. L. Doctorow. The Authors List. I've read 8 books by this author and I really focused on his historical fiction novels. The first one I read was Ragtime in 1979. Then a couple more in the early 80's.

I've enjoyed reading his books over the years. The last one I read was in 2011. He wrote one more book in 2014 that was published just before his passing in 2015. I should probably read that one when I get a chance.

The books of E. L. Doctorow that I've read.

• Ragtime, 1975 - Sep 1979
• Book of Daniel, 1971 - Feb 1980
• Loon Lake, 1980 - May 1982
• World's Fair, 1985 - Sep 1988
• Billy Bathgate, 1989 - Oct 1990
• The Waterworks, 1994 - Jan 1995
• The March, 2005 - Oct 2005
• Homer & Langley, 2009 - May 2011

Into The Fire - Protest Songs FV

Into The Fire as the war goes on and more oil tankers burn. Another mix of protest songs from albums in my collection. Mix #14

Into The Fire - Protest Songs FV

1. Into The Fire – Bruce Springsteen
2. Final Straw – R.E.M.
3. Breathing – Kate Bush
4. Intervention – Arcade Fire
5. Seconds – U2
6. Russians – Sting
7. 21st Century Schizoid Man – King Crimson
8. Lucky Man – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
9. Sweet Cherry Wine – Tommy James & The Shondells
10. Wooden Ships – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
11. Soldier – Procol Harum
12. The Captain – Leonard Cohen
13. Soldier’s Angel – Stevie Nicks
14. All & Everyone – PJ Harvey
15. Searching For A Soldier’s Grave – Laura Cantrell
16. 16 Military Wives – The Decemberists
17. John Walker’s Blues – Steve Earle
18. Bombs Away – Eels
19. No War – The Ben Miller Band
20. Song Of A Soldier – Willie Nile

Philip Kerr - The Authors List

Philip Kerr. I've read 14 of this Scottish novelist's historical thrillers and almost overlooked him when I was putting together my Authors List. All of the novels of his that I've read have been part of his Berlin detective Bernie Gunther series. They are all set in Germany during the 1930's, the Second World War and the Cold War.

His first three books written between 1989-1991 were later published together in a trilogy titled Berlin Noir in 1993. That is how I read them during the summer of 2010. Then I read the rest of the books over the next few years. The last book of his I read was his last Bernie Gunther in 2019 published a year after he sadly passed away at 62. 

Philip Kerr novels I've read:

• March Violets, 1989 - Jun 2010
• The Pale Criminal, 1990 - Jul 2010
• A German Requiem, 1991 - Aug 2010
• The One From The Other, 2006 - Jan 2011
• A Quiet Flame, 2008 - May 2011
• If The Dead Rise Not, 2009 - Jun 2011
• Field Gray, 2010 - Sep 2011
• Prague Fatale, 2011 - Jul 2012
• A Man Without Breadth, 2013 - May 2014
• The Lady From Zagreb, 2015 - Jul 2015
• The Other Side Of Silence, 2016 - Jun 2016
• Prussian Blue, 2017 - Apr 2018
• Greeks Bearing Gifts, 2018 - Sep 2018
• Metropolis, 2019 - Jun 2019

All Over Again - Protest Songs FV

America at war is Deja Vu all over again. It's now two weeks into the illegal war and oil tankers are burning.  Another mix of anti-war peace and protest songs from albums in my collection. 

This is #13. I took a break for a few days but guess I couldn't just stop. 

All Over Again - Protest Songs FV

1. Deja Vu (All Over Again) – John Fogerty
2. Let’s Impeach The President – Neil Young
3. Orange Crush – R.E.M.
4. New Killer Star – David Bowie
5. Jacob’s Ladder (Not In My Name) – Chumbawamba
6. I Don’t Wanan Be A Soldier Mama – Robert Randolph & The Family Band
7. What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes? – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
8. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Flogging Molly
9. Freedom Highway – Rhiannon Giddens
10. Washington Bullets – The Clash
11. Melancholy Soldiers – The Skids
12. New Year’s Day – U2
13. Forever Young – Alphaville
14. Right Here Right Now – Jesus Jones
15. Politik – Coldplay
16. Killing An Arab – The Cure
17. Bomb The World – Michael Franti & Spearhead
18. Too Young To Die – Jamiroquai
19. Zombie – Fela Kuti
20. Drone Bomb Me – Anohni
21. Johnny Was – Bob Marley & The Wailers
22. I’m Just Another Soldier – The Staple Singers

Upon A Dark Night - A Novel

Upon a Dark Night by Pete Lovesey, 1997. I just finished my fifth crime mystery novel in his Peter Diamond detective series that takes place in Bath, England. A lot of plot twist in this one and some interesting police procedure detective work. It was a quick read and I've been enjoying this series of novels with Detective Diamond as the chief of the murder squad in the fascinating city of Bath.

Lovesey has written 22 novels in this series and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Becky's Irish Soda Bread

It's that time of year again when Becky makes her delicious Irish Soda Bread which of course recently has been her hybrid Americanized version she adopted from the NY Times. I've written about her soda bread a couple of times over the past couple of years describing her baking method.

• Skillet Irish Soda Bread 3/17/24
• Irish Soda Bread 3/14/25

Adrian McKinty - The Authors List

Adrian McKinty. Now we're on to a Northern Irish writer of crime novels. Most of the 8 books of his that I've read were part of the detective Sean Duffy series that takes place in Belfast during The Troubles. 

I have really enjoyed the 7 novels of the Sean Duffy detective series and also the one standalone novel The Chain. The last book I read was about a year ago and I'm looking forward to his new one in the series.

Adrian McKinty books I've read:

• The Cold Cold Ground, 2012 - Feb 2021
• I Hear The Sirens In The Street, 2013 - Mar 2021
• The Chain, 2019 - May 2021
• In The Morning I'll Be Gone, 2014 - Aug 2021
• Gun Street Girl, 2015 - Nov 2021
• Rain Dogs, 2016 - Feb 2022
• Police At The Station and They Don't Look Friendly, 2017 - Mar 2023
• The Detective Up Late, 2023 -  Feb 2025

A Windy Night... and Day

Becky and I both woke up several times overnight because of the very high winds. I should also say the very noisy high winds. It sounded like some of the neighbor's trash containers were blowing around. I had mine put away close to the porch and one up against the shed door to keep it from blowing open which sometimes happens. It didn't happen last night. I went outside this morning to check on things. Some small branches came down in the backyard but nothing serious. I'm also going to put some bungy cords on the air conditioner cover to keep it from flapping in the wind which can be somewhat noisy.

Yesterday we had both some snow and rain during one particular hour which I wrote about here.

So today it will be cloudy all day but no rain or snow until tomorrow morning. It will be windy again tomorrow too. It looks like it will be a mixed weather week coming up just like it was a mixed weather time over the past couple of weeks. Looking forward to some real nice spring weather.

A Snow Rain Hour

Earlier today we had some strange weather. Within an hour around noontime we had snow that covered everything, some sunshine, then a lot of rain that got rid of all the snow. March in Buffalo.

I also saw the first robin in our yard during that snow. The other robins we've seen this spring have been on our walks.

Martin Walker - The Authors List

Martin Walker is next on my Authors List at 8 of his novels I've read. He is a writer and former journalist from Scotland who writes crime detective novels that take place in a rural village in France. The books are always an interesting blend of police procedure, restaurant cooking, wine tastings, current events and local history.

All 8 of his novels I've read are part of the Bruno, Chief of Police series of which there are 18 novels so I still have a way to go.

The Martin Walker books I've read:

• Bruno, Chief of Police, 2008 - Nov 2022
• The Dark Vineyard, 2009 - Dec 2022
• Black Diamond, 2010 - Feb 2023
• The Crowded Grave, 2011 - Mar 2023
• The Devil's Cave, 2012 - Jun 2023
• The Resistance Man, 2013 - Jan 2024
• The Children Return, 2014 - Jan 2025
• The Patriarch, 2015 - Jul 2025