Skip to main content

Book Review: The Glass Rainbow

    Hey, everyone. I hope you guys are having a pleasant new year.
    I just finished reading James Lee Burke's latest novel. The title is The Glass Rainbow and its very good. Burke has this series about a police detective in Louisiana, named Dave Robicheaux. The guy has more hangups than I do, with a friend named Clete Purcell who is in worse shape. The series is full of compelling characters. In this book Dave is trying to solve a murder case involving some young women who were abducted. Dave and Clete try not to let the law get in their way too much.
    Burke's books are a view into a world which is darker than anything we want a steady diet of. What I mean is, read one of Burke's books, then read something else. Otherwise it can get a bit depressing. Of course I have always followed that formula with any author, even more mellow guys like Edgar Rice Burroughs. It prevents your favorite authors from growing stale.
    In my opinion, James Lee Burke is one of the top ten living authors at this time. His stories are absorbing reads and I have only started one which I couldn't recommend. The Glass Rainbow is gritty crime drama at it's grittiest but don't read it if you can't stand some bad language. I give the book 4 stars out of 4, without hesitation.
    I have often visited Louisiana and it is one of my favorite places. I like the people and I like its diversity. Nobody knows the places and people like Mr. Burke. Many years ago I went to the Sugar Bowl at the Super Dome in New Orleans. The night before, I went up to Bourbon Street and watched the revelry of the two opposing sets of fans. I sipped beer, leaning on a lamp post, and marveled that all the drunks weren't getting rolled. In Burke's books he says that tourists are off limits under the strict orders of the mob and the police.
    The Super Dome was an interesting experience for me. It was the first domed stadium I had ever been in and I couldn't believe how small it felt. I sat in the upper deck and it seemed I could almost touch the roof. Years later I watched the tragedy unfold there as Katrina's aftermath was being dealt(?) with. I had a hard time imagining how people kept from going nuts in that place for so many days. I whine if I have to stay cooped up here at home too long.
    From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Shadowgun: Crushing The Driller On Level 4

      Hey, everyone. Let's talk about the game called Shadowgun, the I-Pad game with which I have a love-hate relationship. Most of you who made it past the evil Cyber Lobster are doubtless locked in a death struggle with the Driller at the end of level 4. At this point you have been in the cave for a long time. The Driller breaks through the rock wall and chases you through the tunnel as you try to shoot out the green lights which slows the Driller down. If you are slick enough to shoot out all the lights and emerge from the cave, a rolling door crashes on the Driller and crushes his aggravating carcass. I have tried and failed to beat the Driller at least 250 times. I hate the Driller to the heights and depths my soul can reach. I hate it like a plague. I hate it with intensity of feeling. I hate it like a rich man hates taxes. Excuse me, I got carried away.       We had a big dinner here at the green retreat and my friend Trevor was ...

You're Aiming the Missile Where?

    Hey, everyone, out there in game-land. The number 1 game on the friendly neighborhood app store is Call of Duty: Strike Team . No wonder, because it is a terrific game. The farther I play, the cooler it gets. But before I get to that, what are all these numbers indicating on my gun? Has to be some sort of ammo indicator for the clips, I guess. either that or some of my compadres has trouble doing his math homework. Whatever.     Hey. Check out the picture of me hitching a ride on an enemy truck so that my team can infiltrate a missile silo. Do you like the face mask? I bought it at a store called Fashions by Bane. Ha, ha. (Batman Reference) On this mission, my team was assisted by a Russian Spetsnaz squad. How's that for detente, comrade? These Spetsnaz guys make everything fun. What I mean is this. We shoot bunches of enemies and get into the bowels of the silo. We get to the gantry where the missile is (Pictured above) and we see that the rad...

Shadowgun: Killing The Windbreaker

    Hey, everyone. I thought it might be a good time for a bit of an update on the riveting game called Shadowgun. Consider this your spoiler alert and tune out if you want to.     Once you get past the dreaded Driller, things get better but you are certainly not out of the woods. You will want to make sure you keep a full clip in your gun as you stroll through the realm of the evil and crazy Dr. Simon. But hey, you're John Slade, the Shadowgun, and wherever you set your foot is the place to which your authority extends.      I love the way that some of the barriers disintegrate under the impact of bullets. I didn't learn this at my mother's knee but I darn sure know it now. I have learned that there are certain places it is good to plan on using the rocket launcher. Keep your stock of those filled. There are these transporter guys who are aggressive punks. The only way they respect you is if you kill them, so that's the way I roll. As...