Red Harvest

 Red Harvest - Dashiell Hammett- Five Stars ☆☆☆☆☆

The Continental Op drops into Poisonville "Hard BoiIed" incarnate. He's angry because they try to kill him and he's disgusted by the lying, backstabbing, double-dealing leaders of the city. His solution: everyone sufferers.

This is Hammett's first novel (1929) and his angriest look at the world. It's worth your time. 

George W. Parker

Levon: From Down in the Delta to the Birth of The Band and Beyond

 Levon: From Down in the Delta to the Birth of The Band and Beyond - Sandra Tooze - ☆☆

I have been a fan of Levon Helm and The Band most of my life. There was a lot of material new to me in this book, from Levon's early childhood, his drug usage, and his post-cancer career. Robbie Robertson still doesn't come out very well. I enjoyed the book but I don't think I would re-read it which is why it is only two stars for me.

George W. Parker

A Legacy of Spies

A Legacy of Spies - John le Carré - Four Stars ☆☆☆☆

Four Stars - I will reread it.

This last book from Carré has a fresh feel to it with a different approach (kind of) to its storytelling.  I enjoyed the new perspective on the Alec Leamas story and immediately reread The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, which is a five-star book.

George W. Parker 

Cathedral - Raymond Carver

 Cathedral - Raymond Carver - One Star ☆ 

I did not finish this collection of Carver short stories. The protagonist in the short story Cathedral is an asshole. "Ah, but he changes," everyone will say. I believe the protagonist does not have a "Road to Damascus" moment. He just has a moment. In the morning when he rolls out of bed he will still be an asshole.

In Chef's House Edna leaves a budding relationship to return to a former failed relationship. She seems to have forgotten there was a reason it had failed. What is that saying about repeating something over and over and expecting a different outcome? Edna is a fool. 

If I want to spend time with assholes and fools I can go for a drive on the freeway and sidestep the Raymond Carver.

George W. Parker