I just finished the "Labyrinth of Ice" based on this recommendation. It was awesome. A tale of triumph and tragedy. I had never heard of the Greely expedition prior to this so it was a wonderful learning experience. Thank you.
I’m in the middle of read the Lombardi bio from Joe’s list of sports books from last year. It’s a very good book, with the caveat that it could have easily been edited down to be not so tremendously long.
Just finished Borges' Library of Babel! In some prior columns ... Joe has us searching for some meaning... The library itself - has it's own web site. Of course, in the AL central...
About the Cleveland's season's finish -The Guards were a sayin'
We all think aloud - Let the ball be hit to a Brayan!
Who then sends it over to Gabe or Angel to get the ball and opponent whom we are a prayin!
That'll put out those whom we want to be negatin'
All due for us Cuz we want to see Jose up so we can see him a sprayin'
If you haven’t heard of the Shackelton expedition I recommend Ernest Shackletons diaries, the man is is an awful laborious writer but the story is so amazing you can’t put the book down
It’s a genuine miracle how he survived to give is his terrible writing of a remarkable tale
Labyrinth of Ice sounds interesting, but I came here to say that if that sort of thing interests you, Erebus by Michael Palin (yes, *that* Michael Palin!) is an excellent read. Fascinating stuff and well told, very much like this book of the month, right down to the widow working tirelessly to drum up support for other expeditions to go find her husband, except in this case they were trying to find the Northwest Passage and it was Lady Franklin herself - for whom the Bay was named - who sponsored those expeditions a few decades earlier.
Also, FWIW, the Netflix miniseries The Terror was based on the failed Franklin Expedition described in Erebus, except that Michael Palin never mentioned anything about bulletproof mutant polar bears who are 25 feet tall. but the rest of it was pretty spot-on.
One Summer America 1927 by Bill Bryson. He’s one of my favorite authors. I’ve read everything he’s written, including his travelogues, history of the English language, and of course his epic “A Walk in the Woods”. Joe just had his post about 1972 memories. When I think of 1927 my 2 thoughts (not memories, I’m old but not there yet!) are the Yankees murderers row and the Babe hitting 60 ( I think most baseball fans have this fact ingrained into their mind and which team happened to be managed by my great uncle) and Lindbergh’s crossing of the Atlantic. Yes, these are 2 of the stories in that book. What an interesting read about a fascinating summer.
Seabiscuit, an American Ledgend by Laura aHillenbrand). I’m not that much into horses and never had a desire for Stryker to be a horse. I’ve been satisfied that my daughter adopted a cousin of Stryker and have enjoyed the magnificence of Samoyeds. Even though I’m not into horses this book might be my favorite non-fiction book of all time. Possibly my favorite book period. A great look at our country during the depression. I just finished reading The Boys in the Boat, another wonderful book set in the depression era, to a hospice patient of mine. We’ve just started reading Seabiscuit and I’m so excited to re-visit it.
Hear, hear on both 1927 and Bryson in general. He's wonderful, and always an enjoyable read. Also one of the few folks I've encountered who are good at reading their own audiobooks.
Sounds a lot like Hampton Sides' 2014 classic about the USS Jeannette loss, "In the Kingdom of Ice". I'm not sure I want to experience another arctic fiasco tale. Those interested should also view Ridley Scott's ten-part fictional tv miniseries from 2018, "The Terror".
So appreciate these recommendations. Leaning into the genre a bit...
I just finished David Grann's fine, "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder". Next up: Gales of November, The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (John Bacon).
Last night we watched Greyhound, the WWII naval pic starring Tom Hanks. I had no idea this film existed. Maybe because it came out in the fog of 2020. Anyhoo, quite enjoyable. And at 91 minutes run time, it had the satisfying feel of 2:20 minute game where both starters go the distance.
Because why not … the namesake of the Edmund Fitzgerald had a son, also named Edmund. The younger Fitzgerald was a Bud Selig partner and minority owner of the Brewers from when they moved from Seattle in 1970 to the early 1980s. He served on the PRC that pushed for hard line tactics leading to the Strike of 1981.
I just finished the "Labyrinth of Ice" based on this recommendation. It was awesome. A tale of triumph and tragedy. I had never heard of the Greely expedition prior to this so it was a wonderful learning experience. Thank you.
I’m in the middle of read the Lombardi bio from Joe’s list of sports books from last year. It’s a very good book, with the caveat that it could have easily been edited down to be not so tremendously long.
One of the great blessings of the return to Substack is it allows me to ignore Discord.
Love the book of the month club idea!!
Batting: Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
On deck: The Gales of November
In the hole: Looks like Labyrinth of Ice is grabbing a bat...
Just finished Borges' Library of Babel! In some prior columns ... Joe has us searching for some meaning... The library itself - has it's own web site. Of course, in the AL central...
About the Cleveland's season's finish -The Guards were a sayin'
We all think aloud - Let the ball be hit to a Brayan!
Who then sends it over to Gabe or Angel to get the ball and opponent whom we are a prayin!
That'll put out those whom we want to be negatin'
All due for us Cuz we want to see Jose up so we can see him a sprayin'
If you haven’t heard of the Shackelton expedition I recommend Ernest Shackletons diaries, the man is is an awful laborious writer but the story is so amazing you can’t put the book down
It’s a genuine miracle how he survived to give is his terrible writing of a remarkable tale
Labyrinth of Ice sounds interesting, but I came here to say that if that sort of thing interests you, Erebus by Michael Palin (yes, *that* Michael Palin!) is an excellent read. Fascinating stuff and well told, very much like this book of the month, right down to the widow working tirelessly to drum up support for other expeditions to go find her husband, except in this case they were trying to find the Northwest Passage and it was Lady Franklin herself - for whom the Bay was named - who sponsored those expeditions a few decades earlier.
Also, FWIW, the Netflix miniseries The Terror was based on the failed Franklin Expedition described in Erebus, except that Michael Palin never mentioned anything about bulletproof mutant polar bears who are 25 feet tall. but the rest of it was pretty spot-on.
Comments on two of the other recommended books:
One Summer America 1927 by Bill Bryson. He’s one of my favorite authors. I’ve read everything he’s written, including his travelogues, history of the English language, and of course his epic “A Walk in the Woods”. Joe just had his post about 1972 memories. When I think of 1927 my 2 thoughts (not memories, I’m old but not there yet!) are the Yankees murderers row and the Babe hitting 60 ( I think most baseball fans have this fact ingrained into their mind and which team happened to be managed by my great uncle) and Lindbergh’s crossing of the Atlantic. Yes, these are 2 of the stories in that book. What an interesting read about a fascinating summer.
Seabiscuit, an American Ledgend by Laura aHillenbrand). I’m not that much into horses and never had a desire for Stryker to be a horse. I’ve been satisfied that my daughter adopted a cousin of Stryker and have enjoyed the magnificence of Samoyeds. Even though I’m not into horses this book might be my favorite non-fiction book of all time. Possibly my favorite book period. A great look at our country during the depression. I just finished reading The Boys in the Boat, another wonderful book set in the depression era, to a hospice patient of mine. We’ve just started reading Seabiscuit and I’m so excited to re-visit it.
Hear, hear on both 1927 and Bryson in general. He's wonderful, and always an enjoyable read. Also one of the few folks I've encountered who are good at reading their own audiobooks.
As a follow up, I can recommend Levy's "Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk".
https://pureblather.com/2023/10/24/empire-of-ice-and-stone/
Fun fact: The crew of the Karluk picked up a cat when they left port; the cat survived the expedition.
https://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/adv13.html
Sounds a lot like Hampton Sides' 2014 classic about the USS Jeannette loss, "In the Kingdom of Ice". I'm not sure I want to experience another arctic fiasco tale. Those interested should also view Ridley Scott's ten-part fictional tv miniseries from 2018, "The Terror".
Or read the Dan Simmons book that Scott based his series on.
The Barn is a wonderful book by Wright Thompson. The Wager is tertific.
So appreciate these recommendations. Leaning into the genre a bit...
I just finished David Grann's fine, "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder". Next up: Gales of November, The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (John Bacon).
Last night we watched Greyhound, the WWII naval pic starring Tom Hanks. I had no idea this film existed. Maybe because it came out in the fog of 2020. Anyhoo, quite enjoyable. And at 91 minutes run time, it had the satisfying feel of 2:20 minute game where both starters go the distance.
The Wager was excellent too! I'll second that one!
Because why not … the namesake of the Edmund Fitzgerald had a son, also named Edmund. The younger Fitzgerald was a Bud Selig partner and minority owner of the Brewers from when they moved from Seattle in 1970 to the early 1980s. He served on the PRC that pushed for hard line tactics leading to the Strike of 1981.
The legend lives on, from Bud Selig on down
Of the Brewers, who hail from Milwaukee;
The Brew Crew, it is said, are most frequently dead
‘Round the time when the Badgers start hockey;
They started out West as the Boy of Ball Four
With Joe Schultz they would pound the Bud-weiser;
But after a year, they took all of their gear
To the home of the car leasing miser;
The first decade was rough, they did not win enough,
Despite Harper, and Boomer and Hammer;
But when Robin arrived, and Paul Molitor thrived,
For the Brat Boys the fans all did clamor;
In late ’82, Harvey’s Bangers came through,
Gentle Ben, Stormin Gorman and Cecil;
In seven tough games for which they had no shame,
They just could not defeat the White Weasel.
Well done. Gordon Lightfoot would approve, although he was probably a Bluejays fan.
Lou, I don't know what you do (did?) for a living, but it is quite possible you missed your true calling.
I clicked the "like" button. But that's a lie. I LOVED it!