Tuesday, September 05, 2023

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here

PS I can no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created by Jane Leavy. This year I've been reading about people I've heard about all my life but really knew little about: Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis, Dwight Eisenhower ... Now, since I'm all baseball all the time right at the moment (the Cubs are on the verge of clinching a playoff berth), I'm turning to The Babe. All I really know about him is that he called his shot at my beloved Wrigley Field, he loved hot dogs and hookers, and he was the first baseball superstar and the game's greatest player ever.

A couple years ago I read Leavy's book about Mickey Mantle and found it both clear-eyed and affectionate, so I have high hopes for this one. After all, The Babe is still the gold standard, the player even Shohei Ohtani is measured against. It's time I learned who he really was. 

2. What did you recently finish reading? Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O'Connor. Kilbane, the Irish village at the center of this series, is the site of a destination wedding. A famous fashion model, daughter of wealthy and prominent parents, is the bride. Not only is the village abuzz, a magazine photographer is snapping away for the Irish Enquirer. To complicate matters, someone gets dead. Our heroine, Kilbane resident and amateur sleuth Siobhan O'Sullivan, can't resist investigating.
 
I admit I didn't like this one (Book #2) as much as I did the premier effort. The mystery itself just wasn't as tight this time around and Siobhan acts foolish more than once. But I was charmed nevertheless. Siobhan's young siblings are a delight and I learned a lot about how Irish lore has influenced our weddings here. For example, the period immediately after the wedding is called a honeymoon because the bridal couple supposed to spend a month drinking honeyed ale. 
 
3. What will read next? I don't know.
 

 

No Joy in Mudville

 

He was in the dugout tonight with his teammates and he continues his post-concussion rehab in the Yankee Stadium facilities but, with a month to go, the specialists just don't think Anthony Rizzo will be ready to take the field again before the season is over.

I know from my friend Henry that brain injuries require diligent aftercare. I am glad they are being careful with him now. Now. I am still beyond pissed that it took the Yankees medical staff two fucking months to diagnose this.

I don't know how much of my impotent rage is tied to Henry. But I am not okay with this. Not by the longest shot.