El Iluminado

I did it again. I picked up a book, and it's about Jews, specifically crypto-Jews. The book was right up my alley--half in Spanglish and about Jews. The art in this graphic novel isn't great, but I did enjoy the story. Apparently one of the authors writes and illustrates the Rabbi Harvey graphic novels, which I haven't come across yet. I was very enthralled by this graphic novel and was curious to know if any of it was based on real events. The notes at the end of the book do entail what the historical story was based on and list a lot of sources. I think I might see if the library has any of the books that the author referenced. This book was a good weave of actual history and story.

I am very interested in cypto-Jews or conversos. I'm convinced that I have Sephardic, converso background. Hernandez is a Sephardic surname and listed amongst surnames of those forced to convert by the Inquisition.

I really connected with what one of the crypto-Jews said in the book "A Jewish soul is a Jewish soul. When you have it, you know." My sentiments exactly, and that's basically what I told the bet-din at my conversion.

Feynman Graphic Novel

At the library last week I picked up the graphic novel Feynman.  The life story of Richard Feynman made a great graphic novel.  I really had a hard time putting it down.  Wow, what an unfathomably amazing mind.  Brilliant in physics, and funny. Feynman led a very complex, colorful life. I was so intrigued with his story, I picked up of one of Feynman's books at the library today.

You don't have to be a theoretical physicist or rocket scientist to understand this book.  The book only gets science heavy in one part.  I had to concentrate to follow it, and sadly, I think I have forgotten it all already.  This book is an interesting, easy read, and it is in color (a prerequisite for any graphic novel I read.)

Check this book out for a good, easy, and funny read about a guy who was interesting, humorous, and one of the greatest minds of our time.

Dark Tower: Book VII

Just before we left for Texas I finished the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Woohoo! One of my 2011 goals accomplished! It took me less than two years to read all 3,795 pages.

The final book was okay. It sort of had two endings. I was okay with both of them. The first ending left things up to your imagination. If you wanted to you could keep reading and get an actual detail-filled ending. I think I liked the first ending better. Stephen King was in the last book. I found that completely annoying (again). He had an explanation at the end of the book, but no, I didn't buy it.

Now that I have read the entire series I plan to finish reading the graphic novel series. I think Ross has all but one of them electronically. That will be a new experience. I've never read a book or graphic novel on the computer. Ron Howard is interested in turning the series into movies or a TV miniseries. I'm not really interested in that at all, but I will most likely see it if it ever comes to fruition (Universal just backed out of production).

I still highly recommend the first novel in the series: The Gunslinger. I also recommend the first in the graphic novel series: The Gunslinger Born. I'll be sure to blog about the rest of the graphic novel series.

The Gunslinger

Not too long ago I picked up the graphic novel The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born. I liked it and was disappointed to find out that the library didn't have any other books in the series.

The last time we were at the library I decided to pick up the actual book--The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King. I have just finished the first volume of Stephen King's seven volume epic novel. Wow. The book was written by a 19 year old King. Only one thing in the book got onto my (so easy to get on) nerves. The story reminds me of The White Mountains, one of my favorite childhood novels.

I'm so impressed that I think I'll keep reading. The first four volumes are 2,000 pages in paperback. The first was only 300 pages. I'll have something to read for a long time to come.

Someone once told me I have a great American novel inside of me. I thought it was a really odd thing to say. I've often wondered if it is true. I don't consider writing one of those things that I'm really good at, but I think I'm better than average. I've started that novel more than once, but like everything else in my life, I never follow through. I never finish anything I start (pondering that has gotten me extremely depressed lately).

Like Simon Grim I'd like to find out that I'm really good at something. I'm afraid I'm as useless as Henry Fool.