OK, A Political Rant

I’m currently reading “The Soviet Tragedy”, I know it’s geeky, but interesting. I came across an interesting passage that caught my eye. The author is discussing the transition from Lenin to Stalin and how Stalin implemented a propaganda state to further the regime. There is a quote from Lenin: “A newspaper is a collective agitator and a collective organizer.” Stalin used this to create a rhetoric for culture. A language was developed to serve this rhetoric – it was essential to the power and goals of the regime. Language had to be politicized since it established the consciousness of the population.

The United States has done the same thing in recent years. Efforts have been made to politicize the language that is used to effectively eliminate rational discourse. Especially now, you look at terms like “liberal”, “conservative”, “socialist”, etc., they are so heavily politicized that it is difficult to carry out an honest discussion as to what is going on. Certain plans are labeled “socialist” and it is said that we are going to become a socialist state if we continue down certain paths. In many ways, we are a socialist society. Many of the programs that have been enacted within the past century are for the betterment of the “common good” – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps, Minimum Wage Laws, Labor Laws just to name a few. The creation and implementation of unions can also be considered socialistic.

We are not a completely capitalist society as many would have you believe – just as we aren’t a wholly democratic society.

Have we really learned from history? Can we start having open and honest discourse without the politicization of the language that we use? Why can’t we be anti-abortion and pro-choice? Can’t we understand that freedom of religion also means freedom from religion?

If we keep politicizing all of the language we will never address the underlying issues that face our society.

Just After Sunset

Stephen King

A series of short stories from the master himself. This was a great part-time read… quick short stories that can be easily digested in just 30 minute bursts. While not all the stories are “the best of the best”, every single one was entertaining. I would highly recommend this book for any fans of fiction.

Mary Mary – James Patterson

Another Richard Cross novel. Interesting in that Patterson is able to tie everything together by the end. A pretty easy and straight-forward read that is interesting in the ties to Hollywood. Probably a little too much time spent on Cross’ life and times, but overall a pretty good read, fits in well with all of the Cross series of thrillers.

Voices by Arnaldur Indridason

The third book in the Reykavik series is as good as the first two. I’ve spent three days reading books by Indridason and I’ve completed the first three in this series. The protagonist (Erlandur) is an entertaining character in his flaws and limitations. Indridason does a good job of integrating the back stories with the overall story. Believable and sincere, the tie-ins are what help make this another winner.

The story is of a child star (adolescent soprano) who loses his voice and loses his family in the process. Forty years after his success (two recordings), the child star turns up dead in the basement of a 4-star hotel dressed in a Santa suit. As unusual as it sounds, it is all made believable – especially in Iceland.

Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason

This was my second book by Indridason and I must say that I loved it as much as the first. This is the second in the Reykavik thriller series and the same detectives are at work again. I must say that the back stories and how they intermingle with the characters is the strength of Indridason’s writing.

You get a complete understanding as to the environment of Iceland and it’s place in the world. He is able to tie in stories from the war eras and how they relate to modern day. Every family presented in Indridason’s books have quite a few failings and this book is no exception.

The protagonist (Erlandur) is a meaty character as well with enough baggage to have a series of stories on his own. His failings as a father and husband continue to haunt him even as his success as a detective soars.

There is something that I connect to with these novels… this was another single-seating read which has been rare for me.

Jar City

Arnaldur Indriðason

A very quick and easy read. I started this book on a Sunday morning and completed it before 5:00 in the afternoon. A very well written crime novel which utilizes the unique environment of Iceland as a key component. A murder quickly turns into a thriller which makes a social statement – what do you do when a genetic database has names and lives attached?

I picked up two more of Indridason’s novels and I’ll be reviewing them shortly – I completed each one in one sitting. I love the crispness of his writing, the story moved with a rapid pace, but covered a lot of ground – thorough but not boring.

Blaze – Richard Bachman (a.k.a. Stephen King)

A very enjoyable quick read from King. He writes that this was a book that he had in the can for many years, and he recently dusted it off. Not the usual King fare, I can see why he kept it under the Bachman pseudonym. Vaguely reminiscent of Raising Arizona in that it is a kidnapping gone bad… although you can’t help feeling sympathy for Blaze, the “dummy” who is able to pull off the kidnapping of a 6-month old with the help of his dead “brains” of the outfit (George). Blaze operates while hearing the voice of his dead friend in his head, giving him the sage advice he needs to pull off the feat.

I had to smile and laugh when Blaze makes the kidnapping call to the parents… collect, because he doesn’t have any change… and he gives the operator his name to use.

I would recommend this… especially to those who don’t normally read King novels.