Monday, February 9, 2009

December 13, Saturday morning -- Reading Walter Lord

A local to the islands who told me, in response to my (hopefully) noninvasive "are you from here?" line of questioning, that, though he now abashedly has "luau feet," he went barefoot through the fourth grade
Reading A Night to Remember, by Walter Lord, about the sinking of the Titanic. He said that, when he takes the ferry home later today, he'll have to read with the cover of the book down.

He'd never read anything about the Titanic and figured it was time, as he spent several years working as a waiter on the SS Constitution and SS Independence cruise ships. He loved his job and always got the butterflies before the new guests would come on board. The floor plan of one of these ships (I can't remember which one) made finding the dining room difficult, which resulted in currents of unease. On an island that a ship is, the evolution of discontent can be charted. Waiters suffer from architecture.

He usually reads books about the history of flight. He is a student private pilot. Once, within the span of about thirty minutes, he got to see the sun rise twice and set once, and in the east. When you're a pilot, he said, you get to see things in different ways, and then explain them to your mother! (It took me two tries to understand the sun rising and setting scenario. It helps to put your hands side by side, call one the sun and the other the plane and then mime the sun rising and then the plane taking off and landing.)

December 13, Saturday morning -- Reading Matt Rendell

Here from Holland working as a bicycle messenger, doing his laundry
Reading a biography of Marco Pantani, an Italian road racing cyclist. His advice -- people should read more about Marco Pantani and less about Lance Armstrong.

Marco Pantani was called "Il Pirata" for his aggressive style and was one of the best climbers in history. Though, Marco Pantani had his problems -- he died of a cocaine overdose in 2004 at the age of 34.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

December 12, Friday evening -- Reading Stephenie Meyer

At Ala Moana Center - anonymous - Reading Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer.

December 12, Friday evening -- Reading Robert Ludlum

Reading The Bourne Betrayal, by Robert Ludlum.

When he was young, he thought typewriters and computers were things for the ladies. He never got into either of them. He tried games on the computer, but they didn't take. He encouraged his kids to use the computer, though.

Except for twenty-five years of marriage in L.A., he's lived his whole life on the island. His sister lives here and he gives the books he reads to her and she gives them to someone else -- she reads romances.

His favorite authors -- James Patterson and John Sanford.

December 12, Friday evening -- Reading Robert Jordan

Reading The Great Hunt, the second book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. This is his second time reading the series.

Favorite authors -- Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, David Farland, and E. Lynn Harris.

As a child he loved The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis and of course, Judy Blume's books, like Superfudge and How to Eat Fried Worms.

December 12, Friday evening -- Reading "the usual gang of idiots"

Reading Mad for Decades: 50 Years of Forgettable Humor from MAD Magazine, by "the usual gang of idiots."

His favorite book -- The Legend of Huma, by Richard A. Knaakthe, which is part of the Dragonlance fantasy series, set in the world of Dragonlance, which was created for a role-playing game.

December 12, Friday evening -- Reading Colleen McCullough and Tami Hoag

Waiting for the bus at Ala Moana shopping center
Reading The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCarthy. Her favorite authors -- John Grisham and James Patterson. Her book -- it would be a mystery suspense.

Reading Dark Horse, by Tami Hoag. Her favorite books -- Peyton Place, by Grace Metalious and Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell. Her book -- it would be a funny relationship book.

December 12, Friday afternoon -- Reading Mariah Stewart

Reading Voices Carry, by Mariah Stewart.

She likes Lillian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who... mystery series, and Shirley Rousseau Murphy's series about a feline detective.

December 12, Friday evening -- Reading Heather Graham

Reading Deadly Gift, by Heather Graham. She started reading books when her husband died eighteen years ago, and has been reading even more in the past five years since she's gotten rid of her television.

December 12, Friday afternoon -- Reading Robert B. Parker

Outside his glass blowing studio
He does most of his glass work in a larger studio on the east side of the island. When he's here, in Hale'iwa, he has time to read. In the background are silhouettes of two women holding glass blowing instruments.

Reading Perish Twice, by Robert B. Parker. It's his wife's.

His favorites authors -- Clive Cussler, Vince Flynn, Robert Ludlum.