Book Review: Resolution

Resolution is the name of a town.  The book is a classic Western, which is not at all my cup of tea.  I would never have given it a second glance if it were not for the fact that it was written by Robert B. Parker, whom I consider to be a giant of modern fiction. 

In case you’ve been living in a cave (or in Nebraska), Robert B. Parker is the author of the Spenser novels.  Crime fiction.  The basis of the long-ago TV series Spenser:  For Hire, starring the very handsome Robert Urich, who sadly died of cancer in 2002.

Parker’s writing style is Hemingwayesque, which is a word I’ve always wanted to use in a sentence so someone would think I was an intellectual.  But seriously, since I was in college, Hemingway has been my model for how to write.  Short sentences, common words.  Very sparing use of adverbs and adjectives.  Nothing flowery.  Believe me, it’s a lot harder to write that way.  When you write, or at least when I do, there is a sort of urge to use big words so that everyone will see how smart you are.  Hemingway got the part where you aren’t writing for yourself, you’re writing for a reader.  Pity I haven’t mastered that (see:  “Hemingwayesque”). 

But Parker gets it.  He almost out-Hemingways Hemingway.  Here’s another thing I like about Parker.  He writes man’s man type of stuff.  Now before you laugh, understand what I mean by that.  His characters are tough, ass-kicking kind of guys.  Don’t particularly relish it, but don’t shy away from killing.  They have a sense of honor, which may be somewhat imperfect at times, you know, sorta the way it is in real life.  In general, they like and respect women, dogs, and horses. 

In Resolution, the main character Everett Hitch is joined by his buddy Virgil Cole in a lawless town, where they sort of become the law by default.  Everett begins work for a local saloon owner named Wolfson as a “lookout”, which appears to be a guy who sits in a high chair with a shotgun waiting for trouble to form.  Then the dialogue goes something like, “Want me to kill him?”  Answer:  “Not yet.”  Response:”Gonna have to one day.”  Answer: “Not today.”  It packs a greater punch than I’m able to convey. 

So if you aren’t familiar with Robert B. Parker, this novel is as good a place as any to start.

Cabin Fever and the NY Times Sunday Crossword

Unbelievably, it’s still raining here in Tallahassee.  About an hour ago the dogs and I were startled out of our Sunday morning blahs by a sudden clap of thunder that was so loud I’m sure it could be heard in France.  The cat is here too, of course, but she is unfazed by such minor things as thunder and lightning.  She saves her excitement for the really big events, such as a squirrel running across the lawn.  Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a squirrel since Thursday.  They probably all drowned. 

Apparently Tallahassee “officially” received 9 1/2 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Fay but it seems like it was a lot more.  The newspaper says that people are reporting 15 to 20 inches in some areas.  And it isn’t a pretty picture.  Many streets and some homes are flooded, some people are still without power, and trees are down all over the place. It makes me count my blessings that I and my family of pets are safe, that I didn’t lose power, and that no trees fell on my house or property.  If the only thing I have to complain about is cabin fever, I am fortunate indeed.   

Since I didn’t lose power, I was able to continue the Sunday morning tradition of doing the New York Times crossword puzzle online.    And I must say, the New York Times has outdone itself in being diabolical.  Frequently there are puzzles where more than one letter must fit into the same square (called a “housing shortage”) or words that are spelled backwards, not to mention the deceptive and misleading clues.  Today, some of the answers include numbers.  For example, “UK counterespionage agency”, the answer to which is MI5.  Or “Common hockey power play”, which appears to be 5against4.  Then in the middle of the puzzle are instructions for what to do once you’ve completed the puzzle, which if I’m right, says “Cut along the dotted line, fold through each pair of numbers in the grid sequentially, to throw the paper airplane.”  Good grief!  I got yer paper airplane, you miserable wretch of a crossword puzzle!

In closing, one of the clues was very timely.  “Internet forum rabble-rouser”.  Five letters, starts with “T”…Hello, we know that answer!