In his novel Water Music by T.C. Boyle set in the 18th century and imitating the ornamented and precious language of 18th century travel novels (Boyle wrote it in the late 20th century for his dissertation), the captain of a ship getting ready to set sail for Africa. The captain goes to public hangings and looks for bodies that suffered the noose but could be revived. Some of them became his crew. It’s a fun read on a lot of levels, one of Boyle’s top five in my opinion. Hadn’t thought of it in years.
If you’ve not read Boyle, I’d recommend you start with Tortilla Curtain set in a gated community in Southern CA. The houses are up in the hills overlooking the ocean. The protagonist is an environmental journalist and his wife sells local zillion dollar real estate. Below at sea level live Mexicans there without proper documentation. Next up is Road to Wellville, historical fiction about William Kellogg and the birth of the breakfast food industry in Dearborn, Michigan. Kellogg runs a health sanitarium for the wealthy in the 1920s. Well researched and beautifully written.
It may take the cake. It’s a long, slow read on a trip from Chicago/Madison to the West coast to Japan with multiple other micro visitations. I can’t understand why it’s not considered a great American novel. It IS such a fine work. Five wives, an FBI investigation..,
I imagine her defense attorney got an ear full and a good fright when she showed back up in his office to complain about his handling of her initial case and her new malpractice claim against him. “And you agreed they could do what with my brains? Are you out of your mind?”
Absolutely! Currently, I’m reading about the making of the atomic bomb and all the research early physicists did to figure out how the atom works and the experiments they all came up with. Truly fascinating how innovative and brilliant pioneers in a field are.
Yes, the book is called ‘The Making of the Atomic Bomb’ by Richard Rhodes. I highly recommend it. Be warned, it is very long, extremely detailed, and very well researched. Fortunately, most of the actual science is pretty low-level and explained very well so it is easy to follow. I really love the history and its told extremely well. But, in print, it is about 800 pages, on Kindle, it is ~1500 so its a long one to get through and has been so worth it so far!
I did see it and agree, easily my favorite movie of last year and probably in several years. Very compelling, extremely captivating, and so much information I hadn’t been aware of before. For sure one I will watch again!
Rumor has it Anne's husband never won another argument again.
There's just no way to counter "Oh yeah? Were you also hanged and left for dead? Didn't think so!"
🤣 It really is the ultimate mic drop to end all arguments, isn't it!
In his novel Water Music by T.C. Boyle set in the 18th century and imitating the ornamented and precious language of 18th century travel novels (Boyle wrote it in the late 20th century for his dissertation), the captain of a ship getting ready to set sail for Africa. The captain goes to public hangings and looks for bodies that suffered the noose but could be revived. Some of them became his crew. It’s a fun read on a lot of levels, one of Boyle’s top five in my opinion. Hadn’t thought of it in years.
Wow! That's incredible.
If you’ve not read Boyle, I’d recommend you start with Tortilla Curtain set in a gated community in Southern CA. The houses are up in the hills overlooking the ocean. The protagonist is an environmental journalist and his wife sells local zillion dollar real estate. Below at sea level live Mexicans there without proper documentation. Next up is Road to Wellville, historical fiction about William Kellogg and the birth of the breakfast food industry in Dearborn, Michigan. Kellogg runs a health sanitarium for the wealthy in the 1920s. Well researched and beautifully written.
They sound like great books! I'll check them out.
One more:) The Women. A massive work of historical fiction grounded in the life of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Oooo! I think I'd like that one.
It may take the cake. It’s a long, slow read on a trip from Chicago/Madison to the West coast to Japan with multiple other micro visitations. I can’t understand why it’s not considered a great American novel. It IS such a fine work. Five wives, an FBI investigation..,
I imagine her defense attorney got an ear full and a good fright when she showed back up in his office to complain about his handling of her initial case and her new malpractice claim against him. “And you agreed they could do what with my brains? Are you out of your mind?”
Yes, exactly!
Thanks for the history! Amazing how able seminal researchers were in learning new things about the body with such limited tools.
It really is amazing, isn't it!? I have so much respect for the drive it must have taken to push the boundaries of knowledge back then.
Absolutely! Currently, I’m reading about the making of the atomic bomb and all the research early physicists did to figure out how the atom works and the experiments they all came up with. Truly fascinating how innovative and brilliant pioneers in a field are.
Interesting! Are you reading a book? Do you recommend it?
I'm sure you've seen Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer movie? It was by far may favourite movie from last year.
Yes, the book is called ‘The Making of the Atomic Bomb’ by Richard Rhodes. I highly recommend it. Be warned, it is very long, extremely detailed, and very well researched. Fortunately, most of the actual science is pretty low-level and explained very well so it is easy to follow. I really love the history and its told extremely well. But, in print, it is about 800 pages, on Kindle, it is ~1500 so its a long one to get through and has been so worth it so far!
I did see it and agree, easily my favorite movie of last year and probably in several years. Very compelling, extremely captivating, and so much information I hadn’t been aware of before. For sure one I will watch again!