Kurt Reichenbaugh > Recent Status Updates

I've been reading this on the sly at work over the past couple of weeks. It started out as a fairly "normal" suspense novel, then about a third of the way in became a JCO novel.

Witchcraft developed in parallel to Christian mysticism, and for some of the same reasons. Witches, black and white, were undoubtedly a hangover from the pagan animism of the pre-Christian countryside...What is more, by openly entering into combat with witchcraft, the Church inadvertently fostered the climate of hysteria in which alleged witches and sorcerers thrived. hmmm...How little things have changed.

God save us from the innocent and the good.

There is a sense of fatalism about life in the later Middle Ages. People knew that Christendom was sick; they knew that the ideals of the Gospel of Love were far removed from prevailing reality; but they had little idea of how to cure it...The world was ruled by brigandage, superstition, and the plague.

The Middle Ages: The Christian Empires split into East vs West. Vikings raise hell, the Charlemagne dynasty breaks, and Feudalism takes hold. For most, life is miserable. "One might also presume that a feeling of powerlessness over their personal lives added to medieval people's preoccupation with religion - in particular to their strong belief in the afterlife, and to their morbid cult of death."

Christianity argues with itself. Islam arrives on the scene. Theodora raises eyebrows. Who is wrong, who is right? Rome crumbles.

The Roman Empire succumbs to corruption and barbarians. The birth of Europe approaches.

Reading a chapter a month. Finished Chapter III on Ancient Rome for August. Fantastic chapter, ending with the Empire's fall and the rise of Christianity. Plenty to offend the bible thumpers who believe God is American and Jesus was a blond and blue-eyed patriot. Looking forward to the next chapter in September, ORIGO, the Birth of Europe, AD C. 330 - 800.

Remember the good old 80s when heavy metal was scary. I miss those golden days.

Finished the story "Waiting" last night. Devastating!

1970s era JCO. Started this one many months ago and have read only a story at a time intermittently. Last night I realized I'm halfway through. Love affairs, stalking, assaults, obsessions, psychosis, escapes, delusions.

Started a few weeks ago. I'm hit and miss with Ellis's books. I really like the 1981 L.A. setting.

Returned to library after reading less than half. Probably a good book, but it was mostly a catalog of fights and arrests without much in the way of movie business. Maybe I'll return to it at some point.

About three quarters into this book. It's good, but suffers from something of a glacial pacing. Not your standard mid 80's "Zebra" type horror novel, that's for sure.

Street magician and recovering addict tracks down bad things in his hometown.

To steal an old quote from a late night comedy show: "Womens be thinking too much!"

The trouble with wills and the vultures who circle about them...

Excellent so far. A study of relationships in the Victorian era. Insightful and witty.

If you're going to give me a cover like that, I'm going to read it.

Halfway thru the stories. Brewer is one of my favorite noir writers. I grew up in Tampa and love the mid-century Florida settings where these stories take place.

Major Marvy goes Porky Pig and will sing soprano for it.