Catlow by Louis L'Amour

 

Since my 34th birthday, I have indeed read some books.  Many of them were ebooks to boot.  So I may not be talking about all of them.  Reading also feels constructive, even in a relaxing context.  It keeps the brain ticking at a healthy, natural pace you know?  In fiction, justice is often actually served and it's often served at the right temperature.  Stories provide a nice place to insert yourself when you don't want to exist in our present world.  

This year I intend to finish writing my 2nd book.  It's a fantasy novel and I won't be talking about it much.  You probably won't get to read it.  There will be (almost) no bragging, pitching, nagging, plugging, branding, back patting, and circle jerking.  That's not what this blog is about.  Anyway, I think good writing requires research.  I'd be a dick to expect people to read my story without doing my homework and genuinely trying to understand what will make that story good.

I bring up writing as an activity, because I was very impressed by Louis L'Amour's about the author.  He sounds like a super intimidating ass hole.  A world war two hero and a seemingly perfect guide into the western world.  No surprise, Catlow was a neat story.  The action was exciting, the characters were mostly admirable, and the desert was dry and dangerous.  The cowboy skills were so impressive I found myself rootin' and tootin'.  Rootin' for who though?  The hero or the villain?  Both are so killer.