Review of "The Lede: Dispatches From a Life in the Press" by Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is an American journalist and humorist who's written for The New Yorker, Time Magazine, The Nation, and other publications.

Calvin Trillin

Trillin's journalistic career may have begun when his father decided Calvin and his sister should learn typing. Over the years, most of Trillin's writing has been for magazines, and his work includes serious reporting pieces, short pieces that are meant to amuse (casuals), and pieces that are somewhere in between.

I'll give a few examples.


📓 The Lede (2021)

The first paragraph of a story, meant to engage the reader, is called the lede. Calvin collects ledes, and here's one he especially likes: "A veterinarian prescribed antibiotics Monday for a camel that lives behind an Iberville Parish truck stop after a Florida woman told law officers she bit a 600-pound animal's genitalia after it sat on her when she and her husband entered its enclosure to retrieve their deaf dog."



Calvin goes on to provide a vivid portrait of what this lede brought to mind.

*****

📓 This Story Just Won't Write (2013)

In this piece, Calvin explains that he was a 'floater' in the early days of Time Magazine, when Time was designed 'to present the week's news succinctly to busy men.' A floater was essentially a pinch-hitter brought in when, say, the Sports writer was home with the flu, or the World writer was away on vacation. So Calvin felt he could puff up his reputation by calling himself "the former Art editor of Time, or the former Medicine editor, or the former Education editor, etc."


Calvin Trillin

Trillin goes on to explain how he had to edit pieces ad infinitum to fit Time's space restraints when 70 lines was the goal.

*****

📓 Show and Tell All (2000)

When a memoir about the New Yorker was written, Trillin (and all other staff members) would go to the bookstore, and without buying the book, look in the index for their name. Memoirists had no boundaries, and Calvin writes, "Even if your name in the index turned out to be unconnected to an indictable offense, it usually meant in the author's memory you had said something stupid or embarassing and he had come back with a wickedly apt rejoinder."



Trillin himself didn't write a memoir about the New Yorker, and his speculations about the skeptical comments from his (fictional) grandchildren are hilarious.

*****

📓 Covering the Cops (1986)

In this piece Trillin lauds Edna Buchanon, the renowned crime reporter for the Miami Herald. Calvin describes how Edna, who was relentless, got her stories. Crime journalism was especially difficult for a woman in a 'man's field,' and Trillin's admiration for Edna comes through loud and clear.


Edna Buchanon

*****

📓 Newshound (2003)

In this portrait of R.W. Apple, Jr. (Johnny Apple) of the New York Times, Trillin notes that Apple was a political reporter; a war reporter; a foreign correspondent; and a wide-ranging writer on culture, travel, and food.


R.W. Apple, Jr.

Apple was famous for his cultural interests and his high-flying lifestyle, largely paid for by the New York Times. Trillin observes that, while out on a story, Apple checked into "a hotel so staggeringly expensive that no other reporter would dare mention it on his expense account." Trillin also notes that Johnny was known as "Three Lunches Apple" and observes, "In an effort to find the perfect dining spot [Apple] had eaten in sixty French restaurants in London within a few months"....which was reflected in his girth.

Apple was a true character, and Trillin writes about Johnny'a life and his gifts as a reporter. In a half-compliment, a Times editor said Apple had "the best mind and the worst body in American journalism."

*****

📓 Molly Ivins (2007)

Molly Ivins was a columnist who wrote about Texas politics, and Trillin notes, "Those of us who adored her adored her not for her formidable talents but for the sort of person she was." Trillin goes on to say, "Her interest in helping the powerless was as genuine as her contempt for the public officials who concentrated on helping the powerful."


Molly Ivins

Molly was also funny, and it was she who wrote "if a certain congressman's IQ dropped any further he'd have to be watered twice a day." (Some things never change, right? 🙂)

*****

📓 The Life and Times of Joe Bob Briggs, So Far (1986)

When the Dallas Times Herald faced the dilemma of reviewing trashy drive-in movies like 'Mother Riley Meets the Vampire', movie reviewer John Bloom had a solution. Bloom would review these exploitation movies in the persona of a young redneck named Joe Bob Briggs.


John Bloom

In his column called 'Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In', the reviewer would summarize movies with comments like: "Sixty-four dead bodies. Bimbos in cages. Bimbos in chains. Arms roll. Thirty-nine breasts. Two beasts (giant lizard, octopus). Leprosy. Kung fu. Bimbo fu. Sword fu. Lizard fu. Knife fu. Seven battles. Three quarts of blood. A 39 on the vomit meter....Joe Bob says check it out."


John Bloom as Joe Bob Briggs

Joe Bob's column became a cultural phenomenon and Trillin tells the tale of Joe Bob's rise and fall and rise again.

*****

📓 The Truth Will Out (1978)

Trillin writes, "As a lover of truth, I am naturally pleased to see the facts emerging about H.L. Mencken's prediction concerning the first president from the Deep South." Mencken's forecast seemed prescient about the Carter First Family: "The President's brother, a prime specimen of Boobus Collunus Rubericus, will gather his loutish companions on the porch of the White House to swill beer from the bottle and snigger over whispered barnyard jokes....."


President Jimmy Carter (right) with his brother Billy


Billy Carter

There's some controversy about whether Mencken actually said this (and other things) about the first Southern president, and Trillin covers the topic in his article.

*****

📓 Sabbath Gasbags, Speak Up (2013)

Newscaster Tom Brokaw created the expression "the greatest generation" when speaking about WWII veterans. Afterwards, the phrase became part of the English lexicon.


Tom Brokaw

Trillin also hoped to slip a phrase into the language, and tried the following:

'Sabbath Gasbags' for people who pontificate on Sunday morning talk shows.

'R.N.A.' (Reply Not Anticipated) at the end of letters.

'Rubaphobia' for fear of being thought a rube.

'D.T.S.' (Disappearing Tush Syndrome) for the tendency of older men's butts to flatten out.

None of them worked.

*****

📓 Back on the Bus (2011)

Trillin's last piece is about the year he spent in the Atlanta bureau of Time, from 1960 to 1961. Calvin observes that a lot happened in that twelve month span, including desegregation of public schools in New Orleans and Atlanta; sit-in movements at lunch counters; Freedom Riders heading South to protest segregated bus terminals; etc.



To prepare for the assignment in Atlanta Trillin did some reading, and he writes, 'I knew that the picture of the antebellum south where a plantation owner composes poetry at his desk while his slaves sing in the cotton fields was drawn from Hollywood rather than from history, even if most white Southerners accepted it as gospel.'

Calvin goes on to describe observations he made during his stint in Atlanta, where white folks thought Yankee reporters were unwelcome meddlers....and where the press was targeted with violence.

Of course, things have changed since then, as evidenced by the commemorations of the Freedom Rides on their 50th anniversary.

*****

Trillin's writing ventures high and wide, and the book also includes articles about LGBTQ issues in journalism; male chauvinism in journalism; BBQ restaurants; tributes to deceased journalists; Al Gore's weight; alternative newspapers; out-of-the-way eateries; and more.


Chinese Street Food

*****

For the most part, Calvin Trillin's writing is new to me, but I enjoyed the book for the historical perspective; the people Calvin profiles; and the laughs.

Thanks to Netgalley, Calvin Trillin, and Random House for a copy of the book.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "Slow Horses: Slough House #1" by Mick Herron

This is the first book in Mick Herron's 'Slough House' (Slow Horses) series, about British MI5 agents who've botched up a mission or made some other egregious mistake. These spooks are cast out of spy headquarters at Regents Park and sent to dilapidated Slough House, where they're called 'slow horses.'

The slow horses are assigned mind-numbingly boring paperwork in hopes they'll resign. However, most of the slow horses hang in there, dreaming they'll get back to Regents Park some day. (Note: Slow Horses is now a television series.)



The Slough House books are thrillers laced with humor, and the series has great characters that you'll love.....or love to hate.

The man in charge of Slough House is former spy master Jackson Lamb, an offensive slob who insults his underlings, smokes too much, eats constantly, and disgustingly (and purposely) passes gas. Lamb's subordinates speculate he's the boss because 'he knows where the bodies are buried', and this may well be true. However, Lamb is also intuitive, smart, and capable....and despite everything, he looks out for his crew.

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The Slough House agents featured in this novel are:

🕵️ Catherine Standish - a prim-looking, middle-aged recovering alcoholic. Catherine's former boss at Regents Park committed suicide amidst a scandal that tainted Catherine.



🕵 River Cartwright - a young agent whose mistake resulted in over one hundred deaths at a train station, and millions of dollars in damage. River firmly believes he was set up, and he thinks he knows who did it.



🕵️ Louisa Guy - a (usually) capable agent who lost track of a gun runner she was following. As a result, a cache of weapons got onto the streets of London.



🕵 Min Harper - an unfortunate fellow who accidently left a top secret file on a train. The file was found and given to the BBC, which promptly broadcast the classified material. Min has been the butt of comedians' jokes every since.



🕵 Jed Moody - a former member of the MI5 'Dogs' (internal affairs investigators) who has some shady dealings in his file.



🕵 Roderick (Roddy) Ho - a computer genius and hacker extraordinaire. Roddy is a loner who delights in using his skills to mess up people's lives. Roddy was probably sent to Slough House because no one likes him.



🕵️ Sidonie (Sid) Baker - Sid is a mystery because no one seems to know why she's been relegated to Slough House. This REALLY irritates nosybody Roddy, because he wants to know everything about everybody.



*****

In this series' debut, a Pakistani-British college student named Hassan - who has ambitions to be a stand-up comic - is abducted by right-wing terrorists.



The terrorists broadcast videos of Hasan and threaten to behead him on camera in 48 hours.



Hassan's kidnapping is linked to an out-of-work, right-wing journalist called Robert Hobden, whom Jackson Lamb has had in his sights for years.



So Lamb decides to use the slow horses to investigate Hobden, and the Slough House agents attempt to rescue Hassan.





All this brings Lamb and the slow horses to the attention of Diana Taverner, who's 'second chair' (second in command) at Regents Park. Diana would DO ANYTHING to become 'first chair' and has put a plan into action.



As things turn out, there's a conflict between Slough House and Regents Park, and only one faction can win.



I enjoyed this fun espionage novel, my major critique being that the action constantly switches around among short scenes, which I found disruptive. Still I liked the story, the characters, and the finale, and I'll go on with the series.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "Holly: A Novel" by Stephen King

Holly Gibney was introduced to readers in Stephen King's 'Bill Hodges Trilogy' which begins with 'Mr. Mercedes.' In the trilogy, Bill Hodges is a retired police detective who investigates crimes with the help of an amateur team that includes Holly, a shy computer whiz;



and Jerome Robinson, a bright young man headed for Harvard.



Holly has now come into her own as an investigator, and she and ex-cop Pete Huntley run a private detective agency called 'Finders Keepers.'



Holly also gets some part-time assistance from Jerome Robinson, who's now in college; and Jerome's sister Barbara, a student.

The book 'Holly' is set in the middle of the Covid pandemic, at a time when most people are vaccinated, wear masks, avoid shaking hands, and so on. Holly is very meticulous about evading infection, and is extremely conscious that her business partner Pete is home with the coronavirus; and her mother, who refused to be vaccinated, died from the disease.



Holly is grieving the loss of her mother, and dealing with surprising revelations that followed her mother's death, so she's planning to take a break from work.



Then Holly gets a call from a woman called Penny Dahl. Penny says her daughter Bonnie Dahl, an assistant librarian at nearby Bell College, has disappeared. Penny is distraught, and wants to hire Finders Keepers to look for Bonnie.



Holly accepts the job, and since Pete is sick, has to do the legwork herself. Holly gets some data mining assistance from Jerome and Barbara, but they're both students - and aspiring writers - and are busy with other things.

Holly soon discovers that Bonnie Dahl was last seen in a convenience store, and after Bonnie vanished, her abandoned bike was found with a scrap of paper reading 'I've had enough.'



Holly rightly shrugs off this 'goodbye note' as a plant, and before long, Holly connects Bonnie's disappearance with a string of missing people, one going back almost a decade.

The kidnappings are being perpetrated by a married couple, Emily and Rodney Harris, who are elderly emeritus professors at Bell College. Emily is an English teacher and Rodney is a research biologist who specializes in nutrition and health. The couple, who are still lovebirds after decades of married life, are - to put it bluntly - cannibals. (Not a spoiler; the book starts off with this duo's antics.)



I'm happy to see Holly - who was once so timid she could barely speak above a whisper - take charge as a detective. Holly approaches witnesses; interviews them; puts two and two together; and comes to intelligent conclusions.



I must admit though, that one thing Holly does may have readers yelling, "Don't do it! Don't go there".....as the audience sometimes does in horror movies.

In any case, the book is an exciting suspense thriller, highly recommended.

FYI: Stephen King is not shy about his political leanings, and Holly and other 'good guy' characters are sensible, vaccinated, and knock elbows instead of shaking hands. Conversely, creepy 'bad guy' pro-Trump characters insist Covid is the flu or a hoax and refuse to get vaccinated or wear masks. So it this offends you, you might want to skip this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "Small Mercies: A Novel" by Dennis Lehane

Author Dennis Lehane grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and writes about the city from personal experience. This novel, set in South Boston (Southie) revolves around the 1974 judicial decision that ordered Boston public schools be desegregated via busing of students between white and black neighborhoods.

Southie neighborhood of Boston circa 1970s

As the story opens in 1974, Southie residents, led by the Irish mob that controls the neighborhood, are planning protests against the busing slated to begin in several weeks, when summer break ends.


Demonstration against busing

Forty-two year old Mary Pat Fennessey is planning to assemble placards for the demonstration, which is another thing to do besides working two jobs and raising her 17-year-old daughter Jules.



Mary Pat's first husband was an accomplished thief (now declared dead); her second husband left her; and her son - a Vietnam veteran - died from a heroin overdose. So Jules is now the most important person in Mary Pat's life, 'her heart' as Mary Pat puts in.



The residents of Southie consider themselves 'family' and share the same values, attitudes, and prejudices. Racism, in the form of extreme prejudice against black people, is passed from generation to generation, and it wouldn't occur to anyone to think differently. So busing is REALLY anathema to Southie residents, and busing orders are to be defied at all costs.


Children were included in demonstrations against busing

Mary Pat's daughter Jules, about to be a high school senior, is scheduled to be bused to the black neighborhood of Roxbury. This is especially galling for the last year of school, which is supposed to be fun.



With this on her mind, Jules goes out one evening with her friends: Rum - Jules' boyfriend, who Mary Pat thinks is a dumb lunkhead who shouldn't reproduce;



Brenda - Jules' best friend from childhood, whose curves catch men's eyes;



and George - a young drug dealer and gang hanger-on.



George, like lots of young men in Southie, works for the Irish mob, which is run by Marty Butler.



Jules doesn't return that night, or the next day, and a frantic Mary Pat sets out to look for her daughter. Mary Pat questions Jules' boyfriend Rum and the other friends Jules was with on the night she disappeared, but can't seem to get truthful answers.

Mary Pat making a fuss alarms mob leader Marty Butler, who's afraid it will bring police attention to Southie.....and to his criminal activities. So Marty STRONGLY suggests that Jules took off for Florida, and STRONGLY encourages Mary Pat to leave off searching for her child.



Of course Mary Pat keeps on probing; talking to people; and asking questions.



While still hoping that Jules turns up, Mary Pat keeps working at an old age home where she changes bedpans, bathes the residents, changes sheets, etc. At work Mary Pat learns that the son of her black co-worker - a young black man called Auggie Williamson - was found dead under a subway platform in a white neighborhood. Like everyone in Southie, Mary Pat jumps to the conclusion that Auggie was a drug dealer trying to ply his trade in the area....and that he died as a result.



The thing is, Auggie was killed on the same night Jules vanished. And the subway station where Auggie was killed is across the way from the park where Jules and her friends were partying, drinking, and smoking marijuana. This is a BIG coincidence, and Mary Pat starts looking for connections.

Along the way Mary Pat develops a kind of mild friendship with a Boston policeman called Bobby Coyne, who's investigating Auggie's murder and helping Mary Pat search for Jules.



Coyne grew up close to Southie, but his parents weren't racist and he doesn't hate black people. I can't say Coyne's attitude rubs off on Mary Pat, but she does seem to (very slightly) adjust her thinking over the course of the story. The point of the book, the toxicity of racism, is well presented and impactful. Attitudes have changed since the 1970s, but the novel is still relevant today as demonstrated by racist killings.

Some parts of the book, such as when Mary Pat demonstrates her formidable ninja skills, stretch credulity a tad. But this is an excellent book, highly recommended

Rating: 4 stars