Although the late Alistair Maclean’s first language was Gaelic Scottish, he went on to become a prolific and best-selling author in English. He injected his WWII naval experiences into his work, which focuses largely on adventure. 17 of his novels were adapted to the silver screen, most notably The Guns of Navarone (1961). I’ve just finished his 18th novel, Breakheart Pass, set, surprisingly, in the post civil war American northwest. Although I found the prose clunky, I enjoyed the story, which had a neat twist two-thirds of the way through its 178 pages. The setting and information about the train seem authentic, at least to my limited knowledge of them. I assume the author spent significant time in the States. There is a significant body count to keep action fans interested. The book was adapted to the screen in 1975, at the height of Charles Bronson’s popularity. Maclean did the screenplay, so I imagine the flick is faithful to the novel. Curious about that, I added it to my list at Netflix. If it has been changed, so what. It is sheer entertainment, not high art. I thought I’d seen the movie, but nothing in the novel fired my memory, so I must be confusing it with another Bronson vehicle. Time may have dismissed it from my thoughts, as it a simple, common story. On a scale of five, 2.5.
I had a nice time with family yesterday, ate sensibly until dessert, when I had a delicious strawberry tart and then succumbed to the temptation of a connoli, which I didn’t even enjoy. My great nephew Ronnie has had his first college acceptance, from East Tennessee St., which offers a course in what he’s interested in -- pharmaceuticals. He has his heart set on the University of North Carolina, and I’m confident he will be accepted. He is a good student and a good kid. Inevitably, the dinner conversation turned to Grey Thursday eight PM store openings. I have no objection to it, although I think the consumers who patronize such events are screwy. After all, I was happy Stop n Shop, the bakery, the newsstand and the gas station were all open on the holiday, as were movie and Broadway theaters. College and professional athletes played games. Radio and television people worked. No one is forced to attend events. This is still a free society. The only objection I would have is forcing an employee to work, threatening dismissal. When the topic turned to ObamaCare, I left the table. I filled up in Jersey, where gas yesterday was 50 cents cheaper than the BP I use in Brooklyn.
Here’s a fascinating sports fact: Only nine players in NFL history have earned 100 million dollars playing the game. On the 2013 NY Yankees alone there were ten.
My thanks to Benedict and Natalia, who purchased four books in Russian.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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