John – Page 4 – Lemuria Books

Author: John (Page 4 of 19)

by Ben Sandmel with a foreword by Peter Guralnick

(The Historic New Orleans Collection, 2012)

One Friday afternoon after Ernie K-Doe’s death, but before Katrina, I drove to New Orleans and landed at the Mother-In-Law Lounge for a party. I had no idea what I was getting into or what pleasure the evening would bring about.

The outside of the lounge with its decorative walls really doesn’t prepare you for the experience inside. Within the K-Doe museum you’ll find a life size statue of the Emperor himself just like he is still alive–which inside the Mother-In-Law Lounge he is still alive.

In May 1961, Ernie K-Doe had a monster-sized hit with “Mother-In-Law”. This tune rose to the top of both the R & B and pop charts. “Mother-In-Law” was played constantly on black and white air waves. Being eleven years old at the time, I remember singing along with “Mother-In-Law”, as a chatter-box kid. Didn’t we all?

“The worst person I know, Mother-In-Law”

. . . and Satan should be her name”

There ain’t but two songs that will stand the test of time, until the end of the world. One of them is “The Star Spangled Banner. The other one is “Mother-In-Law”. -Ernie K-Doe

There have been five great singers of Rhythm and Blues–Ernie K-Doe, James Brown and Ernie K-Doe. -Ernie K-Doe

I met Ben Sandmel, a New Orleans-based journalist, a few years ago. I’ve developed respect for his work and efforts in helping musicians and encouraging their music. His beautifully bound and illustrated shows an extensive effort. Ben’s book is a must for K-Doe fans and for all who love New Orleans music.

Over the years I saw the R & B Emperor of New Orleans at Jazz Fest. For those who share those memories, Ben’s K-Doe is a treat. For those who need to learn about the majesty of K-Doe, the bible is here. You just never know–A trip to the “Mother-In-Law” Lounge could just make it all just right.

“Finally, a baseball story”: Calico Joe by John Grisham

By John

On June 12, 2012

In Staff Blog

Over 20 years ago, I first met and became friends with John Grisham. We both had two joys that we shared in common: books and youth baseball. I’m not sure which mattered the most to us since they were both dear to our hearts. As John signed books, we talked mostly about reading books and baseball. We talked coaching, statistics, youth ball coaching humor, and ballpark trivia. We cared about our sons’ stats and their teams’ win/lose records. We dug our chatter and shared our love of the spirit of baseball and what it added to our lives.

When I received my inscribed copy of Calico Joe from John, I smiled. It reads: “Finally a baseball story” and indeed it is! Calico Joe is mostly set in 1973 and John uses real players and real team lineups to enhance the plot. At times this novel reads like a 1973 sports page enhancing the personalities through his fine, clever and very enjoyable plot.

As a longstanding Grisham fan, I must say this is one of his most enjoyable books. It reads with the heart and soul of a real baseball fan. Calico Joe feels like John wrote it for fans like himself–so much so that this might be the closest novel to his heart in a long time.

The relationship of a father and son through the spirit of baseball is an enduring link. In fact, countless hours of batting practice, all-star games and road trips are at the forefront of my lifetime memories. A window of time for father and son which so often lays the pathway and foundation for adult friendship. For the fathers of players, John has given us the perfect Dad’s Day present to share.

Not to be too sentimental, but I must note my heartfelt thanks to John. Lemuria can never repay the gifts of support John has given to our bookstore. With this in mind, thank you John for all you have done for Lemuria’s readers and booksellers.

I will, however, try to share your book with all baseball fans. I will hand sell Calico Joe to all who simply like a good story. I think this novel will stand the test of time and will remain on the top shelf of any baseball fiction bookcase.

John, I can only imagine the colorful comment that our ole pal Willie Morris would write on Calico Joe’s dust jacket.

A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh by Jeff Shaara

By John

On May 30, 2012

In Fiction

In 1974, the year before Lemuria opened, Michael Shaara published his now classic novel of the civil war, The Killer Angels. Killer Angels depicts the Battle of Gettysburg as told from the view points of Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet and some of the other men who fought there. Shaara wanted to know what it was like to be there, what the weather was like, what the men’s faces looked like. To understand this state of mind, he had to write it and a modern classic was the result. Through his own interpretation of character, he brought the battle to life. The reader is able to understand these men, the way they talked and thought. The Battle of Gettysburg comes alive within the pages of this great American novel.

Killer Angels won the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 and was also declared a must-read by all who discovered its truth and form. Published in a small edition by a non-literary publisher, David McKay, first editions of Killer Angels are rare and valuable today in nice condition. I found my copy in my own library, laid in with an enclosed inscription from my dear friend Valerie Walley. Another reminder of the pleasure of maintaining a home library.

As Killer’s readership grew, more and more fans proclaimed the novel a must-read. Finally, I picked it up on vacation and read it as a birthday present to myself. Then I became a hand selling bookseller fan for Michael’s great work. In my opinion, Shaara created a new historical fiction art form.

Jeff Shaara is Michael’s son and he is extending his father’s legacy. Jeff visited Lemuria October 11, 1996 for his first novel Gods and Generals. Jeff now returns for his newest novel, A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh. Jeff has adopted his father’s style of character insight to record one of the bloodiest battles fought on American soil.

I’m finding Blaze of Glory to be as battlefield insightful as his father’s first novel many years ago. The quality of research and writing demands that Lemuria choose Blaze of Glory as our May First Editions Club pick. For those who might dismiss this book as war fiction, don’t be so quick. Jeff’s character development and plot progression possess literary essence while stimulating the reader’s interest. Shiloh becomes people and people convey the battle’s character. It is the fiction of life in difficult and demanding circumstances.

For those of you who read and enjoy Blaze, you will be pleased to know that it is volume one of a trilogy, with the Battle of Vicksburg being volume 2 and Georgia and the Carolinas being volume 3. I have no doubt that this trilogy will stand the test of time, just as Michael Shaara’s novels have done. Shelby Foote’s civil war trilogy will never be replaced, however, I feel that Michael and Jeff’s civil war writings will be on the same book shelf in many reader’s libraries.

As a last thought, one other title should be on the shelf with Foote and Michael and Jeff Shaara: The Civil War Battlefield Guide. This book is essential in understanding the flow of battle. Concise essays and easy to read maps explain the timelines of troop movement. These maps give you a guide to what actually happened as men gave up their lives for a cause they believed in.

Jeff Shaara will be at Lemuria Thursday, May 31 for a 5:00 signing & 5:30 reading.

Songs of Unreason by Jim Harrison

By John

On May 16, 2012

In Poetry

Around 30 years ago I met Jim Harrison and had supper with Jim and his publisher, a great Lemuria pal, Sam Lawrence. It was a small gathering of Jim’s followers, mostly booksellers. That evening was an exciting night for me and the beginning of my friendship with Jim and Sam.

Becoming a fan of Jim’s work was already well established, but from that night the joy of feeling like one of Jim’s tribe grew. Today, since first reading Jim’s work 35 years ago, I consider the meaning of Jim’s words to have had a profound influence on me.

Again, as my last two blogs, I am still celebrating poetry month. I’m writing about Jim’s new book of poems, published in the Fall of 2011, Songs of Unreason. I read Songs, two pages a day, sometimes rereading. However when I finished, I started Songs over and reread the same way. I spend about six months enjoying these poems. My reading time was so marvelous that I could have read a third or fourth time.

Here are a few passages from these songs that I hope radiate the power of Jim’s voice.

from “Notation”

Nearly everything we are taught is false

except how to read. All these poems that drift

upward in our free-floating minds hang there

like stationary birds with a few astonishing

girls and women. (5)

from “Skull”

The only answer I’ve found is the moving

water whose music is without a single lyric. (25)

from “River III”

You have to hold your old

heart lightly as the female river holds

the clouds and trees, its fish

and the moon, so lightly but firmly

enough so that nothing gets away. (71)

from “Suite of Unreason”

What vices we can hold in our Big Heads

and Big Minds, our Humor and Humility.

We don’t march toward death, it marches toward us

as a summer thunderstorm came slowly across

the lake long ago. See the lightning of mortality dance,

the black clouds whirling as if a million crows. (130)

from “Moping”

. . . Memories follow us

like earaches in childhood . . . (131)

from “Death Again”

. . . Of course it’s a little hard

to accept your last kiss, your last drink,

your last meal . . .

We’ll know as children again all that we are

destined to know, that the water is cold

and deep, and the sun penetrates only so far. (141)

I want to thank Jim for his friendship to Lemuria and me and for all the gifts his words have given to all the Lemurians that are part of his tribe.

“The Blue Shawl”

The other day at the green dumpsters,

an old woman in a blue shawl

told me that she loved my work. (65)

Come, Thief by Jane Hirshfield

By John

On May 2, 2012

In Poetry

A few years ago, I had a wonderful and very well meaning Harper sales rep named Kate. She was a Yankee from Wisconsin, or somewhere up there, and we had quite different personalities. Lemuria was the bottom of the pile of bookstores she called on, being her southern most store. This Yankee gal came to deep Dixie to sell books.

Kate loves books and is one of the very best book reps I’ve ever had call on me. For you independent bookstore fans, having a great publisher rep who cares about books, her company and her bookstores makes such a difference. This work, when good, adds to the diversity and quality of the bookstore, and especially to the chosen volumes for sale on the bookstore shelves which reflect the store’s soul.

Kate grew fond of the Blues and Lemuria and she even put up with my orneriness. We also respected each others work and desires to get the right books to the right readers. We grew fond of each other and our work together was good for our readers, our bookstore and her publisher.

As our real book related friendship grew from working together, we began to genuinely share books with each other.

My blog’s purpose is to share with you a special writer, a Kate favorite she shared with me, Jane Hirshfield. To continue celebrating poetry month even after it’s officially passed, I share my favorite touches of Jane’s grace from Come, Thief, her new book of poems.

I thought long and hard about these first lines from “Decision”:

There is a moment before a shape

hardens, a color sets.

Before the fixative or heat of kiln.

The letter might still be taken

from the mailbox. (5)

How interesting it is to write a long sincere letter and then never mail the words. Words written and never shared. Later, when reading what emptiness the writer can feel. What changes in life, if mailed, would have occurred?

From “Vinegar and Oil” (6):

From “Big-Leaf Maple Standing over Its Own Reflection”:

A boat’s hull does not travel last year’s waves.

And later from the same poem:

Lightning, like luck, lands somewhere (8)

From “Tolstoy and the Spider” (33):

From “Sheep”:

and your heart is startled

as if by the shadow

of someone once loved.

Neither comforted by this

nor made lonely.

Only remembering

that a self in exile is still a self

as a bell unstruck for years

is still a bell. (45)

This wonderful business of real book selling is about sharing. In closing, I’m happy to share with you what my real book friend shared with me, my favorite poem by Jane Hirshfield.

From “Fifteen Pebbles”:

Transparent as glass,

the face of the child telling her story.

But how else learn the real,

if not by inventing what might lie outside it. (62)

Epilogue for my real bookselling companions–Also from “Fifteen Pebbles”:

Like moonlight seen in a well,

The one who sees it

blocks it. (60)

Waking: Poems by Ron Rash

By John

On April 18, 2012

In Poetry

Waking: Poems by Ron Rash

(Hub City Press, 2011)

April is the national poetry month, and since Lemuria does not have a seasoned poetry reader/bookseller, I decided to write about two of Ron’s four poetry books.

Waking is Ron’s first book poetry in nearly a decade. I read Waking soon after it appeared this fall. It was the first of Ron’s poetry books that I had read and I enjoyed it. Ron’s rural details capture southern man’s enchantment with nature, lightening, weather, and so on. These elements are easy to relate to and they speak to the southern myth.

On water from “Watauga County: 1959”

as I hear silence widen

like fish swirls on a calm pond

On reflection from “Mirror”

come clear in first light and find

only herself, which is all

she wishes for this moment

On love from “Rebecca Boone”

the bed

where need and memory merged

On the known and unknown from “Rebecca Boone”

then lifted the newborn, smiled

at a face more his own than

even he could understand.

On contemplation from “Waterdogs”

passing clouds

read like pages turned in a book

After Waking I immediately picked up Eureka Mill (Hub City, 1998), a book of poems which captures life in the mill town of Eureka. With emphatic vision, Rash captures the trials of Appalachia. Though I appreciate the Eureka Mill concept through poetry, for me personally I did not find as many signals of the truth in this collection.

Please join us for one of Lemuria’s favorite writers. Ron takes the banner of southern literature forward with his new novel The Cove. But I sure hope Ron will enchant us with some of his poems, maybe some new ones. Unfortunately, Ron’s first two book of poems Among the Believers and Raising the Dead are long out of print. I wish Hub City would reprint them in a single volume.

Join us this evening, April 18th, for a signing and reading with Ron Rash at 5:00 and 5:30.

Lemuria: The Real Book Store for Real Books

By John

On April 12, 2012

In Newsworthy

Everything is changing in the book industry and there is much talk about the preservation of the independent bookstore. Last week Google pulled out if its e-book contract with the American Booksellers Association. Independent booksellers must again reevaluate the reality of providing e-books for their customers.

Everything is changing for our competitors as well: Borders is long gone; Barnes & Noble is giving more space to non-book merchandise; Amazon is not interested in preserving the physical book at all–Bezos has said that he has created the better reading device. (see previous blog)

April 2012 is the time for me to state my feelings about the future of Lemuria: The Real Book Store for Real Books. Our bookstore will live or die with the physical book. Lemuria is all about customer service. Our team of Real Book Sellers work hard to create the very best Book Store for Real Books that we can. Not only do we want the best Books on our bookcases, we also want to be the best for you as we go out into the community.

A lot of our readers have e-reading devices and like them. Even some of Lemuria’s Book Sellers lean this way at times. That’s fine. We want your reading to be pleasurable for you, the reader, in any way you choose. Your reading time is valuable and the degree of pleasure you reap from that experience is irreplaceable.

However, when you think about Real Books we want you to think of Lemuria. We are your Real Book Store.

We are constantly editing our Real Book inventory: first editions, signed or not, mixed in to our stacks; used out-of-print hardbacks mixed in with the best new trade paperbacks. We also emphasize the finest of new hardbacks to keep current. We emphasize depth while striving to not be too stale or predictable. Frankly, we feel a Book Store is about the Real Book. A Real Book Store’s inventory is its Soul.

My point is simple: Lemuria is not and will not be selling e-books. Our customer service skills are focused on what we do best: Real Books in a Real Store.

Bound to Read.

JX//RX

Bookstore Keys Series on Lemuria Blog

Reading One Click: Jeff Bezos and the Rise of amazon.com (March 19) Where will e-book sales level out? (June 2) Indie Bookstores Buying from Amazon? (June 1) BEA Roundup (May 19) Lemuria’s Headed for NYC (May17) Barnes & Noble Bankrupt? (April 28) Decluttering the Book Market: Ads on the latest Kindle (April 14) Independents on the Exposed End of the Titanic? (April 6th) Border’s Bonuses (March 30) The Experience of Holding a Book (March15) Finding “Deep Time” in a Bookstore (March 8th) Reading The New Rules of Retail by Lewis & Dart (March 3) The Future Price of the Physical Book (Feb 18) Borders Declares Bankruptcy (Feb 16) How Great Things Happen at Lemuria (Feb 8th) The Jackson Area Book Market (Jan 25) What’s in Store for Local Bookselling Markets? (Jan 18) Selling Books Is a People Business (Jan 14) A Shift in Southern Bookselling? (Jan 13) The Changing Book Industry (Jan 11)

Mississippi Booksellers Talk about the Future of Independent Bookselling

By John

On April 5, 2012

In Newsworthy

Two weeks ago the journalism department of Ole Miss invited me to be a part of a panel discussing the future of independent bookselling in Mississippi. Three other Mississippi booksellers participated: Richard Howorth of Square Books in Oxford, Jamie Kornegay of Turnrow Books in Greenwood, and Emily Gatlin of Reed’s Gum Tree Bookstore in Tupelo.

I’ve found that when booksellers talk shop, fresh ideas on how to make our bookstores better is the usual result. All of our markets are different and we have unique challenges. However, sharing how we deal with questions gives us the common bond of survival. Independent booksellers are a small family who care about the quality of our profession and how we effect the bookselling industry.

Also, independent booksellers care about our communities. We believe our stores make a difference enhancing the quality of local lifestyles. These are questionable times for bookstore survival.

If having a local bookstore in the community is important to you, you might enjoy listening to this panel.

Bring your Bobby Keys Vinyl on Saturday

By John

On March 23, 2012

In Music

Bring your old vinyl to share and Lemuria will give you a free beer.

Bobby is bringing his horn and we hope he’ll blow. Lemuria is encouraging all fans to bring old records he has played on to share. Bobby said he would be glad to sign them.

Last Sunday, I hunted through my records and found two with Bobby playing. Both are gems to me.

Just a kid in elementary school in 1961, I purchased a 45 by Dion which I’m sure juiced up my “need to be cool” fantasies at the time. “. . . Tear open my shirt I got Rosie on my chest . . .” sure lit me up at eleven-years-old. Listening to this 45 now, it still sounds good. Fifty-one years later this record seems in better shape than me.

Here’s some fun trivia from Bobby in Every Night’s a Saturday Night:

” . . . I ended up recording the sax part, solo and everything, for “The Wanderer.” Now here’s the kicker: Unbeknownst to me until very recently, during my take of “The Wanderer” I was slightly out of tune, so they had somebody come in after me and copy what I’d done, but in tune. Well, I always thought that it was me because the solo on the record was exactly what I’d remembered playing. The licks were exactly the same. And it sounded really good. But it wasn’t really me playing. After forty-five goddamn years, I found out it was somebody else playin’ my solo. . . And no one thought to tell me I’d hit the cutting room floor.”

The other gem I found is from 1970: Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on Tour with Eric Clapton. At that time on the west coast, Delaney, who was born in Mississippi, led the only band playing original music with a very Southern Stax Record-like sound. Bobby fit in just right.

It was a helluva band backed with the great chic vocal power of Bonnie and Rita Coolidge. Clapton, Delaney and Dave Mason on guitar. Bobby and Jim Price blowing horns driven by a strong rhythm section, this record still screams.

The cover art with two feet sticking out the window? Bob Dylan’s.

Bring your vinyl, meet Bobby and share memories you’ve had listening to Bobby play.

JX//RX

More details about the event here.

See our other blog on Bobby Keys here.

Every Night’s a Saturday Night: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Life of Legendary Sax Man Bobby Keys

by Bobby Keys and Bill Ditenhafer

(Counterpoint, 2012)

Every Night’s a Saturday Night by Bobby Keys

By John

On March 22, 2012

In Music

Keith Richards introduces his pal’s book:

Bobby Keys is a master of blowing hot air thru a brass tube by manipulating a series of valves. This must be true because I have played along side him for over 40 years. He has also told me that a Rico reed has something to do with it. In other words he is the hottest sax (not to be confused with sex) player on the planet. My most treasured friend , this beloved maestro is going to take you on a rock ‘n’ roll journey that will leave the reader gasping. We have been thru thick & thin together, and I’ve always found his love of music and people to be an antidote for the blues. Bobs: I love you

Bobby Keys’ passion for his horn started early. In his teens, he hung out in Buddy Holly’s garage. He chose sax as his high school band instrument. He dropped out of high school to go on the road to rock n’ roll. In 1964, he hit the road with Dick Clark Caravan of Stars. By 1969, he was playing out west with Delaney and Bonnie and Eric Clapton. Joe Cocker got wind of Bobby and in 1970 he became a mad dog and Englishman. In England, he befriended Lennon and George Harrison.

In 1970, he found his soul touring with The Rolling Stones for the first time. Since then he has been a Stones “The World’s Greatest Rock Band” fixture. With the Stones Bobby found his musical soul mate in Keith Richards, either on stage dueting or off stage partying like hell-raising demigods.

Bobby’s Every Night relates his ride all over the world with the great musicians of the Rock era. It’s amazing how many records he was on and how many friends he blew for. This is not just his story but the story of an era’s moods and how partying defined the culture.

Out of all of Bobby’s great stories I want to share two of my favorites:

Bobby’s mom’s first trip to see Paris and hear her Bobby play with the Stones. The other standout was about when Keith and Bobby were hanging with Hugh Heffner at the Chicago Playboy Mansion. What a blast that must have been!

The strength of every night for me was the way Bobby related the chemistry of the bands and the quirks of the musicians. The problems of the music business crosses with the excessive partying distraction. Grovelling work loads and routines seem to over shadow the fun of just playing the music. Rock became a huge business as Bobby migrated from Buddy’s garage to its top as the industry exploded. His story is a unique part of this history.

Those who know my interest in music know I’m not a big rock guy. So with that said, Please listen! I enjoyed Bobby’s ride from Lubbock to London immensely. If you like Rock and/or follow the Stones, the book is a must read. The words flow out just like the music from Bobby’s horn.

Please join us to welcome and celebrate Bobby at 3:00 Saturday March 24th.

Bring any of your old vinyl with Bobby playing. He has agreed to sign album covers. Adding to the fun of sharing old vinyl art, anyone who brings an old record gets a free beer or beverage.

Charlie Winton, my publishing/music pal will be hanging around and said Bobby will bring his horn. As we all know, anything can happen when we rock ‘n’ roll on a Saturday.

JX//RX

Click here for more info on the event.

Read “Bring your Vinyl” here.

Every Night’s a Saturday Night: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Life of Legendary Sax Man Bobby Keys

by Bobby Keys and Bill Ditenhafer

(Counterpoint, 2011)

Author: John (Page 4 of 19)

Ernie K-Doe: The R & B Emperor of New Orleans

“Finally, a baseball story”: Calico Joe by John Grisham

A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh by Jeff Shaara

Songs of Unreason by Jim Harrison

Come, Thief by Jane Hirshfield

Waking: Poems by Ron Rash

Lemuria: The Real Book Store for Real Books

Mississippi Booksellers Talk about the Future of Independent Bookselling

Bring your Bobby Keys Vinyl on Saturday

Every Night’s a Saturday Night by Bobby Keys

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