A very happy birthday to Monte Schulz, whose novel “This Side of Jordan,” makes for very compelling reading. There’s one aspect of Monte’s book that I would compare to a famous comic strip — but not “Peanuts.” Like Chester Gould’s “Dick Tracy” in its heyday, the scenes of violence in “This Side of Jordan” are relatively few, but they’re so sudden, shocking and memorable that you may think the story is more violent than it really is.
Every year for Christmas I get the latest 2-volume box set of “The Complete Peanuts” series. Last year I pointed out that one of the books had a printing defect. It happens to be on the page with the installment of “Peanuts” that was published on Monte’s 18th birthday.
Here’s the box set for Christmas 2009. We also have a new “Peanuts” ornament, but I neglected to take a photo before Carol packed it away.
Saying “British culture” is often redundant. “American culture” is usually an oxymoron. 😉
Brian! Ah, some British culture. How are you, not-so-old chap? 😉 and a very Happy Birthday to Monte from me, too!
I just finished a most excellent book that I bought at a yard sale, of all places. It’s about a girl our age, exactly (high school class of ’73) growing up in a lower middle-class neighborhood in Illinois. The book is called “The Book of Ruth” by Jane Hamilton, and like “This Side of Jordan,” has a scene of violence so shocking and totally unexpected that I was screaming out loud. The language is awkward but beautiful at the same time (not like yours, Monte, which is well-written and beautiful). The reason I read THAT book is because it was LARGE PRINT. My vision is still on the mend!
Hmm… I’ll have to check my Google profile, Brian. Thanks for the tip-off.
An upside down page – obviously intended for the upside-down flying Woodstock! Why isn’t your blog reachable through your profile page…???