Two Different Worlds...

Just a check in today...reading two books right now...Dodger by Terry Pratchett and the magazine/anthology New American Review 11.  This is an interesting balancing act between two worlds.

Pratchett's novel is engaging with Charles Dickens as a character in his role as newspaper reporter.  Dickens' London is seen through the eyes of Dodger, and I'm thinking a re-read of Oliver Twist would be a good follow up.  Less than 100 pages into the book right now and fascinated by the storyline but have no idea where it is going.  One major difference from a novel by Charles Dickens - this one is less than 300 pages.

New American Review 11 was published in 1971 and reflects life in the United States at that time.  It is interesting to be reading "first hand" accounts of my life's history.  An essay I read yesterday discussed Reagan's actions as governor of California; I had completely forgotten the military state of mind he was using to "control the riots." 

Ironically, I've been watching some of the old Hawaii-Five 0 episodes (first season) on Netflix.  Ignoring all the local bad actors, I find myself laughing at the dated attitudes, etc.  I also wonder what the writers were originally trying to do with the character of Steve McGarrett.  The first few episodes he'd say things like, "Honey, bring me a coffee." His secretary would respond, "Sure thing."  That stopped within the first few weeks.  And he had a guitar in his office in a couple of episodes...once it was on his desk, and he strummed it while pondering the case.  The soft side of Steve McGarrett disappeared pretty quickly; however, the treatment of his secretary was still the sexist attitude of the times.  But the young people are all "pig-hating" cool talking hippie-types.  Hilarious.