Pops--This book needs a sound track

Dear Mr. Teachout,

I am really enjoying your biography of Louis Armstrong. I cannot get over his passion, his single-minded desire to blow his horn no matter what. Gangsters don't bother him. Unsavory characters in his life are of no concern. He doesn't even care if the musicians he plays with aren't up to his talents. Not even the nastiness of segregation seems to get him down (though he clearly feels it) He just wants to blow his horn and make music.

He's not perfect, mind you. I appreciate the efforts of this good man in spite of all the hurdles he faced.

But what I really want is to hear his music. I am familiar with very little of what you're writing about, Mr. Teachout. I don't know the difference between syncopation, bebop, big band and Dixieland. I would if I could hear it I think.

So here's what I suggest. An audio book with a sound track. I'll order it the minute it's ready. The book is really interesting to read -- a soundtrack would make it great.

Thanks.

Pops--Book 6

Pops, A Life of Louis Armstrong

By Terry Teachout

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston/New York

Mardi Gras today! But my head and imagination have been in New Orleans since last week when I started reading Pops. I've only read 45 pages but have discovered a determined little kid seeking greatness without knowing it. Born to an indifferent mother and absent father in terrible poverty with violence all around him, he managed to be strong, musical and proud. He was only a teenager when he felt compelled to spend his days earning money the hard way for his family and spend his nights blowing a horn and earning money the way he wanted. He was such a responsible kid he'd adopted his orphaned cousin. Partly his character was formed in the Colored Waifs Home where he spent time for stealing newspapers (which he may or may not actually have done) and found a mentor who encouraged his music. But mostly his character was something he developed from the inside out. At least that's the story so far.

I can't help but be impressed with the young Louis (And it's Louis--Lewiss, not Louie. He's not French, he would tell people.) And I can't wait to learn more about him.

I have moved from fiction to biography with this book -- and I'll go right back to fiction after this one. I couldn't resist a story about Louis Armstrong set at least in the beginning in one of my favorite cities.

Border Songs--Book 5

Border Songs

by Jim Lynch

Alfred A. Knopf, New York

Sorry, I didn't like this book. I liked the idea of this book but I didn't like the book. I liked ideas in the book, but...

The border is the Canadian border and the atmosphere is one of paranoia brought on by government worries about terrorists and drug smugglers and illegal aliens crossing the border and by Canadians worried about Big Brother watching their every move.

Brandon, the main character, would rather be birdwatching, or even taking care of the cows at his father's dairy farm but instead he's on the Border Patrol. And he's really good at his job--in spite of himself. He's dyslexic, clumsy and uncomfortable around people so he tends to prefer being a loner. He'll wander off in search of more birds for his daily count and end up with the "Queen of Nowhere" or something else suspicious.

But Lynch kept me guessing sometimes about who he was talking about. I really didn't think the characters were as carefully drawn as Jodi Picoult's characters in Handle with Care. I always felt like I had to squint to see them clearly. And I never did get it straight which side of the border people lived on. Was Madeline a Canadian? I spend the whole book trying to get people straight--that drives me crazy. In fact, I almost closed it midway through. If it weren't for the blizzard we are now digging out from, I'm sure I would have stopped reading it.

The tone of the book is cold hearted. I never warmed up to anybody until the last chapter when Brandon's mother finally comes into focus and gives the book a heart. A couple more passages and the whole tone changes to almost girly-love-story. It ends happily!! My first book this year to do so. So I'll probably recommend it with a warning. After all, others just may like these characters.

Handle With Care -- Book #4 --A Two-Day Read

Handle With Care

by Jodi Picoult

I had two long train rides ahead of me so I chucked The Museum of Innocence in favor of this "family" story. I knew it would be a difficult read. It's about a family suing for "wrongful birth" at the suggestion of a lawyer to help pay the bills that pile up for the care of their younger, smart and way to mature for her age (5 to 6 1/2) daughter with brittle bone disease.

It's pretty much a soap opera except that I found myself caring too much for these characters: the cop dad with a heart of gold, the mom that thinks she can protect her daughter from the fallout of this suit even though she must say publicly she wishes the child had never been born, the older daughter so full of self-hate she can't see her own value even though she's a doll and the child herself who clearly is one everybody would love even if she's apt to break a bone by sneezing.

This is the second book I've read this year that's narrated by all of the main characters, except Willow and including the lawyer. In fact, all the characters are telling her their side of the story, talking to "you." The tone is confessional, though not always filled with regret. Love, humor, and a lot of anger manage to bubble to the surface, as well.

And surprisingly, it wasn't hard to read. The characters are lovingly drawn. The narration makes it possible to get the full story from everybody's point of view. And although we're always a step from Willow, she's drawn with great detail (as is her disease) so that you have a true sense of how this is affecting her.

I thought there was a strong pro-life message throughout the reasoning that went on, maybe the rationalization that went on, as they worked their way to the trial. No one was calling for a ban on abortion but this family clearly could never have considered abortion.

I felt strangely ambivalent about the lawsuit -- I understood the mother's desire to be able to have the things that would make life for her daughter (and their family) easier. This seemed to be the only way. Insurance would only pay for so much. She spent her whole day hoping her daughter wouldn't fall. The father worked extra hours to help pay the bills when he really wanted to be home with his family. The regret at not knowing some of the details of his daughters' lives is painful.

But the cost of the lawsuit was high: it cost everybody friendships, reputation, and tore the family apart.

Somehow I knew the ending would be sad. It's the trend of all these books. None have ended happily yet.

But it's such a satisfying story I had to keep reading. And I'd definitely recommend this one, with a warning.

New books to read: Why is everything sad?

Last night, I knew I couldn't read another page of The Museum of Innocence. The women, I hope, are safely away from the clutches of the self-centered, obsessed Kemal -- so far. There's still half a book to go. The question is will I finish it? The answer, at least immediately, is not right now.

So I went to the library to see what from the Washington Post's list was on the shelves. Something, I hoped, would be happy.

I found three books from the list, including Terry Teachout's biography of Louis Armstrong, Pops, which I've heard good things about (although Armstrong's life was said to be sad, too.) I hadn't planned on reading any of the non-fiction but I'm learning to play Armstrong's Wonderful World on the piano so I couldn't resist. Besides, who could resist the photo of Pops, a knowing smile on his warm face, a dapper red tie with his tuxedo and his horn tucked under his arm?

Also on my coffee table for the next couple of weeks:

• Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult: the story of a family coping with a cheerful child's horrible birth defect and considering a wrongful birth lawsuit. I have to admit when I couldn't sleep last night, this didn't help. I became completely absorbed by these charming characters and read nearly half the book. I stopped for breakfast. Sad story but all loveable characters. Take that, Kemal! You can love without destroying the people around you (including yourself.)
• Border Songs by Jim Lynch: A Border Patrol man (on the Canadian border) who likes bird-watching. Maybe this one won't be sad.

I don't like having to steel myself to open a book. Yet it's something I've had to do with every book so far. I have to admit, however, they've all delighted me in different ways. The narrators of Stalin Epigram, the weather in A Gate at the Stairs, the young women of The Museum of Innocence as well as the descriptions of Istanbul which mix exotic detail with the smells and sounds of a small town with flashes of terrorism--not bombs going off but comments that people live with a sliver of fear that a bomb may go off and ruin their day.

So I'll keep reading. So much good writing even if it may be sad.