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.

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.