Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

Being a comic book geek I was really hoping, no EXPECTING to enjoy this book. And admittedly at times it was kind of quirky and fun, but I think going forward if I want to read about super-heroes I'll stick to the comic books and avoid novels like this.

Remember that movie, Mystery Men with Ben Stiller from a few years ago? This book had a similar feel to it... and much like Mystery Men it fell completely flat.

The characters are interesting enough but they're also quite two-dimensional. Comic book writers do a much better job at giving their characters depth-- whether the lack of dimension was an intentional spoof on the negative stereotypes of comic books or just poor writing is uncertain. The overall predictability of the plot and the ending which seemed to have come from left field could also have been an intentional lampoon of comic lore and legend or much like the lack of dimension of the characters it might just have been poor writing.

Either way, if this was a spoof it was rather poorly done and rather than poke fun at the negative stereotypes of comic books and comic book fandom it will only serve to perpetuate them or even if it was just poor writing, well the author might want to switch to material he's more familiar with and leave the super heroes to the pros over at DC and Marvel.

Leinenkugel - Summer Shandy

When life gives you lemons you make lemonade. When life gives the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company Lemons they make Summer Shandy. The Brits have been privy to this concept for awhile with their Shandy Bass. However, Shandy Bass, this is not. Tipping the scales more on the beer side than the lemon this is a smooth and delicious summer beer with a strong lemon flavor that dances over your taste buds with a gentle accent of hops. It is both gentle and inoffensive to the palate and would make a delicious addition to any summer barbecue.

Related Links:
Leinenkugel Brewing Company
RateBeer.com Summer Shandy Rating and other Reviews

Steve Lukather - Lukather (1989)

In 1989 Steve Lukather stepped outside the confines of Toto to release his debut solo album. And in this solo effort Lukather received a little help from his friends... Eddie Van Halen (co-writing and playing bass on the album's opener Twist the Knife), Richard Marx (contributing background vocals on a couple of tracks), Steve Stevens (contributing a scorching guitar solo on the epic Fall Into Velvet), Jan Hammer (contributing a synthesized "guitar" solo on Fall Into Velvet), and even Toto bandmates David Paich and Jeff Porcaro contributed their talents to this freshman effort.

Opening with a throwaway Van Halen track (from either the 5150 or OU812 sessions), Twist the Knife the album scorches from the first chords Lukather plays on his guitar. This song was originally recorded, with completely different lyrics and a different title (I Want Action).

The next track, Swear Your Love features very audible background vocals from Richard Marx a moderately interesting but imminently forgettable hook.

The strongest track, indeed the reason to own this album is Fall Into Velvet featuring guitar solos by Steve Lukather and Steve Stevens and a scorching keyboard solo by Jan Hammer (of Miami Vice Theme fame). Clocking in at over 9 minutes and complemented by the soulful background vocals by Cindy Mizelle Lukather takes this track to its absolute limits and really stretches out.

Some of the other stand-out tracks include the pop-friendly Lonely Beat of My Heart (co-penned by Lukather with Diane Warren) and With a Second Chance- either of which could have been successful singles within the context of the late eighties pop scene.

Lukather's lone ballad, Turns to Stone, is pleasant enough but imminently forgettable. It lacks that something special that made some of Lukather's Toto ballads like and I Won't Hold You Back and I'll Be Over You so consistently enjoyable.

All in all, it's a solid but mediocre effort. Lukather's subsequent solo albums would show substantial improvement over this debut release.

Crazy '08 by Cait Murphy

Dynasty is not a word one would generally use to describe the Chicago Cubs. But in the first decade of the twentieth century they were just that...

Between 1906 and 1910 the Chicago Cubs appeared in the World Series four times (missing the series only in 1909), winning twice (1907 and 1908).

While the 1908 World Series was a bit of a snore with the Cubs handily defeating the Detroit Tigers in five games, the season and National League pennant race leading up to that Series was a nailbiter right to the very end with the Cubs, NY Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates all in stiff competition for the NL pennant.

Crazy '08 is the story of that season.

Murphy's writing truly stands out. You can hear the cracks of the bats, the roars and jeers of the crowds, you can see in your minds eye the minutae of every game Murphy describes. You truly feel as though you're at the Polo Grounds or West Side Park (the predecessor to Wrigley Field). You can feel the wind on every pitch by "Matty" (Christy Mathewson) or "Three-Finger" Brown.

Crazy '08 isn't just a book, it's a time machine to the oft overlooked deadball era of baseball when the homeruns may have been few and far between, pitchers were iron-men who would not only pitch full games-- but sometimes even double-headers, and the game was much more fast-paced (some games wrapped up in as little as 72 minutes) and relied much more on offensive and defensive strategies as a result.

In addition to chronicling the 1908 baseball season, Murphy also describes the events of the day to put the reader within the context of the times. Making the book not just a snapshot of the deadball era of baseball, but of the events of 1908 in general.

If you only ever read one book about baseball Crazy '08 should be at the top of your list.