I truly believe that as a writer you're only as good as the last book you've read. This weekend I've been spending time with these three publications.
The first is In the Ring with John L. Sullivan, a biography and career retrospective about the first gloved heavyweight boxing champion. Nearly 500 pages, writer Adam Pollack has done the exhaustive research into Sullivan's fighting record in the late 1800s, and provides never before seen pictures and newspaper accounts. I'm not even a 100 pages in and Pollack's work has already captivated me. Luckily, Pollack was gracious enough to let me know he'd love to come on my podcast anytime. Once I finish, I'll be ecstatic about having him on. For anyone with an interest in boxing and combat sports, this is a great historical read.
The second book is The Life and Times of Lepke Buchalter: America's Most Ruthless Labor Racketeer by Paul R. Kavieff. I've always been a fan of true crime books, and this one takes on even more importance since I'm starting preliminary work on my own book about a NYC gangster. In the 1930s, Buchalter was one of the most powerful crime bosses in the country. His own squad of assassins, dubbed by the press as Murder Inc., left a slew of bodies in NYC and around the country. Buchalter's downfall was even greater -- he holds the dubious distinction of being the only mob boss to ever be executed by the courts. The book comes in a little over 200 pages and Kavieff's writing style allows for a brisk read. So far I'm about 100 pages in and the most revealing aspect of the book is how Buchalter's infiltration of the labor unions provided the blueprint for later mobs and continues to this day.
Since George R.R. Martin is taking his sweet time finishing up The Winds of Winter, I went ahead and picked up A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which takes place 100 years before the events in Game of Thrones. Having read all the other books, it took a little time to adjust to a straightforward Martin story just centered on two characters. But the writing is top-notch and you can get through these three novellas fairly quickly. The first one establishes the connection and motivation for the central characters, "Dunk and Egg," and I'm expecting the next two to up the stakes regarding the importance of their adventures. So far I'm enjoying the saga and picking up on the familiar houses and lore.
What are you guys reading? I'm always up for new book recommendations so fire away and enjoy the weekend...