Straight Chatting from the Library: William A. Glass

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READ THE INTERVIEW

What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

My favorite book growing up was The Count of Monte Cristo. I must have reread it a dozen times.

What is your favorite book today?

Goodbye Darkness by William Manchester. About his effort to shake the nightmares that haunt his sleep decades after serving as a Marine in World War II. To bury those dreams and his young self, he visits the horrendous battlefields where he and his comrades fought and bled. Think Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tarawa, and Okinawa. Tell us about your current book in 10 words.

About the wayward son of an alcoholic army officer.

What are you reading right now?

The Thin Red Line by James Jones.

What books do you have on hold at the library?

I don’t have any books on hold. I’m busy working on the sequel to As Good As Can Be. When I need something to read, I just grab a book from my library.

Do you have any bad book habits?

My worst book habit is rereading books over and over again.

E-Reader or print? and why?

I only read print books, the more beat-up, the better. I love the way they feel and smell.

One book at a time or multiples?

Mainly one book at a time, but I’ve been known to pick up a novel when a heavy-duty non-fiction book I’m reading gets too dry. But I usually go back and finish what I started.

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don't worry—Librarian Judith won't hold it against you—much)

I use bookmarks.

Least favorite book you've read this year?

A Gentlemen in Moscow

Favorite book you've read this year?

Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts.

When do you do most of your reading?
In bed, at the end of a busy day. I never go to sleep, no matter how tired, without reading a few pages of my current book.

Favorite genre?

Non-fiction history and biography.

Do you loan your books?

Yes, I loan my books, often pressing great ones on friends. Sometimes I get them back.

Favorite book to recommend?

Currently, my favorite books to recommend are the Liberation Trilogy by Rick Atkinson. Most people’s idea about the US Army during World War II is that they went ashore on D-day, and once that victory was won, so was the war. In three volumes, Rick Atkinson dispels that notion and unforgettably documents the ordeal our soldiers endured to liberate Europe from the NAZIs.

How do you keep your books organized?

I separate fiction from non-fiction and have the novels sorted by genre, then by author. The non-fiction is organized based on the era.

Re-reader or not?

I’m a voracious re-reader.

What would make you not finish a book?

I will put down a book when I come to not only despise the characters but the author as well.

Keep books or give them away?

I mainly keep the books I buy, although I freely loan them knowing I may not get them back.

READ THE BLURB

Dave Knight is a wayward child growing up in a military family during the 1950s. His older sister wants to kill him but settles for regularly beating him up. Other siblings join in the mayhem while their alcoholic father contributes to the chaos with his unique approach to parenting.

As the Knight family moves from one army base to the next, Dave develops a give-a-damn attitude that often leads to trouble. In high school, he joins other delinquents in a series of escapades, some dangerous, others funny, and a few that would be worthy of jail time should they ever be caught.

After barely graduating, Dave is drafted into the army and sent to guard a nuclear weapons depot in Korea. There, he gets into trouble with his sergeant and tries to avoid dishonorable discharge.

READ AN EXCERPT

Upstairs all is pandemonium. Dan is furiously pounding on the bathroom door while inside Marie stares into the mirror applying eyeliner. She’s in the seventh grade now and has discovered that boys aren’t just for beating up. Meanwhile, Dave’s in the basement ironing a shirt. He gives it a couple finishing touches then slips it on while running up the stairs.

“Have you seen my book bag?” Melissa asks.

“Isn’t that it next to the door?” Dave replies.

The bus pulls up in front of the house, and Melissa grabs the book bag. Knight hands her a bacon-and-egg sandwich as she goes out. “Tell the driver to wait,” he asks. Then one by one the other Knight children rush out while the driver insistently honks his horn. Finally, Marie comes downstairs, gets her sandwich, and strolls down the front walk, arms full of accoutrements. As she climbs aboard, the enlisted men’s dependents in back sarcastically applaud. Marie ignores them, and once seated she uses a can of hairspray to laminate her teased tresses. She pays no heed to mounting protests from others on the bus who object to being gassed this early in the morning.

NOTE: If you would like to see a longer excerpt from the book, please go here: https://www.williamaglass.com/copy-of-about-1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bill is a retired business executive now living in South Carolina with his wife, Bettina. She teaches high school German while Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Their three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon, have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers.

For recreation, Bettina and Bill enjoy hiking and camping out. Usually, they take their dog, Scout, along. When the weather permits, Bill commutes to work on his motorcycle.

https://williamaglass.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20170818.William_A_Glass

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/As-Good-Can-Be-ebook/dp/B086MB11FZ/

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