Hello hello my fellow Geekers!
As previously tweeted my blog is a tad late due to illness yesterday, apologies for that! And incase you would like to follow me on twitter, my username is: @JanerobinsonMeg 😀
So, as mentioned, this blog is about a podcast that I listened to whilst on holiday - it was recommended to me by my brother, who advised me that even though it isn't the jolliest thing to listen to whilst away, it is brilliant....and he was right.
If you haven't already - then get it downloaded and enjoy the soothing tones of Brian Reed whilst he relives his memories with John B. McLemore; a fascinating, eccentric and brilliant man with an equally brilliant mind.
Now I won't spoil anything for those that haven't heard the podcast - but the first few episodes relate to John wanting Brian to investigate a supposed murder in John's hometown, Woodstock (or sh*t town, as John calls it), Alabama. From this, the listener is then thrown into Johns' world and moods - be it happy, sad, or a big rant about Woodstock.
Brian Reed beautifully describes John as a person, his home and many dogs and after I finished the podcast, I did an internet search so see pictures and was shocked to find that what I had in mind was scarily accurate - and for this, I truly thank Mr Reed, (FYI, if you do an internet search then please be prepared for spoilers!)
There are many things that truly amazed me about John. The fact that he builds a hedge maze in his garden (and nothing simple...this maze has gates that enable it to have 64 possible solutions), how he uses the dangerous and difficult gold plating technique 'fire-guilding' to rebuild antique clocks, as well as his intense interests and concerns for global warming - so much so that he compiles dense and fact filled journals which he regularly emails to Brian.
Thinking back on the podcast and insight into Johns personality, I think it is fair to say that John was haunted by depression, anxiety, loneliness and paranoia. The series shows Johns attitude towards Woodstock as extremely negative, but with this, John would never leave his hometown. He believes that corruption lies in all institutions - to which I should mention that there is a mystery about a mass of gold bars apparently hidden in his house or on his property.
John was a danger to himself when he was alone, it would seem that his educated mind would taunt him about world-wide problems that he was passionate about, but he knew that he alone could do nothing to stop them. He was a father figure to Tyler Goodson (his neighbour, his friend and someone that he took under his wing), but would repeatidly endanger this friendship with his clingy behaviours and outspoken attitude.
I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast and how I got to catch a glimpse into the mind of the legend that is John B. McLemore. It is a powerful story and one that I passionately feel that everyone should listen to.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think 😀😁
Until next week Geekers xx
