I'm just finishing my second trip though "After the Ice" - long enough after the first for me to have remembered it only vaguely.
I'm in Libya at the I'm just finishing my second trip though "After the Ice" - long enough after the first for me to have remembered it only vaguely.
I'm in Libya at the moment and taking a rest before accompanying the author's fictional traveler through the last of the continents, Africa.
It's been a slow journey and I'm tottering now but it's also been an absorbing experience - helping me also to weave together threads of facts I'd remembered or picked up here and there in my reading.
I particularly enjoyed re-visiting Western Asia and the Americas.
Kate Atkinson can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned so I forgive her for making me begin the book three times before I got a firm grasp of the many Kate Atkinson can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned so I forgive her for making me begin the book three times before I got a firm grasp of the many goings-on.
I love her clear-eyed, wry, touching, scathing, amusing novels - so full of allusions and, in this case, of encounters with old friends....more
I do enjoy the Robert Galbraith mysteries but, for the first time, I became bored by the blandness of the prose, the plodding development of the plot I do enjoy the Robert Galbraith mysteries but, for the first time, I became bored by the blandness of the prose, the plodding development of the plot and having to keep up with a cast of dozens (and dozens).
But I'd paid for my copy so I pushed on till, at about page 300, it suddenly became rivetting and remained rivetting, on and off, to the end.
I would rate this Galbraith mystery 3 and a half but, out of loyalty to an author whose work I have enjoyed, I'll give it a 4. ...more
A helpful self-diagnosis tool for those of us who are reaching the age of looming incompetence. As soon as I had given myself the all-clear I put the A helpful self-diagnosis tool for those of us who are reaching the age of looming incompetence. As soon as I had given myself the all-clear I put the book down.
I had thought I was buying a novel but I'd bought a case-study of a generic character....more
Grant is a Wiradjuri man who, as a boy, was a demon reader and who, against all the odds that were facing a young man of his background and time, bec
Grant is a Wiradjuri man who, as a boy, was a demon reader and who, against all the odds that were facing a young man of his background and time, became an outstanding journalist. I bought this book because I'm trying to educate myself about China and he was a frontline reporter for CNN in China and other parts of Asia - I was more than informed, I was fascinated. In the case of his reports from Afghanistan and Pakistan I was horrified.
Grant examines his experiences in the context of history and through the lens of the political philosophy of which he is an obsessive student. (Actually, I don't mind if he never mentions Hegel again). His predictions of the future for liberal democracy and the post WWII peace are ....sobering. I don't entirely share his pessimism and, if I've understood him correctly, I'm more enthusiastic about liberal democracy....more
A satisfying puzzler/thriller. Once I'd got into it I became thoroughly immersed. A satisfying puzzler/thriller. Once I'd got into it I became thoroughly immersed. ...more
I think "Sapiens" is based on a course given to undergraduates a couple of decades ago so the contents would naturally beI left this book at page 191.
I think "Sapiens" is based on a course given to undergraduates a couple of decades ago so the contents would naturally be not quite up-to-date with topics that I've been following avidly. That's OK, we expect that and make adjustments.
It's reasonable for the author to fall into teaching mode but I am not an undergraduate and I've already formed my own opinion about many of the topics being treated. I began scanning pages to get at the meat of the matter, the data, again.
Though I've put the book down, I've left it on the bedside table for more scanning and, hopefully, to become fully engaged with it after giving it a break....more
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