Irreverent, touching, and enjoyable. Petropolis is a great look at late Soviet life and is the fantastic tale of the life of a young girl struggling to find herself as the world changes. Young love, adventure, and disappointment all play a role in helping the main character construct a non-traditional family for herself. A recommended read!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Book: New England White
Carter, Stephen L. New England White. 9780375413629 (2007).
A fast paced and enjoyable read. Addresses issues of class and race in a way that raises essential questions about the nature of power -- all wrapped in the midst of an enthralling mystery. Politics, academe, secret societies, small town struggles, and the encroachment of gentrification -- all find themselves fair game for Carter's story. A powerful novel.
A fast paced and enjoyable read. Addresses issues of class and race in a way that raises essential questions about the nature of power -- all wrapped in the midst of an enthralling mystery. Politics, academe, secret societies, small town struggles, and the encroachment of gentrification -- all find themselves fair game for Carter's story. A powerful novel.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Book: Gentlemen of the Road
Chabon, Michael. Gentlemen of the Road. 9780345501745 (2007).
A new form for Chabon and one in which his fantastic ability to create sympathetic characters and evoking landscapes are used in full force. A quick read and a read that will set your mind wondering through the interplay of the religion in a region of the world oft ignored. It is a fitting next act to Chabon's acclaimed The Yiddish Policemen's Union and magical in much the same way. Bravo! A recommended read.
A new form for Chabon and one in which his fantastic ability to create sympathetic characters and evoking landscapes are used in full force. A quick read and a read that will set your mind wondering through the interplay of the religion in a region of the world oft ignored. It is a fitting next act to Chabon's acclaimed The Yiddish Policemen's Union and magical in much the same way. Bravo! A recommended read.
Book: High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them
Rischard, JF. High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them. 0465070108 (2002).
A fascinating look at a series of critical problems facing the world. Rischard has an insightful style and his clear overview of each issue and the struggles that preclude a quick solution is both troubling and worthwhile. Given that this is at the heart of the NAIS 20/20 Initative, it is intriguing to consider how global relationships between high school students may lead to a generation of trans-global problem solvers along the model of his proposed solutions.
Thoughts:
A fascinating look at a series of critical problems facing the world. Rischard has an insightful style and his clear overview of each issue and the struggles that preclude a quick solution is both troubling and worthwhile. Given that this is at the heart of the NAIS 20/20 Initative, it is intriguing to consider how global relationships between high school students may lead to a generation of trans-global problem solvers along the model of his proposed solutions.
Thoughts:
- Could the central section of the book serve as a basis for a long-term in-class project?
- Would Blair be amenable to developing a project to participate in the 20/20 iniative?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Book: The Haunting of Hill House
Jackson, Shirley. The Haunting of Hill House. (0140071083), 1959.
A classic psychological horror novel. A weaker cousin of We All Lived in the Castle, but still a very fun read. Intriguing and thrilling. A must for Shirley Jackson fans.
A classic psychological horror novel. A weaker cousin of We All Lived in the Castle, but still a very fun read. Intriguing and thrilling. A must for Shirley Jackson fans.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Book: Henry V and the Battle that Made England: Agincourt by Juliet Barker
Barker, Juliet. Henry V and the Battle that Made England: Agincourt. 978-0-316-01503-5 (2005).
A fast-paced and lucid account of the Battle of Agincourt. Full of the anecdotes that make histories such as these a true pleasure to read, Ms. Barker gets at much of Henry V's personality and its impact on the outcome of the battle itself. A fascinating sojourn in an age of chivalry, as the medieval stumbled toward its end and the modern world began. Recommended.
A fast-paced and lucid account of the Battle of Agincourt. Full of the anecdotes that make histories such as these a true pleasure to read, Ms. Barker gets at much of Henry V's personality and its impact on the outcome of the battle itself. A fascinating sojourn in an age of chivalry, as the medieval stumbled toward its end and the modern world began. Recommended.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Book: The Book of Ebenezer Le Page
Edwards, G.B.. The Book of Ebenezer Le Page. 978-1-59017-233-9 (1981).
By far, the best novel I have read in a long time. This story's ability to transport you to both another time and another land is noteworthy. With characters both real and extraordinary, it reminds me both of the quirky characters of my own youth (and thus of any small town in a simpler time) and elements of the magical realism of Garcia Marquez. I appreciate its use of the first person narrative and applaud the creation of such a daring character as Ebenezer Le Page. While for all the world a lonely and isolated bachelor, Ebenezer writes in his book of a life filled with love (and love lost), deeply emotive friendship (and its passing), family (and its inevitable conflicts), loyalty, honor, truth, perpetual youth, and his own run-ins with a significant portion of 20th century history (and its implications for a modern world). I can only pray that Ebenezer is continuing to write in his book of a life lived with appreciation for all that creation presents each of us. We would all do well to savor an ormer, sit in the sun on a flat rock by the ocean, warm ourselves by a fire, and reflect on those lives that have touched our own. A must read and an early favorite for my "book of the year".
By far, the best novel I have read in a long time. This story's ability to transport you to both another time and another land is noteworthy. With characters both real and extraordinary, it reminds me both of the quirky characters of my own youth (and thus of any small town in a simpler time) and elements of the magical realism of Garcia Marquez. I appreciate its use of the first person narrative and applaud the creation of such a daring character as Ebenezer Le Page. While for all the world a lonely and isolated bachelor, Ebenezer writes in his book of a life filled with love (and love lost), deeply emotive friendship (and its passing), family (and its inevitable conflicts), loyalty, honor, truth, perpetual youth, and his own run-ins with a significant portion of 20th century history (and its implications for a modern world). I can only pray that Ebenezer is continuing to write in his book of a life lived with appreciation for all that creation presents each of us. We would all do well to savor an ormer, sit in the sun on a flat rock by the ocean, warm ourselves by a fire, and reflect on those lives that have touched our own. A must read and an early favorite for my "book of the year".
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