Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…Winston Churchill,Continue reading “Review of: “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding” by Osita Nwanevu”
Tag Archives: book review
Review of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie
The Stuff and Ramblings:This semi-autobiographical YA novel centers on an adolescent young man called Junior growing up on the Spokane Reservation. Like the author, he was born with hydrocephalus and underwent surgery as an infant. Both also suffered seizures as children. Because he is not athletic, he is easy prey for bullies. He has oneContinue reading “Review of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie”
Review of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson
Warning: the book reviewed deals with sexual violence. The review mentions it but does not describe it. Plot:Melinda Sordino starts high school with everyone hating her. Her old friends from middle school aren’t talking to her. She really does eat her lunch all by herself. Maybe if she could tell them about what happened, aboutContinue reading “Review of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson”
Review of “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself about Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” by Alexander Vindman
For it is the US and its allies, I argue, that have enabled the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine. The West’s failings to constrain Russian aggression and harden Ukraine against it have nourished the Russian sense of impunity.–Alexander Vindman, The Folly of Realism, p. 3 In his introduction, author Alexander Vindman describes the history of America’sContinue reading “Review of “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself about Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” by Alexander Vindman”
Review of “The Signalman” by Charles Dickens: Halloween Countdown
Plot:Our hero visits a signalman in a railroad tunnel where he works, signaling trains that come through and passing messages along. He announces his presence by shouting from atop the hill, “Halloa! Below there!” Much to his surprise, the man walks away as if he hasn’t heard him. After some more screaming, the narrator getsContinue reading “Review of “The Signalman” by Charles Dickens: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Shadow in the Corner” by Mary Elizabeth Braddon: Halloween Countdown
Plot:Wildheath Grange sits back from the road, the last remnants of a once-vast estate of the Bascom family. The house has a bad reputation among the locals in the nearby village of Holcroft, but it suits the current owner, Michael Bascom, a middle-aged bachelor who spends his days among his books in scientific reading. TheContinue reading “Review of “The Shadow in the Corner” by Mary Elizabeth Braddon: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Dreams in the Witch House” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown
Walter Gilman, a student at (fictional) Miskatonic University in (fictional) Arkham, Massachusetts, deliberately rented the tower room in the old house where accused witch Keziah Mason disappeared in 1692. His fields of study include “non-Euclidean calculus and quantum physics.” He also has an interest in folklore, all of which leads him to trace multidimensional space.Continue reading “Review of “The Dreams in the Witch House” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen” By Alex Diaz-Granados
Full disclosure: The author of this short story is a netbuddy of mine going back to sometime in the early aughts. We “met” on the (alas!) defunct site Epinions some twenty-odd (many of them quite odd) years ago. The Stuff: At a party where Jim is more observer than participant, a young woman approaches himContinue reading “Review of “Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen” By Alex Diaz-Granados”
Review of “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe
In short: The book has an engaging writing style and is a quick, easy read. However, it is too short to do the subject justice and suffers from oversimplification and insufficient information. My first impression of this book, with its 188 pages of text, was that it was too short to do its subject justice.Continue reading “Review of “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe”
Review of “Reunion: Coda: Book 2 of the Reunion Duology” by Alex Diaz-Granados
Full disclosure: The author and I have been netbuddies for twenty years (YEE GADS!), first “meeting” at the defunct review site, the late great Epinions. This novel is a lyrical story of new love interwoven with a story of acceptance of love lost and self-forgiveness. In his mid-thirties, Professor Jim Garraty is lucky in manyContinue reading “Review of “Reunion: Coda: Book 2 of the Reunion Duology” by Alex Diaz-Granados”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 