a trip back in time

really loving this book - like a trip back in time to when i first learned computers and programming! https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Revolution_in_the_Valley.txt

a timeless classic

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Scarlet Letter is on many must-read lists, as well as student reading lists, at least when i was in school (way back when) so i thought i should give it a go. It was tough getting started as Hawthorne's style is not at all modern, but as i got settled in, i was astounded at the relevancy of this story in our post-modern 21st century society!

The setting is the mid-17th century Massachusetts Bay colony near Plymouth. In spite of the opinion that the settlement of the North American continent by the Europeans was to gain freedom from state religion, the colonial government in Plymouth was essentially a male dominated theocracy, with laws derived directly from the clergy's interpretation of the Christian Bible. Women had no human rights, but at the same time were subject to the most severe punishments if they strayed from the narrow path given to them. (This would be utopia to V.P. Pence and other evangelical religious zealots of today.) The central character of this book is Hester Prynne, a woman taken in adultery and sentenced to imprisonment and then to spend the rest of her days wearing a scarlet color letter "A" on her clothing, marking her as a sinner to be shunned. A daughter is born of the "unholy" union, who suffers under the same mark of infamy as her mother. The male participant in this union endures his mark within himself, wearing a mask of hypocrisy for all those around him.

So how is this relevant today? Haven't we come light-years from this primitive view of gender, religious superstition and dogma, and theologically tainted government? A quick look around will reveal otherwise, that we really are not much different than the society portrayed in The Scarlet Letter. Religious influences, particularly those of evangelical and even fundamentalists, are deeply influencing our government on all levels. Unlimited, tax exempt money is funneled directly from religious special interests into the election of candidates that support the views of the evangelical religious industrial machine. We are rapidly approaching a theocracy in practice, if not in name and official status. So-called sinners have no hope of grace and/or forgiveness in most of the evangelical "christian" religious establishment. Scarlet sinners may achieve some degree of superficial grace and acceptance, but are viewed by most in their religious "peers" with the same tainted-ness as if they are wearing the scarlet letter on their person. Women are not held to the same standards as men in most cases. Women are not permitted positions of leadership in the most influential of these large religious organizations, the ones actively setting the policy and electing officials in our government. And what about people of color, or of non-traditional gender orientations? Or people of diverse religious traditions, or even non-religious world views? Nonconformists are viewed in our society with the same "A" on their heads as Hester Prynne was forced to wear on her cloak.

The parallels go on and on. One thing that is particularly instructive about reading a book such as The Scarlet Letter is in reading it not completely literally, but rather metaphorically or symbolically. Once one steps slightly apart from the specific facts and happenings of the story itself, one can see the parallels and the timeless message of the story. It is through this reading that we can so easily overlay the 17th century society with our 21st century society and find so many alignments that show just how little we have advanced as a species and society. It is both chilling and challenging, and should help inspire us to move forward and upward from our paralysis of the past. The Scarlet Letter is a timeless classic.


View all my reviews

a trip worth taking

The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

the quote on the cover sucked me in:

". . . the kind of book Steinbeck might have written if he'd traveled with David Letterman instead of Charlie the poodle." - New York magazine. (sic)

"The Lost Continent" is a hilarious, irreverent, yet thoughtful trek around the mainland US during the mid 1980s. If you have ever read anything by Bill Bryson, you know what a wonderfully entertaining smart-ass he can be. Well what better traveling companion on a jaunt literally around the entire US in an aging Chevrolet Chevette shit-wagon?

This book is a wild, thoroughly entertaining 14,000 mile ride, taking the back roads (hats off to William Least Heat-Moon's "Blue Highways" and Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley") and stopping to smell the roses along the way. I really enjoyed this journey, particularly because my wife and i have traveled a good portion of it over the last 4 years. Having taken three driving trips to Colorado, New Mexico, California, Missouri and Kansas, we actually saw and stopped at many of the same places Mr. Bryson writes about. I can't say that my comments are the same as his, but it was great to hear his clever sense of humor narrating the places we've visited so recently. All in all, this book is a trip worth taking!

View all my reviews

a beautifully told tale

My Ántonia by Willa Cather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Ántonia is a beautifully told tale of life on the prairies and small towns of southern Nebraska around the turn of the 20th century. The characters, plot and setting all come alive and leave the reader feeling as if they have taken a living part in the story. One can't help but feel strongly for characters who are so real and tangible. This is a moving and powerful story about real people in a real place and time. I come away from the story deeply moved, and feeling more alive for having taken part in their story. Wow, this novel definitely deserves its place on the must-read lists.

View all my reviews

engaging and moving and thought provoking

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This collection of short stories is so much more than simply science fiction. It explores the nature of humankind when faced with the destruction of their home and the migration to a new home, Mars. Fascinating and philosophical, these tales are engaging and moving and thought provoking. This is my second Ray Bradbury book, but not my last!

View all my reviews

largely empty framework

Foundation by Isaac Asimov
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I recently read an article online (theverge.com) saying that Apple had announced plans to create a TV series based upon the Foundation book series by Isaac Asimov. I had never heard of the books, and had some dangling BandN gift card credit, so i picked up this title to read. Just from this first installment in this seven book series, i was not impressed. While Asimov introduces some interesting concepts in this story, psychohistory being one, the tale itself is nothing more than a largely empty framework for a galactic empire's fall and the plan to recover and build anew. I think that the overall framework is interesting but leaves much potential for others to fill in the multitude of missing details. There is almost no character development possible, mainly due to the accelerated pace of the tale. Many generations pass in these fewer than 300 pages. But i think perhaps the greatest contribution of this book (series?) is the fact that it creates a large scale framework on which to build and the inspiration to do so. Having watched hundreds of episodes of the many Star Trek episodes, as well as the many Star Wars films, i can see that these series and films probably drew much of their inspiration from the Foundation series. Asimov was visionary and when this was published in 1951, it provided a rich and fertile field on which to build some of the really great science fiction that has been created in my lifetime.

View all my reviews

more adventures of Tom and Huck

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a great continuation of the story started with Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Through the adventures laid down in this book, we get more depth into the characters of both Tom and Huck. They become more three dimensional and real. In it we also get a sampling of the culture and people who live along Old Man River, the Mississippi. Although parts of the book became tedious, overall the story was well done and engaging. This particular edition is a literary critics version, and provides approximately 120 pages of related commentary and writings to help understand the story as well as the context. I'm glad i went back to this book anew after all these decades!

View all my reviews

classic tale

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How great to read this classic tale again after recently touring Samuel Clemens boyhood home of Hannibal MO where the story was born! Now on to Huck Finn!

View all my reviews

an exciting and fun tale

Hounded by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you have ever wondered what it would be like for a two thousand year old druid to be living in a present day Arizona college town, this is the book for you. Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, the author incorporates all manner of beings from folk tales, legends and religions into this modern context to achieve an exciting and fun tale as Atticus O’Sullivan and his Irish wolfhound Oberon fight to preserve the druid way of life, fight against evil, and to restore the earth to health and wholeness. Being ignorant of myth and legend, i'm enjoying the ins and outs of these characters from history and legend. This tale is not as serious as Gaiman's tales, but quite fun to read, and it is the kick-off for a series known as The Iron Druid Chronicles.

View all my reviews

wonderful story of epic proportion

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OK - i am fairly sure this will turn out to be the best book i've read in 2018. It took a while, over 1000 pages, and through 2 vacation trips, but this is an excellent story. It is rich and engaging from start to finish. Gone with the Wind fully deserves it's place on the must-read lists and among the classics of American literature. I am itching to see the film again now. What a wonderfully written and told story of epic proportion. 6 stars from me.

View all my reviews

Still chugging

World's End by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Still chugging my way through the Sandman series. Mr Gaiman uncovers more tales and legends from all over the world and over history.

View all my reviews

the Mistborn trilogy - part 1

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Mistborn: The Final Empire" is the fascinating first installment in the Mistborn trilogy. The tale revolves around an unlikely hero, a young women born into slavery, employed as a thief, and yet endowed with powerful abilities that are part of a complex and creative system of magic that are a part of this world and usually only found in the ruling classes. She is discovered and "called" by an enthusiastic and charismatic freedom fighter into a plot to overthrow the evil and oppressive Lord Ruler of the "Final Empire", and set up an egalitarian and just government in which the skaa (slaves) are considered as equals to the nobility. There is much action and twists and turns in the plot with many surprises along the way. I am looking forward to continuing this adventure in the second installment "The Well of Ascension". The is a great follow up by Mr. Sanderson to "Elantris".

View all my reviews

deserve and demand re-reading

Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More of this great graphic narrative from Gaiman. It has become obvious to me that these stories are deep and penetrating, and deserve and demand re-reading. On to collection #8, "Worlds' End".

View all my reviews

"together" ?!?!?!

i received this ad in the mail from Ford Motor Company yesterday. Someone please explain to me how any of these vehicle occupants are "together" other than their bodies being in the same SUV?

a richly human community

The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first taste of Wendell Berry's rich fictional world of Port William KY. This tale is the told through a series of remembrances of a crusty old farmer, interleaved with his interactions with the people and events of the present. The character of "Old Jack" is a strong yet flawed, deeply human old farmer who is among of the last of his generation. Jack's life has been spent stubbornly fighting for his independence and for his ties to his land and surrounding country that he both loves and belongs to. This tale is a wonderful incarnation of the wholesome and healthy philosophy that Mr. Berry espouses and lives out in his life and writings. I am looking forward to more tales of this richly human community.

View all my reviews

legends and tales of many peoples and cultures

Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More cool tales from the King of Dreams. It seems that Mr. Gaiman has included legends and tales of many peoples and cultures in this interesting series. Really enjoying the stories!

View all my reviews

better with each reading

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The Dragon is Reborn" - this story is better with each reading, this is number five or six for me :) I love it. The question is, can i stop with this one, or is "The Great Hunt" next?!?!! :)

View all my reviews

creativity, originality, and beauty

Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one gets 5 stars for creativity, originality, and beauty. What a powerful story and medium. Loved it.

View all my reviews

better and better

A Game of You by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These stories are getting better and better. Looking forward to the next installment!

View all my reviews

over-the-top outrageous black comedy

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one was a long haul, and it had me seriously reconsidering picking my books from "classic" must-read lists. This story is an over-the-top outrageous black comedy / satire that takes place near the end of WW-2 on and around an Allies airbase in Italy. All the ridiculousness of war and military operations, politics, and personnel are raised to the nth degree of zany. It took me over half way through before i actually could appreciate the message contained in this story. All in all, it was a little too over-the-top for my tastes, but as the story ends, it leaves the reader with a serious critique of war, politics, and the philosophy of swords and guns in the way our world operates. Serious haunting questions are contained within virtually every wild crazy part of this story. I see why it is on many must-read lists, and i can see how it has influenced other books, films, and television shows, namely M*A*S*H. I'm glad i read it, but i'm taking a break from the must-read lists for a while.

View all my reviews