January 2022
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I read this book twice last year–twice because I like it so much–and have been meaning to write about it at least since the last reading, which was probably early last fall sometime, which is to say four or five months ago. But I kept putting it off. I knew that one reason for my…
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Here. It's a complaint about my tinnitus. They made a few edits with which I didn't necessarily agree. But I didn't strongly object, either. And I've learned, or maybe I should just say decided, to let that stuff go, because: They may be right, that their changes are improvements. "Choose your battles" is always…
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Perhaps you would enjoy hearing about Maggie Roche's winter coat. Leave it to the Roches to record an 8-minute description of a coat (written by Maggie, according to a Facebook post I saw yesterday).
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Jack Butler, submissions editor for National Review Online, is a big fan of pop music but, is to use his own word, "embarrassingly" unacquainted with classical music. Deciding to fix that, he has taken an extremely odd measure: I have set about remedying this deficiency in classic amateur fashion: i.e., haphazardly, guided by what little…
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As political frenzy revved up over the last year, I found myself wanting to re-read Dostoevsky’s Demons, thinking it would offer some insight and perspective on what’s happening. Or rather not so much what is currently happening as what has been happening for the past 150 years or so. I had thought on my first…
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I was in my local independent bookstore one day last week. I don't go there very often, even though I am happy they've survived and even prospered (though book sales are not their only revenue), and I want them to continue to do so. There just aren't many current books that I have much interest…
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For many years I've heard the novels of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett recommended, often very highly and sometimes from people whom I know personally and who generally have pretty good literary judgment. I thought I might check them out sooner or later, but they weren't a high priority and I still haven't read anything…
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You'll notice that there's no cheery exclamation mark after that title. I bring you this appropriate counsel from St. Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373): God has determined the measure of man’s life, and the days divide this appointed measure into parts. Each day imperceptibly takes its part away from your life and each hour unrestrainedly…
Light On Dark Water 