Monthly Archives: May 2013

Gargantua and Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais

Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais My rating: 3 of 5 stars An oversized book about oversized men overindulging in larger-than-life adventures. I first read this book in 1980 or 1981 when a roommate had a copy. I had already … Continue reading

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The Commonwealth of Life by Peter G. Brown

The Commonwealth of Life: Economics for a Flourishing Earth by Peter G. Brown My rating: 4 of 5 stars An inspiring vision is presented in a technical and academic work that contains some possibly troubling implications. In January 2008 I … Continue reading

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The Histories by Herodotus

The Histories by Herodotus My rating: 3 of 5 stars This chatty account of the first great clash of East and West demands an interest in, and preferably a knowledge of, the people and places of that time. I acquired … Continue reading

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prose sketch: Lonsdale Quay, in the style of Rabelais

Sun. 5 May 2013 ca. 1:30 p.m. Lonsdale Quay Market In the style of Rabelais: We arrived at the quay of the North Vancouverites, where a pedestrian ferry docks and people stream off to visit the waterside market, established in … Continue reading

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prose sketch: Victoria Park

Sat. 4 May 2013 ca. 12:30 p.m. Victoria Park The park is surprisingly deserted for a summerlike day: a lone woman has left a bench across the concrete plaza around the cenotaph, hair a rich synthetic copper-chestnut, reading a hardback … Continue reading

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The Angels and Us by Mortimer J. Adler

The Angels and Us by Mortimer J. Adler My rating: 4 of 5 stars This short philosophical text examines the idea of angels from different points of view, and shows why angels matter—whether we believe in them or not. In … Continue reading

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