Category: Reviewed

Zen: Beginner’s Guide — Ian Tuhovsky

By 5t4n5

Zen: Beginner's Guide -- Ian TuhovskyI do like books about Zen and i’ve read a great many throughout my life: so where does this one stack up?

I really enjoyed it.   Ian has a very approachable style of writing and digs into all aspects of Zen, mostly for the beginning practitioner; but i would also suggest that this is a great book for the Zen curious who have no interest, whatsoever, in pursuing a practice; or for those who maybe just want to dabble a little and see if it’s for them.   And it’s also a good book for those of us who practice alone, either due to where we live or other circumstances, but need a little support and/or guidance occasionally.

It’s verily worth the 99p i paid in a Kindle sale.

My only criticism is that there’s a fair few typos that a bit of mindfulness in the proof reading would have prevented which, to be honest, i found rather amusing considering the topic of this book.

Ian’s Page

#zen #iantuhovsky

The Sun Also Rises — Ernest Hemingway

By 5t4n5

The Sun Also Rises -- Ernest HemingwayMy first taste of Hemingway and, honestly, i really have no idea what all the hype is about.

The Sun Also Rises is nothing but rich-alcoholics-get-bored-with-Paris-so-go-off-to-a-fiesta-in-Spain-for-a-week-to-get-drunk-there-instead.

They mostly do nothing but drink alcohol of various types and expenses of which Hemingway will inform you like any decent, decadent, wealthy alcoholic would.   They eat when they get hungry, sleep when they feel they need to and watch a few bull fights; about which, Hemingway is rather keen to portray to the world that the local Spanish know him to be an “officianado”, and that everyone must accept that it’s the height of art and wonder to brutalise animals for the entertainment of drunks.

Oh, and there’s lots of pathetic drunken arguments with pathetic drunken people arguing about other drunken people, or about people who won’t get drunk with them — with a good dose of antisemitism thrown in, which was only necessary if Hemingway was eager to portray his antisemitic credentials to the world as it brought absolutely nothing whatsoever to the actual story.

Blah, blah, blah…

…mostly, it’s all just typical drunken alcoholic boring twaddle written down through the haze of a hangover the next morning.

And now i can’t be bothered to write another word about Hemingway ever again, and i certainly won’t be reading any of his other books.   I gave him a chance and he failed miserably — but failing miserably is what alcoholics do best.

Ernest’s Page

#ernesthemingway

Wabi Sabi — Beth Kempton

By 5t4n5

Wabi Sabi -- Beth KemptonI really enjoyed Andrew Juniper’s book, Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence so i thought i’d may as well give Beth’s book a read as well.

However, unlike Andrew’s book, which i seemed to remember focussed more on the actual aesthetics and the Zen side of Wabi Sabi, with Beth’s book we look deeper into the lifestyle and world view of this wonderful concept.

In reading this book you soon become aware that Beth really has done a lot of homework, lifework, career work and academic work on Japan, and she does a wonderful job of bringing another take on the concept of Wabi Sabi to us non-Japanese readers who are always eager to learn more.

When it all boils down to it, it’s essentially a self help book coming from a really interesting angle.   There’s plenty of food for thought in here for anyone looking to make their life even a little bit better tomorrow than it was yesterday.   I’m fairly certain that everyone could find at least one thing in here to help improve their own lives in a really good way.

Beth’s Page

#japan #wabisabi #bethkempton

Paris By Starlight — Robert Dinsdale

By 5t4n5

Paris By Starlight -- Robert DinsdaleIf you’ve enjoyed any of Robert’s previous books then definitely give this a read.

Once again, Robert takes a really challenging, real world issue and wraps it up in wonderful, magical, story telling.   This time we’re taken into the world of war refugees who have travelled thousands of miles to find a new home.

As is usual in the real world, the politicians welcome them and say all the usual things that they’re supposed to say, but in the streets there are those who need to hate and any difference to the Paris they claim as their own will not be tolerated.

As with Robert’s previous stories, we also have the PTSD character, Hayk, who finds enemies around every corner.

This story really takes one into the lives and issues of refugees and asylum seekers, and in some places it can be challenging for anyone with a decent heart.   People, through no fault of their own have their lives torn apart, their homes destroyed, and lose loved ones and friends to the evils of war.   All these people are looking for is a place to be safe and at peace with what remains of their families and friends, something too many of us take for granted.

Well done, Robert.

Robert’s Page

#fantasy #robertdinsdale

Mona Lisa Overdrive — William Gibson

By 5t4n5

Mona Lisa Overdrive -- William GibsonAs our story continues on from Count Zero we go off on a crazy ride round the world with a whole bunch of new characters and some of the old favourites as well.

And this story really does bounce around as our various characters all begin in different places doing very different things.

All in all a super good end to a super good trilogy.   I’ll definitely be back to read more William Gibson in the future.

William’s Page

#cyberpunk #williamgibson

Count Zero — William Gibson

By 5t4n5

Count Zero -- William GibsonLike the preceding Neuromancer, William makes you make some effort to keep up, and once again, it’s effort well repaid.

Adding insult to injury, this is the second copy i’ve tried of this book and they’ve both been rather badly edited.   I’m not sure whether the original book is like that or if it’s the fault of the copying it over into ebook format.   Anyway, i’ll judge it on the idea that the original doesn’t have all the punctuation and grammar faults and judge it as a damned good book, because, for all it’s faults in that area, it was well worth muddling through and making the effort for a really good story and characters.

Other thing to note: don’t expect to begin where you left off with Neuromancer either, because you won’t be.   Instead you’ll be thrown around here there and everywhere in between with general hints and a few characters from Neuromancer popping up and/or in or maybe just getting a mention in passing.

Anyways, all is good and i’m straight into Mona Lisa Overdrive.

William’s Page

#cyberpunk #williamgibson

Neuromancer — William Gibson

By 5t4n5

Neuromancer -- William GibsonWritten in such a similar way to the Hardwired Trilogy, in that it hops around a fair bit and you have to pay attention else you’ll soon find yourself lost in the matrix.   So i wouldn’t suggest even trying this book if you’re one of those readers who needs their words spoon feeding to them.

But for those of us who like to pay attention and use our brains a bit when we’re reading, this is a great book and certainly pays back your efforts.

Probably not a good book for amphetamine/coke addicts in recovery as the main protagonist is a full on speed freak.

It’s sooo good the first thing i did when i finished it — even before i wrote this review — is begin to read Count Zero.   I’ll see you there when i finish it.

William’s Page

#cyberpunk #sfmasterworks #williamgibson

Wake Up — Bonnie Myotai Treace

By 5t4n5

Wake Up -- Bonnie Myotai TreaceHaving recently restarted my meditation practice, which is going really well, i thought it about time to give this a read.

I would firmly put this book on the shelf for anyone interested in Zen and deepening their practice: lots of little nuggets of info in here, well presented and easily read.

Also contains a good list of further resources at the back of the book.

Bonnie’s Page

#zen #bonniemyotaitreace

The Measure of a Man — Kathleen McClure

By 5t4n5

The Measure of a Man -- Kathleen McClureI once wrote in another book review that “maybe we could all use a dose of ‘silly’ now and again”; likewise, this is a fun short story that will certainly give you a nice little dose of said silly that you didn’t even realise you so desperately needed in this totally messed up world that you take so seriously.

A rat bites a werewolf in the subway, and yes, just like being bitten by a werewolf things also begin to change when you bite werewolves: even if you are just a tiny subway rat.

All good fun, and with the usual non-stop flowing writing that Kathleen’s so good at.

So stop reading the newspapers over breakfast and getting all depressed about things you can’t do anything about, go download this short story and read it instead, then phone in sick and have a nice, silly day off from your serious lives.

Kathleen’s Page

#fantasy #kathleenmcclure

A Man — Keiichiro Hirano

By 5t4n5

A Man -- Keiichiro HiranoA man dies who isn’t who he claimed to be.   Left behind is a wife, daughter and step son of the imposter, and also an ex-girlfriend and the family of the man who he claimed to be.

In steps Kido to figure it all out for everyone, a lawyer whose own life is a bit on the rocks.   Kido becomes obsessed tracking down the real Daisuké and figuring out who the imposter really was and why he would do such a thing.   And while the tracking goes on through the book Kido begins to question his own life and failing marriage.

In Kido’s searching for the real Daisuké and the imposter’s true identity we are taken on a journey about life itself: who are we really if we can just jump into someone else’s past and assume the rest of their life as our own?

Keiichiro’s Page

#japan #keiichirohirano