I’m currently rebuilding the website as the old one got totally messed up when i was playing around with things (no idea what happened).
So i thought that while it was a total clusterfuck mess of SQL, i would take the opportunity to give it a whole new life and everything.
So if you go clicking on things you might find that very strange things happen. Don’t moan, i know a lot of things are broken, i’m working on it, it takes time.
I’ve got tons of old posts and pages from three websites that i’m working through and will be gradually posting all the stuff i want to keep on here while fixing all the broken things as i go through, one post, one page, at a time.
On top of doing all that, i will, of course, be continuing to add more new content and my latest posts will always appear directly below.
Or, if you prefer, you can also follow me on Twitter and Pinterest where i put a link to all new posts.
Enjoy
The Book of Deacon Anthology — Joseph R. Lallo
It’s been quite a few years since i read this — and, i might add, i immensely enjoyed it.
Since then Joseph has added quite a few novels and shorts to the series and you can find the whole series by clicking there.
The Rise of the Red Shadow
Entwell Origins: Ayna
The Book of Deacon
The Great Convergence
The Battle of Verril
Jade
The Stump and the Spire
Joseph’s Page
#fantasy #josephrlallo
Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore — Robin Sloan
I read this quite some time ago, before i began writing a reviews, which is unfortunate but such is life. Anyways, since then i’ve read and reviewed ‘Ajax Penumbra: 1969’, which introduces the book store from a totally different perspective and gives a lot of background to ’24 Hour’. So i’d like to read this again one day straight after 1969, but i want to forget it all first and then start afresh.
It’s definitely a good book, that much i can remember.
Robin’s Page
#scifi #robinsloan
The Doors of Perception: And Heaven and Hell — Aldous Huxley
One day i’ll get around to reading this again, it’s been nearly 30 years and it just popped up in Kindle Daily Deals for 99p so i couldn’t turn it down.
I’m hoping to digitally rebuild my Aldous Huxley collection that i used to have years ago in real books – maybe when i’ve got a load i’ll have a good Huxley binge, but until then they can sit and gather some digital dust.
Aldous’ Page
#philosophy #aldoushuxley
Margaret Ogilvy — J.M.Barrie
>Having just read The Little White Bird and Peter Pan, it struck me that there may have been a little more to the characters than at first appears.
The character of Peter Pan was based on James’ brother, David, who died aged 13 (so never grew up), leaving the 6 year old James having to try and fill his shoes for his mother. So it made me wonder who Hook was based on. At first i thought Hook represented the parents but having read this book i’ve totally had a change of mind.
I suppose the clue is in Hook’s first name, also James. The hand that gets cut off by Peter, a metaphor for the part of James’ childhood, and life, that was taken from him the day his brother died. The hand is then fed to the ticking crocodile that follows Hook around wanting to consume the rest of him because it likes the taste — so is this another metaphor concerning the inevitable ticking clock of life, and that James felt the loss of his brother was continuously haunting and wanting to consume more of him and his family?
Then there’s Wendy, which having read this book cannot be based upon anyone other than Margaret Ogilvy herself. He mentions in the book how after his brother died, other local women who lost children would come to her to talk. Again, Wendy and the lost boys — the lost boys representing the children of the other women who went to join his brother David in heaven (Neverland).
But all that aside, this book was a heartfelt view into James’ home life and very much his relationship with his mother — who he obviously cared about immensely — and is an absolute must read for all fans of J.M. Barrie’s writing. The book also covers James’ early literary career and what made him want to become a writer. So a very worth while read.
So what’s next? After 3 books in a row, i’ll be taking a literary break away from Peter Pan, Neverland and J.M. Barrie as i’ve got a load of books on “The Pile” nagging to get read. But i’ll definitely be coming back to these three topics in my reading in the not too distant future.
Some more “Peter Pan and Neverland” books.
J. M. Barrie’s Page
#jmbarrie #peterpan #viclit
Babel-17 — Samuel R. Delany
One of the most imaginative sci-fi novels i’ve ever read.
I only bought it because i was looking for a book i read about 30 years ago that i can’t remember the title of and thought this may have been it, but it wasn’t. But i’m certainly not disappointed to have picked up the wrong book.
There’s all kinds of sub-genres in sci-fi and i’m not really sure where this one would fit. It’s mostly a deep dive into linguistics, as in how words and language are used and the meanings they convey, and Samuel does a wonderful exploration throughout the book.
It also takes in the future body modification — some interesting things going in this book, and does bring to mind some amazing potential within current science for the future body mod industry. The real future is certainly going to be interesting.
Anyways, well worth a read, and definitely worth it’s place in the “SF Masterworks” series.
Samuel’s Page
#scifi #sfmasterworks #bodymods #samuelrdelany
A Child at Heart — Christopher Phillips
Those of us interested in longevity and remaining young, fit and healthy as long as possible, realise early on that it all begins in the mind. If the mind is not on board for an extended lifespan then the brain and body simply isn’t going to go there.
While this book doesn’t look specifically into the longevity benefits of a youthful mind it still has plenty to teach us. This book is a wonderfully detailed look at the minds of all stages and ages of life and how we interact with each other — and Christopher isn’t shy of giving plenty of thoughts on what is wrong with our current view and treatment of young people and how that is impacting on adults and society as a whole. As Christopher is a parent himself this book does give a few thoughts on parenting without being preachy about anything and i would definitely recommend it for parents or aspiring parents.
But Christopher is also very clearly a Socratic philosopher, and this book, i feel, continues the ideas of Socrates in how society, not just parents, should relate to and listen to young people. I do find it incredibly disheartening that after more than 2000 years since Socrates execution for simply doing what Christopher prescribes in this book that adults still aren’t engaging with young people and giving them their rightful place within society. And then adult society has the audacity to blame young people for causing the problems.
Whether you’re a parent, a philosopher, a youth worker, or someone simply interested in creating a better world, this book is a very good read and well worth getting a copy.
Christopher’s Page
#philosophy #christopherphillips
Bridge of Sighs — Laura Morelli
This was a free offering from Laura for signing up to her newsletter when i got to the end of The Gondola Maker.
As shorts go it’s a good well written piece in much the same style as The Gondola Maker at around the same time and place.
My only gripe is that i wanted more — which is a complement. It would certainly have made a great first chapter to a much more deeper look into Venice, and Europe, at the time of the Black Death.
Although Laura’s thing is art, so she’s probably not planning to write a full novel on bubonic plague.
Anyways, i’m looking forward to getting around to reading The Painter’s Apprentice in the not too distant. I’m definitely a fan of Laura’s Venice. More please!
Laura’s Page
#venice #lauramorelli
The Gondola Maker: A Novel of 16th-Century Venice — Laura Morelli
I’ve never been to Venice and other than, “It’s got canals”, i know nothing about the place, so i can genuinely say that any knowledge of Venice is not required to enjoy this book.
Our protagonist, Luca, is the oldest son of one of Venice’s finest gondola makers, and when he completely burns his bridges (literally) on his future at his family’s squero he is left homeless and penniless. Refusing to leave the city he needs to find a way to survive and rebuild his life.
We then follow Luca’s ups and downs as he takes the reader on a journey around 16th century Venice through every layer of life.
It’s certainly not a book of twists and turns and subplots and stuff, it’s really quite a simple story. But it is a wonderfully written story that gives the reader a real feel of life in historical Venice from the view of the working gondoliers and those they interact with that make this book so compelling.
Next up, ‘Bridge of Sighs’, a little short by Laura from this Venice of the past.
Laura’s Page
#venice #lauramorelli
Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 — Shelley Adina
We have a 17 year old protagonist, Clair, who is like a female James Bond on some super-amazing, mental and physical, performance enhancing drugs: if you’re looking for something serious to read it’s all rather ridiculous. However, if you’re willing to put your belief in reality aside for a while, it is, undeniably, a rather enjoyable read. 12 days to get through 4 books isn’t too shabby for me so it obviously kept me turning the pages.
So if you aren’t looking for a serious read and are just wanting something that just passes away the hours without you taking anything seriously then this might be for you. I think, “silly” might be a good term to use in describing these books. But that’s not to use “silly” in a bad way, sometimes a bit of “silly” is a good thing in a world like ours — maybe we could all use a dose of “silly” now and again.
The plus side is that the characters quite likeable, although the baddies always seem to be a complete bunch of buffoons while the goodies are simply incredible in every possible way — again, making one not take it at all too seriously.
Am i going to read the rest of the series? Yes, i’ll certainly come back for more at a later date when i’m in the mood for something “silly” like this. But right now i really do need to read something a bit more complex and believable.
Shelley’s Page
#steampunk #shelleyadina
Meadowland: the private life of an English field — John Lewis-Stempel
A beautiful book from a wonderful writer.
The reader is transported to a working Herefordshire farm where they journey through the life of a real, English meadow from Jan 1st to Dec 31st, wonderfully detailing what most wouldn’t notice but what, to a meadow, are crucially important aspects of its eco system.
Sadly, and i mean extremely so, farmers like John are being driven out and intensive farming is systematically destroying not only the countryside fauna and flora, but also England as a sustainable island. But it is heartening to know that the real countryside and those that care for it are still out there and keeping these isolated islands of Nature alive so that hopefully, one day, if its not too late, we can wake up and stop the intensive farming and remake our countryside — fingers crossed.
I will certainly be reading more of John’s books in the future and totally recommend this one to anyone with even the slightest interest in the Nature of rural England.
