Fiction
Bakker, R.T. (1995). Raptor red. Toronto: Bantam Books.
This book is a biography of a Utahraptor written from its viewpoint. An implausible premise you say? Bakker actually makes it work. A fun read.
This book is a biography of a Utahraptor written from its viewpoint. An implausible premise you say? Bakker actually makes it work. A fun read.
Bloom, H. (2004). The best poems of the English Language: From Chaucer to Frost. NY: Harper/Collins.
I loved to memorize poems in high school and still recall large fragments of what I learned. So, I’ve been on the look out for a book that has the poems I already knew. This book fills the bill. It has great selections of the major English poets and well- known poems from many minor ones, together with some rather arcane and sometimes very tedious stuff (one gets very tired of personifications of aspects of nature and endless allusions to Greek and Roman gods).
The author’s commentary is sometimes rather ponderous, frequently repetitious, and sometimes obscure—the editor should be fired. Many of the poems, particularly the older ones or those in dialect are very hard to follow and there isn’t much help provided for the long-suffering reader. There are some translations of certain words in Chaucer but not necessarily the words readers are most likely to not understand. In addition, here as in other Chaucer explications I have seen, the translator chooses modern words that are not nearly as close as other modern words to the original—go figure.
For all this, one can’t help but love many of these works. Some of the poems have influenced the development of the language. One can identify the source of quite a few modern expressions.
I loved to memorize poems in high school and still recall large fragments of what I learned. So, I’ve been on the look out for a book that has the poems I already knew. This book fills the bill. It has great selections of the major English poets and well- known poems from many minor ones, together with some rather arcane and sometimes very tedious stuff (one gets very tired of personifications of aspects of nature and endless allusions to Greek and Roman gods).
The author’s commentary is sometimes rather ponderous, frequently repetitious, and sometimes obscure—the editor should be fired. Many of the poems, particularly the older ones or those in dialect are very hard to follow and there isn’t much help provided for the long-suffering reader. There are some translations of certain words in Chaucer but not necessarily the words readers are most likely to not understand. In addition, here as in other Chaucer explications I have seen, the translator chooses modern words that are not nearly as close as other modern words to the original—go figure.
For all this, one can’t help but love many of these works. Some of the poems have influenced the development of the language. One can identify the source of quite a few modern expressions.
Borges, J.L. (1964). Dreamtigers. Austin: University of Texas Press.
A charming little book of poetry from a deeply introspective writer pondering the meaning of it all. This is a very accessible translation from Spanish written by an admirer and colleague of Borges. The work is the more accessible to us because Borges is an expert on English literature.
A charming little book of poetry from a deeply introspective writer pondering the meaning of it all. This is a very accessible translation from Spanish written by an admirer and colleague of Borges. The work is the more accessible to us because Borges is an expert on English literature.
Endo, S. (1982). Samurai. (trans. V.C. Gessel). NY: Harper & Row.
A satisfying novel based on some historical facts. In the early 1600s a samurai of modest importance is selected to deliver a message to the pope. After a heroic voyage, his little party accomplishes its mission. However, unbeknownst to the hero, there is a volte-face in Japanese policy toward the West and towards Christianity during his long absence. As it turns out, the “Darkness at Noon” scenario was not invented by the Bolsheviks.
The writing style is somewhat dreamy and filled with apposite imagery. And it is interesting to consider what a Japanese traveler of the 1600s would think of the West—for example, the Spanish treatment of Aboriginals.
A satisfying novel based on some historical facts. In the early 1600s a samurai of modest importance is selected to deliver a message to the pope. After a heroic voyage, his little party accomplishes its mission. However, unbeknownst to the hero, there is a volte-face in Japanese policy toward the West and towards Christianity during his long absence. As it turns out, the “Darkness at Noon” scenario was not invented by the Bolsheviks.
The writing style is somewhat dreamy and filled with apposite imagery. And it is interesting to consider what a Japanese traveler of the 1600s would think of the West—for example, the Spanish treatment of Aboriginals.
Enright, D.J. (1955/1985). Academic year: A novel. Oxford University Press.
A wonderfully evocative novel about English academicians teaching in Alexandria during the last decadent days of King Farouk. How often the British Empire and Commonwealth created the “feel” of institutions around the world! I remember, for example, how vividly the correctional system in Hong Kong reminded me of the Canadian and British correctional systems. In this novel, aspects of the university, for example the centralized administration of examinations, reminds me of Queen’s.
The middle part of the book is about a “major” symposium at the Cultural Center of the university entitled Education: It’s scope and aims with one of the papers being The usefulness of education. All of this slightly boggles the mind because essentially the symposium concerns teaching the English classics to the Egyptians. The sheer silliness of it all will produce a profound sense of déjà vu in any academic.
This very funny but ultimately tragic little story is well worth reading on a number of levels, not least in 2006 because it invites one to ponder the precursors of recent Islamic militancy in their colonial context.
A wonderfully evocative novel about English academicians teaching in Alexandria during the last decadent days of King Farouk. How often the British Empire and Commonwealth created the “feel” of institutions around the world! I remember, for example, how vividly the correctional system in Hong Kong reminded me of the Canadian and British correctional systems. In this novel, aspects of the university, for example the centralized administration of examinations, reminds me of Queen’s.
The middle part of the book is about a “major” symposium at the Cultural Center of the university entitled Education: It’s scope and aims with one of the papers being The usefulness of education. All of this slightly boggles the mind because essentially the symposium concerns teaching the English classics to the Egyptians. The sheer silliness of it all will produce a profound sense of déjà vu in any academic.
This very funny but ultimately tragic little story is well worth reading on a number of levels, not least in 2006 because it invites one to ponder the precursors of recent Islamic militancy in their colonial context.
Keillor, G. (1985). Lake Wobegon days. Penguin.
I generally liked this series of short stories about the busy metropolis of Lake Wobegon. Lots of description, sentimental and nostalgic, but not usually too sappy.
I generally liked this series of short stories about the busy metropolis of Lake Wobegon. Lots of description, sentimental and nostalgic, but not usually too sappy.
Leckie, R. (1998). Scipio: A novel. London: Abacus.
A good novel about Hannibal’s nemesis. You’d think the Romans would have been grateful to him. The book describes a remarkable military life, with lots of action and historical detail. But one always wonders about the extent to which one is reading what a twentieth century person thinks that Scipio should have been thinking.
A good novel about Hannibal’s nemesis. You’d think the Romans would have been grateful to him. The book describes a remarkable military life, with lots of action and historical detail. But one always wonders about the extent to which one is reading what a twentieth century person thinks that Scipio should have been thinking.
McGrath, P. (1997). Asylum. N.Y.: Vintage.
A recent novel by the “master of unease.” Paddy McGrath lets the story line illustrate the nerdiness and exquisitely poor judgment of the protagonists rather than simply labelling them as dolts. The novel nicely and accurately illustrates certain aspects of the medical culture of English special hospitals.
A very good read. An attractive feature of the book is its narrative economy. What appear at first to be simple descriptive details, turn out later to be necessary for the plot.
Paddy worked with me in the Research Department at Oak Ridge many years ago and we were part of the same social circle. I can’t help but think I recognize some real people among his fictional characters.
A recent novel by the “master of unease.” Paddy McGrath lets the story line illustrate the nerdiness and exquisitely poor judgment of the protagonists rather than simply labelling them as dolts. The novel nicely and accurately illustrates certain aspects of the medical culture of English special hospitals.
A very good read. An attractive feature of the book is its narrative economy. What appear at first to be simple descriptive details, turn out later to be necessary for the plot.
Paddy worked with me in the Research Department at Oak Ridge many years ago and we were part of the same social circle. I can’t help but think I recognize some real people among his fictional characters.
Russo, R. (1997). Straight man. NY: Random House.
This is a novel about a failed academic department head (who could imagine such a thing!). It’s very light reading and amusing in spots—at one point the hero threatens to throttle a goose on television in order to dramatize the effects of budget cuts. The inanity of the university budget process is one of the many details that will be familiar to academics.
This is a novel about a failed academic department head (who could imagine such a thing!). It’s very light reading and amusing in spots—at one point the hero threatens to throttle a goose on television in order to dramatize the effects of budget cuts. The inanity of the university budget process is one of the many details that will be familiar to academics.
Shelley, M. (1994). Frankenstein. Ware, Hertfordshire: Wordsworth.
Mary Shelley wrote this novel in 1816 when she was just 19. She was living on the continent with the poet Shelley with whom she had recently eloped. The novel was the result of an agreement between she, Shelley, and Byron to each write a ghost story.
The novel is a real page turner. Quite interesting from a historical viewpoint because of the science and science fiction that is used in creating Frankenstein. The book is a morality play written in the noble savage genre.
Mary Shelley wrote this novel in 1816 when she was just 19. She was living on the continent with the poet Shelley with whom she had recently eloped. The novel was the result of an agreement between she, Shelley, and Byron to each write a ghost story.
The novel is a real page turner. Quite interesting from a historical viewpoint because of the science and science fiction that is used in creating Frankenstein. The book is a morality play written in the noble savage genre.
Simonds, M. (1996). The convict lover: A true story. Toronto: Macfarlane, Walter, & Ross.
In the attic of her Kingston house, the author found a collection of letters written by a Kingston Penitentiary inmate to its former owner around the time of the Great War. The novel/documentary is based upon these letters. I found this book enthralling.
Some interesting descriptions of the history of penitentiary reform. Sadly, those of us with a lot of experience with offenders doubtless read this book with a different set of expectations than others.
In the attic of her Kingston house, the author found a collection of letters written by a Kingston Penitentiary inmate to its former owner around the time of the Great War. The novel/documentary is based upon these letters. I found this book enthralling.
Some interesting descriptions of the history of penitentiary reform. Sadly, those of us with a lot of experience with offenders doubtless read this book with a different set of expectations than others.
Turow, S. (2002). Reversible errors. Toronto: HarperCollins.
A fast-paced novel about prosecutors, judges, and cops. The plot is carefully constructed and the details are realistic. The story itself, though, I found a bit far-fetched. I suppose it's redundant to call a fictional plot contrived. The problem, I think, is that I don’t like fiction very much.
A fast-paced novel about prosecutors, judges, and cops. The plot is carefully constructed and the details are realistic. The story itself, though, I found a bit far-fetched. I suppose it's redundant to call a fictional plot contrived. The problem, I think, is that I don’t like fiction very much.