Date: January 21, 2004
This novel is really a string of interconnected short
stories featuring Gilman's psychic Madame Karitska. I do
think that police are smart enough to consult a child
psychologist on their own when a mute child of nine is
accused of murder. Matchmaking abounds. A pleasant
read.
Date: January 20, 2004
An examination of Protestant Christian movements as expressed in food.
Wine vs. Grape Juice, Individual vs. Common Cup, food as social glue, food
given to the hungry (locally and globally) and individual food morality.
On deciphering a potluck: The social meaning of church socials (article by same author)
Date: January 17, 2004
Series of inspiring and thought provoking essays written by a man facing
death from ALS. Some people manage to do things in spite of impending
death, disability, etc. -- fewer incorporate the reality into their
actions and the beauty of life. I think I'm going to recommend that my
Sunday School class consider doing this book. There are 12 essays and
group discussion
guides. The whole book may be a bit much for our class,
but 4 essays would be good.
Date: January 14, 2004
Very interesting, intellectually chewy. Braided tales of three men on the
brink of civilization's collapse in wildy divergent times, but unified by
geography and crises of loyalty. Not enough sex (and no children), but
since this
particular braid is wrapped around a thread of neoplatonism, that's not
surprising.
A translation of Cicero's Dream of Scipio.
Rumpole at the Bailey Lite. No blood shed. A chuckle here or there.
I really like Sedaris's stuff. Most of this book I had heard before on NPR (Excerpts of the Santaland Diaries) and This American Life (A Very Special Sedaris Christmas). A good holiday read. Especially if you have heard him read it.