Good stuff for anyone who likes cop shows and/or "Stranger Things" type monster fests. The banter is a particular highlight. I do wish there had been Good stuff for anyone who likes cop shows and/or "Stranger Things" type monster fests. The banter is a particular highlight. I do wish there had been a few more monsters (by whatever less pejorative general term)--maybe in future episodes?...more
(Audio) Just another crackerjack episode, featuring the whole TP cast and Max too. Public librarians get a good stroking, which is always worth an ext(Audio) Just another crackerjack episode, featuring the whole TP cast and Max too. Public librarians get a good stroking, which is always worth an extra half star from me, and a long pursued villain gets the Chop. Ramm is an excellent reader for these, with lots of voices and accents at her command and a fine sense of comic timing. There's a teaser at the end, too--so Taylor is obviously not finished with this terrific ensemble cast. Good news!...more
Hardcover. An enjoyable, wandering meditation on Durer and his best known works that encompasses visits with later admirers, particularly 20th centuryHardcover. An enjoyable, wandering meditation on Durer and his best known works that encompasses visits with later admirers, particularly 20th century authors like Marianne Moore and Thomas Mann. The author's meaty prose was a particular delight--Here are some samples:
Durer looks so we can see.
Durer asks what we do and do not perceive. It's his secret, to see askew.
Every port had a name for the sea, said Auden (it was a typo, port for poet, but he liked it anyway). There were three acts to your life, he knew from Kierkegaard. The first was the passing moment of sensation; the second, involvement and responsibility; the third, understanding that there is no inheritance and no matter what you do, good may not result. You could only abandon yourself to despair or throw yourself on the mercy of God.
Marianne Moore, who had said that it is human nature to stand in the middle of a thing.
These were the first serious portraits of people of colour in western art, drawn with subtlety and sensitivity, far in advance of the times.
As our parish priest once told us, If you’re unhappy, it’s your own bloody fault. ...more
Despite the gazillion endnotes this reads more like a series of blog posts than a tightly organized scholarly survey. That’s not a bad thing as I founDespite the gazillion endnotes this reads more like a series of blog posts than a tightly organized scholarly survey. That’s not a bad thing as I found it quite readable despite a certain amount of wandering off topic. The author does have a strange tic of repeating facts or observations a paragraph or page later—possibly just careless copyediting/revision—and I really wish there had been more pictures. Other than that, nice work!...more
Opinionated, and therefore fun, arguments for paying proper attention to the Bible's literary qualities. Alter sees different uses of language from woOpinionated, and therefore fun, arguments for paying proper attention to the Bible's literary qualities. Alter sees different uses of language from word choice to sound, rhythms, and even puns employed in Biblical prose, poetry, and dialogue that other translators have rarely if ever picked up on. Mostly he likes the King James best, and the Jewish Publication Society translation least. He repeats himself which is good because it makes his trains of thought easier to follow, and (snort) tries hard to be humble about his own translations. ...more
The only available edition in the US is the paper one, and the print is just too small for my eyes. I did struggle through to the chapter titled "UnitThe only available edition in the US is the paper one, and the print is just too small for my eyes. I did struggle through to the chapter titled "Unity," but had to quit. I quite enjoyed what I did read, and found it rich in meaty ideas; should a more readable ebook or audio version ever become available I will happily continue....more
“Paul Coleman-Norton of Princeton University published a new Greek fragment drawn from a set of homilies on the Gospel according to Matthew. The text “Paul Coleman-Norton of Princeton University published a new Greek fragment drawn from a set of homilies on the Gospel according to Matthew. The text continues the passage in Matthew 24 where Jesus tells his disciples that those who are assigned the portion of the hypocrites will be condemned to ‘“‘weeping and gnashing of teeth.”’ In the new section a disciple raises an objection: what, he asks, will happen to the toothless? ‘“‘O ye of little faith,’ Jesus replies, “‘teeth will be provided.’’
With an enjoyable mix of scholarship and whimsy (one of my favorite combinations) Grafton explores the close interrelationship between forgery of classical source material and criticism—showing over and over how one has informed the other over the years. His comparison of how Porphyry, Isaac Casubon ( “He married early and had many children, becoming the prototypical philoprogenitive scholar who writes enormous, learned books with his right hand while rocking the newest baby’s cradle with his left foot.”), and Richard Reitzenstein (1861-1931) worked over the ancient Hermetic Corpus lies at the core of his disquisition, I think. He calls forgery a “literary form” of its own, and understands that it’s hard work; even Erasmus was guilty of both. I could have wished for more illustrations, but this was still fairly readable and great fun.
Discovered an ebook version available through an online database from my public library. Horray for NYPL!
The St. Mary's and Time Police series were showing signs of staleness--but here's proof that Taylor's STILL GOT IT when it comes to big, grand, and fuThe St. Mary's and Time Police series were showing signs of staleness--but here's proof that Taylor's STILL GOT IT when it comes to big, grand, and funny. She glued me to the page until my eyes couldn't focus on the print. Aside from spending a bit too much time and feeling on matters related to Smallhope's family estate and the proper cultivation of its tenants (an extreme awareness of social class that doesn't really play in America but is the hallmark of every quintessentially British tale) I'd rate the storyline as one of the top couple-five I've read this year. ...more
Loading...
