Review of Midnight at the Pera Palace
 Using the Pera Palace (a special locality in a special metropolis), Charles King uses the hotel as a focus for an exploration of the birth of modern Istanbul. He tells a tale well and is an adept manager of tangents. The hotel is fascinating in its own regard, but as a mechanism to draw together the disparate tales of individuals and movements that came together during this hinge time in Turkish history, the author brings unique colour and atmosphere to the telling. Ripe with factoids and with special stories that draw the reader into a place in both geography and time, King delivers engagement and elucidation in quell measure and moves beyond something that could have been dry chronology into a spellbinding tapestry. |
Review of the Architecture of Happiness
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton My rating: 5 of 5 stars Pure indulgent treat. The Architecture of Happiness explores the connection between the constructed world and the human emotions that it evokes—this no small challenge and has
Review of the Architecture of Happiness
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton My rating: 5 of 5 stars Pure indulgent treat. The Architecture of Happiness explores the connection between the constructed world and the human emotions that it evokes—this no small challenge and has
Review of 1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon
1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon—The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies by David Pietrusza My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars As this is my third Pietrusza book, I think it’s high time I thought about why his writing works
Review of 1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon
1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon—The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies by David Pietrusza My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars As this is my third Pietrusza book, I think it’s high time I thought about why his writing works
Review of the Frayed Atlantic Edge
My rating: 4.75 of 5 stars David Gange’s The Frayed Atlantic Edge posits that the trajectory of mapping human experience has moved inland over time. We have lost the presence of the coast(line) in economic, social and historical appreciation of
Review of the Frayed Atlantic Edge
My rating: 4.75 of 5 stars David Gange’s The Frayed Atlantic Edge posits that the trajectory of mapping human experience has moved inland over time. We have lost the presence of the coast(line) in economic, social and historical appreciation of
Review of Operation Moonglow
Operation Moonglow: A Political History of Project Apollo by Teasel Muir-Harmony My rating: 4 of 5 stars Operation Moonglow presents a unique angle on the space race. It is particularly well-conceived and meticulously researched. Muir-Harmony explores the psychological geopolitical strategy
Review of Operation Moonglow
Operation Moonglow: A Political History of Project Apollo by Teasel Muir-Harmony My rating: 4 of 5 stars Operation Moonglow presents a unique angle on the space race. It is particularly well-conceived and meticulously researched. Muir-Harmony explores the psychological geopolitical strategy
Review of Daughters of the KGB
Daughters of the KGB: Moscow’s Secret Spies, Sleepers and Assassins of the Cold War by Douglas Boyd My rating: 3 of 5 stars The year is not over despite me starting to post summation articles on this blog. A gracious
Review of Daughters of the KGB
Daughters of the KGB: Moscow’s Secret Spies, Sleepers and Assassins of the Cold War by Douglas Boyd My rating: 3 of 5 stars The year is not over despite me starting to post summation articles on this blog. A gracious
My Own Year in Books
Just because I was tabulating the book club, I decided to avail myself of the data dump from GoodReads.com where I track all my reads and occasional reviews. Just for fun, I thought I’d rank my own reads for the
My Own Year in Books
Just because I was tabulating the book club, I decided to avail myself of the data dump from GoodReads.com where I track all my reads and occasional reviews. Just for fun, I thought I’d rank my own reads for the
Some All-Time Book Club Stats
As I was compiling this year’s Book Club end of year considerations, I decided to add to some of our tabulating since starting the club. Next April will be out 10th anniversary and so it seems like time for reflection.
Some All-Time Book Club Stats
As I was compiling this year’s Book Club end of year considerations, I decided to add to some of our tabulating since starting the club. Next April will be out 10th anniversary and so it seems like time for reflection.
2020 and the Gentlemen’s Book Club
On what would pass a normal year, we always look forward to and end of year repast at a cosy cellar of the RIYC coutesy of one of our distinguished members. It’s a night of festive frivolity and likewise the
2020 and the Gentlemen’s Book Club
On what would pass a normal year, we always look forward to and end of year repast at a cosy cellar of the RIYC coutesy of one of our distinguished members. It’s a night of festive frivolity and likewise the
Review of French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris
French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris by Scott Dominic Carpenter This is a wonderful little collection of essays written as a cross between Mayle’s A Year in Provence and Clarke’s A Year in the Merde. It’s an enjoyable short
Review of French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris
French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris by Scott Dominic Carpenter This is a wonderful little collection of essays written as a cross between Mayle’s A Year in Provence and Clarke’s A Year in the Merde. It’s an enjoyable short
Review of the Paris Hours
The Paris Hours by Alex George Stunning! Clever and exquisitely crafted, the minutiae of everyday life is performed in cinematic fashion. The brilliant interweaving of well known literary figures who are brought to life through their seemingly inadvertent interaction with
Review of the Paris Hours
The Paris Hours by Alex George Stunning! Clever and exquisitely crafted, the minutiae of everyday life is performed in cinematic fashion. The brilliant interweaving of well known literary figures who are brought to life through their seemingly inadvertent interaction with