Magnificent book!Originally Posted by RebeccaDoll
If you are ever in Oslo you really have to visit the Kon-Tiki Museum which has the rafts from his expeditions there. Although they are all interesting I loved seeing the Kon-Tiki and it is mind-boggling to think they crossed the Pacific on it. Splendid museum and the Viking ships museum is also right nearby.
Bring back Buck
starting A Tale of Two Cities today
Thanks, Skeet, that's quite a list.
Dear Wally,
Well....let's start at the start! You can't beat the Bible. I speak as a believing Christian...but whether you are or not, the simple fact is--even though our society is trying to deep-six it as much as possible--Christmas IS a Christian holiday; to have any appreciation of it on a cultural/historical level, never mind religious....you need to know "why?" And, believer or non-believer: the Bible is one of the major, if not the most, important foundation stone for western civilization. If you don't know and understand it....you will have a hard time understanding what's been going on in the West for the past 2,000 years. But, on to...."lighter reading"!
I never fail to read [I]A CHRISTMAS CAROL[/I], in a facsimile of the first edition I picked up years ago. There's a reason this book has survived (and I don't like much Dickens, to tell you the truth!): and, as usual, it's MUCH better than any of the film/stage adaptations, however good some of them have been.
And there's a reason [I]OLD CHRISTMAS[/I] from Washington Irving's SKETCHBOOK hasn't been forgotten, as well: I grew up just across the Headless Horseman's bridge from Sleepy Hollow, so this is a bit of childhood for me, as well as a great read. I always use the facsimile of a lovely 1880s giftbook edition put out by Sleepy Hollow Restorations:
[URL="http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780912882307
Agreed, that Christmas must be understood in its relation to the person of Christ Jesus. As a Christian I view what Christmas has become as something basically disconnected with the birth of Christ.
At the same time I can enjoy what in common grace the season brings (getting past the commercialism, about which see Miracle on 34th Street), which is an elevated sense of giving, which, yes, can be viewed as giving by emotional extortion, but many give out of love to one another, and the joy of seeing the joy other get from our giving. Family, a festive spirit everywhere, gatherings that have a vitality not found the rest of the year- these sorts of things I can enjoy.
In the same manner I can enjoy A Christmas Carol, Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter, et al, for what it is.
Let me dig this solid cat and see what jumps in that wig of his that's causing all the flip on the vine.
Second helping due out soon... Right now, when I'm not tearing MHI apart to figure out how to build Abomination I'm feeding the lists from the first DD&D book and the website into my route-planning software to plan some "Foodie Roadtrips". Mmm, eating my way from Civil War site to site across the Deep South... too bad the extent of my relatives' minds are "California, Hawaii, Indiana, Florida" when it comes to travel.
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Stealth Mode DISABLED
"Sometimes there are no words, no clever quotes..."--Aaron Hotchner
Finished Eats, Shoots, & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Fun and instructive.
Let me dig this solid cat and see what jumps in that wig of his that's causing all the flip on the vine.
How to Lie... with Statistics
Summer Fruit Cup - a blog covering, vintage cocktails, spirit reviews, vintage barbooks and barware and experiments.
I'm starting my annual reading of my Most Favorite Book, The Hounds of Heaven by R.W.F. "Willy" Poole, published in Great Britain in 1995 by Nyali Press.
The paperback version on the left obviously has a cover designed to sell books, while the hardcover dustjacket on the right is more appropriate. And the publisher felt compelled to include this warning on the hardcover dustjacket, "PUBLISHER'S WARNING This book is not politically correct and contains scenes of sex, violence and hunting." There is also some combat and a touch of religion.
The destiny of a wolf cub is to become a wolf, even if it is reared among the sons of men.
How to Cut a Cake: And Other Mathematical Conundrums (because establishing the most efficient method of tying shoelaces, i.e. using the shortest length of lace, and such things intrigue me!) and Between Heaven and Hell: A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley. The latter is both interesting and quite odd (at least, I've never read anything like it before!).
Eph Tutt
Foundation Member, Observation Bar Association
To Collegiality!
Just finished reading American Rust by Philipp Meyer. Incredibly impressive debut novel. Highly recommended.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
