Sunsets, Stars, West, Wind
Includes all types of publications: books (hardcovers, trade paperback, mass market paperbacks, ebooks, magazines, graphic novels)
http://earthsky.org/space/dramatic-photos-of-venus-disappearing-behind-the-moon#.Uw3M6MFME0M
Some day I hope to be in the right place at the right time to see an occultation like this. If only I’d been visiting India this week.
Posted from WordPress for Android via my Samsung smartphone. Please excuse any misspellings. Ciao, Jon
I’ll be adding this to be ‘short list’ of to-be-read ebooks based on my uncle’s review and recommendation.
The Astronomy Sketch of the Day from Monday, February 24, 2014, caught my eye this morning as I perused my various and varied news feeds. The artist, Greg Wing, used graphite pencil sketch on canvas overlaid with oil paints to achieve this representation of the Rosette Nebula.
Browsing an unknown book on the internet requires the foresight that it is there! More, public opinion shoves the book’s data right into your face: ratings, reviews, numbers – crowd opinion leads the barrage.
— Janny Wurts, “The Unrecognized Trajectory of Slow Burn Success”
via A Dribble of Ink blog
I loved learning something new about how Tolkien was ‘discovered.’ It’s always great to read anything written by Janny.
The Smith of Wootton Major
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Read in September 2009
Synopsis:
Every twenty-four years in the village of Wootton Major a special edition of the The Feast of Good Children was held. This was a very special occasion and to celebrate it a Great Cake was prepared, to feed the twenty-four children who were invited. The cake was very sweet and rich and entirely covered in sugar icing. But inside there were some very strange ingredients and whoever swallowed one of them would gain the gift of entry into the Land of Faery…
Continue reading “Book Review: The Smith of Wootton Major by Tolkien (4.5 Stars)”
Read in October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
What a wonderful book to wrap up the Halloween season!
Ana is a 17th century vampire from Transylvania, transplanted to eastern Iowa by the strangest and saddest of circumstances. She is hunted by a zealous priest who paralyzes her with his crucifix and drives a wooden stake through her heart. Fast forward 300+ years to an automobile accident involving an armored car that was transporting her remains to a museum exhibit. The accident dislodges the stake and Ana find herself restored to a fiery confusion, which she escapes in her bat form.
My uncle posted a review of a recently released hard science fiction novel as his second blog post on his new blog. I supplied some technical assistance, but the content and publication are all his. Stop by and wish him well in his new electronic frontier adventure.
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Read in November 2008
I don’t know what I was expecting to find but it definitely was different than all my preconceptions. I had some trouble, at times, staying tuned into the story. Mary Shelley’s prose was first person, but often second or third hand (one person telling another person’s story who was then telling yet another story). At times, I had to stop and remember what “I” was actually telling the story at that particular time. Nevertheless, it did make for compelling reading at times.
Continue reading “Book Review: Frankenstein by Shelley (3.5 Stars)”
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
Read in October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Brendan Doyle is a biographer and researcher specializing in poetry and prose of the early 19th century. In fact, it’s his knowledge of Coleridge and the obscure contemporary William Ashbless that leads Doyle into his time traveling adventure. An eccentric named Darrow has discovered a method of time travel. To secure venture capital for his personal scheme, he sells tickets to a Coleridge lecture in 1810. Doyle is hired as the Coleridge expert brought along to prep the audience.
The party arrives successfully in London in 1810 and convinces Coleridge to give an impromptu lecture. Darrow had misinformation about the date of the “real” lecture. At the conclusion of the lecture, Doyle is sent to fetch the carriages and is kidnapped.
Continue reading “Book Review: The Anubis Gates by Powers (3 Stars)”
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Read in October 2008
At times, I wanted to strangle Newland Archer for being so naive, so blind to what was happening around him. Especially from his sweet subservient fiancé. I really connected with Ellen and longed for her to have more scenes, rather than just hearing the rumors about her from various members of the families involved.
I admire all the characters stoic resolve to play the cards dealt them and make the best of their lives. In today’s society with disposal marriages and relationships, it was refreshing.
Downloaded the free ebook from Project Gutenberg – http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/541
Continue reading “Book Review: The Age of Innocence by Wharton (3 Stars)”
