November 2009

  • "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts

    By becksta on 11/28/09 2:03am
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    Gregory David RobertsGregory David RobertsIf you are interested in India and ex-pat criminals hiding out in the slums of India, Gregory David Robert's "Shantaram" could very well be the perfect airplane read for you.


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  • The Golden Gate

    By akgoemans on 11/17/09 3:25am
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    The Golden GateThe Golden Gate

    If you love stories which have a bit of sarcasm mixed with wartime drama, Alistair MacLean is the author for you. I grew up reading quite a lot of MacLean's works and I must admit they are still a delight to read today. His work, which featured plots and characters worthy of a James Bond novel, was popular in the 60s and all the way into the 70s (hardly a surprise given the trends of the mood of the era, right?). Well, here's the book I wanted to mention today – The Golden Gate.

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  • Arseny Tarkovsky: 20th Century Russian Poet

    By msarko on 11/16/09 8:16pm
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    Some of the greatest poets of 20th century came out of what was then the Soviet Union. Names like Marina Tsvetaeva and Anna Akhmatova are highly celebrated in modern academic circles, and their words are held up as some of the most inspiring in any language. The days of communism were both a boon and a hurdle to Russian-language writers. The Soviet Union was known for its tendency to strongly censor creative individuals, but it also strongly supported a few who were in the Party's favor. The poet Arseny Tarkovsky, who studied under and among many of the greats of his time, owed much of his career as a professional writer, though he struggled as an artist in a time of oppression.



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  • Blast from the Past

    By akgoemans on 11/9/09 9:03am
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     Blast from the PastBlast from the Past

    Ben Elton has written a number of witty stories that prod and poke our funny little ways. But from time to time, he has also touched upon slightly more serious topics in his writing career. Blast from the Past is one such example.

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