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Thinking Ahead - Essays on Big Data, Digital Revolution, and Participatory Market Society
Book
The rapidly progressing digital revolution is now touching the foundations of the governance of...
Modern Greece: What Everyone Needs to Know
Book
Just a few years ago, Greece appeared to be a politically secure nation with a healthy economy....
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee
TV Show Watch
Sometimes referred to as the country’s “most dangerous editor,” Washington Post executive...
documentary
The City Always Wins
Book
'Omar Robert Hamilton brings vividly to life the failed revolution of 2011 on the streets of Cairo,...
A Promised Land
Book
A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making-from the president who inspired us to...
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Black Shriving in Books
Oct 30, 2017
The action continues straight on from where the Path of Flames left off. The story follows Tiron and Audsley's journey after they step through the mysterious portal, Asho and Kethe's journey into the mountains to investigate the second Black Gate, and Tharok's attempts to unite the kragh tribes and make an assault on the humans.
The story rarely dips in terms of excitement but does start to follow a number of different paths and take on different paces. While there is exciting action as Asho and Kethe take on the demon hordes, there are moments of tense political debate and planning, and Audsley's exploration of Starkadr is of a different thrilling pace altogether.
More of the greater plot is starting to be revealed as the humans banished from Ennoia start to plot their return to the world and the kragh start to plot their assault on that very same world.
The story really developed over this book with different threads and plots forming and diverging, different aspects of the magic and mysticism of the world being explored and revealed, the very religion of the world being challenged and I am looking forward to seeing how these come together later on.
The story rarely dips in terms of excitement but does start to follow a number of different paths and take on different paces. While there is exciting action as Asho and Kethe take on the demon hordes, there are moments of tense political debate and planning, and Audsley's exploration of Starkadr is of a different thrilling pace altogether.
More of the greater plot is starting to be revealed as the humans banished from Ennoia start to plot their return to the world and the kragh start to plot their assault on that very same world.
The story really developed over this book with different threads and plots forming and diverging, different aspects of the magic and mysticism of the world being explored and revealed, the very religion of the world being challenged and I am looking forward to seeing how these come together later on.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Secret Agent in Books
Nov 1, 2017
The story of a reluctant spy and a tragic plot
Joseph Conrad continues to write about the dark side of humanity, similar to his other work the Heart of Darkness. The book reads like two separate tales - that of the Verloc family and that of the anarchists.
Set in bleak Victorian London, the novel follows the life of Mr. Verloc, a secret agent, who also is a married businessman on the side selling inappropriate bric-a-brac. His friends are a group of anarchists of which three people are most prominent. Although largely ineffectual as terrorists, they are well known to the police. Verloc is also secretly employed by the Embassy as an agent provocateur. And here it all falls apart.
The more intriguing part of the book surrounds the family, especially his wife Winnie who essentially behaves like a timid matriarch before becoming distraught over the thought of being hanged. Stevie, Winnie's brother who has a mental disability, is treated more like a son than a sibling. And when he encounters tragedy, Winnie changes into a completely different person.
At times, the political aspect can be long-winded, but it ends in a major climax so it's worth getting to the end.
Set in bleak Victorian London, the novel follows the life of Mr. Verloc, a secret agent, who also is a married businessman on the side selling inappropriate bric-a-brac. His friends are a group of anarchists of which three people are most prominent. Although largely ineffectual as terrorists, they are well known to the police. Verloc is also secretly employed by the Embassy as an agent provocateur. And here it all falls apart.
The more intriguing part of the book surrounds the family, especially his wife Winnie who essentially behaves like a timid matriarch before becoming distraught over the thought of being hanged. Stevie, Winnie's brother who has a mental disability, is treated more like a son than a sibling. And when he encounters tragedy, Winnie changes into a completely different person.
At times, the political aspect can be long-winded, but it ends in a major climax so it's worth getting to the end.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Regarding the Pain of Others in Books
Nov 8, 2017 (Updated Nov 8, 2017)
Not what I expected but powerful nevertheless
Acclaimed American writer Susan Sontag returns with an extended essay about photographing war and inhumane circumstances, an extension of her 1977 work "On Photography". I had expected a philosophical take on pain but this was still important nevertheless.
Sontag's earlier "On Photography" is justifiably regarded as a classic. This book is promoted as revising some of its more important arguments. Like the earlier book this is mainly a summary of points with which most teachers, and students, in this area are likely to be familiar. It is useful to have the arguments drawn together. Without doubt, Sontag's words exude intelligence, exploring how we look at painful images from photojournalists, our reaction to mass media, and how we interpret terrible news about war, even how we look at religious paintings.
She takes us on an argumental debate that covers all aspects of visual imagery through descriptive text. Shes talks of the shock and horror seen by some in photography, to how others see it as political leverage. What this book does, is to make us understand that one photographic image can have a double purpose, and that not all in a war image is truth. A good essay for the Sontag collection.
Sontag's earlier "On Photography" is justifiably regarded as a classic. This book is promoted as revising some of its more important arguments. Like the earlier book this is mainly a summary of points with which most teachers, and students, in this area are likely to be familiar. It is useful to have the arguments drawn together. Without doubt, Sontag's words exude intelligence, exploring how we look at painful images from photojournalists, our reaction to mass media, and how we interpret terrible news about war, even how we look at religious paintings.
She takes us on an argumental debate that covers all aspects of visual imagery through descriptive text. Shes talks of the shock and horror seen by some in photography, to how others see it as political leverage. What this book does, is to make us understand that one photographic image can have a double purpose, and that not all in a war image is truth. A good essay for the Sontag collection.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom in Books
Jan 2, 2018
Intriguing comparison between opposing men
Thomas E. Rick's fascinating account of the lives two of the most renowned British men seems an unlikely match, but nevertheless a good comparison. Literary leftist giant George Orwell and Conservative heavyweight Winston Churchill appear to be as far apart from one another, however, their visions of freedom actually divulge.
Ricks points out, both men's "dominant priority, a commitment to human freedom, gave them common cause", despite Orwell being an introvert and Churchill being a prominent orator - and it seems to be the common thread that ties them throughout.
The author's focus on Orwell felt far more interesting than Churchill's background, given that Orwell served in various armed forces around the world by choice, and usually fighting with the underdog. He was also poverty-stricken for a period of time, in which he wrote the classic memoir Down and Out in Paris and London. But Churchill's ability to change minds across the political sphere is legendary.
While certainly not exhaustive, this book provides an overview of the lives of both influential men, delving into each's careers as the themes of war, politics, and personal liberties are explored. It may be seen as a bit of a stretch given the two never actually met, however, it is still informative and entertaining.
Ricks points out, both men's "dominant priority, a commitment to human freedom, gave them common cause", despite Orwell being an introvert and Churchill being a prominent orator - and it seems to be the common thread that ties them throughout.
The author's focus on Orwell felt far more interesting than Churchill's background, given that Orwell served in various armed forces around the world by choice, and usually fighting with the underdog. He was also poverty-stricken for a period of time, in which he wrote the classic memoir Down and Out in Paris and London. But Churchill's ability to change minds across the political sphere is legendary.
While certainly not exhaustive, this book provides an overview of the lives of both influential men, delving into each's careers as the themes of war, politics, and personal liberties are explored. It may be seen as a bit of a stretch given the two never actually met, however, it is still informative and entertaining.
Gloria (27 KP) rated Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders in Books
Jul 18, 2017
A Mystery Unlike Any Other
Gaspar de Alba brings a fine writer's sensitivity and the open heart of her heritage. The result is a novel that takes your breath away, page after page, and grabs your heart.
Desert Blood is a mystery unlike any other. Gripping, heart-wrenching, set against the tough, lacerating reality of border-town engaging mystery, but it is more than well-written entertainment. It is an important book that sheds light on the Juárez murders--the ongoing slaughter of young Mexican women in the border city of Juárez by persons unknown. Desert Blood weaves together its fictional tale and the known facts of these notorious crimes in a way that reveals the cultural and political attitudes that have allowed these murders to continue with the indifference--if not the outright complicity--of Mexican authorities.
Gaspar de Alba not only crafts a suspenseful plot but tackles prejudice in many of its ugly forms: against gays, against Hispanics, against the poor. It's an in-your-face, no-holds-barred story full of brutality, graphic violence, and ultimately, redemption. Offering a powerful depiction of social injustice and serial murder on the U.S.-Mexican border, this is an essential purchase for both mystery and Hispanic fiction collections.
Desert Blood is a mystery unlike any other. Gripping, heart-wrenching, set against the tough, lacerating reality of border-town engaging mystery, but it is more than well-written entertainment. It is an important book that sheds light on the Juárez murders--the ongoing slaughter of young Mexican women in the border city of Juárez by persons unknown. Desert Blood weaves together its fictional tale and the known facts of these notorious crimes in a way that reveals the cultural and political attitudes that have allowed these murders to continue with the indifference--if not the outright complicity--of Mexican authorities.
Gaspar de Alba not only crafts a suspenseful plot but tackles prejudice in many of its ugly forms: against gays, against Hispanics, against the poor. It's an in-your-face, no-holds-barred story full of brutality, graphic violence, and ultimately, redemption. Offering a powerful depiction of social injustice and serial murder on the U.S.-Mexican border, this is an essential purchase for both mystery and Hispanic fiction collections.