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A list of books I've read.....
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
"Waking Up in Strange Places...Where Do New Zealanders Belong?"
by John Bluck
This is another book I picked up the last time I was in New Zealand and well, I really liked this book! Bluck takes us on a journey of places he has lived and spent time which have come to make him who his is today. He has wonderful descriptions of both the physical, emotional and culture scenery and encounters with people, places and events thoughout the years.
Bluck was raised in Nuhaka, went to boarding school in Napier, both on the North Island, then off to university in Christchurch on the South Island. He then worked and traveled in the US where he met his Kiwi wife to be. After returning to New Zeland for a short time, he and his family went off to Geneva where he also traveled to Eastern Europe (before the fall of the Iron Curtain) and Africa for his work. After a number of years there, it was then back to New Zealand, to Dunedin, at the bottom of the South Island. He currently lives in Christchuch with time also spent in Blackball, a small village on the West Coast of the South Island on the way to the glaciers.
As someone for whom travel is very important and also feels that the places I've visited have made me "me", I really loved this book. Highly recommended.
This is another book I picked up the last time I was in New Zealand and well, I really liked this book! Bluck takes us on a journey of places he has lived and spent time which have come to make him who his is today. He has wonderful descriptions of both the physical, emotional and culture scenery and encounters with people, places and events thoughout the years.
Bluck was raised in Nuhaka, went to boarding school in Napier, both on the North Island, then off to university in Christchurch on the South Island. He then worked and traveled in the US where he met his Kiwi wife to be. After returning to New Zeland for a short time, he and his family went off to Geneva where he also traveled to Eastern Europe (before the fall of the Iron Curtain) and Africa for his work. After a number of years there, it was then back to New Zealand, to Dunedin, at the bottom of the South Island. He currently lives in Christchuch with time also spent in Blackball, a small village on the West Coast of the South Island on the way to the glaciers.
As someone for whom travel is very important and also feels that the places I've visited have made me "me", I really loved this book. Highly recommended.
Saturday, February 21, 2004
"The Artist's Way"
by Julian Cameron
I'd started this book back in 1998, but didn't follow through. It's been recommended by my friends Gordo, Wy and Betty, and when Betty was here visiting at Thanksgiving and talking about working through the book and the writing, I decided to give it another go. The book covers 12 weeks of reading, writing and exercises to help reclaim your creativity. I actually found the writing to be quite enjoyable and was actually able to look back and see how I was obsessing about something that I had very little control over and now, wonder why I put forth so much energy to that. I very highly recommend this book. Thanks G, Wy and Boop!
I'd started this book back in 1998, but didn't follow through. It's been recommended by my friends Gordo, Wy and Betty, and when Betty was here visiting at Thanksgiving and talking about working through the book and the writing, I decided to give it another go. The book covers 12 weeks of reading, writing and exercises to help reclaim your creativity. I actually found the writing to be quite enjoyable and was actually able to look back and see how I was obsessing about something that I had very little control over and now, wonder why I put forth so much energy to that. I very highly recommend this book. Thanks G, Wy and Boop!
Thursday, February 19, 2004
"Running to the Top"
by Arthur Lydiard
An overview of the techniques and training for middle and long distance running. Lydiard is one of the most successful coaches, coaching runners from all over the world, coached multiple gold medal winners, and is thought to have revolutionized middle and distance running in the 1960s. He's a Kiwi who cuts through the crap and tells it like it is. A good book for the basics, and the book also includes training programs from the 800 meters through the marathon. Definitely worth tracking it down and reading.
An overview of the techniques and training for middle and long distance running. Lydiard is one of the most successful coaches, coaching runners from all over the world, coached multiple gold medal winners, and is thought to have revolutionized middle and distance running in the 1960s. He's a Kiwi who cuts through the crap and tells it like it is. A good book for the basics, and the book also includes training programs from the 800 meters through the marathon. Definitely worth tracking it down and reading.
Saturday, February 14, 2004
"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
I don't understand all the glowing reviews of this book--outstanding, best book I've ever read, made me weep, etc. I found it OK, a bit tedious in the middle, and the last part just a little too far-fetched. Maybe this is why I read mostly non-fiction?
If you haven't heard about the book, its the story is of a 16 year old Indian boy (Piscine Patel, aka Pi) whose family owns a zoo in India. He has a love for God and becomes a practicing Christian, Muslim and Hindu, much to his (non-religious) parents and the priest, imam and pandit's surprise and displeasure. In fact, this first part of the book is the part I liked best. Pi wonders why he can't embrace all three religions and the "wise men" tell him that it's impossible, but don't give him any real reason.
Pi's family decides to immigrate to Canada and they sail on a Japanese tanker with a number of the zoo animals. There is a storm and the tanker sinks, save for Pi, a tiger named Richard Parker, a zebra, hyena and orangutan, all in a lifeboat. Eventually it comes down to just Pi and Richard Parker and they are adrift in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days, before washing ashore in Mexico. Most of the book is about their time floating on the ocean. Maybe somewhere in all of it was the meaning of life, but it flew by me.
If you haven't heard about the book, its the story is of a 16 year old Indian boy (Piscine Patel, aka Pi) whose family owns a zoo in India. He has a love for God and becomes a practicing Christian, Muslim and Hindu, much to his (non-religious) parents and the priest, imam and pandit's surprise and displeasure. In fact, this first part of the book is the part I liked best. Pi wonders why he can't embrace all three religions and the "wise men" tell him that it's impossible, but don't give him any real reason.
Pi's family decides to immigrate to Canada and they sail on a Japanese tanker with a number of the zoo animals. There is a storm and the tanker sinks, save for Pi, a tiger named Richard Parker, a zebra, hyena and orangutan, all in a lifeboat. Eventually it comes down to just Pi and Richard Parker and they are adrift in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days, before washing ashore in Mexico. Most of the book is about their time floating on the ocean. Maybe somewhere in all of it was the meaning of life, but it flew by me.
