28th & 52nd — And Another Thing… (Eoin Colfer)
July 20th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § Benjamin Roberts
I’m still trying to figure out how I felt about the sixth novel in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy. I mean, it certainly read like one of Douglas Adam’s novels. But, I’m not convinced that’s a good thing. In my mind, the closest parallel that I can draw is with the Wheel of Time series, which had Brandon Sanderson complete it after Robert Jordan died. And that worked, since Sanderson felt free to use his own voice and stresses, instead of writing a Robert Jordan novel (meaning that we were spared about 100 pages of female characters thinking about their necklines and their dress material).
But And Another Thing… read like Colfer was deliberately trying to write in the Adam’s style. And writing in someone else’s style — especially one as distinctive and well-beloved as Adam’s — is just a recipe for disaster. Also…I just think there wasn’t enough Arthur in it for me. That was always a good chunk of the appeal — you can easily imagine yourself as Arthur and then engage in all his zany adventures. It’s much harder to associate with Trillian or Zaphod. Further…I’m not sure that Colfer can quite pull off the same jokes that Adams could – those glorious page long buildups to a joke (that sadly could not translate over to the movie version at all).
So, kinda disappointing all in all. But I’ll take it.
#30: The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch
July 20th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § gregpveltman
Diane Ravitch has been visible in the area of education and politics for a long time. She started writing history in the 70′s and advising politicians in the 80′s. This book comes near the end of her career, and it allows her to cut loose on some of the policy ideas that have come before. Some of which she is somewhat responsible for as she promoted them. But looking back she offers a revised view of what she thinks of American education, and the reform movements toward improving schools. And she argues that we have lost our way from the purposes of education and the democratic ideals that we hold. She makes strong arguments against the rhetoric of standardized testing, “choice,” “accountability,” business management of schools, foundations, charter schools, and even Teach for America. In the end, her recommendations are somewhat vague and allude to going back to ideas of core curriculum and coming to some sort of consensus. Hard for anyone to disagree really, but hard to imagine how we’d actually get there. I think in the end, she sort of says we need to stop trying so hard. Education is a hard thing to assess and maybe we’d be better off with a less stringent idea of assessment. One of the problems that she doesn’t have time for is the fact that education and society are so linked, and the problems of education and problems of society, a true solution will come when both of these change at the same time in the right direction. Definitely recommended reading for teachers, parents, and engaged citizens in public education.
Surprising thoughts on bankruptcy
July 19th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § Matt Kirkland
35 / 52: The Two-Income Trap / Elizabeth Warren
Despite the sensational title and endorsements by Dr. Phil, this is a really compelling quick read, with what seems like smart thinking about consumer debt. More than anything else, it makes me want to see more support for Warren’s policy work.
What gets families into bankruptcy? It’s not overconsumption – people don’t spend their way into bankruptcy; it’s caused by sudden loss of income (a layoff) or huge expenses (medical costs). And it’s not that the social stigma has reduced – people still feel the moral burden of debt, and bankruptcy is still shameful.
Families spend up to their means to cover their homes and educations costs — and homes are often really just education costs in disguise. If we don’t send our kids to private school, then we move into the nicest school district we can afford. It’s the allure of a good school that stretches our budgets.
Stay-at-home moms serve as an unrecognized safety net. Besides providing childcare and domestic services, she can enter the workforce if Dad gets laid off or hospitalized.
Here’s the kicker: living on two incomes feels safer, but it’s really more dangerous. When both parents work, you’ve doubled your chances for a layoff or a disability injury. And because we’re all living at or near our means on fixed costs – not frittering our money away on luxury goods – there’s no place to cut back. It would actually be safer if we all had spent lots on cruises and fancy restaurants, because that stuff is easy to cut.
So Warren’s recommendations: If you live at the edge of your income, don’t cut back on discretionary spending: reduce your fixed expenses.
Warren’s policy proposals:
1. a serious school voucher program that lets parents stay in their houses and send kids to school anywhere.
2. public preschool. If we’ve decided as a society that preschool is more or less mandatory, then we should make it public just like kindergarten.
3. reduce college costs by specializing them. There’s no need for every specialty at every school.
New Centuries
July 17th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § Matt Kirkland
36 / 52: Centuries of Meditations / Thomas Traherne
I just discovered the Centuries of Meditations, and I can tell it’s going to be one of those books that sticks with you for a lifetime.
It’s a series of devotional meditations written from an exuberant, almost mystical perspective. But that’s saying it too strongly. The ideas are nearly mystical, the writing is poetic but strongly grounded in real life. So far, it’s as if a good friend grabbed you by the shoulders and said: Look! Look how easy it is to be happy in the Lord! Let me show you how!
The writing is lovely and super-quotable.
Is it not a great thing that you should be Heir of the World? Is it not a great enriching verity?
and
By the very right of your senses you enjoy the World. Is not the beauty of the Hemisphere present to your eye? Doth not the glory of the Sun pay tribute to your sight? Is not the vision of the World an amiable thing? Do not the stars shed influences to perfect the Air? Is not that a marvellous body to breathe in? To visit the lungs: repair the spirits, revive the senses, cool the blood, fill the empty spaces between the Earth and Heavens; and yet give liberty to all objects? Prize these first: and you shall enjoy the residue: Glory, Dominion, Power, Wisdom; Honour, Angels, Souls, Kingdoms, Ages. Be faithful in a little, and you shall be master over much.
#29: The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James
July 16th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § gregpveltman
This is a classic text in the psychology of religion. It was briefly mentioned in a book I was reading, and it happened to be sitting around (I think I got it for free somewhere), I figured I should read it. It is boring and dull and times (50%) but some of the insights make it feel as if it could have been written at the beginning of the 21st century rather than the 20th century. I guess now I can at least say that I’ve read it, and there is always the off chance I can make my dissertation look a little smarter by referencing it in a footnote.
36. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
July 11th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § sharongracepjs
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
A very sad book in a very ordinary but vaguely unsettling way. Intriguing. I’m not quite sure what the surrealism of the book was intended to communicate, but the idea of emotions being tangible and gaining power as they become known to our loved ones is a sobering one.
35. The Lonely Polygamist
July 10th, 2010 § Leave a Comment § sharongracepjs
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
A sprawling, entertaining novel, competently written, characters are lively and interesting but stop just short of compelling, although the portrait of grief and of the alone-ness that comes from not being accepted and understood rather than from being physically alone is accurate and moving. Good fun summer read though.