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I really dug this book! Da Chen is an amazing chap. Really. I have no end of admiration for such a person. In writing on his childhood hurdles (which might make alot of ours pale in comparison!) he is reassuringly confident in his ability to overcome them, but still retains a level of humility uncommon in Westernised culture. He is appreciative, humorous and insightful and has a beautifully simple writing style.

If you’re seeking inspiration please consider this book (it’s a little ‘un composed for younger audiences so a quick read)! Despite its real world setting I found it very uplifting. The characters that assist Da, as well as himself, infuse me with a little more faith in human nature :)

Review available here and interview with the author here

Enjoy!!!

I really enjoyed reading this… its quirky, funny, refreshing and special… to sport a cliche – I couldnt put it down. So thank goodness its consumable in a day!!! ...even for someone with my lethargic reading pace :S

For a more explanatory review (altho i’m dubious anyone would need one with its current popularity?) go here

cheers!

I have your text at hand!The largest Lonely Planet book I’ve owned.

Much to read for a pair of eyes,Perhaps to much for mee!

All other books,O Canada, they stand aside for thee.

Four province chapters I must read!O Canada, to learn what I can see.

O Canada, you’re a roadtrip for meeeee

I havent had a chance to consume anything else of late… my nose stuck in my Canada LP, swotting up about Nova Scotia, New Brunswic, Quebec and Ontario for a road trip :) It’s all very exciting! But I’m damned if I know what to do with all those books I bought to read :S

[to the tune of The Clash’s “Should I stay or should I go”]

Should I pack ‘em or fob them off now?

In my bag they will be heaveeeee!

I wish I had the time to read ‘emm…

In addition to my original book hitlist I have a few more to add after my recent jaunt to the Toronto Vege Food Fair ...

• Diet for a dead planet by Christopher D. Cook
• Paper or plastic by Daniel Imhoff (yay! someone else who “pah’s” on plastic, lol)
• Raw: The Uncook Book by Juliano with Erika Lenkert (actually found this on our coffee table at home)

... like every other list my “to read” far exceeds what i have the time to complete! but books are comforting so nothing wrong with having an abundance of them. hopefully i’ll find some of them at the local library (now that i can join). and the next step for aspiring titles, once i’ve read them cover to cover, is promotion to my personal library wish list… where i can have my very own copy to paw and drool over… lol :D

I actually read this last year when I was in Azerbaijan, but I woke up thinking about it this morning so wanted to share it.

An interesting read for those interested in travel tales or history. But if already a guru on the Caucasus region, or Muslim-phobic, you’re likely to write a scathing review on amazon ;)

Essentially its about the role of Iman Shamil in the Murid Wars, where he attempted to unite the tribes of the Caucasus region under Islam against an invading Russian army. Although every second chapter delves into the escapades of the narrator and his companions as they travel through Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Dagestan to search for the material for this book and a documentary film. I liked this innovative weaving of two stories and I learnt alot about a region I’d otherwise know little of. Its left me pondering a few things:

• The notion of people being either “good” or “bad”. A good journalist should not taint their subject with their opinion, and i think that is what Nicholas Griffin attempts to do. His account of Shamil’s life and actions displays both compassion and brutality—it lends to my belief that a persons good may also be their bad, and vice versa. Its an admirable desire to want to preserve the lifestyle of your own people, and Shamil broadened the Caucasus community and tolerance between tribes in so doing. Coversely he alienated other tribes with his unswayable demand they conform to his cause and strict religious beliefs. Essentially he in some ways became that which he was rebelling against. His fighting tactics, while brilliant from the perspective of someone who might admire war strategy, gave me an insight i’ve been seeking in our current global climate – some understanding as to what drives people to committ extreme violence. I’ve never been satisfied with the labels of “good” and “bad” as the reason, it’s too subjective to be definitive. As i suspected, the root cause seems to be desperation. Which leads me to my next point

• Concept of country, and the aspiration for power and empire. I pondered at length whether such a great loss of life would have occured without Shamil’s involvement. Potentially, the resistance against the Russian army may not have continued so long without him. But all i can conclude is there surely would’ve been much fewer casualties had Russia just left the region alone. Which to me seems like such a simple solution! Perhaps my lack of a Y chromosome (there goes the Adams Curse reference!) is why the notions of power and greed are lost on me. Yes, a larger country means more world resources under your control. Yes, you live a “right” and “civilised” life which everyone else should conform too. Yes, blah blah blah. To say I really understand this concept and propelling ego is me just playing lip service. I dont. I really dont get it. Why do so many people have the f$#@^d up mind-set that they are right and everyone else is wrong? And that they have the authority to take land and convert people? Moreover, aside from individual motivations, what of the social beliefs that help support these notions? Why do we need to define land masses as countries? What is this preoccupation with needing to identify boundaries and borders? All the nuances and complications of our modern life aside, why is this so important? I find i keep asking investigative questions until i’m back in time at the rise and fall of empires. All of which, to my knowledge, sought to gain precious resources, in the form of land and tax victims people. And all of which, could be argued by the instigator/s, were for the advancement of human kind (if someone was honest enough to say no its just because i’m greedy for power, now then i’d be impressed!) Whether you believe in the dominance of any civilisation or not, depends on which side of the fence you fall. The Roman Empire was good, Hitler bad, yadda yadda yadda… it’s all up to the individuals perspective.

• Culture and the spread of civilisations. Despite my condemnation of empires and dictators political leaders, i have to confess to finding the regular rise and fall of them quite interesting. Since the dawn of our time this continual “flourishing” of civilisations has influenced the cultural spread we have today. I find that pretty fascinating! The Caucasus itself is a hotpot of a variety of descendants – i was astonished to hear the theories and evidence in support of a viking presence in the region. Just studying the beautiful people and listening to the languages bubbling in the streets of Baku stemmed my curiousity no end. Appearing of european descent people would strike up conversation in Russian first, albeit i found the basics of Azeri easier to pick up. I travel in celebration of this diversity, its beyond me why people would want to stamp it out. Why are so many people culturally intolerant? i’ve always thought it due to ignorance and fear. i could be wrong. either way their seems no harm in me furthering my knowledge and respect for the unique pockets of interestingness around this planet… so i think i need to add a few more books to my list, particularly on world history of civilisations and cultures. my bf has a good one back home for me to start digesting :)

Soooo I guess you could say i enjoyed this book and found it quite thought provoking ;) thanks to the crazy character Ilya it has some damn funny moments too! oh, i just found the documentary film that was created while the material for this book was being collected… now if only it was playing in a cinema near me – i’d trade it for a soppy romcom anyday!! :)

Firstly, books can weigh a lot. And secondly, they dont rank high on my list of priorities when it comes to required luggage.

With that in mind I dont tend to bring much on my journeys anywhere… but I’m never opposed to picking up bargains on my way tho! ;)

Last nights super spend was $10 for 6 books (and my bf got another 3 for $5 – nevermind the outcome is inversely proportionate to our reading commitment!)

The newly homed recipients of the sale table were:

• Leave it to Me by Bharati Mukherjee (the only novel!)
• Soloing by Harriet Rubin (most likely to be crap)
• Full Exposure by Susie Bright (most likely to be funny)
• Mission of Love by Roger Cole (most likely to be fondly retained forever)
• Natural Creation & The Formative Mind by John Davidson (most likely to be so intellectually heavey reading I pass on to my brother and dad for consumption)
• Woman’s Hour Book of Health by Dr Ann McPherson and Nancy Durham (most unlikely to be read from cover to cover – hey! its a reference book and i’m not that anal retentive!!)

Lol, spot the self development bunny! ;)

• Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know by Roy Gutman and David Rieff (available to read online )
• Ali and Nino : A Love Story by Kurban Said
• A History of God by Karen Armstrong
• My Ishmael by Daniel Quinn (altho I may need to do a recap read of Ishmael first!)
• The Story of B by Daniel Quinn
• Beyond Civilization by Daniel Quinn
• After Dachau by Daniel Quinn
• Vine of Desire by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
• Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
• Arranged Marriage by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
• The Unknown Errors of Our Lives by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
• number9dream by David Mitchell
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

This list isnt exhaustive, nor is it any particular order. I just wanted a reminder of books recommended by people lately, and also authors of books I read years ago whom have churned out a few more recently.

In particular I would have to highlight Ghostwrittenby David Mitchell. I really enjoyed this story of several intertwined tales. The mind behind the pen is brilliant!!! check out an this interview of David Mitchell by Book World.

:::EDIT:::

• Brand America: The mother of all brandsby Simon Anholt and Jeremy Hildreth

• Uninsured in America: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity by Susan Sered

• Eichman in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil by Hannah Arendt
• For Your Own Good by Alice Miller

• The Unconquerable World by Jonathan Schell

• Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson

• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

• Start Where You Are : A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chodron

Review:
http://www.searchsa.com.au/Review/book_view.asp?id=5

My opinion:
Nothing short of f’n brilliant! Those poor chaps, their survival is phenomenal. Seen the movie adaptation too – same old story, book is better ;)

Critical review:
http://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/114/7/870

More praising review:
http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/09/03/adams_curse.php

My two cents: I enjoyed what I learnt from it and take his theorising with the grain of salt it warrants. Those looking for a hard core genetic analysis of his and other studies may not appreciate the “chatty” narrative – but I did!