The Vulgar Eclectic
Vulgar: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster
Eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources
recent blog posts
- West of Eden by Harry Harrison
I just finished reading the science-fiction novel West of Eden by Harry Harrison, published in 1984. I first picked up this book way back in high school; I remember reading it while working at a gas station in my teens. I only got about a quarter of the way through it back then but have always remembered the story up to that point and wanted to return to it someday, and am happy I finally began reading it again.
Without spoilers, the setting of the novel is an earth that never experienced a cataclysmic extinction of dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period and, instead, witnessed the evolution of reptiles into bipedal, self-aware creatures. At the same time, mammalian life evolved in certain parts of the Earth into humans living in a paleolithic, hunter-gatherer world.
It was a great reading experience…the plot, characters, and setting pulled me in and made me want to keep reading in a way I haven’t experienced in a while. I grew to care about the characters and their fates. I found the world, the flora and fauna in it, and the cultures described believable and fleshed out, with the reader developing an understanding of the world without a lot of obvious exposition.
Beautiful line drawings by Bill Sanderson adorn the beginning of each chapter, and imbue the book with a certain otherworldly feel that I find excellently complements the story.
This book is the initial part of a trilogy of novels but can certainly be read as a stand-alone story. At some point I may check out the next book, Winter in Eden, since I so thoroughly enjoyed this first volume.
Cover art by David Schleinkofer for the first edition of West of Eden - As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams, or Sarashina Nikki
Here is a book jot from March, 2022:
I just finished reading As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams, also known as Sarashina Nikki (11th century). It was written by an unnamed woman, known only as the “daughter of Takasue,” during the Heian period of Japan. This translation is by Ivan Morris.
It is a sort of memoir comprised of journal-like entries, interspersed with numerous poems. The narrative begins with Lady Sarashina (a name given posthumously to the author) as a child journeying across Japan with her family. It goes on to include experiences, emotions, and reflections from much of the rest of her life.
She was clearly a lover of reading and often found herself seemingly more involved in the world of literature and fantasy than the practical realities of the world around her. Nature, travels (especially pilgrimages), dreams, and poetry are all prominent elements of her recollections.
This book was a joy to read! The accompanying notes and introduction provide a wealth of context that greatly enhance the reading experience and comprehension. Lady Sarashina writes in an unadorned, graceful manner which the poems compliment beautifully.
From the wood-block print edition of 1704, as reprinted in the 1971 Dial Press edition translated by Ivan Morris - Morning
A crow on the sidewalk, reflected in the rain
An auspicious sign
So the gods, if I listen, whisper - Boris Godunov by Alexander Pushkin
Here is a book jot from 2022 (I’m getting close, I think, to being caught up with posting these older book jots)…
I just finished reading Boris Godunov (1831) by Alexander Pushkin, translated by James E. Falen. This has been described as a “tragicomedy of history,” and is a play of more than twenty scenes chronicling the interregnum period between the fall of the Rurik dynasty and the establishment of the Romanov dynasty.
This was a wonderful read, and the language and rhythm of Pushkin’s writing feel just right. The story is told in a brisk but restrained and beautiful manner. There is history, battle, intrigue, love, politics, character…all without bogging down the story or becoming banal. It’s also a memorable way to learn about the 15-year “Time of Troubles” in Russian history.
“No matter prince: I need all sorts of tales, To weigh them in my mind; for otherwise— We’ll never learn the truth.”
woodcut of Russian boyars by Vladimir Favorsky (1886-1964) for Pushkin’s Boris Godunov - Bass
First time I’ve ever caught a fish visiting family for the holidays here in the South. Ended up catching three more, with one of them being caught by my brother. The other three were sunfish varieties…two sun crackers and a bluegill (I think!).