-
Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum
A while ago, I finished reading Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum (1900). This engaging memoir was written shortly after Slocum returned from his more than three year journey over the briny seaways of the globe. Beginning in 1893, he worked for over a year rebuilding a sloop he named the Spray in…
-
Katydid
I discovered this critter while moving some scrap pieces of siding a few mornings ago. It was on the underside of the board, seeking refuge from the overnight freeze. I believe it is a broad-winged katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium). It’s beautiful and delicate-appearing green, leaf-like wings are a great example of an insect using mimesis.
-
The Misanthrope by Moliere
From April 2022: I just finished reading The Misanthrope (1666), a play by Moliere, translated by John Wood and David Coward. It was an engaging and fast-paced read centered on the character of Alceste, who, presumptuously dismissive of every form of duplicity and hypocrisy, is determined to speak truthfully regardless of social circumstances. Even though…
-
Virgin Soil by Ivan Turgenev
Another book jot from April, 2021: I just finished reading Virgin Soil (1877) by Ivan Turgenev, translated by Constance Garnett. It was the last novel he published. Right away, the characters feel almost like real people. It’s as if the reader is making new acquaintances and getting to know the kind of people they are.…
-
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
Book jot from April 2021: I just finished reading The Last of the Mohicans (1826) by James Fenimore Cooper. It’s one of his Leatherstocking Tales, and second in the internal chronology of the series, although it can be read as a stand-alone novel. A tale of adventure and action, it seems like a sort of…