Recent Readings ...
Ken Lamberton, Wilderness and Razor Wire
Beautiful views (illustrations) and observations of desert life from within the Santa Rita prison unit in Tucson, Arizona. Interspersed with ruminations on crime, contrition, retribution and rehabilitation this is beautiful writing on sometimes harsh matters.
Tahir Shah, In Arabian Nights
We can say little that will adequately describe the pleasure of this read. From Casablanca to Marrakech, Fez and Tangiers this is beguiling, illuminating, enjoyable and uplifting. Non stop tales about tales and within tales. All about the sacredness of stories.
Matthew Crawford, Shop Class as Soul Craft
Reflections on the nature of work, satisfaction, fulfillment. A political philosopher and think tank worker (hence someone who works with 'abstractions') returns to tinkering with, repairing and refitting motorcycles and reflects on the greater integrity, profundity and satisfaction of working with real material and with one's hands. An important read for anyone who has stressed about the nature of modern work. Crawford might be seen to reveal a slightly anarchist, right wing streak at times but this book will find resonance with many.
Prabhaker Acharya, The Suragi Tree
Epic in span, this biographic novel is set in what were then South Kanara and Bombay and conveys somehow the flavor, the nature and the separateness and interconnectedness of those places. It could have done with better editing and parts of the published work would have been better left out entirely - but it is heartachingly beautiful, honest and moving in large parts and tells of a rarely told of part of the country.