I’m interested in a multitude of things, including social justice, socialism, history, poetry, magical realism (fiction), capitalism, race, class struggle, wine, baseball, music…
So mostly non-fiction, though I read maybe two novels per year.
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Fleeing persecution in Indochina, the young Ho Chi Minh arrived in Paris as World War …
The author looks for traces of the young Ho Chi Minh in Paris, where he'd spent much of his twenties. But the past of the eventual leader of Vietnamese communism seemed largely invisible. Still, the author makes the search interesting. A short read.
An educational resource published by the Society of Wine Educators. Intended for use by candidates …
This book is chock full of info about winemaking processes, regional laws and classifications, wine tasting and serving etiquette. It also contains a large section detailing the prominent grapes and types of wine grown in each winemaking country. Very recommended.
The only negative from my perspective is that editing could have improved the readability of the text somewhat.
A sweeping examination of the core issues of sexual politics, bell hooks' new book Feminist Theory: from margin to center …
A sweeping examination of the core issues of sexual politics, bell hooks' new book Feminist …
An excellent book. Thought-provoking, and written in a style that's serious and direct and yet, accessible. While it was published forty years ago, I feel like all the issues she discusses are still with us. Hence it's continued pertinence.
Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism is a book by Benedict …
Seems like a fascinating topic, and very relevant for our times.
A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, …
Seems like an important read on my journey of self-discovery.
The three-volume text by Henri Lefebvre is perhaps the richest, most prescient work about modern …
Heck yes. Right up my alley.
Tenth Anniversary Edition, with an introduction by Jessica Hagedorn
A 600+ page tour de force of historical fiction. A real education on the lives of immigrants from all over Asia and beyond during the tumultuous period of 1968-1977. Each year features a new cast, but they all revolve around the I Hotel in SF’s Chinatown. Wisened old timers mix with idealistic and determined twenty somethings, on a quest to protect what’s theirs in a land where the cards are stacked against them. Really engaging. An important read.
Tenth Anniversary Edition, with an introduction by Jessica Hagedorn
A quick, short read. Mostly transcripts of conversations, plus a few short essays. The conversation with Dan Ellsberg and Ed Snowdon was pretty riveting. Thumbs up.
Essays and conversations in which Roy and Cusack reflect on their meeting with Daniel Ellsberg and Edward Snowden in 2014.
A sweeping examination of the core issues of sexual politics, bell hooks' new book Feminist …
Very much looking forward to this one.
This yearly collection of award-winning poetry, fiction, essays and memoirs is always a great read.
This copy of Amy Beal’s history of American experimental music in Germany was owned by Tom Verlaine. I purchased it from a Brooklyn book store. :-)
This copy of Garcia Lorca’s poems was owned by Tom Verlaine. I purchased it from a Brooklyn book store. :-)