Praying, Reading, Standing
Unpublished as of yet; from the archives of a 2016 visit.
Snow-capped mountains
Might just be the Gray Mountains, during the reign of Glóin (King of Durin's Folk). Or in Alaska? The Dolomites in Italy?
Hong Kong's Cha Chaan Teng Culture
A nice Morning Post video showing the evolution of a unique Hong Kong institution.
Bruce Lee 2026 US Postage
Preview of an upcoming US postage stamp. The Bruce Lee commemorative kick stamp.
Stoner
John Williams
A farm boy becomes a university prof., becomes estranged from his wife, encounters office politics, etc.
The Enigma of Arrival
V.S. Naipaul
The story unfolds in the Wiltshire countryside, where the protagonist rents a modest cottage
Tomorrow x3
Gabrielle Zevin
A trio with skills that mesh and a friendship that has more ups and downs than most rollercoasters helps the pages pass quickly.
Shadow Ticket
Thomas Pynchon
Prohibition time. Facsism is on the rise globally. And the heiress of a cheese empire has gone missing. Can Hicks McTaggart solve this ticket?
What We Can Know
Ian McEwan
The characters grapple with the realization that much of what they perceive as "known" is inherently colored by their experiences and biases.
The Swimmer
John Cheever
Ned Merrill is at a party and suddenly envisions himself as a great man about to embark on a swim across the county by way of backyard pools in a tony suburban NY community.
In Xanadu
William Dalrymple
Scottish historian William Dalrymple, uses older historic narratives and maps to help guide him and fellow travelers from the Holy Land to Xanadu (Shan-tu, just north of Beijing).
Seven Empty Houses
Samanta Schwebin
Schweblin, an Argentinian writer, has written the finest story I've yet read about someone experiencing dementia…