Category Archives: books

Books I’m reading, books I want to read, and reviews of books I’ve read.

Sharp Edges: Protecting Ourselves from Digital Publishing

Nicholas Carr wrote in a recent article that he considered the ability of publishers to change text after they had released it “insidious” and a “bane” of digital publishing — specifically, if such changes are made in response to market research. I agree that there is a challenge inherent in the new ease with which …

January 7, 2012 – 11:42 am | By Andrew | Posted in books, technology | Comments Off

Self-Reliant Veganism

“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” When I first read “Self-Reliance,” these words sunk into me, but I must have skimmed the rest of the essay. Emerson’s style and vocabulary put me off, an experience which I attributed to 150 years of drift in the English language. The problem only got worse …

June 27, 2011 – 7:10 am | By Andrew | Posted in books, food, life | Comments Off

Coastal Bookstores

Kim and I are heading to Coos Bay this week to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Davidson clan.  I am already thinking of books — is that wrong? My favorite thing to do on the Oregon coast, other than spend time with the in-laws and all of our super-adorable nieces, is trawl a couple of my …

November 22, 2009 – 9:59 am | By Andrew | Posted in books, life | Comments Off

Reading Murakami Five Years Later

Kim and I have been reading The Wind-up Bird Chronice, one of Haruki Murakami’s best-known novels, for the past couple of months.  It has taken us a long time to get half-way through the book.  This is my second reading, and I am surprised to find that the author’s style, themes and approach leave me …

November 20, 2009 – 10:47 pm | By Andrew | Posted in books, life | Comments Off