|
Currently Reading
|
| Cover |
Title |
Author |
Comment |
 |
God and Gold - Britain, America, and the Making of the Modern World |
Walter Russell Mead |
|
 |
The Vision of Shoghi Effendi |
Various |
Proceedings of the Association for Bahá'í Studies 9th Annual Conference, 1984, Ottawa - I think this is where my career as an interpreter started. |
|
Next in Line
|
 |
The Social Imperative in Personnal Salvation - The Ascent of Society |
John S. Hatcher |
Always a good read. |
 |
'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Master |
George Townsend |
The author was a very courageous man. |
 |
Summon up Remembrance |
Marzieh Gail |
This should be interesting. It is about early believers in the US, Europe and Persia. |
|
. |
. |
. |
|
Recently Read
|
 |
Dreams, Nightmares and Dreams Again |
Angéla Szepesi |
Written by the person who helped me understand what the Bahá'í Faith was all about, back in 1971. Interesting life! |
 |
Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? : And Other Questions You Know You Want to Ask |
Mike O'Connor |
Instructive but ,oh so entertaining! |
 |
Wild Places, Wild Hearts- Nomads of the Himalaya |
Allen Smutylo |
Living his adventures vicariously. I need to get out of the house! |
 |
The United Nations Development program : A Better Way |
Craig N. Murphy |
Very well written, very interesting story. |
 |
Close Connections : The Bridge between Spiritual and Physical Reality |
John S. Hatcher |
Excellent book!!! |
 |
Prophet's Daughter |
Dr Janet Khan |
This is the story of Bahíyyih Khánum, daughter of Bahá'u'lláh. It offers an interesting glimpse into the life of the Holy Family. |
 |
France 1848-1945, Vol 2, Intellect, Taste and Anxiety |
Theodore Zeldin |
This book is very well researched and contains tons of interesting information about its subject, divided into a variety of intriguing themes. Took me months to finish but I enjoyed reading this book. |
 |
Stories of Bahá'u'lláh |
Compiled by 'Ali-Akbar Furútan |
One can never get enough of these stories. These give us a sense of what it was like to be in the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. Delightful read. |
 |
Towards World Order |
Alí Nakhjavani |
Mr. Nakhjavani was a longtime member of the Universal House of Justice. It contains concepts I have never read anywhere else, among other things about the five steps that will lead to a new world civilization. |
 |
Miracles & Metaphors |
Mirza Abu'l-Fadl |
The author presents solid arguments about the proofs of the validity of the Koran, refuting arguments put forth by christian writers of the XIXth century. Oh the power of logic! |
 |
Le Siècle de Lumière |
Bahá'í World Centre, written at the request of the Universal House of Justice. |
Now, here are ideas! |
 |
Love Power and Justice
The Dynamics or Authentic Morality
|
William S. Hatcher |
|
 |
Morts pour la France |
Max Gallo |
Definitely not a favourite! I did not like this book. The political and military leaders depicted here have plenty of opinions and are all ready to act on them. The problem is that none seem to be based on the essential truth of matters. This story makes you wonder how a nation placing so much importance on the individual and his or her self-interests and pleasures could get organized to fight a common foe. By the time they did, 1.375 million had died, many in the trenches. Conflicting ideas in the minds of leaders is not conducive to single-minded collective effort .The writing and storytelling styles irritated the heck out of me. |
 |
Beethoven's Mask - Notes on my Life and Times |
George Jonas |
Not as brilliant as I was expecting. Interesting but not outstanding. The author may be smart but it is like he didn't find anything important to write about and spent an entire book on secondary matters. Each chapters is on a different theme - essays. I kept asking myself what the author had in mind when he set out to produce this book. My conclusion is that writing is what he does. Choosing a topic of import is secondary. |
 |
Shakey - Neil Young's Biography |
Jimmy McDonough |
I finished the book and I still like the guy. Pretty eccentric! Interesting to see how he approaches writing and recording music. Funny bit: Neil Young pursues a successful solo career at the same time as he is part of CSN&Y who thinks that they are the American Beatles, a super star band. He just finished recording Harvest and is back at his ranch in California with Graham Nash who continues:"I'm down at the ranch and Neil goes, 'Hey, Willie, wanna hear something?' So we go down to the lake and row out to the middle in his rowboat and I think, '[expletive], this guy's been a [expletive] mystery to me all my life--if he wants to talk to me privately, surely there's more places to do it than the middle of a [expletive] lake in a rowboat.' What he'd done is he'd wired his house as the left speaker and his entire barn as the right speaker, and they played Harvest. And at the end of it Elliot Mazer [the recording engineer] comes down to the shore of the lake and goes, 'Neil, how was it?' Neil turns around and shouts, 'More barn!'" |
 |
The Prophets
Who They Were, What They Are
|
Norman Podhoretz |
The author examines the text in minute detail, comparing several translations and works his way laboriously through the Hebrew Bible. What will Jewish biblical scholars do in 2000 years? -- I got lost in the tedium and got distracted by more compelling reading. |
 |
The Woman Who Mapped Labrador
The Life and Expedition Diary of Mina Hubbard
|
Roberta Buchanan, Anne Hart, Bryan Greene |
It did not start well - competitiveness, vindictiveness, pettyness between explorers. Still I know so little about this area of Canada and its history. |
 |
E=MC2 |
David Bodanis |
I decided to read this after I saw a PBS show about the history of this famous Einstein equation. I read it in French to help keep my language skills sharp. |
 |
Vanish |
Tess Gerritsen |
A good thriller (I started reading it on MDI in September 2005) |
 |
Close Case |
Alafair Burke |
Good page turner read on MDI during our annual vacation 2005). I enjoy the main character's sense of humour. |
 |
iCon. The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business |
Jeffrey S. Young and William L. Simon |
A great read about Steve Jobs. The book does not shy away from showing the ugly side of the story. At the end of the day you can still love your mac products, even if you may not be anxious to work for Mr. Jobs. |
 |
Mahmud's Diary |
Mahmud-I-Zarqani |
This book is a day by day account of 'Abdu'l-Bahá travels in North America. He came to our shores in 1912, at age 68, physically weakened by decades of imprisonment and exiles, yet his schedule never Slackened. It was filled from morning to night with public talks and private meetings, for weeks on end (nine months straight in fact!). A young man couldn't have done it. |
 |
Eisenhower And Churchill |
James C. Humes |
This book puts the lives of these two men in an interesting parallel. It contains some good insights. A very good read. |
 |
Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Tom Wicker |
This short book on Eisenhower was well written informative and insightful. I enjoyed it and learned from it. |
 |
Eisenhower, A Soldier's Life |
Carlo D'Este |
After having read Churchill's account of the war in Europe, I found a different view of the same subject. This time the author reveals a story that is equal parts conflicts pitting one Allied general against another; British, American and French commanders against each others; conflicting views on the proper strategy; conflicting agendas of the Air Forces and the Infantries; and working together in common cause against the Nazis. All this against a backdrop of incredible savagery. For example over 362, 000 casualties to capture Berlin... This was one wasteful war! Incredibly destructive! Eisenhower was continually criticized and second guessed by every body around him. Did he use the right strategy? Everybody had, and has, an opinion. He did win against the Nazis. That was his assignment. Too bad he did not capture Berlin, too! But who would have wanted to stand in the way of the Red Army, bent on revenge, rape and killing? |
 |
Crusader's Cross |
James Lee Burque |
Very lyrical, complex main character, descriptive of Southern Louisiana, a gallery of low lives and would be honorable citizens. The story has an unexpected denouement. A fine book. I might read it again. |
 |
The Conquerors |
Michael Beschloss |
I thought that this was going to be an account of the work of those two presidents responsible for waging war on the Nazis. It turns out to be centred on the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau and his role in trying to save Jews during the war and punishing Germany after it surrendered. The book serves to show how various members of the federal administration continually cancelled each other's efforts to do anything by following conflicting agendas. |
 |
1421, The Year China discovered America |
Gavin Menzies |
Interesting tale about Chinese explorations in pre-colombian times. |
 |
The Second World War (Series of six books) |
Winston Churchill |
I found this series very informative and well written. Churchill obviously had a unique vantage point on the whole war. Interesting to discover how a world war is managed from the point of view of resources, priorities and strategy. See the BBC web site. |
 |
The Poinsonwood Bible |
Barbara Kingsolver |
Very well written, biting criticism, expressed to a large degree through the mouth of children (with an amazing vocabulary) on issues such as missionary work, colonialism and the relationship of family members. I probably enjoyed it too much. Highly recommended. |
 |
Peter and the Starcatchers |
Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson |
I figured if Ridley Pearson wants to write a children's book, I'll read it. I was disapointed - it felt more like an outline or a draft. |
 |
Explorers House |
Robert M. Poole |
A history of the venerable National Geographic Society. The story behind the yellow border cover magazine. |
 |
The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh |
Shoghi Effendi |
A must for every Baha'i worth his salt. The vision is breathtaking. |
 |
Cook: The Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook |
Nicholas Thomas |
I learned something about the discovery of the Pacific islands. |
 |
The Way the Crow Flies: |
Ann-Marie MacDonald |
Slow to start but eventually I got hooked on the description of life in the 50s and the crime story. It turns out this is based on a real story... |
 |
Shake Hands with the Devil |
General Romeo Dallaire |
A complete failure to stop a genocide. |
 |
Mom Can I Move Back With You |
Linda Perlman Gordon & Susan Morris Shaffer |
You got to get perspective on things! |
 |
Paris 1919 |
Margaret Macmillan |
When the map of Europe was redrawn. An early attempt at applying principles at the end of a world war. |
 |
The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh |
Adib Taherzadeh |
A favorite author. I have read everything he published. |
 |
In the Moon of Red Ponie |
James Lee Burke |
I have read pretty much everything he wrote. |
|
Music
|
|
There is a whole range of music I enjoy across the spectrum.
|
Current favorites:
|
|
| iTunes |
Favorite songs for the road |
Personal rating: 5 stars |
|
| iTunes |
Favorite songs for longer road trip |
Personal rating: 4 and 5 stars |
|
| iTunes |
Favorite Jazz Tunes |
Personal rating: 4 and 5 stars |
|
| iTunes |
Favorite Classical Tunes |
Personal rating: 4 and 5 stars |
|
|
 |
Robert Plant Alison Krauss - Raising Sand |
|
A very pleasant surprise, the coming together of these two artists! |
 |
Kate Bush - Aerial |
|
A great double album |
 |
Emmylou Harris |
|
Some of her songs have very powerful lyrics. She sure goes to the heart of matters! See the lyrics of Red Dirt Girl or Lost Unto this World. This song has got to be one of the most moving songs I've ever heard! Find a way to listen to it! |
 |
Smith and Dragoman |
|
If you don't know them, get to know them! I love their songs.
The songs deal with one of the most crucial things human beings have to deal with - our reaction when we encounter a Messenger of God, one of those unique beings that appear on earth once every thousand years or so. These songs tell the stories of ordinary people responding to the divine call as best they can. The musiccreated by Brett and Michael is compelling, beautiful and is an expression of a genuine longing. There is authenticity here! I don't tire of listening to this album. When all the voices come together in harmonies, there is magic. Emily's voice is that of an angel. She does beautiful lead vocals but also adds magic when she comes on with harmonies. On the new un-released track called Sojourn, her voice seems to grasp your heart and squeeze. And on that same track the piano is like a balm of patience, a counterbalance to all the suffering described in the story.The new track called Navaab is haunting. I can't wait until the new album comes out! |
 |
Pat Metheny |
|
Here is a great artist. He made a name for himself as a teenager and has kept putting out top notch music ever since. His melodies are often meditative and express tenderness in a way I haven't heard anywhere else. |
 |
radioNur |
|
All kinds of musicians celebrate their Faith in Bahá'u'lláh. Some more succesfully than others. |
|
Wish List:
|
 |
Amazon.com |
|
There is good stuff on this list. Grossly under used, I must say. What with my birthday every year and all... |
|
Received from my Wish List (Intercalary Days 2006):
|
 |
The Intimate Ella |
Ella Fitzgerald |
|
|
 |
Got You on My Mind |
William Galison & Madeleine Peyroux |
|
|
Movies
|
Recent favorites:
|
 |
Heart of Gold |
|
Neil Young and friends in concert. A warmhearted movie, it would seem dedicated to love and friendship, and looking at life from the end part. I don't know if it's me, but it had me in tears... . Why did I like it? It was genuine, gorgeous to look at, the sound was clear and rich, the songs meaningful and there were plenty of friends on stage with him, good at what they do and giving their best. The overall effect: a gorgeous, golden gift from the heart. I want to see it again! |
 |
Iron Jawed Angels |
|
This film is a good example of what happens when an idea that represents "what is right " clashes with established ways of doing things. In this case we are dealing with women's right to vote. The cast was first class, the acting was very good. The story should make young people who can't be bothered to vote think. I give this a 6 on 10. Why? Because at the beginning it was bouncing off the serious subject, staying with a "we don't want to make this too heavy" approach . The jazzing up techniques - fast camera motion and 2004 music soundtrack turned the story from compelling to entertaining. Still it was a story worth telling and worth seeing. The acting by Hillary Swank was superb! Now let's go read the book. |
 |
Weeping Camel |
|
When I left Nortel. I thought I wanted to have an adventure : Go to Inner Mongolia, see how people live. Well this movie is probably the closest thing I'll get to for a while (to either film making or the Gobi desert). |
 |
Snatch |
|
A gritty story about different groups of thugs, some aspiring, some in power, wanting to do bad things to others and each other. Ineptitude reigns and presents them with many challenges. Only the quick witted live. Funny! 7 on 10. Why? Because the bad guys gross you out but you don't know how they manage to stay alive and it is not who you think will that ultimately does. In other words the film gets you to care enough from the start to stay till the end and find out what happens. And Brad Pitt has a pretty funny accent! |
 |
House of Flying Daggers |
|
Another plain gorgeous visual treat. If Hero gets ten, this gets a too! |
 |
Hero |
|
Plain gorgeous from start to finish. ! |
Other favorites:
|
 |
Ronin |
|
Great car chase! Crank up the volume! |
