In August 2010, 33 Chilean miners became trapped miles underground when the San Jose mine collapsed over their head. While underground for a record-breaking 69 days, they made a pact to tell their story to only one author, rather than many, in order to retain the power that their story gave them. This book is the result. “The devil is present in the mine, taking form in all the greed, the misunderstanding, the envy, and the betrayals among the men. He believes that the devil […]
“Sometimes I think I’ve figured out some order in the universe, but then I find myself in Florida”
This was one of the weirdest books I’ve read, from the subject (orchids and the people who love them/steal them), to the characters (actual people–all crazy) to the casual, rambling style of the author. But overall, I think I liked it? It was definitely interesting, and I certainly know more than I used to about orchids. “I never thought very many people in the world were very much like John Laroche, but I realized more and more that he was only an extreme, not an […]
“It is good to renew one’s wonder, said the philosopher. Space travel has again made children of us all.”
Someone reviewed Dandelion Wine on here a week or two ago, and it reminded me how much I enjoy Bradbury, and how shamefully long it’s been since I’ve reread him. So I grabbed a couple of his short story collections at the library, and dove back in. I started with The Martian Chronicles, which I know I read in middle school but haven’t since then. “The Men of Earth came to Mars. They came because they were afraid or unafraid, because they were happy or unhappy, because they felt like Pilgrims […]
Holiday Book Exchange! Thanks Badkittyuno!
First, I’d like to thank fellow Cannonballer Badkittyuno for sending this novel to me as part of the holiday exchange. I had mentioned that, to my shame, I had not read any of Isabel Allende’s novels and Badkittyuno sent one of her personal favorites, Island Beneath the Sea. And now it’s one of mine. This is a work of historical fiction set in late 18th century Haiti and Louisiana. The novel shows the effect of slavery and revolution on a group of people, slave and […]