Chris Orwa
I found the book's ending rather abrupt, leaving me wanting more information. Although I enjoyed the initial part, I struggled towards the end due to repetitive points. I had hoped for a detailed history on the origin and development of Calvinism, as well as its influence on capitalism, which was missing. Examples of wealthy Calvinists would have been beneficial.
The book's central theme of ‘economic adventure' and frugality among Calvinists influencing wealth acquisition is intriguing. While Protestant asceticism may have waned, its impact persists.
I would rate the book three stars because while the religious aspect is well-explored, the economic connection feels underdeveloped.
Prey epitomizes the classical plot of American novels. Plot begins with a simple situations and subsequent events unfold to reveal the setting (linear story telling). The introductory part and the initial chapters are by far the most interesting portion of the book, the suspense is just ‘unputdownable'. On the gist of the story Michael Crichton does what he does best, fascinate us. The technological advancements put forth lay at the edge of our imagination.
A tragic tale of love, lust, and life's vagaries. In a jolly setting in colonial Kenya, Murder puts an end to the drug induced orgies in Wanjohi Valley more commonly referred as Happy Valley Set. Josslyn Hay, later the 22nd Earl of Errol met his demise at the junction of Ngong Road and Karen Road on the early morning of 24th January 1941.
A cuckolded husband, Sir Jock Delves Broughton is suspected of the murder and put on trial but the verdict is of acquittal. The mystery thus sets in, who killed Joss? A series of characters are explored for possible motive and opportunity, but all evidence points to Jock. In the exploration of the suspects, the authors takes the reader through the life and times of early settlers in Kenya and the later immigrants who formed the libidinous ‘Happy Valley Set'.
I am on my third book by Albert Camus, and I begining to like him. The author came to my attention during the COVID lockdown as lots of folks recommend his book ‘The Plague'. I didn't get to read this publication but ended up with an interest on the writer.
The first boo I read by Camus was ‘A Happy Death'. It turned out to be one of the most twisted ideas about life that I had read. And now this book seems to have continued where ‘A Happy Death' stopped.
The collection of essays capture the struggle of human with society norms and expectations. Of course Camus adds his dark perspective to each story. Most of his stories explore loneliness and introspection. It focusses on an individual and their struggle.
In each story, a man or woman is struggling with deeper thoughts and yearning to burst out and live life according to their own understanding of it.
One of my easiest read. The book is easy to read and goes straight to the point on all explanation. That said, this is a gruesome book about the atrocities committed by the Japanese army when it sacked the Chinese city of Nanking.
My previous reading on the 2nd SS panzer division killing of civilians ranked number on the atrocities list. The Japanese soldiers out did the SS. Children were boiled alive, women raped then bamboo ramped into their vagina.
The worst of the atrocities was using prisoners of war for bayonet practice. Two soldiers competed in who will kill 100 people fastest with their bayonets.
I never really followed this volume, perhaps because I missed some issues. The storyline is not as deep as I had wanted, and my enthusiasm to read the next issue is diminished. I hope there's redemption ahead.
If uncertainty lived anywhere it would be in this book. Example after example provide a wider perspective on unpredictability of events and the complexities layered upon them. The first book I gave a five star rating, just for the examples - highly informative and uncommon.
I have never read a book that has taught me a lot such as ‘The Way of the Sufi'. It is a collection of short stories and quite from great Sufis who lived hundreds of years ago. So who are the Sufis? These are Islamic teachers who focused on the spirituality, ritualism, asceticism and esotericism of the Islamic faith. The most popular of the Sufis is Rumi, the renowned Persian poet who gave the modern world quotes to live by.
The world's oldest profession helped Nairobi during its nascent years maintain labor force by providing companionship to the burgeoning bachelor migrant labour. In doing so, they accumulated wealth and became the first African landlords in colonial Nairobi. The African neighborhoods (estates) in Nairobi were largely shaped by prostitute activities - Pangani, Kilileshwa, Pumwani and Shauri Moyo were setup to accommodate the demands of landlord prostitutes who were providing services that reproduced labor for the colonial government.
Over the years, different forms of prostitution emerged to accommodate changing landscape, economics and population of the young city. The most successful of the prostitutes became a lady in her forties living in Eastleigh who bought a secondhand Mercedes-Benz in 1960.
This book is not about the Roman Pro-consul Gnaeus Pompeii Magnus nor is a precursor to the movie Pompeii but the ancient city of Pompeii and its unstable underbelly. The book traces the work life of a young aquarius (plumber) Attilius and his journey to save the Roman empire from poisonous water raging havoc in its cities. Peel by peel the story unwinds from the gentile Roman society life to the centre of the most violent volcanic eruption recorded in human history. In a nutshell the book is about water,earth, fire, and air...told the Roman way.
I picked up this book since I am on an essay-reading spree. It didn't take long for me to realize I was going to enjoy it. Thomas Paine makes a compelling case for the separation of the United Colonies (the United States) from their “parent” country, England. The pamphlet offers a sharp critique of monarchy and monarchical systems of government, arguing that “it is the pride of Kings which throws mankind into confusion... Holland without a King hath enjoyed more peace for this last century.”
Paine vividly illustrates how Americans have no need for a king and how it is not in their interest to remain subjects of one. He points out that being under England's rule would drag America into conflicts with England's enemies, such as Spain and France, with whom America does not quarrel.
In conclusion, Paine aims at a Quaker pamphlet advocating for reconciliation with Great Britain rather than separation. The Quakers, believing that kings are ordained by God, oppose any effort to overthrow them. Paine pointedly responds that they should then accept the outcome of the impending war as divinely ordained.
The prose poetry employed by Gibran in his letters makes them an engrossing read. Whether corresponding with fellow poets or simply responding to his father and sister's inquiry, Kahlil never fails to put his metaphorical mind to action.
Sex, violence, and blasphemy collide brilliantly in Book 2 of Preacher. A sex-crazed priest reunites with a blasphemous mutant ally, embarking on a depraved journey to find a gigolo responsible for the mutant's girlfriend's death. Instead, they stumble upon a secret army loyal to the Pope, triggering a violent confrontation. The chaos crescendos with the Pope's demise and the shocking revelation of a monstrous child—a hybrid born from the forbidden union of an angel and a demon, destined to rule the world. Meanwhile, God abandons Heaven to take refuge on Earth, determined to correct this abhorrent union.
A glimpse at the rare book world. The book lacks depth but makes it up on ease of reading - with no proper ending, the books bounces through the various aspects of what make people become rare book collectors and what motivate others to steal from the collectors.
Currencies wars were fought in this book. Four major economies (France, UK, US and Germany) in the world lock horns after world war one in race to rebuild their economies. At the center is the currencies backed by gold - each countries races to build up gold reserves in order to keep the economy afloat and fight of currencies of other countries. The end of this shaky period is the creation of the International Monetary Fund
The book has a protracted plot spanning decades from the childhood life of Jacques Rebiere into his adulthood and finally old age. It passes as a tiring read and it is easy to forget events and details at the beginning due to many settings and failure of an overriding setting. However, the research done for the psychological ailments in the story is excellent, details are accurate and fascinating too, it might fit the bill of a psychology fan facts book. But the again, it seems there was too much emphasis on the details vis-a-vis the storyline.
As a historical novel, the book perfectly captures the scenes of the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the outstanding ones was the depiction of lifestyle and medical changes occasioned by invention of electricity and other industrial machines. The story ends on an anti-climax, in-fact the story has no climax, it's flat. The pace it starts on is maintained through out the plot.
A straightforward account of beekeeping from a woman who tamed bees to extract their food (honey). It doesn't read as a cut-and-dry manual of beekeeping, but rather a prose on the beautiful life of bees.
It is the second-oldest legal document in the world that regulates trade, marriage, and, surprisingly, price controls. Large sections of the code specify how labor for certain services should be compensated. Rather than focusing solely on punishing wrongdoers, the code appears to protect the vulnerable by ensuring fair wages.
Two interesting laws have endured to this day. The first rule that that if a squatter occupies a property for a certain period without the owner's claim, the property legally becomes the squatter's. The second one covers consumation of marriage. It states that “If a man take a woman to wife, but have no intercourse with her, this woman is no wife to him.
What began as a typical ghetto crime tale unexpectedly evolved into a captivating story of a developing criminal mastermind midway through. Now I can't wait to dive into Vol. 2 to uncover the puppet master behind the untraceable bullets and gun used to eliminate enemies—a true criminal chess master.
A watch is a commonplace item in the modern life, but in the 18th century it played a great role in preventing ships from getting lost in high seas. Known as The Longitude Problem, there was no practical means to ascertain longitude at sea which prompted the British parliament to set up the Board of Longitude to administer a prize for anyone who could determine longitude at sea.
The solution came from an unexpected quarter - a carpenter named John Harrison took it up on himself to build a watch so accurate that it could withstand the vagaries of the sea's conduct. His watch names H4 became a masterpiece of keeping time and helped the British Empire conquer the sea. Despite it's success there was a fierce competitor - The Sextant. This device was able to tell longitude by measuring the distance between celestial bodies and the sea's horizon. While dependable, it required training and took many hours to make a reading.
This book is about the huddle that John Harrison had to jump in order to win the Longitude prize money of 20,000 pounds and ensure his innovation becomes the de-facto instrument for measuring longitude at the sea.
The stylistic devices employed in telling the story are quite captivating. Historical and current events are interwoven into a single continuum giving the past freshness of the present and vice-versa. The book tells the story of World War Two in a rather rare perspective on how the German society justified and supported the invasion of the Soviet Union and other smaller states. With it comes the psychotic details on the endeavors of Martin Kirsch while treating ‘terminally insane' patients. At the end it is a tragedy as Albert Einstein is drawn in to the plot.
I'm starting to enjoy this graphic novel series. At first, I disliked the seemingly aimless ghetto storyline, but once Agent Graves—a true criminal mastermind—was introduced, I was hooked.