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What are you reading Chapter 4
- Thread starter slobake
- Start date
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee:
Native America from 1890 to the Present -David Treuer
Melds history with reportage and memoir. Tracing the tribes' distinctive cultures from first contact, he explores how the depredations of each era spawned new modes of survival. The devastating seizures of land gave rise to increasingly sophisticated legal and political maneuvering that put the lie to the myth that Indians don't know or care about property. The forced assimilation of their children at government-run boarding schools incubated a unifying Native identity. Conscription in the US military and the pull of urban life brought Indians into the mainstream and modern times, even as it steered the emerging shape of self-rule and spawned a new generation of resistance. The story of a resilient people in a transformative era.
Native America from 1890 to the Present -David Treuer
Melds history with reportage and memoir. Tracing the tribes' distinctive cultures from first contact, he explores how the depredations of each era spawned new modes of survival. The devastating seizures of land gave rise to increasingly sophisticated legal and political maneuvering that put the lie to the myth that Indians don't know or care about property. The forced assimilation of their children at government-run boarding schools incubated a unifying Native identity. Conscription in the US military and the pull of urban life brought Indians into the mainstream and modern times, even as it steered the emerging shape of self-rule and spawned a new generation of resistance. The story of a resilient people in a transformative era.
Recently finished up The Letters Of Abelard & Heloise, which was an interesting foray into an odd medieval love story and the various differences in the Christian faith of the time when compared to ours. Also just finished Orkneyinga Saga, which is the tale of the Earls of Orkney. Lots of intriguing history, with much of its accuracy debated. But a good read with plenty of actual history and the only saga to be based out of Orkney, so I was spending plenty of time looking up info about that region in general as I'm not terribly familiar with. Worth a read for me, at least.
Now, onto the Saga of Hord, one of the Icelandic outlaw sagas I haven't read yet. Probably finish that in the next few days.
Now, onto the Saga of Hord, one of the Icelandic outlaw sagas I haven't read yet. Probably finish that in the next few days.
Just finished "Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas". I'd read two of them before, so they were somewhat quick, but the third was new. It's interesting to see so many parallels between stories and the "tropes" that I'm now starting to see in various stories. Things like burning people in their houses seem to be a fairly accepted practice, as well as outlawry being no barrier to honor. Also, I've seen a few parallels to Beowulf, which is interesting as not all of the sagas are factual, which begs the question as to whether or not the saga or Beowulf was the original version of that portion of the story, or whether both are re-tellings of a common old Norse/Icelandic trope, much like we still see today.
Next, I'm on to "Sagas Of Warrior-Poets". Again, some re-reads in this collection, but judging by titles, 3 of 5 of them are new to me. We'll see, some of the sagas have alternate titles and there are plenty of character names repeated throughout the sagas, so some stories may be alternately named versions of tales I've read before.
Next, I'm on to "Sagas Of Warrior-Poets". Again, some re-reads in this collection, but judging by titles, 3 of 5 of them are new to me. We'll see, some of the sagas have alternate titles and there are plenty of character names repeated throughout the sagas, so some stories may be alternately named versions of tales I've read before.
Astoria: Astor and Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire - Peter Stark
Actual history.
In 1810 businessman John Jacob Astor sent out two parties, one over land and one by sea, to establish a trading company on the west coast at the mouth of the Columbia River based on trapping and selling beaver and otter fur to China. He wanted to ship trinkets and supplies to trade with Natives for fur, trade fur to China for spices, porcelin, tea to Europe, and goods from Europe to America, thereby establishing a circular global trade enterprise.
The overland route was the second across the American continent after Lewis and Clark (1803-6). Found an easier route over the Rockies south below Blackfoot territory. Although not an easy trip after leaving late through many delays to wind up in the Rockies in early winter nearly starving and freezing every one. But this overland route did establish what would become the Oregon Trail.
Nor was the sea route around Cape Horn easy with storms, a long tedious voyage, and an overbearing Captain.
The colony was established within a year, but failed due to poor leadership, officers not getting along, head to head competition with the Northwest Fur Company, and the breakout of the War of 1812 both for territorial disputes as well as harassment of the shipping lanes by the far superior British navy.
Interesting read. A lot of information. Bogs a bit in places, but an incredible journey into unknown territories. As sturdy as most of these guys were the trails and hardships were dang heartbreaking.
Actual history.
In 1810 businessman John Jacob Astor sent out two parties, one over land and one by sea, to establish a trading company on the west coast at the mouth of the Columbia River based on trapping and selling beaver and otter fur to China. He wanted to ship trinkets and supplies to trade with Natives for fur, trade fur to China for spices, porcelin, tea to Europe, and goods from Europe to America, thereby establishing a circular global trade enterprise.
The overland route was the second across the American continent after Lewis and Clark (1803-6). Found an easier route over the Rockies south below Blackfoot territory. Although not an easy trip after leaving late through many delays to wind up in the Rockies in early winter nearly starving and freezing every one. But this overland route did establish what would become the Oregon Trail.
Nor was the sea route around Cape Horn easy with storms, a long tedious voyage, and an overbearing Captain.
The colony was established within a year, but failed due to poor leadership, officers not getting along, head to head competition with the Northwest Fur Company, and the breakout of the War of 1812 both for territorial disputes as well as harassment of the shipping lanes by the far superior British navy.
Interesting read. A lot of information. Bogs a bit in places, but an incredible journey into unknown territories. As sturdy as most of these guys were the trails and hardships were dang heartbreaking.
I finally finished reading Lee Smolin's The Trouble With Physics.
Extremely slow-going ...I think it took me over 6 months to read ...in part because I have absolutely no understanding of particle physics, or theoretical physics, or really even any physics whatsoever. Somehow managed to avoid taking Intro to Physics when I was in high school. And so nearly every sentence Smolin writes I had to scratch my head and wonder "da hell iz he talkin' 'bout?!?!".
So, not really recommended, but at least now I can move on and find a more engaging book to read.
Extremely slow-going ...I think it took me over 6 months to read ...in part because I have absolutely no understanding of particle physics, or theoretical physics, or really even any physics whatsoever. Somehow managed to avoid taking Intro to Physics when I was in high school. And so nearly every sentence Smolin writes I had to scratch my head and wonder "da hell iz he talkin' 'bout?!?!".
So, not really recommended, but at least now I can move on and find a more engaging book to read.
I've had a few like that, but maybe not as extreme, and they're getting rarer. My topic was Scandinavian/Icelandic sagas. I fixed the problem by reading a LOT more in that area (likely 80%+ of what I've read in the past year...), but of course, I am very much interested in it and already have a somewhat decent understanding of it. Now it's fun to see all the various references and relationships between the various texts I read.
I bought Geddy's effing life book. I'll just stick to his music from here on out.
Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation - Michael Pollan
About home scratch cooking with each chapter using one of the four classical elements. Not a cookbook per se with recipes (although there are a [very] few in the afterward), but more about the history of cooking processes, and the enjoyment of a n00b taking and appreciating the time it takes to prepare home cooked scratch stuff.
• Fire: grilling meats and BBQ. How cooking with fire transformed mankind.
• Water: soups and stews, slow cooking in crock pots and braising. Commentary on pasteurization and is it all that beneficial.
• Air: baking, breads, pastas, souffles.
• Earth: Fermentation = vegetable - sauerkraut, kimchee; animal - cheese; grain - beer and spirits.
All about taking good time for good tastes with good friends.
I don't cook at all. Have maybe a dozen plus things and certainly wouldn't offer it to anyone else, lest they were starving. LOVE watching cooking shows like Triple D and Beat Bobby Flay. Did learn how to make scratch pizza which is super easy and takes almost no time - a little waiting for the dough to rise, but make it in the morning and let it sit all day - meh - makes itself.
Good book. Reads right along. Kinda points out the zen experience and communal activity cooking can be - no woo woo involved.
Prolly won't sway me.
peace
About home scratch cooking with each chapter using one of the four classical elements. Not a cookbook per se with recipes (although there are a [very] few in the afterward), but more about the history of cooking processes, and the enjoyment of a n00b taking and appreciating the time it takes to prepare home cooked scratch stuff.
• Fire: grilling meats and BBQ. How cooking with fire transformed mankind.
• Water: soups and stews, slow cooking in crock pots and braising. Commentary on pasteurization and is it all that beneficial.
• Air: baking, breads, pastas, souffles.
• Earth: Fermentation = vegetable - sauerkraut, kimchee; animal - cheese; grain - beer and spirits.
All about taking good time for good tastes with good friends.
I don't cook at all. Have maybe a dozen plus things and certainly wouldn't offer it to anyone else, lest they were starving. LOVE watching cooking shows like Triple D and Beat Bobby Flay. Did learn how to make scratch pizza which is super easy and takes almost no time - a little waiting for the dough to rise, but make it in the morning and let it sit all day - meh - makes itself.
Good book. Reads right along. Kinda points out the zen experience and communal activity cooking can be - no woo woo involved.
Prolly won't sway me.
peace
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