Capitalism
In reviewing my past reflections on the state of the world, I see I’ve made frequent references to this book: Ellen Meiksins Wood, The Origin of Capitalism (Monthly Review Press, 1999). So that readers may know what I’m referring to, here is my capsule summary from 2000. Elegant & persuasive critique of all theories (including … read more »
Miserable people with hard-to-forget voices
Hardcore: 3 Novels: The Kill-Off / The Nothing Man / Bad Boy by Jim Thompson My rating: 3 of 5 stars I finally got around to reading one of the short novels by the man Stephen King has called “My favorite crime novelist”, The Kill-Off. The narrative voices — a different one for each chapter … read more »
Blaming her (for turning him into a monster)
Un roman russe by Emmanuel Carrère My rating: 2 of 5 stars I bought this book in Paris because I wanted to get acquainted with this celebrated author, because I hoped to learn more about Russia, and because I wanted to improve and update my French. I did learn a lot of obscene vocabulary in … read more »
Fidelistas
Fidel Castro just turned 90 two days ago — no longer as we remember him, ever youthful, ever vigorous. What did he have that fascinated so many of us for so long, that let him dominate Cuba and from that small base to shake the whole world? And threatening to do more than just shake … read more »
Palestine: frustrations and aspirations
The Making of a Palestinian Suicide Bomber by Mitri I Musleh My rating: 2 of 5 stars Impassioned account by a Palestinian Canadian of the frustrations facing Palestinian youth, but with little original insight or analysis. The author fills his few pages with documentation on the Israeli occupation and “how Israel mistreats the Palestinian people” … read more »