Space Station Mir

I just got back from the Boston Book Festival. What comes to mind first is how well-executed it was for a first time event. I was nervous about there being enough space in panels, especially since it was free and "just show up" instead of even having people RSVP (except for the writing workshops, which I didn't attend). There were certainly a lot of people there, especially for the keynote speech, but I managed to squeeze in every time. I supposed it helped that interesting panels ran concurrently, so people had to decide what to go to. The Old South Church sanctuary was a lovely setting for most of the panels I went to, I didn't go to any in Trinity, which is a little disappointing, because I don't know when else I could get inside Trinity for free! The panels I attended were; Ties that Bind, Boston Roots, Power of Place, Beyond the Margins, Eat Your Words, and the keynote speech by Orhan Pamuk. The schedule can be found here, if you're interested; http://www...

57. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein I've been squeezing my "pleasure reading" book in between class books for the past two months, and I finally finished it-by turning it into a class book. We got to choose our own text in Advanced Writing, so I decided to try my rudimentary critical hand at Stranger. My interest in this book originated in a number of places. I was aware of it as a foundational work of science fiction, it was discussed in The Jane Austen Book Club (oddly enough) , and the title is a famous quote from Moses of Exodus fame (which I know because of Fiddler on the Roof) . So Stranger in a Strange Land is about Valentine Michael Smith, the child of human astronauts who was raised by Martians. Smith speaks and thinks in Martian, and has absorbed Martian values and culture. He cannot understand humans and in his attempt to 'grok' humanity, tries to bring Martian culture to a select Nest of "water brothers" (i.e. disciples). ...

56. The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman

So...I did decide just to continue the count for this year. Especially because I haven't reached my goals for # of books published this year to read, etc. I don't know if I will though, since I'm so busy reading for class. That said, no reviews since I should be doing homework. 54. Fences by August Wilson I read this for theatre class and we went to see it at the Huntington . I recommend it, though I saw a better version at Arena Stage in D.C. a few years ago. 55. Utopia by Thomas More I read a different translation several years ago. I thought I hadn't finished it, but everything I remember came from later in the book, so now I think maybe I did. This time, the book made me angry because it sounded so impossible, people just don't work like that, they're not so selfless and humble and obedient. I did like their style of war though, making their enemies fight themselves, and putting out warrants for a few people instead of full-scale war. It is understood to be ...