Comment Archives: stories: Arts & Culture: Books & Authors
Re: “Book Review: Give Me Everything You Have”
gives me chills. I want to read this.
Re: “Brave New Books”
Wonderful article. I just had Troy Bookmakers do my book. They were terrific to work with. I can't wait to finish my next book to work with them again.
Re: “Tony Fletcher Canonizes The Smiths”
Tony's career didn't begin at the age of 14 in Yorkshire, England. He was born in Yorkshire but raised for the most part in London and it was there, in his South East London school, that he founded 'Jamming!' as well as the band in which he played for many years, Apocalypse.
Re: “Book Review: Nature Wars”
Heidi,
Thanks for the thoughtful comment on the book review.
I hope I did not misrepresent Sterba's book. In "Nature Wars," Jim Sterba makes the point that in many populated areas, beavers can be a nuisance, causing unwanted flooding of commercial and residential parcels that property owners want to stay dry. In "Nature Wars," Sterba does point out that beaver-created wetlands bring can change an entire ecosystem, creating a positive environment for many species as you suggest.
Brian
Re: “Book Review: Nature Wars”
I'm sorry that your book misses the chance to talk about the positive impact of urban beavers.
Our low-lying city was concerned about flooding and proposed extermination but massive public outcry forced them to install a flow device instead. That was 5 years ago and now because of the beaver created wetlands we regularly see otter, heron, woodduck, steelhead and even mink in our tiny urban stream! We even hold a yearly beaver festival (this year was our 5th) to teach other communities about the good beavers do and how to manage their more challenging behaviors!
WIldlife has gotten smarter about living with us, but we appear to have learned very little about living with them.
Heidi Perryman, Ph.D.
Worth A Dam
www.martinezbeavers.org
(925) 283-4499
Re: “Book Review: Nick & Jake”
Bringing back the art of letter writing; there is hope! (And with a stellar cast, to boot.)
Re: “Simon Critchley”
As a christian (at least I consider myself of that persuasion) I like and enjoy Simon Critchley's work in philosophy. Not that I agree with his present point of view regarding God, but I do think he is very on point when it comes to the necessity of belief. I actually find it quite remarkable he has not adopted some form of christian belief. He seems to have adopted so much of the religiously based trappings of valuing life and peace. In the middle of this interview, I thought I could have been reading Ecclesiastes! Indeed, life is pointless. Also, faith in God does not resolve the pointlessness of this life. It gives one a place with which to find rest, repose, and comfort in the midst of living out this pointless life. The assertion of meaning, as SC has existentially pointed out, is the meaning we have. It is the truth we have however it is that we believe. I hope, in my transient timespace point of view, that I am correct. But have I lost anything if I am wrong (shades of Pascals Gamblers proposition). And I do not feel bad engaging and supporting works of peace and learning how to be joyfully at peace in the pain of life. Hmm. I don't really find myself too much at odds with him. I'm sure many with my persuasion of faith would shudder at my appreciation of this Simon Crithley fellow. Then again, Jesus asked who was a neighbor of the man hurt and robbed by thieves; those who carefully avoided him or the atheist from Samaria?
Thanks to SC who referred to Nicolai Berdyaev in his "faith of the faithless". One of the best referrals to an author I have ever received.