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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Ken MacRae has commented on (16) products
Ordinary Thunderstorms
by
William Boyd
Ken MacRae
, June 24, 2010
William Boyd - one of my favourite authors, London's Chelsea - one of my favourite locations, and a very interesting plot: what's not to like. Well, you might find yourself feeling distinctly uncomfortable - as I was - by imagining yourself unaccountably broke and homeless and wanted by the police, which was the situation Adam found himself in through no fault of his own. I don't actually like Chelsea enough to want to be homeless there, but Adam pulled it off. One detail I liked: the Church of John Christ was a bit of a twist on Monty Python's concept in the 'Life of Brian'. I'm sure that there is at least one movie in this book.
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All Things Must Fight to Live
by
Bryan Mealer
Ken MacRae
, June 15, 2010
I have never had any desire to visit the Congo (I discovered my limits of endurance in the Sudan), it hasn't been a tourist destination since independence 50 years ago, and I find it amazing that anyone from the First World would actually volunteer to go there, but I have developed an interest in others' difficult and dangerous travels into the dark heart of Africa, beginning with Stanley and Livingstone's incredible journeys. Bryan Mealer is a journalist who has reported on and travelled to many areas of the country in recent years and in this book has attempted to put his experiences into the larger context of a very complex situation. Despite the descriptions of the horrors and difficulties (that seems much too mild a word) of existence in such a shambolic country, an Epilogue and Afterword update the situation into 2009 and offer some hope that the situation could improve in the future (well it boggles the mind to think that it could get any worse).
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To Hellholes & Back Bribes Lies & the Art of Extreme Tourism
by
Chuck Thompson
Ken MacRae
, May 27, 2010
In reviewing the reviews of this book, I have little to add except to give it Powell's 5-star rating. Thompson's well-written adventures are Chuck-full of wit and humour and he deserves recognition as a first-rate travel author. Honest and interesting accounts of his visits to the Congo (good grief!), India, Mexico and Walt Disney World - the last perhaps a surprising choice, but germaine to the book's premise. I read a library copy but I will buy my own as the book invites re-reading.
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Designed for Pleasure The World of EDO Japan in Prints & Paintings 1680 1860
by
Julia Meech
Ken MacRae
, March 17, 2010
'Designed for Pleasure' is certainly an exhibit catalogue designed for the pleasure of the reader. Nicely laid out and illustrated with 141 high-quality prints and paintings, my only regret was that I was not able to attend what must have been a beautiful exhibit. The eight essays on different aspects of the cultural context discuss the publishers and private commissions, as well as personal information about the artists and subjects, promoting a heightened appreciation for Japanese art and artists. Highly recocommended.
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Jesus The Egyptian: The Origins of Christianity And The Psychology of Christ
by
Richard A. Gabriel
Ken MacRae
, February 11, 2010
The author presents a well-researched and logically-presented description of the ancient Egyptian theological origins of the early Christian doctrines. The Osirin resurrection doctrines - judgement of the individual after death, and potential resurrection and everlasting life with the God (but no hell) - were features of the ancient Egyptian religion for thousands of years before, and hundreds of years after, the birth of Christianity. The Egyptian trinity of Osiris/Isis/Horus (Father/Mother/Son) was revised to the Christian Father/Holy Ghost/Son trinity. The cult of Isis (Mother) in particular was popular throughout the ancient Roman world - including Palestine, and it is unlikely that Jesus Christ was not familiar with this theology. Many authors have written on this subject over the past 150+ years (since the ancient Egyptian texts were translated), but this is the best book that I have found to date.
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Diamond Dust
by
Peter Lovesey
Ken MacRae
, December 07, 2009
Although a long-time fan of British detective books and movies, I have just discovered my first Peter Lovesey book: 'Diamond Dust'. After starting it I stayed up half the night to finish it. Interesting plot which kept me guessing right up to the end. Now I have a whole new series to read over the long winter nights ahead.
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Memories Of Silk & Straw A Self Port
by
Junichi Saga
Ken MacRae
, November 23, 2009
Three books by this author have been translated into English, I found a copy of 'Memories of Silk...' in a local book store and enjoyed it so much that I ordered copies of the other two from Powells. These books preserve accounts of the lives of working people in traditional pre-modern Japan. The translator has done a splendid job of each book. The hard cover first editions I have of the two 'Memories...' titles were beautifully printed in Japan with particularly attractive dustjackets and would make excellent gifts.
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Hokusais Mount Fuji The Complete Views in Color
by
Jocelyn Bouquillard
Ken MacRae
, November 16, 2009
Just to point out a few problems with this book: 1) inconsistent presentation of prints: some have a white border, others do not - perhaps because they appear to have been slightly cropped; and 2) although these plates are stated to be the best from the French National Library, they are obviously inferior to other collections of this series such as the published Michener collection. The Ushibori print for instance appears so washed out that it would seem to be unfinished, whereas the Michener print is very dramatic in full colour. For these and other reasons I would recommend the complete Mt Fuji series of Michener prints in 'Hokusai and Hiroshige' published by the Honolulu Academy of Arts which is certainly a five-star publication.
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Blood River A Journey to Africas Broken Heart
by
Tim Butcher
Ken MacRae
, November 14, 2009
The author has suggested a new category 'ordeal travel' to describe this type of travel and it is unlikely that many other travellers would care to engage in this type of extreme adventure in one of the world's largest backwaters. As the Congo basin reverts back to its original primitive state, it has become almost impossible to retrace H.M.Stanley's route and live to tell the tale. Well done Tim.
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Lonely Planet Sean & Davids Drive Thru America
by
Sean Condon
Ken MacRae
, March 30, 2007
Caution: Baptist, country and western dulcimer playing hillbillies may find Sean's humour objectionable. Some quotes from the 'Drive': - 'It's quite god-fearing around here. This I'm assuming from the hundreds of mainly Baptist churches we pass every few feet.' - 'he'd inadvertently consumed Jesus in a taco the previous evening.' - 'Tennessee radio sucks - it's all either country (the worst musical form the world has ever known) or country-rock (the worst musical marriage the world has ever known - except of course Michael and Lisa-Marie).' - 'Fat Bob's ceaseless sweating, burping and farting created a rich fetid air in the control room - but one that I believe added a necessary note of country and western authenticity to the song.' - 'Alabama....So far it looks the same as Tennessee, except possibly a little more ugly and God-forsaken.' - 'Passed the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Contents: Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alabama. Maybe an old dulcimer.' OR: 'Maybe none of this is happening at all. Maybe we're both still asleep in Montreal.'
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Sean & Davids Long Drive
by
Sean Condon
Ken MacRae
, March 30, 2007
If you read this book to be amused by Sean's unique brand of humour, fair dinkum, you will not be disappointed as he drowns his boredom in Oz's national pastime and matches wits with the outback's ubiquitous version of inbred bushbillies. If you are thinking of using this book for background reading for the trip, you might prefer to proceed directly to Plan B, as only an alcoholic Aussie or someone whose baby has already been eaten by a dingo would want to make this trip anyway. I think this book would probably be enjoyed more by someone who knows they will never have to go there. For Sean's further adventures - in Amsterdam, I recommend 'My 'Dam Life', a destination that you might actually still want to visit after you've read the book.
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Low City High City Tokyo From Edo To the Earthquake 1867 1923
by
Edwar Seidensticker
Ken MacRae
, December 02, 2006
Ho Hum, surely the author could have written a more lively account of the subject. He has divided a short period into three shorter periods and then applied them to the fifteen areas in Tokyo. The repetition is enough to challenge the most interested reader. The writing style is somewhat awkward and reads more like a translation, which is perhaps not surprising as the author has translated a number of Japanese texts and is possibly more competent as a translater than a writer. On the plus side there are 16 p. of colour plates and a number of b+w photos and prints in the text. Suggested for bedtime reading - who can't use the extra sleep?
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Courtly Art Of The Ancient Maya
by
Marry Miller
Ken MacRae
, December 01, 2006
Highly recommended - a nicely laid out and beautifully illustrated catalogue containing interesting, well-written articles (not always the case in this type of publication). Due to the large format, I suggest purchasing a hard cover (rather than soft cover) copy.
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Japan Journals 1947 2004
by
Donald Richie
Ken MacRae
, November 18, 2006
Well, was I surprised! I would have been less surprised if the book was more appropriately titled/subtitled 'A Gay Life in Postwar Japan' - why did none of the reviews mention this rather major theme of the Journals? Yes Richie chronicles his meetings with Kurosawa, Mifune, Mishima... but he describes in much more detail his homosexual affairs which I have absolutely no interest in reading about. Other readers with a similar lack of interest may also choose to skim past these sections and reduce the lengthy journal by several hundred pages. After this it will take some time before I get back to rereading Richie's 'The Inland Sea' - a book that I can recommend.
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My Dam Life Three Years In Holland
by
Sean Condon
Ken MacRae
, November 17, 2006
Ah - a genuinely funny read set in one of my favourite cities, I laughed and chuckled my way from start to finish. Probably not recommended for Type A's, religious fundamentalists and others with a poorly developed sense of humour as the author seems to be something of a well-lubricated slacker.
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Mountains Of The Pharaohs The Untold Sto
by
Zahi Hawass
Ken MacRae
, November 12, 2006
I was very disappointed after reading Mr. Hawass' most recent addition to an already overcrowded subject area. I had imagined that since he has been excavating in the area for the past several decades he may have had something new to add to the literature. Unfortunately that is not the case and we have one more rehash of the basically the same old material in this slim volume.
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