The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – Book Review.

View at Medium.com

FOUR STARS

Just begun. I already like the simple writing, not too wordy at all…  

Well I must say that ended abruptly. Regardless that I enjoyed what I read I was surprised it wasn’t a full autobiography, and I can’t lie, it did spoil the experience, a little. Hence 4 stars. 

Benjamin Franklin was an interesting character, who lived in the 1700s when America as we know it, was in it’s infancy and still ruled by Britain. Very enlightening the colonial arrogance of these times.  

Franklin, in my opinion, possessed the right amount of religion, he was tolerant of ALL faiths. He was also a vegetarian and gave great business advice and life tips. Some proper gems that I will actually take on board. Here are his 13 virtues to live by… his personal work-in-progress, something he adopted over time. (archaic spelling included)

1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.

11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Thinking of reading it? Go for it, it won’t take long but the impression it leaves will last a lifetime. 

Stormy

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell – Book Review

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

George Orwell shares his observations about fighting in the Spanish Civil War in the mid 1930s, pre World War II. 

General Franco, Nationalist Chief was supported by Italian Fascist and Nazi Germany. In opposition the Republicans were supported by The Soviet Union and Mexico. The ins and outs of it all is confusing because you have Communists with their own agenda often opposing Marxists who were supposedly on the same side. (or so I gleaned)  

It is a very interesting account that, if you can contain all the information, reveals the foreign influences meddling in Spanish affairs. Personally I’d have to read this twice perhaps three times to fully fix the details in my head. 

Amongst the fighters were Basque, Catalan and Galician nationalists, and Government forces. 

Russian Communists, German Fascists, Anarchists, Socialists, Italian Militiamen, Marxist workers with foreign volunteers from England, France, Ireland, Poland, Canada, and United States also picking sides. I’ve probably left many groups out. 

What I find amazing is that all the propaganda, press suppression, and fake news from the Soviets still goes on today. 

“A modern cathedral, and one of the most hideous buildings in the world.”  (really? I suppose we all have opinions, re Barcelona artistic structure) 

Frowsy (old word discovered) Scruffy and Neglected.

Anyway it was a difficult yet interesting read. If I’ve gotten anything wrong, I do apologise. Four Stars.  

Winter Returns

Please check out my latest book release online: Switzerland Inspired: Haiku and Senryu Poetry.

The Tavern in the Town — Wolverhampton

Mentioned in my 80s UK memoir, Empty Corridors: Learning to Fail. I’m delighted to be included in this piece of Wolverhampton’s social history funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Tavern in the Town was a notorious public house right in the centre of Wolverhampton. The place was so impactful it left a huge impression, so huge I included it in my memoirs. Check out the old photographs of me in the PEOPLE section. Stylish wasn’t what I was aiming for.

https://www.taverninthetown.co.uk/the-people

I made this collage representing the diverse clientele.

Excerpt:

It is dark inside and packed full of customers. Hawkwind’s ‘Silver Machine’ is blasting out of the jukebox speakers and Paul is hit by the strong smell of hash. Perfectly camouflaged in his rocker hand-me-downs and unruly hair, under-aged Paul does not get evicted. The Tavern serves an eclectic array of characters. Predominantly a rocker’s pub, there are many long-haired men and women supping pints of ale. With an aura of menace, mean-faced Hell’s Angels prop up the bar. There are goths, punks and skinheads, a few black guys and two Rastafarians, whose rather slick dreadlocks are adorned with thick gold wedding bands. There is an assortment of drug dealers, a few head-cases, an array of hippies and a smattering of students. But no yuppies, for they will surely raise the hackles of those out for a bit of bother. Up for a ruck, some thugs would beat up the guy next to them just for the fun of it. A careless glance could get you slapped down. The Tavern has a bad reputation and so do its customers. Uncle Toe Toe is notorious.

…I do hope you enjoyed this piece of unpretentious life. The book, Empty Corridors is full of surprises and is an authentic representation of UK social history. Happy Reading.

Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy: Book Review

Review for Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy is the perfect author for those who like myself are reading to learn how to write.

I choose my books by creator. I never read book covers and blurbs. I take what’s available for free and dive right in with no real expectations. If I hear someone is a great writer, an author of considerable renown, I seek them out, hoping to be impressed.

Action-packed, fast-paced stories are a rarity especially in the classics I’ve read. I will happily settle for fleshy descriptive passages and insights into the human psyche. I have a notion that every book I read will leave some kind of trace. Which is not always the case, though with Anna Karenina, it is.

I do have a preference. I enjoy reading of the days before telephones, a time of stagecoaches, post-horses and dodgy medical practices. Although in this story, there most definitely are trains. 🙂

Rather than outline the plot, I’d much rather pick out a few sentences that struck me. But how’d I choose the ripest cherries from a branch so weighty?

This made me smile.

…she might have been taken for nineteen or for thirty. If her features were criticized separately, she was handsome rather than plain, in spite of the sickly hue of her face.

People married in the evening (Learnt something new, a lovely idea too).

He had forgotten, as he always forgot, the pictures he had finished. He did not even like to look at it … . .. .. (like the painter, I can’t bear to look inside the books I’ve written).

Quote: And where love ends, hate begins.

The choices in this brief description reveal just enough opulence:

Everything was new from the new French hangings on the walls to the carpet which covered the whole floor. The bed had a spring mattress, and a special sort of bolster and silk pillowcases on the little pillows. The marble washstand, the dressing table, the little sofa, the tables, the bronze clock on the chimney piece, the window curtains, and the portieres were all new and expensive.

Perceptive:

But by now he had grown used to it. That had happened to him in this matter which is said to happen to drunkards — the first glass sticks in the throat, the second flies down like a hawk, but after the third they’re like tiny little birds.

I find this relatable:

I shall still be as unable to understand with my reason why I pray, and I shall still go on praying;

Tolstoy’s tome, War and Peace is now in my To-Be-Read pile.

FIVE STARS.

Blind Savant

New Release

Haiku and senryu poetry.

Inhale the fresh alpine mountain air, follow a breeze across a field of bowing grasses, close your eyes and listen to the idle clonk of cowbells, the caw of crows and, in the far distance, a farm dog. Slowly exhale and open your eyes to the splendour of Switzerland.

This anthology of over 500 short-form poems evokes images of the natural world. 

A decade of scenes captured by the author. 

The author explains the “rules” which are meant to guide not hinder, and the “tailored” methods he chose to adapt.

Unorthodox, witty and sometimes gritty, there is something for everyone to enjoy whilst being introduced to the often undervalued poetic form that is haiku.

I do hope some of you will check out my new book which can be found on Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, Draft2Digital and various other online book stores.

Lost Touch

Skirting Danger