Long Time Expat In Japan
Chance (1995)by Robert B. Parker I continue to read through the Spenser novels in order. Chance is the 23rd in the series. Since the book is almost 30 years old I will spoil with little guilt. I reread the opening prologue just now as I write this. I was somewhat unaware of it as I … Continue reading Book Review – Chance
Thin Air By Robert B. Parker (1995) In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a bit of a Parker fan. I haven't reviewed all his Spenser novels, but I'm working on it. Thin Air is number 22 in the series, if I'm not mistaken. I've enjoyed most, though not all of them. … Continue reading Book Review – Thin Air
Walking Shadowby Robert B. Parker Walking Shadow is the 21st Spenser novel. It is one of the better ones in this middle era for the series. (Note: spoilers) Spenser is in Port City, a fictitious city that's near Boston, but the reader is unclear exactly where. The beginning is a bit atypical for a detective … Continue reading Book Review – Walking Shadow
Paper Dollby Robert B. Parker Paper Doll is the 20th of the Spenser novels. I'm reading them mostly in order. A little while back I wrote about Pastime, which is #22, so I reviewed them slightly out of order. (spoiler alert for a novel written in 1991) The story revolves around Spenser's investigation of the … Continue reading Book Review – Paper Doll
Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (hereafter S2S)by Arthur C. Brooks The title is a mouthful. It was something of a turnoff, to be honest. It reminded me of the self help books that I want no part of. Books that aim to help you squeeze … Continue reading Second Half of Life
Megathreats by Nouriel Roubini Roubini, an economist and professor, is best known for predicting (in 2006) the financial meltdown of 2008. As a result of that prediction, he's been nicknamed, "Dr. Doom." After reading this book, his nickname is well-deserved. Megathreats explores the economic and geopolitical risks and challenges facing the world in the 21st … Continue reading Book Review – Megathreats
Pastime (1993)by Robert B. Parker I'm reading the Spenser novels in order. I skipped reviews on a bunch, but might as well start from here. Paul Giacomin, who you might remember from Early Autumn, needs to find his mother. She’s missing without even a goodbye. If you don’t remember the Early Autumn, that’s okay. It’s … Continue reading Book Review – Pastime
Living in Japan, since 2006, is not nearly as tough as the time I lived here in the 90s. Back then it was hard to keep in touch, both with friends and with culture. I was happy when Amazon came along and made it easier to buy books. I used to have to go to … Continue reading Archive
I just watched It's Kind of a Funny Story, a movie from like ten years ago. I'd never seen it. That's part of living abroad sometimes, you just miss stuff. It was, if you've never seen it, a story about a teenager who is suicidal, but learns to deal with his problems. He learns to … Continue reading Epilogue
I picked up the first of the Dresden Files novels. I’ve never read them, despite their popularity and longevity. I’m enjoying it so far, but that’s not why I’m writing this. I’m writing this because of the villain. I can’t help but imagine him as Donald Trump. Below is the description. His salt-and-pepper hair was … Continue reading Villains
B.S. Donovan 