A book filled with the enthusiasm of discovery, the delight in accomplishment, and the relief of return.
A veteran travel writer pursues an interest from childhood: Noah, the ark, and the landing.
Antonson (To Timbuktu for a Haircut: A Journey through West Africa, 2013, etc.) shows an indefatigable and intrepid spirit in this swift account of his ascent of Mount Ararat and his travels through some of the most dangerous territory in the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran. Throughout the narrative, he cuts away continually to tell about earlier ascents of the mountain that is now in eastern Turkey (he discusses the nearby Armenians’ displeasure with the current border), other efforts to locate the ark (efforts resulting, he says, in much disingenuous reporting of discoveries), the ancient flood narratives that precede the account in Genesis (Gilgamesh, for example), the actual catastrophic flood possibilities in the region and various theories about the design and construction of the ark, and regional politics and horrors (e.g., the Armenian massacre). Rich with maps and photographs and a devotee’s, if not a scholar’s, knowledge, Antonson’s text moves along with an impressive narrative current whose flow accelerates with his inclusion of much dialogue. His successful Ararat ascent concludes about halfway through, and the second half of the book deals with his ensuing travels in the region. His courage and his trust in his fellow human beings must be astonishing, for he repeatedly got into cars with people he barely knew and drove through dark streets of unfamiliar (and sometimes dangerous) places. Somehow, he always managed to arrive (more or less at the intended time) safely at his destination. Only occasionally does he confess anxiety over a certain situation. When he finally landed in London, he writes that he “reentered the worlds of schedules and precision.” Also in the city, he was able to see the ancient “flood tablet” to which he alluded throughout.
A book filled with the enthusiasm of discovery, the delight in accomplishment, and the relief of return.Pub Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5107-0565-4
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Stricter than, say, Bergen Evans or W3 ("disinterested" means impartial — period), Strunk is in the last analysis...
Privately published by Strunk of Cornell in 1918 and revised by his student E. B. White in 1959, that "little book" is back again with more White updatings.
Stricter than, say, Bergen Evans or W3 ("disinterested" means impartial — period), Strunk is in the last analysis (whoops — "A bankrupt expression") a unique guide (which means "without like or equal").Pub Date: May 15, 1972
ISBN: 0205632645
Page Count: 105
Publisher: Macmillan
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1972
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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