temperature and book reviews
Apr. 6th, 2005 09:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anotheranonWe got sent home early from work today because the air conditioning wasn't working. Yes, boys and girls, I was wearing a sweater Saturday and today all the windows are open and I'm considering shutting them up to run our A/C!
What's been in the stacks:
The View from Nebo - a good overview of Biblical archaeology and how it is used by the Israeli and Palestinian governments to bolster their conflicting claims to land in the Middle East. I found it very telling that the archaeological record seems to indicate that the Biblical Israelites had more in common with their neighbors (Edomites, Moabites, Canaanites) than not, and that evidence doesn't always bear out the Biblical record (no surprises there). Still, I don't think I know enough about recent Israeli/Middle Eastern history to fully appreciate the intensity with which archaeology is used as a political tool. Anyone want to recommend a good primer?
Footsteps of the Cherokee - a brief overview of the history of the eastern band of the Cherokee combined with a complete listing of historic sites in the region. Almost like coming home, because I've been to many of them - nothing to do with my (suspected) Cherokee heritage, but because my grandmother lived near the Great Smoky Mountain national park and the reservation so I visited both many times as a kid. (For the record, the movie "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed in the Smoky Mountains. It's beautiful, cool, and restful - everyone should go. Yes, I'm biased :P)
Seeing Through Clothes long on the list, but only just got it from the library, promises to be an exhaustive analysis of dress and historical ideals of body/beauty.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - heard about it months ago, mentally set it aside because it was a 7 day checkout (no renewal). Now I finally managed to get this behemoth out of the library for the usual 3 weeks and here's hoping multiple hours spent this weekend on planes/in airports will help me make a good dent in it! I'm told it's part J.K. Rowling, Charles Dickens, AND Jane Austen. Hmm...
What's been in the stacks:
The View from Nebo - a good overview of Biblical archaeology and how it is used by the Israeli and Palestinian governments to bolster their conflicting claims to land in the Middle East. I found it very telling that the archaeological record seems to indicate that the Biblical Israelites had more in common with their neighbors (Edomites, Moabites, Canaanites) than not, and that evidence doesn't always bear out the Biblical record (no surprises there). Still, I don't think I know enough about recent Israeli/Middle Eastern history to fully appreciate the intensity with which archaeology is used as a political tool. Anyone want to recommend a good primer?
Footsteps of the Cherokee - a brief overview of the history of the eastern band of the Cherokee combined with a complete listing of historic sites in the region. Almost like coming home, because I've been to many of them - nothing to do with my (suspected) Cherokee heritage, but because my grandmother lived near the Great Smoky Mountain national park and the reservation so I visited both many times as a kid. (For the record, the movie "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed in the Smoky Mountains. It's beautiful, cool, and restful - everyone should go. Yes, I'm biased :P)
Seeing Through Clothes long on the list, but only just got it from the library, promises to be an exhaustive analysis of dress and historical ideals of body/beauty.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - heard about it months ago, mentally set it aside because it was a 7 day checkout (no renewal). Now I finally managed to get this behemoth out of the library for the usual 3 weeks and here's hoping multiple hours spent this weekend on planes/in airports will help me make a good dent in it! I'm told it's part J.K. Rowling, Charles Dickens, AND Jane Austen. Hmm...
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no subject
Date: 2005-04-07 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-07 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-07 04:58 am (UTC)You're...kidding. Yikes. I could probably manage it if I had a week where I didn't have to go to work at all.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-08 02:55 am (UTC)