Missive #400 Published 1 December 2024
Continuing The Federalist Papers.
Federalist No. 35
The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Author: Alexander Hamilton
To the People of the State of New York:
Missive #399 Published 29 November 2024
63. Nasruddin in the Cupboard
During the night, Nasruddin heard robbers ransacking his house, so he quietly crept downstairs and hid in the cupboard. He then listened as the robbers worked their way through the house, cursing and swearing. They were not able to find anything worth stealing, and Nasruddin could tell they were getting more and more angry.Finally, one of the robbers opened the cupboard door and discovered Nasruddin there, cowering in his nightshirt.
“What are you doing in this cupboard?” the robber yelled at him.
“I’m hiding here in shame,” said Nasruddin apologetically, “because there is nothing worth stealing in my house.”
Missive #398 Published 28 November 2024
This was the third book that Dos Passos wrote that is included as #8 in the Mainstream of America Series with all of them being easy reading history. I read his first book in the series which was #5 then read #18 in the series not knowing it was part of it. I like his non fiction much more than his novels.
Missive #397 Published 27 November 2024
Adams was an early pioneer of the post-holocaust novel. His Horseclans novels are precursors to many of today's attempts at this type of story, many of which do not exhibit his painstakingly detailed world view or extraordinary plot follow-through (many of his Horseclans books are so interlinked that they make sense only when read in order; he did not create many "stand alone" books in the series).
Hallmarks of Adams' style include a focus on violent, non-stop action, meticulous detail in matters historical and military, strong description, and digressions expounding on various subjects from a conservative and libertarian.
Missive #396 Published 26 November 2024
It is the autumn of 1367. Master Hugh is enjoying the peaceful life of Bampton, when a badly beaten man is found under the porch of St. Andrew's Chapel. The dying man is a chapman — a traveling merchant. Before he is buried in the chapel grounds an ancient, corroded coin is found in the man's mouth. Master Hugh's quest for the chapman's assailants, and his search for the origin of the coin, makes steady progress – but there are men of wealth and power who wish to halt his search, and an old nemesis, Sir Simon Trillowe, is in league with them.
Missive #395 Published 25 November 2024
Sharpe’s first story as an officer takes him to the daunting fort of Gawilghur. This is also the last of his Indian adventures. Sir Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington) was never at his shining best when he had to lay siege to great fortresses…
Missive #394 Published 24 November 2024
Continuing The Anti-Federalist Papers
Brutus XIV (pt. 2)
by Robert Yates
Missive #393 Published 22 November 2024
62. Nasruddin Was Robbed
Nasruddin and his wife returned home after a long journey to find that robbers had broken into their home and stolen everything.Of course, everyone had their own opinion about what had happened.
“You probably forgot to lock the door!” Nasruddin’s wife exclaimed.
“I told you to put bars on the windows!” said a friend.
“Leaving the house unattended for such a long time is very risky!” observed a neighbor.
Everyone chimed in, and they all blamed Nasruddin.
Finally, Nasruddin couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, “Is there no one here who will put the blame on the actual robbers?”
Missive #392 Published 20 November 2024
The book seemed to have been written to some formula. The plot was barely discernible and the characters appeared to be pale imitations of what they might once have been. I felt it was a sketchy novel, trying to link historical facts with rather weak links. Well-written but not exciting. — Customer review
Missive #391 Published 18 November 2024
A beguiling, surpassingly strange novel by the renowned—and decidedly idiosyncratic—author of Blood Meridian (1982) and The Road (2006).It's all vintage McCarthy, if less bloody than much of his work. I didn't like this book much but will read the companion novel and see if that is an improvement. Saving The Road for the last of his that I will read.