Saunterer's Journal

Book Reviews #9

2011-05-11T14:17:00.001+02:00

FICTION

East of the Mountains by David Guterson

A story of one man's dealing with mortality in the face of a terminal illness. Planning suicide in order to preempt a more ignominious death, the main character goes on a journey through the verdant landscapes of Pacific Northwest. The epic-sounding title, however, positions his suicide mission within the bigger and delicately suggested narrative of (religious?) hope in the midst of the perceived lack of personal agency. As in his other novels, Guterson's prose is evocative and gentle, conveying both the sense of frailty of the human condition and the indomitable power of the spirit.

NON-FICTION

Wilderness Seasons: Life and Adventure in Canada's North by Ian and Sally Wilson

First published in the '80s, still brimming with freshness and optimism of two city slickers embarking on a journey into the wild. After reading it I had an overpowering wish to erect my own log cabin, make bannock and adopt several different kinds of rodents, among other things. Thoroughly enjoyable, although the Wilsons' reports make seem living in the harsh conditions of Canada's north perhaps a bit too fun.

FICTION

Quaker Indictment by Irene Allen

Another in Allen's series of Quaker-themed crime novels. Elizabeth Elliot, an elderly Quaker with a propensity for encountering gruesome acts of crime in the most unlikely places, solves another mystery thanks to her power of deduction and devout allegiance to Quaker ethics. Sweet.

NON-FICTION

Antigone's Claim by Judith Butler

One of the leading contemporary theorists revisits Sophocles' Antigone and presents her analysis of the complex intersection of gender, kinship, custom and ethics. Not so much a treatise on Antigone per se, the book is a continuation of gender theories introduced in her earlier works. In a nutshell: power structures and norms function only as long as individual human beings consent to them, there is nothing foreordained and cut-in-stone about them. Plus: universal is actually pseudo and the "genuine" is never really genuine.

FICTION

Fisherman's Son by Michael Koepf

Flashbacks from a difficult childhood merge with the present struggle for life. Numerous elements were employed in the skillful weaving of this story: portrayal of economic hardships, racial tensions, coming-of-age process, paternal absenteeism... There's a touch of certain gender stereotyping in presenting male characters (fathers, more specifically) as grand, stoic figures who withstand it all. Still, a good read.

Two books of yearning and desire

2009-10-29T13:31:00.015+01:00

I have never read or seen any of Hal Porter's plays. Even on Amazon they seem difficult to find. Were it not for his 1977 autobiography "The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony" that had accidentally come my way, I wouldn't even be familiar with the name. Australia is a land far away, and its mid-20th century literature seems even more nebulous.

I can't say whether Porter's works were emblematic of Australian fiction of the time, nor whether his growing up, as he described it, was in any way typical to that of other young Aussie males in the period between the two World Wars (Porter was born in 1911, died in 1984). However, his personal narrative did question some preconceived notions of Australia that I used to have, casting a different light on its Commonwealth cultural baggage, racial injustices that scar the land to this day, and the myth of its rugged machismo. It was very refreshing to read a first-hand account that seemed to have no motive other than to truthfully witness to an era, its people and social mores, from describing odd dining rituals in a lower-middle class family to writing about various unmentionable things that hot-blooded young men feel compelled to do among themselves. Autobiography though it was, it felt like a thorough, well-illustrated lesson in social psychology and cultural history.

Emboldened by "The Watcher", I started reading another autobiography, namely Hillary Rodham Clinton's "Living History". These are two very different books to say the least, and not only in the most obvious sense - Porter being a prolific writer and wordsmith, and Clinton a lawyer with a successful political career - circumstances conducive to two dissimilar literary styles. But it's deeper than that.

Porter's life was one of lustful experimentation and unpremeditated life-altering decisions, bohemian as it were (as a side note, I wonder whether this is/was also something of a cultural attitude). Clinton's, the way she writes about herself, has been quite the opposite, with a single focus on public prominence and success in the political arena. Her writing tends to be much more factual: true to its title, it is a history book, albeit personal. We learn who said what to whom on a particular date, what diner she and her colleagues went to after a specific event... Lying behind all these facts and details (sometimes a bit dull to read through) is the singular drive toward political success and the power it affords, plus the nobility of her objectives in the grand scheme of things. On her linear path to public office, plans do get changed, life does get in the way here and there, but not for long; sooner rather than later she's back on track. Written at the height of her pre-Obama career (the book was published in April 2004), one can be left with the impression that this is political campaign material; memoirs of prominent politicians often are.

Hal Porter's deep insights and reminiscences were a joy to read. Hillary Rodham Clinton's memoirs were perhaps not as rewarding in a literary sense, but did manage to drive the intended message home. Both books are a testimony to a zest for living and self-realization.

On why I love Leviticus

2009-03-09T23:09:00.005+01:00

I recently had an email exchange with a friend over the Book of Leviticus. He suggested I should post some extracts from my email here. Thanks for your comments, Ken.

You wondered why I consider Leviticus one my favorite books of the Bible. Couple of reasons. I am still a historian at heart and I find Leviticus extremely rich in historical data on the Jewish society of the period, their fears, frustrations, attitudes to physical and mental purity, understanding of expiation, attitude towards different classes within the society, etc. Much of what we know about the Greek society has also been extracted from its laws preserved on stone monuments. It can be quite tedious to read legal documents, ancient or modern for that matter, but I have come to appreciate them for the abundance of details they provide on the inner workings of a system. I don't come from a fundamentalist background, so I have personally never experienced cultural conditioning that would attempt to implement OT legal strictures today. I feel free to read Leviticus as it is. And when actually placed in its proper context of mid-1st millennium BCE Mediterranean, it is quite progressive in comparison with the legislation found elsewhere in the region.

[Leviticus] is a collection of ancient documents that cannot (and, really, does not need to) compete with modern science or withstand its scrutiny. Fundamentalist religion does need to do these things, but that's a self-imposed race against both time and common sense. I see the Bible standing as a silent witness to their folly. The Bible actually does make sense when read contextually, and the more seemingly tedious or backward a text is, the more sensible and meaningful it becomes when put in its historical and social context. In that sense, Leviticus is firmly grounded in a particular time period and gives a vivid portrayal of the people, whereas some other books or narratives within them do not. The creation narratives, a lot of the Psalms, Job and some others are timeless and universal. Leviticus, being a legal code, is very specific and grounded in time. While it may not have the poetic beauty of some of the other texts, it is still invaluable.

Bible meet correction tape dispenser

2008-12-20T13:29:00.015+01:00

Couple of days ago I finished my grand project of 2008. I can now say that I have actually read the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. It was a great quest, one that leaves you with even more questions than you had initially. (I took that as a good sign.)

Apart from having a better grasp of the Bible, the most important lesson I have learned is that very often translators cannot be trusted. Being a translator myself the notion hardly surprised me: innocent mistakes are made and personal judgment is not always right. But for some reason I expected the Bible translators to subscribe to particularly high standards, unattainable to us mere mortals, the Bible being sacred writ and all. For instance, one would normally not expect to find bits and pieces deliberately mistranslated for the purpose of turning the Bible into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars. Right?

I started with this project in the spring and for that purpose I had bought the lovely designed English Standard Version (ESV) Journaling Bible. I have blogged about this edition earlier, uncritically and with some naivete. I still love it for its extra wide margins for personal journal entries and, more importantly, for the way it reads. Anyone used to the language of the Revised Standard Version or its celebrated ancestor, the King James Version, is likely to be happy with the ESV. Others might complain that its English sounds a bit unnatural and awkward. However, that is a matter of personal taste resulting from being steeped into a particular tradition.

But then came the famous "clobber passages" and the infamous insertion of words, phrases and concepts that simply are not there in the original languages, not unlike the interpretations found in other, socially conservative translations. Basically, depending on where they (or, rather, their financiers) stand, translators will resort to pretty much anything to prove their political point. Although, I am not being fair to real translators. People behind the ESV were involved in an adaptation, not the translation. Besides, most of them are not known to be linguists of experts in Hebrew or Greek to begin with. It does say that it is merely an adaptation in the book itself, in the proverbial small print that I initially failed to notice, where it is stated that the text of the ESV is adapted from the Revised Standard Version, an earlier translation considered too liberal by some and now made new and improved for the conservative evangelical audience, carrying its predictable baggage.

The realization made me angry at first. I even entertained the thought of getting rid of the ESV altogether and starting afresh with a different and more reliable version. But I persevered, because at some point the editors' biased choice of words began to matter hardly at all. The Book and I have had months and months of shared experiences behind us. I read from it every morning before going to work and every night before going to bed. I had it with me on my journeys, I continue to write notes and comments on its carefully studied pages... When I turn to, say, Nehemiah chapter 5 I instantly get the image of a crisp early morning at the seaside where I first read from the prophet. It is too late now: there are factors of shared history and emotional attachment involved. It has become mine.

After a while I figured out how to live with its shortcomings: by liberating it from its re-writers' political agenda with a little help from the texts in the original languages and a humble correction tape dispenser. I am absolutely positive that my intention is by no means more blasphemous (if at all) than the numerous textual interventions done by the "translators." Besides, the letter killeth and the spirit giveth life.

Quarterly Book Reviews #8

2008-11-21T16:34:00.011+01:00

FICTION
Peace Like A River by Leif Enger

A perfect book for those chilly late autumn evenings. This book is a wonderful story of faith, hope and opportunities for mercy in the midst of family tragedy. I seldom make notes in books I read, but while reading this one I had to have a pencil and post-it flags at hand. One of my favorite sentences: "...exile is a country of shifting borders, hard to quit yet hard to endure, no matter how wide your shoulders, no matter your toughened heart." Enger is now officially one of my all-time favorite authors.

RELIGION
The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan

Walk with God can be, and often is, a troubling affair. Prayers go unanswered, the whole world seems to conspire against you, there are dangers and difficulties regardless of one's piety and devotion. Buchanan writes about experiencing God in the midst of hardship and heartache, explaining that the God of Judeo-Christianity is both unpredictable and dangerous on one hand, loving and faithful on the other. For those struggling with the eternal question of why would a good God allow bad things to happen, this book may provide some insights.

RELIGION
The Pietists, edited by Emilie Griffin and Peter C. Erb

Does the name Jacob Spener sound familiar? August Hermann Francke? Johann Anastasius Freylingausen? Probably not, yet those are some of the leading people of an influential spiritual movement of the 17th and 18th century Christianity, known today as Pietism. It's surprising how little we know of them today. Placing emphasis on one's personal relationship with God, they heavily influenced Wesley and the nascent Methodist movement. They seem to be the first ones who came up with the idea of Bible study groups. This collection serves as a reminder on the origins of some of the beliefs and practices that contemporary Christianity takes for granted, but which were quite revolutionary at the time.

BIOGRAPHY
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Chris McCandless had a burning wish to abandon a life of materialism, meaningless college diplomas and dehumanizing 9-5 jobs. The wish became a journey of a lifetime that ultimately led him to Alaskan wilderness where he tragically died. Krakauer has done a superb job investigating McCandless' enigmatic personality and narrating his heartbreaking story. Makes you question your ideals and how far you're ready to go in pursuit of happiness. Inspirational and cautionary.

Pyrrhic victory

2008-11-13T10:55:00.012+01:00

The leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) thought that their support for Proposition 8 in California would consolidate the Church's moral teaching and that by fighting alongside conservative Catholics and fundamentalist Evangelicals they would come a few steps closer to the desired ideal of being perceived as a mainstream Christian denomination.

What happened instead was that quite a few devout Mormons came out strongly in defense of a Mormon principle spelled out in one of the standard works of the Church: "We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government." Moreover, the Church is now under spotlight for the way it has been treating sexual minorities throughout its 20th century history, from aversion therapy (with electric shocks and all) to excommunications to Prop 8. They did not see the backlash coming in these latter days.

For more information and relevant up-to-date resources, have a look at Signing for Something, Mormons for Marriage and Seeking Forgiveness.

Carbon Calculator

2008-08-29T13:52:00.003+02:00

PETA has recently launched a new carbon calculator that projects how many animals and how much CO2 you will save during your lifetime based on your age and diet (apparently, 12880 animals will live thanks to me!). You can try it here.

Vacation

2008-08-24T19:24:00.034+02:00

It wasn't easy to pick these few from among 300+, but let's say they are a fair representation of what I would see on a typical July/August day during my vacation on the Adriatic coast.

This one was day 1 in Karin. I blogged about the place this time last year, so read through that post, too.

Here's the story behind the picture: I've had another sleepless night (maybe due to centipedes in my room, real or imagined, or the hot weather, or that late cup of coffee) and decided to get up around 5am. It's 6.15 and the sun is rising behind the hill opposite our summer house. I'm likely plowing through my Bible, continuing with my read-the-Bible-in-a-year project.

And here I am actually doing it on the terrace; the Good Book, coffee, post-it pen and all.

Another early morning pic. The small island in the middle will disappear in less than half an hour due to a rising tide. Next morning it'll be there again, each time shaped differently.

The beach near our house is largely empty until about 10am. People still tend to go swimming and sunbathing at the hours when they really shouldn't be out in the sun. As for me, having the beach all to myself is one of the perks of being an early riser.

The place lovingly referred to as "the mud." It's supposed to have healing properties, but only if you apply it to your body following very strict and ancient rules (possibly made up by my mom). Without being ethnically prejudicial, you really can tell a German tourist by how deep they're willing to sink in. There's a Franciscan convent in the background...

... and much prettier scenery to the right: Mt Velebit, with Alan, one of the highest mountain peaks in Croatia. Any afternoon spent on that beach is pure serenity.

I was worried about these guys for the first couple of days, as I couldn't spot a single one. It turned out they had migrated about half a mile northward, toward the confluence of the Karisnica river. I know they are nothing much to look at, but they're the true natives there and one has to respect that. And if you've read that blog post of a year ago, you'd know how much I like them.

A fairly typical sunset.

At the spring of Karisnica. There's not much water at this time of year, though. Lovely old stone mills on the way there. Moving on...

My family, catching some breath from sightseeing (and shopping); visiting relatives on the island of Hvar.

More of Hvar; the central square with the Cathedral.

Typical architecture of Stari grad on the same island.

I do love shopping and Plodine is my favourite Croatian supermarket chain. The new store in Benkovac.

Back in Karin; the medieval Franciscan convent, completely destroyed in the civil conflict of the 1991-95, recently rebuilt according to the original architectural plans.

One of two phallic structures conveniently placed at the convent's entrance; originally erected by an Illyrian tribe living in these parts about 2,000 years ago.

In the city of Zadar.

I've already posted more pictures than I originally intended, so this is it. I might post some more on Facebook soon.

Six miles a Sunday

2008-08-24T17:55:00.008+02:00

Having got used to spending all those calories at the seaside over the previous month, I had to think of something new to do back home. I hate team sports, running and/or jogging scare me as I think I'm on the verge of a heart attack each time I jog for more than sixty seconds... So I took up walking! I thought, could anything possibly be more unassuming than that?

Actually, try googling "walking" and you'll soon be overwhelmed with all the resources available online on what kind of shoes you're supposed to wear, how fast you should walk, what is the ideal arm movement, what to eat and drink before, during and after your walking session... Most of these tips are just plain common sense. Take this one for example, found on About.com's Walking section: Your eyes should focus on the street or track 10 - 20 feet ahead. You'll avoid doggy doo-doo, find cracks in the sidewalk, spot potential muggers, and still collect the occasional coin.

What I decided to do was simply walk as much as I can, whenever I can. This newly established routine is, for one, definitely changing how I see the neighbourhood and the city I live in. There's more attention to detail, in that I now notice so many things that were previously just blurs, semi consciously perceived from the public transport I normally using. A thirty-minute bus ride to church on a Sunday morning has transformed into a wonderful 90-minute, 6-mile walk through parts of the city I had previously rarely ventured into. Now it's turned into a pilgrimage of sorts.

And, of course, there's Thoreau and his sauntering in Concord (this is a saunterer's journal, after all!). Even though my walking gear is probably all wrong, as well as my posture and my eating habits, I think he would have approved.

Spring!

2008-04-29T09:09:00.013+02:00

The long-awaited spring break has finally begun! Having spent most of the weekend doing shopping and decluttering, yesterday I went to Fruska gora National Park in central Vojvodina (Serbia's northern province), and spent a lovely day hiking, playing badminton and visiting churches and monasteries along the trail and around the idyllic town of Sremski Karlovci.

While plenty more pics can be found on my Facebook profile, here are just a few to acknowledge the arrival of spring and green this place up a bit.

On Balaam's donkey and untrodden paths

2008-04-08T11:17:00.008+02:00

About a month ago I decided to read the entire Bible from page 1. I've always thought I knew my Bible well, but the fascinating thing about it is that no matter how many times you've read a certain chapter or a passage, there will always be something new there that you somehow failed to register before. Such a feat was an excellent excuse for shopping, so I got myself a new Bible, the handsomely designed ESV Journaling version (and it's a good translation, too!) and a pack of highlighters, just in case.

What I've found so far is that reading its books in their entirety gives a whole different feel to it. By doing so, you can't just cherry pick your favourite passages and dwell in their safety. There's plenty more to see and hear on the less familiar, untrodden sections of the path, scenes both wonderful and gruesome.

One story that I don't think I had ever come across before is the one on Balaam's donkey and the angel, found in the Book of Numbers (22:22-35). In it, rather uncharacteristically for the Bible, animals have unhindered communication with both men and angels. The donkey argues and reasons with Balaam and unlike him, has the ability to see celestial beings. I found that quite an extraordinary story. I'm sure I've never heard or read anything similar in church teachings or other Bible passages. It certainly made me wonder what is it that my cat stares at every once in a while, all focused on a seeming presence in the room that I fail to perceive with any of my senses.

One more thing I got out from all this: I went jogging last Friday afternoon. It was such a miserable day, cold, foggy, drizzly... Actually, I loved it, it was perfect for jogging (and very much in line with my state of mind at the time). I was running a very familiar and safe route, when suddenly something made me abandon it and continue on a narrow path leading away from the concrete and the urban hustle and bustle. It was a semi-conscious decision, but I was so glad I made it. It was so good to feel the grass under my feet, touch the trees in passing as I ran by them, and come home all muddy.

How biblical of me not do to the predictable thing for once.

Quarterly Book Reviews #7

2008-04-05T22:08:00.012+02:00

RELIGION
Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey
It's one of those books I never thought I'd read. Yancey is an evangelical, while I'm... Let's say, of slightly different persuasion. Anyway, my preconception was that pretty much all evangelical authors are Bible-thumping fundamentalists preaching the gospel of fire and brimstone. And I was quite wary of Yancey in particular, given his prominent status among the religious conservatives. Somebody left a copy of this book in my church library couple of months ago and I'm so glad I eventually gave it a chance. Fundamentalist or not, I found Yancey a caring, sensitive and compassionate author. As I was reading the book, it felt like I was being listened to by him, rather than the other way around. Peculiar and rare quality. One thing that needs to be said: people looking for simple and straightforward answers won't find them in this book (which is only a plus).

FICTION
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Set in a remote corner of Canadian icy-cold wilderness, it was a nice distraction from yet another bland Belgrade winter. It is somewhat difficult to define its genre, as there's a bit of everything thrown in there: history, romance, crime, mystery, even an anachronistic coming-out narrative that seems very late 20th-century for a novel set in the 1800s. Still, it all holds quite well together.

FICTION
Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood
Speaking of Canada, here's another piece of literary Canadiana, and also another book defying usual genre classification. It can be seen as a collection of short stories, or as a novel consisting of rather loosely connected chapters (I have to admit that it was only once I was halfway through the book that I realised it's the same character she's writing about). Either way, it really is Atwood at her very finest as it says on the cover. It restored my faith in her after a brief period of post-Oryx and Crake disillusionment. Here Atwood leads us through a life of a Canadian woman and walks us through feelings of abandonment and estrangement, but also of love, endurance and strength, feelings we can all relate to, male or female, Canadian or otherwise.

RELIGION
Mere Christianity by C S Lewis
I've got mixed feelings about it. On one hand, yes, the book is a spiritual classic, and it's immediately clear why it's been so widely read for decades. Lewis is a persuasive author whose intelligence and intellectual prowess ooze from every page of the book. The chapters were originally given on the air, broadcast by the BBC during WW2 and thus reflect some of the ethos and ideology of the period, which makes it seem somewhat awkward at times, even antiquated. Readers who love this book will say that it powerfully presents the very essence of the Christian faith. Those less enthusiastic will complain that the apparent simplicity has more to do with Lewis' Spartan-like spiritual militarism and his draconian, take-it-or-leave-it approach to Christianity. Reading the book, I got a mental picture of Lewis as a bossy and difficult man to deal with.

POETRY
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T S Eliot
Nobody reads poetry any more. Well, I've been reading some - to my cat. And is there a better book of poems to read to one's cat than this slim volume of T S Eliot's delightful little odes to these wonderful creatures? I think not.

Belief-O-Matic

2008-01-27T14:02:00.001+01:00

This is one of my favorite personality quizzes. I take it every once in while, just to see the latest developments in my religious views.

Basically, you get to answer about 20 questions about various religious and social issues, and the software comes up with a sort of compatibility list, how well your views match with the teachings and precepts of 27 religious denominations.

What I've just realized is that my spirituality is not as chaotic as I tend to think. Each time I take the test, the same four or five faiths appear among the top five. And the first two hardly come as a surprise to me:

1.	Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)
2.	Liberal Quakers (79%)
3.	Bahá'í Faith (75%)
4.	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (74%)
5.	Unitarian Universalism (72%)
6.	Reform Judaism (69%)
7.	Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (63%)
8.	Jehovah's Witness (62%)
9.	Orthodox Quaker (59%)
10.	Neo-Pagan (57%)
11.	Orthodox Judaism (56%)
12.	Sikhism (55%)
13.	Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (54%)
14.	New Age (53%)
15.	Mahayana Buddhism (50%)
16.	Theravada Buddhism (48%)
17.	New Thought (48%)
18.	Eastern Orthodox (46%)
19.	Roman Catholic (46%)
20.	Seventh Day Adventist (45%)
21.	Secular Humanism (44%)
22.	Islam (41%)
23.	Jainism (41%)
24.	Scientology (40%)
25.	Hinduism (39%)
26.	Taoism (34%)
27.	Nontheist (21%)

You can take the quiz at the Beliefnet website.

Freedom of religion in Serbia

2008-01-18T19:53:00.000+01:00

I think it's time to vote these bozos out of office, ASAP.

18 January 2008
SERBIA: LEGAL STATUS POSSIBLE "IN 450-500 YEARS"?
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1072

Serbia continues to deny legal status to religious minority communities
for reasons - if they are given - which are not found in the Religion Law,
Forum 18 News Service has found. The principal person responsible appears
to be former Religion Minister Milan Radulovic, who is now an adviser in
the Ministry. He refuses some registration applications if the community:
refuses to unite with similar communities; is an Orthodox church which is
not viewed as part of the Serbian Orthodox Church; is not monotheist; does
not have a headquarters in another country; or is seen as non-traditional
or philosophical. Speaking to Forum 18, Radulovic has repeatedly said that
communities "who are not monotheistic cannot be registered." Radulovic also
said that "some of these groups might become part of the structure in
450-500 years when they pass historical tests." Current Religion Minister
Radomir Naumov appears to be content to let Radulovic make the decisions.

Quarterly Book Reviews #6

2007-12-31T10:38:00.001+01:00

MEN'S STUDIES
A Quiet Strength: Meditations on the Masculine Soul by Wayne Kritsberg, John Lee, and Shephard Bliss

Written by three veterans of the men's movement, this wonderful book contains daily readings and meditations on a variety of issues, including recovery, personal growth, relationships and environmental concerns. A brief quotation from the masters of world literature, philosophy or religion is followed by nicely written commentaries and inspirational messages. Written at the time when men's mythopoetic movement was at its highest, it's still a great resource.

FICTION
The Reconstructionist by Josephine Hart

Beautifully written tale of coping with one's dysfunctional family and personal history, real and fabricated - and why we all fall prey to coming up with personal history narrative(s) in the first place. Simple language, great style. Two thumbs up!

RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY
The Eternal Promise by Thomas Kelly

Better known for his Quaker classic "A Testament of Devotion", Thomas Kelly's essays in this small but powerful volume include such gems as "Christians and Decided Christians", "Hasten unto God" and "The Gathered Meeting." Appealing to Quakers and non-Quakers alike, his essays are a great introduction to the rich world of Friends' spirituality.

FICTION
The Remorseful Day by Colin Dexter

I enjoyed reading this final Inspector Morse novel. However, I found the author's language and style a bit tedious and patronizing at times (only Dexter could come up with expressions such as vespertinal divertissments or transmensal exchanges). Also, the characters seem somewhat underdeveloped. Page turner it is, but that's just about all it is.

FICTION
The Crow Road by Iain Banks

Absolutely brilliant, pleasure to read! Contemporary Scottish lit at its best. It's one of those books you'd wish to just go on and on, without ever coming to an end. It was only recently that I read somewhere that the BBC Scotland turned it into a mini series back in the mid-90s to much acclaim. Would be worth watching.

FICTION
Fear and Trembling by Amelie Nothomb

Having never read any of Ms Nothomb's books before, I bought this book at a Christmas sale in one of the local bookstores led by nothing more than a positive review from O: The Oprah Magazine at the back cover. It turned out to be one the best books I've read in '07. It's been a while since a book made me laugh quite so hard. Funny and nightmarish at almost the same time, this slender volume describes working atmosphere in a Japanese corporation and a Westerner's coping with modern yet ancient Japanese social mores. Thanks for the tip, Oprah!

On the Stygian ferry

2007-12-31T08:51:00.000+01:00

I know, it's a bit morbid to reflect on the good and the great who died in 2007 on the New Year's Eve of all days, but there you go. For other relevant deaths, there's the fine Dead People Server website.

Speaking of death & dying, I've always believed that when mourning we actually feel sorry for ourselves as other people's deaths only bring greater awareness of our own imminent passing. Very selfish exercise, when you come to think of it, but it must have some redeeming quality.

Kurt Vonnegut (b. 1922), writer

Mstislav Rostropovich (b. 1927), cellist & conductor

Tammy Faye (b. 1942), televangelist

Ingmar Bergman (b. 1918), director

Benazir Bhutto (b. 1953), politician

Spam as postmodern cult lit?

2007-12-30T15:06:00.000+01:00

Most people simply delete spam messages like the one below without ever reading them. And yet, with their elaborate plots involving international crime, human trafficking, political oppression and a host of other problems in various nondescript third world countries, they have approached the status of a literary genre of sorts.

I can't stop wondering, who comes up with these emails? Where do these people draw inspiration from? Action movies, whodunits, international news, real life? Do they honestly expect anyone in their right mind to follow through their instructions, involving money transfer and travelling to the far reaches of the world? Has anyone ever bought into that?

One can understand the logic behind those brief emails promising instant relief from insomnia, depression or erectile dysfunction, but this sort of spam is too sophisticated and elaborate for something that makes no sense at all. There's got to be more to it.

My dear, I am miss Angela from Asmara, Eritrea, single and 21 years old. After accessing your details in the internet i copied out only your email address. Immediately after going through your information i made up my mind to contact you for long term relationship, because you are my choice of trust and i see nothing wrong with the choice that i have made in you. Now that i am in a state of absolute confusion I must let you know that my daddy was the Financial controler to the Common Wealth North African Region.

About my parents; My mummy died in labour when she was giving birth to a baby in the hospital in Asmara, and both my mummy and the baby died together, then i was only 11 years of age. My daddy died in a car accident and the car driver that jamed my daddy's car ran away and my daddy's lawyer and my daddy's brother are among the suspects, and they are all against me because of my daddy's properties in Eritrea.The following information is my purpose of choosing you. Before my daddy died he made me the beneficiary of the amount of 14.5 Million gbp£ in his account with citi bank in oxford street, London, i have the bank certificate of account in my travelling bag in this prison. on my way travelling to London, England i arrived this Dakar city on transit, on the same night i arrived Dakar i was attacked by 2 big boys in my guest house (hotel) room, they robbed me, collected my hand bag that contained all my travelling money (390,200$) and travelling documents, as if that was not enough, they tried to rape me so i collected the nearest object in the room and hited one of them on the head and screamed to the hearing of the neighbouring compounds and people came out and descended on the criminals, the next morning the police came to the guest house and arrested me, since then i have been kept under awaiting trial here in this central prison of Dakar because the criminal i heated got paralyzed as a result of the severe beating given to him by the neighborhood.

I am among the girls newly appointed to head the girls sector in this prison, hence i have the advantage to use the prison computer to communicate with you, and i will be very glad to also have a detailed information about you. From here i communicated with citi bank and they said that because of the written agreement that my daddy signed with them that i must be present in their bank to withdraw the money by myself OR that i should ask my foreign partner to claim and receive the money on my behalf, but the problem is that i dont have a foreign partner, so i want you to be my foreign partner and also be my financial and investment manager. i know that i am taking a big risk but there is nothing else i can do than to trust someone and to trust someone is by choice and you are my choice of trust. I want to know what is your name and your present occupation and your house address.

The money is my only hope in life. as soon as citi bank send the money to you, you will use some of the money to get me a Dakar lawyer/s to fight for my case and get me out of here, then the same week of my release you will fly down here in Dakar City and i and you will depart to your home in your country together.

Reply me only on email ONLY.
I am waiting for your reply
Miss Angela Kennedy

First snow in Belgrade

2007-11-17T07:03:00.000+01:00

I woke up at 5.30 this morning, with a sore throat and a head manically producing lists of things that need to be dealt with over the weekend.

The cat is ill again and needs to be taken to the vet, pronto; my students' test books and homework are waiting on the desk and need to be marked by Monday morning; it's grandpa's birthday on Sunday - I need to think of something more creative for a present than yet another pair of socks; a dear childhood friend from my hometown in Croatia found me on Facebook and emailed me last weekend, and I haven't had any time to write her back; I've got two hours of Latin & Greek to teach from 2 pm, and I haven't prepared anything in advance...

The cacophony went on and on like that for what seemed like half an hour, but it turned out to be no longer than a minute or two. Time seems to run at a different pace when you're in that semi-awake state in the wee hours of the morning.

All of a sudden the mental clatter disappeared as I realised that the trees outside are covered with a thick layer of snow. Instantly I felt like a child with no worries on his mind. Hey, it's snowing! What could possibly be more relevant or important than that?

Peanuts

2007-11-16T22:30:00.000+01:00

Since I've blogged about the Simpson's Mennonite background, it's only fair to report on Peanuts' Mormon connection.

It all started with a debate over a recently published biography of Charles M. Schulz (Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography), the creator of Peanuts, in which he was apparently portrayed as a cold, depressed and melancholy person. Contrary to otherwise positive reviews the book got, Charles' son Monte called it "stupid" and its author, David Michaelis, "an idiot".

But it was Schulz' daughter Amy's recent post on the same website that I found interesting. In it she describes how her father, a Bible-believing Church of God member, responded to her conversion to Mormonism. It's a different take on Schulz' personality and character, one too intimate and first-hand to be found in any of the biographies.

In any case, it's an interesting piece of trivia for any Charles M. Schulz fans out there.

Belgrade Book Fair

2007-11-01T23:39:00.000+01:00

This is the cultural event in Belgrade that I love to hate, generating more pet peeves than any single other one.

It never fails to turn into an ordeal. First off, it's too crowded and there are way too many stalls. Naturally, you don't want to miss anything, because it's such a huge and important event and all, so you elbow your way to literary delights until you're dehydrated, dizzy, with a massive headache and too many bags to carry around. Rather like last-minute Christmas shopping.

On the other hand, I love it because I always find great stuff there. This year I went with a list of desiderata with Iain Banks and Margaret Atwood among the top five (thanks for the tip, Dragana!). Not that they're difficult to find in local bookshops, but the discounts were really amazing. I got home with a supply of books that is bound to last until spring.

One thing I was really sorry about was not saying hello to one of my favourite authors, Croatian novelist Miljenko Jergovic. I kept bumping into him all the time (I hope he didn't think I was stalking him!). It was only days after I finished reading his Mama Leone. The book really touched me; excellent piece of writing. I'm certain to blog about it in the next instalment of my book reviews some time in December. I hope he'll be at the Fair next year.

There was one notable change that I feel I should mention: the removal of most of the fast food kiosks from the grounds. No as much smoke from all the kebabs and burgers... Although I'm left wondering whether it's a case of a new cultural policy or perhaps of giving monopoly on feeding the starved masses of Serbian bookworms to that one lone strategically positioned burger joint.

P.S. And the Zen award goes to the British Council for their quite unusual presence. They went minimalist this year, with nothing but a tiny information desk in the middle of a large and totally empty space. Go figure.

The dread of giving presentations

2007-10-26T10:01:00.001+02:00

I'm doing a presentation on blogging in English language teaching tomorrow morning.

The last time I did a presentation on anything was back in high school when I shared my long-forgotten passion for the German art scene of the 1920s in a History of Art class. Seems so long ago.

An important note for the Saturday morning crowd (who will be inspecting Saunterer's as a case in point): please answer the poll question found at the bottom of the right sidebar with brutal honesty. No sugar coatin'. And if the poll doesn't work (there were some problems earlier today), please post a brief comment. Thanks!

P.S. This brings back memory: Otto Dix, Meine Eltern. Just look at those hands...

Saluton!

2007-10-03T09:26:00.000+02:00

As if I didn't have too much on my plate already, I took up learning Esperanto. By learning I mean doing online exercises powered by Lernu!, the leading free Esperanto website. That and downloading mp3 audios for the listen-and-repeat tasks.

It's weird and it definitely sounds funny, but it doesn't strike me as easy as people generally assume. Which is why I'm wondering why would anyone put so much time and effort into learning an artificial language, when there are easy to learn natural languages like Spanish, with far more speakers than Esperanto? Not to mention cultural background, literature etc.

I guess it's about the idea of having one common language for all of humanity, not any one national language with its baggage and issues of cultural imperialism, but a politically, nationally and culturally neutral one that everyone could claim as their own, simply on account of being able to learn its vocabulary and syntax. No strings attached.

But Esperanto, too, has its share of ideological baggage. Most of its vocabulary is taken from Romance and Germanic languages, which makes it immediately understandable, but also very eurocentric. Also, it seems to be prospering in countries like China and Iran, where it's used for ideological and propaganda purposes. There are also various Esperanto offshoots, new artificial languages relentlessly competing with each other in an atmosphere that could be described as sectarian.

As far as I'm concerned, it's all part of the fun, language itself and all the bickering about it. And if the worst thing that could happen to me is meeting a Chinese communist Esperanto enthusiast, I think I'll survive.

Mother Teresa's 18.250 dark nights of the soul

2007-09-15T17:52:00.000+02:00

A new book of Mother Teresa's letters continues to cause a stir in the world of religion. It has now come to light that the saintly woman had spent most of her life doubting the very existence of God.

It seems that this piece of information won't have much influence on the ongoing process of her canonization, although she is not likely to be officially made a saint as soon as it was initially thought. The Vatican commission in charge is apparently having trouble finding any solid evidence for a miracle that happened through her intercession, one among a number of requirements.

She is by no means the only Catholic saint (or saint-to-be) famous for her doubt and struggle with faith. Among more popular ones is a medieval mystic St John of the Cross. Some already make comparisons between Mother Teresa's collection of letters and St John's "Dark Night of the Soul."

Seems like a timely piece of work for this day and age.

More on this: an editorial from Mennonite Weekly Review and an excellent On Point (NPR) podcast.

Oops, they did it again

2007-09-15T15:44:00.000+02:00

What's with the Roman Catholic Church in Europe and its nostalgia for the 1930s? The latest episode: Cardinal Meisner's Nazi rhetoric takes Germany down the memory lane. More here.

Quarterly Book Reviews #5

2007-09-06T21:38:00.000+02:00

Temperature in Belgrade has suddenly dropped almost twenty degrees. I didn't expect to be wearing my winter woolies at the beginning of September, but autumn being my favourite season, I'm hardly complaining. The unexpected change in the weather also came as a signal for me to sit down and make the seasonal inventory of the books I read during summer.

FICTION
The Royal Physician's Visit by Per Olov Enquist

Struggle for absolute power and economic reforms in the twilight of feudalism, intertwined with Pietism, revolutionary French rationalism and the constant wrestling between self-restraint and unfettered sexuality, all on the court of the mad King Christian VII of Denmark.

Not having any knowledge of Swedish, apart from a personal appreciation for that great Swedish word smörgåsbord, I read Enquist in Tiina Nunnally's excellent English translation.

Great novel, a real page turner.

RELIGION/HISTORY
Portrait in Grey: A Short History of the Quakers by John Punshon

There is only a handful of books I've had the desire or patience to read more than once. This is one of them.

It is my favourite of all the Quaker histories I've read so far, primarily due to the author's ability to provide insight into complex historical processes and ideological influences that shaped the Society of Friends, from its wild 17th century beginnings to what it is today (i.e. the exact opposite to wild), all that in a very clear and concise way.

FICTION
Due Preparations for the Plague by Janette Turner Hospital

I am not into this sort of books normally, airplanes hijacked, hostages taken, survivors questioning their government's involvement... Anxiety, paranoia and claustrophobia easily transfer from characters to the reader. I couldn't put it down, and when I eventually finished reading it, it was with an uneasy sense of relief.

Very post-9/11.

FICTION
Grasshopper by Barbara Vine

Being a recent convert to Barbara Vine's novels, I'm still quite enthusiastic about her storytelling. Macabre, full of twists and turns, albeit somewhat repetitive, it was just the right combination of anguish, personal tragedy and psychopathy, as any Barbara Vine novel ought to be.

Probably not her best, but still thoroughly enjoyable.

The Simpsons' Mennonite roots

2007-09-05T10:37:00.000+02:00

Who would have thought? Illuminating article from the Mennonite Weekly Review can be found here.

Tides and ebbs

2007-08-11T08:09:00.000+02:00

Home at last. Although I have two more weeks of summer break left, everything already seems so over. The rest of it will probably be spent in going through the motions, in anticipation of the new school year.

Croatia was great, shopping in Zadar good as ever. The weather in Karin was unpredictable as usual, with scorching heat one moment and strong, cold northern wind gushing forth from the high peaks of Mt. Velebit the other. I love it when the clouds begin to gather and suddenly all the tourists quickly evacuate from the beaches, as if a fast-approaching natural disaster is about to wipe out the entire human race. Nothing ever happens, as the blackness normally disperses in about quarter of an hour, by which time people don't bother coming back to the beaches. Lunchtime anyway. There are always a few people left though, sitting happily along the coast, watching the tide rise and the waves grow powered by the wind. I can tell this is not their first visit to the village. We are in the know when it comes to local winds and clouds. We know they are harmless, as menacing as they might seem.

My two cousins are right in thinking that nothing ever changes there. The same people sell their produce on the stalls at the minuscule village market, the same woman sells drinks and sandwiches on the beach, the same things happen at the local village feast of St Mary of the Snows in early August. Everything is cyclical there, tides and ebbs, wind patterns, coming and going of tourists, feasts of saints... Years ago, before the war, there was a large camping area near the beach, with beautiful, tall poplar tress that provided much needed shelter from the sun for the campers, mostly large groups of young Poles and Czechs. Someone cut all the poplars down soon after the war. This year there stood only two tents erected in the area. Numinous spirits of the place have vanished. Changes are unwelcome and disturbing. When they do occur, they are met with horror.

The last evening in Karin I was feeling rather melancholic, in one of those states of mind when I feel able to converse pretty much only with plants and animals. I went to the small salt water pond opposite our summer house to say goodbye to the crabs, something I've been doing since early childhood. I found the pond full of life, seagulls minding their own business on the left, a lone heron searching for food on the right, and hundreds of crabs running in all directions through the shallow water. One daring little crab crawled toward me, raising its delicate claws as if to greet me (or possibly fight me). We played a little, exchanged goodbyes and I knew I was ready to pack.

The cat back home didn't seem to recognize me this time. Maybe she is giving me the silent treatment. Or perhaps my cat-sitting cousins who chose to skip Karin this year were too good to her and now I've fallen into disfavor.

Everything seems to come in cycles. Even the tides and ebbs of feline approval.

Rest in peace, Tammy Faye

2007-07-25T09:16:00.001+02:00

One piece of news I missed while away was that my favourite televangelist, Tammy Faye Messner, died last Friday. I am saddened by the news, although with a sense of relief given that she was battling cancer for 11 long years.

She was such a colourful character - literally - with her heavy makeup and fake eyelashes. I suppose most people will remember her for her flamboyant looks, loyal drag queen fan base and delightfully horrendous Christian kitsch that was signature mark of all her enterprises.

More than anything, she was a larger-than-life character, a loving and compassionate woman who preached unconditional love, transcending usual boundaries set by conservative evangelicalism.

Back from Montenegro

2007-07-24T12:23:00.000+02:00

I got back from Montenegro yesterday, finishing stage 1 of my summer holidays. It was good to be there in great company and with over a week of nothing else to do but swim, sunbathe and enjoy Mediterranean cuisine.

Not everything was great though. It was excruciatingly hot, as in most of the region. I don't think I have ever swum in a sea that warm. Nights were most frustrating, leading up to morning grumpiness and frequent daydreaming about return to the comforts of my air-conditioned home. Now that I'm back, however, I miss all of it. It's always like that for me.

It was good to see that the cat hasn't forgotten all about me. It was the first time I left the city leaving her without my ever-watchful presence for over a week. She didn't seem to mind, which is great. Now I can get rid of some of the guilt for abandoning her next time I go somewhere.

Which will be in a couple of days, actually. Stage 2 begins this Sunday, when I'm leaving for another two-week journey to Croatia. Life can be really good at times.

Church of St Eustace, Dobrota, not far from where I was staying

End of school year!

2007-06-17T16:08:00.000+02:00

I taught my last class this school year on Friday and, as much as I like my job, I am soooo looking forward to waking up on Monday morning, only to realize that I won't have to go to work - not until September!

I've already done some long overdue decluttering in my place over the weekend. I've thrown out piles of old notebooks, lesson plans, newsletters and magazines. Suffice it to say that I'm in a much calmer, although not entirely balanced state of mind right now. Actually, I'm oscillating between this

and this:

Quarterly Book Reviews #4

2007-03-11T12:25:00.001+01:00

LITERATURE

Strange Things: The Malevolent North in Canadian Literature by Margaret Atwood

Originally presented at Clarendon Lectures in English Literature, in this book Atwood analyzes a number of novels, poems and folk stories that might be called distinctly Canadian. She eloquently uses Franklin's expedition, Grey Owl and Wendigo as examples of historical, psychological and mythical undercurrents that give Canadian Lit a unique flavour.

Also noteworthy, the book contains excellent bibliography for anyone courageous enough to step into the fascinating world of the malevolent North on one's own. Through fiction, at least.

RELIGION

Son of Man: The Mystical Path to Christ by Andrew Harvey

More like four books in one. Part One (The Historical Jesus) is a lucid and progressive approach to Jesus as a man, teacher and revolutionary, not unlike Jesus as interpreted by other liberal Christian thinkers and theologians. Part Two (The Mystical Christ) relies a bit too heavily on the Gnostic gospels, which the author tends to treat as more authoritative than the canonical ones. In Part Three (Christ and the Sacred Feminine) the focus is shifted almost entirely on Mary, her mystic motherhood and divine femininity. Part Four is a collection of practices and meditations on the mystical Christ.

What the book lacks is a sort of bridge between the historical Jesus and the mystical Christ. Those who are prone to think of Jesus in more rational terms (as Harvey portrays him in Part One) are not very likely to endorse the rather advanced neognostic hyper-mysticism espoused by the author in the rest of the book.

RELIGION

Which Witch Is Which? compiled & edited by Patricia Telesco

A collection of articles about various neo-pagan traditions, written by the practitioners themselves. Each article contains contact adress(es) and suggestions for further reading about a particular group, coven or tradition. It's like a Who's Who of neo-paganism; very easy to use, highly practical, especially for those who have just begun exploring this rather heterogeneous cluster of different spiritual traditions.

FICTION

Augustus by Allan Massie

A historical novel in the form of reconstructed memoirs of Augustus, the first in the long line of Roman emperors. Good thing about it is that Massie clearly knows historical facts quite well and also knows how to use them in fine and exciting story-telling. Bad thing about it is that in the attempt to make history alive he goes a bit too far. For instance, you will find Maecenas calling Augustus "Duckie" and similar horrors which often result when authors insist on using modern language or jargon in historical novels.

In short, the novel is good enough to make other Massie's books in the series (Tiberius, Calligula) worth checking out, but it is not quite in the same league with, say, Graves' famous I, Claudius.

In the absence of more intelligent things to write about

2007-03-09T18:20:00.000+01:00

I had a haircut this morning. It never fails to brighten me up. And it seems to be linked, in some esoteric way, with an instant urge to workout and flex some muscles. Which is exactly what I did as soon as I got home, but that's beside the point (the whole fitness "routine" will only last a week or so, anyway).

What I did mean to write about is the sheer horror of realizing that my hair looked like a grey cat's fur. At least that's exactly what it looked like lying there on the floor, before they brushed it away. I just stared at it for a few moments, wondering whether that really was my hair, growing out of my head. And how could I have walked around all these weeks with that wretched thing on my head?

I'm so glad I'm back to my more presentable self now (or as my mother would delightfully put it, like-you-just-got-out-of-prison look).

Hello kitty!

2007-02-17T14:31:00.000+01:00

I adopted a cat three weeks ago. She's such a wild little creature, without a modicum of sophistication or any semblance of decency (except for those precious moments when she's fast asleep, or too tired of running around, destroying anything that might cross her path). But I absolutely adore her, sharp claws, treacherous fangs, ruined furniture, many a sleepless night and all.

At least we agree on politics, which is no small thing. Here she is watching Arianna Huffington on YouTube with undivided attention. That's my girl!

In the bleak mid-winter

2007-01-06T12:21:00.000+01:00

I didn't need to see Al Gore's blockbuster in order to have my own personal grudge against global warming. The fact that we haven't had decent snow for Christmas here in Belgrade for God knows how many years in a row is a strong enough evidence that the global weather is totally screwed.

Up until several years ago this would have been my favourite time of year. Now everything is just so grey and bland (or, even worse, sunny and warm!). I couldn't even make myself write down my New Year's resolutions, because without snow I just didn't feel like it. I'm a strong believer in orderly and timely change of natural patterns of life on Earth and as such I've decided that this hasn't been a proper winter at all and that I totally don't approve of it! I may be a social liberal, but I'm happy to come out as a staunch weather conservative.

So, as a tribute to Deep Winter, the sort of winter I had last experienced almost a decade ago and that I sorely miss now, here are two little prayers from A Book of Pagan Prayers by Ceisiwr Serith:

* With silent steps you come, snow spirits,
silently descending, silently landing.
You who silence the world with your falling,
silence it so I can hear from you:
I hear silence.

* Underneath the thick white blanket,
may the Earth sleep, dreaming,
till, rested and refreshed, it bursts free again.
Goddesses and gods of land and field,
may it be this winter as it has always been.

P.S. I will soon set up a special links section on the right for ecology and green interests, so watch out for that.

You know you're Eastern European when...

2006-11-10T02:21:00.000+01:00

As emailed to me by a friend. Quite true, actually.

1. You had to share a room until you were 21.
2. Everything you eat is savored in garlic and onions.
3. You are standing next to the two largest suitcases at the airport.
4. You arrive one or two hours late to a party - and think it's normal.
5. All your children have nicknames which sound nowhere close to their real names.
6. You talk for an hour at the front door when leaving someone's house.
7.Your mom tells you you're too skinny even though you're 30 pounds overweight.
8. Your house is full of medicine from your old country and it's probably all illegal here.
9. You and your friends have ever been kicked out of a restaurant or recreational park for being too loud or rowdy.
10. You don't know how to use a dishwasher b/c *u are* the dishwasher.
11. You have a vinyl tablecloth on your kitchen table.
12. You use grocery bags to hold garbage.
13. Your dad ever butchered a pig or lamb.
14. You don't use measuring cups when cooking.
15. If you don't live at home, when your parents call, they ask if you've eaten, even if it's midnight.
16. Your parents don't realize phone connections to foreign countries have improved in the last two decades, and still scream at the top of their lungs when making calls.
17. It's "normal" if your wedding has 600 people.
18. Your 15 year old sister can out-drink any American guy.
19. You drive a nicer car than your parents.
20. Your dad carries around enough money to buy a car.
21. You have all brand new appliances in the kitchen but your mom cooks in the basement with the stove from your old house.
22. Your parents have gone on vacation ONCE and it was to your home country.
23. You base your whole life on fortune in your coffee cup.
24. Your parents still prefer to buy cassettes instead of CDs.
25. You're actually nodding and laughing at most of these things.
26. You're a proud Eastern European and pass this on to your European friends.
27. Your non-English speaking grandmother gives a shocked look when you say 'pizza'.
28. You wear French Connection and other designer clothing when going to work out.
29. You carry liquor back here from your country in plastic Sprite bottles under tons of clothing in the suitcase.
30. You have 17 consonants and 2 vowels in your last name.

(Not So) Quarterly Book Reviews #3

2006-11-09T23:07:00.000+01:00

The new school term began two months ago, and with it my daily two-hour commuting odyssey in Belgrade's much maligned public transport, en route to my teaching job. It really isn't as bad as most people claim (public transport, that is, not my teaching), although it often occurs to me that it would take me less time to get to London by plane than to the other part of the city by bus. On the other hand, were it not for all the hours I 've spent commuting like that, I don't think I would have read nearly as many books and magazines, including some of these featured below.

HISTORY/RELIGION

Latter Days by Coke Newell, St Martin's Press 2000

"A guided tour through six billion years of Mormonism". I actually liked it, in spite of its rather pretentious subtitle. It narrates the genesis of that religion, its remarkable early history and explains the fundamental beliefs and values of the Latter-day Saint Church.

Needless to say, it is not to be confused with a soppy gay Mormon-themed novel & film bearing the same title.

ECOLOGICAL SPIRITUALITY

The Earth Path by Starhawk, HarperSanFrancisco 2004

Beautfully written, like most of Starhawk's writings, this book is a treasure trove of inspiration, meditations, rituals and practical ideas for all the eco-conscious people out there, not just those sharing the author's neopagan path. Just the sort of stuff Saunterer's loves to endorse.

ARCHAEOLOGY/HISTORY/RELIGION

The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman, The Free Press 2001

A nice piece of serious and scholarly, yet quite readable, work on biblical archaeology. It's been referred to as "bold" and "revolutionary", questioning established beliefs regarding the origins of the Bible and its historical background. Along with claiming that most of Old Testament content is pure fiction, the authors take a step further and explain why and under what circumstances were the books of the Bible produced, and serving what (political) purpose, making them all the more fascinating.

SOCIAL STUDIES/RELIGION

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler, Penguin Compass 1986

Almost 600 pages of excellent investigative reporting on "witches, druids, goddess-worshippers and other pagans in America today", written by an NPR correspondent and a practicing pagan herself. It's a genuinely thrilling book, filled with interviews, personal accounts and sociological analyses. It remains the single best A-Z of modern paganism.

Veterans Affairs

2006-08-20T20:40:00.000+02:00

I've been hearing a lot of stories lately about the US Government refusing to approve the pentacle as representative of the Neopagan/Wiccan community. The reports I've read were about the widow of an American soldier who died in Afghanistan, not allowed to place a pagan emblem on her fallen husband's headstone. Apparently, no such emblem is officially sanctioned yet - in spite of years of campaigning and negotiating.

I found that really odd, considering what religious groups do have their symbols approved: Aaronic Order Church, Konko-Kyo Faith, Tenrikyo Church, Seicho-No-Ie, Church of World Messianity and Eckankar among others. There are even emblems for humanists and atheists, as there rightly should be. You can see the complete list of available emblems on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Oddly enough, one of the best and most objective descriptions of Wicca is that found in the "Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains," published by the US Army. The entire text is available here.

Podcasts Update

2006-08-18T12:31:00.000+02:00

If you're into podcasting, make sure you download CBC's Words at Large Podcast 15. CBC Radio's Tapestry host Mary Hynes speaks to writer Oriah Mountain Dreamer about her latest book, creativity and spirituality. It's a gem.

Along with moving to Beta Blogger earlier today (which made my blogging a bit more comfortable), another addition to SJ is a brand new Top 10 Podcasts section on your right (below all the other links). As you will notice, the selection is rather ecclectic - and listed in alphabetical order, which is so like me! It's the sort of stuff I listen to on my way to work or while cycling.

Petition against US Army prejudice

2006-08-15T19:24:00.000+02:00

I am forwarding a recent request. Please consider signing this petition.

Sacred Well Congregation has just lost their military chaplain candidate
due to prejudice which appear to be by evangelical Christians in the US
Army. You can read more at http://www.sacredwell.org.

Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join many
of us in signing a petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a
difference. Please sign here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/975469209

Quarterly Book Reviews #2

2006-08-07T19:32:00.001+02:00

I was supposed to post these around Midsummer, but I was saving some of the books for my summer break, having decided there was no better place to read them than on an empty beach, in the early morning hours.

GENDER STUDIES/PSYCHOLOGY

Iron John: A Book About Men by Robert Bly (Da Capo Press 2004)

Probably the foundational book of the so-called mythopoetic (or expressive) men's movement. First printed in 1990, it stirred something of a controversy among feminists, masculists and all the other -ists. Using Brother Grimm's ancient fairy tale Iron John, award-winning author Robert Bly analyses eight stages of male growth and writes about the need for mentorship and the restoration of male initiation rites in contemporary culture.

NEW AGE/WICCA & PAGANISM

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham (Llewellyn 2005)

With so many books on Wicca being published every year, it is more and more difficult to find a good practical introduction. Cunnigham's book, sold in about half-million copies, is readily recommended by most Wiccans, and for a good reason. As far as Wicca 101 books are concerned, this one is a must.

HEALTH

The Immune Advantage: How to Boost Your Immune System - The Single Most Important Thing You Can Do for Your Health by Ellen Mazo with Dr Keith Berndtson (Rodale 2002)

With this book I think I have finally found the perfect one-stop resource for disease prevention. Written with a holistic approach, it deals with everything from antigenic determinants (whatever that is) to the power of prayer. There's loads of practical advice, quizzes, tests... All the good stuff.

NEW AGE

The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra (2004)

Typical Chopra, for the thousandth time. How to unlock the secret dimensions of your life, etc etc. I don't think I am going to read any of his books ever again (says a person subscribed to Chopra's e-newsletter).

SACRED SCRIPTURE

Upanishads (Wordsworth Classics 2000)

Have you ever read something you couldn't quite understand (or even begin to), and yet you were utterly entranced by it, feeling the beauty resonating somewhere deep within?

As T-shirts say, I've survived holidays in Croatia

2006-08-06T11:57:00.000+02:00

I have returned from my three-week summer holidays in Croatia, my pays d'origine. I already miss its ancient cities, islands, the sea and the warm, unpredictable Mediterranean wind and, last but not least, its great shopping malls (Croatian Tourist Authority really should pay me for heaping praises like that). I'll be travelling there again pretty soon, so I'm not too depressed about coming back home.

If I'm not too lazy I might post an extract or two from my journal later on. On second thought, who would want to read about me sunbathing, snorkeling and collecting pebbles and sea shells, going shopping five times a day (as a hobby) and maniacally doing crosswords in between, day after day?

P.S. A warm welcome (and come again) to everyone who visited the blog while I was away. And I've checked, there were quite a few hits!

I didn't manage to upload my own photos, so here are two I found online. Both were taken on the island of Hvar (and are so much nicer than mine anyway).

Celebrate Summer

2006-06-21T12:06:00.000+02:00

One of the things that I have picked up along my spiritual path so far is the celebration of the ancient sacred days. While most people would identify that with (neo)Pagan/Wiccan beliefs and practices, the fact is that all the major Christian holidays were originally pagan days of observance, clothed in Christian imagery during the first several centuries of the Common Era. Christianization of these holidays was supposed to show the all-encompassing superiority of the Christian creed, while heavily relying on pagan symbolism, rites and archetypes.

Going back to the authentic, Earth-based, meaning of these holidays, observing the cycle of the year and devising my own ways to honour it, gave a whole new quality to my spirituality. It made it more positive, creative and less dependent on any particular religious or Church teaching, while recognizing the Divine - however one might experience it - in the workings of the Nature.

Tomorrow is one of the most important solar holidays, the Summer Solstice or the Midsummer (it goes by many other names as well). If you want some facts and information about Midsummer celebrations in various cultures (both ancient and modern) and their rich symbolism, Religious Tolerance, Beliefnet, and BBC are great places to start.

Happy Summer Solstice and have a great summer!

Pyramids in Bosnia

2006-06-07T20:10:00.000+02:00

One of many, many joys of living in the Balkans: sensational archaeological discoveries (not sure which one of these three words to put under inverted commas).

UNESCO Team to Probe Bosnian "Pyramid"

Reuters

SARAJEVO (June 5) - Bosnia's mystery pyramid will now be probed and inspected by a team of experts from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"We shall send a UNESCO expert team to Visoko to determine exactly what it is all about," UNESCO Secretary General Koichiro Matsuura said in an interview published on Monday in Dnevni Avaz newspaper.

Amateur archaeologist Semir Osmanagic has caused a stir with his find, although local and European archaeologists denounce it as nonsense.

Geologist Aly Abd Barakat, an Egyptian researcher sent by Cairo to assist Osmanagic's team last month, has said that the Visocica hill did appear to be a primitive man-made pyramid of uncertain age.

Barakat said huge stone blocks found on the three sides of the hill used the same type of artificial cement used in ancient Egyptian pyramids.

Osmanagic's team is also investigating the Pljesevica hill -- which he calls the Moon Pyramid -- as well as underground tunnels he believes connect three pyramids.

The researchers have also found a sandstone monolith in the underground tunnel with enigmatic symbols engraved on it, which will be sent to Egypt for analysis.

Osmanagic, who studied pyramids in central America for the past 15 years, said that satellite and radar analyses have revealed the perfect geometry of Visocica and precise alignment of its sides with four cardinal points.

It does resemble a pyramid:

Photo: www.superbosna.com

Yucca will show them

2006-06-04T16:53:00.000+02:00

For some inexplicable reason, none of the plants I've ever bought managed to stay alive for more than a few weeks. Sadness descends upon me whenever I remember a cute little bonsai I bought two years ago. I saw it in a garden centre and just had to have it. Within two weeks all of its tiny, dark green leaves turned brown. Another two weeks and all that was left of it was its miniature, leafless trunk. I thought it was going through a mini-autumn season of its own, supposing that bonsai trees, minuscule as they are, must have a diifferent notion of time. Much like cats or dogs. I expected it to enter verdant spring of its own in no time. It never recovered though, leaving my hypothesis on the bonsai year and calendar without empirical proof. I've kept the poor tree as a decoration of some sort (it does look quite nice, although a bit morbid, lifeless and denuded as it is). It now also serves as a caveat, reminding me to think twice before I buy a plant I know nothing about. I've been keeping that rule ever since.

Until yesterday, that is. I dragged a friend with me to that same garden centre, as a safeguard against impulsive shopping. The same friend who not only encouraged me to buy that bonsai two years ago, but also got one for himself (similarly unfortunate, as time would show). To cut a long story short, meet two new additions to my home: Yucca and Pachira. Described as low-maintenance plants, tolerating all sorts of conditions and asking for only a little bit of sunlight and water (TLC goes without saying), they seemed just perfect. I keep gazing at them as I write, checking obsessively for any sign of malaise or discontent. I've decided that these two are to prove everyone (myself included) wrong in thinking that I have a lethal effect on plants, as some have implied. I'm prepared to do anything it takes for them to live a long and healthy life. And if they survive until spring, I may even feel encouraged to do some serious container gardening next year. So, fingers crossed. And may God help us all!

Happy Birthday To Me

2006-05-22T09:00:00.000+02:00

It's that time of year. Again. Twenty seven circles round the Sun and counting. But I'm putting a brave face, taking great consolation from the fact that most of my friends are even older that I am!

Save the Internet

2006-05-02T10:33:00.000+02:00

I'm not an expert in these things, but this looks serious.

Congress is now pushing a law that would end the free and open Internet as we know it. Internet providers like AT&T and Verizon are lobbying Congress hard to gut Network Neutrality, the Internet's First Amendment and the key to Internet freedom. Net Neutrality prevents AT&T from choosing which websites open most easily for you based on which site pays AT&T more. So Amazon doesn't have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to work more properly on your computer. Many members of Congress take campaign contributions from these companies, and they don't think the public are paying attention to this issue. Let's show them we care - please sign this petition today.

www.moveon.org
www.savetheinternet.com

Yoga troubleshooter wanted

2006-04-27T13:01:00.000+02:00

I was having really great time doing yoga this morning. Everything went just fine, I was centered and in sync with my inner self and all that - until I attempted to do this one:

Photo: www.yoga.paramatman.ru.

A yoga torture posture from hell, as far as I'm concerned. I couldn't possibly lift my legs, head and chest simultaneously if my life depended on it.

This is what my handbook says about this asana: "The solar plexus area is revitalised and the massaging and stretching of the abdominal area relieves the sensations of anxiety we sometimes feel in the abdomen. [...] Toxins and tension are released from the organs helping them to work more effectively."

Well, those nasty toxins seem to have gone straight to my head, because I feel totally frustrated about not being able to pull it off, after months of practise. I know yoga is all about patience and slow progress, but for the love of...

This guy can't be an evangelical!

2006-04-25T09:56:00.000+02:00

"An evangelical Virginia farmer says a revolution against industrial agriculture is just down the road. [...]

"Joel, who describes himself as a “Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-lunatic farmer,” speaks of his farming as his “ministry,” and certainly his 1,000 or so regular customers hear plenty of preaching. Each spring he sends out a long, feisty, single-spaced letter that could convince even a fast-food junkie that buying a pastured broiler from Polyface Farm qualifies as an act of social, environmental, nutritional, and political redemption."

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE AT MOTHER JONES:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2006/05/no_bar_code.html

Quarterly Book Reviews #1

2006-03-15T22:50:00.000+01:00

With spring beginning in just a few days, I thought it would be nice to make a seasonal review of some of the books that I read during the winter. Here are the ones I found particularly interesting and which I can heartily recommend.

PSYCHOLOGY/BIOGRAPHY

Inside the Mind of Joseph Smith: Psychobiography and the Book of Mormon by Robert D. Anderson (Signature Books 1999)

Another attempt to shed some light on the origins of the Book of Mormon. An impressive psychological profile of one of the most interesting and controversial religious visionaries of the 19th century. Enlightening when it comes to Joseph Smith's family background and the early childhood, far-fetched (although still fascinating) regarding the actual Book of Mormon = psychobiography hypothesis.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Before I Say Goodbye by Ruth Picardie (Penguin Books 1998)

Collection of articles, selected emails and letters written by an incredibly witty woman documenting her struggle with cancer and dealing with imminent death. Both hilarious and heartbreaking. One can only hope it will never be turned into a cheesy film.

RELIGION/MYTHOLOGY

On Having No Head: Zen and the Rediscovery of the Obvious by D. E. Harding (Penguin Arkana 1986)

Appropriately brief and concise given the topic (80 plus pages). Greater part of the book is the author's description of the experience of "headlessness" (with techniques on how to get there). Nicely written, beginner-friendly.

P.S. Makes one wonder about the whole concept of writing or reading books on Nothing of all things.

CULTURAL PORTRAIT

The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura

Short history and description of the Japanese tea ceremony, its significance in Zen culture, art and aesthetics, interspersed with the author's subtle nostalgia for Japan as it once was. Absolutely delightful.

RELIGION/MYTHOLOGY

The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess by Starhawk (HarperSanFrancisco 1999)

First published in 1979, it's a seminal book that continues to have a profound influence on the neo-pagan movement and feminist thealogy (that's right, thealogy). Although a Wiccan classic par excellence, it should appeal to religious progressives across the board, irrespective of gender, race or creed.

Taking Leave of God

2006-03-05T13:47:00.002+01:00

I've always thought of myself as a religious person. I've been going to church services regularly for most of my life, reading the Scriptures, thinking about theological issues (rather obsessively at times), teaching Sunday School, volunteering... To cut a long story short, I was a devout Christian. Although there has always been a liberal twist to my faith, I never thought I would come to a point where I would question the fundamentals of my entire belief system. And yet, it did happen.

My prayer life was first to disintegrate. It worked just fine up until my late teens, but by my mid-20s I realized I didn't really have any clue as to who or what I was praying to, nor why I should be doing it. The concept of Heavenly Father continued to make sense for some more time to come, until it eventually collapsed, leaving behind traces of an inherently ill structure based on emotional void and fear. It finally dawned on me: somewhere along the way I had mistaken neurosis for religion. And so rather than picking up the pieces and moving on, I simply moved on. Ran away, to be more precise, as fast as I could. About two months ago, talking to a close friend, I managed to utter that dreaded word - atheist - applying it for the first time to myself, if only to see how it would sound. Nothing spectacular happened. It didn't hurt a bit. The earth didn't quake. Plus, I soon discovered it's really not a word I could fully subscribe to, but that's a different story.

Anyhow, all of this is to serve an introduction to a book that has helped me understand and deal with what I've been going through, religionwise. It's "Taking Leave of God" by Don Cupitt, first published in 1980 by SCM Press. While some of the chapters might be too philosophical and somewhat difficult to process, it's a very exciting book, dubbed by some a manifesto of "Christian Buddhism". Drawing inspiration from religious thinkers and philosophers as diverse as Tertullian, Meister Eckhart and Kierkegaard (to mention but a few), Cupitt attempts to establish a new (or renewed?) and almost Zen-like paradigm of Christian religiosity. Warmly recommended.

Home

2006-02-25T12:09:00.000+01:00

I dreamt of our old family house again last night. I was sitting in one of the rooms, surrounded by bookcases packed with old, dusty volumes on one side, costly bed-linen and layers of clutter stashed in massive wardrobes on the other. My greatgrandfather's desk in the corner filled with his belongings, left untouched for decades after he died, every drawer storing tangible proofs of his existence, every little thing oozing with a benevolent presence as real as my own.

Such images of my childhood home continue to resurface in the dream world, with the past and present converging, both unsettled and upset, seeking closure where there can be none. The house was sold years ago under difficult circumstances and an important chapter of my personal history came to its abrupt end. In many ways I continue to deal with that loss, my emotional attachment to the place undiminished by the passage of time.

However, within the confines of my mind the house is assuming a healing power, bringing renewed sense of belonging and restored awareness of who I am and where I come from. Rather than being a mere repository of melancholic memories, it feels like the impenetrable fortress of my boyish escapism that it once was. Resurging in my dreams and meditations, uncalled for but warmly welcomed, it is still my home.

Bittersweet Chocolate

2006-02-21T11:31:00.000+01:00

It was last week that I undertook my first investigative visit to a local supermarket here in Belgrade. Investigative in that I actually bothered to read the labels carefully before I bought anything, which is something I rarely did in the past. It was both fun and enlightening. So last week I focused on chocolate, having read a wonderful feature article on cocoa in Jan/Feb 2006 Utne Reader.

It didn't take me long to realize that only two out of dozen brands of chocolate advertised as "dark" (my favourite) have over 70% of cocoa, with all the others hovering about 30-40%. Blatant cheating, if you ask me. I won't name the top 2, as I don't want to advertise anyone here, but suffice it to say that neither is fair trade, organic, nor locally/regionally produced. Additional web search showed that both manufacturers don't exactly have a spotless record on environmental protection and workers' rights, but generally rank much higher on such issues than other mainstream, corporate producers (you can email me for the specifics).

I suppose the least we could do is simply stop buying chocolate produced by unethical manufacturers, i.e. those exploiting forced and child labour on cocoa farms in Africa (some major manufacturers continue to do it), those still using banned pesticides, bringing the workers' health in jeopardy, or those who failed to subscribe to a decent code of conduct. Luckily, there are numerous resources available on the internet which could help you make informed decisions. Check out www.ethicalconsumer.org/boycott/popularboycotts.htm to find out why Nestle continues to be the single most popular boycott among ethical consumers in the UK. Also, make sure to read their illuminating buyers' guide on chocolate: www.ethicalconsumer.org/magazine/buyers/buyguide.htm (in .pdf format).

Day 1

2006-02-20T11:52:00.000+01:00

It took me hours to set up this account! At one point I almost abandoned all hope of ever figuring out how this thing works. Needless to say, I am really glad that the blog is up and running now and that I've managed to learn a thing or two in the process.

What I plan to post here in the months to come are book reviews, along with various comments and updates on my personal progress in exploring vegetarianism, yoga, spirituality, ethical consumerism and related issues, some of which figure prominently among my New Year's resolutions!

If you might have some interesting articles, books, websites etc. to recommend, please don't hesitate to do so, either by posting a comment on this blog, or by writing to saunterersjournal@gmail.com.

I hope that my musings will be of some help to other fellow saunterers embarking on a similar journey.

Saunterer's Journal

Recommended reading

Book Reviews #9

Two books of yearning and desire

On why I love Leviticus

Bible meet correction tape dispenser

Quarterly Book Reviews #8

Pyrrhic victory

Carbon Calculator

Vacation

Six miles a Sunday

Spring!

On Balaam's donkey and untrodden paths

Quarterly Book Reviews #7

Belief-O-Matic

Freedom of religion in Serbia

Quarterly Book Reviews #6

On the Stygian ferry

Spam as postmodern cult lit?

First snow in Belgrade

Peanuts

Belgrade Book Fair

The dread of giving presentations

Saluton!

Mother Teresa's 18.250 dark nights of the soul

Oops, they did it again

Quarterly Book Reviews #5

The Simpsons' Mennonite roots

Tides and ebbs

Rest in peace, Tammy Faye

Back from Montenegro

End of school year!

Quarterly Book Reviews #4

In the absence of more intelligent things to write about

Hello kitty!

In the bleak mid-winter

You know you're Eastern European when...

(Not So) Quarterly Book Reviews #3

Veterans Affairs

Podcasts Update

Petition against US Army prejudice

Quarterly Book Reviews #2

As T-shirts say, I've survived holidays in Croatia

Celebrate Summer

Pyramids in Bosnia

Yucca will show them

Happy Birthday To Me

Save the Internet

Yoga troubleshooter wanted

This guy can't be an evangelical!

Quarterly Book Reviews #1

Taking Leave of God

Home

Bittersweet Chocolate

Day 1