This is a compelling novel about The Gambler, Alexey Ivanovitch, who is working in the household of a Russian General – he was only promoted to this rank on his retirement – who is staying in a hotel in the fictional town of Roulettenburg in Germany. The others in the General’s party include the FrenchmanContinue reading “The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky”
Category Archives: book
The Death of Ahasuerus by Par Lagerkvist
This book is rather different from other books you’ll read. It’s the third novel in a series that began with Barabbas and The Sibyl. Ahasuerus is mentioned in certain Old Testament books such as Esther and numerous scholars have proposed theories as to who Ahasuerus represents – most identify him with Xerxes I. However theContinue reading “The Death of Ahasuerus by Par Lagerkvist”
Book Review – The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
A lovely book that is easy to read in the way that Agatha Christie’s and Georges Simenon’s books are. The investigations are fun and engaging without the excessive periods of self-contemplation that characters endure in other books that are deemed intellectual or ‘deep’. Precious Ramotswe is a straightforward character who likes to help people solveContinue reading “Book Review – The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”
Best travel book of the year: Kapka Kassabova’s Border wins Stanford’s award
A timely account of a fraught part of Europe has won Stanford’s book of the year. Here, one of the judges heralds a master storyteller and gives an overview of the nominees
A whale of a time: a Moby-Dick marathon in Massachusetts
Fans gather in a non-stop reading of Herman Melville’s entire masterpiece at an annual winter festival in New Bedford, where the idea for the novel was born
The Hula Hoop Games – Buenos Aires
The modern hula hoop was invented in the late 1950s but people around the world have played with hoops for centuries. Traditional materials for hoops include willow, rattan, and stiff grasses. The Hula Hoop Games in Buenos Aires were started in 1959 and now attract contestants from around the world. At these Games the emphasisContinue reading “The Hula Hoop Games – Buenos Aires”
The Hula Hoop Games – Buenos Aires – Part 2
The accuracy events involve both throwing and rolling. The basic idea is that the hoop should land over one of three 2-feet long armadillos that are placed at distances of 100, 200, and 300 feet from the thrower. Since 1963, pottery armadillos have been used instead of real ones in order to save the animalsContinue reading “The Hula Hoop Games – Buenos Aires – Part 2”
Pyramid Racing – Part 3
On June 21st the races on the Pyramid of Menkaure start at 6am, those on Khafre at 10am, and on the Great Pyramid at 2pm. All the races on Menkaure and Khafre are normal pyramid races as is the first race for each contestant on the Great Pyramid. However, in the “Race to the Stars”,Continue reading “Pyramid Racing – Part 3”
Armour Making from Ashby-de-la-Zouch – 40 Humourous British Traditions
Over the years more contests were added for men and women including the piece de resistance the full body armour contest, which is awarded for work done during the previous year. Points are awarded for historical accuracy, but the ultimate test is for the contestants to walk across the Bull’s Field belonging to Farmer GrinlowContinue reading “Armour Making from Ashby-de-la-Zouch – 40 Humourous British Traditions”
Julian Worker Travel - A few ideas for your next trip in every direction 