Category Archives: Books

Basecamp Crypto

We are well underway in our attempt to scale Mt. Stephenson–i.e., read Neal Stephenson’s massive, approximately 3600-page Baroque Cycle in one long go. Strictly speaking, The Baroque Cycle is eight novels printed in three volumes: Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The … Continue reading

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Electronica

All the reading I’m getting done while commuting is actually listening; I’m getting back into the audiobook habit. It’s a lot more convenient to switch on the iPod and go, rather than lugging a book along, having to stop reading … Continue reading

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Limbering Up

We’re well into June, and that means the assault on Mt. Stephenson is underway— the Ascent Team has agreed to read Cryptonomicon in June, Quicksilver in July, The Confusion in August, and The System of the World in September. I’m … Continue reading

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Revisiting Books

First, a note that I was feeling highly self-critical last week for not participating in Ada Lovelace Day, when I had such a great experience with it last year. I just didn’t have anything prepared or anyone in mind yet … Continue reading

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The Darkness and the Deep

Completely by chance, I discovered a new writer I really enjoy, Aline Templeton. I was trying to recall a book I read years ago, and only had a few pieces of information, which is why I was searching lists of … Continue reading

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Alcott Again

I extended my time with Louisa May Alcott by picking up two new-to-me titles: Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom. Together, they tell the story of Rose Campbell, an orphaned girl who goes to live with her father’s estranged family. … Continue reading

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Fractious

“Do go to Katy! You’re a cross as a little bear to-day!” said Fanny, pushing her away. “Katy don’t amoose me; and I must be amoosed, ’cause I’m fwactious; mamma said I was!” sobbed Maud, evidently laboring under the delusion … Continue reading

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An Old-Fashioned Girl

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott In the first half of this book, country girl Polly Milton pays a visit to her wealthy city friend Fanny Shaw. Polly, an unsophisticated 14-year-old, is utterly out of her depths in Fan’s … Continue reading

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The Liar

The Liar, by Stephen Fry “Little girls grow up to be women. Little boys grow up to be little boys.” In his first novel, Stephen Fry explores the games played by men of a certain privileged type: spy games, mind … Continue reading

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2011 Preview

I’m not the resolution-making type; I don’t enjoy failure enough to actively set myself up for it. But I did enjoy the way participating in reading challenges helped shape and direct my reading this past year, so I’m setting a … Continue reading

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