Author: Peter Hessler
Genre: Travel Non-Fiction
Date Finished: February 22, 2008
Shortly after finishing River Town, I discovered that the author, Peter Hessler, had written another book, talking about various people he had encountered during his years living in China.
Unlike many of the other books I have read written by journalists (Reborn in the West, Talking Hands, Dance of 17 Lives) this book does not come across as a writer in search of a topic, but more as man telling stories.
China A to Z
Author: May-lee Chai and Winberg Chai
Genre: Non-Fiction
Date Finished: Feb 16, 2008
As the title implies, this is a book about China. It is divided into many different topics, some just a page long, some several pages. It is layed out in dictionary type format, the topics are names and alphabetized. The topics cover all manner of Chinese customs and Culture. Seems like a useful book, illuminating, but not exactly a light read on your way to bed.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Date Finished: Feb 16, 2008
As the title implies, this is a book about China. It is divided into many different topics, some just a page long, some several pages. It is layed out in dictionary type format, the topics are names and alphabetized. The topics cover all manner of Chinese customs and Culture. Seems like a useful book, illuminating, but not exactly a light read on your way to bed.
Seeing Voices: Journey into the World of the Deaf
Author:Oliver Sacks
Genre: Non-Fiction
Date Finished: February 16, 2008
Interesting book, a little philosophical and rambly. I especially enjoyed the last chapter which talks about the 1988 student strike at Gallaudet University which resulted in the appointment of the first ever Deaf president. Over all, Talking Hands as a more interesting read, a better introduction to linguistics and a better introduction to the Deaf community in general.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Date Finished: February 16, 2008
Interesting book, a little philosophical and rambly. I especially enjoyed the last chapter which talks about the 1988 student strike at Gallaudet University which resulted in the appointment of the first ever Deaf president. Over all, Talking Hands as a more interesting read, a better introduction to linguistics and a better introduction to the Deaf community in general.
The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: February 15, 2008
The story of Lyra Belacqua as she stumbles out into the world. Good book.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: February 15, 2008
The story of Lyra Belacqua as she stumbles out into the world. Good book.
Talking Hands
Author:Margalit Fox
Genre: Non-fiction
The book is the documentation of a particular village in Israel where, due to the high percentage of deafness, a sign language spontaneously arose 3 generations ago. The author is a journalist (journalist's turned author's keep picking interesting topics) who was permitted to tag along with the linguistics team that is studying the language.
The book is organized into alternating chapters, odd numbered chapters deal with the visits to the village, the process of documenting and studying, even numbered chapters deal with the linguistics background.
The author does a great job of introducing the field of linguistics in a very readable way, covering the evolution of the field (structural linguists who documented languages to Noam Chomsky), sign language in North America and the eventual study of sign language as a language.
Genre: Non-fiction
The book is the documentation of a particular village in Israel where, due to the high percentage of deafness, a sign language spontaneously arose 3 generations ago. The author is a journalist (journalist's turned author's keep picking interesting topics) who was permitted to tag along with the linguistics team that is studying the language.
The book is organized into alternating chapters, odd numbered chapters deal with the visits to the village, the process of documenting and studying, even numbered chapters deal with the linguistics background.
The author does a great job of introducing the field of linguistics in a very readable way, covering the evolution of the field (structural linguists who documented languages to Noam Chomsky), sign language in North America and the eventual study of sign language as a language.
Take Your Money and Run
Author: Alex Doulis
Genre: Non-Fiction
The true story of how one Canadian, tired of exorbitant taxes, withdrew his money and RRSPs, left Canada, and now is living tax-free happily ever after.
This was a pretty interesting book. It was written in the style of The Wealthy Barber, conversations and lessons between two parties. There was more investment advice in here than I expected, however it does talk about legally offshoring your money.
Genre: Non-Fiction
The true story of how one Canadian, tired of exorbitant taxes, withdrew his money and RRSPs, left Canada, and now is living tax-free happily ever after.
This was a pretty interesting book. It was written in the style of The Wealthy Barber, conversations and lessons between two parties. There was more investment advice in here than I expected, however it does talk about legally offshoring your money.
The Chinese Language:Its History and Current Usage
Author: Daniel Kane
Genre: Language Learning
So, the good thing about this book is that it is not specificially a text book. It does not begin at the beginning and attempt to lead you to fluency, or some sort of literacy. Instead the author touches on a number of subjects about learning Chinese, talking about traditional vs. simplified script, Mandarin vs. a dialect, classifications of characters, tips on learning them. (He believes that the first 100 characters are probably the hardest, after that you will begin to see patterns and find them easier to memorize.)
Genre: Language Learning
So, the good thing about this book is that it is not specificially a text book. It does not begin at the beginning and attempt to lead you to fluency, or some sort of literacy. Instead the author touches on a number of subjects about learning Chinese, talking about traditional vs. simplified script, Mandarin vs. a dialect, classifications of characters, tips on learning them. (He believes that the first 100 characters are probably the hardest, after that you will begin to see patterns and find them easier to memorize.)
Spoken Here:Travels Among Threatened Languages
Author: Mark Abley
Genre:Non-Fiction
This is a whirlwind tour of a number of threatened languages in the world. The author, a journalist, talks to speakers of languages which are disappearing. He examines their efforts at reviving their languages, successful or otherwise.
Genre:Non-Fiction
This is a whirlwind tour of a number of threatened languages in the world. The author, a journalist, talks to speakers of languages which are disappearing. He examines their efforts at reviving their languages, successful or otherwise.
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