A Short History of the World in 50 Places…book review

A Short History of the World in 50 Places…book review

Samarkand…been there?

 

 

Book review:

A Short History of the World in 50 Places

 

by Dr. Jacob F. Field

London: Michael O’Mara Boos Limited, 2020

288 pages

 

Field’s intriguing approach to history is a success.

Probably you don’t know much about the great city of Samarkand, south of the Aral Sea in Asia. Its history begins in the 7th century BC, and it was an important commercial stop on the Silk Road until the 15th century AD. Samarkand is one of the 50 places.

A Short History is a broad sweep that’s appealing, easy to read, and a lot to learn.

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Book review. Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.

 

On the Beach by Nevil Shute (book review)

It isn’t out of date…

Click here

As with another eye: Poems of exactitude with 55 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”

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philosophy is in the doing…

over the course of a life…

 

“Instead of seeing philosophy

as an end to which one aspires,

see it as something one applies.

Not occasionally, but over the course of a life—

making incremental progress along the way.”

 

from The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2016

p. 151

 

I think it’s pretty easy to remember that today is the day to do some good…

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Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.

 

Book review: Who Built America?

…including people

            who got their hands dirty

by Christopher Clark and Nancy Hewitt

click here

In other words: Poems for your eyes and ears with 64 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”

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singing for two hearts…”quickie,” my poem

singing for two hearts…”quickie,” my poem

in the moment…

 

 

quickie

 

…wait for a verse to come,

wait for a verse to come,

and let its style surpass itself,

and let it sing for two hearts,

let it fling off care,

let it be our newest way

to murmur love.

 

June 6, 2023

We have these moments…

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My poetry. Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.

 

“…I walk in mirabilibus supra me…”

C. S. Lewis knows the weight of glory…

click here

My first name was rain: A dreamery of poems with 53 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”

 

Your comments are welcome—tell me what you’re thinking.

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Billy Elliot…movie review

Billy Elliot…movie review

slum kids can dance, too…

 

 

Movie review:

Billy Elliot

 

2000, rated R, 111 minutes

Starring Jamie Bell as Billy Elliot

 

Billy Elliot (2000, rated R, 111 minutes) is about aspirations, with clap-your-hands dancing and a helping of human kindness.

Jamie Bell pretty much flawlessly plays 11-year-old Billy, the son of a widowed struggling coal miner in County Durham in northern England. Billy suddenly realizes that dancing is more interesting than boxing.

You won’t be surprised by the obstacles that Billy overcomes to get accepted at the Royal Ballet School in London.

You will be delighted to watch Billy dancing when he’s happy and when he’s mad as heck. You will want to hug Billy’s dad when he finally realizes that dancing isn’t shameful, and that his son has a talent that just won’t quit.

Not least important, you’ll be reminded that a kid who can be a great dancer is born every day in a slum, somewhere.

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Movie review. Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.

 

Book review: Lord of the Flies

Never more relevant…

by William Golding

click here

In other words: Poems for your eyes and ears with 64 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”

*   *   *   *   *   *

“…the soprano’s tear-stained kyrie…”…my poem

“…the soprano’s tear-stained kyrie…”…my poem

…let the chorus turn you…

 

 

Symphony

 

A new book

   somehow sings a siren’s song,

a symphony of words

   that make a new tune,

such delight to open any page,

and hear the mezzo’s lilt,

the soprano’s tear-stained kyrie,

and nod as the basso

   closes a chapter

      with words worth repeating,

and let the chorus turn you

   to another page,

for more words

   that suddenly are not strangers,

such old words

   that make a new song.

 

Rumford, RI

May 30, 2023

 

Let yourself watch your 12-year-old granddaughter with a new book…does this poem occur to you?

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My poetry. Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2023 All rights reserved.

 

The Scarlet Letter, victim of Hollywood

the Nathaniel Hawthorne version is best

click here

My first name was rain: A dreamery of poems with 53 free verse and haiku poems,
and the rest of my poetry books are for sale on Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
and free in Kindle Unlimited, search Amazon for “Richard Carl Subber”

 

Your comments are welcome—tell me what you’re thinking.

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