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Author Archives: mkevane
Recent reading roundup
I have been slacking. For Christmas I got several novels. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Excellent big sci-fi opera, with genetic engineering and big questions. The Peace War by Vernor Vinge. I started skeptical but got drawn in. By … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Thoughts on The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
I saw the book in the library. I hesitated. I seemed to recall it had been received with coolness by reviewers? But I thought to myself, he is such a good writer, can it really be that bad? And so … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Points of comparison with Burkina Faso about transition if al-Bashir is ousted in Sudan
I have not followed Sudan politics in over a decade, but I do follow Burkina Faso pretty closely, and in October 2014 long-time president Blaise Compaoré was ousted by street protests. Basically, regime insiders had to choose when to run, … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso, Sudan
My relationship to piano almost exactly described
I am not yet even close to Jennifer Weiner’s level after two years of one hour a week lessons, but I know the feeling (and the 15 year old). I open my book to Chopin’s waltz in D flat major, … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
December reading
The Power, by Naomi Alderman. Thrilling in its conceit and execution. Stumbles towards the end (and what ambitious book doesn’t). Nice to see an interesting short frame device (the letters) in popular fiction. News of the World, by Paulette Jiles. … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Urban development in Cupertino and SB 35
The organization gained another significant victory last month when Chao won a City Council seat. A second candidate backed by Better Cupertino also appears to have secured a seat by a narrow margin, pending a recount. If the results hold, … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
My wife is good with faces, but I am pretty darn good with melodies
Leslie can see a face on television and within seconds recall (even ten years later) another show the person was on. But today I was working and listening to classical mix, and Ludovico Einaudi’s Nuvole Bianche comes on, and I … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
