How have I not discovered him sooner?
This is great, reminiscent of Calvino or Borges, somehow perfectly suited to my current tastes and mood. I will have to discover more books by him.
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An amusing satire on the Soviet Occupation of Czechoslovakia. Except, of course, despite the farcical events and personages depicted it takes very little to realize that the events described probably occurred in very much that order, it is less the writer's job to confabulate than it is to shine a light on those absurdities we've come to take for granted.
I enjoyed, a palate cleanser as it were from the internet and other readings that have me somewhat less engrossed.
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And so I've begun reading Manly P. Hall's "Self Unfoldment", which is in the genre of New Age Self Help books, actually probably one of the first to pioneer the genre.
If you're unfamiliar with Manly P. Hall I'd suggest you read the Wiki here:
Link: Wikipedia on Manly P. Hall
And note his absolutely amazing photo.
Now - if you were too lazy to click on the link I'll briefly sum it up here: Manly P. Hall, one of the espousers of the Theosophist movement, formidably educated himself at a young age and distilled the essential "Truths" he discovered into a variety of books and manuals. Even if you've never heard of him, chances are you've been influenced by his thinking. I've wanted to read him for a long while and was lucky to finally find one of his books.
To read it - a pragmatic approach to spirituality tailored for western adepts, the disciplines it sets out for you - the changing of your thinking - refinement, evolution, etc. - is good. Nothing I didn't know, but he lays it out in plain speech, and it's interesting to see how at odds it is with the New Age movement, Vision Boards, Etc. - that evolved from it. His is, of course, the right path - the New Age movement that succeeded it is focused too much on the acquisition of useless things and external change, whereas his book focuses primarily on changing the reader from within.
I'm impressed, although I knew I would be, and he doesn't need my recommendation.
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Pop into the used bookstore to enquire about a couple of older editions they had in the window - Sir Richard Burton on the Discovery of the Source of the Nile - (not exact title) - which interested me as I'd read Speke's version of events and enjoyed it immensely, and Stanley's "In Darkest Africa" - also of great appeal. Both, sadly, not priced to my budget at this time. Take the opportunity to browse for other books.
In the background they have some classical piano concertos playing, which slightly stimulate my brain and get me to thinking...
When was the last time I had music? A long time. I mean a very long time. Years. I get by with the radio in the Jeep, other peoples tastes, maybe via the computer - but the quality, it shows, poor speakers, ads, pop-songs, none of the old-timey cerebral just listen to classical music...
The speakers here are great. I at first thought there was a pianist in the hall- but no.
I miss this. And so I'm slow in my browsing, the store is largely empty, the predictable side effect of an unpredictable schedule of hours decided by the proprietor on the morning of...
So, browse for books, a fine selection, better than Calgary - by far, I've noticed this before. Books on shelves, in boxes, organized every which way and not at all, the proprietor, he sits in the front window, mask on, engrossed in reading Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude" or some such, a little end table beside his chair piled to overflowing with books he has planned to read next, or has already finished, he's an endorsement of how I'd love to spend my working retirement, it's a shame to tip his chair when finally I've found my pick - "Hamlet Letters" by Henry Miller, this bookstore, it's great, never what you were looking for but always something just as good.
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