East of Eden

Is it one of the great american novels? It certainly feels like it right now. Timshel - “Thou mayest!” It is a call to freedom and ultimate responsibility. Does it fly in today’s preoccupation with brain neurology and biologic determinism? It was the force that gave Samuel Hamilton the ability to look forward to living when he knew that he was just preparing to die. It was the only blessing that Adam could give to Cal. It was the great lesson that Lee pulled from the elders. It is Lee’s book, after Samuel Hamilton dies, as far as I am concerned. There are times that Cal and Aron don’t ring true in their thinking, and I’m not sure what to make of Cathy. But right now it feels heads and shoulders above any other novel I’ve read or listened to, with only a couple of exceptions. A call to a heroic life in fiction.

Author: Steinbeck, John

Date Published: 1952

Length: 25 hr 26 min

Narrator: Poe, Richard

Basket Case

Not the best Hiaasen, this one tended to go on too long. Also, I’m not sure how many first person narrators that Hiaasen has had. The journalist assigned to writing obituaries after insulting the owner who has been steadily watering the newspaper down. A lot of similarities with “Our House,” the play that we saw last month. Chasing down the murderer of the Slut Puppies. A good enjoyable story and listen.

Author: Hiaasen, Carl

Date Published: 2002

Length: 13 hr

Narrator: Wilson, George

The Story of India

I find Wood to be fascinating, and that he is preoccupied with India at present is OK with me. I learning much about the general scheme of history in India, realizing that much of early India is Pakistan now. But Wood makes clear that India is a British idea, anyway. Some idea of the first civilizations of the Indus and the invasions of the Aryans--cementing what Karen Armstrong had to say about the development of Vedic religion. Did not quite realize the Siddartha was not a “heterodox” sect as claimed, but a reaction of strict Brahmanical rites. Ashoka as the first great modern empire, followed by Mauryas and then sometime later domination by Afghans in the north, leading eventually to Babar and the other Moghuls. Makes clear that India will be the world force/economy of the future.

Author: Wood, Michael

Date Published: 2007

Length: 9 hr 37 min

Narrator: Dastor, Sam