Category Archives: Books
Video: Robinson Crusoe
Sometimes, when I am stranded on a new island and I walk along the beach for hours to see if there is anyone else who is still alive or if I can find some food, I feel like Robinson Crusoe. … Continue reading
These books don’t fit together
On my trip through Albania, I saw some small bookshops in the parks which sold what looked like second-hand books. Most of them were in Albanian, and the only English titles were often textbooks or encyclopedias. Very old ones, usually. The … Continue reading
The Vagabond
One of the best things about my childhood was that I always had enough books to read. My heroes were never the princes or princesses, sorcerers or knights, firemen or astronauts. Nor was I impressed by cowboys, bandits or sheriffs. … Continue reading
Who gave terrorists the idea to attack New York?
In 1973 Palestinian terrorists tried to detonate three car bombs in New York City. Al-Qaeda tried to blow up the World Trade Center, two tunnels, a bridge and the UN Headquarters in 1993 and flew two hijacked planes into the … Continue reading
Papyrus
Based on my consumption habits, only two plants can compete for the title of my favourite plant: the tobacco plant and papyrus. Although most of the books that I read now haven’t been made out of papyrus anymore, I still … Continue reading
“The Liberator” by Alex Kershaw
The full title of the book The Liberator: one World War II soldier’s 500-day odyssey from the beaches of Sicily to the gates of Dachau gives you the gist of the story already. It recounts the experience of Felix Sparks who served … Continue reading
Italy Reading List
To me, travel would only be half as much fun without taking the time to read books. I am even happy about long train rides or ferry passages because they allow me to read for a few extra hours I … Continue reading
“The Cold War Swap” by Ross Thomas
There is probably no better time than now to read a novel about two NSA employees who have absconded to the Soviet Union and about the US government’s attempts to get them back. Yes, I wrote Soviet Union instead of Russia, … Continue reading
I know what happened to Flight MH370
The plot was already outlined years ago in the Tintin book Flight 714. I wouldn’t be surprised if MH370 could be found on some volcanic island to which it has been abducted. (My recent visits to two volcanic islands have nothing … Continue reading
Book Review: “The Wine-Dark Sea” by Leonardo Sciascia
Whenever I move to a new country, I not only read guidebooks and history books, but I also try to find some novels and stories which portray my new domicile, whether in its contemporary age or in the past. When … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 