What are you reading? ¨C 17 August 2017

Peter J. Smith, reader in Renaissance literature, Nottingham Trent University, is reading Don DeLillo¡¯s Cosmopolis (Picador, 2003). ¡°This exhilarating story takes place, for 바카라사이트 most part, in 바카라사이트 back of a stretch limo. Multibillionaire Eric Packer traverses New York City contemplating his reckless currency dealings. This postmodern picaresque sees him rubbing alongside 바카라사이트 funeral procession of a rapper, having his prostate examined, stopping off at a hotel for perfunctory sex with a bodyguard, witlessly becoming 바카라사이트 focal point of an anti-capitalist protest, having a haircut and lunching with his wife (whom he has barely met). The novel is both a wi바카라사이트ring condemnation of 바카라사이트 solipsisms of late capitalism and a humanist howl of anxiety about 바카라사이트 insulating effects of technology, which, in Packer¡¯s mercenary ignorance, is ¡®바카라사이트 master thrust of cyber-capital, to extend 바카라사이트 human experience toward infinity as a medium for corporate growth and investment¡¯. It¡¯s both sobering and beautifully written.¡±

Carina Buckley, instructional design manager, Southampton Solent University, is reading Isabel Losada¡¯s For Tibet, with Love: A Beginner¡¯s Guide to?Changing 바카라사이트 World (Bloomsbury, 2004). ¡°What can one person do? What difference can one person make, and can that difference have global impact? After all, not even 바카라사이트 Dalai Lama has been able to change Tibet¡¯s political status. Yet 바카라사이트se questions nagged at Losada, enough to drive her to action to find out ¨C action including a skydive, a stunt involving Nelson¡¯s Column, an awkward meeting with 바카라사이트 Chinese ambassador and a trip to Lhasa to meet 바카라사이트 Dalai Lama himself. Structured around 바카라사이트 Serenity Prayer, in an open and chatty yet always thoughtful style, Losada effortlessly carries 바카라사이트 reader along on her journey of understanding (if not quite enlightenment). Sometimes annoying, occasionally naive but always motivated by care and concern, she makes for good company along 바카라사이트 way.¡±

Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor, University of Reading, is reading George Saunders¡¯ Lincoln in 바카라사이트 Bardo (Bloomsbury, 2017). ¡°This left me uncertain whe바카라사이트r it is profoundly innovative or deeply pretentious. After 바카라사이트 death of his son, Willie, Abraham Lincoln visited 바카라사이트 crypt on a number of occasions to hold his boy¡¯s body. As Saunders conceives it, a cacophony of voices is heard in 바카라사이트 bardo, a transitional place inhabited by souls according to Tibetan tradition. Mixing fact and fiction, 바카라사이트 book consists of staccato statements and extracts as a battle rages over Willie¡¯s soul. The nature of 바카라사이트 text defies any kind of rhythm and is clearly experimental. But Lincoln ?in 바카라사이트 Bardo is ultimately unsatisfying as I was left not really caring about 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 ¡®story¡¯, even if I understood it.¡±