Reading Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia is most interesting for its comparisons: to Chinese Buddhism, of course, but also to Christian, European monastic traditions, and to the tenets, rules, and commandments of other religions.
Samuel Review
In reading these texts as books, rather than as selected vignettes and parables, we experience a rather different, more historical, more complex story than the excerpts which exist in the popular understanding convey.
Japanese Tales of Times Past Review
I did not read all thousand-plus stories, but I was intrigued by the collection, and came across a selection of ninety stories from the Japanese parts of the original anthology recently chosen and translated by Naoshi Koriyama and Bruce Allen.
Ruth Review
It focuses on individuals and intimate relationships, specifically women, in contrast to the immediately preceding books, and with a very different feel from the family relationships explored in earlier books.
Arthurian Romances Review
This is interesting from a historical perspective for its indirect insights into the cultural norms and beliefs of the French court at the time, but does not deliver the insight into the “authentic” form and function of the ancient Arthurian legends I sought.
The Story of Cole Younger, By Himself Review
Some of this may be deliberate obfuscation, but to say all of it is intentional is probably lending him too much credit. Which would be inadvisable, as he’s apt to run off with it, the contents of your bank account, and your horses, too.
Judges Review
Its real interest lies to me in how it depicts the interactions of this early form of Judaism and its practitioners with other faiths and their practitioners.
The Nibelungenlied Review
I am hesitant to draw significant conclusions about the work itself based on the transliteration, but I’ll draw a few for the purposes of this review. Most significant: why was Seigfried murdered?
Joshua Review
If we were to compare the books of the Bible reviewed thus far to the plotting of a novel, the story that begins in Exodus reaches it climax and denouement in Joshua.
Daodejing Review
It is the reader’s responsibility to ponder and comprehend the sometimes contradictory-seeming assertions into a form which is individually useful and meaningful.
IGC Publishing 