While reading about Machu Picchu, I learned of an American movie that was shot there in 1954. It looked to me like any other of the flood of exotic adventure pictures that poured out of the 50s. This one's stayed just above the brim of obscurity because it became the template for Raiders of the…
This started as a review of Charles Mann's 1491, but it became more about the flights of fancy it gave me than about the book itself. It's the most intriguing, mind-bending, and thought-provoking book I've read in years. Many thanks to Nelson, who turned me on to it. Two caveats up front: First, I give…
(This is a copy of a Goodreads review.) An encouraging bit of Pride Month reading of the "Nice to know we've always been here" variety. "Openly gay" in the context of the 1920s held a different meaning than today, not an affirmation, but a refusal to lie, evading direct questions with clever evasions (making Haines…
(This is a copy of a Goodreads review.) Three stars for this one, four for the whole series. If you've been thinking of dipping your toe into the world of Barbary Lane, this is what I'd suggest (with the caveat that I'm relying on memories of when I read some of these years ago): If…
When I saw Little Big Man years ago, I had mixed feelings. I almost wished Dustin Hoffman wasn’t in it. I thought it was one of his worse performances, bouncing between clownish and Capital-A Actory, and his character took up most of the time while being the least interesting part of the story. When you…
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