Julia Sneden

The author of Carthage Must Be Destroyed takes a close look at our preconceived notions of Carthage and Carthaginians, colored as they are by the accounts of Greek and Roman writers who had a vested interest in presenting Carthaginians as cruel and duplicitous. The City of God is as rich in lofty thinking, baroque writing, sympathetic characters, vivid settings, and suspense as anything you are likely to see more than once or twice in a lifetime. Take your time, but read it. more »

I used to love watching hawks circle, riding the thermals high above the California hillside where I lived when I was a kid. I just tried to imagine how it would feel to be a hawk…rather, it seemed to me, akin to the feeling of diving into the lake, and gliding a long way before I had to give a kick and come up for air...only a whole lot better, because if you were a hawk, you could breathe and glide at the same time you were looking at the view. more »

You may try with all your might to keep that particular shade of blonde, to stay au courante with fads and the media, to indulge in plastic surgery, to wear trendy clothes and an uplifting bra, to find a terrific hair stylist or wig, but your hands and neck and crow’s feet will always give you away, and you’ll wind up looking like what you are: a sad case of trying to stay too long at the fair. more »

Don’t let the noted extra pages of notes and bibliography put you off Founding Gardeners, a remarkable book. Neither dull nor pedantic, nor beyond the grasp of anyone who likes history or loves growing things. The Map of True Places is a real psychological novel, dealing with layers of each personality and enough mystery to keep it moving with plenty of impetus. DVD Set: The reviewer admits they're watching the Doc Martin complete series for the third time, something the title character (an esteemed but rude doctor) would not admire, no doubt. more »