Departure(s)

Departure[s] by Julian Barnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think it is a third book by J. Barnes concerned with death.
The other two were - Nothing to be frightened of and Levels of Life (part 3).
In Departure(s )he got a good excuse - I A M - Involuntary Autobiographical Memories - it gives him permission to write about anything... and he writes.
Unfortunately I am older that J. Barnes and it looks like I got more differentiated life experiences so I completed reading this book only because of some involuntary attachment to the author

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The Piano Tuner

The Piano Tuner by Chiang-Sheng Kuo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mixed feelings.
I liked general considerations about music, sound, S. Richter but was not interested in personal relations of the main character.

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Melaleuca

 

Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

For me it was a very tiresome read.
Lots and lots of minor details which should be remembered as they may get some meaning later.
Lots of people and connection and again - I did not find any of these people interesting so why I had to rubbish my memory with them.
Finally quite shocking solution of all puzzles.
Definitely not worth all my effort.

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The Peasant Prince

The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution by Alex Storozynski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very detailed story about T. Kościuszko life - too tiresome for me.
I appreciate effort made by the author to look into so many sources and I suppose this book could be very useful for people studying history of these times.
As a recreational reader - I enjoyed it but had to make breaks to have some rest.

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Kosciuszko, the Man behind the Mountain

Kosciuszko: The incredible life of the man behind the mountain by Anthony Sharwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kozzie, who was he?
I had an opportunity to meet Anthony Sharwood at a presentation of his book in AIPA (Australian Institute of Polish Affairs) and these were his opening words.
It was really a pleasure to meet a person so fascinated by personality of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish national hero.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko - CLICK - born in 1746 in Eastern part of Poland, currently it is Belarus.
Started military training in Poland but not seeing a chance for a meaningful career (Poland was just partially partitioned by neighbouring countries) he migrated to America and joined the American army as an engineer. His skills were appreciated by the highest American commanders - G. Washington, T. Jefferson.
In 1784 he returned to Poland which was then in the final stage of breakdown.
In 1794 he organised and commanded an uprising, last attempt to preserve Poland but failed, Poland was erased from the map of Europe, he was put into a Russian prison.
Luckily for him, after the death of Russian Empress - Catherine the Great, he was released from prison by her son and successor and migrated to USA.
He spend 2 years there and tried to use money earned in USA for the liberation of slaves.
In 1798 he returned to Europe - France - in hope to get some support for regaining independence in Poland.
He met Napoleon and was very disappointed.
Next 15 years he lobbied around Europe for Polish independence.
Congress in Vienna dispelled his dreams - a puppet Kingdom of Poland was created within the Russian Empire.
Last 3 years of his life he spent in Switzerland.

Anthony Sharwood followed Kosciuszko's route, visited all places visited by his hero, read lots of books and articles about T. Kosciuszko.
Half of a book is a very vivid report of his travels and findings.
The other half of a book is related the mountain - Mt Kosciuszko - the highest mountain in Australia. Discovered and named in 1840 by Polish explorer - P. E Strzelecki - CLICK
First point - deterioration of the climate and its effect on the local flora.
Additional element - wild brumbies destroying the vegetation.
Second point - the name.
For some time there are calls to give the name it's original - Aboriginal - name -- Kunama Namagdi which means.... Mountains and Snow???
Why question marks?
Because in my opinion it is not a name of a specific mountain but the name of the area wich was visited by Aboriginal tribes in Autumn - Bogong Moth season.
Mt Kosciuszko as such is not a very distinctive mountain, it does not have any caves, rocks or sites of Aboriginal ceremonies so I suggest to change the name of Snowy Mountains and leave T. Kosciuszko in well deserved peace.
But...
Anthony Sharwood few times asks a perverse question - how Kosciuszko would react to...
- vandalisation of his monument opposite The White House...

- attempts to change the name of Mt Kosciuszko.
In his opinion.... he would not mind.
I agree.

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Pharaoh

Pharaoh by Jackie French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nice introduction into Egypt prehistory combined with view of surrounding civilisation.

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The Personal Librarian

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Story of Belle da Costa Greene - born in an Afro-American family, completed high school and library courses. After 2 years work as a librarian at the Princetown University Library she got a job of librarian of multimillionaire J.P. Morgan.
Here she demonstrated her exceptional abilities as expert on ancient books and manuscripts and also as a very skillful financial negotiator.
The book presents important aspects of Belle's private life - obsession on hiding her "black" heritage, extraordinary relation with her boss and emotions and disappointment in the only love of her life.
Exciting life, great story.

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