Digital Fortress, by Dan Brown

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Bought this book because I'm curious about Dan Brown's other books. It's all right: no better or worse than a typical novel by other writers who have discovered their own success formula, such as Ken Follet, John Grisham. Perfect for the beach or the air plane.

Ansel Adams at the AGO

This evening, Jeff and I met up with Danijela to see the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Anyone who has ever lived in Northern California knows about Ansel Adams. My almost five years in the San Francisco Bay Area and several trips to Yosemite during that time ensured frequent encounters of the photographer's work. For some strange reason, Adams's photos of Yosemite always leave me unsatisfied. Is it because they are mostly black-and-white, which creates an eerie style but also loses much content? Is it because I foolishly believe that my pictures would look just as wonderful if they were enlarged to absurd sizes? Most likely, I just don't get it.

An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears

Since we were just in England, this story about events that took place in London and Cambridge in 1663 grabbed my attention. The story-telling format imitates Kurosawa's Rushomon, which is always interesting. The historical background is fascinating --- and grim, and depressing, and makes one glad that one isn't living in the 17th Century.