in Romanian – One Book a Week

Karen Cleveland – Need to Know Book Review

Perfect husband. Perfect father. Perfect liar? Vivian Miller. High-powered CIA analyst, happily married to a man she adores, mother of four beautiful children. Until the moment she makes a shocking discovery that makes her question everything she believes. She thought she knew her husband inside and out. But now she wonders if it was allContinue reading “Karen Cleveland – Need to Know Book Review”

Paulina Borghese by Gregor Armand Book Review

It’s been a while since I’ve read such a bad book. I know they used to sell them in the dime collection back in Romania and they usually “forced” people to buy a bad book in order to get the one they really wanted. So during the summer hols I picked up this “treasure” andContinue reading “Paulina Borghese by Gregor Armand Book Review”

Anitita Augustopoulos-Jucan – Al doilea adevar (The second truth)

Published in 1978, this pocket sized book was in my parent’s collection. Looking to clean up their bookcases, I had a read to decide if it’s a keeper or a burn-pile candidate. Set in the lovely Romanian county of Bucuresti in the height of its post-bellic boom, the story follows the investigative trail that theContinue reading “Anitita Augustopoulos-Jucan – Al doilea adevar (The second truth)”

Bacovia, Intre satanism si murder ballads (Romanian)

“Inauntrul oricarei dorinte se incaiera un calugar cu un macelar.” (Emil Cioran – Silogismele amaraciunii) George Bacovia, pe numele sau real G. Vasiliu s-a nascut la 4 septembrie 1881, la Bacau, fiu al comerciantului Dumitru Vasiliu (Andonie Vasile Dumitru) si al Zoei Langa. Bacovia absolva liceul in 1903 in orasul sau natal,studiaza dreptul la IasiContinue reading “Bacovia, Intre satanism si murder ballads (Romanian)”

The Assumption of Mary * 15th of August

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary (Mariae Himmelfahrt, Mariä Aufnahme in den Himmel) is celebrated in some states in Germany on August 15 each year. It is a public holiday in Saarland and some parts of Bavaria. Many Catholics attend special church services and some people collect herbs as a tradition for the day. The fourthContinue reading “The Assumption of Mary * 15th of August”

The Handmaid’s tale: a story about the importance of choice for a woman and a totalitarian approach to fecundity

This essay was first published on Reading Our Way to the Revolution on May 19, 2015. It’s no secret that The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the great Canadian novelist, took religious and right wing attempts to control women’s reproductive lives one step further and created a dystopian future. As always with good future fantasy, itContinue reading “The Handmaid’s tale: a story about the importance of choice for a woman and a totalitarian approach to fecundity”

1st December 1918

When I think how it happened long ago, A nation born upon this rugged shore, I think of those who once dreamed a special dream, To build a land like none that came before. They dreamt of one nation When I think of the faces young and old, When first they came to see ourContinue reading “1st December 1918”

CU TIMPUL… (Jorge Luis Borges)

Dupa un anumit timp, omul invata sa perceapa diferenta subtila intre a sustine o mana si a inlantui un suflet, si invata ca amorul nu inseamna a te culca cu cineva si a avea pe cineva alaturi nu e sinonim cu starea de siguranta, si asa, omul incepe sa invete… ca saruturile nu sunt contracteContinue reading “CU TIMPUL… (Jorge Luis Borges)”