Author Archives: powersron

About powersron

I'm a member of the Tacoma Retired Men's Book Club.

Masterpieces Selected by Tacoma Retired Men’s Book Club

Posted on December 1, 2020 by powersron

“I would like to pose a question to all the members of The Tacoma Retired Men’s Book Club: would you please name at least one book that you’ve read that you consider a masterpiece? Do you consider any of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020 Selections | Leave a comment

Introducing August Selection: True Grit

Posted on August 9, 2020 by powersron

It was such a delight to read “Mothering Sunday” that I decided I wanted to select a novel for August that was as breezy and easy to read as Swift’s, but written in a distinct American patois that would serve … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020 Selections, True Grit | 1 Comment

Reflections on “The Knowledge Illusion” by Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach

Posted on November 22, 2019 by powersron

I’m writing this essay after listening in, via DUO, to our book club’s discussion of “The Knowledge Illusion” by Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach on November 7th, 2019. At that time, I wasn’t able to offer my opinions about the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, The Knowledge Illusion | Leave a comment

Quotations from “All That Is” Selected by Ron Powers

Posted on September 16, 2019 by powersron

In a 2013 interview after the publication of James Salter’s final novel, “All That Is,” Salter said to the interviewer, “You write what you desire.” He also said that he “scrupulously” tried to eliminate aphorisms from his writing of this … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, All That Is | Leave a comment

Reconsidering “All That Is”

Posted on September 16, 2019 by powersron

In September, 2017, my wife recommended a book to me. Zoe had read “All That Is,” by James Salter, and she thought I would enjoy it. As so often happens between husbands and wives, I heard what she had to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, All That Is | Tagged , | Leave a comment

King Hereafter: Quotes

Posted on August 5, 2019 by powersron

Dorothy Dunnett, King Hereafter, originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1982. This word file has a few quotes from King Hereafter I would like to share: Ron Powers

Posted in 2019 Selections, King Hereafter | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Epilogue, Finding Yourself in a Hotel, By Ron Powers

Posted on July 4, 2019 by powersron

“Who would have imagined when you were sentenced to life in the Metropol all those years ago that you had just become the luckiest man in all of Russia.”                                                                                                 Mishka to The Count “One does not fulfill one’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, A Gentleman in Moscow | Leave a comment

Finding Yourself in a Hotel, Part Two, by Ron Powers

Posted on June 9, 2019 by powersron

The Count, Alexander Ilyich Rostov, made many friends during his long stay at the Metropol: Arkady at the front desk; Velentina in housekeeping; Pasha and Petya, the bellhops; Vasily, the hotel concierge; Fatima Federova, the hotel florist; all the restaurant … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, A Gentleman in Moscow | Leave a comment

Finding Yourself in a Hotel, Part One, by Ron Powers

Posted on May 21, 2019 by powersron

For years, movie goers and readers have been fascinated with the fictional possibilities that arise with the premise of a man or woman—or even a cast of characters—actually living for a time in a hotel. In my lifetime, Hollywood as … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, A Gentleman in Moscow | Leave a comment

The Emissary Puzzle

Posted on March 19, 2019 by powersron

I spent last weekend puzzling through this month’s selection for our book club, The Emissary, by Yoko Tawada. It was a second reading. I understand that Donald Trump also spent a puzzling weekend. In his case, he was actually trying … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019 Selections, The Emissary | 1 Comment