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ByGD

So Vast the Prison

Despite the fact that I rarely stick with reading challenges Reading Around the World really appeals to me. So I decided to give it a shot this year. I started in Afghanistan with A Thousand Rooms of Dream and Fear. That worked well, so I moved on to Algeria. Then the pandemic hit and the library closed before the book I chose came in. Typical. But, six months later, the library slowly began to reopen by fulfilling holds that were placed before the pandemic. So I finally got to read my Algerian book pick: So Vast the Prison by Assia Djebar.

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ByGD

Dark Landscapes

Last week I posted a picture of Dimmu Borgir, an area of unique rock formations in Iceland. This week I’m pulling the camera back a bit for a wider view. I think it’s interesting that in a country famous for unique rock formations, this particular area is named for such. Actually, what is most notable to me about it is its lush vegetation. That is far less common in this volcanic land.

ByGD

Dark Cities

The name Dimmu Borgir translates to Dark Cities. That’s quite the evocative name, and certainly worthy of an elven castle or a metal band. But like its namesake Norwegian band, the real Dimmu Borgir is not really very scary. It’s actually quite lovely. Much nicer than the Fire Swamp. I’d like to build a summer home there.

ByGD

Summer Expectations Vs. Reality

You know those “Expectation vs. Reality” memes? I need one for my summer. I mean, I already knew it wasn’t going to involve exciting trips to far-off places or music festivals. But I thought, based on our success with remote learning during the school year, that I could pull off an interesting and educational summer at home. I certainly had big plans that seemed cool when I made them up. And I don’t think the summer we had was bad. It just didn’t look anything like my plans. What else is new, right?  

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