95 North. . . The Newspaper

Scholar Richard F. Thomas's recent book Why Dylan Matters has a title that invites Dylan fans everywhere to ask themselves the same question. While it seems that Thomas has presented an argument that Dylan is a major western cultural figure in the tradition of the ancient Greek and Roman poets, it'd be fascinating to see a sampling of reflections that speak to the highly diverse nature of Dylan fans. Here is one from Dr. Ernie Panscofar, which you can also view on his blog  here . Many of his songs have a nice, easy beat to walk to during my daily exercise on the treadmill; I like using his tunes to write alternative lyrics to convey thoughts and events that are on my mind; The cover songs by other artists allow me to appreciate his lyrics in new ways; I can share my interest with Dylan's work with friends; Individual segments of prose, to me, are worth more than the composite whole of the entire set of lyrics; He brings out my creativity in expressing myself us...

I am currently reading Omar El Akkad's excellent debut novel- American War . The novel is a piece of futurism, as it imagines a future civil war in the United States over oil. Southern states revolted over a blue state law that banned its use. Chemical weapons are used in South Carolina. "Birds" are mini-drones. The ocean overtakes New York City, Washington D.C., and most of Flordia. In the midst of this horrifying story, a young girl, Sara (known as "Sarah-T") emerges a force for justice- or is she being manipulated? Part thriller, part-warning shot- this book makes for a great read. Highly recommended! Quotes: "My favorite postcards are from the 2020's and 2030's. . . a reminder of when America as it existed in the first half of the 21st century: soaring, roaring, oblivious ". "But still she sensed in her brother a kind of insecurity, as though trying to scare her was not some cruel way to pass time, but a vital means of prov...

Recommend reading/Book Review: Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life  by Scott Marshall Even before Bob Dylan preached the gospel under the bright lights of 1980 in stages across the world, he was a man who valued Jewish and Christian traditions over the course of his lifetime. Bob's consistent interest in spirituality is made clear in a recent book entitled  Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life by Scott Marshall. Indeed, while the music during the gospel-era might of taken on another flavor due to some personal revelations Bob had in the late 1970s, the spi ritual has always been a priority for Bob.  All this leads me to believe that Bob Dylan is not a person who is trapped in "enlightenment" thinking, constantly using left brain rationality. He is right brained: interested in images, poems, and meanings that extend beyond rational and into the spiritual.  Bob Dylan's emphasis on the spiritual has peaked my recent interest in reading about the relationship between s...

Some quick hits on some books I've read this summer. . . Cache Lake Country: Life in the North Woods by John J. Rowlands While I quite enjoy hiking, camping, and generally being in places of natural beauty as much as the next person, I am not and will not embark on the type of outdoor experience documented in Cache Lake Country . John Rowlands details his life in the deep north woods of Maine with only a sketch artist and an "Indian Chief" as his companions. Rowlands works for a timber company, thinks no man is meant to live alone, and has a deep appreciation for Native American culture despite the outdated language he uses throughout this 1957 book. He particularly admires "the Chief", who he says has taught him everything about living the great north. There's no high drama here, just a practical and enjoyable guide to living in the wild. Here, you'll find recipes for raspberry drinks, fishing tips, a guide on how to sleep outside in the middl...