Anil Jacob
agjacob.bsky.social
Anil Jacob
@agjacob.bsky.social
Bibliophile. Aspiring writer. Public health policy work (tobacco control, operational research, digital health). Knopfler,Rachmaninov, Tolkien, Grisham, freshly brewed coffee and a good discussion. South India. New to BlueSky.
So heartening to see this!
June 14, 2025 at 6:50 AM
My daughter has the entire soundtrack of Moana 2 playing every time I pick her up from school. Cute but not as clever and charming as Miranda's songs in the original Moana..😊
January 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Perhaps even Sinclair Lewis who foresaw what is happening today
January 10, 2025 at 6:33 AM
For the life of me I don't see how people voting in the US justify the leadership of a person whom they have already elected.
January 10, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Absolutely. It's poisonous to ourselves, just thinking such thoughts
December 30, 2024 at 4:26 AM
One simply cannot have enough of the entire trilogy as well as the prequels!
December 26, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Therapeutic... Thanks for sharing
December 22, 2024 at 1:00 AM
When I was in graduate school one "tip/hack" that I overheard was this. The abstract, introduction and conclusion of any book are the most important to read well. As in, closely. I hope that helps you with pinning down what to read with what concentration.
December 21, 2024 at 6:37 AM
Given your context I think your condition is quite reasonable to impose, absolutely...
December 21, 2024 at 6:34 AM
Amazing, what a contribution indeed! As an Indian citizen who enjoyed the benevolent funding that I received from Rutgers for my PhD, and returned to India, this is not only gratifying but inspiring. America does some things amazingly right because of its values.
December 20, 2024 at 4:26 PM
You have a valid point. 100 pages is about enough for a story to move. Even if it's "literary"
December 20, 2024 at 12:44 PM
Sorry, I meant "book" above. Also, even good contemporary thriller writers take over ten pages to set up their story. Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal or even anything by John Grisham need you to give them a little bit of patient reading....
December 20, 2024 at 7:11 AM
I used to be like this for the duration of my PhD studies and I respect your thinking. I practiced it after all. However, having survived that phase of my life, I think ten pages is too short to judge a boom's promise and premise. Real literary works and even excellent thrillers take time.
December 20, 2024 at 7:09 AM
Thank you for sharing this openly on this platform. Truth and sanity.
December 20, 2024 at 6:54 AM
He was amazing. Edifying lyrics, saturated with truth. All played with a lovely dulcimer.
December 20, 2024 at 6:53 AM
Invisible entry barriers to the publishing sector, it appears to be?
December 16, 2024 at 11:16 AM
I have not been to Auschwitz but did go to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the Holocaust museum in Washington DC. Life changing experiences. Just seeing the names and faces of those led like sheep to slaughter has remained with me. And also the artwork outside the Yad Vashem was so symbolic but accurate
December 14, 2024 at 7:59 AM
What a lovely place to be and to work! 👍 Wonderfully quaint but modern and traditional as well...
December 13, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Bluesky already gives me a taste of this feeling...
December 7, 2024 at 5:05 PM
In case you like something contemporary:

Anything by John Grisham: (legal thriller genre)

"The Pelican Brief"
"The Firm"
"The Brethren"....

Frederick Forsyth (espionage /intelligence thrillers):

"The Day of the Jackal"
"The Fourth Protocol"
December 7, 2024 at 4:56 PM
The movies are very good, but the books are amazing. Voted as the best narrative arc for the 20th century by literary experts. Nothing like reading the real thing.
December 7, 2024 at 4:54 PM
If you have time and would like to invest in a great story, one of the very best of the twentith century ,start down the JRR Tolkien path:
1. The Hobbit.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring.
3. The Two Towers
4. The Return of the King
December 7, 2024 at 4:25 PM
Such sincerity and humility for such an obviously highly trained scholar! There are tonnes of resources here to start improving one's writing skills. It's never too late. One word at a time.
December 4, 2024 at 2:27 PM
Hits the nail on the head of the nail.
December 3, 2024 at 8:16 AM