Completed: 10/19/2024
Recommendation: mild recommendation
Recommended By: A coworker, Srini
Words for which I sought help:
caravanserai -- a group of people travelling together
cataleptical -- affected by a characteristic of catalepsy
chiaroscuro -- an effect of contrasted light and color
circumambient -- surrounding
clabber -- curdle or cause to curdle
clavis -- a pair of hardwood sticks used to make a hollow sound when struck together
delectation -- pleasure and delight
effulgence -- full of bright radiance
empyrean -- relating to heaven or the sky
halcyon -- denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
illimitable -- without limits or end
inutile -- useless; pointless
irrefragable -- not able to be refuted or disproved
Kali -- the most terrifying goddess wife of Shiva, often identified with Durga and in her benevolent aspect with Parvati. She is typically depicted as dark-skinned, naked, old, and hideous
laconic -- using very few words
landau -- a horse-drawn four-wheeled enclosed carriage with a removable front cover and a back cover that can be raised and lowered
lugubrious -- looking or sounding sad and dismal
martinet -- a person who demands complete obedience; a strict disciplinarian
maya -- the supernatural power wielded by gods and demons
pauciloquy -- economical speech; the use of few words when speaking; laconism
perspicacious -- having a ready insight into and understanding of things
prolixity -- the act of using too many words to convey a point, making it difficult to understand
proselyter -- a person who converts others from one opinion, religion, or party to another
puissant -- having great power or influence
quiddity -- the inherent nature or essence of someone or something
refulgent -- shining very brightly
sepulchral -- relating to a tomb or interment
supernal -- of exceptional quality or extent
umbrageous -- providing shade
unction -- the action of anointing someone with oil or ointment as a religious rite or as a symbol of investiture as a monarch
vatic -- describing or predicting what will happen in the future
veracious -- speaking or representing the truth
verity -- a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance
Review:
It is challenging to accept this book on face value. The idea of people materializing here and there (sort of a religious Star Trek) is exceedingly hard to believe, but is a fundamental component of this book. This book, like other books about saints, is full of miracles that strain the imagination. I guess I am just a skeptic.
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