I have finished The Mask Carver's Son.

I am in awe. The author, Alyson Richman, can write. I finished the novel at 8 this morning and am still feeling the effects this evening as I update this web site.

I am fascinated by the intense difference that a novel like this can have on me, as compared with the effect of other books, equally good in their own way, such as Ancient Greece and Alexander the Great. I enjoy learning. This web site is evidence of that. However my idea of learning appears to be much broader, and richer, than what we usually ask of students when they take our courses. I do feel there is a clear place for hard work and diligence to the task at hand. Learning the skills, and the attendent knowledge, is critical. Even the protagonist of the novel had to spend many years learning the skills of drawing. Yet, as also evidenced in the novel, one must feel the freedom to follow their passion. This is not only true of artists, but it is also true of teachers. We MUST have teachers who are alive. It is the core prerequisite. These are the people that can find a way through our present beauracracies - to share this passion with their students. The tragedy of the novel is the protagonist's friend Noburo, "He looked at me with eyes no longer bright. The flame extinquished." (p. 348).

The novel has rekindled my interest in Japan. Two cities that have left their mark on me are those of the story, Paris and Kyoto. Most cities leave me cold - they are all interchangeable. Not so for Paris, nor for Kyoto.

I have two lovely picture books of Kyoto, plus a small book on Kyoto's history. I have spent the last couple of hours rereading sections of these books and marvelling at the photographs. "If I were a rich man..." I would be on a plane tomorrow to Kyoto. Showing the wisdom of my financial situation, I will wait awhile, but the desire to return is a strong one.

• Kyoto: Seven Paths to the Heart of the City by Diane Durston. [My thanks to Allan Ellis for recommending this book, which I found at the souvenir shop at Kinkaku-ji]
• Introducing Kyoto by Herbert E. Plutschow.
• Kyoto: A Cultural Guide to Japan's Ancient Imperial City by John & Phyllis Martin.

All three books are ostensibly for the tourist market, yet there is a wealth of tantalizing information in them all. Much of the detail is about the various Buddhist temples.

Tomorrow I hope to see if I can sort out some of the early Buddhist history in Japan and will try to organize the various major sects into some coherent structure. Interesting. Three days ago I was sure I was about to begin studying some technology topics, instead a novel has me returning to early Japanese history.

How can we build a greater sense of flexibility into our school system???