Author Archives: John Sloan

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About John Sloan

John Sloan is a senior academic physician in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, and has spent most of his 40 years' practice caring for the frail elderly in Vancouver. He is the author of "A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly", published in 2009 by Greystone Books. His innovative primary care practice for the frail elderly has been adopted by Vancouver Coastal Health and is expanding. Dr. Sloan lectures throughout North America on care of the elderly.

Ulysses. James Joyce.

Posted on February 6, 2025 by John Sloan

Joyce, James. Ulysses. Shakespeare and Company, Paris, 1922. F; 1/25. Tackling this book with its celebrated complexity I had no idea what I was getting into. The history of its publication alone is almost as tangled as some of its … Continue reading →

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Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie, Vancouver.

Posted on February 1, 2025 by John Sloan

January 2025 We’ve been looking forward to eating here for several months since Feenie took over the slightly renamed legend. Mourners for many years the loss of Feenie’s Lumiere, we had high expectations for this emergence of the chef from … Continue reading →

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The City and Its Uncertain Walls. Haruki Murakami

Posted on January 5, 2025 by John Sloan

Murakami, Haruki. The City and Its Uncertain Walls. English translation Knopf New York 2024. I’ve been a fan of Murakami for many years and read and reviewed Blind Willow Sleeping Woman, Men Without Women, 1Q84, and Norwegian Wood. I liked … Continue reading →

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Clos Maggiore. London UK.

Posted on December 9, 2024 by John Sloan

December 2024 This fancy Covent Garden spot was actually named by Michelin the “most romantic” restaurant in the city. Our expectations were high but in respect of ambience and physical plant they were exceeded. It’s one of the prettiest if … Continue reading →

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Brasserie Blanc, London UK.

Posted on December 9, 2024 by John Sloan

December 2024 This French-style chain restaurant is near the National Theatre where we saw a wonderful play, and was recommended by friends who have helped us find things here in London. I think we may have caught the staff on … Continue reading →

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Bancone. London UK.

Posted on December 9, 2024 by John Sloan

December 2024. We chose this Italian spot in the city for lunch on an anniversary week here by a strategy of identifying Michelin Bib Gourmand places that were within walking distance and not overly ethnic. This eatery seemed pleased with … Continue reading →

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Intermezzo. Sally Rooney.

Posted on October 27, 2024 by John Sloan

Rooney, Sally. Intermezzo. Faber and Faber, London (etc.) 2024. F; 10/24.  I liked but was not blown away by Conversation with Friends and Normal People, Rooney’s other two novels I’ve read and reviewed. She seemed to me to be improving between … Continue reading →

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We Solve Murders. Richard Osman.

Posted on October 13, 2024 by John Sloan

Osman, Richard. We Solve Murders. Viking Random House, London, 2024. F; 9/24. I got interested in the philosophy and background of Hannah Arendt and downloaded her The Origins of Totalitarianism, but I was out of my depth. So I pulled … Continue reading →

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Hitler’s People. Richard Evans.

Posted on September 27, 2024 by John Sloan

Evans, Richard. Hitler’s People. Penguin, New York, 2024. NF;  9/24. I had recently read some World War II history (Paris‘44, a 2015 book by a William Mortimer-Moore. There was, strangely, another book with the same title published in 2024 by … Continue reading →

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Bluebird, Stratford Ontario.

Posted on September 23, 2024 by John Sloan

September 2024. Last year two of us had a quick lunch in the small outside patio of this restaurant which was fair to good. This time six of us sat inside for dinner, surprised at the extent of the indoor … Continue reading →

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