| 15 SEP 2010 at 7:36am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
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Location: AU
Status : Offline | Cris
I've seen that lovely painting you did of you sitting on the riverbank in Oxford.
This book is not quite what I expected, covering far more university history and less scenery than I hoped for but it is an interesting read and for an ex-scholar would be a pleasing aide-de-memoir.
The only time I was in Oxford was for my honeymoon in 1977 when it rained cats and dogs every blessed day. [Caroline considers posting the only photo we took of that trip but decides not to] We saw Blenheim and Woburn and stayed in a charming old ivy-covered vicarage.
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| 19 SEP 2010 at 12:00am |
JelenaPrivate Detective
Posts : 587
Joined: 30 SEP 2007
Status : Offline | I just finished The Swan Thieves by Elisabeth Kostova. At first I didn't get into the story very easily. I kept falling asleep every time I started reading it :-/. But eventually it grabbed me and caught my full attention.
I can highly recommend it for anyone who likes stories about love.
Now I've started reading Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic. I've decided to learn more about this author (having so far only read Hogfather) and this seems like a good start.
Temporary guest in your life.
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| 23 SEP 2010 at 12:23am |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | Jelena,
I read Kostova's The Historian earlier this year and really got swept up in it. Swan Thieves is on my "read soon" list, but right now I'm reading Bram Stoker's Dracula. Even though vampire stories are a dime a dozen and the plot elements are so very familiar, this classic really holds up after 100 years. I'm enjoying it.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
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| 7 OCT 2010 at 11:45am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | I was very positively surprised by Bram Stoker's Dracula.
...so I don't quite understand why I found the middle 2 quarters of Kostova's Historian so boring. Which was really a pity, since the story picked up nicely for me again where you get to meet Helen's mother, but by that time I was pretty exaspetrated by the previous slow pace and nothing happening.
Not that the book wasn't written in beautiful prose - if you were expecting to read a travelogue, that is...
I recently picked up a short-story anthology called Black Thorn, White Rose --; filled with stories that puts interesting twists and an adult POV on popular fairytales. I really liked some of the stories, whilst other seemed a bit obscure; - still, it was good entertainment.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 7 OCT 2010 at 2:53pm |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | I know relatively little about the history and geography of Eastern Europe and Turkey that I found the descriptions in The Historian very interesting.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
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| 7 OCT 2010 at 3:17pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By LadyKestrel (7 OCT 2010 2:53pm)
I know relatively little about the history and geography of Eastern Europe and Turkey that I found the descriptions in The Historian very interesting.
True, and like I said, it was very beautifully written. Perhaps if I didn't have such a huge "to read" list of books waiting to be read, I would have been more patient with it.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 7 OCT 2010 at 4:25pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2539
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | that part of the world that sometimes is called Aisia Minor is an amazing region that has just incredible history connected to it, thru the Byzantine years waves of evolution, war, and revolution swept thru it that were essential to understanding the modern world and some of the problems we face with fundamentalist religions that threaten world order with seeminly meaningless nhilistic chaos. There are reasons and they are rooted in history...worth the read. I reccomend the series of world history by Will and Amy Durant as a good backgrond and also Arnold Toynbee's 18 volume history of Civilization.
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| 7 OCT 2010 at 4:29pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2539
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Caroline ys rain is part of life in Oxford and actually i enjoyed it, it was lovely to be in the ancient libraries or working quietly in my studio in the old Ruskin Master's room in the Ashmoleaon with a good pub lunch to look forward to at the Bird and the Baby (the Lamb and Child of Inklings Fame) just across St Giles.....while the quiet and peaceful rain fell.
If you want a nice touch of Oxford, find episodes of Inspector Morse or the sucessor program called "Inspector Lewis" (it airs on PBS on Sunday night) lovely mystery series set in the Oxford of the 70s, 80s 90s and now.
[img]http://rossland.bclibrary.ca/site-files/ihspector%20lewis.bmp[/img]
[img]http://tvmysteries.omnimystery.com/covers/inspector-lewis-s01-150x210.jpg[/img]
Caroline btw, i love your Widked Witch Avi, very clever
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| 7 OCT 2010 at 6:11pm |
New WolfboySpace Cadet
Posts : 133
Joined: 27 JUL 2010
Status : Online | Morse, and Lewis, are fantastic.
I'd also recommend A Touch Of Frost, and my own home-grown Taggert, whilst I'm at it.
Currently, I am reading 'Every Dead Thing', which I also recommend, if you're not too squeamish.
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| 11 OCT 2010 at 11:56am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Listen, you guys, - The Blackstone Chronicles by John Saul - is that what the Adventure game was based on? I've found the book at my online shop and thinking of buying it.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 11 OCT 2010 at 8:41pm |
| Deleted User | By the book I assume that you are looking at a compilation of the serial novels by JS in which I believe he took to the idea of a serial novel based on the succes of Stephen King with the Green Mile series. (or was it the other way around?) Yes, you could say that the game is based on the book although a bit loosely since the book describes the events and the townsfolk of Blackstone and what happens to them all as a result of what occurred in the asylum. I won't give away any more on that. As for the game, it takes a look at what may have happened (or not) within the asylum's walls, another story in itself that I suppose you could call the "inside scoop."
Assuming you enjoy that type of read, go for it.
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| 12 OCT 2010 at 10:37am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Yes, that bunch of small serial novels - I can get the whole lot in one volume for a pretty good price.
Well, it does sound worth it, and even better that the book doesn't actually spoil the story of the game but just sets the background for it. 8-)
(I haven't played the game yet)
Thanks, CB!
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 12 OCT 2010 at 11:23am |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | I've had some holidays lately that have helped me knock off a few from my to be read pile.
Storm Glass by Maria Snyder - boring
The Engineer trilogy by K.J. Parker - loved it
Godspeaker trilogy by Karen Miller - once I got through the 1st book, it was pretty good.
Excession by Iain M. Banks - I don't read much SF, but I enjoy his Culture books
Monarchies of God (5 books) by Paul Kearney - quite good, I'll be looking forward to Corvus (follow up to Ten Thousand).
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
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| 19 OCT 2010 at 10:12am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | I prefer short stories, and I've just discovered Roger Zelazny, who wrote lots of short sotries in the fantastical SF (SF and Fantasy mixed) genre.
I'm reading one of his collections The Last Defender of Camelot and I'm liking it, he has a very original mind, but man, are some of his stories weird...
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 19 OCT 2010 at 9:41pm |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | I have The Dream Master by Zelazny but haven't read it yet. In fact, I have so many unread books right now that I've decided to try something new. Between the books I'm reading for my book discussion group, I'm going to choose a letter of the alphabet and read at least 2 books by authors starting with that letter. My first pick is "A," so right now I'm reading Traveller by Richard Adams. It tells the story of the Civil War from the point of view of Robert E. Lee's horse. It's not as good as Watership Down, Shardik nor The Plague Dogs, but it's still very enjoyable. Next I'll probably pick one by Poul Anderson. I've read about a dozen of his over the years, but I still have 3 or 4 I haven't gotten to yet.
I recently spent 5 days rearranging (and dusting thoroughly) all my books, and in the process discovered several books I had forgotten I have. I used to have sci-fi and fantasy separate from my other fiction but decided that it would be easier to combine them all. Quite a few of my favorite authors, such as Ursula LeGuin, write in different genres, and it's always been a problem of where to put the books. Now I can keep a particular author's works together.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
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| 19 OCT 2010 at 10:48pm |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5538
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (19 OCT 2010 10:12am)
I prefer short stories, and I've just discovered Roger Zelazny, who wrote lots of short sotries in the fantastical SF (SF and Fantasy mixed) genre.
I'm reading one of his collections The Last Defender of Camelot and I'm liking it, he has a very original mind, but man, are some of his stories weird...
You need to check out Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber, particularly the first five novels, the Corwin Cycle. Wild dimensionhopping stuff. Plus he has a way of taking everything you thought you understood about what's happening and turning it on it's head.
Originally Posted By LadyKestrel (19 OCT 2010 9:41pm)
My first pick is "A," so right now I'm reading Traveller by Richard Adams. It tells the story of the Civil War from the point of view of Robert E. Lee's horse. It's not as good as Watership Down, Shardik nor The Plague Dogs, but it's still very enjoyable.
I absolutely loved Watership Down, and enjoyed Shardik for the most part. Sounds like I'll have to track down Traveller and The Plague Dogs as well.
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| 20 OCT 2010 at 3:57am |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | Watership Down is my favorite of his because he created such a neat rabbit world and language, but he really does seem to get inside the animals' heads in all his books.
<------Oooo, look! I've got skulls now and just in time for Halloween. [smiley=skull_laugh.gif]
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
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| 20 OCT 2010 at 7:26am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By LadyKestrel (19 OCT 2010 9:41pm)
I have The Dream Master
I'm planning to read this sometime as well, in order to better understand the novella He Who Shapes, which the Dream Master is the novelisation of. It was included in LDOC and it was the story that I "got" the least, I think. (Well, the ending, at any rate). The ending wasn't quite what I had expected, and I think I should warn you that story is pretty darn weird. Not that weird is a bad thing, though.
I've still got my books according to genre, but I've been buying books so wildly in this past year or so, that I've recently had to throw all my old clothes out of a closet to make space for old books.. : No contest with me if books are going to win over clothes.
The painful thing is that one of my latest purchases is: : "501 Must-read Books". [smiley=doh.gif] It spans 5 or 6 genres.
Posted by: Andromus Posted on: Yesterday at 6:48pm
You need to check out Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber, particularly the first five novels, the Corwin Cycle.
Yup, I know. I've got the shorter collection of 5 books, and the longer collection of 10 books of Amber in my shopping basket at my online store, still trying to decide which one to get.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 20 OCT 2010 at 7:30am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By LadyKestrel (20 OCT 2010 3:57am)
<------Oooo, look! I've got skulls now and just in time for Halloween. [smiley=skull_laugh.gif]
...and to think I was once... *sigh* :-/ Suddenly I feel so weird with my measly 600 odd posts and you guys all have in the thousands... Time for Caroline to do one of those 4 word threads or something again...
Anyway, congratulations, Ms Ornithological Guild Master... :
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 20 OCT 2010 at 4:13pm |
Lady KestrelGuild Master
Posts : 4038
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, NJ
Status : Offline | That is Avian Guild Master, thank you! Considering I've been a member for just over 6 years, this was very slow in coming. My average is only 1.58 posts per day.
"Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?"
-Rabindranath Tagore
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| 20 OCT 2010 at 4:18pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Ah, so not only do you like birds, you actually are a bird! That figures, I suppose...
Even at my very high post rate, it would take me at least another three years to get back to where I was earlier this year... Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk, eh?
/me gives herself a kick.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 20 OCT 2010 at 5:36pm |
JelenaPrivate Detective
Posts : 587
Joined: 30 SEP 2007
Status : Offline | I had to give up on Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic. [smiley=hair_pull.gif]
I was reading it in English in order to avoid having the experience ruined by a translation. And indeed, I'm not sure how a translation copes with the in-sewer-ants and reflected-sound-as-of-underground-spirits.
Anyway, it took me too much effort to grasp everything since I had to use the dictionary all the time, or ponder long and good about puns like the two mentioned, I just quit!
Now I'm reading Anna Gavalda's Ensemble c'est tout, but of course translated into Swedish since my French is pretty much non-existing by now.
Temporary guest in your life.
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| 21 OCT 2010 at 12:03am |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5538
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (20 OCT 2010 7:26am)
The painful thing is that one of my latest purchases is: : "501 Must-read Books". [smiley=doh.gif] It spans 5 or 6 genres.
Ah, yes, I picked that up awhile back. It is a dangerous book, isn't it? So many interesting sounding books brought to one's attention when one already has a pile of books to read, I mean.
I've got the shorter collection of 5 books, and the longer collection of 10 books of Amber in my shopping basket at my online store, still trying to decide which one to get.
Well, I found the first series to be excellent, and the second to be so-so and not as inspired as the first series. The second series is still worth a read through, though not a "must read". If you're on a budget, the first collection is all you really need to sample the best writing of the series, if not, the complete collection is still worth having but not, I would say, essential.
Originally Posted By jelena (20 OCT 2010 5:36pm)
I had to give up on Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic. [smiley=hair_pull.gif]
I was reading it in English in order to avoid having the experience ruined by a translation. And indeed, I'm not sure how a translation copes with the in-sewer-ants and reflected-sound-as-of-underground-spirits.
Anyway, it took me too much effort to grasp everything since I had to use the dictionary all the time, or ponder long and good about puns like the two mentioned, I just quit!
That's really unfortunate. Pratchett is one of my all time favorite writers, but I can see that he would be frustrating to read in a second language.
Something that might help in that regard is the Annotated Pratchett File, a handy collection of annotations covering things like that:
http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/index.html
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| 21 OCT 2010 at 4:33pm |
JelenaPrivate Detective
Posts : 587
Joined: 30 SEP 2007
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Andromus (21 OCT 2010 12:03am)
Something that might help in that regard is the Annotated Pratchett File, a handy collection of annotations covering things like that:
http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/index.html
Oh dear, that link made me realize there was even more I hadn't understood. [smiley=doh.gif]
I'll save Sir Pratchett for some day when I really want a challenge.
Temporary guest in your life.
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