Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[Scepticalscribe]

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I read that book years ago (back in the days - our undergraduate days - when, apart from J. R. R. Tolkien, my alienated intellectual male friends read T. H. White; fantasy, world creating, and/or alternative history literature was really rather limited then. It experienced an explosive growth later).

On their recommendation, I read the lot - Tolkien and T. H. White - and remember that the early parts of the book are brilliant, beautifully written and really clever, but I seem to recall that it sort of runs out of steam a little towards the end.

 

[Don't panic]

Scepticalscribe,
if you haven't, you should read "City of Thieves", set in Leningrad during the siege in WW2. I think you would enjoy it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Scepticalscribe,
if you haven't, you should read "City of Thieves", set in Leningrad during the siege in WW2. I think you would enjoy it.

Thank you for your kind recommendation.

Actually, following your post yesterday which referenced this same book, I confess that my curiosity was piqued, and, thus, I googled it yesterday evening, and also looked up a few reviews, as this is exactly the sort of thing that interests me. What are your thoughts, and do you recommend it that strongly?

 

[Don't panic]

i just thought it would be the kind historical fiction that might interest you, based on what i 'know' of you through these forums.
I won't give anything away, but it has an absurd-ish intriguing premise, which is developed into a well-written, interesting mix of fun and raw events, with a couple of great characters. It is somehow predictable, but that doesn't subtract much. Plus, it provides a nice window into a pivotal WWII event, that many people (well, at least I) do not know a lot about other than the basics.
I found it very enjoyable.

 

[LadyX]

What Book Are You Reading?

Now I got interested. Historical fiction and non-fiction are one of my favorite genres to read. I've read a good number of historical non-fiction books but not a lot of historical fictions so thank you for recommending this novel.

 

[Don't panic]

Now I got interested. Historical fiction and non-fiction are one of my favorite genres to read. I've read a good number of historical non-fiction books but not a lot of historical fictions so thank you for recommending this novel.

let us know what you think of it.

 

[LadyX]

What Book Are You Reading?

let us know what you think of it.

Will do when I get around to reading it


EDIT: just called my local bookstore. Said the book went out of stock a few days ago

 

[Scepticalscribe]

i just thought it would be the kind historical fiction that might interest you, based on what i 'know' of you through these forums.
I won't give anything away, but it has an absurd-ish intriguing premise, which is developed into a well-written, interesting mix of fun and raw events, with a couple of great characters. It is somehow predictable, but that doesn't subtract much. Plus, it provides a nice window into a pivotal WWII event, that many people (well, at least I) do not know a lot about other than the basics.
I found it very enjoyable.

Thanks very much; I will most certainly look into it, and order it, and yes, history, Russian/Soviet history, (and well written historical fiction) all do indeed interest me, quite a lot.

Actually, you described it as 'brilliant' in an earlier post, so - given that I read actual history for fun (as well as historical fiction), well, yes, I will read it.

I used to teach Soviet history and Communism, and several years ago, when the city was still called Leningrad, I visited a number of museums commemorating the Siege of Leningrad. They were haunting, horrific and very moving; to see - laid out as an exhibit - the daily ration of bread on which people survived - and were expected to survive - was an incredibly shocking and exceedingly disturbing sight.

 

[Don't panic]

Oh, reading The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil right now. Great book.

i remember reading it in my late teens, many eons ago. maybe i should pick it up again.

 

[Don't panic]

Thanks very much; I will most certainly look into it, and order it, and yes, history, Russian/Soviet history, (and well written historical fiction) all do indeed interest me, quite a lot.

Actually, you described it as 'brilliant' in an earlier post, so - given that I read actual history for fun (as well as historical fiction), well, yes, I will read it.

I used to teach Soviet history and Communism, and several years ago, when the city was still called Leningrad, I visited a number of museums commemorating the Siege of Leningrad. They were haunting, horrific and very moving; to see - laid out as an exhibit - the daily ration of bread on which people survived - and were expected to survive - was an incredibly shocking and exceedingly disturbing sight.

now i feel the pressure

 

[Scepticalscribe]

i remember reading it in my late teens, many eons ago. maybe i should pick it up again.

Actually, I was just about to write that I had attempted to read it 'a few years' ago, (and it is one of the few books I never managed to finish) when I realised that 'a few years ago' is actually, in the late 1990s. Ooooops.

Must return to reread it - it is sitting on my shelves, fat and welcoming; much has happened since the late 1990s which may throw a different light on a fresh attempt to take a long look at it.....

now i feel the pressure

Subtly applied, I should hope......

 

[SandPebble]

 

[mkeech]

I've got Slaine: The Exile and Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor lying about. Not sure which one I am going to read first.

However, I am interesting in tackling The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but I have no idea which translation to pick up. If anyone has read it, which English Translation do you suggest?

I have the Moss Roberts translation from UC Press:
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Kingdoms-Historical-Novel-Part/dp/0520224787/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

I haven't read any other translations, but this one was quite good. I just had to get through the first few chapters to get used to the style (many, many names thrown at you, but you don't have to remember most of them).

 

[kazmac]

I have the Moss Roberts translation from UC Press:
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Kingdoms-Historical-Novel-Part/dp/0520224787/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

I haven't read any other translations, but this one was quite good. I just had to get through the first few chapters to get used to the style (many, many names thrown at you, but you don't have to remember most of them).

Thanks, mkeech. The price is higher than I can swing right now, but I appreciate the recommendation. I suspect once I do get it I'll be constantly rechecking some names. I do know a handful of the warlords though so that's a start.

 

[Don't panic]

I have the Moss Roberts translation from UC Press:
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Kingdoms-Historical-Novel-Part/dp/0520224787/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

I haven't read any other translations, but this one was quite good. I just had to get through the first few chapters to get used to the style (many, many names thrown at you, but you don't have to remember most of them).

I never got around reading that one. Is it good also as an actual story, other than the cultural/historical significance?

 

[mkeech]

I never got around reading that one. Is it good also as an actual story, other than the cultural/historical significance?

My take on it was that it actually is a good story, you just have to get used to the slightly different style at first (compared to how most contemporary novels are written). For example, each chapter initially seems to introduce a lot of different characters, too many to keep track of, and I found it confusing. But, a lot of them aren't going to survive for more than a chapter or two, so after awhile you realize that there are just a few main characters threading through the book that you follow. Once I figured out the style, I thought it was a great, epic-scale story.

Also, if you've ever seen the movie Red Cliff, it's fun to see how the book is similar/different in comparison.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I am currently reading The Return of the King on my Kindle.

 

[pachyderm]

recently read David Benioff's "City of Thieves". Brilliant.
One of the best books i read in the last couple of years.
Highly recommended.

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just finished "The Golem and the Jinny", which is also a great read, especially for how it mixes the historical and the fantastic, and in how it explores human nature using non-humans characters. plus the early 20th century new york setting.

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I've read the COT, not bad.

the golem and the jinni ... i might have to give it a try.

 

[Huntn]

I've been watching a lot of the Sherlock PBS/BBC production, decided to re-read some of the Sherlock Classics, and just read A Study in Scarlet. An excellent read, that held my attention. I had forgotten and was pleasantly surprised by the direction this story took. I have to wonder if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever visited the Wild West?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've been watching a lot of the Sherlock PBS/BBC production, decided to re-read some of the Sherlock Classics, and just read A Study in Scarlet. An excellent read, that held my attention. I had forgotten and was pleasantly surprised by the direction this story took. I have to wonder if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever visited the Wild West?

Very interesting post and fascinating question.

I don't know whether Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever visited the 'Wild West' during his life, but I do know that 'the Wild West' was a location which fascinated late nineteenth writers of popular books.

These were extremely literate societies, and the 'Wild West' was deemed a location that reading publics knew about, were relatively informed about and appeared to have been fascinated by.

And it wasn't only Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: the German writer (of popular fiction in the late 19th century), Karl May, (whom I know never visited the 'Wild West') wrote a great many books where this was the featured location.

 

[LadyX]

What Book Are You Reading?

Very interesting post and fascinating question.



I don't know whether Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever visited the 'Wild West' during his life, but I do know that 'the Wild West' was a location which fascinated late nineteenth writers of popular books.



These were extremely literate societies, and the 'Wild West' was deemed a location that reading publics knew about, were relatively informed about and appeared to have been fascinated by.



And it wasn't only Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: the German writer (of popular fiction in the late 19th century), Karl May, (whom I know never visited the 'Wild West') wrote a great many books where this was the featured location.

Scepticalscribe, I got to say, your posts are a joy to read. Really. I love the facts and the information you post are very interesting. I don't know you, but, you seem very wise. And then I checked your profile, saw your occupation, everything is clear now.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Scepticalscribe, I got to say, your posts are a joy to read. Really. I love the facts and the information you post are very interesting. I don't know you, but, you seem very wise. And then I checked your profile, saw your occupation, everything is clear now.

Thanks very much for your kind words.

Actually, I've long been struck by how exceptionally literate the US was in the 19th century, books, periodicals, newspapers were devoured; indeed, this was a society which produced some extraordinarily good writers for a little over a century - from the time of say, roughly, Daniel Webster, taking in Nathaniel Hawthorne, Joseph Pulitzer, Jack London, right up to elegant and exceptionally well informed writers such William Shirer and beyond.

These people wrote a lovely, easy, fluid English, graceful and articulate, more modern and a lot less pompous than much of what was coming out of the UK in the same years.

So, yes, as a sort of ideal world, the US was considered very attractive in the 19th century, and the 'Wild West' seemed to epitomise the romantic element of this ideal.

Re Karl May, I almost blush to admit that I first tripped over a reference to him in a biography of Adolf Hitler which I read years ago, although his works are very popular in Germany.

This was the first German postwar biography of Hitler, written by Joachim Fest, which had a somewhat more nuanced perspective than some of the earlier works, (written by British and US journalists and historians) and it made the point that Hitler had developed very casual work habits, (which he flagrantly indulged, deeming himself 'artistic'), bureaucracy bored him to tears as did the mundane business of actually managing a state (rather than winning elections: A version of the old 'you fight elections in poetry but govern in prose' idea) once he had become Chancellor in 1933.

Actually, Joachim Fest's book observed that not long after becoming Chancellor, Hitler was turning up late in the mornings, sometimes not appearing until noon, skipping 'boring' meetings, skiving off to attend the opera (which he loved) and that, during his first six months as Chancellor, he took the time to re-read all of Karl May's considerable collection of adventure stories - all set in the 19th century 'Wild West' - which he had first read as a youngster, informing his cabinet that they taught him 'everything he knew' [about the US].

To say that I was stupefied when I read that would be something of an understatement.

 

[Backegg]

The Red Plague Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

This is the second in the Bannon & Clare series of steam punk genre novels. Sherlock Holmes lookalike (a Mentath!) and a sorceress. What's not to enjoy!

 

[Huntn]

Very interesting post and fascinating question.

I don't know whether Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever visited the 'Wild West' during his life, but I do know that 'the Wild West' was a location which fascinated late nineteenth writers of popular books.

These were extremely literate societies, and the 'Wild West' was deemed a location that reading publics knew about, were relatively informed about and appeared to have been fascinated by.

And it wasn't only Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: the German writer (of popular fiction in the late 19th century), Karl May, (whom I know never visited the 'Wild West') wrote a great many books where this was the featured location.

Some brief research on my part indicates he did visit North America and as a child was an avid reader of Wild West stories. For those who have not read A Study in Scarlet, these days I'd recommend downloading the entire Sherlock series. In iBooks, versions of it range from free to very inexpensive. For this particular story, it's composed of two parts. Part 1 is in London. Part 2 starts in the U.S. West and for a moment you might think you've started a new story that has nothing to do with an English detective in London. I don't know if it is stated anywhere if he is English vs Scottish, as the author is.

As the only active parent, Mary Doyle had a strong influence on Arthur, the eldest surviving son of seven children, instilling in him a love of chivalric romances and a firm belief in the English code of honor. She made the boy memorize and recite his family's genealogy, ancestor by ancestor. When left to himself, Arthur loved to read American "wild west" adventure stories, especially those of Bret Harte and Thomas Mayne Reid, an Irish immigrant to the U.S. who wrote The Scalp Hunters (1851), young Arthur's favorite book. As an adult, Conan Doyle felt that the highest vocation he could pursue as a writer was to create well-researched historical romances idealizing British history.

(Dickens.Stanford.Edu)

 

[obeygiant]

Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson