tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post718758256311683495..comments2023-10-08T05:53:31.844-07:00Comments on Frigate to Utopia: Summer Reading Roundup (Part 2)Lit~Lasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371293247684677108noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-90570699858727792872013-10-04T15:42:19.429-07:002013-10-04T15:42:19.429-07:00I'm in little Cowtown (Ponoka). ;) Your lovely...I'm in little Cowtown (Ponoka). ;) Your lovely blog has introduced me to a number of books and I'll enjoy reading your thoughts on any I mentioned here.<br /><br />The author of "JA's Philosophy of the Virtues" is Canadian, so it may be in one of the Calgary libraries. (Wasn't in any of the more central public ones.) You seem like someone who would really appreciate it.Lit~Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05371293247684677108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-15519454309384906552013-10-03T10:33:59.775-07:002013-10-03T10:33:59.775-07:00That does sound interesting! It's been a long ...That does sound interesting! It's been a long time since I've read Biblical fiction. I didn't mind Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis books, and The Vinegar Boy was enjoyable. But I read all of those back in high school, nearly a decade ago.<br /><br />I would be interested in the paper!ibmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914380316134426353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-16206033615092636842013-09-29T08:46:12.287-07:002013-09-29T08:46:12.287-07:00Glad you revisited Ripple Effects so I know about ...Glad you revisited Ripple Effects so I know about a fellow Albertan (we could be in the same city... I'm in Cowtown) And to know about your blog here. I've read some of the books you mention and for those I haven't, thanks to your reviews, they just might all go into my TBR list. <br /><br />I've read all of Jane Austen's six novels, several times, as well as some spin-offs, and seen almost all of the available adaptations. Yes, you can say I'm a 'Janeite'. Have not read <em>Jane Austen's Philosophy of the Virtues</em>, and thanks to your discussions, this sounds like an intriguing one. Artihttp://rippleeffects.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-84443756475527871852013-09-26T15:29:04.834-07:002013-09-26T15:29:04.834-07:00So is there any Biblical fiction you really like? ...So is there any Biblical fiction you really like? The OT critic's paper is actually for my denomination's study committee on women's ordination, but gives an overall respectful, but redemptive interpretation of OT gender relations. If you're interested I can email it to you.<br /><br />I think I'll incorporate replies to some of the other comments into the (long overdue) email. Lit~Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05371293247684677108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-17485087814415915692013-09-23T07:45:00.577-07:002013-09-23T07:45:00.577-07:00Sometimes that is the case. I also wish I were lik...Sometimes that is the case. I also wish I were like Jane Austen - could write a short letter that said everything a long letter should have said. :)<br /><br />Over my whole life, I think it's probably fair to say I've read a good chunk of Biblical fiction. However, I haven't read any very recently, so I'm kind of out of that particular genre. That Biblical critic sounds pretty interesting, though!<br /><br />Jane Austen is great at creating characters with believable blind spots - Mrs. Vernon clearly loves Reginald a lot, and thus does not comment on his failings in behaving poorly to Lady Susan - but she does point out his failings, and worries that Lady Susan will encourage the weaker part of his nature.<br /><br />Excellent - I'm sure if I were in the right frame of mind, I would enjoy the Dalloway style quite a bit. I was mostly just not engaged by the plot.<br /><br />Well, it's on the cusp of YA and Middle Grade, but Megan Whalen Turner's The Queen of Attolia is one of my very favorite books of the last two years. It's absolutely not shallow, and I think very beautifully written (the sequels are quite as jewel-like, but are still really good).<br /><br />Green's editing also emphasizes the speed at which he talks. It's a fairly common trait in vloggers, though - delete the dead space to increase content without increasing runtime.<br /><br />I feel quite outside of the "nerdfighter" demographic, not just because of age, but also because for all the preaching of diversity, it seems that they are really just a center-left group of internet buddies. Conservatives and strongly-left liberals are unwelcome.<br /><br />I actually quite like the Riordan books - the first five are definitely middle grade, and the second five are shooting more for YA (but really, other than length and age, they are pretty much tonally and content-wise the same). They definitely start out very shaky construction and prose-wise, and improve a lot (in some ways - the plots still frustrate me in the newest books) as the series continues. I think the biggest appeals are the taxonomic impulse (the worldbuilding by catagorizing strategy) and the characters.<br /><br />My mom is not happy that I got my 16 year old brother into the Riordan books, for similar reasons. I'm much less bothered by an outright pagan worldview - I like my opponents to be where I can seem them :). My parents aren't usually quite as bothered by that kind of thing - they let me read adult Star Wars novels at 11, and they are pretty blatantly pagan as well. However, even at that age, I was a lot more voracious and widespread in my reading, so I think my mom is worried that my brother doesn't have the same context that I might when reading. Dunno. But I think outside of their explicit paganism (and it's worth noting that the books note that the gods are not worth worshipping), they do have a lot of valuable insights into friendship, loyalty, and heroism.<br /><br />I adore The Daughter of Time. There's a sort of good Sayers type vibe in Tey's style and characterization. Plus, it's the book that converted me to Ricardianism. :)<br /><br />Typos, bah! This is the internet! :)ibmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914380316134426353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-22417708695847663262013-09-19T15:40:26.232-07:002013-09-19T15:40:26.232-07:00Yes, but you must also read Sanditon because there...Yes, but you must also read Sanditon because there's a discussion of Wordsworth. ;)<br /><br />Well, I'm pretty sure the guy _can_ write very poetically, but with all the teenagers there was a fair bit of slang... and at least one instance of wrong grammar, which was followed by a note on the correct grammar. Since I've only read the one, I can't really advise you. Perhaps, though, you should go for one of the earlier, award-winning ones. Sorry I'm not better help. You could put an ask on tumblr, telling a bit about your tastes and tag it "nerdfighers" and "John Green". Lit~Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05371293247684677108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-86661559065751329282013-09-19T15:36:18.968-07:002013-09-19T15:36:18.968-07:00Hmm, maybe this is going to be the length of an ep...Hmm, maybe this is going to be the length of an epistle. (For some reason it's easier to write long email-like comments than long emails. ;/)<br /><br />So have you read much Biblical fiction at all? I haven't, and it's probably a good idea that I don't, since my personal views on interpretation are bound to be at least as strong as on Austen's works. ;) While -- unlike you -- I jumped into the feminist label, I especially struggle with applying feminist thoughts and principles to the Bible. The thing is, I've lately been reading a theologian who criticizes some feminist interpretations, yet actually gives female characters, like Rebecca, a more influential place in the biblical story and its overarching themes than Diamant as a self-avowed feminist did. Anyways, I could go on about this sort of thing forever.<br /><br />Very good point about Reginald! The thing is, Mrs Vernon judges correctly almost without fail (though one could draw the conclusion that only her resentment to Lady S keeps her from being charmed) but how much does she see how reprehensible Reginald is?<br /><br />My copy of the 3 works has an intro by Margaret Drabble and the editing is pretty good. <br /><br />Well, I _chose_ to enjoy Mrs Dalloway and extract as much goodness from it as I could. (Also, I should edit more, because look at that hideous row of adjectives! Shame!)<br /><br />I have no idea what makes something YA other than the label on the library book. ;) Since you say you're into YA, perhaps you can recommend some to me that I won't promptly label shallow? <br /><br />Occasionally Green annoys me; more of the time I find him very amusing. But I do realize I'd probably not be able to stand a person like him in "real life". I once heard something about him talking fast and hyper because of his anxiety issues. But other videos -- non Vlogbrother ones -- show him talking more normally, so there's certainly a performative element in it. Of course, you're conservative, so I'm assuming that accounts for some part of why his "content" annoys you. Others have criticized the "nerdfighter" culture for emphasizing or catering to only specific youth -- white, those with the privilege to help them do well in school. I don't know, but the whole thing is interesting to observe. <br /><br />I both do and don't want to read Fault in Our Stars because I have an 18 yo cousin with cancer. Not sure if it would be too emotional and scarry (given what I've somehow learned of the ending), or if it would help me understand his experience better. <br /><br />Said cousin was reading Rick Riordan when I saw him last week. I was considering reading "Labyrinth" so I'd have something to talk with him about. (He's getting pretty sick of people's attempts at conversation mostly being "You're so brave" and "We pray for you every day".) But then the other day my dad went into a philippic on the terribly worldly book the boy was reading, and how it would surely destroy all spiritual tastes in him. So not sure I'm going to read it at the present time and cause my parent's more distress than the reading of Shakespeare has caused. (Sorry for ranting.)<br /><br />The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey? Is it good? I've heard about it from The Ricardians. *said in hushed voice, as when talking of Bilderbergers*<br /><br />PS Please forgive typos. This computer has no spell check. :(<br />Lit~Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05371293247684677108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-13531496705204284992013-09-17T00:52:10.743-07:002013-09-17T00:52:10.743-07:00Must read Watsons some day. What was the tone of J...Must read Watsons some day. What was the tone of John Green? Is his grammar decent? I've been planning to read him (mainly to see what the hype is all about) but have no idea where to start.Caroline Helstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04922512642158974870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5188363566174884239.post-53528620444207363252013-09-16T16:51:02.948-07:002013-09-16T16:51:02.948-07:00Red Tent: interesting - I've not read much Bib...Red Tent: interesting - I've not read much Biblical fiction recently. As you know, I'm still not sure exactly where I fit on the feminism scale, but your comments seem quite perspicacious.<br /><br />Jane Austen's other works - I just listened to an audiobook of Lady Susan, and I actually really enjoy it. It has a really fun psychological battle between Lady Susan and the De Courcys. I'm not sure exactly what I think of the opponents this time - Lady Susan is as repulsive yet hilarious as ever, but Reginald I can almost see with her eyes. A man who treats women the way he judges them fit to be treated is not much of a man. I still retain sympathy of Mrs. Vernon, though, and poor Frederica.<br /><br />I confess I've never really had much inclination towards the Watsons or Sanditon. Probably partially on account of the awful edition I first encountered them in - they retained the ampersands, contractions, and confusions of the manuscript.<br /><br />I didn't enjoy Dalloway as much as you, but I did find it very interesting.<br /><br />I am ashamed to confess that I've not read Adam Bede, just watched the rather odd version with Susannah Harker as a very cool Dinah. One of these days, I shall give Eliot her full due instead of just stopping with Middlemarch and Deronda.<br /><br />I quite like your thoughts on Katherines. I am much more into YA than I've found a lot of the critics I've been reading. Is it the focus on teenagers that makes something YA? Or what is it? People keep complaining that somethign is "YA," but they seem to assume that the reader knows what that means.<br /><br />Green's attitude, voice, and content do tend to irritate me very quickly, which is why I've not gone on to read any of his other stuff. Plus, I really hate the more tragic stuff, which is why I've shunned his more famous ones, Alaska and Fault in Our Stars.<br /><br />Glad you loved dear Jane as well as usual. :)<br /><br />I've been reading all over the place - urban fantasy (Seanan McGuire and my first Jim Butcher), YA modern Greek myths (Rick Riordan), superhero fiction (Marion Harmon's Wearing the Cape series), bits of The Daughter of Time on audio, some scifi in an anthology for a book club, and some comics. :)ibmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914380316134426353noreply@blogger.com