Does anyone read? Part II

[Shapley]

Nicole,

I read a book many years back that dealt with the loss of a whaling expedition in the 1800's, or early 1900's, in the artic. I'm embarrassed to say that I can't recall the title or author of the book, or even teh ships involved. It is particularly embarrassing since I saw a program on the History Channel quite recently that dealt with the same subject.

The whaling expedition was secondary to the story of survival after the ships were trapped in the ice. Those that survived did so by dragging one or more of the whaleboats across the ice for several miles to find open water, then travelling through the artic in open boats, occassionally having to portage in order to cross the ice. Eventually they split up, whether due to the loss of one of the boats, because they were overloaded, or some simply decided to take their chances on foot rather than by boat I do not recall.

Hopefully, someone here well recognize the events and help me with a title. I seem to recall that it was a good read, but had quite forgotten it until I saw the History Channel program.

Anyone?

BTW, I finished "Cruise of the Cachalot" and am starting Melville's "Typee".

[Nicole Marie]

Hi Marye-

Just wanted to give you an update. I stillhave not finished Holy Blood. I was sidetracked by the Saving Grace (great book). My goal is finish it before the months end. I'm also reading Tolkein's Silmarillion.

[Marye]

Hello NM - I purchased the Holy Blood myself and got sidetracked with an Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus), Lost Souls by Michael Collins and The Light of the Day by Graham Swift, the latter I haven't finished. I did pick up a few more books and an essay or two Mary M as well that I haven't looked at. So I am well behind. But thank you for keeping me up to date though... I will let you know what I learn if anything startling.

[OperaTenor]

Hi Y.R.H.,

I've read the Silmarillion a few times. If you haven't read it, it provides great background information on Middle Earth, and gives substance to all of the references made in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. However, it's extremely dry reading, and I feel you've really got to want to learn in order to persevere.

[bignaf]

I don't think it's dry reading. the dry reading comes in the extensive volumes of his son concerning middle earth. I like Silmarilion. it's has a nice archaic-like style.

[piqaboo]

Nice to hear from someone who found it [Silmarillion] readable.
I found it deadly dry . Perhaps I shall try it again as an adult.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

It's still deadly dull. There's no story. It's all scenery and history (of unreal events, yet!) and background. No plot.

Even technical reports are more interesting.

[barfle]

Reading Tolkien is like eating sawdust to me.

[OperaTenor]

Gee Barfle, I didn't know you liked eating sawdust...

[Nicole Marie]

Yeah the Silmarillion is dry. I keep falling asleep when I read it. But I want to get through it, it's full of tons of great info. Part of the dry aspect I think comes from the fact that Tolkein did not write the book, he kept notes and his son put the book together from his notes, letters and writings. Makes the "story" aspect of it bland.

[bignaf]

the silmarilion rocks!

[Nicole Marie]

I'm reading A Game of Thrones by George Martin. Great Book! It's the first in a series of four. Has anyone read the rest of the series or know if there is a plan to go beyond the fourth book? I'm loving the first and would like to continue through the series, if someone has an opinion on the books I'd love to hear it.

[Marye]

Don't know this series... A Game of Thrones by George Martin at all. I am interested in hearing some opinions.

I just mentioned to NM about the Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich... the first book is "One for the Money". Series of 9 books so far, Stephanie Plum is a Bounty Hunter...These books make me howl with laughter... of course maybe you have to be a woman to appreciate them ....

I just picked up Elle, by Douglas Glover.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

NM: How much you enjoy the Game of Thrones series depends on how well you can keep track of the medievalesque politics and the assorted semi-weird characters. I have to take notes.

If you're enjoying the George Martin books, you might like Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars series. Also a medieval setting, but the characters are a little more solid.

Right now, I'm reading Mercedes Lackey's The Fairy Godmother and enjoying it. Just finished Eric Flint's Ring of Fire. Short stories, and a novella, set in the 1632 universe. All you alternate-history folks, and you know who you are by now, probably have these books. The rest of you might take a look at them.

Happy reading,

Selma

<small>[ 01-21-2004, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Selma in San Diego ]</small>

[Shapley]

I had to be out of town for a couple of days, so I took along L. Sprague De Camp's The Ancient Engineers. It's quite an interesting read, heavily documented, but not nearly so dry as most history books. If any of you have read any of his science fiction or fantasy books, you'll be familiar with his style of writing.

[piqaboo]

Rereading "Annals of the Time Patrol" Poul Anderson.
just finished "Mother Load" by......(yeah, him....). That one has some fascinating alien baddies in it.

Les Miserables is sitting on the shelf waiting for a quiet weekend - say around July....

Thinking about reading the Narnia series again.
They are in a box in some garage somewhere (either at the new house or at a parents house) (C.S. Lewis).

[eaphil]

I recently finished "Ever is a Long Time" -- nonfiction by W. Ralph Eubanks, an African-American who grew up in Mississippi in the 1960s and 1970s and is currently Director of Publishing at the Library of Congress.

He left Mississippi after college with no intentions of returning. After finding his parents' names on a declassified list of people watched by a secret state segregation organization, however, he returned in the 1990s to learn more.

It's a fascinating story. He sits face-to-face with men involved in the spy organization. Rather than bitterness and anger, he is able to extend forgiveness.

Although he and I grew up under different circumstances (and I am a few years older) in Mississippi, so much of what he writes about is common to us both. It's a story about the strength of family, about dark and terrible times, and about change.

The writing is good. The lessons are important, as he writes at the end of the book:

"As the stories move from the sins of the past to the seeds of redemption in the present, the rhythm of the tales moves you to get up and dance for joy. As the dancing begins, one story ends and another begins.

"The story of Mississippi is one that never ends. It echoes through every bend of its winding rivers and across every inch of land within its borders. I'm glad I came back to hear these stories. For better or worse, they are now a part of my lore. Most of all, I want to keep them alive because the lessons they hold must never be forgotten...."

<small>[ 01-23-2004, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: eaphil ]</small>

[piqaboo]

Patricia Cornwell, "The Last Precinct",
one of the Kay Scarpetta stories.

The technical details and the main character's introspection both appeal to me.

[Marye]

Hello Piq,

I have read most of the Kay Scarpetta series. Foresenic science has always appealed to me too. There is the Kathy Reichs series of forensic anthropology; somewhat similar to Patricia Cornwell's. Tempe Brenan is the character and works in Montreal's Laboratoire de Medecine Legale examining recovered bodies. Deja Dead is her first one.

A bit of a hijack alert here..
Does Mel Gibson's new movie interest anyone?

[Nicole Marie]

Hi Marye-

My husband and I are going to see it, just to see what all the hype is about. I heard it's very bloody. Just want to see it so I can find out why everyone has their panties in a bunch.