FB Readers Book List ?????

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2006
FB Readers Book List ?????
80
Thu, 03-27-2008 - 8:28am

Reading the Submission thread has given me an idea...


A lot of books were discussed in that thread that I'd never heard of (the Story of O was the only one I knew).











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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2006
Wed, 04-09-2008 - 3:29pm

Egil's was the most cohesive of the saga's, it is a favorite amoung many Heathens I know. The Volsungs are facinating too, the Rus people described in history (and the saga) are actually Norsemen, having migrated from mostly Sweden through Finland and into Russia, hence why Russia is now called, well Russia lol.


I've always been facinated by the classics. Beowulf being the first one I read that got me excited about it. Its still one of my favorite stories of all time. "The Kalavala" is a facinating little epic from Finland. Theres a prose version and the direct translation from the Old Finnish, the former is much easier to read. But it is the written documentation of the old rune singers who passed tales down through oral traditions. I am in the beginning phases of learning to read Old Norse, which will be a very long and arduious process, especially given that I dont have the proper amount of time to devote to such an endevour. But it is a long standing goal of mine.


I have read that about the Spartan kings and their personal guards. Leonidas is a facinating character to me, I hope one day to stand at the hot gates and see the statue of him that still resides there.


The Corcyra / American politcs metaphor couldn't be more right on the money..and who says there isn't bloodshed ~wink~ its just a different kind. I think politicians and world leaders nowadays don't pay enough attention to history, they just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. Especially the fall of Rome, as you mentioned. All great sociteies will end, its just a matter of when. I am of the opinion that ours began its downfall a little while back and if we don't look to history to re-evaluate where we stand on the world stage, our fall will be a rather nasty one, especially considering the countries who continue to gain power and have booming economies (hello Mr. Putin lol)

Lothiriel


death3.jpg sandman death image by rst001


Death: You get what everyone gets....you get a lifetime.....

lothmaybe1.jpg

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-21-2005
Wed, 04-09-2008 - 3:59pm

As I recall, the Norse even made it all the way to Constantinople before realizing they were biting off more than they could chew and decided to settle for a long term contract in place of plunder!


I read the Tolkien translation of Beowulf years ago and loved it, though

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2006
Wed, 04-09-2008 - 4:13pm

The Norse did in fact make it to Constantinople, in fact it was the Norwegians that first set sail south down the Atlantic, through the straight of Gibralter and into the Medditeranian. They also went to Alexandria, runic graffiti can still be found on many of the Egyptian monuments. The Norsemen really traveled much further than most people realise, all the way down the Volga in Russia, east towards the black sea and all the way down to what is now modern day Iraq. They als reached North America much ealier than that Spaniard that dicovered some islands in the carribean ~smile~ The reason they didn't stay was issues with the native peoples which they called Skraelings.


It really is amazing how much emphasis is put on math and science these days, its quite sad. You don't perpetuate a society unless you can learn from the mistakes of its predecessors, and we're clearly not doing that. Wealth can only get you so far, especially in this day and age when everything is so politically correct we have to tip toe through the tulips with everyone so as not to cause conflict. I agree that democracy won't last unless we take a long hard look where we came from.

Lothiriel


death3.jpg sandman death image by rst001


Death: You get what everyone gets....you get a lifetime.....

lothmaybe1.jpg

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-21-2005
Wed, 04-09-2008 - 4:35pm

I think future generations will look back and view 1914 as the beginning of the collapse. So much was lost and we are still reeling from the consequences. We may be materially and technologically rich, but socially and culturally, I'm afraid we have entered a second dark age.


In any case, the Norse were

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Wed, 04-09-2008 - 10:35pm

Good evening Moon!


I have prepared a short list of books that have brought me mental enjoyment....


In no particular order....


Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte


The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan


All Too Human, George Stephanopolis


Primary Colors, Joe Klein


The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, edited by Clayborne Carson


The Diary of Anne Frank


The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan


The Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw


Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison


Summer Sisters, Judy Blume


The Hunt For Red October, Tom Clancy


Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell


Peachtree Road, Ann Rivers Siddons


Contract With an Angel, Andrew Greeley


The Secet Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett


The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupery


Trinity, Leon Uris


Angelas Ashes, Frank McCourt


I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou


Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow


Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury


Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy


Profile In Courage, John F Kennedy


Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen...


I am quite certain I will think of a dozen more an half an hour....................


Mrs P

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-2007
Thu, 04-10-2008 - 8:47am

speaking of Chauser and Beowulf, i had to insert this random bit of trivia.

~ Last year I received a kidney transplant from my older brother from another state. I'm glad and thankful the operation as a success. Just don't tell him that now i have 3!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2006
Thu, 04-10-2008 - 11:24am

Mrspe -


You mentioned an author I hadn't read in years...Leon Uris...He was my favorite in HS right behind Steinbeck...


Have you ever read "Exodus" by Uris?











iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2006
Thu, 04-10-2008 - 11:49am
It was the canterbury tales ~wink~.....the writing is longer than beowulf..and beowulf lacks that period at the end

Lothiriel


death3.jpg sandman death image by rst001


Death: You get what everyone gets....you get a lifetime.....

lothmaybe1.jpg

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2008
Thu, 04-10-2008 - 2:55pm
Are there any other books similar to those of Diablo Cody's?
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-2007
Thu, 04-10-2008 - 5:03pm

for some reason i knew that you would know that.

~ Last year I received a kidney transplant from my older brother from another state. I'm glad and thankful the operation as a success. Just don't tell him that now i have 3!!!

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