FB Readers Book List ?????
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FB Readers Book List ?????
| 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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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
Death: You get what everyone gets....you get a lifetime.....
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
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
Death: You get what everyone gets....you get a lifetime.....
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
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
speaking of Chauser and Beowulf, i had to insert this random bit of trivia.
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?
Lothiriel
Death: You get what everyone gets....you get a lifetime.....
for some reason i knew that you would know that.
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