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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 27, 2021 9:29:10 GMT -5
RIP Larry McMurtry, who was born in Archer City Texas, and died there 2 days ago at age 82.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 27, 2021 11:29:35 GMT -5
I've had that book since it came out but I haven't opened it yet. So many books, so little time. You don’t know what you’re missing Ron. Wonderful series by a wonderful storyteller. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the book John. It is slow plodding through Fifth Century England, mostly what is now Cornwall and Wales. You see, B. Cornwell is so descriptive and detailed in his narrative of the Court of Uther with the intrigues of the petty Kings and Merlin's intrigues that I have to stop and think and imagine what I just read. I visualize what I read. I can almost smell the pig sties, the mud, the smokey castles, the unwashed characters. This book is truly "A Trip". It needs to be slowly digested.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 27, 2021 11:31:49 GMT -5
RIP Larry McMurtry, who was born in Archer City Texas, and died there 2 days ago at age 82. He invented many memorable characters and seemed to know them well.
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 27, 2021 11:35:45 GMT -5
You don’t know what you’re missing Ron. Wonderful series by a wonderful storyteller. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the book John. It is slow plodding through Fifth Century England, mostly what is now Cornwall and Wales. You see, B. Cornwell is so descriptive and detailed in his narrative of the Court of Uther with the intrigues of the petty Kings and Merlin's intrigues that I have to stop and think and imagine what I just read. I visualize what I read. I can almost smell the pig sties, the mud, the smokey castles, the unwashed characters. This book is truly "A Trip". It needs to be slowly digested. I picked it up and it seems that I had already read it, probably about 8 years ago. I just forgot. 🤢
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 27, 2021 14:53:25 GMT -5
The Whole Chile Pepper Book...a great digest with recipes!
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Post by toshtego on Mar 30, 2021 11:29:36 GMT -5
Asser's Life of Alfred the Great.
A Ninth Century Best Seller with lots of notes. fortunately, translated from the Latin into modern English.
At this point, 4 year old Alfred has been sent to Rome to meet the Pope and be blessed. He will return a few years later for more. Well tutored by his folks. He will be an educated man.
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 30, 2021 12:24:18 GMT -5
Finished Monster Hunter International by Larry Correa. It was a fun read. Now reading Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morely. Also a fun read in a different way.
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Post by jeffd on Mar 31, 2021 17:45:17 GMT -5
Re-reading Black Robe by Brian Moore. An historical novel about two cultures in collision, Native Americans and Jesuits, as seen through the beliefs of each. What I loved about this is that both groups are stripped of un-earned dignity in their description, and there is no false nobility, plot driven heroism, good guys or bad guys. And they all have to figure out what to do and how to get through the moments in which their illusions are shattered by the reality in front of them, and they have to see beyond the faith that sustains them in order to know what to do.
A great read. The story is sustained by its realism, and its ability to steer clear of easy answers or trite moralism. It was refreshing to not have anyone to root for.
My main complaint about the book is the same thing. There is nobody to root for. Nobody to relate to. We don't like or even recognize these people. Some might say, "if I wanted to watch cultural and moral relativism and the clash of two ridiculous and ultimately ineffective world views, I would just turn on the news."
The truth is that if we were magically transported to that time and place, we would not relate or recognize anyone, and would only want to return home.
Well worth reading.
More can likely be said, but not without deviating from the relevance of this forum. It is a great book.
OK, yea, it requires a good dose of Batman Comics afterwards, a bourbon, and a pipe or two, in order to restore the world and to avoid complete chaos.
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Post by urbino on Mar 31, 2021 21:27:36 GMT -5
Re-reading Black Robe by Brian Moore. An historical novel about two cultures in collision, Native Americans and Jesuits, as seen through the beliefs of each. What I loved about this is that both groups are stripped of un-earned dignity in their description, and there is no false nobility, plot driven heroism, good guys or bad guys. And they all have to figure out what to do and how to get through the moments in which their illusions are shattered by the reality in front of them, and they have to see beyond the faith that sustains them in order to know what to do. A great read. The story is sustained by its realism, and its ability to steer clear of easy answers or trite moralism. It was refreshing to not have anyone to root for. My main complaint about the book is the same thing. There is nobody to root for. Nobody to relate to. We don't like or even recognize these people. Some might say, "if I wanted to watch cultural and moral relativism and the clash of two ridiculous and ultimately ineffective world views, I would just turn on the news." The truth is that if we were magically transported to that time and place, we would not relate or recognize anyone, and would only want to return home. Well worth reading. More can likely be said, but not without deviating from the relevance of this forum. It is a great book. OK, yea, it requires a good dose of Batman Comics afterwards, a bourbon, and a pipe or two, in order to restore the world and to avoid complete chaos. Brian Moore . . . that sound familiar. Is he the guy who wrote the novel about Lewis and Clark, partly from Sacagawea's perspective?
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Post by trailboss on Apr 1, 2021 0:16:02 GMT -5
A man of the word by Jill Morgan.
A biography of G. Campbell Morgan.
What a remarkable man he was.
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Post by jeffd on Apr 1, 2021 0:47:41 GMT -5
Brian Moore . . . that sound familiar. Is he the guy who wrote the novel about Lewis and Clark, partly from Sacagawea's perspective? I don't think so. A number of authors seem to have taken that task on. I could be wrong.
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Post by urbino on Apr 1, 2021 1:10:08 GMT -5
Brian Moore . . . that sound familiar. Is he the guy who wrote the novel about Lewis and Clark, partly from Sacagawea's perspective? I don't think so. A number of authors seem to have taken that task on. I could be wrong. Hmm . . . I can't seem to find my copy. It may have gone to the library.
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Post by urbino on Apr 1, 2021 1:13:41 GMT -5
Ah, there it is. Brian Hall wrote that one.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Apr 1, 2021 3:57:48 GMT -5
jeffd I might like that one. I'll put it on my list. Last night I started The Five, by Hallie Rubenhold, bios of the Jack the Ripper murder victims. It's just ok, so far.
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Post by taiguy66 on Apr 4, 2021 8:48:29 GMT -5
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Post by pepesdad1 on Apr 4, 2021 9:02:35 GMT -5
The Book of Garnishes...a book of fancy ways of dressing up a dinner or lunch plate of food. Good for you chefs.
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Post by toshtego on Apr 4, 2021 10:35:43 GMT -5
Still reading Asser's Life of Alfred the Great.
The Vikings continue to be a problem for the West Saxon King. Alfred has developed Piles and this is slowing him down.
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Post by urbino on Apr 4, 2021 13:00:53 GMT -5
Still reading Asser's Life of Alfred the Great. The Vikings continue to be a problem for the West Saxon King. Alfred has developed Piles and this is slowing him down. They'll sure do it. And traveling by horseback . . . yeesh.
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Post by urbino on Apr 4, 2021 13:02:29 GMT -5
Finished Red Storm Rising. Kind of delightfully '80s.
Started The Mists of Avalon.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Apr 4, 2021 14:11:44 GMT -5
Picked up a new copy of 1984 yesterday, it's been a few years, so I figure it's time to read it again. Told my kids I'm gonna make both of them read it as well.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Apr 4, 2021 14:59:18 GMT -5
Picked up a new copy of 1984 yesterday, it's been a few years, so I figure it's time to read it again. Told my kids I'm gonna make both of them read it as well. I reread it a couple years ago. It's every bit as relevant, maybe more so.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Apr 4, 2021 17:27:13 GMT -5
Picked up a new copy of 1984 yesterday, it's been a few years, so I figure it's time to read it again. Told my kids I'm gonna make both of them read it as well. I reread it a couple years ago. It's every bit as relevant, maybe more so. I agree, smart devices, Alexa really is listening, Google too, etc. Seems like we are closing in.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Apr 4, 2021 20:10:12 GMT -5
The Art of Presenting Food by S.Y. Williams...a great presentation of presentation of food.
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Post by toshtego on Apr 4, 2021 21:31:33 GMT -5
Still reading Asser's Life of Alfred the Great. The Vikings continue to be a problem for the West Saxon King. Alfred has developed Piles and this is slowing him down. They'll sure do it. And traveling by horseback . . . yeesh. Saddles back then were not padded.
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Post by sperrytops on Apr 15, 2021 20:58:31 GMT -5
Just finished The Thursday Afternoon Murder Club. A very pleasant, light whodunnit.
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Post by zver on Apr 16, 2021 13:00:12 GMT -5
The Atlantis Gene
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Post by just ol ed on Apr 16, 2021 14:42:34 GMT -5
finished the AARP latest issue. The whiz-bang who has done a great job scamming back the scammers (in NewDelhi, India)who prey on seniors. So far, none have nailed me. Mainly tell 'em hearing aids do NOT translate foreign accents into understandable English , then either hang up or hit 'em with dog whistle or small air horn..have both handy!
Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY
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Post by Plainsman on Apr 21, 2021 20:08:03 GMT -5
Just received hard-bound of Robin Wakefield’s new (2021) MEDITATIONS OF MARCUS AURELIUS (the annotated edition). So far I cannot give it enough praise. I’ve been an Aurelian for many years and this is the best yet. Available at Amazon and highly recommended for those so inclined.
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Post by Plainsman on Apr 21, 2021 20:16:33 GMT -5
Re-reading Black Robe by Brian Moore. An historical novel about two cultures in collision, Native Americans and Jesuits, as seen through the beliefs of each. What I loved about this is that both groups are stripped of un-earned dignity in their description, and there is no false nobility, plot driven heroism, good guys or bad guys. And they all have to figure out what to do and how to get through the moments in which their illusions are shattered by the reality in front of them, and they have to see beyond the faith that sustains them in order to know what to do. A great read. The story is sustained by its realism, and its ability to steer clear of easy answers or trite moralism. It was refreshing to not have anyone to root for. My main complaint about the book is the same thing. There is nobody to root for. Nobody to relate to. We don't like or even recognize these people. Some might say, "if I wanted to watch cultural and moral relativism and the clash of two ridiculous and ultimately ineffective world views, I would just turn on the news." The truth is that if we were magically transported to that time and place, we would not relate or recognize anyone, and would only want to return home. Well worth reading. More can likely be said, but not without deviating from the relevance of this forum. It is a great book. OK, yea, it requires a good dose of Batman Comics afterwards, a bourbon, and a pipe or two, in order to restore the world and to avoid complete chaos. There is a relatively obscure Canadian film of that. Called, by coincidence, BLACK ROBE.
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Post by urbino on Apr 21, 2021 21:17:06 GMT -5
I'm about to finish up All the Light We Cannot See, which I started ages ago and then put aside. Tragic ending, but I suppose that's appropriate for a wartime story.
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