So far behind!

Okay, for anyone keeping track, I'm going to put asterisks by the books I've read previously since I'm allowing myself to read some that are not new to me.

I thought that it would be easier to do all new content, but I find that sometimes I just really want to allow myself to sink into prose that I know to be delicious rather than try something that might not be to my taste.

( Book Reviews: 27-37 )

Whew. I shouldn't put this off for so long.
I am now caught up, hurrah.

24
Anthony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough

This woman is one of my two favorite authors. (The other is Judith Tarr, fyi.) They both write history that makes me feel like I'm not only there, but that I'm learning something as I'm being entertained.

Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me like the rest of the Masters of Rome series has. McCullough has been accused of being in love with the idea of Caesar. I don't quite believe it, because I think her treatment of Sulla and Marius were just as painstaking and well crafted. But, I think if she was in love with Caesar, she was in a state of blah with Octavian and Anthony. And honestly, that's what it should be called. Cleopatra is just sort of a side story in the whole thing.

Doesn't matter though. No matter what she or Tarr publish at this point, I'll buy it.

25
Ireland (Horrible Histories Special) by Terry Deary and Martin Brown

We picked this up when we were in Kilkenny. ybunny read it while we were traveling around Ireland. Then, it languished on our bedroom shelves for two years.
I needed something light to wrap my brain around while sick, so I had a go.

It's...cute, in its way. Not a great history, but trivia filled.

I would like to read their version of US history at some point. Could be amusing.

Hey look, I'm one-fourth of the way through with this. Woo.

23
The English Plainchant Revival by Bennett Zon

I'm honestly not experienced enough with plainchant to really understand some of the charts they give or the distinctions between certain ways of resetting the shapenote manuscripts to modern notation.

However, I can appreciate the history.
It's actually a bit amazing the plainchant kept any sort of place in England considering the penal laws against Catholicism during the 17th and 18th centuries.

I liked the quote used just before the first chapter:
'Q. What is the use of singing and of organs in the divine service?
A. To help to raise the heart to heaven, and to celebrate with greater solemnity the divine praises.' (Richard Challoner, 1758-81)

22
Sophie's Choice by William Styron

The book was as I expected story-wise.

What I didn't realize is how graphic sexually it is. Well, for a given value of graphic.

I always thought that the book was banned, in the various instance where that occurred, because of the violence or because of the horrors implicit to any work about the Holocaust. Guess not.



I was asked how I get through the books so quickly. Basically, if I'm reading just for knowledge of the contents and not trying to work out an argument for a thesis driven paper, I can read quickly.
This is because I don't, and haven't for ages, read word-by-word. I read each line as a whole. Obviously, that speeds up the process.
I would not, however, call myself a speed reader.

21
Persuasion by Jane Austen

This one was a pleasure to read, though it was much shorter than I expected it to be.

However, it hasn't replaced Sense and Sensibility as my favorite Austen novel.

Someone got to this edition before me and (un)helpfully highlighted every occurence of 'persuasion', 'persuade', 'persuaded', 'unpersuaded', etc. with bright pink. Lovely.

I always hear that her stories are timeless. Not so much, at least, not in all details.
For instance, 'A sick child is always the mother's property, her own feelings generally make it so'. I'm too brain dead to make anymore of that at the moment.

I had some time between seminar and choir yesterday and I was off my evening routine for various reasons, so I got a lot of reading done last night.

19
What White Looks Like: African-American Philosophers on the Whiteness Question edited by George Yancy

Randomly enough, I caught an article in one of the glossies the other day about women risking skin cancer in order to bleach their skin. I find it bizarre. Just as bizarre as the amount of crap I've taken over the years for being so pale. It seems like there is a certain value of whiteness that is 'correct'.

The essays in this book are very thought provoking, but unlike many others, I really don't feel that I can marshall my thoughts on the matter yet.

Undoubtedly, there is an unspoken advantage to being white in certain parts of the world. There are also unspoken advantages to being born in a certain family or speaking with a certain accent or holding certain beliefs.
It's unfortunate that one of the most pervasive advantages is given to a group that simply has no choice in joining.

I'd need to think through this more, as I said. I feel that anything I could say would end up seeming simplistic or circular at the moment.


20
Sir Walter Ralegh: The Renaissance Man and His Roles by Stephen J. Greenblatt

I really enjoyed this writer's style of research and presentation. The pace of it made it almost a narrative beyond the thesis.

(Oh, and yes, its apparently Ralegh, not Raleigh.)

I didn't know much previously about Raleigh except the oft repeated story that he used his cape to cover a puddle for Elizabeth I.

The inclusion of plenty of original source bits about Raleigh/Ralegh paint a very real-feeling picture of a man.

His time in Elizabeth's court was of course his heyday, and his time under James was a series of bad mistakes/decisions.

The same qualities that made his an excellent courtier to Gloriana (poet and actor on the stage she made of her court) made him incompatible with James. Also, the ruinous trip to Guiana definitely didn't help.

Ralegh's pride in his abilities were part of his dramatic character.
One balladmaker wrote of him:
Ralegh doth time bestride:
He sits 'twixt wind and tide:
Yet uphill he cannot ride,
For all his bloody pride.

Easily my favorite thus far.

Am now 2 books behind. That means must read 4 this week. Can I do it? Unlikely, since I've got to ride the writing train this week.

16
Western Representations of the Muslim Woman: from Termagant to Odalisque by Mohja Kahf

Eh. A lot of her examples I felt were strained. I'm sure there is a ton of matter to work through in order to isolate passages that are useful.

I should have realized with 'odalisque' that the research would stop before modern times. Too bad.

I'm quite interested in women's perspectives of Islam. And while this was written by a woman, it could have just as easily been written by a man, so I'll probably add another book on women/Islam to the reading list for later in the year.


17
Hybridity, Identity, and Monstrosity in Medieval Britain: On Difficult Middles by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen

The general idea of this book was to explore the cross overs between the various well-defined groups in medieval Britain: Irish, Welsh, Jews, Scots, etc. People who crossed from one of these into a lifestyle where they presented themselves as English/Norman (he does a bit on the differences between these groups as well) and Christian.

Interesting to see the medieval idea of traits being literally in the blood. Also, the acceptance into the 'mainstream' community of individuals that were caricatures of their non-Christian/English community. For example: the Irish were non allowed to participate with the English, but a deformed man, known as the Ox Man, was.
There was also quite a bit about blood libels between groups.

I find the medieval world bizarre. The more I read about it, the weirder it gets. Most of my education in history ended at 600 or so, thus medieval studies is (relatively) new to me.


18
The Invention of Heterosexuality by Jonathan Ned Katz

I was really frustrated by this. However, it isn't Katz' fault. I just really can't get through anything that discusses Freud in any sort of length.

I'm unabashedly anti-Freud, and this book just reminded me of that.

Not that the book is entirely about Freud, but I lost the thread of the discussion when I got to the bits about him. *sigh*

15
King's College Chapel edited by Jane Geddes

I took a tour of King's Chapel yesterday with the above named Jane Geddes.

Quite a few things were already known to me because of my incessant interest and reading on Aberdeen history. However, it's definitely not a hindrance to have the person who, literally, wrote the book on the building showing you around.

I bought the book-a steal at £10 and read it in two chunks. For me, it was a page turner, but I'm guessing I might be the only one.

However, if you ever want the tour of King's, I am now, more than ever, your gal Friday.

And, for those of you who like a bit of a murder mystery, where do you think the body of Bishop Elphinstone is?

13
Heydrich: The Pursuit of Total Power by Günther Deschner

For those who may not know any of the Nazi leaders beyond Hitler and perhaps Goering, Heydrich was a member of the SS. He originated the SD, which was, simply put, the police of the SS as well as its main intelligence branch.
Heydrich was at one time president of Interpol.
He had his fingers in just about every pie that the Nazis baked. At his death, by assassination in Prague, he was Reichsfuhrer over Moravia and Bohemia. His nickname tells you how he lead: the Butcher of Prague.

While the documents of the Wannsee conference were never published and it is even difficult to be completely sure that any of the attendees actually attended, it is known that Heydrich led the conference. It was just after this conference that the Final Solution, the extermination of the Jews, was fully implemented. (If you want to terrify yourself with history, watch Ken Branagh play Heydrich during that meeting.)

There is a fine line to be walked with the study of Nazi Germany. It can become nothing more than an exercise in rubbernecking at one of the worst trainwrecks of history, or it can be, as it should be, a cautionary tale.

My interest in the history of Germany's pas de deux with National Socialism is twofold. In the first instance it is to combact revisionists in what small capacity I can. Secondly, I simply can't understand how, on an individual level, the leaders could have conceived of and executed such a horror. Obviously, they did, and so I'm resigned to reading the occasional biography to try to comprehend.

A quote from the author sum up some of Heydrich's personality.
'His interests lay purely in power and in perfection...Heydrich emerges as one of those...[who] do not care whether [their task] is good or bad, and it is this attitude which is the seed of their guilt.'

14
Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition by B. R. Burg

My one question: there seems to be an awful lot of sailors who lived through receiving hundreds of lashes. Regardless of the reason they were assigned, I'm pretty sure I'd go AWOL if I thought there was even the possibility of such punishment.

This book pretty much does what it says on the tin. It failed to keep my attention because I'm just not terribly interested in naval history. I tried.

One quote does stand out.
'[Before 1700], even for clerics and moralists profoundly concerned with secual transgression, homosexual activities were minor matters, no more dangerous than the heterosexual promiscuity they perceived to be corrupting the English nation.'

I've gotten dreadfully behind. I'm semi-behind on reading and decisively behind posting reviews. Meh.

8
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

I suprised myself by really enjoying this book. I thought that it would be tedious, but I obviously misjudged Wharton. It is, however, a costume drama of a book, so I'm predisposed to liking such things anyway.

It is interesting, I think, that so many of these type of books are published about Regency England, noting all the fancies and foibles of the class system and social mores.
To see all this in New York of days gone by is a refreshing take on matters.

I suppose it is a cautionary tale as well: don't get caught up in scandal and 'the way things should be'.

I'm putting this one on my Amazon wishlist. I'd like to own a copy of my own.

9
The Wings of the Dove by Henry James

Sorry, I just didn't like it. Obviously, selflessness=good and selfishness=good in this book. If only life was that simple.

Do I think selfishness=good? No, but I dislike being hit over the head with virtuousness.

If I'd been dying and discovered the plot, I'd make them dance like good little monkeys and then go ahead and leave the money. Why not?
< /cynical >


10
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

This book was really difficult for me to read. I found that I had to read parts of it over and over to understand his meaning. The shading of his prose reflected the stickiness of his theme: light vs. darkness.

I did find one bit a little funny...and apropos considering one of the current US presidential candidates.
"It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there had never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset.
"

Yes, all women live in a fairy, fantasy land, don't you know. *headdesk*


11
Of Human Bondage by William Somerset Maugham

I didn't like this one, not even a little bit. Made me consider throwing it against the wall more than once.

I admit to flipping to the end...and then rolling my eyes. That is all.


12
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

I've now read all of the Discworld novels by Pratchett. This was one of the ones that I read while I was severely hypothyroid and I couldn't remember much about it, so I gave it another read.

It's possibly one of my favorites from the Discworld, but I am indeed a Vimes fan, so any book with him would rate high anyway.

My favorite quote from Feet of Clay: "We have the clay, we can rebuild him."
A....hahahah. :)


So, I'm four books behind schedule. I think I can make them up.
Maybe.

Well, we've tonight and tomorrow and then we're off to the US of A.
Colour me excited. :)

I finished the following in about an hour, it's that riveting to me.

7
The Thistle and the Brier: Historical Links and Cultural Parallels Between Scotland and Appalachia by Richard Blaustein

I realize that many of you many have never heard of the faff about the connections between Scotland and Appalachia, the so-called 'Celtic Connection'.

Because of this, I'd wanted to read at least one scholarly work on the concept.
Unsurprisingly, academia bears out my earlier premise: no, Americans, regardless of place of birth or upbringing, are not Irish, are not Scottish. However, in many places, and especially Appalachia, the Scots-Irish background is preserved and does inform many aspects of life.

The stereotypical Scot is akin to the stereotypical Appalachian. Both are surrounded with a mythology that is romanticized version of reality.

Did the Highlanders of the 1740s or do those of the 1990s prance around in kilts 24/7 or eat nothing but oatmeal and haggis? No!
Did the Appachians of the 1830s or do those living in this new century wear denim overalls and smoke corn cob pipe constantly? No!

There are some that are solely intrigued and entranced by the mythology of the situation. It isn't just modern Americans that buy into this. Walter Scott led Lowlanders and Englishmen alike in a Pied Piper-esque parade of tartan and adoration of the 'noble savage'.

However, others are truly looking for cultural identity. An understanding of what they are, based on who their ancestors were. (I could trot out the 'don't know history, doomed to repeat it' line, but I'm pretty sure most of you have already gotten there.)

For me, am I Scottish just because I spent 14 years living in Appalachia? Nope. That's ridiculous.
But, what it does mean for me is that I understand exactly what they're on about when I hear two auld granite wifies talking about how someone is a newcomer who's been living here for 43 years.
You could hear people in Boone, NC say near abouts the same thing...and in some cases, using close to the same dialect.

I highly, highly recommend this one.

I am really bad at writing up the books I'm getting through. As we're now on the 4th week of the year, I should have already read books 7 and 8. I'll see if I can finish them before we leave for the US.

2
Life & Death in Eden: Pitcairn Island and the Bounty Mutineers by Trevor Lummis

I've always 'known' of Pitcairn Island. Those who are religious on the island are to this day Seventh-day Adventist. I believe there's around 40 people still living on the island. Most of them can trace their ancestry back to the HMS Bounty mutineers.

A lot has been done in various media on the Bounty mutiny. However, most stories/histories end with the group headed by the recently shipless Captain Bligh.

As a Seventh-day Adventist, the only clear fact I had about the Pitcairn islanders was that they were without educational materials other than a Bible and that all the progeny of the mutineers were taught to read and write English from that one book.

I found the history that Lummis puts out to be wonderfully comprehensive and easy to follow. He talks about the motivations of the mutineers in order to set the stage but concentrates on the activities and problems of the settlers in detail.

The one fact that stands out is that within only a few years, the original group of 27 had worn each other down to 14 people: 4 men and 10 women.

Yet, from that group, they eventually evolved into an egalitarian group that carved an 'Eden' as Lummis terms it. It was ahead of England by leaps and bounds in compulsory education (they did eventually acquire more than just the Bible!) and health standards.

A very good read.

3
Moreschi: The Last Castrato by Nicolas Clapton

I first heard of the castrati because of Farinelli, as most people do.
Farinelli, while famous, is lost to us, audio-wise.

Moreschi, however, is not. I acquired a CD of the recordings done of him while I was in boarding school. They take a keen ear to hear what he might have been like as a younger, stronger singer. However, if you disengage from expectations of what a soprano 'should' sound like, you can hear somewhat of the power that castrati were described as having.

The book does much to try to make a coherent history about what is available to us about Moreschi. Unfortunately, until he was hired by the Sistine Chapel as a chorister, not much is there. So, there is a lot of assumptions. Can't fault the logic of any of them.

The politics and cattiness of the Sistine Chapel choir are just as interesting as Moreschi's interactions with them. It seems that musicians don't change from one age to the next. ;)

Socially, it is interesting to see what the Catholic church, that bastion of conservatism, made of the castrati. They were forbidden, under the prohibition against 'anyone not a man entire' in the Bible, but yet were intrinsic to the male-only musical tradition.
There seems to have been a place, gender-wise, for them, independent of the mores for male and female in the church's mindset.
I'd like to have seen more on that, but since there is next to no primary material on this, it would be all but impossible.

4
Pirate Queen: The Life of Grace O'Malley, 1530-1603 by Judith Cook

I enjoyed this, but honestly can't remember anything that really struck me.

Grace O'Malley, aka Granuaile, was a strong woman in an era of strong women in the British Isles. Married twice and mother of some children of varying loyalty, her story is full of the dashing deed that you'd expect given the title.

I suppose the one thing I'll remember is that O'Malley, a Gaelic speaker, and Queen Elizabeth I, an English speaker, were forced to speak Latin in order to communicate when they met. Awesome. Latin bringing people together. Brings a tear, I tells ya.

5
Rhett Butler's People Donald McCaig

I'd been semi-waiting for this to come out.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty disappointed.

Gone With the Wind...hmm. It's...itself. It's sort of horrible at points, in that it shows off the racism of the time. Margaret Mitchell, arguably racist herself, does a perhaps unwitting job of showing how this sort of behavior leaves a civilization in ruins.
Scarlett is the ultimate example of this: stubborn, beautiful, single-minded, hard-working, exciting, and childishly selfish and naive. In GWtW, we see how all of these combine to pit a non-industrial, badly prepared half of the country against the other half.
The South is Scarlett...a bundle of wild contradictions wrapped up in lacy gentility and tied with a bow of politeness.

Rhett Butler's People makes Rhett into a wonderful person who is just misunderstood. Someone who, if he'd just been given that goshdarn chance would have freed the slaves without bloodshed and had everyone round for pattycakes and a good reading of Thomas More's Utopia. But, also would have gotten everyone drunk and propositioned the girl who just happened to have a heart o' gold.

Meh.

6
Inquisition: The Reign of Fear by Toby Green

I honestly couldn't sum up this book.

The one thing I can say is that I'm ashamed to say that I had never thought about the fact that the Inquisition went to South America. Somehow, I'd always just mentally kept it neatly in Spain.

The descriptions of the actual setups and process of the Inquisition were very interesting and, luckily, devoid of over descriptive passages on the inevitable torture.

This probably shows how infantile I am, but everytime I picked up the book to read it, I sang a bit of Mel Brook's song: 'the Inquisition, what a show/the Inquisition, here we go/I know you're wishing that we'd go away/but the Inquisition's here and it's here to staaaaaay!'

Ahem.

I read two books today.

Well, I didn't finish the Wellhausen. That's okay. I own that one.

The other, from the list I posted the other day, is due back to the library tomorrow, since it is on the heavy demand list.

Christina Larner - Enemies of God: The Witchhunt in Scotland

Nothing really new here. This book purports itself to be something of a sourcebook in Scottish medieval with hunting. I'm not convinced. There is precious little of primary text quotes, which is what I'd expect in a sourcebook.

The conclusion that can be drawn, as with most books on witchhunts/trials is that the hunts/trials were more about fear of the unknown and the establishments concern with keeping social order than anything else.

Not worth recommending.