More treats for the weary...

[wiseheart]

... because I'm a greedy, greedy person.

Today - oh wonder of wonders! - I actually managed to get away from school in time, and so I hit some bookshops again. Not the second-hand ones, tho, although those had been my primary targets. There was simply not enough time. For those, I'll need a full afternoon.

In any case, I purchased the following shinies:

1. The boxed edition of Primeval's first season. I love that series. I love British series in general - people in them look like, well, like people, not like a species unto itself specially bred for television like in American TV. Besides, Series 1 is cute.

2. "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún" by Master Tolkien himself, yeah! I don't know that one, but tell me honestly, could I have seen something like that in paperback, for a price I could pay without serious pain and not buy it???

3. "Pilgrim" by James Jackson, a historic novel about the Children's Crusade, taking place in 1212, also slightly post-Cadfael and post-Kingdom of Heavens. Even if it's a little behind "my" time, I think crusading vocabulary would come in handy when I finally get around to write that long-planned story about Cadfael's crusader years.

3. "Lords of the Bow" by Conn Iggulden, which is said to be the epic story of Genghis Khan. Which is an era and a slice of history of particular interest for me, taking place shorty before the Mongols overrun Hungary. Also vocabulary may be useful when I get around to write my story taking place in Harad.

Erm... isn't it a sign of serious obsession when I choose the books I buy based on the fact whether they will prove useful for writing fanfic? *g*

Comments

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

>> "Lords of the Bow" by Conn Iggulden<<

I read part I, Wolf of the Plains, and liked it a lot, despite having a couple of issues with Iggulden's writing style. The story is fascinating!

Happy reading. :-)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, goodie! I was a little worried whether it would be any good, beyond being a vocabulary source for desert warriors.

I might give in to the temptation and buy that historic novel by Salman Rushdie, too. I took a few glimpses, wasn't so sure about the writing style, but it's an oriental novel, and how many of those can you really find?

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

It's a great story, and some fierce characters. I haven't read Lords of the Bow, though - you must tell me what you think of it, once you've read it.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Umm... now I'm a mite confused. I thought you've read the first part of the "Lords of the Bow"? *is stupid*

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for splendid finds!

re: Item 1. We actually grow those not-people in pods out in California. Plastic is injected into genetically-modified soy bean pods, which are then bombarded by various levels of radiation, reruns of American TV series such as "Dallas" and "Dynasty" and a steady stream of advertisements for various products that promise to "enhance" whatever one feels one lacks in mind, body and/or soul.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Aha. Well, that explains a lot. Particularly why because ordinary American people seem to look so different... in the extremely rare case you get to see them on TV. The procedure must be a very costly one.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

And did I mention we managed to purchase the entire "Cadfael" series on videotape last summer for a truly bargain price? Now to find/make time to watch it. I'm trying to decide whether to watch it in the orer the books were published (watch the characters develop over time, plus see how past experiences affect future decisions) or the order in which the episodes were produced (Hugh Beringar is played by two different actors over the full series, and of course, Sir Derek is aging across the years).

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I only saw stands from the TV series, and I must say I'm a bit doubtful about it. Both Beringar actors are the exact opposite, look-wise, as the character is actually described in the books (as short, wiry and dark-haired), and Sir Derek, a genius though he may be, doesn't look at all like book!Cadfael at all. And the other monks all look creepy - like they were from "The Name of the Rose", not from Cadfael.

"The Name of the Rose", both the book and the film, creeped me out seriously. I didn't even buy the film on DVD, despite the Sean Connery presence, and the fact that it was on sale. *shudders*

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

And one more comment: I recall reading a book about the "Children's Crusade" in secondary school in New Zealand. Alas, I can no longer recall who wrote it.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I assume there are more than one or two books about this topic.

And yet another comment...

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

By chance, as I went back and forth, posting comments, your icons changed, and -- lo and behold! -- I noticed something I'd never noticed before.

Your icons of Buliwyf and That Czech Guy have the two men in almost the same position. For a moment, it seemed as if I were seeing the same man in both the ancient past and the distant future. [what is in that wine? and should I have a third glass?]

Re: And yet another comment...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

In that case Bulwyf must have shrunk almost a metre during those centuries, because David Nykl, albeit extremely cute, is a very short man, unlike Vladimir Kulic. They are both of Slawic origins, though, so that might cause the similar feeling.

Heh! Imagine the weird fanfic idea about Bulwyf being reborn as Atlantis' Geek #2. No, I won't write it! No way!

Re: And yet another comment...

[(Anonymous)]

Oh no, of course you won't... [evil chuckle] However,it might be more interesting to let Bulwyf remain a warrior (solider/military official) and see how the sparks (of whatever variety) fly between them. If you were to write it. Which, of course, you won't. Oh no. Not even a one-off, single-chapter, short-encounter fic. No. Never. [evil laughter recedes down the internet]

Re: And yet another comment...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

No, I actually might manage *not* to write this fic... not for a long while anyway. I'm desperately trying to get "Sparrows" done, my realtively short Cadfael fic, and if I'm *very* lucky, it could be finished this year. At least I've figured out who the villains are - from there on, it should be smooth sailing. *crosses fingers*

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

You've got some splendid finds on that list!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Indeed. All I'd need is enough time and a bit more piece of mind to sit down and read. But I'll get there, eventually. My to-read list only contains, oh, I don't know, three dozen books or so.

It isn't so that I wouldn't read at all, mind you. I just read stuff I need for fic research, barely ever for simple fun.