What Book Are You Reading? Issue.8

[Smellincoffee]

Bernard Cornwell: Kings of the North. It's quite good so far, I do like historical fiction when it's backed up by good research. It's about King Alfred and the almost demise of the Saxon's by the Danes. We were literally an iota from speaking Danish.

Just a guess -- is it set in Scotland?

 

[Sidhe]

Just a guess -- is it set in Scotland?

No I think Kings of the North is a reference to the Danish Kingdoms. Alfred ruled Wessex, and if it weren't for the fact the Danes couldn't find him hiding out in a marsh after his kingdom was all but lost we'd be speaking in the Norse tongues.

In April 871, King Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex and the burden of its defence, despite the fact that Ethelred left two young sons. Although contemporary turmoil meant the accession of Alfred, an adult with military experience and patronage resources, over his nephews went unchallenged, he remained obliged to secure their property rights. While he was busy with the burial ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and then again in his presence at Wilton in May. Following this, peace was made and, for the next five years, the Danes occupied other parts of England. However, in 876, under their new leader, Guthrum, the Danes slipped past the English army and attacked Wareham in Dorset. From there, early in 877, and under the pretext of talks, they moved westwards and took Exeter in Devon. There, Alfred blockaded them, and with a relief fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes were forced to submit. They withdrew to Mercia but, in January 878, made a sudden attack on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been staying over Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way by wood and swamp, and after Easter he made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe."

Wiki.

 

[King of Town]

The Bridge Over San Luis Rey by Thorton Wilder. Also a really hard to read book on how to better use SQL that makes me never want to use SQL again.

 

[Nylan]

I'm directing a production of Six Characters in Search of an Author at some point, so my next read will probably be that.

An excellent choice, imo.

 

[Dachs]

Reading Robert Frost's The Northern Wars, covering the series of conflicts from the collapse of the Livonian Order to the Treaty of Nystad. Good stuff so far, though I'm a little disappointed it didn't go into the 18th century conflicts between Russia and Sweden. (The Gustavian absolutism had such potential...)

An excellent choice, imo.

Everybody likes Luigi Pirandello.

 

[Fifty]

Selections from "The Collected Oscar Wilde", which I'm enjoying very much.

 

[Trajan12]

Homage to Catalonia.

 

[downtown]

"The Boys on the Bus", by Timothy Crouse. GREAT read if you're interested in American political journalism

 

[Phlegmak]

Selections from "The Collected Oscar Wilde", which I'm enjoying very much.

According to the NAMBLA website, they say he was a lover of young boys.

 

[Sidhe]

According to the NAMBLA website, they say he was a lover of young boys.

Yeah but not 8 year olds, he went out with an 18 year old once I think, back then of course it was illegal and he was under the age of consent for sex of any kind. I wouldn't be surprised if he slept with a few 16 year olds, but I don't think he was hanging around the school gates.

Of course in these enlightened times 16 is ok for shagging anyone, well within reason.

 

[Oruc]

"Blood of Elves" by Andrezej Sapkowski.
I prefer his other book "The Last Wish" it's all short stories so it's better

 

[eastsidebagel]

"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo, such a great book!

 

[The Navy Seal]

I'm reading "The Pioneers" and "The cannibal Islands".

 

[Mowque]

"England, England" by Juilan Barnes....not bad..alternate between terrible and laugh out loud funny.

 

[The Navy Seal]

Oh, I forgot to mention I'm on a quest to read every article on wikipedia discussing any topic in history! I fear I am doomed to failure!

 

[Imaginos]

"Fatal Revenant - The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" by Stephen Donaldson

 

[King of Town]

"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo, such a great book!

I wish i had read it before I saw the movie. Though it probably still would have been one of the few cases where I liked the movie more.

 

[Phlegmak]

I just finished The Bell Jar and am now reading Angela's Ashes.

 

[Otitis]

The Dhammapada and Last Light. The former is a Buddhist text and the latter is a novel about what would happen if oil stopped flowing around the world due to a coordinated effort.

 

[eastsidebagel]

The Dhammapada and Last Light. The former is a Buddhist text and the latter is a novel about what would happen if oil stopped flowing around the world due to a coordinated effort.

Are you a Buddhist? If so, you should consider making a Q&A-thread about it.