Kevin's Watch

+JMJ+

The Glory of the Lord Vol. 3 - Studies in Theological Style: Lay Styles by H. U. von Balthasar

Sarge. Michaelm has not long read the Trial and understandably isn't ready to read it again just yet. I'm still going to secure a copy and will begin a thread of observations as I read. Hope you'll put me right if I get too far adrift!

Avatar wrote:The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

Really enjoyed that actually.

--A

Re-reading Cornwell's The Pagan Lord, book 7 in the Saxon Chronicles.

--A

Books have got to be really, really good for me to re-read them Av. Is this the same for you?

Haha, not really. I read so fast that I never have enough new books, so my only option is to re-read repeatedly while I wait for new ones or whatever. That said, these are very good. I've read all the others multiple times, but this is the newest, so only my second read.

--A

I read The Road a couple weeks ago. It was pretty cool. It should be easy enough to make a movie out of it. Maybe I'll watch it, and see how they managed to screw it up.

The periodic table : a visual guide to the elements
by Parsons, Paul, 1971-

Summary: "As one of the most recognizable images in science, the periodic table is ingrained in our culture. First drawn up in 1869 by Dmitri Mendeleev, its 118 elements make up not only everything on our planet but also everything in the entire universe. The Periodic Table looks at the fascinating story and surprising uses of each of those elements, whether solid, liquid or gas. From the little-known uses of gold in medicine to the development of the hydrogen bomb, each entry is accompanied by technical data (category, atomic number, weight, boiling point) presented in easy-to-read headers, and a colour-coding system that helps the reader to navigate through the different groups of elements. A remarkable display of thought-provoking science and beautiful photography, this guide will allow the reader to discover the world afresh."

+JMJ+

The Glory of the Lord Vol. 5 - The Realm of Metaphysics in the Modern Age by H. U. von Balthasar

OK, this is going to hit a raw nerve but I've finished The Trial and I did not like it a bit! Alas I did not get an annotated copy so maybe that has bearing on my experience, but I could find no didactic purpose that would justify it's horrible nightmarish feel. It made no sense and had no lesson to teach unless it was one burried so deep that it was beyond my average mind to fathom. Why would anyone write this? Kafka lovers you have your work cut out to justify why I am wrong in feeling that the authors wishes that the book should be burned on his death should not have been respected.

+JMJ+

The Glory of the Lord Vol. 6 - Theology: The Old Covenant by H. U. von Balthasar

Just finished "The Third Plantaganet" (John Ashdown-Hill) about George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Richard III (he who was drowned in a butt of malmsey). Quite enjoyable, once I got into it. Not for the mildly interested though.

Now I have to read through a years supply of BBC History magazines that a friend gives me when she's finished with them. Got behind because I was reading SRD!

rereading a bunch of Marvel graphic novels while home sick.

when I was a kid whenever I was sick my mom would buy me comicbooks to go with the warm gingerale. I still take both when I am ill.

some of my faves that mom would buy were the Archie digests that had the Red Circle superhero characters in them.

I'm currently reading a book called "The Poet's Tale: Chaucer and the year that made the Canterbury Tales" by Paul Strohm. Very readable, excellent if you are interested in what London was like in the 1300s. I had no idea that Chaucer was embroiled in the customs at the London wool staple, and that he had represented Kent in Parliament in 1386.

I am ashamed to admit to only reading one of the Canterbury Tales - we did the Pardoner's Tale for O level English Lit, and of course we read parts of the Miller's Tale because we were told not to. I was going to read the whole of the Canterbury Tales next, but Mordant's Need comes first.

+JMJ+

Theo-Drama Vol. II: Dramatis Personae: Man in God by H. U. von Balthasar

Some essays by William Golding.

peter wrote:OK, this is going to hit a raw nerve but I've finished The Trial and I did not like it a bit! Alas I did not get an annotated copy so maybe that has bearing on my experience, but I could find no didactic purpose that would justify it's horrible nightmarish feel. It made no sense and had no lesson to teach unless it was one burried so deep that it was beyond my average mind to fathom. Why would anyone write this? Kafka lovers you have your work cut out to justify why I am wrong in feeling that the authors wishes that the book should be burned on his death should not have been respected.

It's a satire on the legal system at the time. Does that help?

aliantha wrote:

peter wrote:OK, this is going to hit a raw nerve but I've finished The Trial and I did not like it a bit! Alas I did not get an annotated copy so maybe that has bearing on my experience, but I could find no didactic purpose that would justify it's horrible nightmarish feel. It made no sense and had no lesson to teach unless it was one burried so deep that it was beyond my average mind to fathom. Why would anyone write this? Kafka lovers you have your work cut out to justify why I am wrong in feeling that the authors wishes that the book should be burned on his death should not have been respected.

It's a satire on the legal system at the time. Does that help?

Kafka hated bureaucracy.

I hate it too.

--A

I popped into my local Oxfam bookshop to see if they had a fantasy novel I was interested in buying second-hand. They hadn't one in stock. Instead I noticed teh Joseph Conrad book, The Nigger of the 'Narcissus' and other tales.
Ok, maybe not very PC but this is a really neat little 6x4x1 inches, and I reckon a must for any SRD fan worth his salt.

In addition, the book has an introduction by Sir David Bone, who I found to be quite a fascinating real-life character in his own right.