Bookworming

[wayfaringwordhack]

I've been meaning to post about my current reading , but I've been busy, uh, reading. Still, I will delay no more!

Herein you will find no reviews, just a summary of what I've been up to; I'll leave reviews to the likes of tatterpunk  who can do them justice.

First off, I've been concentrating on nonfiction, researching for The Bitter River. I've only begun to scratch the surface of what I'll need to  write this book.  One aspect of the story deals with ancient Mesopotamia, and amidst the narrative--which takes place in what is modern-day Iraq, set in the early 1800's*--there are letters, diary entries, and sundry other texts from 300ish AD (perhaps earlier) to the mid and late 1700's and the story's present day. Naturally, then, I have to read up on the epistolary form for those time periods so that I can master voices and give versimiltude to the correspondence. Among myriad other subjects, I also have to find maps of the area at different times in history to have the correct place names; I have to find out who controlled what and the political situations at the time(s), not to mention find out what daily life was like.

For the daily life in Mesopotamia, I have three books, the first of which I'm reading now, titled, surprisingly, Everyday Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. It is a collection of articles on subjects such as the origin of the Sumerians; love and sexual mores in ancient Babylon; women's rights (or lack thereof, unless she was in possession of some powerful womanly wiles); how the Assyrians viewed magic and religion; and discussions about three popular myths: the Assyrian flood, the Sumerian tales of Gilgamesh, and the Semitic invention of sin.

I'm three-fourths of the way in, and so far, I find the book interesting in general and maddeningly vague in the specifics I was hoping to discover. This is not a criticism of the book, however, rather an acknowledgement and reinforcement of what I've garnered about certain subjects from Internet sources. It also shows that the field is wide open and I can twist certain legends to my liking. The canon I was hoping to find rooted in Mesopotamian history is actually a Hellenistic invention, so I've either got to abandon that angle, rework it, or pretend that today's historians and Assyriologists are just not in possession of something my characters shall find. This being fiction, I'll likely take option three, but I want to hold off on making a decision because another angle may occur to me. I already have a semi-inkling of what the different angle could be.

Another huge area I have to cover is archaeology in the 1800s. Luckily, at a local library, I found a most interesting and useful book, La Conquête de l'Assyrie, 1840-1860, (The Conquest of Assyria: Excavations in an Antique Land). Nuria checked this book out for me twice last year, but both times I didn't get around to reading it, which is why I never moved it off my "currently reading" list on Goodreads. But it's the reason I got my own library card on Grande Terre. It follows, among others personages, Austen Henry Layard and Paul-Emile Botta in their unearthing of Nineveh and is so interesting and just so right in terms of what I need that I entertained the idea of getting the book for myself in English...until I saw the price on B&N. Ouch.

But all is not nonfiction and research; I'm also reading, Notre-Dame de Paris, by Victor Hugo. I've never picked it up in English, nor did I see the Disney version, only glimpses of certain scenes. I'm only a hundred or so pages in, but the Disney Quasimodo? What a joke compared to the picture Hugo paints of him. I've read a dozen or so books in French of late, but Hugo is another level, and for my French, the going is slow. Maybe once I get past the descriptions of Paris-of-the-Past and return to the characters, things will speed up. Having lived in Paris for several years, though, I find those passages fascinating, and I wish I had brought my street map of the city here to Mayotte, so I could trace what he is talking about and compare it to what still exists. It's interesting to see his view of medieval-to-rennaisance Paris contrasted with the Paris he knew in turn contrasted with the Paris I know.

I'm also reading a friend's ms ::waves at pjthompson ::** and have a short to crit (I received the file with no worries, footlingagain ), so I'm a busy little worm these days. So much better than being in a book drought. And the reading deluge shall continue for I'm soon due to receive jpsorrow 's Throne trilogy and frostokovich 's Shadowbridge duo!

And writing about reading has taken up my morning. Alas, there are chores to do...
_____________________________________

*I'm still waffling about this date; it all depends on how brilliant and advanced (and lucky)  I want my characters to be.

**I'm over the halfway mark, and I've just passed what I read before. I'm finally going to find out what happens! Woot!

Comments

[pjthompson]

Hopefully finding out what happens will be worth the trip. :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it will be. It's exciting stuff so far. :D

[pjthompson]

Good to know. :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I'm just 20-odd pages from the end now, but you'll have to remain in suspense for a few days more. ::chuckles devilishly::

[pjthompson]

You fiendish cad! ;-) You amaze me how fast you get these done.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Well this time, I actually took it slow. :P

[pjthompson]

Indeed. A whole week. What is the world coming to? :-)

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

I'll leave reviews to the likes of [info]tatterpunk who can do them justice.

*blush*


I love hearing about your writing updates.

I also, if you're curious, have fiction recommendations for both Mesopotamia-esque and (late) 1800s archeology. Egyptian, but with interesting asides.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I would love recommendations! Love, love, love!

So much better to have something you vouch for rather than relying on Amazon reviews. :D

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

*glee at recommending*

The Sword and the Lion (http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Lion-Daw-Book-Collectors/dp/0886775582/ref=cm_lmf_tit_10_rsrsrs0) is a great, thick book which details the life of a Mediterranean fantasy city at war. Think Robert Jordan if he knew how to write women and cared to do so -- multiple POV, magical warriors chosen by the goddess, etc. It's one of my comfort books, and I have no guilt recommending it because it's so out of print as to be available for $.01 plus the cost of shipping from secondary seller at Amazon.

And you know how I'm on a Vicky Bliss kick? That author is primarily famous for her Amelia Peabody series (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0445406518/ref=s9kser_t1_asinmore-rfc_p?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=top-1&pf_rd_r=1WYC3694ME9XH4R5P8JA&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=328301301&pf_rd_i=amelia), which are hilarious and lots of fun. (Not all of them, but she does a good run.) They're about an English woman who eventually becomes an Egytptian archaeologist mid-19th century. The author has a PhD in Egyptology, so they're not only enjoyable but amazingly done on the research and factual level.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

The Sword and the Lion sounds vaguely familiar, even though I know I've never read it. And I've definitely heard of the Amelia Peabody books, but I've never read them either.

I shall look into acquiring them (or at least some). :D

Thanks!

[pjthompson]

I can definitely second the Amelia Peabody series. She not only does a great job with the early archaeology, but she does splendid send ups of Victoria mores and literature. Very tongue in cheek and derring do.

[pjthompson]

Oh, and the first of the Amelia books is probably one of the weakest, so if you read them in order, I would recommend trying at least the first two to see if you truly like them.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

ooh, another Peabody fan. Wanna play clicky with the link below* and see what you could recommend. I already know I'll never be able to read them in order because I won't be able to get my hands on all of them, so...

http://www.priceminister.com/nav/Livres/kw/Amelia+Peabody
(I copy pasted the link here, but if it doesn't work, you can go to my comment further down and click from there, if ya wanna that is.)

[pjthompson]

Here's the entire list, in chronological order:

1. Crocodile on the Sandbank
2. The Curse of the Pharaohs
3. The Mummy Case
4. Lion in the Valley
5. The Deeds of the Disturber
6. The Last Camel Died at Noon
7. The Snake, the Crocodile & the Dog
8. The Hippopotamus Pool
9. Seeing a Large Cat
10. Ape Who Guards the Balance
11. Falcon At The Portal
12. He Shall Thunder In The Sky
13. Lord of the Silent
14. Golden One, The
15. Children of the Storm
16. Guardian of the Horizon
17. The Serpent on the Crown
18. Tomb of the Golden Bird

I have read through Children of the Storm. It's really too bad if you can't get those early books because although each book is self-contained and she catches people up on the shenanigans of the family, passing backwards and forwards in time all the time, there's this huge story arc that's great fun to take part in. Also, in books 2-5 we get to watch the hijinks of her extremely precocious son, Rameses, which is just dead hilarious, and The Master Criminal, used to amusing effect through the series. The books get more serious as they get closer to World War I, as you can imagine, but these early ones are very funny. The Last Camel Died At Noon is where Rameses begins to grow up--and that story arc has its own charm and great appeal. That one is definitely not to be missed. A total send up of H. Ryder Haggard (and in one of these books, she's even got a character named Leo Vincey, the hero from She, but not in Camel). I can recommend each and every one of these, but do try to read them as much early to late as you can because that will increase your fun. Still, Camel--if you can't get any of the really early ones--is a good place to start. Most of the factors are in play there. She also, over the course of the series, manages to parody all kinds of things, including Lawrence of Arabia, Howard Carter, E. Wallis Budge--you name it. She also manages to write about the native Eqyptians in a way that is both true to her Victorian heroine and yet not insulting. There's a tremendous amount of affection there, and the relationship the Emerson family has with her foreman, Abdulluh, and his family is very touching.

I'd really like to send those early books to you. They're just sitting in a trunk here. But I'm not sure it wouldn't take 500 years to get to you.

[pjthompson]

p.s. As I said earlier, the fist book is the weakest. You could skip that one and not miss much except the fun of seeing how Amelia and Emerson meet. Which is, actually, quite fun. But it isn't as well written as the others, imo. She *really* starts cranking in this series by about book three, I think.

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

But but but! If you skip the first one, you miss all the hilarious send-ups of traditional Victorian literature heroines with the treatment of Evelyn.

[pjthompson]

That's a splendid point, Miq! You really *shouldn't* skip that one, either. You'll just have to read them all!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I guess I will! :P You gals are going to break my piggy bank! :D

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Ok, Crocodile on the Sandbank it is. :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that list! It'll make my shopping easier.

Have you read Amelia Peabody - The Compendium?

[pjthompson]

I have read Amelia Peabody's Eqypt which includes, among other things, articles on Egypt by an Egyptologist named Barbara Mertz (Elizabeth Peters' real name).

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks so much for expressing the desire to send me the books. It's not the time they would take to get here that is the pill; it's the cost of shipping. :( It costs around $30 to send 5 or so books.

[pjthompson]

Oh yes, I knew it wouldn't be cheap, but that's not such a big deal.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

PS I'll have to fish around because I refuse to do business with Amazon, even secondhand business. :-|

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Ooh, really? How come?

Just call me The Anticapitalist

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Because they are the Devil Incarnate. OK, not really, but...

First of all, I have personal gripes with them, centering on their total lack of give-a-shit for the customers, as I had the joy of discovering on not one but two occasions. Still, I kept buy from them because books are hard to come by where I am, and shipping fees can get astronomical.

Second, because of their money-grubbing, strong-arm tactics in the industry. There's a lot of stuff out there, and I don't know if I would link to the best of it, so just google Amazon monopoly (and look past all the ads for the board game:P); Amazon POD/amazon booksurge lulu; and especially Amazon Hachette

Re: Just call me The Anticapitalist

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Fair 'nough!

My other anti-capitalist friend has rec'd Better World Books (http://www.betterworld.com/) for their international shipping fees. (The discussed their service on her LJ: initially slow but amazing customer service.) Prices are a little steeper sometimes, but it's a good cause as well and they do have The Lion and the Sword (http://www.betterworld.com/The-Sword-and-the-Lion-Daw-Book-Collectors-id-0886775582.aspx) (among others!).

Re: Just call me The Anticapitalist

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Nifty! Thanks for the links. :D

I shall hie myself there forthwith!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Are you tired of me yet? :D Guess what I found? A French site that has not one but *several* Amelia Peabody books in English! No luck with The Sword and the Lion, though.

If I could impose on you, would you mind going to this page and telling me the AP books that you would recommend? http://www.priceminister.com/nav/Livres/kw/Amelia+Peabody

Thanks!

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Nevah tired!

I'd rec starting with the first book, Crocodile on the Sandbank, if you can. The AP books get self-referential pretty fast (unlike the Bliss books) so it helps to know all the backstory.