What are you reading?

[BusbyBabes]

I have just bought 'kings of the north' from Amazon and I am really looking forward to it as I am on a mission to know everything about English history (take me years!:D). It is about the Percy family who controlled Northumberland and Yorkshire ie there are villages with the name 'Percy' in Yorkshire including one called Warren Percy which was deserted after the black death reduced it's population.

I thought I would bring this back to football. Now we know that Tottenham are called 'Spurs' and they have the name 'hotspur' but do you know that the reason that he had the name 'hotspur' was because of his impulsive nature? This is obvious in his actions as he died at the battle of Shrewbury in 1403 in rebellion against Henry IV.

http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/graphics/covers/22305.jpg

[Joelzinho]

English history....

[BusbyBabes]

English history....

Indeed Joel. Now and again in between your porn magazines read something that requires two brain cells rather than two balls....;)

[Joelzinho]

Indeed Joel. Now and again in between your porn magazines read something that requires two brain cells rather than two balls....;)

hahah....my brain is doing fine. But I wouldn't mind getting a helping hand with getting more brains.

[BusbyBabes]

I have a book called 'The executioner always chops twice' which basically is about how executions have gone wrong including the wrong length of rope which caused either decapitation or slow strangling and beheading with a blunt axe causing the decapitation to take at least six strokes of the axe. I know it sounds a rather grisly subject but it is a very interesting insight into the less than perfect deaths of criminals. The author is Geoffrey Abbott and I recommend it if it interests you!

[holytoledo]

I have a book called 'The executioner always chops twice' which basically is about how executions have gone wrong including the wrong length of rope which caused either decapitation or slow strangling and beheading with a blunt axe causing the decapitation to take at least six strokes of the axe. I know it sounds a rather grisly subject but it is a very interesting insight into the less than perfect deaths of criminals. The author is Geoffrey Abbott and I recommend it if it interests you!

Unfortunately I've seen a couple clips of a beheadings which I very much regret. It took several "chops" to complete the act. :(

[BusbyBabes]

Unfortunately I've seen a couple clips of a beheadings which I very much regret. It took several "chops" to complete the act. :(

Was that on youtube or something? Not exactly something you forget and makes it remarkable that in the UK and europe that an execution was considered a day out!

I have seen black and white footage of the last execution by guillotine and I for once am glad it was black and white!:eek:(although it was quick as the guillotine was during The Terror.)

[Twix]

I'm studying Steinbeck's "of Mice and Men".

I thought it was a cool book, but I want to read a more modern novel about the 'American Dream' because I wanna get more insight to what the 'American Dream' really means. Any suggestions..?

[holytoledo]

Was that on youtube or something? Not exactly something you forget and makes it remarkable that in the UK and europe that an execution was considered a day out!

I have seen black and white footage of the last execution by guillotine and I for once am glad it was black and white!:eek:(although it was quick as the guillotine was during The Terror.)

I saw one on a documentary I actually watched in school. :eek: It was in the mideast somewhere with a sword, but fortunately the video was from a distance.

The other one was on one of those "shock" websites that I got linked to by a friend. It was one of those terrorist videos where they show themselves executing some innocent, it was rather graphic.

I recommend watching neither.

[BusbyBabes]

I saw one on a documentary I actually watched in school. :eek: It was in the mideast somewhere with a sword, but fortunately the video was from a distance.

The other one was on one of those "shock" websites that I got linked to by a friend. It was one of those terrorist videos where they show themselves executing some innocent, it was rather graphic.

I recommend watching neither.

It makes you think of the other forms of executions that were around including the 'hung, drawn and quatered' method (invented in England) as well as the French form of punishment of being torn apart by horses.

I have to say that it is not a good 'friend' that links you to those videos although I have seen pictures of the aftermath of a suicide bombing..:eek::(

[holytoledo]

It makes you think of the other forms of executions that were around including the 'hung, drawn and quatered' method (invented in England) as well as the French form of punishment of being torn apart by horses.

I have to say that it is not a good 'friend' that links you to those videos although I have seen pictures of the aftermath of a suicide bombing..:eek::(

Yeah I wasn't exactly pleased. Although I knew what was coming it was one of those things where you kinda have to watch once you have gone that far.

[Sapphire]

I'm studying Steinbeck's "of Mice and Men".

I thought it was a cool book, but I want to read a more modern novel about the 'American Dream' because I wanna get more insight to what the 'American Dream' really means. Any suggestions..?The classic american dream text is probably The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's before Steinbeck, but still really interesting. If you want the southern perspective on the american dream, you can read William Faulkner's Absolom Absolom. You really have to stick with it, but it's a fantastic book. I can't think of anything particularly contemporary that explores the idea so well as these two books.

[Rakim_22]

The classic american dream text is probably The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's before Steinbeck, but still really interesting. If you want the southern perspective on the american dream, you can read William Faulkner's Absolom Absolom. You really have to stick with it, but it's a fantastic book. I can't think of anything particularly contemporary that explores the idea so well as these two books.
I read The Great Gastby last year. It wasn't a bad book. I'd recommend it to anyone. Interesting perspective on prospective social climbers back in the day. Fitzgerald is a very good writer.

Right now I'm reading Wuthering Heights. It is quite terrible TBH. Old English literature is extremely frustrating and boring. The again this is a kids point of view so what do I know.

[Twix]

Old English literature is extremely frustrating and boring. The again this is a kids point of view so what do I know.

It's hard to disagree. I tried to get into 'David Copperfield' but it's too long and drawn out for me to care about.

[FIFARay007]

For some reason I got 1984 stuck in my head. Don't know why, cuz I don't remember even talking about it recently. Planning on going out to pick it up today to reread.

[BusbyBabes]

I read The Great Gastby last year. It wasn't a bad book. I'd recommend it to anyone. Interesting perspective on prospective social climbers back in the day. Fitzgerald is a very good writer.

Right now I'm reading Wuthering Heights. It is quite terrible TBH. Old English literature is extremely frustrating and boring. The again this is a kids point of view so what do I know.

I wonder if you have tried to read Geoffrey Chaucer and the Cantebury tales? When you talk about hard and boring that definately is because the language is English of the 14th century and although recognisable to a certain extent, it is hard.

I also have read William Wordworth's The Prelude which I found incredibly boring:eek:.

I have read difficult English literateture books like Lorna Doone and I did try David Copperfield as well as Pride and Prejudice so I know what you mean as you plod through it. I would recommend Tale of two cities by Charles Dickens and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte as good books but you are reading a book written for women really so a man would find it boring. At this time I would also recommend Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol for you being a young un'.


Out of interest I live about 10 miles from Haworth where the Bronte family lived.:)

[Sapphire]

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Busby, you need to read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Jasmine by Bahrati Mukherjee. They are both retellings of the Jane Eyre story; and they're both incredibly interesting. Sargasso Sea is told from the perspective of Rochester's 1st wife, "the mad woman in the attic," and written by a Caribbean author. It retells the story in similar time period with recognizable events from the original novel. Jasmine is more loosely based on the story, but it retells the story as though "Jane" were a contemporary Indian immigrant to the United States.

I feel like I have a sense of your tastes now ;) and you need to read them both. Sargasso Sea in particular is essential; it's one of the most highly regarded 20th century novels to come out of the Caribbean and hands down the most important novel by a Caribbean woman writer, so it should be read anyway.

[BusbyBabes]

Busby, you need to read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Jasmine by Bahrati Mukherjee. They are both retellings of the Jane Eyre story; and they're both incredibly interesting. Sargasso Sea is told from the perspective of Rochester's 1st wife, "the mad woman in the attic," and written by a Caribbean author. It retells the story in similar time period with recognizable events from the original novel. Jasmine is more loosely based on the story, but it retells the story as though "Jane" were a contemporary Indian immigrant to the United States.

I feel like I have a sense of your tastes now ;) and you need to read them both. Sargasso Sea in particular is essential; it's one of the most highly regarded 20th century novels to come out of the Caribbean and hands down the most important novel by a Caribbean woman writer, so it should be read anyway.

I have read Wide sargasso sea and I enjoyed it quite a lot. I read it mainly due to the fact that BBC produced a raunchy drama on it and a curiosity to see what the tale was like. Interestingly Jean Rhys although born in the carribean and could be classed as creole actually had Welsh parentage.

I am not really a junkie of the likes of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bonte but I just like the fact that Jane Eyre is a great story and in relatively uncomplicated langauge unlike Jane Austen. I have tried to read Emma and may do so again but there are some books you race through and some you feel you are in quick sand. I have read many books including the 'classics' ie The secret garden and Robinson Crusoe.

I have read for the second time Tracey Chevalier's A girl with a pearl earring and would recommend by the same author The Virgin Blue as it is not your straight forward novel/story really.

[Rakim_22]

I wonder if you have tried to read Geoffrey Chaucer and the Cantebury tales? When you talk about hard and boring that definately is because the language is English of the 14th century and although recognisable to a certain extent, it is hard.

I also have read William Wordworth's The Prelude which I found incredibly boring:eek:.

I have read difficult English literateture books like Lorna Doone and I did try David Copperfield as well as Pride and Prejudice so I know what you mean as you plod through it. I would recommend Tale of two cities by Charles Dickens and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte as good books but you are reading a book written for women really so a man would find it boring. At this time I would also recommend Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol for you being a young un'.


Out of interest I live about 10 miles from Haworth where the Bronte family lived.:)
Cantebury Tales was surprisingly a good read. It has that sappy, witty humor that makes you chuckle. I only read 4 or 5 of the tales though. Don't think I could take reading more that 10.

Lorna Doone sounds like a type of cookie.

David Copperfield is a magician IIRC.

I heard Jane Eyre was a very good book but I can't say I'm brave enough to venture into more English literature. :O

I know I've seen a Christmas Carol but I doubt I'd like to read it.

As you can see I'm not a big reader. That could be a hindrance in college. :D

[BusbyBabes]

Cantebury Tales was surprisingly a good read. It has that sappy, witty humor that makes you chuckle. I only read 4 or 5 of the tales though. Don't think I could take reading more that 10.

Lorna Doone sounds like a type of cookie.

David Copperfield is a magician IIRC.

I heard Jane Eyre was a very good book but I can't say I'm brave enough to venture into more English literature. :O

I know I've seen a Christmas Carol but I doubt I'd like to read it.

As you can see I'm not a big reader. That could be a hindrance in college. :D

My nine-year old sister has read A Christmas carol, surely you can?:D