randomness, and some thoughts on Dorothy Dunnett

[cofax7]

One of these days, I'll get someone to record Arizona Highways or In the Company of Ghosts as podfic. Not this time, though. Nobody's offering to record anything longer than 10,000 words. ::sigh::

*

Speaking of hellaciously-long audiobooks, I'm listening to Dorothy Dunnett's The Game of Kings on my iPod

Comments

[vivwiley]

Oooh, now you make me want to get the Game of Kings for my iPod! You make excellent points about the women in the series, and I hadn't thought of them in exactly those terms, but you're right!

I read King hereafter when I was back-packing through Greece and Italy about ::mumble::26yearsago::mumble, and my copy is now falling apart from the many rereads and moves it's been through. It may be time to do the e-version!

[cofax7]

You make excellent points about the women in the series, and I hadn't thought of them in exactly those terms, but you're right!

Although to be fair, I look at Joleta with a jaundiced eye. She's the classic Bad Seed, even if we consider that she was probably abused by Gabriel from childhood. I'm not comfortable with the idea that she is utterly unredeemable.

I have read the Macbeth book only once or twice, and the last time was probably fifteen years ago, so I'm looking forward to the reread. Maybe while I'm bopping around Spain next month...

[sartorias]

Actually, I think that Longbourne and Flaw Valleys were more alike than not. But otherwise, I totally agree about Dunnett and interesting women.

I also think that Robin Stewart was the first pancake, in fact, that entire novel was the first pancake for themes and characters she later developed. But Robin being obsessed with Lymond . . . well, none of the characters obsessed with Lymond ended up being all that interesting. imo. Or, they lose interest when they become All About Wicked Him.

[cofax7]

I dunno, maybe my view is tainted by the film versions, but I get the sense that Longbourne is a bit down on its luck, and they only seem to have a handful of servants. Whereas Gideon has multiple men around the house, although Kate does seem to do a lot of her own cooking. I dunno--it just seems like a bigger place, a working estate with lots of cattle and other animals, as well as a gatehouse. ::shrugs::

well, none of the characters obsessed with Lymond ended up being all that interesting. imo.

Hmm. There's a certain amount of standing in for the reader, there, but the ones I liked best were the ones who grew past the infatuation, like Will Scott (::sob!::) and Jerott, or who never had it, like Christian and Tom (::more sobs::). That said, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Alec Guthrie, who I had mentally cast as Sean Connery...

I wonder if I shall die before anyone tries to make a mini-series out of this? I hope not.

[sartorias]

I totally agree about the characters who grew past it.

The Keira Knightley film was the worst offender--pretty much got everything wrong. (Though I did like the relationship between the Bennet parents.) Longbourne has plenty of servants--we even get some of their names, unlike most of Austen's books. Mr. Bennet wants to break the entail, but he's far from the poor house. He does keep horses, even if they sometimes double for farm labor. The girls have plenty of pocket money, and they are not turning their gowns. None of them are worried about their futures, they may be as idle as they like, but when they wanted to learn, "there were masters to teach them."

This is roughly analogous to Gideon, who still worked, though he also had time for reading (like Mr. Bennet) and musical pursuits. (Only Mary Bennet showed any interest in the pianoforte.)

[cofax7]

You may well be right! It's hard to draw comparisons, given the different times and positions of the characters--it was basically a throwaway line.

[eloiseinparis]

But it's not: it's marvelous. The pace of the reading makes me listen to the words, clauses, and sentences, without scanning over them as I pluck the meat out.

Oooh, you have just hit on the true joy of audiobooks, the well-read ones anyway. I really ought to listen to them more.

Planning for Spain? This sounds exciting... what have I missed hearing about?

[cofax7]

I'm going to Spain in March for 2 weeks, traveling with my younger niece, to see her older sister, who is teaching English there for the year. It's going to be great fun.

[eloiseinparis]

That sounds amazing!! And makes me laugh a little, thinking of how ridiculously old I will be by the time I could embark on a similar trip with my sweet nieces. *g*

[oracne]

I bet that was one long audiobook. Who was the reader? I'd be interested to hear all the accents and such.

[cofax7]

Erm, I'll have to check. And yes, it's 21 files, each over an hour long. Still shorter than GRR Martin, though!