Various Items

[kalquessa]

1. Have returned from camping trip. Failed to be eaten by zombie bears. A full report, complete with amusing anecdotes and pictures, may be on the way.

2. Read The Killer Angels while on vacation. I may be in love with Gen. James Longstreet

Comments

[feliciakw]

Re: Civil War -- I've not done a lot of historical reading (which would probably have come in handing, now that I live in northern Virginia), but what I have, I recommend.

Reflections on the Civil War, by Bruce Catton. I read this in college because I was taking a class called "History and Film," and I really enjoyed the miniseries The Blue and the Gray, which Catton co-wrote and which is based on the above book. The 1980s miniseries is somewhat cheesy in retrospect, as one might expect of a 1980s miniseries, but overall I find it far preferrable to the all-out soap opera of John Jakes' North and South. Catton, as you might know, was a Pulitzer Prize winning historian. I seem to recall that though I like the miniseries, I liked the book better (as is often the case). It might be worth a look-see for you. The book, I mean. Not the miniseries. Though you might like the miniseries, too.

[kalquessa]

Cool, will add that to the list. I saw the TV series listed somewhere and I think that was the one with Patrick Swayze in. The sight of him in uniform make me choke. Hee.

[feliciakw]

The Blue & the Gray: Gregory Peck, Stacy Keach, Julia Duffy, Geraldine Page, Robert Vaughn, many other '80s names. Based on book by historian Bruce Catton. Good stuff, particularly the book.

North & South: Patrick Swayze, Lesley-Ann Down, Kirstie Alley, David Carradine. 1980s Soap Opera set in the Civil War. Book written by John Jakes. Overall, not a favorite, though I've never read the book itself.

Because, ya know, I'd hate for you to pick up the wrong one. :-)

[kalquessa]

Okay, I had them mixed up. Still. Swayze in the Civil War. Heeee!

Ooo, Gregory Peck. He's on my "Dear Santa, for Christmas I'd like these men to read me a bedtime story, please" list. His voice. Guh. I melt.

[feliciakw]

Okay, I had them mixed up.

It's easy to do, especially since they were "television events" within just a few years of each other. And the names are kind of interchangable: Blue & Gray; North & South . . . we just need Yanks and Rebs, and I think we'll have most of the bases covered.

Swayze in the Civil War. Heeee!

It does tend to give one pause. Heh.

Ooo, Gregory Peck.

He's one of the bestest movie Lincolns ever. And of course he's fantabulous in To Kill a Mockingbird. But I digress.

[kalquessa]

Also: Roman Holiday. There's this part where he's talking to Audrey Hepburn about all the things she's dreamed about doing in Rome and he says, in his deep, sexy voice "Why don't we go out and do all those things. Together." My sister and I simultaneously went "Yes, please!"