Going well so far
The gas man was supposed to be calling today but he's sick. Actually I don't mind too much about this as I've already dealt with a different gas man once this week, but I wish they'd called *before* I'd moved all the stuff that would be in his way and not after. It's probably quite lucky he isn't here though as the sound of me swearing at the BFI website might be too much for the delicate sensibilities of a gas man. I'm trying, along with what appears to be half the rest of London, to book tickets for the London Film Festival...and, along with half the rest of London, failing. It's at times like these that Twitter is really useful for seeing other people having the same problem!
Anyway, on with the Book Meme before I try and press Continue again on the BFI website, which something tells me would not be wise.
What I Just Finished Reading
Blood and Roses: the Paston Family and the Wars of the Roses by Helen Castor. I cracked on and finished the Pastons. I must admit I got a bit bogged down in the Norfolk politics and remembering who was who and to whom they were affiliated, but the overall story of a family on the make in the 15th century was very interesting. It really highlighted how the chaos in government during the period filtered down to a local level and how necessary it was to be connected to a powerful patron. A lot of the personal stories had to be speculation due to gaps in the letters, but it was interesting to see that though marriages of people with property were arranged at that time it did not mean that love wasn't involved. A solid rather than a riveting read.
What I'm Reading Now
The Secret Rooms by Catherine Bailey. I couldn't settle for anything fictional so I went back to non-fiction. I've read this author's previous book Black Diamonds which is an enthralling story of an aristocratic English family whose 20th century history comprised disputed heirs, the decline of the coal industry and involvement with the Kennedy family. I couldn't put that one down and this one is proving similarly fascinating. The author started out to tell the story of the workers on the Belvoir Estate who went off to the First World War but the secrets of the Dukes of Rutland who owned the Estate proved to be too interesting not to pursue. All I can say so far is it makes Downton Abbey look both seriously understaffed and a bit dull.
What I'm Reading Next
No clue!
I've taken a bit of a break from paperlegends reading recently but I do have a rec.
The View From the Mountain by nympha_alba with art by alby_mangroves, which anyone familiar with her work won't need me to tell them that it's stunning. (Arthur/Merlin, 42k, NC-17/Explicit)
Summary: Historical AU. It's 1910 and what is left of the once powerful magical ruling class is a tired, conventional aristocracy who have let their magic slip. Merlin Emrys, pressured by expectations, travels to Italy and Switzerland to find himself. Instead he finds Arthur Pendragon, but in the end that may amount to the same thing.(Based on E.M. Forster's A Room With a View.)
Me: gorgeous, lyrical and evocative with a wonderfully intense relationship between Merlin and Arthur. Apart from the relationship and the beautiful descriptive writing I particularly liked the world-building and the idea of the declining magical aristocracy. A lovely read.
Right, back to the BFI website to try again or read more irate and entertaining comments on Twitter. Decisions, decisions...
Anyway, on with the Book Meme before I try and press Continue again on the BFI website, which something tells me would not be wise.
What I Just Finished Reading
Blood and Roses: the Paston Family and the Wars of the Roses by Helen Castor. I cracked on and finished the Pastons. I must admit I got a bit bogged down in the Norfolk politics and remembering who was who and to whom they were affiliated, but the overall story of a family on the make in the 15th century was very interesting. It really highlighted how the chaos in government during the period filtered down to a local level and how necessary it was to be connected to a powerful patron. A lot of the personal stories had to be speculation due to gaps in the letters, but it was interesting to see that though marriages of people with property were arranged at that time it did not mean that love wasn't involved. A solid rather than a riveting read.
What I'm Reading Now
The Secret Rooms by Catherine Bailey. I couldn't settle for anything fictional so I went back to non-fiction. I've read this author's previous book Black Diamonds which is an enthralling story of an aristocratic English family whose 20th century history comprised disputed heirs, the decline of the coal industry and involvement with the Kennedy family. I couldn't put that one down and this one is proving similarly fascinating. The author started out to tell the story of the workers on the Belvoir Estate who went off to the First World War but the secrets of the Dukes of Rutland who owned the Estate proved to be too interesting not to pursue. All I can say so far is it makes Downton Abbey look both seriously understaffed and a bit dull.
What I'm Reading Next
No clue!
I've taken a bit of a break from paperlegends reading recently but I do have a rec.
The View From the Mountain by nympha_alba with art by alby_mangroves, which anyone familiar with her work won't need me to tell them that it's stunning. (Arthur/Merlin, 42k, NC-17/Explicit)
Summary: Historical AU. It's 1910 and what is left of the once powerful magical ruling class is a tired, conventional aristocracy who have let their magic slip. Merlin Emrys, pressured by expectations, travels to Italy and Switzerland to find himself. Instead he finds Arthur Pendragon, but in the end that may amount to the same thing.(Based on E.M. Forster's A Room With a View.)
Me: gorgeous, lyrical and evocative with a wonderfully intense relationship between Merlin and Arthur. Apart from the relationship and the beautiful descriptive writing I particularly liked the world-building and the idea of the declining magical aristocracy. A lovely read.
Right, back to the BFI website to try again or read more irate and entertaining comments on Twitter. Decisions, decisions...