we are the point, we are the edge, we are the wolves that hecate fed
Day 11 - A book you hated
Robert Kaplan, Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History. I hate hate hate it when journalists write bad history. Especially when they imply that all those backwards, belligerent, warmongering little third-world countries are perpetually at each other's throats on account of some ancient, irreconcilable feud; that their differences are rooted in religion or culture or tradition. Newsflash: It's called "Imperialism." Look it up. I don't know jack about the Balkans but I know that to write a book that purports to explain - or at least shed light upon - twentieth century Balkan history while paying only glancing attention to ... oh, I don't know, the Brits? the Russians? ... is both shoddy history and irresponsible journalism. It's irresponsible because only a negligible number of us ever get the opportunity to take a university level course on Bosnia or Greece. So what we absorb through the media becomes the dominant narrative. And the narrative that Kaplan is peddling is that these ancient rivalries? They're (1) ineradicable and (2) nothing to do with us westerners.
I also know good writing when I see it, and to be honest this is a fine book. I just wish he could have avoided the fail-ridden premise.
Day 12 - A book you used to love but don't anymore
"I hate to think the good Lord judged us
that wicked. He promised Noah no more
water; but this time, He took away the fire."
S.M. Stirling, Dies the Fire. Hey so I love me some post-apocalypse science fiction. On March 17, 1998 at 6:15 PST, gunpowder, electricity and the Second Law of Thermodynamics spontaneously stop working. Okay, so maybe the latter still works, but there is something decidedly kooky going on with the physics of this planet. Planes crash, cars are stalled on freeways, food production comes to a virtual standstill. Within the first year famine and plague kill off an estimated 98% of the Earth's population. Actually that's a lie, there's no way to estimate because people are dropping like flies, everybody goes back to a subsistence economy and my guess is we won't be seeing the next official census for a while.
This is a story about a group of survivors in southern Oregon. Naturally they are a rugged bunch of pioneers who have all made it to the end of the world in astounding physical shape (popular outdoorsy extracurriculars include: archery, martial arts, and horseback riding). They are led by a blond all-American ex-Marine farmboy from Michigan and his trusty second-in-command, The African-American Cowboy. By some sociocultural version of the founders' effect in biology, this merry band of wanderers then ends up wearing kilts, speaking with an Irish brogue, and adopting Wicca as the national religion. (Except for one separatist group led by a fourteen-year-old LOTR fan who build their very own Mithrilwood retreat and raise their children to speak Elvish.)
There is an Evil Professor with dictatorial ambitions setting up camp in Portland. I mean that literally, by the way. This man actually used to be a medieval history prof / frequent Ren Faire goer, a job which appears to have been excellent preparation for commanding a gang of thugs. He's already picked out a flag for his little feudal empire, and it's the Eye of Sauron. LOL forever.
This book is awesome primarily because each of the autonomous communities that form in the aftermath of the Change has its own militia/military. Which means they all need their own battle cry:
Okay, pretty sure I've clean forgotten why I don't love these books anymore. I mean, you have people regularly holding conversations in Sindarin. What's not to like?
Day 01 - Best book you read last year - Joe Abercrombie, Best Served Cold.
Day 02 - A book that you've read more than 3 times - Garth Nix, Sabriel
Day 03 - Your favorite series - George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire
Day 04 - Favorite book of your favorite series - George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy - Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle
Day 06 - A book that makes you sad - Isabel Allende, The House of Spirits
Day 07 - Most underrated book - George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia
Day 08 - Most overrated book - Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving - Sharon Kay Penman, The Reckoning
Day 10 - Favorite classic book - Herodotus of Halicarnassus, The Histories
Day 11 - A book you hated - Robert Kaplan, Balkan Ghosts
Day 12 - A book you used to love but don't anymore - S.M. Stirling, Dies the Fire
Day 13 - Your favorite writer
Day 14 - Favorite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 - Favorite male character
Day 16 - Favorite female character
Day 17 - Favorite quote from your favorite book
Day 18 - A book that disappointed you
Day 19 - Favorite book turned into a movie
Day 20 - Favorite romance book
Day 21 - Favorite book from your childhood
Day 22 - Favorite book you own
Day 23 - A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven't
Day 24 - A book that you wish more people would've read
Day 25 - A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 - A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 - The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 - Favorite title
Day 29 - A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 - Your favorite book of all time
Robert Kaplan, Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History. I hate hate hate it when journalists write bad history. Especially when they imply that all those backwards, belligerent, warmongering little third-world countries are perpetually at each other's throats on account of some ancient, irreconcilable feud; that their differences are rooted in religion or culture or tradition. Newsflash: It's called "Imperialism." Look it up. I don't know jack about the Balkans but I know that to write a book that purports to explain - or at least shed light upon - twentieth century Balkan history while paying only glancing attention to ... oh, I don't know, the Brits? the Russians? ... is both shoddy history and irresponsible journalism. It's irresponsible because only a negligible number of us ever get the opportunity to take a university level course on Bosnia or Greece. So what we absorb through the media becomes the dominant narrative. And the narrative that Kaplan is peddling is that these ancient rivalries? They're (1) ineradicable and (2) nothing to do with us westerners.
I also know good writing when I see it, and to be honest this is a fine book. I just wish he could have avoided the fail-ridden premise.
Day 12 - A book you used to love but don't anymore
"I hate to think the good Lord judged us
that wicked. He promised Noah no more
water; but this time, He took away the fire."
S.M. Stirling, Dies the Fire. Hey so I love me some post-apocalypse science fiction. On March 17, 1998 at 6:15 PST, gunpowder, electricity and the Second Law of Thermodynamics spontaneously stop working. Okay, so maybe the latter still works, but there is something decidedly kooky going on with the physics of this planet. Planes crash, cars are stalled on freeways, food production comes to a virtual standstill. Within the first year famine and plague kill off an estimated 98% of the Earth's population. Actually that's a lie, there's no way to estimate because people are dropping like flies, everybody goes back to a subsistence economy and my guess is we won't be seeing the next official census for a while.
This is a story about a group of survivors in southern Oregon. Naturally they are a rugged bunch of pioneers who have all made it to the end of the world in astounding physical shape (popular outdoorsy extracurriculars include: archery, martial arts, and horseback riding). They are led by a blond all-American ex-Marine farmboy from Michigan and his trusty second-in-command, The African-American Cowboy. By some sociocultural version of the founders' effect in biology, this merry band of wanderers then ends up wearing kilts, speaking with an Irish brogue, and adopting Wicca as the national religion. (Except for one separatist group led by a fourteen-year-old LOTR fan who build their very own Mithrilwood retreat and raise their children to speak Elvish.)
There is an Evil Professor with dictatorial ambitions setting up camp in Portland. I mean that literally, by the way. This man actually used to be a medieval history prof / frequent Ren Faire goer, a job which appears to have been excellent preparation for commanding a gang of thugs. He's already picked out a flag for his little feudal empire, and it's the Eye of Sauron. LOL forever.
This book is awesome primarily because each of the autonomous communities that form in the aftermath of the Change has its own militia/military. Which means they all need their own battle cry:
- Clan Mackenzie: Morrigú! Morrigú!
- Benedictine monks of Mt. Angel: Jesu-Maria! [what else would you expect from a bunch of monks?]
- The Bearkillers: Hakkaa paalle! [Finnish for “Hack them down!”]
- The Dúnedain Rangers: Lacho calad! Drego morn! [Sindarin for “Flame light! Flee night!”]
- Powder River Country: “Skywater forever! Yippie-kye-ey, motherfucker!”
- The People and Faculty Senate of Corvallis: Oregon State University's school fight song [their national standard is Benny the Beaver]
Okay, pretty sure I've clean forgotten why I don't love these books anymore. I mean, you have people regularly holding conversations in Sindarin. What's not to like?
Day 01 - Best book you read last year - Joe Abercrombie, Best Served Cold.
Day 02 - A book that you've read more than 3 times - Garth Nix, Sabriel
Day 03 - Your favorite series - George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire
Day 04 - Favorite book of your favorite series - George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy - Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle
Day 06 - A book that makes you sad - Isabel Allende, The House of Spirits
Day 07 - Most underrated book - George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia
Day 08 - Most overrated book - Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving - Sharon Kay Penman, The Reckoning
Day 10 - Favorite classic book - Herodotus of Halicarnassus, The Histories
Day 11 - A book you hated - Robert Kaplan, Balkan Ghosts
Day 12 - A book you used to love but don't anymore - S.M. Stirling, Dies the Fire
Day 13 - Your favorite writer
Day 14 - Favorite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 - Favorite male character
Day 16 - Favorite female character
Day 17 - Favorite quote from your favorite book
Day 18 - A book that disappointed you
Day 19 - Favorite book turned into a movie
Day 20 - Favorite romance book
Day 21 - Favorite book from your childhood
Day 22 - Favorite book you own
Day 23 - A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven't
Day 24 - A book that you wish more people would've read
Day 25 - A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 - A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 - The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 - Favorite title
Day 29 - A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 - Your favorite book of all time