(Untitled)

[vaznetti]

Recently read:

Tom Shippey, The Road to Middle Earth (new edition, which incorporates the recently published supplementary materials and includes an appendix on the films):

Comments

oops, reposting

[ex_greythist387]

I read the first edition of Road to Middle-earth as part of research for a paper on things that discuss, or attempt to discuss, Tolkien's literary antecedents, and found it practically the only book-length piece worth citing. I'm glad to know that the second ed. doesn't break things. :) (I've heard things that sound less good about Author of the Century.)

Re: oops, reposting

[vaznetti]

I thought it was a really useful book, and Shippey seems very sensible, although of course he's on his home ground when he's discussing the literary questions -- although I haven't read Author of the Century.

[dagnylilytable]

Popping out of lurkdom to comment that it's interesting to me as a Russian major to note Akunin's wider popularity outside the country, especially given that he's not the most popular writer in his genre there, because his hero departs from the conventions of Russian detective fiction.

The one I read for class was The Winter Queen , dealing with the anarchism and violence and terrorism of the late 19th century, and it's very realistic in its portrayal of class of the period-- almost to the point where it's startling, as you noticed.

Anyway, sorry to blab overmuch, but I did want to let you know I was glad to see the post.

[vaznetti]

Akunin's UK publishers have been giving him a real push -- is he known in the US at all, as well?

and it's very realistic in its portrayal of class of the period-- almost to the point where it's startling, as you noticed.

I think I like it, but it's very self conscious. In a sense, I guess you could compare what Akunin is doing with what Tolkien is doing -- that is, they're both giving what they've written a kind of historical depth, although they've gone about it in very different ways.

[dagnylilytable]

is he known in the US at all, as well?

I've seen him in stores here, with some positive reviews, but I didn't get the sense he's "taken-off," as it were.

His books are interesting in another historical depth sort of sense- he writes about the tsarist era rather than the Soviet period, with a "good guy" we want to win. My professor also noted that Fandorin is an orphan-- a parallel that can be extended to the modern Russian, trying to figure out what "roots" should be celebrated given the loss of Soviet identity.

[vaznetti]

My professor also noted that Fandorin is an orphan-- a parallel that can be extended to the modern Russian, trying to figure out what "roots" should be celebrated given the loss of Soviet identity.

This is interesting. I kind of wonder what the fact that the protagonist here is a nun 9with a bishop as the male lead) would say about the importance of the Orthodox Church in Russina identity -- this is something I am kind of nervous of, sometimes. Not in my personal life, but on general principles.

[iseult_variante]

Ah, I am sad to hear that the Davis is meh. I have a very high threshold for that sort of thing, though, so I will probably still enjoy it. ;) Night Watch sounds interesting - I remember seeing the trailers for the movie and being intrigued. *makes note*

[vaznetti]

I tend to like the Rome-set books more than the abroad-set books, these days -- this one just seems slow to me.

Both the movie and the book are worht a look -- I dont know that I'd pay full-price for the book, but you can rent the film and decide whether it's your kind of thing.

[iseult_variante]

Good idea! *makes movie rental note*