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JWithers 05-05-2007 09:11 PM

What Are You Reading?
 
Right now I am reading "Sarum" by Edward Rutherfurd. It is an historical novel of England, specifically Salisbury Plain from the Stone Age through present times. Really good.

I read another of his novels "London" last year, and it follows the same format, following the history of London from pre-Roman times until present.

What's on your reading list? :) No textbooks! Only leisure! :D

ziasha07 05-05-2007 09:55 PM

Memoirs of a Geisha, for the 5th or 6th time :)

Tge Diary of A Crush Trilogy (How High School :rolleyes:)

The Bible :D

JWithers 05-05-2007 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziasha07 (Post 1441678)
Memoirs of a Geisha, for the 5th or 6th time :)

Tge Diary of A Crush Trilogy (How High School :rolleyes:)

The Bible :D


I LOVE "Memoirs of a Geisha"! :D I read it about 3 times now. But the movie was SOOOOOO disappointing to me. Did you see it?

"crush " trilogy probably a little young for my geezerly behind...:p

And I love my Bible. ;)

Drolefille 05-05-2007 10:07 PM

Reading Now:

The Last Amazon
People of the Wolf
Eric (Audiobook) by Terry Pratchett

Just Finished:
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Fairest (Set in the same world as Ella Enchanted)
The Virgin's Lover

Drolefille 05-05-2007 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers (Post 1441681)
I LOVE "Memoirs of a Geisha"! :D I read it about 3 times now. But the movie was SOOOOOO disappointing to me. Did you see it?

"crush " trilogy probably a little young for my geezerly behind...:p

And I love my Bible. ;)

You should read Geisha, A Life. It's the real biographical story of the woman who spoke to the author of memoirs. She was promised anonymity but he revealed who she was, so she decided to set the story straight. She was basically shunned because she talked to this guy, and he changed things around.

For example, as a geiko (the Kyoto district word for geisha) her virginity was not sold, it was more of a coming out event. Prostitutes had their viriginity sold, but not geisha. They use the same word (mitsuage i think) which means something like "catch," like what a fisherman brings in, but it is not the same thing.

JWithers 05-05-2007 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille (Post 1441682)
Reading Now:

The Last Amazon
People of the Wolf
Eric (Audiobook) by Terry Pratchett

Just Finished:
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Fairest (Set in the same world as Ella Enchanted)
The Virgin's Lover


Never heard of those. Are they historical fiction? ( it sounds as though they are) I am such a sucker for that genre! :cool:

ziasha07 05-05-2007 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers (Post 1441681)
I LOVE "Memoirs of a Geisha"! :D I read it about 3 times now. But the movie was SOOOOOO disappointing to me. Did you see it?

"crush " trilogy probably a little young for my geezerly behind...:p

And I love my Bible. ;)


Yeah, the movie definetly fell short in my book. I expected more scenes, more eloquent kimonos. They barely skimmed the sections of her life. I know the movie was two hours as it was but I wouldn't have been upset if it was three or three and a half.

"Crush" most definetly. Not sure how old you are but its for the 14-24 ish type crowd.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille (Post 1441683)
You should read Geisha, A Life. It's the real biographical story of the woman who spoke to the author of memoirs. She was promised anonymity but he revealed who she was, so she decided to set the story straight. She was basically shunned because she talked to this guy, and he changed things around.

For example, as a geiko (the Kyoto district word for geisha) her virginity was not sold, it was more of a coming out event. Prostitutes had their viriginity sold, but not geisha. They use the same word (mitsuage i think) which means something like "catch," like what a fisherman brings in, but it is not the same thing.

Really? I will definetly have to look into that!

JWithers 05-05-2007 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille (Post 1441683)
You should read Geisha, A Life. It's the real biographical story of the woman who spoke to the author of memoirs. She was promised anonymity but he revealed who she was, so she decided to set the story straight. She was basically shunned because she talked to this guy, and he changed things around.

For example, as a geiko (the Kyoto district word for geisha) her virginity was not sold, it was more of a coming out event. Prostitutes had their viriginity sold, but not geisha. They use the same word (mitsuage i think) which means something like "catch," like what a fisherman brings in, but it is not the same thing.


Right, Misuage was more like the purchasing of a geisha's sole companionship. Although I do believe it entailed the rights to her virginity as well. Of course my knowledge comes from "Memoirs of a Geisha" so I will read the book you recommended. It sounds eye-opening! Thanks.;)

Drolefille 05-05-2007 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers (Post 1441687)
Never heard of those. Are they historical fiction? ( it sounds as though they are) I am such a sucker for that genre! :cool:

Ha, some are yes.
The Last Amazon is by Stephen Pressfield, I got hooked on him after reading Gates of Fire (based on Thermopolye) after watching 300 :)
People of the Wolf is written by a paleontologist/archaeologist and is about, so far, the precursors to the Inuit being pressured to move south.
The Virgin's Lover is by Phillipa Gregory and she writes a lot of Tudor historical fiction. I've read a bunch by her including The Other Boleyn Girl (Mary Boleyn), and The Constant Princess (Catherine of Aragon). This one's about Queen Elizabeth I.
Fairest, fantasy fiction :)
And World War Z is written as if it were true, by Max Brooks (Mel Brooks' son) and is awesome. I'm still a little freaked out admittedly. He also wrote The Zombie Survival Guide which I need to read once I'm not spooked by moaning noises. I'll just say this, there are zombies in the ocean too. And they're still roaming around down there to occasionally surface and/or grab the occasional diver. And that's just a tiny bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziasha07 (Post 1441688)

Really? I will definetly have to look into that!

Yes, I was really pissed at the Memoirs guy after reading that book, and the real one was way better.

JWithers 05-05-2007 10:55 PM

I have read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Constant Princess". I love Phillipa Gregory.

Do you have Showtime? The new series "The Tudors" is amazing. Well, of course Jonothan Rhys-Meyers is a hottie, who, self-admittedly bears NO resemblance to H8, it is a really juicy, beautifully done foray into the early years of H8's rule, specifically his break with the Church and Anne Boleyn.

I am an anglophile and make no excuses.....:D

ziasha07 05-05-2007 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers (Post 1441707)
I have read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Constant Princess". I love Phillipa Gregory.

Do you have Showtime? The new series "The Tudors" is amazing. Well, of course Jonothan Rhys-Meyers is a hottie, who, self-admittedly bears NO resemblance to H8, it is a really juicy, beautifully done foray into the early years of H8's rule, specifically his break with the Church and Anne Boleyn.

I am an anglophile and make no excuses.....:D

Ha. I love historical fiction as well! I though I was the only loser. I loved Masterpiece Theatre's show on H8 and his wives. "The Other Boelyn Girl" will be on the top of my summer reading list along with the geisha book.

Oh have you heard of a book called "Darkside Zodiac"?

JWithers 05-05-2007 11:01 PM

Have you ever read "Descent of Woman" by Elaine Morgan? Now I am a Christian, but a free-thinking one, and it delves into the alternative theories of evolution, using the role of women as the basis for it's main query "are we naked apes or hairy porpoises?"

ALSO, have you read anything my Steven J.Gould? He is an evolutionary biologist with several titles, including "The Flamingo's Smile".

deadbear80 05-05-2007 11:02 PM

Right now I'm reading The Pact by Jodi Picoult. VERY sad, but I'm enjoying it!

JWithers 05-05-2007 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziasha07 (Post 1441708)
Ha. I love historical fiction as well! I though I was the only loser. I loved Masterpiece Theatre's show on H8 and his wives. "The Other Boelyn Girl" will be on the top of my summer reading list along with the geisha book.

Oh have you heard of a book called "Darkside Zodiac"?


Honey, I am HUGE history geek with emphasis on British history! LOL! Lay down your hand and I will still be the geekiest! :o

PBS had a series about the six wives of H8 a year or two ago, but I missed it...in any case, "The Tudors" on Showtime is HAWT!!!!!

Also, I am a huge fan of Eleanor of Aquitaine (gotta love those Angevins and the Plantegents!) ....the remake of "The Lion In Winter" with Glenn Close as Eleanor is perfection. But a better portrayal of her in a fictional biography is "The Book of Eleanor" by Pamela Kaufman. Lovely.

Are the geek police coming??? My husband said he heard sirens! :eek:

JWithers 05-05-2007 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadbear80 (Post 1441710)
Right now I'm reading The Pact by Jodi Picoult. VERY sad, but I'm enjoying it!


That book broke my heart....."My Sister's Keeper" (is that the right title? is equally as tragic....she writes so well!


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