books!

[rivendellrose]

Books Read So Far in 2008
Making Money - Terry Pratchett
Dancing Girls of Lahore - Leslie (something)
Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice for All Creation - Olivia Judson
The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins (audio)
Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

Currently Reading
The Physician and Sexuality in Victorian America - Haller & Haller
The Ancestor's Tale - Richard Dawkins

Pillars of the Earth was wonderful - an historical novel of the 12th century that actually works - it's historically accurate (I never caught him in an error, either in the living-history/culture stuff or in the actual events of the age), and it weaves the edges of major known events of the era with fascinating 'little' characters. Very fun stuff.

(Although I was a bit disappointed... unless I missed it, we never actually see the cathedral that was central to the plot get completed. Tiny little factor, but it did make me a little sad.)

Comments

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

How was Dancing Girls of Lahore?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Really interesting. The author is... I forget if she said anthropologist or sociologist, but I'm guessing anthro... anyway, her regular field of study is prostitution in various countries and how it affects women's rights. Basically this time she got involved with the life of her primary informant, a woman named Maha, and her family, and a major thread through the book is the author's concern over how to reconcile the fact that this is the life the women involved in the culture of the pleasure quarter value, but that she personally and academically sees it as deeply problematic. Basically, these women are real people to her, and that confuses everything for her as an anthropologist.

I thought it was very well-handled, in that she doesn't try to make an easy issue of anything, and doesn't shy away from the really ugly bits of the culture she's examining, or from the beauty she sometimes finds there, either.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've been interested in this book but my library doesn't have it, and I was debating whether or not to put it on my wishlist at Paperbackswap.com. I think I will; I'd like to read it.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I found mine at the local Half-Price books, if that helps at all - I had to buy hardcover, but at their prices it works out about the same.

If you can't find a copy anywhere local I might be able to just send you mine. It's good, but it's not something I'll need to refer to frequently or anything like that.

[ciara-belle.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked Pillars of the Earth. I got that for Christmas and haven't read it yet, but it's good to hear a good review of the book.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I really think you'll like it. *Nods* You might catch some historical issues that I didn't (it's been a while since my last class on the middle ages), but it's a very realistic, human portrayal of the period, and it has a really fun, twisty plot with lots of interesting characters.

[ladyvivien.livejournal.com]

Victorian medicine and sexuality! Um, we're going to squee about that book, yes? I very nearly did my PhD on sexuality & the body in the novels of Wilkie Collins, so illness and sex and 19th c stuff = OMFGSQUEE in my book.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Ooooo... and you didn't? But that's such an interesting topic!!!

This particular book is... hmm. They're heavy on the evidence, low on analysis, at least so far, and I'm about halfway through. Lots and lots of quotes, but not a lot of getting more in-depth, which is sort of sad. And they're focusing more than I'd really care for on all the ins and outs of the medical controversy over corsetry, which... meh. I get that it's a big deal, but a lot of the other stuff is much more interesting, to me. Still, they've had some fascinating passages.

[ryunohi.livejournal.com]

That's too bad. I was all about the mad jealousy for a few minutes. Guess I can contain myself until I get back the States, whenever that'll be.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I adored Pillars of the Earth. "The boys came early to the execution" is one of the best opening lines I've ever read.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. An absolutely fantastic line.

[zinjadu.livejournal.com]

1. How is "Making Money"?

2. Can I borrow it? :D :D :D

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It's kind of okay. It's not as good as "Thud," by any stretch of the imagination... but it's still Discworld, and Moist is fun. Got some good Vetinari bits, too.

Probably what I should say is that from another author, I'd think it was a pretty neat book. With the weight of all of Discworld behind it, it feels a bit laggy and less-than-impressive. Ah well.

And yes, of course! I think Kendra's finished with it, so I can give it over the next time I see you. XD