Melora > Recent Status Updates

Hmmm. So far I've been a bit taken aback by Wright's casual assertion that plague was the cause of Rome's fall. And by her citation of Foxe's Book of Martyrs to document Christian persecutions under Marcus Aurelius. A humorous approach to plagues in history is all very well, but one would like to feel more confident that the author isn't playing fast and loose with historical facts.

Hmmm. So far I've been a bit taken aback by Wright's casual assertion that plague was the cause of Rome's fall. And by her unqualified citation of Foxe's Book of Martyrs to document Christian persecutions under Marcus Aurelius. A humorous approach to plagues in history is all very well, but one would like to feel more confident that the author isn't playing fast and loose with historical facts.

Very interesting audiobook so far, EXCEPT that the reader sounds like a robot AND she keeps saying "Klu Klux Klan." And a couple other weird mispronunciations, but that's the worst.

Can a story be refreshing in its shameless naughtiness
? "Ricciardo da Chinzica loses his wife" was jaw-droppingly naughty (admittedly my jaw drops easily), but Funny. The cheerfully modern translation probably helps.

Can a story be refreshingly, shamelessly naughty? "Ricciardo da Chinzica loses his wife" was jaw-droppingly naughty (admittedly my jaw drops easily), but Funny. The cheerfully modern translation probably helps.

This is So much longer than it should be.

I'm surprised that when Jaher mentions Doyle's skepticism about the "ghost archers" at the Battle of Mons he doesn't say a thing about Arthur Machen and his dismay when his fictional story, "Angels of Mons," was taken for a news report, which would seem relevant to the eagerness of people to believe in supernatural intervention at the time.

Trying to decide whether to read this or Mary Beard's "SPQR" and noticed in the jacket blurb of this "The author wishes to point out that there are no zebras this time, so don't get your hopes upon that count. There is, however, a werebadger, if that's something that's been missing from your life."
By a lucky coincidence, a werebadger is Exactly what I've been needing. Choice made!

I was surprised that White didn't think to have his hormone-deranged Boston terrier neutered, rather than arranging a tryst for him. Googled and was a little surprised to learn that having house pets neutered did not become common until the 70's. A fine example of progress, anyway!

A very pleasant surprise -- after the first hundred pages or so there are some decent stories!

This is Awful. Clumsy, juvenile writing, and only one of the stories has been even remotely interesting, and that was the first one. The last one featured a high school bloodbath at a school where teachers and students are Required to carry guns. Ho hum. I'd have quit 50 pgs ago if this weren't an Early Reviewer free book. I Sure hope the stories improve, because so far this has been a real slog.

... in 1944, Mayor La Guardia issued a combination gun and makeup shoulder bag that contained a holster, red lipstick, a compact, and a case of rouge, reportedly advising his policewomen to "use the gun as you would your lipstick. Use it only when you need it, and use it intelligently. Don't overdo either one."

"Doodlehums" -- ha!

"In a sense, one could say that Voldemort is a kind of Prometheus. He takes forethought and labors to create a new nature, a new reality, which excludes the one thing which defines all human beings, their mortality."
Increasingly bizarre. He never does get to what Voldemort and Prometheus have in common. I can't believe this guy is a university professor.

So far this is, as Hagrid would say, a heaping load of codswallop. HP as Odysseus my foot.

Marvelous but dense. Relentlessly "thinky." Picking up Bill Bryson's newest for a quick breather, then I'll dive back into this!