Susan Signe Morrison's Blog, page 6
June 18, 2016
Corgis and the Writing Life
Gwen, uncharacteristically not barking
Enjoy my guest post on Sarah Johnson’s blog, Reading the Past, about the writing life–and find out how corgis can help (and hinder) the writing process!
Filed under: Blog
June 10, 2016
Student Doodles from the Dutch Anglo-Saxonist
June 9, 2016
My Amazing Students, Part 1: Play and Anglo-Saxon Culture
This is first in a series of posts featuring my amazing, creative, smart, and fun students. They love to play. So I do I. In my Beowulf class, number of my students made Beowulf inspired games based on existing popular games.
What can be in this magic box?
I’ve played their versions already.
Sarah Miller’s amazing Catan reinterpretation
Here’s a grim game.
Beowulf Catan. James Kilfoyle as Heathobard; John Kilfoyle as Dane; me? I’m the Geat. The robber is Grendel. I used my thane card. Thank you Sarah Miller, who made it.
Then there’s Madison’s amazing rune stick!
And Drew’s incredible Beowulf Yu-gi-oh! cards. He has gone to Nationals playing Yu-gi-oh!
Maybe Beowulf and Grendel would have gotten along better if they only played these games together!
@medievalwomen
Filed under: Blog
June 7, 2016
“Put this on the syllabus next time you teach Beowulf.”
Times Higher Education
Thanks to Peter J. Smith, reader in Renaissance literature, Nottingham Trent University! Here he writes in Times Higher Education about Grendel’s Mother: The Saga of the Wyrd-Wife. “This retelling of the Anglo-Saxon epic by one of the period’s most renowned scholars is gloomy and powerful in equal measure. Morrison names the poem’s anonymous character (Brimhild) and, in so doing, tragically personalises the victim of the poem’s patriarchal violence. The novel’s alliterative style constantly enacts the signature of its source: ‘loathsome love-making, putrid penetration, corrupt copulation’. Put this on the syllabus next time you teach Beowulf.”
~Times Higher Education, May 12, 2016
Filed under: Uncategorized
May 23, 2016
All the Single Ladies: The Conference at Kalamazoo
Grendel’s Mother and I at the Kazoo Books table.
Medieval women dominated my experience the 51st International Congress on Medieval Studies, an annual conference that takes place at Western Michigan University. Imagine thousands of medievalists rushing to sessions with titles such as “Fanfiction in Medieval Studies” and “‘Get Ye Flask’: Friars and Uroscopy in Medieval England” (uroscopy being the science of analyzing urine). You can read more about my experiences here.
I enjoyed a lovely dinner replete with fellow medieval novelists, including myself, hosted by Gloria Tiller at Kazoo Books. Here are some photos with the great writers Candace Robb, Grace Tiffany, and Sharan Newman. Be sure to read my rave review of Candace’s latest book here.
I was honored to be join these medieval novelists, along with Lucy Pick and Mel Starr, at the noontime brown bag lunch for medieval novelists who have a Q & A, hosted by Gloria. Writers interact with an audience of novel-reading enthusiasts. In the past, I was just sitting in the audience. It was a thrill to be sitting among these wonderful fellow writers!
From l. to r. Candace Robb, Lucy Pick, Grace Tiffany, me, Mel Starr, and Sharan Newman. Photo by Todd Toussaint at Kazoo Books.
So, a conference replete with other women–medieval and modern, fledgling and experienced, American and experience–so it was a marvelous experience! Can’t wait to return next time!
Filed under: Blog
May 17, 2016
Taking Students in my Tardis: More Dr. Who
My student’s evaluation of me.
In the aftermath of re-posting the Dutch Anglo-Saxonist‘s fun ruminations on the Anglo-Saxon period, Dr. Who, and the Tardis, I just thought I’d share a dear student’s sketch that appeared in the student evaluation forms I received after grading.
I love my students!
Filed under: Blog
May 15, 2016
Lǣce Hwā: Doctor Who and the Norman Conquest — Dutch Anglo-Saxonist
The TARDIS occasionally found its way to early medieval England and these visits of the nation’s most beloved ‘Time Lord’ can also teach us something about Anglo-Saxon history. This post focuses on the Norman Conquest and is the last of a series of three blogs that deal with the visits of BBC’s Doctor Who to Anglo-Saxon […]
via Lǣce Hwā: Doctor Who and the Norman Conquest — Dutch Anglo-Saxonist
Filed under: Blog
May 10, 2016
Dr. Who? Again?
Alfred the Great and the 6th Dr. Who
The Dutch Anglo-Saxonist strikes again! Be sure to read about Alfred the Great and Dr. Who here.
Filed under: Blog
May 4, 2016
Blog Tour Recap: Grendel’s Mother Getting Over Jet Lag
Grendel’s Mother has just arrived home from her Virtual Blog Tour. She still has jet lag but managed to put this post together about her reviews, essays, and interviews on her whirlwind tour.
REVIEWS
A stop on Grendel’s Mother’s blog tour
“Overall, this story is about friendship, love, loss, and redemption. The message of this book is that there is always hope….I found this story to an emotional and poignant read. I loved reading Brimhild’s journey and wished for her to find her happiness. I found the writing to be very beautiful and lyrical. I also liked how the setting was set in the Anglo-Saxon world, and I loved how Norse mythology was incorporated into the story. Grendel’s Mother is sure to linger with you even after you have finished the last page. I recommend this story to anyone interested in reading a different take on the classic, Beowulf, Norse Mythology, and anyone who enjoys reading stories about a mother’s love for her son.”
Lauralee Jacks, History from a Woman’s Perspective: A Book Blog
Visit this page to find out more: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/grendelsmotherblogtour/
Guest Blog Post at Just One More Chapter
Why historical fiction and not history? Why fiction and not non-fiction? How do you identify with characters from the past?
Tee hee!
Loki and Thor: Tom Hiddleston and Chris Helmsworth
“I loved the imagery of this story. I also loved the tales of the Gods, Thor, Odin and Loki and their antics. The only problem with that for me was that every time there was a mention of Loki, I thought about Tom Hiddleston and Chris Helmsworth.”
I’m ok with them starring in the movie version…..
This child’s story: IN RUNES!
Guest Post at A Literary Vacation
What books do you like that take a well-known story or myth, but presents it from the point of view of a woman?
Review at Impressions in Ink
“There are several reasons I have given Grendel’s Mother 5 stars for excellent.…A beautiful love story.… I read aloud some of Grendel’s Mother. I’d read silently through the first page before realizing the writing style had a particular cadence reminding me of poetry.”
“I was captivated by the prose….I am most excited about the chance to use Grendel’s Mother alongside Beowulf and The Prose Edda: Tales from Norse Mythology for my kids’ Great Books/History homeschool curriculum. I think they will appreciate the feminist story in contrast to the very masculine originals. I also think they will appreciate the examination of feminine life during the period. Grendel’s Mother is definitely a book that I will be recommending to any of my friends who enjoy historical fiction. I think it will appeal to anyone who enjoys Norse or Germanic tales, historical fiction in general and epic tales. I am already feeling the need to reread both Grendel’s Mother and Beowulf very soon.”
~ A Book Geek
Read the entire review here
“By giving us the tale from the female perspective, she has managed to put a completely different spin on it for me. Her beautiful mastery of the language has brought the characters to life for me. These strong women truly were the steel backbone of the society.”
From One Book Shy
“This book offers up this infamous story from a new perspective. What’s more, and my favourite aspect I think, is that it does so utilizing the devices and tools that characterize the original poem….
[O]verall the use of alliteration, epithets, and kenning was beautifully crafted. The tone and style are somewhat alien, especially for a modern reader, but I feel that this is actually working to set the scene and rhythm of a historical space that is very alien to the one we inhabit. Even more importantly that rhythm and tone is consistent throughout and that lets the reader settle into a world that the language patterns and tone, as much as anything else, create. All in all a definite, recommended read!”
From Seize the Words
Now that Grendel’s Mother is back from her tour, she’ll unpack, relax, and prepare for further adventures!
Filed under: Blog
April 29, 2016
Lǣce Hwā: Doctor Who in Anglo-Saxon England — Dutch Anglo-Saxonist
The TARDIS occasionally found its way to early medieval England and these visits of the nation’s most beloved ‘Time Lord’ can also teach us something about Anglo-Saxon history and the Old English language. This post is the first of a series of three blogs that deal with the visits of BBC’s Doctor Who to Anglo-Saxon […]
via Lǣce Hwā: Doctor Who in Anglo-Saxon England — Dutch Anglo-Saxonist
Filed under: Blog
