L.M. Whitaker's Blog, page 3
May 17, 2020
What I'm Reading - Ask Historians on Reddit
How is it that I just learned about this? This honestly has to be one of the best forums ever. Ever. Heavily moderated, and the most interesting questions and thoroughly amazing replies.
Also, they have a podcast too! I’ve not listened yet, but I will give it a go. Here is it…
So, in the subreddit, you start by asking a question. Here is one example....
You can’t even believe the wonderfully rich discussion this prompts. Multiple experts reply, and I learned not only about the messengers, but also how they traded and their system of government. It’s truly mind-blowing that there are such deep experts willing to share their time and knowledge so willingly.
A few quotes from this post so you can see what I mean by the awesomeness of it all.
Example responses:
“ If you’re a chaski runner, odds are you know your way around the route you’ve been running - it’s quite likely you’ve been conscripted for your duties from the local area. Your tambo way station may be a few miles from home, but it’s likely not too far. You only need to pass whatever qhipu messages - or perhaps fresh fish for the Sapa Inca, maybe he asked for some for dinner! - from your tambo to the next one. Then you’ll pass it on relay-race style. You may be one of only a few people around with ready access to the royal road (Qhapaq Ñan) that isn’t military - the road is for imperial business alone.”
Then a comment from another person…
“Do you really think that roads were off limits to all non-military traffic in practice? I know that's mentioned in some of the chronicles, but to me it always seemed like emphasizing the control the Sapa Inca had over his domain. I never interpreted it as "you actually have to ask a bureaucrat every time you want to go see a relative in a neighboring village". Seems like the widespread pastoral mobility in the Andes would make that difficult to enforce. Though I could definitely see a distinction between significant "ceque" roads in the Cusco Valley and those in the provinces.”
What I'm Reading - The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
A first novel by UK author Stuart Turton
You know those books that you just can’t initially get into, but for some reason you keep trying, and then you realize sometimes you have to work for the most special things.
Enter The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
(You may also see it titled under the original UK version, The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle).
"At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed--again. She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden's only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle's murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend--but nothing and no one are quite what they seem.
Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that will appeal to fans of Kate Atkinson and Agatha Christie."
It’s wonderfully original, Agatha Christie meets The Twilight Zone.
If that does not get you...here is a much more descriptive review…honestly way better than I could do…
,,Goodreads Review - The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
