Old Books, New Readers discussion
Through the Ages Challenge
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Through the Ages Discussion Thread
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Elizabeth
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Jun 01, 2019 11:20AM
If you wish to discuss the books, themes, historical information and more that are presented through the century challenge, feel free to post here.
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Thanks Elizabeth. All of the books need to be 100< pp and over 50 years old correct?
Also, please don't think I am rude, but could I respectfully ask you NOT to leave a synopsis of the book when you give the tasks? If I haven't read it yet, I like to be surprised!
Thank you!
Is there a particular edition that is best and closest to the 9th century?
It took me a long time to do the details/editing/photos for each century. I was messaged by a couple members to include a brief synopsis.
Morgan wrote: "Is there a particular edition that is best and closest to the 9th century?"This is difficult to answer. The first translation if I remember from my research was from Arabic to French then English. There is so much that is lost in translation. I read it in college from The Norton Anthology of World Literature. I did a quick google search, people recommend Hussain Haddawy's version as the closest English translation.
Elizabeth wrote: "It took me a long time to do the details/editing/photos for each century. I was messaged by a couple members to include a brief synopsis."Oh I know, I have several websites, run a few clubs, and both learn and teach music so I know how it works. But I think just saying it is a collection of middle eastern stories would have been a short enough synopsis. I mean well we all have the internet :) x
I got carried away and read all day and all of the night and most of the day and....well all i have left to read is Arabian Nights! I'm just 26p in. 3 of 4 tasks finished and updated on the page.
I'm so excited.
And my edition of this book is so bloody beautiful!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuTOt...
Anyone have suggestions for the other book published in the 9th century?
Amy wrote: "Anyone have suggestions for the other book published in the 9th century?"Asser's Life of King Alfred
I believe the Hadith was also published in the 9th century.
Elizabeth, how much time did it take you to research and set this up? This is AMAZING. I can see that this challenge is going to take me a long time to get through, but I'm going to plug away. HUGE thank you for all the work in setting this up. I've started with 'Arabian Nights' and I'm reacting to the negative way women have been viewed and portrayed in literature - and this goes back to the other side of the world and goes back to the 9th century. I'm going to be open-minded and work through all the major readings in each Century, but I'm going to keep an eye on the way in which women are portrayed. (I did not go into this challenge with this intention.)
Sylvia wrote: "Elizabeth, how much time did it take you to research and set this up? This is AMAZING. I can see that this challenge is going to take me a long time to get through, but I'm going to plug away. HUGE..."That is awesome. The big thing to remember is that mostly everything in society was ruled by religion until fairly recently and still continues to be in some parts of the world.
What I find interesting is that this is 200 years after the Quran was given to Muhammed. If I remember correctly (I havent read the Quran in two years) genders made no difference. All that mattered was that if an individual believed in Allah and followed the morals presented in the Quran, every individual was equal and Allah would be accepting of them. So why degrade women in such a way that they are presented as objects, usually "pleasurable" objects for men, soon after the holy book was discovered claiming otherwise? This statement I found gives a bit of clarity about the perception of women/how things such as misogyny effected other aspects of life like literature and it could pertain to other societies/religions.
"The cultural norms existing within patriarchy have shaped the way that these societies approached the text(Quran) and created a pervading narrative that dictated the way future generations were set up to interpret these stories and the role of women..."
I wish I had more but I am interested to see where this goes. This dives into more Feminist theory which is fantastic, but not the school of theory that I gravitate to the most. The one female forward aspect of the story is shown through Shahrazad. She does present herself almost as a feminist heroine in a way by using her intelligence to attempt to outwit the King and thus not allowing other women's lives to be in danger. (I dont remember how the story ended) She is trying to change the power dynamic within the frame story.
Side Note: I recommend reading the Quran if anyone is interested. The Oxford World Classic's edition I own is beautifully written. It also eliminates some "perceived" ideologies that Western media & extremist's claim to be in the holy book.
I was most struck with the acceptable racist views that blacks only wanted to have sex with (non-black) women, and that they were sneaky and not to be trusted. Racism is still very rife and very evil, and one of the most dangerous forces in the world today.Having grown up being treated as a second-class citizen because I had the unfortunate experience of not being born a boy in the 60s, being called 'the female' by relatives instead of by my own name and inundated with sexual advertisement that influenced a lot of men's attitudes. It was interesting to see how it became more acceptable for women to do more things as I grew up. Times they are a changing. But I think the time has come to realise the past is past and that's that. That's just the way it was. I am very uncomfortable with separating people by what they do based on what genitalia they possess.
Scheherazade is a lot like Esther in the Hebrew Scriptures. And you're right. If more people who bang on about the Bible actually read The Qu'Ran, as well as other religious tomes, they would be very surprised at what they found.
Hadn't read a lot since I was in Hungary last week, but currently 474/735pp through The Arabian Nights! Just finished the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves as well as Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp :)Hope everyone is enjoying their summer -- or winter, depending on where you are in the world! x
Currently on page 546/735, only 189pp to go and i'm on the next adventure, although I don't know when that will be :)
I have been so behind on my reading this summer but I plan to start this challenge this month. Summer is harder for me to sit and read.
Morgan wrote: "I have been so behind on my reading this summer but I plan to start this challenge this month. Summer is harder for me to sit and read."oh yes, I have been out walking in the city centre, the nearby parks, and around the university campus next to my house - as well as playing my new guitars - it's SUMMER! and my reading has fallen by the wayside!
Summer is just busy with a lot of things to do in the nice weather. i read more in the winter when there isn't much to do and I can read in front of my warm woodstove.
Morgan wrote: "Summer is just busy with a lot of things to do in the nice weather. i read more in the winter when there isn't much to do and I can read in front of my warm woodstove."I totally understand. Summer is my busiest season at work and personally.
oh yes Morgan. sitting next to the warm stove sounds so cosy! In my case I live with my adult son, and have no extended family living in the same country, so have absolutely nothing to do during late December and January. With no music classes, no feasts, no parties as everyone is off spending time with their families, that leaves me with the most free time of the whole year. But I don't mind! I love the classics and lovely authors and I go on trips all over the world through books, while everyone else is seeing people they've seen before. Like I told one of my sons who lives far, far away, Go and see the world. Me you've seen already.
126pp to go on the Arabian Nights! 609/735.
20/8/19
666/735 - 69pp to go!
21/8/19
690/735 - 45pp to go!
Finished! And in the end it was 742pp :)Next...?
I was so excited that couldn't wait, I started without you :)
Jazzy wrote: "I was so excited that couldn't wait, I started without you :)"Im so sorry Jazzy. I do not know why I didnt get a notification from your thread. I added it for you.
Elizabeth wrote: "Jazzy wrote: "I was so excited that couldn't wait, I started without you :)"Im so sorry Jazzy. I do not know why I didnt get a notification from your thread. I added it for you."
No worries. I had a post that said, Next please! but deleted it when I started the new post. Will copy and paste that one at the bottom and delete the one from the top when I'm done :)
What did you think of that set of plays? Sadly, I didn't like them.
Using religion to hold back and hold down people is cruel and unjust. Why should they make penance once they repented? Wearing hair shirts and whipping themselves, never mind the ones put to death. A set of fairy tales meant to keep poor souls 'in their place.' Never mind this earthly life! There are treasures in heaven, would you not rather go there? (and thus decrease the surplus population.)
My books are all usually tied to the next whether I know it or not. For instance, my second book following The Plays Of Roswitha, is by the German author Theodor Fontane - Effi Briest.
In this book, Effi meets a good Catholic woman, by the name of Roswitha.
Pretty canny, eh?
But I probably strongly disliked the Roswitha plays because of the years of abuse I suffered in a "Christian" cult until my youth was spent and once I finally became free, emotionally and socially I was more like an 18-year-old than the 38-year-old I was.I told someone I didn't know 80s music as I didn't listen to any and didn't have television or radio during the 80s. They said, that's okay! You didn't miss anything. It wasn't very good anyway.
:)
QUICK UPDATE
Please give me at least 1-2 days to post the next century. I understand the eagerness. I do this challenge on my own while also working full days (9am to 11pm).
-Thank you.
First of all I would like to say Thank you for the challenge. Don't worry about the introductory post, as I can find the information on what comes next from other posts. I was just using the free time I have to choose the books, compose the post and find and add the information as well as starting the books. I don't have free time every day, and my weekends are usually chocka-block, so it's good to get going when I do. :)
I also guess that's why only I am commenting on this thread with no replies as you're so busy busy! Hopefully you have a holiday coming up soon!
As for me, my music classes start back in mid-September! Looking forward to them.
I appreciate it. Yes, I can not wait for November for things to slow down.
Very slow going but I finally finished the 11th c. !
Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!I have some free time now, so working on the 12th c. Reading my 3rd book and hope to at least start my 4th!
Old Books, New Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Plays Of Roswitha (other topics)Effi Briest (other topics)
The Arabian Nights (other topics)
Asser's Life of King Alfred (other topics)
Beowulf (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Theodor Fontane (other topics)John Lesslie Hall (other topics)
