Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
General Discussions
>
Random Thoughts
My favorite was M*A*S*H* which the folks knew when to quit. The sequel back in the States after the Korean War didn't last too long.
Sharing this article:http://www.history.com/news/rememberi...
My grandpa fought in this battle and thankfully lived to tell the tale. He was later moved into an MP position where he served in a unit that is said to be the first military investigative unit ever (we were told it was something like NCIS for the Navy). Sadly, no one in my family has verified this information. We were only just made aware of it after my grandfather's passing. To anyone who knew my grandfather, that's not really surprising. The only thing he would talk about related to the war was how much he hated Japs (I don't mean to offend but that's the attitude of a great many men and women just like him). At some point, I intend on making a wicked research project out of it.
Thnx for the article Gretchen - good readMy thnx to your Grandfather for his service - as to his attitude towards the Japaneses - my maternal grandfather was much the same
As was my father's toward the Germans. He fought in the Greek and African campaigns against the Nazis.
I just saw an advert and caught myself asking the television if we really need another Terminator film.
Darcy wrote: "I just saw an advert and caught myself asking the television if we really need another Terminator film."I'd say no, but Hollywood will crank 'em out as long as they make money on 'em.
I learned a new word today that I thought would appeal to some in this groupvellichor
n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with thousands of old books you’ll never have time to read, each of which is itself locked in its own era, bound and dated and papered over like an old room the author abandoned years ago, a hidden annex littered with thoughts left just as they were on the day they were captured.
Darcy wrote: "I learned a new word today that I thought would appeal to some in this groupvellichor
n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with..."
I'm going to try to use it in a sentence tomorrow.... any suggestions?
Impress your snobby friends by converting the living room into a library decorated in art de vellichor.COS: Above some of you were talking about professional football players' injuries. What about boxing? I watched a classic movie about a famous boxer, and those people aim for the head, face and kidneys on purpose!
I thought this was kind of fun. It has something for everyone. I've never read American Gods so I can't speak to it's greatness in reference to the state of Minnesota. I just hope it's not like Fargo. http://www.bustle.com/articles/93704-...
American Gods is nothing like Fargo. It's literally about different cultural gods that came to America (via cultural mores. I quite liked it, taught me a bit about gods I knew nothing about in an interesting way.ETA: I find it interesting that the survey states that the UK is a country, when in fact it's made up of four countries (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). There should be four different books, but they've decided to just go with the one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. I'm going to assume that's not sitting well with everyone.
Darcy wrote: "American Gods is nothing like Fargo. It's literally about different cultural gods that came to America (via cultural mores. I quite liked it, taught me a bit about gods I knew nothing a..."That is probably the understatement of the year, Darcy. :)
So how does Minnesota play a role in the book? Just curious. I have never read it, only heard of it. As far as the United Kingdom selection, that seems lazy. There are plenty of excellent novels that have been written that take place in each of the individual countries.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Louisiana are all locations where the gods live, and where they have a meeting of sorts. The main protagonist is Odin. I'm guessing like in the Canadian prairies, the Scandinavian element is really the reason for it. Go Vikings? heh
https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/...Home after a two week Medical Mission to the Yucatan and various Mayan villages!!
V.W. wrote: "Terri wrote: "Missed too many posts to go back and check them all...has the Game of Thrones discussion happened? Or are people too afraid of wrecking things for others due to spoilers? Understanda..."GOT lost me a season or tow ago.... And yet, STILL more historically accurate than what the history channel did to Vikings!!!!
I jus watched the episode "Blood Eagle" & glad only a few more episodes to go of the series as its rapidly becoming like a moody teenager style series..... Ragnars fair doing my head in, really dont like him at all & its like everyone has Teen angst
Andy wrote: "I jus watched the episode "Blood Eagle" & glad only a few more episodes to go of the series as its rapidly becoming like a moody teenager style series..... Ragnars fair doing my head in, really don..."Andy wrote: "I jus watched the episode "Blood Eagle" & glad only a few more episodes to go of the series as its rapidly becoming like a moody teenager style series..... Ragnars fair doing my head in, really don..."
It's like every show has to have "angst" written large in it no matter what the subject or genre, and it drives me mad. Relationship problems and friction in the background is fine, but not to the point where half of every episode is devoted to it. I stopped watching half a season of The Arrow because of it and dumped many shows entirely.
Goodreads is a little peculiar. Today is Canada Day, so you'd expect the quote of the day to be from a Canadian author.Noooo, it's from Australian poet Dorothy McKellar from her famous poem about Australia.
Weird.
V.W. wrote: "Andy wrote: "I jus watched the episode "Blood Eagle" & glad only a few more episodes to go of the series as its rapidly becoming like a moody teenager style series..... Ragnars fair doing my head i..."I've been noticing the same thing in TV dramas for some time, which is very annoying, so I did a little digging to see if my suspicions were true, and alas, they are.
The reason for all the angst, teenage and adult, is that there's a concerted effort to attract the young adult audiences favored by sponsors. Since so much popular YA lit is laden with teen agonies and immature relations, these are being written into historical dramas in hopes of attracting the 18 to 30 yr old viewers that advertisers think will be more susceptible to their messages. This is why premium TV networks like HBO that don't rely on ads, don't pander to the young.
Margaret wrote: "Very few people outside of Australia have heard of her, Jane, so no shame to you. :)"Shame on me, an aussie, I know the poem, but not the author!
Marilee wrote: "The reason for all the angst, teenage and adult, is that there's a concerted effort to attract the young adult audiences favored by sponsors. Since so much popular YA lit is laden with teen agonies and immature relations, these are being written into historical dramas in hopes of attracting the 18 to 30 yr old viewers that advertisers think will be more susceptible to their messages. This is why premium TV networks like HBO that don't rely on ads, don't pander to the young. "I agree. It's a shame though, because this was put out by The History Channel (Canada), so I would have thought they'd be a little less inclined to focus on a younger audience, but maybe because they changed their broadcasts to be more police procedural and pawnshops, they don't know who their audience is anymore.
Too bad something like this wasn't on PBS in the first place and written more decently towards the end. They don't cater to the kids--except when they grovel for money their target audience is the Baby Boomers--not my generation.
Yes, something from Robert W. Service maybe? I used to have a boss that could recite the whole The Shooting of Dan McGrew from memory. :)
Darcy wrote: "Marilee wrote: "The reason for all the angst, teenage and adult, is that there's a concerted effort to attract the young adult audiences favored by sponsors. Since so much popular YA lit is laden w..."It's really rather ridiculous how so much programming and so many networks are all going after the same younger viewers, as if that's all that counts. This is happening on cable and broadcast networks. It is dumbing down shows, not to mention diluting network identities as they try to be all things to all viewers ... Except the over 40 crowd, which is not wanted. I can't believe some of the garbage being shown on the History channel these days.
I have absolutely nothing against programming for young people, except when that becomes the end all and be all standard on every network, which knocks other shows off the air or changes established programming, like The Vikings.
PBS seems a cut above the others but it is still being dumbed down to a certain extent. 13 episode stories like I Claudius are a thing of the past. History and Bravo channels especially have really changed over the years--and not for the better! Rhetorical question: Don't these folks think we have any brains? I know -- it all comes down to $$$$. :(
In my day every Australian schoolchild learned her poem "My Country" and these are amongst the most well know lines in Australian literature: "I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains,of ragged mountain ranges of droughts and flooding rains." Otherwise I'm in the dark as to what/where the quote of the day is.
Darcy wrote: "Marilee wrote: "The reason for all the angst, teenage and adult, is that there's a concerted effort to attract the young adult audiences favored by sponsors. Since so much popular YA lit is laden w..."I was watching the first season of The White Queen on Amazon and found that as the season when on it got more and more "angsty". I don't know if i'll finish the season.
Andrew wrote: "In my day every Australian schoolchild learned her poem "My Country" and these are amongst the most well know lines in Australian literature: "I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains,o..."Andrew, if you go to Goodreads.com, the quote of the day is on the right-hand side of the page, you need to scroll down a bit to see it.
Weather Report!!! It has rained without ceasing for twenty four hours, and the forecast does not look good. Continuous rain for such a long time messes with my head. I expect we will have a bumper crop of new babies come March next year.
Lariela wrote: "I wish the Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell series would come to PBS."I wouldnt wish that on anyone tbh, watched the first episode & found it very poor, purile springs to mind, has seriously put me off reading the books.
Andy wrote: "I wouldnt wish that on anyone tbh, watched the first episode & found it very poor, purile springs to mind, has..."I'm so glad it wasn't just me, I watched the first episode and was really disappointed, watched half of the second episode and gave up
Totally poor effort by the BBC, not the first of late either, acting was very poor & the fellah who was the Fae King was especially nauseating with his overacting (or whatever it was supposed to be)Couldnt work out if it was a serious tale, a comedy, a farce or what which is a shame as many friends highly rate the books
Linda wrote: "Weather Report!!! It has rained without ceasing for twenty four hours, and the forecast does not look good. Continuous rain for such a long time messes with my head. I expect we will have a bump..."We could use some of your rain!! It's been HOT, yesterday it "cooled" off to 98 F (about 37 C) after a string of 5 days of 100+. It's supposed to back to 100+ tomorrow for another three days then next week "cool" off to the mid 90's - no rain in sight
severe fire works restrictions are in effect for the 4th
It would be absolutely blue and beautiful out but everything is hazed over as a result of the wildfires north of us in Canada. It's suppose to storm on Sunday. Hopefully it stays nice for tomorrow for my big fourth plans at the lake.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Berry Pickers (other topics)Fortune's Child (other topics)
Hild (other topics)
Sharpe's Command (other topics)
Edenglassie (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Amanda Peters (other topics)Nicola Griffith (other topics)
Bernard Cornwell (other topics)
Bernard Cornwell (other topics)
Allan Hands (other topics)
More...






Very much so & most oft they go way past their sell-by date - I like a nice neat series that comes to a conclusion & always leaves you wanting more like - "Rubicon" for instance which was brilliant imo, so much going on