Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

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message 12551: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1511 comments Jane wrote: "My theory -- I don't think the folks who produce these shows know when to quit--while their show is still successful."

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


message 12552: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments 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.


message 12553: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) 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.


message 12554: by Lia (new)

Lia (lia_mb) | 638 comments Great post Gretchen. It gave me goosebumps reading it.


message 12555: by happy (last edited Jun 22, 2015 09:09AM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Thnx for the article Gretchen - good read

My thnx to your Grandfather for his service - as to his attitude towards the Japaneses - my maternal grandfather was much the same


message 12556: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments As was my father's toward the Germans. He fought in the Greek and African campaigns against the Nazis.


message 12557: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments I just saw an advert and caught myself asking the television if we really need another Terminator film.


message 12558: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments 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.


message 12559: by Darcy (last edited Jun 24, 2015 08:05PM) (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments I learned a new word today that I thought would appeal to some in this group

vellichor
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.


message 12560: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments Darcy wrote: "I learned a new word today that I thought would appeal to some in this group

vellichor
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?


message 12561: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I think it would be an interesting name for a bookstore.


message 12562: by V.W. (new)

V.W. Singer | 25 comments A horror tale based on a second-hand book store.


message 12563: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments *sigh* Now Patrick Macnee has gone. :(


message 12564: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1511 comments Aweee a grand fellah as was the series The Avengers, 93 too same as Sir Christopher


message 12565: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments 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!


message 12566: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) 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-...


message 12567: by Darcy (last edited Jun 29, 2015 07:50PM) (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments 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.


message 12568: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments 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. :)


message 12569: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) 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.


message 12570: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments 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


message 12571: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I love Vikings!


message 12572: by Bobby (last edited Jun 29, 2015 10:40PM) (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/...


Home after a two week Medical Mission to the Yucatan and various Mayan villages!!


message 12573: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Welcome back, Bobby. :)


message 12574: by Deb (new)

Deb Omnivorous Reader 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!!!!


message 12575: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1511 comments 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


message 12576: by V.W. (new)

V.W. Singer | 25 comments 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.


message 12577: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments 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.


message 12578: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Thanks -- I had never heard of the lady [shame on me].


message 12579: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Very few people outside of Australia have heard of her, Jane, so no shame to you. :)


message 12580: by Marilee (new)

Marilee (hatchling) | 77 comments 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.


message 12581: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments 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!


message 12582: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments 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.


message 12583: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments 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.


message 12584: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments 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. :)


message 12585: by Marilee (new)

Marilee (hatchling) | 77 comments 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.


message 12586: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments 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 $$$$. :(


message 12587: by Andrew (new)

Andrew Pengelly | 51 comments 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.


message 12588: by Catherine (new)

Catherine (catjackson) 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.


message 12589: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments 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.


message 12590: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments I wish the Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell series would come to PBS.


message 12591: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments 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.


message 12592: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1511 comments 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.


message 12593: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (bibliohound) 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


message 12594: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1511 comments 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


message 12595: by Mark (new)

Mark | 1885 comments Same here watched the first two, have the others recorded but have no real need to watch them.


message 12596: by happy (last edited Jul 03, 2015 02:16PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments 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


message 12597: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1511 comments T'Storms are on their way upto Mark!

Jus starting down 'ere, rumbling around the bay currently


message 12598: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) 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.


message 12599: by Mark (new)

Mark | 1885 comments Just got woken up by lightening and thunder 430am.


message 12600: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Andy wrote: "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..."


I've already read the book, so I'm curious how it turned out.


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