Random Thoughts Showing 4,001-4,050 of 17,689

[Jane]

That may not have been an exact quotation from his book; it was a sentence in which I used the word in the sense I meant it, to show the difference between the words.

[Mike]

Speaking of homophones (or near homophones), I'm reminded of sheaf/sheath. I read of archers with a sheath of arrows and a sheaf for their daggers. That gets me so confused, I have to go to the dictionary and work out which is which.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sheaf. Hmm..Don't think I have come across that one before. Only encountered sheath.

[Jane]

'Sheaf for their daggers' is a new one to me, too.
'Sheaf of wheat' I know, or possibly 'sheaf of arrows': I think of a bundle of something: wheat stalks or of arrows. I picture something like the fasces in ancient Rome.

[Jane]

Y'know, Terri, why didn't Gordon just avoid the whole pleated/plaited problem, by using braided? :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane wrote: "'Sheaf for their daggers' is a new one to me, too.
'Sheaf of wheat' I know, or possibly 'sheaf of arrows': I think of a bundle of something: wheat stalks or of arrows. I picture something like the ..."


Yes, me too. Sheaf of wheat or barley. That I know well. Sheaf of arrows makes good sense as a description, (as it would resemble a handful of wheat stalks), but I don't think there is such a thing as sheaf for keeping ones dagger or sword.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane wrote: "Y'know, Terri, why didn't Gordon just avoid the whole pleated/plaited problem, by using braided? :)"

haha. Well...it is a different hairstyle.
Braided to me involves pulling in bits of hair at the sides so that the plait starts close to the scalp. :D

Plait starts where the hair comes together.

All very technical hair stuff. lol

[Jane]

goodness, I never knew any difference. It sure is technical. :)
Even so...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Even so..it is still closer than pleated. ;)

[Mike]

Sheaf of corn. Sheaf of papers. Sheaf of arrows. But not a sheaf for your sword. Swords are
sheathed.

[Mike]

Sheaf of corn. Sheaf of papers. Sheaf of arrows. But a dagger is sheathed.

[Linda]

I like that!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I wanted to clear something up for everyone.
The emails and notifications you get from the group. Including the 'Ancient & Medieval is about to read' computer generated one that some of you may get at the beginning of each month.

YOU don't have to receive any of them!!!

I just received a brief but snarky little message from a member who isn't even an active member of the group, to say she has left the group because she is getting too many emails.

Which is flat out unfair.

In case members did not know, the power to stop receiving emails or notifications is in your hands.

If you go to your Profile and Profile settings you can opt out of receiving ALL emails and notifications from ay of your groups.

You can also opt out of receiving the GR generated message that says 'Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction group is about to read'. That one comes out in the last week of the month as a reminder of the group reads.
You can turn that off and not receive it if that is your wish.

So please. To our active members, those who actually care about our book group, don't think I am spamming you.
Don't think that you have no choice but to leave the group due to too many emails (although it still baffles me how anyone could think two emails a month is too many).

I am not spamming you or doing it because I am inconsiderate. I do care about not annoying you with too many messages, but it is not my fault if two emails are too many for you.
If you do not want two emails (on rare occasions three if there is a whoops like what happened in the polls today) please go to your profile and go to 'edit profile'. Then click on emails and select 'none' where it says receive emails from Ancient & Medieval.

There is even a topic on this in the General Guidelines Folder called Broadcasts and Messages from Moderators, so people know the deal with Messages and Notifications. I posted it in August 2012. It has been there for 12 months.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

[[deleted user]]

Too many e-mails? That's just ridiculous.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Totally ridiculous. When I used to be in other book groups I used to get more than that.
Even so, we can all turn email notifications off if we don't want to receive ANY emails or notifications from our book groups.
One can't blame the group moderator because you don't want to receive anything and you are. Just tick the 'none' box in profile settings!

So frustrating.

[Lia]

I actually always waiting for Terri's email notification. Specially if it is about the Group Reads Poll. :)

[[deleted user]]

Lia wrote: "I actually always waiting for Terri's email notification. Specially if it is about the Group Reads Poll. :)"

Same here Lia. I look forward to those emails.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Good. :) Because I always enjoy doing the group reads poll one. It is exciting letting you all know they are open!

[Lia]

Terri wrote: "Good. :) Because I always enjoy doing the group reads poll one. It is exciting letting you all know they are open!"

It is also serve as a reminder (at least to me) to stop fooling around and get back to my group reads because another one ready to knocking at the door.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I have had that feedback from others in the past too. That the polls or group read emails are a good reminder to get the books from the library etc..

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

I like the emails. End of argument. LOL

[Linda]

Ditto

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Good. End of argument.


(but if anybody doesn't, don't leave the darn group, just turn notifications and emails off in your settings! lol)

[Margaret]

Anyone out there point me in the direction of information on the Gardes Ecossais in France during the time of Henry IV? Or failing that a good source of info on Henry's reign, particularly disputes, campaigns or battles that took place in the 1590s. (I can find info up to 1525 and again from 1623, but not a lot of detail in between.)

[Mark]

Margaret wrote: "Anyone out there point me in the direction of information on the Gardes Ecossais in France during the time of Henry IV? Or failing that a good source of info on Henry's reign, particularly disputes..."

Dont know if this is any good.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=46...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Margaret wrote: "Anyone out there point me in the direction of information on the Gardes Ecossais in France during the time of Henry IV? Or failing that a good source of info on Henry's reign, particularly disputes..."

Margaret,
Your request might get lost here in the Random Thoughts thread.
I will post a copy of your message requesting resource material the the Good King Henry to one of the era threads.

[Margaret]

Terri wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Anyone out there point me in the direction of information on the Gardes Ecossais in France during the time of Henry IV? Or failing that a good source of info on Henry's reign, part..."

Thank you Terri, I'm still a bit lost here and wasn't sure where to post.

[Margaret]

Mark wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Anyone out there point me in the direction of information on the Gardes Ecossais in France during the time of Henry IV? Or failing that a good source of info on Henry's reign, part..."
Thank you Mark - looks like an earlier volume of this might have something - as I'm looking for 1590s. Have emailed the National Library of Scotland to see if they hold copies of this... Here's hoping.

[Deb]

I like the notifications - I mostly lurk, as I do not often read to a schedule, but I like poll watching. I have had some good reading recommendations from these polls.

[Simona]

Thank you for the emails Terri. i love to be up to date with the group.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Thanks guys. :)

[Lisa]

Ditto Terri, they help to remind me what's going on even if I don't participate that month.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I am feeling a lot less cranky about a member blaming me and the emails for her leaving the group. :)
Thanks everyone.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Terri wrote: "I am feeling a lot less cranky about a member blaming me and the emails for her leaving the group. :)
Thanks everyone."

That's what we're here for. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

To calm your moderator's fettered nerves. :D

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Terri wrote: "To calm your moderator's fettered nerves. :D"

Exactly. Consider us a Moderator's Help Group. :D

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

hahaha!! ;D

[Chris]

My copy of The Ill-Made Knight has arrived yippee! Of course this does provide a slight conundrum of the best possible sort, when I finish The Shadow Girls should I get straight into The Ill Made Knight or should I save it till after the new Chelsea Cain, Let Me Go?

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Well, since I don't know the other I'd say Ill-Made Knight. :)

[Lisa]

I have never heard of him before now, but he certainly gets good reviews. Looks like another one to the list!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

We did a group read of his book Killer of Men. I didn't like it. The writing was perfectly fine in regards of quality, but I could not gel with his narration style in that book.

[Lisa]

Ok, that's interesting. I must say that BC does set the bar very high for me, so I struggle at times to get involved. I am up to chapter 9 of insurrection and am only now becoming interested. I'm sure it will get better its just some writers know how to grab you right out of the starting block. It doesn't help that I'm hungry, and frying looots of garlic and mushrooms for pasta, and that is a tad distracting.

Who was the last author that grabbed you right from the get go???

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Mmmm..mushrooms and pasta. A match made in heaven.

I loved Insurrection. It did take me a little while to love it though. Once I fell in love that was it. i am not feeling that right now with book two Renegade

Who was the last author that grabbed me right from the get go?
Tough one. I don't think anything has grabbed me from the beginning more than the exquisitely fashioned masterpiece that is Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

[Lisa]

Wow that reads really well. This bloody list!!!!!!i remember reading Leon Uris' Battle Cry, about WW2, when I was in my early twenties. It was the first book that made me cry. It looks in the same vein.

I think for me it was possibly Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I know it is not historical fiction, but it is extremely well written and I couldn't wait for the next book. And even though it would be classified as children/young adult I was really impressed.

Curious what everyone else feels is the last book to "really grab them"!

[Darcy]

The only book I would say ever grabbed me was what I'd call and Historical Horror? Set in WWII The Wolf's Hour is about a spy werewolf (nothing like today's televised werewolves) infiltrating the Nazi regime.

[Linda]

M. M. KayeThe Far Pavilions was probably the first hf, other than GWTW which I read as a teenager. I read it straight through in the only room where I was assured of privacy: my bathroom.
Leon Uris, glad to see another fan, and Herman Wouk have grabbed me for many years. Conn Iggulden, of late.Heartbreak Hotel by Anne Rivers Sidons about integration in the South. I can't name just one!

[Jane]

Funny what caught and held my attention as a teenager: Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne--straight histfic, no science fiction here--19th century Russia. Then I explored some Russian writers. I also loved The Mutiny on the Bounty Trilogy by Charles Bernard Nordhoff and Hall. I think part of the draw was the N.C. Wyeth color illustrations.

[Julia]

Wow! I can't believe somebody blamed their reasons for leaving the group on the emails. I for one, appreciate them very much.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Hey thanks Julia for letting me know! :)


Right back at the beginning I set up a thread in the Goodreads Feedback group asking members of GR what an appropriate amount of group emails was.
Everyone said two emails a month was the ideal. And I have kept to that for nearly two years...I guess some people are just looking for reasons to be grumpy. lol.

[Linda]

Jane, thanks for the Jules Verne book tip.