Member: overtheseatoskye

Hi! I just got done sorting all my books into piles to bring, store, or toss .. let me know if there's any tagged "store" or "toss" that you want me to rescue.

posted by stellar_dust at 12:19 pm (EST) on Aug 26, 2009

The Skylark

THE rolls and harrows lie at rest beside
The battered road; and spreading far and wide
Above the russet clods, the corn is seen
Sprouting its spiry points of tender green,
Where squats the hare, to terrors wide awake,
Like some brown clod the harrows failed to break.
Opening their golden caskets to the sun,
The buttercups make schoolboys eager run,
To see who shall be first to pluck the prize--
Up from their hurry, see, the skylark flies,
And o'er her half-formed nest, with happy wings
Winnows the air, till in the cloud she sings,
Then hangs a dust-spot in the sunny skies,
And drops, and drops, till in her nest she lies,
Which they unheeded passed--not dreaming then
That birds which flew so high would drop again
To nests upon the ground, which anything
May come at to destroy. Had they the wing
Like such a bird, themselves would be too proud,
And build on nothing but a passing cloud!
As free from danger as the heavens are free
From pain and toil, there would they build and be,
And sail about the world to scenes unheard
Of and unseen--Oh, were they but a bird!
So think they, while they listen to its song,
And smile and fancy and so pass along;
While its low nest, moist with the dews of morn,
Lies safely, with the leveret, in the corn.

- by John Clare

posted by theoldman at 12:18 pm (EST) on May 15, 2009

I'm very glad you enjoyed the book - I'd like to read that one myself. It looks fascinating!

posted by pshaw at 10:37 am (EST) on Dec 26, 2008

Yes, I did anthropology and classical archaeology as an undergrad, complete with Latin and Ancient Greek, and archaeology of Roman Britain as a postgrad. The latter is what brought me to Britain! Oddly enough, I was better at Greek than Latin, although I was more interested in Romans than Greeks. Not that I remember much of it now...

Enjoy your course, even if you don't end up being an archaeologist forever. I did! I'm sure your library will soon grow. ;-)

posted by 2manybooksUK at 9:15 pm (EST) on Sep 4, 2008

I was a professional archaeologist back in the late 1970s, but switched to something else because it's difficult actually making a living as an archaeologist. Now I support and develop computer systems (sigh). I'd much rather still be an archaeologist!

posted by 2manybooksUK at 1:55 pm (EST) on Sep 4, 2008

Ah, well - I haven't finished yet! Trouble is, we really haven't enough room, and the archaeology books have frequently been ousted from the bookcases to make way for poetry and storytelling books. :-(

posted by 2manybooksUK at 8:42 pm (EST) on Aug 31, 2008

I'd definitely recommend Wild Fermentations. I was impressed with how thorough it is. Not only does it cover all the sour Belgian styles (lambic, sour brown, and sour red) and how to brew them, but it really gets into the nuts and bolts of the brewing process. It also recommends some interesting avenues for experimentation. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to actually brew using any of the recipes, so I can't vouch for them specifically.

posted by CarlosMcRey at 6:07 pm (EST) on Aug 28, 2008

I finished reading The Third Policeman a few days ago and have been pondering it in the few days since.

It was an experience alright and all written brilliantly. I had half-feared a twist that would have cheapened the entire enterprise but, as it ended, it was, yes, beautiful, haunting, and just. -And just the sort of thing that I like.

posted by LordNigelKnickKnack at 3:04 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

Hello!

"Le vagabond..." is a French science fiction/fantasy comic or graphic novel series, whose main character, one Axle Munshine, began in 1975 an inter-planetary/galaxy/multicosmos quest to find the woman he loved but knew only from dreams. The first dozen or so installments are very good, occasionally reaching excellence, but the story-line eventually crashed, and a lot of it seems unbearably dated now (not least the blatant old-school sexism)... It's still going on, however! At this point I'm collecting mainly for sentimental reasons--this BD impressed a lot of dreamy teenagers of my vintage, back in the eighties, and I always liked Ribera's graphic style. I don't think it's available in English, like most francophone BDs aren't...

posted by LolaWalser at 4:01 pm (EST) on Jan 9, 2008

I am ashamed and embarrassed to admit that, no, I have not read The Third Policeman yet. I had made several attempts at acquiring a VG 1st Edition via online auctions, but...um-m-m...we all have our limits. In 5 days (01-04-08) Everyman Library will be releasing a 1-volume Complete Novels of Flan O'Brien. THAT'S what I'll purchase and read as per my sworn assertion. You'll be informed!

posted by LordNigelKnickKnack at 1:02 am (EST) on Dec 31, 2007

Odd--I had just finished replying to a friend with a citation from Anger's Hollywood Babylon when I got notice of having been "interestinged" by you. I look at our common titles, and at the top of the list is...

posted by paradoxosalpha at 11:10 pm (EST) on Aug 16, 2007

I might write reviews eventually, but until then, here are some books that I think YOU might enjoy:

*non-fiction/true crime: A Gathering of Saints by Robert Lindsey

*non-fiction/occult: Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin

*contemporary fiction: Mr. Mee by Andrew Crumey

*science fiction/horror: The Philosopher's Stone by Colin Wilson

*graphic novel: Fever in Urbicand by Francois Schuiten

*comic art/comix: Snake 'n' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret by Michael Kupperman

These are my personal recommendations for a person such as yourself. This is not Oprah's Book Club. Let's see how astutely I've gauged your tastes.

I'll be ordering The Third Policeman (and a few other books) soon. "Angry", you say? There's been a few people over the years who have read my FAVORITE novel (The Man Who Was Thursday) and were quite vocal in their annoyance at being "taken for a ride" or "toyed with". I don't recommend any more books to them or allow them to recommend any more books to me.

posted by LordNigelKnickKnack at 6:46 pm (EST) on Aug 10, 2007

3 things: 1-Yours is the first "Interesting Library" I've listed
2-I am finally going to buy and read "The Third Policeman" (Your review
was the straw that cracked the dromedary's spine).
3-I was mid-sip in tea when I ventured to click onto whatever-the-heck
"faux Mondrian" signified and when I saw that book cover that tea was
sprayed all over my computer screen.

posted by LordNigelKnickKnack at 2:44 am (EST) on Jul 28, 2007

Thanks.
If I could afford all the stuff on my wishlist, it would grow to cyclopean proportions

posted by cynick at 11:19 am (EST) on Mar 20, 2007

Thank you. You are a person of taste and discernment.

posted by LordNigelKnickKnack at 7:45 pm (EST) on Mar 18, 2007