BS: Good Book

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 06:56 AM

Incidentally, the vicious Edmund Spenser, in his book A View of the Present State of Ireland has a lot to say about the Brehon laws, for instance:

Eudox: What is that which you call the Brehon law? it is a word unto us altogether unknowne.

Iren: It is a certaine rule of right, unwritten, but delivered by tradition from one to an other, in which oftentimes there appereth great shew of equity, in determining the right betwene part and party, but in many things repugning quite from gods law and mans, as for example, in the case of murther. The Brehon that is ther judg, will compound betwene the murtherer, and the frends of the party murthered, which prosecute the action, that the malefactor shall give unto them, or to the child, or wife of him that is slaine, a recompence, which they call an Iriach; by which vile law of thers, many murders are amongest them made up and smothered. And this judg being, as he is called, the Lords Brehon, adjudgeth for the most part a better share unto his Lord, that is the Lord of the soyle, or the head of that septe, and also unto him self, for his judgment, a greater portion than unto the plaintifes or parties grieved.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: kendall
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 07:26 AM

My favorite is still SILVERLOCK by John Myers Myers.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 09:14 AM

An enthusiastic recommendation for The Autobiography of Henry VIII, by Margaret George.

This is (contrary to its title) a novel. The premise is that, after his death, his fool was able to save Henry's private journals from destruction by his daughter, Queen Anne. The fool inserts into Henry's text occasional comments and sidelights from his own knowledge and point of view. It's great reading, and gave me a much better idea of Henry's times, his actions, and his personality. Of course, since it's from his point of view, Ms George resolves some historical ambiguities and uncertainties in Henry's favor.

It's a big book, but at the same time all too short!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 11:42 AM

Since I recommended ONE book by Margaret George, I'll go further.

She also wrote these, which are excellent:
Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles
   and
Cleopatra

She also wrote Helen of Troy. It's pretty good, but not nearly as good as The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles, and Cleopatra.

The reason I say that is that those books are based on good historical bases, whereas almost nothing is actually known about Helen, (if she ever actually existed). Ms George, in Helen, builds the Greek gods in, who MUST be part of that story, although only as they appear to human senses and minds, which makes the mythological content easier to take.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: 3refs
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 12:04 PM

Billions and Billions.

Carl Sagan

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: David C. Carter
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 12:14 PM

A Confederacy of Dunces-John Kennedy Toole.

Sadly no longer with us.

David

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:53 AM

What David Carter said: A Confederacy of Dunces!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 01:14 PM

Just finished a book that combines history, legend, love, murder an revenge, revolution, destruction of a society, and development of an assassin, beautifully written with insight, compassion and humor.

Impossible? Not so when written in clear, poetic prose by Salman Rushdie.
"Shalimar the Clown."

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: David C. Carter
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 01:27 PM

Dave Oesterreich-I believe somebody did a one man show concerning that book.Did you see it,or know anything about it?

David

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: John Hardly
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 01:33 PM

Best book I've read in years -- The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 04:29 PM

David Carter:

No, I had not been aware of a stage production of A Confederacy of Dunces.

The one-man production might well be a very good thing, but I can't even remotely imagine that it could do justice to the book. (Which I've read three times now.)

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Good Book
From: David C. Carter
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 04:19 AM

I go along with your comments about a one-man production.

Thanks for getting back to me.

David