The Currently Reading Thread .........

[grannywils]

Currently reading His Illegal Self by Peter Carey and I'm about to start another book by the same author called Parrot and Olivier. That one is a somewhat comical historical novel based on the life and times of Alexis de Tocqueville. Carey has a wonder facility with language, which is why I'm enjoying reading his first book which is about the life of the child of a Weather Underground couple who was being raised by his maternal grandmother and suddenly swept off to the wilds of Australia. I'm an avid reader and love just about anything from history to mystery. For me the most important thing is good writing. I too read The DaVinci Code, and have read Dan Brown's other works. I don't think he's a particularly good writer, but his premises keep you interested. I've forgotten the name of it now, but my favorite was the one about computers. It was a lot less church oriented. I loved the Tolkien books and number them among my favorites. I could not put them down once I started them. Probably my favorite book of all time was To Kill a Mockingbird. I started to list some authors whom I believe write well, but I realized that could go on forever. I'll just stop now. Oh, one other set to try begins with a book call The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. There are three books in the set, and unfortuntely the author, Stieg Larsen, has passed away. But the character creation is superb, and the books just keep you wanting to know more.

[Thandal]

Just attended a charity book fair from a private collection. One room had paperbacks at US$1 and hardbacks at US$5 each, the other room had the "Silent Auction" items. While there I picked-up three novels in a series by Thomas B. Costain, one of my favorite authors when I was a teenager. (Yes, even then I was a fan of swords-and-errantry. ;D )

 

He wrote historical fiction, mostly set in medieval and renaissance England, (although my favorite was set in France) and this series covers the Plantagenets, approx. 1150 to 1485 C.E. (Bosworth Field, for those keeping track.) So I read "The Conquering Family" on the plane during a recent trip to Europe, and am now in the middle of "The Magnificent Century".

 

But I'm saving two acquisitons from that event for just the right moments.

 

1) Privately published, 1945 edition of the English translation of Oscar Wilde's play, "Salome", competely with coloured illustrations by a friend of the author.

 

2) The 16-volume, (10 original and 6 supplemental) 1888 edition of Richard Burton's (the adventurer/explorer, not the actor!) translation from Arabic of "1001 Nights". Although I don't *think* the physical books themselves are from that 1st Edition, I'll have to examine them in more detail to be certain.

[grannywils]

Thandal: Your recent acquisitions sound marvelous. I can remember reading Costain (can't at the moment remember just what, but that happens a lot at my age). I do remember loving to read about the Plantagenets and that whole period of history. Did he write something called The Last of the Plantagenets, or something like that? Anyway, all of your new found works sound great. Enjoy!

[Thandal]

Did he write something called The Last of the Plantagenets?

 

Your memory on this subject is completely accurate. That is, indeed, the title of the last in the series. :thumbsup:

 

BTW: Another look at the set of 1001 Nights reveals that it, too, was privately printed, in the United States by "The Burton Club". But there's no indication of the date. :( More research is called for!

[grannywils]

I found some info about it on a site called Librarything.com. Try there. Not sure if you will find what you're looking for, but it might be a start.

[Thandal]

BTW: Another look at the set of 1001 Nights reveals that it, too, was privately printed, in the United States by "The Burton Club". But there's no indication of the date. :( More research is called for!

 

So, further investigation uncovers the fact that "The Burton Club" (as distinct from "The Burton Society") may have obtained the printer's plates for its edition of A Thousand Nights and a Night (the formal title) under less than ethical circumstances.

 

Whatever the origins of their published edition, it seems that there were many, many of them. The earliest was in 1900, (12 years after Sir Richard's death) and the most recent to which I've found reference in 1975.

 

My set is more likely from the latter, but like Watson I feel compelled to follow the trail as long as the game is afoot!

[Retribution]

Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens

 

You're all small time.

[grannywils]

BTW: Another look at the set of 1001 Nights reveals that it, too, was privately printed, in the United States by "The Burton Club". But there's no indication of the date. :( More research is called for!

 

 

 

So, further investigation uncovers the fact that "The Burton Club" (as distinct from "The Burton Society") may have obtained the printer's plates for its edition of A Thousand Nights and a Night (the formal title) under less than ethical circumstances.

 

Whatever the origins of their published edition, it seems that there were many, many of them. The earliest was in 1900, (12 years after Sir Richard's death) and the most recent to which I've found reference in 1975.

 

My set is more likely from the latter, but like Watson I feel compelled to follow the trail as long as the game is afoot!

 

 

Good luck, Sherlock. Let me know how it goes.

[grannywils]

BTW: Another look at the set of 1001 Nights reveals that it, too, was privately printed, in the United States by "The Burton Club". But there's no indication of the date. :( More research is called for!

 

So, further investigation uncovers the fact that "The Burton Club" (as distinct from "The Burton Society") may have obtained the printer's plates for its edition of A Thousand Nights and a Night (the formal title) under less than ethical circumstances.

 

Whatever the origins of their published edition, it seems that there were many, many of them. The earliest was in 1900, (12 years after Sir Richard's death) and the most recent to which I've found reference in 1975.

 

My set is more likely from the latter, but like Watson I feel compelled to follow the trail as long as the game is afoot!

[Max47r]

I'm currently reading the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I've read all seven books dozens of times and they never get old!