tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post4207349564372049699..comments2024-03-25T20:06:01.587-04:00Comments on Novel Adventurers: History: Reread and RewrittenSupriya Savkoorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854983392374596718noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-80365204907889151682013-04-10T02:21:28.543-04:002013-04-10T02:21:28.543-04:00Thanks Jenni--a Chrestomathy, huh? What a fun word...Thanks Jenni--a Chrestomathy, huh? What a fun word!Beth Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031541691465414293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-31752124657868525372013-04-10T02:20:30.593-04:002013-04-10T02:20:30.593-04:00Marianne, thanks for the links. I'll be sure t...Marianne, thanks for the links. I'll be sure to check out your blog!Beth Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031541691465414293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-90017805247058539012013-04-10T02:19:38.596-04:002013-04-10T02:19:38.596-04:00So many books, so little time!So many books, so little time!Beth Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031541691465414293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-9201120248010096542013-04-10T02:19:17.802-04:002013-04-10T02:19:17.802-04:00Judge Dee--I remember someone else told me about t...Judge Dee--I remember someone else told me about this series once. I'll have to look for it! Thanks Patricia.Beth Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031541691465414293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-306765159037586092013-04-10T02:18:30.358-04:002013-04-10T02:18:30.358-04:00Supriya, glad you enjoyed Wild Swans too. I've...Supriya, glad you enjoyed Wild Swans too. I've seen Waiting around, but have yet to pick it up. I'll keep an eye out next time I feel like buying a book. Beth Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031541691465414293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-60232754352774507662013-04-09T22:50:14.337-04:002013-04-09T22:50:14.337-04:00Oh, wow, Marianne. I would love to. I read constan...Oh, wow, Marianne. I would love to. I read constantly anyway. Last year I did a reading challenge of 50 books, and I passed it. I was going to cut back my reading to spend more time writing this year, but I might be able to do the first level - especially if I can read more of Amitav Ghosh's books. :)Jenni Legatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14293328492974784160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-25809451803572061522013-04-09T14:23:34.781-04:002013-04-09T14:23:34.781-04:00I loved Amitav Gosh's The Glass Palace and thi...I loved Amitav Gosh's <a href="http://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/ghosh-amitav-glass-palace-2000.html" rel="nofollow">The Glass Palace</a> and this is on our list for the <a href="http://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/reading-challenge.html" rel="nofollow">Chunky Reading Challenge</a>. Maybe you would like to take part?Marianne https://www.blogger.com/profile/11810275740213848634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-72352262886181033792013-04-09T13:50:43.444-04:002013-04-09T13:50:43.444-04:00Great post, Beth! I haven't read any of these ...Great post, Beth! I haven't read any of these yet, but will add them to my list. I just finished Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe about a fictional Nigerian community up through the beginning of colonial times. It was a fascinating look at the culture and how it changed.<br /><br />One of my favorite novels of all times was Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, first book in a trilogy, which is mostly fictional but features the novelist's grandfather or great grandfather as one of the characters. The novel is set just before the outbreak of the Opium Wars. I loved it partly because at the end of the novel, Ghosh included what he calls a Chrestomathy which is essentially a dictionary of Lascari and other Asian words which have made their way into the English language. Wonderful to know where words like loot and dinghy came from. :)Jenni Legatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14293328492974784160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-82934868021706149952013-04-09T11:35:36.196-04:002013-04-09T11:35:36.196-04:00I loved "Wild Swans", one of the best bo...I loved "Wild Swans", one of the best books of this kind ever written, in my humble opinion. I have read quite a few books about China, both its history as well as its present day politics but this is by far my favourite. My blogpost ist not half as interesting as yours but if anyone would like to, you can check it out on my page <a href="http://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/chang-jung-wild-swans.html" rel="nofollow">Let's Read</a>.<br /><br />I have recently read a few books about Australia and its settlers that were quite informative, my favourite here is perhaps <a href="http://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/clarke-marcus-for-term-of-his-natural.html" rel="nofollow">“For the Term of His Natural Life”</a> by Marcus Clarke.Marianne https://www.blogger.com/profile/11810275740213848634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-90203737805610823112013-04-09T09:29:30.301-04:002013-04-09T09:29:30.301-04:00I'll have to check that series out---sounds in...I'll have to check that series out---sounds interesting! You also reminded me, Patricia, of another of my favorites---the Red Princess series by Lisa See. Highly recommend.Supriyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06517702822500748969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-29233731467484420542013-04-09T08:07:23.429-04:002013-04-09T08:07:23.429-04:00I stumbled over a Chinese detective fiction series...I stumbled over a Chinese detective fiction series set in 8th century China. The first book, translated into English by Robert Hans Van Gulik (18th century London), was set during the Ming dynasty. Van Gulik went on to write his own books featuring the same character, Judge Dee (Dee Goong An). I read a number of these, and they are a fascinating look into life in China during that period.Patricia Wintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05095600674659292509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018311341701044333.post-45628707969825486532013-04-09T07:58:09.672-04:002013-04-09T07:58:09.672-04:00Wild Swans is definitely among my all-time favorit...Wild Swans is definitely among my all-time favorites. A very poignant read (I'll never forget the author's great-grandmother at the beginning of the book, a girl child whose parents don't even give her a name) and, as you mentioned, just a look at how each of China's government systems directly affects it people. I'll add the other books you mention to my TBR list (I love Chinese fiction). Except maybe 1491... One to recommend to you is Waiting, by Ha Jin. Another one of my all-time faves. Richly deserves all the awards and accolades it's received.Supriyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06517702822500748969noreply@blogger.com