(no subject)

[cleolinda]

Am having a fit over the opening scene of Black Ribbon ch. 4, which just will. not. work. The random bit character I had working at this "hotel" was just written all wrong for a Ministry employee, and that screwed it up pretty bad in the first place, and now I'm going nuts trying to work out what West is actually going to find when he gets there, and how it has anything to do with anything. I've made some progress sorting all that out by freewriting, but... freewriting ain't gonna pay the bills.

(P.S. I beat the Flowering Nose game. Was I supposed to "mulch" something? Because I won before I'd even realized I'd finished.)

Went out to lunch with Typo, Valerie, and The Lovely Emily (yesterday was Valerie's birthday) at Moe's. Gave Valerie Eats, Shoots and Leaves on y'all's recommendation, so if she hates it, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT. Afterwards, while the Typos went home to pack it up for the trip back to Providence, Em and I went malling, and I ended up coming home with Perfume: The Story of a Murderer on sale for $8. I still have The Crimson Petal and the White from the library, but... it's sort of fearsome-looking, yo.

Just for fun, read my favorite Tudor bios--I really like Alison Weir's stuff, as previously mentioned, although I'll read anything with a good narrative voice. I saw her Wives of Henry VIII at Books and Company today, and was sorely tempted. I started off on the Tudors because I was interested in Elizabeth--still am--but I'm getting more and more interested in the wives (I'm really interested in the Katherines, for some reason) and the other kids--I'd really like to get a book on young (Bloody) Mary, and of course there's Mary, Queen of Scots. I don't know--I'm just really interested in royals when they were young--like, in their twenties young, not necessarily their early childhoods--because you get to see their personalities really develop, but they haven't turned into total caricatures of themselves yet. Young Henry VIII, for example, is a totally different person.

Anyway.

Random bits: Princess of Thieves is on ABC early tonight. I've never seen it, but I will always remember standing in a Blockbuster and shouting, "Hey, it's that girl who isn't Natalie Portman!" Besides, I've always been a sucker for anything having to do with Robin Hood, and I like Keira Knightley, even though the movie has that slightly-lame made-for-TV sheen to it. Unfortunately, it's up against the season premiere of "The Amazing Race," and I promised myself that I'd watch it this time--I read all four seasons of recaps on TWOP so faithfully (I always had night classes the days it would be on).

(My horoscope for today: "You feel like a kid again. Spend the afternoon making a fort out of couch cushions.")

Comments

[celli]

Princess of Thieves is...cheesy. Very cheesy. But Keira is pretty and the boy is too, so it's highly rentable.

[papervolcano]

If I may pimp books for a moment - Jane Dunn - Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens. Very good book, very strong voice. Their early lives and how it shaped their rule - their early experiences really shaped how they ended up. A really worthwhile read.

Also, if you're into Alison Weir, I'd pimp her biography of Eleanor of Aquitane. Ever so slightly outside your period of interest, but another fantastic queen, and a really interesting character. She held all the cards, when women weren't even allowed at the table. Wife of Henry the II(iirc), mother to Richard the Lionheart and John I. Very cool woman.

I liked Crimson Petal. I got it on a pimp from my boss (I work in a bookshop). It's not really my kind of thing - I'm more into Sharpe and the like with my historical fiction, but I really enjoyed it. If you get into it and like it, then you might also enjoy Katie Hickman's Courtesans, a biography of 5 English courtesans from 1750-1900ish. Very interesting read.

< end pimp>

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I *love* the Eleanor bio--almost more than the Elizabeth bio, actually, except that Eleanor tends to fade out at times, due to the available historical documentation, and at times it becomes almost more about her sons than Eleanor herself. (I was actually into the medieval period before I got into Tudor history, and I'm all over the map in terms of what I read, so don't ever hold off on recommending a good book. :))

Oh, and I saw the Dunn book at the store today--I think one of my friends is reading it, too. Very interested in that one.

Will definitely check out the courtesans book--seriously, are you in my brain or something? I've actually been reading up on a few lately--Liane de Pougy is the one I'd really like to get a bio on, although there are tons of great courtesan stories. I'm really reading up on courtesans circa 1880-1890 ish, specifically, for Black Ribbon, but I'd love to go back and read up on Veronica Franco or--damn, I can't remember her name, but she was the French king's mistress when Joan of Arc was around.

[nazlan.livejournal.com]

More Tudor pimpage: David Starkey's Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII, and The Reign of Henry VIII: Personalities and Politics. Good voice, and above all, good HISTORY. I get leery of a lot of Tudor stuff because people get so caught up in the "romance" of it all. Especially when you're dealing with the Tudor historical fiction. *shudder* Also, Alison Wier's Henry VIII : The King and His Court is very good.

-Nazlan, Tudor geek.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've got Weir's book on the court, and love it. (I swear: Eleanor, Elizabeth, Tudor court, War of the Roses: there endeth my collection of Weir books). And yeah, I'm kind of wary of people who love any historical period for the "romance" (which is why I tend to shy away from historical fiction using real people as major characters). I just really like the personalities, and I'm a total whore for clothes/food/living conditions arcana in just about any period.

[wmetoile.livejournal.com]

The Jane Dunn is excellent, a lot like Alison Weir's stuff. I'm fascinated with the whole era, too (are we nerds, or what?) so I'll check out the Courtesans book. Thanks!

[haleiwatown.livejournal.com]

That girl with bigger teeth than Natalie Portman! Lol.

Speaking of, The Professional/Leon was on television just a few days ago, and I watched it for the first time since its release. That girl is amazing. I meant to watch Princess of Thieves and so did teh daughter, but I can't remember what time it was going to be on, and now I'm in front of the computer, so oh well.

How did your fort turn out?

[kijikun.livejournal.com]

I can very much recomened Wives and her book on Mary Queen of Scots.

[arielchan.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm just pimping my Keira icon cuz of the reference.

*pimps*

Just random...

[mnricecracker.livejournal.com]

Perfume is a terrific read, and did you know it was one of Kurt Cobain's favorites? ^^

[unsungmelodies.livejournal.com]

Hello. I've stumbled upon your lj community "m15m" a few weeks ago and have joined, but now, I can't read any of the postings. I have enjoyed them very much and was wondering what is needed to be done. Thanks for the wonderful entertainment your postings have created.

[ocyn.livejournal.com]

I've loved reading about the Tudor era since I was young, and am thrilled that Alison Weir's taken it on! She's very good with the Tudors. However, her book "Princes in the Tower," about the Richard III matter (did he kill his nephews?) is shaky. If you want a solid book on that, read Kendall's "Richard III."

Oh, and if you're into the queens, look for a book called "Divorced, Beheaded, Survived," which bills itself as a "feminist reinterpretation" of the Wives. Makes a familiar topic fresh again.

[qwertytigger.livejournal.com]

Hey! You're just the person I should be talking to...I need book reccomendations, so could you like, make up a list of titles, series, or authors I should check out? The ones you've mentioned in this post sound extremely interesting, just my favorite subject!!!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Uh... what kind of books? Just... books in general?

[qwertytigger.livejournal.com]

Well, fiction, poetry, non-fiction, history...yeah just any old books that you enjoyed.
See I just acquired a library card after many many years of not having one and I'm completely and totally overwhelmed with free books, I can read anything!

[edda.livejournal.com]

I like Keira Knightley, even though the movie has that slightly-lame made-for-TV sheen to it.

I saw the original magazine ad for that about three (?) years ago and thought, "Man, that looks cheesy. Fun, but cheesy."

Then I saw the TV ads for it recently and freaked out. Keira Knightley! I never made the connection, and she wasn't famous enough to stick in my mind before. I'll have to rent it if it comes out on DVD or something.

I get excited over celebrities in ways I fail to do over my own relatives. I'm specifically not going to think about what this says of me as a person.

princess of thieves

[stavia.livejournal.com]

I actually watched it on TV tonight. I'm not sure why. It was cute, and she's just adorable, but the whole thing was very made-for-tv. The wardrobe, for instance ... the clothes didn't look heavy enough. The horses were too clean. The peasants were too clean. Stuff like that. Also, there was no Philip, unless it's supposed to be Philip I of France, because John WAS king, and they made him sign the Magna Carta 20 years or so after Robin Hood is supposed to have lived, and so on. It bugs me when they mess up real history for these things. (Of course by this logic I should not be a slavering fan of The West Wing, and I am, so never mind.)

[gornishka.livejournal.com]

I've been on a bit of a Tudor kick myself lately. You might be interested in a Robin Maxwell hist-fic trilogy (The Queen's Bastard, and Virgin: Prelude to the Throne), and Rosalind Miles' I, Elizabeth. David Starkey's Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne is good (he also wrote about HVIII's wives).

[nazlan.livejournal.com]

No offense, but I *really* disliked Robin Maxwell's The Queen's Bastard. It turned Queen Bess into a snivelling girlie girl who just needed to be held, and the history concerning the Queen ever having a child is very shaky.

[dianesoprano.livejournal.com]

Weir reads well, and I enjoy her books about Henry VIII. She does well when she has concrete history and lots of sources at her disposal. I've been less impressed with her historic detective work. She decides on her solution and then proceeds to build up an edifice of supposition to support it. When she has facts, she does her best to twist or interpret them to support her theories. Any contradictory evidence or suggestion is either completely ignored or dismissed without any exploration. I can't even say that her conclusions are incorrect, just poorly supported and annoyingly like listening to the ravings of a new convert preaching their chosen word.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you're talking about in particular, but her conclusion that William Cecil had Amy Dudley killed comes to mind. :)

[cellardoor28.livejournal.com]

meh, i know what you mean about The Crimson Petal and the White. i bought it about 9 months ago and still havent opened it. i really want to read it as well! i just seem to end up back with terry pratchett...

[takekammuri.livejournal.com]

"PERFUME"!!! I read it a month ago in the original German and i thought i was going to die. Now, it's true, i haven't read any German literature since mid-puberty (wow, almost a decade ago!), but damn, that book, it's only yay thick and... It. Still. Would. Not. End.

Anyway, interesting concept. Cool ending.

[mirandaflynn.livejournal.com]

I like Antonia Fraser's histories. She's got a 'Wives of Henry VIII' too, as well as a biography of Mary Queen of Scots.

My favorite, however, is The Weaker Vessel, which talks about lives of various classes of women in the 17th century.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Ooo--I liked Fraser's Marie Antoinette, so I'll have to check those out. Definitely looking up that last one, too.

[mirandaflynn.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the Marie Antoinette book too! I didn't know much about her before, and AF makes it all clear and interesting.

She also has good books out on Cromwell, the Gunpowder Plot, and Charles III.

KA?

[dolfairy173.livejournal.com]

out of curiousity... will you be doing a King Arthur in 15 minutes?

kweh!

[shirade.livejournal.com]

Random bits: Princess of Thieves is on ABC early tonight. I've never seen it, but I will always remember standing in a Blockbuster and shouting, "Hey, it's that girl who isn't Natalie Portman!" Besides, I've always been a sucker for anything having to do with Robin Hood, and I like Keira Knightley, even though the movie has that slightly-lame made-for-TV sheen to it.



Um, that movie came from the LOINS OF SATAN!! That stupid guy (who I think was the wizard in the Wizard of Oz) who plays teh Sherriff of Nottingham CANNOT COMPARE TO ALAN RICKMAN!

That said, I should go an watch "Truly, Madly, Deeply." Alan Rickman is fine, and don't EVER let anyone tell you otherwise!!!

P.S. Thanks for the sweet Vanity Fair icon yet again!

[arayuldaiel.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I've pined for the Wives of Henry VIII books forever. Unfortunatly, I only have a budget of about $10 when I go to Barnes & Nobles and the books are like $12.50...argh. Stupid library and their stupid cluttered fiction section in which you can't find anything *grumbles*

I watched Princess of Thieves last night. Very cheesy, but kind of cute. I didn't like the ending, though. They could have at least let Gwyn marry Philip since he wasn't a real person anyway....

[prncssaurora.livejournal.com]

A pox on your Tudors!

I must admit, I'm a staunch Yorkist sympathizer... and that bastard Henry VII killed Richard III! ;) That said, I love reading just about anything relating to British history, so I might check out some of those books nonetheless. My mom recommended a PBS miniseries called The Six Wives of Henry VIII which was made in like the 60s... it could be cheesy, but she said she remembered it being very good, so I might check it out.

[frodosgoosegirl.livejournal.com]

Ironic you should mention the Tudors. I'm writing a paper on Henry VIII and his wives and kids as we speak. Well as I speak. That's why I've been away from the internet for the last few weeks. Let's just say writing does not come as easily to me as it does you. I checked out some Alison Weir books, but didn't exactly read through them. I also checked out a more recently published book by a guy named David Starkey who claims that Weir and Antonia Fraser haven't exactly got the facts straight.

I'm way behind on my f-list... anything big happen with you Cleo? Met up with Vladimir yet?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hee. Vladimir's visit has been postponed--again--but did you hear about the agent and the book deal?

[frodosgoosegirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah heard about the book deal. Congrats! So awesome.

[iwanabspaghetti.livejournal.com]

it's no less daunting than crimson petal and the white, but margaret george's autobiography of henry viii is the best tudor novel i've ever read.

[lightningflash.livejournal.com]

Hi! Just joined the m15m community (thanks!), and I'm a Tudor-junkie too. Big fan of Weir, and I actually *blush* like historical fiction. I've wish-listed the Maxwell books, but we'll see. If you are interested in a pretty accurate fictional history, might I recommend The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory? It's well-researched, timeline is accurate, and yes, it's romantic and makes Henry VIII out to be less of a tyrant than I think he really was, but it's engrossing, nonetheless. However, since you've never heard of me before, I will a)quit rambling and b)not be offended if you don't like the recommendation. I'm European/British history major, studying abroad in England, and I just generally like everything having to do with it, so maybe I'm just a sucker for it all.

Anyway, good luck on your writing! Have a lovely day!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I keep meaning to get that one! Doesn't Gregory have a new book out? I was at the book store the other day and I swear I saw something with "From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl" on it.

[lightningflash.livejournal.com]

yeah, that was probably The Queen's Fool, which takes place during Elizabeth's reign, is also by her. I haven't read it yet, but most people I've talked to liked it a lot, although most of them said that TOBG was better. So it's probably worth a shot for both of us!

[iwanabspaghetti.livejournal.com]

ack, tobg is horribly horribly inaccurate, as is the queen's fool. they're both definitely entertaining, but have little to do with the actual events. for example, mary boleyn already had a well established reputation as a "a great whore, the most infamous of them all", as she had carried on an affair with francis I of France, who referred to her in later years as his "english mare."

[lightningflash.livejournal.com]

interesting, I hadn't read about that, where might I find out more info on that?

*looking for a thesis topic*

[iwanabspaghetti.livejournal.com]

most bios of anne boleyn will include it, any novel about anne will usually include it as a big deal. both boleyn sisters spent a considerable amount of time at the french court and most anne bios will go into this.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for info on Mary Boleyn, you can get Alison Weir's Court of Henry VIII book and look up her sources. She goes on about Mary Boleyn a good bit, considering.