1. I make slow progress in the Silmarillion. I've just reached the part where the text tells you that the next epic sequence is more thoroughly covered in the Children of Húrin, a sobering thought because it already feels a bit agonizingly boring. I definitely cannot finish a chapter of this at a time between other stuff. Of course, if Children of Húrin is more like a folktale or novel (an epic poem?) - more like the Hobbit or LOTR - than like this, that would actually help it. But it definitely doesn't feel brief in its current form.
2. Finished The Gunslinger earlier this week. This is the first thing by Stephen King I've ever read, because horror is not a genre I'm interested in spending time on, but I've seen some adaptations and talked about it a lot with![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
waxjism over the years. This is the first volume of The Dark Tower, an epic dark fantasy series, and that's why I was interested to try it. The first volume of the sequence was written when he was only nineteen, however, and it's definitely less impressive than some later efforts, mainly (and glaringly) in the female characters, which is something King later became well known for. It was mostly an enjoyable read, although I was upset that my wife didn't warn me that the protagonist's donkey dies early on (it's really only mentioned, not named or characterized, but I get teary about animal death easily) and a hawk named David who is much characterized and befriended dies late in the story in a flashback. (I cried and had to stop reading several times in that scene.) She says she didn't remember either of these events because they were so early in the epic. I intend to continue the series, in between some other books, however.
3. I've started reading William Morris's The Sundering Flood, as recent posts probably indicated. I've already read most of his 'medieval romances' over the years - this might actually be the last one I haven't read. I find his narrative voice and use of language absolutely delightful and very restful.
4. My youtube viewing of stuff related to historical reconstructions and hand sewing pointed me to what I started reading most recently, actually the unpolished phd dissertation of Dr Robyne Calvert from the University of Glasgow, Fashioning the Artist: Artistic Dress in Victorian Britain, 1848 - 1900. This is the fashion movement most closely associated with the pre-raphaelites and with my man William Morris, author of delightful 'medieval romance', father of the Arts & Crafts movement and designer of beautiful fabrics and wallpapers. (He is mentioned, but it is actually much more concerned with his wife, Jane.) I watched a fascinating video by Abby Cox featuring Dr Calvert, Dress Historian Explains Cottagecore and Dark Academia's Connection to Victorian Aestheticism, and followed the link to Dr Calvert's webpage.
2. Finished The Gunslinger earlier this week. This is the first thing by Stephen King I've ever read, because horror is not a genre I'm interested in spending time on, but I've seen some adaptations and talked about it a lot with
waxjism over the years. This is the first volume of The Dark Tower, an epic dark fantasy series, and that's why I was interested to try it. The first volume of the sequence was written when he was only nineteen, however, and it's definitely less impressive than some later efforts, mainly (and glaringly) in the female characters, which is something King later became well known for. It was mostly an enjoyable read, although I was upset that my wife didn't warn me that the protagonist's donkey dies early on (it's really only mentioned, not named or characterized, but I get teary about animal death easily) and a hawk named David who is much characterized and befriended dies late in the story in a flashback. (I cried and had to stop reading several times in that scene.) She says she didn't remember either of these events because they were so early in the epic. I intend to continue the series, in between some other books, however.3. I've started reading William Morris's The Sundering Flood, as recent posts probably indicated. I've already read most of his 'medieval romances' over the years - this might actually be the last one I haven't read. I find his narrative voice and use of language absolutely delightful and very restful.
4. My youtube viewing of stuff related to historical reconstructions and hand sewing pointed me to what I started reading most recently, actually the unpolished phd dissertation of Dr Robyne Calvert from the University of Glasgow, Fashioning the Artist: Artistic Dress in Victorian Britain, 1848 - 1900. This is the fashion movement most closely associated with the pre-raphaelites and with my man William Morris, author of delightful 'medieval romance', father of the Arts & Crafts movement and designer of beautiful fabrics and wallpapers. (He is mentioned, but it is actually much more concerned with his wife, Jane.) I watched a fascinating video by Abby Cox featuring Dr Calvert, Dress Historian Explains Cottagecore and Dark Academia's Connection to Victorian Aestheticism, and followed the link to Dr Calvert's webpage.
