Posted on 08/03/2006 11:38:51 AM PDT by neverdem
I like Henty for what he is (boys' books that are a little heavy handed in the dialogue but lots of history and action); another similar writer that is very pleasant to read is Horatio Alger -- and although I don't care for Westerns as a general rule L'Amour is the best, except for Owen Wister.
Interesting sidelight to the Harry Potter stories. I may approach them from a slightly different angle, because I am a big fan of British children's literature.
From the point of view of someone who has read the "Jennings" series, the "Chalet School" series, "Stalky & Co.," and other British school stories, Harry Potter is essentially the British public school story with a little magical window-dressing.
The same themes recur . . . the idea of sending your kids off from the age of 8 to boarding school is pretty wild to Americans. Even Kipling saw the danger in it . . . especially the children who were sent from India back to England (as he was). He mentioned with some disgust in his autobiography a boy who became a snob in public school, and dismissed his mother as "not quite our type, donchaknow . . . "
That was my take, too. Behind the "magic," it's a totally secular worldview. Police procedurals have more spiritual content!
I like the "school" stuff, and I guess my kids do, too, because we don't have to experience it!
Phoop on Hellenism. Up the Maccabees! Armed Jews Rule!
If you haven't read Kipling's Stalky & Co., give it a look. It's based on his own experiences at the United Service Colleges in Devon.
I have missed "Stalky and Company." It is not in the library, and I'm going to have to pay money, and I hate that!
It's not the same as holding a book in your hands, but it's cheaper than buying it. If you like it, it's available in a Penguin paperback.
I have to disagree with you, Greek culture was the foundation of the Hellenistic civilization although under the Ptolemies there were influences from Egypt. Egyptian influences were probably stronger in the archaic Greek world as seen in the pre-classical artwork of Greece.
Hellenistic Egypt under the Ptolemies had more of a direct influence on Western Civilization as it was directly involved with and became a province of Rome. Anciient Egypt's impact on the Near East however is undeniable.
Understanding the position held by Serbia from medieval times onward can provide an insight into the current clash of cultures between the Western World and Islam. Also, understanding the later Turkish occupation of the Balkans and parts of Eastern Europe will provide insight into the later antipathy between groups in that region.
I understand. Certainly the history of eastern Europe is becoming more important (especially since the fall of the Iron Curtain.)
"Misandrist" is already in use.
Main Entry: mis·an·dry
Pronunciation: 'mi-"san-drE
Function: noun
Etymology: mis- (as in misanthropy) + andr- + 2-y
: a hatred of men
- mis·an·drist /-drist/ noun or adjective
It is appalling that more people don't know and use this word to describe such a commonly encountered form of bigotry. "Misandronist" is also used, but far less often.
I only do paper books! But I suppose I could print it out, a chapter at a time.
I agree with you to a point on Hornblower. His personality is annoying (more in the books than in the TV series.) However, the action, the use of language, the development of leadership skills are outstanding.
I found Owen Wister a bore. Louis L'Amour is having fun, even if he dangles a modifier, misplaces an antecedent, and allows a subplot to fade off into the mist without resolution, on occasion.
Do you think Severus Snape is Draco Malfoy's father? My kids think I'm nuts (naive creatures that they are ...). It's obvious that he's head-over-heels about Narcissa, and he HATES it, but I think it's been and gone and he's the dad.
It's not as black and white as that. If we leave it up to the student to decide what is interesting, then Harry Potter books will be about the extent of that teenagers reading.
When I was growing up, one of my teachers "forced" Jack London's Call of the Wild upon me. As I read the first chapter, I couldn't believe what a stupid antiquated book it was and if it was up to me, I would have discarded it on the spot and gone back to my Mad Magazine. A story told through the eyes of a dog who "didn't read newspapers"? Ridiculous! And what the hell is a chinese lottery anyway?
But as I read on (only because I was forced to and had a book report to write on it), I started to get into the story and when I got to the last few chapters, I couldn't put the book down. I then went to the library and looked for other books by this Jack London.
It was that book that made a lifelong reader out of me but I never would have known about it had I had not been "forced" to read it.
Have no opinion on that point (I lost interest after book 3 -- no particular reason, just other things to read.)
Oh, well. You don't have an all-night baby, so you can have Standards :-).
I've not yet encountered anyone who's prepared to address the fatherhood question ...
I've checked out Marryat novels on occasion, but none of the children has picked up on it. Patience, etc.
The Sharpe novels on the Napoleanic Wars might catch someone, eventually. I read them to Anoreth when she was a baby, but there's been no indication that it hit home, thus far. On the other hand, I read her the "National Review" and "American Spectator," and now she wants to be the next Ann Coulter.
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