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wytchcroftJust finished reading the wonderful 'Wind, Sand and Stars'. What a book!
That Saint-Exupery manages to tell both an internal and external story so powerfully and vividly and yet straight-forwardly is quite staggering.
One question; during the crash chapter (my favourite) i found that the distances measured made no sense, especially if you try and plot them on a map of Libya, just impossible (surely) to walk the miles under those conditions?
Maybe it was the translation, or just the mens' delirium...
I'm going to do some research but does anyone know?
It didn't detract in any way from the book which i strongly recommend:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind,_Sand_and_Stars
My next book to read is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov...
That Saint-Exupery manages to tell both an internal and external story so powerfully and vividly and yet straight-forwardly is quite staggering.
One question; during the crash chapter (my favourite) i found that the distances measured made no sense, especially if you try and plot them on a map of Libya, just impossible (surely) to walk the miles under those conditions?
Maybe it was the translation, or just the mens' delirium...
I'm going to do some research but does anyone know?
It didn't detract in any way from the book which i strongly recommend:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind,_Sand_and_Stars
My next book to read is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov...
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Date: 2010-01-18 06:52 pm (UTC)If you read M&M in English, then try to find Natalya Ginsburg's translation.
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Date: 2010-01-18 07:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 07:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 06:58 pm (UTC)Unfortunately i have given the boo back to a friend so i can't check again - but i intend to bbuy a copy ASAP!
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Date: 2010-01-18 06:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 07:28 pm (UTC)How do I love it.
It's a big part of my early teenage - this book.
Wish you success in researches!
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Date: 2010-01-18 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 08:02 pm (UTC)His Pilote de Guerre (Flight to Arras) goes much better for me.
And about Bulgakov - I don't know, is there any translation of his "роковые яйца" weird science fiction thriller. That's almost like "aliens", but with giant cannibal snakes, crocodiles and killer ostriches, bred by mistake on some soviet farms.
Too sad, Bulgakov has to edit scene of invasion to Moscow out by political motives. That's a real soviet old school kind of dieselpunk as I like it.
роковые яйца
Date: 2010-01-18 08:46 pm (UTC)and hello!
not as brilliant as you think...
Date: 2010-01-18 11:35 pm (UTC)Re: not as brilliant as you think...
Date: 2010-01-18 11:39 pm (UTC)LOL - my reading list is HUGE right now!
Ypa!
Date: 2010-01-18 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 09:57 pm (UTC)Also this; have you read this? *hyperventilates with eagerness* Every time I pick it up I think of you. It's called 'The Pendragon Legend' by the author of my current fave nov ('Journey by Moonlight') Antal Szerb. It's just todally todally YOU! If I knew where you lived *not menacing* I'd send it to you. If I addressed it 'wytchcroft, oop north', would you get it?
Also, I'm ready for any movement towards the cigarette.
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Date: 2010-01-18 10:09 pm (UTC)and i haven't read The Pendragon Legend either!
oh gosh!
*moves with surprising speed*...
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Date: 2010-01-18 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 10:16 pm (UTC)*whistles*
oh - crap, i forgot cheeta smokes. damn...
got a light?
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Date: 2010-01-18 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 05:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 10:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 11:13 pm (UTC)"Doctor, you're like the Encyclopaedia Britannica. You know everything.:
"I do know rather a lot," I replied nervously.
"I believe you even speak Sanskrit."
"Fluently," I replied. But she believed that too.
"And you must surely know the Russian novelists. Tell me something about Dostoevsky or Bela Bartok. I've a friend who never stops talking about them."
"I never met Bartok," I said untruthfully, shocked at her ignorance. "But I knew old Dostoevsky really well. He and my father were at primary school together, and he often came for supper."
"How lucky you are, to have known such famous people as a child. I'm sure you could even tell me why Aix-La-Chapelle is called Aachen in German."
I like to think that someone actually said some of these things in real life to Szerb.
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Date: 2010-01-19 11:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-20 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-20 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-21 10:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 10:12 pm (UTC)puff - puff
that's better. Uh, i could send you my mailing address but i can probably order the book just as quickly.
puff - puff
i'll let you know (?)... and more Plume Mountain is only ever a good, good thing. :))
:P
Date: 2010-01-19 07:22 am (UTC)Re: :P
Date: 2010-01-19 10:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 10:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-18 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 07:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-19 10:56 am (UTC)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devil-Amber-Lucifer-Box-Novel/dp/0743483804/ref=pd_sim_b_1
i got them for xmas - and even with the flu i still enjoyed them :))
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Date: 2010-01-19 02:26 pm (UTC)Looks right up my street. :-)
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Date: 2010-01-19 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 06:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 06:52 am (UTC)total offtopic
Date: 2010-01-22 01:42 pm (UTC)ara!
Date: 2010-01-22 02:26 pm (UTC)Спасибо:))