Semi-Book Review.

[fenderlove]

I just finished reading Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore by Bettany Hughes, and I really must recommend it. The book itself is extremely well-written and manages to take a serious look at the mythology of Helen of Troy as well as what might have been her real life as a Bronze Age Spartan queen. Hughes has filled the book with rich details and really takes the reader to the places she's describing by including charming tales of her many trips to these locales. Hughes prevails in her attempt to understand how the figure of Helen of Troy, whether as a force for good, evil, or neutral, has survived over three milenia passed her mortal death without losing her relevance. It truly is a fascinating work, and I suggest picking it up if you have the extra dosh.

Next on my reading list: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell. It's another historical non-fiction book, which is unusual for me. I've owned a copy for a while, but never got around to reading it. I've heard from sources on the History Channel of the inaccuracies in the book and about the massive leaps Cornwell takes with the evidence, but I'll make my own conclusions about this one.

After that: I hope to finish reading Sex with the Queen: 900 Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers, and Passionate Politics by Eleanor Herman. More historical non-fiction! I've been reading 40-50 pages of this book for an hour in the seating area everytime I visit the local Books-a-Million because I don't have $30 to actually purchase it. ^_^;;; *smoochies*

Comments

[snailtsunami.livejournal.com]

You law-breaking historian, you, reading historical literature at a bookstore.

It's a shame the town doesn't have a better library.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Indeed... though I doubt a book entitled Sex with the Queen would be on the preferred reading list. ^_~

[snailtsunami.livejournal.com]

But hey, the American Library Association is very clear on its anti-censorship policies. You could request an inter-library loan or something. They wouldn't be allowed to turn you down because of the subject matter or else you could file some big complaints with the ALA.

[fenderlove.livejournal.com]

Ah, indeed. I think it would please me more to wait on until the first disbursement of my scholarship money and purchase it for my own collection.

I'm currently over half-way done with the Jack the Ripper novel I am reading, and, I must say, it is quite good. Also, as I don't believe psychopathy to be a genetic predisposition, I'm amazed at the stroke of good luck that I had by some small wonder that I am not a psychopath. Due to many of the events in my childhood and family history, I certainly had many of the ear-markings for it. XD