Susan Hated Literature

Author: Joseph Campbell
ISBN: 0586085718 DDC: 291.13
See also: LibraryThing ;
Read for Once Upon a Time Challenge (mark II)

Whether we listen with aloof amusement to the dreamlike mumbo jumbo of some red-eyed with doctor of the Congo, or read with cultivated rapture thin translations from the sonnets of the mystic Lao-tse; now and again crack the hard nutshell of an argument of Aquinas, or catch suddenly the shining meaning of a bizarre Eskimo fairy tale: it will be always the one, shape-shifting yet marvellously constant story that we find. together with a challengingly persistent suggestion of more remaining to be experiences than will ever be known or told.

I think maybe I’m just not in the mood for studious type books. At least, that’s the excuse I’m making for not really enjoying this book. Then again it may simply be that we’re all aware of these great themes that so many myths and fictions retell over and over again. Back in 1949 it was all original and new and so of course deserved all that attention. Now? Well the writing style is a little on the ponderous side and I think I’ve read most of these arguments before.

That being said, I’m still glad I read it. I simply don’t have a lot to say about it.

Full title: Tree and Leaf (Introductory Note, On Fairy-Stories, Leaf by Niggle) ; Smith of Wootten Major ; The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son (Beorhtnoth’s Death, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son, Ofermod)
Author: JRR Tolkien
ISBN: 0048200158 DDC: 828.91208
See also: LibraryThing ; JespersUnivers ; Rosa-Sinenis ; Once Upon A Time review site

I propose to speak about fairy-stories, though I am aware that this is a rash adventure.

This, in many ways, is the perfect book for the Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge as it contains fairy tales and myth and fantasy. It is a collection of shorter works by Tolkien, and begins, not with a story but, with an essay, On Fairy-Stories and surprisingly, I found this the most interesting aspect of the book. Tolkien writes about the origins of fairy stories, why he believes them necessary. He also defines what he means by a fairy story. A very different thing from the tale relegated to the children’s nursery, although somewhat related. Possibly the first defence of the fantasy genre.

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A Life in Conflict
Author: Tim Collins
ISBN:0755313755 DDC: 956.70443092
See also: LibraryThing ; Revish ; Guardian’s digested read ; Interview in the Guardian

25 May 2003
The tip-off came from a Fleet Street contact that Saturday evening: something serious was brewing in the media, something ‘pretty big’. I’d been under the cosh for the last week after being accused of war crimes, so I wondered how much bigger it could get.

So, do I admit at the start or the end of this review that I was anti the Iraq war? Does that political inclination mean that my opinion of this book is biased? I’m not sure, I do however know that this book did not get off to a good start with me, as the dedication is “to the soldiers of Ireland who left their native land to fight for the Crown so that small nations might be free.” That grates. It is meant with the best of intentions, or at least I suppose so, and I’m guessing he is talking about in modern times, but it still grates. After all, Ireland is one of those small nations that had to fight against the Crown so that she might be free.

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Author: Mick Doyle
ISBN: 184018485X - Dewey: 362.196810092
See also: LibraryThing ; Wikipedia on Mick Doyle ; Irish Examiner’s Obit

I still do not know the exact point at which I first became aware; all I can recall is waking up very gradually and becoming increasingly conscious that I was probably in this world, or somewhere else, other than just being dead.

In 1996 Mick Doyle suffered a brain haemorrhage and spent four weeks in a coma. He was lucky enough to wake up and to be able to begin the road back to recovery. This book tells his story of recuperation. A former international rugby player, an Irish rugby coach, a British and Irish Lions coach, a media pundit, Doyle was also lucky enough to be on of the 0.16 per cent of people who recover from a brain haemorrhage. Hence the title of the book.

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gladiators, musketeers, samurai warriors, swashbucklers, and Olympians
Author: Richard Cohen
ISBN: 0330482297
796.8609
See also: Library Thing

Thirty years ago I fought the only duel of my life. It wouldn’t have satisfied the dictionary definition, which requires that deadly weapons be used - competition sabers are hardly that - but it was certainly a “prearranged formal combat between two persons, fought to settle a point of honor.”

This book took me quite a while to finish, but I wouldn’t hold that against it, as it often takes me a while to finish a non-fiction book. Obviously enough the storyline isn’t quite a gripping as many novels, but it was still an entertaining read.

It is a history of fencing and sword-fighting in general. Covering from Roman times right up the present Olympic games. If you find the subject matter interesting, then I’m sure you’ll like this book. The style is quite conversational, but it also provides plenty of information and details. There is also a bibliography and index for further reading if you so desire.

And the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins
Author: T.Ryle Dwyer
ISBN: 1856354695
DDC: 941.5082
See also: Library Thing; Google Scholar; The Bureau of Military History

Michael Collins is frequently cited as the originator of modern urban terrorism. The British characterised his Squad as ‘the murder gang’ and had they knowingly captured members of of the Squad they would almost certainly have exectued them.

Irish history is full of revolutionaries and failed rebellions, of informers giving information to the English, and spies infiltrating Irish organisations. Michael Collins recognised the importance of the intelligence network and so in 1919 he formulated a plan to blind the eyes of Dublin Castle by ensuring that the police force were as terrorised and demoralised as possible.

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Author: George Hook
ISBN: 184488077x
DDC: 384.54092
See also: Library Thing

When you are a child, and you’re poor, and you live next to other people who are poor, you never think of yourself as being poor.

Around amonth ago I read an entry on Omaniblog about this book, up until then I hadn’t even known that George Hook had a book out. But that post caught my attention. George Hook is probably best known in Ireland for his rugby punditry. Together with Brent Pope and Tom McGurk, he analyses rugby for RTE in an entertaining, honest, blunt manner. He also has a radio show, but I’m not big on the radio so haven’t heard him enough to comment on that. In many ways I suppose he is the Eamonn Dunphy of the rugby world.

But I know him primarily from his rugby comments, and his constant promises that Munster will lose, and that the likes of Stringer shouldn’t be playing. I disagree with him, but am well aware that he is very knowledgable about the game. And in an entertaining way.

But when I started reading this book I was very surprised at it. From Omani’s blog I’d heard that it wouldn’t be all easy reading, and he’d only gotten to page 4. But I wasn’t aware of the depression, the debt, the fraud, or many other things that this book brings to light. And all the while he is describing his “Black Dog” and his running from trouble into strife, it is always so very readable. And if it wasn’t for the subject matter you’d have to say likeable. Still, it took me longer than I expected to finish it. Mainly, I think, because I wanted to pay attention to it, so I didn’t read it if I thought I might be distracted by the telly, or the radio.

I’m not a big reader of biographies, but I’d recommend this to anyone. And it is on 3 for 2 in Waterstones.