Recent reading (travel edition)

[luzula]

Now on the train between Copenhagen and Hamburg, will be in Paris tonight. I don't know how I spent my whole life not knowing that Köln = Cologne? Number of people wearing masks so far: one (me). No, wait, now some more pople are putting them on, but ffs, they don't work if they're not over your nose. Or under your chin. At least I have the good sort of mask. (ETA: Now we are in Germany and almost everyone has a mask.) Also, I am annoyed that it's impossible to use dictation on the train; I'll have to save my hands up, sigh.

Spent last night catching up with a fannish friend in Copenhagen, who since I met him last has written a Ph D thesis on fanvids, wow.

Lieutenant Hornblower by C S Forester (1952)
Read on sanguinity's recommendation. I tried a Hornblower book once before, the first one written chronologically, but that one didn't stick, I think because I was unfavorably comparing it to O'Brian. This one is better written and is a fun Age of Sail adventure. The first part where they're stuck with an abusive captain is appropriately claustrophobic. And yes, I can see the Bush/Hornblower! : ) I don't know that I'm going to be actively fannish about this, though, or at least that's my prognosis. Though sanguinity, I'll certainly read your fic when you finish it! And if you have any other fic recommendations, I'll take them.

Spear by Nicola Griffith (2022)
This feels a bit thin compared to the richly layered Hild, but it is a novella, after all. I was enjoying it from the start, but it didn't really take off for me until the main character met Nimue. I liked the remixing of Arthurian canon, and the background Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot.

Comments

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I also recently read Spear and enjoyed it a lot! I haven't read Hild but it's been recommended to me, and maybe I'll try it on strength of how much I enjoyed her prose. (Also I'm always easy for Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot)

Hope your travels continue well!

[luzula]

Would love to read Hild in book club! I was thinking of rereading it for when the sequel comes out.

Ugh, I had a stressful late train and had to rebook my tickets. /o\ But thanks, I hope there is no further drama...

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Oh no! Fingers crossed for no further drama!