Bright sunshine and patchy snow on the ground... Kits outside playing (and tracking in mud) and squirrels filling their tummies. It's a nice morning. I've watered and fed the chickens, and collected 3 eggs; watered and fed the kits who live with the chickens. Fed and walked Rosie. Come home and taken care of my kits... The internet connection is completely gone at Rosie's, so I'm happy I'll be returning home tonight. Still have the chicks and kits until next Sunday, and next weekend, I'll be staying with Boo. I'll be keeping busy.
There were some exciting horse races yesterday - and a terrible death. The San Luis Rey Stakes race finished pretty close - Fire With Fire, who led from the starting gate, won by a half-length over Lucayan, who was a nose in front of Temeraine. Vagabond Shoes, however, an older horse that I really like, was put down after the race. Vagabond Shoes was bumped coming out of the gate, and just "didn't feel normal" to his usual jockey. When the rider asked the horse to increase his speed, the rider heard a loud "pop" from a hind leg, and the horse stumbled badly. The jockey pulled Vagabond Shoes up, and he was vanned off the track. The horse's left hind cannon bone was shattered; and the decision was made to euthanize him. ... The Spiral Stakes ended with a "blanket finish" - three horses hit the finish line at almost the same time. We Miss Artie won by a nose, with Harry's Holiday beating Coastline by a head for second place. It was a thrilling race. ... The Bourbonette Stakes was touted as the return of Sloane Square - but she could only finish second, two and a quarter lengths behind Aurelia's Belle, and two and a half lengths ahead of Kate's Eyes.
The more I read, the more I love the books of Robin Hobb. I recently re-read The Liveship Traders trilogy; I just finished the four books that make up The Rain Wild Chronicles; and last night I started reading The Tawny Man trilogy, which (I just found out) follows The Farseer Trilogy. So I still have six more books of hers to read, not to mention another series, and all of her other books. This woman writer is absolutely fantastic! She creates viable worlds, sets the scene with interesting characters, and interweaves history, magic, and ancient lore into a wholly believable universe. I highly recommend her books to everyone!
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Pirates and Vikings
I just started the second book of a trilogy by Robin Hobb. The Liveship Traders is the name of the trilogy, and it's made up of Ship of Magic, The Mad Ship, and Ship of Destiny. If you enjoy well-written fantasy, multiple characters, pirates, sailing, ships, dragons, sea serpents, and romance and adventure, then this series was written for you. I admit the Prologue intrigued me, but the first chapter seemed dreary; then the entire story line came into view, and I was hooked. This is a super group of books, and Robin Hobb is an excellent, and prolific, writer.
With Mom growing up on Chincoteague Island, and Dad serving in the US Navy, and with me spending my summers on the island while growing up, I've always been drawn to pirates and pirate stories. There have been stories of pirate treasure being buried on Assateague Island since the mid-1600s. It was rumored that Blackbeard, Edward Teach, left treasure on or near Assateague (which is the island next to Chincoteague) - and treasure hunters have dug all over both islands and any long-lived "tumps" nearby. It was also rumored that a few families along the Eastern Shore made their spending money by pirating, but also had the family farm along the creek to keep up appearances they were honest, hard-working citizens.
In any event, it was due to this that a new news article caught my eye this morning - "new" evidence of 17th-century Irish pirating, near the southwest coast of Munster. The evidence has been there, in plain sight, all along, but it took an archeologist's eye and experience to prove it. Almost invisible stairs cut into sheer cliffs in two coves show where both smuggling and pirating activities took place. Dutchman's Cove at Castletownsend, County Cork, and the Gokane headland at Crookhaven, West Cork, have been examined, and the archeologists agree that both places were in use before and after the Dutch shattered the Irish pirates in 1614 (with the blessing of King James the First and Sixth). Shades of "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh!" I dearly loved Patrick McGoohan as the Vicar/Scarecrow in that Disney movie - his Scarecrow persona scared the daylights out of me, as a child.
And, yesterday afternoon and evening, I had a magnificent time watching the 9-hour marathon of the first season of Vikings on the History Channel. I fell in love with Floki in the first episode of the first season - Gustav Skarsgard brought a lot of the characteristics of Floki with him, and has really honed this character. Floki has a biting wit, a love of women, enjoys good food, has an extensive knowledge of healing, and is an expert boat builder. Floki "communes" with trees, and knows which ones will make an excellent keel, which to use as the figurehead, and which to use as the strakes. Since he usually carries an axe, he seems to tilt to one side instead of standing upright. He is loyal, honest, and giving to his friends. He has "odd thoughts" that cause him to giggle at unusual times, and most people believe he has been "touched by the Gods." In the preview for the new season that begins tonight, we see a battle, with Ragnar leading his men (including Floki) against warriors led by his brother Rollo. One sees, for a moment, what appears to be Rollo striking a heavy blow, with an axe, onto Floki, and Floki falls. I really hope that Floki does not die in this season - I look forward to his sly wit, giggles, and open honesty in dealing with his own feelings. Gustav Skarsgard deserves year-round employment!
With Mom growing up on Chincoteague Island, and Dad serving in the US Navy, and with me spending my summers on the island while growing up, I've always been drawn to pirates and pirate stories. There have been stories of pirate treasure being buried on Assateague Island since the mid-1600s. It was rumored that Blackbeard, Edward Teach, left treasure on or near Assateague (which is the island next to Chincoteague) - and treasure hunters have dug all over both islands and any long-lived "tumps" nearby. It was also rumored that a few families along the Eastern Shore made their spending money by pirating, but also had the family farm along the creek to keep up appearances they were honest, hard-working citizens.
In any event, it was due to this that a new news article caught my eye this morning - "new" evidence of 17th-century Irish pirating, near the southwest coast of Munster. The evidence has been there, in plain sight, all along, but it took an archeologist's eye and experience to prove it. Almost invisible stairs cut into sheer cliffs in two coves show where both smuggling and pirating activities took place. Dutchman's Cove at Castletownsend, County Cork, and the Gokane headland at Crookhaven, West Cork, have been examined, and the archeologists agree that both places were in use before and after the Dutch shattered the Irish pirates in 1614 (with the blessing of King James the First and Sixth). Shades of "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh!" I dearly loved Patrick McGoohan as the Vicar/Scarecrow in that Disney movie - his Scarecrow persona scared the daylights out of me, as a child.
And, yesterday afternoon and evening, I had a magnificent time watching the 9-hour marathon of the first season of Vikings on the History Channel. I fell in love with Floki in the first episode of the first season - Gustav Skarsgard brought a lot of the characteristics of Floki with him, and has really honed this character. Floki has a biting wit, a love of women, enjoys good food, has an extensive knowledge of healing, and is an expert boat builder. Floki "communes" with trees, and knows which ones will make an excellent keel, which to use as the figurehead, and which to use as the strakes. Since he usually carries an axe, he seems to tilt to one side instead of standing upright. He is loyal, honest, and giving to his friends. He has "odd thoughts" that cause him to giggle at unusual times, and most people believe he has been "touched by the Gods." In the preview for the new season that begins tonight, we see a battle, with Ragnar leading his men (including Floki) against warriors led by his brother Rollo. One sees, for a moment, what appears to be Rollo striking a heavy blow, with an axe, onto Floki, and Floki falls. I really hope that Floki does not die in this season - I look forward to his sly wit, giggles, and open honesty in dealing with his own feelings. Gustav Skarsgard deserves year-round employment!
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Thoroughly Enjoyed a Movie
I am a big fan of J R R Tolkien. I was introduced to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was 15, and I read both books (or all four) during the fall of every year. Tolkien spent a great deal of time building and crafting Middle Earth, creating its history, and using his knowledge of ancient sagas and tales to bring his own world to life. I am a great believer, too, that books - the written word - are much better than a film adaptation. In the book, the author has control of the words used, and it is one's own mind that conjures up the scene the writer is offering. With a film, one sees a specific person's view of that written work... I usually like the written word much more than the cinematic representation.
With the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, much was cut from the stories, and a bit added. With The Hobbit movie trilogy, a lot has been added, and a lot has been changed from the original story. Characters who did not appear in the book The Hobbit appear in the films. New characters are made up, and some of the story lines are changed. I'm not too happy with that - as well as the fact that travel time is suddenly shortened without regard to the story. But I do understand that directors of films must make a sell-able object, and that, these days, folks have a much shorter attention span and need multiple, quick-paced movement. That being said, I actually liked the second part of The Hobbit movie trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug.
It moved along well, almost too fast at times, and none of the dwarves were given much of a personality - indeed, if you didn't know which dwarf was which, you were pretty much out of luck. You were able to recognize Thorin Oakenshield, Balin, and young Kili, who was wounded in the film, by the time the film ended... But you felt nothing of the camaraderie that had grown between them and Bilbo in the 6 months that occurred during their journey to the Lonely Mountain. Bombur just seemed thrown in for comic relief - especially in the barrels in the river scenes; his ordeal in Mirkwood (in the book) never happens. Even with this grousing, I liked the second part of the film. And it had to do with casting and acting - so my thanks go to: Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Dean O'Gorman, Aidan Hunter, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly... I also enjoyed the director's cameo at the beginning of the film. I was quite surprised to realize that the Master of Lakewood was Stephen Fry. And I looked in vain for Stephen Colbert in a cameo in Laketown; he is listed a a Spy for the Master in the credits, but he said that he, his wife, and children were a part of a Laketown scene.... Sorry I missed you, Colbert!
With the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, much was cut from the stories, and a bit added. With The Hobbit movie trilogy, a lot has been added, and a lot has been changed from the original story. Characters who did not appear in the book The Hobbit appear in the films. New characters are made up, and some of the story lines are changed. I'm not too happy with that - as well as the fact that travel time is suddenly shortened without regard to the story. But I do understand that directors of films must make a sell-able object, and that, these days, folks have a much shorter attention span and need multiple, quick-paced movement. That being said, I actually liked the second part of The Hobbit movie trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug.
It moved along well, almost too fast at times, and none of the dwarves were given much of a personality - indeed, if you didn't know which dwarf was which, you were pretty much out of luck. You were able to recognize Thorin Oakenshield, Balin, and young Kili, who was wounded in the film, by the time the film ended... But you felt nothing of the camaraderie that had grown between them and Bilbo in the 6 months that occurred during their journey to the Lonely Mountain. Bombur just seemed thrown in for comic relief - especially in the barrels in the river scenes; his ordeal in Mirkwood (in the book) never happens. Even with this grousing, I liked the second part of the film. And it had to do with casting and acting - so my thanks go to: Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Dean O'Gorman, Aidan Hunter, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly... I also enjoyed the director's cameo at the beginning of the film. I was quite surprised to realize that the Master of Lakewood was Stephen Fry. And I looked in vain for Stephen Colbert in a cameo in Laketown; he is listed a a Spy for the Master in the credits, but he said that he, his wife, and children were a part of a Laketown scene.... Sorry I missed you, Colbert!
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