A Thousand Ships - August 2024 Book Group discussion thread
8 watchers
Oct 2024
10:44am, 15 Oct 2024
9,179 posts
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westmoors
Late to the party as I had to wait for it to become available from the library. I really enjoyed this. Normally I would be annoyed by the switching of narrators and timelines, but it didn't happen with this. Possibly because of the familiarity with the story. I particularly enjoyed the Trojan Women and Penelope chapters. The guilt of Hecabe having not killed Paris and carrying the destruction of the city and her family on her shoulders was almost tangible. The sarcasm of Penelope in her letters made me laugh! Overall, I gave it a 9. It has made me want to re-read The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley. |
Oct 2024
11:11am, 15 Oct 2024
70,366 posts
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LindsD
I don't know that one.
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Oct 2024
11:56am, 15 Oct 2024
9,181 posts
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westmoors
Its written from Kassandra's pov. Quite a read if I recall correctly.
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Oct 2024
11:59am, 15 Oct 2024
70,368 posts
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LindsD
Thanks for the tip
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Oct 2024
2:08pm, 15 Oct 2024
54,608 posts
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McGoohan
Ordinarily I like to follow the approach of Love The Art, Hate The Artist where there are problematic creators. For example, in music I have a personal dislike of Morrissey but I still love There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. Similarly, Van Morrison has turned out to be a largely dislikeable person - but Brown Eyed Girl is still a cracking tune. Sometimes though, there's a limit an artist crosses that renders their art no longer acceptable and Marion Zimmer Bradley crossed that line and then some. In a very similar way to Jimmy Savile, it all came out after she died so she never had to answer in life for her crimes. She and her husband, Walter Breen - who died in prison for his crimes against children - were terrible, terrible people. I wouldn't touch either of their books with a bargepole and I'm surprised they are still on sale. Zimmer-Bradley hid behind a mask of championing women's causes - it was the perfect disguise for someone perpetrating crimes against children. Who would dare suspect her? If you want to know more of the detail, her Wikipedia article gives enough though it's also a tough read: en.wikipedia.org |
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Oct 2024
2:21pm, 15 Oct 2024
70,370 posts
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LindsD
I had no idea. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I won't be reading the book after all. Ugh.
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Oct 2024
2:47pm, 15 Oct 2024
15,597 posts
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Little Nemo
Oh, that's another author who's turned out to be a horrific person  I've read a few of her books in the 80s, won't be rereading these if I find I've got any of hers on the bookshelves I need to organise. Guess it will be better for the world if I just chuck them in the bin! |
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Oct 2024
3:22pm, 15 Oct 2024
9,182 posts
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westmoors
Didn't know any of that McG. Maybe I won't re-read Firebrand.
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Oct 2024
3:31pm, 15 Oct 2024
54,609 posts
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McGoohan
It wasn't too well known at the time outside of America - and her own children were scared of coming forward fearing retribution from her many fans over there.
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Oct 2024
3:39pm, 15 Oct 2024
46,602 posts
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Night-owl
Hadn't heard of her and won't read it either
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