Book Meme, and journey announcement

[selenak]

artaxastra and merrimaia tagged me for the book meme, so:

1. Total number of books owned: No idea. It must be over three thousand by now, though.

2. Last book I read:

Proud Destiny by Lion Feuchtwanger. Brushing up for the conference in Sanary-sur-mer I’m attending next week. I wrote my dissertation about Feuchtwanger, but with a different emphasis then the lecture I’ll be holding, which will deal with those of his novels focusing on French history.

3. Last book I bought:

*shuffles feet* The novelization of Revenge of the Sith. Yes, I caved. Before that, it was the memoirs of one of Albert Speer’s daughters.

4. Five books that mean a lot to me:

The Never-Ending Story by Michael Ende. Read it as a child, fell in love as soon as Bastian thought about always having wanted a book that never ended, have remained in love ever since.

Angeliqueby Anne Golon. One of the earliest historical novels I read (also as a child), and definitely the first one where I was rooting for the heroine.

St. Joan by Bernard Shaw. Most of the days, this is my favourite play. (Pace, Shakespeare, you know you cannot be contained in one play.) Shaw is his usual witty self, but he’s also tragic this time, and his Joan will always be the definite version of Jeanne d’Arc for me.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Who was it that said this was written as if by an eagle? Anyway. Thank the literary gods that I read it before watching any of the film versions, because they almost all get it wrong. I’m not sure whether to blame Emily B. for my thing for not-nice, completely messed up main characters, though.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Okay, I’m cheating and claim all the volumes as one collected book, but really. This one isn’t just an epic fascinating saga but completely changed my pov on what comics (or “graphic novels” if you want to get pretentious) can do.

5. Tag 5 people and have them fill this out in their ljs.

honorh
andrastewhite
karabair
bimo
rozk

***

Early tomorrow morning, I’m off to Switzerland. The conference in France doesn’t start until next Wednesday, so the way will be sight seeing; however in the company of the internet police, so it’s not likely I’ll be able to get online very often, or at all.

My muses over at tm: one is taken care of by the fellow mun, one will be abducted, and one will just catch up with his posts in two weeks.

Comments

I still think Feuchtwanger sounds dirty

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Here are my answers (http://www.livejournal.com/users/karabair/251066.html).

Love on The Neverending story. I read it when I was about 10, and it's still "what a fantasy novel should be" in my mind; I reread last year and was thrilled by how well it held up. I've also gotten the "Oh my God there's a BOOK?" reaction from a number of people who remember the rather, ahem, diminished American film adaptation. And so I got to pass the joy on.

I must try more Shaw, as I've loved the few things I've seen or read. And every fangirl should have some Heathcliff in her past.

have a great trip!

he liked to flirt with cute Americans, so he'd probably enjoy you saying that!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Ah, let us not mention the film adaption. *shudders*

And thank you, I'll do my best!

[scarlettfish.livejournal.com]

That description of WH - as if it was written by an eagle - is really beautiful and just so...true, I guess. What a lovely way to put it.

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Angélique, Marquise des Anges! Magical! Read all of them, including the so-so ones set in Canada, and saw the movies, which were attractive trash. And interviewed Anne Golon in Crans-Montana where she was (is?) a tax exile, in the late 80s...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I stopped after the second or third Canadian one, but that doesn't stop me from remembering them with the utmost fondness. Loved 1-6.

BTW, I tried to send you something via email, but my laptop won't let me reformat pictures. Curse it. Don't be surprised about missing attachments. Will remedy this once I'm back in Germany.

When you're visiting during the Bayreuth festival, you'll have to tell me about Anne Golon...