My book this week is the fantasy novel Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. This is not my first book by him; I tried The Lions of Al-Rassan and didn't like it, but so far I like this one much better.
There are some quotes at the beginning:
All that you held most dear you will put by
and leave behind you; and this is the arrow
the longbow of your exile first lets fly.
You will come to know how bitter as salt and stone
is the bread of others, how hard the way that goes
up and down stairs that never are your own.
Dante, The Paradiso
What can a flame remember? If it remembers a little less than is necessary, it goes out; if it remembers a little more than is necessary, it goes out. If only it could teach us, while it burns, to remember correctly.
George Seferis, "Stratis the Sailor Describes a Man"
The prologue:
Both moons were high, dimming the light of all but the brightest stars. The campfires burned on either side of the river, stretching away into the night.
The first chapter:
In the autumn season of the wine, word went forth from among the cypresses and olives and the laden vines of his country that Sandre, Duke of Astibar, once ruled of that city and its province, had drawn the last bitter breath of his exile and age and died.
I am halfway through and not sure that the prologue was really necessary. I like the first chapter, though.
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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice
For the Friday 56, here is page 56:
Autumn was very definitely upon them, with the Ember Days approaching fast. It would not be long, a matter of days, before the first frost touched those last few precious grapes that had been left on chosen vines to become -- if all fell rightly -- the icy blue clear wine that was the pride of Astibar.
hosted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer
Q: What's the oldest work (by publication date) you've read?
A: According to GoodReads, it is The Iliad, -890 B.C.E.
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You know, I am not sure if I ever read the Iliad. Pity, too, because I think it is a book that would benefit from a teacher's guidance. My Friday quotes and a short review of WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE
ReplyDeleteNot sure your book this week is for me but that's ok. You win and you lose some. :-) Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI need to re-read the Iliad! I read bits and pieces in school, but never the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteI completely forgot about the Greek Classics!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are enjoying this new book more.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGeez I forgot about the Iliad, too! (I just posted elsewhere where they read the Beowulf and I forgot about it, too!) So my answer was from Ancient Greece, too, with Theogony by Hesiod but apparently there's a few books that I read that I didn't remember (I wonder if they count if I don't remember them... :D ). Have a nice week!!
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