Put the book back on the shelf

[vovat]

As I believe I've mentioned earlier, I have a World Mythology book that's identified as the third edition on the cover, but as the second edition inside. Maybe that's why it was on the bargain table. The editor, Donna Rosenberg, has a tendency to interpret the various myths included therein in terms of changes from matriarchal to patriarchal societies, and hence old Mother-Earth-type fertility and harvest deities being replaced by warlike, orderly, masculine gods. While I don't know of much evidence to support the idea of the ancient matriarchy, I do recall learning in one of my history classes about the different sorts of gods. The overthrow of old gods by new ones appears in the story of Marduk and Tiamat, and Greek mythology actually has TWO heavenly revolutions (Cronus conquering Uranus, and then himself being overthrown by Zeus). I understand that some of the more explicit sexual references have been edited out, which some of the Amazon reviews complain about. Since a lot of the most famous myths are reproduced in abridged form here, I'd say a book of this sort is a good choice for those of us who want to know the basic story of Beowulf or Homer's Iliad without actually slogging through the entire texts.

I also recently read the first two Dr. Dolittle books (the only ones that are in the public domain, and hence available online), as per jenhime's recommendation. I found them to be enjoyable reads, with Hugh Lofting's style rather light and breezy. The idea of animals having their own languages is one that that I've seen in other works as well. L. Frank Baum has John Dough (who, as Martin Gardner points out, has a very similar name to Dolittle's), Queen Zixi, and his version of Santa Claus all able to communicate with animals in their own languages. The Dolittle books include some racial stereotypes, which were apparently edited out of some editions, but the online versions retain the original texts. Although I realize I'm not the best judge of such things, I didn't find these references to be anywhere near as offensive as some other stuff from the same time period, and he does include some sympathetic characters among the non-Caucasians. The first book introduces an African prince who wants to be white, but this same prince becomes much less of a comic stereotype in the sequel.

Another book I just recently finished is The Phoenix and the Carpet, which was a pretty good story. I remember my dad reading its predecessor, Five Children and It, to my siblings and me years ago, but I don't think he ever finished. I guess I should go back and read all of that one someday, but I had Phoenix on my bookshelf, and not Five Children. I wonder how widely read Edith Nesbit is nowadays. If her other books are like Phoenix, all of the then-contemporary references might be confusing for a modern reader. Maybe I'm underestimating today's kids, though. I know I had no problem enjoying Lewis Carroll as a child, even though there were a lot of Victorian English words that I didn't quite understand.

And in keeping with the theme of this entry, here's a survey about books that I got from travspence (the survey, that is, not the books):

1. One book that changed your life.

While I don't think it really changed my outlook or way of life, I'm going to say The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, because it started a major obsession of mine.

2. One book you have read more than once.

Pretty much anything with "Oz" in the title, really.

3. One book you would want on a desert island.

1001 Ways to Escape from a Desert Island

4. One book that made you laugh.

A lot of books do that. Well, I think a lot of books are FUNNY, anyway. I can't always remember whether a particular book had me laughing outwardly, or merely inwardly. I know some of the Dave Barry books made me laugh out loud, though.

5. One book that made you cry.

I'm not sure this has ever happened. Books can affect me emotionally, but I don't know that they've ever literally brought me to tears.

6. One book you wish had been written.

Ruth Plumly Thompson's follow-up to Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz. Or, if I ever were to end up on a desert island, then the book I made up to answer Question #3.

7. One book you wish had never been written.

I'm tempted to say a textbook, but I can't think of one that's particularly bad. Maybe I've blocked the really terrible ones out of my memory.

8. One book you are currently reading.

When I first filled out this survey, I was reading The Story of Dr. Dolittle. I've since finished both that and the sequel, though. I like short books. {g}

9. One book you have been meaning to read.

There are a lot of these, but one that just came to mind yesterday is The Once and Future King, by T. H. White. I've read The Sword in the Stone as a stand-alone, but never the whole thing. I do have a copy of King at home, so maybe I can remedy that soon.

10. I'm not going to be doing any tagging, since people rarely pay attention to that anyway, but you're welcome to play along.

Comments

[punterschlagen.livejournal.com]

I love the Dr. Dolittle books - I have since the 4th grade when I discovered a nearly-complete set in the elementary school library. I prefer the unexpurgated versions and have been hunting for hardback copies for years (I have paperbacks of quite a few). What I always liked was the fact that the Doctor's ability to communicate with animals wasn't magical - he was a naturalist, and I loved how Lofting described his methods. My favorite would have to be "The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle," especially the meeting of the Doctor and Red Arrow when they have to converse in Eagle, their only common language.

[punterschlagen.livejournal.com]

Also, I must say that I HATE every single movie to ever be based on these books. Blech.

In addition, I've always wanted a fireplace like the Doctor has in his kitchen, where you can actually sit INSIDE it.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I saw the musical movie years ago, but I don't remember much about it. I never had any interest in the Eddie Murphy films, which don't appear to have any similarity to the books beyond "guy talks to animals," which is about like calling any movie with a tornado an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.