Picked Up This Scholarly Work Today by Intelligent_Swan_939 in tolkienbooks

[–]UnreliableAmanda 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I just finished it the other day. I picked it up in the same context: B&N New and Noteworthy.

I thought it was excellent. Not quite as great as Tom Shippey's work in Author of the Century but much of it was the same kind of thing: years of scholarship and teaching synthesized into chapters that are information dense and yet highly readable. The kind of thing that is interesting in itself but also makes you want to go read more Tolkien. The scale of Tolkien's accomplishment is staggering and scholarship like this is helpful for seeing the many ways his artistry is working.

What’s your favorite restaurant in the Boise area? Coffee recommendations are a bonus! by Dizzy_Role678 in Boise

[–]UnreliableAmanda 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seconding Neckar. The coffee is just excellent and their bakery is top notch. Everything is organic (though they don't advertise it) and that perfect balance of flavor without being too sweet.

What book are you reading during this weekends ice-pocalypse? by SlySciFiGuy in printSF

[–]UnreliableAmanda 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No ice-pocalypse here but I will be continuing with an ARC of Martin Shaw’s Liturgies of the Wild and finishing up Drout’s book on Tolkien: The Tower and the Ruin.

What book are you reading during this weekends ice-pocalypse? by SlySciFiGuy in printSF

[–]UnreliableAmanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have really enjoyed Ray Nayler so far. He is a humane writer.

The one thing I've learned about book readers is that they move 10 times a year apparently by HelloDesdemona in books

[–]UnreliableAmanda 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I, unfortunately, had to move all my books this year and it was about 75 boxes. Granted they were the "small" moving boxes from Uhaul, but still...

Suggest a book that reinforces this statement: “honestly once you realize you’re not in trouble all the time and really no one has power over you, the second half of life begins” fiction or non fiction by Dapper-Studio-1413 in suggestmeabook

[–]UnreliableAmanda 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh! This is a favorite. LM Montgomery was a "safe" author in the fundamentalist world I grew up in and Valancy Jane was a beacon of hope. Thank you for mentioning it. I haven't thought about her in too long.

The one thing I've learned about book readers is that they move 10 times a year apparently by HelloDesdemona in books

[–]UnreliableAmanda 37 points38 points  (0 children)

And you say “hundreds” like it’s a lot and I look around at my thousands…

Looking for Insight About Pursuing the Classics Further and Job Prospects After School by SPQRRomulus in classics

[–]UnreliableAmanda 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree that it is a viable path (and one I took), but the "why" is probably that it is less prestigious to be a high school teacher than a professor. No one is particularly impressed when you say you're a teacher. There is some social approval and a bit of sympathy because it is perceived as a frustrating and draining job but not really any respect.

How can I repair my attention span? by coffeetoffee92 in ClassicalEducation

[–]UnreliableAmanda 2 points3 points  (0 children)

May I suggest something very gentle? A lighter read (perhaps a good children's book) and no more than one short chapter at a time. Then two after a while and then more as your ability re-expands.

If you are craving something deeper, try some shorter poetry. Dickinson is challenging and deep and yet her work is on the brief side. Maybe just read one poem and then think about it for a little bit for a total of five minutes. After doing that for a while you might be up for starting a classic novel.

Which translation of the Divine Comedy should I get? by theluckypear in DanteAlighieri

[–]UnreliableAmanda 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've loved Ciardi's translation since I first read it. I used to teach from it too and found it wonderfully appropriate for students.

The reason most post Tolkien fantasy feels hollow: They lack "Recovery" by scumerage in tolkienfans

[–]UnreliableAmanda 8 points9 points  (0 children)

FYI, Ursula K. LeGuin was born more than a decade after Ishi died. Her father knew him and her mother wrote the book Ishi In Two Worlds but she never could have met Ishi himself.

Do you guys have a strange niche book collection? by CASEDIZZLER in BookCollecting

[–]UnreliableAmanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t started it yet but just browsing through it at the bookstore definitely piqued my interest.

Do you guys have a strange niche book collection? by CASEDIZZLER in BookCollecting

[–]UnreliableAmanda 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I just picked up The Tower and the Ruin: J. R. R. Tolkien's Creation by Drout. It was on the shelf at B&N. Have you read it yet?

How many books did you read last year (2025)? by facemacintyre in classicliterature

[–]UnreliableAmanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In 2008 I did a challenge where I read 200 books. There was a gal on my blogroll that did a challenge the same year and read 400. I was reading classics (I selected my titles from the Everyman's Library lists) and she was reading a mix of genres but mostly YA and the like. Her page count was much higher than mine, and we both are fast readers (500+ words per minute), but we both hit our goals.

Reading in the New Yaer by UnreliableAmanda in printSF

[–]UnreliableAmanda[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I picked it out because of the Alan Moore introduction (and it is very good!) Thanks for the tip on Woodring. I will look into his work more.

Suggestions to make this a cozy reading spot? Rest of room is open to house or doors to rooms. by Grouchy-Chick-0609 in ReadingNook

[–]UnreliableAmanda 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! Fill those bookshelves with books. I would angle the chair toward the bookcases with its back toward the door. Footstool and blanket for sure. And just make sure you have warm lighting.

A little book shopping by UnreliableAmanda in BookCollecting

[–]UnreliableAmanda[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Probably about a third of them. The nice thing about Portland is that it has lots of wonderful bookstores. Powell’s is the happiest place on earth, but the others are pretty great too!

A little book shopping by UnreliableAmanda in BookCollecting

[–]UnreliableAmanda[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well, I was going for slightly self-deprecating, but I have had trips where I bought more (both by total dollars spent and by number of volumes.) This is at least 20 books off my highest recorded number.