Book Thread: (03/15/2026) [JTB]

Welcome to my attempt at a thread on AOSHQ. CBD asked if I would be willing to try a couple of book threads and that got me thinking. The Horde is so varied and interesting in their reading habits. This is a chance to ask a few questions about reading that intrigue me. So here goes.

Sorry the man, to my mind, who has not in his own home a place to be all by himself, to pay his court privately to himself, to hide.

Was this the first man cave? The idea is certainly pleasant and one I've sought most of my life. What would you include in your reading space? (BTW, it probably helped to be a wealthy 16th century French aristocrat to make a place like that.)

I've always liked this painting, 'The Bookworm' by Carl Spitzweg, circa 1850. This could be me, except I don't like ladders. It's so typical that reading one book makes me dig out five others.

WARNING: A lot of single and double quote marks have been used in this segment.

There's a book coming out in March, "The Real Shakespeare" by Irene Coslet. She 'proves' that Shakespeare was actually a Jewish woman of north African descent living in Venice (Italy not California). The book blurb on Amazon says "Generations of researchers have tried to dismantle the myth of the Stratford man. Now, in this intriguing and well-documented book, Irene Coslet conclusively demonstrates that Shakespeare was a not a man, but a woman: a dark-skinned lady, of Jewish origin, born into a family of Court musicians from Venice"

One review describes Coslet as a "feminist historian" who claims that the true author (authoress?) is Emilia Bassano and this 'fact' was buried under "western-centric ideology". The examples of her proof mentioned in reviews make "Chariots of the Gods" look like hard science. Bassano, later Emilia Lanier after marrying an Englishman, may well have been a remarkable woman. So are many of the Ettes in the Horde. Doesn't mean they wrote Hamlet or Macbeth. This level of 'woke' is both tiresome and irritating. And the publisher has the brass-plated gall to charge $36.95 for this 200 page screed. I assume, and hope, it will be remaindered in record time.

I find the arguments about who wrote Shakespeare to be intellectual (maybe) curiosity and speculation. Or masturbation. (I suspect some is just academic snobbery.) Because even if it wasn't a glove maker's son turned actor, the plays and sonnets still exist and their perceptions, glorious words, and emotional connections with humanity have continued for four centuries.

Feel free to disagree.

Is there any one book that made you a life long reader? For me it was Treasure Island with the Wyeth illustrations. I think I was in second grade and kept a dictionary at hand to deal with the many new words. The challenge and difficulty were part of the attraction. It was the first time I realized how words alone could paint a picture in my head and then come to life. A first step into true book nerdom.

I'm noticing more articles and YT videos about how physical media, books, DVDs, CDs and so forth are increasingly popular as an alternative to streaming and digital everything. The stories point to increased sales, the success of the revitalized Barnes and Noble stores, and a general preference to own (and control) the materials. These stories appeal to me partly because I didn't grow up with digital versions, which didn't exist, and partly because I don't trust the 'gatekeepers' of the digital world. I don't know if they are true or just a continuation of LPs are better than CDs attitude. Anyone else noticed this one way or another?

What I've been reading:

LOTR (of course) -my 60th annual rereading.

The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom - usually a few pages at a time since the topics lead to endless rabbit holes. But too interesting to abandon for long.

Luis Melendez: Master of the Spanish Still Life - His still life paintings are so well done and appealing. I can get lost studying one image and reading about how he achieved it. I find looking at the works of painters I admire to be soothing and a welcome distraction from all the crap news that tries to bury us.

Books I've acquired just because they appear to be fun reads to have on hand. I often learned about these books from the book thread.

Route 66 A. D.: On The Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists by Tony Perrottet

Poplollies and Bellibones: A Celebration of Lost Words by Susan Kelz Sperling

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil edited by Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond - This is an expanded version of the mid-60s edition. I had that but it disintegrated from use so I splurged.

Hope everyone has a great week of reading.

posted by Open Blogger at 09:00 AM

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