What are you reading now?

[Joy]

Reading (or rather re-reading) "Beethoven's Critics - Aesthetic Dilemmas and Resolutions during the Composer's Lifetime" by Robin Wallace.
Despite its mouthful of a title, this is an intriguing work which sets out to destroy the myth that Beethoven's music was not well received by the contemporary press.
We are all used to the usual quotations such as the one describing the finale of the second symphony as "a hideously writhing wounded dragon that refuses to expire" and so on. Wallace claims that those quotes are not typical and that, on the contrary, Beethoven was almost at once, and universally, recognised as a composer of genius, and this recognition is reflected in practically everything that was written about him in his lifetime".

So glad to hear that, Michael. Thanks for this posting as I too was under the immperssion that a lot of Beethoven's works were not (shall we say) appreciated during his lifetime.

[Michael]

Reading (or rather re-reading) "Beethoven's Critics - Aesthetic Dilemmas and Resolutions during the Composer's Lifetime" by Robin Wallace.
Despite its mouthful of a title, this is an intriguing work which sets out to destroy the myth that Beethoven's music was not well received by the contemporary press.
We are all used to the usual quotations such as the one describing the finale of the second symphony as "a hideously writhing wounded dragon that refuses to expire" and so on. Wallace claims that those quotes are not typical and that, on the contrary, Beethoven was almost at once, and universally, recognised as a composer of genius, and this recognition is reflected in practically everything that was written about him in his lifetime".

[Bonn1827]

This article in today's "The Australian" about increasing public incivility. Enjoy!

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225981896164

[Megan]

Wars of the Roses again!

The White Queen, ( Elizabeth Woodville), by Philippa Gregory


1464 - Cousin is at war with with cousin, at the houses of York and Lancaster tear themselves apart...

[Michael]

I didn't authorize my biography.

And two more Ha Has!

[Joy]

I didn't authorize my biography.

Ha! Ha!

[Sorrano]

Back to Russia and Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot'.

I didn't authorize my biography.

[Peter]

Back to Russia and Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot'.

[Michael]

"From a Buick 8" by Stephen King.
I first read it about eight years ago. I buy everything that guy writes. Okay, he may be regarded as a pulp fictioner, but I venture to assert that he will be remembered when the Norman Mailers, the Philip Roths and the Calvin Bossetierres will be forgotten. His particular genre happens to be classified as "horror fiction" but he is much more than that. (Trust me - I am a Beethoven fan.) I discovered King in 1979. I hope you all know that he wrote the original novellas which were filmed as "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Stand By Me".
Oh, and "The Green Mile".

[Peter]

Just finished Balzac: 'Old Goriot' and am starting a biography of Somerset-Maugham.

[EternaLisa]

The Falconer (Elaine Clark McCarthy) -well, I'm just in the first 3 to 4 pages at this stage as time allowance for self is very minimal these days-just picked it up out of sheer curiosity...

E

[Megan]

Just sarting a novel ' A Golden Sorrow' Humble and Loyal - Katherine of Aragon, while at the same time delving into the Mysterious Identity of William Shakespeare.

[Michael]

This might seem out of place on a "what are you reading" thread, but I am currently ploughing through all the Shakespeare plays on the BBC DVD complete set. I watch each play with the subtitles on, so, strictly speaking, I am reading them. I have just watched (read) "King John" - not the first play that would spring to mind - but it just shows that early Shakespeare is as good as early Beethoven!

[Peter]

Continuing with my French literary theme I recently finished Balzac's Cousin Bette and am now reading Flaubert's Sentimental education which deserves to be much better known.

[Peter]

Balzac's Eugenie Grandet.