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Sunday, August 14, 2005
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Normal Sunday Afternoons
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It is so hot today! 105°! On days like these, I could hug whoever invented the air conditioner. However, I’ve been sewing again today and my chair sits by the window in the sun. This circumstance is pleasant when I have hand sewing to do, as I can look out the window and enjoy the heat from indoors. Unfortunately, when it’s 3:30 in the afternoon, the sun shines directly on my chair, thus causing uncomfortable warmth. :(
At the present moment, two fellas sit behind me at the piano. There's nothing I like better than hearing someone else play the piano. Liking the piano as I do, and not having anyone around to play it, I had to learn myself. But it's not as nice as just sitting by and listening to someone else play. James and Derek are playing a duet. James is on the violin. It sounds really good. A nice lively song that I can't presently remember the title to.
Dad disappeared a little while ago to work on his truck, which broke down on the way to work yesterday. No fun. I think there's some kind of pump that's broken. He says that the fellows who manufacture these cars should have to work on them. I guess this particular part that he had to replace was ridiculously difficult to get to.
I've been reading the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. Have you read it? I bought it for my dad for Father's Day last June. He seemed to enjoy the sword fighting and the private duels. I love to read the old romantic adventures, especially when they're set in France. It seems to be a country constantly in unrest. Every book I've ever read about France centers around some political conflict, be it the Revolution or otherwise. But then, all the French novels are by definition fictitious accounts of the times.
Do you ever read those French words aloud? I cannot pronounce them at all! I would be so embarrassed to have to read it aloud to someone. I'd stumble over every word except D'Artagnan. That one is easy. And do you ever wonder how the "common" people kept all the titles straight? I'd never remember that "His Eminence" was the cardinal and not the pope. And when people say "my lord", couldn't they just clear up any doubt and say "my lord duke" so you know who they're talking about. But the characters all seem to know what's going on.
I'll let you know how I like the ending. Endings are always the most important. |
posted by cori
8/14/2005 03:36:00 PM
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The only Dumas book I've read is The Man in the Iron Mask (a sequel to Three Musketeers). PLEASE tell me what Three Musketeers is about!
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I read the Man in the Iron Mask too. Only I read it first, before I read the Three Musketeers.
I'm finding TTM to be much more interesting. The characters are much more adventurous and dashing, but inclined to gamble away their assets. It's good. It's getting better. The only thing I have against it is it's length. And the story is only long because there are so many different plots going on. It's like a series of stories.
For instance, in the Count of Monte Cristo, it was one plot with many angles. In TTM, it's many plots concerned with one set of characters.
But it's good. I don't mind long stories if they're good.
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The Three Musketeers! I love that book! I have read it 5 or 6 times and I could still read it again. The plot(s) are excellent and never boring, and though the reading is challenging (try pronouncing "Monseigneur" correctly on your first try ;)it broadens the knowledge of the reader and gives him/her an excellent education in grammer, French, and geography (it covers France and England from Gascony to Buckingham, and from la Rochelle to Bordeaux).
Sheesh, if I go on any longer about it I am going to want to read it all over again now!
By the way, "monseigneur" is an honorable title in France meaning "my lord."
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I've got a question for the French professor.
If you stick and "x" on the end of a word, does that pronounce the "s" sound? For instance, the name of the cardinal, Richeleau, is pronounced rish-low. (Right? I hope?) Then would the name of the queen's personal clothing designer, Bonacieux, be pronounced...how?
Just curious. I'm already almost done, so I'm stuck pronouncing it wrong if I'm wrong.
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Oh, sorry about that totally misspelled name. The cardinal (Richelieu) I keep getting mixed with somebody's screen name (richleau) and it's totally confusing!
Anyhow, how do you pronounce it? Does anyone know?
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| Sounds like some kind of sports thing, but in reality, the ShugaBowl is just a little hideaway for me, Sugarcube herself, to let loose my thoughts and occasional creativeness. |
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The only Dumas book I've read is The Man in the Iron Mask (a sequel to Three Musketeers). PLEASE tell me what Three Musketeers is about!