12.26.2007

Lagniappe 1: Why Pie


My quick review of this story of life told through a search for pie: American Pie

According to Webster
la·gniappe \ˈlan-ˌyap, lan-ˈ\
Function:
noun
Etymology: American French, from American Spanish la ñapa the lagniappe, from la + ñapa, yapa, from Quechua yapa something added
Date: 1844
: a small gift given a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase;
broadly : something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure

12.19.2007

Episode 27: It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas


We sample a bit of Christmas in Victorian England, on the prairie, and in France.

Christmas Sampler

Rating: G

These books are under copyright.

Featured Podcast:

12.12.2007

Episode 26: China Court, Tierce continuation


In which we learn more about Jared and Lady Patrick,
why Tracey was in Rome, and about Mrs. Quin.

EP 26: China Court, Tierce continuation

Rating: G

This Book is Under Copyright
Produced with permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd, on behalf of the Rumer Godden Literary Trust. (c) 1960 Rumer Godden

For information about Ms. Godden or for permissions please see the Rumer Godden Literary Trust.

I am very grateful to Ms. Godden's daughter, Jane Murray Flutter, and to the Curtis Brown Group Ltd. for their gracious permission to podcast this novel.

Podcast Highlight
BrainReady BrainCastpodcast (website is here)


Visitation, Book of Hours

12.04.2007

Episode 25: China Court, Tierce part 1


In which Peter and Tracey meet. We learn more about Eliza, Damaris and the Brood.

EP 25: China Court, Tierce part 1

Rating: G

This Book is Under Copyright
Produced with permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd, on behalf of the Rumer Godden Literary Trust. (c) 1960 Rumer Godden

For information about Ms. Godden or for permissions please see the Rumer Godden Literary Trust.

I am very grateful to Ms. Godden's daughter, Jane Murray Flutter, and to the Curtis Brown Group Ltd. for their gracious permission to podcast this novel.

Podcast Highlight
Classic Tales Podcast (website is here)

Movies we watched over Thanksgiving (quick reviews)

Tierce, Hours of the Virgin

11.21.2007

Episode 24: China Court, Lauds continuation and Prime


In which we meet Peter St. Omer and learn more about China Court and Mrs. Quin's last day.

EP 24: China Court, Lauds continuation and Prime

Rating: G

This Book is Under Copyright
Produced with permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd, on behalf of the Rumer Godden Literary Trust. (c) 1960 Rumer Godden

For information about Ms. Godden or for permissions please see the Rumer Godden Literary Trust.

I am very grateful to Ms. Godden's daughter, Jane Murray Flutter, and to the Curtis Brown Group Ltd. for their gracious permission to podcast this novel.

Podcast Highlight
Secret World Chronicle

Other superhero stories:
Thanksgiving Cooking
Get recipes here at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen

Praying the Hours
Read more here

Family Tree

Click on image to enlarge.

Promo
SFFaudio (produced by Decoder Ring Theater)

Matins, late medieval Book of Hours

11.12.2007

Episode 23: China Court, Lauds 1


In which we are introduced to some of the five generations that have lived in China Court, past and present.

EP 23: China Court, Lauds 1

Rating: G

Blog Highlight
Hatrack River, the official website of Orson Scott Card (look in the left-hand column for the two features I mentioned).

This Book is Under Copyright
Produced with permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd, on behalf of the Rumer Godden Literary Trust. (c) 1960 Rumer Godden

For information about Ms. Godden or for permissions please see the Rumer Godden Literary Trust.

I am very grateful to Ms. Godden's daughter, Jane Murray Flutter, and to the Curtis Brown Group Ltd. for their gracious permission to podcast this novel.


The Annunciation, Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

10.30.2007

Episode 22: Shirley Jackson Horror Sampler


Finding horror behind the "ordinary" things.
The Haunting of Hill House,
We Have Always Lived in the Castle,
the Daemon Lover stories and ... a reading of The Lottery.

Jackson Horror Sampler

Rating: PG
Nothing graphic in these stories. Use your own discretion.

Episode Links:
The Lottery is under copyright.




10.28.2007

Halloween Special 2

Ghost stories of a different twist:
The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall
My Own True Ghost by Rudyard Kipling

Halloween Special 2

Rating: PG
Nothing graphic in these stories. Use your own discretion.

Stories provided by LibriVox, public domain stories read by volunteers. Their ghost story collections can be found here.

Photo source

10.27.2007

Halloween Special 1


Two of the scariest stories we know:
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe
The Judge's House by Bram Stoker

Halloween Special 1

Rating: PG 13
Nothing graphic in these stories but The Judge's House is very frightening and The Masque of the Red Death probably too abstract for younger listeners. Use your own discretion.

Stories provided by LibriVox, public domain stories read by volunteers. Their ghost story collections can be found here.

Symbolism is highly important in The Masque of the Red Death. Spark Notes has a nice rundown for those interested.

The Masque of the Red Death image above is actually a T-shirt. Pretty nifty, eh? Get details here.

10.25.2007

Episode 21: Bobbie and Jock and the Mailman, Part 2

Bobbie goes to visit Uncle TJ's farm and finds adventure when she tries to figure out why "the longest way 'round is the shortest way home."
Part 2 (Chapters 4-6)

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone.

A small sampling of the illustrations. Click on them to enlarge.





Links

10.19.2007

Episode 20: Bobbie and Jock and the Mailman, Part 1

Bobbie goes to visit Uncle TJ's farm and finds adventure when she tries to figure out why "the longest way 'round is the shortest way home."
Part 1 (Chapters 1-3)

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone.

A small sampling of the illustrations. Click on them to enlarge.







Links

10.12.2007

Episode 19: The Black Moth Finale

Everything falls into place.
Chapters 28, 29, and Epilogue

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

10.05.2007

Episode 18: The Black Moth 25-27

The Duke's plan swings into action,
Diana shows her mettle,
Jack rides to the rescue ...
and, of course, a sword fight!

Chapters 25-27

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

9.18.2007

Episode 16: The Black Moth 23-24

Lavinia arranges her elopement. The Duke of Avon takes notice.
Chapters 23-24

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

9.12.2007

Episode 15: The Black Moth 21-22

Richard makes a decision. Lavinia experiences something new.
Chapters 21-22

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

9.05.2007

Episode 14: The Black Moth 19-20

Richard lays down the law to Lavinia. The Duke of Avon returns and sets events in motion.

Chapters 19-20
Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

8.30.2007

Episode 13: The Black Moth 17-18

Lady O'Hara matchmakes. Lady Lavinia meets an old beau.

Chapters 17-18
Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

8.22.2007

Episode 12: The Hotel Detective Sampler

Am Caulfield wants to be the Hotel California's General Manager.
Instead he has to be the house dick.

The Hotel Detective sampler
Rating: PG-13
For sexual innuendo and some implied situations.

Links
These books are under copyright.

8.09.2007

Episode 10: The Black Moth 13-14

In which our highwayman and the fair damsel fall in love.
Will his disgraced past stand in the way of her heart?

Chapters 13-14
Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

8.03.2007

Episode 9: The Black Moth 10-12

In which our highwayman rescues a damsel in distress and enters into mortal danger.

Chapters 10-12

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

7.26.2007

Episode 8: The Black Moth 8-9

In which we see a hold up that goes wrong.
As well as a highlight on "The Grand Sophy."

Chapters 8 - 9


Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

7.19.2007

Episode 7: Scout's Progress

Can Aelliana Caylon qualify as a pilot and escape her home world before her scheming and abusive brother discovers her plan? With the help of Scout and Master Pilot, Daav, Aelliana will find freedom.

Episode 7
Show Notes
Can be found here

Episode 7 Show Notes

Hints on pronunciation for foreigners

I take it you already know
of tough and bough and cough and dough.
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, laugh and through.
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps.

Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead-it's said like bed, not bead.
For goodness sake, don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat.
They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.

A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear and fear for pear and bear.
And then there's dose and rose and lose
Just look them up--and goose and choose.
And cork and work and card and ward.
And font and front and word and sword.
And do and go, then thwart and cart.
Come, come I've hardly made a start.

A dreadful language? Man alive,
I'd mastered it when I was five
Featured Podcast
SFF Audio

Genre


Authors
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller


Liaden Terms
  • Delm -- Head of Clan (Delm Korval, Korval Himself/Herself)
  • Melant'i -- Who one is in relation to current circumstances. ALSO who one is in sum, encompassing all possible persons one might be.
  • Nadelm -- Delm-to-Be
  • Relumma -- Division of a Liaden year, equalling 96 Standard days. Four relumma equal one year.
  • Thodelm -- Head of Line
Good Starter Books for the Liaden Universe
These books are under copyright and the excerpts are read with permission of the authors.

7.09.2007

Episode 6: The Black Moth 6-7

In which we find out about Devil's romantic interest.
As well as a bit of culinary literature and a highlight on "Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle."

Chapters 6 - 7

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links
On a side note, I'm out of town until next week ... in a spot that only has dial-up so comments may not be answered for a while, but don't let that stop you. Go right ahead and tell me what you think!

7.03.2007

Episode 5: The Black Moth 3-5

In which we meet Richard Carstairs and more of the Belmanoir family, including his wife Lavinia. As well as a bit of interesting information about the author and some thinking about what we can learn by rereading books.

Chapters 3 - 5

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

6.28.2007

Episode 4: The Black Moth 1-2

Not a "typical" romance, this author's skill will surprise you.
Prologue, chapter 1 and chapter 2.

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone, although young children won't necessarily understand what is going on.

Links

The Black Moth

The Book
Look for this book and other Georgette Heyer novels at your library, local or used book stores or on Amazon. This book is in the public domain.
The Fashions
The Pretender
Charles Edward Stuart: a.k.a. Bonnie Prince Charlie

The Slang
Cant and Expressions
Slang not included in the above list:
  • Make a leg: A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing. [Obs.][1913 Webster]

  • High Toby: The high toby, the high-road the low toby, the by-road. A highwayman is a “high tobyman;” a mere footpad is a “low tobyman.”

Read in:

6.20.2007

Episode 3: Shirley Jackson Sampler

Shirley Jackson usually calls to mind horror fiction but she also wrote some very funny stories about her family.



Episode 3: Shirley Jackson humor sampler

Rating: G
Suitable for everyone.

Look for this book and other Shirley Jackson novels at your library, local or used book stores or on Amazon. Links are in the show notes which are here.

Episode 3: Show Notes

Notes for Episode 3

About the author
Shirley Jackson

Charles
Miette reads Charles

The Books
These books are under copyright.

Featured Podcast
Librivox: Free audiobooks from the public domain.

Much thanks
To those who have so kindly mentioned Forgotten Classics.

6.13.2007

Episode 2: Topper

Do you think you know all about Topper if you saw the movie or television show? Wrong! The book is so much better ...

Episode 2: Topper Sample

Why is this episode so long? There's a really good reason and you won't mind. I promise!

Rating
PG (fine for older kids and up).

Look for this book and other Thorne Smith novels at your library, local or used book stores or on Amazon.

Show notes are here.

Episode 2: Show Notes

Helpful information
  • dys·pep·sia n. Disturbed digestion; indigestion.
  • White duck trousers
  • "Race relations...": remember that this book was written in less politically correct times, although the reference is fleeting and the author's take on it very modern.
  • General: still working with the learning curve on volume levels, microphone placement, etc. Hopefully all is smooth enough not to detract from listening pleasure but if so, rest assured I am working on it.
About the author:
Thorne Smith

The Book
Topper (Modern Library)
This book is under copyright.

Much thanks
To those who have so kindly mentioned Forgotten Classics:
  • Maria Lectrix, a podcaster extraordinaire of classics in sci-fi, mystery, the Church Fathers, and much more.
  • The Curt Jester, one of my favorite bloggers who knows how to appreciate and review a good book.
  • CraftLit, the podcast that made me realize listening to books while knitting was such a genuine pleasure. Without Heather's insistence I surely wouldn't have thought of putting together a promo, much less getting around to actually doing it.
  • Christopher Bailey
  • Mike Aquilina

6.06.2007

Episode 1: A Tale of Three Tales


A South American folk tale that has a personal connection ...
all about the days
"When the rat had a tail like a horse ..."
Story rating
Kid friendly.

Featured Work
Tales from Silver Lands: A Tale of Three Tales

This book is in the public domain.


Podcast Highlight
Henry James, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen ... Heather's got 'em for you at CraftLit

And I just hafta say ... the cover above is from the 1974 hardcover. I always thought that it was quite hideous ... until I saw the atrocity on the newest version. Just try to ignore this if buying the book and focus on the folk-tale-ish goodness on the inside.