What are you currently reading?

[bilbobaggins]

Everything medieval.

[Prayerful]

Peter Heather, Christendom, where the author suggests that Frankish Clovis was a Homoean or Arian before he became Catholic, not a pagan and that the Papal was marginal enough except where Roman Emperors, Ostrogothic kings, Merovingian kings, and later the heirs of Charlemagne gave him attention, using the Pope to support decisions they had already taken, but needed some political stardust to avoid rancour. However a combination of land gifts from Charlemagne and the Carolingian legacy of a sufficient body of well trained churchmen who took pride in their office and professional conduct helped give Catholicism a recognisable form (no more Bavarians priests baptising in the name of the 'fatherland, daughter..., patria, filia..). His explanation of how the late Roman bureaucracy, colonised by honestiores after cities saw their land holdings and tax powers taken from them, and this itself served to push many to convert. All senior posts were in the gift of the Emperor or his advisors and unless a pagan was some irreplaceable intellectual or notable landowner, there was any number who would do what was required, whether converting or rejecting a heresy a previous emperor favoured. Mentions Paschal II. At least Popes don't blind or kill officials they find unsatisfactory or they come to distrust.

[Bernadette]

At the Back of the North Wind, by George MacDonald.

[Mushroom]

Introduction to the Devout Life: Saint Francis de Sales

[Acolyte]

The Secret of the Holy Face by Fr Lawrence Carney

[red solo cup]

To The Field of Stars. A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago De Compostela by Kevin Codd

[Kaesekopf]

I just finished Mario Puzo's The Godfather. 

Decent book, but the movie was better, IMO.

[Instaurare omnia]

I just finished Mario Puzo's The Godfather. 

Decent book, but the movie was better, IMO.

"the" movie? It's a trilogy. There are Part I fans and Part II fans, nobody in their right mind prefers Part III. Mannaggia la miseria...

[Kaesekopf]

I just finished Mario Puzo's The Godfather. 

Decent book, but the movie was better, IMO.

"the" movie? It's a trilogy. There are Part I fans and Part II fans, nobody in their right mind prefers Part III. Mannaggia la miseria...

I always just think of the first movie, tbh. 

I remember someone elsewhere preferred Part III - but I've only seen it once.  Might have to re-evaluate that opinion after a re-watch.  It's been probably a decade since I last saw the first one, and probably 20 years since seeing III.

[Maximilian]

I just finished Mario Puzo's The Godfather. 

Decent book, but the movie was better, IMO.

The book was clearly written as a screenplay. It performed well in that function, but the movie was the natural conclusion of its intended organic development.

[Maximilian]

I just finished Mario Puzo's The Godfather. 

Decent book, but the movie was better, IMO.

"the" movie? It's a trilogy. There are Part I fans and Part II fans, nobody in their right mind prefers Part III. Mannaggia la miseria...

I always just think of the first movie, tbh. 

Quite rightly. Godfather III is a joke. Godfather II is highly praised, but I detest it with a great loathing.

[Kaesekopf]

The book was clearly written as a screenplay. It performed well in that function, but the movie was the natural conclusion of its intended organic development.

In hindsight, yea, I can see this.  The novel wasn't written "well" as a novel.  It was a bit too casual, I think, for anything "serious", literature-wise.  If that makes sense. 

Godfather II is highly praised, but I detest it with a great loathing.

Why don't you like it? 

[Maximilian]

Godfather II is highly praised, but I detest it with a great loathing.

Why don't you like it? 

The original Godfather movie is a great classic, filled with human values like family loyalty.

Watching Godfather II felt like spending 2 hours being dragged through hell. Everyone was evil. Michael's wife aborts their child. Michael kills his brother. There were no redeeming virtues. Maybe that was the point of the moviemakers, but I don't want to watch it.

[red solo cup]

According to the rules, Michael did the right thing topping Fredo. When you get "made" you take an oath that you put La Cossa Nostra before anything else, even family. As they say, it's a matter of honor.

[Bernadette]

Getting ready to start World Without End, by Ken Follett. Hope it's better than Pillars of the Earth.