Amor Vincit Omnia

[said_scarlett]

I've been reading an interesting book. It's 'The History of Natural Love', and it's a look at how the idea of 'love' has evolved from the time of the Golden Age of Greece up to modern-day America. The author's own extrapolations leave much to be desired, but the snippets of poetry and other historical and literary documentation is fascinating. I've only made it to the section on Roman marriage - the first section was Greece and the various forms of 'love' adhered to there - but it's a neat little read.

I've also been plundering Lovecraft and re-visiting old favorites. I spent the morning immersed in 'The Call of Cthulhu' and again decided that Hohenheim would make an awesome Lovecraftian hero. He still sounds like Locke from LOST in my head, but that will be changing this weekend when I finally hear his dub voice. I am both frightened and excited by this.

I have a good many things I could be doing right now, and I suppose I should get off of my butt and do them.

Comments

[47thlight.livejournal.com]

Never fear about Hoho-papa's voice - It's quite good, actually! I think it suits him, as I couldn't think of anybody better to do him. ^_^ You shouldn't be disappointed by it!

Happy doing things, today! I should probably write - or I could clean off my computer desk. ...I think I'll write. lol

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

That is good to hear!

Thank you! I'm actually writing, too!

[imagines.livejournal.com]

That books sounds good! *orders from library*

I once read "Cool Air" by Lovecraft, and now I'm not sure I ever want to read anything else by him. I have the same opinion of him as I do Stephen King-- he's a brilliant writer and I love his style...I just hate what he writes about. ^^;

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

It's really neat. Especially the section on Greek prostitutes!

Cool Air, Cool Air... I don't think I've read that one, actually. Haha, I love both him and King. I'm a nut for creepy horror. :D

[imagines.livejournal.com]

Ancient prostitutes have always interested me, since a lot of them did it for worship and not just for money. It's such a different dynamic than modern times. I'm in love with any history about Greece/Rome/Egypt, so I'm sure I'll love the book. If it's written in an interesting way, anyway...I'm not much for the books that read like textbooks and have a bazillion footnotes everywhere. ^^;

Cool Air is one of his short stories. It begins with the main character talking about how drafts of cool air freak him out. Then he explains why. *shudders* You need to read it. I, however, need to forget that I read it. XD;

I like some kinds of creepy horror, but graphic descriptions of various disgusting monsters really squicks me.

Have you ever read "The Hour Before Dark" or "Smoke and Mirrors"? Both are excellent, although "The Hour Before Dark" pushed my squick limits. You might like it. :D And "Smoke and Mirrors" involves ghosts and a gay actor who has a crush on a straight guy...and a vampire who is far from cliched...and a REALLY creepy house. Riiiiight up my alley. XD

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

The book is not written like a textbook at all, which I like. The ancient Greek prostitutes were the most sought after women in the state, and it was believed that the love of a prostitute was the highest and most passionate form of love that there was. At least when it came to the high-ranking prostitutes.

Oooh, I'll have to read it!

I haven't, but I will definitely look into them! My squick limits are pretty high, unless it involves animals.

[imagines.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I really want to read it now! Hurry up, library! *prods library*

As far as I can remember, there wasn't any animal-squick in either of those books. If there'd been anything really bad, I'd have stopped reading the book-- I hate it when animals get hurt, no matter if it's real life or books. It makes me cry. ;__; There was quite a bit of blood and murdering in both, but only of people. Let me know what you think of them if you read them. ^^

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Hee, yes!

Ah, okay. If it's just people, that's fine. I can't handle animal stuff, it really bothers me. That's my only issue with Stephen King, is his habit to off animals as well as people. Which is why The Stand surprised me with the animal character making it through unscathed! I definitely will!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Aww, The Natural History of Love! I remember that book! The writer never does get around to having impressive conclusions, but the overview is interesting in and of itself - it's a fun look at the way something we view as so inherent and unchanging really has changed over human history, as well as the ways it hasn't.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

No, the writer doesn't seem to add anything or offer anything particularly interesting, but the examples and the analysis of the examples is really fun to read. It's just such a neat and fun little book, because it is neat to see how something like the concept of love has changed, and the way it's stayed the same.