Copperfox

Really? I had been going to ask you about the origins of the story. I read the first sixteen chapters, and I'm going to have a dinner break now. But I was wondering--does this story have any roots in Chinese accounts or legends? It looks like you put a lot of research into it; I would never have guessed that the Chinese used paper currency back then.

I like how you depict the gradual changes in Lu-Mao's character. "Lu-Mao's obligation was to her family. So on she flew southward, still with good motives under Confucian priorities.
But she found that she had enjoyed referring to herself as a goddess."

Haha--actually I'm still in chapter five. But I was skimming down all through it and saw that.

Ah, yes. Time--I never seem to have enough of it. Walter Scott's books are often so long too. Not that that is an argument against their worth, but it does make it difficult to finish them. If you ever get a chance to read anymore of his, my special recommendation is The Talisman. It's not usually considered one of Scott's best because the plot is slightly far-fetched (and he goes with the traditional lion-like view of King Richard, rather than "re-interpreting" him--which is fine by me). But for a rousing tale of adventure and romance, there is none better. The hero disgraces himself at the beginning by deserting his charge, the royal standard, in response to a trumped-up message that a certain lady is in danger. He spends the rest of the novel trying to regain his honor, unmask an evil plot, and of course win the hand of his lady. There are some surprises in the story, which I will not give away, but in testimony to the excitement, I read it aloud to one of my sisters and we finished it in a few days.

"The Iron Merchant" looks interesting and a certain "reptilian smile" in Chapter Seven has already caught my attention. I do like the combination of heroes and history, so it will probably be right up my alley. (Oh dear--"up my alley"--what a cliche. My research and writing teacher would have something to say to me.)

That was fun how you got German apple pancake into the sonnet!

Since you have read Ivanhoe (or at least are familiar with the plot), I was wondering if you have read any more of Walter Scott's books? I've read quite a few, though not nearly as many as he actually wrote. Have you read Rob Roy?

Yes I did.

thanks a lot for the recommendations! I'll check them out.

To be honest no Joe. He and Marvin got a fight which went personal. I will explain some day

okay lemme look....

Hey, I like how you brought 'Braveheart' into that sonnet. (I've never even seen that movie, but I just like it when poems refer to other works of art or literature.)

About that quote, you've got me. It doesn't sound like the kind of the thing I would have expected Cicero to say, but I found a few quote sites which do attribute a line like that to him. ''When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.'' From the things I read of his, he seemed like a fair-minded, moderate, just man who was devoted to living a pious life, in preparation for eternity. I haven't been able to find the specific source for that quote other than that it was Cicero. I wonder if maybe it was misattributed. Do you have an idea about where you heard it?

Haha, no not really.

I just might do that! Cicero is actually quite interesting.

Thank you. That brightened my entire day.

No...I'll go check it out.

Yes, that is true. Somehow, my brother had musical talent in a non-musical family. Listening a lot to him and my sister, whom he has taught, does give me some help in developing a musical ear. Unfortunately my classes don't leave me a whole lot of time to practice.

Which brings up what I should be doing now. I have a list of primary source documents from the Roman empire to read and a logic exam to study for. It was great talking to you though!

Ah, but you do understand music, even if you only play the autoharp. Any piano proficiency I may gain will be the result of sheer will-power in memorizing the music--not because I have a clue about how to produce melody or harmony.

So you're a composer, as well as a poet! Wish I could do that. But alas! I am barely learning to play the piano.

Thank you! No, I have never acted on stage, though I hope to get involved in drama when I go on campus at my college. (Doing Distance Learning right now.) However, I have a huge appreciation of plays and have read quite a few of Shakespeare's and various others of the classic playwrights.

I was just listening to your song about Ivanhoe. I love the message--it's so true. Did you write the music too, or did you have someone else write that?

Wow. I'll have to read through some of these poems. I like that line near the beginning of the first one about "crawling through life like a nearsighted spider."

I write a little poetry now and then, though I usually use fairly simple rhyme and rhythm schemes, and I've never tried a sonnet. You can read one of my poems on my blog:

http://uponconsideration.blogspot.com/

Say, by the way, how did you develop a taste for writing sonnets, and how are you able to write so many of them?

Good way of looking at it. People often do one of two things--back off when they should stand up, and stand up when they should sit down.