IronMike's 2023 log: Fewer means better, right? (EO & RUS)

[coldrainwater]

Add me to the list as well. Name of the Rose is one of my all-time favorites and I can't wait to read it again. I can count on one hand and possibly on one finger the number of books that I want to reread with as much enthusiasm. I am tempted to learn to read Italian just to enjoy his books independent of any other interest in the language that I might have.

[IronMike]

Where do you buy Russian audiobooks?

I buy them from Литрес.

Il nome della rosa is one of my favorite books of all time, and probably one of the reasons why I studied Ancient Greek. In addition to Norwegian, I've read it in Italian and listened to the audiobook in French and German. I'm not quite ready for it in Russian yet, though - at the moment, Harry Potter is challenging enough.

Agree. I've read it (in English) I think 3 times, and my second reason for studying Italian last year was to read the book in the original (which I bought in Kindle). When I go back to Italian, it'll be the #1 reason for me going back and I'd concentrate on reading knowledge over speaking.

[Ogrim]

Where do you buy Russian audiobooks?

I buy them from Литрес.

Il nome della rosa is one of my favorite books of all time, and probably one of the reasons why I studied Ancient Greek. In addition to Norwegian, I've read it in Italian and listened to the audiobook in French and German. I'm not quite ready for it in Russian yet, though - at the moment, Harry Potter is challenging enough.

Agree. I've read it (in English) I think 3 times, and my second reason for studying Italian last year was to read the book in the original (which I bought in Kindle). When I go back to Italian, it'll be the #1 reason for me going back and I'd concentrate on reading knowledge over speaking.

It is a great read in any language I guess, although translation quality varies sometimes. I've read it in Norwegian, Spanish and twice in Italian, and I certainly prefer the original, which also challenges me to figure out the Latin quotes and the speech of Salvatore which is a mix of most Romance languages. Unlike e.g. the Norwegian version, the Italian does not normally provide any translation of those Latin or "Romance" parts of the book.

As an aside, I also enjoyed the new TV miniseries they've made based on the book. Most of the time they stick pretty close to Eco's original plot, although (for more action I guess) they have introduced a few things which you don't find in the novel.

[lingua]

Regarding Il nome delle rosa. I bought it on the Kindle a few years ago because I had seen so many positive review of it. But, I've tried starting it a couple of times and couldn't get into it. Can you all tell me what it is you like about it. Does it start out slow and get better? I feel like I should read it but it's more than 500 pages and that's a commitment.

[IronMike]

Regarding Il nome delle rosa. I bought it on the Kindle a few years ago because I had seen so many positive review of it. But, I've tried starting it a couple of times and couldn't get into it. Can you all tell me what it is you like about it. Does it start out slow and get better? I feel like I should read it but it's more than 500 pages and that's a commitment.

It's a fantastic mystery. That's why I like it. It's about an interesting time in history, the improperly named "Dark Ages," which I like.

I actually saw the movie first, the 1980s one with Sean Connery and Christian Slater and the Hellboy guy. 100% loved it. Only later (maybe 10 years) did I read the book. Loved the book even more.

[IronMike]

Traveled on Thursday, so spent my time on the plane finishing Hunger Games. That's about it as far as Russian goes for Thursday. Did some grammar work yesterday and am now ensconced in my sister's house for the weekend! Hard to get studying in while visiting with family you don't get to see often, but I'm the only one up now so I'll use this time to do my min-30 minutes of studying.

[IronMike]

Missed a couple days while traveling, so February won't be 29 points. Did finish the думать chapter and started the помнить chapter. Back home now so will get back to watching Russian TV tomorrow; I'm behind in my Russian Survivor. In the middle of an (English-language) audiobook right now but will finish it tomorrow or Friday, then I'll move on to the L-R of Altered Carbon.

[IronMike]

Only in Russia.

(If you have an issue with eating meat, skip this post.)

On Russian Survivor, the teams had a food challenge. Each team had their hands tied behind their backs. On one end of the "playing field" (?) was a giant scale. On the other, two cooked pigs hanging above the ground. Each team had 5 minutes to run to the pig, tear off as much of the pig as they could with their mouth, then run back and dump the morsels in the scale.

After the time, the host pulled the pin out and one team won. What did they win? A baby pig (already dead) with all the fixings. They were barely back to their camp when they were already planning to make salo.

Pig before the munch-fest


Munching time!


After the chewing


Pork for dinner


Meal prep

[IronMike]

15 days down on Survivor. Nothing crazy this week like the pig thing. But so far 3 people quit, which is weird, seeing how they have way more food and clothing than any of the versions of the American Survivor I've seen.

[IronMike]

Watched a fun episode of Орел и решка (heads or tails) yesterday. It was kind of a bloopers episode. Two really funny parts were of the female host and her apparent proficiency in English. Very funny when she asked one of the Nicaraguan guys on the side of the road about having a relationship with him. :O Then the male host trying to understand Spanish and discovering what he just ate was bull penis. Classic.