ase

I woke up this morning with an appetite for the first time since last Monday. It's about time.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for books covering the history of the AIDS epidemic, especially pre-1985 or pre-'86, or any good epidemiological studies on HIV, or some good summaries of what we know now about how the virus works, I'd appreciate the tip.

Only two books, and both - by an extremely flexible definition - romances. In revenge compensation, I intend to spend March reading The Vagina Monologues and popular science nonfiction.

Outlander (Diana Gabaldon): ( I think I hated this book in plot-spoiling detail. ) Also, everyone else hates it, all for different reasons, so just this once, I'll go with the majority opinion.

My One True Romance goes something like this: Person A and Person B must solve a problem. Resolving the McGuffin brings them closer together. Plot, smartass banter and comedy ensue. Ultimately, the problem is solved, and A+B form a lasting romantic partnership with smartass banter, comedy, and possibly cohabitation. Steamy sex scenes or fade to black on the smooches both acceptable. I know exactly the emotional charge I want here.

It occurs to me, at least four years after the fact, that Gaudy Night may have set or reinforced some of my romantic preferences, and also that I may have done myself a grave disservice when I said, "Lord Peter novels? Well, everyone gushes over Gaudy Night, I'll start there!"

Another example of my One True Romance:
SAX RUSSELL: After 2 1/2 novels of fighting with each other, I am not in love with Ann. We're friends. Really. Friends who are both lab rat die-hards, except for the part where she doesn't want Mars terraformed and I'm one of the stars of the terraforming effort. Denial is a river in Egypt!
ANN CLAYBOURNE: Sax? Evil. Really. Evil terraformer. I hate his guts. I am not in denial of any mutual spark!
Sax: Hey, remember Antarctica?
BOTH: Aw, f-
AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Please note this is a secondary (or tertiary) thread in a 900-plus page epic about colonizing Mars.

Having read a modern romance, I dug into my "to read" pile and found something a little more related to the literary concept of romance.

The King of Elfland's Daughter (Lord Dunsany): The peace of the vale of Erl is slowly undone after the Parliament of Erl asks for a magic lord.

( I had two major reactions, to the plot and the prose. Both are pretty spoiler heavy. )

I feel like I should try to broaden my reading horizons, but bad books are a real turnoff. If you can, reccomend me one (1) romance, one nonfiction book, and/or one mystery.

Does anyone have recommendations for good translations of the Iliad and Odyssey? Edit: Why do you like those translations in particular?

Also, the accepted spelling is Iliad with one (not two) "l"s, right?