I've seen the Carthage book reviewed, but forgot about it. Now maybe I'll remember to put it on my to-read list.

I loved "Nana". I think I picked up a copy of "Germinal" in French, as a little souvenir of a visit to France, and started to pick my way through it, but never finished. I should get an English version and read it for real.

I'm reading "Conquistadora", by Esmeralda Santiago, re-reading "The Great Gatsby" before I see the movie, and I will finish "Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry and Revenge", by Eleanor Herman, which I started eons ago but keep putting aside to read other things.

I've been reading a lot of stuff online. Here are some interesting sites and posts to tide you over till some expert recommends a good book (I'm curious, too!:

I don't think he's an anti-hero. Most heroes, at least the ones in ancient myths, have some kind of flaw, or quirk, that makes them complex and helps move their stories forward. It's why so many myths last for centuries or millennia: No one likes someone who is 100% good or heroic all the time. Achilles, for example,…

It looks like an Alaskan Malamute, or a mix thereof, to me. Or maybe it's some European breed I don't know about.

If anyone is interested, there is an interview with Michael Hirst on Huffington Post about Season 2. I don't know if it's acceptable to post the link here, but it's easy enough to find if you want to read it.

Floking Around.

I do not like it when gods, magic, and mystical stuff are made too literal in most movies. So far this show has had a nice take on all of that, and I hope they keep it up. But, even though magic isn't "real", it often works as if it's real when people believe in it. Not that it can actually help you get pregnant or…

Here again I think the show is doing a good job of walking a fine line between historical accuracy and contemporary sensibility. It was OK for Viking men to have sex with women outside of marriage. The episode showed that in the eyes of his men, Ragnar was not only doing nothing wrong, it made them admire him even…

Another option we haven't considered: She's a god or goddess. Like, Loki or something.

Here's an idea: He brings Aslaug back intending to make her his second wife (which was permissible for Viking men, if they could afford it). A proud warrior in her own right, Lagertha will not agree to this, and there's a lot of conflict between all three resulting in a divorce for her and Ragnar. Either that or, as…

I find that sort of thing really tedious, and it seems like the Christian side of the debate always "wins" in movies and TV. But, I think the show will head more in that direction, as everyone tries to cope with the aftermath of that flu that killed everyone. I think we'll see Athelstan's faith strengthened, and as…

Yeah, I'll miss Gyda. I wish they'd kept her around and developed her story more. But I don't miss Thyri.

I was afraid Thyri was going to convert to Christianity. Now I guess I'll have to worry that Siggy will. Lagertha? No! I won't even imagine that one.

I think the music has a lot to do with the mood and atmosphere. From the absolutely magnificent opening music and scenes, through all the music played throughout the show. Whoever is in charge of the music is doing one of the best jobs in the whole production.

She's got nothing on Lagertha. Ragnar must be bewitched.

I agree. I think the raven was a message from Odin that Bjorn is ready to fight his own battles against his own father and his father's enemies.

Thanks for giving me an excuse to watch it again this evening.

Ooh. Those are all good options, too. The whole situation seems like such a setup to me. It occurred to me that maybe she's in cahoots with Jarl Borg. How convenient he suggests Ragnar go visit the ash tree, and she just happens to be there, bathing seductively.