Jo Walton

[jack]

I just re-read Tooth and Claw. Firstly, does anyone have a nice list of the ranking of the noble titles? I keep getting them in the wrong order.

Secondly, I'm curious, does anyone keep notes on that sort of thing when they read? Possibly I sometimes read too quickly. In an intricate detective novel or similar it would certainly make sense. But it always feels over the top for anything else, even if if there were a list of N things or characters you could keep a lot more straight if you had a little list of the names.

Thirdly, had anyone read any of the Farthing series?

Comments

[rochvelleth.livejournal.com]

No, no, no.

But keeping notes on books seems like such a good idea. I mean, on one level it may detract from the suspension of disbelief if you're interrupting your immersion in the book with frequent trips back to reality to make notes on its content, and of course it could also lead to over-analysis. But on the plus side, it would be very useful for complex books (like detective novels, as you say), and would also be useful if you start reading something and then have to abandon it for a while (I still haven't finished Sharpe's Fury, which I started on my birthday IIRC) :)

For academic purposes, I never read anything without a pen in my hand - it just isn't worth reading an academic article IMO unless you're taking notes at the same time. And then I get all anal and index the notes alphabetically. I told this to a PhD who's a year ahead of where I'm at, and she was quite angry with herself for not doing this all along, so I don't think everyone does it. But it helps me.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

LOL. Notes sound good -- just getting an idea is also good, but if you're trying to grasp an overall point a paper is making, whether it's very clear or not, it's good to record that!

*cuddle*

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

No, no, no.

I expected you to continue with "Oh God! Oh God!" ;)