Litsy

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane | C. M. Millen

so-so

I had several issues with this book.

The poetic rhyming was forced at a few points. The illustrations for this story, supposedly set in early medieval Ireland (with monks shown creating manuscripts similar to the Book of Kells), depict modern shoes and Roman style tonsures when the Irish during this period had their own distinct tonsure. ⬇️

bibliothecarivs But the biggest problem I had with the book was the central story idea that no one had thought of using colour to illustrate the monks's writings and drawings until the protagonist accidentally stained his fingers with blackberries. Everything, we are told several times, was brown and boring until Theophane had his juicy revelation and instantly the monastery fully embraced colour in art (and interior design). ⬇️ 2y

bibliothecarivs That apparently happened because he was the only monk who noticed and appreciated how colourful the natural world outside their windows was. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't buy that premise socially or historically. Humans have used color in their art since cave paintings. ⬇️ 2y

bibliothecarivs So was there ever a moment in time when the monks producing these beautiful manuscripts shifted from not using colour to suddenly doing so? I doubt it, but I'm open to learning if I'm wrong. 2y

3 likes3 comments

MeganTurner

The Crowfield Curse | Pat Walsh

pick

There are not many books where I completely and utterly lose myself. This was one of them. I loved it. Most fantasy stories are set in castles etc. But this one was set in an abbey which was a lovely surprise. Loved the story and the characters. Hugely recommend! ❤️❤️❤️ I loved the cover as well, it‘s really pretty!

3 likes

GingerAntics

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern | Stephen Greenblatt

No wonder monks weren‘t always (rarely?) what you would expect. Most of the men there weren‘t there willingly.
#stephengreenblatt #theswerve #monasteries

julesG Same for nuns 5y

GingerAntics @julesG right? There was just this sort of “yeah go over there and stay there.” In some cases, if a women was found having an extramarital affair or having sex before marriage she could be shipped off. This was expected of certain classes upon their husband‘s death, as well. It seems so stupid to force someone into a life they want nothing to do with, especially one so stringent, strict, and separate. 5y

julesG Yep, widows, unmarriable daughters,... And they had no right to protest. Same with the boys you mentioned with the quote. Children and women were the property of men. Argh! 5y

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GingerAntics @julesG because they obviously had no minds, desires, or dreams of their own. 🙄 They‘d be happy wherever they were stashed away, if they were told to. 5y

GingerAntics @julesG it made me think of institutions that were popular in the 19th and parts of the 20th centuries. The types of places, asylums, that some people want to bring back. If your kid isn‘t perfect in every way (mental illness, impairment, disability, whatever) just throw them in there and visit on occasion (or not if you‘re keeping up appearances) and forget about it. (edited) 5y

julesG Just read a romance where this happened to the heroine of the story

Never Say Duke

GingerAntics 🤦🏼‍♀️ sometimes accuracy is annoying 5y

Weaponxgirl @GingerAntics @julesG you guys just reminded me of this book. A prison, insane asylum and poor workhouse on the same island cause they‘re all the same right? This broke my heart in particular when people on the ground where genuinely trying to make things better and help people but kept getting stopped by people higher up. They would then often be scapegoated by the same people if stuff got out.

Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl yeah, that‘s basically it. This mindset isn‘t nearly as prevalent now, but somehow it still exists. 🙄 No idea how. 5y

19 likes9 comments

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