For young readers

[truehobbit]

Prim, he did!
Without ever having left his home in Saxony. And it shows.
But what the heck, his readers wouldn't know the first thing about the West either.
Last year I heard from niamh that Native Americans hate his stories because they are basically a "noble savage" kind of tales and bear no relation to real Native American culture.
But at least they meant that when we played Wild West as kids, everybody wanted to be Indians, because they were the heroes, and I think that counts for something, too.

I definitely think I have to come out West, I'd love to see that, and learn how different it is - so, if I can find me a local guide...

Ahh, Frelga - the East German movies. *sigh*
But, yes, Winnetou, most noble chief of the Apaches.
(Oh dear, I can see people ROFL here. )
I've seen pics of Gojko Mitic in the role, I can understand one might swoon - but I've never seen any of the movies. It's said that they are better, because they are less glamourous and shiny. Well, I like shiny for my dream hero!
Did they get shown in the US then? I would be amazed at any German movie that gets shown over there, but even more so at an East German one!
My childhood hero is Pierre Brice as Winnetou (his white friends were played by Lex Barker and Stewart Granger, btw) -here's a piccy - excuse me while I swoon, I can't help it.

[Primula Baggins]

You know you can count on a native guide in Oregon!

There has been a tremendous amount of mythology written and filmed about the American West in this country, too. It's just so romantic and appealing!

And, of course, there are whole subgenres of anti-romantic Westerns, gritty and violent.

Now the Indians (at least in Oregon) run cushy resorts and casinos. But there are still definitely cowboys doing cowboy work, and plenty of wide open spaces.

[Frelga]

I can just see this thread being split if we don't stop this.

So they are not the same movies? I googled a bit and only came up with oen set. DEFA? And no, it was not in the States, are you joking? But Pierre Brice is very nice, precious, very nice indeed. Maybe I'll look him up.

[truehobbit]

You know you can count on a native guide in Oregon!

Now the Indians (at least in Oregon) run cushy resorts and casinos.

I like my Indians to promote understanding between the races and world peace and things like that.

I can just see this thread being split if we don't stop this.

Maybe we can make someone interested in giving their kids Karl May to read, then we'd be back on topic.

So they are not the same movies? I googled a bit and only came up with oen set. DEFA? And no, it was not in the States, are you joking? But Pierre Brice is very nice, precious, very nice indeed. Maybe I'll look him up

Definitely not the same movies. DEFA is the East German movie industry.
Couldn't watch the same movies as the class enemy!
So, where did you see them?
Glad you like Pierre Brice!

[Frelga]

Where East Germany wasn't a class enemy.

But this is strange - the IMDB listing said Mitic took the role over from Brice. Ah well, I like the movies and I adored Mitic.

Edited to add link.

[truehobbit]

Ah, ok - I just thought that if you'd seen it in Europe, you'd have been aware of the West German versions. (But, then, I wasn't aware of the East German ones as a kid, either.)

Hah, IMDB doesn't know everything, either, it seems!

Mitic is dishy, too, can't be denied!
(But my Winnetou would never have run around half nekkid! )

[Frelga]

(But my Winnetou would never have run around half nekkid! )

Too bad. I think Mitic is some other Indian in that picture. He rather made a career on Spaghetti Westerns.

[Primula Baggins]

hobby, if you take me up on the native guide bit (which I hope you do!), I may take it out in German lessons.

[Frelga]

Like I haven't spammed enough...

Back on topic, sort of - Wind in the Willows was an emphatic no go tonight. "I'll just go straight to bed, Mommy." After a brief negotiation, I was sent to pick any book as long as it was not Tolkien or WitW ("And not Pratchett," he called after me - I have recommended The Bromeliad Trilogy.) I came back with Kipling. He used to love Just So Stories when he was little, but we had a bit of a headbutt over it this time. No matter. How Whale Got Its Throat went over well. I didn't read How Camel Got His Hump, but I made a song out of the little poem that goes at the end, and he went to sleep still humming it. I have hopes. * crafty look *

[Impenitent]

A mother needs wiles. Well done, Frelga.

We currently have a plethora of choices for bedtime reading, as he received a variety of books for his birthday - tonight's choice is Asterix. He wanted to read it himself though; all to the good, I say!

We have Arthur's Quest waiting in the wings - a retelling of the King Arthur tale. I'm looking forward to that one, so I hope he lets me read to him! Or...I could read it after he finishes.

[truehobbit]

I think Mitic is some other Indian in that picture. He rather made a career on Spaghetti Westerns.

Brice continued to play Winnetou live on open air stages for many years. I saw him in "The Oil Prince" when I was a kid.
Karl May open air performances continue to strive in several places in Germany. We went again once, ten years or so ago. It's awesome how much live action you get, with real horses and all. Still, the room on the stage is limited, of course, so they keep riding round in circles. A most memorable moment was when Winnetou and Old Shatterhand come riding round from behind a rock for something like the fifteenth time and Winnetou says "We've never been here before" - we still use the sentence proverbially in our family.

hobby, if you take me up on the native guide bit (which I hope you do!), I may take it out in German lessons.

Hehe, ok! But I must tell you that normally my lesson plan contains a visit to this country, to round off the studies...

On the subject of books, one of my favourite books as a kid/teen I first found in the library when I was eleven or so, I think, and when I had it out again at a later time, in a rare fit of orderliness, noted down the author, original title etc - so I've been looking for it occasionally - the past few days I've been browsing Amazon a bit, and found a copy of it there - for 600 Euros!

I love Asterix - which one was it?

[Frelga]

Asterix! I tried to slip it to my son - no go. He likes Tin Tin, which I don't so much, what with all the shooting and war stuff and drug dealing.

And the rest of the books he brings from school are so very educational.

I know what I'll do. Next time his birthday comes around, I'll tell the parents of his friends which books to buy. Then he'll read them.

[MithLuin]

You are sneaky! But yes, that will have to be the way of it . Having things 'on the shelf' is always good too; I know I pick stuff up that's laying around. But I don't recall my parents trying to foist many books on me...they mostly were trying to get me to put them down and do something else with my life .

[Impenitent]

Hobby, I checked the title purposely on the weekend to tell you here today, and now I've forgotten which Asterix it is. Sigh.

Brain like a sieve.

I never got into Asterix, so this is new to me; he seems to be enjoying it though.

[kindred spirit]

Just thought I would add this since I have been thinking about Katherine Patterson and Bridge to Terebithia

Great interview with the author is here.

I already posted about the upcoming movie at The Cottage.

Patterson's Bridge to Terebithia and Jacob have I Loved are wonderful eloquent stories - some of my favorite young adult memories.

[Alatar]

I don't know if I mentioned it earlier and I'm too lazy to go back and check, but "I am David" is a wonderful novel for young readers.

[Old_Tom_Bombadil]

You know you can count on a native guide in Oregon!

Come to Eugene next summer for the Oregon Bach Festival.

[Primula Baggins]

Yes! A perfect idea, hobby! The choral music is just . . . wonderful beyond description. A feast.

[Impenitent]

Thought I'd resurrect this.

I've recently gone into a flurry of...something, concern maybe...that history per se has fallen off the curriculum here so I've been seeking out books to entice my kids into some knowledge and understanding of history. I've found Terry Deary's Horrible Histories - very funny! Probably aimed at around 8 to 10 year olds, titles include The Vicious Vikings, The Measly Middle Ages, The Angry Aztecs, The Rotten Romans....you get the idea. There's also a series on particular UK places - London, Edinburg, York, Dublin. Written in small bites, with quizzes and lists of facts, and the unearthing of the goriest, ickiest stuff...probably more boy centred. Quite fun! I learned a thing or two myself, actually.

[Primula Baggins]

History! I devoured Will Cuppy when I was far too young to properly do so. I highly recommend his The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody, for anyone. He is a terrible influence and a delightful read, right down to the footnotes.