classes for next fall; SPOILERS FOR A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

[bedlamsbard]

So, I have a conundrum: I'm more or less okay with my schedule for next fall, but it's a lot heavier on the medieval side than I'd like and it also has a class that I'm really not that into, but which is the only option for public service that's remotely relevant (read: not very) and works time-wise. By prodding at my schedule, I realized I could rearrange it into something that's very classics heavy, which seems like a good thing considering I want to do grad in classical history, and which has a classics-related public service option. The one thing that's stopping me is that I'd have to switch Latin 2030 classes -- I really want Professor F, but his class is at the same time as the classics public service class. On the other hand, it's not like I won't be seeing him around; he's one of my thesis advisors, and on that note, maybe it's better not to have a class with him at the same time. I've heard that the other Latin prof is pretty good, but I've never had a class with her before.

Current Schedule
ENLS 4450-02: Chaucer (Honors) (Kuczynski)
GREK 1010-02: Elementary Greek (Honors) (George)
HISA 6970-01: Later Medieval Spain (Boyden)
HISU 6932-01: New Orleans Hidden History (Kelley)
HISU 6891-11: Service Learning for HISU 6932-01 (Kelley)
LATN 2030-02: Intro to Literature (Frazel)
MDST 4990-00: Honors Thesis

Prospective Schedule
CLAS 3170-01: Greek Art & Archaeology (Carter)
CLAS 3890-11: Service Learning for CLAS 3170-01 (Carter)
ENLS 4450-02: Chaucer (Honors) (Kuczynski)
GREK 1010-02: Elementary Greek (Honors) (George)
HISA 6080-01: Ancient Slavery & Society (Kehoe) (cross-listed with CLAS 4080, which is full)
LATN 2030-01: Intro to Literature (MacInnes)
MDST 4990-00: Honors Thesis

Either one is a significantly heavier schedule than I'd really like to have -- I'm going to be on overload by one credit hour, which I'm sure I'm not going to have trouble getting permission for because of my GPA (it's mostly because language classes are four credits instead of three), but if I decide it's too much, Chaucer is going to be the one to go -- the only thing I need it for is the English minor that I haven't even declared for yet. Or Later Medieval Spain, if I keep my current schedule. With the first schedule, I end up with two seminars; the second, only one. Switching to a classics-heavy schedule is probably smarter if I want to go on to grad in classics, which I do. Also, that one might be smarter so far as getting recs goes -- C. is the chair of the Classics Department, and K. apparently knows everyone in Roman academia (also, I've never taken a class with him, and I've been told that I really, really should if I want to go on to grad in classics). On the other hand, I like the prof for Later Medieval Spain and it's not like it won't be interesting. Also, I need another Classics class above the 4000 level, and Ancient Slavery & Society will fill that. I was holding out on something being offered spring semester, but this way I won't be scrambling during registration to get everything that's required to graduate and I'll have a much easier spring semester with just my languages and my thesis. (*blinks* Actually, I could do just my languages and my thesis: that will be twelve credits, and that's the minimum requirement for full-time status.)

(Yeah, I know, it doesn't really matter that much what classes you take as a senior, but doesn't it matter at least a little? Along with that whole filling graduation reqs thing.)

Thoughts, anyone?

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I have The Plague (a.k.a. A Cold). It sucks. Half my time is spent either hacking up a lung or blowing my nose. But at least I wasn't sick while I was in England and at least I won't be sick at school. (I hope. *knock on wood*)

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I am signed up for the GRE, so I'll be taking that in a couple of weeks. Whoo. ohmygodfivehours

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I have finally read A Dance With Dragons, after hauling it halfway across the world in my purse. My main reactions are along the lines of "WHAT THE FUCK?" and "FUCK YOU, GRRM," which is not exactly what I was hoping for with a book I hauled HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD. There are some twists that I was fascinated by (Aegon Targaryen and Jon Connington! THANK GOD DAVOS SEAWORTH LIVES!) and some new POVs that I quite liked (Melisandre! For her one chapter! I did not expect that), but I ended the book more annoyed and skeeved out than anything else.

GRRM is starting to suffer from Diana Gabaldon syndrome, where nothing ever fucking happens. Which isn't to say that nothing happens at all, lots of things happen, but nothing's ever concluded. It's all build-up, build-up, YET MORE BUILD-UP SHOCKING TWIST END, which makes me want to choke a bitch and yell WHY CAN YOU NOT JUST CONCLUDE SOMETHING DEAR GOD EVEN ONE LITTLE TINY PLOTLINE. Which is a little annoying, to say the least. I would like to feel slightly emotionally fulfilled with one character, instead of wanting to slap someone around the face.

This book was really not helped by the fact that most of my favorite characters were either off-stage for most of the book or didn't have POVs at all. (Davos Seaworth showed up the most, but I think only for three chapters; Jaime Lannister had one chapter, yay, Jaime!; Sansa Stark didn't have a POV at all and we never go to the Vale.) We're seeing a whole lot more of the world in ADWD, which is great because I tend to love GRRM's world-building, but that doesn't really help when you're not that emotionally attached to any of the characters. There are also a whole lot more new characters in this book, which is, mmm, I don't want to say off-putting, but it's a little tiring. I'm also really frustrated with the way the women were treated in this book -- POVs: Asha Greyjoy, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Melisandre, Arya Stark -- especially the, mmm, sudden build-up for the replacement of Dany? (See again: Aegon Targaryen, which is really a bit of a twist, although I'd have to go back and reread to see if there are any hints in the previous books that he's alive.) Dany is far from one of my favorite characters, but really, now. I also think it would have been great to get a Val, an Osha, or a Meera Reed POV in this book. (Probably Val especially; we don't see Osha and Rickon at all, and we get Meera and Jojen from Bran's POV.) Also, Jeyne Poole's treatment made me wince. A lot. So did Cersei's. (On the other hand, Alys Karstark! So if you're a woman whose name begins with the letter "A", GRRM probably likes you. Also, Wylla Manderly. Lady Dustin...eh. Along with the murderous washerwomen of Winterfell: eh.)

Jon Snow became very tiring in this book. Mostly I liked Jon Snow, but here...he's very wearing. Re: his last POV chapter -- gee, GRRM took that "every time someone asks when the next book is coming out, GRRM kills a Stark" crack literally, didn't he?

Also the thing to learn from this book is: unless you see a character die on the page, they're not actually dead. And even then, they'll probably come back. Unless you're Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, or Viserys Targaryen, in which case, tough luck, dudes. Which, I mean, we knew before, but it becomes exceptionally true in this book.

I would just like some sodding hope in these books, you know? Instead of wanting to stab everyone in the face. (Except Sansa. I really wanted a Sansa POV. Which is funny, because she's one of those characters that everyone else hates.)

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I am anxiously watching the news about the London riots on Twitter and hoping that as long as people are tweeting, they're okay. Stay safe, y'all.

Comments

[bedlamsbard]

Thank you! Yeah, I really want to avoid having to scramble to get any class possible next semester, since I've seen it happen with other seniors in the past and I would rather not go through that stress, you know?

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, I totally understand :) As I said, I lucked into finishing up most of my requirements before my last semester, which was probably a good thing because I'm still not sure how I survived fall semester senior year and more stress would not have helped.

But good luck with your classes either way you decide!

[celes-ia.livejournal.com]

and that was me -_-;; I will one day figure out how to keep myself signed in on openId. Maybe.