Showing posts with label literary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label literary. Show all posts
Literary coolness
This is one of the coolest things I have read in awhile. A kid did a survey to 150 authors about symbolism after learning about it in high school in 1963. About half the authors wrote back to him and they have Ray Bradbury's available to read. I think he is publishing them or something. I bet his 70-something self is thanking is 16 year-old self profusely.
Fear a day
I just started a book, My Year with Eleanor, a memoir about a woman who loses her job and decides to follow Eleanor Roosevelt's advice about doing one thing you fear a day. The book follows her trying to live that for a whole year. This is right up my alley. I love beating my own fears and pushing myself as far as I can go.
As I began reading something odd occurred to me. I will never be able to not live that way again. Parenthood has changed everything. When I discovered my pregnancy I decided to view the whole process that way. The labor and birth will of course be scary, as will my reaction to my child, but then I will be a parent and that is done.
Not so. Parenthood is one steady stream of fear. Obviously his first few weeks into the world were scary, that is to be expected. But the fear never abates. Every time I leave him with someone else it is a little scary. Potty training scares me. The entire age range of 2-4 really does scare me. His school years scare me with all the possible bullying, pain that can be caused by other children, his own personal failures and school shootings. Him traveling anywhere without me. Sleepovers. Snow skiing, river rafting, doing anything physical where he could possibly die. When he begins riding his bike away from me by himself. Driving. College. Getting to the point when I can't reasonably expect to have him check in once a day so I know he is alive, like around 30 or so.
The fact that he exists fills my life with fear. Therefore doing something each day that scares me is really not too tall of an order. In the book the woman resorts to swimming with sharks and skydiving. I simply need to put my child in his crib at night and then leave him for eight hours straight with SIDS creepy over his shoulder.
Thank you Eleanor for making this process seem healthy and fulfilling. At least I am going to start thinking of it that way instead of the highly neurotic way I currently have.
As I began reading something odd occurred to me. I will never be able to not live that way again. Parenthood has changed everything. When I discovered my pregnancy I decided to view the whole process that way. The labor and birth will of course be scary, as will my reaction to my child, but then I will be a parent and that is done.
Not so. Parenthood is one steady stream of fear. Obviously his first few weeks into the world were scary, that is to be expected. But the fear never abates. Every time I leave him with someone else it is a little scary. Potty training scares me. The entire age range of 2-4 really does scare me. His school years scare me with all the possible bullying, pain that can be caused by other children, his own personal failures and school shootings. Him traveling anywhere without me. Sleepovers. Snow skiing, river rafting, doing anything physical where he could possibly die. When he begins riding his bike away from me by himself. Driving. College. Getting to the point when I can't reasonably expect to have him check in once a day so I know he is alive, like around 30 or so.
The fact that he exists fills my life with fear. Therefore doing something each day that scares me is really not too tall of an order. In the book the woman resorts to swimming with sharks and skydiving. I simply need to put my child in his crib at night and then leave him for eight hours straight with SIDS creepy over his shoulder.
Thank you Eleanor for making this process seem healthy and fulfilling. At least I am going to start thinking of it that way instead of the highly neurotic way I currently have.
Sexy characters
I recently began a discussion with my fellow nerd-friends about which fictional characters they would most like to boink. Hilarity ensued along with a nice list for myself. My list is:
Jamie Fraser - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Eric Northman - Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
Josef Kavalier - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Edmond Dantes - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Faramir and Aragorn - Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Sirius Black - Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Jon Snow - Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Death - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Jamie Fraser - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Eric Northman - Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
Josef Kavalier - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Edmond Dantes - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Faramir and Aragorn - Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Sirius Black - Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Jon Snow - Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Death - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Hipster fun
If you have ever wanted to see the Lord of the Rings characters as hipsters you should check out this site.
The Good Earth
My favorite quote from The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck so far:
In reference to a 15 year old girl who actually left her house a few times "Whoever heard of a bitch-dog who was allowed on the streets who did not give birth to a litter" (60).
Oh world, I was born at the wrong time. Girls had it so easy back then.
In reference to a 15 year old girl who actually left her house a few times "Whoever heard of a bitch-dog who was allowed on the streets who did not give birth to a litter" (60).
Oh world, I was born at the wrong time. Girls had it so easy back then.
HP Awesomeness
Here is a link to the new Harry Potter movie, and if I do say so myself, it looks AWESOME!
Also, we just bought a house and it is the one we wanted A LOT! So this is a nice day so far =).
Also, we just bought a house and it is the one we wanted A LOT! So this is a nice day so far =).
Pulitzer Day!!!!!!!!
I LOVE PULITZER DAY!!!!!!!!!! And that day is today.
This is the first year that I have already read the ficiton winner.
And the winner is: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
I literally just finished that book about three days ago. I thought it was fine through the first part and then about half way through I became seriously hooked. The way she weaved all those separate stories together was impressive. It was almost a book of short stories, but not quite.
Other winners:
Poetry: "The Best of It: New and Selected Poems" by Kay Ryan (which I've had by my bed for the past two weeks or so. I got to listen to her speak and it was a great experience.)
Nonfiction: "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer" by Siddhartha Mukherjee (sadly haven't read, but have thought about it, and read the Henrietta Lacks book which is similar it seems)
Those are the main ones I care about. I usually look at the journalists to see if I recognize a name or anything, and I want to care about the drama, history, and biography, but I am usually just kidding myself.
This is the first year that I have already read the ficiton winner.
And the winner is: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
I literally just finished that book about three days ago. I thought it was fine through the first part and then about half way through I became seriously hooked. The way she weaved all those separate stories together was impressive. It was almost a book of short stories, but not quite.
Other winners:
Poetry: "The Best of It: New and Selected Poems" by Kay Ryan (which I've had by my bed for the past two weeks or so. I got to listen to her speak and it was a great experience.)
Nonfiction: "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer" by Siddhartha Mukherjee (sadly haven't read, but have thought about it, and read the Henrietta Lacks book which is similar it seems)
Those are the main ones I care about. I usually look at the journalists to see if I recognize a name or anything, and I want to care about the drama, history, and biography, but I am usually just kidding myself.
Geeky wrath
So, I just read a review of The Game of Thrones TV series that is on HBO, in the New York Times. And it was awful. It has angered me, a lot, for many reasons. Some of these reasons are that the article implies that I can't like fantasy without there being erotic scenes because I am a woman. It also implies that something like this show is too complicated for me to follow so I should stick to reruns of Sex and the City, because I am a woman. It is a terribly done review where it mentions next to nothing about the show itself, like characters and plot, etc and it implies that there are dwarfs in the show a la Lord of the Rings. There are not. There is a dwarf, who is a small person like what we have in reality.
As a woman and a major fan of the series I am greatly offended. But as a person who can string words and ideas together, and who writes reviews, I am also offended.
Also, it was written by a woman strangely enough. A woman who I believe has never actually seen the show, has definitely never read even the back cover of the book, and who probably harbors some weird hatred of fantasy lit in general. I bet she wasn't cool enough to play D&D in high school and this is her way of getting back.
As a woman and a major fan of the series I am greatly offended. But as a person who can string words and ideas together, and who writes reviews, I am also offended.
Also, it was written by a woman strangely enough. A woman who I believe has never actually seen the show, has definitely never read even the back cover of the book, and who probably harbors some weird hatred of fantasy lit in general. I bet she wasn't cool enough to play D&D in high school and this is her way of getting back.
My favorite church sign
I pass a church sign everyday on my way to work. I always look forward to the ridiculous things that it puts up. Today was the best yet:
"Treat your wife like a Thoroughbred and she won't be a nag."
Take heart all, take heart.
"Treat your wife like a Thoroughbred and she won't be a nag."
Take heart all, take heart.
Huxley, meet Atwood
Thursday night, the fam and I loaded up in the car and went to Chickasha to see Margaret Atwood speak at USAO. For one thing, Mr. Neruda and I love Atwood a lot. Second, we wanted to start Little Man out early with literature and author visits.
Overall it was fun. She was incredibly monotoned yet still was able to pull off a ton of laughs. I also really enjoyed how she handled the questions at the end. She had no trouble making people feel like morons when they asked stupid questions, which I really enjoyed watching. Because a lot of those questions were REALLY stupid and basically well organized ways of trying to show off.
Little Man didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped he would. He was a bit fussy and I spent the first part pacing back and forth in the back, patting his back. Then he decided he wanted a meal so I breast fed him in the back. I really don't know what is socially acceptable but I do know that I didn't want to miss her talk after driving all that way just because he was hungry. Oh well.
I wanted to capture the moment since Little Man was in his cute, collegiate cardigan. After the talk, she sat at the front and signed books. There was no way we wanted to be in that big, long line. So instead we ran up front and captured the moment.
If you will notice, she has no idea that we are taking the picture. We ran up front, squatted in front of her quickly and snapped the pic. We were laughed at by many in the audience. Whether it was our ridiculousness or Little Man's adorableness I don't know.
Here is a better look at his cardigan and adorableness.
Overall it was fun. She was incredibly monotoned yet still was able to pull off a ton of laughs. I also really enjoyed how she handled the questions at the end. She had no trouble making people feel like morons when they asked stupid questions, which I really enjoyed watching. Because a lot of those questions were REALLY stupid and basically well organized ways of trying to show off.
Little Man didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped he would. He was a bit fussy and I spent the first part pacing back and forth in the back, patting his back. Then he decided he wanted a meal so I breast fed him in the back. I really don't know what is socially acceptable but I do know that I didn't want to miss her talk after driving all that way just because he was hungry. Oh well.
I wanted to capture the moment since Little Man was in his cute, collegiate cardigan. After the talk, she sat at the front and signed books. There was no way we wanted to be in that big, long line. So instead we ran up front and captured the moment.
If you will notice, she has no idea that we are taking the picture. We ran up front, squatted in front of her quickly and snapped the pic. We were laughed at by many in the audience. Whether it was our ridiculousness or Little Man's adorableness I don't know.
Here is a better look at his cardigan and adorableness.
The Brontes
I find myself discussing my breasts a lot these days. Mostly with my son and husband but also with others who wish to know how the breast feeding is going and who wish to commiserate about their own motherhood experiences. It is because of this that I felt they needed names so that it would be more fun to talk about them as well as their being slightly in code when being spoken about in public.
I at first thought Batman and Robin would be fun because I love them and wanted my breasts to be able to fight crime, as alluded to in a previous post. However, I then came to the conclusion that they ought to be female. It just makes since. So then I considered Catwoman and Batgirl or something heroic, but they just don't have the same combo effect that B & R do. Thelma and Louise were top contenders since they are spunky and attractive. However, they seem such an obvious choice for something like this and I didn't want my boobs to be obvious and mundane.
Then it came to me, The Brontes. Emily and Charlotte are a lovely choice. They were spunky, literate, a natural combo and look how attractive. Why shouldn't my boobs be represented by attractive and kind of successful women (meaning during their own time, not in general)?
So there you have it folks, my breasts will hence forth be referred to as The Brontes, respectively.
I at first thought Batman and Robin would be fun because I love them and wanted my breasts to be able to fight crime, as alluded to in a previous post. However, I then came to the conclusion that they ought to be female. It just makes since. So then I considered Catwoman and Batgirl or something heroic, but they just don't have the same combo effect that B & R do. Thelma and Louise were top contenders since they are spunky and attractive. However, they seem such an obvious choice for something like this and I didn't want my boobs to be obvious and mundane.
Then it came to me, The Brontes. Emily and Charlotte are a lovely choice. They were spunky, literate, a natural combo and look how attractive. Why shouldn't my boobs be represented by attractive and kind of successful women (meaning during their own time, not in general)?
So there you have it folks, my breasts will hence forth be referred to as The Brontes, respectively.
Mental Post-partum Me
Wow did I have the oddest reaction to a book recently. I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and was quite surprised by the turn it took. I obviously knew it was the background of the woman whose cells live on and on so science can have its way with them. I didn’t know that it would follow the horrible turn her children’s lives took. Frankly, there is A LOT of abuse going on.
Now here is where the weirdness took place. I have read a lot of books that dealt with abuse and violence and all kinds of dodgy stuff. Hell, serial killer books use to be my favorite. That was, apparently, before I had a baby. See, I read and watched things like that while pregnant and it had no effect on me. But when I was reading a scene in this book *spoiler alert* where her daughter is constantly molested and raped by her uncle and one of her sons is abused a la A Child Called It I about went ape shit. I was listening to the audio in my car and about ripped the steering wheel off my dash. I am pretty sure my blood pressure went through the roof and I was shaking. I just kept thinking, just try that on my son I dare you, just try it! I mean, I was so upset for the characters in the story, especially since it is all true, but I also couldn’t stop relating it to my own son.
Now this worries me because I did enjoy on a certain level reading and watching disturbing things like that, especially true stories, before my child arrived. I am now concerned that I will never be able to read or watch them again. I don’t enjoy crying so I don’t want to read and watch them to cry and be an incredibly stereotypical mother, but I also don’t want to turn into a person who ignores all bad in the world because it hurts so much. I truly hope that this is still a hormonal problem with me and that once all that is out of my system, especially after I’m done breast feeding, I will be normal again. However, I fear mental damage was done along with the physical damage and that I will never be Me again, only the shell of Me as Post-partum Me.
Suck.
Now here is where the weirdness took place. I have read a lot of books that dealt with abuse and violence and all kinds of dodgy stuff. Hell, serial killer books use to be my favorite. That was, apparently, before I had a baby. See, I read and watched things like that while pregnant and it had no effect on me. But when I was reading a scene in this book *spoiler alert* where her daughter is constantly molested and raped by her uncle and one of her sons is abused a la A Child Called It I about went ape shit. I was listening to the audio in my car and about ripped the steering wheel off my dash. I am pretty sure my blood pressure went through the roof and I was shaking. I just kept thinking, just try that on my son I dare you, just try it! I mean, I was so upset for the characters in the story, especially since it is all true, but I also couldn’t stop relating it to my own son.
Now this worries me because I did enjoy on a certain level reading and watching disturbing things like that, especially true stories, before my child arrived. I am now concerned that I will never be able to read or watch them again. I don’t enjoy crying so I don’t want to read and watch them to cry and be an incredibly stereotypical mother, but I also don’t want to turn into a person who ignores all bad in the world because it hurts so much. I truly hope that this is still a hormonal problem with me and that once all that is out of my system, especially after I’m done breast feeding, I will be normal again. However, I fear mental damage was done along with the physical damage and that I will never be Me again, only the shell of Me as Post-partum Me.
Suck.
Interesting new perspective
As a consumer of movies and books I have always found characters and situations to connect to within them. I try to never decide that I am the main character and so misunderstood, tormented, that funny, that pretty, etc. What I mostly connect to are the situations and the way the characters react to them.
In the past I have always found myself connecting to the kid in the story. The young person dealing with friends and parents and self-discovery. It was always quite natural. However, motherhood has changed that. I don't feel particularly older or any such thing. I simply find myself connecting with the parent in the story or the mentor. It is a startling revelation.
I have always found it hard to imagine myself as a real adult. Even though I have been married for six years, gotten a masters degree, have held down multiple real jobs, own a home and am looking to buy another, have car payments and budget management, etc I still haven't felt particularly adult-like. But now, with my little man, I find myself connecting with the adult characters in stories in a way I never did before. I don't know that I feel fully adult yet, but I am definitely moving in that direction.
I have been watching and reading stories with parent-focused story lines these past few weeks such as Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, Waitress, etc. I find myself studying the parents and their situations now in a way I never did before. It was an unconscious shift at first and it took me a while to figure out what was happening. It was subtle.
I watched Gilmore Girls when it first aired while I was in high school. I naturally associated myself with Rory and her high school struggles upon my first viewing. I continued that connection whenever I rewatched episodes whether it was in college or after. But then, BAM, I now find myself studying Lorelei and her mom and how they treat their child and the relationships they build. I am especially effected whenever they make sacrifices for their child or set back and watch helplessly as Rory goes through her first heartbreak or struggles with peers. These are the things that mesmerize me now. At first, I could never understand parents and how they would rather save up to buy their ungrateful kid a car instead of using the money for something they want. I now understand this idea and the desire to thoughtlessly do for your child.
I suppose it is sad to admit all this and how uninterested I was about the plight of my unborn, unthought of child, but there it is. I am actually completely amazed by this unconscious shift in my thoughts and cares but also completely over-joyed that this transition took place. I really didn't think it would happen for me which was one reason I never wanted to have children. But nature and biology are awesome and the shift happened. I feel it is very akin to the birth scene in Waitress, how all her surroundings blur to meaninglessness and her main focus becomes the helpless, lovely smelling creature in her arms.
In the past I have always found myself connecting to the kid in the story. The young person dealing with friends and parents and self-discovery. It was always quite natural. However, motherhood has changed that. I don't feel particularly older or any such thing. I simply find myself connecting with the parent in the story or the mentor. It is a startling revelation.
I have always found it hard to imagine myself as a real adult. Even though I have been married for six years, gotten a masters degree, have held down multiple real jobs, own a home and am looking to buy another, have car payments and budget management, etc I still haven't felt particularly adult-like. But now, with my little man, I find myself connecting with the adult characters in stories in a way I never did before. I don't know that I feel fully adult yet, but I am definitely moving in that direction.
I have been watching and reading stories with parent-focused story lines these past few weeks such as Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, Waitress, etc. I find myself studying the parents and their situations now in a way I never did before. It was an unconscious shift at first and it took me a while to figure out what was happening. It was subtle.
I watched Gilmore Girls when it first aired while I was in high school. I naturally associated myself with Rory and her high school struggles upon my first viewing. I continued that connection whenever I rewatched episodes whether it was in college or after. But then, BAM, I now find myself studying Lorelei and her mom and how they treat their child and the relationships they build. I am especially effected whenever they make sacrifices for their child or set back and watch helplessly as Rory goes through her first heartbreak or struggles with peers. These are the things that mesmerize me now. At first, I could never understand parents and how they would rather save up to buy their ungrateful kid a car instead of using the money for something they want. I now understand this idea and the desire to thoughtlessly do for your child.
I suppose it is sad to admit all this and how uninterested I was about the plight of my unborn, unthought of child, but there it is. I am actually completely amazed by this unconscious shift in my thoughts and cares but also completely over-joyed that this transition took place. I really didn't think it would happen for me which was one reason I never wanted to have children. But nature and biology are awesome and the shift happened. I feel it is very akin to the birth scene in Waitress, how all her surroundings blur to meaninglessness and her main focus becomes the helpless, lovely smelling creature in her arms.
One weird lady
I'm sorry, but I have come to the conclusion that Audrey Niffenegger is simply a freakishly weird person.
*Includes spoilers
I loved The Time Traveler's Wife. It was such a unique and interesting story with complex, well developed characters. There were a couple of odd scenes in it like the co-masturbation scene, but it was more fascinating than freaky. I wouldn't have thought of that myself. What an interesting and slightly uncomfortable idea I thought to myself. I suppose boys will be boys.
Then came Her Fearful Symmetry. I was excited about it. It sounded like a cool idea and the other book was so well written. However, it was not so well written. It did not have like-able characters. And there were just some weird things going on. Ghosts stealing bodies, men sleeping with older women and then their niece/daughter, then sleeping with the niece/daughter/dead-lover while knowing it, etc. Just a lot of weird stuff.
Then I read The Night Bookmobile. I was really excited about it. A graphic novel about librarians and books and the love of reading? Why yes please. While I cheered the lack of weird sex stuff I was saddened by its amazingly depressing plot line. It started out coolly enough. Discovering a bookmobile that includes everything you have ever read. Getting to go through it and re-enjoy all those stories would be amazing. However, it kept disappearing so the woman ruined her life trying to find it. She did so to the point of suicide. Now that is sad and weird enough, however, the really depressing part came when the afterlife was never getting to read or see your books again but having to create a library for someone else from birth. Coming from a librarian that seems like my own personal hell. I don't want to cater to other people's horrible reading taste for the rest of my life. When I am done with this life I want to read what I want to read and enjoy myself.
Then came the fourth and probably last book of hers for me, The Three Incestuous Sisters. And we're back to the weird sex stuff (but no incest oddly). We have sisters blowing up babies with firecrackers and babies being born with wings. Birds ripping out all the hair on heads before they explode during their sister's orgasm. Jealousy, betrayal and weird stuff. Also, each page had one 4 word sentence per page or so. They weren't even well written short sentences. Disappointing.
Overall, I think she is a weird weirdo. This doesn't mean she is a bad writer. I still love her first novel but I don't want to know her as a person. I also don't want to meet the rest of her family. The incestuous sister book was actually dedicated to her two sisters. Hmmm. Is it a message to them? Punishment by bringing to light all the horrible things they did to one another? I don't know but I would actually be a little nervous to be around her as a person.
*Includes spoilers
I loved The Time Traveler's Wife. It was such a unique and interesting story with complex, well developed characters. There were a couple of odd scenes in it like the co-masturbation scene, but it was more fascinating than freaky. I wouldn't have thought of that myself. What an interesting and slightly uncomfortable idea I thought to myself. I suppose boys will be boys.
Then came Her Fearful Symmetry. I was excited about it. It sounded like a cool idea and the other book was so well written. However, it was not so well written. It did not have like-able characters. And there were just some weird things going on. Ghosts stealing bodies, men sleeping with older women and then their niece/daughter, then sleeping with the niece/daughter/dead-lover while knowing it, etc. Just a lot of weird stuff.
Then I read The Night Bookmobile. I was really excited about it. A graphic novel about librarians and books and the love of reading? Why yes please. While I cheered the lack of weird sex stuff I was saddened by its amazingly depressing plot line. It started out coolly enough. Discovering a bookmobile that includes everything you have ever read. Getting to go through it and re-enjoy all those stories would be amazing. However, it kept disappearing so the woman ruined her life trying to find it. She did so to the point of suicide. Now that is sad and weird enough, however, the really depressing part came when the afterlife was never getting to read or see your books again but having to create a library for someone else from birth. Coming from a librarian that seems like my own personal hell. I don't want to cater to other people's horrible reading taste for the rest of my life. When I am done with this life I want to read what I want to read and enjoy myself.
Then came the fourth and probably last book of hers for me, The Three Incestuous Sisters. And we're back to the weird sex stuff (but no incest oddly). We have sisters blowing up babies with firecrackers and babies being born with wings. Birds ripping out all the hair on heads before they explode during their sister's orgasm. Jealousy, betrayal and weird stuff. Also, each page had one 4 word sentence per page or so. They weren't even well written short sentences. Disappointing.
Overall, I think she is a weird weirdo. This doesn't mean she is a bad writer. I still love her first novel but I don't want to know her as a person. I also don't want to meet the rest of her family. The incestuous sister book was actually dedicated to her two sisters. Hmmm. Is it a message to them? Punishment by bringing to light all the horrible things they did to one another? I don't know but I would actually be a little nervous to be around her as a person.
Note to self
Don't listen to the audio book If I Stay while pregnant and driving.
One: It's about a horrible car wreck.
Two: It's about a beautiful, happy, and loving family being horribly demolished.
and Three: It's about snow, which is what I want so bad while suffering through this demoralizing-ly hot Oklahoma summer.
One: It's about a horrible car wreck.
Two: It's about a beautiful, happy, and loving family being horribly demolished.
and Three: It's about snow, which is what I want so bad while suffering through this demoralizing-ly hot Oklahoma summer.
Moral ambiguity
An issue has arisen that seems morally ambiguous to me. I am struggling with whether or not to go down that road, a road that once traveled down may be difficult to get off. It is something that I know in my heart of hearts is probably wrong, but still I think I can reason a way through it.
A new book in a series I read came out on May 4. Because of these economically dreary times, it is not in my budget to purchase a full price, new hard back book. So, I got myself on the library waiting list for it. High up on the list. When the book comes out I will be one of the first to get it. However, the library copy is still on order! It has to go through processing and delivery and many other tedious steps that could make the book take a month or more to get to me. THE HORROR!
To worsen matters, I am in the perfect zone for the book. I have just finished a book, I am in the mood for what this book would bring to me and I yearn. Do you know the feeling, when you crave what that book has to offer, you know it will deliver and you just want to dive in? I am ripe for this book and need it now.
Bookstores have the book. I have no money to buy the book. I could, however, swing the money to "borrow" the book. To purchase the book, read the book in a day or two and return the book with ne're a scratch on it. Conundrum.
Besides the whole "it's the same as stealing" argument, could I? I mean, would it be terrible to borrow a reusable object that is meant for multiple uses? I know when people buy new they expect new, but it will be almost new. I do not crack spines. I do not bend pages. I will not read it while eating Cheetos or in the bath. I could even spritz it with some perfume so that it will be in better shape than when I got it. I could also leave an uplifting message for the next person. They could buy it on a low day and be completely turned around through the positive, serendipitous message. I could change lives with this.
Also, I would not harm good stores. I would not do this at Full Circle, B & N or a mom and pops store. I would do it at Wal-mart. Such a corporation has no feelings. They are The Man and I would be sticking it to them. They harm others all the time and really have it coming. Plus, they leave themselves open for this sort of thing with their simple return policy. They are basically asking for it.
A co-worker told me that if I followed through with this plan he would make a bumper sticker saying: Don't Library My Wal-mart. I believe I blew a raspberry at him.
I think my moral dilemma is apparent. I want something now, can't have it properly, so have found a loop hole. Is this not the American dream? Am I erring in any way?
I feel like a theologian or philosopher at this point. Exhausting. I need to run to Wal-mart and grab a good book.
A new book in a series I read came out on May 4. Because of these economically dreary times, it is not in my budget to purchase a full price, new hard back book. So, I got myself on the library waiting list for it. High up on the list. When the book comes out I will be one of the first to get it. However, the library copy is still on order! It has to go through processing and delivery and many other tedious steps that could make the book take a month or more to get to me. THE HORROR!
To worsen matters, I am in the perfect zone for the book. I have just finished a book, I am in the mood for what this book would bring to me and I yearn. Do you know the feeling, when you crave what that book has to offer, you know it will deliver and you just want to dive in? I am ripe for this book and need it now.
Bookstores have the book. I have no money to buy the book. I could, however, swing the money to "borrow" the book. To purchase the book, read the book in a day or two and return the book with ne're a scratch on it. Conundrum.
Besides the whole "it's the same as stealing" argument, could I? I mean, would it be terrible to borrow a reusable object that is meant for multiple uses? I know when people buy new they expect new, but it will be almost new. I do not crack spines. I do not bend pages. I will not read it while eating Cheetos or in the bath. I could even spritz it with some perfume so that it will be in better shape than when I got it. I could also leave an uplifting message for the next person. They could buy it on a low day and be completely turned around through the positive, serendipitous message. I could change lives with this.
Also, I would not harm good stores. I would not do this at Full Circle, B & N or a mom and pops store. I would do it at Wal-mart. Such a corporation has no feelings. They are The Man and I would be sticking it to them. They harm others all the time and really have it coming. Plus, they leave themselves open for this sort of thing with their simple return policy. They are basically asking for it.
A co-worker told me that if I followed through with this plan he would make a bumper sticker saying: Don't Library My Wal-mart. I believe I blew a raspberry at him.
I think my moral dilemma is apparent. I want something now, can't have it properly, so have found a loop hole. Is this not the American dream? Am I erring in any way?
I feel like a theologian or philosopher at this point. Exhausting. I need to run to Wal-mart and grab a good book.
Bosniak cellist
I am currently reading The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway for a book club I am looking into joining. I really knew nothing about the Bosnian War or the country itself before reading this book. After reading one character's description of how amazing the city was before the bombings, I decided to research it because I have never thought of Bosnia as beautiful.
Turns out Sarajevo has been listed as the 43rd best city in the world, hosted an Olympics and is gorgeous. I feel slightly close-minded and elitist to have assumed the worst of this place. There is a song by U2 about the war and tragedy that took place, Miss Sarajevo, and much more popular media about this country and its situation. I am so embarrassed that I have gone through life without knowing anything about it. I thought it was desertous, poor, and tried to start something. But it is beautiful, culturally and religiously rich and was attacked. I am ashamed of my ignorance.
I talked with Mr. Neruda about this and he said I should be angry at American public education for having glossed over it. Though they are at fault some, I think it would be wrong for me to blame them completely. I knew we were in a war there, something that touched our lives, and just never found out more about it. What kind of citizen am I to allow my country to be in a war I know nothing about. I was in single digits for most of it, but I was alive. There is really no good excuse here. I have learned a lesson and shall try to never wallow in such ignorance again!
I came across this picture:
There actually was a cellist in Sarajevo, Vedran Smailović, who would play at funerals for free even though they were major targets for the Serbs. Fascinating. The photo is of him playing in the ruined National Library during the war. I believe it is candid.
Turns out Sarajevo has been listed as the 43rd best city in the world, hosted an Olympics and is gorgeous. I feel slightly close-minded and elitist to have assumed the worst of this place. There is a song by U2 about the war and tragedy that took place, Miss Sarajevo, and much more popular media about this country and its situation. I am so embarrassed that I have gone through life without knowing anything about it. I thought it was desertous, poor, and tried to start something. But it is beautiful, culturally and religiously rich and was attacked. I am ashamed of my ignorance.
I talked with Mr. Neruda about this and he said I should be angry at American public education for having glossed over it. Though they are at fault some, I think it would be wrong for me to blame them completely. I knew we were in a war there, something that touched our lives, and just never found out more about it. What kind of citizen am I to allow my country to be in a war I know nothing about. I was in single digits for most of it, but I was alive. There is really no good excuse here. I have learned a lesson and shall try to never wallow in such ignorance again!
I came across this picture:
There actually was a cellist in Sarajevo, Vedran Smailović, who would play at funerals for free even though they were major targets for the Serbs. Fascinating. The photo is of him playing in the ruined National Library during the war. I believe it is candid.
Bronte humor
I just discovered a new comic strip online. What's funnier than sharing a laugh with the Bronte sisters?
Bronte comic
Bronte comic
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