I am still pondering this book.<\/p>\n
It occurs to me that I am a gluttonous reader. I read these amazing, complicated books. I LOVE their texture and the feelings and the beautiful words I am reading.<\/p>\n
But then…I don’t stop and savor them enough. I read one, and I like it…But If I finish one early in the day, I’m on to the next one by night.<\/p>\n
Perhaps I am too greedy for these books. I don’t stop and linger.<\/p>\n
When I am eating a truly delicious dish, I like to savor it.<\/p>\n
But my reading does not work like that.<\/p>\n
I miss my university classes.<\/p>\n
I would take a class again, just for the joy of discussing the books. But the fact of the matter is, I cannot go back to literature classes at the jr. college level. They are not enough. I have more questions and ideas than would fit there anymore.<\/p>\n
Well…So I miss those literary cud-chewing sessions. And I don’t know what to do with my observations and thoughts.<\/p>\n
Journal them?<\/p>\n
ta da! Here i am!<\/p>\n
I had been making a concerted effort to write short reviews of the books I read.<\/p>\n
But then, my brother Mark mentioned that he preferred a more personal approach on my blog.<\/p>\n
Hmm…Yes. So do I. You know what though? It’s harder to be personal. I end up rambly and not particularly proud of what I write.<\/p>\n
It requires a lot of discipline to be personal. and practice. So maybe this is practice.<\/p>\n
Stream of consciousness shift here…My co-worker practices his keyboard (piano) 4 HOURS A DAY!<\/p>\n
holy crap!<\/p>\n
I told him I was ashamed, because I try to make an effort to just play one song a week. I have this whole big beautiful piano, and I squander it.<\/p>\n
He said, He is in a band, Jazz fusion, and the sax player is so good, he is ashamed to do a solo after him. He is VERY inspired to practice.<\/p>\n
Hey, this does wrap around. See, he is inspired to do his best because he is in an environment that challenges him.<\/p>\n
Me, I was more challenged in my school environment. Because somebody there notices, cared, and I paid more attention to what I was reading.<\/p>\n
It is important, I think, to foster environments that drive us to excellence.<\/p>\n
Oh man. That’s the tough part. Good friends are hard to find.<\/p>\n
So.<\/p>\n
i have finished White Oleander. I feel like there is so much I would want to think about and talk about in it.<\/p>\n
And I have already begun A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. I’m 95 pages into it, having started it yesterday.<\/p>\n
i was reading it, and in between reading it, I was watching Zorba the greek.<\/p>\n
I wonder if there is a mental equivalent of a vomitorium?<\/p>\n
No, my appetite is endless.<\/p>\n
But there are SOME books that are too steep a climb to go swiftly.<\/p>\n
Ulysses.<\/p>\n
I’m working very slowly on that one.
\nI’m on pg 122. 700 more to go. I read it in between the other books I’m reading.<\/p>\n
Which is probably the wrong way to do it. I should sit down and savor and ponder and try to GET all the little references and stuff.<\/p>\n
But life doesnt’ let me separate and savor. It zips by, the hour gets late and then the alarm clock goes off.<\/p>\n
More work and more meniality, and bills and catboxes and plans for the catboxes of the future.<\/p>\n
I will tell myself that it is better to read 10 books too fast than read one slow and miss out completely on the other nine.<\/p>\n
I can’t help it anyway. I love to read.<\/p>\n
I also have this feeling, like, I have to study, I have to get the basics down before I can get to the important question. Start working, with the right tools and theorums and laws, on the important, significant questions.<\/p>\n
I obviously don’t have the tool now, because I don’t even know the question.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I am still pondering this book. It occurs to me that I am a gluttonous reader. I read these amazing, complicated books. I LOVE their texture and the feelings and the beautiful words I am reading. But then…I don’t stop … Continue reading