I did not know until yesterday that apartheid means "separateness" in Afrikaans.
11 years ago
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
butterfly in the sky
Oh how I need to and want to read Cry, The Beloved Country.
Let me know what you think about this reading schedule.
Intro - Ch. 6 by Sept 29
Ch. 12 by Oct. 6
Ch. 19 by Oct. 13
Ch. 28 by Oct. 20
Ch. 36 by Oct 27
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Dillard the Dullard or Wholly the Worm
I want to get this stuff going again.
I read Dillard. I read her in 3 days, devoting one day to each section. I will get into more detail later as we get rolling, but i have some initial statements that may spark your opposition.
I enjoyed her writing. She can write, i'll give her that. I did not like all of it. I felt as though the first section was fantastic. I did not, however, enjoy section 2 for a couple of reasons.
First, it is difficult to critisize poetry as it does not carry with it the same literary logic of non-poetic literature. I am not skilled at critiquing either, but i felt as though some of her sentences, possibly even sections were nonsensical. I thought after reading that section that she wrote some stuff that did not add at all to her subtle points or to her overt ones.
Secondly, i didn't enjoy the sections of blatant critical questioning and asserting she did regarding God. This is just me. Some people eat that stuff up because it makes them feel better knowing that others have questions too and also that they can formulate them so systematically. I do not. It makes me have a sour feeling in my belly. It makes me think of when one boy in gradeschool flips someone off and then another boy gives him a high five. I know it's wrong as a little kid, and even though i do think of giving the finger sometimes, it doesn't mean i take pride in the fact that someone else is doing it.
She redeems herself though in the last section which i also thought was fantastic. To date, one of my favorite sections in the book was her description of the moth catching fire and the way she brings it back at the end. OH, SO GOOD.
What say the masses?
Will i be alone in my critical ditch again?
PS. the title was just to catch attention. i quite liked this stuff.
I read Dillard. I read her in 3 days, devoting one day to each section. I will get into more detail later as we get rolling, but i have some initial statements that may spark your opposition.
I enjoyed her writing. She can write, i'll give her that. I did not like all of it. I felt as though the first section was fantastic. I did not, however, enjoy section 2 for a couple of reasons.
First, it is difficult to critisize poetry as it does not carry with it the same literary logic of non-poetic literature. I am not skilled at critiquing either, but i felt as though some of her sentences, possibly even sections were nonsensical. I thought after reading that section that she wrote some stuff that did not add at all to her subtle points or to her overt ones.
Secondly, i didn't enjoy the sections of blatant critical questioning and asserting she did regarding God. This is just me. Some people eat that stuff up because it makes them feel better knowing that others have questions too and also that they can formulate them so systematically. I do not. It makes me have a sour feeling in my belly. It makes me think of when one boy in gradeschool flips someone off and then another boy gives him a high five. I know it's wrong as a little kid, and even though i do think of giving the finger sometimes, it doesn't mean i take pride in the fact that someone else is doing it.
She redeems herself though in the last section which i also thought was fantastic. To date, one of my favorite sections in the book was her description of the moth catching fire and the way she brings it back at the end. OH, SO GOOD.
What say the masses?
Will i be alone in my critical ditch again?
PS. the title was just to catch attention. i quite liked this stuff.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
OPEN LETTER TO A STRANGER
dear olivia,
i am still reading SILENCE. got slowed down by the onslaught of the semester. but this book is double-capital GGood. seriously. i may need to ask you for a small list of literary recommendations. go ahead and toss in some film choices, too. i'd be interested to know what films you dig up in all your reading.
i may be further delayed in my finishing of SILENCE because i'm scheduled to lead a bookclub discussion of FRANKENSTEIN next week with some dudes here in the republic. i think we're going to sip some ales and talk some monster and watch a FRANKEN-groovy film of some sort. i'll keep the online bookclub posted how that turns out. should be a bolting blast of a good time.
yes, i am completely aware that i have not answered your question about me and the wife's churchiness. not that i think you're out there losing sleep over it - but you ask, and i told you that i would tell you. just trying to keep us both true to our word. truth is: it's complicated. or maybe it's too simple to get into words. honestly, i've starting writing you that response about four times, only to go "what the eff am i saying?" we'll get to it.
also, i accidentally made my oatmeal too lumpy this morning. you see, i made it in this little transparent tupperware container as opposed to the normal white ceramic bowls from crate and barrel somebody gave us for a wedding gift. i think the transluscence of the tupperware disrupted the depth-perception of my visual field, causing me to pour in less boiling water than usual. not that i want my oatmeal soupy, you see, but i sure do not like the sensation of eating volleyball beach sand. life is one big school room, and i'm getting learned in the finer things every damn day.
alright. enough already. peace out.
-hamster
i am still reading SILENCE. got slowed down by the onslaught of the semester. but this book is double-capital GGood. seriously. i may need to ask you for a small list of literary recommendations. go ahead and toss in some film choices, too. i'd be interested to know what films you dig up in all your reading.
i may be further delayed in my finishing of SILENCE because i'm scheduled to lead a bookclub discussion of FRANKENSTEIN next week with some dudes here in the republic. i think we're going to sip some ales and talk some monster and watch a FRANKEN-groovy film of some sort. i'll keep the online bookclub posted how that turns out. should be a bolting blast of a good time.
yes, i am completely aware that i have not answered your question about me and the wife's churchiness. not that i think you're out there losing sleep over it - but you ask, and i told you that i would tell you. just trying to keep us both true to our word. truth is: it's complicated. or maybe it's too simple to get into words. honestly, i've starting writing you that response about four times, only to go "what the eff am i saying?" we'll get to it.
also, i accidentally made my oatmeal too lumpy this morning. you see, i made it in this little transparent tupperware container as opposed to the normal white ceramic bowls from crate and barrel somebody gave us for a wedding gift. i think the transluscence of the tupperware disrupted the depth-perception of my visual field, causing me to pour in less boiling water than usual. not that i want my oatmeal soupy, you see, but i sure do not like the sensation of eating volleyball beach sand. life is one big school room, and i'm getting learned in the finer things every damn day.
alright. enough already. peace out.
-hamster
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