I often have a few books with bookmarks in them at once. I enjoy classics more than contemporary works of fiction, often read historical fiction, and love to get glimpses into other people's lives by reading memoirs and biographies.
Among all the books that I am slowly finishing, I read a chunk of Berger's "Ways of Seeing". Requires my total attention. Looking vs. seeing..."It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world; we explain that world with words, but words can never undo the fact that we are surrounded by it".
Still working on The Lies of Locke Lamora, which I am continually trying to call Thief Lord. I tend to call a book by the name of whoever I percieve to be the main character while I'm reading it, but there isn't exactly a theif lord in this book, and it certainly isn't about him, so I confuse myself. Last night I read a handful of poems by Phyllis Wheatley for class. I was surprised by the level of racism expressed in them--though I suppose they didn't let slaves be pampered poets unless they acted like good little white girls. I also read a short story by John Updike called Separating. I think I'm not a fan of his. I've only read part of one of his novels, Terrorist, which was supremely bad, partly because his ending didn't flow with everything else that had been happening, partly because he makes everything so intense and dramatic and significant, no matter what it is. If somebody brushes their teeth, they do it with passion. His short story was slightly less heavy-handed, but I don't think I liked it much better. And now, you may have your blog back, Christine.
A doctor delivers his own twins in a snowstorm. One is fine; the other has Down syndrome. He tells his wife the second child died. He tells his nurse to put this child in a home, but she decides to raise the child herself. It's a story full of moral ghosts.
Mostly good, but a little too "happily after after" ending for such a decision.
4 comments:
Among all the books that I am slowly finishing, I read a chunk of Berger's "Ways of Seeing". Requires my total attention. Looking vs. seeing..."It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world; we explain that world with words, but words can never undo the fact that we are surrounded by it".
Still working on The Lies of Locke Lamora, which I am continually trying to call Thief Lord. I tend to call a book by the name of whoever I percieve to be the main character while I'm reading it, but there isn't exactly a theif lord in this book, and it certainly isn't about him, so I confuse myself.
Last night I read a handful of poems by Phyllis Wheatley for class. I was surprised by the level of racism expressed in them--though I suppose they didn't let slaves be pampered poets unless they acted like good little white girls.
I also read a short story by John Updike called Separating. I think I'm not a fan of his. I've only read part of one of his novels, Terrorist, which was supremely bad, partly because his ending didn't flow with everything else that had been happening, partly because he makes everything so intense and dramatic and significant, no matter what it is. If somebody brushes their teeth, they do it with passion. His short story was slightly less heavy-handed, but I don't think I liked it much better.
And now, you may have your blog back, Christine.
I just finished reading Memory Keeper's Daughter.
A doctor delivers his own twins in a snowstorm. One is fine; the other has Down syndrome. He tells his wife the second child died. He tells his nurse to put this child in a home, but she decides to raise the child herself. It's a story full of moral ghosts.
Mostly good, but a little too "happily after after" ending for such a decision.
Mary
Sophia--Deep book. Are you still reading 20,000 Leagues? And the book about the monks?
Danika--I love your thoughtful ramblings.
Mary--So that's what that book is about. Nice to hear from you again!
Don--Where are you?
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