I am going through a phase where all of the books I pick up aren't any good. So, I am taking a break from reading anything new and instead, I am going back through some of my old books that were really good. Sometimes I only read a certain chapter or two. Others I will get into and read the entire book.
Maybe it's the long, hot days of summer that is making me just not very interested in general, or maybe I've just been having a rotten streak of luck when it comes to choosing my books. Hopefully it will pass because, while my book collection is vastly extensive (I have a few thousand books on 11 bookcases), they can't last forever...
Friday, July 30, 2010
Quote-Response Week 6
"He did so! It's written on the first page of our schoolbook!" (Satrapi, 19)
I love the childlike innocence of believing whatever you are told. Growing up, I learned about Christopher Columbus. I was not the best student but I remember thinking how brave and amazing he was, sailing to a new world, discovering a new world, taking his discovery back to his people. And then, in college sociology, I learned that Columbus was a drunk, abusing his own people and dogs in horrific ways and treating the natives like dirt. That last part is not really surprising, but still.
I felt as if my eyes were open for the first time. As if I had been lied to my whole childhood and now I was old enough to be taught the truth. I still have a little of that childlike innocence, but I don't always believe things just because I learn about it in a textbook, regardless of the age of student it is intended for.
I love the childlike innocence of believing whatever you are told. Growing up, I learned about Christopher Columbus. I was not the best student but I remember thinking how brave and amazing he was, sailing to a new world, discovering a new world, taking his discovery back to his people. And then, in college sociology, I learned that Columbus was a drunk, abusing his own people and dogs in horrific ways and treating the natives like dirt. That last part is not really surprising, but still.
I felt as if my eyes were open for the first time. As if I had been lied to my whole childhood and now I was old enough to be taught the truth. I still have a little of that childlike innocence, but I don't always believe things just because I learn about it in a textbook, regardless of the age of student it is intended for.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
2nd Quote-Response Week 5
"To raze the building to the very floore," (Herbert, 609)
I have a certain (probably certifiable) fascination with certain words. "Raze" is one of them. There is an episode of Supernatural (GHOSTFACERS!!!!!!) when the two brothers are stuck in a time-loop and only one knows it. He has to watch his brother die every day, over and over and over. Very Groundhog Day. So, one of the days, he takes an axe to a building he thinks may play a part in the curse (or whatever it is...) and "takes the building down to the studs." Same thing with my above quote. I think the word "raze" strikes a certain passion, be it hatred or love or whatever emotion it is that drive it. To get revenge on someone is all well and good. But to have vengeance - that is taking it up a notch. Same as "razing a building to the very floore."
It may be a little violent, but that just makes a person understand the meaning behind it better.
I have a certain (probably certifiable) fascination with certain words. "Raze" is one of them. There is an episode of Supernatural (GHOSTFACERS!!!!!!) when the two brothers are stuck in a time-loop and only one knows it. He has to watch his brother die every day, over and over and over. Very Groundhog Day. So, one of the days, he takes an axe to a building he thinks may play a part in the curse (or whatever it is...) and "takes the building down to the studs." Same thing with my above quote. I think the word "raze" strikes a certain passion, be it hatred or love or whatever emotion it is that drive it. To get revenge on someone is all well and good. But to have vengeance - that is taking it up a notch. Same as "razing a building to the very floore."
It may be a little violent, but that just makes a person understand the meaning behind it better.
Poem Paraphrase 2
When Maidens are Young (Behn, 539)
This poem is about when a woman is still a young woman, having suffered no trauma, no heartache, no real life, and paradoxically, still full of life. She sings and dances and plays, before her life becomes hum-drum, hum-drum, hum-drum, after her youth fades. Sad.
This poem is about when a woman is still a young woman, having suffered no trauma, no heartache, no real life, and paradoxically, still full of life. She sings and dances and plays, before her life becomes hum-drum, hum-drum, hum-drum, after her youth fades. Sad.
Quote-Response Week 5
"True ease in writing comes from Art, not Chance." (Pope, 537)
This quote, also the title of the poem, made me laugh. (I'm always laughing) I, having been a writer most of my life, know there is no such thing as 'true ease in writing.' That is a myth. Where is there 'true ease' in anything? Heck, sometimes blinking is hard. For writing, I have been in the zone, where everything is flowing and I'm writing 2000 words a day, day after day after day and it all seems great. But then, when I'm editing, I end up erasing over half of those words anyway. So much for being in the zone.
As for it being Art (capital A), I agree with that. Writers are artists. Not to be confused with artistes. But my form of art is a fickle bitch that is never truly easy. That doesn't mean I don't love it. Even when I'm struggling with something, there's nothing I'd rather do.
This quote, also the title of the poem, made me laugh. (I'm always laughing) I, having been a writer most of my life, know there is no such thing as 'true ease in writing.' That is a myth. Where is there 'true ease' in anything? Heck, sometimes blinking is hard. For writing, I have been in the zone, where everything is flowing and I'm writing 2000 words a day, day after day after day and it all seems great. But then, when I'm editing, I end up erasing over half of those words anyway. So much for being in the zone.
As for it being Art (capital A), I agree with that. Writers are artists. Not to be confused with artistes. But my form of art is a fickle bitch that is never truly easy. That doesn't mean I don't love it. Even when I'm struggling with something, there's nothing I'd rather do.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Song quote-response
Love is...
by Bo Burnham
"...Because love is taking that dive then getting really comfortable and peeing in the pool and
love is a real life porn, minus all the stuff that makes porn cool and
love is a homeless guy searching for treasure in the middle of the rain and finding a bag of gold coins and slowly finding out they're all filled with chocolate and even though he's heartbroken he can't complain 'cause he was hungry in the first place." (Burnham)
This song makes me laugh. I love it because no two people describe love in the same way. Some say it's a sickness in your blood. Some say it's the best thing ever, some say the worst. Some say it's a cage, others say it sets you free. Bo Burnham says that "love is all about whistles." Who am I to complain?
I also love it because it's one of the few songs about love that make it fun. Yeah, love is like having your favorite meal for breakfast, lunch...and dinner...of every day of the rest of your life!!!!! Is that a good thing? Or should we all just laugh about it and live the best way we can, loving someone the best way we know how?
by Bo Burnham
"...Because love is taking that dive then getting really comfortable and peeing in the pool and
love is a real life porn, minus all the stuff that makes porn cool and
love is a homeless guy searching for treasure in the middle of the rain and finding a bag of gold coins and slowly finding out they're all filled with chocolate and even though he's heartbroken he can't complain 'cause he was hungry in the first place." (Burnham)
This song makes me laugh. I love it because no two people describe love in the same way. Some say it's a sickness in your blood. Some say it's the best thing ever, some say the worst. Some say it's a cage, others say it sets you free. Bo Burnham says that "love is all about whistles." Who am I to complain?
I also love it because it's one of the few songs about love that make it fun. Yeah, love is like having your favorite meal for breakfast, lunch...and dinner...of every day of the rest of your life!!!!! Is that a good thing? Or should we all just laugh about it and live the best way we can, loving someone the best way we know how?
Haiku
Smile
by Jennifer Seydel
Why do I find it hard
to express myself with words
when a smile will do.
by Jennifer Seydel
Why do I find it hard
to express myself with words
when a smile will do.
Poem Paraphrase
Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
This poem is about a father that got up early and warmed up the house for his child. Even though he was tired from working hard the rest of the week, he would rise before his child and drive away the cold. This child seemed to be unaware of the efforts his father put forth for him, at least then. But the house, which seemed to be temperamental at best, was warm. And his shoes were shined for him. He also spoke "indifferently" to his father but later realized how much his father loved him.
This poem is about a father that got up early and warmed up the house for his child. Even though he was tired from working hard the rest of the week, he would rise before his child and drive away the cold. This child seemed to be unaware of the efforts his father put forth for him, at least then. But the house, which seemed to be temperamental at best, was warm. And his shoes were shined for him. He also spoke "indifferently" to his father but later realized how much his father loved him.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Freestyle Week 3
I had an extraordinary book-buying experience the other day. I was up late re-reading something I love by Mary Jo Putney. At the end of it, there was an excerpt from another of her stories that I had't read and didn't own. It was very intriguing and so I decided that I would go look for it the next day.
I went to two different book stores before I found it (almost missed it and was about to turn away when I saw it - Book Magic!!!!). It was the greatest feeling to have found a book I wanted to read that I skipped through the rest of the day on a cloud.
The book was pretty good, nothing to write home about, but still enjoyable. I find that is the case a lot of the time. Where finding and purchasing the book are sometimes the best part. I'm still waiting for another book to come along and smack me in the face with its goodness. That hasn't happened in awhile.
I hope the saying, "Good things happen to those who wait," is true. I'm waiting.
I went to two different book stores before I found it (almost missed it and was about to turn away when I saw it - Book Magic!!!!). It was the greatest feeling to have found a book I wanted to read that I skipped through the rest of the day on a cloud.
The book was pretty good, nothing to write home about, but still enjoyable. I find that is the case a lot of the time. Where finding and purchasing the book are sometimes the best part. I'm still waiting for another book to come along and smack me in the face with its goodness. That hasn't happened in awhile.
I hope the saying, "Good things happen to those who wait," is true. I'm waiting.
Quote-Response Week 3
"How do you know it was nothing?" "He has plenty of money."
I love this argument. That money can not buy happiness. That may be true but the lack of money can surely buy you misery. Having been dirt poor for most of my adult life and then not so dirt poor and then finally financially secure, I know how money has affected my sense of well-being. I know that having piles of money can't make me more happy than I already am, but having enough for rent and food goes a long way toward setting me free to pursue happiness.
I saw a comedian once who brought up this argument. He said, "Money can't buy happiness but it can make all the people around you miserable." He talked about going to a hated relative's birthday and bringing them a ten-dollar gift card and a hundred-thousand-dollar...cake. "You'll never taste something so rich again."
That is a little mean and I would never do such a thing. Maybe a fifty-thousand dollar cake.
I love this argument. That money can not buy happiness. That may be true but the lack of money can surely buy you misery. Having been dirt poor for most of my adult life and then not so dirt poor and then finally financially secure, I know how money has affected my sense of well-being. I know that having piles of money can't make me more happy than I already am, but having enough for rent and food goes a long way toward setting me free to pursue happiness.
I saw a comedian once who brought up this argument. He said, "Money can't buy happiness but it can make all the people around you miserable." He talked about going to a hated relative's birthday and bringing them a ten-dollar gift card and a hundred-thousand-dollar...cake. "You'll never taste something so rich again."
That is a little mean and I would never do such a thing. Maybe a fifty-thousand dollar cake.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Freestyle Week 2
I have read a few books this week, none of which were life-shattering, even if I did enjoy them all. I am not very good about continuing to read something that doesn't interest me. I must have the attention span of a gnat. I did learn, from one of the books I read this week, that an author I read (Hannah Howell) is taking a short break from her latest series to write a book from an older series. Argh! I had to wait for a whole year for that book, only to discover that I would have to wait at least two more years for the next.
I guess that only makes them better, though, right? Anticipation and all that? I'm not a big fan of waiting, although I will say that I get a little sad when I am in the middle of an especially good book because I know it will have to end. That doesn't happen very often, sadly enough. One of the last times was with Mercedes Lackey's The Fairy Godmother. Anyone who reads fantasy would love that, I think, and the other Five Hundred Kingdoms stories by the same author. I love a good Unicorn. And Dragons aren't bad, either. Even if it is a little sad once it's over.
I guess that only makes them better, though, right? Anticipation and all that? I'm not a big fan of waiting, although I will say that I get a little sad when I am in the middle of an especially good book because I know it will have to end. That doesn't happen very often, sadly enough. One of the last times was with Mercedes Lackey's The Fairy Godmother. Anyone who reads fantasy would love that, I think, and the other Five Hundred Kingdoms stories by the same author. I love a good Unicorn. And Dragons aren't bad, either. Even if it is a little sad once it's over.
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