Reading by Lightning

I wonder how you choose what you're going to remember. That's what happened, I say about any particular event. But of course we recall only a tiny fraction of everything that occurred. If every day that went by I'd saved a whole other set of details and impressions, my life as I tell it to myself would be completely different. This is a rather crucial human limitation. If your situation changed dramatically (if, for example, you're walking down a road and are suddenly scooped up in a whirlwind and deposited somewhere else, like that man in the Bible was), you may need to start thinking about your life in a whole different way. But how can you do that when all you have for information is what you chose to remember at the time?

-- Joan Thomas, p. 13

Sanditon

I'm usually a bit snobbish when it comes to books. I tend to like nineteenth-century classics. I'm not sure why. Anyhow, most people have read (or at least heard of) Jane Austen's work. They've made enough movies about it (some of which are actually quite good, by the way). My favorite is probably Pride and Prejudice, just as it is for most Austen fans.

Still, Sanditon is a pretty close second (or maybe third; I don't know), even though most Austenians have never even heard of it, and those who have probably wouldn't give it a second glance. You see, this was Jane Austen's last novel, and she never finished it. Years later, a diehard Austen fan (possibly someone like myself, except that she's a better writer) decided to help her finish.

I picked up Sanditon from a small library in Maine, and according to the card inside, I was the first one to do so. It had virtually no wear and tear in it, and I can only assume that people simply glanced at it and passed it over for all the other Austen delicacies on the shelf. I had read all of those, however, and I wanted something new-- but something Austen.

I expected it to start out good and then roll into a big ball of cheese. I expected to know exactly when my author ended and "another lady began." I didn't. It had a different ending from the typical Austen novel, but it was still excellent, and I loved every minute of it. I even bought a copy that is now occupying a place of honor on my bookshelf.

If you like Austen, you have to read this book.

Catcher in the Rye

As an introduction, I'm Caitlin, Janelle's roommate. I'm an uneasy English major who reads books and writes journals/blogs. Writing fiction makes me nervous, I don't know why. But I like recommending things to other people! So here we go.

To be honest, I have not been reading much for pleasure lately. I thought I would try and jump start this over Christmas Break, but I did not. Instead I just got more into TV/movies. I consider them worthwhile forms as entertainment as well, but I feel less guilty about being overly attached to books, because they are good for the brain, or something. Whatever it is they say in school.

Anyway, my point is, whenever I find myself in this rut, I tend to read pieces of the same books to try and love reading books so much again that it overwhelms my guilt about not getting schoolwork done or thinking about My Uncertain Future while reading for pleasure. I also enjoy magazines a lot.

One of these books is "Catcher in the Rye," which is a book that seems to create a lot of strong opinions. Let me get this out of the way: I do not think of myself as, nor do I want to be like, Holden Caulfield. The guy is in an awkward stage of life and embodies confusion and contradiction, even as he wails on about all the "phonies" of the world. He would probably be REALLY annoying in real life, with his sudden outbursts and random lying and cursing pretensions.
But maybe that's because you couldn't see inside his head in real life, and that's important, because even though he is sill kind of annoying in there, you can also see the potential and that he's not all that bad of a guy, really.

I don't know, the guy thinks in one liners filled with curses and it makes me laugh. And his relationship with his sister near the end always makes me happy, as it balances out his loud bluffing in the beginning as he struggles to get along with people. It's nice to have a Phoebe that accepts all your ridiculousness.

Next time: Maybe David Sedaris. Did Janelle already write about him? Well I will again, I guess.

Comics = Writing, Right?

Kate Beaton is an amazing historical comedian. Look at these.

http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=231

http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=210


http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=206

Also...

(Yay Canada...)

http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=184
 
http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=180

Me Talk Pretty One Day

About David Sedaris... well, he's hilarious, that's what. Okay, well most of the time. Sometimes he's a bit disturbing, but at least he sees the humor in his disturbing-ness, which is about all anyone can do anyway.

http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/Me%20Talk%20Pretty%20One%20Day%20by%20Sedaris.pdf

Enjoy.

The Hunger Games

Have you ever read a book that you loved even as you hated it? That's exactly the way I feel about Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. It's written in present-tense, which is really hard to do, and it tells a story that is really hard to tell.

You know, I was going to say more, but... with this one, you just have to see for yourself.

Third book comes out soon, and I can't wait.

http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/the_hunger_games_69765.htm

Modified Stationary Panic

If you've never read Patrick McManus before, go to the nearest bookstore and find one of his books. They'll be in the humor section, or maybe in with outdoor activities. Anyway, this gentleman writes some of the best outdoor humor I've ever seen (and I am clearly an expert on that). The editor for his book, A Fine and Pleasant Misery, pointed out, his humor sneaks up on you, making you laugh when you least expect it. Personally, I just think he's a great writer (probably because he has taught high school English).

See for yourself.


http://books.google.com/books?id=SIwt-SlBYAkC&pg=PA14&dq=patrick+mcmanus+modified+stationary+panic&ei=CthPS9-IApnAzQT-zImMDA&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

The Merchant of Venice

I really love this Shakespeare play-- and not just because I'm slightly obsessed with Shakespeare (seriously, just because I have everything Shakespeare ever wrote (sometimes x2) doesn't mean I'm crazy, does it?). Anyway, let me share with you some of my favorite lines from this amazing play.

I could start with the famous Shylock lines, "If you prick us, do we not bleed..." or the cask's poem, "All that glisters is not gold..." or Portia's "The quality of mercy is not strain'd..." but I won't. Here are some awesome, lesser-known ones.

"His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search." -- Bassanio

"I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching." -- Portia

"The villainy you teach me, I will execute." -- Shylock

Shakespeare was a wise old crow.

The Magician's Elephant

It may possibly be the absolute best book I've read this year. I found it at Wal-Mart and bought it because it was written by Kate DiCamillo, who also wrote The Tale of Despereaux. She's one of the authors whose books I always buy, no questions asked, and she never disappoints me. I wish I could write as well as she does. Let me share with you a few tidbits of TME, and you'll see what I mean.

Leo Matienne had the soul of a poet, and because of this, he liked very much to consider questions that had no answers.
He liked to ask, "What if?" and "Why not?" and "Could it possibly be?"
Leo came to the top of the hill and paused. Below him, the lamplighter was lighting the lamps that lined the wide avenue. Leo Matienne stood and watched as, one by one, the globes sprang to life.
What if the elephant had come bearing a message of great importance?
What if everything was to be irrevocably, undeniably changed by the elephant's arrival?
Leo stood at the top of the hill and waited for a long while, until the avenue below him was well and fully lit, and then he continued walking down the hill and onto the lighted path, toward his home.
He whistled as he walked.
What if? Why not? Could it be? sang the glowing, wondering heart of Leo Matienne.
What if?
Why not?
Could it be?

For Your Reading Pleasure

You are tired,
(I think)
Of the always puzzle of living and doing;
And so am I.

Come with me, then,
And we'll leave it far and far away—
(Only you and I, understand!)

You have played,
(I think)
And broke the toys you were fondest of,
And are a little tired now;
Tired of things that break, and—
Just tired.
So am I.

But I come with a dream in my eyes tonight,
And knock with a rose at the hopeless gate of your heart—
Open to me!
For I will show you the places Nobody knows,
And, if you like,
The perfect places of Sleep.

Ah, come with me!
I'll blow you that wonderful bubble, the moon,
That floats forever and a day;
I'll sing you the jacinth song
Of the probable stars;
I will attempt the unstartled steppes of dream,
Until I find the Only Flower,
Which shall keep (I think) your little heart
While the moon comes out of the sea.

e.e. cummings