Just the knowledge that a good book is waiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.
—Kathleen Norris
Have you read any good books lately? I’ve been reading/listening to a lot of them. Some have been technical books on Photoshop, but mostly they’re history, biographies and memoirs. There are too many to list, but I will single one out: The Unlikely Disciple–A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University.
The author, Kevin Roose, took a semester out from Brown University and attended Jerry Fawell’s Liberty University, the world’s largest evangelical Christian university. It is sometimes referred to as a “Bible Boot Camp”. It was an easy read and Roose did a great job of talking about his experiences, including making friends and even interviewing Fawell (founder of the Moral Majority) himself, seeing Fawell as a likeable person in spite of his gay bashing. Roose himself is from an untraliberal family and one of his aunts is a gay activist.
I was impressed by Roose’s fairness and willingness to see people as fellow human beings, even though he strongly disagrees with some of their beliefs. I found the book both entertaining and refreshing.
What about you? Have you read any good books lately?
I’ve read two books I enjoyed immensely. “Reading Lolita in Tehran” by Azar Nafisi, which is about a group of women who survive the revolutionary upheavals by attending a secret book group. The other is “Say Her Name” by Francisco Goldman, a very moving elegy to his ex-wife, tragically killed in a body-surfing accident.
And I do agree, knowing I have a good book waiting for me always lifts my spirits.
I’ll see if I can get those books with MP3 on my ipod. I’ve about forgotten how to read :D.
Most recently one I was sent to review for my blog Change Your Life Not Your Wife. It really is pretty good though way to accepting of upper-class US lifestyle – polyamory, environmental awareness and social justice live in a different universe to the book. It does have great advice on staying in communication for married couples. Overall I am very glad they sent it to me.
Nick,
Our local library has both of them so I will try them. Thanks.
bikehikebabe,
I’ll try to get them on audio CDs to spare my poor eyes.
Evan,
I guessed what polyamory meant, but I looked it up anyway. My husband and I live in a different universe too. We’ve been married for 47 years now, so we must be doing something right. 🙂
I’m back to scanning pages of books…for assignments. But hey that’s okay because it means I get to “read” alot of different things!
Today, I had to return a Uni lib book (someone had recalled it) and I had thought it wouldn’t have anything in it useful for my forthcoming essay – boy was I wrong. Lots of interesting snippets that I might well use…but had to note it all properly as I probably wouldn’t get said book back in time, if I put it in/then recalled it…
I just though got a book about a British Vet in Africa and it’s quite a few pages which I hope will give me a few weeks of enjoyable reading…before it goes back into the local library system (where they do not recall books! rather you wait on the list…)
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley and Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson. I am currently reading and about to finish Quiet – The Power Of Introverts by Susan Cain; and have two more waiting in the queue. Matt Ridley is worth a read and Bryson on the UK is hilarious. Susan has made me realize some truths about me and many people close to me.
Cathy,
My eyes ache just thinking about all the reading you have to do. Audio books are a blessing for me.
History was my great interest, but there is no way I could have majored in it because of the required reading. Fortunately that’s a subject one can learn on one’s own. And fortunately one could do well in physics with a little reading and a lot of thinking.
Rummuser,
Do you consider yourself an introvert? Partially introvert, partially extrovert? According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator I’m just about on the border. If I took it now I would probably come out more of an introvert than I did before.
I’ll have to try Bryson’s book. I’ve seen it but haven’t taken the time to see what it’s like. I could do with some light hearted reading/listening at the moment. I just finished a long biography of Abraham Lincoln and am now listening to All Quiet on the Western Front. Not exactly books to lift one’s spirits, but they do make us realize how lucky we are.
Although according to her quiz I am rated as an introvert, my own feeling is that I am an ambivert, tending more towards introversion.
Among those awaiting my attention is one particular book that I think will be of interest to you. It is Michael Sandel’s second book on Justice called What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. In fact, I would recommend both.
Rummuser,
Thanks for the ideas. If I had to recommend one book for you it would be Difficult Conversations–How to Discuss What Matters Most. When I was teaching classes in dealing with difficult people that was tops on my list of recommendations. The authors talk about having “learning conversations”, which given my basic curiosity is an approach that resonates with me. 🙂
Hi Jean :D!
I agree that there is nothing better than a good book.
I have been reading a lot as well, but I will only share three books that I finished re-reading recently: The Great Gatsby by Fitzgeral; The Unbearable Lighteness of Being by Milan Kundera and The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant.
Cheers
i can get into the commenting mode again now. i’ve been so upset about wilfee that i couldn’t enjoy my favorite blogs. life is also death and i just have to accept that. i’m trying. it hurts so bad. the worst kind of hard. but a small reprieve… so…
i usually keep at least three books going. i always have! weird? or do most people do that?
i’m an anglophile so i’m just loving the new biography of the queen mum “the queen mother” by lady colin campbell.
and i just finished a lovely little book by my beloved dalai lama.. it’s not new to me but i re-read it every so often… “ocean of wisdom.” i love that he simply considers himself “just a monk.” and that he says “my religion is kindness.” and a fun one called “list your self.” … listmaking as the way to self discovery by ilene segalove and paul bob velick. interesting!
Tammy, when I’m not reading for assignments…yes I have a couple of books in the “going” – somehow if one isn’t going well, or it’s the wrong size for where I’m reading, I can pick up another…
Of course, if it’s thrilling I will reading into the wee hours of the night/morning – gripped by the pages!
I have different places in the house, where I read – depending on the circumstances…
Max,
Thank you!
tammy,
I’ve been following Wilf too, but I find him inspiring rather than depressing. At the rate time is passing I’m pretty close to the grave too and when the time comes I wouldn’t mind an end like his.
I’m also following Romping and Rolling in the Rockies about a younger dog with osteosarcoma that has spread to the lungs. She’s still enjoying life and her owner is doing her best not to waste the present by being weighed down with grief by her knowledge of things to come. I think that’s an appropriate thing for me to start practicing.
Have ordered for the book Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. I think that I will learn a few tricks badly needed in my current situation.
all good suggestions. thanks.
and monk… not really depression, because he is totally inspiring… but re-visited grief i guess. he looks exactly like my own zeke who also died of cancer just a year ago. so it’s all a little too close to home for me. am really just getting over zeke. he hemmorhaged internally and had to be put down. i am working on my ability to accept loss easier. just a personal thing. i’ll get there!
also… cathy …
i do that too. i have favorite spots in the house different times of the day… or my mood! 🙂
I’ve been a voracious reader my entire life. (I think I like eating a little more than reading, but often, I find that I’m wrong about this belief/fact about myself.) Over the past decade or so, I’ve become a news junkie and therefore, I do not have as much time to read novels anymore.
I had begun ‘The Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel (I know! Finally!) in March, but last month, that got shoved aside in favour of ‘On Chesil Beach’ by Ian McEwan whose ‘Saturday’ I relished! In keeping with my novel reading pattern, Chesil is slower paced, but my friend, Bestie Boy, gifted it to me recently. Sorry, Piscine. Your time will come again.
Kate
Rummuser,
There are a huge number of books out there with good ideas. The main thing is to look carefully at what’s going on and to see our part of the dance rather than think of ourselves as helpless victims. We have four choices in a difficult situation: 1) Leave, 2) Change our attitude, 3) Change our behavior, or 4) Continue doing what we’re doing and complain about it. I would love to talk to you about it after you read Difficult Conversations.
tammy,
Yes, I can see why Wilf is reminding you of your loss. I sympathize.
Kate,
Because of my eye problems I gave up novels when I was a preteen but now I can listen to them on audio books. Thanks for the suggestions.
those choices of “difficult situation” come just after I made some more radical (4 me only) decisions about certain things happening in my life. Not conversations with others but more with me/internally.
what I do is collect a whole lot of data, real time. And analyse how to go forth. Yesterday, I came to the conclusion “who cares!” and somehow today it feels better…
I know I won’t be allowed (internal mind) to let it rest completely but I decided that really I couldn’t do/go much better than what I’m currently doing…
sorry to be cryptic but as it’s about me, more than anything else, “who cares” 🙂
Cathy,
I too am a great believer in gathering data and looking at possibilities. And in not pushing to make decisions. Sooner or later the answer will come. Big decisions need gestation time, after we’ve expanded our horizons with new knowledge.
Thank you for sharing what you have.