Literature
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- Written by: Jim
- Category: Literature
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When I was growing up, I saw this book on a shelf in the basement. I'd always thought to read it but never did. Until I was remided of it by listening to a Tim Ferriss podcast.
The story follows the life of Siddhartha from a youthful optimist, to a more elderly pragmatist. I found many of the chapters so familiar to situations in my life. Siddhartha fights with his father to leave home and strike out in a non-standard manner. His friend, Govinda, has similar, but not identical experiences. Again, very true to life. His life seems to arc as he learns and aspires. Then, as he ages, he chooses the 'easy' life. How many people go this route. Me included.
The story of Siddhartha's son was very thought-provoking. How easy it is to put blinders on someone's actions when that person is close to you. I wish there was a chapter reconciling Siddhartha to his father. I think that would have been telling.
For a story that's based in a culture that's half way around the world, Hesse brought home to me the universal struggles all men face. How to become a man, how to best aspire to what we can achieve, what is important in life, and what can be discarded?
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
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Which character of this play is the hero? Everyone of these characters has tremendous flaws. The Duke, Olivia -- the nobility show some concern about their underlings,
The twin heros of the story, Sebastian and Cesario, are both noble, but are somewhat deceptive and needy.
Antonio, the sailor, has his sins, but he is a good-hearted man. he risks his life to help a friend.
The fool, is a knowledgeble thespian, but seems like a alcohol depandent rouge. He has a more noble bearing the Toby. Who enables the mischevious prank that causes Malevolo to be emprisioned and eventually removed from the court. His Puritan disposition, while understandable, does not allow him to bully Toby and his band of rogues. That being said, Mary and Toby should not have bullied him -- and one can only conclude Malvolio is the most poorly-treated of all the characters.
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
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A sentence per chapter...
1. We are introduced to the main character, Okonkwo, and given a brief history of Umuofia and a glimpse of its customs.
2. A threat of war with Mbaino and the arrival of Ikemefuna.
3. We learn of Okonkwo\'s work ethic. He is manly and will not stand for laziness.
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- Written by: FDD10
- Category: Literature
- Hits: 43
This spring was a good time for reading in the house. My cousin, sent me a book of my high school teacher's poetry and musings. It gave me a better sense of the man -- now that I'm more his age than I was in the 1980's. Some poems were as good as anything he taught us (A.E. Houseman, Keats), and some I imagined I could write (though probably not). He had such an infectious passion for literature -- it inspired me.
One of the book he assigned was A Separate Peace. I remember liking the book when I first read it and a nephew left a copy after a visit. At three chapters in, I couldn't remember the names or settings, or why I liked it so much. Then, the light bulb illuminated and it reminded me of the locker room after a winning basketball game. There is something about a coming of age book that one can't appreciate when one is coming of age. Looking back at the time, there was so many decisions being made (by me and others) that would have decades long impacts. The book was set in a New England boarding school in 1943. Many of the characters were deciding how they would contribute to the war effort. I feel some of the same drum beats in the world today. It seems like we're heading to a conflict.
It's a good thing to revisit old books one read in high school. There I things I remembered, things I'd thought I remembered (but made up), and things I see with a new perspective. Maybe 1984 or Fahrenheit 451 next.