THE PURPOSE OF A BOOK
Among my acquaintances is a lovely lady who will not read a book unless it is a true story. What a shock and what a miss! There was a time in America when the "dime novel" was something to avoid. But even before that time, great works of fiction were already on the scene, such as Herman Melville's Moby Dick, and Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. In England the Bronte sisters had turned out two enduring novels Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. And Jane Austen tops the list for English fiction, both then and now, with her Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, to name only two of them. These literary masterpieces are enough proof that great value abounds in the well written make-belief worlds of those with the gift for writing.
I have omitted above the great novels of the pre-revolutionary writers of Russian literature, which can claim the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I'll not indulge your time with a longer list but it certainly does exist for those writers of that time in Russia.
I bring these titles to mind as examples of great literature that is needed even if one goes into a different field from reading and writing. The architect, as an example, can learn much about his chosen field in only a few minutes with fiction, whereas in a class of architecture instruction it might take a whole hour to get it. With fiction, you can learn such a multiplicity of ideas that you might otherwise never know. So what? you might ask. Everything that enriches your mental life should make your life more enjoyable and profitable but also hurt a little for the less fortunate. So? You owe it to those in your orbit to help enrich their lives. I do not mean you should go around telling others what to think, but to set the example for the contagion of idea gathering.
Several years ago, as a teacher of accelerated seniors who had big ideas about what to study in college, I assigned each one of them to write to the college of their choice and ask for a catalog of courses of study. They wrote to such schools as Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, etc., and got the surprise of their young lives. The recommendation for undergraduate study in medicine, law, and even physical education was the same: MAJOR IN ENGLISH! (An undergraduate major in English covers in depth study of literature but also written composition. It requires two years of one foreign language and a course in history of England.) Of course, my students asked why. It took about one minute to tell them you learn all about human nature in literature much faster than from individuals that may become your clients or patients or quarterbacks. I've often wondered how many of them followed those recommendations.
I once read a book by a professional man whose field was science. So long as he wrote about science, he did all right. But outside his field, his lack of a literary education was most evident. And that is what sells a book, not the story alone and often not the story at all. A meticulous vocabulary is what makes it or breaks it. Perhaps everyone who goes to college should major in English.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
HOORAY FOR GHIRARDELLI
Last night, around 10:00, after my walk through the halls, I sat down and thought about how tired I was. And I still had to take my shower, but not without reading a bit first. So, first I read in the Psalms, more than one of those, and then I picked up that heavy tome Einstein and read about 30 more minutes, while debating the possibility of delaying the shower till tomorrow. But years of experience reminded me how wonderful it is to wake up, having showered the night before. So, up I got and dragged myself to fetch a fresh towel from my bedroom. Returning, I passed a candy bowl with a lid, placed where I would not readily notice it. Now I noticed. Might there be a Ghirardelli dark chocolate left? There were three! Three make a serving. So, I had a serving, as I read a few more pages of Einstein, well, two pages anyway. (My rule is to turn the page at least once before closing a book.)
Then something happened. Suddenly I wasn't tired anymore! I arose from my chair with energy, took plenty of time for a leisurely shower, read a few more pages of Einstein and got my usual six hours of sleep.
I must put Ghirardelli on my shopping list.
Last night, around 10:00, after my walk through the halls, I sat down and thought about how tired I was. And I still had to take my shower, but not without reading a bit first. So, first I read in the Psalms, more than one of those, and then I picked up that heavy tome Einstein and read about 30 more minutes, while debating the possibility of delaying the shower till tomorrow. But years of experience reminded me how wonderful it is to wake up, having showered the night before. So, up I got and dragged myself to fetch a fresh towel from my bedroom. Returning, I passed a candy bowl with a lid, placed where I would not readily notice it. Now I noticed. Might there be a Ghirardelli dark chocolate left? There were three! Three make a serving. So, I had a serving, as I read a few more pages of Einstein, well, two pages anyway. (My rule is to turn the page at least once before closing a book.)
Then something happened. Suddenly I wasn't tired anymore! I arose from my chair with energy, took plenty of time for a leisurely shower, read a few more pages of Einstein and got my usual six hours of sleep.
I must put Ghirardelli on my shopping list.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
TWO ENGROSSING BOOKS
A long time ago, it seems, I wrote only a little about Unbroken, perhaps the best book ever written of its kind, and I have loaned it out to a friend here where I live. She has completed reading it and enjoyed it, if you can say such a story is enjoyable. The ultimate message in it is, of course, enjoyable. I would not care to see the movie of it, for two reasons. One, that ultimate message is not in the movie; second, there is no way that much of it could be filmed realistically. But I want to leave that book for a minute or so and talk about the other book.
It is Einstein by Walter Isaacson, copyrighted in 2007 which must have been the year I purchased it. I got about a third of the way through reading it, and then I had other important fish to fry. But after Unbroken it was time to finish reading Einstein. It is a heavy book, with 564 pages down to the section of notes. I am roughly 3/5 finished. Some days and nights there is no opportunity to read at all. I anticipate doing so for a few minutes tonight.
Einstein is an extremely well-written volume, about an extremely brilliant mind. So, I want to study physics! This is not the first book to make me wish that. Eve Curie'a biography of her famous mother, Marie Curie, also made me want to study physics. But this book gave me an inkling of what Einstein's Theory of Relatively is. He wrote a simple book for less brilliant minds to understand it. I'd like to get that book, but I wouldn't have time to study physics, now really, would I?
But I bring up this book, in relation to Unbroken, for when the Einsteins were traveling the world, they made a brief visit to Japan. The theoretical physicist could not praise the Japanese enough, everything about them. It was before WWII and Einstein had no idea that the Japanese planned to rule the world and enslave many thousands of people from other countries. Einstein would not have approved Japan's brutality such as what Louie Zamperini suffered in Unbroken. Where I am reading in Einstein, Hitler is already on the rise, and anti-Semitism is spreading. We know that this particular German Jew escaped in time and became an American citizen. But millions upon millions of other Jews did not escape.
I want to point out a difference in the brutality of Germany and of Japan: the Jews in Germany's bloody hands died more quickly than did the multinational prisoners in Japan's evil claws. Some of them slowly starved to death along with other atrocities. Life is not worth anything to hoodlums at war.
A long time ago, it seems, I wrote only a little about Unbroken, perhaps the best book ever written of its kind, and I have loaned it out to a friend here where I live. She has completed reading it and enjoyed it, if you can say such a story is enjoyable. The ultimate message in it is, of course, enjoyable. I would not care to see the movie of it, for two reasons. One, that ultimate message is not in the movie; second, there is no way that much of it could be filmed realistically. But I want to leave that book for a minute or so and talk about the other book.
It is Einstein by Walter Isaacson, copyrighted in 2007 which must have been the year I purchased it. I got about a third of the way through reading it, and then I had other important fish to fry. But after Unbroken it was time to finish reading Einstein. It is a heavy book, with 564 pages down to the section of notes. I am roughly 3/5 finished. Some days and nights there is no opportunity to read at all. I anticipate doing so for a few minutes tonight.
Einstein is an extremely well-written volume, about an extremely brilliant mind. So, I want to study physics! This is not the first book to make me wish that. Eve Curie'a biography of her famous mother, Marie Curie, also made me want to study physics. But this book gave me an inkling of what Einstein's Theory of Relatively is. He wrote a simple book for less brilliant minds to understand it. I'd like to get that book, but I wouldn't have time to study physics, now really, would I?
But I bring up this book, in relation to Unbroken, for when the Einsteins were traveling the world, they made a brief visit to Japan. The theoretical physicist could not praise the Japanese enough, everything about them. It was before WWII and Einstein had no idea that the Japanese planned to rule the world and enslave many thousands of people from other countries. Einstein would not have approved Japan's brutality such as what Louie Zamperini suffered in Unbroken. Where I am reading in Einstein, Hitler is already on the rise, and anti-Semitism is spreading. We know that this particular German Jew escaped in time and became an American citizen. But millions upon millions of other Jews did not escape.
I want to point out a difference in the brutality of Germany and of Japan: the Jews in Germany's bloody hands died more quickly than did the multinational prisoners in Japan's evil claws. Some of them slowly starved to death along with other atrocities. Life is not worth anything to hoodlums at war.
Friday, February 6, 2015
STAY AWAKE FOR AN HOUR
At 8:00 this morning the wind seemed to be attempting to uproot the tree outside my window. But it didn't, in spite of the gyrations it went through. There was no sunshine, and therefore, no shadows on the blinds. But through the open bit of window, about five inches, the gyrating could remind one of actors on an outdoor stage in ancient Greece, or London's Globe Theatre in the 1600's. The play was, of course, a tragedy, perhaps Macbeth. The limbs that swayed on my tree were the moving trees of Birnam wood carried by soldiers as camouflage to defeat Macbeth.
Sleep is good and necessary, but when we sleep, we are missing out on many other good things. Once in a while, when we have had our six hours or so of sleep, it should be an adventure to stay abed another hour and look outside to the hills or the river or the desert or the city street and see and listen to its message. Of course, this is a solo "flight," not to share with anyone else until you get to the breakfast table. Then you share.
At 8:00 this morning the wind seemed to be attempting to uproot the tree outside my window. But it didn't, in spite of the gyrations it went through. There was no sunshine, and therefore, no shadows on the blinds. But through the open bit of window, about five inches, the gyrating could remind one of actors on an outdoor stage in ancient Greece, or London's Globe Theatre in the 1600's. The play was, of course, a tragedy, perhaps Macbeth. The limbs that swayed on my tree were the moving trees of Birnam wood carried by soldiers as camouflage to defeat Macbeth.
Sleep is good and necessary, but when we sleep, we are missing out on many other good things. Once in a while, when we have had our six hours or so of sleep, it should be an adventure to stay abed another hour and look outside to the hills or the river or the desert or the city street and see and listen to its message. Of course, this is a solo "flight," not to share with anyone else until you get to the breakfast table. Then you share.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
DO DROP INTO MY BLOG
How nice to hear from so many strangers but ones who apparently know Laura Hodge, not me. I don't do face book and don't know how to get my name off that roster. But reading what you wrote to Laura was fun. Quite a few people read my Blog -- from Ukraine to India to Russia to Canada and many other countries -- who haven't added their names or pictures to the page. I invite all of you to sign up to read my Blog, not daily, for I am a very busy lady, but when I can get that job done and when you have the time for it.
The Blog is called Literature and Life by Lindsley Rinard. You don't have to use your real name and you can post a picture of your shoe or your dog or your hat, if you like. I hope to see you there.
Thanks.
How nice to hear from so many strangers but ones who apparently know Laura Hodge, not me. I don't do face book and don't know how to get my name off that roster. But reading what you wrote to Laura was fun. Quite a few people read my Blog -- from Ukraine to India to Russia to Canada and many other countries -- who haven't added their names or pictures to the page. I invite all of you to sign up to read my Blog, not daily, for I am a very busy lady, but when I can get that job done and when you have the time for it.
The Blog is called Literature and Life by Lindsley Rinard. You don't have to use your real name and you can post a picture of your shoe or your dog or your hat, if you like. I hope to see you there.
Thanks.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
TODAY'S SURPRISE VISITORS
Having read late last night, I got a late start on this Saturday. I had a tiny bit of breakfast in my apartment in time for a tiny bit of lunch in my apartment and then it was rime to go to Trivia. In a hurry, I opted for a short-sleeved yellow top to wear over a long-sleeved winter white tee, my first experience with such informal attire and I hoped no one would pay me any attention because of it. After my side lost the game, I debated going back to my apartment or going downstairs for my mail and then on to the dining room for an early supper. The apartment won that and I was glad. Not far from the elevator I would have taken down were two wingback chairs in which sat two ladies I didn't recognize at first glance. I spoke to them and up they jumped. One was Laura Hodges, a former student of mine (in both English and German) and the other, her sister Bonnie. Laura carried a little pot of live yellow tulips with pink wrappings. Yellow and pink make up a gorgeous color combination. Laura had read my blog about another visitor who brought me yellow tulips when I was still doped up from my surgery and I thought he was someone else, remember him? Anyway, these young tulips are so special for coming from Laura. And I was pleased, too, that I'd worn the yellow blouse.
Laura and her husband Tom live in Colorado and they have often made comments on my blogs. Before Laura and Bonnie left, Laura sang a bit of "How Great Thou Art." What a beautiful clear voice she has! She is also reading Unbroken, or has done so, or has started it.
And I expect to read the last 40 pages of that tonight.
Having read late last night, I got a late start on this Saturday. I had a tiny bit of breakfast in my apartment in time for a tiny bit of lunch in my apartment and then it was rime to go to Trivia. In a hurry, I opted for a short-sleeved yellow top to wear over a long-sleeved winter white tee, my first experience with such informal attire and I hoped no one would pay me any attention because of it. After my side lost the game, I debated going back to my apartment or going downstairs for my mail and then on to the dining room for an early supper. The apartment won that and I was glad. Not far from the elevator I would have taken down were two wingback chairs in which sat two ladies I didn't recognize at first glance. I spoke to them and up they jumped. One was Laura Hodges, a former student of mine (in both English and German) and the other, her sister Bonnie. Laura carried a little pot of live yellow tulips with pink wrappings. Yellow and pink make up a gorgeous color combination. Laura had read my blog about another visitor who brought me yellow tulips when I was still doped up from my surgery and I thought he was someone else, remember him? Anyway, these young tulips are so special for coming from Laura. And I was pleased, too, that I'd worn the yellow blouse.
Laura and her husband Tom live in Colorado and they have often made comments on my blogs. Before Laura and Bonnie left, Laura sang a bit of "How Great Thou Art." What a beautiful clear voice she has! She is also reading Unbroken, or has done so, or has started it.
And I expect to read the last 40 pages of that tonight.
Friday, January 23, 2015
TWO RED-LETTER AFTERNOONS
Yesterday I went shopping for a chair. At a Lay-Z-Boy place I looked and looked for a firm chair in a color I could live with, also one that was easy to work to get my feet up. Almost every chair I saw was extremely soft and in awful colors. Those that push you up from the chair were completely out of the picture -- too undignified as well as iffy. Then the saleslady took me to yet another room where I found it, an unfuzzy surface (part leather and part polyester, but with the feel of leather) and with two wide arms in one of which was the control for power around a "well" for keeping your drink cool, just the size to hold a milkshake. That I chose to be on the left arm. The right arm then can serve as a place to write, figure taxes, or count and stack your gold coins, and surely hold the book you're reading. And the color? A gorgeous soothing red! It is to be here in six weeks.
After supper, I read in Unbroken. With it and the new chair in mind, it took me over an hour to get to sleep.
Today Russ, my computer tech, was to be here around 3:30. While I waited for him to arrive, I exercised my legs and feet, and then read in Unbroken. It turned out he is also reading that book. Then I asked about his wife. Surprise! she sang the National Anthem yesterday for President Barack Obama's visit to Boise State University, where he was to make a speech. But he missed her singing, for he was 20 minutes late.
I asked, "Why?" I wasn't asking about his tardiness.
Russ answered that by talking about her career. Yesterday she signed with the Opera here and is also involved in the Shakespeare Festival. Russ is also a singer and musician. He is a handsome, fine young man. I wish them great success -- so long as he still takes care of my computer too!
Yesterday I went shopping for a chair. At a Lay-Z-Boy place I looked and looked for a firm chair in a color I could live with, also one that was easy to work to get my feet up. Almost every chair I saw was extremely soft and in awful colors. Those that push you up from the chair were completely out of the picture -- too undignified as well as iffy. Then the saleslady took me to yet another room where I found it, an unfuzzy surface (part leather and part polyester, but with the feel of leather) and with two wide arms in one of which was the control for power around a "well" for keeping your drink cool, just the size to hold a milkshake. That I chose to be on the left arm. The right arm then can serve as a place to write, figure taxes, or count and stack your gold coins, and surely hold the book you're reading. And the color? A gorgeous soothing red! It is to be here in six weeks.
After supper, I read in Unbroken. With it and the new chair in mind, it took me over an hour to get to sleep.
Today Russ, my computer tech, was to be here around 3:30. While I waited for him to arrive, I exercised my legs and feet, and then read in Unbroken. It turned out he is also reading that book. Then I asked about his wife. Surprise! she sang the National Anthem yesterday for President Barack Obama's visit to Boise State University, where he was to make a speech. But he missed her singing, for he was 20 minutes late.
I asked, "Why?" I wasn't asking about his tardiness.
Russ answered that by talking about her career. Yesterday she signed with the Opera here and is also involved in the Shakespeare Festival. Russ is also a singer and musician. He is a handsome, fine young man. I wish them great success -- so long as he still takes care of my computer too!
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