I have read a few more books since my last post:
The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and ‘Women’s Work’ by Kathleen Norris. Great little reflection on the sacred ordinary, particularly in the domestic sphere. As one who occasionally goes nuts with the sheer relentlessness of laundry, dishes and clutter, this was a comforting read.
————-
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. The recent movie release of Into the Wild piqued my interest in Krakauer’s books, none of which I’d never read. Into the Wild was not available from the library so I got this one instead.
Man. Those climbers are effin’ nuts.
But seriously… no, I’m serious, they are completely insane.
People, that mountain does not give a shit about you.
This is a tragic story very well told. Riveting, moving, and I feel guilty for saying this, considering that good people died—hugely entertaining. I read it in about four or five nursing sessions.
————-
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. I figured I should see what the fuss is all about. I think he’s got the gravitas needed to be president. This is smart, wry, and reasonably entertaining as far as political books go. Some of the chapters are a slog.
————-
I’m also reading a book I received for Christmas via my Amazon Wishlist, Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz. I find books on writing to be motivating, by and large; for me it’s like having a virtual community nearby. For that, Katz’s book fits the bill, though some of her advice seems more focused on how to get published in magazines like Family Fun or Parents, which is not really where I’m at. But I’m picking up some fun tips in this one.
13 Responses to “reading challenge, january 13”
Leave a Reply
Search
Asides
» I’m looking for some new online reading materials–blogs, zines, whatever. Creative yet accessible, inspiring but not schmaltzy, smart but not impenetrable. Recommendations welcome.
» The latest on SBJ: at one year, he weighs 30.5 pounds (99%), is 32 inches tall (97%) and is 100% cute.
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
Links
Join | List | Prev | Next Random | Prev5 | Next5
Skip Prev | Skip Next
Join | List | Prev | Next |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
You are a fast reader or those are long nursing sessions.
Actually I am very impressed with the quantity you have read in this short of period of time.
I have Into Thin Air. I should read it.
If you like books on writing, read Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird”.
Quotidian Mysteries is the source of my blogname!!!
Cathy: nursing plus baby dozing!
SG: love that one. Also Annie Dillard’s Writing Life.
QG: I read that at Alex’s! Very cool.
Cool list. Loved the comment about the mountain!! ha!
You should read “Into the Wild.” Having sons made me wonder what he was thinking. I know one of the people they left behind in “Into Thin Air.” His name is Beck Weathers. He got up and began walking when the others thought he was surely dying. He is crippled for life from frost bite but is still working and speaking about why he made the climb.
A book discussion group I was in (based at my church, no less) read INTO THIN AIR a few years back. My first comment that afternoone was that this is the sort of experience hubris will get you into. Virtually everyone else jumped all over me criticizing that view. “It’s a calling” “It’s a spiritual experience.” etc, etc. As a non-jock type I could never understand, blah, blah, blah. Most of the participants were “ladies of a certain age” like I am, which is part of what startled me so when I heard their comments. I didn’t change my mind, although I agree that it is a book of extraordinarily high quality. But I found very troubling not only the human pride which led to tragedy, but also the degredation both of the mountain and of the remains of those who died there.
Wow, Beck Weathers was the one person whose story I’d love to hear most. He sounds like a true survivor—left for dead multiple times.
I have this deep respect for people who take on extremely difficult physical challenges like those people did. But I don’t claim to understand it. Especially when they have children at home. One guy’s wife was seven months pregnant.
Unexpectedly thought provoking book.
I also loved “Into Thin Air” and remember that my husband and I had several great conversations about it — especially the leaving-a-pregnant-wife part. And “Into the Wild” is even better. I loved watching the movie with one daughter, can’t wait till it’s out on DVD and can watch it again with the other daughter. The word hubris is a good word for both books. The word hubris is just a good word, isn’t it? Ah, how I begin to see it in myself!
I go a little insane (an accuracy, not a colloquialism) when I’m prevented from writing or composing for long periods. Children haven’t changed that–they’ve just made it less possible for me to regain my footing.
I suppose if I got my equilibrium from climbing mountains, I’d be off doing that. Children don’t really change your flavor of insanity.
Yeah, I can understand that. (And I’m glad you got to write yesterday.)
OTOH, if my insanity-prevention activity carried the possibility of widowing my spouse and orphaning my kids, I’d be motivated to find some other option. At least until the kids were out of the house.
I’d guess the possibility of widowing your spouse and orphaning your kids only works as a motivator if you’re not already the kind of insane that needs to play Russian roulette with the planet itself.
I just bought The Quotidian Mysteries…to read on my day off (all the way off!) next week.. it was a lovely discovery!