Reading Classics

What's on your reading list right now?  Do you even keep one?  I may start a Pinterest board of books just to keep track of what I want to read. (Ugh, I know, one more thing to do.)

My reading lately had gotten to be all blog posts and nonfiction, especially things like "how to remodel your bathroom" or "Quilt Binding 101," good stuff but not exactly expanding my heart's horizons, you know?

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on the wonderful blog Life in Grace and Edie's book club.  This is nor ordinary book club--October's book was Plato's Republic.  January is The Aeneid by Vergil, so I decided to just jump in.  I'm so glad I did!  Today I am half-way done with it, and the entire book has captured my heart.  Sarah Ruden, the translator for my edition, has kept the poetry in place as she translated it.  I can't even imagine how hard that must have been.

The funny thing is, it isn't hard to read.  It is wonderful, with beautiful language and a great big story.  Already I have images swimming in my mind and heart--I don't think I will ever forget Dido's anguish over being left by Aeneas in particular.  That part of the story, a beautiful strong queen wrecked by love--this is universal.  I couldn't help but feel that this is why stories like this still exist.  It speaks to the truth in all of us.

As a side note, I noticed something interesting.  Even back then, in ancient days, people were sailing to new lands and colonizing.  Dido and the Phoenicians left Tyre to found Carthage in Libya, and the Trojans in their defeat went to Italy, becoming the Romans.  (Yes, I know that this is legend but there is always truth behind these stories that are handed down.)  How funny!  Sometimes we like to think that we Westerners, or Americans, were the first or only people to do something, for example, to settle a new country.  But it's been going on for millenia, the way of people who want to move around the globe.

At the same time, I've also decided to read Hugo's Les Miserables.  (After all, there is only so much metered epic poem that you can read at one time.) I swear I am the only person in the country who hasn't seen the musical or the movie, but I would like to read the book first.  At more than 1100 pages, the movie might be in the dollar bin by the time I get to it.  I am only about 80 pages in, but the writing and the ideas expressed are so beautiful, I just feel grateful to get to read it.  Last night while I waited for the girls to ride their horses I sat in the car and read.  I started crying over the beautiful way that M. Bienvenue, the priest, was so kind to Jean Valjean.  A beautiful book.

I invite you to read either one along with me!  Have you read any classics lately?  Any favorites?  Don't spoil Les Mis for me!

Yarn Along--Almost late but not quite!

Joining the Yarn Along at Ginny's Small Things...what a great blog.  You should visit.

Here's what I'm currently reading and working on:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  You MUST read this.  Everyone must read this.  I can't explain how incredible this story is.  I absolutely loved it...just finished it a couple of days ago, and even stayed up until 1 in the morning reading one night.  Now, my husband will tell you there is nothing that can make me stay up that late.  But this book did it.

The project is a skirt from Knitting Wrapsody, out of Cascade Ultra Pima.  I was making it for a swimsuit cover-up.  When I thought I was getting a pale turquoise swimsuit and also that I would enjoy the pattern, I was excited.  But Athleta was out of stock in the turquoise, and so I have a royal purple swimsuit.  The pattern is also four rows of okay plus one row of major PITA.  So I'm kind of meh about it now.  I think if I had something I was excited to knit I would be knitting a little more.  I'd like to start a navy blue cardigan for P so it will be ready to wear for school.

Here is a picture of one of my completed projects from an earlier Yarn Along:

This is D with her wrap, exactly as I expected her to use it.  She likes to wrap up in it while she reads in bed at night.  A fun pattern...I am pretty sure I'll make #3 this winter.

Now I have to go see what everyone else is making!

ps:  This is not my second downer post that I mentioned yesterday!  I am working on it and should have it ready tomorrow.

Summer Reading: Thomas Sowell

One of the lovely benefits of selling the shop is that I get to read, at least a little.  This is my summertime reading right now:

I am a political junkie but lately feel like I've reached the end of my knowledge on some things.  I am looking for a firm foundation in basic principles.  My husband read this book about a year ago and highly recommended it.  It is exactly what it says, a primer on economics, meant to be used as I am, or even as a college-level textbook.  (Light reading!)

I've just completed the first part, a section on Prices and Markets. Here are some quotes from the book that I've highlighted during my reading:

Life does not ask us what we want.  It presents us with options.  Economics is one of the ways of trying to make the most of these options.

(Discussing profits and losses)...losses are equally important for the efficiency of the economy, because losses tell producers what to stop producing.

Knowledge is the most scarce of all resources.

(In discussing fluctuating price levels) However, the fact that water seeks its own level does not mean that the Atlantic Ociean has a smooth, glassy surface.  Waves and tides are among the ways in which water seeks its own level.  (In other words, just because prices fluctuate doesn't mean the prices are wrong or the markets bad.)

People tend to do more for their own benefit than the benefit of others.

And one of my favorites so far:

Economic policies need to be analyzed in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the hopes that inspired them.

That last one is crucial.  Way too many programs are started with the best of intentions ("hopes") but create incentives that actually work against the original purposes.

I wish I could list all of the very interesting things I've read about:  price supports for food in ancient Rome; rent control all over the world; the evolution of the grocery industry in America.  This is good food for thought.

Here is the first in a set of videos with Dr. Sowell.  It is a nice change of pace to see a person interviewed in a calm, intelligent way, with no "gotcha" moments.  If you've never heard him, this is worth a watch:

I'm also well aware of Dr. Sowell's conservative political leanings.  So far, though, his conservatism looks to me to be rooted in his rational view of economics, rather than having his political views give flower to his economic ideas.  I'll be looking for something other views soon, just to round out my education.  Suggestions welcome!

Joining in the Yarn Along

My first time participating in Ginny's Yarn Along, sharing what I'm knitting and reading.

Knitting:  Here's what I touched this week.

D's little throw.  This is Tree Knitter's Sugar Maple Shawl, my second one.  This time it's out of Florafil cotton yarn, which is absolutely delightful to work with.  You can find it at a cute little shop in Peachtree City.  (Yes, this was my shop!)  It's off the needles because I hit the part where I have to pick up 250 stitches around the edge for a ruffle.  The only yucky part of that pattern. 

I just started this shawl/scarf out of Macaibo.  It is going to be a shop sample.  Miles of garter stitch, mindless knitting.  The pattern is mine out of my head.

This is a mystery shawl I'm doing on Ravelry, from Misti Alpaca HandPaint Lace.  I've never done a square shawl, so the 2011 KALendar is a good one because it's just a little at a time.

And, miracle of miracles, I read a book this week.  It is only a little book, but worth your time.  I actually read it while I drank my second cup of coffee one morning.  Do The Work by Steven Pressfield.  And, while it would be a great book to buy, it's available as a FREE Kindle download!

Hopefully I'll be back for another Yarn Along.

And, credit to my friend Mary, who has a great blog at Homegrown Learners.  She introduced me to Small Things.  Oh, the things you discover on the interwebs!

Edited:  GRRRR.  Google doesn't want to load pictures right now.  I'll be back to try to update this later.

Edited again.  There.  I fixed it.

Were you curious?

Here's the book I was reading:  French Cooking in Ten Minutes a Day.  This remarkable little book was written in 1930 by a physician who decided that French cooking wasn't all that.  It was just about the freshest, most delicious ingredients possible, while always remembering how flavors will combine.  No braising, baking or roasting here, but great ideas for pan-frying and sauce-making.

I'll share one great piece of advice Dr. Poulaine gives:  as soon as you walk in the door, put a pot of water on to boil.  Why?  Well, you don't know yet, but chances are you'll need it for something, and you'll never get your meal made in ten minutes if you have to wait on the pot of water.  This is something I've started doing, and it works!  I almost always need it for something.

Now, the reason there is no picture is that I have lost the book.  It is somewhere in my house but I don't know where.  This is the second thing this week I've lost.  Sunday I lost my phone and I just don't know what to do.  It's out of power (of course) and I've retraced all my steps.  How long do you go before you get a new one?  I wanted a new iPhone but not this way. 

What book is this?

Cooking like a madwoman (why oh why can I not over-commit?), but I got the most wonderful book today via Amazon Prime.  Here is the first paragraph:

First of all, let me tell you that this is a beautiful book.  I can say that because this is its first page.  I just sat down to write it, and I feel happy, the way I feel whenever I start a new project.

Now, I have to put this wonderful book down and go make a breakfast casserole, but is that not the most delightful introduction to a book?  And what in the world could this book be about?  I want to sit down with a lovely glass of wine and marinate in this writing, but I have to run.  I want to hear your guesses!

Chaplain Pat

Chaplain Patrick McLaughlin is the brother of a friend of mine.  (Hi, Mary!) He's had a host of experiences, including two tours in Iraq and serving as chaplain at Camp David.  He's written a book, No Atheists in Foxholes, and was interviewed recently on 700 Club.  Here's the video.

Pat is quite a writer...while in Iraq he would send a prayer out by email just about every day.  Take a look at the video (I can't embed it) and check out the book. Think of all the people he's touched in his life...it's staggering.  The book looks like a great Christmas gift for all kinds of people on your list.

Have a great Monday!

A Book Recommendation

I'm a reader. Not as much as I'd like, mostly because I have a way of allowing a good book to draw me into its world and I will ignore everything around me until I finish it. Seriously, everything. Kids' schedules, pets begging to be let out (or in), laundry, dinner. It just doesn't matter. Since I love my family and my pets, I have to ration my books and time them for vacations or weekends at the lake.

While we were in Vermont I brought The Poisonwood Bible with me. LOVED it. I found it very realistic with a deeply engaging story line. The story has five different narrators, which might sound hard to follow, but for this story of a family of six in Africa the voices made the story richer. It's also a book that deals intensely with Christianity, and while it is by no means orthodox it (I think) deals very fairly with it. I am a Christian and take my faith pretty seriously. I find the ad hominem attacks on faith, particularly Christianity, a little tiresome. There was none of that in this book. I found it presented a complex, layered view of a family in a difficult situation.

While I was sitting by the pool reading I must have had a half-dozen people comment on the book, almost all very positive. So I'm late to the party, but it's a good party! I've since passed the book on to my dear neighbor and she's loving it, too.

Anyway, should you find yourself with time on your hands this summer, pick this book up. I was glad I did. Feel free to make book recommendations in the comments!