Presbyfruit

What I'm reading

I'm working my way through In the Company of the Courtesan, a recommendation from Mrs. Fruit's mom.  I'm blushing at all the dirty words, thinking that my mother-in-law read them.  I'm also on my third go-around this year of Tipping the Velvet.  I read it in February, staying up one night until 2 am to finish.  I've listened to it once and am currently halfway through it for the second time.  I so love the story and the historical detail and the characters. I've never read the same book three times in one year.  There are books I re-read when younger at certain times of the year.  In the spring, I re-read Gone With The Wind and tried to coincide my reading with the sunrise or sunset (yes, I was a very strange kid).  The redness of the sun matched the soil of Tara, which enhanced the reading experience for me.  In fall, I would re-read Wuthering Heights and more reliably, The Witch of Blackbird Pond.  My summers were spent reading from the book lists provided by my school(s) the familiar stalwarts of that time: The Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice, Catcher in the Rye, Tale of Two Cities.  Speaking of the latter,  I've been listening to Craftlit's presentation of this book.  Almost done!  I can't believe I understood any of the historical stuff when I was young.  I'm also listening to The Great Gatsby; the podcast is up to Chapter 7.  I'm like a little baby bird, waiting for my podcast chapters.  It would be easier for me to go upstairs and just get the damn books and read.

Hooray for Harry

It's great to see all the hoopla surrounding Rowling's last Potter book.  There was a story in yesterday's paper about the people who spent Saturday reading it.  One guy said he and his 9-year-old son took turns reading it to each other.  This morning the admin assistant at my office said she had already read it twice since Saturday.  She's such a bookworm she reads and walks at the same time.

Yesterday at church I saw one of the youth group kids.  When he spotted me, he stuffed his copy of Harry Potter under his shirt and grinned.  I asked him if he had the most coveted book in America under there, and he took it out and showed me where he was in his reading and gave me a bunch of details about previous books and the current movie (this is a young man who can quote entire "Simpsons" episodes verbatim, so he's really into details).  I love this opportunity for cross-generational connection.  And it's about a book!

Books I'm Reading

I'm getting ready to start a book Mrs. Fruit's mom wants me to read.  We tend to pass trashy books back and forth and this one appears to be no exception.  I can't remember the title, only that the word "courtesan" is in it.  I'm also working through some Ken Wilber;  I think it's called "Integral Operating System."  Pretty interesting stuff.

In yesterday's paper, a syndicated column by Rod Dreher originating in the Dallas Morning Post pushed some buttons for me.  There was nothing new.  Just well-put.  Here's a little quote:

Capitalism is defined not by a producer mentality but by a consumer ethos.  Our  consumerist economy depends on people's inability to discipline their consumption.  The best consumer sees no reason why he shouldn't have what he wants, right now.  The best consumer, in other words, exists in a perpetual state of childishness.

Books I'm reading

I'm finishing Sarah Waters' Affinity and listening to A Tale of Two Cities, courtesy of Craftlit.  I also just started listening to Pride and Prejudice (again!), thanks to Librivox Recordings, which are public domain works read and posted for free as podcasts.  And tomorrow I'll start Chapters 2 and 3 of The Great Gatsby;  I think that comes from Great Books---A Chapter a Day, also a podcast.  I think I've read Fitzgerald's book at least 3 times and listened to it once before.