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create_destiny) wrote2004-07-23 07:18 pm
create_destiny) wrote2004-07-23 07:18 pm
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The Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch
Well, I wanted to relax and unwind from the tension of a long work week so I decided to watch a dvd my dad sent me for my birthday a couple of months ago-- Baruka.
Not a good choice for a person perpetually staving off an existential crisis. Gee thanks dad.
After the flick I had to get away from my thoughts so I went to a used bookstore and found a few things:
-The Collective Family: A Handbook for Russian Parents
I'm not Russian, or a parent but I am fascinated with Russian history, particularly Soviet histroy. This book was published in 1937, 20 yrs. after the Bolshevik Revolution, and approaching a time when young school children were encouraged to nark on their parents for "counter-revolutionary" activity such as praying, owning icons, or basically saying anything that questioned the wisdom of the Soviet leaders. Read 1984 by George Orwell for a picture of life taken straight out of Soviet Russia.
--One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
I already have a copy of this but I picked up another one to give to some unsuspecting bibliophile in the future. I haven't even read the copy I have. I read a short story by this author in a lit class a couple of semesters ago and was compellingly attracted to his magical realism. Which is odd because I usually don't go for anything "magical."
--The Sea-Wolf by Jack London
Jack London is one of my dad's favorite writers, mostly for The Call of the Wild but I picked this one up because a monk friend of mine told me this is one of his favorite books. I tend to love "men at sea" stories for some reason.
--The American Transcendentalists: Their Prose and Poetry.
I guess I'm somewhat intrigued by Transcendentalism even though I absolutely detest the "godfather" of Transcendentalism, Emerson, that pompous son-of-a $%#@*!
--The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change the World Around Them. I love to hear stories about amazing teachers who are literally able to be a catalyst for change in the lives of students.
Not a good choice for a person perpetually staving off an existential crisis. Gee thanks dad.
After the flick I had to get away from my thoughts so I went to a used bookstore and found a few things:
-The Collective Family: A Handbook for Russian Parents
I'm not Russian, or a parent but I am fascinated with Russian history, particularly Soviet histroy. This book was published in 1937, 20 yrs. after the Bolshevik Revolution, and approaching a time when young school children were encouraged to nark on their parents for "counter-revolutionary" activity such as praying, owning icons, or basically saying anything that questioned the wisdom of the Soviet leaders. Read 1984 by George Orwell for a picture of life taken straight out of Soviet Russia.
--One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
I already have a copy of this but I picked up another one to give to some unsuspecting bibliophile in the future. I haven't even read the copy I have. I read a short story by this author in a lit class a couple of semesters ago and was compellingly attracted to his magical realism. Which is odd because I usually don't go for anything "magical."
--The Sea-Wolf by Jack London
Jack London is one of my dad's favorite writers, mostly for The Call of the Wild but I picked this one up because a monk friend of mine told me this is one of his favorite books. I tend to love "men at sea" stories for some reason.
--The American Transcendentalists: Their Prose and Poetry.
I guess I'm somewhat intrigued by Transcendentalism even though I absolutely detest the "godfather" of Transcendentalism, Emerson, that pompous son-of-a $%#@*!
--The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change the World Around Them. I love to hear stories about amazing teachers who are literally able to be a catalyst for change in the lives of students.
no subject
I saw a book at the bookstore called The Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch by Henry Miller. It's about him growing up in Big Sur. I didn't get it though because I don't care for Henry Miller's work. But Bosch is another story.