How many books is too many to be reading through at once? Here’s some of what Ive got on my reading table right now:
I started re-reading through the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries again last year and I’ve reached the last one. Lord Peter and Harriet Vane finally get married and head off to their honeymoon. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that they encounter a dead body and a mystery while honeymooning – doesn’t everyone?
Have you ever heard of the term “acedia?” I hadn’t. Apparently, it was a term that was used in older times and was discarded at some point. It has to do with being in a “non-caring state,” and would be more associated with a sinful spiritual torpor and apathy, rather than a medical depression. It was considered both a sin and an ailment. Thomas Aquinas “recommended a hot bath, a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep” as a remedy for acedia. Makes sense to me! It’s been an interesting book so far.
I grew up reading the books of James Herriot, aka Alf Wight. I’ve read them several times and have never tired of his marvelous storytelling skills as he recounts his experience as a young veterinarian in Yorkshire. I was delighted to find this book written by his son. I haven’t gotten very far, but found this quote from his diary as a young student to be a hilarious indicator of what his writing style was like even at a young age: “Buckie was in a terrible mood today. Roaring and bellowing at us like a rogue elephant. Today, I was amazed to see the length to which his eyes could boggle without falling out.” Ha ha!
I’m working through some of these books by Gerald Durrell that I gave to my son and then borrowed back from him. Durrell is also a consummate storyteller, just like James Herriot. This book concerns a trip he took to Mauritania in the 1970’s to train people there in learning how to care for their endangered species in captive breeding programs. Toward the beginning of the book, he tells of calling the Mauritian High Commission in London to get some information about traveling there. When someone answered, this was the conversation that ensued:
“Is that the Mauritian High Commission?” I asked.
There was a pause. This was obviously an unexpected question and it required time to know how to deal with it.
“Yes,” she admitted at last, rather reluctantly, “that’s right.”
“The Mauritian High Commission?” I repeated, making sure.
“Yes,” she said, more certainly this time, “Mauritian.”
“Oh good,” I said, “I was hoping you could give me some information as I am very much hoping to go there soon.”
There was another short pause. “Go where?” she asked at length.
I knew that Mauritius was fairly remote but this, I felt, was too much.
I love Durrell’s writing style!
I’m reading this one with my daughter. We read two chapters a week and then discuss it. I’m enjoying this retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. I was afraid it would be too esoteric and high-brow for me, but it’s been a really good yarn, well told, and with lots of food for thought. My goal is to understand the title by the time we get to the end.
I wonder if you could call this one “Confessions of Augustine for Dummies.” It’s abridged and quite readable. I’m going through it slowly but underlining as I go along. “To you, my God, I confess what my soul really longs for: the inner peace that will enable me to restrain my evil ways, so I can learn to choose your good ways.”
So many books, so little time!
I’ll probably delete this in the morning…
Lynniebeemuseoday 