I cannot live without books - Thomas Jefferson
I've always been an avid reader. If left to my own devices, I'd read until three or four in the morning. Lately, like the last seven years, I haven't been doing much reading. Unless you count "Horton Hears a Who" or any of the Miss Spider books. It's been bothering me a bit.
In college, I settled on a major in History. When asked, "What are you going to do with it?" The prevailing thought would be I would either go into teaching or law school. I picked neither. My mom is a teacher, and I see how much work she does that she isn't compensated for. Also, the idea of dealing with kids all day (I know, laugh now!) As for law school? My brother in law went. One lawyer per family is enough. I really didn't know. I only chose it because it was easy for me.
About three visits ago, my mom brought several boxes of my 'stuff' that I had deemed necessary to save. I promply dumped it in the craft/crap room. The time is drawing to an end when it will be full of crap. I spent two hours sorting down there. I did manage to find several important things - snapshots from my wedding, baby pictures of the kiddos, and my martini glasses. I also came across a box of books.
A short list:
G.M.A. Grube's translation of Plato's Republic
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Shakespears's Hamlet
The Triumph of Evolution, The Heredity-Enviroment Controversy, 1900 - 1941
The Evolution of Western Society, Volume 2 From the Reniassance to Napoleon
The Evolution of Western Society, Volume 3 1815 to the Present.
Maybe it's time for me to dust them off. Work my brain a little. Of my trifecta (ability, time and money) I think I can manage - I only need to make the time. The books are bought and paid for, and with a little practice, I'm sure the ability's not far away. Oh Rosencrantz and Gildenstern, how I've missed you.
If anyone should come across a copy of The Evolution of Western Society: Volume 1 from the Ancient World Through the Late Middle Ages, please let me know.
6 comments:
$24 from 3 different book sellers. Our copy must have gotten lost in our last move :) What you can do is embellish a bit, To be, or not to be: that is the question: Said Horton.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slingerhops and bazoinkers of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms and legs against a sea of bubbles,
And by taking a bath end them?
Well you get the point.
You are a far, far, far better person than I am. Go for it, girl. I *dare* you.
I am currently working on Gatsby
I read all those Western Civ books way back when...I'm not sure I'm up for it now. F. Scott, though, I should read those again. Have you read any books about him and his wife, particulary "Zelda"? Good stuff.
Happy belated Birthday, Gretchen.
At this stage of my life (37), I only read what I enjoy. I no longer read things because I think "I should."
- A fellow History major, who took the law school route and realized 14 years later it wasn't what I wanted to do.
g-man - yes, it does take me a moment to switch gears.
aimee - I'll let you know how it goes.
army wife- good for you!
tanaya- I've read quite a bit of them, but just what was assigned.
joe - thanks! I do enjoy reading a nice, dry text book... It's fiction I like I have a problem finding.
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