Hello All,
Hope you are all having a great spring-like week. In the City of Salt it has been magical, but every bone in my body tells me that this can't last. I desperately want it to stay awesome since it is St. Patrick's Day weekend. The family and myself will be sitting early tomorrow morning for the parade which is always fun. I've got a steady diet of Irish tunes ready on the Ipod. I'm good to go and excited.
I've always wanted to read more Irish literature, but I've never delved in. Modern Irish stories tend to have a great mix of earthy humor and horrible tragedy. Obviously this is born of their history which is wonderfully rich and interesting. The closest I've come was reading Breakfast On Pluto which I enjoyed. I've already got The Sea and The Gathering sitting on my shelf, but I'm also interested in Roddy Doyle and Sebastian Barry. Again there's just not enough time, ever.
Another St. Pat's day tradition for me is a re-read of the Dubliners which I wrote about here. This year I also want to tackle an Irish poet which I've been meaning to read for some time named Seamus Heaney. Years ago I picked up his Collected Poems and a study guide of lit criticism on his work. I first heard about Heaney in regards to his excellent adaptation of Beowulf. His version of the epic poem is a very earthy, natural translation which I enjoyed reading for school. I highly recommend it. But I really wanted to read some of his modern poetry and now feels like the time. So look for some Heaney talk next week.
Have a great weekend! Book Slave.
Showing posts with label St. Patrick's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Patrick's Day. Show all posts
2010-03-12
2009-03-17
Teach Me Mr. Joyce, I'm willing to Learn...
Hello,
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all! How are you all? Good I hope. Lately I've seen a lot of change, it's a little hard to get used to. More time on my hands lately, which is not something I am used to at all. We'll see if I manage to thrive or drive myself mad.
So driven by the holiday today, I'm pushing my usual reviews post a few days. I have a big place in my heart for Irish literature. Every year around this time I try to take some time and reread The Dead by James Joyce. The Dubliners is the only work of his that I have made my way through. Give me time, someday I will tackle Ulysses. Someday. Joyce was the first writer to take stream-of-consciousness writing to it's full potential. His genius lies in the realization that literature can be more than what it was. Joyce gave literature the kick in the pants it needed. I am always amazed by those who realize the next evolution in an art form. In his short story The Dead Joyce sees the potential of post-modernism.
Lessons from Classic Literature: The Dead
1. Human Beings by nature are selfish. Gabriel spends nearly the entire night caught up in his own selfish needs and desires. He worries so much about himself that he is myopic to everyone around him.
2. Traditions are important. I love the aunt's and their family holiday party. When I was a young child my grandmother would have a similiar party every year. Everybody in the family would attend, even extended relatives that I would never know. These sortof get-togethers are essential.
3. When it comes to toasts keep it simple. Gabriel chooses to focus on the hosts of the evening: his aunts. By letting go of "the quote" he puts the focus on them and not himself. It is his first generous act of story.
4. We all need friends like Freddy Malins. Freddy is an easy moral scapegoat, but he's not so bad. Every group needs it's black sheep though.
5. All you need is love. Like the Beatles said Gabriel's epiphany at the end of the story is that love supercedes death. It is a link between the living and the dead.
Have a great couple of days! Book Slave.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all! How are you all? Good I hope. Lately I've seen a lot of change, it's a little hard to get used to. More time on my hands lately, which is not something I am used to at all. We'll see if I manage to thrive or drive myself mad.
So driven by the holiday today, I'm pushing my usual reviews post a few days. I have a big place in my heart for Irish literature. Every year around this time I try to take some time and reread The Dead by James Joyce. The Dubliners is the only work of his that I have made my way through. Give me time, someday I will tackle Ulysses. Someday. Joyce was the first writer to take stream-of-consciousness writing to it's full potential. His genius lies in the realization that literature can be more than what it was. Joyce gave literature the kick in the pants it needed. I am always amazed by those who realize the next evolution in an art form. In his short story The Dead Joyce sees the potential of post-modernism.
Lessons from Classic Literature: The Dead
1. Human Beings by nature are selfish. Gabriel spends nearly the entire night caught up in his own selfish needs and desires. He worries so much about himself that he is myopic to everyone around him.
2. Traditions are important. I love the aunt's and their family holiday party. When I was a young child my grandmother would have a similiar party every year. Everybody in the family would attend, even extended relatives that I would never know. These sortof get-togethers are essential.
3. When it comes to toasts keep it simple. Gabriel chooses to focus on the hosts of the evening: his aunts. By letting go of "the quote" he puts the focus on them and not himself. It is his first generous act of story.
4. We all need friends like Freddy Malins. Freddy is an easy moral scapegoat, but he's not so bad. Every group needs it's black sheep though.
5. All you need is love. Like the Beatles said Gabriel's epiphany at the end of the story is that love supercedes death. It is a link between the living and the dead.
Have a great couple of days! Book Slave.
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