A Fresh Start

A fictional book: Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters. Here's the Amazon review:
Fingersmith is the third slice of engrossing lesbian Victoriana from Sarah Waters. Although lighter and more melodramatic in tone than its predecessor, Affinity, this hypnotic suspense novel is awash with all manner of gloomy Dickensian leitmotifs: pickpockets, orphans, grim prisons, lunatic asylums, "laughing villains," and, of course, "stolen fortunes and girls made out to be mad." Divided into three parts, the tale is narrated by two orphaned girls whose lives are inextricably linked. Waters's penchant for byzantine plotting can get a bit exhausting, but even at its densest moments--and remember, this is smoggy London circa 1862--it remains mesmerizing. A damning critique of Victorian moral and sexual hypocrisy, a gripping melodrama, and a love story to boot, this book ingeniously reworks some truly classic themes.

I loved it and could not put it down. It is my favorite of Sarah Waters books. Her first three (Affinity and Tipping the Velvet) are far superior to her more recent two, although she is such a good writer and really captures the quintessential English-ness of English literature.

A non-fiction book. I read FAR more non-fiction than fiction these days. Right now I'm reading Georg Feuerstein's Yoga: Technology of Ecstasy, as one of my home books. It is easily one of the best books about yoga I've ever read. It's not a how-to manual at all. From the Amazon blurb:

"The impulse toward transcendence is intrinsic to human life. Nowhere has this drive found a more consistent and versatile expression than in India. The civilization of India has spawned an overwhelming variety of spiritual beliefs, practices, and approaches. The goal of Yoga, the most famous and globally widespread of India's spiritual traditions, is to take us beyond ourselves to the Absolute Reality, to the utterly blissful union of the individual self with the transcendental Divine... This book features a lucid explanation of Yoga's roots in Indian culture, outlines its relationship to other important Indian traditions, and discusses the diverse forms it has taken in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism."

A fanfic: N/A

My favorite quote. Once again, I don't have one. But I'll share the opening of the prayer I say every single day:

Holy Mother
in whom we live, move, and
have our being,
from you
all things emerge
and unto you
all things return

Day 02




What's not to love? Brilliant dancing and music. Moving plot. A love story. Funny. Downright gay. I adore this movie. I have auditioned with the songs. I was a Jet girl in 11th grade for the school musical.



I love Bernstein. Just love. And this song seems quite current in light of the immigration issues both in the States and in the UK.

And the fire is so warm... ( food meme )

Of my sickness and the five questions meme?

( From Erinya )

Thinking about books lately. Which to ship? Which can be gotten rid of? Adam and I have decimated our collection. Today we took three boxes to the used book store. This is the second trip there this year.

I saw this meme on bravenewcentury's LJ today.

The book that’s been on your shelves the longest.
That has to be May Gibb's The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. My aunt in Australia gave it to me for Christmas in 1975. But I also have some of my mother's childhood book. The oldest book I have is a 1920s edition of Jack London's Essays of Revolt.

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)
Pierre Berton's Klondike Fever reminds me of hiking the Chilkoot Trail (1999).

A book you acquired in some interesting way
Oh I don't know.

The book that’s been with you to the most places.
Probably the Bible. But I have carried Pearl S Buck's Dragonseed and Hesse's Siddhartha around for a long time.

The most recent addition to your shelves.
Four or five books by Mark Miravalle for my paper. Also, a brand new book on Mary, Mother of God (can't see the author or complete title from where I'm sitting).

Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
Currently I'm reading The Magic Pudding to Bennett. I'm on Vol. 5 of Alan Moore's Promethea series. I'm also re-reading Mary: New Century Theology by Sarah Jane Boss for "school." I recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (so good!). Next up, I've got to read those Miravalle books. For Bennett, I think I'll read Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

If you saw me in a police car, what would you think I'd been arrested for?

10 books I don't think anyone on my friends list has.

This is tough because I have such a literate and diverse group on my friend's list. I'm trying to represent the different sections of my "library" but this is hard.

1. The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs. Great Australian children's book given to me when I was born, with fun pictures.

2. Essays of Revolt by Jack London. The particular copy I have is from my father, a 1926 edition.

3. Against Culture: Development, Politics and Religion in Indian Alaska by Kirk Dombrowski. I have not read this one yet.

4. The Old Testament Pseudepigraphia Vol. 1. Multiple Books of Enoch anyone?

5.Mythistory by Joseph Mali. Historical methodology.

6. The Idea of Wilderness by Max Oelshlaeger. Exactly what the title suggests. I really liked this.

7. Empress and Handmaid: Nature and Gender in the Cult of the Virgin Mary by Sarah Boss, who is my advisor.

8. The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion and Power in Celtic Ireland by Mary Condren. Haven't read the whole thing yet.

9. Encountering the Mystery; Understanding Orthodox Christianity Today by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Not as good as I was expecting. Very dry. Not recommended unless you're hard core - and if you are, you probably know most of this stuff already.

10. And for a novel.... Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flannagan. I recommend getting your hands on the hard copy - the ink changes color to reflect what's happening in the story and the pictures are water color plates. And it's a really good book.

Rulz:
Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list ten things you LOVE that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.

Great to do while breast feeding.

( P )

How's my relationship these days?
My relationship with Adam is awesome. This week especially it could not be better. He's putting up with a hell of a lot of moodiness and craziness from me - ah, pregnancy. In general, though I am so lucky to be with someone who I respect and enjoy so much. Plus, we work together and I'm really glad we're already sleeping together, because today he's wearing this really nice black, button-down shirt with well fitting black slacks and he looks HOT. I would have been totally distracted with lustful thoughts at this morning's meeting if I didn't know he was already coming home with me.

Regarding my PhD studies, what am I reading? What am I thinking about?
Hahahahahahaha! Nothing. To both questions. I am the worst student ever. Haven't read anything in a month, have barely had a theological thought or even an interesting thought in weeks. I promise that once I get back on that - and this burn out will pass, eventually - I'll post something.

And now, a question for all of you:
Facebook. How many of you are on it? Do you like it? Is it interesting? It seems like everybody and their grandma is on it. My 60 yr old aunt is on there! But is it anything more than a place where people play scrabulous and collect "friends"? Can meaningful relationship building occur there? I'm thinking that I might attempt to track down some old friends through it, but the last thing I want is one more networking site to keep track of, or one more way to find me on the internet.