"But you're right: each clump of symbols is a brief, urgent message - describing a situation, a scene. We Tralfamadorians read them all at once, not one after the other. There isn't any particular relationship between all the messages, except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time."
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This book is bloody brilliant. I have nothing more coherent to say about it at this point, other than Vonnegut is incredible and I should have picked up this book a long time ago. Also, I want to underline everything.
A little shot of what I've been reading from today (although my real essay writing unfortunately doesn't include many pretty flowers or picture frames). ----------------------------------------------------
When I used to post on here regularly I was undecided in what I wanted to get my degree in. I haven't talked much about academics on here (frankly because I'm worried I might bore people!), but last September I declared my major in Classical Archaeology and a lot of my reading has been books like this ever since. A lot of my focus is on women and perceptions of women in the ancient world and, although I am reading this book for an essay I'm writing, I think anyone interested in women or history would enjoy this essay collection! It's a really great, comprehensive look at magic in the Greek and Roman worlds and how these ideas related to women in particular. If you've ever wondered more about where characters like Circe came from, and why we always think of women when we think about witches, I highly recommend this one.
Awkward hand position, messy shelves - it's a photo for bookstagram! I thought Easter and the start of real spring-like weather where I live made it the perfect opportunity to get back on here and posting. I haven't felt much like myself lately, and I think part of that is because I've been stressed out and not taking any time to read for fun, which sounds ridiculous but is something I miss enormously. I'm hoping that I can start this account back up again as a reading journal, and that seeing everyone else read will motivate me. If you have any tips for managing to take time for yourself when life gets crazy, I would really appreciate it 😅 also, what books have you been loving lately? I'm really in the mood for cozy classics like the Anne series and Jane Austen. 💗💐 and Happy Easter!
Hello again, lovely people of bookstagram! Many apologies for being absent yet again, but I promise this time I have an excuse - traveling! For the past month and a half I've barely been home, first with a month in England and then another week spent down in Georgia, and so my mind and my reading have been a bit too muddled to share anything with you all during that time. I'm home now though, and as I'm getting back to some semblance of order and packing away my suitcase I hope to get back to reading and sharing some of what I did during my vacations with you guys. Here are a couple of photos I took of the gorgeous English countryside while I was there 🌳☀️🌼🍃
"'Hey,' said Shadow. 'Huginn or Muninn, or whoever you are.' The bird turned, head tipped, suspiciously, on one side, and it stared at him with bright eyes.
'Say "Nevermore,"' said Shadow.
'Fuck you,' said the raven."
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"Religions are, by definition, metaphors, after all: God is a dream, a hope, a woman, an ironist, a father, a city, a house of many rooms, a watchmaker who left his prize chronometer in the desert, someone who loves you—even, perhaps, against all evidence, a celestial being whose only interest is to make sure your football team, army, business, or marriage thrives, prospers, and triumphs over all opposition. Religions are places to stand and look and act, vantage points from which to view the world. So none of this is happening. Such things could not occur."
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My #currentread is American Gods by the ever wonderful Neil Gaiman. American Gods is one of those books I've had on my shelf for what seems like ages yet never felt like picking up. The other day, however, my dad started watching the TV show, and as he was describing the first episode to me I decided very quickly that this is a book I must read. The premise is unlike anything I've ever read before, but the writing is fantastic and the plot is enthralling - I'm hooked! Has anyone else read this? Also, if you've seen the new TV series of American Gods, what did you think?
