I seem to have a hitch in my giddy-up today, Dearies. So I'm doing what any sensible Spinster should do...I'm watching the rain and listening to the birds and gearing up for a bit of reading.
Yes, Moby Dick was absolutely on my Great Books Seminar reading list somewhere during my tenure as a student, but for the life of me I cannot remember having read it. My copy from those days is highlighted and annotated and broken in, but I don't know if I did that while reading, or if I frantically made notes at the discussion table like I was wont to do.
(What can I say? I was a TERRIBLE student and had absolutely no business being in college when I was. I don't say this to demean myself...it's just the plain truth of the matter. I was a complete disaster at Notre Dame, and couldn't get out of my own way. I had the emotional maturity of a seven-year old, was socially inept, and completely overwhelmed academically.)
I am, though, immensely grateful that I can now go back and re-visit things a bit, and thanks to a few new YouTube subscriptions, I'm learning how to deep-read. I found a podcast called Read Well, and I have really enjoyed listening to the host (Eddie) teach me how to get more out of my reading...when I want to...by deep reading.
I am still enjoying "casual" reading before bed (Owen Meany), but a few hours a day of concentrated study seems to be very good for my tiny little brain. This and my new morning journaling practice have really been good for the circus that's usually in my head, and I find that even my stitching and diamond painting time has benefitted.
So, despite some ugh-ish-ness, I'm determined to pull my britches up and soldier on. A few quiet hours won't kill me, and there's still plenty of time this week to run around like a hamster.
How are you doing today? Is life in your corner of the world wonderfully swell? I hope so, and I hope you'll come tell me all about it.
I loved Moby-Dick, but there are lots of the so-called 'greats' that I just can't get into. Same goes for lots of more popular fiction, too. It took me decades to accept that some books are worth the effort but many are not. It's not a personal failing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the deep read concept! I am going to check it out later. But first, I'm heading over the mountain to visit a friend -- good conversation, good lunch out and an awesome ice cream stop because I return home. Happy Thursday!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation! I looked up Read Well and added it to my Spotify. I am an ok reader. Like stitching, it's a rollercoaster depending on how much of life is impinging on my time. I'm a mixed bag of genres. I do like biographies and memoirs, nonfiction, mysteries, literature and contemporary novels. Historical fiction - meh. I'd rather read the real stories. Period fiction ok. I don't do much fantasy or romance, and no to horror or true crime? I think I'm going to like his advice.
ReplyDeleteGreat work.
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