Ecclesiastes is the first book I think of when I think of the Bible. It's the first book I read when I started reading the Bible again.
Of all of the letters from Paul, Galatians is the one I'm least familiar with. I'll give it a read the next time I open my Bible.
Did I even mention that you have been a strong influence for me to not just give up on the Bible and never look at it again? I mean that as a high compliment.
I used the 1954 Encyclopedia Brittanica to write several reports while I was in grade school. My report on the ancient Egyptians got the highest marks in the class. My report on the imports and exports of Turkey was given poor marks for outdated information. Still, I think learned more from that project than anybody else because I knew early on that my country wasn't the only country in the world that changed through time. Back then, the media was still portraying many countries, especially in the Middle East, as if they never changed.
The books that were not already on my list have been added. So glad you stole this!
I had several Austen books on my list, but removed all but one because trying to read Pride and Prejudice hurt my head. I saw the movie adaptation and was just about bored as it is possible for me to be. I'm considering giving Persuasion a chance because somebody told me it was the least boring of her works. No guarantee that I'll actually get through it. I just want to make sure I've made up my own mind about her.
I always get Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck confused. I don't like Mark Twain either. Most of those famous American authors annoy me with their flag waving, machismo, and misogyny. I don't like the music of Gershwin either, which is related because he's practically considered a national symbol, much as are Twain, Steinbeck, and Hemingway.
There's something about things that are classed as "all-American" that just bugs me. I think it's the glorification of the individual over society. While I value autonomy and innovation, I think that it's the root of some really ugly sentiments when taken to an extreme. I think it works best when balanced with social awareness, something really lacking in the portrayals of those "great American thinkers".
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-07-29 08:25 pm (UTC)Of all of the letters from Paul, Galatians is the one I'm least familiar with. I'll give it a read the next time I open my Bible.
Did I even mention that you have been a strong influence for me to not just give up on the Bible and never look at it again? I mean that as a high compliment.
I used the 1954 Encyclopedia Brittanica to write several reports while I was in grade school. My report on the ancient Egyptians got the highest marks in the class. My report on the imports and exports of Turkey was given poor marks for outdated information. Still, I think learned more from that project than anybody else because I knew early on that my country wasn't the only country in the world that changed through time. Back then, the media was still portraying many countries, especially in the Middle East, as if they never changed.
The books that were not already on my list have been added. So glad you stole this!
I had several Austen books on my list, but removed all but one because trying to read Pride and Prejudice hurt my head. I saw the movie adaptation and was just about bored as it is possible for me to be. I'm considering giving Persuasion a chance because somebody told me it was the least boring of her works. No guarantee that I'll actually get through it. I just want to make sure I've made up my own mind about her.
I always get Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck confused. I don't like Mark Twain either. Most of those famous American authors annoy me with their flag waving, machismo, and misogyny. I don't like the music of Gershwin either, which is related because he's practically considered a national symbol, much as are Twain, Steinbeck, and Hemingway.
There's something about things that are classed as "all-American" that just bugs me. I think it's the glorification of the individual over society. While I value autonomy and innovation, I think that it's the root of some really ugly sentiments when taken to an extreme. I think it works best when balanced with social awareness, something really lacking in the portrayals of those "great American thinkers".