Monday Morning Freewrite

I usually start these when I first get up, but I have been up for 2 1/2 hours writing already. The house was very quiet and peaceful, and I thought I would write and then go to Pilates, but I am right in the middle of Matthew 24! UGH. When I awoke, I thought surely I could get through it in 2 1/2 hours and Pilates will be a nice breaking point, but George came out to make coffee and noise. So, my concentration was broken at 7:30 am. I also needed a "back break" and realized I was quite "wonky" as I put on my slippers. I showered and loosened up and went on my foam roller only to have a "crack, crack, crack" break out on my back, back, back (could not resist that). It was a "good" crack, crack, crack but made me realize that I was pretty unstable. 


So, I am not going to Pilates and will do "Praise Moves" and stretching along with my strength routine from Amanda. I think the strength routine from Shandra is not right for me. I sort of knew it as I did it. I am definitely strong enough to do all the moves (with heavy weight even), but they are not moves that protect my back. Surely I can strengthen without compromising that!  I am wondering if I can have Amanda give me a whole strength regiment. Or I may just go back to Group Power. That class never hurt my back because everything was "straight" on as opposed to twisting and having possible wrong positioning. I have to pray about this.  


It also could be irritated by those soft chairs at the Darkside Theatre. I should have just gone to the other chair. I didn't want to draw attention to myself. By the way, The Artist movie is lovely, but it is one I could have viewed in my home with a comfortable chair; unlike Hugo which really cannot be fully appreciated if not seen in a movie theatre with surround-sound, 3D, and big screen. Thankfully the Carmike has VERY back-friendly chairs! :)  


Well, I am going to go back to Matthew 24. The kids are stirring now and will be off to college classes within the hour. 

52 in 52 Week 10: The Crucible by Arthur Miller

This was I-N-T-E-N-S-E! I loved this play, and this L.A. Theatre Works rendition is excellent. I did not know that this was written by Arthur Miller in 1953 in response to the "witch hunt" of McCarthyism. 

Senator Joseph McCarthy led a crusade against communism in American in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Anyone involved with communism or left-wing activities was suspected. Many people were "blacklisted" and lost their jobs. In 1956, Miller was subpoenaed by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. He refused to give the names of communist writers that he knew. We can see this in Giles Corey and John Proctor in this play. 

The Crucible is based on the tragic events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. Many of the characters were actual historical figures (Parris, Proctor, Sarah Good, Mary Warren, and Tituba).

The main symbol is the crucible (a container used for melting that can withstand very high temperatures).  Danforth says in the play that the court is a "hot fire" that "melts down all concealment." But there is a deeper meaning to the play in this regard, and it reminds me of this verses:

"The refining pot is for silver 

and the furnace for gold,

But the LORD tests hearts"

Proverbs 17:3

"“But He knows the way I take; 

When He has tried me, 

I shall come forth as gold." 

(Job 23:10, NASB95) 

This is a brilliant play, I highly recommend it. There is good and evil in it, and it might be disturbing, but it is worth the read. 


I you cannot find this edition at your local library (or digital library), you can buy is HERE: http://www.latw.org/audio/index.html

Here is the cast:


Cast:
Irene Aranga as Mercy Lewis
Rene Auberjonois as Deputy Governor Danforth
Ed Begley Jr. as Thomas Putnam
Georgia Brown as Rebecca Nurse
Jack Coleman as Marshal Herrick
Bud Cort as Ezekiel Cheever
Richard Dreyfuss as Reverend John Hale
Judyann Elder as Tituba
Hector Elizondo as Giles Corey
Fionnula Flanagan as Reverend John Hale
Ann Hearne as Susanna Walcott
Carol Kane as Mary Warren
Stacy Keach as John Proctor
Anna Sophie Loewenberg as Betty Parris
Marian Mercer as Mrs. Ann Putnam
Franklyn Seales as Judge Hathorne
Madolyn Smith as Abigail Williams
Joe Spano as Francis Nurse
Michael York as Reverend Parris

52 in 52 Week 10: The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

By Smatprt (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Now I know where the title for the musical "Kiss Me, Kate" comes from! I vaguely remember Elizabeth Taylor screaming in the movie version that came out when I was eight years old. (I wish my library had it. I really want to see it now.)

This is a very sexist play, but it is all in fun. The characters are sort of confusing, and it made it really confusing when librivox had women being men AGAIN! UGH! But I found it in my library with the Arkangel audio series, and I may just listen to it again.

Fun!

52 in 52 Week 10: King Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare

My favorite audio drama people (www.naxosaudiobboks.com) have not done a recording of this. The digital library just had an abridged version. So, I settled for the FREE www.librivox.org recording, but sometimes they cast women as men, and some voices are clearer and better than others. So, I got this bright idea to go to my library and see if they had them on CD. 

BINGO!

They had the COMPLETE plays, and they are all beautiful renditions. Too bad I had listened to all of this play and The Taming of the Shrew before I realized that they might have them!

This made me want to listen to Part II. I love the history I am learning from Shakepeare!  

52 in 52: Week 10: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

This book's title comes from a Robert Burns poem titled "To a Mouse"


"But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley, (Often go awry)
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain
For promis'd joy."


This book was based on Steinbeck's own experience as a "bindlestiff" (a hobo who carries a bindle, which is a collection of belongings wrapped in a cloth and tied around a stick). It was published in 1937 during the height of the depression




This is a very "tight" story that involves a very short amount of time. It is set in California. The two main characters are George and Lennie who are farmhands with a dream.


I loved The Grapes of Wrath, and I really loved this novella. It is a "psychological novel." I don't want to spoil it. It is "gritty" though. Just a warning. Steinbeck is a brilliant writer, but he writes about the tough things. 


I love this quote from John Steinbeck's journal:

In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.— John Steinbeck in his 1938 journal entry^[5]

52 in 52 Week 10: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

I loved this play! I don't think it is a comedy though. I would definitely put it in the "tragicomedy" category. Aha, I see that The Book of Great Books:A Guide to 100 World Classics agrees with me. :)    

                                                                                                                                                                                    This is the first time I have ever read it, but I saw the movie with Al Pacino as Shylock. Oh my, he was good as Shylock. Definitely worth watching (Warning: There is one unnecessary scene with women’s breasts that came out of nowhere. We have ClearPlay now. So, we don’t have to worry about those kinds of surprises anymore!).

What a play. It might be my favorite of the "comedies," but I have never read Measure for Measure but saw it on stage and LOVED the moral dilemma in that wonderful play! 

Portia is a strong woman in this play, but I feel like Shylock is the sympathetic character here. The court scene is so excruciatingly painful for me. The famous quote by Portia is contained in Act 4, Scene 1: 

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath. It is twice blest:It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 

This quote makes me think of my thoughts about revenge last week, and this quote from Nelson Mandela:

"Resentment is like drinking poison 

and waiting for it to kill your enemy." 

When we extend mercy to another, we are blessed. Must ponder all of this more. 

I have such sympathy for Shylock. A part of me loves Portia strength but makes me so dislike her too. Did she extend mercy to Shylock? I think not! Shylock was a person who was in grief. He had "bullied" all his life. 

This leads me to think of the recent school shooting in Ohio. I don't condone school shootings, but I feel sympathy for some who have been bullied so mercilessly. (The jury is still out as to whether this boy was bullied.)  But again, I go back to extending mercy to others and you will be free!  Jesus could have exacted revenge with all of His power, but He chose mercy, and I am so grateful for that! 

Shakespeare is everywhere. Look what I came across just last week while studying the parable of the Prodigal Son and the subject of repentance in Luke 15:17-19:

"“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’" (Luke 15:17-19, NASB95) 

To “repent” means “to change one’s mind,” and that is exactly what the young man did as he cared for the pigs. (What a job for a Jewish boy!) He “came to himself,” which suggests that up to this point he had not really “been himself.” There is an “insanity” in sin that seems to paralyze the image of God within us and liberate the “animal” inside. Students of Shakespeare like to contrast two quotations that describe this contradiction in man’s nature. 

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form, in moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!

(Hamlet, II, ii) 

When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.

(The Merchant of Venice, I, ii)

(Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Lk 15:11). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books)

I love Shakespeare! This is the last one from my list, but I came down loaded down with more CD's from the library. I am such a nerd, but there is something about Shakespeare that is so relaxing and challenging to my soul.


A word about audio versions! There is a new one by NAXOS AUDIOBOOKS that sounds fantastic (probably the best), and I listened to the first scene for free, but I am too cheap to buy it. The digital library didn't have one. So, I went and got a free version from Librivox, but halfway through it, I realized that my library probably had a CD version, and they have ALL the plays on CD. So, I am sorry I wasted my time downloading the Librivox versions. Some of the actors were very good in this particular play, but nothing beats trained Shakespearean professional actors! 


Here is the version I listened to:


 

The cast was superb which includes: 


Portia - Hadyn Gwynne
Shylock - Trevor Peacock 
Bassanio - Julian Rhind-Tutt
Antonio - Bill Nighy
Gratiano - Will Keen
Lorenzo - Matthew Delamere
Jessica - Sara-Jane Holm
Nerissa - ALison Reid

52 in 52 Week 10: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

I had no idea what this play was about. I knew it was a tragedy, and you would have to had lived under a rock to not have heard the Three Witches (or weird sisters) quoted:


"Double, double toil and trouble                Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." (IV,i)

At the very beginning, I could tell that ambition (both Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's) would be their downfall. The descent into evil and degeneration of character was so unsavory for me. He has a conscience in the beginning, but he listens to those witches and his wife! 

Apparently, there really was a Macbeth in Scottish history, but he was an honored monarch. 

Shakespeare borrowed the story from several tales in Holinshed's Chronicles, a popular history of the British Isles known to Shakespeare and his contemporaries. In Chronicles, a man named Donwald finds several of his family put to death by his king, King Duff, for dealing with witches. After being pressured by his wife, he and four of his servants kill the King in his own house. In Chronicles, Macbeth is portrayed as struggling to support the kingdom in the face of King Duncan's ineptitude. He and Banquo meet the three witches, who make exactly the same prophecies as in Shakespeare's version. Macbeth and Banquo then together plot the murder of Duncan, at Lady Macbeth's urging. Macbeth has a long, ten-year reign before eventually being overthrown by Macduff and Malcolm. The parallels between the two versions are clear. However, some scholars think that George Buchanan's Rerum Scoticarum Historia matches Shakespeare's version more closely. Buchanan's work was available in Latin in Shakespeare's day.^[10]

From Wikipedia: MacBeth 

As I listened and walked, I heard Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth:

Away and mock the time with fairest show;

False face must hide what the fall heart doth know. (I,vii)

Then I remembered that the title of the book, TrueFaced: Trust God and Others with Who You Really Are, that I read last year was based on this quote!  


This wasn't my favorite play. It was just OK. 

52 in 52 Week 10:The Tempest by William Shakespeare

 

". . . We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep." (Prospero, Act IV, i)


I feel as though in a dream. I loved this play. What is it about Shakespeare that brings me such peace. I know not what.


In one of my books, this is under the "Romances." If that is the case, it is my first one. Another book puts it in the "Comedies" of which I have read many (I believe it is wise to start with the Comedies to warm yourself up to the Bard).  The Book of Great Books classifies it as a "Romance; tragicomedy" which makes it fit in all categories but the Histories! 

Do I take part: the rarer action isIn virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,The sole drift of my purpose doth extendNot a frown further. Go, release them, Ariel.My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore,And they shall be themselves (V,i)

It is a moral tale, and Shakespeare hits the right notes. I knew nothing about this one before I set sail with it upon the tempestuous sea except that my previous book, Brave New World,  derives its name from one of the lines in Act V,i:

How many goodly creatures are there here! 

How beauteous mankind is! 

O brave new world! 

That has such people in it! - Miranda

 This is play is so delightful! I don't want to spoil the plot. Look at the picture  of the cover, and you will get an idea of the beginning. This play has all the elements that make for delight: good, evil, love, forgiveness, and freedom!


About the Naxos Audio version: BRAVO!!!! I continue to say this, Shakespeare was meant to be acted rather than read. So, this was lovely to listen to as I followed along. I knew the gentle father and Miranda were familiar voices. So, I was delighted to discover it was Ian McKellen and Emilia Fox! Then, my joy was made complete to hear another British favorite, Benedict Cumberbatch, as the wonderful, Ferdinand.  


Here is the full cast: 

CAST

Alonso, King of Naples – Roger Hammond
Sebastian, his brother – John McAndrew
Prospero, Duke of Milan – Ian McKellen
Antonio, his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan – Neville Jason
Miranda, daughter of Prospero – Emilia Fox
Ferdinand, son to the King of Naples – Benedict Cumberbatch
Gonzalo, an honest old councillor – David Burke
Adrian, a lord – Simon Treves
Francisco, a lord – Tim Bentinck
Caliban, a savage and deformed slave – Ben Onwukwe
Trinculo, a jester – Ian Talbot
Stephano, a drunken butler – John Hodgkinson
Master – Simon Treves
Boatswain – Tim Bentinck
Ariel, an airy spirit – Scott Handy
Juno – Elaine Claxton
Ceres – Laura Paton

Wednesday Wellness

Wednesday Wellness


Well-Watered Soul 


We prayed for a good long time in the Kingdom Community about all the unrest in the world. Praying for peace in Afghanistan. Thanking God for the opening in North Korea so that people there can get food (praying that it gets through to them all and the government doesn't gobble it up). He is agreeing to let inspectors come in. Maybe this is the answer to all our prayers for opening in North Korea. The 27 year old leader may be more malleable than his American culture loving (but government hating) father. 


I am in the Passion Week in the Gospel Harmony Book Club and in our Kingdom Community gospel reading. It is tough every time. I don't want it to ever not be tough to see what Jesus suffered on my behalf. 


Well-Educated Mind 


I am on my last Shakespearean play on the 100 Great Books List. I just finished Act II of The Merchant of Venice. That will be my first book for this first day of March. 


I really need to finish Song of Years. It is so much more interesting to read classics than things like that. I like Bess Streeter Aldrich. She was a decent writer for her time, but this book is so flat and so all encompassing of years. I like "tighter" stories. Of Mice and Men had just a few characters and was about a smaller set of time. I was immediately engrossed. This one is just a rambling on of years (maybe that is why it is called Song of Years). Well, the SONG IS TOO LONG!  LOL! I am more than halfway through it, and I prefer Shakespeare to this boring book.


I know that some people in my book club would be aghast at such a statement. We have people who LOVE Aldrich books, and she is their favorite author. I have liked her other books though, especially The Rim of the Prairie which was a "tight" book. There was a small amount of time, and there was even a mystery that kept me reading to the end. 


There is no mystery to Song of Years, and I can't wait until it ends!  If I finish that, I will only have one more book to have read all the Book Babe books that I missed. 


Well-Adjusted Heart 


I hear the diesel truck revving up in the driveway. I convinced George to drive today instead of try to ride his bike in the freshly fallen snow. Yes, there is beautiful SNOW. I walked out in it in order to snap some pictures. It is still very crunchy and not slushy yet. I love freshly fallen snow!


My heart is good.


Now, I hear Michael's alarm. Paul has no class today but piano and Dial-a-Book book deliveries. Maybe I can convince them to do this with me before Michael goes to class and Paul to piano as my back is a bit sore.


Well-Tuned Strength


Yes, the back is sore. It is sore because of tightness and not because I wrenched it. I started that new workout routine with Shandra, and it really is very hard. I should have just done the stretching in Pilates and skipped the strength moves because I think my back was too tight to do it. 


I think I am sorer today than yesterday, at least in my triceps. OUCH! This is good to mix it up a bit. I have been relaxing as my shoulder has healed. I think it is now at 95%.


I am resting today though. I can't go walking (unless I walk in a field which is a possibility and would be beautiful) because I don't like walking in the snow on concrete (I fall). 


Michael is up and said "Good Morning!"  The bell just rang. 

February Reading List

FEBRUARY 18!  (And my hubby was born on February 18!

(100 GB = Great Books)

All reviews are below with the exception of the last five which will come on Sunday. 

6. Tom Sawyer (100 GB)

7. Othello (100 GB)

8. Julius Caesar (100 GB)

9. The Awakening (100 GB)

10. King Lear (100 GB)

11. Romeo and Juliet (100 GB)

12. Hawaii: From Origins to the End of the Monarchy

13. Billy Budd (100 GB)

14. The Call of the Wild (100 GB)

15. Daisy Miller (100 GB)

16. Ethan Frome (100 GB)

17. David Copperfield (100 GB)

18. Brave New World (100 GB)

19. The Tempest (100 GB)

20. Macbeth (100 GB)

21. Of Mice and Men (100 GB)

22. King Henry IV, Part 1 (100 GB)
23. The Taming of the Shrew (100 GB)

Still Peace Freewrite

The counter ticks from 15 minutes, but I will type slowly and deliberately today. It is early morning, and the house is ever so quiet. I love it when I can wake up early enough to have this space all to myself for what seems like an eternity. I use this for my time of meditation and writing and reading. Today the reading was Henry IV, Part 1 as I made my chai tea. 

My sleep was fitful owing to the tough strengthening workout from Shandra. She helped me before I went surfing so I would not injure myself, and I had one more session left. Here it is almost four months later, and I finally did it. I asked her for a weight work out, but she gave me a strengthening one that is time consuming, but it is effective. I am sore (but not too sore) and could feel it coming on even last night as I drifted off to sleep.

My dream was a big group and going to places for showers and having to wait for privacy. I finally realized I could wake up and go to the bathroom all by myself. LOL! We had a mission in that group. My dorm room was full of people. I could not even get in there to get my towel. George and I passed in the night as the men and women were separated. Nice to awaken to his sleep beside me and not set apart because of some group goal. 

Today, I must go to Pilates to stretch out the soreness. Then, I am working on Romans as I decided to write as I go along in the study with Kim and Rachel. I will also prepare for people tonight. 

The state of "The Well":

Well-Watered Soul


I am almost done with The Gospel Harmony Book Club posts. I am in the middle of Holy Week which puts me more than a month ahead. I have LOVED combining my Old Testament with Jesus! I am also loving giving notes about Romans as I study it with Kim and Rachel. That is a very good thing!


Well-Educated Mind 


Reading lots of shorter works, mostly by audiobook and following along if my hands are free. I think I have 35 more books on the "Great Books" List.


Well-Adjusted Heart 


Fabulous. Wanting to see others free from bitterness though. "Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for it to kill your enemy." spoken by Nelson Mandela. I so agree. No poison these days for me. Free, forgiven, and forgiving.


Well-Tuned Strength


Pilates reentry was easy. So, this newest group of exercises from Shandra will really challenge me. I will do them. Some I need to be cautious because of my shoulder. Like the bicep lift may need a lighter weight. 


Cardio is good. Eating was good last night! Giving up ice cream for Lent has helped in that cause since I usually start craving it at about 9 pm at night. Last night, I just had a bit of chocolate and went to bed early. :)


Well, I have 1:08. So, I will sign off for now. I have a lot of writing before I go to Pilates in about an hour!

Sunday Morning 15

I have done this everyday but Tuesday! I have never had so many freewrites in one week, but they really do help me warm up to my morning writing routine. I have put a lot of hours into my book this week, and it is quite rewarding. I don't know what I am going to do with myself when I am done with the Gospel Harmony Book Club posts in the next month! Ha! I have much to do, and I have many rewrites and editing ahead of me on that score. I just wanted to get it out as I went through it with my Kingdom Community, and that is what I did (with few people viewing what I am sure are many typos and errors!). 


I am feeling better, but George is down with the same thing that I had from Sunday night to Friday morning! It helps to know it wasn't all in my imagination. It is the strangest little bug that doesn't really amount to anything major, but it just runs you down and has you stop. Thankfully, I did, and all was well with the people that I had to postpone meeting with. So, it is good.

This next week has this: 


Writing:  for Bible Book Club (2 Chronicles/1 Kings) and Gospel Harmony Book Club (Jesus is headed toward Jerusalem at this point. I have 52 out of 250 events left to cover. Wow! I really am close to being done on this, but the events of the crucifixion require more intensity as they are written in all four accounts. That always takes more time to back them up with the individual chapters for the 2013 "straight through" gospel reading that will run tandem with the chronological things. It is hard for me to know when to stop as the chapters overlap each other as I stop one and start another in the same event. It is fun though. I love walking with Jesus through these pages. I am growing.


Appointments and Women: Heather wants an evening meeting for some life coaching. Another girl wants some time for some emotional issues. Abi needs the gifts and personality type stuff for her Monday Jesus Community. Lots of time praying with Teala tonight during our annual get together. 

Bible Study: Romans 2 with Kim and Rachel (overlapping with writing Romans 1 for the BBC)


Prayer: 2-3 today on campus


Paul: He will no doubt need some encouragement to get that 8-10 page paper started and not to wait until the last minute.


Kingdom Community: I already did the prep work for this! I need to order the Simpson book and begin John 18 (overlapping with writing for the GHBC). Pick up Indo Night tickets






Photos: I have taken a month off, and I need to put my nose to the grindstone and get back to the completion of my only TRUE goal for the year: FINISH THOSE PHOTO BOOKS!


Menu:
Sunday: Chicken Enchiladas
Monday: Roast
Tuesday: Leftovers 
Wednesday: Kingdom Community (Micah is cooking)
Thursday: Old Settler's with Cornbread
Friday: Fish 


That was 15 minutes. Sort of boring


Well-Educated Mind: The Tempest, Henry IV: Part 1.

52 in 52 Week 9: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Oh my goodness! 


What a book! I LOVED it.


It is absolutely brilliant!!!! 


 We inherited it from my well-read, departed  father-in-law, and it has been staring at me from the bookcase that faces my bed, but I was afraid of it. My husband warned me, "Carol, it is PG-13." He tried to read it, and he didn't like all the sex. So, I have always been a bit hesitant about reading it.


Well, the sex isn't described in detail, and Huxley is satirizing the cheapening of sex in  this "civilized" society. The promiscuity is seen as a bad thing in the novel. Just want to make that clear from the beginning. 



In Brave New World, Huxley creates a world without Shakespeare and roses and God. Yet, Shakespeare is quoted throughout the book! How fun that I had just finished reading Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear, and will be reading The Tempest as my next book! These works (and many more) are quoted.  


In fact, the title of Brave New World comes from The Tempest:

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is!

O brave new world,

That has such people in it!

(V,i) 

Aldous Huxley
1894-1963

You can read all the quotes from Shakespeare HERE.


Before there was George Orwell (Eric Blair), there was Huxley. And Huxley happened to be Orwell's French teacher at Eaton where he was "an incompetent and hopeless teacher who couldn't keep discipline. Nevertheless, Blair and others were impressed with his use of words" (Wikipedia). We can see Huxley's influence in Orwell's famous novel, 1984. 

From Wikipedia: On 21 October 1949, Huxley wrote to George Orwell, author of Nineteen Eighty-Four, congratulating him on "how fine and how profoundly important the book is". In his letter to Orwell, he predicted:

Within the next generation I believe that the world's leaders will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience.^[13]

Both these works are considered "Anti-utopian (or dystopian)" novels pointing out society's weaknesses by highlighting its fanaticism. Many of the characters have names similar to famous personages of Marxism, Communism, and Fascism. The political symbolism is evident.


While 1984 has a very dark, cold, cruel, and serious tone, Brave New World is serious, satirical, and even funny at times; like a cross between Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm. I like Brave New World much better than 1984. Maybe it was all the Shakespeare!



Huxley wrote that the major theme of this book is "the advancement of science as it affects human individuals." The novel "satirizes modern society by creating a future world in which population control and mental programming have been carried to extremes," and the "citizens of the benign brave new world have been conditioned to be happy and well adjusted. But along with this kind of happiness comes the loss of individualism, and perhaps even the loss of human values, history, and civilization" (The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics, p. 96). 


One way that this society achieves happiness is through that "happiness in a bottle" drug called SOMA. It so reminded me of the new AEROSHOT, breathable caffeine that is advertised as pure energy that is a "new healthy way to receive the energy you need to live an exciting and productive life - anytime, anywhere."  That is scary!

There are many more scary parallels in the book, but you have to read it to understand that. I don't want to spoil it for you.

One additional note, I told my husband that that was the best narration I had every heard. Then, I looked and saw it was narrated by acclaimed actor, Michael York. NO WONDER!  

I will stop here, by a quote from a friend on Facebook who responded when I said I had just finished this book, "I LOVE that book! Everyone should read it. At least every westerner should." I heartily agree!

52 in 52 Week 9: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Happy 200th Birthday, 

Charles Dickens!

I'm a bit giddy about finishing this most satisfying read. It took me 10 days, and I did a combination of reading it on my Kindle and listening to the Frederick Davidson narration (which was excellent) as I worked out and read.

Yes, it is very long (because he wrote it in serialized form, maybe?), but Dicken's is so melodic in his prose. That man just knew how to write. He makes effortless similes (unlike most contemporary writers who make it very obvious that they are trying to accomplish that feat and overdo it). 

It stuck me just how funny Dickens is too. Yes, the story has some tragic twists and turns, but David also brings out the joy and laughter in life (Aunt Betsy and the donkeys is one example) too!

I read this on the heals of four American tragedies in the Naturalist/Realistic era of literature, and I ran back to Victorian Britain for a good old story where the good guys are really good, and the bad guys are really bad, and good triumphs over evil and true love wins! 

Rapturous delight. 

Some people have criticized David as being too good a character, but I disagree. He has his weakness, and he grows and matures through the book. 

This is often quoted through the book:

“There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.”


"Annie Strong makes this remark to her husband, Doctor Strong, in Chapter XLV, when Mr. Dick brings the couple together again after Uriah Heep’s deviousness has torn them apart. Annie’s words haunt David in his new marriage to Dora, as he slowly realizes that his and Dora’s characters are irreconcilably different. Dickens indicates that true love must rest on an equality between souls, while equality of age and class is less significant. Equality of purpose is essential for two people to join their lives, fortunes, and futures. Without equality there can be only misunderstanding, and with it a dynamic in which one partner dominates and the other suffers. The most prominent examples of good marriage in David Copperfield are the Strongs’ marriage and David’s marriage to Agnes, both of which exemplify marital bliss in that both couples yearn for mutual happiness and act generously toward each other" (From Sparknotes: David Copperfield).

My husband's favorite quote is:

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

- Mr. Micawber, esquire from Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, Ch. 12

Too bad our congress can't take Mr. Micawber's advice!

 “There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.”

Saturday

I didn't warm up my fingers today with a freewrite. I dove into Luke 16 early this morning as the rain softly (and sometimes wildly) fell. Now, the sun has broken through the clouds, and bathing my backyard in beautiful morning glow. My living room is also bathing in light.

Good morning, LORD!  I really enjoyed this morning. I pray we can all be good stewards of all that You give us.

Friday Freewrite

I don't have enough time to start a new Bible Book Club/Gospel Harmony Book Club post before I walk to Pilates. So, I will just do a 10 minute freewrite here and then go.


I felt lousy again yesterday, but like Wednesday, I started feeling better at 11 am. That was enough time to write about Luke 15 and the lost sheep, coin, and son. I learned some new things too! I did all my back and shoulder exercises and go ready for my afternoon.


Then, I got ready to walk to campus to meet with someone I was supposed to meet with on Tuesday morning. Wisely, I scheduled it for 1 pm when I knew I would feel better. I started to go out the door when Michael came running back from the bus stop to get another notebook, and he tried to run back, but the bus went by. So, since I was going to that way anyway, I decided to drive to the library, bring back things due, and he walked to the Linn-Benton Loop Transit Center from there to catch the bus out to LB. I also knew that I could go shopping if I had the car.


I walked the .7 of a mile to campus and stopped by George's office to visit. Then, I walked a bit before going to my appointment near campus. It was 2 1/2 hours of listening and reflecting back. We took a walk to get her out and about, and she felt so much better. She is hurting, and she is inside her head quite a bit. I prayed for her, and I also shared the story of the lost son because she believes the person who wronged her will be punished, but I told her about the love, grace, and forgiveness of the Father for the prodigal son. So, it was very applicable.  I think she is better.


Then, I walked back to the library. I was going to sit and read, but they have SHOCKINGLY not returned the winged back chairs of the reading room. My place of solace in this city has been uncomfortably changed. (If that is my only stress from the day, I am doing really well).


After that, I went to Fred Meyer and did a full shopping trip. I was starting to drag, and George told me just to go home, but I pushed through. I stopped off for some you bake pizza and Paul helped me unload groceries. 


I settled my back on my new "roller" and did some exercises and sort of crashed. It was a lot to do in one day, and I am glad I didn't walk all the way to campus and back because I am not up for that yet. 


Then, we had some pizza, and I rested a bit until Kathleen came over from 7-10:15 p.m.  We had some great Theophostic time, and George visited with us for half of it. 


I crashed listening to Brave New World before I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.


Eight seconds left. Pretty good! BYE!

Thursday Freewrite

This is starting to be a more regular thing to do. It really helps me to get whatever is on my mind (on my plate) down. I used to have that in my journal, an "on my heart" time, and I loved that, but it seems my journaling is more here as of late. Maybe when I am done with the Bible Book Club/Gospel Harmony Book Club, I will be doing more physical writing, but this is more convenient at present.

I have been under the weather for three days now. Yesterday, I was good from 11-7, and I was able to write five posts and finish David Copperfield by 5 pm, but I faded in the middle of Kingdom Community last night. I feel better this morning than I did yesterday. So, I am on the upswing and am even going to attempt to walk to campus to have lunch with Heba at 1 pm. The other two mornings, I was going to meet with her, but I usually don't start feeling better until about 11 am. So, I scheduled our time for the afternoon. I know she meets with George at 3:30. So, I can walk back and rest before I meet with Kathleen at 7 pm. That may be too much for me, but I have all day Friday no appointments (except writing).

I have been asked to talk about forgiveness at a seminar on Saturday, and I need to pray and really see if the Lord has something for me there. I feel like this is not the year for public speaking, and I have turned down several requests lately. I feel like my plate is full with these projects that I have put on hold, and when I saw that my appointments were less with the exit of two people I met with regularly (to India and Southern California), I really put my hand to the plow on neglected projects. I am sure He will let me know. No word yet, but He always makes it clear, and I am less inclined to worry about disappointing people these days.

Writing on Luke 10 this week (sending out the 72) was so perfectly timed for our readings for Kingdom Community. George and I are all abuzz about the possibilities of him using up all his contract money in a nine month period and heading out for three months to apply the principles!  His boss is so open to anything. It is just money in an account, and when it is out, it is out. He can even work remotely part time while out and about. So, we are excited about those possibilities, and just praying about it now. :)  I am up for anything!

The kids are doing really well. They both work really hard at their studies, and they both get a "D" for Diligence as I always said when they were younger. They are really disciplined boys, and I almost wish they would have a little more fun in the process!  Paul keeps saying that he can't wait until June though. He is so much like me, probably studies more than he really needs to!  They are both so delightful to be around. It is such a privilege to be their mom.

Kathleen is going to Hawaii with Angie and her parents, and she asked me to go along. There is a condo, and I would just need to pay for food and a plane ticket. Oh my. That would be so fun, but I think two times in Hawaii for the Winter would be TOO much. LOL!

Well, the timer is at 45 seconds, and I think I am ready to dive into Luke 14 now. LOVE LUKE! But I pretty much just love the Bible.

Oh, by the way, I finished David Copperfield, and a review is coming!!

Wednesday Freewrite

Warming up my fingers for 15 minutes again. It always seems to help me write later.

I am making the switch back to the Old Testament as I am up to March 4 on the Gospel Harmony Book Club. Luke 10 took me 1 1/2 days to write, and I was already feeling puny (Didn't know this was a Southern word until Lisa O. pointed it out to me on Facebook today. Wonder how it got into my vernacular as a child? Southern Cal?). I also felt some attack from the enemy! It figures because Luke 10 is such a key chapter. I hadn't realized it until I dug deep into it.

I am sorry that I had to cancel on two people yesterday because of my puniness (love that word). One is going through a really tough time but also very busy. So, I really can't risk her getting sick. Plus, her stuff is pretty intense, and I am not all there mentally. The other was a long needed catch up because we haven't met since before we went to Hawaii. We started catching up on Sunday afternoon though. So, hopefully, we can meet tomorrow night. I find it best to nip these colds in the bud before they go full-born. Then, the duration is much shorter. I am even skipping Pilates that starts in 5 minutes, but I must remember to do my "band" and "roller" work that I skipped yesterday because I felt so lousy.

Back to Luke 10. I called in prayer reinforcements on that one and was able to write it with ease after that. I think it was the enemy. Look it up. Luke 10 talks about us being ambassadors, neighbors, and worshiper. That is the essence of what following Jesus is all about! Powerful time yesterday despite the puniness. (I also like the word "oogley" that was given to me by Kim A.)

On a happier note, I got in bed very early last night due to my sickness and canceling with my friend, and I read David Copperfield straight through for three hours! It is much quicker to read than listen to it, but often I listen to it at times I would not be able to read AND cook or clean or walk or run or lift weights. So, I like being able to combine the two, and the Kindle makes that easy as I just search for the word that is on the narration and jump to it and read for a while. The transition BACK to the narration isn't quite as smooth (I hope someday they start having chapter marks in MP3 recordings, but I suspect this is because this was a CD converted to an MP3), but I think I have it down now, and it works almost flawlessly. For example, I see I am at 77% on my Kindle, and I multiply .77 by the number of "tracks" on my iPod. In this case it is 32. That makes it 24.64. So, I got to track 25 and I can even multiply .64 x the number of minutes on the track and even get it very close to the exact minutes where I am in the narration! I am such a nerd!!!!!

All that to say that it has been DELIGHTFUL to be immersed in Dickens (even though this is a very LONG book and could have used some editing, his bunny trails are fascinating to me)!  He is so clever and comedic even in the midst of tragedy. So much better than those awful American tragedies from the Realism/Naturalism genre!  It is nice to see the evil people gone and the good (or trying to be good) met with compassion and love and forgiveness. YAY! And URIAH HEEP IS A CREEP! Just sayin'.

Well, I think I have 50 seconds or so to go. So there is no proofreading so my there might be their, but I really do know the difference!

LOL! I am back to work now!

From My iPod

I haven't used this from here in ages. Loved this photo!

Monday Morning Freewrite

I am setting the timer and going at it before I start my "real" writing for the day.

15 minutes and ready go!

I think I will give "The Well" update . . .

The Well-Educated Mind: Well, of course, the real list is completed, and I am immensely satisfied in the result. I don't think I am necessarily "Well-Educated," but I know so much more than when I first began. I am thankful. I have to say that this new list I am tackling, The 100 Great Books, is a cinch comparatively! I love that it is all fiction. I find them very easy to get through and understand. Many of them are plays that I can read/listen to in an afternoon. So, this is lovely.

I still have it in my mind to do an annotated bibliography of the 158 books that I read in The Well-Educated Mind and maybe even find a separate website for that subject. I want to be able to share what I learned with others who are on the same journey. It is exciting for me.

I am also loving learning about the time period before and after World War I from watching Downton Abbey! That is my new guilty pleasure that is going to be dormant until next January when it comes back again.

The Well-Tuned Body Strength: My shoulder and bicipital tendonitis is almost 100%. I did up/down planks in Pilates today with relatively little pain. It is all about placing your shoulder blades in place before attempting the strength move. My back is also enjoying pain-free days. I am doing more preventative things like moist heat with the slightest hint of tightness. I am also stretching throughout the day and making sure I get up every 15 minutes from my work at my desk. All in all, I am thrilled to be almost back to my fitness before my toe tendon severing of November 2009!

I am still feeling somewhat of a glutton. I had gotten down to five pounds below my goal weight, but I think I gained it all back and then some in Hawaii. Still find that a daily struggle. It is easy for me to exercise, but it is not easy for me to say no to the temptations of scrumptious food!

The Well-Watered Soul: I LOVE the new project of studying and writing the Life of Christ chronologically in the Gospel Harmony Book Club! It is also good to do this in tandem with the Year Two Old Testament of the Bible Book Club (almost at 100,000 page views!). It helps me to set my sight on Jesus as I trudge through Israel's rebellion! Whew. It is not an academic exercise for me. It is a spiritual experience that I will never regret though it takes hours and hours and hours of my time. God has carved it out for me to do it. I am convinced of that.

I love more prayer lately. I like to pray as I write and pray as I "go" along the way.  So, it has been lovely.

The Well-Adjusted Heart: I am happy. I am not prone to depression anyway, but I have few grumpy days, and if I start out a bit so, it seems to lift quickly as I pray through it and discover what is the lie behind my thinking. I had a little lie as I chatted with Brendon Coyle on the PBS Masterpiece site. None of my questions were going through, and I was getting a bit grumpy until I prayed and God said that I am important and that my questions getting through didn't matter, just enjoy and don't think you are being rejected. So, I enjoyed other people's questions instead of feeling slighted that mine were not being answered. There is nothing wrong with me or my questions!  So, there. I matter to God, and I don't know that Downton Abbey matters much to Him in the whole scheme of things. LOL!

Well, it is going to ring right NOW!

Bye, no proofread. Just hit "Publish"