I did, and it feels like a true reading accomplishment. I realized how many of the metaphors and mages we have in our culture (like, the bearded god up in the sky) come so directly from these ancient writings, especially as they become foundational for generations and centuries after, as we continued to read them. I'm not quite up for the Iliad, but I did find myself walking around with my head in the Odyssey those last few days, as I sped up my reading process, curious about how the last few chapters would work out. I finished right before my Mom's health crisis, and facing it, I really understood why ancient Greeks were so comforted by the idea of gods and goddesses who were right there by there side, as Pallas Athena was for Odysseus. I was also shocked by the violence. In the final fight between Odyssseus and his side, and all the bad men who were wooing Penelope, the descriptions of how each died were grueling and vivid and awful, and there was little mercy to be found.
This summer I also read Jennifer Egan's The Keep, and A.M. Homes, This Book Will Save Your Life, which I adored. I'm back in love with novels, again, and am waiting for Claire Messud's new book The Emperor's Children, to arrive.
Around our house, it's Disney's High School Musical, 24/7. Samira thinks it's just the tea, and we have fun bopping around the house singing its very singable songs. She also likes that there's only one kiss, and that it's on the cheek, since boy-girl kissing gets a big "Yuck" in her mind these days. The theme of performance is big right now at our house.
She auditioned for the fall play at her school, and it's the kind of school where everyone who tries out gets a part. I'm personally bummed that two days a week I won't pick her up until 5, though there were many pre-new-baby years where late pickup twice a week would have been greeted with hoots of joy. Bad timing on that one, but what can you do? Life really does just give us what it will, I'm learning.
This summer I also read Jennifer Egan's The Keep, and A.M. Homes, This Book Will Save Your Life, which I adored. I'm back in love with novels, again, and am waiting for Claire Messud's new book The Emperor's Children, to arrive.
Around our house, it's Disney's High School Musical, 24/7. Samira thinks it's just the tea, and we have fun bopping around the house singing its very singable songs. She also likes that there's only one kiss, and that it's on the cheek, since boy-girl kissing gets a big "Yuck" in her mind these days. The theme of performance is big right now at our house.
She auditioned for the fall play at her school, and it's the kind of school where everyone who tries out gets a part. I'm personally bummed that two days a week I won't pick her up until 5, though there were many pre-new-baby years where late pickup twice a week would have been greeted with hoots of joy. Bad timing on that one, but what can you do? Life really does just give us what it will, I'm learning.