I love how this post wanders and (always) marvel at the depth of your reading. And this: CS Lewis once described the people of the Middle Ages, not as a pack of barbarians, but as a literate people who had simply lost all their books.
That Mallarmé quote keeps resonating in my mind. I find myself wanting to finish it, as in. . . 'as a book only a privileged few will ever read.' You make a great case here for the books that you like, and for fiction in general, but lately I find myself more attracted to the strangeness to be found in non-fiction, in the nooks and crannies of a diary, or the detours of history. That said, I am diving into Roberto Bolaño's 2666, which promises to be the kind of fiction that will take me as far away from the quotidian as possible. And someday, I want to finish A Man without Qualities. And start Tale of the Genji, thanks to you!
About your second note: Same here! It also reminded me of how the International House of Literature at Waseda University displays what they call the Haruki Murakami library, a collection of books & records he enjoys & was particularly influenced by. Loved browsing that a few weeks ago, although with Murakami, it's not exactly hard to guess what would be on his shelves. I wish something like this existed for more famous writers!
Me too!!! I am trying to come up with other classic writers whose libraries we know about. And yes, with Murakami it is easy to imagine. I didn't know Waseda had a library like that.... wow!!
It's very pretty & fun to visit if you get a chance! They built a replica of his living room/writing office & even display the original piano that stood in his jazz bar.
Well!! I've been waiting for your next installment! And this, Leanne, piece doesn't disappoint. I was thinking about all the Emmys won by Shogun and the juicy fact that it is based on a poetry competition with literature as a character in its own right. Indeed, what is lost in the substance of our legacy by the use of email? social media?
I love how this post wanders and (always) marvel at the depth of your reading. And this: CS Lewis once described the people of the Middle Ages, not as a pack of barbarians, but as a literate people who had simply lost all their books.
We have been so wrong about the Middle Ages. I think many academics are now correcting the image of the "dark ages" since it was more nuanced. I loved this book by Norman Cantor, called Inventing the Middle Ages https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2015/07/medieval-predilections-%E8%87%A5%E9%81%8A.html
That Mallarmé quote keeps resonating in my mind. I find myself wanting to finish it, as in. . . 'as a book only a privileged few will ever read.' You make a great case here for the books that you like, and for fiction in general, but lately I find myself more attracted to the strangeness to be found in non-fiction, in the nooks and crannies of a diary, or the detours of history. That said, I am diving into Roberto Bolaño's 2666, which promises to be the kind of fiction that will take me as far away from the quotidian as possible. And someday, I want to finish A Man without Qualities. And start Tale of the Genji, thanks to you!
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I am so happy to hear from you!! What is making you read 2666? It is on my list to read too--on my to read pile.... xoxoxoxoxoox
About your second note: Same here! It also reminded me of how the International House of Literature at Waseda University displays what they call the Haruki Murakami library, a collection of books & records he enjoys & was particularly influenced by. Loved browsing that a few weeks ago, although with Murakami, it's not exactly hard to guess what would be on his shelves. I wish something like this existed for more famous writers!
Me too!!! I am trying to come up with other classic writers whose libraries we know about. And yes, with Murakami it is easy to imagine. I didn't know Waseda had a library like that.... wow!!
It's very pretty & fun to visit if you get a chance! They built a replica of his living room/writing office & even display the original piano that stood in his jazz bar.
Well!! I've been waiting for your next installment! And this, Leanne, piece doesn't disappoint. I was thinking about all the Emmys won by Shogun and the juicy fact that it is based on a poetry competition with literature as a character in its own right. Indeed, what is lost in the substance of our legacy by the use of email? social media?
I’m so happy to hear from you!
Will write soon. xoxoxo