Sunday, January 28, 2007

not much to say

I've started a couple entries today but scrapped them because I couldn't be bothered. I think I'll take a nap instead. Check back later.

In the meantime, brainstorm fun SuperBowl party food and drinks.
I'm thinking Bloody Mary's and Fondue. Maybe something from the Amy Sedaris cookbook.


Update on the reading list:

I finished Blue Like Jazz, which Jay had recommended a while ago (at least I think Jay recommended it) I enjoyed it, and it made me think about my own spirituality, which I believe was the point. I can't rave about it, because it isn't an earth shattering book by any stretch, but I identified with some parts of it, and as I said, it made me think.


I also finished The Great Trek, wherein a bunch of mennonites trek through Russia to Turkestan because they believe the second coming is nigh, and that Christ will establish a refuge for the believers. Somehow they thought this would be in Turkestan. (It should be said that they were also fleeing conscription into the Russian Army, and although Turkestan was Russian territory, it was divided into khanates, and largely ruled by the Khans.) Well my great-great-great grandfather led one of the the five groups. Eventually he split off from Claus Epp, the leader of the trek who became increasingly zealous and crazy. Its a fascinating story, which I will write about later.

I also read Demian, by Herman Hesse. That never made it onto the list, because I haven't been so good about keeping it up to date. Point being I read it. It was interesting, but certainly not his best. I would recommend The Glass Bead Game to anyone interested in a thought-provoking book. It won Hesse the Nobel Prize in '46, and was the last book I read that I actually thought might be life changing.


So there, I've posted something and now I will take a nap. Eventually I might get to the music meme (what does meme mean anyway?) that seems to be going around.

6 comments:

Adam said...

If I'm not mistaken, meme is a word that was coined by Richard Dawkins. It would be analogous to the gene but in a cultural evolution type of way rather than a biological evolution type of way. Catchy songs, clothing trends, teaching an apprentice how to do something would all be examples of memes. There are several very interesting books on the ideas of memes.

Scott and Malisa Johnson said...

Yes there is an entire Wikipedia entry dedicated to it.

Unknown said...

Good take on Blue Like Jazz. It brings up questions that are engaging, but not really mind-blowing.

I read Demian when I was in Kenya (we had precious few books). Totally forgot about it until now... I might have to find it and read it again.

Unknown said...

...Beard Update???

Adam said...

...any update???

Sugar Mouse In The Rain said...

I haven't read the Glass Bead Game yet but I read many of Hesse's short and long novels. Demian is a favorite of mine and I find it thought provoking. Maybe because I relate to it very much.