16 August 2004 - Monday
Reading again
The best thing about being through with summer classes is getting to read more. It's summer. That's what summers are for.
I have finally dispensed with Rethinking Middle East Politics, and have concluded that the book has twice as many words in it as necessary. I give it a 3.0 out of 5.0 — and consider that magnanimity on my part. I like the basic concept; Bromley dismisses both Islam and oil as secondary issues, giving priority to the historical process of "state formation" and arguing that the Middle East is similar to other Third World nations in essentials. But if I agreed with the thesis, I did not do so because of the author's stunning verbal skills.
On a happier note, I marked down my first perfect 5.0 for Murder in the Cathedral. The fact that I'm beginning to take interest in Henry II doesn't hurt, I suppose. But T. S. Eliot is always a pleasure. I gave him a 4.9 for The Family Reunion.
I've also resumed Cicero's De Officiis, which of course is inspiring. And maybe, just maybe, I'll get started on the Putney Debates before the summer ends.
Mercy, I'm a slow reader.
| Posted by Wilson at 23:11 Central | TrackBack| Report submitted to the Humanities Desk
Garn . . . *blushes*
I do practically no extracurricular reading during the school year. It really annoys me to note how much some of my friends can read for their own pleasure even in the thick of the academic season. Granted, fiction goes faster, and they usually choose fiction while I usually don't. Even so, I feel inadequate when I see what other people are accomplishing.
The thoughts of Wilson on 17 August 2004 - 0:18 Central+ + + + +
I'm a slow reader too. I usually could never finish a book during the semester (unless it was a suspense fiction, then I could easily read during chapel and several boring classes). Come summer and christmas break I would devour books. (But still, not very quickly.)
Now I read all the time. I love it. :)
The thoughts of eliot on 17 August 2004 - 8:33 Central+ + + + +
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Dang, you're smart . . .
I wish I had more time to read.
The thoughts of Bill on 16 August 2004 - 23:26 Central+ + + + +