Classics Considered

Hello, March

Well… things have deteriorated rapidly since my last post. It’s depressing, to say the least.

Timely, given its subject matter—I have finally finished Crime and Punishment, after a whopping four months! I feel overwhelmed to review it, since it covers some philosophical ideas I’m barely acquainted with. Still, I’ll do my best and record a video about it soon, with maybe a blog post containing the highlights.

I still need to finish Dubliners. I am also still halfway through Look at Me by Anita Brookner, which so far has been a great book… it’s just a bad time for me to be reading it due to it being about depressing topics. Fortuitously(?), it’s due at the library, so I can’t finish it right now in any case.

Lately I’ve been listening to some folksy Bob Dylan and a lot of early Bing Crosby. (Strange combination, huh? My brain is funny that way.) Allow me to spam you all with some recommendations…

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music, What I’m Reading

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Marian

Responses

grllopez

March 2, 2022 at 8:51 pm

Marian, I am so sorry to hear that you are having this difficult time right now. I wish I could encourage you. I think I know what you are feeling. What has helped me was recognizing that there was nothing I could do to help myself get through the sadness — if that makes sense — but I just knew that afterward, it would eventually become joy. Seems weird, but I just relinquished myself to the sadness. It’s going to happen. But I just know it will turn to joy…at some point.

And, btw, I know what you mean about reading something that is not conducive to your emotional state. I was reading A Pair of Blue Eyes in January and some of February, and it was poor timing bc it required patience and endurance, of which I had neither to give. I ended up giving it a low rating.

Well, I’m not sure if that will help. But I hope so.

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1. Marian
  
  March 2, 2022 at 9:47 pm
  
  Thank you so much for the kind words, Ruth. ❤ Just knowing others care helps so much.
  Thomas Hardy and Dostoyevsky…. both very tough authors in terms of emotional state! I completely understand.
  
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  1. grllopez
    
    March 3, 2022 at 6:13 am
    
    About Crime and Punishment…I have read it twice. I missed a lot the first time, as it is very deep and psychological. Of course, the plot is devastating. But I appreciated Dostoyevsky’s questions and ideas. Very sensitive and hopeful, as redemption and rebirth usually are. And Hardy is just an emotional wreck. But believe it or not…A Pair of Blue Eyes is not at all. Just long and drawn out and plain.
    
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Cyberkitten

March 3, 2022 at 2:20 am

I’ve heard that Crime and Punishment is a tough read. Luckily I’m not really that much of a fan of Russian literature! I do like Dylan though… Even Crosby has his moments. Hope that you’re much improved soon. Spring is almost upon us (snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils are starting to emerge here) and Summer will be here before you know it…

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1. Marian
  
  March 3, 2022 at 9:07 am
  
  Thank you, Cyberkitten. Yes, our spring flowers are here, too, it’s a cheerful sight 🙂
  
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cirtnecce

March 4, 2022 at 8:50 pm

I am sorry that you are going through such testing times Marian and I have no wisdom to share except it will pass. So do what you have to do to get through this part of the story. The music selections is great btw!

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1. Marian
  
  March 5, 2022 at 12:39 am
  
  That’s a good thought to hold on to, thank you Cirtnecce! ❤
  
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