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I have been reading like a woman starved for literature, with the voyeuristic hunger of one who needs escape from her own daily ennui.
Perhaps not so much boredom as the fact I just need something to turn my brain off after so many hours spent studying for state certification exams. One can only watch so many movies! I began reading a fiction pentalogy at the end of November, consisting of 5 books each over 500 pages in length. Those were finished prior to Christmas (2,793 pp.), and I had–of course–simultaneously been reading 500 page study guides and had started other books in the meantime. For instance, I finished a collection of non-fiction essays and articles by Terry Pratchett (337 pp.), as well as a book on Korean culture (282 pp.) in early December. The Discworld Series, also authored by Pratchett, holds 41 books averaging 300 or so pages each; I guesstimated the entire series to contain 15,000 pages at minimum. As of yesterday, I had finished the first three books in the series (743 pp.). And they are soooooo good! I started reading "Eating Dangerously: Why The government Can't Keep Your Food Safe..." by Michael Booth at the beginning of the month (197 pp. but skipping some because it's repetitive), and just checked out "The Year of Living Danishly" by Helen Russell (389 pp. but haven't started this one yet). Let's do some calculating... so that is a whopping 4,155 pages I have read (Oh, I forgot pieces of Mary Oliver's poetry book, "Thirst"!). But that does not include the 2,000 or so pages as icing on the towering cake of words in the form of thick state exam study guides from November to date. Yes, that is over 5,000 pages since November 24. And yes, I'm puffing out my chest a bit at those numbers! I LOVE READING!!! I've always been intrigued by the countries of Northern Europe: their low crime rate, excellent education system (which is in many cases free), social healthcare, and retirement pensions for all. After living in Korea and experiencing not only a citizenry that cares for each other, but a government that cares for its citizens, it is depressing to be back in the States where everyone murders each other and few care about others, most especially the Corporations and the US government that is run by aforementioned Corporations... In my opinion, it would feel like living in Utopia to reside in a country where: one can obtain free–or nearly free– and superb health care, affordable–or again, free–higher education, the government prioritizes the health and education of all its denizens, parents can take paid leave to raise their children, work doesn't monopolize lives and make the majority miserable, and the elderly are respected rather than thrown in the gutter of a nursing home! I experienced much of this in Korea. I think the only drawback to life in Northern Europe is long, cold winters! I suppose I must discover this for myself one day! I've discovered fantasy! Well, not really, I mean who wasn't an instant pre-teen fan of The Hobbit at the end of the first page?! So Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series has enthralled me; I'm already on book 2 (amidst or instead of. The 2000 pages I am reading for state exams!). Yes, I am a reading addict, an autodidact, bibliophile, logophile and all other types of philos that have to do with books and learning and stories!
The Discworld Series contains 41 books, with an average of 380 pp. (estimation gauged from a random sample of 5 books out of the series), so that's over 15,000 pages and I am just wondering... I started the first book, "The Colour of Magic" in December: how long will it take me to get through the other 40 books? And can I finish the series in one year? You know me: never been known to dream small...! http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/ The past year or so I have been introduced to science fiction and fantasy, genres I have, until now, ignored as frivolous and "beneath" my intellectual capacity. Yes, I've always been an intellectual snob, so sorry (not!). Yet, some of these stories are fascinating and–I'll be darned–full of science! Is that an obtuse comment? Well, perhaps, though being blonde, I can get away with those now and again. Anyhoo, I have discovered Sir Terry Pratchett's works and am utterly addicted: excellent character development, no plot holes, a ludicrously astounding sense of sardonic humor, and just a talented all-around writer!
I will certainly not lack any reading material for a few months, as his "Discworld Series" contains 41 books! Thus, in addition to to wizards and dragons and suitcases that can become angry, I have also started reading the work of Michael Booth, who offers a narrative on the comparison of Northern European quality of life, vs the "American Way of Life" in "The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia". This should be keenly interesting after all I have researched about the superior culture and quality of life of those of Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, etc. Goddess, I LOVE READING! |
iGallivant...... Loves to lie amongst the warm rays of sunshine and read, read, read, learn, learn, learn, and live, live, live, vicariously between the pages! Archives
August 2021
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