A Momentary Taste of Being

And for my own commonplace book: “To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda or even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery; it means to live in such a way that  one’s life would not make sense if God did not exist .” -- Cardinal Emmanuel Célestin Suhard , Archbishop of Paris 1940-1949

"To Build a Fire," Jack London If you haven't already encountered it, I would consider this one of your "must read" stories.  Like several others I may make of point of later, this is a staple of the literary reader.  Much has stemmed from it and it is just a darned good story.

Any Catholics out there have any? I haven't figured mine out yet.  But it appears that Pope Benedict has a new volume in his Jesus books--perhaps that will make a good, if somewhat daunting read.

"Why I Avoid Both the Catholic Left and Right" Thanks to Dylan for this link from Facebook. Advice for everyone who engages in theological discussion: My response had basically been: If the discussions frustrate you, DON’T ENGAGE IN THEM. Figure out what you’re for, not what you’re against. The road to Christ is lonely, long, and almost unbelievably rocky, and though it takes place in community, we have to also walk it alone, often in great anguish and distress, often for decades if not our whole lives. Figure out what you are for--not what you're against.  The statement is such a basic Christian attitude, or at least should be.  Christianity would be better for it.  Christians would be better for it.  Society at large would be better for it.  Mother Teresa did this as she tended the poor in India.

An excerpt from The Box A book that seems to have an intriguing premise, if you care that much about Grass personally. I cannot conceive of why so many writers think their own lives make for particularly interesting reading.  On the other hand, I have to admit to being captivated by this beginning.

Thucydides hates realists

La Carte et la Territoire reviewed I'm surprised by much of this review.  Not the Houellebecq I'm accustomed to--at least according to this review.

Abraham Verghese Cutting for Stone This is a book I've looked at on and off, this review makes me think I need to do more than look.

Audio Ulysses

Céline on joy

Reflections of Djuna Barnes

John Kenneth Galbraith interviewed by Bill Moyers

More on Whitman

The Matchmaker of Kenmare Frank Delaney reviewed.

The City and the City by China Miéville

Remember John Keats

"The Shore Haunter" by Loren Eisley Talk about cultivating a sense of wonder--the thought of the lake shores on which mammoths once wandered.

Next reviewed I liked it better than the reviewer at Hungry Like the Woolf.  I liked it a great deal, but the reviewer makes some good points.

Pastime

See what happens when you're away from blogging for a day? Zeno's Conscience 1 Zeno's Conscience 2 A book I have long meant to take up along with Robert Musil's incomplete epic.