Moby Dick November 2, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Arts, Writing.1 comment so far
I’ve done it! I’ve finished the Great American Novel!
Well–
Ok, I’ve finished reading the Great American Novel. Writing the Great American Novel is still a work in progress. But finishing Moby Dick feels like an accomplishment. Never mind that it’s 822 pages long; during high school I could have read that in a week. For some reason, large portions of reading have been difficult lately. Maybe it’s because I mostly try to read late at night, and promptly fall asleep.
Nobody needs a review of Moby Dick, but it’s worth saying that I found it very enjoyable. It’s very humorous, particularly in the first half, when the voice of the narrator, Ishmael, is most prominent. It’s also very generous with its descriptions of the whale fishery of the 1800’s, which, while somewhat dry, are quite enlightening.
What’s next? Maybe studying some Spanish, maybe reading Cloud Atlas (a book Nadene lent me), maybe something else.
What are you reading?
Palin’s Resignation: The Edited Version July 28, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Politics, Writing.add a comment
Forget politics for a moment, and look at Sarah Palin’s July 3 resignation speech from a grammatical point of view. That’s what Vanity Fair’s editors did, and the results are hilarious — and sad.
From Vanity Fair:
Bonus: If that’s not enough, check out William Shatner on the Tonight Show, reciting a portion of Palin’s July 26 farewell speech. Priceless.
Southern Live Oak: A tree, a journal July 25, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Mississippi, Writing.Tags: southern live oak, trees
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Hurricane Katrina and the Southern live oak July 24, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Mississippi, Writing.Tags: southern live oak, trees
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The live oak in Southern cities and culture July 16, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Mississippi, Writing.Tags: southern live oak, trees
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In this installment of our ongoing series, we visit some of the great Southern cities to understand the role of the Southern live oak in urban design and Southern culture.
Live Oaks in Audubon Park, New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo: Tim Bekaert)
A description of the Southern live oak July 13, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Mississippi, Writing.Tags: southern live oak, trees
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In this installment of our ongoing series, we’ll learn how to identify the Southern live oak and understand its place in coastal ecosystems.
Seven Sisters, the current president of the Live Oak Society - Lewisburg, Louisiana. (Photo: Patrick Burke)
Le dormeur du val July 12, 2009
Posted by Vincent in Français, Writing.add a comment
C’est un trou de verdure où chante une rivière
Accrochant follement aux herbes des haillons
D’argent; où le soleil de la montagne fière,
Luit; C’est un petit val qui mousse de rayons.Un soldat jeune bouche ouverte, tête nue,
Et la nuque baignant dans le frais cresson bleu,
Dort; il est étendu dans l’herbe, sous la nue,
Pale dans son lit vert où la lumière pleut.Les pieds dans les glaïeuls, il dort. Souriant comme
Sourirait un enfant malade, il fait un somme:
Nature, berce-le chaudement: il a froid.Les parfums ne font plus frissonner sa narine;
Il dort dans le soleil, la main sur sa poitrine
Tranquille. Il a deux trous rouges au coté droit.
