So. In case you were wondering, no, I haven’t forgotten about my summer reading challenge. I’m really enjoying Paradise Lost, and the particular translation I’m reading reminds me of my favorite translation of The Odyssey, by Robert Fagles. It has that same cadence that makes it a pleasure to read aloud.
Having said that, I do admit that I am struggling to keep the voices straight and remember who is talking, and what he is talking about. This is a text that I would ideally like to read in a seminar setting, with other people. I find that reading and discussing an epic tale like this, with it’s intense detail and endless storytelling monologues, helps me to keep the storyline straight and work my head around the language.
I am pleased though, that despite my limited background in the Bible and the epic Greek myths.
Goodreads probably has a discussion group about the book but I barely have time to read, let alone participate in an online discussion, so this is a challenge for me in more ways than one. I feel good about it, though… I’m confident I can bring back that academic brain of mine that’s been latent for years.
When I was a kid, I really couldn’t wait to grow up. High school seemed to be an eternity. College was an eternity. I was over being in my 20’s by the time I was 21. 30 was a magic number. It seemed that being 30 would signal that I was done with school, done with dating, done with being broke. I didn’t make any super conscious effort to accomplish certain things by the time I hit 30 but somehow, I did. I earned my Master’s degree, I had a fulfulling career (until it wasn’t anymore), I became a homeowner (well, shareholder, really but who’s counting…), I fell in love, got married and had a baby with the most perfect partner I could imagine. To top it all off, two days before my birthday, I got the most perfect haircut ever.
This is not to say, that I’m done. Not by a long shot! But now I can look forward to pursuing those other things I hope to accomplish in my life, in general, now that I have some semblance of stability. I’d like more children, I’d like an honest-to-god house with an honest-to-god backyard, I’d like to write a book, I’d like to see more of the world. I’d like to grow old peacefully and live a content life.
I’ve been asked what I’d like for my birthday and my answer is the same to everyone: absolutely nothing. Really, I have everything I could possibly need and want and that is hard to top! So is this. I’m so excited!!
