the dishes can wait
A few weeks ago I started reading East of Eden (John Steinbeck) and just a couple of nights ago I really got into it. Can't turn off the bedside lamp kind of thing. Tired in the mornings because I stayed up reading so late kind of thing.
Last year I read Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath for the second time in my life. In high school it was required reading, so naturally I read it without much if any heart. After having read it as a grown up with slightly more of an idea of what real life is about.... well, it is officially now one of my favorite books of all time.
The other evening as I was reading East of Eden and J was laying there beside me reading War and Peace (yes, the War and Peace) I came to the passage where Adam's father Cyrus explained the nature of the soldier and the way it is and all about the way a man becomes what he becomes. Later after their walk and talk, Adam wants to go for a walk by himself, maybe to think about the things his dad just shared with him. He didn't get very far though because that is when his brother Charles ends up beating the living daylights out of him because of something like Cyrus (the dad) didn't seem to like the pocketknife Charles had given him as a birthday gift. It is well known that Steinbeck alludes to Adam and Cane and Abel of the Bible, but I think the situation and the truth and the feelings involved happen all the time throughout time.
The poignant nature of this part of the book really hits me close to my heart since I am raising two boys, two brothers.
We make a concerted effort to ensure that the boys are treated equally. And I certainly can't claim to love one more than the other, but I can see how the boys might think so on occasion. When the older one is in trouble for bringing home late papers the younger one sits it out looking like the favored one. When the younger one gets in trouble for getting in trouble in school, the older one appears to wear the crown. And it's obvious! They totally think they are superior or inferior based on their current in-trouble-status.
- - - - - -
Snippets
Last year I read Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath for the second time in my life. In high school it was required reading, so naturally I read it without much if any heart. After having read it as a grown up with slightly more of an idea of what real life is about.... well, it is officially now one of my favorite books of all time.
The other evening as I was reading East of Eden and J was laying there beside me reading War and Peace (yes, the War and Peace) I came to the passage where Adam's father Cyrus explained the nature of the soldier and the way it is and all about the way a man becomes what he becomes. Later after their walk and talk, Adam wants to go for a walk by himself, maybe to think about the things his dad just shared with him. He didn't get very far though because that is when his brother Charles ends up beating the living daylights out of him because of something like Cyrus (the dad) didn't seem to like the pocketknife Charles had given him as a birthday gift. It is well known that Steinbeck alludes to Adam and Cane and Abel of the Bible, but I think the situation and the truth and the feelings involved happen all the time throughout time.
The poignant nature of this part of the book really hits me close to my heart since I am raising two boys, two brothers.
We make a concerted effort to ensure that the boys are treated equally. And I certainly can't claim to love one more than the other, but I can see how the boys might think so on occasion. When the older one is in trouble for bringing home late papers the younger one sits it out looking like the favored one. When the younger one gets in trouble for getting in trouble in school, the older one appears to wear the crown. And it's obvious! They totally think they are superior or inferior based on their current in-trouble-status.
- - - - - -
Snippets
- Almost finished with the painting for my friend's housewarming gift
- Knitting mittens, on my first one, just reached the thumb opening
- Bought enormous flavorless oranges at SAM's yesterday, a real disappointment
- Have designed the new photo journal on the homepage, just need to load it on the server
- Want to take a few days of vacation so I can just goof off
- Enjoy washing the dishes, but I enjoy reading a good book even more
Comments