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January 01, 2005
Interlocutions
... Time in Chicago is winding down, but I have hardly done anything I had planned on doing. Turns out I've had walking pneumonia for about four weeks now. I blame it on the northwestern winds and long illness-burdened walks to school during finals week. I'm starting to feel better now, but it's kept me down for a while.
... Tears at the end of Annie Dillard's Holy the Firm. That hasn't happened in many years, but this little piece of writing is darn good.
... Fell in love with Iron and Wine. Someone compared the songwriting to Flannery O'Connor - I heartily agree. Not CCM-sanctioned. It's God-haunted, as Percy would say.
... I've been reading so much good literature lately, I think I should give up writing. Little doses of good writing motivate; overdoses discourage. Josh Gibbs, Dillard, Walker Percy, Marilynne Robinson - these are my inquisitors: what right, what possible need? Words can become even more than an obsession; they can be wielded in a way too wonderful. At least too wonderful for me.
Posted by Davey at January 1, 2005 10:01 AM
Comments
Ah yes, Holy the Firm. The part about the artist offering himself is one of my favorite literary passages.
I've been reveling in MacDonald and Lewis this holiday, along with a bunch of miscellaneous newspaper and magazine articles that I printed out ages ago. It's been lovely, though a little sad - all I've wanted to do is read!
Posted by: Frank at January 1, 2005 11:10 AM
Marilynne Robinson - you have read "Gilead"? Do you recommend it?
Posted by: Gideon Strauss at January 1, 2005 04:03 PM
Haven't quite finished, but, yes - it's beautiful.
Posted by: Davey at January 2, 2005 01:35 PM