popular

Because I have a degree in English, many issues naturally inherent to the literary world are on the forefront of my thoughts. Here's a common idea that I think is total nonsense:

Classic/modern literature is inaccessible to anyone without an English degree.

This is nothing more than a bogus excuse in my book. Sure, there are those who honestly do not like reading, but not all authors are inaccessible. Yes, you might have to use your brain more (read: much more) than if you were reading, say, Twilight, but I promise you won't hurt yourself. Most authors wrote for the common man. And while I know that there are some authors who write novels that are intentionally difficult*, most don't. Pick up some Dostoevsky or some poetry; you'll be surprised at how accessible it is. It's all about the human experience. Go experience it. Find yourself in another world with new people and share in their triumphs and downfalls. It's a wonderful way to live and learn about all of those literary/philosophical ideas that start with capital letters; i.e. Truth with a capital 't'. 

Runners up for this expose:

:: That censorship will actually do/help anything. (It doesn't.) 

:: That all feminists are of the bra-burning 'we hate men' variety. (We're not.)

*Finnegans Wake by James Joyce is a perfect example. Don't even try.

26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong? | thirty things

beware the ides of march

If only Caesar had listened to the soothsayer.

P.S. Happy birthday to one of the coolest girls I know.

If you aren't reading her blog, you should be. Find it here.

Happy birthday, E!

one day at innisfree / one day that's mine there

My notes from class: "Innisfree. Find it. Go there."

I once had a professor tell me that everybody needs their own Innisfree, whether it be a physical space you go to, or just a state of mind you can visit. Everybody needs that place Yeats describes where you can escape to and find peace. It's essential to life. Essential for the soul. And if you can hum that post title, don't bother searching too much more; you're probably already there.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, 
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; 
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee, 
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

::

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

::

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree | W.B. Yeats

i've been gone, but will be back soon. promise.

Pardon the (unplanned) blogging hiatus. We're still trying to get the internet hooked up in our new place. But in the mean time, here's what I am currently reading:

Child of God is good if you like McCarthy. If you don't, don't bother. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is fantastic. Read it. So so glad E. recommended it to me all those months ago.

dr. cronin

Today I visited with my favorite professor in her office at BYU. It was just like old times, when I was a student, and went to her office on a daily basis to listen to her wisdom and share ideas on papers, life, love, and everything in between. But today, even though a graduate, I was a student again. I am every time I talk to her. I'm convinced she knows everything. She really does. She is the best teacher I had in my college career. My favorite, not just because she is a walking encyclopedia of wisdom and knowledge, but because every time I talk to her, I leave feeling like I can conquer the world. She allows me to believe in myself like no one else has. That is why she is amazing.

just a little something i wrote about the culture i love so much.

The old women in their hats sit in the front pews with
Little children gathered at their feet to hear their stories -
Unaware of the wisdom they are taking in.
Simply enthralled with the tale of a bird, and a woman:
Blind. Wise.

The sweltering Southern summer breeze drifts -
Lazily through the open windows.

The preacher raises his arms.

"Let us be thankful (yes)
I said Let us be thankful (yes, Lawd)
For all the good in our lives."

Heads in the congregation nod their agreement in unison.

The choir stands and sings songs of freedom.

They are here.
Mr. Hughes,
Dr. King.
Their spirits, palpable.

The rich harmonies wash over us,
Floating effortlessly on the thick, sticky-sweet air:

"Oh freedom. Oh freedom. Oh freedom over me!"

Amen, brother. Amen.

"spirituals"  |  a.                      

rememory

rememory: almost like you've lived it before, and you're just remembering it again. like de ja vu, but stronger. more real. more concrete.

heavily prevalent in african-american literature. both beautiful and mysterious. much like african-american literature itself.

i love everything about this genre of literature. their beliefs, their customs, their ideas. it makes me more aware of all beautiful and true things around me.

i graduated with a degree in english.

Does it bother anyone else when someone says your expertise is something other than what it is? Lately, at work, people have been saying that I have a background in technical writing. Yes, I am a good writer, but my background is in literature and literary criticism. Technical writing is mostly the writing of manuals and forms. Not what I do. My specialty is reading, analyzing, and writing about books. Specifically, Modern, Postmodern, and African-American books. Do any of you get upset if someone (who knows what your actual specialty is) says it's something different? Maybe I'm just the odd one, but I worked hard for that degree in English - not technical writing. 

rant = over.

provo.

tonight we went to provo because spencer's company was a part of a recruitment fair for the business school. while he was off recruiting on campus, i was reliving the glory days with two of my former roommates. first i visited melanie. we went to the store, bought ice cream, went back to her house and relived the 90s - we watched home improvement while sharing a bowl of delicious ice cream. it was so fun catching up on each others' lives.

then i visited elizabeth. we sat at the kitchen table drinking water (which i promptly spilled all over the table - spoiler: i'm a klutz) discussing life, love, and literature - the three most important L's. we talked about all things beautiful and true. from people to postmodernism, poetry to plath. we discussed it all. we talked about the classes she was taking (she is also an English major) and it made me yearn to be back in an academic setting discussing books. there was that little flutter in my stomach at the excitement of sitting in a circle talking about authors and the beautiful things they do with words. talking about literature is just good for my soul. it really is.

book club.

In church this past week, this notice was passed around. All I saw was "book club" so I snatched one up in hopes that it might yield some intellectual discussion about literature. I was wrong.

In case you can't read it (I crumpled it up and gave it to my cat as soon as I realized the lack of intellectual stimulation such a gathering would provide) it says that "Elsa Jean will review the book Pollyanna." Firstly, Elsa Jean is old. Elderly, even. Not that old people aren't intelligent, but the choice of book is a tip off that this isn't going to be the type of discussion I'm used to. Secondly, Pollyanna? Really? It was fine when I was ten, but even then, not really. I was more of a Tolkien girl at age ten. The best part is that they want suggestions of books to read and review. I feel pretty secure in saying they don't want the books/authors that I'd recommend: Morrison, Plath, McCarthy, the Russians, Shakespeare, Danticat, Hemingway, etc. Then again, maybe I'll go and see if anyone is open minded about some good literature. Wishful thinking.

Why is it so nearly impossible to find a book club that discusses real literature?

:: Teacher Appreciation Week ::

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week {2 May - 6 May}, there are several I'd like to thank.

All of my high school English teachers. Each of you uniquely inspired me to get my degree in English.

Mrs. English, 

You drilled grammar into our heads and marked up our papers with your red pen. Thank you for pushing me to be a better writer. It worked.

Mrs. Team,

You taught us to think about things in such different ways. I appreciate your creativity in the classroom, and your ways of making me appreciate literature I thought I wouldn't like.

Mrs. Campbell,

You are responsible for strengthening my vocabulary with your stems and roots tests. Thank you for singing in the classroom, and helping me understand my first encounter with Macbeth, and introducing me to the wonderful world of Oscar Wilde.

Mrs. McAvoy,

Thank you for introducing me to more advanced literature. I honestly loved every single book we read in that class. I especially thank you for introducing me to the works of Toni Morrison. Changed my life.

Mrs. Thornton "Mac" (McDaniel),
Thank you for making history fun and enjoyable. Don't ever lose your snarky personality. it.is.the.best. Your class was always so interesting, and I learned so much. Thanks for keeping up with me, too. It means so much to me.

I couldn't continue this post without thanking Mr. Glenn Price

Mr. Price,

I perhaps spent more time with you in high school than I did at home. Thank you for all of your wise life lessons taught through your Mr. Price-isms and your stories. They apply everywhere, and I think of at least one daily. I cannot think of a teacher who has had a bigger impact on my life than you. Thank you for everything. I would not be the person I am today had I not known you. And just so you know, I still listen with my eyes. Always.

And to round off the post, my thanks to Dr. Gloria Cronin

Dr. Cronin,

You introduced me to Postmodern Literature, and for that I will be forever grateful. You cultivated my love for it, and encouraged me to work hard to make myself a better writer, reader, and academic. Thank you for those talks in your office, and being a mentor to me. You were definitely the biggest influence on my college career, and I will be forever changed for the better because of the things you taught me.

Take some time to thank your teachers this week. 

We wouldn't be where we are without them.

two::weeks::left

 

please pardon the post-shower hair

Today I got this letter from the College of Humanities congratulating me on my upcoming graduation. They're so happy for me, want me to look back on my years here, blah, blah, blah. But the cause of the real excitement was that lovely butter-yellow paper behind the letter. It contains the details of the College of Humanities commencement. Where to be and when. What to have with you. etc. It's as if that little yellow paper made it official. I am graduating. It's real. It will actually happen Friday, April 22, 2011 at 2:00 pm. Then there was the little tidbit about how after the ceremony, "you will have the opportunity to acknowledge faculty members". My thoughts went immediately to my favorite: Gloria Cronin. I may or may not cry when I have to say goodbye to her. She is, in a word, brilliant. No kidding. I've learned more from her than all of my other English professors combined. She is like a walking encyclopedia, and a delight to talk to. She has had the biggest impact on my entire academic career. It's rare that you come across someone so fabulous, and I count my lucky stars that I was able to enjoy four amazing classes from her. I love the relationship I have with her. Sometimes, I will just go sit in her office and chat with her about life. She gives the most incredible advice. I can't really rightly explain how much of an influence she's had on me. I guess it's just one of those things you have to experience for yourself. All I can really say is that it's been a privilege knowing her, and learning from her. She treated me as a peer, not a student. Made me feel intelligent and my ideas important. There will definitely be a void when I'm not attending her classes anymore.

{Thank goodness she's teaching a Toni Morrison course Spring term, and has extended an open invitation for me to come play whenever I'd like.}

quote vs. quotation

I just made the executive decision to make Mondays quotation Mondays. Every week, I will find an inspirational/funny/thought provoking/etc quotation to share with you. And perhaps I'll occasionally include my thoughts on the quotation and/or why I like it and its origins. 

While we're on the subject. Here is a brief (and funny) explanation of the difference between the words "quote" and "quotation":

 While I know that "quote" is always substituted for "quotation" in common vernacular, it's grammatically incorrect. Say it with me now: "I found a quotation. Allow me to quote it for you."

Ahhh. Now doesn't' that feel better?