August 7, 2008
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WCFQ 16e: My first book
You know what's really embarrassing... I can't remember what my favorite book was before I started reading on my own. My mother started reading the Hobbit to me in first grade and by the end of the school year I took it from her because she was reading too slow. I can't even remember her reading to me at all before that, but when I started learning how to read for myself, that's when she got all excited about sharing her favorite book with me. I will assume she read to me before this, but I have no evidence. In fact, my little sister and I are only a year and a half apart, so it's entirely likely that my mother did not have time to read to me until I was six years old because my sister needed her attention more.
But my favorite book when I was a child was the Hobbit, maybe because it was also the first book I read for myself. I remember learning to read in the first grade with Dick and Jane, and at the same time, I had my mother reading the Hobbit, one chapter a night. I grew to loathe Dick and Jane's tedious existence. And their stupid dog Spot too. The Hobbit was so much more exciting. When I took it from my mother, we were only half way through the book. I finished it and read it repeatedly over the years. I read it so much that the book (which I still have) was falling apart long before my little brother (who is eight years younger than me) became interested in reading and read it until it did literally fall apart. The faux green leather binding of it's limited edition cover is currently held together with electrical tape, the maps have long been missing, and some of the pages are loose. From the Hobbit, I went to the LOTR trilogy and many of Tolkien's other writings. They are not in much better condition. I also have Tolkien's The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, a collection of poetry which is in comparatively better shape, though the insides of its cover are "decorated" with crayon. I cannot say who did that, though I suspect my sister. She later did the same to my comic book collection when we were much older (not with crayon, but you get the idea). My sister has never been a booklover. She was "held back" in first grade for "behavioral problems" and her disinterest in reading. My brother on the other hand, loves to read, but does not take good care of his books. I stopped loaning him my books for a while because he would shove paperbacks in the pocket of his coat, and by the time I got them back, they were often literally held together by scotch tape.In any event, it is from Tolkien's books that I "inherited" my love of mythology and fantasy. His poems gave me the courage to write my own, as his writing inspired me to the desire to craft my own mythologies. You could say that if not for Tolkien's books, I would be a very different person.
Currently, I am wrapping up China Mieville's Perdido Street Station which I have been reading for my horror bookclub. Certain descriptors leap to mind... gritty, grotesque, ostentatious, effluvient. It is a quagmire of politics, science, xenography, society... though you don't realize it until nearly the end, there is one unifying theme to all the stories occuring throughout the 600+ page book. The name of the book is a clue, but the Weaver is the other. I won't give it away of course. You should read the book. It is loathesome and decadent in description, but worth reading if you have the time to inch your way through the dense prose.
August 6th (yesterday)
Two days after the end of Tinne, the Tan Hill Festival (related to Lammas) takes place, commemorating personified holy fire, the Celtic Tienne or Tan.
In Egypt, this was the Festival of Nut and Ra, and the chief festival of Thoth.
August 7th (today)
Women of ancient Athens and Alexandria mourned the death of Adonis, wounded by a boar. Climbing ladders to the roofs of their homes, they would chant : Woe, woe Adonis.
In Egypt, this day was called the Breaking of the Nile or the Opet festival. The original festival lasted 11 days but was later extended to 27 days. The statue of Amun, the state god of Egypt, was taken in a floating procession from Karnak to Luxor.
Comments (5)
I've read The Hobbit about 5 times and my son is reading it again for the 3rd or 4th time. It is a great story.
My first favorite book was Bendemolena. I think it was mostly the way my dad read it to me that made me love it so much though. I effin' loved that book. Still keep it on my bookshelf.
My mom read me the Hobbit. So many good books as a child. I love reading time around the house, so I can keep reading children's stories too.
My first book was The Count of Monte Cristo but it was the Hobbit that triggered my love of reading high fantasy novels.
I've never read The Hobbit.
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