Reading List

Charlotte wasn't the only one busily reading this summer...

In July, Justin and I got a wild hair to study and learn about American Culture. We decided to do this through art, poetry, literature, philosophy, religion and music. Our list to read is long and by no means was it confined to just summer reading as it will probably take a year to cover all of our topics. 

I once read an article about Texas Tech's previous football coach, Mike Leach, and how he chose one topic to read and learn about each year and after the year was completed he'd move on to a different topic. I have always admired that discipline. 

Unfortunately, this is a late revelation to me. Long ago, when I was in school, I didn't care about learning just for the sake of growth and learning. I studied the material for testing purposes and then quickly forgot and moved on to more interesting things like my social agenda. I get mad at myself now thinking how non-chalant I was and regret not being more disciplined. 

Discipline is the key to it all. 

Thankfully though, I did figure it out. And thankfully I care now. Caring about the world around me, what's in it and what got us to the place we are today. 

Living is Dallas has it's advantages when taking on a topic like this. We have wonderful museums and galleries to visit and seeing art in it's original form and beauty speak to me in a way that words on a page struggle to do.  I relate to art the way someone years ago taught me about wine -- 

"If you like it, it's good. And don't worry about what someone else likes."

For some reason that advice relaxes me and allows me not to get caught up in what I don't know, but appreciate what appeals to me.

I do have a hard time appreciating Abstract Expressionism like color blocking and Pollock's splatter painting. I think of it the way Olivia in one of Charlotte's books says, "I could do that in about five minutes".  But the point is that I didn't do it and they did, right? And in turn furthered American culture. 

I've attached pictures to some of the books that I've read (and am reading) thus far. My favorites are the classics. I got such a joy re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Gatsby. We're also reading Walt Witman and Robert Frost poems along with Ernest Hemingway's short stories. 

My book club chose to read The Paris Wife -- though fiction, is based on factual events and followed along nicely to Hemingway's short stories. 

And then there's the detour of all detours!! 

The Hunger Games Trilogy  

-- and no, I'm not above reading "younger reader" books. 

I have to admit that just like the Twilight series, I totally got sucked in and anticipating the movie coming out in March 2012. 

Thankfully, they were all fast reads and now I can get back on track with our American Culture plan and continue to work on my discipline....