The Tortoise in Red Hair
Rather than beat my head against the wall in utter frustration, I’ve decided to weather our phone being out of service – downright silent - inexplicably dead – with as much grace as I can muster, and write my post in Word. What I’d really like to do is rip cords from walls and ground phone receivers under my feet, but I know that’ll do no good, no good at all, seeing as I’d just have to buy new ones later. (We’re paid up, so nobody send us money. Thank you anyway, though; you’re so sweet.)
This is probably a perfect test for my resolution, however, if I choose to look at it that way. I had decided this morning, due to something Mal said on his site awhile ago about being a slow reader, and about how Stephen King is a slow reader, that I would follow suit and savor my newest book one sentence at a time, instead of wolfing it down in paragraphs. That I’d be an ocean liner trolling slowly through deep waters, not a jet ski skipping over the surface, and that maybe – as a result – would actually remember something I read for once, and maybe even learn how to write better from its example.
I do everything in such a freaking hurry. I’ve told you that before, and it does serve me well in some areas – whenever I put my mind to something I can get it done in record time – but it’s a horrible way to read a book. Especially one that deserves careful consideration.
Last week I was scurrying through my errands and stopped by the library. As I didn’t have time to wander the aisles and browse slowly through the shelves, and as it never fails that the minute I’m confronted by the myriad and towering stacks I can never remember my favorite authors, I just ran to the New Books section and chose a few that looked likely. I brought them home and blah blah blah & six books later, discovered a treasure.
It’s called The Floating Book by Michelle Lovric. It’s set in Venice, year 1468. It’s captured my imagination. Here’s one sentence I want to share with you; one I adore, and that must be read aloud to be appreciated fully:
The canals smell of billy goat and grass clippings, the ever-present steam of sealouse soup smells of dark sea caves, the babies smell of mouse holes, and the women smell of what they desire.
It’s raining today. I have to go to the bank, but when I get home, I’m going to curl up on the couch and read my new book. Slo-o-wly. kiss you sweets. xo
Happy addendum: The veritable second I finished writing this, I checked again and the phone worked. Calloo callay!
April 26th, 2006 09:10
First, first first!
April 26th, 2006 09:15
I tried The Floating Book awhile ago and did not like it at all. Twyla also read it and was not impressed. I never bothered finishing it, but she told me not to bother. So I would like to hear your impression when you are done. I may have to retry it.
I’m a slow reader too, but I’m pretty quick at most other things. I’m a record test taker. My finals are all scheduled for 3 hours and I’ve never yet hit the 2 hour mark. That’s even when I’ve decided to take my time and go slow.
April 26th, 2006 09:37
Yay for the phone working!
Curling up with a book sounds lovely. I might even do that for a bit today. I always fall asleep when I read though… somehow a nap always sounds better than finishing the chapter.
Of course, since I was awake at 3:30 again this morning, a nap wouldn’t be a bad idea.
There - my whole day is planned out for me.
Thanks, Kel.
April 26th, 2006 09:37
Good morning, Jenn the First. Well, I am only a couple chapters into it, so the jury’s still out. I love it so far; I think her writing style is delish; but the story may suck after all. We’ll see. I know people absolutely loved Ahab’s Wife, but I hated it from the outset. Sometimes there really IS no accounting for taste, or timing.
I haven’t had to take a test in eons, but I was always pretty quick, too. I dreaded doing badly, so I’d study way beforehand and then cram like crazy; I usually knew my stuff. Wow, suddenly I miss school. How bizarre that talk of tests would spur that on. Maybe I’ll go sign up for some classes today.
xo
April 26th, 2006 09:39
Some books I tend to devour, and others I savor. I think it depends on the pace of the author. But yeah, I can be a major gulper of paragraphs. Not the very best manners heh?
Pinkies up! Enjoy your read.
April 26th, 2006 09:42
Anytime, Cath, anytime. I was up at 3:30a last night, too - darn, we could have chatted! Well, except that would have been 12:30a your time. Gah, I HATE that.
Of course, now that the internet’s up again, and the rain’s stopped, I wonder if I’ll get any reading done at all. And I’m sure I’ll want to succumb to a nap myself, later. Oh well, lala. Whatever will be will be. Except I’m already yawning, so the future’s pretty certain to include that nap. xo
April 26th, 2006 09:46
Pinkies up, ladies! Melly, I’m going to start saying “Pinkies up!” everytime I want the kids to pay attention to me, or something. You are just such the one for great catchphrases.
There IS something to what you said, for sure. It’d be stupid to savor some author’s works; I mean, really. It’s those who write poetic prose that I need to pay more attention to. Like, for example, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: I zoomed through it and didn’t appreciate its beauty as I should have. I’m going to reread it so that I can. I think slow readers may make better writers; I mean, that makes sense, right? xo
April 26th, 2006 09:47
Jenn the First is an excellent and appropriate title. I shall henceforth call it to her on every possible occasion.
This one time, I fell in love with this guy who told me to read slower. He worked at a book store. I tried reading slower, but that meant that it took longer to read books, and that meant that I didn’t get back to the bookstore often enough to fulfill my flirting quotient with the guy who told me to read slower.
You see? You see what I have to deal with on a daily basis?
And I never even got to kiss him.
If I smelled like what I desired… well let’s just say that every where I went, people would be saying, “Who just baked brownies?”
April 26th, 2006 09:58
Oh Heather Anne. I really want to kiss YOU right now, and if you were here, sitting knee-to-knee with me, I jolly well would.
Okay, I wrote that before reading your last paragraph - due to my uncontrollable fit of affection - so I didn’t tell you yet that it made me laugh out loud, sounding exactly like Squidword. If I smelled like what I desired, it would be Teen Spirit. ha! xo
April 26th, 2006 10:09
I’ve been reading slower lately. Well, not really. If I’m honest I’ve been reading less. Damn you internet and your distractions. Course the internet is reading too, so if I’m totally honest I should say I’m not reading as many books as once.
But to me the sign of a great book is one that I zip through, get to the end and can’t really remember all the details so flick to the first page and start all over again, maybe a little slower because I don’t have to find out whats happening next.
I devoured all of Robin Hobb’s books, staying up late to finish just one more sentence, one more paragraph, one more page, oops, 5 chapters and its now time to get up.
Now they all sit on my shelf and I know I can dip in and out of them at any stage.
Obviously I’ve suddenly hit a chatty phase, because omg, look at the length of this comment
but I’ve no time to stay I’m away to meet NM and hit the kino for some Tristian & Isolde.
April 26th, 2006 10:10
Shoot, I’d smell like a steamy bowl of pasta, so maybe I’d fit in in Venice. I shall forever more be known as Jenn The First (or Jenn I) as if I were royalty.
Kelly, I almost never study for tests. I may look things over a time or two, but I figure that while I’m learning the stuff I should be learning it so I don’t have to waste my time with studying.
Heather, don’t ever read more slowly just for a guy. Especially if it means less flirtage!
April 26th, 2006 10:10
But before I go (I just can’t shut up can I), I’ll just add another book I loved. Fred Vargas’ Seeking Whom he May Devour. Plus, you can pretend you read the original French version and be all cultured.
Me, I read the translation. But it was great too
April 26th, 2006 10:10
Oh Kell, you’re such a tease. C’mere and gimme some kisses.
April 26th, 2006 10:18
read slowly? how is that possible? There are too many books and too little time. I was going to run right out and put Floating Book on hold, til I read Jenn’s post. Now I will wait for your final opinon.
Let me read chapter 5 of the book I am currently reading to you. “The old Televisons had an off switch.”
Later
April 26th, 2006 10:42
I have to read asfastaspossibletogettotheend!!!!! I was meant to read Cien Anos de Soledad in Spanish when at university but I cheated and read it just like you did, in English, too quickly, and then I got horribly lost and confused.
And on Tuesday I find out just what’s inside of me!!! I’m guessing one. Of a pink type. Of course too soon to tell that kind of detail!
Enjoy your rainy reading day xx
April 26th, 2006 11:11
Hi Fency friend, I love when you’re chatty.
I echo your damning of the internet, regarding it’s time-sucking factor. I also have to damn Joss Whedon for the same. Sometimes (rare rare rare times) I long for the days before electricity, when people read for entertainment. But then, I probably would have ended up with syphilis, so never mind.
I forgot about Tristan and Isolde… Wait! It’s already out on video here! You mean, it’s just getting released into theaters there? Drag. I can’t wait to read your review. Have fun. Give Nines a kiss from me.
Oh, and you have great faith in my French-reading abilities. I took one year in high school. I know what fromage is. Other than that, je ne sais pas. xo
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Jenn I, a steamy bowl of pasta. That’s exactly what I would have guessed, exactly. Silly girl.
You really don’t study much for tests? In theory, I agree with you about actually knowing your subject, but I’m a crammer. I ignore everything until the last few days and then BAM, learn it all. I never remember it, though, which is why I’m trying to think tortoisey today. xo
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Ho.
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Ho ho!!! Ho ho ho!!!! We’re so happy, Heather Anne! Ho ho ho!
(i love you) xo
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Roddy, I know, you’re the billion book boy. That’s been my philosophy, too, but my problem is I don’t remember what I read. I’d like to, and besides, I really do believe it would strengthen my writing ability. Have fun reading; I’ll head over to your site soon andn see what the book is! xo
April 26th, 2006 11:13
Claredy, by the time I was pregnant with my third, I wanted to know the gender, too, because I wanted a pink one! And I got a pink one! “Pinkies up, ladies!” Are you happy about that?
I’m impressed that you could even attempt reading a book in Spanish. You also know French, don’t you? It’s a good thing you’re so much shorter than me, or I’d be intimidated by you.
kiss xo
April 26th, 2006 11:51
My front yard smells of billy goat and grass clippings. ; )
April 26th, 2006 12:00
Kerri, honey, ha!!!! Don’t you just want you one-a them pigmy goats? Seriously, they’re so cute. xo
April 26th, 2006 19:03
Kelly, I didn’t crack the book at all for my math final (which was a bomb but I”ll pass the class anyway). And for my philosophy class I looked at the review (which was the essay question) twice and mentally prepared my BS. I know I did well on that one. That’s just the way my brain works. It always drives my classmates crazy!
April 27th, 2006 01:30
…and the women smell of what they desire.
I was told today that I smelled a littled sugary/sweet like apple and cinnamon. (I have no idea how. My shampoo/shower gel/body lotion don’t have those flavours)So, what does that mean I desire? =)
April 27th, 2006 04:21
Neither Tristan nor Isolde were much fun, but Rufus Sewell as Marke was, so the film wasn’t a total loss.
Morning
April 27th, 2006 07:40
Jenns, I can’t believe you didn’t study for a MATH final. I can barely even spell math. You know what shocked me to death, though? Last year, when I took placement tests, I actually didn’t get put in the special ed class for math degenerates. Seriously, I thought I was going to have to learn to count beads, but it turns out they figured I could do algebra! I KNOW! Fools.
If it makes you feel any better, your genius makes me crazy, too. But I love you for it. I’m, like, crazy and in love.
xo
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Kanksy, ooh! I want to smell you!! That sounds weird, but true! That’s so sweet. I think we really do smell like what we eat. I had a friend several years ago who reeked of garlic - I mean, through her skin - because she ate garlic pills to avoid getting sick. Let’s see… no friends… or having a cold… Hmm. ew. xo
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Fency, Rufus Sewell is SO interesting looking, isn’t he? I mean, I can’t tell if he’s handsome or deformed… He plays such a good baddy, too. I don’t know Marke in the story; is he the villain?
Good afternoon, you. xo
April 27th, 2006 08:16
Rufus is interesting looking, and interesting acting too
I loved to hate him in that Knight’s Tale. Course I love that entire film so…
Not the baddie but part of the love triangle. The compelling part of it
April 27th, 2006 15:45
The part where you’re wishing Tristan would just DIE so Isolde can get over him and realise that Marke is sweet and kind and loving and handsome and strong and rich so WHY IS SHE IN LOVE WITH TRISTAN? Marke, any day. So say we all.
And I got interviewed about the film afterwards. Fence was a chicken-shit and refused to be on the telly. Fool.