Happy New Year
…albeit a bit belated. I’ve taken a needed and unplanned hiatus from writing although not so much from reading. There’s lots of exciting changes happening here at twoumbrellas (but more on that later) and it’s an election year – a hopeful one, too (but more on that later, too).
As for 2008, I think I’m a bit ambitious in my reading goals – I’m hesitant to document any writing goals because then I’d actually have to hold myself to them. For a few years – well, probably since undergrad – I’ve wanted to read Faulkner’s major works chronologically. Finally, after much procrastination, I chose the winter of 2008. I’ve just started and I’m almost finished Soldier’s Pay. Now that I’ve started, I’m committed. I know that I will be sacrificing many new titles or authors that I haven’t read; but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. I enjoy creating ‘mini-classes’ for myself – my first was months of reading the major works of Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor. Strangely, I’ve only briefly been to the South so I’m not quite sure why I am fascinated by its literature. I’m also not quite sure why I am fascinated by William Faulkner. I’ve read many of his novels more than once over my short reading career. Maybe it’s because each time I read his works I feel at home in his language or, more accurately, I am comfortably astounded each time I get lost in his descriptions of things like honeysuckles.
So, for 2008, twoumbrellas may have a narrow scope (although I joined a book group to keep things a bit evened out) and with the primaries heating up I may not be able to keep out of that circus.
Happy Reading and Happy Voting!