A new year

Well, here it is 2008 already! Today marks the beginning of my second sememster in grad school and I'm dreading the thought of all the work ahead!

Wish I could say I've read a whole bunch of great books during my month-long break, but there just wasn't time. I did read the trilogy, His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman (which includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) and greatly enjoyed all three.

I'm definitely looking forward to our book club selections since that will undoubtedly be the only pleasure reading I'll be doing in the months to come!

Detour

Well, isn't life such that you can be certain of what you will be doing and then, as it turns out, your certainty becomes questionable. As you all know, I left some time ago for Hampshire College in Massachusetts, to continue my education. At Hampshire I could find many of the things I was looking for, such as new lessons, experienced teachers, and an academic community of friends and colleagues, all of this set in a peaceful, New England countryside. However, this school lacked what I needed most. As classes began I felt at odds with the educational system and entered into a personal struggle. For the last two years I have studied independently and wrote of reflections, thoughts, and concepts, in time centering on education and social reform. I had underestimated how effective this period of study had been for myself and how it has really had no rival. From my work I had already formed convictions of how education best goes about and compulsion over how students are to perform their studies is a considerable one. In addition to the influence of coercion over education, the focuses of the classes continually brought me back to my studies and my writing. It increasingly felt as if I had left this work unfinished. Overall, I knew I would remain in opposition at Hampshire and that what I truly needed was to continue on as my own teacher and progress with my own ideas. I know that I can only achieve very little alone and that I must eventually cooperate with others, but for now I will keep to what has propelled me so far. And so, after all this, in order to go forward I had to go back. I have left Hampshire and returned to Virginia Beach once more.

My plan is to return to the library. I left Oceanfront Area Library in good standing and my recent Starbucks experience is a fine addition to my history. In time, I hope to advance to the library technician position and remain with that, or move further up, for some time. After accumulating enough experience I intend to look for offerings of the same job at libraries elsewhere and, under the right circumstances, move away. To be honest, I have had thoughts about living in Alaska for some time, the city of Anchorage being shown here. I find the idea of living in a place surrounded by great mountains and woods, distanced from the United States but not excluded from it, and which is never, ever humid to be very appealing. But it's just a thought. I can't know precisely what may come but I know that I will do what I am certain is best for myself and others. Despite the expectation of a straight path, detours do arise. Nevertheless, it is much harder to fail if you never give up. So, I'll keep going. I look forward to seeing you all at the next book club meeting. Until then, take care.

Michael

Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

I've already told some of you about this book but for those who I haven't talked to this is for you! I read most of this while up in New York on vacation and I felt it especially poignant since there were so many farm stands about. Pollan tells of four different meals that make it to the American plate and what processes happen in order for it to happen. Industrial, Big Organic, Local and Hunter/Gatherer. Lots of eye-opening information told with a charming style that highlights the stories of the people involved. Pollan also presents the different sides with a journalistic touch that keeps the discussion open when it would be easy to characterize a complex situation black or white. I've also read his Botany of Desire which talks about the relationship between humans and four different plants. Prepare to be amazed and intrigued!

Yeah Michael!

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

"Before she became ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive, or even dogs or cats. People were alive whether you chose to notice them or not, while dogs tended to make you notice them if they decided that you weren't paying them enough attention. Cats, meanwhile, were very good at pretending people didn't exist at all when it suited them, but that was another matter entirely.

Stories were different, though: they came alive in the telling. Without a human voice to read them aloud, or a pair of wide eyes following them by flashlight beneath a blanket, they had no real existence in our world. They were like seeds in the beak of a bird, waiting to fall to earth, or the notes of a song laid out on a sheet, yearning for an instrument to bring their music into being. They lay dormant, hoping for the chance to emerge. Once someone started to read them, they could begin to change. They could take root in the imagination, and transform the reader. Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours. They wanted us to give them life."

This wonderful book is essentially a fairy tale for adults, and is a real book-lover's book! Enjoy!

Michael and Matthew go to Blacksburg!

Yes we went to Blacksburg a few weeks back and even though I uploaded the pictures some time back I haven't gotten around to sharing them. We went hiking on two different days as well as walked around the campus of Virginia Tech. There was a makeshift memorial that we also visited on our strolling through the university. You can click here to view all of the pictures or click on any individual picture. Enjoy!

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

I've been meaning to write a little post about this fantastic series. His Dark Materials is the name of the series which in order is The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. I'm sure reading all three of these books is great but might I suggest taking the audiobook route. A full cast brings this story alive as well as the author as narrator. You don't have to remember who is speaking because each of the main characters are voiced by different actors.

So what's it about?

Well I don't want to give too much away. And you can always look it up online to read reviews. What I will say:

Part fantasy/part reality.

Animals throughout.

Rich symbology that works on many levels.

I felt a bit sad letting the characters go. Listening on my way to and from work I traveled with them for some weeks.