long-distance dedication.
i picked up a copy of steinbeck's east of eden a few years back but never had the chance to read it before now. and, of course, when i say 'had the chance' what i really mean is 'had the dedication to read a 600-page novel.' but that's not important now. no. because east of eden is the novel i am choosing to kick-off my very own winter reading extravaganza!
can you feel the excitement? and yes, i do consider 1 october to be the start of the winter season . . . and putting the numeral before the month in the date -- how very european. but more importantly, i'm going to focus on two reading groups: 1.) books i own but haven't read yet, and 2.) books i should have read in high school or college, but have somehow avoided (i.e. catch-22, native son, brave new world, fahrenheit 451, huckleberry finn, 1984, the iliad/the odyssey) with a sub-category 2b.) books i was supposed to have read, but didn't (heart of darkness, the sound and the fury).
which brings me back to my original point. the dedication on east of eden is a letter from steinbeck to his editor and friend, pascal covici. it's quite nice. i think you'll like it.
pascal covici
dear pat,
you came upon me carving some kind of little figure out of wood and you said, 'why don't you make something for me?'
i asked what you wanted, and you said, 'a box.'
'what for?'
'to put things in.'
'what things?'
'whatever you have,' you said.
well, here's your box. nearly everything i have is in it, and it is not full. pain and excitement are in it, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts -- the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation.
and on top of these are all the gratitude and love i have for you.
and still the box is not full.
john
can you feel the excitement? and yes, i do consider 1 october to be the start of the winter season . . . and putting the numeral before the month in the date -- how very european. but more importantly, i'm going to focus on two reading groups: 1.) books i own but haven't read yet, and 2.) books i should have read in high school or college, but have somehow avoided (i.e. catch-22, native son, brave new world, fahrenheit 451, huckleberry finn, 1984, the iliad/the odyssey) with a sub-category 2b.) books i was supposed to have read, but didn't (heart of darkness, the sound and the fury).
which brings me back to my original point. the dedication on east of eden is a letter from steinbeck to his editor and friend, pascal covici. it's quite nice. i think you'll like it.
pascal covici
dear pat,
you came upon me carving some kind of little figure out of wood and you said, 'why don't you make something for me?'
i asked what you wanted, and you said, 'a box.'
'what for?'
'to put things in.'
'what things?'
'whatever you have,' you said.
well, here's your box. nearly everything i have is in it, and it is not full. pain and excitement are in it, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts -- the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation.
and on top of these are all the gratitude and love i have for you.
and still the box is not full.
john